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Keywords = Guanzhong Basin

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29 pages, 15635 KB  
Article
Dynamic Local and Tele-Coupling Coordination of Ecosystem Service Supply–Demand and Its Driving Mechanism in the Wei River Basin
by Ni Geng, Guiliang Tian and Hengquan Zhang
Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5368; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115368 - 27 May 2026
Viewed by 210
Abstract
The Wei River Basin (WRB) faces challenges including flood threats, ecological fragility, and uneven socio-economic development. However, existing ecosystem service supply–demand (ESSD) studies rarely incorporate flood-sediment transport as a core service, and systematic studies on revealing the multi-scale spatial heterogeneity and driving mechanism [...] Read more.
The Wei River Basin (WRB) faces challenges including flood threats, ecological fragility, and uneven socio-economic development. However, existing ecosystem service supply–demand (ESSD) studies rarely incorporate flood-sediment transport as a core service, and systematic studies on revealing the multi-scale spatial heterogeneity and driving mechanism of ESSD coupling coordination remain insufficient. Therefore, this paper analyzed the ESSD across flood-sediment transport, eco-environmental, and socio-economic subsystems for the period 2005–2023 at three spatial scales (municipal, watershed, and county). A multi-scale comprehensive index of ESSD was constructed. Using the dynamic local and tele-coupling coordination degree (DLTCCD) model and spatial Markov model, we quantitatively assessed dynamic trade-offs and transition patterns of the DLTCCD in ESSD. The XGBoost-SHAP model and structural equation model were employed to explore the internal mechanisms through which key factors influence the DLTCCD. A zoning management mechanism was proposed by integrating the four-quadrant static model and DLTCCD change rate. The results showed the following: (1) ESSD exhibited a spatial pattern of “lower in the north and higher in the south,” with imbalances more evident at the county scale. (2) The DLTCCD showed significant scale dependence, with “spatial club convergence” of high and low levels in the Ziwuling Mountain and Longdong Plain areas. (3) Based on both the XGBoost-SHAP model and the structural equation model, precipitation was identified as the fundamental driving force across scales, exerting influence through interactive effects and a dual mediating path. (4) Zoning identification revealed structural challenges for sustainable development, marked by coexistence of coordinated and uncoordinated development zones. This study identifies the northern Loess Plateau, Qinling northern foothills, and Guanzhong Plain as key zones, proposes a “zoning-based graded intervention” strategy, and provides scientific support for ESSD management in the WRB. Full article
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43 pages, 41548 KB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evolution and Dynamic Driving Mechanisms of Synergistic Rural Revitalization in Topographically Complex Regions: A Case Study of the Qinba Mountains, China
by Haozhe Yu, Jie Wu, Ning Cao, Lijuan Li, Lei Shi and Zhehao Su
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3307; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073307 - 28 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 575
Abstract
In ecologically fragile and geomorphologically complex mountainous regions, ensuring a smooth transition from poverty alleviation to multidimensional sustainable rural development remains a key issue in regional governance. Focusing on the Qinba Mountains, a typical former contiguous poverty-stricken region in China covering 18 prefecture-level [...] Read more.
