Quantifying the impact of large-scale afforestation on the atmospheric water cycle during rainy season over the Chinese Loess Plateau

•Afforestation boosts the atmospheric water cycle by increasing water vapor and precipitation.•Afforestation enhances evapotranspiration and precipitation recycling.•Afforestation causes an abnormal cyclone, thereby leading to increased moisture advection.•An intensified external atmospheric water cycle dominates the raised precipitation.•Afforestation causes more water vapor to be received by downwind areas.