[Dynamic response and variance of vegetation in China from 1982 to 2015 under the asymmetric rate of temperature fluctuation.]

The impact of global warming on the growth and development of natural vegetation is an important concern worldwide. Based on the data from the vegetation normalization index, daytime temperature (T _max ), nighttime temperature (T _min ), precipitation, and elevation from 1982 to 2015, we examined the day-night warming response of 42 types of natural vegetation in China. The results showed that both the temperature at day and night was significantly increased in the study area, with obvious asymmetry. The night warming was about 1.6 times as high as that at daytime. The T _min was more conducive to vegetation growth than the T _max . The proportion of vegetation types with positive relationship with T _min was greater than the T _max , with significant spatial difference. Subtropical vegetation accounted for 85.7% of vegetation with positive correlation with T _max . The temperate alpine, mountainous, and desert vegetation responded more positively to T _min . The increase of T _min was not conducive to the growth and development of vegetation at high altitudes, while that of T _max was the opposite. The correlations of vegetation growth with T _max and T _min were as follows: steppe > meadow > needleleaf forest > desert vegetation > broadleaf forest; meadow > desert vegetation > broadleaf forest > steppe > needleleaf forest.