Spatiotemporal change in vegetation cover in the Yellow River Basin between 2000 and 2022 and driving forces analysis

In this paper, we investigate the features of spatiotemporal change in fractional vegetation cover (FVC) throughout the Yellow River Basin between 2000 and 2022 and identify the driving factors behind the change using the MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as a data source. On that basis, our research involves trend analysis and the center migration model to examine the correlation between vegetation cover changes and various factors, such as climates, topographies, soils, and human activities. In this way, we aim to uncover how such correlation contributed to the reduction in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in surface runoff. Results suggest that (1) the FVC of the Yellow River Basin has been trending upward over the past 23 years, and vegetation growth has been remarkably improved; (2) the center of medium-high and denser vegetation cover has progressively migrated from the upper reaches of the Yellow River down to its middle-lower segments; (3) soil erosion control measures are critical to improve vegetation cover, given the great impact of the shifting natural elements on vegetation cover changes on a local basis; (4) an improvement in vegetation cover leads to considerable positive change in the runoff and SSC of the Yellow River mainstem. This study has yielded noteworthy contributions in correctly understanding the current vegetation changes and related factors in the Yellow River Basin. Furthermore, it has laid the groundwork for further research in improving the accuracy of basic data and deepening the correlation between factors.