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In the paper, Henan Province with prevalent straw burning was taken as the study case. Aimed at remote sensing recognition of the straw burning fire points in a large-scale area with complex terrain and climate conditions, an optimized recognition strategy of straw burning was proposed based on the MOD021KM data. In our new recognition strategy, the threshold determination method was optimised by systematic statistical analysis of spectral features. Then the non-straw burning fire points were eliminated by extracting the agricultural land from MCD12Q1 image. Thus, the true straw-burning fire points were determined. The results showed that the recognition accuracy of straw burning fire points was effectively improved by optimized threshold determination method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of grain yield in major grain-producing regions is greatly important to maintain stable and sustainable agriculture. Taking Henan Province and Heilongjiang Province as examples, this study reveals the spatiotemporal characteristics of grain yield at the county level by using multisource data on the economy, society, and natural geography from 2000 to 2021 and employing methods such as coefficients of variation, standard deviational ellipses, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Moreover, geographical detector and geographically weighted regression models are combined to explore the differences in significant influencing factors between these provinces and the spatial heterogeneity of regression coefficients, respectively. The following findings are drawn: (1) Grain yield in both provinces gradually increased, with notable differences in the annual growth rate, the proportion, and at the county level. (2) The number of high-yield counties significantly increased and their spatial distribution became more concentrated, indicating a notable shift in the main regions. (3) The overall spatial correlation of grain yield steadily increased, and the local spatial correlation transitioned from random distribution to gradual aggregation. (4) There were significant differences in the influencing factors, where geographical environment, socio-economic factors, and input factors all affected both provinces. In summary, this study provides a scientific reference for governments worldwide to formulate rational and effective food production policies, thereby contributing to global food security and sustainable social development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluocerite has been shown experimentally and by thermodynamic modeling to be an important phase for the evolution of magmatic-hydrothermal REE mineralizing systems, but one that is rarely observed in nature. The reason for the latter is poorly understood. The newly discovered Taipingzhen REE deposit in Henan province, Central China, is unique for containing abundant fluocerite and thus provides a great opportunity to explore the role of fluocerite in REE mineralization. Fluocerite was the earliest REE mineral to crystallize in this deposit and was replaced extensively by bastnäsite. It has a higher La/Nd ratio than the later-depositing REE minerals, e.g., bastnäsite and monazite. This decrease in the La/Nd ratio with time is interpreted to have resulted from the fluocerite-mediated fractionation of REE (fluocerite prefers the lightest REE during its deposition from a high temperature, sulfate-rich hydrothermal fluid, in which the REE were transported as sulfate complexes). This study provides compelling evidence that fluocerite is, indeed, an important, early crystallizing mineral in magmatic-hydrothermal REE systems, which elsewhere was replaced entirely by bastnäsite during subsequent fluid evolution. Moreover, the study shows that the bastnäsite, which replaced fluocerite, inherited its high La/Nd ratio, suggesting that this ratio could be used as a tool with which to identify the former presence of fluocerite. The preservation of fluocerite in the Taipingzhen deposit is interpreted to have been due to the lack of significant cooling until a late stage of mineralization, at which time most of the fluid was lost from the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key parameter closely related to various land surface processes and surface-atmosphere interactions. Analysis of spatiotemporal variation of time-series LST may provide useful information to understand eco-climatic characteristics. In this study, the spatiotemporal pattern of LST and its trend characteristics in Henan Province were examined based on MODIS LST products from 2003 to 2021. In addition, the influences of land cover types, Nighttime Light data (NTL) and Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) on LST variation were analyzed. The results indicated that: (i) The LST showed slight and rapid decreasing trend for 2004–2010 and 2018–2020, respectively, whereas an obvious increasing and slight increasing trend occurred for 2010–2013 and 2014–2018. In terms of spatial pattern, high-temperature, and sub-high-temperature were mainly distributed in the central part of the province with higher level of industrialization and urbanization at the annual, spring, summer, and daytime scales. While in fall, winter, and the nighttime, the spatial distribution of LST exhibited decreased trend from the southern part to the northern part of the province, the largest Standard Deviation (STD) was observed in summer. (ii) The interannual variation rate of LST was 0.08 °C/Y. The increasing trend mainly occurred in urban and built-up areas. At the seasonal scales, the rising rate decreased sequentially in the order of fall, winter, spring, and summer. In addition, the rising rate in the daytime was higher than that in the nighttime. (iii) LST increased along with the expansion of urban