Table 3 Statistical relationship between the monthly albedo, VWC and EVI for the ten study sites in the non-growing season

Albedo ~ EVI

r = − 0.257; R² = 0.066; p = 0.06

(AIC = 151.6)

R² = 0.099; p < 0.01

(AIC = 149.7)

R² = 0.46; p < 0.01

(AIC = 106.6)

EVI ~ VWC

NS

NS

NS

Albedo ~ VWC

r = − 0.374; R² = 0.14; p < 0.01

(AIC = 137.9)

R² = 0.230; p < 0.01*

(AIC = 123.2)

R² = 0.294; p < 0.01*

(AIC = 139.3)

Albedo ~ [EVI + VWC]

R² = 0.184; p < 0.01

(AIC = 130.9)

R² = 0.289; p < 0.01*

(AIC = 116.3)

R² = 0.434; p < 0.01

AIC = 110.7)