Observed daily temperature and precipitation from 121 meteorological stations and satellite-based 8-day average gross primary productivity (GPP) from MOD17A2 are utilized to develop the linear correlation models between 8-day accumulated average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation and accumulated GPP in the monsoon zone in Northern China during 2000–2013. Based on the derived thresholds and coefficients of these models, variability in the starting date of GPP accumulation, length of GPP accumulating period, ending date of GPP accumulation as well as GPP accumulation rate on forest, grassland and cropland ecosystems are investigated under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) of the Regional Spectral Model (RSM). Finally, the substantial impacts of climate changes including maximum, average, minimum temperature and precipitation on ecosystem productivity are evaluated. Results suggest that average and minimum temperature can predict GPP more accurately than maximum temperature and precipitation. Besides, the starting and ending dates of GPP accumulation are sensitive to the variability in four climatic factors whereas the GPP accumulation period and rate are more sensitive to the variability in average and maximum temperature. Additionally, future climate changes tend to prolong the GPP accumulation period and increase the GPP accumulation rate, thus increasing GPP.

Utilizing land cover change (LCC) information together with MODIS land surface temperature in Jing-Jin-Ji area in 2000, 2005 and 2010, spatiotemporal difference of urban heat island (UHI) effects and the factors influenced UHI is explored. Results reveal that the seasonal fluctuations of daytime UHI is bigger than that of nighttime UHI. More than 92.8% of the urban have UHI in the nighttime every season. The strongest daytime UHI happens in summer, but more than 85% of the cities have urban cooling effect in winter. The nighttime UHI in different seasons appear to be similar. The water in urban has different influence to UHI in daytime and nighttime which is to weaken the UHI and to enhance the UHI. The grass in urban enhance the UHI in the daytime of spring and summer and in the nighttime of all seasons but weaken the UHI in the daytime of winter. The forest and the crop land in the urban have the same effect which are weaken the UHI in the daytime of spring, summer and autumn and in the nighttime of all seasons but enhance the UHI in the daytime of winter.

By using spatial dataset of ecosystem types, ecosystem transfer matrix and dynamic degree methods, the changes of ecosystem structure and spatial distribution in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecological barrier area were analyzed during recent ten years. The results show that: 1) The ecosystem structure of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecological barrier area is relatively stable, 69% of the total land area is grassland ecosystem. 2) There are increase or decrease both in ecological and un-ecological land use, the wetland increases 2660.9 km², the grassland cuts 1377.5 km², the urban expands 224.6 km², the farmland reduces 163.4 km², and the desert reduces 1388.5 km². 3) The change rates of urban and farmland, which are significantly influenced by human activities, are distinctly higher than the wetland. For example, the urban area increases rapidly with an average annual growth rate of 2.88% and the farmland decreases 0.64% per year on average from 2000 to 2010, however the average annual growth rate of wetland is only 0.44%. 4) The overall transfer of ecosystem is small and only for 0.5% of entire study area. The areas of grassland shift to wetland and the desert shift to wetland are larger and contribute 69% to entire ecosystem transfer. 5) Both natural and human factors are the driving forces of ecosystem change, among which climate change is the main factor causing the increase of wetland area; the rapidly growth of population and GDP causes the urban expanding, but the development of industry and mining industry is the deep reason for the expansion; the increase of grazing capacity is the main cause of the grassland degradation , but the ecological protection projects play a rather positive role in grassland ecosystem recovery.

Based on the observed temperature, precipitation, wind speed, soil moisture and other basic meteorological data in the north part of Northern China Plain from China Meteorological Administration, three major variables of water cycle: precipitation, soil moisture and water requirement on cropland are calculated. Besides, the water cycle model of cropland in the study area is built together with designed water shortage index to analyze the temporal and spatial variability in water shortage of cropland in the study area by ten-day intervals. Results suggest that the water shortage of cropland in the study area is serious through all growth period. The study area witnesses droughts in most months with sufficient moisture only in the mid July. Spring is the most serious period of droughts on cropland, and the droughts are more severe in central and southern of Hebei Province than that in other areas. Furthermore, the stress of water shortage on cropland in autumn is much relieved compared with that in spring. However, droughts in the northwest part of study area are extremely serious in autumn. Meanwhile, droughts in Hengshui area and western Beijing are the most serious through the whole crop growth stage. Relevant conclusions can provide references to regional water management and irrigation of cropland.