Reference crop evapotranspiration (ET₀) is essential for determining crop water requirements and developing irrigation strategies. In this study, ET₀ was calculated via the FAO-56 Penman‒Monteith model, and the spatiotemporal variations in ET₀ over China from 1960 to 2019 were analyzed. We then quantified the contributions of five driving factors (air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, sunshine hours, and CO₂ concentration) to the ET₀ trends via a detrending experiment. The results revealed that nationwide ET₀ showed no significant (p>0.05) decreasing trend from 1960 to 2019, with a trend of -8.56×10^-2 mm a^-2. The average temperature and wind speed were identified as the dominant factors affecting ET₀ trends at the national scale. The contributions of the driving factors to the ET₀ trends were ranked in the following order: average temperature (21.3%) > wind speed (-15.63%) > sunshine hours (-11.99%) > CO₂ concentration (6.36%) > relative humidity (3.58%). Spatially, the dominant factors influencing the ET₀ trends varied widely. In the southeastern region, average temperature and sunshine hours dominated the trends of ET₀, whereas wind speed and average temperature were the dominant factors in the northwestern region. The findings provide valuable insights into the dominant factors affecting ET₀ trends in China and highlight the importance of considering different driving factors in calculating crop water requirements.

The Qinba Mountains are climatically and ecologically recognized as the north- south transitional zone of China. Analysis of its phenology is critical for comprehending the response of vegetation to climatic change. We retrieved the start of spring phenology (SOS) of eight forest communities from the MODIS products and adopted it as an indicator for spring phenology. Trend analysis, partial correlation analysis, and GeoDetector were employed to reveal the spatio-temporal patterns and climatic drivers of SOS. The results indicated that the SOS presented an advance trend from 2001 to 2020, with a mean rate of -0.473 d yr^-1. The SOS of most forests correlated negatively with air temperature (TEMP) and positively with precipitation (PRE), suggesting that rising TEMP and increasing PRE in spring would forward and delay SOS, respectively. The dominant factors influencing the sensitivity of SOS to climatic variables were altitude, forest type, and latitude, while the effects of slope and aspect were relatively minor. The response of SOS to climatic factors varied significantly in space and among forest communities, partly due to the influence of altitude, slope, and aspect.

Water use efficiency (WUE), as a pivotal indicator of the coupling degree within the carbon-water cycle of ecosystems, holds considerable importance in assessment of the carbon-water balance within terrestrial ecosystems. However, in the context of global warming, WUE evolution and its primary drivers on the Tibetan Plateau remain unclear. This study employed the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method and the random forest algorithm to decipher the nonlinear trends and drivers of WUE on the Tibetan Plateau in 2001- 2020. Results indicated an annual mean WUE of 0.8088 gC/mm∙m² across the plateau, with a spatial gradient reflecting decrease from the southeast toward the northwest. Areas manifesting monotonous trends of increase or decrease in WUE accounted for 23.64% and 9.69% of the total, respectively. Remarkably, 66.67% of the region exhibited trend reversals, i.e., 39.94% of the area of the Tibetan Plateau showed transition from a trend of increase to a trend of decrease, and 26.73% of the area demonstrated a shift from a trend of decrease to a trend of increase. Environmental factors accounted for 70.79% of the variability in WUE. The leaf area index and temperature served as the major driving forces of WUE variation.

Terrestrial ecosystems heavily depend on vegetation, which responds to carbon dioxide (CO₂) fertilization in hot and humid regions. The subtropical humid karst region is a hot and humid region; whether and to what extent CO₂ fertilization affects vegetation changes in such regions remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the degree to which CO₂ fertilization influences vegetation changes, along with their spatial and temporal differences, in the subtropical humid karst region using time-lag effect analysis, a random forest model, and multiple regression analysis. Results showed that CO₂ fertilization plays an important role in vegetation changes, exhibiting clear spatial variations across different geomorphological zones, with its degree of influence ranging mainly between 11% and 25%. The highest contribution of CO₂ fertilization was observed in the karst basin and non-karstic region, whereas the lowest contribution was found in the karst plateau region. Previous studies have primarily attributed vegetation changes in subtropical humid karst region to ecological engineering, leading to an overestimation of its contribution to these changes. The findings of this study enhance the understanding of the mechanism of vegetation changes in humid karst region and provide theoretical and practical insights for ecological and environmental protection in these regions.

Wetlands play a critical role in the global environment. The Middle Yangtze River Basin (MYRB), known for its abundant wetland resources, has experienced notable changes resulting from the complex interplay of environmental factors. Therefore, we investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics of wetland ecological quality in the MYRB from 2001 to 2020. Utilizing the random forest (RF) regression algorithm and patch-generated land-use simulation (PLUS) model, we forecasted variations in wetland habitat quality and their determinants under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway-Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP- RCP) framework from 2035 to 2095. The main findings are as follows: (1) The RF algorithm was optimal for land-use and land-cover (LULC) classification in the MYRB from 2001 to 2020, when notable changes were observed in water bodies and buildings. However, the forested area exhibited an increase and decrease of 3.9% and 1.2% under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, whereas farmland exhibited a diminishing trend. (2) Wetlands were primarily concentrated in the central and eastern MYRB, with counties in the southwest exhibiting superior ecological-environmental quality from 2001 to 2020. Notably, wetland coverage revealed significantly high level, significant changes, frequent but relatively minor changes under the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP 5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. (3) Regions with lower habitat quality were primarily concentrated in urbanized areas characterized by frequent human activities, indicating a clear degradation in habitat quality across different scenarios. In conclusion, we established a foundational framework for future investigations into the eco-hydrological processes and ecosystem quality of watersheds.

