Biogeophysical warming effects of vegetation growth in the temperate water-limited region

• LST exhibits asymmetric variations in diurnal and seasonal scales. • LST cools in daytime/growing season (GS), warms in nighttime/non-growing season (NGS). • ET dominates daytime LST cooling; Albedo drives nighttime LST warming. • SM primarily lowers LST in GS; ET, Albedo, LAI co-lead LST increase in NGS. • Grassland is more prone to warming than cropland and forestland. Vegetation growth modulates land surface temperature (LST) through biogeophysical processes, yet these mechanisms remain insufficiently quantified. This study analyzed LST variations and their response to key biogeophysical factors—Albedo, evapotranspiration (ET), leaf area index (LAI), and soil moisture (SM)—across forests, grasslands, and croplands from 2000 to 2020. LST exhibited distinct daily (daytime vs. nighttime) and seasonal (growing vs. non-growing seasons) trend patterns. While annual LST remained stable (Slope (S) =0.0014 K/yr, p > 0.05), significant seasonal contrasts emerged: cooling during growing seasons ( S = -0.05 K/yr, p < 0.05 ) and mild warming in non-growing seasons ( S = 0.076 K/yr, p > 0.05). Diurnal asymmetry was evident, with daytime LST cooling ( S =-0.106 K/yr, p < 0.05) and nighttime LST warming ( S = 0.064 K/yr, p = 0.06). Grasslands showed unique warming trends in both annual ( S = 0.093 K/yr, p = 0.08) and non-growing seasons ( S = 0.22 K/yr, p < 0.05), contrasting with cooling in croplands and forests. The reduction in daytime LST was primarily driven by ET, contributing -0.08 K/yr, while the increase in nighttime LST was mainly regulated by Albedo, with a contribution of 0.07 K/yr. During growing seasons, SM was the key driver of cooling, contributing -0.028 K/yr. In contrast, LST warming in the non-growing seasons was co-regulated by Albedo (0.038 K/yr) and LAI (0.059 K/yr). Compared to croplands and forests, grasslands exhibited increasing LST in annual and non-growing season, largely influenced by Albedo (0.07 K/yr), ET (0.05K/yr), and LAI (0.1 K/yr). These findings highlighted the role of the biogeophysical effects of vegetation and land-use types in shaping LST variations, offering critical insights for climate-land interactions and sustainable land management.