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Change of NDVI in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Its Influence on the Water–Sand Process in the Three Gorges Reservoir

Author

Listed:
  • Yiming Ma

    (Hubei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Yangtze River and Hydroelectric Science, Yichang 443000, China
    China Yangtze River Power Co., Ltd., Yichang 430100, China)

  • Mingyue Li

    (Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Geochemistry and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China)

  • Huaming Yao

    (Hubei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Yangtze River and Hydroelectric Science, Yichang 443000, China
    China Yangtze River Power Co., Ltd., Yichang 430100, China
    Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Geochemistry and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China)

  • Peng Chen

    (Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Geochemistry and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China)

  • Hongzhong Pan

    (Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Geochemistry and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
    College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China)

Abstract

Vegetation coverage in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is very important to the ecological balance in this area, and it also has an impact on the inflow runoff and sediment transport processes of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Based on the normalized vegetation index data (NDVI) with 250 m resolution in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, annual runoff, sediment transport, land use, meteorology, and other data—and by using the methods of Sen + Mann–Kendall trend analysis, partial correlation analysis, and Hurst index—this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial variation characteristics, driving factors, and the influence on the water and sediment inflow processes of the Three Gorges Reservoir in each sub-basin in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The results show that (1) NDVI in the upper Yangtze River showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2001 to 2022, and the overall vegetation cover continued to increase, showing a spatial pattern of low in the west and high in the east. At the same time, the runoff volume of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River did not show a significant upward trend from 2006 to 2022, while the sand transport decreased significantly; (2) Among the NDVI-influencing factors in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the area driven by the land use factor accounts for about 43% of the whole study area, followed by precipitation; (3) Precipitation significantly affected runoff, and NDVI was negatively correlated with sand transport in most of the watersheds, suggesting that improved vegetation could help reduce sediment loss. In addition, the future trend of vegetation change was predicted to be dominated by improvement (Hurst > 0.5) based on the Hurst index, which will provide a reference for the NDVI change in the upper Yangtze River and the prediction of sediment inflow to the Three Gorges Reservoir.

Suggested Citation

  • Yiming Ma & Mingyue Li & Huaming Yao & Peng Chen & Hongzhong Pan, 2025. "Change of NDVI in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River and Its Influence on the Water–Sand Process in the Three Gorges Reservoir," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:739-:d:1570037
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chenlu Huang & Qinke Yang & Weidong Huang, 2021. "Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Changes of NDVI and Its Driving Factors in the Wei and Jing River Basins," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Jilong Chen & Xinrui Fang & Zhaofei Wen & Qiao Chen & Maohua Ma & Yuanyang Huang & Shengjun Wu & Liang Emlyn Yang, 2018. "Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Impacts of Sediment Variations in Downstream of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, November.
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