During this monitoring period in Southern China, rice was harvested in November. Only a few crops are grown over the winter period.

On average, rainfall was above the 15-year average (RAIN +11%). Temperature and radiation were near average (TEMP +0.2°C, RADPAR +1%). Lacking of rain in November favored the harvest of rice. BIOMSS was 6% above average mainly due to abundant rainfall. Affected by partial rainfall shortage, BIOMSS in eastern Guangdong, Gongxi and Fujian was below the 15YA. According to the NDVI profile, crop condition was slightly below the 5YA. The cropped arable land fraction remained close to the 5YA.

According to the NDVI departure clustering map and the profiles, values were slightly below average, which indicates that crops were in normal condition. 22.3% of cropland scattered in eastern Guangxi and southern Guangdong fell to below average levels. The average VCIx of the Southern China was 0.94, and almost all regions presented a VCIx above 0.80.

All in all, crop conditions were close to normal.

Figure 4.12 Crop condition Southern China region, October 2021-January 2022.

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Time series rainfall pofile

(c) Time series temperature pofile

(d) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Potential biomass departure from 5YA

(g) Maximum VCI