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In recent years, the frequent occurrence of extreme climate disasters has seriously affected agriculture in Northeast China. Based on precipitation data derived from 83 geographical stations in the study area for 60 years (1960–2019), we chose the reliable statistical methods of the Mann–Kendall test, Sen's slope, and the Standardized Precipitation Index, and regarded drought and flood as a whole in this paper, to identify the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of precipitation and extreme climate events in Northeast China. The results show that an increasing trend of disasters was detected at the 95% confidence level (Z = 2.3). According to the timescale analysis, abrupt climate changes started in 2006. Temporal and spatial distribution of extreme climate disasters, mainly drought and flood disasters, showed a significant upward trend from 2006 to 2019. According to the spatial analysis, the precipitation in Northeast China decreased from south to north and fluctuated less from east to west. Moreover, stations with extreme climate trends (trend of climatic anomaly with confidence level > 90%) followed the same spatial pattern as those with a high frequency of extreme climate disasters (more than 17.87 times/decade). The severity and frequency of extreme climate have increasingly threatened Northeast China in the past decade. In particular, the Northeast Plain experienced the most severe and extreme climate events that seriously threatened the study area in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2019. Our results highlight the urgent need for the development of monitoring and early warning of droughts and flood disasters to reduce economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) pose a significant global concern, requiring a multifaceted approach to their risk assessment procedures, especially concerning their characteristics in the environment. The Horqin Left Middle Banner in Northeast China was chosen for the research region to investigate the abundance, composition, distribution, and ecological impact of MPs in surface agricultural soils. The concentrations of MPs ranged from 300 to 12800 items/kg, with a median concentration of 1550 items/kg (average = 1994 items/kg). The normal-sized MPs (500–5000 µm) had a higher relative abundance than small MPs (<500 µm). MPs were mainly derived from textiles and packaging and were affected by atmospheric transportation. Rayon and PET fibers were the main polymers identified. Furthermore, the potential environmental risks posed by the fundamental characteristics (abundance, chemical composition, and size) of MPs were quantified using multiple risk assessment models. The conditional fragmentation model indicated a propensity for MPs to degrade into smaller particles. Ecological risk assessments using pollution load index, pollution hazard index, and potential ecological risk index models revealed varying levels of risk. This study conducted a comprehensive assessment of the ecological risks of MPs based on their environmental characteristics, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple factors in the risk assessment process. This study investigates the occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils of the Northeast Plain of China, a major food production area. MPs are persistent organic pollutants that can pose threats to soil health, crop quality, and food security. By analyzing the composition, size, and source of MPs, as well as their fragmentation and stability in soil, this study provides valuable data for assessing the environmental risk of MPs in agricultural regions. The study also suggests strategies for mitigating MPs pollution and protecting soil ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Evaluated the occurrence, distribution, and risks of MPs based on their properties. • Most MPs are normal-sized (>500 µm) and tend to break into smaller pieces. • MPs mainly derived from textiles and packaging (Rayon and PET, and coated paper). • The featured high-risk sites are mainly caused by polyacrylonitrile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational construction of a well-facilitated farmland become necessary for food security and modern agriculture in China. In farmland construction, the automatic management of spatial data can benefit to accurately distinguish well-facilitated farmland from the various land types. Various discriminating ways of well-facilitated farmland are adopted due to the different influence factors of agricultural production in in different regions, where the spatial distribution and structural features of well-facilitated farmland are quite different from place to place across the country. Most of the previous studies focus mainly on policies, benefit evaluation, preliminary planning and design in the well-facilitated farmland construction. There is still lacking on the studies of the discrimination and analysis for the regional structural features of the well-facilitated farmland. In this paper, a framework of an index system was constructed to identify the spatial distribution and structural features of the well-facilitated farmland using the law of spatial differentiation together with the related national standards and strategic planning, ranging from the scale and shape of farmlands, irrigation and drainage facilities, traffic accessibility, and farmland protection ratio. The identifying system was designed on the basis of the index framework with C#. NET and Arc Object. Subsequently, the proposed system was verified for its availability by taking a case study of a Loess Plateau and a southern mountainous region. The results were as follows: (1) In the Loess Plateau area, the standard rate of the farmland scale, farmland shape, irrigation and drainage facilities, traffic accessibility was 87.01%, 83.12%, 80.52%, 90.91% and 83.12%, respectively. The well-facilitated farmland area can be identified by the system was 38.33 hm² with the total discriminating precision was 94.38%. There were some farmlands that did not meet the requirements of the well-facilitated farmland, such as incomplete irrigation and drainage facilities, the irregular shapes of the fields that distributed in the branch furrow and furrow head around the farmland. (2) In the southern mountainous area, the standard rate of all spatial features was 100%. The well-facilitated farmland area that identified by the system was 30.07 hm², which was 10.34 hm² higher than that of the state-approved well-facilitated farmland. The high identified areas can be because some fields that meet the requirements of well-facilitated farmland have not been classed as the permanent basic farmland in some administrative regions. When regardless of this classification, the total discrimination precision was 100%. This index system can be used in different scenarios, such as macro monitoring and evaluation, project design and inspection of the well-facilitated farmland. This system was also applied for the Northeast Plain, North China Plain, Loess Plateau and southern mountainous regions, while the key elements of the spatial features of well-facilitated farmland construction can be detected with a reliable discriminant resolution. When combining with the remote sensing technology, the index system can help automatic management to know the real-time spatial data of well-facilitated farmland construction. Therefore, the developed system can be successfully applied to identify the extract well-facilitated farmland in the construction area, and then to analyze the obtained spatial data in real time, finally to implement automatic management for well-facilitated farmland construction. Furthermore, the