The increasing frequency of extreme climate events has become a defining characteristic of global environmental change, posing a growing threat to terrestrial ecosystems. Vegetation responses to climate extremes are complex and regionally variable. Using growing-season Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and six climatic variables, vegetation responses to extreme climate events across China were quantified, and their dominant climatic drivers were identified through trend and sensitivity analyses. Results revealed an overall greening trend across China, with 57.6% of vegetated areas showing an increasing NDVI, particularly in the subtropical and temperate monsoon regions. The spatial patterns of vegetation trends closely corresponded with the frequencies of vegetation anomalies. Coincidence analyses demonstrated pronounced zonal contrasts, with thermal extremes dominating the high-elevation regions, whereas combined thermal and moisture extremes regulated arid northern and humid monsoonal regions. Sensitivity analysis further revealed distinct zonal patterns of climatic control, with temperature and evaporative demand being dominant influences in the plateau and northern continental regions, mixed thermal–hydrological controls in the temperate monsoon zone, and combined low-temperature and drought limitations in the humid subtropical zone. Overall, extreme climate events are key drivers of vegetation anomalies in China and are strongly influenced by regional climate conditions and vegetation types.
Zhang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.