Due to water conflicts and allocation in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin (LMRB), the spatio-temporal differentiation of total water resources and the natural-human influence need to be clarified. This work investigated LMRB’s terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) and its spatio-temporal dynamics during 2002-2020. Considering the effects of natural factors and human activities, the respective contributions of climate variability and human activities to terrestrial water storage change (TWSC) were separated. Results showed that: (1) LMRB’s TWSA decreased by 0.3158 cm/a. (2) TWSA showed a gradual increase in distribution from southwest of MRB to middle LMRB and from northeast of LRB to middle LMRB. TWSA positively changed in Myanmar while slightly changed in Laos and China. It negatively changed in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. (3) TWSA components decreased in a descending order of soil moisture, groundwater and precipitation. (4) Natural factors had a substantial and spatial differentiated influence on TWSA over the LMRB. (5) Climate variability contributed 79% of TWSC in the LMRB while human activities contributed 21% with an increasing impact after 2008. The TWSC of upstream basin countries was found to be controlled by climate variability while Vietnam and Cambodia’s TWSC has been controlled by human activities since 2012.

Emphasis on future environmental changes grows due to climate change, with simulations predicting rising river temperatures globally. For Poland, which has a long history of thermal studies of rivers, such an approach has not been implemented to date. This study used 9 Global Climate Models and tested three machine-learning techniques to predict river temperature changes. Random Forest performed best, with R²=0.88 and lowest error (RMSE: 2.25, MAE:1.72). The range of future water temperature changes by the end of the 21st century was based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. It was determined that by the end of the 21st century, the average temperature will increase by 2.1°C (SSP2-4.5) and 3.7°C (SSP5-8.5). A more detailed analysis, divided by two major basins Vistula and Odra, covered about 90% of Poland’s territory. The average temperature increase, according to scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 for the Odra basin rivers, is 1.6°C and 3.2°C and for the Vistula basin rivers 2.3°C and 3.8°C, respectively. The Vistula basin’s higher warming is due to less groundwater input and continental climate influence. These findings provide a crucial basis for water management to mitigate warming effects in Poland.

To explore water level variations and their dynamic influence on the water quality of Huayang Lakes, the water level from 1967 to 2023 and water quality from 2015 to 2023 were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall trend test, box plots, and violin plots. The results show a notable hydrological rhythm of water level alternation between dry and flood seasons in Huayang Lakes, with an average water level of 12.82 m and a monthly range of 11.21-17.24 m. Since 2017, the water level of Huayang Rivers has shown a decreasing trend of -0.02 m/a. Total phosphorus (TP) has become the primary pollutant. The TP concentrations in Longgan Lake (the largest lake) during the dry, rising, flood, and retreating seasons from 2015 to 2023 were 0.083, 0.061, 0.050, and 0.059 mg/L, respectively. The effect of water level on TP was mainly observed during the low-water period. When the water level in the dry season rose to 12.25 and 13.00 m, the percentage of TP exceeding 0.1 mg/L in Longgan Lake decreased to 55.8% and 33.3%, respectively. During the dry season, wind and wave disturbances caused the release of endogenous phosphorus in Huayang Lakes. This led to drastic fluctuations in TP concentration, reducing the correlation between water level and TP. When external control is limited, the water level during the dry season should be maintained between 12.25 and 13.0 m. Additionally, it is necessary to accelerate the restoration of submerged macrophyte species (such as Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria natans) in the Huayang Rivers.

Nitrate (NO₃⁻) accumulation and transport processes in the thick vadose zone affect the evolution of the groundwater NO₃⁻ content in intensive agricultural regions. Agricultural land-use change (ALUC), typically accompanied by substantial alterations in nitrogen fertilizer application and irrigation practices, is an important influencing factor. This study evaluated the changes in NO₃⁻ accumulation and transport in the deep vadose zone (DVZ, below the root zone), and the groundwater NO₃⁻ content associated with ALUC from grain to vegetable fields in the North China Plain (NCP). The ALUC from grain to vegetable resulted in nitrate- nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) accumulation in DVZ increased by 235.5 kg ha⁻¹ m⁻¹ (163.2%) in the piedmont plain and 224.9 kg ha⁻¹ m⁻¹ (102.7%) in the central plain, respectively. This change accelerated downward transport velocity in the DVZ (from 0.81±0.47 to 0.89±0.55 m yr⁻¹ in the piedmont plain, and from 0.24±0.12 to 0.92±0.12 m yr⁻¹ in the central plain) and increased NO₃⁻ leaching fluxes. High transport velocity and leaching fluxes resulted in chemical N-fertilizer entering the aquifer in several areas in the piedmont plain. The impact of the agricultural activity intensity changes, accompanied by the ALUC, on groundwater quantity and quality should be considered in similar regions.

Dune barrier systems represent highly sought-after coastal landscapes for tourism and urban development around the world. However, a century ago, they were considered hazardous environments due to their great dynamic nature. As a result, stabilization practices were considered necessary. The systematic introduction of fast-growing exotic trees helped stabilize the sand, making it easier for tourism urbanization to take place, but also leading to erosion processes. This paper aims to assess long-term changes in vegetation cover over a large temperate barrier in Argentina. This complex region includes urban resorts, afforestation zones, and protected areas. A GIS-based geospatial analysis was conducted using a large satellite database (> 350 images), and the future evolution of the vegetation was modeled. The results revealed two primary spatiotemporal patterns associated with a gradual expansion of vegetation cover, accompanied by a concurrent reduction in sandy areas. In 1986, the dune area comprised 75% more surface than vegetation, whereas in 2021, it represented 60% less than vegetation. Furthermore, the 2050 scenario suggests a potential 40% reduction of dunes in certain areas. It is necessary to enhance management actions aimed at maintaining dune mobility and ensuring local and regional sediment balance. Long-term management strategies must focus on restoring native plant communities and controlling invasive species, and avoiding new dune fixation initiatives based on the introduction of exotic species.

Exploring the spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem services (ESs) and their driving factors under various interaction patterns is essential for informing sustainable development policies. Using Northeast China as a case study, this research investigates eight key ESs, including water yield (WY), carbon storage (CS), food provision (FP), habitat quality (HQ), soil conservation (SC), wind-break and sand-fixation (WS), water purification (WP) and aesthetic landscape (AL). The study examines the complexity of ESs from three dimensions: individual ES, ES pairs and ES bundles, and further evaluates their spatial heterogeneity and socio- ecological drivers. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of ESs remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2020. During this period, WY and FP increased significantly, CS and HQ remained relatively unchanged. SC, WS and AL followed an “increase-decrease-increase” trend, and WP exhibited a “decrease-increase” fluctuation. Overall, synergistic relationships among ES Pairs were more prevalent than trade-offs. Notably, CS showed trade-offs with over 70% of the other ESs, while HQ exhibited trade-offs with SC, WS, WP, and AL. The FP-HQ synergy bundle, primarily located in the Greater Hinggan Mountains and eastern regions, emerged as the dominant ES bundle. Ecological factors—such as solar radiation, temperature, slope, DEM, and NDVI—exerted a stronger influence on ES patterns than social factors like GDP and population density. Furthermore, these ecological drivers had a greater impact on individual ESs compared to ES pairs or ES bundles. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers to understand the complex interrelationships among ESs and to design more effective and regionally tailored management strategies.

