China’s vegetation restoration linked to groundwater drought from 2003 to 2015​on October 21, 2026 at 5:30 am

Vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau started in 1999, which caused a significant decline in groundwater storage levels. From 2003 to 2015, researchers observed rapid vegetation growth alongside worsening groundwater drought conditions. The decline in groundwater was statistically significant and affected a larger area with more severe drought. Satellite data provided insights into the relationship between vegetation growth and groundwater drought across the region.