and built-up lands, except in winter. At the annual scales, 84.69% of areas with NTL data exhibited a positive correlation with LST, and NDMI in the western part with high elevation presented a significantly positive correlation to LST, while a significantly negative correlation occurred in urban and built-up areas. The cooling effect of NDMI on LST in the daytime was greater than that in the nighttime. In cropland areas, LST showed a non-significant correlation with NDMI at the annual scale, and a significantly negative correlation with NDMI in spring, summer, and fall. The influence mechanism of cropland on the variation of LST at different timescales needs to be further explored. These findings might provide some hints to understand climate change and its causes in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two catastrophic extreme precipitation events in July 2021 and August 1975 caused tremendous damages and deaths in Henan, one of the most populated provinces in China. Revealing the relationship between large‐scale circulation patterns and precipitation extremes is vital for understanding the physical mechanisms and providing potential value for improving prediction and hence reducing impacts. Here, nine large‐scale circulation patterns are identified for July–August using the self‐organizing map. We find daily precipitation extremes under the fifth pattern (P5), characterized with the strongest easterly wind anomalies in Henan, feature the highest frequency and the largest intensity. Seven out of total 11 days in the two catastrophic extreme precipitation events belong to P5, and the top two maximum hourly precipitation extremes over continental China occurred under P5. The larger intensity of precipitation extremes is attributed to the dynamical contribution, suggesting more‐intense precipitation extremes under P5 are largely dominated by stronger ascending motions. Plain Language Summary: Henan is one of the most populated provinces in China. Two catastrophic extreme precipitation events in July 2021 and August 1975 caused devastating catastrophes, such as flooding and urban waterlogging, which resulted in widespread impacts on agricultural production, human livelihood, and economic development. We used a clustering method called self‐organizing map to link large‐scale circulation patterns with daily precipitation extremes in Henan Province. Our results show that the fifth pattern (P5), associated with the strongest easterly wind anomalies over Henan Province, is most conducive to extreme rainfall. Precipitation extremes under P5 exhibit the highest occurrence frequency and the largest mean intensity. Seven out of total 11 days for the two catastrophic extreme precipitation events belong to P5, while the top two maximum hourly precipitation extremes over continental China occurred under P5. The larger mean intensity of precipitation extremes under P5 is mainly caused by strong ascending motions. This work provides important implications for understanding the physical mechanisms and also providing potential value for the forecasting of precipitation extremes in Henan Province. Key Points: The circulation pattern (P5) most conducive to the occurrence of daily precipitation extremes is identified using self‐organizing mapSeven out of total 11 days in the "21·7" and "75·8" catastrophic extreme precipitation events belong to P5 patternThe dynamical processes, that is, the stronger ascending motions, dominate the more‐intense precipitation extremes in P5 pattern [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small Shelly Fossils (SSFs) from the Cambrian are widely distributed and well known across different paleocontinents of the world. However, middle Cambrian SSFs from North China Platform have only rarely been documented until now. In this paper, we presented the first report on SSFs from bioclastic and oolitic limestones of the Zhangxia and Hsuzhuang formations of Henan province, North China. The carbonate-hosted fauna includes brachiopods (Micromitra sp., M. modesta, Eoobolus sp., and Schizopholis sp.), helcionellids (Oelandiellaaccordionata and O. aliciae), hyolithids, Hyolithellus sp., Chancelloriaeros, sponge spicules, echinoderm ossicles, and chancelloriid sclerites. In terms of preservation, the brachiopod shell valves of M. modesta appeared to be homogeneous, consisting of tightly packed phosphate grains. Eoobolus sp. is composed of primary layer and secondary baculate, both of which consist of tightly compacted phosphate grains. Schizopholis sp. has multiple-lamellar phosphatized microstructures that distinctly differ from the other brachiopods recovered from the Longwanggou section. A similar multiple-lamellar microstructure was also revealed in conchs of Hyolithellus, with tightly compacted phosphate grains. The argillaceous shell of Oelandiellaaccordionata and O. aliciae, and the calcitic inner molds of hyolith did not preserve any shell structure. The helcionellids O. accordionata and O. aliciae and the brachiopod M. modesta were reported for the first time from North China. The fauna is most similar to the middle Cambrian faunas of Australia, in the brachiopod and mollusk components; it is also similar in composition of brachiopods and mollusks to coeval faunas from South China. The new fauna of SSFs in the Yiyang Longwanggou Section indicated that the Hsuzhuang and Zhangxia formations are late Drumian to middle Guzhuangian in age, most likely correlating with the Murrawong Creek Formation of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological environment is a resource base, environmental base, and engineering base for human socioeconomic activities. The main function of the geological environment is to provide stable and safe living space and essential resources for the existence and development of human society. However, geological