Understanding the characteristics and driving factors behind changes in vegetation ecosystem resilience is crucial for mitigating both current and future impacts of climate change. Despite recent advances in resilience research, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the drivers of resilience changes. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of ecosystem resilience across China and identified potential driving factors using the kernel normalized difference vegetation index (kNDVI) from 2000 to 2020. Our results indicate that vegetation resilience in China has exhibited an increasing trend over the past two decades, with a notable breakpoint occurring around 2012. We found that precipitation was the dominant driver of changes in ecosystem resilience, accounting for 35.82% of the variation across China, followed by monthly average maximum temperature (Tmax) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which explained 28.95% and 28.31% of the variation, respectively. Furthermore, we revealed that daytime and nighttime warming has asymmetric impacts on vegetation resilience, with temperature factors such as Tmin and Tmax becoming more influential, while the importance of precipitation slightly decreases after the resilience change point. Overall, our study highlights the key roles of water availability and temperature in shaping vegetation resilience and underscores the asymmetric effects of daytime and nighttime warming on ecosystem resilience.

Green roofs play a vital role in promoting sustainable urban development and achieving carbon neutrality by enhancing carbon sequestration, oxygen release, and efficiency of land use. Despite these benefits, living roof coverage in China remains limited. To address the challenges in policy formulation, operational monitoring, and the absence of multi-scale retrofit strategies supported by robust assessment methods, this study develops a comprehensive evaluation framework. The framework integrates vector data, building age information, and point-of-interest (POI) data, and applies an optimized Prophet model to classify six major climate zones. This approach facilitates the selection of appropriate plant species and substrates while quantifying the potential for carbon sequestration and oxygen release. An assessment of 90 cities reveals approximately 1.3861 billion square meters of rooftop area suitable for green roof implementation, with an estimated annual carbon sequestration potential of 67.30 million tons and oxygen release of 30.36 million tons. Commercial buildings contribute significantly, comprising 65% of the total suitable area. Climate zones 2 and 3 exhibit the most favorable outcomes. The current study provides a reliable quantitative reference for evaluating the carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacities of green roofs and supports the formulation of effective retrofit policies.

Administrative division adjustments serve as crucial policy tools for spatial governance, significantly impacting regional resource allocation, economic development, and administrative governance. However, the impact of administrative division adjustment policies (ADAPs) on air quality is often overlooked. Can these policies improve air quality? By what mechanisms do they achieve this? To address this research gap, in this study, we used a two-way fixed-effects difference-in-differences model to analyze panel data from 192 prefecture-level cities in China from 2000 to 2021 in an effort to examine the effects of China’s ADAPs on haze pollution, utilizing actual implementation as empirical evidence. We analyzed the impact mechanisms from the perspectives of regional industrial structure transformation, technological innovation, and governmental regulatory capacity. We found that first, the implementation of China’s ADAPs significantly improved urban haze pollution, with varying effects observed across different types of policies. Second, ADAPs promote the upgrading of the industrial structure, technological innovation, and the enhancement of governmental regulatory capacity, thereby ameliorating urban haze pollution in China. Third, the influence of ADAPs on urban haze pollution exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, with differing outcomes observed in regions of varying development levels. Therefore, achieving the dual goals of spatial optimization and environmental improvement necessitates the flexible application of ADAPs tailored to regional realities.

A comprehensive understanding of urbanization impacts on landscape dynamics, eco-environmental consequences, and advancements in human habitation is paramount for effectively advancing urbanization-related sustainable development goals. This study predicted the urbanization process within the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Ulanqab (HBOU) region and its projected implications for ecology, human settlement, and energy consumption in 2020-2050 using multi-source data and models under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The results revealed that the HBOU region’s urban area grew by 624.66 km² between 1990 and 2020. By 2050, it is expected to reach 1793.49±169.30 km², mainly expanding into cropland (58.95%) and natural ecological land (31.79%). Urban greening is projected to enhance, with the highest urban green space (UGS) predicted under SSP1 (32.42%). Under this scenario, the per capita urban area (PCUA) and per capita urban green space area (PCUGA) are projected to reach 172.66 and 55.63 m²/person in 2050, respectively. Furthermore, the ecological and energy utilization impacts are anticipated to decrease by 3.99% to 37.52% relative to alternative scenarios. Our projections suggest that limiting urbanization area in the HBOU region to 1500-1600 km² would significantly enhance the settlement environment and mitigate ecological and energy consumption effects. These results guide urban strategies balancing ecology, energy use, and habitation in arid regions.

This study proposes a framework for the concept of “new quality productive forces” in the ice and snow economy (ISE) as a strategic response to global climate change and the demands of technological and industrial transformation for high-quality development. These new quality productive forces in the ISE have developed alongside the zonal distribution of natural resources, strictly adhere to ecological principles, and integrate value transformation mechanisms specific to ice and snow resources. Their development is projected to generate multiple benefits across ecological, economic, and social dimensions. The new quality productive forces in the ISE are characterized by technology-driven resource development, synergistic integration across the entire ice and snow industry value chain, and a focus on high-quality, green growth. Grounded in geography and economics, the new quality productive forces in the ISE link scientific innovation, the reallocation of productive factors, and industrial upgrading within the context of resource constraints. Furthermore, they expand the growth potential of the ISE by fostering new production relations through digital, intelligent, and green integration, while advancing low-carbon, sustainable development under the guiding principle that “ice and snow landscapes are also mountains of gold and silver.” For China’s ISE, these new quality productive forces emphasize rigorous resource protection, balanced human-environment relationships, a resilient integrated supply chain framework, and an efficient “dual circulation” economic model. Practical strategies include integrating production factors, optimizing spatial resource allocation, fostering industrial synergy, and adapting production relations, all aimed at advancing the sustainable and high-quality development of China’s ISE.

