Hydrothermal coordination dominated vegetation restoration in open-pit mine reclamation across multiple climatic zones in arid and semi-arid China.

Abstract

Vegetation restoration in open-pit mining areas of arid and semi-arid regions faces challenges due to ecological fragility and complex climate-human interactions. This study analyzed vegetation recovery in over 200 mines across northern China (2001-2023) using remote sensing and meteorological data, assessing the influence of climate factors and reclamation years. A Hydrothermal Coordination Index (HCI) was developed to quantify vegetation sensitivity across climatic zones, reclamation modes, and reclamation stages. Results show an east-west shift from greening to browning, with humid zones outperforming arid ones in vegetation recovery. Moisture availability was the dominant driver, modulated by heat stress and regional heterogeneity. Reclamation structure complexity reduced reliance on precipitation. HCI strongly influenced vegetation trends, with the highest sensitivity observed during early reclamation and in zones with either optimal or poor hydrothermal balance. These findings highlight the need for region-specific mine reclamation strategies aligned with ecological and socio-economic contexts. This study offers critical insights and a methodological framework for climate-adaptive ecological restoration in vulnerable mining landscapes.