Radiative dryness index and potential productivity of vegetation in China

The Chikugo Model is used to estimate radiative dryness indexes (RDI) and net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation zones in China by calculating cli-matic parameters. That provides the water-heat equilibrium condition, potential primary production for natural vegetation in various vegetation zones, and their geographical distribution pattern. That could be used as the basis for study the effect of global climate change on ecosystems.