Focusing on investment security along the Belt and Road (B&R) routes, this study analyzes the geopolitical environment (GE) of countries (regions) along the B&R routes from two dimensions: political and business environment (PBE) and political orientation. The results show that since the proposal of the B&R Initiative in 2013, the PBE of these countries (regions) has shown slight improvement but with significant spatial disparities, presenting a pattern of better conditions in the eastern and western regions and poorer conditions in the central regions. There is no strong spatial dependence in the PBE among these countries (regions), but a weak homogenization trend toward improvement is observed. Low-scoring countries (regions) are mainly located in former Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East, and the Indochina Peninsula. These countries (regions) exhibit weak interconnections, demonstrating a characteristic of “similarity without harmony.” (a Confucian concept describing nations sharing superficial traits but lacking substantive cooperation). Therefore, the B&R construction should adopt a clustered and contiguous breakthrough strategy. The evaluation of political orientation reveals significant political divergence among B&R countries (regions), with varying attitudes toward China. Moreover, as pro-China sentiment increases, the PBE tends to deteriorate. This negative correlation suggests that countries (regions) actively engaging in the B&R Initiative generally face political instability and economic underdevelopment, and seek to leverage the B&R Initiative for domestic growth. Consequently, while prioritizing investment security, it is important for the B&R construction to actively promote Chinese values in order to garner support and participation from countries (regions) with more favorable PBE. Given the generally underdeveloped PBE and political polarization among B&R countries (regions), China urgently needs to develop a geopolitical theory aligned with the B&R’s geopolitical model to safeguard its advancement. Simultaneously, China should reshape geopolitical narratives to reclaim discourse power in political interpretation. This study provides preliminary insights into cross-country (regional) political polarization and contributes to advancing GE research.

Vernacular marine knowledge that is originally created by, and circulated among, the indigenous groups is usually appropriated and adapted by authorities and markets to achieve various geopolitical, economic, and social ends. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the territorially contested South China Sea (SCS). Folk and indigenous heritage, customs, rituals, and knowledge in relation to the maritime space are utilized and proclaimed as historical evidence to boost maritime sovereignty claims. This research investigates and interrogates the geopolitical relevance and resonance of the continuing evolution of the Chinese marine knowledge record Genglubu, a living part of seacraft and guides written by the Chinese fishermen in Hainan Island recording navigation routes, meteorological, hydrological, and other information for fishing in the SCS. Drawing from assemblage approach, we see Genglubu as an assemblage of marine knowledge (re)production which is engaged and shaped by multiple actors possessing diverse desires and constituted by complex, intertwined processes of human-sea-land interactions. The emergence of Genglubu originates from Hainan fishermen’s daily encounters and use of the SCS, while the transformation and evolution of Genglubu are intimately embroiled in the fierce, dynamic territorial rivalry in the SCS. We also find that the changes to Genglubu risk may alienate local fishermen. By focusing on the relationship between vernacular marine knowledge and the territorial geopolitics playing out across multiple scales, this research advances understanding of the complex geopolitical entanglements surrounding maritime knowledge.

Morphologies of deltaic strandplains are the result of multiple sedimentary dynamics interacting with climate, neotectonic and anthropic impacts. They record long-term evolution of coastal areas but also reveal past and present hazards that can be essential to better predict risks in urbanised deltas. This paper aims to identify the effect of a long-term evolution of the prograded plain of the Tiber Delta in using current ground surface variations and geohistorical data. This study applies GIS (Geographic Information System) tools to LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)-derived DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data combined with stratigraphical data, aerial photography interpretation and old maps. The main outcome shows areas of subsidence are primarily located in the central part of the Tiber Delta. Lower heights at the river mouth are due to subsidence and specific lower morphologies associated with fast progradation phases, while similar low heights just north in the area of the international airport of Rome are due to subsidence alone. Subsidence under the airport is associated with the compaction of the silty clay infill of the Late Pleistocene Tiber Valley mostly deposited during the Holocene transgressive period. Only observed in the airport area, the presence of washover fans and the large extent of paleolagoons reveal the kind of risks that are increased by this subsidence. This study demonstrates that the densely urbanised central part of the Tiber Delta faces higher risks of marine submersion and coastal flooding considering ongoing relative sea level change. It also contributes to show the importance to better characterise past coastal morphologies to identify areas prone to subsidence.

The thawing of ice-rich permafrost leads to the formation of thermokarst landforms. Precise mapping of retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) is imperative for assessing the degradation and carbon exchange of permafrost at both local and regional scales on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, previous methods for RTSs mapping rely on a large number of samples and complex classifiers with low automation level or unnecessary complexity. We propose an automatic mapping network (AmRTSNet) for producing decimeter-level RTSs maps from GaoFen-7 images based on deep learning. Both the quantitative metrics and qualitative evaluations show that AmRTSNet trained in the Beiluhe offers significant advantages over previous methods. Without further fine-tuning, we conducted RTSs automatic mapping based on AmRTSNet in the Wulanwula, Chumarhe, and Gaolinggo. Over 141,312 ha on the TP have been automatically mapped, comprising 926 RTS regions with a total RTS area of 2318.72 ha. The average statistics of the mapped RTSs show low roundness (0.38), moderate rectangularity (0.61), and high convexity (0.79). About 90% of the RTSs are smaller than 6 ha. The average aspect ratio is 2.18. RTSs are unevenly distributed in belt-like aggregations with dominant density peaks. RTSs often concentrate in hillslopes and along lateral streams, with more dense areas more likely to have larger RTSs.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, posing escalating risks to ecosystems and human well-being. While soil moisture (SM) deficits are recognized as important contributors to heatwave amplification, their spatially heterogeneous impacts across the Northern Hemisphere remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we analyze ERA5 reanalysis data (1980-2022) to investigate trends in heatwave frequency, intensity, and duration, as well as their sensitivity to SM variability. Our results show robust increases in heatwave occurrence (0.76 events per decade), intensity (0.81℃ per decade), and average duration (0.40 days per decade), with extreme events, as represented by maximum intensity and duration, rising at even faster rates (2.18℃ per decade and 0.83 days per decade, respectively). Strong negative correlations are observed between SM deficits and heatwave metrics, with the magnitude of this relationship varying across land cover types and heatwave severity levels. Quantile regression reveals that SM reductions have a greater impact at higher quantiles for most indicators. Cropland exhibits the highest sensitivity to SM anomalies, whereas forests show more resilience due to their superior water retention capacities. These findings underscore the crucial role of land-atmosphere interactions in shaping heatwave extremes, providing a scientific basis for enhancing early warning and adaptation strategies in the context of ongoing climate change.