environmental problems become increasingly prominent in some provinces in China due to fragility of the geological environment, uneven population distribution, backward economic development, and massive construction projects. The function of geological environments in some provinces to support sustainable economic and social development is evidently insufficient, and the threshold values of their geological environmental bearing capacity nearly reach the upper limit. For example, Henan Province, China, an evaluation index system for geological environmental bearing capacity, was established from three aspects, as follows: natural hazard, geological disaster, and disaster control. The weights of evaluation indexes were calculated using the variation coefficient method. Finally, the geological environmental bearing capacity of Henan Province during 2010-2018 was measured through the comprehensive evaluation method. Results showed that the constructed evaluation index system for geological environmental bearing capacity, which consisted of 34 indexes, was scientific and reasonable. During 2010-2018, the geological environmental bearing capacity of Henan Province was superior or excellent. Geological environmental bearing capacity can be improved by reinforcing the construction of legal rules and laws for geological environmental protection, carrying out research work regarding geological environmental bearing capacity, launching geological environmental monitoring and early warning system construction, and implementing feasibility demonstration for the geological environment of major construction projects. The study results can provide practical guidance and reference to realize the predictive analysis of geological environmental bearing capacity and coordinate human socioeconomic activities and geological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atrypide brachiopod Rongatrypa Popov & Cocks, 2014 is one of the early members of the subfamily Clintonellinae. This genus was previously known only from the Kazakh terranes. Here, we reassign a species to the genus, Rongatrypa xichuanensis (Xu, 1996), from the Shiyanhe Formation (Katian, Upper Ordovician) of Xichuan, Henan Province, central China. A wide range of shell sizes was found and measured to investigate the ontogeny of the species, and several specimens were selected for serial sectioning to examine the internal morphology. The linear regression results of natural logarithms of length vs. width and depth vs. width revealed an allometric growth pattern, perhaps influenced by the development of the lophophore. Rongatrypa xichuanensis inhabited a shallow marine oxygenated environment in the South China palaeoplate near the palaeo-equator. The distribution of Rongatrypa across South China and Kazakh terranes reflects the proximity of these blocks in the Late Ordovician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk analysis using climate-induced yield losses (CIYL) extracted from long-term yield data have been recognized in China, but the research focusing on the time-series characteristics of risk and the circulation signals behind yield losses still remains incomplete. To address these challenges, a case study on winter wheat production in Henan province, north China was conducted by using annual series of yield in 17 cities during 1988–2017 and monthly series of 15 types of large-scale oceanic-atmospheric circulation indices (LOACI). A comprehensive risk assessment method was established by combining the intensity, frequency, and variability of CIYL and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the westernmost Henan was identified as the area of higher-risk. PCA and Mann–Kendall trend tests indicated that the southern, northern, eastern, and western areas in Henan province were classified as having different annual CIYL variations in these four sub-regions; the decreasing trend of CIYL in northern area was the most notable. Since the 2000s, a significant decline in CIYL was found in each sub-region. It should be noted that the key LOACI, which includes Tropical Northern Atlantic Index (TNA), Western Hemisphere warm pool (WHWP), and Southern oscillation index (SOI), indicated significant CIYL anomalies in some months. Furthermore, the regional yield simulation results using linear regression for the independent variables of year and various LOACI were satisfactory, with the average relative error ranging from 3.48% to 6.87%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism comprehensive climate comfort index (TCCI) was used to evaluate the tourism climate comfort in Henan Province in the last 61 years, and its future development trend is predicted. The results showed that the temporal variation of the TCCI had a "double peak" type (monthly variation), and an overall comfort improvement trend (interannual variation). The change of tourism climate comfort days was similar to the change of the index, especially in the months with a low comfort level. In space, the distribution of the TCCI gradually increased from northeast to southwest, and the area with a high comfort level also increased over time. Meanwhile, it also showed the spatial distribution of months with a low comfort level, which provides reliable information for tourists to use when choosing tourist destinations across all periods of the year. The TCCI was classified by hierarchical classification, and principal components were extracted to explore the main climate factors controlling different types of TCCIs and the relationship between them, and large-scale atmospheric–oceanic variability. According to the temporal change trend and correlation, the long-term change trend of tourism climate comfort was predicted, which will provide a scientific basis for tourism planners to choose tourist destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]