1.School of Geographical Science,China West Normal University,Nanchong,Sichuan 637009,China
2.Sichuan Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Monitoring and Control for Soil Erosion on;Dry Valleys,China West Normal University,Nanchong,Sichuan 637009,China
3.Research Institute of Jialing River Basin,China West Normal University,Nanchong,Sichuan 637009,China
Objective This study aims to identify the spatiotemporal evolution process and dominant driving mechanisms of drought in Southwest China, which is of profound significance for exploring the spatiotemporal distribution of drought in China. Methods Based on the temperature vegetation drought index (TVDI), the spatiotemporal variation characteristics and influencing factors of drought in Yanyuan County from 2001 to 2024 were systematically analyzed using Theil-Sen slope analysis, Mann-Kendall test, geodetector, and Hurst index. Results (1) Over the past 24 years, the degree of regional drought generally showed an alleviating trend, with an interannual variation trend of -0.0003; (2) The spatial distribution pattern of TVDI in the study area showed a pattern of high in the east, low in the west, high in the south, and low in the north, with severe drought accounting for 29.5% (mainly distributed in the central basin and the eastern regions). Drought generally alleviated over the past 24 years, with about 67.5% of the region showing a decreasing trend in TVDI, mainly concentrated in the east and northwest. (3) Based on the geodetector analysis of drought change driving factors, leaf area index (q=0.34) and actual evapotranspiration (q=0.17) were the main factors affecting drought conditions in the study area. Among them, the interaction between leaf area index and precipitation had the strongest impact on TVDI, with a strength of 0.41, while the interaction between potential evapotranspiration and temperature was relatively weak; (4) Based on the Hurst index analysis, the drought evolution trend in the study area showed that drought conditions in the central basin and eastern regions of Yanyuan County have significantly intensified. Conclusion The overall drought in Yanyuan County has alleviated, but it has intensified in some local regions. Vegetation coverage and evapotranspiration are the core driving factors. In the future, drought in the central basin and eastern regions is expected to continue worsening, and these regions should be designated as key monitoring and risk prevention zones for drought.
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