proposed system in this paper can offer a promising reference to the current comprehensive supervision platform, and improve the management effectiveness of well-facilitated farmland construction in modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper proposes a multi-dimensional assessment framework for cropland use stability. • Multi-dimensional cropland use characteristics present significant spatial differentiation. • Cropland stability in Northeast China Plain and Loess Plateau is the highest and lowest. • Urbanization will lead to about 9.31% of high-stability cropland losses in 2030. • Integrating landscape stability and national planning can draft a sustainable-oriented strategy. Shifting to more sustainable use can curb cropland resource degradation and improve production resilience. However, most cropland use assessments are unilaterally focused on biophysical levels and productivity, ignoring the multi-dimensional aspects of degraded cropland. This study attempts to describe cropland use stability in China by proposing a multi-dimensional assessment framework (including quantity, quality, management, service, and risk) to provide a reference for designing land degradation-neutral strategies. Results show that multi-dimensional cropland use characteristics present significant spatial heterogeneity. Western regions are reserve resource agglomerations that can replenish cropland quantity. In contrast, main grain-producing areas cover most current resources with preferably cultivation quality, management efficiency, and ecosystem services, while risk resistance is weak (especially in Middle-lower Yangtze Plain). Generally, the stability of cropland use in Northeast Plain is the highest and in Loess Plateau the lowest. Besides, urbanization will occupy about 9.31% of the high-stability cropland in 2030, of which 70.29% will occur in Northeast Plain and Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. The total potential productivity loss in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain alone will reach 100.1 kt, equivalent to supplying the food demand of 199,200 people annually. Therefore, a sustainable-oriented refined cropland management strategy should be designed according to the hierarchical nested spatial layout of comprehensive planning-stability map-multi-dimensional utilization characteristics to ensure the loss-replenishment balance and stable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most of Qing domination over China, the Manchu rulers strictly controlled or even prohibited migration of Chinese people to the dynasty's Motherland (long xing zhi di 龍興之地). Only two brief phases are an exception, namely the mid Shunzhi to early Kangxi and Yongzheng periods. During the former, in 1653, a "Regulation for the repopulation and land reclamation of Liaodong" was promulgated, establishing alluring incentives for whoever managed to move a hundred or more people to the region east of the Liao river. Only fifteen years later, when the maneuver had just started to produce some results, the Qing court abolished it. In the long term, such a change of direction appears perfectly normal, considering that later on most of the lands would be assigned to the Eight Banners and the state would have striven to keep the Chinese out. Nevertheless, in the short term, the decision seemed to come out of the blue. An interesting debate on what might have determined the turnabout began in the early twentieth century, and some most recent contributions have been published in the 2000s; yet none of the thesis proposed so far is fully convincing. On the basis of sources that have not yet been taken into account, this paper further investigates into the matter and aims at demonstrating that the concerns which compelled the rulers to officially oppose immigration in the following decades already existed in the very first years of Kangxi reign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the problems faced by the Chinese silver-backed currencies in Manchuria during the period of Northern Expedition (1925–1928), the Chinese attempt to overcome these problems, and the reasons for its failure. Manchuria was a peculiar territory during the interwar period (1919–1939), where several currencies, backed by silver or gold, competed against one another. The Chinese silver banknote, first introduced at the turn of the twentieth century, was challenged by gold-backed Japanese yen issued by the Bank of Korea, and by the Russian ruble. This competition was set in the context of the struggle for political control over the area between China (the Qing Dynasty and its successor, the Chinese Republic), Russia (and its successor the Soviet Union), and the Japanese Empire, as well as the war between the southern Nationalists (Kuomintang) and the militarists (warlords) who controlled the Chinese central government in Beijing and Manchuria. This paper suggests that the difficult financial situation determined the course followed by the warlords, and that their failure was the result of the complex regional context, and the failures in their military strategy rather than of their fiscal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we report new whole-rock geochemical and zircon U-Pb data for monzogranites in the NE Xing’an block. These data constrained the petrogenesis of C type (high Sr/Y) adakitic rocks and showed the spatial extent of the influence of the Mongol-Okhostsk ocean tectonic regime and the collision between the Jiamusi Massif and Songliao Terrane. New zircon laser-ablation inductivity coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb data indicated that the monzogranites in the studied area were emplaced in the Early Jurassic (~180 Ma). These rocks were characterized by unusally high SiO2 (≥67.49), and Sr (461-759 ppm), but strikingly low Y (4.63-8.06 ppm) and HREE (∑HREE = 3.83-6.49 ppm, Yb = 0.5-0.77 ppm) contents, with therefore high Sr/Y (67.2-119) and (La/Yb)N (29.7-41.5) ratios, showing the geochemical characteristics of C type adakitic granite. The data displayed negligible Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.77-1.08), LREE-enriched and pronounced negative Nb and Ta anomalies. The C-type adakites in the studied area were most likely derived from the partial melting of a thickened lower continental curst. The magma source is most likely dominated by amphibolites and garnet amphibolites. In combination with previously-reported data from igneous rocks from the Mesozoic in NE China, we conclude that the Xing’an block was influenced by the Mongol-Okhotsk subduction tectonic system, and experiences compressive settings from the amalgamation of the Jiamusi block in the east of the CAOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the frequent irrigation and excessive fertilization during the rice production in China, diffuse nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollution from paddy fields has become a serious environment problem and poses great challenges to national water and food security. Considering the regional heterogeneities of climate, cultivation types and cropping systems of rice planting, many water management strategies have been proposed and implemented to control diffuse N and P pollution. However, the water management optimization at different scales (the field scale, the watershed scale and national scale) is lack of comprehensive analyzed. Here, this paper summarized the characteristics of frequent-used water managements and recommended the optimal water managements after identifying the critical risk periods of diffuse N and P runoff losses at the field scale. The effects of water management optimization on diffuse N and P pollution control at the watershed and national