The arid Central Asia, one of the world's largest non-zonal drylands, is highly vulnerable to global climate change due to its fragile water-ecosystem. Recent warming in this region far exceeds the global average, driving profound hydrological and ecological shifts. This study analyzes water cycle changes and ecological risks to reveal how warming is reshaping regional dynamics. Results show declining solid precipitation and an increasing frequency of compound drought-hot events. Extreme droughts have intensified in recent decades. At the same time, clear signs of cryospheric degradation are evident, including widespread glacier retreat, declining glacier coverage, and a shortening of snow cover duration. These changes disrupt seasonal runoff, expand glacial lakes, and elevate flood hazards. Intensified evaporation accelerates soil desiccation, while aridification is spreading into adjacent zones. Overall, climate-driven water cycle reorganization is amplifying ecological risks, and posing a growing threat to regional sustainability.

The Qilian Mountains (QLMs) are a critical ecological security barrier and water conservation region in northwestern China, which support regional climate regulation and ecosystem stability. However, climate change-induced variabilities in vegetation dynamics can threaten these functions. Although vegetation-climate relationships have been widely examined, the sensitivity and ecological risks of QLM vegetation to growing-season drought extremes remain poorly understood. In this study, we applied the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) to estimate net primary productivity (NPP) during the main growing season (May-August) across the QLMs from 1990-2022. Spatiotemporal variations in NPP were analyzed using the Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen slope estimator. Vegetation sensitivity and ecological risk were quantified using linear regression slopes between NPP and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), and temporal changes in sensitivity were assessed using a three-year moving window. Additionally, vegetation resistance and resilience to drought extremes were calculated for different vegetation types. The results showed that both NPP and SPEI in the QLMs exhibited significant upward trends over the study period. Approximately 12.7% of the region is currently exposed to elevated ecological risk. Areas with high sensitivity are primarily distributed in the northern Qinghai Lake region and northwestern QLMs, whereas regions with significantly increasing sensitivity are concentrated in the central and northwestern areas. Desert vegetation and shrublands exhibited higher drought sensitivity and ecological risk owing to their lower resistance and resilience, whereas grasslands and croplands showed the lowest ecological risk, supported by higher resistance and resilience. Overall, this study identified priority areas and vegetation types for drought risk management in the QLMs, underscoring the importance of enhancing vegetation resistance and resilience for mitigating the increasing drought-related ecological risks under future climate change.

Against the backdrop of global climatic shift and pressure exerted by anthropogenic disturbance, the health of water balance has come to be seen as a pivotal regard in the pursuit of sustainable progress in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). This research employed a groundbreaking paradigm to assess the health of water balance, focusing specifically on three key water-related issues: Water shortage (WSI), unequal water distribution (WII), and system incoordination (SID). The results suggest that total water storage anomalies (TWSA) and groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) displayed significant decrease during 2003- 2022 at the rates of -0.47 mm/yr and -0.65 mm/yr, respectively. Geographically, TWSA and GWSA showed regional differences in the source region, midstream area and downstream area. From the perspective of water balance health, the sub-basins with WSI<1.0 were predominantly situated in the source area, middle reaches and interior drainage area of YRB, accounting for 52.39%. Interior drainage area and downstream area showed high WII levels ranging from 0.86-0.98, indicating severe water inequality. The SID levels in the upstream area are relatively high ranging from 0.8 to 1.0, accounting for 19.05%. This phenomenon can be attributed to the constraining role of socioeconomic development in the upstream area. By integrating WSI, WII and SID, the upper reaches of Longyangxia are in a relatively healthy water balance with UWBI<0.6, accounting for 33.33%. This is primarily due to ample water resources and restricted water extraction in the upstream area. The contributions of WSI, WII, and SID were 52.17%, 27.31%, and 20.52%, respectively, indicating that water scarcity was the main factor driving the disrupted water equilibrium in the YRB. Specifically, in the downstream area, which is marked by dense population and high-input farming practices, the unhealth of water balance was mainly caused by the discrepancy in supply and demand of water resources. This study enhances the understanding of water balance health and supports the water resource management in the YRB.

In the context of global change, a central challenge in ecology is to establish the multi-scale evolution and coupling mechanisms of ecosystems. In particular, it is necessary to clarify the structural mismatch between hierarchical levels that arises when ecological networks (ENs) are constructed across varying extents or grains. Using city- and central urban-level examples, we introduced a cross-level ENs spatial mismatch measurement index (SMI) and a scale-effect analysis framework. Five representative cities from the Northeast, Northwest, Central, Southwest, and Southeast China were selected as research areas. A unified approach combining minimum cumulative resistance and XGBoost models enable the preliminary construction of two-level ENs. SMI is then applied to evaluate cross-level mismatches, followed by analysis of extent and grain effects. Mechanisms underlying EN disconnection and potential solution pathways are further examined. The results show that: (1) spatial mismatch indicators (SMI_source, SMI_corridor, SMI_nodes) defined on ecological source areas (ESA), corridor, and strategic nodes, reflect mismatch degrees across EN levels; (2) scale effects reveal decreasing SMI with expanding observation extent in central urban area, fluctuating values with synchronous change in data grain, and increasing values with higher statistical grid density; (3) the largest patch index and landscape division index exert a strong influence on SMI_source, while patch number and Shannon's diversity index play key roles in SMI_corridor; and (4) variation in landscape composition and configuration heterogeneity across scales provides explanatory power of mismatch phenomenon and scale effects. The study contributes to ecological pattern analysis by offering a quantitative method for multi-scale EN research, with implications for ecological protection and regional landscape planning.

Global agricultural expansion into marginal land, coupled with rapid urbanization, leads to cropland redistribution worldwide. This process is especially ubiquitous in China, where fragmented policy frameworks during its early development stage accelerated cropland redistribution. However, the integrated assessment of cropland redistribution, particularly in terms of its impacts, remains understudied. To address this gap, this paper employed the GAEZ and InVEST models to investigate the qualitative and ecological impacts of cropland redistribution in China. The results demonstrated that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, cropland redistribution across provinces exhibited significant spatial homogeneity, with a gross loss of 30.90 Mha partially offset by a gross gain of 24.47 Mha. (2) Most provinces lacked balanced cropland productivity, as the average productivity of cropland gains (2.07×10⁵ t/km²) is much lower than that of cropland losses (2.91×10⁵ t/km²); (3) Cropland redistribution led to a net decline in ecosystem services, despite cropland gains exhibit higher average values in carbon storage, habitat quality, and soil conservation than cropland losses; (4) While cropland redistribution often causes ecological degradation, there are co-benefits observed between cropland quality and ecology in some cases. These variations suggest that ecological degradation owing to cropland redistribution can be mitigated and moderated by other factors. Region-specific policy instruments are, therefore, crucial to maintaining cropland productivity and preventing further ecological degradation.

This study investigates microblade technology across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau since the Last Glacial Maximum, aiming to reconstruct its dispersal routes, ecological adaptations, and connections to climatic and environmental changes. By integrating the MaxEnt ecological niche model, GIS-based spatial analysis, typological studies of lithic artifacts, and least-cost path analysis, we systematically reconstructed the diffusion processes and habitat suitability for microblade-using populations between 24-6 ka BP. The results reveal that (1) microblade technology spread progressively from the Loess Plateau to the northeastern margin and further into the interior of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, demonstrating a phased expansion from east to west and from low to high altitudes; (2) the dominant environmental factors influencing distribution shifted over time: the mean temperature of the coldest quarter was the primary limiting factor during 24-18 ka BP and 18-12 ka BP (contributing 69.6% and 19.3%, respectively), while proximity to water sources became the most critical factor during 12-6 ka BP (contributing 37.3%); (3) typological analysis of microblade cores indicates the prevalence of wedge-shaped cores on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which closely aligns with mid-to-late period technological traditions on the Loess Plateau, suggesting technological homology and cultural diffusion between the two regions; (4) the dissemination of microblade technology illustrates a systematic response to climate change, propelled by a threefold mechanism that encompasses environmental adaptation, resource availability, and population movement. This study serves as a significant case analysis of human adaptation and technological dissemination in extreme high-altitude environments during the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene, which provide methodological insights pertinent to research on prehistoric human dispersal in high-altitude contexts globally.

A systematic quantification of the embodied clean energy footprint in global supply chains is essential for optimizing renewable energy utilization and facilitating low-carbon transitions. However, existing research lacks a comprehensive analysis of clean energy flows, particularly with respect to value chain positions and driving mechanisms. This study develops an integrated framework that combines multi-regional input-output (MRIO) models and value chain decomposition to trace the spatiotemporal evolution of the embodied clean energy footprints across 42 major economies from 2006 to 2016, clarify their differentiated positions in global supply chains, and identify key drivers using structural decomposition analysis (SDA). The results indicate that the global embodied clean energy footprints increased by 12.66 million TJ between 2006 and 2016, exhibiting a distinct South-to-North flow pattern from resource-rich developing economies to industrialized developed economies, with the Asia-Pacific region, especially China, emerging as the primary growth pole. Value chain analysis indicates that low and middle-income economies exhibit strong coupling between domestic clean energy use and value added, thereby embedding themselves in medium and low-tier supply chain segments, whereas high-income economies show mechanistic decoupling and diversified pathways, some of which suffer from external dependence and inefficiency. SDA identifies clean energy intensity and changes in domestic and foreign demand as the core drivers, while technology spillovers and policy shifts exert heterogeneous effects. This study reveals value chain fragmentation, technological disparities, and regional imbalances in global clean energy supply chain, thereby providing quantitative evidence to support differentiated green trade and energy transition policies.

Northern China's deserts are critical zones for combating desertification. Recent advances in photovoltaic technology and declining costs have facilitated the construction of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power stations in these regions, offering a new approach to sand control that integrates ecological restoration with economic development. Yet, their spatial dynamics and underlying nonlinear deployment drivers remain poorly understood. This study examines the spatiotemporal distribution of PV stations across eight major deserts and four sandy lands from 2010 to 2022 and identifies the potential driving mechanisms using an interpretable machine learning framework. The results indicate a rapid increase in both the number and the total area of PV stations, alongside a shift toward smaller scale projects. Deployment expanded from eastern clusters to western areas, with core concentrations in the Mu Us and Horqin Sandy Lands. Crucially, the SHAP attribution reveals an infrastructure- locked paradigm: proximity to power grids and roads outweighs natural resource endowments. The model uncovers a nonmonotonic climatic dual-effect, wherein moderate winds provide cooling benefits whereas extreme winds act as severe deterrents due to abrasion risks. To balance ecological risks and economic benefits, stricter management, fair benefit-sharing, and diversified evaluation frameworks are recommended. These findings provide a scientific basis for the sustainable and high-quality development of PV stations in desert regions.

Rural energy transitions are essential for climate governance and sustainable development, particularly in the Global South. However, the evolution of rural photovoltaic (PV) deployment remains insufficiently understood, partly because existing research rarely distinguishes rural deployment from urban expansion. To address this gap, this study introduces an urban-rural differentiated framework to identify rural PV deployment in China. The analysis employs Moran's I, dynamic time warping (DTW), K-means clustering, LightGBM, and SHAP to examine the spatial distribution, temporal evolution, and driving mechanisms using prefecture-level data from 2013 to 2022. The results demonstrate that rural PV deployment is highly uneven and spatially clustered, with its evolution divided into four distinct phases: high growth, steady growth, volatile growth, and low growth. Path dependence is the most consistent predictor across all types, although the enabling conditions for further expansion differ. Industrial agglomeration exerts a greater influence in high-growth regions, while digital finance and service-related infrastructure are more significant in steady-growth regions. Volatile-growth regions remain insufficiently stabilized, and low-growth regions are more constrained by land and solar resources. These findings indicate that the rural PV transition in China does not follow a single national pathway; instead, it is a geographically uneven, mechanism-specific process, which highlights the need for more differentiated rural energy governance.

The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway Transportation Corridor serves as the foundation for regional cooperation between China and Vietnam. On the basis of the statistical data and OpenStreetMap, methods such as the coupled coordination degree model were employed in this study to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of the coupled coordination degree of the Yunnan-Vietnam Corridor's transport-economy-society (TES) composite system from 2013 to 2022. The results indicate the following. (1) The transportation corridors are multi- element composite systems whose development is the result of a formation mechanism referred to as the “transportation trunk line-transportation network-composite system.” (2) The comprehensive level of development of the Yunnan-Vietnam Corridor has steadily improved, and the transportation subsystem is a significant contributor to this improvement. (3) The degree of coupling coordination of the corridor has shifted from mild imbalance to moderate imbalance, indicating that coordinated development remains far from realized. (4) The coupling coordination of the corridor is divided into three tiers, exhibiting a point-axis development trend and a dumbbell-shaped pattern. In the future, efforts should be made to accelerate the construction of an efficient Yunnan-Vietnam Railway trunk line and transportation network, and optimize the coordination level and pattern of the corridor.

This article examines the role of transnational infrastructure in the production of state power, and advances an understanding of human-nonhuman assemblage as the power agency. Drawing on the assemblage perspective, this paper aims to decipher the shape and materialization of transnational infrastructure through a case study of the China-Laos Railway project. This paper empirically sets up the socio-material process of a transnational multi-actor railway assemblage and its state power dynamics, arguing that it functions as a “strategic coupling” of bilateral interests under the Belt and Road Initiative. Along with the China Railway Machine and a multitude of railway-related agencies and activities, the study identifies non-human agents (land and railway equipment) intertwined in the ongoing assemblage formation and deploying state power as the railway project materializes. In doing so, observations suggest the transnational infrastructure territorialization and reconfiguration of the power assemblage under the BRI could be viewed within a broad, dialectical, and relational perspective. Furthermore, the study illustrates the temporality and spatiality of the transnational railway assemblage during the railway operation phase. Finally, this paper calls for comparing and exploring variegated transnational connectivity infrastructuralism from a grounded, and balanced milieu of human and non-human assemblage perspective.

Climate change poses increasing hazards to coastal regions, necessitating comprehensive multi-hazard assessments to guide effective management. Yogyakarta faces significant hazards due to high-energy waves and tectonic activity; however, a holistic spatial analysis of its coastal hazards remains limited. This study aims to classify the coastal characteristics of Yogyakarta, assess multi-hazard levels, and recommend site-specific management solutions utilizing the Coastal Hazard Wheel framework. Coastal classification was conducted using the Smartline method to map six biogeophysical parameters: geological layout, wave exposure, tidal range, flora/fauna, sediment balance, and storm climate. Data sources included field surveys, PlanetScope imagery, and wave models. The results revealed a distinct spatial dichotomy in hazard profiles. The eastern coast (Gunungkidul), dominated by uplifted limestone cliffs, exhibited low hazard across most categories due to its geological resilience. Conversely, the central and western coasts (Bantul and Kulon Progo), characterized by sedimentary plains and river mouths, were deemed high-priority regions because of their significant hazard of erosion and floods. This research suggests enforcing strict coastal setbacks and zoning the at-risk sedimentary plains while only allowing hard engineering at major river mouths. These results provide decision-makers with a detailed, science-based list of policy options to help them prioritize soft-engineering solutions when setting Yogyakarta's spatial planning rules.

Ten landscape regions (LSRs) can be distinguished on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) based on distinct climatic and geomorphic characteristics as well as the processes and landforms on the basis of literature review, fieldwork and satellite images. These LSRs are influenced by permafrost, aeolian processes (including loess) and Pleistocene processes. The highest glacier region (LSR 1) and the nivation and the periglacial zones (LSRs 2 and 3) are related to moisture and temperature. At lower altitudes on the eastern margin LSR 4, characterized by moderate processes, dominates while steppe gorges (LSR 6) are widespread in the semiarid northeastern parts. Braided and torrential river systems (LSR 5) dominate the subtropical regions below ~4000 m in the southern and eastern parts of the TP. Pediments and alluvial fans (LSR 7) and arid to hyperarid LSRs 8-10 are more common in the Qaidam Basin and along the northern margin. Several landforms and sediments provide evidence of the Pleistocene extent of the LSRs. Considering the effects of climate on past and present geomorphological processes in the different altitudinal belts of the TP can support the development of more comprehensive landscape models. This process-based approach links the analyses of both ecozonal systems and human disturbance.