Increasing summertime low-level cloud cover associated with increasing vegetation in China from 2003 to 2022

Vegetation impacts on cloud physical properties and climate. The rapid greening in China in the past two decades, which contributed the most to global greening, may influence clouds in the region. However, due to the influence of a rapid concomitant decline in aerosol levels in China and of global warming, such influence of vegetation change is yet to be clarified. By utilizing observation data from satellite, we explored the impact of vegetation change on summertime low-level cloud cover in China from 2003 to 2022. After excluding the influence of changing aerosol and temperature on clouds, we revealed a significant positive correlation between vegetation changes and low-level cloud cover. Moreover, we explored the underlying mechanisms through which vegetation exerts its influence on clouds. We found that such influence is mediated through enhancing surface water vapor content by vegetation as well as altering net surface radiation and sensible heat flux.