scale were also synthetically reviewed. The results indicated that optimized field water management decreased irrigation water use (38.7–40.0%) and reduced diffuse pollution (25.5–38.8%) without significantly compromising rice yield security (−4.20 to 6.5%). The critical risk periods of diffuse pollution were pre-flooding in the Northeast Plain, pre-flooding, regreening stage for transplanting rice (the seeding-three leaf stage for direct seeding rice) and within 2 weeks after topdressing fertilization in the Yangtze River Basin and Southeast Coast in China. The corresponding water managements for these periods has been proposed after considering the climate, precipitation and fertilization characteristics. Ditches and ponds intercepted water and nutrients and mitigated 6.0–39.0% N and P runoff losses in paddy field watersheds. Furthermore, the extensive implementation of paddy water management optimization (paddy fields, ditches and ponds) combined with other advanced agricultural measures, for example, fertilization optimization, would decrease diffuse N and P pollution by 40.7–80.8% at the watershed scale and 44.7–88.1% at the national scale, respectively. This research provided great insights into the specific characteristics of paddy water managements from the fields, watershed and national scale, proposed optimal water management strategies for the realization of sustainable rice production in China, and also summarized the emerging development trends for future research directions. [Display omitted] • Optimal paddy water managements at field, watershed and national scales were analyzed. • Optimal water managements were proposed for critical risk periods at field scale. • Future emerging prospects of paddy water managements from different scales were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and land cover over time is widely recognized as important to better understand and provide solutions for social, economic, and environmental problems, especially in ecologically fragile region. In this paper, a case study was taken in Zhenlai County, which is a part of farming-pastoral ecotone of Northeast China. This study seeks to use multi-temporal satellite images and other data from various sources to analyze spatiotemporal changes from 1932 to 2005, and applied a quantitative methodology named intensity analysis in the time scale of decades at three levels: time interval, category, and transition. The findings of the case study are as follows: 1) the interval level of intensity analysis revealed that the annual rate of overall change was relatively fast in 1932-1954 and 1954-1976 time intervals. 2) The category level showed that arable land experienced less intensively gains and losses if the overall change was to have been distributed uniformly across the landscape while the gains and losses of forest land, grassland, water, settlement, wetland and other unused land were not consistent and stationary across the four time intervals. 3) The transition level illustrated that arable land expanded at the expense of grassland before 2000 while it gained intensively from wetland from 2000 to 2005. Settlement targets arable land and avoids grassland, water, wetland and other unused land. Besides, the loss of grassland was intensively targeted by arable land, forest land and wetland in the study period while the loss of wetland was targeted by water except for the time interval of 1976-2000. 4) During the early reclamation period, land use change of the study area was mainly affected by the policy, institutional and political factors, followed by the natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In their recent paper, ; Anti-phase oscillation of Asian monsoons during the Younger Dryas period: Evidence from peat cellulose δ13C of Hani, Northeast China, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 297, 214–222) discuss bulk peat sample cellulose δ13C data from a fen in northeast China as a proxy for East Asian summer monsoon intensity during the Late Glacial period. Based on their own results, cited papers, and an extensive re-interpretation of sedimentological and palynological data from nearby Lake Sihailongwan, construct a hypothesis of contrasting moisture conditions in northern and southern China, with wet conditions in the north during the Younger Dryas period and an anti-phase behaviour of Indian- and East Asian summer monsoon intensity. However, we do not approve of the re-interpretation of our Lake Sihailongwan data by and must strongly reject it. We show here that neither the fen data, nor the Lake Sihailongwan data or any other cited data allow for the sound assumption of an intensified East Asian summer monsoon in northeastern China during the Younger Dryas. The Late Glacial variability of the fen data found by can be easily explained by changes in the plant assemblage down core and thus by the composition of the peat. Furthermore, the use of bulk peat cellulose δ13C data as a precipitation proxy remains unproven for that area. Hence, there is no basis for a model contrasting Indian and East Asian summer monsoons during that period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper aims to examine the spread of Manchurian plague and the response of the Japanese colonial government. Previous studies of this issue stressed the successful, albeit forced, preventative measures taken by the Japanese colonial government. However, this paper argues that Western powers did not agree with the new theory that pneumonic plague was transmitted through respiratory infections, as discovered by Wu Liande and promoted by Kitasato Shibasaburo. They continued to believe the old Japanese theory that the plague was transmitted through fleas from rodents. The Japanese colonial government focused on reducing the rat population to prevent the spread of plague. Moreover, they had no quarantine hospitals or other equipment, and epidemic prevention programs and measures were inadequate. The success of their efforts was due less to the measures taken by the Japanese colonial government than from the low influx of Chinese laborers into Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NE China is the easternmost part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The area is distinguished by widespread occurrence of Phanerozoic granitic rocks. In the companion paper (Part I), we established the Jurassic ages (184–137 Ma) for three granitic plutons: Xinhuatun, Lamashan and Yiershi. We also used geochemical data to argue that these rocks are highly fractionated I-type granites. In this paper, we present Sr–Nd–O isotope data of the three plutons and 32 additional samples to delineate the nature of their source, to determine the proportion of mantle to crustal components in the generation of the voluminous granitoids and to discuss crustal growth in the Phanerozoic.Despite their difference in emplacement age, Sr–Nd isotopic analyses reveal that these Jurassic granites have common isotopic characteristics. They all have low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7045±0.0015), positive &epsiv;Nd(T) values (+1.3 to +2.8), and young Sm–Nd model ages (720–840 Ma). These characteristics are indicative of juvenile nature for these granites. Other Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic granites in this region also show the same features. Sr–Nd and oxygen isotopic data suggest that the magmatic evolution of the granites can be explained in terms of two-stage processes: (1) formation of parental magmas by melting of a relatively juvenile crust, which is probably a mixed lithology formed by pre-existing lower crust intruded or underplated by mantle-derived basaltic magma, and (2) extensive magmatic differentiation of