Search

Confronted with the significant challenges of global climate change and environmental deterioration, the pursuit of carbon emission peaks and the realization of carbon neutrality have become a collective goal for countries worldwide. As an exemplary combustion technology noted for its efficiency and environmental friendliness, the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) is instrumental in curbing the release of carbon dioxide alongside other deleterious gases. The technology is pivotal in promoting the clean and efficient use of coal, simultaneously expediting the global shift towards a sustainable, green, and low-carbon future. This study employs a bibliometric analysis, a social network analysis, and information visualization techniques to delve into the evolution of CFB technology, leveraging the Web of Science database (SCI-EXPANDED and CPCI-S) and the Derwent Innovations Index (DII). Through a meticulous examination of academic papers and patent literature related to CFB technology, this research unveils the developmental trajectory and trends of CFB technology, providing a scientific foundation and reference for strategic technology planning and focused research in key areas. The findings indicate that, while there is a downward trend in the global publication of academic papers on CFB technology, the number of patent applications continues to grow steadily. CFB technology has achieved significant advancements in enhancing combustion efficiency, environmental protection, energy utilization, and waste management, and is progressing towards a direction of diversification and greater efficiency. Moving forward, the development of CFB technology should concentrate on pivotal areas such as material science, fluid dynamics simulation, environmental impact assessment, system integration, and intelligentization, to foster ongoing innovation and a broad application of the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), known as the "Third Pole of the Earth", contains fragile ecosystems and is sensitive to global environmental changes. With the intensification of climate change and human activities, the land cover of the QTP is changing significantly, which affects its function as an ecological security barrier. This paper searched 379 papers in the Web of Science core database, conducted a bibliometric analysis, and proposed potential future research directions to gain a macroscopic understanding of the impact of land use and cover change (LUCC) on the regional and global ecological environment of the QTP. The results are as follows. (1) The period from 1995 to 2022 witnessed an overall increase in the number of publications in this field with a high development potential. (2) Climate change, land use, China, impacts, conservation, and management were high-frequency keywords in the field; among these, climate change has received increasing research attention since 2018. (3) The field included three main research directions: the impact of LUCC on biodiversity, the impact of land degradation on ecosystems, and the impact of climate change and land use changes on ecosystem services. (4) The development and evolution of research hotspots were mainly focused on three aspects: the impact of cultivated land expansion and deforestation, the impact of land use management and conservation, and the impact of climate change and human activities on LUCC. (5) Future research should focus on improving the accuracy of land use and cover data on the QTP, assessing and preventing the ecological risks of LUCC, investigating the impacts of human activities on LUCC and the ecological environment, and exploring the interactions between climate change and human activities on the ecological environment. The findings of this paper will help researchers and stakeholders gain a rapid and comprehensive understanding of this research area and thus contribute to the sustainable development of the QTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast, in more southern regions, in the Transbaikalian Area, " I the branchiopod community in shallow steppe water bodies has been unchanged since at least the Pleistocene, demonstrating long-term morphological and ecological stasis i " [[15]]. Primary research focusing on aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is key to prioritizing interventions and to safeguard life in and around water. Aquatic ecosystems around the world are under increasing pressure from human activities and global warming, either directly or indirectly. Although the topics of the aforementioned set of papers are very diverse, we believe that the selection is a reflection of recent approaches to the studies of species richness and diversity of aquatic ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

Mediterranean olive cultivation faces challenges in the global environmental change context. Pests and diseases caused by arthropods such as Bactrocera oleae, Prays oleae, and certain vectors of Xylella fastidiosa are expected to increase and spread in part due to this global scenario. The control of these arthropods has relied on synthetic pesticides, the misuse of which has led to pest population resistance and concerns about their negative impacts on biodiversity and global health. Integrated pest management (IPM) methods have emerged through the careful consideration of all available control techniques and the subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations. This paper reviews the IPM guidelines for olive cultivation, prioritizing the use of biological control methods, and the integration of genetics and biotechnology, which bring precision, efficacy, and safety. It evidences the importance of genetic analysis in pest populations, pesticide resistance and in the contributions of predators to pest control. Advances in formulations and delivery systems for pesticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis, plant-incorporated protectants, improved SIT techniques, and the specific efficacy of biologicals pesticides are covered. Finally, this paper explores promising tools such as RNAi and gene drive while recognizing the ethical, environmental, and regulatory challenges associated with their use. Shortly, these innovations have the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of pests while ensuring the long-term viability of the olive industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/cover change (LUCC) detection and modeling play an important role in global environmental change research, in particular, policy-making to mitigate climate change, support land spatial planning, and achieve sustainable development. For the time being, a couple of hybrid models, such as cellular automata–Markov (CM), logistic–cellular automata-Markov (LCM), multicriteria evaluation (MCE), and multicriteria evaluation–cellular automata–Markov (MCM), are available. However, their disadvantages lie in either dependence on expert knowledge, ignoring the constraining factors, or without consideration of driving factors. For this purpose, we proposed in this paper a new hybrid model, the logistic–multicriteria evaluation–cellular automata–Markov (LMCM) model, that uses the fully standardized logistic regression coefficients as impact weights of the driving factors to represent their importance on each land use type in order to avoid these defects but is able to better predict the future land use pattern with higher accuracy taking Hefei, China as a study area. Based on field investigation, Landsat images dated 2010, 2015, and 2020, together with digital elevation model (DEM) data, were harnessed for land use/cover (LUC) mapping using a supervised classification approach, which was achieved with high overall accuracy (AC) and reliability (AC > 95%). LUC changes in the periods 2010–2015 and 2015–2020 were hence detected using a post-classification differencing approach. Based on the LUC patterns of the study area in 2010 and 2015, the one of 2020 was simulated by the LMCM, CM, LCM, and MCM models under the same conditions and then compared with the classified LUC map of 2020. The results show that the LMCM model performs better than the other three models with a higher simulation accuracy, i.e., 1.72–5.4%, 2.14–6.63%, and 2.78–9.33% higher than the CM, LCM, and MCM models, respectively. For this reason, we used the LMCM model to simulate and predict the LUC pattern of the study area in 2025. It is expected that the results of the simulation may provide scientific support for spatial planning of territory in Hefei, and the LMCM model can be applied to other areas in China and the world for similar purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global environmental changes, the frequency of various disasters and extreme events is increasing, and enhancing urban resilience has become an important guide for current urban development. Previous studies have mainly focused on changes in urban resilience, with less consideration for the impact of spatial spillover effects on urban resilience. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of urban resilience and its spatial spillover effects in Guangdong from 2012 to 2020 based on the urban resilience assessment model, the Getis-Ord Gi* model, and the improved Capello model. The results are as follows: Affected by COVID-19, the urban resilience of Guangdong Province declined from 2019 to 2020, and 42.86% of the cities demonstrated negative growth in their urban resilience. Urban resilience exhibited significant spatially non-equilibrium characteristics among different cities. The urban resilience of the cities in eastern, northern, and western Guangdong, which are the "collapse zone" of urban resilience, was lower than 0.229 from 2012 to 2020. The intensity of urban resilience spillover in Guangdong presented a typical three-level circle structure of "core-subcore-periphery", which decreased from the core circle to the surrounding circle. COVID-19 caused a 27.21% decrease in the total urban resilience spillover in Guangdong from 2019 to 2020. Finally, we identified critical driving factors of urban resilience using the optimal-parameters geographical detector model. This study can provide a scientific reference for the Chinese government to build resilient cities and improve sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the transformation of the journal Challenges into a planetary health journal. Planetary health is defined as a transdisciplinary field that analyzes and addresses the impacts of human disruptions to Earth's natural systems on human health and all life on Earth. The journal aims to promote holistic approaches to research and policy, encourage cross-sectoral collaboration, and advocate for social and environmental justice. It welcomes contributions on various topics related to planetary health, including human flourishing, climate change, biodiversity, food systems, regenerative economies, indigenous knowledge, sustainable energies, social trends, technologies, ethics, values, spirituality, planetary health education, and governance. The journal emphasizes the relevance of the work to planetary health and its impact on human flourishing and the environment. [Extracted from the article]

