Spatial Heterogeneity of Vegetation Resilience Changes to Different Drought Types

Resilience is a fundamental concept for vegetation health. The increasing drought frequency and severity may pose severe threat to resilience. However, it still not clear how resilience evolving in response climate change pivotal biographical zones. Here, we examined the changes terms of leaf area index (LAI, an indicator canopy structure) gross primary productivity (GPP, carbon uptake) responding Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) vapor pressure deficit (VPD) over China's Loess Plateau Qinling Mountains. Linking remote sensing variables tree ring width allows upscaling plot-based growth information. We further explored potential explanatory factors associated with heterogeneous spatial distributions changes. Results revealed that GPP weakened more than LAI drought, suggesting compared LAI, requires time recover pre-drought levels. Regionally, on high-altitude areas was highly susceptible SPEI VPD, respectively. observed heterogeneity mainly attributed by zone, water deficit, their interactions. Our findings provide direct empirical evidence Mountains gradually losing results indicate sustained ecosystem atmospheric dryness will continue threaten survival terrestrial service.