the parental magmas in a slow cooling environment.The widespread distribution of juvenile granitoids in NE China indicates a massive transfer of mantle material to the crust in a post-orogenic tectonic setting. Several recent studies have documented that juvenile granitoids of Paleozoic to Mesozoic ages are ubiquitous in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, hence suggesting a significant growth of the continental crust in the Phanerozoic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Liaoning province, located in Northeast China – one of China''s three most wind-rich areas, possesses abundant wind resources. Along with China''s rapid development of wind power in recent years, the issue of how to integrate more wind power to the grid, and how to balance the conflict between pollutant and GHG emission reduction and economic cost increase by dispatch model adjustment becomes a big challenge. Based on the GAMS simulation method, by using the real data of thermal power units, wind power and hydropower generation, and load in Liaoning province, this paper studies a joint environmental and economic power dispatch considering wind power integration at valley load and peak load. The results show that the pumped storage power station played an important role in promoting wind power integration. And the power dispatch across thermal power, wind power and hydropower is more favorable than the power dispatch only across thermal power and wind power in terms of reducing pollutant and GHG emission. It is also proved that a comparatively better environmental improvement can be made at a relatively lower economic loss by a joint environmental and economic dispatch across thermal, wind and hydropower. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, an integrated indicator-based system is established to map the suitability of spring soybean cultivation in northeast China. The indicator system incorporates both biophysical and socioeconomic factors, including the effects of temperature, precipitation, and sunshine on the individual development stages of the spring soybean life cycle. Spatial estimates of crop suitability derived using this indicator system are also compared with spring soybean planting areas to identify locations where there is scope for structural adjustment in soybean farming. Results of this study indicate that northeast China is moderately suited to spring soybean cultivation. Areas classified as suitable, moderately suitable, and unsuitable for soybean cultivation, respectively, occupy approximately 9.09 × 104, 11.45 × 104, and 7.99 × 104 km2, accounting for 11.5%, 10.11%, and 14.49% of the total area of northeast China. The Songnen and Sanjiang Plains are identified as the most and least suitable places, respectively, for spring soybean growth. A comparative analysis indicates that the suitable, moderately suitable, and unsuitable areas account for 24.78%, 46.30%, and 28.92%, respectively, of the total area presently under soybean cultivation. The analysis suggests that soybean cultivation in Heilongjiang Province is generally unfavorable, with equivalent percentages of 15.39%, 51.70%, and 32.91%. Results suggest that agricultural structural adjustment may be required to encourage farmers to grow spring soybeans. It is anticipated that this study will provide a basis for follow-up studies on crop cultivation suitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the current evidence for settlement patterns and ceremonial activity amongst Hongshan Neolithic groups in northeastern China, with particular attention to the well-known ceremonial site at Niuheliang. We consider the location of Hongshan ceremonial sites in their wider landscape settings, arguing that such sites are a chronologically late stage of Hongshan ceremonial investment and that, within these broad complexes, the most impressive architecture and portable goods come from an especially late phase of activity. These more impressive localities were also particularly privileged places in terms of their access to major routes, specific kinds of local geology and integrated patterns of visibility. In contrast to more loosely organized Hongshan residential sites of similar size, ceremonial centres such as Niuheliang (and, within these, certain important sub-localities) clearly functioned as key mechanisms for social, political and regional stratification around roughly the mid 6th millennium BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the large-scale atmospheric circulation characteristics of anomalous cases of January temperatures that occurred in Northeast China during 1960-2008 and precursory oceanic conditions. The January monthly mean surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies and the duration of low temperature are used to define temperature anomaly cases. The anomalous cyclonic circulation over northeast Asia strengthens the northerly flow in cold Januarys, while the anomalous anticyclonic circulation weakens the northerly flow in the warm Januarys. The negative (positive) North Pacific sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) and increased (decreased) sea ice concentration in the Barents-Kara seas in the preceding month are probably linked to the cyclonic (anticyclonic) circulation pattern over northeast Asia in the cold (warm) cases. Further analyses indicate that the preceding oceanic conditions play distinct roles in the SAT anomalies over Northeast China on different time scales. Strong relationships exist between North Pacific SSTA and the SAT in Northeast China on the interannual time scale. On the other hand, the sea ice concentration is more closely associated with the interdecadal variations of SAT in Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate contamination caused by petroleum, surface soil samples were collected from both upland and paddy fields along the irrigation canals in the Hunpu wastewater irrigation region in northeast China. N-alkanes, terpanes, steranes, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) in the surface soil samples were analyzed. The aliphatic hydrocarbon concentration was highest in the samples obtained from the upland field near an operational oil well; it was lowest at I-3P where wastewater irrigation promoted the downward movement of hydrocarbons. The Hunpu region was found contaminated by heavy petroleum from oxic lacustrine fresh water or marine deltaic source rocks. Geochemical parameters also indicated significantly heavier contamination and degradation in the upland fields compared with the paddy fields. Principal component analysis based on PLFA showed various microbial communities between petroleum contaminated upland and paddy fields. Gram-negative bacteria indicated by 15:0, 30H 12:0, and 16:1(9) were significantly higher in the paddy fields, whereas Gram-positive bacteria indicated by i16:0 and 18:1(9)c were significantly higher in the upland fields (p < 0.05). These PLFAs were related to petroleum contamination. Poly-unsaturated PLFA (18:2ω6, 9; indicative of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and fungi) was also significantly elevated in the upland fields. This paper recommends more sensitive indicators of contamination and degradation of petroleum in soil. The results also provide guidelines on soil pollution control and remediation in the Hunpu region and other similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we present U–Pb age data of detrital and magmatic zircons from sedimentary and volcanic rocks in the Zhangguangcailing Group (ZG), NE China, to constrain the tectonic evolution of the region as a whole. The ZG consists of slightly metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks, and from bottom to top