Research in Cold and Arid Regions最新文献

{"title":"Extraction of Cladophora blooms in Qinghai Lake based on multi-source satellite remote sensing images and super-resolution method","authors":"XiaoLing Gao,&nbsp;XiaoJun Yao,&nbsp;TongYu Wu,&nbsp;Cong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cladophora blooms, a type of large filamentous green algae, have garnered considerable attention in recent years due to their substantial outbreaks associated with climate change. Cladophora blooms are predominantly distributed along the coast in patchy patterns. However, the use of medium spatial resolution remote sensing images (<em>e.g.</em>, Landsat and Sentinel series) poses challenges for precise area quantification of these blooms. This study applied three super-resolution models—VapSR, Real-ESRGAN, and EDiffSR—using GF-2 PMS images to enhance the resolution of Landsat OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI images. The results indicate that: (1) The VapSR model achieved the highest Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), with values of 31.99 and 0.88, respectively, followed by Real-ESRGAN (PSNR = 30.10, SSIM = 0.78), while EDiffSR had the lowest scores. The VapSR model excelled in reducing image noise and maintaining detail. (2) The VapSR model successfully enhanced the spatial resolution of Landsat OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI images to 3.75 m and 2.5 m, respectively. Compared to UAV-measured data, the area errors from the original Landsat OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI images were 179.63% and 78.10%, respectively, whereas the super-resolution images reduced these errors to 101.85% and 50.79%. Utilizing super-resolution Landsat OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI images decreased the errors in estimating Cladophora bloom areas by 77.78% and 27.31%, respectively, compared to their original counterparts. These findings underscore the efficacy of super-resolution techniques in minimizing area calculation errors for Cladophora blooms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 4","pages":"Pages 322-334"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148780816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vegetation–Climate–Topography coupling in a cold temperate region: Evidence from the Genhe Basin (2000–2019)","authors":"Yao Xiao,&nbsp;GuoJie Hu,&nbsp;Lin Zhao,&nbsp;Ren Li,&nbsp;TongHua Wu,&nbsp;XiaoDong Wu,&nbsp;GuangYue Liu,&nbsp;ErJi Du,&nbsp;DeFu Zou,&nbsp;YiFan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2026.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2026.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vegetation in cold temperate regions is shaped by a mix of climate pressures and terrain influences, often in uneven and place-specific ways. This study explores how vegetation, climate, and topography interact across the Genhe Basin from 2000 to 2019, using MODIS NDVI data, both station-based and gridded temperature records, and high-resolution terrain metrics. Warming was most evident in spring and winter, while precipitation showed a moderate upward trend. Vegetation greenness increased slightly (0.014 per decade, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) but significantly, mainly in high-elevation forested areas. In the warm southern lowlands, NDVI stagnated or slightly declined despite surface warming, especially in the agro-pastoral belt where increasing heat, moisture limitation, and land management interact. Topographic analysis further shows that greening responses are enhanced at mid-to-high elevations and on 5°–15° slopes with higher moisture convergence, whereas the low, warm agro-pastoral belt remains comparatively unresponsive. Pixel-wise Pearson and partial correlations indicate that precipitation exerts the dominant independent control on interannual NDVI variability, while localized negative NDVI–LST relationships persist in warmer, drier lowlands. Block-wise variance partitioning attributes a larger unique share of NDVI trend variance to terrain (Δ<em>R</em>²=0.066) than to climate (Δ<em>R</em>²=0.022), indicating that terrain explains roughly three times more of the spatial differences in vegetation change than climate alone. Rather than a uniform trend, vegetation responses reflected local climatic stress and terrain-mediated buffering, pointing to a need for spatially nuanced understanding of ecosystem dynamics under climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 4","pages":"Pages 299-308"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148780877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the distributional response of Sphagnum mosses to climate change in Hengduan Mountains","authors":"Ning Shi,&nbsp;BingHui Tian,&nbsp;JinNiu Wang,&nbsp;XianLin Guo,&nbsp;Lin Zhang,&nbsp;Ning Wu,&nbsp;Huai Chen,&nbsp;Yan Wu,&nbsp;WenTao Du","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is profoundly reshaping species distributions, especially for ecologically important taxa like <em>Sphagnum</em>, which represent a key functional group responsible for carbon sequestration function in peatland ecosystems. Understanding their potential distribution is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and sustainable management practices. The MaxEnt model was applied in this study to predict the suitable habitats of <em>Sphagnum</em> across the Hengduan Mountains (HDM), with a particular attention to the differences between the western Hengduan Mountains (WHDM) and the entire HDM region. Our analysis identified precipitation during the coldest quarter is the most influential climatic variable determining <em>Sphagnum</em> distribution. Currently, suitable habitat within HDM spans 26,000 km². Projections indicate this area may expand more than eightfold under future scenarios, accompanied by a noticeable northeastward and upslope shift. In contrast, WHDM's current suitable habitat (10,600 km²) is projected to contract by over 70% under most future