Articles | Volume 29, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-613-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-613-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Feb 2025
Research article |
| 04 Feb 2025
| 04 Feb 2025
Assessing recovery time of ecosystems in China: insights into flash drought impacts on gross primary productivity
Mengge Lu
School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362 Lund, Sweden
School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Hubei Key Laboratory of Digital River Basin Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yong Yang
School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Jie Xue
State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ürümqi 830011, China
Hongbo Ling
State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ürümqi 830011, China
Hong Zhang
School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
Wenxin Zhang
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362 Lund, Sweden
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Depth-dependent effects of vegetation restoration on soil quality in ion-adsorbed rare earth leach residues: Insights from soil functions H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109683
- Spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of multidimensional ecosystem stability in China 2000–2022 K. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2026.108484
- Flash drought-driven forest gross primary productivity declines in China amplified by extreme heat T. Sun et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105515
- Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Net Ecosystem Productivity and Its Influencing Factors in Northwest China, 1982–2022 W. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060613
- Effects of land-use transitions on net carbon fluxes in a rapidly urbanizing and agriculturally intensification region M. Muluneh et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-026-07443-w
- Uncertainty Analysis of Gross Primary Production (GPP) Remote-Sensing Products and Its Influencing Factors in Southwest China Z. Ge et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18050764
- Dynamic impacts of urbanization development on carbon storage and NPP: spatiotemporal responses in the Wanjiang urban belt (2000–2020) J. Fang et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2026.1747268
- Australian flash drought research: Recent activities and ways forward A. Dikshit et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000628
- Drought duration outweighs intensity in governing ecosystem recovery time L. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181056
- Precipitation and shortwave radiation dominate vegetation recovery times from flash droughts across Köppen–Geiger climate zones L. Zou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111325
- Bedrock controls vegetation resilience: Dominant role of lithology in the 2022 southern China drought Q. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110991
- Distinguishing drought and flash drought: definitions, processes, and consequences A. Sabut et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135851
- Regional variations and climatic drivers of flash droughts during the growing season in China (2000–2020) M. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109685
- Response of ecosystem productivity and stability to flash droughts across moisture gradients in China L. Guo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2026.104105
- Cumulative and Lagged Effects of Drought on the Phenology of Different Vegetation Types in East Asia, 2001–2020 K. Deng et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17152700
- Drought impacts, recovery and legacy effects on vegetation productivity in the Yellow River Basin (2001–2023) Q. Wan et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-52350-9
- Decoupling of vegetation greening and resilience enhancing under a warming-wetting climate in coastal China over the past two decades Y. Guo & H. Jiang https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115620
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Depth-dependent effects of vegetation restoration on soil quality in ion-adsorbed rare earth leach residues: Insights from soil functions H. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109683
- Spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of multidimensional ecosystem stability in China 2000–2022 K. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2026.108484
- Flash drought-driven forest gross primary productivity declines in China amplified by extreme heat T. Sun et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105515
- Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Net Ecosystem Productivity and Its Influencing Factors in Northwest China, 1982–2022 W. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060613
- Effects of land-use transitions on net carbon fluxes in a rapidly urbanizing and agriculturally intensification region M. Muluneh et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-026-07443-w
- Uncertainty Analysis of Gross Primary Production (GPP) Remote-Sensing Products and Its Influencing Factors in Southwest China Z. Ge et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18050764
- Dynamic impacts of urbanization development on carbon storage and NPP: spatiotemporal responses in the Wanjiang urban belt (2000–2020) J. Fang et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2026.1747268
- Australian flash drought research: Recent activities and ways forward A. Dikshit et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000628
- Drought duration outweighs intensity in governing ecosystem recovery time L. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181056
- Precipitation and shortwave radiation dominate vegetation recovery times from flash droughts across Köppen–Geiger climate zones L. Zou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111325
- Bedrock controls vegetation resilience: Dominant role of lithology in the 2022 southern China drought Q. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110991
- Distinguishing drought and flash drought: definitions, processes, and consequences A. Sabut et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135851
- Regional variations and climatic drivers of flash droughts during the growing season in China (2000–2020) M. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109685
- Response of ecosystem productivity and stability to flash droughts across moisture gradients in China L. Guo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2026.104105
- Cumulative and Lagged Effects of Drought on the Phenology of Different Vegetation Types in East Asia, 2001–2020 K. Deng et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17152700
- Drought impacts, recovery and legacy effects on vegetation productivity in the Yellow River Basin (2001–2023) Q. Wan et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-52350-9
- Decoupling of vegetation greening and resilience enhancing under a warming-wetting climate in coastal China over the past two decades Y. Guo & H. Jiang https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115620
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 27 Oct 2026
Short summary
Our study explores how ecosystems recover after flash droughts. Using vegetation and soil moisture data, we found that recovery takes about 37.5 d on average (longer in central and southern regions) in China. Factors like post-drought radiation and temperature affect recovery, with extreme temperatures prolonging it. Herbaceous plants recover faster than forests. Our findings aid water resource management and drought monitoring on a large scale, offering insights into ecosystem resilience.
Our study explores how ecosystems recover after flash droughts. Using vegetation and soil...
