Altitude and temperature dependence of change in the spring vegetation green-up date from 1982 to 2006 in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

► Trend in vegetation green up date shows discontinuity in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. ► Trend towards earlier vegetation green-up till 1990s was stalled in the recent decade. ► Shift in green-up temporal evolution seems related to differing temperature trends. ► The spatial patterns of vegetation green-up and its change are altitude dependent.