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The difference (<i>DIF</i>) between land surface temperature (<i>Ts</i>) and near surface air temperature (<i>Ta</i>) is the key indicator of the energy budget of the land surface, which has a more complex process than the individual <i>Ts</i> or <i>Ta</i>. However, the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of <i>DIF</i> remain incomplete. The contribution of vegetation and soil moisture (SM) as key driving factors to <i>DIF</i> is not yet clear. Here, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation patterns of <i>DIF</i> in China from 2011 to 2023 using in situ <i>Ts</i> and <i>Ta</i> data. A convergent cross-mapping method was employed to explore the causal relationship between SM, NDVI and <i>DIF</i>, and subsequently calculated the contribution of NDVI and SM variations to <i>DIF</i> under different climatic backgrounds. The results indicate that during the study period, <i>DIF</i> values were all above 0 °C and showed a significant increasing trend with a national mean slope of 0.02 °C/a. In general, vegetation and SM have a driving effect on <i>DIF</i>, with vegetation contributing more to <i>DIF</i> (0.11) than SM (0.08) under different surface properties. The background values of SM and temperature have a significant effect on the spatial and temporal distribution of <i>DIF</i>, as well as the correlation of vegetation and soil moisture to <i>DIF</i>. The study outcomes contribute to a better understanding of the coupling relationship between the land surface and atmosphere, which are also crucial for addressing climate change and ecological environmental management.