Response characteristics of near-surface air temperature to soil moisture across different climate zones in china

Soil moisture (SM) not only directly influences surface energy balance but also significantly alters near-surface air temperature (T) by modulating latent and sensible heat fluxes, thereby affecting regional climate and ecosystem stability. This study decodes how SM shapes T across China from 1980 to 2023, using the evaporative fraction-soil moisture (EF-SM) coupling method. Key findings highlight strong spatial heterogeneity: while most regions cool with wetter soils-especially inner Mongolia (∂T/∂SM, -22.38) and closed shrublands, the Qinghai-Tibet plateau shows unusual warming feedback (+1.07). SM-driven temperature changes are most extreme in arid inner Mongolia (1.76°C), far surpassing humid south China (0.28°C). The regulatory role also shifts by climate: EF directly controls temperature in dry zones, while SM indirectly influences it in humid regions. These insights refine climate predictions and ecological strategies under global change.