Topic Editors

Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Prof. Dr. Yongjun Jiang
School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
School of Environmental Studies and State Key Laboratory of Biogeological Geology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430000, China
Prof. Dr. Yuemin Yue
Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Prof. Dr. Junbing Pu
School of Geography and Tourism, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 541000, China
School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Dr. Qiong Xiao
Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin 541004, China
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, China

Karst Environment and Global Change—Second Edition

Abstract submission deadline
16 April 2026
Manuscript submission deadline
16 June 2026
Viewed by
14

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Topic titled “Karst Environment and Global Change—Second Edition”. Karst areas are some of the world’s major ecologically fragile zones, accounting for 12% of the global land area and affecting the productive lives of 1.8 billion people. In particular, the East Asian karst region, centered on the Guizhou Plateau, is the largest and most concentrated contiguous ecologically fragile area in the world, covering an area of over 550,000 square kilometers, and is also the one with the most typical and complex karst development as well as the richest landscape types. The special ecological environment has multifaceted effects on natural, economic, and social development: on the one hand, karst regions are rich in mineral and medicinal resources; on the other, due to the special karst geological background, coupled with the increasingly harsh human–land conflict relationship, they are increasingly affected by the interaction of multiple layers from the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. As a result, ecological problems, such as rock desertification, heavy metal pollution, diminishing biodiversity, and the irrational exploitation of mineral as well as medicinal resources, have emerged. At the same time, the Earth has experienced dramatic climate change in recent years, which may have a significant impact on karst ecological patterns, service functions, and sustainable development. However, uncertainties remain about the variability of karst environments and how they will respond to global change. Therefore, the aim of this topic is to discuss cutting-edge and hot issues, new techniques and methods, and new findings in this field on the topic of karst environments and global change, including various formats such as reviews, research papers, and datasets; contributions from experts and scholars in related fields are also welcome. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Karst ecosystem assessment (including stone desertification, soil erosion, soil formation rates, etc.);
  • Carbon cycling, storage, and sinks in karst ecosystems;
  • Biodiversity, ecosystem processes, ecosystem services, and climate change;
  • Spatial and temporal dynamics of vegetation (productivity, greenness, vegetation cover, leaf area index, phenology, etc.) in response to climate change and human activities;
  • Carbon sequestration, carbon emissions, carbon efficiency, and low-carbon mitigation policies in karst ecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Xiaoyong Bai
Prof. Dr. Yongjun Jiang
Prof. Dr. Jian Ni
Prof. Dr. Xubo Gao
Prof. Dr. Yuemin Yue
Prof. Dr. Jiangbo Gao
Prof. Dr. Junbing Pu
Dr. Hu Ding
Dr. Qiong Xiao
Prof. Dr. Zhicai Zhang
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • karst
  • ecosystem services
  • soil erosion
  • environmental remote sensing
  • ecological restoration
  • climate change
  • carbon sink
  • ecotoxicology and risk assessment
  • geochemistry
  • soil organic carbon
  • ecosystem assessment
  • global change
  • human activity
  • watershed management

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Atmosphere
atmosphere
2.3 4.9 2010 16.9 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Forests
forests
2.5 4.6 2010 17.1 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Geosciences
geosciences
2.1 5.1 2011 23.4 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Hydrology
hydrology
3.2 5.9 2014 15.7 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Land
land
3.2 5.9 2012 16 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Remote Sensing
remotesensing
4.1 8.6 2009 24.9 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 7.7 2009 19.3 Days CHF 2400 Submit

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