Abstract: In August 2011, forty Populus euphratica plants at the Arghan monitoring section in the lower reaches of Tarim River were selected to study the spatial differentia of their leaf physiological traits and surface temperature. The plants had different distances from the River. A significant (P<0.01) negative correlations were observed between the leaf fuel moisture content (FMC), equivalent water thickness (EWT), and chlorophyll content and the distance of the plants from the River. All the former three variables decreased significantly with the distance from the River. Leaf surface temperature had significant effects on the leaf FMC and EWT (P<0.01), but minor effects on the chlorophyll content (P>0.05). Due to the differences in the physical interpretation of FMC and EWT, their mean values were significantly correlated at tree level (P<0.01), but less correlated at single leaf level. However, the correlation between EWT and chlorophyll content were significant (P<0.01) both at tree level and at single leaf level. Because of the significant correlation with chlorophyll content and with the distances of trees from river, leaf EWT could be used as a vegetation water index for remote sensing-based monitoring in arid area riparian ecosystems.

Key words: park green space, landscape accessibility, network analysis method, multiple modes of transportation, Tiexi District, Shenyang City.