Search Results (1,819)

The efficient and rational development of hydropower in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin can promote green energy transition, reduce carbon emissions, prevent and mitigate flood and drought disasters, and ensure the sustainable development of the entire basin. In this study, based on publicly available hydrometeorological observation data and satellite remote sensing monitoring data from 2001 to 2020, a machine learning model of the Lancang–Mekong Basin was developed to reconstruct the basin’s hydrological processes, and identify the occurrence patterns and influencing mechanisms of water-related hazards. The results show that, against the background of climate change, the Lancang–Mekong Basin is affected by the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events. In particular, Rx1day, Rx5day, R10mm, and R95p (extreme precipitation indicators determined by the World Meteorological Organization’s Expert Group on Climate Change Monitoring and Extreme Climate Events) in the northwestern part of the Mekong River Basin show upward trends, with the average maximum daily rainfall increasing by 1.8 mm/year and the total extreme precipitation increasing by 18 mm/year on average. The risks of flood and drought disasters will continue to rise. The flood peak period is mainly concentrated in August and September, with the annual maximum flood peak ranging from 5600 to 8500 m³/s. The Stung Treng Station exhibits longer drought duration, greater severity, and higher peak intensity than the Chiang Saen and Pakse Stations. At the Pakse Station, climate change and hydropower development have altered the non-drought proportion by −12.50% and +15.90%, respectively. For the Chiang Saen Station, the fragmentation degree of the drought index time series under the baseline, naturalized, and hydropower development scenarios is 0.901, 1.16, and 0.775, respectively. These results indicate that hydropower development has effectively reduced the frequency of rapid drought–flood transitions within the basin, thereby alleviating pressure on drought management efforts. The regulatory role of the cascade reservoirs in the Lancang River can mitigate risks posed by climate change, weaken adverse effects, reduce flood peak flows, alleviate hydrological droughts in the dry season, and decrease flash drought–flood transitions in the basin. The research findings can enable basin managers to proactively address climate change, develop science-based technical pathways for hydropower dispatch, and formulate adaptive disaster prevention and mitigation strategies. Full article

This study presents a terrain-integrated Soil Management Unit (SMU) framework for precision agriculture in semi-arid tropical basaltic soils. Using high resolution (10-ha grid) sampling across 4627 geo-referenced locations and machine learning-enhanced integration of terrain attributes with legacy soil maps, and (3) quantitative validation of intra-SMU homogeneity, 15 SMUs were delineated based on landform, soil depth, texture, and slope. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed SMU11 as the most heterogeneous (68.8%). Geo-statistical analysis revealed structured variability in soil pH (range = 1173 m) and nutrients availability with micronutrient sufficiency following Mn > Fe > Cu > Zn, (Zn deficient in SMU13). Organic carbon strongly correlated with key nutrients (AvK, r = 0.83 and Zn, r = 0.86). This represents the first systematic implementation of terrain-integrated SMU delineation in India’s basaltic landscapes, demonstrating a potential for 20–25% input savings. The spatially explicit fertility-integrated SMU framework provides a robust basis for developing decision support systems aimed at optimizing location-specific nutrient and land management strategies. Full article

Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are essential macronutrients for plants whose functions and interactions profoundly influence plant physiological metabolism, environmental adaptation, and agricultural production efficiency. This review summarizes research advances in plant N and K nutrition and their interaction mechanisms, elucidating the key physiological functions of N and K individually and their respective absorption and transport mechanisms involving transporters such as NRTs and HAKs/KUPs. The review discusses the types of nutrient interactions (synergism and antagonism), with a primary focus on the physiological basis of N–K interactions and their interplay in root absorption and transport (e.g., K⁺-NO₃⁻ co-transport; NH₄⁺ inhibition of K⁺ uptake), photosynthesis (jointly optimizing CO₂ conductance, mesophyll conductance, and N allocation within photosynthetic machinery to enhance photosynthetic N use efficiency, PNUE), as well as sensing, signaling, co-regulation, and metabolism. This review emphasizes that N–K balance is crucial for improving crop yield and quality, enhancing fertilizer use efficiency (NUE/KUE), and reducing environmental pollution. Consequently, developing effective N–K management strategies based on these interaction mechanisms and implementing Balanced Fertilization Techniques (BFT) to optimize N–K ratios and application strategies in agricultural production represent vital pathways for ensuring food security, addressing resource constraints, and advancing green, low-carbon agriculture, including through coordinated management of greenhouse gas emissions. Full article

