# Desertification Mitigation in Northern China Was Promoted by Climate Drivers after 2000  
[PERSON]  
1 Key Laboratory of Climate Resource Development and Disaster Prevention of Gansu Province, Research and Development Center of Earth System Model, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University,  
Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
1 Key Laboratory of Climate Resource Development and Disaster Prevention of Gansu Province, Research and Development Center of Earth System Model, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University,  
Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
222 Ningxia Key Laboratory for Meteorological Disaster Prevention and Reduction, Yinchuan 750002, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
1 Key Laboratory of Climate Resource Development and Disaster Prevention of Gansu Province, Research and Development Center of Earth System Model, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University,  
Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
1 Key Laboratory of Climate Resource Development and Disaster Prevention of Gansu Province, Research and Development Center of Earth System Model, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Lanzhou University,  
Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
3 Northewest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Z.W. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.Z.) Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
3 Northewest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Z.W. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.Z.) Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
3 Northewest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Z.W. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.Z.) Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
3 Northewest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (Z.W. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.Z.) Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
3 Northewest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.Z.) Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
desertification and different periods focused, the contributions of different factors to desertification in the past remain uncertain [23; 24; 25]. For example, results based on an ensemble of ecosystem models suggested that the effect of CO\({}_{2}\) fertilization is the main cause of desertification mitigation [26]. However, an observation-based attribution study indicated that anthropogenic climate change has driven more than five million square kilometers of drylands towards desertification around the world [16]. In semi-arid alpine mountains, low elevation areas have a high risk of desertification expansion due to grazing [27]. Furthermore, based on observations of high-resolution satellite data and a global probability-based sample, it was determined that 60% of the change in global land cover could be attributed to anthropogenic land-use practices, while the residual 40% stemmed from a confluence of other factors, including climate drivers [28]. Thus, quantifying the contribution of human activity and climate drivers still needs further investigation. China is severely impacted by desertification [29; 30]. The total area of land undergoing desertification in China has escalated to 2.62 million km\({}^{2}\), accounting for 27.33% of the country's aggregate landmass. The majority of the desertification is concentrated in Northern China (NC) [31]. Desertification in NC has changed over the past several decades, with mitigation and exacerbation not occurring uniformly [32]. As an important factor contributing to desertification, the climate in NC has experienced interdecadal variability. The desertification region is sensitive and vulnerable to climate change.