Abstract: The results of monitoring the ecological transect in East Asia monsoon region by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) indicated the presence of a close relationship between the NDVI of each ecological belt and the advance and retreat of the East Asia monsoon. There is a normal NDVI distribution in the normal monsoon year and an abnormal NDVI distribution in the abnormal monsoon year. Through the study of the regularity of NDVI variation of such main ecological belts in the transect as desert grassland, dry grassland, steppe, cultivated land and forest, the authors found that the NDVI variation could be considered as a measure to evaluate the characteristics of annual monsoon climate change.

Key words: Transect, Ecological region, East Asia monsoon, Normalized difference vegetation index