Vegetation greening decrease water yield during the growing season over the Qinling-Daba Mountains in Central China

Qinling-Daba Mountains region (QB) in central China. Vegetation changes significantly influence the water cycle in different regions. However, the response of water yield (defined as precipitation minus evapotranspiration) to vegetation greening in QB remains unclear. In this study, we used a water vapor tracer (WVT) method embedded in a regional climate model (WRF) to quantify the response of water yield to vegetation greening during the growing season in the QB. Vegetation greening could increase evapotranspiration by 5.12 mm month −1 and precipitation by 1.20 mm month −1 , which led to the water yield decreased by 3.92 mm month −1 (6.88 %). The enhanced evapotranspiration was mainly attributed to the increase in leaf area index and vegetation fraction, and the increased precipitation was related to the enhanced evapotranspiration and changes of precipitation efficiency. In addition, vegetation greening could alter atmospheric circulations, resulting in a significant reduction in the water vapor inflow entering QB. This study clarified how the vegetation greening in QB affected the local water yield, which could help guide the sustainable ecological restoration and management of water resources in the local and surrounding areas. • Vegetation greening in QB increased both evapotranspiration and precipitation. • Water yield in QB was decreased by 6.88 % due to vegetation greening. • Vegetation greening slightly changed precipitation efficiency in QB. • Vegetation greening inhibited the inflow of water vapor in QB.