Ecosystem Services Changes Between 2000 and 2015 in the Loess Plateau, China: a Response to Ecological Restoration
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Optical and Physical Characteristics of the Lowest Aerosol Layers Over the Yellow River Basin
atmosphere Article Optical and Physical Characteristics of the Lowest Aerosol Layers over the Yellow River Basin Miao Zhang 1,*, Jing Liu 2, Muhammad Bilal 3,* , Chun Zhang 1, Feifei Zhao 1, Xiaoyan Xie 4,5 and Khaled Mohamed Khedher 6,7 1 School of Environmental Science and Tourism, Nanyang Normal University, Wolong Road No.1638, Nan Yang 473061, China; [email protected] (C.Z.); zff@nynu.edu.cn (F.Z.) 2 Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; [email protected] 3 School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 2100444, China 4 South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China; [email protected] 5 College of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China 6 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] 7 Department of Civil Engineering, Institut Superieur des Etudes Technologiques, Campus Universitaire Mrezgua, Nabeul 8000, Tunisia * Correspondence: [email protected] (M.Z.); [email protected] (M.B.) Received: 17 September 2019; Accepted: 19 October 2019; Published: 22 October 2019 Abstract: Studying the presence of aerosols in different atmospheric layers helps researchers understand their impacts on climate change, air quality, and human health. Therefore, in the present study, the optical and physical properties of aerosol layers over the Yellow River Basin (YERB) were investigated using the CALIPSO Level 2 aerosol layer products from January 2007 to December 2014. The Yellow River Basin was divided into three sub-regions i.e., YERB1 (the plain region downstream of the YERB), YERB2 (the Loess Plateau region in the middle reaches of the YERB), and YERB3 (the mountainous terrain in the upper reaches of the YERB). -
Landslides on the Loess Plateau of China: a Latest Statistics Together with a Close Look
Landslides on the Loess Plateau of China: a latest statistics together with a close look Xiang-Zhou Xu, Wen-Zhao Guo, Ya- Kun Liu, Jian-Zhong Ma, Wen-Long Wang, Hong-Wu Zhang & Hang Gao Natural Hazards Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards ISSN 0921-030X Volume 86 Number 3 Nat Hazards (2017) 86:1393-1403 DOI 10.1007/s11069-016-2738-6 1 23 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +Business Media Dordrecht. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be self- archived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com”. 1 23 Author's personal copy Nat Hazards (2017) 86:1393–1403 DOI 10.1007/s11069-016-2738-6 SHORT COMMUNICATION Landslides on the Loess Plateau of China: a latest statistics together with a close look 1,2 2 2 Xiang-Zhou Xu • Wen-Zhao Guo • Ya-Kun Liu • 1 1 3 Jian-Zhong Ma • Wen-Long Wang • Hong-Wu Zhang • Hang Gao2 Received: 16 December 2016 / Accepted: 26 December 2016 / Published online: 3 January 2017 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2017 Abstract Landslide plays an important role in landscape evolution, delivers huge amounts of sediment to rivers and seriously affects the structure and function of ecosystems and society. -
Mysterious Carvings and Evidence of Human Sacrifice Uncovered in Ancient City
Mysterious carvings and evidence of human sacrifice uncovered in ancient city Discoveries at the sprawling site have archaeologists rethinking the roots of Chinese civilization. By Brook Larmer PUBLISHED August 6, 2020 The stones didn’t give up their secrets easily. For decades, villagers in the dust-blown hills of China’s Loess Plateau believed that the crumbling rock walls near their homes were part of the Great Wall. It made sense. Remnants of the ancient barrier zigzag through this arid region inside the northern loop of the Yellow River, marking the frontier of Chinese rule stretching back more than 2,000 years. But one detail was curiously out of place: Locals, and then looters, began finding in the rubble pieces of jade, some fashioned into discs and blades and scepters. Jade is not indigenous to this northernmost part of Shaanxi Province— the nearest source is almost a thousand miles away—and it was not a known feature of the Great Wall. Why was it Join archaeologists as they search for clues to the mysterious fate of “China’s Pompeii” in a new three-part series. Ancient China from Above premiers in the U.S. Tuesday August 11 at 10/9c on National Geographic. For all other countries check local listings. When a team of Chinese archaeologists came to investigate the conundrum several years ago, they began to unearth something wondrous and puzzling. The stones were not part of the Great Wall but the ruins of a magnificent fortress city. The ongoing dig has revealed more than six miles of protective walls surrounding a 230-foot-high pyramid and an inner sanctum with painted murals, jade artifacts—and gruesome evidence of human sacrifice. -
China's Special Poor Areas and Their Geographical Conditions