is divided into the Zhenggou, Hongguang, and Xinxing suites. Zircons from three schists in the Zhenggou suite give 12 main groups of age populations (from 226 to 861Ma), whereas zircons from a basaltic andesite give a Late Triassic age (211±2Ma). In the Hongguang suite, zircons from two schists and a greywacke give 6 main groups, 5 main groups, and 3 main groups of age populations (from 262 to 916Ma), respectively, whereas zircons from a gabbro–diorite and two volcanic rocks give ages of 259, 219, and 317Ma, respectively. Zircons from a schist in the Xinxing suite give 12 main groups of age populations (from 284 to 1837Ma). These results, together with the field relationships of the rocks, indicate (1) that the sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the ZG have diverse ages (from Early Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic), (2) that the rocks do not lie in a logical stratigraphic sequence, and (3) that the rocks represent a tectonic mélange. Based on the youngest age (211Ma) for volcanic rocks within the ZG, and the age of deformation (174–184Ma) of the Heilongjiang Complex, we propose that the tectonic mélange formed during the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic. Furthermore, the occurrence of detrital zircons with ages of 0.8–0.9, 1.8, and 2.4–2.5Ga implies the existence of Neoproterozoic magmatism and the remnants of a Precambrian basement in the Songnen–Zhangguangcai Range Massif, NE China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The basement of the Argun massif in the northern Great Hinggan Range consists of the metamorphic supracrustal rocks of the Xinghuadukou Group and associated granitic complexes. The metamorphic supracrustal rocks were previously interpreted as Paleoproterozoic, while the granitic complexes were considered Mesoproterozoic in age. This paper presents new zircon LA-MC-ICP-MS U–Pb ages of biotite-plagioclase leptynite and biotite schist from the Xinghuadukou Group in the Lulin Forest area, Heilongjiang Province; zircon SHRIMP U–Pb ages of biotite-plagioclase gneiss from the Xinghuadukou Group in Lulin Forest; and quartz diorite and monzogranite from the granitic complexes in Mohe County, Heilongjiang Province. New geochronological data from the three metasedimentary rock samples of the Xinghuadukou Group can be preliminarily divided into five groups: (1) 2017–2765Ma, (2) 1736–1942Ma, (3) 1359–1610Ma, (4) 749–1239Ma, and (5) 448–716Ma. Except for the zircons of the 448–716Ma group belonging to a metamorphic origin, the other age groups had the youngest age of 749±17Ma, indicating that the Xinghuadukou Group formed during the Neoproterozoic era (at least <749Ma). These detrital zircon ages cluster at ca. 2.0–1.8Ga and ca. 1.0–0.80Ga, suggesting that the Argun massif had connections with both Columbia and Rodinia and implying that the provenance of the Xinghuadukou Group metamorphosed sediments must be characteristic of felsic–intermediate igneous rocks with ages of ca. 2.0–1.8Ga and ca. 1.0–0.80Ga. The quartz diorite and monzogranite from the granitic complexes of the basement within the Argun massif yielded weighted mean ages of 516±10Ma and 504±9Ma, respectively, indicating that these rocks emplaced in the Early Paleozoic. Considering the geochemical and chronological data together, we propose that the Xinghuadukou Group was most likely deposited in a back-arc basin environment, whereas the granitic complexes emplaced in a post-collisional setting. A wide age spectrum of detrital zircons ranging from 749±9 to 2765±11Ma with ages clustering approximately 2.0–1.8Ga and 1.0–0.80Ga suggests that the basement rocks of the Argun massif are chiefly composed of the Neoproterozoic metasedimentary sequence and Early Paleozoic granitic complexes, with a few Meso- to Paleoproterozoic and even Neoarchean metamorphic rocks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To learn the historical response of cropping system to climate change will benefit the strategy decision of future cropping adaptation. In this paper, we conducted an integrated analysis of the climate records of seventy-two meteorological stations and the records of crop yields over the period 1970–2009 in Northeast China. It was found that over these forty years, the daily mean, maximum and minimum temperatures during crop growing season increased on average by 0.34°C, 0.28°C, 0.43°C every ten years, respectively. No significant change in the precipitation was found, although the differences between years were large. After de-trending the agronomic technique contributions to the increments of crop yields, the historical warming had led to great annually increments of 16.6kgha−1, 15.5kgha−1 and 3.2kgha−1 in rice, corn and soybean yields, respectively. According to the historical warming level, present cropping boundaries can be theoretically extended northward about 80km with a prolonged growing period by 10 days compared to the 1970s. Actually, the growth durations of newly approved varieties of rice, corn and soybean have really prolonged by 14.0 days, 7.0 days and 2.7 days since the 1950s, respectively. The actual growing periods of rice and corn have also respectively prolonged by 6 days and 4 days due to the adjustment of sown and harvest dates by the farmer since 1990s. The existing rice cropping region has been extended northward 80km in the 2006 compared to the 1970. These actual responses were consistent with the theoretical calculation according to the historical warming trends. Our results demonstrate that cropping system owns the potential to progressively and actively adapt to the global warming for high yield through a comprehensive strategy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Large numbers of groundstone tools have been uncovered from archaeological sites in the Early Neolithic period in China. Traditionally they are often regarded as agricultural tools for processing cereals. In this paper we report preliminary starch grain analysis of groundstone tools from Baiyinchanghan site to gain a better understanding of use of these tools in the Northeast China. We found that starch grains on these groundstone tools are most likely from Quercus sp. The result of this study indicates that many groundstone tools for the Early Neolithic period were used to process wild and domesticated plants alike. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Research on the Japanese living in Manchukuo in August 1945 has generally fostered the assumption that all Japanese there wanted to return to Japan as soon as possible. Yet, some made the conscious and voluntary decision to stay, at least for the short to medium term. Among those who chose to delay repatriation were a number of technicians employed by Mantetsu's (South Manchurian Railroad Company) Chūo Shikenjo. This paper looks at the political and personal realities faced by these technicians when making their decisions as whether to stay or leave in terms of the concepts of voluntary and involuntary repatriation. It shows that the circumstances faced, and consequently the decisions made by the technicians, differed over time. It argues that there were three main reasons behind any decision to stay: pragmatism, a sense of responsibility for Japan's activities during the war and a sense of loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Vertical distributions of air pollutants are crucial for understanding the key processes of atmospheric transport and for evaluating chemical transport models. In this paper, we present measurements of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and halocarbons obtained from an intensive aircraft study over northeast (NE) China in summer 2007. Most compounds exhibited a typical negative profile