Under the influences of global environmental change, the water cycle exhibits a characteristic "natural-social" duality. The theoretical framework of this dualistic water cycle model has become relatively mature and the frameworks for the natural and social water cycles of the process description are now relatively clear. Although many studies in this field focus on further improvement of the model, it is difficult to apply it to the multi-scenario regulation of water resources. To address this gap, based on the comprehensive integrated platform, this paper uses visual knowledge map technology and component technology to visualize the theoretical framework of the dualistic water cycle, and establishes a framework system for the visualization of the dualistic water cycle process. Three different water resource regulation scenarios were established in the system and example applications of water resources regulation using the system were realized. The simulation results of the system show that the system intends to assist the business function of water resources regulation, and it is able to set up a number of dynamic scenarios that can be controlled by users and assist the application of regional water resources regulation. The system's regulatory process is visual, trustworthy, and operational, and it realizes the simulation application of water resources regulation under the framework of the dualistic water cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change is a significant contributor to global environmental change. The expansion of urban areas has increasingly impacted rural ecological environments, in particular the shift from agro-ecosystems to urban ecosystems, leading to alterations in land use patterns. Rural land use has led to economic, social, and environmental problems, including poor economic efficiency, emissions of pollutants, and increased environmental crises. The research of alterations in rural land use and their consequential environmental ramifications has garnered escalating attention, evolving into an indispensable subject of inquiry within pertinent academic disciplines. This study aims to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the ecological impacts of rural land use change. We examined 1237 literature sources through the Web of Science database and conducted a bibliometric analysis utilizing the Bibliometrix tool. Secondly, based on the results of bibliometric analysis, we conducted a review study on the impact of rural land use changes on the ecological environment, clarified the current research status in this field, and looked forward to future research directions. The study's findings indicate that there has been a steady rise in publication volume from 1982 to 2023 and a significant potential for growth. The top three journals by publication volume are Sustainability, Land Use Policy, and Land. (2) A total of 4768 scholars from 95 countries or regions have contributed publications in this domain, notably led by researchers and institutions predominantly based in China. Developed nations, exemplified by the U.S., exhibit a notable citation frequency and robust research prowess within this field. (3) Land use, urbanization, China, ecosystem services, biodiversity, and remote sensing emerge as keywords of elevated frequency within the field, indicative of the scholarly emphasis on these subjects. (4) Studies in this domain are directed towards evaluating the effects on intrinsic components of the environment, including but not limited to soil quality, atmospheric conditions, water resources, and biodiversity. The implementation of sustainable rural land use strategies is essential for the realization of rural development and environmental protection. In future research efforts, the use of remote sensing technology holds immense potential as a robust technical tool for investigating both land use change and rural ecology, offering viable strategies for addressing environmental challenges in specific, localized regions. The results of this study can assist in comprehending the current state and direction of research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quadruped robot has a strong motion performance and broad application prospects in practical applications. However, during the movement of the quadruped robot, it is easy to be affected by external disturbance and environmental changes, which makes it unable to achieve the ideal effect movement. Therefore, it is very important for the quadruped robot to adjust actively according to its own state detection. This paper proposes an active state adjustment control method based on its own state, which can realize disturbance recovery and active environment adaptation. Firstly, the controller is designed according to the physical model of the quadruped robot, and the foot forces are optimized using the quadratic program (QP) method. Then, the disturbance compensation method based on dynamic analysis is studied and combined with the controller itself. At the same time, according to the law of biological movement, the movement process of the quadruped robot is actively adjusted according to the different movement environment, so that it can adapt to various complex environments. Finally, it is verified in a simulation environment and quadruped robot prototype. The results show that the quadruped robot has a strong active disturbance recovery ability and active environment adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As our planet faces more frequent and severe environmental threats due to climate change (including threats to biodiversity), environmental justice will be essential to ensure that the costs and burdens of combating these threats are shared equally, borne by all people worldwide in a fair and equitable manner. If the past is any indicator, however, environmental problems—and their "solutions"—disproportionately affect poor communities and communities of color, including Indigenous communities. Despite these past injustices, Indigenous lands, which make up only 20 percent of the Earth's territory, contain 80 percent of the world's remaining biodiversity—evidence that Indigenous peoples are among the most effective stewards of the environment. A primary reason for this remarkable statistic is the use and practice of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge; ecological wisdom which has been passed down for generations and has been shown to strengthen community resilience in response to the multiple stressors of global environmental change. While the United States government has been slow to acknowledge the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, it has recently begun to incorporate that knowledge into environmental policy in response to the worldwide climate crisis. Continuing the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into government environmental policy will ensure that such policies will be more effective at the federal, state, and local levels and more equitable in their application. Western scientists, government officials, and global leaders need to build trusting and co-equal relationships with Indigenous communities by actively listening to all cultures and respecting the many kinds of knowledge systems required to conserve the natural world and all living beings. This paper will address how incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into U.S. policy would help safeguard the environment from further biodiversity loss and other ecological destruction, and advance environmental justice to ensure the fair treatment of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clues of climate change on the Alashan Plateau since the last glacial period (40 ka) are important for revealing the mechanism of desertification of middle-latitude deserts in the Northern Hemisphere (NH). Studies are still rare for the understanding of the specific relationship of climate changes between the Alashan Plateau and the global. Based on a systematic and comparative analysis of the existing research in China and the international academic community, this paper reviews the environmental evolution history of the Alashan Plateau since the last glacial period from the records of paleo-environment and geomorphological characteristics in different deserts of the plateau (e.g., Badanjilin, Tenggeli, and Wulanbuhe). From about 40 ka to the end of the last glacial maximum, the climate on the plateau was wetter than it is today, and to the end of the Pleistocene, the climate was generally dry and the aeolian activities were enhanced. However, the climate was arid during the whole last glacial period in the Wulanbuhe Desert, evidently different from the overall pattern of the plateau. The Tenggeli Desert was characterized by an arid climate in the early Holocene. The most controversial events for the Alashan Plateau are the drought events in the middle Holocene in the Badanjilin Desert. The role and impact of the westerlies and the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) systems on the climate change of the desert and even the whole plateau is a vexed question that brings different views in different periods. There is still a lack of definite evidence representing the events of global environmental change