scenarios, shifting southward and to lower elevations. These contrasting regional responses of <em>Sphagnum</em> to climate change provide new thinking for targeted protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 4","pages":"Pages 309-321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148780876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Meteorological environment and risks along the Arctic Northeast Passage","authors":"JinLei Chen,&nbsp;ChengDe Yang,&nbsp;ShiChang Kang,&nbsp;HuLin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With rapid warming in the Arctic region, the navigability of the Arctic has improved in recent decades. Except for the sea ice, meteorological conditions are also very important for navigation safety. In this study, crucial meteorological factors and their control areas along the Northeast Passage (NEP) were analyzed by using observations. In addition, the risks in the operations and safety of sailors were investigated with meteorological thresholds identified by the Inuit people. The impact area of low temperatures is the East Siberian Sea (−13 °C to −17 °C under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 1-2.6), especially in the waters located north of the New Siberian Islands and within the Dmitrii Laptev Strait and Sannikov Strait. The precipitation, wind speed, and visibility decrease, and the atmospheric humidity increases eastward from the Kara Sea. The Kara Sea and Laptev Sea are mainly dominated by eastward wind, while westward wind is very significant in the East Siberian Sea and Chukchi Sea. Under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2-4.5 scenario, the Kara Sea is projected to present low meteorological risk from 2026 to 2030, while higher risks persist in the eastern NEP. In contrast, under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5-8.5 scenario, medium risks become more prevalent, particularly through the Sannikov Strait and north of the New Siberian Islands. The above results are highly important for the meteorological navigation of Arctic shipping and for the formulation of relevant international navigation policies in the Arctic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 4","pages":"Pages 335-342"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148780817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The responses of various east Asian summer monsoon northern boundary indicators to monsoon intensity and their applicability","authors":"YingYiBing Shen,&nbsp;DeZhong Zhang,&nbsp;Xue Peng,&nbsp;ZhuoLun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.05.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.05.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The expansion and contraction of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) northern boundary serve as a key indicator of its intensity variations and exert profound influences on the formation and movement of the summer rainbelt in China. Currently, the definition of the EASM northern boundary can be derived from multiple perspectives. However, there are still no unified views for the response of different indicators to variations in monsoon intensity, and their applicability in climate research remains to be further clarified. In this study, we selected three common indicators that reflect the EASM northern boundary: precipitation, water vapor flux divergence, and wind field. A systematic comparison was conducted to evaluate the differences among these three indicators in capturing EASM intensity variations and characterizing the spatiotemporal variation of northern boundary. Furthermore, we assessed the applicability of each indicator from the perspective of precipitation. Results demonstrate that all three indicators can reflect EASM northern boundary intensity variations, with the water vapor flux divergence indicator exhibiting superior performance. Anomalous northward shifts in the precipitation and water vapor flux divergence boundaries are generally associated with enhanced summer precipitation. Conversely, a northward movement of the wind field boundary may be indicative of reduced summer precipitation. Overall, the precipitation northern boundary can indicate the summer precipitation anomalies best. Furthermore, shifts in all three EASM northern boundaries can respond the movements of the summer rainbelt. Notably, anomalous northward displacement of the water vapor flux divergence northern boundary serves as the best indicator of indicating the northward displacement of summer rainbelt.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 4","pages":"Pages 355-365"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148780878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The grain size end-members of aeolian deposits and their implications in the Menyuan Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau","authors":"YunKun Shi,&nbsp;Qiang Peng,&nbsp;ChongYi E,&nbsp;ZhaoKang Zhang,&nbsp;YongJuan Sun,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;JiaWei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.05.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.05.