of decreasing mixing ratios with increasing altitude, although the gradients differed with different species. Three regional plumes with enhanced VOC mixing ratios were discerned and characterized. An aged plume transported from the northern part of the densely populated North China Plain (NCP; i.e. Beijing–Tianjin area) showed relatively higher levels of HCFC-22, 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) and toluene. In comparison, the plume originating from Korea had higher abundances of CFC-12, tetrachloroethene (C2Cl4) and methyl chloride (CH3Cl), while regional air masses from NE China contained more abundant light alkanes. By comparing these results with the earlier PEM-West B (1994) and TRACE-P (2001) aircraft measurements, continuing declining trends were derived for methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3), tetrachloromethane (CCl4) and C2Cl4 over the greater China–northwestern Pacific region, indicating the accomplishment of China in reducing these compounds under the Montreal protocol. However, the study also provided evidence for the continuing emissions of several halocarbons in China in 2007, such as CFCs (mainly from materials in stock) and HCFCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fluctuations in atmospheric CO2 density can arise from static pressure fluctuations but their effect on the long-term eddy covariance (EC) CO2 flux measurement is poorly known. In this paper, we report the results of a 1-year direct measurement of the static pressure fluctuations and the velocity–pressure covariance over a mixed forest in Northeast China. The results show that the pressure–vertical velocity covariance was primarily controlled by friction velocity and air stability. Without the pressure correction, the open-path EC measurement of the nighttime ecosystem respiration was biased low and that of the daytime photosynthetic CO2 uptake was biased high. Over the 1-year measurement period, the cumulative pressure correction was 40gCm−2, which was about 20% of the annual net ecosystem production of this forest. Using the friction velocity data found in the literature, we estimated the magnitudes of the pressure correction for the major ecosystem types in the long-term global EC network (FluxNet). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even after the Russo-Japanese War, Manchuria remained the powder keg of East Asia. In the war’s aftermath, three empires, the Qing, the Russian and the Japanese, stationed their troops in Manchuria, in a struggle for military supremacy there. There has already been a considerable amount of research on these military activities. However, previous works have not discussed them from a triangular relationship. This paper contends that the history of modern East Asia cannot be understood until one examines the shift in the military balance in Manchuria from a triangular comparative point of view. The results of such examination show that, in Manchuria, each empire was unable to establish military domination alone, and therefore needed an alliance partner. During the Xinhai Revolution, the Russia-Japan ‘alliance’ wielded overwhelming military power against China. However, after the Russian Revolution in 1917, Japan renounced cooperation with a weakened Russia and built a new partnership with China to advance the Siberian intervention. The military triangle of Russia, China and Japan was unable to create a comprehensive regional security system in Manchuria because what was established was based on mutual distrust and fear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial distribution of reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is essential in water resources planning and management, especially in semi-arid areas. In this paper, a digital elevation model is used in an `interpolate-then-calculate' approach to calculating the spatially distributed ET0 using the physically based Penman-Monteith equation in the Taoer river basin in China. The results show the following. (1) Of 11 interpolation methods, the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) method was found to be best for interpolating wind speed and a tn-variate secondary trend surface method was found most suitable for interpolating mean air temperature and relative humidity. Spatial modelling of the radiation environment considered the effects of elevation, slope and aspect. (2) Monthly values in January for the three meteorological variables showed larger spatial variations than in July, and just the reverse of net surface radiation. (3) The resulting ET0 calculated at each grid cell with 200m resolution and its spatial variation showed strong seasonal variation. Lower ET0 was found in high-elevation southern Great Xingan mountains in the northwest basin, while higher values were located in the plains adjacent to the lower reach. (4) The ET0 distribution by the `interpolate-then-calculate' approach better reflected the effects of topography than that of the `calculate-then-interpolate' approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is devoted to an overview on fossil Coleoptera studied from Inner Mongolia, Daohugou (Middle Jurassic, Jiulongshan Formation) and Liaoning (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous, Yixian Formation) deposited in Chinese collections. As a result, species of the tribe Sperchopsini and Hydrophilini from Hydrophilidae, families and subfamilies Silphidae, Syndesinae from Lucanidae, Pleocomidae, Trogidae, Trogissitidae, Pyrochroidae, Diaperinae from Tenebrionidae, and Cerambycidae were first registered in the Mesozoic and some families were defined as new. It was shown that many superfamilies represented in the Recent Fauna were formed within the Middle Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. The materials examined confirm the hypothesis that Cucujiformian beetles are a younger group than other infraordera of Polyphaga (Staphyliniformia and Elateriformia) and, therefore, they appeared in the fossil record only in the late Mesozoic. It was shown and confirmed that most superfamilies appeared in the fossil records before Cucujoidea. The synonymy of Notocupes Ponomarenko, 1964; Sinocupes Lin, 1976, syn. nov.; Amblomma Tan, Ren et Liu 2005, syn. nov.; Euryomma Tan, Ren et Shih, 2006, syn. nov., non Stein, 1899 and Ovatocupes Tan et Ren, 2006, syn. nov.; synonymy of Tetraphalerus Waterhouse, 1901 and Odontomma Tan, Ren et Ge 2006, syn. nov.; and synonymy of Priacmopsis Ponomarenko, 1966 and Latocupes Tan et Ren, 2006, syn. nov. are proposed. Sinorhombocoleus papposus Tan et Ren, 2009 is transferred from the family Rhombocoleidae to Schizophoridae. Cervicatinius complanus Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007 and Forticatinius elegans Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007 are transferred from the family Catiniidae (suborder Archostemata) to superfamily Cleroidea (suborder Polyphaga: first among the family Peltidae and second as a closely related group to the latter family). The family Parandrexidae is transferred from the superfamily Cucujoidea to Cleroidea. The ecological circumstances of the past ecosystems and hypotheses of historical development of the order Coleoptera are discussed. The age of faunas examined is considered. The list of the taxa described from Daohugou and Liaoning is compiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent studies have highlighted the long-distance transport of obsidian from the Paektusan (Tianchi or Baitoushan in Chinese) volcano on the border between China and North Korea to eastern Russia and Korea, but little is known about the role of the local population in the production and movement or exchange of this important raw material. This paper addresses this data lacuna by presenting sourcing results of 440 artifacts from 18 Late Paleolithic sites located in northeast China. A portable XRF enabled rapid non-destructive characterization of samples. The results show that although Paektusan obsidian was widely transported throughout northeast Asia, material from at least three other sources was also used. In particular, we highlight the significance of basaltic glass artifacts with the same geochemistry as sources found in the Primorye region of Far East Russia in sites from northeast China. This result indicates a two-way movement of volcanic glass artifacts between Primorye and the northeast of China rather than a unidirectional long-distance exchange system originating from Paektusan Volcano. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Surface water and sediment samples concurrently collected in Songhua River in northeastern China from May to October 2006 were analyzed for Dechlorane Plus (DP), a chlorinated flame retardant. Samples were obtained from three main areas: SHR-Rul (rural area of Songhua River), SHR-Hrb (the section of the river within the city of Harbin), and Hrb (urban waters of Harbin). The majority of SHR-Rul water samples (85%) and SHR-Hrb water samples (73%) and 33% of urban water samples (Hrb) were below the detection limit. The mean water DP concentration in Hrb (0.55 ± 0.81 ng L-1) was approximately 3 times greater than the levels measured in SHR-Hrb (0.17 ± 0.38 ng L-1) and more than 15 times greater than the levels measured in SHR-Rul (0.03 ± 0.07 ng L-1). DP detection rates in sediment samples were 50% (Hrb), 100% (SHR-Hrb), and 78% (SHR-Rul). The mean sediment DP concentration in SHR-Hrb (0.11 ± 0.05 ng g-1) was approximately three times greater than that in SHR-Rul (0.04 ± 0.05 ng g-1). These DP concentrations are likely attributable to local sources in urban areas rather than distant sources via long-range transport. The mean fractional abundance of the syn isomer of DP (fsyn) was 0.34 ± 0.10 in all water samples, a value indistinguishable from that of a commercial mixture (fsyn = 0.35), indicating the source was local. The mean fsyn value of 0.23 ± 0.06 in all sediment samples suggested a stereoselective depletion of syn-DP relative to the anti-DP isomer in sediments. To our knowledge, this paper represents the first report of DP concentrations in Chinese water and sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper discusses migration styles and primary controls of petroleum migration pathways in heterogeneous carrier beds in the Damintun Depression, Bohai Bay Basin. There are two types of crude oils in the Damintun Depression: a high wax oil (wax hydrocarbon content between 8 and 60%) and a normal oil (wax hydrocarbon content lower than 8%). The high wax oil and normal oil are distinctly different both in biomarker compositions and in distribution patterns of carbon isotopic ratios for individual alkanes, and were confirmed to have been generated from different source rocks. Modeling of secondary migration pathways of both the high wax oil and the normal oil was conducted using a simple three-dimensional model, which assumes that the positions of petroleum migration pathways are controlled by the morphology of the sealing surfaces without taking into consideration the influence of permeability heterogeneity (the morphology-controlled migration model). The modeling results have reasonably well predicted the occurrences of both the high wax oil and the normal oil. All commercial petroleum accumulations are along the predicted preferential petroleum migration pathways (PPMP) formed by focusing of numerous “small petroleum streams” close to the kitchens. The focusing of oils originating from a large area of the generative kitchens is essential for the formation of large oilfields. The strong porosity and permeability heterogeneities of the carrier beds, and the relatively high prediction accuracy of the modeling, suggest that the preferential petroleum migration pathways, although influenced by permeability contrast at local scales, can be effectively predicted at a basin or depression scale under certain circumstances using a model that does not take into consideration the effect of heterogeneity. Most dry holes are not on the predicted petroleum migration pathways, suggesting that the three-dimensional migration pathway modeling may provide a useful tool to reduce exploration risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies of historical change in cultivated land use in Northeast China have become important in the discussion of food supply safety and the reconstruction of land use/cover changes in China. This paper subjects a number of sources relating to land use change in the three provinces of Northeast China to comparative analysis. The data examined include Russian survey data (1914), data from local and regional Chinese governments during the Republic of China (1931), data from the Japanese Society of Manchuria Railway (SMR) for 1940 and various sets of contemporary Chinese data for the second half of the 20th century. A unified method of reconstructing the data and estimating the rate of cultivated land use change in Northeast China during the 20th century is developed here. A relational model is proposed for this purpose. It establishes a general framework for relating the various sets of data generated in different time periods and indicates ways in which the data have to be calibrated to ensure their comparability. The calibration of the data involves correlation and regression analysis. The results of the comparative analysis show that the area of and rate of change in cultivated land use in Northeast China increased until the last decade of the twentieth century. Increase rates were particularly high between 1914–1931 and 1950–1960. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Songhua Lake in the Northeast China is chosen as a study case in this paper. Monitoring of samples and analysis 18 indexes related to the eutrophication in the Songhua Lake had been conducted in 2002–2004. Ecological risk assessment methods are employed here. The study results showed that total phosphorus and total nitrogen were main risk factors to impact on the eutrophication of the Songhua Lake, and influence of the phosphorus on the lake eutrophication was larger than that of nitrogen. Algal growth potential test was also conducted to validate the results. High phosphorus and high nitrogen concentrations were mostly distributed in Huifahekou and Jiaohe sites of the Songhua Lake. Threshold values of total phosphorus, total nitrogen and Chl-a concentrations from dose-effective examination were 0.065 mg/L, 0.843 mg/L, and 11.90 μg/L, respectively. The probability of the eutrophication appeared in the Songhua Lake was 0.69, of them, risk-free type area was 19.21% of total lake area, slight risk type area was 30.10%, middle risk type area was 16.50%, heavy risk type area was 25.8%, hyper risk type area was 8.39%. In order to control the eutrophication in the Songhua Lake, maximum permission discharges of total phosphorus and total nitrogen to the lake would be 2,123.78, 7,018.82 t/a, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Chinese kang is the most ancient heating system widely used in rural residences in cold regions of China, especially in Northeast China. Even though the outdoor air temperature is very low, the surface temperature of Chinese kang can still remain above 30°C. However, a comfort indoor thermal environment cannot be achieved by a Chinese kang alone. Passive solar heating techniques can be coupled with the Chinese kang to improve the indoor thermal conditions. In this study, two field surveys had been conducted in three