that occurred on the plateau during the discussed period. The distinctive morphology of dune mountains and the distribution of sand dunes are mutually indicative of the direction and energy of wind systems on the plateau. It is suggested that appropriate wind energy is the significant key to the desertification in these middle-latitude deserts on the plateau. From a global-scale review of climate change, the desertification of the modern-scale sandy desert landscapes on the Alashan Plateau is generally related to the global glacial period and the cold and dry climate during the past 40 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How fishermen produce and live has been a hot topic of academic concern in recent years. However, existing research has focused excessively on marine fishermen. Inland fisheries make a significant but often overlooked contribution to rural livelihoods in developing countries. In this paper, we constructed a framework for fishermen's livelihood strategies and used questionnaires and in-depth interviews to study 275 households of inland fishermen in a professional fishing village at Poyang Lake. The results show that (1) the impact of the comprehensive fishing ban has led to significant changes in the livelihood capital of inland fishermen, leading to fishermen being forced to change their livelihood strategies. (2) The current livelihood strategies can be divided into four categories, which are non-fishing employment, self-employment, public welfare positions and retirement respectively. (3) Livelihood capital such as age, education, social interaction and fishing rights influence their choice of livelihood strategies. (4) The fishing ban proposal generally meets the interests of fishermen, but there is some capacity for improvement in terms of implementation details and policy flexibility. Based on these findings, we recommend that the government conducts further in-depth research and adjusts and improves its policy options in good time. To the satisfaction of all parties, the current policy protects the environment and achieves sustainable human development, making Chinese contributions and proposing Chinese plans to address global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth system science has changed rapidly due to global environmental changes and the advent of Earth observation technology. Therefore, new tools are required to monitor, measure, analyze, evaluate, and model Earth observation data. Google Earth (GE) was officially launched by Google in 2005 as a "geobrowser", and Google Earth Engine (GEE) was released in 2010 as a cloud computing platform with substantial computational capabilities. The use of these two tools or platforms in various applications, particularly as used by the remote sensing community, has developed rapidly. In this paper, we reviewed the applications and trends in the use of GE and GEE by analyzing peer-reviewed articles, dating up to January 2021, in the Web of Science (WoS) core collection using scientometric analysis (i.e., by using CiteSpace) and meta-analysis. We found the following: (1) the number of articles describing the use of GE or GEE increased substantially from two in 2006 to 530 in 2020. The number of GEE articles increased much faster than those concerned with the use of GE. (2) Both GE and GEE were extensively used by the remote sensing community as multidisciplinary tools. GE articles covered a broader range of research areas (e.g., biology, education, disease and health, economic, and information science) and appeared in a broader range of journals than those concerned with the use of GEE. (3) GE and GEE shared similar keywords (e.g., "land cover", "water", "model", "vegetation", and "forest"), which indicates that their application is of great importance in certain research areas. The main difference was that articles describing the use of GE emphasized its use as a visual display platform, while those concerned with GEE placed more emphasis on big data and time-series analysis. (4) Most applications of GE and GEE were undertaken in countries, such as the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. (5) GEE is an important tool for analysis, whereas GE is used as an auxiliary tool for visualization. Finally, in this paper, the merits and limitations of GE and GEE, and recommendations for further improvements, are summarized from an Earth system science perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-derived environmental parameters play important roles in environmental research on global changes and regional resources. Atmosphere effects and sensor limitations often lead to data products that vary in quality. The main goal of time series data reconstruction is to use various statistical and numerical analysis methods and to stimulate changing seasonal or annual parameters, providing more complete data sets for correlational research. This paper aims to develop a time series reconstruction algorithm for LST based on data assimilation according to the current problems of unstable precision and unsatisfactory results, and the simplistic effects of evaluation methods while using remote sensing-derived LST data as the basic parameters and the daily LST data derived from the static meteorological satellite GMS-5 as the input data. The data assimilation system used the Kalman filter as the assimilation algorithm. A complete set of global refined LST time series data sets were obtained by constantly correcting the LST values according to the regional ground-based observations. This method was implemented using MATLAB software (version R2017a), and was applied and validated through partitioning using the principal elevation in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei regions. The results show that the accuracy of the reconstructed LST data series improved significantly in terms of the mean and standard deviation. Better consistency was achieved between the variables obtained over a year from the reconstructed LST data and the ground observations from the LST data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National Parks are spaces that are of great interest for evaluating and monitoring global environmental change as these parks encompass natural, cultural, and rural features, along with ecological processes, which are subject to social or economic changes that are much more difficult to track outside of these spaces. To do this, it is necessary to have a sufficient set of data and indicators to monitor the effects of global change in the short, mid, and long term. The majority of indicators have been developed to monitor the bio-geophysical environment; socio-economic indicators of global change for National Parks are much more limited. The aim of this paper is to present a system of indicators for socio-economic evaluation and monitoring of global change for the Picos de Europa National Park. This park has two unique features: it has one of the two systems of socio-economic indicators developed for the Spanish National Parks, and it is practically the only one of Spain's 16 National Parks with human populations living within its boundaries. Many of the indicators specifically developed for this park can be used for other national parks that have similar characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world currently faces an unprecedented phase of global environmental change largely driven by the combined impact of anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation. Adaptation to global environmental changes in natural resource management is often hindered by high levels of uncertainty related to environmental impact projections. Management strategies and policies to support adaptation measures and sustainable resource management under substantial environmental uncertainty are thus urgently needed. The paper reports results of behavioral irrigation experiments with farmers and students in the region of Hangzhou in China. The experimental design simulates a small-scale irrigation system with five parties located along an irrigation channel. The first treatment adds weather variability with a drying tendency that influences water availability in the irrigation channel. In the second treatment, the participants can select one of two adaptation options. Our results suggest that participants react with a marked delay to weather uncertainty. In addition, upstream players are more likely to adapt to uncertainty than those further downstream, and groups who show higher levels of cooperation more frequently invest in adaptation measures. Lastly, extraction inequality in earlier stages is found to constitute a key obstacle to collective adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All of them have a direct connection to river hydrology and preserving flow regimes has become one of the key issues for protecting our future water resources and river ecosystems. This Special Issue includes papers investigating the links between river flow regime, the status of aquatic ecosystems, and the benefits they provide to our society either from the science or management perspective. Global environmental change is greatly disturbing rivers and estuaries by a number of stressors, among which water withdrawal, damming, pollution, invasive species, and climate change are the most worrying. [Extracted from the article]

