Data for: Drought Intensity and Frequency Differentially Shape Vegetation Resistance and Resilience Across China

This repository contains the dataset for the manuscript titled "Drought Intensity and Frequency Differentially Shape Vegetation Resistance and Resilience Across China". Drought strongly affects vegetation stability and ecosystem functioning, yet the spatial variability and trade-offs between vegetation resistance and resilience remain insufficiently understood. This study assessed vegetation resistance and resilience to drought across China from 2000 to 2020 using GLASS leaf area index data and the high-temporal-resolution Standardized Adjusted Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. Vegetation resistance and resilience were quantified at the pixel scale, and their spatiotemporal patterns, responses to drought intensity and frequency, trade-offs, and recovery dynamics were analyzed across different climate zones and vegetation types. The results showed pronounced spatial heterogeneity in vegetation drought stability, with resistance and resilience exhibiting contrasting regional distributions. Drought intensity mainly reduced vegetation resistance, whereas frequent droughts more strongly constrained post-drought resilience, indicating distinct ecological effects of drought severity and recurrence. A widespread negative relationship between resistance and resilience revealed that vegetation generally cannot maximize drought tolerance and recovery capacity simultaneously. Drought severity-recovery time curves further demonstrated substantial differences in recovery dynamics among ecosystems, with humid regions exhibiting stronger recovery potential and arid regions showing limited recovery capacity under severe drought stress. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the principal spatial drought-response patterns remained robust across alternative Standardized Adjusted Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SAPEI) parameterizations (Pearson ). Overall, the findings demonstrate that vegetation drought stability is multidimensional and governed by complex trade-offs between disturbance resistance and post-drought recovery. This study provides new insights into ecosystem stability under increasing drought stress and offers a basis for improving regional vegetation management and drought adaptation strategies.