Total organic carbon in lake surface sediments (STOC) constitutes a pivotal biogeochemical component within the critical interface of the global carbon cycle, where recently deposited organic matter undergoes burial or mineralization, thereby playing a key role in carbon turnover and storage in inland water ecosystems. However, previous studies, constrained by local-scale observations and linear analytical methods, have not systematically characterized the global spatial patterns of STOC values and the mechanisms driving their variability. Here, by integrating STOC measurements from 89 lakes across the Tibetan Plateau with STOC data of 1070 lakes compiled based on a literature search, we present the first machine-learning-based assessment of global lake STOC patterns. Our results indicate that lake STOC concentrations peaked between 45°N and 70°N in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in northern North America, whereas very high latitudes (>70°N) and mid- to low-latitude regions exhibited comparatively lower values. Structural equation modeling revealed that among basin characteristics, soil organic carbon and ice/snow cover were the strongest direct controls on lake STOC distribution, while temperature indirectly influenced STOC by modulating both variables. Although human activities affect STOC globally, their overall influence was modest. We conclude that temperature primarily governs the global spatial distribution of lake STOC concentrations through its influence on catchment processes.

Agriculture holds a pivotal position in the economic fabric of every nation, yet concerns about agricultural carbon emission intensity (ACI) have become a major hurdle to achieving global economic sustainability. Focusing on 31 provincial-level regions in China, this study uses the Exploratory Spatio-temporal Data Analysis (ESTDA) and Panel Quantile Regression (PQR) model to analyze the spatio-temporal interaction characteristics and influencing factors of ACI in China from 2004 to 2023. The findings are as follows: (1) ACI showed an overall downward trend, and the spatial distribution pattern was characterized by “high in the western region and low along the southeastern coast”. Although the overall disparity tended to converge, some high-carbon-intensity regions exhibited extreme trends. ACI displayed clear spatial directionality, with the spatial center shifting steadily toward the northeast. (2) Regions in the northwest, northeast, and central-south parts exhibited strong local spatial structural dynamics, and the local spatial dependence of ACI in each region showed a nonlinear trend. Generally speaking, the spatial association pattern demonstrated a certain degree of inertia in spatial transfer, reflecting strong path dependence or spatial lock-in characteristics. (3) Optimization of industrial structure and improvement in agricultural mechanization will increase ACI, while economic development can effectively reduce it. The impact of urbanization on ACI exhibits a nonlinear pattern. The coordinated development of economic growth and urbanization significantly reduces ACI, with a stronger emission reduction observed in regions with low ACI. The optimization of industrial structure, when combined with urbanization and environmental regulation, contributes to significant emission reductions particularly in high-ACI areas. Similarly, the synergy between agricultural mechanization and urbanization effectively lowers emissions in low-ACI regions, though this effect diminishes in areas with higher ACI.

The results of the 2022-2025 study conducted for the vulnerability assessment of pastures and for the development of improvement measures on the degraded land sections in the arid and semi-arid provinces of the Caucasus under the global climate change conditions are introduced in the current article. The main goal of our scientific work is to study and assess the current ecological and resource state of natural phytocenoses, pastures and hayfields in the arid and semi-arid landscapes under climate change. The paper presents the results of determining the areas and levels of degradation of the natural biogeocenoses and biogeocenoses of the pastures and hayfields in the mountain and highland landscapes. The results were obtained using remote sensing, field and laboratory studies and analyses. The conducted studies have revealed that along 34,174.5 ha pasture and 1342.0 meadows areas of the pastures at the Areni, Yeghegis, Yeghegnadzor and Vayq consolidated administrative territories situated in the arid and semi-arid zones of the Vayots Dzor Region high degradation was recorded in about 6508 hectares of pasture and 407 hectares of meadows areas, which is related to irregular and uncontrolled economic mismanagement of the local population and global climate change. To improve the ecological condition, accessibility and quality of ecosystem services of the pastures, hayfields and natural meadows, comprehensive restoration bioecological and agrotechnical measures have been proposed. They are aimed at improving the air, water and nutrient regimes of soils, at their bioprotection, as well as at the general increase in area and at improving the economic characteristics of the vegetation cover. Such measures on the ecosystem basis are appropriate in the context of enriching the qualitative composition of plants with useful ecological and economic bioecological characteristics, taking into account the characteristics of landscapes, weather and climatic conditions, and agricultural opportunities.

To explore the factors controlling human activity in Northeast Asia during the last deglaciation, this study synthesizes six pollen records from lakes and peatlands, alongside four paleotemperature records from terrestrial sedimentary sequences in this region. We simulated potential hunter-gatherer population densities using the Minimalist Terrestrial Resource Model (MTRM), and calculated vegetation openness, rate of change, and evenness based on pollen data. The results reveal a direct relationship between plant resources and hunter-gatherer populations from 20.9 to 10.2 ka BP. The synchronous increases in plant resources and population density from the Last Glacial (LG) to the Bølling-Allerød (BA) warm period, as well as from the Younger Dryas (YD) to the early Holocene (EH), with stasis during the YD, suggest that resource availability was a key driver of human activity. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of pollen and paleotemperature records indicated that vegetation and plant resources were more closely linked to the mean annual air temperature, with winter characteristics, from the LG to the YD, whereas warm-season temperatures played a more significant role during the EH. This research emphasizes that variations in resource accessibility, rather than direct climate effects alone, were likely pivotal in shaping human activity responses to environmental changes.

The sparsity of ground gauges poses a significant challenge for evaluating and merging satellite-based and reanalysis-based precipitation datasets in lake regions. While the standard triple collocation (TC) method offers a solution without access to ground-based observations, it fails to address rain/no-rain classification and its suitability for assessing and merging lake precipitation has not been explored. This study combines categorical triple collocation (CTC) with standard TC to create an integrated framework (CTC-TC) tailored to evaluate and merge global gridded precipitation products (GPPs). We assess the efficacy of CTC-TC using six GPPs (ERA5-Land, SM2RAIN-ASCAT, IMERG-Early, IMERG-Late, GSMaP- MVK, and PERSIANN-CCS) across the five largest freshwater lakes in China. CTC-TC effectively captures the spatial patterns of metrics for all GPPs, and precisely estimates the correlation coefficient and root mean square error for satellite-based datasets apart from SM2RAIN-ASCAT, but overestimates the classification accuracy indicator V for all GPPs. Regarding multi-source fusion, CTC-TC leverages the strengths of individual products of triplets, resulting in significant improvements in the critical success index (CSI) by over 11.9% and the modified Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE’) by more than 13.3%. Compared to baseline models, including standard TC, simple model averaging, one outlier removal, and Bayesian model averaging, CTC-TC achieves gains in CSI and KGE’ of no less than 24.7% and 3.6%, respectively. In conclusion, the CTC-TC framework offers a thorough evaluation and efficient fusion of GPPs, addressing both categorical and continuous accuracy in data-scarce regions such as lakes.

Understanding past changes in surface vegetation cover is crucial for clarifying spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation, temperature, and humidity variations across Central Asia. In this study, we developed a tree-ring width index chronology for Juniperus excelsa in the western Alborz Mountains of Iran and examined its correlation with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Using this relationship, we reconstructed NDVI variations in this region since 1943. Our results indicate that both the tree-ring width index and NDVI from April to August exhibit strong correlations with precipitation from the previous December to the current May, as well as with the May Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). The tree-ring width index is significantly and positively correlated with NDVI from April to August (R²_adj= 0.562, F=26.616, p<0.001), confirming its effectiveness in representing NDVI fluctuations during this period. The reconstructed NDVI series reveals more pronounced vegetation cover fluctuations since the 1990s compared to the 1940s-1980s. Notably, periods of low vegetation cover occurred in the late 20th to early 21st century, whereas high vegetation cover was observed in the early 2020s. Since 1943, key periods of relatively low vegetation cover include 1946-1955, 1959-1973, 1986-1989, 1997-2002, and 2008-2015. The notably low vegetation cover from 1997 to 2002 coincides with a severe and persistent drought that has affected Central and South Asia since the 1940s. Our findings suggest that vegetation growth in the study area reflects both local climate variations and broader regional or global climate changes. By extending short-term NDVI records obtained via remote sensing, this study provides a long-term perspective on vegetation dynamics, enhancing our understanding of historical vegetation dynamics in Iran and their response to climate fluctuations.

In drylands, biocrusts play crucial roles in regulating ecosystem functions. The study was conducted in the hilly rangelands of the semi-arid northern Negev of Israel, where we assessed the visual, morphological, spectral, and soil properties of livestock trampling routes and inter-route spaces in northern and southern facing hillslopes. Overall, both hillslope aspects were visually similar, whereas the ground surface of the routes was brighter (74.4% were characterized as having a ‘light’ color) than the inter-route spaces (86.8% were characterized as having a ‘dark’ color). These observations were supported by morphological identification of biocrust composition, which was dominated by cyanobacteria (67%) in the routes, and by mixed cyanobacteria/moss (56%) in the inter-routes. Mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was 24% higher in the inter-routes, while the mean Brightness Index (BI) was 12% higher in the routes. At the same time, the mean Crust Index (CI) was identical in the two microhabitats. Soil quality index (SQI), calculated based on the (pedoderm) soil properties of the two microhabitats, was 6% greater in the inter-routes than in the routes. This study suggests that recurrent trampling exacerbates soil compaction and shearing along the routes, thus preventing the successional development of complex biocrust compositions.

A low-carbon lifestyle presents new opportunities for sustainable urban development. While previous studies have verified the impact of the built environment and socio- economic status (SES) on low-carbon lifestyles, they have primarily focused on direct effects. At present, there is still a lack of analysis on the interaction effects on low-carbon lifestyles, and limited attention has been given to the peer effect in low-carbon lifestyles, especially in the context of residential differentiation. Therefore, we take Zhengzhou city as the case area and first calculate the low-carbon lifestyle of 1485 families from three dimensions: low-carbon action (A), low-carbon interest (I) and low-carbon opinion (O). We then analyze the direct and interactive impacts of the built environment and SES on low-carbon lifestyles and explore the peer effect. Our findings indicate that families with higher SES have higher levels of low-carbon interest and low-carbon opinion, but relatively low levels of low-carbon action. This suggests an interest-action bias in the low-carbon lifestyles of high-SES families. POI density, road network density and accessibility positively affect low-carbon lifestyles—that is, residents living in areas with well-developed infrastructure and convenient transportation tend to be green in their daily behavior. The peer effect influences low-carbon action, interest, and opinion by 54.6%, 34.9%, and 16%, respectively, indicating that the peer effect is most evident in low-carbon action. That is, the peer effect is more obvious in low-carbon action. In addition, the built environment affects the low-carbon lifestyles of different SES groups. Land-use mix positively increases low-carbon action and low-carbon interest among high-SES groups but reduces low-carbon opinion. Road network density positively affects the low-carbon action of high-SES groups and the low-carbon interest and low-carbon opinion of low-SES groups. This study explores low-carbon lifestyles from a situational perspective, providing a practical basis for policies aimed at accelerating a transition to sustainable living.