In ecologically fragile and geomorphologically complex mountainous regions, ensuring a smooth transition from poverty alleviation to multidimensional sustainable rural development remains a key issue in regional governance. Focusing on the Qinba Mountains, a typical former contiguous poverty-stricken region in China covering 18 prefecture-level cities in six provinces, this study uses 2009–2023 prefecture-level panel data to examine the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of coordinated rural revitalization. An integrated framework of “multi-dimensional evaluation–spatiotemporal tracking–attribution diagnosis” is developed by combining the improved AHP–entropy-weight TOPSIS method, the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, spatial Markov chains, spatial autocorrelation, and the Geodetector. The results show pronounced subsystem asynchrony. Livelihood and Well-being Security (U5) improves steadily, while Level of Industrial Development (U1), Civic Virtues and Cultural Vibrancy (U3), and Rural Governance (U4) also rise but with clear spatial differentiation; by contrast, Quality of Human Settlements (U2) fluctuates in stages under ecological fragility. Overall, the coupling coordination level advances from the Verge of Imbalance to Intermediate Coordination, yet the regional pattern remains uneven, with eastern basin cities leading and western deep mountainous cities lagging. State transitions display both policy responsiveness and path dependence: the probability of retaining the original state ranges from 50.0% to 90.5%; low-level neighborhoods reduce the upward transition probability to 25%, whereas medium-to-high-level neighborhoods raise the upward transition probability of low-level cities from 36.36% to 53.33%. Spatial dependence is also evident, with Global Moran’s I increasing, with fluctuations, from 0.331 in 2009 to 0.536 in 2023; high-value clusters extend along the Guanzhong Plain–Han River Valley corridor, while low-value clusters remain relatively locked in mountainous border areas. Driving mechanisms show clear stage-wise succession. At the single-factor level, the explanatory power of Road Network Density (F6) declines from 0.639 to 0.287, whereas Terrain Relief Amplitude (F1) becomes the dominant background constraint in the later stage (q = 0.772). Multi-factor interactions are generally enhanced. In particular, the traditional infrastructure-led pathway weakens markedly, with F1 ∩ F6 = 0.055 in 2023, while the interaction between terrain and consumer market vitality becomes dominant, with F1 ∩ F7 = 0.987 in 2023. On this basis, three major pathways are identified: government fiscal intervention and transportation accessibility improvement, capital agglomeration and market demand stimulation, and human–earth system adaptation and ecological value realization. These findings provide quantitative evidence for breaking spatial lock-in and improving cross-regional resource allocation in ecologically constrained mountainous regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)
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24 pages, 4920 KB  
Article
Study on Multi-Parameter Collaborative Optimization of Enhanced Geothermal System in Guanzhong Basin
by Quan Zhang, Wan Zhang, Rongzhou Yang, Kai Chen, Sijia Chen, Xiao Wang and Manchao He
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 2770; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16062770 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 351
Abstract
This study investigates the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupling impacts on seepage and heat transfer characteristics to enhance the efficient utilization of hot dry rock resources in the Guanzhong Basin. A computational model of thermo-hydro-mechanical three-field coupling for an enhanced geothermal system is developed based [...] Read more.
This study investigates the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupling impacts on seepage and heat transfer characteristics to enhance the efficient utilization of hot dry rock resources in the Guanzhong Basin. A computational model of thermo-hydro-mechanical three-field coupling for an enhanced geothermal system is developed based on the geological context and rock thermophysical properties of the Huazhou-Huayin target area in the Guanzhong Basin. The effects of differential pressure during injection and production, injection temperature, and well configuration on the reservoir stress field, permeability variations, temperature distribution, and heat recovery efficiency of the system are carefully simulated and analyzed. Simulations indicate that increasing the injection–production pressure differential from ±1 MPa to ±7 MPa dramatically enhances heat recovery, yielding a fivefold increase in the extraction rate and an 11.54-fold rise in cumulative heat production. Conversely, this aggressive approach severely impacts long-term sustainability, accelerating thermal breakthrough and drastically cutting the operational lifespan by 93.30%. Lowering the injection temperature from 60 °C to 20 °C yields a 24.14% enhancement in heat output over the same duration, together with a 24.14% increase in the geothermal extraction rate. Increasing the number of injection–production wells from one to two broadens the heat extraction range and improves system heat production by 35.82%, concurrently diminishing lifespan by 39.50%. This work possesses theoretical importance for the progression of hot dry rock initiatives similar to those in the Guanzhong Basin and other geological settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rock Mechanics in Deep Resource Development)
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21 pages, 10929 KB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Air Pollutants in the Three Major Urban Agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin
by Yanli Yin, Fan Zhang, Qifan Wu, Linan Sun, Yuanzheng Li, Peng Wang, Zilin Liu, Tian Cui, Zhaomeng Zhou, Runjing Hou, Mingyang Zhang, Jinping Liu and Qingfeng Hu
Atmosphere 2026, 17(3), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17030242 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 641