residences in Dalian of Northeast China to investigate the thermal environments of rural residences with a coupled Chinese elevated kang and passive solar collecting wall heating system. Indoor thermal environments were evaluated with parameters of indoor air temperature and relative humidity, surface temperature of the kang plates, air temperature of the upper/lower vents in passive solar wall and human activities, etc. The description of this survey and the methodology of data analysis are described in details in this paper. The survey results objectively provide the preliminary information regarding the indoor thermal environment of new rural energy-saving residences in winter in Northeast China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Jilin province is one of the main dryland grain production areas in China. Recently, limited supplemental irrigation, using groundwater in the semi-arid western area of the province, has developed rapidly to improve the low grain productivity caused by rainfall variability. Research was conducted to estimate the actual crop water requirements and identify the timing and magnitude of water deficits of the main crops such as corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). Using the guidelines for computing crop water requirements in FAO Irrigation and Drainage paper 56 and historical rainfall distributions, the crop water requirements, ETc and the crop water deficits of corn, soybean and sorghum were calculated. Based on the water deficit analysis, a recommended average supplemental irrigation schedule was developed. Crop production was compared to full irrigation and to a rainfed control in a field experiment. On average, compared to the rainfed control, the full irrigation and the average supplemental irrigation treatments of corn, increased yields 49.0 and 43.9%, respectively; soybean yields of those treatments increased by 41.0 and 34.7%, and sorghum yields of those treatments increased by 55.5 and 46.3%. A supplemental irrigation schedule can be used in the semi-arid western Jilin province to improve crop yields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Northeastern (NE) China is the easternmost part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), which is celebrated for its accretionary tectonics and the world''s most important juvenile crust production in the Phanerozoic era. Abundant granitoids occur in the Great Xing''an, Lesser Xing''an and Zhangguangcai Ranges in NE China. This paper presents partial results of a series of studies on the granitoids from this region, aiming to understand their role in the building of new continental crust in eastern Asia. Three composite granite plutons (Xinhuatun, Lamashan and Yiershi) were chosen for geochemical and isotopic study in order to determine their emplacement ages and petrogenesis. Petrographically, they range from granodiorite (minor), monzogranite, syenogranite to alkali-feldspar granite. Quartz and perthitic feldspar are principal phases, accompanied by minor amounts of plagioclase, biotite (<5%) and other accessory minerals. In addition, many contain abundant miarolitic cavities which suggest that they were emplaced at shallow levels with extensive fractional crystallization. Geochemically, the granites are silica-rich, peraluminous and have high contents of alkalis. They invariably show enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) and significant negative Eu anomalies. All the granitic rocks demonstrate the characteristic negative anomalies in Ba, Nb, Sr, P, Eu, and Ti, and a positive anomaly in Pb in the spidergram.The emplacement of the Xinhuatun pluton took place at 184±4 Ma as revealed by zircon SHRIMP U–Pb data. This is also supported by the slightly younger Rb–Sr whole-rock (WR) isochron age of 173±3 Ma. A whole-rock (WR) Rb–Sr isochron age of 154±3 Ma was obtained for the Lamashan pluton, which is interpreted as close to the time of emplacement. The Yiershi pluton was intruded at about 140 Ma as evidenced by a zircon U–Pb age of 137±2 Ma and WR Rb–Sr isochron age of 143±5 Ma. Biotite-WR Rb–Sr isochrons and 40Ar/39Ar ages of feldspars allow us to estimate the cooling rate of each pluton.Geochemical data suggest that the rocks are highly fractionated I-type granites. Fractionation of biotite and feldspars was the principal process of magmatic differentiation and responsible for major element variation. Rb, Sr and Ba concentrations were controlled by feldspar separation, whereas REE elements were fractionated by accessory minerals, such as apatite, allanite and monazite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Since the economic reforms launched at the end of the 1970s, China has experienced dramatic socioeconomic change which has led to the emergence of new and distinctive regions of economic interaction characterised by an extensive and intensive mix of agricultural and non-agricultural activities. This paper illustrates the nature and characteristics of these evolving Extended Metropolitan Regions (EMRs) by drawing on the experience of the Shenyang-Dalian urban corridor in Northeast China (Manchuria). The increased level of economic interaction between the cities and the countryside is characterised by accelerated labour and capital flows, rapidly expanding rural-urban commodity trade and subcontracting between urban and rural enterprises. The result is a rapid erosion of differences in the standard of living, economic function and life style between the city and the countryside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the spatiotemporal characteristics of precipitable water, precipitation, evaporation, and water–vapor flux divergence in different seasons over northeast China and the water balance of that area. The data used in this paper is provided by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The results show that the spatial distributions of precipitable water, precipitation, and evaporation feature that the values of elements above in the southeastern area are larger than those in the northwestern area; in summer, much precipitation and evaporation occur in the Changbai Mountain region as a strong moisture convergence region; in spring and autumn, moisture divergence dominates the northeast of China; in winter, the moisture divergence and convergence are weak in this area. From 1979 to 2010, the total precipitation of summer and autumn in northeast China decreased significantly; especially from 1999 to 2010, the summer precipitation always demonstrated negative anomaly. Additionally, other elements in different seasons changed in a truly imperceptible way. In spring, the evaporation exceeded the precipitation in northeast China; in summer, the precipitation was more prominent; in autumn and winter, precipitation played a more dominating role than the evaporation in the northern part of northeast China, while the evaporation exceeded the precipitation in the southern part.The Interim ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) data have properly described the water balance of different seasons in northeast China. Based on ERA-Interim data, the moisture sinks computed through moisture convergence and moisture local variation are quite consistent with those computed through precipitation and evaporation, which proves that ERA-Interim data can be used in the research of water balance in northeast China. On a seasonal scale, the moisture convergence has a greater influence than the local moisture variation on a moisture sink, and the latter is variable slightly, generally as a constant. Likewise, in different seasons, the total precipitation has a much greater influence than the evaporation on the moisture sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]