Spatial-temporal differentiation and driving factors of ecological resilience in the Yellow River Basin, China

•Ecological resilience in the YRB is on the rise during the period of 2005–2020.•Areas of high Ecological resilience show a distribution trend of “point to surface” diffusion.•The overall spatial difference in ecological resilience in the YRB is decreasing.•The polarization phenomenon of ecological resilience in the three major regions has weakened.•The impact of driving factors exhibits spatial–temporal heterogeneity.