Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.3
Journals
Atmosphere
Special Issues
Climate Change and Regional Sustainability in Arid Lands (2nd Edition)
share announcement

Climate Change and Regional Sustainability in Arid Lands (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosphere/Hydrosphere/Land–Atmosphere Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 816

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yang Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Interests: climate change; eco-hydrological modelling; evapotranspiration; drought; land degradation; machine learning; AI
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cun Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
Interests: LUCC; ecological remote sensing monitoring; sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a follow-up to the first Special Issue, entitled “Climate Change and Regional Sustainability in Arid Lands” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere/special_issues/K4Q11ETF22), published in Atmosphere.

The impacts of climate change have been widely recognized around the world, especially in arid environments. The ecosystems of arid/semi-arid areas are often vulnerable due to the extreme climatic situation and water shortage.

Arid lands are characterized by scarce water resources, a delicate ecological balance, and vulnerability to climate change impacts. This Special Issue aims to explore the various aspects of climate change and its implications for regional sustainability in arid lands worldwide. We welcome contributions that investigate the interactions between the atmosphere and the land surface, focusing on topics such as water availability, energy cycles, land cover change, and adaptation strategies.

Potential research areas for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Regional climate modeling and projections with AI technologies;
  • Machine learning techniques;
  • Impacts of climate variability and change on water resources in arid regions;
  • Land–atmosphere interactions and feedback mechanisms in arid ecosystems;
  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for arid regions;
  • Socio-economic implications and policy interventions for sustainable development in arid lands.

We invite researchers and experts in the field to submit their original research articles, reviews, or conceptual papers to contribute to this Special Issue. Manuscripts should adhere to the journal’s guidelines and will undergo a rigorous peer-review process.

This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest research and advancements in the understanding of the complex dynamics of arid regions, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental sustainability. It is our hope that the research presented in this Special Issue will inform policy decisions and contribute to the development of sustainable practices in these vulnerable regions.

Dr. Yang Yu
Dr. Cun Chang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • regional sustainability
  • arid lands
  • machine learning
  • LUCC
  • remote sensing
  • sustainable management

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 15701 KiB  
Article
The Response of NDVI to Climate Change in the Lowest and Hottest Basin in China
by Chunlan Li, Yang Yu, Lingxiao Sun, Jing He, Haiyan Zhang, Yuanbo Lu, Zengkun Guo, Lingyun Zhang, Ireneusz Malik, Malgorzata Wistuba and Ruide Yu
Atmosphere 2025, 16(7), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16070778 - 25 Jun 2025
Viewed by 152
Abstract
The response mechanisms of vegetation dynamics to climate change in arid regions, particularly under extreme low-altitude and high-temperature environments, remain unclear. Focusing on China’s lowest and hottest Turpan-Hami Basin, this study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of vegetation cover (using MODIS NDVI) and its [...] Read more.
The response mechanisms of vegetation dynamics to climate change in arid regions, particularly under extreme low-altitude and high-temperature environments, remain unclear. Focusing on China’s lowest and hottest Turpan-Hami Basin, this study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of vegetation cover (using MODIS NDVI) and its response to temperature, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (PET) based on data from 2001 to 2020. Theil–Sen trend analysis, the Mann–Kendall test, and Pearson correlation were employed. Key findings include the following: (1) NDVI exhibited a significant increasing trend, with the largest rise in winter and peak values in summer. Spatially, high NDVI was concentrated in oasis and mountainous forest-grassland zones, while low values prevailed in desert Gobi regions; 34.2% of the area showed significant improvement, though localized degradation occurred. (2) Temperature showed no significant overall correlation with NDVI, except for strong positive correlations in limited high-altitude cold zones (2.9%). Precipitation had minimal influence (no correlation in 75.4% of the area), with localized positive responses in northwestern foothills linked to runoff. PET exhibited positive correlations (weak or strong) with NDVI across nearly half of the region (46.8%), predominantly in oasis-desert and piedmont transition zones. (3) Human activities, notably irrigation and shelterbelt projects, are key drivers of oasis vegetation restoration. Critically, the positive PET-NDVI correlation challenges the conventional paradigm viewing evapotranspiration solely as water stress. This study elucidates the compound responses of vegetation dynamics to climatic and anthropogenic factors in a low-altitude arid region, providing a scientific basis for ecological restoration and water resource management optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Regional Sustainability in Arid Lands (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 8687 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Coastal Zone Vulnerability in Context of Sea-Level Rise and Inundation Risk in Qatar
by Abdulaziz Ali M. Al-Mannai, Sarra Ouerghi and Mohamed Elhag
Atmosphere 2025, 16(5), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16050622 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
Coastal zones represent the most active interfaces where natural processes and human activities converge, making them crucial for biodiversity and socioeconomic development. These zones are characterized by their fragility and susceptibility to frequent natural disasters, such as floods and erosion, which are exacerbated [...] Read more.
Coastal zones represent the most active interfaces where natural processes and human activities converge, making them crucial for biodiversity and socioeconomic development. These zones are characterized by their fragility and susceptibility to frequent natural disasters, such as floods and erosion, which are exacerbated by high-intensity human activities and urban expansion. The ongoing challenges posed by rising sea levels and climate change necessitate robust scientific assessments of coastal vulnerability to ensure effective disaster prevention and environmental protection. This paper introduces a comprehensive evaluation system for assessing coastal zone vulnerability, utilizing multi-source data to address ecological vulnerabilities stemming from sea-level rise and climate change impacts. This system is applied to examine the specific case of Qatar, where rapid urban development and a high population density in coastal areas heighten the risk of flooding and inundation. Employing remote sensing data and Geographic Information Systems (GISs), this research leverages spatial interpolation techniques and high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) to identify and evaluate high-risk zones susceptible to sea-level rise. In this study, the hydrological connectivity model, bathtub technique, and CVI are interconnected tools that complement each other to assess future flooding risks under various climate change projections, highlighting the increased probability of coastal hazards. The findings underscore the urgent need for adaptive planning and regulatory frameworks to mitigate these risks, providing technical support for the sustainable development of coastal communities globally and in Qatar. This approach not only informs policy makers, but also aids in the strategic planning required to foster resilient coastal infrastructure capable of withstanding both current and future environmental challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Regional Sustainability in Arid Lands (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop