Thermal growing season and response of alpine grassland to climate variability across the Three-Rivers Headwater Region, China

- The extension of tGSL is equally attributed to earlier tGSS and delayed tGSE.
- The earlier tGSS and delayed tGSE were weakened between 2000 and 2013.
- The aGSS was triggered by winter and spring temperature.
- The aGSE was associated with summer temperature and precipitation.
- The actual growing season possibly move forward rather than extended in length.