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is located at the intersection of the Asian monsoons and Westerlies, serving as a significant site for studying atmospheric circulation variations. The Menyuan Basin is characterized by extensive aeolian deposits, and the loess-paleosol sequence within the basin preserves abundant provenance and aerodynamic information. This research utilizes parametric grain size end-member (EM) analysis on the Yahecun profile within the Menyuan Basin, in conjunction with optically stimulated luminescence dating, to elucidate the composition, transport, and sedimentary processes of grain size. The study's key findings are as follows: (1) Five distinct grain size groups were identified, each corresponding to specific transport mechanisms. EM1 (2.19 μm) is indicative of pedogenesis; EM2 (10 μm) represents suspended particles transported over long distances by the Westerlies; EM3 (31.67 μm) signifies regional wind-driven floating dust; EM4 (59.18 μm) is associated with coarse silt carried by nearby winter monsoons; and EM5 (120.23 μm) corresponds to local sand mobilized by strong winter monsoons. (2) The variability of EMs is controlled by different factors. EM1 is influenced by moisture of the East Asian summer monsoon and Westerlies. EM2 is governed by the position of the Westerlies. EM3 is regulated by local circulations including surface vegetation and a diminished winter monsoon. EM4 and EM5 are shaped by winter monsoon driven by high-latitude insolation, global ice volume, and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. (3) The deposition of loess in Menyuan integrates components from distant, intermediate, and proximal sources. The deserts and alluvial fans in Central Asia, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and areas adjacent to the Menyuan Basin serve as major source regions for the Yahecun profile. Additionally, fluvial sediments, glacial lacustrine deposits, and alluvial fans within the basin significantly contribute to the provenance of coarse particles in the Menyuan loess.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 4","pages":"Pages 343-354"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148780875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Input-output analysis of economic linkages between China and Arctic countries","authors":"QiaoXia Liang,&nbsp;YaoKun Hu,&nbsp;Wei Zhang,&nbsp;Yang Yang,&nbsp;Min Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of climate change, the growing cost-efficiency of Arctic shipping routes is expected to enhance maritime activities between China and Arctic countries. As one of the world's leading trade powers, China has implemented a series of policies and guidelines aimed at Arctic resource development and engagement in Arctic governance. However, the industrial interdependencies between China and Arctic countries, as well as strategies for reshaping leadership and hub roles within global interdependence frameworks, remain underexplored. This study employs global input-output tables from 2013 to 2022, utilizing input-output (IO) model and the Hubness Measurement Index (HM) to examine the industrial trade value distribution and dependency relationships between China and the Arctic countries. Our analysis identifies several key industrial sectors with higher influence coefficients, including manufacturing (1.09), wholesale and retail trade (1.07), and finance (1.04), which play significant roles in driving regional economic development in both China and Arctic countries. Furthermore, the construction sector exhibits remarkably high sensitivity coefficients (4.93) in both China and Arctic nations, followed by public administration (3.03) and professional activities (2.58), indicating strong demand-driven economic effects. Between 2013 and 2022, China's economic dependence on Arctic nations, contrasted by increased dependence on China among most Arctic countries, particularly Russia. This growing reliance stemmed principally from the robust growth of China's core industries, notably manufacturing, mining, and construction. These sectors not only fueled China's domestic economic expansion but also reshaped the trade dependency patterns of Arctic economies. This study analyzes key industrial sectors that strengthen trade between China and Arctic countries, contributing to both economic restructuring and the evolution of bilateral trade patterns. It further aims to provide policy recommendations to promote the sustainability of trade relations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 3","pages":"Pages 245-257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148573176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Machine learning with feature selection reveals key drivers of multi-depth soil moisture content","authors":"Qi Wu,&nbsp;JiaXin Bian,&nbsp;XiaoLi Wang,&nbsp;XiaoYing Qiao,&nbsp;Ning Wang,&nbsp;Yue You","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil moisture content (SMC) plays a vital role in agricultural productivity, water resource management, and ecosystem sustainability in semi-arid regions. Despite this importance, most existing machine learning models mainly rely on remote sensing data to predict the soil moisture variation in the surface soil; however, they are constrained by redundant input features and limited interpretability. To address these shortcomings, this study combines the Random Forest (RF) algorithm, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and the Transformer framework to develop a hybrid RF-CNN-Transformer model. Specifically, the RF algorithm, CNN, and Transformer framework are respectively used for selecting influential features, extracting spatial patterns, and capturing long-term temporal dependencies. Applied to the Mu Us Sandy Land using data from six soil depths (5, 10, 20, 40, 70, and 87 cm), the model demonstrated high prediction accuracy and training efficiency across all layers compared to baseline models, with <em>R</em>^<em>2</em> values ranging from 0.8586 to 0.984 (mean <em>R</em>² = 0.9507). Interpretability analysis revealed a shift in the controlling mechanisms of soil moisture: shallow-layer SMC is jointly influenced by meteorological conditions and groundwater level, whereas groundwater becomes the dominant factor in deeper layers. Notably, due to the extremely dry climate, precipitation has a relatively minor impact on soil moisture dynamics across all depths. Overall, the proposed RF-CNN-Transformer model enhances both the predictive capability and interpretability of soil moisture variation, supporting precision irrigation and water resource optimization in agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 3","pages":"Pages 270-283"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148573178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drought adaptation strategies of Platycladus orientalis in the Western Loess Plateau: Differential water uptake on sunny and shady slopes","authors":"MeiLing Sun,&nbsp;MingJun Zhang,&nbsp;Yu Zhang,&nbsp;CunWei Che,&nbsp;YuQuan Qiang,&nbsp;Rui Lu,&nbsp;ShengJie Wang,&nbsp;WanMin Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.10.