Abstract: NDVI is an indicator of vegetation growth and its spatial distribution,with has a close relationship with climate conditions.By using Matlab and Arc/Info, this paper analyzed the spatial-temporal correlations of NDVI with the precipitation and temperature in the Yellow River Basin.The result showed that in the areas mainly covered with grass and shrub,NDVI had a significant correlation with precipitation and temperature (P<0.05),but the spatial positions of related regions changed with time.On basin scale,the annual NDVI variation and the annual and monthly average temperature from 1982 to 1999 increased,while the annual precipitation during this period decreased.The annual NDVI variation had no significant correlation with annual precipitation and average temperature (P>0.05),but in July,NDVI was significantly correlated with precipitation and temperature,and the correlation coefficient was 0.855 and 0.943,respectively.On grid scale,the annual NDVI variation was not correlated with average temperature in most regions,but related to the annual precipitation in the upper watershed covered with grass and shrub,and the correlation coefficients were mainly positive.The annual NDVI variation in the upper watershed mainly covered with shrub and grass was closely related to the precipitation in summer,and the correlated area was up to 13.74×1010⁴ km².In the regions nearby the upper and middle reaches mainly covered with grass and shrub,which accounted for 9.91×10⁴ km²,the NDVI was related to precipitation in July.The annual NDVI variation was mainly positively related to the temperature in spring,summer and autumn.In April,NDVI was positively related to the temperature in the region covered with grass and shrub in upper Lanzhou,but in October,it was negatively related to the temperature in the region covered with shrub and grass between Lanzhou and Mt.Shizuishan of Ningxia Hui National Autonomy Region.

Key words: Mathematical model, Habitat, Red crown crane