Recent drastic reductions in the Arctic sea-ice cover have raised an interest in understanding the role of sea ice in the global system as well as pointed out a need to understand the physical processes that lead to such changes. Satellite remote-sensing data provide important information about remote ice areas, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have the advantages of penetration of the omnipresent cloud cover and of high spatial resolution. A challenge addressed in this paper is how to extract information on sea-ice types and sea-ice processes from SAR data. We introduce, validate and apply geostatistical and statistical approaches to automated classification of sea ice from SAR data, to be used as individual tools for mapping sea-ice properties and provinces or in combination. A key concept of the geostatistical classification method is the analysis of spatial surface structures and their anisotropies, more generally, of spatial surface roughness, at variable, intermediate-sized scales. The geostatistical approach utilizes vario parameters extracted from directional vario functions, the parameters can be mapped or combined into feature vectors for classification. The method is flexible with respect to window sizes and parameter types and detects anisotropies. In two applications to RADARSAT and ERS-2 SAR data from the area near Point Barrow, Alaska, it is demonstrated that vario-parameter maps may be utilized to distinguish regions of different sea-ice characteristics in the Beaufort Sea, the Chukchi Sea and in Elson Lagoon. In a third and a fourth case study the analysis is taken further by utilizing multi-parameter feature vectors as inputs for unsupervised and supervised statistical classification. Field measurements and high-resolution aerial observations serve as basis for validation of the geostatistical-statistical classification methods. A combination of supervised classification and vario-parameter mapping yields best results, correctly identifying several sea-ice provinces in the shore-fast ice and the pack ice. Notably, sea ice does not have to be static to be classifiable with respect to spatial structures. In consequence, the geostatistical-statistical classification may be applied to detect changes in ice dynamics, kinematics or environmental changes, such as increased melt ponding, increased snowfall or changes in the equilibrium line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain cities with complex topographies have always been highly vulnerable areas to global environmental change, prone to geological hazards, climate change, and human activities. Exploring and analyzing the vulnerability of coupling systems in mountain cities is highly important for improving regional resilience and promoting sustainable regional development. Therefore, a comprehensive framework for assessing the spatial vulnerability of mountain cities is proposed. A vulnerability assessment index system is constructed using three functional systems, ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction. Subsequently, the BP neural network and the genetic algorithm (GA) are combined to establish a vulnerability assessment model, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) is introduced to analyze the spatial influence of one-dimensional systems on the coupling system. Linzhou, a typical mountain city at the boundary between China's second- and third-step terrains, was selected as a case study to demonstrate the feasibility of the framework. The results showed that the vulnerability of the ecological protection system was highly aggregated in the east–central region, that of the agricultural production system was high in the west, and that of the urban construction system was low in the central region and high in the northwestern region. The coupling system vulnerability was characterized by multispatial distribution. The complex topography and geomorphology and the resulting natural hazards are the underlying causes of the vulnerability results. The impact of ecological and urban systems on the coupling system vulnerability is more prominent. The proposed framework can serve as a reference for vulnerability assessments of other similar mountain cities with stepped topographies to support the formulation of sustainable development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use and land-cover changes constitute pivotal components in global environmental change research. Through an examination of spatiotemporal variations in land cover, we can deepen our understanding of land-cover change dynamics, shape appropriate policy frameworks, and implement targeted environmental conservation strategies. The judicious management of land is a critical determinant in fostering the sustainable growth of urban economies and enhancing quality of life for residents. This study harnessed remote sensing data to analyze land-cover patterns in Tianjin over five distinct time points: 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. It focused on evaluating the evolving dynamics, transition velocities, and transformation processes across various land categories within the region. Utilizing dynamic analysis and a transition matrix, the study traced shifts among different land-use classes. The center-of-gravity migration model was employed to elucidate land-cover pattern evolution. This research also integrated pertinent land-cover statistics to offer a holistic perspective on Tianjin's land-cover transformations. Employing the CA–Markov model, we projected the prospective spatial layout of land cover for the area. Our findings revealed the following. (1) From 2000 to 2020, Tianjin experienced a significant reduction in cropland, forest, grassland, and water areas, alongside a substantial increase in impervious. (2) The impervious surface's center of gravity, initially in Beichen District, shifted 4.20 km northwestward at an average rate of 0.84 km per year. (3) Principal component analysis indicated that the growth in the output value of the secondary and forestry industries is a key driver in expanding Tianjin's impervious-surface area. (4) Predictions for 2025 suggest an increase in Tianjin's impervious-surface area to 4659.78 km2, with a concurrent reduction in cropland to 5656.18 km2. The insights gleaned from this study provide a solid theoretical foundation and empirical evidence, aiding in the formulation of informed land-use strategies, the preservation of urban land resources, and guiding principles for sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities and global environmental changes have transformed terrestrial ecosystems, notably increasing vegetation greenness in China. However, this greening is less effective across the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). This study analyzes dynamic changes and driving factors of nine vegetation net primary productivities (NPPs) in regions divided by the Hu Line using remote sensing data, trend analysis, and the Geodetector model. Findings reveal that from 2001 to 2022, 38.22% of regional vegetation NPP in China increased, especially in the Loess Plateau, Sichuan Basin, and Northeast Plains, while 2.39% decreased, primarily in the southeastern region and southern Tibet. Grasslands contributed 39.71% to NPP north of the Hu Line, and cultivated vegetation contributed 50.58% south. The driving explanatory power of factors on vegetation NPP on the north side of the Hu Line is generally greater than that on the south side. Natural factors primarily drive NPP changes, with human activities having less impact. Combined factors, particularly climate and elevation, significantly enhance the driving explanatory power (q, 0–1). The joint effects of elevation and precipitation on grassland NPP dynamics (q = 0.602) are notable. GDP's influence on broadleaf forests north of the Hu Line (q = 0.404) is significant. Grasslands respond strongly to land use changes and population density, with a combined effect of q = 0.535. Shrubs, alpine vegetation, and meadows show minimal response to individual factors (q < 0.2). These findings offer insights for devising ecological protection measures tailored to local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex relationships within the water-energy-food security nexus tend to be place-specific, increasing the importance of identifying transferable principles to facilitate implementation of a nexus approach. This paper aims to contribute transferable principles by using global model data and concepts to illustrate and analyze the water history of Central Asia. This approach builds on extensive literature about Central Asia and global change as well as recent advances in global water modeling. Decadal water availability and sectorial water consumption time series are presented for the whole 20th century, along with monthly changes in discharge attributable to human influences. Concepts from resilience and socio-ecological system theory are used to interpret the results and identify five principles relevant to managing the transboundary nexus: (1) the subsystems included/excluded from the nexus are case-specific and should be consciously scrutinized; (2) consensus is needed on what boundaries can acceptably be crossed within the nexus; (3) there is a need to understand how reducing trade-offs will modify system dependencies; (4) global stakeholders have both a responsibility and right to contribute to the shaping of the nexus; (5) combining data with global and local perspectives can help to enhance transferability and understanding of shared problems in our globalized world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, coastalscapes have been seriously threatened by the rising effects of climate change such as sea level rise, coastal degradation and extreme flooding. To cope with these threats, since 1992, international development organisations have promoted Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and its implementation in particular in coastal regions of the "Global South". Inspired by a political ecology of development approach, this paper analyses coastalscape metabolism and community level socio-environmental transformations in relation to ICZM implementation politics in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. ICZM was designed to integrate management of coastal regions and to promote socio-economic and environmental sustainability. By adopting the concept of metabolism to coastalscapes, and reflecting on their interactions, data were collected through qualitative field-research at the community level in the Mekong Delta. Research shows that ICZM and its development initiatives implementation slightly shaped coastalscape governance and communities relations, merely influencing policy-making and state bureaucratic structure and legitimation. Rather, the Mekong Delta coastalscape was reconfigured by complex metabolic socio-environmental transformations which embed global political-economic processes, shifting water flows and climate change dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food system is facing unprecedented pressure from environmental change