Vegetation Dynamics and its Response to Climate Change in the Yellow River Basin, China

As an important ecological corridor, the Yellow River basin (YRB) is crucial for eco-environmental security and sustainable socio-economic development of China. Systematic studies on spatiotemporal evolution vegetation cover response dynamics to climate change in YRB at different timescales are lacking. Utilizing a long-term remotely sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) gridded dataset, we examined variability its variables Basin multiple by using Mann-Kendall test, rescaled range analysis, partial correlation analysis. Results indicated that annual NDVI decreased spatially from southeast northwest, peaked August. From 1982 2015, experienced greening during annual, growing season spring, with statistically significant increases ( p < 0.05) recorded over 55% vegetated areas. trends should be expected persist future, as evidenced Hurst index exceeding 0.5 85% areas YRB. Temperature precipitation determined pattern YRB, climatic variations varied among seasons zones. In contrast other seasons, spring was significantly correlated temperature, whereas winter more vulnerable suppression increased precipitation. growth susceptible than temperature arid semiarid zones, while dominated semi-humid zone, sunshine duration essential high-altitude regions. The study contributes deeper understanding interrelationship between provides useful suggestions regional conservation context global warming.