Lan et al. (2025) Biogeophysical warming effects of vegetation growth in the temperate water-limited region

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-15
• Authors: Lihua Lan, Wei Zhao, Zhenbo Wang, Fei He
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110886

Research Groups

• Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
• College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Short Summary

This study quantifies the biogeophysical effects of vegetation growth on land surface temperature (LST) in temperate water-limited regions, revealing distinct diurnal and seasonal LST trends and identifying key drivers (ET, Albedo, SM, LAI) across different land use types from 2000 to 2020.

Objective

• To analyze land surface temperature (LST) variations and their response to key biogeophysical factors (Albedo, evapotranspiration (ET), leaf area index (LAI), and soil moisture (SM)) across forests, grasslands, and croplands in the temperate water-limited region.
• To quantify the mechanisms by which vegetation growth modulates LST through biogeophysical processes at daily and seasonal scales.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Temperate water-limited region.
• Temporal Scale: 2000 to 2020 (21 years), analyzed at daily (daytime vs. nighttime) and seasonal (growing vs. non-growing seasons) scales.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. The study involved analyzing variations and responses of LST to biogeophysical factors.
• Data sources: Not explicitly detailed in the provided text (e.g., satellite, observation, reanalysis). The study analyzed LST, Albedo, ET, LAI, and SM.

Main Results

• Annual LST remained stable (Slope (S) = 0.0014 K/yr, p > 0.05).
• Significant seasonal contrasts emerged: cooling during growing seasons (S = -0.05 K/yr, p < 0.05) and mild warming in non-growing seasons (S = 0.076 K/yr, p > 0.05).
• Diurnal asymmetry was evident, with daytime LST cooling (S = -0.106 K/yr, p < 0.05) and nighttime LST warming (S = 0.064 K/yr, p = 0.06).
• Grasslands showed unique warming trends in both annual (S = 0.093 K/yr, p = 0.08) and non-growing seasons (S = 0.22 K/yr, p < 0.05), contrasting with cooling in croplands and forests.
• The reduction in daytime LST was primarily driven by ET, contributing -0.08 K/yr.
• The increase in nighttime LST was mainly regulated by Albedo, with a contribution of 0.07 K/yr.
• During growing seasons, soil moisture (SM) was the key driver of cooling, contributing -0.028 K/yr.
• In non-growing seasons, LST warming was co-regulated by Albedo (0.038 K/yr) and LAI (0.059 K/yr).
• Compared to croplands and forests, grasslands exhibited increasing LST in annual and non-growing seasons, largely influenced by Albedo (0.07 K/yr), ET (0.05 K/yr), and LAI (0.1 K/yr).

Contributions

• Provides a systematic analysis of co-evolving trends in vegetation dynamics, soil moisture, ET, surface albedo, and LST, addressing a key gap in understanding multivariate synergies in non-stationary drylands.
• Quantifies the distinct biogeophysical effects of vegetation and land-use types in shaping LST variations at diurnal and seasonal scales in temperate water-limited regions.
• Offers critical insights for climate-land interactions and sustainable land management strategies.

Funding

• Not mentioned in the provided paper text.

Citation

@article{Lan2025Biogeophysical,
  author = {Lan, Lihua and Zhao, Wei and Wang, Zhenbo and He, Fei},
  title = {Biogeophysical warming effects of vegetation growth in the temperate water-limited region},
  journal = {Agricultural and Forest Meteorology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110886},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110886}
}