Search Results (1,080)

This study aims to reveal the spatial-temporal evolution rule and driving mechanism of cropland multifunctionality in major grain-producing areas. Taking Henan Province as the research case, we establish a comprehensive evaluation index system covering production, living, ecological and cultural functions based on multi-source datasets spanning 2013–2022. It adopts the entropy weight method, spatial analysis and geographical detector (GeoDetector) model to analyze the spatial-temporal differentiation characteristics and influencing mechanism of cropland multifunctionality systematically. The results show that the overall level of cropland multifunctionality in Henan Province rose from 2013 to 2022. Its spatial pattern presents a feature of high in the south and low in the north, with obvious agglomeration in southern Henan. The production function is high in the east and low in the west with a stable pattern. The living, ecological and cultural functions all show a distribution of high in the south and low in the north, with prominent regional differences. Factor detection results indicate that average slope, population density and average annual temperature are the core driving factors. The overall influence of natural factors is stronger than that of socio-economic factors. Interaction detection shows that all factors produce a strengthening effect, mainly in the form of nonlinear enhancement effects. Based on this, the research has proposed targeted and differentiated strategies for the management of cultivated land. Specifically, southern Henan should consolidate its inherent multifunctional advantages and strengthen the coordinated development of production, ecological and cultural functions. Northern and western Henan needs to mitigate terrain and climatic constraints, optimize agricultural infrastructure, and improve overall cropland service capacity. Eastern plain areas should further stabilize grain production function while balancing ecological protection. Central urban agglomerations should coordinate urban expansion and cropland protection to restrain multifunctional degradation. Full article

Rapid urbanization, climate change, and uneven regional development have increasingly intensified spatial heterogeneity in food security. As one of China’s major commercial grain-producing areas, the Main Grain-Producing Region in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (MGPR-MRYR) plays a critical role in ensuring national food security. However, existing studies have paid limited attention to spatial heterogeneity and driving mechanisms at the urban agglomeration scale. Taking the Wuhan (WUA), Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan (CZXUA), and Poyang Lake (PYLUA) urban agglomerations as analytical units, this study constructs a multidimensional food security evaluation framework covering supply security, production resource security, and circulation–consumption security. Based on panel data from 2013 to 2023, the entropy weight method, kernel density estimation (KDE), Theil index decomposition, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the optimal-parameter geographical detector (OPGD) model were employed. Food security levels in the MGPR-MRYR exhibited an overall upward trend, particularly after 2020, although significant spatial heterogeneity persisted among urban agglomerations. A spatial pattern of “higher in the west than east, and inland over lakeside” emerged, with significant positive clustering gradually expanding westward. Intra-agglomeration disparities—especially within the WUA—contributed more to regional inequality than inter-agglomeration differences. Agricultural machinery power and rural population remained the dominant driving factors, while the influence of urbanization and annual precipitation increased over time. All factor interactions showed enhancement effects, indicating that food security is shaped by the synergistic interplay of natural, socioeconomic, and agricultural production factors. This study reveals the transition of driving mechanisms from traditional factor dependence to multi-factor system synergy. These findings suggest that food security governance in rapidly urbanizing grain-producing regions should shift from uniform policies to differentiated, synergy-oriented strategies tailored to each urban agglomeration’s development stage and resource constraints. Full article

Forests, as the largest terrestrial carbon sink, play a critical role in mitigating climate change. Accurately estimating forest vegetation carbon storage and identifying its drivers are essential for evaluating regional carbon sink functions and supporting carbon neutrality policies. However, long-term carbon storage estimation that simultaneously captures spatial non-stationarity and separately quantifies aboveground and belowground carbon pools at the provincial scale remains limited, and the spatial differentiation drivers and the temporal change drivers of carbon storage have rarely been disentangled through pixel-wise attribution. This study aimed to estimate forest vegetation carbon storage in Jiangxi Province, China, from 1990 to 2024, and to separately quantify the drivers of its spatial differentiation and the contributions of climate change and human activities to its temporal changes. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was constructed using field measurements and multi-source remote sensing data; the geographical detector and partial correlation analysis were applied for spatial differentiation attribution, and pixel-wise residual analysis was used for temporal change attribution. The results showed that: (1) total carbon storage fluctuated between 553.95 and 839.78 Tg C over the 35-year period and exhibited a significant increasing trend, with a cumulative carbon sequestration of approximately 122 Tg C; (2) the belowground carbon pool increased disproportionately (net gain 79.32 Tg C) compared with the aboveground pool (42.20 Tg C); (3) precipitation and solar radiation were the dominant drivers of the spatial differentiation of carbon storage; and (4) climate change contributed approximately 60% and human activities approximately 43% to the temporal changes in total carbon storage. These findings provide a scientific basis for delineating forest carbon sink conservation zones and formulating differentiated forest management strategies in subtropical China. Full article

Traditional wireless communication signals are often susceptible to physical obstructions and background noise in complex geographical environments or adverse weather conditions, hindering stable and reliable data transmission. Ultraviolet communication (UVC) offers a compelling solution; its unique scattering mechanism and low background noise characteristics facilitate robust communication under non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. At present, there remains a relative lack of comprehensive reviews spanning UVC, including fundamental theory, physical devices, channel models and networking technologies. This review synthesizes the current state of global research, providing a systematic overview of the background, advantages and application scenarios of UVC. It examines the hardware characteristics of light sources and detectors, evaluates NLOS scattering channel models, analyzes key signal processing techniques, including modulation/demodulation, coding/decoding and multiple-input multiple-output technology. Furthermore, this review conducts an in-depth analysis of multi-user networking protocols and three-dimensional topology control mechanisms. Finally, it identifies the prevailing technical challenges and outlines promising directions for future development. Full article

Efficiency is a key indicator for evaluating how effectively tourism inputs are converted into outputs. Clarifying the spatial differentiation and driving mechanisms of county-level tourism efficiency can inform regional tourism development and the optimization of resource allocation. Taking counties in Fujian Province, excluding Jinmen County, as the basic unit of analysis, this study constructs a multidimensional input–output indicator system covering tourism, dining, accommodation, transportation, shopping, and entertainment. It applies Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure county-level tourism efficiency, uses Global Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis to identify spatial differentiation patterns, and employs GeoDetector to examine key driving factors and their interaction effects. The results show that the average tourism efficiency of county-level units in Fujian is 0.708, indicating a moderate overall level with marked regional polarization. Technical efficiency is relatively high, with an average of 0.873, whereas disparities in scale efficiency represent the main constraint on overall efficiency. Spatially, tourism efficiency displays a pattern of “hot in the north and cold in the south”. Interaction analysis further indicates a shift from resource dependence to service value-added, with dining, entertainment, and shopping exerting stronger effects than tourism resources alone. These findings provide empirical support for optimizing tourism spatial supply and promoting coordinated regional development. Full article

In the context of the increasingly deepening concept of sustainable development, the coupling coordination between the digital economy (DE) and high-quality cultural tourism development (HQCTD) has become an important pathway for promoting the sustainable growth of Shanxi Province’s digital cultural tourism industry. Based on an in-depth analysis of the coupling relationship between the DE and HQCTD, and using panel data from 11 prefecture-level cities in Shanxi Province from 2014 to 2023, the entropy weight method and the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model were employed to investigate the relationship between the two systems, while the obstacle degree model and geographic detector were applied to identify the internal and external obstacle factors. The results indicate that both the DE and HQCTD in Shanxi Province experienced slight fluctuations under the impact of COVID-19, and significant spatial differences were observed in the comprehensive development levels of the two systems. The CCD between the DE and the HQCTD in Shanxi Province remains at a good level, with the spatial distribution having evolved from “a single-center pattern” to a “southward extension of the center”. The core obstacle factor for the DE is public budget expenditure, while the main obstacle factor for HQCTD is the number of students enrolled in higher-education institutions. The primary external driving factors at the single-factor level are industrial structure, opening up, and transportation accessibility, while the dominant interaction factors are Z2∩Z4, Z4∩Z6, Z1∩Z6, and Z1∩Z4, respectively. Based on these findings, development strategies are proposed. Full article

Agricultural watersheds must simultaneously support multiple Ecosystem Services (ESs), yet the coordination between Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) growth and synergies of ESs remains poorly understood. Taking the Liaohe River mainstream Basin (LRMB), a typical agricultural watershed, as a case, this study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESV and trade-offs among ESs, along with their driving factors. Five key ESs—Food Production (FP), Water Conservation (WC), Water Purification (WP), Soil Conservation (SC), and Landscape Aesthetics (LA)—were selected. The InVEST model, Function-based Valuation Method, Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), and Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) were comprehensively applied to assess the spatiotemporal variations in ESV, trade-off intensity, and their coupling coordination degree in the watershed from 2000 to 2023. Furthermore, the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression with Spatial Auto-correlation (MGWR-SAR) were employed to explore the driving mechanisms underlying changes in ESV and trade-off intensity, and to identify the major driving factors and their spatial heterogeneity. The results reveal the following: (1) From 2000 to 2023, total ESV in the LRMB increased by 69.5% from 77.66 to 131.59 billion yuan, with WC and FP accounting for 42.8% and 41.9% of this growth. Spatially, ESV shifted from a west-to-east increasing gradient to a U-shaped pattern, with high values concentrated in mountainous areas and low values along the mainstream. (2) Mean trade-off intensity remained stable at approximately 0.29, yet exhibited pronounced spatial polarisation. High trade-off zones shifted from the southwestern estuary toward the mainstream corridor, driven primarily by intensifying conflicts between FP and other ESs. (3) Despite a stable watershed-average CCD of 0.71–0.73, the CCD along the Liaohe River mainstream declined by over 15%, forming a corridor of coordination decay and revealing that ESV growth occurs at the expense of internal synergy. (4) Nonlinear interactions dominated ES dynamics, with the interaction of precipitation and human disturbance intensity exhibiting the highest explanatory power (q-values of 0.61 for ESV and 0.58 for RMSD). (5) Natural climatic factors (precipitation, temperature) predominantly enhanced synergy in mountainous areas, whereas human and landscape factors (human disturbance intensity, Shannon’s Diversity Index, PLAND of water) intensified trade-offs along the mainstream and central plains. This study establishes an integrated “ESV–trade-off–CCD” diagnostic framework and proposes a differentiated management strategy, offering a potentially transferable paradigm for sustainable governance in agricultural watersheds. Full article

This study explores the interaction mechanisms between population and environment systems within the context of high-quality development (HQD), providing empirical insights for developing countries navigating rapid urbanization. The existing literature often focuses on regional macro-averages, which may obscure internal spatial structural heterogeneity and the phenomenon of bottleneck shifts within urban agglomerations (UAs). Focusing on six typical UAs in China from 2011 to 2023, we constructed a multi-dimensional evaluation system and utilized an optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD) and an obstacle degree model (ODM) to decode the spatiotemporal evolution of these systems. The results demonstrate that: (1) Both population and environment subsystems have improved steadily. Ecological carrying capacity has increased significantly, and the primary systemic constraint has transitioned from the “environmental bottom line” to the “population dividend,” with several super/mega cities converging toward a synchronous development interval. (2) The modified coupling coordination degree (MCCD) exhibits an overall upward trend. While eastern UAs demonstrate core-driven synergistic evolution, central and western UAs face risks of a “single-core siphon effect” and “peripheral hollowing-out,” leading to pronounced spatial polarization. (3) The OPGD analysis reveals that the driving efficiency of large-scale traditional infrastructure investment has experienced a marginal decline, whereas economic fundamentals and technological innovation have emerged as core drivers for non-linear enhancement. (4) The ODM confirms that traditional environmental pressures have been substantially alleviated. The core constraints have transitioned to the population and economic dimensions, with labor productivity and science and technology (S&T) expenditure identified as the primary obstacles. Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our findings may suggest that policy focus should shift from physical spatial expansion toward “soft connectivity” based on institutional and technological spillovers. We recommend establishing cross-regional coordination mechanisms to mitigate the siphon effects of core cities and transitioning policy priorities from ecological defense to high-quality population development. Full article

The core objective of the concentrated and contiguous protection of traditional villages is to achieve the large-scale preservation and sustainable development of cultural heritage. Elucidating their spatial distribution characteristics and the underlying driving mechanisms serves as a fundamental prerequisite for the effective implementation of conservation practices. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the optimal parameter-based geographical detector (OPGD) model, this study quantitatively analyzes the spatial distribution and formation mechanisms of traditional villages in southern Shanxi. The results indicate that traditional villages in southern Shanxi exhibit a “one belt, three cores” spatial agglomeration pattern. This pattern emerges from the nonlinear coupling of multiple factors, including natural environment, socio-economic conditions, and historical and cultural elements, among which historical and cultural factors serve as the most prominent driver. The factor detection q-value for cultural heritage density (X18) reached 0.45, and it exhibited a significant synergistic enhancement effect with natural environmental and socio-economic factors. Interaction detection reveals that the explanatory powers of bivariate interactions are generally stronger than that of individual factors, with the synergistic effect between slope (X4) and annual mean temperature (X9) being the most pronounced (q = 0.56). Based on these findings and emphasizing the pivotal role of historical and cultural factors, this study proposes a four-dimensional collaborative governance framework—“cultural leadership, spatial support, institutional safeguards, and social synergy”. This framework aims to provide theoretical foundations and practical pathways for the concentrated and contiguous protection of traditional villages in intra-provincial cultural regions. Full article

Soil organic carbon (SOC) of cropland is a key indicator of soil fertility and contributes to climate regulation and carbon storage. The understanding of SOCchanges in cropland in Northeast China still lacks high-precision long-term empirical evidence. This study is of great significance for ensuring national food security and regional sustainable development. Taking Changchun, a representative black soil region, as the study area, this study integrated 953 field samples with 19 predictors to estimate cropland soil organic carbon density (SOCD) from 2000 to 2022. The performance of quantile regression neural network (QRNN), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models was compared. QRNN showed the best overall performance (R² = 0.74, RMSE = 0.57 kg/m², MAE = 0.40 kg/m², and RPIQ = 2.46) and also exhibited greater stability in temporal-stage validation. Results indicated that SOCD exhibited an overall declining trend with intermittent recoveries, decreasing from 3.72 kg/m² in 2000 to 3.36 kg/m² in 2005, then increasing to 3.55 kg/m² in 2010, slightly declining to 3.46 kg/m² in 2015, and recovering to 3.63 kg/m² in 2022. Spatially, SOCD remained low in the southwest, fluctuated markedly in the north, and was relatively stable in the central region. The analysis of the optimal parameter geographic detector (OPGD) showed that Y-latitude, elevation, and mean annual temperature (MAT) were stable dominant factors, while precipitation (PRE) and remote sensing variables showed stage-dependent effects. Interactions among multiple factors further enhanced the explanation of SOCD variations. These findings provide theoretical support for enhancing soil carbon retention and promoting long-term cropland sustainability in black soil areas. Full article

The new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is a key sector for achieving dual carbon goals and advancing regional green transformation. Its sustainable development depends on the deep coupling of the industrial chain and the innovation chain. Drawing on data from Shaanxi’s NEV industry covering the period 2014–2023, this study employed kernel density estimation (KDE), the entropy weight method, the coupling coordination degree model, and the optimal parameter geographical detector. Specifically, we examine Shaanxi’s national positioning and spatial pattern within the NEV industry, the spatiotemporal evolution of the coupling coordination degree between its industrial and innovation chains, and the key driving factors along with their interaction mechanisms. The results indicate that Shaanxi is situated within the secondary core growth zone of central and western China. Within the province, the industry exhibits a pronounced spatial pattern characterized by single core concentration in Xi’an, contiguous support across the Guanzhong region, and point-like distribution in northern and southern Shaanxi. The dual-chain coupling coordination degree in Shaanxi’s NEV industry has improved steadily, resulting in a four-tier structure comprising core breakthrough, secondary catch-up, weak foundation, and lagging predicament categories. The dominant driving factors are Industrial Agglomeration Degree, Research and Development (R&D) Funding Input, and Resource Utilization Rate. The interaction between Resource Utilization Rate and Integration Degree exerts the strongest effect. Full article

Mitigating heavy metal (HM) contamination in soil is vital for ecological and food security. Accurately mapping these pollutants and understanding their drivers are essential prerequisites for informed regional environmental governance. However, conventional spatial interpolation techniques used to estimate HM concentrations are susceptible to systematic biases and inadequate spatial resolution. To address these limitations, this study developed a novel hybrid model, termed HASM–ANN, coupling high-accuracy surface modeling (HASM) with artificial neural networks (ANNs). This approach generated high-resolution spatial distributions of HMs (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Cr, and Pb) in agricultural soils of the Eastern Longquan Mountain region, Chengdu, China. Furthermore, the geographical detector (GD) and the Multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models were employed to explore driving mechanisms. Results indicate that HASM–ANN significantly outperformed conventional interpolations (ordinary/universal kriging, IDW) and HASM–coupled other machine learning downscaling methods. The proposed model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, yielding R² values between 0.75 and 0.86, and consistently achieved a significantly lower RMSE across all targeted soil heavy metals compared to the HASM. Analysis of the explanatory power (q) revealed that soil As was primarily influenced by clay content (CC, q = 0.45) and available phosphorus (AP, q = 0.42), whereas Cd was mainly driven by AP (q = 0.51) and PM_2.5 (q = 0.43). The spatial distribution of Hg was largely governed by soil organic matter (SOM, q = 0.53). Additionally, Cu concentrations were determined by SOM (q = 0.38), CC (q = 0.34), and pH (q = 0.31). Notably, Cr was significantly influenced by CC (q = 0.42), pH (q = 0.38), and elevation (q = 0.31), while Pb was further driven by SOM (q = 0.46) and PM_2.5 (q = 0.39). By offering high-precision mapping and elucidating the underlying driving mechanisms, this research directly facilitates informed environmental governance to protect ecological integrity and public health. Full article

In this study, we investigate the spatial evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of the Barkhor Historic Area in Lhasa, Tibet, China, in the context of rapid urbanization and heritage conservation. Using multi-temporal spatial data, an integrated analytical framework combining a geographical information system, spatial design network analysis, and GeoDetector software 2015 is employed to examine land use, road network structure, and building morphology. The results show that the overall spatial structure remains highly continuous within a stable pilgrimage-based spatial framework, with spatial evolution occurring primarily through functional reorganization and incremental adjustment within the existing structure. Land use shifts from relatively single functions to mixed patterns, with commercial and public services increasingly concentrated along pilgrimage routes. The road network maintains a stable structural backbone centered on the pilgrimage system, while building morphology evolves through small-scale infill and localized transformation, preserving traditional spatial scales. Driving factor analysis reveals a transition from single-factor dominance to multi-factor coupling. Socio-economic factors dominate early-stage changes, spatial structure provides a persistent organizational framework, and cultural heritage increasingly shapes spatial continuity and functional adaptation. This study highlights a form of pilgrimage-oriented spatial adaptation in religious–cultural historic areas, characterized by structural continuity, functional embedding, and multi-factor coupling, and provides new perspectives for adaptive conservation and spatial governance in historic urban areas. Full article

Arid inland river basins are constrained by severe water scarcity and fragile ecosystems. Although large-scale water transfer projects are critical interventions, studies of their comprehensive impacts on eco-socioeconomic systems remain limited. To address this gap, this study proposes an integrated assessment framework. A global Remote Sensing Ecological Index (gRSEI) was developed by incorporating a salinity indicator, employing optimal indicator selection, and utilizing a full-period global normalization strategy. A Gridded Socioeconomic Index (GSEI) was constructed by integrating nighttime light (NTL), population (POP), and gross domestic product (GDP) data. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD) were applied to analyze spatial patterns across subregions. Focusing on the Shiyang River Basin (SYRB), this study analyzed the spatiotemporal responses and coupling coordination of the eco-socioeconomic system to the 2001 Jingdian Phase II Water Transfer Project. Results indicate that ecological quality improved significantly after the water transfer, with gRSEI increasing from 0.225 to 0.334. Socioeconomic development also improved overall. The eco-socioeconomic system exhibited high coupling but moderate coordination. The coupling degree (C) and coordination degree (D) increased from 0.824 and 0.370 to 0.852 and 0.442, respectively, with clear regional heterogeneity. The water transfer project shifted the dominant driver of coordinated development from water-related factors to land cover. This study provides a practical framework for assessing ecological and socioeconomic dynamics and their interactions in arid basins under major water transfer project interventions. Full article

To better capture ecological quality under aerosol pollution stress, an AOD-integrated Remote Sensing Ecological Index (ARSEI) was developed for the Shenyang Metropolitan Area (2000–2025). Using Google Earth Engine, multi-source MODIS products were compiled to generate an annual growing-season ARSEI through PCA, combining PC1 and PC2 by variance-weighted contributions. Long-term trends were assessed with Theil–Sen slope estimation and the Mann–Kendall test, future persistence with the Hurst index, and drivers with an optimal parameter geographical detector. ARSEI closely matched conventional RSEI in multi-year pixel means (R² = 0.98, p < 0.001) but identified larger “poor” (+0.4%) and “moderate” (+3.4%) areas from 2000 to 2025, indicating higher sensitivity to pollution-related stress. Ecological quality improved overall, with high grades in eastern mountainous forests and low grades in the central built-up core and surrounding croplands. Improvement was dominant (31.08% significant, 38.27% slight), while degradation was limited (4.27% significant, 13.92% slight) and concentrated in peri-urban expansion belts. Elevation was the strongest natural control, whereas land use and population were the leading socioeconomic drivers with increasing influence over time. Finally, we delineated differentiated management zones based on current status and projected trajectories to support targeted regional governance. Full article