Li et al. (2025) Impacts of drought on the spring phenology of temperate vegetation along a climate gradient: a case study in Inner Mongolia

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Environmental Management
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-13
• Authors: Haoxin Li, Yadong Wang, Jia Qi, Weiyan Wang, Jing Zhang, Pengfei Xing, Huawei Wan, Yanlong Li
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127568

Research Groups

• Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
• Collaborative Innovation Center for Grassland Ecological Security, Ministry of Education of China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
• State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
• Satellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing, China

Short Summary

This study investigated the differential impacts of various drought types (atmospheric, shallow-soil, deep-soil, comprehensive) on the start of greening season (SOS) of temperate vegetation along a climate aridity gradient in Inner Mongolia, revealing varied lag effects, relative importance, and sensitivities across different vegetation types and aridity levels.

Objective

• To analyze the differential impacts of various drought types on the start of greening season (SOS) and how these effects vary along climate aridity gradients in Inner Mongolia, focusing on lag effects, relative importance, sensitivity, and interactions.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Inner Mongolia, China.
• Temporal Scale: Not explicitly defined in the provided text, but implies a multi-year analysis of spring phenology.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Machine learning models (CatBoost, SHAP for interpretation), Partial correlation.
• Data sources: Remote sensing, four types of constructed drought datasets.

Main Results

• Increasing drought intensity from atmospheric, shallow-soil, and comprehensive droughts delayed the SOS.
• Deep-soil drought delayed the SOS in steppe areas but advanced it in forest areas.
• With increasing climate aridity, the lag effects of atmospheric and shallow-soil droughts on the SOS became pronounced, whereas the effect of deep-soil drought exhibited a weakening trend.
• The lag effects of comprehensive droughts were stronger in forests than in steppes.
• Atmospheric drought exhibited the strongest impact on the SOS among all drought types considered.
• The effect of soil drought in forests was stronger than that in steppes, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for comprehensive drought.
• The effects of different drought types on the SOS along the climate aridity gradient demonstrated notable differences in sensitivity.
• Distinct interactions between various drought types in their effects on SOS were observed.

Contributions

• Demonstrates the differential effects of various drought types on vegetation phenology (SOS) and how these effects vary along climate aridity gradients.
• Provides insights into the lag effects, relative importance, sensitivity, and interactions of different drought types on SOS across different vegetation types.
• Supports the development of climate-smart strategies for sustainable vegetation management.

Funding

• Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Li2025Impacts,
  author = {Li, Haoxin and Wang, Yadong and Qi, Jia and Wang, Weiyan and Zhang, Jing and Xing, Pengfei and Wan, Huawei and Li, Yanlong},
  title = {Impacts of drought on the spring phenology of temperate vegetation along a climate gradient: a case study in Inner Mongolia},
  journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127568},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127568}
}