exacerbated by the expansion of agri-food corporations that are consolidating their power in the global food chain. Although Africa missed the Green Revolution and the wave of supermarket expansion that hit the West and then spread to Asia and Latin America, this is unlikely to continue. With a large proportion of sub-Saharan African countries' GDP still heavily reliant on agriculture, global trends in agri-food business are having an increasing impact on African countries. South Africa, a leader in agribusiness on the continent, has a well-established agri-food sector that is facing increasing pressure from various social and environmental sources. This paper uses interview data with corporate executives from South African food businesses to explore how they are adapting to the dual pressures of environmental change and globalisation. It shows that companies now have to adapt to macro-trends both within and outside the formal food sector and how this in turn has repercussions for building sustainable farming systems—both small and large-scale. It concludes with the recognition that building a sustainable food system is a complex process involving a diversity of actors, however changes are already being seen. Businesses have strategically recognised the need to align the economic bottom line with social and environmental factors, but real sustainability will only happen when all stakeholders are included in food governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a network of low-powered wireless sensors, it is essential to capture as many environmental events as possible while still preserving the battery life of the sensor node. This paper focuses on a real-time learning algorithm to extend the lifetime of a sensor node to sense and transmit environmental events. A common method that is generally adopted in ad-hoc sensor networks is to periodically put the sensor nodes to sleep. The purpose of the learning algorithm is to couple the sensor's sleeping behavior to the natural statistics of the environment hence that it can be in optimal harmony with changes in the environment, the sensors can sleep when steady environment and stay awake when turbulent environment. This paper presents theoretical and experimental validation of a reward based learning algorithm that can be implemented on an embedded sensor. The key contribution of the proposed approach is the design and implementation of a reward function that satisfies a trade-off between the above two mutually contradicting objectives, and a linear critic function to approximate the discounted sum of future rewards in order to perform policy learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an exhaustive review of global croplands and their water use, for the end of last millennium, mapped using remote sensing and non-remote sensing approaches by world's leading researchers on the subject. A comparison at country scale of global cropland area estimated by these studies had a high R²-value of 0.89-0.94. The global cropland area estimates amongst different studies are quite close and range between 1.47-1.53 billion hectares. However, significant uncertainties exist in determining irrigated areas which, globally, consume nearly 80% of all human water use. The estimates show that the total water use by global croplands varies between 6,685 to 7,500 km³ yr-1 and of this around 4,586 km³ yr-1 is by rainfed croplands (green water use) and the rest by irrigated croplands (blue water use). Irrigated areas use about 2,099 km³ yr-1 (1,180 km³ yr-1 of blue water and the rest from rain that falls over irrigated croplands). However, 1.6 to 2.5 times the blue water required by irrigated croplands is actually withdrawn from reservoirs or pumping of ground water, suggesting an irrigation efficiency of only between 40-62 percent. The weaknesses, trends, and future directions to precisely estimate the global croplands are examined. Finally, the paper links global croplands and their water use to a paradigm for ensuring future food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, discusses the impact of biotic and abiotic stress factors on plant specialized metabolites. It highlights the importance of plants' chemical adaptations and defense mechanisms against harmful environmental conditions and predators. The document emphasizes the mutualistic bio-chemical interactions of plants with various organisms and agents in the environment. It also mentions the relevance of studying plant interactions with stress factors in various scientific fields. The document concludes by mentioning the publication of six original articles in this Special Issue, which contribute to the understanding of the effects of stress on specialized plant metabolism. [Extracted from the article]

The urban energy demand is predicted through a bottom-up approach that integrates mutual shading, heat island effects, and single-building energy demand. Conclusions The papers included in this Special Issue tackle multiple aspects of how cities, districts, and buildings could evolve along with climate change and how this would impact our way of conceiving and applying design criteria, policies, and urban plans. Planning for climate change adaptation is among the most complex challenges cities are facing today. Urban Heat Island Mitigation The Urban Heat Island intensity can be determined based on air temperature (atmospheric UHI or AUHI) or surface temperature (SUHI). [Extracted from the article]

Recent guidance on environmental modeling and global land-cover validation stresses the need for a probability-based design. Additionally, spatial balance has also been recommended as it ensures more efficient sampling, which is particularly relevant for understanding land use change. In this paper I describe a global sample design and database called the Global Grid (GG) that has both of these statistical characteristics, as well as being flexible, multi-scale, and globally comprehensive. The GG is intended to facilitate collaborative science and monitoring of land changes among local, regional, and national groups of scientists and citizens, and it is provided in a variety of open source formats to promote collaborative and citizen science. Since the GG sample grid is provided at multiple scales and is globally comprehensive, it provides a universal, readily-available sample. It also supports uneven probability sample designs through filtering sample locations by user-defined strata. The GG is not appropriate for use at locations above ±85° because the shape and topological distortion of quadrants becomes extreme near the poles. Additionally, the file sizes of the GG datasets are very large at fine scale (resolution ~600 m × 600 m) and require a 64-bit integer representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been projected that the single greatest impact of environmental changes will be on human migration and displacement. Migration has been extensively discussed and documented as an adaptation strategy in response to environmental changes, and more recently, to climate change. However, forced relocation will lead to the displacement of people, and although much has been written about it, very little has been documented from the Pacific Islands perspective, especially by communities that were forced to relocate as a result of colonialism and those that have been forced to migrate today as a result of climate change impacts. Using the Gilbertese resettlement from the Phoenix Islands to the Solomon Islands, in particular, Wagina Island in the 1960s as a case study of forced relocation and displacement of Pacific Islands people during the colonial period, this paper aims to underline some of the important lessons that can be learned from this historical case to inform the present and future challenges of climate change migration and displacement. Without dismissing migration as a coping strategy, the paper argues that the forced relocation of people from their home islands as a result of climate change will lead to displacement. It accentuates that in the case of Pacific Islands, forced relocation will lead to displacement if they are forced to leave their land because of their deep relationship and attachment to it. The paper also emphasizes the need to acknowledge and honor Pacific Islands' voices and perceptions in discourses on climate change migration and displacement at national, regional and international forums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In western Europe, the Middle Pleistocene is marked by Acheulean settlement and their diversification after the MIS 12. The Arago cave recovery of numerous human settlements correlate to MIS 14, 13 and MIS 12 making it an important site for the understanding of the Lower Palaeolithic in Southwestern Europe. It is also an important site for the understanding of palaeoenvironments and palaeobiodiversity as it has yielded rich faunal associations. The faunal associations allow us to observe three climatic stages within this study: two cold ones and a mild one. Small vertebrates, with their abundance and their diversity, are particularly useful for observing these periods, which historically have been correlated to glacial or interglacial stages. If the first cold phase, dated 438 ± 31 ka, is correlated to the Marine Isotopic Stage 12 (MIS 12), the correlation of the following phases to isotopic stages can be discussed. They may correspond to climatic variations of the MIS 12. Indeed, the latest studies about palaeoclimatic reconstitution which allow us to define the evolution of the palaeo-temperature show that these differences are relatively small. Therefore, instead of a correlation to MIS 12, 13 and 14, the medium complex of the Arago cave could belong solely to MIS 12. The correlation of these environmental changes to other global data, notably the isotopic curve, is challenging because there are various local factors influencing faunal association. We propose here both hypotheses and discuss the various factors which influence the distribution and the representation of the small vertebrate species present on the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including geospatial modelling, modeling of environmental change, and remote sensing.

