# Variational Characteristics of Vegetation Recovery Period Under Extreme Drought Across Various Land Cover Types in Guizhou Province, China

## TL;DR

This study explores how vegetation in Guizhou, China, recovers after extreme droughts, showing that recovery time varies by land type and drought severity.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into vegetation recovery dynamics across different land cover types under extreme drought conditions in Guizhou.

## Key findings

- Droughts in Guizhou mostly occur in summer and autumn, with recovery periods varying by region and land cover type.
- Forests and shrublands take longer to recover from droughts compared to croplands.
- Drought duration and severity significantly influence the length of vegetation recovery periods.

## Abstract

Drought, a recurring climatic challenge characterized by water scarcity, significantly affects the growth and functional stability of terrestrial vegetation. This study closely examines how extreme droughts vary and how the vegetation recovery period changes on the basis of multi‐source meteorological and remote satellite data. It also assesses the impacts of specific drought characteristics on vegetation recovery time in Guizhou Province, China. The results indicate that drought events are predominantly observed in the summer and autumn seasons across most of Guizhou Province, with a notable cessation of these dry spells often occurring in September and October. The northern and southwestern regions of Guizhou Province tend to experience the onset of drought conditions at an earlier date than other regions, with a concomitant trend of earlier termination of drought events in the northern locales. Droughts typically last 3–5 months, with mild and moderate droughts being the most common. The spatial distribution of vegetation recovery period from the droughts follows a discernible pattern, with most areas recovering within 2 months after drought ceases, whereas the Guiyang, Zunyi, Qiannan, and Qiandongnan regions need 4 to 6 months to recover in some years. Furthermore, substantial variations in vegetation recovery patterns have been observed among diverse land cover types. The average recovery period of forests ranged from 1.60 to 2.98 months, that of shrublands from 1.76 to 3.21 months, whereas the vegetation in croplands showed a relatively shorter recovery period, with most areas returning to normal levels within approximately 1 month. The recovery characteristics of vegetation were jointly influenced by the features of drought. Drought duration and severity often prolonged the length of the recovery period. This study provides a scientific basis for the formulation of regional drought management and ecological conservation strategies.

Assessing characteristics of drought over the last 20 years in Guizhou Province, China. Unraveling the dynamics of vegetation recovery period across various land cover types. Drought duration and severity determine vegetation recovery period.