Interannual variation in global vegetation, precipitation, land surface temperature and sea surface temperature

A monthly global satellite-derived vegetation dataset for the 1980s has become available. This dataset has been used to investigate linkages between land surface temperature, sea surface temperature, precipitation and vegetation greenness at a global scale. The results indicate a linkage at mid- and high latitudes between climatic variations in sea surface temperature and land surface temperature that affect land surface vegetation in temperate climates. Precipitation was affected to a much smaller extent at these latitudes. More localized positive linkages were found at low latitudes between sea surface temperature, precipitation, and vegetation greenness. Land surface temperature showed a reversed relationship between rainfall and vegetation greenness in these regions. The positive coupling between sea surface temperature, land surface temperature, and vegetation greenness in midlatitudes suggests that increased land surface temperatures, as observed over the last 4 decades, should produce more vegetation growth, perhaps resulting in a carbon sink over this period.