Abstract: A new method was developed to estimate light utilization efficiency(LUE) with RS and GIS technologies based on NOAA satellite data.LUE of vegetation and its spatiotemporal distribution in Beijing were estimated with this new method by using NOAA18 1B satellite data and weather data from 20 weather stations in 2007.The relationship between LUE and NDVI were analyzed.The results showed that the LUE was estimated well using NOAA18 satellite data.The annual average LUE of Beijing was between 0.04% and 1.06 %,spatial average value was 0.57% and the maximum LUE was 2.83%.The LUE of deciduous broadleaf forest area was 0.74%,brushwood area was 0.51% and cropland was 0.50%.The higher LUE values were in north mountainous forest area,and the lower LUE values were in urban area.The seasonal change of LUE was obvious.The average value of LUE in spring,summer,autumn and winter were 0.31%,1.37%,0.49% and 0.04% respectively.Results indicated that the annual average LUE could be simulated well using the maximum value of NDVI of the year.

Key words: Light utilization efficiency, Light utilization efficiency, NOAA18, NDVI, Beijing, Spatiotemporal distribution