sustainability Article China’s Special Poor Areas and Their Geographical Conditions Xin Xu 1,2, Chengjin Wang 1,2,*, Shiping Ma 1,2 and Wenzhong Zhang 1,2 1 Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; [email protected] (X.X.); [email protected] (S.M.); [email protected] (W.Z.) 2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Special functional areas and poor areas tend to spatially overlap, and poverty is a common feature of both. Special poor areas, taken as a kind of “policy space,” have attracted the interest of researchers and policymakers around the world. This study proposes a basic concept of special poor areas and uses this concept to develop a method to identify them. Poor counties in China are taken as the basic research unit and overlaps in spatial attributes including old revolutionary bases, borders, ecological degradation, and ethnic minorities, are used to identify special poor areas. The authors then analyze their basic quantitative structure and pattern of distribution to determine the geographical bases’ formation and development. The results show that 304 counties in China, covering a vast territory of 12 contiguous areas that contain a small population, are lagging behind the rest of the country. These areas are characterized by rich energy and resource endowments, important ecological functions, special historical status, and concentrated poverty. They are considered “special poor” for geographical reasons such as a relatively harsh natural geographical environment, remote location, deteriorating ecological environment, and an inadequate infrastructure network and public service system. -
Global Cooling and Enhanced Eocene Asian Mid-Latitude Interior Aridity
ARTICLE DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05415-x OPEN Global cooling and enhanced Eocene Asian mid-latitude interior aridity J.X. Li1,2, L.P. Yue2,3, A.P. Roberts4, A.M. Hirt 5, F. Pan1,2, Lin Guo1,Y.Xu1, R.G. Xi1, Lei Guo1, X.K. Qiang3, C.C. Gai6,7, Z.X. Jiang4,7,8, Z.M. Sun9 & Q.S. Liu 10 Tibetan Plateau uplift has been suggested as the main driving force for mid-latitude Asian inland aridity (AIA) and for deposition of thick aeolian sequences in northern China since the 1234567890():,; Miocene. However, the relationship between earlier AIA and Tibetan Plateau mountain building is uncertain because of a lack of corresponding thick aeolian sequences with accurate age constraints. We here present results for a continuous aeolian sequence that spans the interval from >51 to 39 Ma from the eastern Xorkol Basin, Altun Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The basal age of the studied sequence postdates initial uplift of the Tibetan Plateau by several million years. Our results indicate that the local palaeoclimate was tele- connected strongly to the overall global cooling pattern, so that local enhanced aridification recorded by the studied aeolian sequence is dominantly a response to global climatic forcing rather than plateau uplift. 1 Research Center for Orogenic Geology, Xi’an Center of Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China. 2 State Key Laboratory for Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China. 3 State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710061, China. -
A Global Overview of Protected Areas on the World Heritage List of Particular Importance for Biodiversity
A GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF PROTECTED AREAS ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE FOR BIODIVERSITY A contribution to the Global Theme Study of World Heritage Natural Sites Text and Tables compiled by Gemma Smith and Janina Jakubowska Maps compiled by Ian May UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Cambridge, UK November 2000 Disclaimer: The contents of this report and associated maps do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organisations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organisations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION 1.0 OVERVIEW......................................................................................................................................................1 2.0 ISSUES TO CONSIDER....................................................................................................................................1 3.0 WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?..............................................................................................................................2 4.0 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................3 5.0 CURRENT WORLD HERITAGE SITES............................................................................................................4 -
(Leech, 1890) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) with Description of Female Genitalia and Taxonomic Notes
