LAUSR

It is of great importance to study the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation and its influencing factors at a regional scale in plateau mountainous cities for ecological restoration and management and maintenance of ecosystem stability. This study employed MODIS NDVI data to construct a kNDVI dataset for the growing season in Kunming, with the aim of exploring the spatiotemporal variations in vegetation more precisely. The study analyzed the trends and stability of kNDVI and investigated the primary drivers of kNDVI dynamics in Kunming. The results show that the regional proportion of higher-level kNDVI is more than half, and vegetation in the growing season has shown an improvement trend. The primary factors influencing kNDVI variations in Kunming include soil type, landform type, nighttime light intensity, and slope gradient. The pairwise interactions among factors have a more substantial impact on vegetation dynamics compared to individual factors, with the interaction between soil type and nighttime light intensity being particularly pronounced. The results offer scientific bases for assessing and managing ecological environment quality in plateau-mountainous cities.