Study area and the distribution of vegetation, NDVI, and <i>albedo</i> during 2000–2013 on the Tibetan Plateau: (A) vegetation, (B) average GS_NDVI (May–September), (C) average GS<i>albedo</i> (May–September), and (D) average nGS<i>albedo</i> (January–April and October–December).

<p>Study area and the distribution of vegetation, NDVI, and <i>albedo</i> during 2000–2013 on the Tibetan Plateau: (A) vegetation, (B) average GS_NDVI (May–September), (C) average GS<i>albedo</i> (May–September), and (D) average nGS<i>albedo</i> (January–April and October–December).</p

Flow of study identification, inclusion, and exclusion.

<p>Flow of study identification, inclusion, and exclusion.</p

The elevation-dependent correlations between the mean non-GSSC and nGS<i>albedo</i>, where *, **, and *** indicate the statistical significance level at 95%, 99%, and >99%, respectively.

<p>The elevation-dependent correlations between the mean non-GSSC and nGS<i>albedo</i>, where *, **, and *** indicate the statistical significance level at 95%, 99%, and >99%, respectively.</p

Spatial patterns of the changing rates (i.e., slope of the regression line) and the spatial changes in the corresponding <i>P</i> values from 2000 through 2013: (A) nGS<i>albedo</i>, (C) non-GSSC, and (B) and (D) are labels at four significance levels.

<p>The slopes of nGSalbedo and non-GSSC change trends are divided into several levels representing their change magnitudes. The P values (B) and (D) are divided into four significance levels: P<0.01, 0.010.1.</p

Meta-analysis with a random-effects model for the association between asthma risk and the <i>CTLA-4</i> −318 C/T polymorphism (CC+CT vs. TT).

<p>Meta-analysis with a random-effects model for the association between asthma risk and the <i>CTLA-4</i> −318 C/T polymorphism (CC+CT vs. TT).</p

The changes in mean nGS<i>albedo</i> and the annual amount of non-GSSC in the grassland biome by year on the Tibetan Plateau.

<p>The changes in mean nGS<i>albedo</i> and the annual amount of non-GSSC in the grassland biome by year on the Tibetan Plateau.</p

Meta-analysis with a random-effects model for the association between asthma risk and the <i>CTLA-4</i> +49 A/G polymorphism (AA vs. AG+GG).

<p>Meta-analysis with a random-effects model for the association between asthma risk and the <i>CTLA-4</i> +49 A/G polymorphism (AA vs. AG+GG).</p

The changing rate of non-GSSC and nGS<i>albedo</i> by elevation for the grassland biome on the Tibetan Plateau, where * and ** indicate the statistical significance level at 95% and 99%, respectively.

<p>The changing rate of non-GSSC and nGS<i>albedo</i> by elevation for the grassland biome on the Tibetan Plateau, where * and ** indicate the statistical significance level at 95% and 99%, respectively.</p

Average changes in land areas of snow/ice cover and nGSalbedo by month in nGS on the Tibetan Plateau during 2000–2013.

<p>Average changes in land areas of snow/ice cover and nGSalbedo by month in nGS on the Tibetan Plateau during 2000–2013.</p

Growing season carries stronger contributions to <i>albedo</i> dynamics on the Tibetan plateau

<div><p>The Tibetan Plateau has experienced higher-than-global-average climate warming in recent decades, resulting in many significant changes in ecosystem structure and function. Among them is <i>albedo</i>, which bridges the causes and consequences of land surface processes and climate. The plateau is covered by snow/ice and vegetation in the non-growing season (nGS) and growing season (GS), respectively. Based on the MODIS products, we investigated snow/ice cover and vegetation greenness in relation to the spatiotemporal changes of <i>albedo</i> on the Tibetan Plateau from 2000 through 2013. A synchronous relationship was found between the change in GSNDVI and GSalbedo over time and across the Tibetan landscapes. We found that the annual average <i>albedo</i> had a decreasing trend, but that the <i>albedo</i> had slightly increased during the nGS and decreased during the GS. Across the landscapes, the nGS<i>albedo</i> fluctuated in a synchronous pattern with snow/ice cover. Temporally, monthly snow/ice coverage also had a high correspondence with <i>albedo</i>, except in April and October. We detected clear dependencies of <i>albedo</i> on elevation. With the rise in altitude, the nGS<i>albedo</i> decreased below 4000 m, but increased for elevations of 4500–5500 m. Above 5500 m, the nGS<i>albedo</i> decreased, which was in accordance with the decreased amount of snow/ice coverage and the increased soil moisture on the plateau. More importantly, the decreasing <i>albedo</i> in the most recent decade appeared to be caused primarily by lowered growing season <i>albedo</i>.</p></div