Wetlands are ranked as very diverse ecosystems, covering about 4–6% of the global land surface. They occupy the transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and share characteristics of both zones. Wetlands play critical roles in the hydrological cycle, sustaining livelihoods and aquatic life, and biodiversity. Poor management of wetlands results in the loss of critical ecosystems goods and services. Globally, wetlands are degrading at a fast rate due to global environmental change and anthropogenic activities. This requires holistic monitoring, assessment, and management of wetlands to prevent further degradation and losses. Remote-sensing data offer an opportunity to assess changes in the status of wetlands including their spatial coverage. So far, a number of studies have been conducted using remotely sensed data to assess and monitor wetland status in semi-arid and arid regions. A literature search shows a significant increase in the number of papers published during the 2000–2020 period, with most of these studies being in semi-arid regions in Australia and China, and few in the sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviews progress made in the use of remote sensing in detecting and monitoring of the semi-arid and arid wetlands, and focuses particularly on new insights in detection and monitoring of wetlands using freely available multispectral sensors. The paper firstly describes important characteristics of wetlands in semi-arid and arid regions that require monitoring in order to improve their management. Secondly, the use of freely available multispectral imagery for compiling wetland inventories is reviewed. Thirdly, the challenges of using freely available multispectral imagery in mapping and monitoring wetlands dynamics like inundation, vegetation cover and extent, are examined. Lastly, algorithms for image classification as well as challenges associated with their uses and possible future research are summarised. However, there are concerns regarding whether the spatial and temporal resolutions of some of the remote-sensing data enable accurate monitoring of wetlands of varying sizes. Furthermore, it was noted that there were challenges associated with the both spatial and spectral resolutions of data used when mapping and monitoring wetlands. However, advancements in remote-sensing and data analytics provides new opportunities for further research on wetland monitoring and assessment across various scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of global environmental change, the sustainability of human-environment systems is only possible through a better understanding of ecosystem processes. An assessment of anthropogenic environmental impacts depends upon monitoring natural ecosystems. These systems are intrinsically complex and dynamic, and are characterized by ecological gradients. Remote sensing data repeatedly collected in a systematic manner are suitable for describing such gradual changes over time and landscape gradients, e.g., through information on the vegetation's phenology. Specifically, imaging spectroscopy is capable of describing ecosystem processes, such as primary productivity or leaf water content of vegetation. Future spaceborne imaging spectroscopy missions like the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) will repeatedly acquire highquality data of the Earth's surface, and will thus be extremely useful for describing natural ecosystems and the services they provide. In this conceptual paper, we present some of the preparatory research of the EnMAP Scientific Advisory Group (EnSAG) on natural ecosystems and ecosystem transitions. Through two case studies we illustrate the usage of spectral indices derived from multi-date imaging spectroscopy data at EnMAP scale, for mapping vegetation gradients. We thus demonstrate the benefit of future EnMAP data for monitoring ecological gradients and natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high sensitivity and advanced onboard calibration on the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) enables accurate measurements of low light radiances which leads to enhanced quantitative applications at night. The finer spatial resolution of DNB also allows users to examine social economic activities at urban scales. Given the growing interest in the use of the DNB data, there is a pressing need for better understanding of the calibration stability and absolute accuracy of the DNB at low radiances. The low light calibration accuracy was previously estimated at a moderate 15% using extended sources while the long-term stability has yet to be characterized. There are also several science related questions to be answered, for example, how the Earth's atmosphere and surface variability contribute to the stability of the DNB measured radiances; how to separate them from instrument calibration stability; whether or not SI (International System of Units) traceable active light sources can be designed and installed at selected sites to monitor the calibration stability, radiometric and geolocation accuracy, and point spread functions of the DNB; furthermore, whether or not such active light sources can be used for detecting environmental changes, such as aerosols. This paper explores the quantitative analysis of nightlight point sources, such as those from fishing vessels, bridges, and cities, using fundamental radiometry and radiative transfer, which would be useful for a number of applications including search and rescue in severe weather events, as well as calibration/validation of the DNB. Time series of the bridge light data are used to assess the stability of the light measurements and the calibration of VIIRS DNB. It was found that the light radiant power computed from the VIIRS DNB data matched relatively well with independent assessments based on the in situ light installations, although estimates have to be made due to limited ground truth data and lack of suitable radiative transfer models. Results from time series analysis are encouraging in potentially being able to detect anomalies in the DNB calibration. The study also suggests that accurate ground based active lights, when properly designed and installed, can be used to monitor the stability of the VIIRS DNB calibration at near the specified minimum radiances (3 nW.cm-2.sr-1), and potentially can be used to monitor the environmental changes as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are generally used to collect information from the environment. The gathered data are delivered mainly to sinks or gateways that become the endpoints where applications can retrieve and process such data. However, applications would also expect from a WSN an event-driven operational model, so that they can be notified whenever occur some specific environmental changes instead of continuously analyzing the data provided periodically. In either operational model, WSNs represent a collection of interconnected objects, as outlined by the Internet of Things. Additionally, in order to fulfill the Internet of Things principles, Wireless Sensor Networks must have a virtual representation that allows indirect access to their resources, a model that should also include the virtualization of event sources in a WSN. Thus, in this paper a model for a virtual representation of event sources in a WSN is proposed. They are modeled as internet resources that are accessible by any internet application, following an Internet of Things approach. The model has been tested in a real implementation where a WSN has been deployed in an open neighborhood environment. Different event sources have been identified in the proposed scenario, and they have been represented following the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews how remotely sensed data have been used to understand the impact of urbanization on global environmental change. We describe how these studies can support the policy and science communities' increasing need for detailed and up-to-date information on the multiple dimensions of cities, including their social, biological, physical, and infrastructural characteristics. Because the interactions between urban and surrounding areas are complex, a synoptic and spatial view offered from remote sensing is integral to measuring, modeling, and understanding these relationships. Here we focus on three themes in urban remote sensing science: mapping, indices, and modeling. For mapping we describe the data sources, methods, and limitations of mapping urban boundaries, land use and land cover, population, temperature, and air quality. Second, we described how spectral information is manipulated to create comparative biophysical, social, and spatial indices of the urban environment. Finally, we focus how the mapped information and indices are used as inputs or parameters in models that measure changes in climate, hydrology, land use, and economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/cover change (LULCC) is an integral part of global environmental change and is influenced by both natural and socioeconomic factors. This study aims to comprehensively analyze land use and land cover (LULC) in Kwazulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces in eastern South Africa from 1995 to 2020 and to identify the driving force behind LULCC. Utilizing Landsat series satellite imagery as a data source and based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and eCognition software 9.0, two different classification methods, pixel-based classification and object-oriented classification, were adopted to gather LULC data every five years. The spatiotemporal characteristics of the data were then analyzed. Using an optimal parameter-based geodetector (OPGD), this study explored the driving factors of LULCC in this region. The results show the following: (1) Of the two classification methods examined, the object-oriented classification had higher accuracy, with an overall accuracy of 80–90%. The pixel-based classification had lower accuracy, with an overall accuracy of 62.33–72.14%. (2) From 1995 to 2020, the area of farmland in the study area showed a fluctuating increase, while the areas of forest and grassland declined annually. The area of constructed land increased annually, whereas the areas of water and unused land fluctuated over time. (3) Socioeconomic factors generally had greater explanatory power than natural factors, with population growth and economic development being the main drivers of LULCC in the region. This study provides a reliable scientific basis for the formulation of sustainable land resource development strategies in the area, as well as for the management and implementation of urban and rural planning, ecological protection, and environmental governance by relevant departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Village Tank Cascade Systems (VTCSs) in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka have evolved as sustainable ecosystems through human interventions to ensure water availability and other services for people and their environs during the last few millennia. However, VTCSs are vulnerable to global environmental changes resulting in continual deterioration of ecological health and hydro-socio-ecological status, crucial for the food and livelihood security of rural farming communities in the dry zone. This paper seeks to explore resource systems of the Mahakanumulla VTCS located in Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka to (i) identify the spatial metrics linked to the sustainability and socio-ecological resilience of the VTCS, and (ii) determine interactions among system elements and their impacts on productivity and restoration challenges. The spatial analysis was conducted using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), recent digital topographic map layers and Google Earth images to understand the spatial distribution and ensemble of tank environs. Participatory field assessment data were also used to determine socio-ecological nexus and factors that contribute to the reduction of ecological productivity of VTCS. The study revealed that the ensemble of tank environs is significant for providing regulatory and supporting ecosystem services (ES) and synergistic relationships with provisional ES of the VTCS. Results also revealed that the complex land-water-biodiversity-climate and food nexus that determines the productivity of the VTCS could be adopted in VTCS ecological restoration planning. The study presents a comprehensive framework to analyse causal factors and processes leading to reduction of overall productivity linked with variables of socio-ecological properties, vulnerability and resilience of the VTCS landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article mentions that several papers published within the issue address the impact of environmental change on animals, including a paper by John Koprowski on the issue of declining biodiversity and the impact of habitat destruction.

Focusing on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) as a case study, this paper explores the relationship between philanthrocapitalism, economic history, and global and planetary health. The Wellcome Trust is also briefly discussed, chiefly in the context of planetary health. The paper argues that in the last 45 years there has been an increased preference for market-based approaches, often called neoliberalism, particularly in the U.S. and its allies. This has generated greater inequality in many high-income settings and weakened the norm of taxation. This has provided a setting in which philanthrocapitalism has flourished, including the BMGF. The latter has in turn become an important actor for global health, partially balancing the adverse consequences of neoliberalism. Planetary health is here defined as the interaction between global health and global environmental change, including to the climate and other elements of the Earth System. Although the Wellcome Trust has recently made funds available for ecological health research, it continues to invest in fossil fuels. The Gates Foundation provide no or minimal grants for ecological or planetary health but appear to have recently substantially divested from fossil fuels, for unclear reasons. The paper concludes that these large philanthrocapitalist organizations partly compensate for the decline in attention to global health driven by market-preferring solutions, but remain insufficiently proactive in the face of the great dangers associated with declining planetary health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planetary health is a transdisciplinary approach that aims to advance the understanding of the links between human-driven changes to the planet and their consequences, and to develop appropriate solutions to the challenges identified. This emerging movement has not yet agreed upon a code of ethics to underpin the rapidly expanding body of research being carried out in its name. However, a code of ethics might support the principles for planetary health set out in the Canmore Declaration of 2018. Phrases such as "Public Health 2.0", "Human Health in an Era of Global Environmental Change", or "A safe and just operating space for humanity" are often used in planetary health discussions, but are not always clearly defined and so far, the field lacks a strong guiding ethical framework. In this paper, we propose a starting point towards a code of ethics for planetary health that builds on the Canmore Declaration. We chose to propose 12 ethical principles in recognition of the need for a 12-Step Programme for the planet. The human race must identify and reject damaging behaviours. Evidence of the harm we are causing the planet is no longer enough and refraining from certain current practices is essential for Earth's future health. We must motivate advocacy and calls for action. We believe a shared ethical code can act as a tool to enable and encourage that process. This paper is presented to the planetary health community as a starting point, not as a finished agenda. We welcome comments, critiques, additions and the opportunity to rework our approach accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Svalbard's cultural heritage sites are important remnants of an international history in the High North. Cultural heritage in the Arctic is being impacted by climate and environmental change as well as increased human activity. Tourism is a potential cause of transformation in cultural heritage sites, such as increased wear and tear, creation of paths and traces as people walk through cultural environments. Cultural heritage management is therefore an increasingly challenging endeavor as management authorities must take under consideration multiple impacts and threats to cultural heritage sites in a changing environment. Based on research conducted in Svalbard from 2014 to 2016 on methods for long-term systematic cultural heritage monitoring, this paper will discuss dilemmas for a sustainable use and management of vulnerable cultural heritage sites in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the westernmost region of the rapidly widening Corinth rift, Greece, extensive development of roads, bridges and other human infrastructure has caused continuous environmental change over the past twenty years. River networks, the land surface and the coastal environment, have been altered, especially in the areas corresponding to deltaic fans. In this paper we use earth observation systems that have captured these environmental changes, particularly medium (Landsat TM and ETM+) and high (Quickbird) resolution satellite images, to identify environmental changes between the periods 1992, 2000, 2002, and 2005. Six pseudo-color multi-temporal images in different spectral areas were created in order to detect changes to the terrestrial and coastal environment caused mainly by direct or indirect human impact. This methodology provided new data for quantifying significant alterations in the environment on different scales. In many cases this revealed their sequence during the time of observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global change and environmental pollution have reawakened ecologists to the great threat of multi-stress interactions to different growth stages of plants. Sophora alopecuroides L., a dune plant, has been widely studied for its medicinal components and strong salinity tolerance. S. alopecuroides seeds, obtained from the desert steppe of Yanchi, Ningxia, China, were used to analyze the effects of sand