Background Eastern Inner Mongolia is sensitive to climate change and characterized by a fragile ecological environment. Intense wind erosion not only causes the loss of cultivated topsoil and a decline in organic matter content but also accelerates soil quality degradation due to long-term high-intensity land use, damaging the natural environment. Therefore, elucidating the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of climatic erosivity of wind erosion and its influencing factors in eastern Inner Mongolia may provide a theoretical foundation for soil wind erosion prevention and control in the region.

Methods Based on daily meteorological data from 32 weather stations in and around eastern Inner Mongolia (Hulunbuir, Xing'an League, Tongliao, and Chifeng) from 1961 to 2019, including precipitation (mm), sunshine duration (h), average relative humidity (%), average wind speed (m/s), maximum temperature (℃), and minimum temperature (℃), the method proposed by the FAO was applied to calculate the wind erosion climatic erosivity (C-factor). We employed linear trend analysis and cumulative anomaly methods to evaluate the temporal variation characteristics of C-factor across different periods (interdecadal, annual, seasonal, and monthly) in the study area. The spatial distribution patterns of C-factor at annual, seasonal, and monthly scales were generated through geostatistical interpolation (Kriging). Partial correlation coefficient analysis was applied to identify the primary climatic factors influencing C-factor. Additionally, a comparative analysis of temporal trends in C-factor was conducted across three distinct climatic zones within the study region.

Results 1) In the past 60 years, the annual average value of the wind erosion climatic erosivity was 41.95 in the eastern region of Inner Mongolia, with a significant range of variation. The interdecadal average value of the wind erosion climatic erosivity showed a stepwise decrease-increase trend, and took 1989 as the inflection point, and showed a significant decrease and a non-significant increase in the trend, respectively. 2) The annual average value of the wind erosion climatic erosivity in the eastern region of Inner Mongolia ranged from 0.66 to 170, with obvious regional spatial distribution characteristics. The annual average value of the wind erosion climatic erosivity gradually increased from north to south along the Greater Khingan Mountains, with high-value areas in the western Hulunbuir Plateau, the West Liaohe Plain, and the Horqin Sandy Land. 3) The differences in natural climate zones affected the seasonal average value of the wind erosion climatic erosivity, which was manifested as moist sub-humid climate region < dry sub-humid climate region < semi-arid climate region. 4) Wind speed was the most important factor affected the wind erosion climatic erosivity in eastern Inner Mongolia, followed by precipitation, relative humidity, sunshine hours, average temperature, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature.

Conclusions Over the past 60 years, both annual and seasonal C-factor demonstrate consistent declining trends, mainly influenced by wind speed, precipitation, and relative humidity. These findings offer a scientific foundation for formulating targeted soil wind erosion control strategies in diverse agricultural regions, especially in areas with high C-factor in this study.