Abstract
Against the backdrop of the ongoing advancement of China’s dual-carbon goals and the coordinated strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), it is important to clarify the spatiotemporal dynamics of air pollution in the densely populated urban [...] Read more.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing advancement of China’s dual-carbon goals and the coordinated strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), it is important to clarify the spatiotemporal dynamics of air pollution in the densely populated urban agglomerations of the mid–lower YRB. Using station-based daily observations from 2015 to 2024, this study examines six major air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, O3 and SO2) across the Shandong Peninsula, Central Plains, and Guanzhong Plain urban agglomerations. Sen’s slope estimator and the Mann–Kendall test are applied to quantify long-term trends, while partial correlation analysis and the GeoDetector model are used to diagnose pollutant co-variations and the drivers of spatial heterogeneity. Results indicate that while PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations significantly decreased, O3 exhibited a statistically significant upward trend (Z = 2.32, p = 0.02), particularly with pronounced summer maxima. PM2.5 shows clear seasonal variation, with elevated levels during winter and reduced levels during summer. Marked spatial contrasts are also observed: elevated particulate matter and CO are concentrated in the northern part of the Central Plains, while higher O3 levels are more evident in coastal areas, particularly within the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration. In terms of inter-pollutant relationships, particulate matter and CO are positively associated with SO2, whereas O3 is negatively correlated with NO2. GeoDetector results further suggest that air temperature, wind speed, and topography are the key factors associated with the spatial differentiation of pollutant levels; notably, the interaction between wind speed and temperature provides the greatest explanatory power, with effects that vary seasonally. These findings provide a scientific basis for region-specific air-pollution control and for advancing the co-benefits of carbon reduction and pollution mitigation in the YRB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Pollution Dynamics in China)
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33 pages, 6306 KB  
Article
Mechanisms and Empirical Analysis of How New Quality Productive Forces Drive High-Quality Development to Enhance Water Resources Carrying Capacity in the Weihe River Basin
by Haozhe Yu, Jie Wu, Feiyan Xiao, Lei Shi and Yimin Huang
Water 2026, 18(3), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030339 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 536
Abstract
Water-scarce river basins face the dual challenge of sustaining development progress while maintaining water resources carrying capacity (WRCC), yet city-scale evidence remains limited on how New Quality Productive Force (NQPF)-driven high-quality development reshapes WRCC through coupled coordination and development–pressure decoupling processes. Using a [...] Read more.
Water-scarce river basins face the dual challenge of sustaining development progress while maintaining water resources carrying capacity (WRCC), yet city-scale evidence remains limited on how New Quality Productive Force (NQPF)-driven high-quality development reshapes WRCC through coupled coordination and development–pressure decoupling processes. Using a balanced panel of 15 cities in the Weihe River Basin (WRB) during 2014–2023, an integrated analytical framework was implemented by combining composite index evaluation (WRCC and the high-quality development index (HQDI)), the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, Tapio decoupling diagnosis between HQDI and total water use (TWU), and logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) decomposition. The results indicate that: (1) both the HQD index and WRCC exhibited sustained growth, with their CCD improving significantly from mild imbalance to primary coordination, while a distinct spatial pattern of “Guanzhong leading, northern Shaanxi improving, and eastern Gansu stabilizing” emerged; (2) the HQDI–WRCC linkage was further supported by pooled statistical tests and a two-way fixed effects specification with city-clustered robust standard errors, confirming a significant positive association (Pearson = 0.517, p < 0.01; Spearman = 0.183, p < 0.05) and a stable positive effect of HQDI on WRCC (β = 0.194, p = 0.0088); (3) Tapio results reveal an overall transition from earlier volatility toward a later-period regime dominated by Weak Decoupling (WD) and Strong Decoupling (SD), implying that development progress became less dependent on rising TWU, although pronounced inter-city heterogeneity persisted; (4) LMDI decomposition further identified water use intensity and industrial structure as primary inhibitors of water consumption, whereas the R&D scale effect increased nearly 60-fold, emerging as a major driver of water demand. This study provides a mechanistic basis for coordinating ecological protection and high-quality development under rigid water constraints in water-scarce basins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Urban Water Management)
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18 pages, 2392 KB  
Article
Field Test Investigation into Heat Transfer Performance of Coaxial Casing Heat Exchanger Associated with Deep Geothermal Wells
by Yuliang Sun, Qilong Wang, Yijie Wang, Hongtao An, Chunlin Tu, Yanzi Lei and Xuehua Li
Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021038 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 461
Abstract
Rapid economic growth has directly driven up energy demand, and the gradual depletion of traditional fossil fuels has severely hindered sustainable development. Developing green and efficient geothermal exploitation technologies constitutes a crucial measure for tackling this sustainable development issue. This paper presents a [...] Read more.
Rapid economic growth has directly driven up energy demand, and the gradual depletion of traditional fossil fuels has severely hindered sustainable development. Developing green and efficient geothermal exploitation technologies constitutes a crucial measure for tackling this sustainable development issue. This paper presents a field test associated with a clean energy system conducted in the Guanzhong Basin, China, with the core component of a coaxial casing deep geothermal well. A distributed temperature sensing system (DTS system) with over 3000 m-depth optical fiber installed and adopted to monitor near-wellbore formation temperature changes. Combining information on the inlet/outlet water temperature and flow rate monitored by an integrated temperature–pressure monitoring system, the heat transfer patterns during the operation of the deep geothermal well are deeply investigated. The research results demonstrate that a higher operation parameter of flow rates has a significant increasing effect on the heat transfer capacity of heat exchangers for coaxial casing deep geothermal wells. Although the increase in inlet temperature has minimal effect on the outlet temperature, it leads to a continuous decline in heat transfer capacity. In addition, as heat exchange duration extends, the geothermal gradient of the near-wellbore formation progressively declines. Full article
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28 pages, 4229 KB  
Article
Horizontal Ecological Compensation for Ecosystem Services Based on the Perspective of Flood-Sediment Transport, Eco-Environmental and Socio-Economic Subsystems
by Ni Geng, Guiliang Tian and Hengquan Zhang
Land 2026, 15(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15010111 - 7 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 871
Abstract
The uncoordinated water–sediment relationship, fragile eco-environment and unbalanced economic development in the Wei River Basin (WRB) pose serious challenges to its high-quality development. Most existing studies focus on static structures or single elements, making it difficult to systematically reveal the complex interrelationships among [...] Read more.
The uncoordinated water–sediment relationship, fragile eco-environment and unbalanced economic development in the Wei River Basin (WRB) pose serious challenges to its high-quality development. Most existing studies focus on static structures or single elements, making it difficult to systematically reveal the complex interrelationships among ecosystem services (ESs) supply, transmission and demand. To address this issue, this paper innovatively combines the “system perspective” with the “flow network model”. From the perspective of flood-sediment transport, eco-environmental and socio-economic (FES) subsystems, we take the WRB as its research object and systematically analyzes the supply–demand relationship of ESs, the pathways of the ESs flows and ecological compensation (EC) strategies at multiple scales. By constructing a supply–demand assessment model for six types of ESs combined with the water-related flows model, the enhanced two-step floating catchment area method and the gravity model, this paper simulates the ESs flows driven by different transmission media (water, road and atmosphere). The results showed the following: (1) a significant spatial mismatch was observed between the high-supply areas at the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains and the high-demand areas in the Guanzhong Plains. Furthermore, the degree of this mismatch increased with decreasing scale. (2) The pathways of different ESs flows were influenced by their respective transmission media. The water-related flows passed through areas along the Wei River and the Jing River. The carbon sequestration flows were identified in the upper reaches of the Luo River and between the core urban agglomerations of the Guanzhong Plains. The crop production flows were significantly influenced by the scale of urban crop demand, radiating outward from Xi’an City. (3) At the county and watershed scales, The EC fund pools of 7.5 billion yuan and 2.6 billion yuan were formed, respectively. These EC funds covered over 90% of the areas. These findings verify the applicability of the “FES subsystems” framework for multi-scale EC and provide a theoretical basis for developing an integrated EC mechanism across the entire basin. Full article
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21 pages, 5231 KB  
Article
Influence of Soil Temperature on Potential Evaporation over Saturated Surfaces—In Situ Lysimeter Study
by Wanxin Li, Zhi Li, Jinyue Cheng, Yi Wang, Fan Wang, Jiawei Wang and Wenke Wang
Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2381; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102381 - 12 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1643
Abstract
Potential evaporation (PE) from saturated bare surfaces is the basis for estimating actual evaporation (Es) in agricultural and related disciplines. Most models estimate PE using meteorological data. Thus, the dependence of soil temperature (T) on PE is often simplified [...] Read more.
Potential evaporation (PE) from saturated bare surfaces is the basis for estimating actual evaporation (Es) in agricultural and related disciplines. Most models estimate PE using meteorological data. Thus, the dependence of soil temperature (T) on PE is often simplified in applications. To address this gap, we conducted an in situ lysimeter experiment in the Guanzhong Basin, China, continuously measuring PE, T, and soil heat flux (G) at high temporal resolution over three fully saturated sandy soils. Results show that annual PE over fine sand was 7.1% and 11.0% higher than that of coarse sand and gravel. The observed PE differences across textures can be quantitatively explained using the surface energy balance equation and a radiatively coupled Penman-Monteith equation, accounting for the dependence of T on net radiation (Rn) and G. In contrast, PE estimates diverged from observations when Rn and G were assumed to be independent of T. We further evaluated the influence of T and other influencing variables on PE. The random forest model identified that near-surface heat storage variations (∆S) contribute most significantly to PE estimation (relative importance = 0.37), followed by surface temperature (0.24) and sensible heat flux (0.23). These findings highlight the critical role of near-surface temperature in PE estimation. Full article
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26 pages, 17311 KB  
Article
Spatial Association and Driving Factors of the Carbon Emission Decoupling Effect in Urban Agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin
by Zhiqiang Zhang, Weiwei Wang, Junyu Chen, Chunhui Han, Lu Zhang, Xizhi Lv, Li Yang and Guotao Cui
Land 2025, 14(9), 1838; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14091838 - 9 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 986
Abstract
Harmonizing economic growth and carbon emissions is key to reaching the “dual carbon” targets. This research centers on the seven key urban agglomerations within the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and establishes an integrated research framework of decoupling effect quantification–spatial association recognition–driving factor analysis. [...] Read more.
Harmonizing economic growth and carbon emissions is key to reaching the “dual carbon” targets. This research centers on the seven key urban agglomerations within the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and establishes an integrated research framework of decoupling effect quantification–spatial association recognition–driving factor analysis. By combining the Tapio decoupling model, a modified gravity model, social network analysis (SNA), and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method, the study systematically evaluates the decoupling states, spatial association structure, and driving mechanisms between regional carbon emissions and economic growth from 2001 to 2020. The results show that: (1) All seven urban agglomerations exhibit a simultaneous upward trend in both carbon emissions and GDP, but significant regional disparities exist, with some agglomerations demonstrating a green growth pattern where economic growth outpaces carbon emissions. (2) Weak decoupling is the predominant type among urban agglomerations and their constituent cities in the YRB. Notably, some regions have regressed to growing connection or growing negative decoupling during 2016–2020. (3) The spatial network of carbon emission decoupling effects exhibits a core-periphery structure characterized by stronger eastern regions and weaker western regions, with the Shandong Peninsula and Guanzhong Plain urban agglomerations serving as core nodes for regional linkage. (4) Per capita GDP and technological level play a dominant role in promoting decoupling, while energy intensity and the population carrying intensity of the real economy are the primary inhibiting factors; the impact of industrial structure shows an unstable direction. Grounded in these findings, this study formulates differentiated carbon reduction pathways tailored to regional heterogeneity, providing theoretical insights and actionable guidance to facilitate the low-carbon transition and coordinated governance of urban agglomerations. Full article
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19 pages, 4574 KB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Variability and Driving Factors of Vegetation Net Primary Productivity in the Yellow River Basin (Shaanxi Section) from 2000 to 2022
by Qiuman Liu, Du Lyu, Tao Xie, Lu Cui, Yifan Ma and Yunfeng Zhang
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091004 - 25 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1154
Abstract
Net primary productivity (NPP) is a key metric for assessing ecosystem functionality and sustainability. This study utilized MOD17A3 NPP data in conjunction with trend analysis, a gravity center model, and the Geodetector method to examine the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of NPP [...] Read more.