© Entomologica Fennica. 31 August 2016 Distribution of Onryza maga (Leech, 1890) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) with description of female genitalia and taxonomic notes Guoxi Xue, Yufei Li, Zihao Liu, Meng Li & Yingdang Ren Xue, G. X., Li, Y.F., Liu, Z. H., Li, M. & Ren, Y.D. 2016: Distribution of Onryza maga (Leech, 1890) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) with description of female geni- talia and taxonomic notes. — Entomol. Fennica 27: 70–76. For more than twenty years, Hainan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have been erroneously reported in Chinese literature as belonging to the distribution range of Onryza maga (Leech 1890). Based upon a careful survey of specimens and relevant literature, these regions are omitted from the known range of this species. Onryza maga maga is found from northeast Guizhou, south Henan and Qinling-Daba Mountains in Shaanxi of China, its oc- currence in Hunan is confirmed. The adults are redescribed and the variability of wing patterns is discussed. Female genitalia are illustrated and described for the first time. Some biological information and an updated distribution map of the species are provided. G. X. Xue & M. Li, School of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, No. 5 Dongfeng Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450002, P. R. China; Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] Y. F. Li, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 76 Yanta West Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710061, P. R. China Z. H. Liu, School of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, No. 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China Y. D. -
Italy and China Sharing Best Practices on the Sustainable Development of Small Underground Settlements
heritage Article Italy and China Sharing Best Practices on the Sustainable Development of Small Underground Settlements Laura Genovese 1,†, Roberta Varriale 2,†, Loredana Luvidi 3,*,† and Fabio Fratini 4,† 1 CNR—Institute for the Conservation and the Valorization of Cultural Heritage, 20125 Milan, Italy; [email protected] 2 CNR—Institute of Studies on Mediterranean Societies, 80134 Naples, Italy; [email protected] 3 CNR—Institute for the Conservation and the Valorization of Cultural Heritage, 00015 Monterotondo St., Italy 4 CNR—Institute for the Conservation and the Valorization of Cultural Heritage, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-06-90672887 † These authors contributed equally to this work. Received: 28 December 2018; Accepted: 5 March 2019; Published: 8 March 2019 Abstract: Both Southern Italy and Central China feature historic rural settlements characterized by underground constructions with residential and service functions. Many of these areas are currently tackling economic, social and environmental problems, resulting in unemployment, disengagement, depopulation, marginalization or loss of cultural and biological diversity. Both in Europe and in China, policies for rural development address three core areas of intervention: agricultural competitiveness, environmental protection and the promotion of rural amenities through strengthening and diversifying the economic base of rural communities. The challenge is to create innovative pathways for regeneration based on raising awareness to inspire local rural communities to develop alternative actions to reduce poverty while preserving the unique aspects of their local environment and culture. In this view, cultural heritage can be a catalyst for the sustainable growth of the rural community. -
Differences in Spatial Patterns and Driving Factors of Biomass Carbon Density Between Natural Coniferous and Broad-Leaved Forest
Differences in spatial patterns and driving factors of biomass carbon density between natural coniferous and broad-leaved forests in mountainous terrain, eastern Loess Plateau of China Lina Sun Taiyuan Normal University Qixiang Wang College of Environmental & Resource Science of Shanxi University Xiaohui Fan ( [email protected] ) institute of the Loess Plateau, Shanxi university,China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0143-8624 Research Keywords: Spatial pattern, Spatial heterogeneity, Multi-group structural equation modeling, Stand age, Elevation, Mountainous terrain Posted Date: August 25th, 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-815547/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/27 Abstract Background Mountain forests in China are an integral part of the country’s natural vegetation. Understanding the spatial variability and control mechanisms for biomass carbon density of mountain forests is necessary to make full use of the carbon sequestration potential for climate change mitigation. Based on the 9th national forest inventory data in Shanxi Province, which is mountainous terrain, eastern Loess Plateau of China, we characterized the spatial pattern of biomass carbon density for natural coniferous and broad- leaved forests using Local Getis-ord G* and proposed an integrative framework to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of stand, geographical and climatic factors on biomass carbon density for the two types of forests using structural equation modeling. Results There was no signicant difference between the mean biomass carbon densities of the natural coniferous and broad-leaved forests. The number of spots with a spatial autocorrelation accounted for 51.6% of all plots of the natural forests. -