burial, salinity, drought, and their interactions on seed germination (germination percentage, germination energy, and germination index). The results showed that sand burial and salinity stress had significant effects on the seed germination ability of S. alopecuroides, and drought stress had no significant effect, but the interaction of the three stresses had a significant effect. Under different drought-stress treatments, the interaction of no sand burial and a certain degree of salinity stress significantly improved the germination ability of S. alopecuroides, and the overall intensity of the effects of the three stresses showed that sand burial > salinity > drought. Considering the germination percentage, germination energy, and germination index of S. alopecuroides under various stress interactions, the treatment of no sand burial × 1% soil saline-alkali content × 18–20% soil water content was adopted to maximize the germination ability of S. alopecuroides. In the desert steppe area of Yanchi, Ningxia, sand burial stress was still the most limiting factor for seed germination of S. alopecuroides, and soil saline-alkali content should be increased moderately, and soil moisture should be ensured to obtain the best germination ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While so many insect species are under pressure from environmental effects, insect pests seem to increase their population sizes under CC. Climate change (CC) poses one of the foremost challenges for humanity in the 21st century. This study clearly underlines that CC impact studies have to include different future timespans to identify significant effects on insects' lifecycles in a changing environment, potentially leading to changes in their spatio-temporal dynamics. Insects are the focus of CC impact studies due to their role as important pests in agriculture and forestry [2,3] as well as their role in contributing to different ecosystem services [4]. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: There are various factors linked to global change that possess the capacity to alter the interannual variability in seed production. Our current knowledge regarding the impact of nitrogen availability on the year-to-year fluctuations in seed production patterns of perennial plants is limited. A multiyear field experiment was undertaken to examine the impact of nitrogen addition on the interannual seed production patterns of perennial plants. The introduction of element N had a significant impact on the preservation of aboveground biomass in plants, as well as the stability of flower traits. Consequently, this factor had an impact on the frequency of pollinator preference and the annual seed output. The findings of our study indicate that increasing the nitrogen content in the soil has the potential to alter the natural fluctuations in seed production that occur over different years. The results of this study possess the capacity to improve our understanding of the effects of nitrogen supplementation on the reproductive success of perennial herbaceous plants, as well as the fundamental mechanisms driving biodiversity in the face of worldwide environmental shifts. The variability observed in the annual seed production of perennial plants can be seen as an indication of changes in the allocation of resources between growth and reproduction, which can be attributed to fluctuations in the environment. However, a significant knowledge gap exists concerning the impacts of nitrogen addition on the interannual seed production patterns of perennial plants. We hypothesized that the addition of nitrogen would impact the annual variations in the seed production of perennial plants, ultimately affecting their overall reproductive efficiency. A multiyear field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen supply levels (e.g., 0, 4, and 8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of N0, N4, and N8) on vegetative and floral traits, pollinator visitation rates, and seed traits over a period of four consecutive years. The results showed that the N0 treatment exhibited the highest levels of seed production and reproductive efficiency within the initial two years. In contrast, the N4 treatment displayed its highest level of performance in these metrics in the second and third years, whereas the N8 treatment showcased its most favorable outcomes in the third and fourth years. Similar patterns were found in the number of flowers per capitulum and the number of capitula per plant. There exists a positive correlation between aboveground biomass and several factors, including the number of flowers per capitulum, the number of capitula per plant, the volume of nectar per capitulum, and the seed production per plant. A positive correlation was found between pollinator visitation and the number of flowers per capitulum or the number of capitula per plant. This implies that the addition of N affected the maintenance of plant aboveground biomass, flower trait stability, pollinator visitation, and, subsequently, the frequency of seed production and reproductive efficiency. Our results suggest that augmenting the nitrogen content in the soil may have the capacity to modify the inherent variability in seed production that is observed across various years and enhance the effectiveness of reproductive processes. These findings have the potential to enhance our comprehension of the impact of nitrogen addition on the reproductive performance of perennial herbaceous plants and the underlying mechanisms of biodiversity in the context of global environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forest ecosystems, variations in aboveground litter input caused by global changes, substantially alter soil N cycling. In field-grown plants, few studies have directly measured root exudation rates and quantified their effects on N transformations under litter manipulation. We quantified soil N transformation rate responses to litter manipulation in a Pinus massoniana plantation, and unravelled the effect of root exudation on soil N transformations. We measured in situ P. massoniana root exudation rates as well as soil microbial biomass, soil C and N concentrations, the activities of four soil enzymes involved in soil N transformations, and net N mineralization and net nitrification rates after experimental litter removal and litter addition treatments. Litter removal and litter addition treatments had little impact on soil C and N concentrations, microbial biomass, soil enzyme (urease, hydroxylamine reductase, nitrate reductase, and nitrite reductase) activity, and net N mineralization rates. However, both litter removal and addition increased net N nitrification rates. Additionally, litter removal significantly decreased root C exudation rates (in April 2021 and annually), whereas litter addition had no significant effects on root C exudation rates across all seasons. Furthermore, root C exudation rates were positively associated with urease and nitrate reductase activities, but negatively associated with hydroxylamine reductase and nitrite reductase activities, as well as net N nitrification rate. Overall, we demonstrated that root exudates may be an important physiological adjustment by which trees respond to changes in litter input caused by global environmental changes, regulating underground N biochemical processes. Furthermore, we provide new evidence from root exudates for understanding the potential influence of litter inputs on soil N cycling. A strong correlation exists between root exudates and N transformation, shedding new light on the dynamics of rhizosphere nutrient cycling crucial for maintaining forest ecosystem stability and productivity under changing environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, the potential short and long-term impacts of climate change on human health and wellbeing are being demonstrated. However, other environmental change factors, particularly relating to the natural environment, need to be taken into account to understand the totality of these interactions and impacts. This paper provides an overview of ongoing research in the Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) on Environmental Change and Health, particularly around the positive and negative effects of the natural environment on human health and well-being and primarily within a UK context. In addition to exploring the potential increasing risks to human health from water-borne and vector-borne diseases and from exposure to aeroallergens such as pollen, this paper also demonstrates the potential opportunities and co-benefits to human physical and mental health from interacting with the natural environment. The involvement of a Health and Environment Public Engagement (HEPE) group as a public forum of “critical friends” has proven useful for prioritising and exploring some of this research; such public involvement is essential to minimise public health risks and maximise the benefits which are identified from this research into environmental change and human health. Research gaps are identified and recommendations made for future research into the risks, benefits and potential opportunities of climate and other environmental change on human and planetary health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]