Net primary productivity (NPP) is a key metric for assessing ecosystem functionality and sustainability. This study utilized MOD17A3 NPP data in conjunction with trend analysis, a gravity center model, and the Geodetector method to examine the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of NPP across the Yellow River Basin (Shaanxi section) from 2000 to 2022. Results revealed: (1) The average NPP over the study period was 353.01g C m−2 with an upward trend of 9.7 g C m−2yr−1; spatially, NPP increased from north to south, with significant variability in northern Shaanxi and a 17.89 km northeastward shift in NPP’s gravity center. (2) Areas exhibiting significant NPP increases (slope > 0, p < 0.01) comprised 97.83% of the region, while declines were mainly observed in Guanzhong. (3) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was the dominant factor, with the strongest synergistic, nonlinear interaction with land use type reflecting human activities (q = 0.831), indicating that the combined influence of climate factors, land surface factors, and human activities amplifies the explanatory effect on NPP variability. The study demonstrates an overall improvement in NPP, although local declines occurred, and its spatial distribution was influenced by a combination of natural and human factors. These findings will provide data support for the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Full article
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20 pages, 12148 KB  
Article
The Impact of Geomorphological Settings and Environmental Influences on Crop Utilization in the Mid-to-Late Neolithic Period in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China
by Zhikun Ma, Mile Zhou, Zhongya Hu, Francesca Monteith, Bingxin Shao and Jinhui Xiang
Land 2025, 14(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020234 - 23 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2081
Abstract
During the Middle-to-Late Neolithic period (7000–3800 BP), Shaanxi Province served as a critical juncture in the transmission of crops. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), and rice (Oryza sativa) spread westwards into the Gansu–Qinghai region [...] Read more.
During the Middle-to-Late Neolithic period (7000–3800 BP), Shaanxi Province served as a critical juncture in the transmission of crops. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), and rice (Oryza sativa) spread westwards into the Gansu–Qinghai region and southwards into the Sichuan basin, whilst wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) were transmitted through the Shaanxi region to the middle and lower Yellow River regions. Neolithic settlements are found in all three of the main geomorphic settings in Shaanxi: the Loess Plateau, plains, and mountainous areas. While the extent to which crop diffusion and distribution were influenced by environmental changes has previously been highlighted, the strategies of crop utilization in different geomorphic contexts have not been specified. Based on crop-remains data from 33 archaeological sites in Shaanxi, this study uses statistical modeling and ArcGIS-based spatial analysis to investigate prehistoric crop utilization in Shaanxi during the Neolithic period and its environmental determinants. Our results indicate the following: (1) The dominant crops in the Neolithic Shaanxi were foxtail millet and broomcorn millet, with the proportion of foxtail millet increasing over time. (2) The Guanzhong Plain was the earliest region in Shaanxi to adopt millet and rice (~7000–3800 BP). Subsequently, millet and rice had influenced the Qinba Mountains by ~5000 BP at the latest. By ~3800 BP, millet had affected the entire northern Shaanxi Plateau, with rice only found at the Shimao site around 4000 BP. Finally, wheat and barley influenced the Guanzhong region and the Qinba region in Shaanxi around 4000 BP. In addition, rice, wheat, and barley mainly enhanced agricultural diversity in the Guanzhong Plain and Qinba Mountains but had limited impact in the Northern Plateau, where cattle and sheep have enriched subsistence strategies since about 4500 BP. (3) Environmental factors affected the distribution of crops to different extents—elevation and river proximity had minimal effects on foxtail millet and broomcorn millet but significantly influenced the presence of rice, wheat, and barley. These factors led to a spatial pattern where millet dominated in the Northern Plateau, while the Guanzhong Plain and Qinba Mountains developed mixed farming systems incorporating all four seed types. This study provides new insights into the environmental mechanisms influencing crop diffusion and prehistoric human adaptation during the Neolithic period in Shaanxi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Landscape Archaeology)
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16 pages, 8896 KB  
Article
Vegetation Quality Assessment of the Shaanxi Section of the Yellow River Basin Based on NDVI and Rain-Use Efficiency
by Zhao Liu, Danyue Wang, Lei Han, Hongliang Kang and Xinxin Cao
Land 2025, 14(1), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010166 - 15 Jan 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1661
Abstract
The Yellow River Basin is a critical region for ecological environment protection and social and economic development in China. It is of great significance to study vegetation dynamics for the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. In this study, based on the [...] Read more.
The Yellow River Basin is a critical region for ecological environment protection and social and economic development in China. It is of great significance to study vegetation dynamics for the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. In this study, based on the data of NDVI and precipitation datasets in the growing season (June to September) from 2000 to 2019, we used a Sen+Mann–Kendall trend analysis and other methods to study the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of precipitation and vegetation cover in the Shaanxi section of the Yellow River Basin and to assess the regional vegetation quality change characteristics based on estimating the rain-use efficiency (RUE). The results show the following: (1) The precipitation in the study area showed a spatial distribution pattern of more in the south and less in the north, in which Yulin City had the lowest precipitation overall, but it was an area with significant increasing precipitation. (2) The NDVI value of the Shaanxi section of the Yellow River Basin showed an overall upward trend from 2000 to 2019, with a growth rate of 0.327/10a. The vegetation cover showed the spatial characteristics of high in the south and low in the north, which showed that the vegetation growth condition was poor in the wind-sand grassland area at the southern edge of the Mu Us Sandland in the northwestern part of Yulin City and the construction areas in the Guanzhong Plain. Meanwhile, the vegetation grew well in Yan’an City and the area close to the Qinba Mountains. Moreover, the NDVI of the study area increased with the increase in precipitation. (3) The vegetation quality in the study area showed fluctuating interannual changes and a weak upward trend. More than 80% of the vegetation in the study area was in a state of improvement, and the areas with more significant improvement were mainly located in the northern part of the study area, while the vegetation was degraded in the urban and urban suburb areas in the Guanzhong Plain. The results of this study are of great practical significance for promoting the socio-economic development of the Yellow River Basin in coordination with ecological environmental protection. Full article
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20 pages, 7191 KB  
Article
Dynamics Analysis of Spatial Distribution and Landscape Pattern of Wetlands in the Weihe River Basin from 1980 to 2020
by Aijiao Wu, Junbao Li, Dan Zhang, Min Chen, Miaochun Fan, Bo Yang, Jing Yu, Yani Gao, Liandui Li and Zhiguo Xie
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020544 - 12 Jan 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1821
Abstract
The wetland ecosystem is one of the most important carbon sinks on Earth, the most biodiverse ecological landscape in nature, and one of the most important living environments for human beings. The Weihe River wetland is located in the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration, [...] Read more.
The wetland ecosystem is one of the most important carbon sinks on Earth, the most biodiverse ecological landscape in nature, and one of the most important living environments for human beings. The Weihe River wetland is located in the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration, with extreme climate and urban expansion having a great impact on its dynamic changes. Revealing the characteristics of and trends in wetland dynamics in the Weihe River Basin is the key to protecting and maintaining the healthy development of the Weihe River wetlands. This paper analyzed the changing characteristics of land use types and landscape patterns in the wetlands of the Weihe River Basin using wetland land use data from six periods in the Weihe River wetland from 1980 to 2020 and explored the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and dynamic changes in wetlands in the Weihe River Basin. The results showed the following: (1) Wetlands in the Weihe River Basin, dominated by rivers, saw area fluctuations with an initial decline followed by an increase. Land use changes followed a slow–fast–slow trend. (2) From 1980 to 2020, frequent conversions among wetland types were observed. The primary transformation was the conversion of marshes into lakes (18.05 km2) and reservoirs/ponds (17.98 km2). Approximately 0.06 km2 of lakes were transformed into canals/channels. (3) River patches have the largest area, while canals/channels have the smallest. The patch density (PD) and landscape shape index (LSI) of wetlands fluctuate significantly, and the reduction in area leads to a 3.46% decrease in aggregation index (AI). Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI) has decreased by 5.41%. (4) The centroid of marshes experiences significant changes, while river changes are complex. The centroid changes in reservoirs/ponds are located along the southeast–northwest line. Canals/watercourses remain stable. Lakes exhibit the longest migration. This study provides robust scientific support for wetland ecological protection, policy formulation, and social sustainable development by conducting an in-depth analysis of the dynamic change characteristics of wetlands in the Weihe River Basin. Full article
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23 pages, 16317 KB  
Article
The Assessment of the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Net Water Erosion and Its Driving Factors in the Yellow River Basin
by Zuotang Yin, Yanlei Zuo, Xiaotong Xu, Jun Chang, Miao Lu and Wei Liu
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2677; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112677 - 14 Nov 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1583
Abstract
The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is an important grain production base, and exploring the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving factors of soil erosion in the YRB is of great significance to the ecological environment and sustainable agricultural development. In this study, we employed the [...] Read more.