The Spreading of Christianity and the Introduction of Modern Architecture in Shannxi, China (1840-1949)
Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid Programa de doctorado en Concervación y Restauración del Patrimonio Architectónico The Spreading of Christianity and the introduction of Modern Architecture in Shannxi, China (1840-1949) Christian churches and traditional Chinese architecture Author: Shan HUANG (Architect) Director: Antonio LOPERA (Doctor, Arquitecto) 2014 Tribunal nombrado por el Magfco. y Excmo. Sr. Rector de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, el día de de 20 . Presidente: Vocal: Vocal: Vocal: Secretario: Suplente: Suplente: Realizado el acto de defensa y lectura de la Tesis el día de de 20 en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid. Calificación:………………………………. El PRESIDENTE LOS VOCALES EL SECRETARIO Index Index Abstract Resumen Introduction General Background........................................................................................... 1 A) Definition of the Concepts ................................................................ 3 B) Research Background........................................................................ 4 C) Significance and Objects of the Study .......................................... 6 D) Research Methodology ...................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Chinese traditional architecture 1.1 The concept of traditional Chinese architecture ......................... 13 1.2 Main characteristics of the traditional Chinese architecture .... 14 1.2.1 Wood was used as the main construction materials ........ 14 1.2.2 -
Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project (Cofinanced by the Global Environment Facility)
Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report Project Number: 39321 June 2008 PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project (Cofinanced by the Global Environment Facility) Prepared by: ANZDEC Limited Australia For Shaanxi Province Development and Reform Commission This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. (For project preparatory technical assistance: All the views expressed herein may not be incorporated into the proposed project’s design. FINAL REPORT SHAANXI QINLING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT PREPARED FOR Shaanxi Provincial Government And the Asian Development Bank ANZDEC LIMITED September 2007 CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as at 1 June 2007) Currency Unit – Chinese Yuan {CNY}1.00 = US $0.1308 $1.00 = CNY 7.64 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BAP – Biodiversity Action Plan (of the PRC Government) CAS – Chinese Academy of Sciences CASS – Chinese Academy of Social Sciences CBD – Convention on Biological Diversity CBRC – China Bank Regulatory Commission CDA - Conservation Demonstration Area CNY – Chinese Yuan CO – company CPF – country programming framework CTF – Conservation Trust Fund EA – Executing Agency EFCAs – Ecosystem Function Conservation Areas EIRR – economic internal rate of return EPB – Environmental Protection Bureau EU – European Union FIRR – financial internal rate of return FDI – Foreign Direct Investment FYP – Five-Year Plan FS – Feasibility -
GIS Assessment of the Status of Protected Areas in East Asia
CIS Assessment of the Status of Protected Areas in East Asia Compiled and edited by J. MacKinnon, Xie Yan, 1. Lysenko, S. Chape, I. May and C. Brown March 2005 IUCN V 9> m The World Conservation Union UNEP WCMC Digitized by the Internet Archive in 20/10 with funding from UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge http://www.archive.org/details/gisassessmentofs05mack GIS Assessment of the Status of Protected Areas in East Asia Compiled and edited by J. MacKinnon, Xie Yan, I. Lysenko, S. Chape, I. May and C. Brown March 2005 UNEP-WCMC IUCN - The World Conservation Union The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, UNEP-WCMC, and IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. UNEP-WCMC or its collaborators have obtained base data from documented sources believed to be reliable and made all reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the data. UNEP-WCMC does not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the base data and excludes all conditions, warranties, undertakings and terms express or implied whether by statute, common law, trade usage, course of dealings or otherwise (including the fitness of the data for its intended use) to the fullest extent permitted by law. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of UNEP, UNEP-WCMC, and IUCN. Produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK Cffti IUCN UNEP WCMC The World Conservation Union Copyright: © 2005 UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged.