Abstract:In recent years, the decrease in precipitation and the effect of global warming have resulted in the increase in the degree of drought in the North China, affecting vegetation growth, and leading to the deterioration of the regional ecological environment. In this paper, based on the data of TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) and MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index (SPEI) was extracted to characterize meteorological drought status, while Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Net Primary Production (NPP), and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) were used to characterize the vegetation status. Temporal and spatial variation of meteorological drought and vegetation, as well as the multi-scale response of vegetation changes relative to meteorological drought index in North China during 2001-2014 were comprehensive examined. The results indicated that drought showed a increasing trend in the southwestern region, whereas a decreasing trend in the northeastern region of North China. There were drought and wet alternating characteristics by month scale SPEI, and with the increase of time scale, a more obvious trend of drought characterized by SPEI were observed. In addition, the spatial distribution trends of NDVI and NPP in North China were slightly different, but generally, vegetation conditions have been improved in North China, while deteriorated in the central and coastal areas. Finally, the vegetation condition index were positively correlated with SPEI in most areas of North China. The degree of correlation was high in the grassland areas and middle-high altitude areas, whereas the response of forest land to drought was not sensitive relatively. The response of each vegetation type to SPEI-3 was most obvious in vegetation growing season, especially in the summer, and SPEI-12 mainly affected the early growth stage during the vegetation growing season. The results of meteorological drought on vegetation would assists on drought research in north China.