[Objective] In order to provide the theoretical basis for protecting the ecological environment of Tarim River Basin, the spatial distribution of groundwater level and its effects on vegetation in Aeolian desertification areas was explored.[Methods] MODIS satellite remote sensing image data and combined method of remote sensing-mathematical-model were used. Field investigations of groundwater level, soil moisture, and other relevant information in desertification area in the middle reaches of Tarim River in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region were measured. Through the empirical model fitting between the measured soil moisture as independent variable and groundwater level as dependent variable, under the prerequisite condition when there is capillary supply in soil, a simple and effective remote sensing method was proposed, and it was verified that can be used to evaluate the distribution of groundwater level based on the MODIS image data.[Results] The correlation coefficient of the measured groundwater and the remote sensing retrieved water level was 0.896 9, and the error was small. The result proved that the model is applicable.[Conclusion] When groundwater depth is not more than 6 m, it is feasible to use MODIS multi band remote sensing data to monitor and evaluate the groundwater level and its spatial distribution in the desertification area.