Journal of Geographical Sciences >
Population migration across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors
Wang Nan (1994-), PhD, specialized in spatiotemporal data mining. E-mail:wangnan171@mails.ucas.edu.cn |
Received date: 2020-03-17
Accepted date: 2020-11-24
Online published: 2021-04-25
Supported by
National Natural Science Foundation of China(41590845)
Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA19040501)
Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20040401)
National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFB0503605)
National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC1503003)
Copyright
Developing a comprehensive understanding of inter-city interactions is crucial for regional planning. We therefore examined spatiotemporal patterns of population migration across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) using migration big data from Tencent for the period between 2015 and 2019. We initially used decomposition and breakpoint detection methods to examine time-series migration data and to identify the two seasons with the strongest and weakest population migration levels, between June 18th and August 18th and between October 8th and February 15th, respectively. Population migration within the former period was 2.03 times that seen in the latter. We then used a variety of network analysis methods to examine population flow directions as well as the importance of each individual city in migration. The two capital cities on the QTP, Lhasa and Xining, form centers for population migration and are also transfer hubs through which migrants from other cities off the plateau enter and leave this region. Data show that these two cities contribute more than 35% of total population migration. The majority of migrants tend to move within the province, particularly during the weakest migration season. We also utilized interactive relationship force and radiation models to examine the interaction strength and the radiating energy of each individual city. Results show that Lhasa and Xining exhibit the strongest interactions with other cities and have the largest radiating energies. Indeed, the radiating energy of the QTP cities correlates with their gross domestic product (GDP) (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.754 in the weakest migration season, WMS versus 0.737 in the strongest migration season, SMS), while changes in radiating energy correlate with the tourism-related revenue (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.685). These outcomes suggest that level of economic development and level of tourism are the two most important factors driving the QTP population migration. The results of this analysis provide critical clarification guidance regarding huge QTP development differences.
WANG Nan , WANG Huimeng , DU Yunyan , YI Jiawei , LIU Zhang , TU Wenna . Population migration across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors[J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2021 , 31(2) : 195 -214 . DOI: 10.1007/s11442-021-1842-z
Figure 1 The study area considered in this analysis |
Figure 2 Time series to show the total daily number of intra-migrational migrants between the 18 QTP cities as well as inter-migration migrants between these cities and their 347 non-QTP counterparts. |
Figure 3 Identification of seasonal breakpoints from time series migration flows |
Figure 4 Agglomerated fluctuations in inter- and intra-migration flows within one year |
Figure 5 Chord diagrams showing migration flows between the 18 QTP cities during WMS (a) and SMS (b) periods. The bulk of migration flows involving the 18 QTP cities are from their 347 non-QTP counterparts as well as eight Qinghai, seven Tibet, and the other three non-QTP cities during WMS (c) and SMS (d) periods. |
Figure 6 City importance rankings and interaction strengths between QTP cities in terms of migration flows during WMS (a) and SMS (b). Correlations between PageRank values during the two seasons for different regions across the QTP (c) as well as t-test results for changes between different pairs of cities (d). |
Figure 7 Results based on a population flow radiation model for 18 QTP cities across different seasons: Radiating momentum directions (a) and (b) energy |
Figure 8 Rates of radiating momentum change in ‘in and out’ directions (a) as well as radiating energy(b) for cities on the QTP alongside rate of change during WMS and SMS |
Figure 9 Composition of the QTP population flows and Lorenz curves during the WMS and SMS |
Figure 10 The relationship between QTP region migration data and socioeconomic indices |
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