The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is an important grain production base, and exploring the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving factors of soil erosion in the YRB is of great significance to the ecological environment and sustainable agricultural development. In this study, we employed the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in conjunction with Transport-Limited Sediment Delivery (TLSD) to explore a modified RUSLE-TLSD for use assessing net water erosion. This modification was performed using sediment data, and the explanatory power of driving factors was assessed utilizing an optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD). The results demonstrated that the modified RUSLE-TLSD can accurately simulate the spatiotemporal distribution of net water erosion (NSE = 0.5766; R2 = 0.6708). From 2000 to 2020, the net water erosion modulus in the YRB ranged between 1.62 and 5.33 t/(ha·a). Specifically, the net water erosion modulus decreased in the YRB and the middle reaches of the YRB (MYRB), but it increased in the upper reaches of the YRB (UYRB). The erosion occurred mainly in the Loess Plateau region, while the deposition occurred mainly in the Hetao Plain and Guanzhong Plain. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and slope emerged as significant driving factors, and their interaction explained 31.36% of YRB net water erosion. In addition, the redistribution of precipitation by vegetation and the slope weakened the impact of precipitation on the spatial pattern of net water erosion. This study provides a reference, offering insights to aid in the development of soil erosion control strategies within the YRB. Full article
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Article
The Response of NDVI to Drought at Different Temporal Scales in the Yellow River Basin from 2003 to 2020
by Wen Liu
Water 2024, 16(17), 2416; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172416 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3269
Abstract
Ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a major strategy for China’s sustainable development. Amid global warming, droughts have occurred more frequently, severely affecting vegetation growth. Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at [...] Read more.
Ecological protection in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) is a major strategy for China’s sustainable development. Amid global warming, droughts have occurred more frequently, severely affecting vegetation growth. Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at different time scales from 2003 to 2020, this study employed the linear trend method and the Spearman correlation coefficient method to calculate the trends and correlation coefficients of NDVI and SPEI at different scales at the pixel scale and explored the spatial distribution pattern of the sensitivity of vegetation growth in the YRB to drought. The results show that: (1) NDVI and SPEI are positively correlated in 77% of the area, negatively correlated in 9%, and are positively correlated in the arid and semi-arid areas, while negatively correlated in the humid and subhumid areas. The significant negative correlation between NDVI and drought at high altitudes may be due to the fact that Gramineae vegetation is more sensitive to drought, with heat being more affected than water. (2) Urbanization has a relatively obvious impact on the distribution of drought. Extreme drought mainly occurs in the middle and upper reaches of the Wei River; severe drought mainly occurs in the central area of the Guanzhong Plain centered on Xi’an; the central area of the Loess Plateau; and the surrounding areas of the Zhengzhou-centered Central Plains City Group. (3) The NDVI showed an upward trend from 2003 to 2020, indicating an increase in vegetation density or an expansion of vegetation coverage. From the temporal trend, SPEI decreased at a rate of −0.17/decade, indicating that the entire watershed has a drought trend on an annual scale. (4) Spring NDVI is more sensitive to the water supply provided by SPEI-1, while the positive correlation between SPEI and NDVI begins to rise in June and reaches its peak in July, then starts to decline in August. In autumn and winter, NDVI is more sensitive to 3–6-month accumulated drought. (5) From the dynamic transmission laws of different levels of positive correlation, the positive impact of the 3-month accumulated drought on NDVI is most significant, and the influence of SPEI-1 on the negative correlation between SPEI and NDVI is most significant. This paper aims to clarify the sensitivity of vegetation to different time-scale droughts, provide a basis for alleviating drought in the YRB, and promote sustainable development of ecological environmental protection. The research findings enable us to gain a profound insight into the responsiveness of vegetation growth to drought in the context of global warming and offer a valuable theoretical foundation for devising pertinent measures to alleviate stress on vegetation growth in regions prone to frequent droughts. Full article
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