Climate Drivers Contribute in Vegetation Greening Stalls of Arid Xinjiang, China: An Atmospheric Water Drying Effect

Xinjiang, an arid region of China, has experienced a substantial warming–wetting trend over the past five decades. However, climate change affected vegetation growth/greening in Central Asia unexpected ways due to complex ecological effects. We found significant greening (consistent increase normalized difference index or NDVI) from 1982 1996, during growing season; however, NDVI consequently decreased and plateaued 1997 2015, especially naturally vegetated regions. Atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is critical driver growth, direct measure atmospheric aridity, increased sharply recent A partial correlation analysis indicated relationship between season VPD 2015. This implies that corresponds increasing NDVI, decrease plateauing trend. Using derivative equation method, our results suggest was primarily by (contributing 87.57%) grassland desert biomes. Rising temperatures lead greater VPD, resulting exacerbated evaporative water loss. Soil drought aridity limit plant stomatal conductance could effectively mortality Xinjiang. Our emphasize importance as limiting factor trends The influence on growth should be considered when evaluating ecosystem functioning under global warming.