Global temporal and spatial changes of vegetation in desert steppe Ecosystems: Impacts of climate driving factors

作者：Xiaonan Chen, Bochao Cui, Dongwei GUI, Qi Liu, Yunfei Liu, Qian Jin · 发表于：Ecological Indicators · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113333 · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology、Soil and Environmental Studies、Tree-ring climate responses

• Desert steppes are 82% concentrated in Eurasia, with Central Asia accounting for 45% of the total degraded area. • Temperature and vapor pressure drive 65% of vegetation recovery, while solar radiation and surface pressure cause 70% of degradation. • Remote sensing and SHAP analysis reveal 62% of degradation hotspots in Central Asia and U.S. Desert steppe ecosystems are crucial for global ecological stability and human well-being. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of long-term vegetation changes in desert steppes and their relationship with climatic factors, using GIMMS NDVI data (1993–2022) and multi-source climate datasets. The research finds that 82 % of global desert steppes are concentrated in Eurasia. Over the past 30 years, approximately 50 % of these ecosystems have experienced significant vegetation declines, with Central Asia being the most affected region, highlighting increased ecological vulnerability. Quantitative analysis shows that minimum temperature and vapor pressure contribute 7.26 % and 7.67 % to positive vegetation changes, respectively, while the leaf area index of low vegetation contributes the most (14.45 %), reflecting ecosystem resilience under favorable conditions. Conversely, solar radiation and surface pressure account for 29.38 % and 10.01 % of negative changes, respectively, with solar radiation having the most significant impact, particularly near critical aridity thresholds where ecosystem degradation is most pronounced. These fi...