Morphology, the study of shapes or forms, when applied to tourism, emphasizes the multifarious spatial practices between morphological elements and tourism activities. However, existing literature on morphology in the context of tourism usually only focuses on a single or a limited number of study areas, overlooking common or even universal patterns across various tourism destinations. To address this gap, we utilize geospatial big data and present a case study on the morphology of 406 “AAAAA”-rated scenic areas in China. A framework based on “points”, “lines”, “planes”, and “solids” was designed to systematically organize and analyze morphological elements across scenic areas. The findings provide valuable insights for tourism planning and development, such as the co-occurrence of dense road networks and fragmented landscapes within scenic areas, as well as the resource- context-influenced (cultural or natural) associations between morphological features and tourism indicators. This research provides valuable strategic guidance for more effective and informed tourism development while acknowledging the trade-offs between generalizability and local specificity.

The diurnal shifts in population distribution increase uncertainty in healthcare demand patterns, posing a substantial challenge to the traditional principles of healthcare facility allocation. This has generated a substantial demand near workplaces. In response, this paper introduces the worktime population. It combines residents and workers with convenient healthcare access near workplaces, offering a comprehensive measure of healthcare demand. Using Beijing as a case, we explore the unique distributions and scales of healthcare demands, considering both residential and worktime populations. Through meticulous analysis, we evaluate healthcare accessibility for these groups and compare their spatiotemporal variations. Our findings highlight significant statistical and spatial disparities in healthcare demand and accessibility between worktime and residential populations. Overall, healthcare demand from worktime populations surpasses that of residential populations, while accessibility is lower for worktime populations. Traditional accessibility metrics often neglect commuter demands, especially in business and technical districts. Incorporating working-hour constraints further diminishes the accessibility advantage of city centers. These insights facilitate more precise, strategic healthcare facility allocation, assisting policymakers and urban planners enhancing equitable access and mitigating spatial inequities.

Existing studies have mostly focused on sustainable intensification (SI) in agricultural systems, while neglecting the integrated analysis of SI for the land space utilization system (LSUS). This has resulted in a lack of systematic solutions in balancing sustainable resource utilization and environmental protection. This study reviewed SI’s conceptual framework and evaluation, identified the gaps, and proposed an analytical framework of SI with clear logic and modeling processes for LSUS. Key findings include: (1) Resource competition and ecosystem pressures have highlighted the need to extend traditional agriculture-focused SI to LSUS and establish a clear quantitative evaluation framework for SI; (2) SI for LSUS refers to a system state in which a specific sub-system produces its dominant functions with resource savings, reduced environmental impact, efficient function output, and stable/enhanced function provision, while sub-systems evolve in a coordinated and orderly manner; (3) The assessment framework of SI for LSUS clarifies modeling processes, suggested indicators, methods and scale hierarchy system to help policymakers identify SI priorities across scales, informing strategies to balance agricultural, socioeconomic, and ecosystem goals. This study overcomes the limitations of traditional SI, providing crucial insights for tracking SI performance and identifying barriers in LSUS to enlighten the sustainable land use and management practices.

With the rapid advancement of global socio-economy and mounting environmental and ecological risks, China faces challenges in ensuring its food security and sustainable development, which further affects global food trade and security. This study aims to identify the supply‒demand match between cropland supply and food consumption and to evaluate sustainable cropland zoning in multiple scenarios and multidimensional assessments. This study uses ecological, environmental and socioeconomic data to quantify diverse food demand patterns into corresponding cropland demands, further mapping the spatio-temporal characteristics of China’s cropland supply‒demand matches. By utilizing shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), this study delineates multiple scenarios to determine the supply‒demand of cropland across different Chinese regions from 2030 to 2050. On the basis of ecological, geographical and socioeconomic datasets, this study constructs a multidimensional and multiscenario framework for sustainable agricultural zoning from 2030 to 2050 and proposes a future sustainable agricultural development strategy for each region in different periods. The results indicate that between 2002 and 2022, there was a significant gap between cropland supply and demand. Moreover, an obvious spatial mismatch is observed between cropland supply and demand across various Chinese regions. From 2030 to 2050, there is a noticeable shift in the spatial distribution of cropland supply and demand, with the supply‒demand match becoming more strained and varying considerably under different development scenarios. With significant differences between different development scenarios, different regions will have to adopt different development strategies at different periods. This study proposes a multiscenario and multidimensional simulation framework for future agricultural sustainable zoning, which aims to provide scientific insights and policy improvements to promote sustainable agricultural development.

Quantifying grassland changes and their drivers is essential to ensure the stability of grassland resources in China. We established a research framework with two primary objectives: to evaluate grassland degradation and restoration over the past 30 years, and to quantify the contributions of climate change and anthropogenic activities to these changes across different grassland cover types. The results revealed that despite a net loss of 6.87×10⁴ km² in China’s total grassland area from 1990 to 2020, the proportion of high-coverage grassland increased by 2.45%, demonstrating an improvement in productivity per unit area. Conversion of grassland to cropland was the dominant land change type, with 80.83% occurring in the western part of the Northwest Ecological Region. Although the total degraded grassland area reached 3.33×10⁵ km² during 1990-2020, this degradation was overwhelmingly dominated by the mild level (94.98%), with severe degradation accounting for only 5.02%. A comparison of the periods 2000-2010 and 1990-2000 revealed that grassland restoration became enhanced in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Region but degradation intensified in the southwestern part. Moreover, mobile grazing emerged as the primary anthropogenic driver of grassland changes. These new findings provide an important scientific basis for adaptable grassland resource protection and grassland-livestock balanced management.

This paper provides a comprehensive reflection on the evolution of globalization research in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), considering the current international context and national strategies. It identifies several challenges in existing studies, such as the ambiguity of globalization patterns and the insufficient representativeness of key indicators. In response to these challenges, this paper draws upon the theory of strategic coupling to propose a new theoretical framework for analyzing globalization in latecomer regions. Based on the concepts of spatial stickiness and locational advantages, this paper further develops a two-dimensional quantitative indicator matrix. Using the PRD as a case study, it conducts empirical measurements and analysis, leading to three main conclusions. First, the theory of strategic coupling proves well-suited for analyzing the globalization of latecomer regions, exemplified by the PRD. It offers a more systematic, clearer, and more robust explanatory framework compared to traditional measurement methods. Second, the empirical analysis from the PRD reveals that the pattern of regional globalization does not follow a simple linear growth or cyclical model. Instead, it exhibits a circuitous, complex, and upward spiral, unfolding along an S-shaped evolutionary trajectory. Third, through comparisons of the eastern and western shores, as well as segmented city analyses, this study finds that locational advantages significantly shape the evolutionary pattern of globalization. This influence is not only apparent during the region’s initial take-off phase but also plays a more profound role in shaping its subsequent developmental trajectory. This study makes a distinctive contribution to both the theoretical understanding of globalization in latecomer regions and the practical field of regional economic development in China. Additionally, it introduces a novel measurement approach for studying regional globalization.