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding water use strategies of plants is essential for sustainable water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions. Topography significantly influences water distribution, making it vital to explore vegetation water use strategies across different slopes. Our study aimed to explore the influences of slope orientation on the water use strategies and root system adaptability of <em>Platycladus orientalis</em> in the western Loess Plateau under seasonal climate variability. During the 2024 dry (April–May) and wet (July–August) seasons, we collected xylem and root samples of <em>P</em>. <em>orientalis</em>, soil samples (0−200 cm) and precipitation samples on sunny and shady slopes in the western Loess Plateau. The water uptake strategies and their seasonal dynamics were investigated using stable isotope techniques (<em>δ</em>²H and <em>δ</em>¹⁸O) coupled with Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR), with particular emphasis on slope-induced variations in root distribution patterns. In the dry season, <em>P. orientalis</em> on sunny slopes absorbed soil water from the 40−100 cm (29.35%) and 100−200 cm (28.90%) layers, while on shady slopes mainly used water from the 0−10 cm (27.65%), 40−100 cm (26.25%) and 100−200 cm (21.15%). In the wet season, deep soil water remained the main source for sunny slopes (31.95%), whereas shady slopes utilized water evenly from all soil layers. This difference was attributed to the higher percentage of fine root biomass (PFRB) in the 100−200 cm layer on sunny slopes compared to shady slopes. Our findings demonstrated that <em>P. orientalis</em> on sunny slopes adapt to drought environment through developing deeper root systems to access deep soil water, enhancing drought resistance, while those on shady slopes relied more on shallow soil water, requiring supplemental irrigation under extreme droughts. This research supports sustainable vegetation restoration and water resource management in the western Loess Plateau region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 3","pages":"Pages 258-269"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148573177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal variations of vegetation cover in the Qilian Mountains from 2000 to 2023","authors":"YingYing Zhang,&nbsp;XiaoJun Yao,&nbsp;ShengYun Chen,&nbsp;Jing Li,&nbsp;YiDan Liu,&nbsp;HongYu Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.03.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rcar.2025.03.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Qilian Mountains (QLM) are characterized by their ecological fragility and environmental sensitivity. Vegetation, the dominant ecosystem in this region, plays a crucial role in water conservation, climate regulation and biodiversity protection. Based on fractional vegetation cover (<em>FVC</em>) data, this study employed trend analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and PLS-PM (Partial Least Squares Path Modeling, PLS-PM) methods to investigate the current distribution characteristics of vegetation in the QLM in 2023 from the perspectives of annual and intra-annual variations, with a detailed exploration of its latitudinal zonality and regional differentiation patterns. Additionally, the spatiotemporal trends of vegetation changes in the QLM from 2000 to 2023 were analyzed, and the contributions of various influencing factors to vegetation dynamics were assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results indicated that: (1) In 2023, the <em>FVC</em> in the QLM exhibited a pattern of lower values in the northwest and higher values in the southeast, with overall vegetation coverage being relatively low. The Huangshui River Basin (HB) had the highest mean <em>FVC</em> at 0.51, while the Haerteng River Basin (HETRB) had the lowest mean <em>FVC</em> at 0.05. Mean <em>FVC</em> decreased with elevation, peaking in the 2,500–3,000 m altitude range. The 98°E longitude line served as a distinct boundary, with more abundant vegetation coverage in the east than in the west. Higher monthly mean <em>FVC</em> values was observed between June and October. Vertical zonal differences in <em>FVC</em> distribution across different basins were significant, with the maximum <em>FVC</em> value of 0.96 observed in July within the 3,000–3,500 m elevation range of the HB. (2) From 2000 to 2023, vegetation in the QLM showed an increasing trend, with the rate of increase fluctuating with elevation and exhibiting upward fluctuations with increasing longitude. Significant differences in vegetation change rates were observed across different basins. The Shiyang River Basin (SYRB) had the highest average annual <em>FVC</em> increase rate at 0.40%, while the HETRB and the Yuka-Tataleng River Basin (YKTTLRB) had the lowest rates at 0.13%. The average <em>FVC</em> change rate demonstrated a significant increasing trend from May to October. (3) Climate remained the primary driver of vegetation growth, exerting a significant direct effect on <em>FVC</em> with a coefficient of 0.9072. Among climatic factors, actual evapotranspiration and precipitation were identified as the dominant influences on vegetation change in the QLM. Altitude and solar radiation had negative feedback effects on <em>FVC</em>, with coefficients of −0.0090 and −0.2244, respectively. Among all factors, climate exhibited a significant total effect (0.6125) on human activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53163,"journal":{"name":"Research in Cold and Arid Regions","volume":"18 3","pages":"Pages 226-236"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148573246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}