Traditional forced-air cooling systems suffer from excessive energy consumption and noise pollution. This study proposes an innovative passive cooling strategy through developing aqueous radiative cooling coatings made from a combination of TiO₂-decorated carbon nanotube (TiO₂-CNT) hybrids and polyacrylic acid (PAA), designed to simultaneously enhance the heat dissipation and improve the mechanical strength of the coating films. Based on CNTs’ exceptional thermal conductivity and record-high infrared emissivity, bead-like TiO₂-CNT architectures have been prepared as the filler in PAA. The TiO₂ nanoparticles were in situ grown on CNTs, forming a rough surface that can produce asperity contacts and enhance the strength of the TiO₂-CNT/PAA composite. Moreover, this composite enhanced heat dissipation and achieved remarkable cooling efficiency at a small fraction of the filler (0.1 wt%). The optimized coating demonstrated a temperature reduction of 23.8 °C at an operation temperature of 180.7 °C, coupled with obvious mechanical reinforcement (tensile strength from 13.7 MPa of pure PAA to 17.1 MPa). This work achieves the combination of CNT and TiO₂ nanoparticles for strong radiative cooling coating, important for energy-efficient thermal management. Full article

Underground gas storage (UGS) in heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs is crucial for energy security but frequently faces wellbore instability challenges, which traditional static methods struggle to address due to dynamic full life cycle changes. This study systematically analyzes the dynamic evolution of wellbore stress in the Bs8 well (Qianmiqiao carbonate UGS) during drilling, acidizing, and injection-production operations, establishing a quantitative risk assessment model based on the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. Results indicate a significantly higher wellbore instability risk during drilling and initial gas injection stages, primarily manifested as shear failure, with greater severity observed in deeper well sections (e.g., 4277 m) due to higher in situ stresses. During acidizing, while the wellbore acid column pressure can reduce principal stress differences, the process also significantly weakens rock strength (e.g., by approximately 30%), inherently increasing the risk of wellbore instability, though the primary collapse mode remains shallow shear breakout. In the injection-production phase, increasing formation pressure is identified as the dominant factor, shifting the collapse mode from initial shallow shear failure to predominant wide shear collapse, notably at 90°/270° from the maximum horizontal stress direction, thereby significantly expanding the unstable zone. This dynamic assessment method provides crucial theoretical support for full life cycle integrity management and optimizing safe operation strategies for carbonate gas storage wells. Full article

Due to climate effects and human influences, wildfire regimes in boreal forests are changing, leading to profound ecological consequences, including shortened fire return intervals and elevated tree mortality. However, a critical knowledge gap exists concerning the spatiotemporal dynamics of fire-induced tree mortality specifically within the vast North American boreal forest, as previous studies have predominantly focused on Mediterranean and tropical forests. Therefore, in this study, we used satellite observation data obtained by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua and Terra MCD64A1 and related database data to study the spatial and temporal variability in burned area and forest mortality due to wildfires in North America (Alaska and Canada) over an 18-year period (2003 to 2020). By calculating the satellite reflectance data before and after the fire, fire-driven forest mortality is defined as the ratio of the area of forest loss in a given period relative to the total forest area in that period, i.e., the area of forest loss divided by the total forest area. Our findings have shown average values of burned area and forest mortality close to 8000 km²/yr and 40%, respectively. Burning and tree loss are mainly concentrated between May and September, with a corresponding temporal trend in the occurrence of forest fires and high mortality. In addition, large-scale forest fires were primarily concentrated in Central Canada, which, however, did not show the highest forest mortality (in contrast to the results recorded in Northern Canada). Critically, based on generalized linear models (GLMs), the results showed that fire size and duration, but not the burned area, had significant effects on post-fire forest mortality. Overall, this study shed light on the most sensitive forest areas and time periods to the detrimental effects of forest wildfire in boreal forests of North America, highlighting distinct spatial and temporal vulnerabilities within the boreal forest and demonstrating that fire regimes (size and duration) are primary drivers of ecological impact. These insights are crucial for refining models of boreal forest carbon dynamics, assessing ecosystem resilience under changing fire regimes, and informing targeted forest management and conservation strategies to mitigate wildfire impacts in this globally significant biome. Full article

The carbon dioxide spillover effects and influencing factors of the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) in African countries must be assessed to evaluate the effectiveness, promote low-carbon transmissions in African countries, and provide recommendations for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. This novel study employs carbon dioxide emission intensity (CEI) and per capita carbon dioxide emissions (PCE) as dual indicators to evaluate the spatial spillover effects of 54 BRI African countries on their neighboring countries’ carbon emissions from 2007 to 2023. It identifies the key factors and mechanisms affecting these spillover effects using the spatial differences-in-differences (SDID) model. Results indicate that since the launch of the BRI, the CEI and PCE of BRI African countries have significantly increased, largely due to trade patterns and industrialization structures. Greater trade openness has further boosted local economic development, thereby increasing carbon dioxide’s spatial spillover. Government management and corruption control levels show some heterogeneity in the spillover effects, which may be attributed to long-standing issues of weak institutional enforcement in Africa. Overall, this study reveals the complex relationship between BRI African economic development and environmental outcomes, highlighting the importance of developing sustainable development strategies and establishing strong differentiated regulatory regimes to effectively address environmental challenges. Full article

The construction sector is responsible for over 40% of waste generated in Australia. Construction materials are responsible for around 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and a third of these materials can end up wasted on a construction site. Attention in research and industry has been directed towards waste management and recycling, resulting in 78% of construction and demolition waste being diverted from landfill. However, the waste hierarchy emphasises avoiding the generation of waste in the first place. In this paper, the PRISMA approach is used to conduct a systematic review with the objective of identifying waste reduction strategies employed across all stages of projects in the Australian construction industry. Scopus and Web of Science databases were used. The search returned 523 publications which were screened and reviewed; this resulted in 24 relevant publications from 1998 to 2025. Qualitative analysis identifies strategies categorised into five groupings: pre-demolition, design, culture, materials and procurement, and on-site activities. The review finds a distinct focus on strategies within the materials and procurement category. The reviewed literature includes fewer strategies for the avoidance of waste than for any of the other levels of the waste hierarchy, evidencing the need for further focus in this area. Full article

This study, conducted in Mexico, evaluates the agricultural potential of three compost formulations BFS1, BFS2, and BFS3 produced from mining tailings and thermophilic microbial mats and collected from geothermal environments. The physicochemical characterization included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Ni), organic matter (OM), and the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio. All composts exhibited neutral pH values (7.38–7.52), high OM content (38.5–48.4%), and optimal C/N ratios (10.5–13.9), indicating maturity and chemical stability. Nitrogen ranged from 19 to 21 kg·t⁻¹, while potassium and calcium were present in concentrations beneficial for crop development. However, EC values (3.43–3.66 dS/m) and boron levels (>160 ppm) were moderately high, requiring caution in saline soils or with boron-sensitive crops. A semi-quantitative Compost Quality Index (CQI) ranked BFS3 highest due to elevated OM and potassium content, followed by BFS1. BFS2, while rich in nitrogen, scored lower due to excessive boron. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in nitrogen (p > 0.05), but it did reveal significant differences in potassium (p < 0.01) and boron (p < 0.001) among formulations. These results confirm the potential of mining tailings—microbial mat composts are low-cost, nutrient-rich biofertilizers. They are suitable for field crops or as components in nursery substrates, particularly when EC and boron are managed through dilution. This study promotes the circular reuse of geothermal and industrial residues and contributes to sustainable soil restoration practices in mining-affected regions through innovative composting strategies. Full article

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are increasingly pivotal for reducing carbon emissions in supply chain management (SCM); however, research exploring their combined potential from a sustainability perspective remains fragmented. This study aims to systematically map the research landscape and synthesize evidence on the applications, benefits, and challenges. Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted on 23 peer-reviewed studies from the Scopus database, published between 2013 and 2024. Data were systematically extracted and analyzed for publication trends, application domains (e.g., transportation, warehousing), specific AI and robotic technologies, emissions reduction strategies, and implementation challenges. Results: The analysis reveals that AI-driven logistics optimization is the most frequently reported strategy for reducing transportation emissions. At the same time, robotic automation is commonly associated with improved energy efficiency in warehousing. Despite these benefits, the reviewed literature consistently identifies significant barriers, including the high energy demands of AI computation and complexities in data integration. Conclusions: This review confirms the transformative potential of AI and robotics for developing low-carbon supply chains. An evidence-based framework is proposed to guide practical implementation and identify critical gaps, such as the need for standardized validation benchmarks, to direct future research and accelerate the transition to sustainable SCM. Full article

Willow stands (Salix spp.) are an essential part of riparian ecosystems, as they sustain biodiversity and provide bioenergy solutions. The present review synthesizes the global scientific literature about the management of willow stands. In order to achieve this goal, we used a dual approach combining bibliometric analysis with traditional literature review. As such, we consulted 416 publications published between 1978 and 2024. This allowed us to identify key species, ecosystem services, conservation strategies, and management issues. The results we have obtained show a diversity of approaches, with an increase in short-rotation coppice (SRC) systems and the multiple roles covered by willow stands (carbon sequestration, biomass production, riparian restoration, and habitat provision). The key trends we have identified show a shift toward topics such as climate resilience, ecological restoration, and precision forestry. This trend has become especially pronounced over the past decade (2014–2024), as reflected in the increasing use of these keywords in the literature. However, as willow systems expand in scale and function—from biomass production to ecological restoration—they also raise complex challenges, including invasive tendencies in non-native regions and uncertainties surrounding biodiversity impacts and soil carbon dynamics over the long term. The present review is a guide for forest policies and, more specifically, for future research, linking the need to integrate and use adaptive strategies in order to maintain the willow stands. Full article

Against the backdrop of multifaceted strategies to combat climate change, understanding soil erosion’s role in carbon cycling is critical due to terrestrial carbon pool vulnerability. This study integrates bibliometric methods with visualization tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer) to analyze 3880 Web of Science core publications (1994–2024, inclusive), constructing knowledge graphs and forecasting trends. The results show exponential publication growth, shifting from slow development (1994–2011) to rapid expansion (2012–2024), aligning with international climate policy milestones. The Chinese Academy of Sciences led productivity (519 articles), while the US demonstrated major influence (H-index 117; 52,297 citations), creating a China–US bipolar research pattern. It was also found that Dutch journals dominate this research field. A keyword analysis revealed a shift from erosion-driven carbon transport to ecosystem service assessments. Emerging hotspots include microbial community regulation, climate–erosion feedback, and model–policy integration, though developing country collaboration remains limited. Future research should prioritize isotope tracing, multiscale modeling, and studies in ecologically vulnerable regions to enhance global soil carbon management. This study provides a novel analytical framework and forward-looking perspective for the soil erosion research on soil carbon cycling, serving as an extension of climate change mitigation strategies. Full article

This study addresses critical safety challenges in sustainable urban mobility by developing a probabilistic framework for lane-change risk prediction on congested expressways. Utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-captured trajectory data from 784 validated lane-change events, we construct a Bayesian network model integrated with an I-CH scoring-enhanced MMHC algorithm. This approach quantifies risk probabilities while accounting for driver decision dynamics and input data uncertainties—key gaps in conventional methods like time-to-collision metrics. Validation via the Asia network paradigm demonstrates 80.5% reliability in forecasting high-risk maneuvers. Crucially, we identify two sustainability-oriented operational thresholds: (1) optimal lane-change success occurs when trailing-vehicle speeds in target lanes are maintained at 1.0–3.0 m/s (following-gap < 4.0 m) or 3.0–6.0 m/s (gap ≥ 4.0 m), and (2) insertion-angle change rates exceeding 3.0°/unit-time significantly elevate transition probability. These evidence-based parameters enable traffic management systems to proactively mitigate collision risks by 13.26% while optimizing flow continuity. By converting behavioral insights into adaptive control strategies, this research advances resilient transportation infrastructure and low-carbon mobility through congestion reduction. Full article

This study investigates the seasonal dynamics of energy balance, evapotranspiration (ET), and Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) in the Dengkou desert ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China. Using eddy covariance and meteorological data from 2019 to 2022, the research focuses on understanding how these processes interact in one of the world’s most water-limited environments. This arid research area received an average of 109.35 mm per annum precipitation over the studied period, classifying the region as a typical arid ecosystem. Seasonal patterns were observed in daily air temperature, with extremes ranging from −20.6 °C to 29.6 °C. Temporal variations in sensible heat flux (H), latent heat flux (LE), and net radiation (Rn) peaked during summer season. The average ground heat flux (G) was mostly positive throughout the observation period, indicating heat transmission from atmosphere to soil, but showed negative values during the winter season. The energy balance ratio for the studied period was in the range of 0.61 to 0.80, indicating challenges in achieving energy closure and ecological shifts. ET exhibited two annual peaks influenced by vegetation growth and climate change, with annual ET exceeding annual precipitation, except in 2021. Net ecosystem production (NEP) from 2019 to 2020 revealed that the Dengkou desert were a net source of carbon, indicating the carbon loss from the ecosystem. In 2021, the Dengkou ecosystem shifted to become a net carbon sink, effectively sequestrating carbon. However, this was sharply reversed in 2022, resulting in a significant net release of carbon. The study findings highlight the complex interactions between energy balance components, ET, and NEP in desert ecosystems, providing insights into sustainable water management and carbon neutrality strategies in arid regions under climate change effect. Full article

Situated in the southern hilly-mountain belt of China’s “Three Zones and Four Belts Strategy”, Gannan region is a critical ecological shelter belt for the Ganjiang River. Decades of intensive mineral extraction and irrational agricultural development have rendered it into an ecologically fragile area. Consequently, multiple restoration initiatives have been implemented in the region over recent decades. However, it remains unclear how relationships among ecosystem services have evolved under these interventions and how future ecosystem management should be optimized based on these changes. Thus, in this study, we simulated and assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of five key ESs in Gannan region from 1990 to 2020. Through integrated correlation, clustering, and redundancy analyses, we quantified ES interactions, tracked the evolution of ecosystem service bundles (ESBs), and identified their socio-ecological drivers. Despite a 31% decline in water yield, ecological restoration initiatives drove substantial improvements in key regulating services: carbon storage increased by 6.9 × 10¹² gC while soil conservation rose by 4.8 × 10⁸ t. Concurrently, regional habitat quality surged by 45% in mean scores, and food production increased by 2.1 × 10⁵ t. Critically, synergistic relationships between habitat quality, soil retention, and carbon storage were progressively strengthened, whereas trade-offs between food production and habitat quality intensified. Further analysis revealed that four distinct ESBs—the Agricultural Production Bundle (APB), Urban Development Bundle (UDB), Eco-Agriculture Transition Bundle (ETB), and Ecological Protection Bundle (EPB)—were shaped by slope, forest cover ratio, population density, and GDP. Notably, 38% of the ETB transformed into the EPB, with frequent spatial interactions observed between the APB and UDB. These findings underscore that future ecological restoration and conservation efforts should implement coordinated, multi-service management mechanisms. Full article