The intricate network of bilateral trade relationships among Pacific Rim countries (PRCs), along with the associated embodied carbon flows plays a pivotal role in shaping global carbon emission patterns and dynamics. This study employs a multi-regional input- output analysis and a symbiotic degree model to explore the symbiotic effects of trade-embodied carbon flows between China and PRCs. We show that between 2009 and 2021, China’s trade-embodied carbon exports to PRCs surged from 214.20 million tons to 614.80 million tons, driven largely by mechanical and electronic equipment. The share of the United States, Japan, and South Korea in China’s total embodied carbon exports to PRCs has declined, whereas Southeast Asian countries have emerged as the primary source of China’s embodied carbon imports. The degree of symbiosis in trade-embodied carbon between China and PRCs shifted from negative to positive, indicating a gradual trend toward positive asymmetric symbiosis. Moreover, China’s role in regional trade-embodied carbon flows has transitioned from passive to active, with its influence particularly pronounced in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Russia.

Transboundary rivers, traversing multiple national borders, integrate sovereign states into a unified ecological system, complicating water resource governance amid rising global water scarcity and geopolitical tensions. Consequently, transboundary river governance exemplifies the public resource dilemma. This study, framed by constructivist international relations theory, examines the Lancang-Mekong River Basin as a case study, using data from multiple sources and socioeconomic indicators to explore the evolution of collective identity among riparian countries and its influencing factors. Key findings include: (1) The collective identity of riparian countries evolved in three phases: emergence (1971-1991), formation (1992-2014), and development (2015-2022). During this process, basin governance evolved from limited mechanisms to a more comprehensive, basin-wide system, with an expanded issue range and an increasing number of cooperation agreements. Cooperative attitudes transitioned from broadly positive to differentiated, ultimately aligning more favorably. (2) Economic interdependence is critical to the formation of collective identity among riparian countries, while diplomatic alignment enhances cooperation. (3) Extreme weather events and political globalization exert dual effects on collective identity formation: extreme weather fosters cooperation but also prioritizes domestic recovery, complicating agreements and expanding issues. Political globalization has facilitated institutionalization and normalization of cooperation, though external involvement has deepened divisions in cooperative attitudes. This study contributes to theoretical perspectives on transboundary river governance and supports collective action in global environmental governance.

In light of growing challenges posed by water pollution, understanding the multifaceted impacts of water quality on economic performance is an imperative for formulating effective policies aimed at sustainable development. Existing studies tend to be constrained by limited local data, and lack a perspective on spatial dynamics and regional variations in water quality effects. This study addresses these gaps by examining the influence of upstream water quality on downstream economic growth in China, utilizing high-resolution panel data. Findings reveal that a 1% increase in upstream biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration reduces downstream economic growth by 0.25% nationally. Regionally, the constraining effect varies significantly, ranging from 0.38% in Southwest China (β=-0.38) to 0.92% in North China (β= -0.92). Notably, even in regions with non-polluted water, upstream water quality deterioration continues to impede downstream economic growth. These findings underscore the critical need to integrate water quality considerations into economic policy frameworks and highlight the importance of coordinated, cross-regional water quality management strategies to foster sustainable economic development.

The equilibrium between the supply and demand of water purification services is essential for safeguarding watershed ecosystems and supporting sustainable socio-economic growth. While current research mainly emphasizes the static analysis of this balance, dynamic investigations into service flow characteristics remain scarce. This study focuses on the Xiangjiang River Basin in southern China, utilizing the InVEST model, differential equations governing supply and demand, and social network analysis to investigate the spatio-temporal patterns of water purification service supply and demand. The results reveal that between 2000 and 2020, the supply of water purification services showed a slight upward trend, while demand exhibited a fluctuating downward tendency, and the supply-demand surplus fluctuated. On an annual basis, the supply generally met the demand, but significant spatial variation in supply-demand balance was observed, with high-risk zones concentrated in the central Hengshao arid corridor and the northern Changzhutan metropolitan area. In the water purification service network, surplus nodes increased, while deficit nodes decreased over time. Network density improved from 98.96% in 2000 to 100% in 2020. The flow of surplus services from upstream regions alleviated supply-demand imbalances downstream, notably in the Hengyang-Shaoyang (Hengshao) arid corridor and the Changsha- Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (Changzhutan) metropolitan area. However, during drought years, diminished water volume intensified supply-demand pressures in these regions. This research framework, which incorporates the dynamic effects of service flow, broadens the scope of water purification service studies and provides a solid foundation for integrated water resource and environmental management.

This study establishes a framework to assess greenspace supply-demand disparities related to thermal discomfort from the perspective of population mobility across urban functional zones (UFZs). High-resolution greenspace maps and location-based service (LBS) datasets for Nanjing, China, were combined with Spearman correlation analyses and a four-quadrant model to elucidate associations and matching patterns between greenspace exposure and thermal comfort. The findings indicate that population fluctuations affect the availability of actual greenspace, with correlations to thermal discomfort showing significant temporal variations among different UFZs. During morning workday hours, commercial zones have a significantly higher representation in Quadrant II (82.26%) compared to non-workdays (70.86%), which is characterized by high population density, low greenspace exposure, and pronounced thermal discomfort. In contrast, residential and public service zones maintain consistently high and stable proportions in Quadrant I across all periods. This spatial mismatch is primarily caused by differences in available greenspace quantities and population mobility. Planning adjustments should focus on ensuring sufficient greenspace provision in key areas during peak population mobility periods to mitigate thermal discomfort. Minimizing residents’ staying time in thermally uncomfortable zones, implementing time-specific greenspace access, and strategically increasing greenspace coverage are essential for improving the mismatch between greenspace supply and demand.