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he formation and evolution of the Ω-shaped channel of the Yellow River depend on the boundary morphology and interactions of the tectonic belts around the Ordos block. The collision, subduction, compression, strike-slip and whirl effects of the peripheral tectonic belt on the block have made the Yinchuan Graben, Hetao Graben, Jin-Shaan Gorge and other tectonic landforms through the Yellow River. The highly developed fault zone, cataclastic rock zone and dense joint zone in graben and canyon have strictly controlled the extension and bend of the channel. In Neoid period, the extrusion of the Indian Plate in NE-trending and the Pacific Plate in NW-trending has compounded new activities of the peripheral major fault, which has controlled and constrained the Ω-shaped channel of the Yellow River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River evolution depends on regional geodynamic processes. The anti Z-shaped river course of the Yellow River in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau flows through five major tectonic zones, with most of the river sections occurring in fault and fractured rock zones, and the channels are mostly distributed along the piedmont faults of the orogenic belt and at the junction of tectonic units. The NWW-trending faults control the long-line extension of the river channel, and the NE and NW trending faults control the short-line turning of the river channel, while the intersection of NE and NW-trending faults forms an oblique array swing extension of the channel. In the process of continuous NE-trending extruding of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is structurally manifested as NWW-SEE trending compound and super-imposed orogenic belt and geomorphologically expressed as alternating distribution of uplifts and depressions due to the joint obstruction of the Alashan and Ordos blocks, and the mainstream of the river is generally parallel to the distribution direction of the main structural belt. The activity of NE-trending tensional strike-slip fault is intensified when it is obstructed by Yangtze, Qinling and Ordos stable blocks, resulting in the river direction turning from the original SEE to NE in a short-line, large-angle manner, and driving the NW hanging wall of NE-trending tensional strike-slip fault to subside greatly, forming an inclined graben with high in the west and low in the east. However, the river is forced to flow back in NW-NWW direction after encountering the obstruction of the next new NWW-SEE trending fault zone, forming a unique oblique U-shaped large backflow of the Yellow River. The fault structure is the main controlling factor for the generation, evolution, extension, turning of the river channel and the formation of the anti Z-shaped river pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the formation and evolution of the Yellow River, long underestimated but extremely important records are the form and location of the river channel, as well as the interdependence between riparian geological bodies. The study shows that the Yellow River channel generally presents three extension styles of long line extension, short bend and zigzag swing. Regional tectonic evolution, faulting tectonism and other internal dynamic geological processes are the main controlling factors for the formation and evolution of the Yellow River channel. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the margin of the Ordos block and the North China Plain are three unique tectono-geomorphic units formed by regiona tectonic evolution, and the tectonic factors in the basin have respectively created three different geometric patterns of river channel combinations, namely, inverted Z-shaped, 2-shaped and wide V-shaped. During the formation and evolution of the three types of river channel, their own unique issues in geology, engineering, development and protection are derived, according to which the development and management suggestions are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary compares Stevan Harrell's "resilience" model to other familiar paradigms of China's premodern history, including those of Mark Elvin and G. William Skinner. It gives examples of the Yellow River and frontier clearance as supporting evidence for the utility of the model. It further suggests that the People's Republic of China under Xi Jinping is entering, according to Harrell's framework, a new "conservation" (K) phase of rigidity, blindness, and conservatism that bodes ill for China's environmental future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and water loss in the sandstone area of the upper top ten tributaries is very serious with severe water erosion of the area, serious difficulty to control soil loss, large amount of soil into the Yellow River and poor stability of ecosystem. The objectives of this paper, namely the scientific and technical issues in the study, were to analyze the driving mechanisms of complex erosion and flood-sand production and transport in the top ten tributaries, determine the generalized water carrying capacity and thresholds for maintaining the stability of vegetated ecosystems, and develop the sediment control technology and near-natural ecological restoration technique in the area. Six major research components were listed based on the elaboration of the background of sand prevention and sand control and the current status of research in the Yellow River Basin: a) Recognizing the process of wind-water composite soil and water erosion, and zoning of ecological resto-ration space for rational disposal of water and sand. b) Researching and developing the sediment deterrent and control technologies based on different ecological restoration space layouts and optimal allocation of native plants. c) Researching and developing of multi-dimensional terraced synergistic management technology for mountains, water, forests, fields, lakes, grasses and sands. d) Researching and developing techniques for maintaining the stability and improving the quality of artificially degraded vegetation based on rigid water resources constraints. e) Building a diversified near-natural ecological restoration technology system and model. f) Demonstration study on Hantaichuan gullied rolling loess area, Dalat "Three-North" Project management area and Heilaigou Engebei ecological building area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergy between water-sediment regulation (WSR) and ecological protection in the Yellow River has become the focus of attention. In order to understand the impact of the WSR on fish, this research carried out water ecosystem monitoring during the WSR in 2023, and initially discussed the main pathway, scope, time limit and extent of the impact on fish. The results show that the effect of WSR on aquatic organisms is limited to the sediment discharge period. The sudden increase of sediment content and the rapid decrease of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water are the main factors that adversely affect fishes and their habitat conditions. The drainage of high sediment content water body from Xiaolangdi Reservoir is the main cause of the "flowing fish" below the dam, which can be divided into three forms of mechanical injury death of fish in the reservoir, asphyxiation death of fish under dam and "gasping for air" of fish below the dam. With the rapid de- crease of sediment content along the way, the "flowing fish" phenomenon is gradually weakened and basically is disappeared to the Yiluo estuary. After the completion of WSR, the impact on aquatic organisms is disappeared. And two months later, the total quality of fish can be basically restored to the level before WSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River basin is rich in sediment that provides a transport carrier for the transport and diffusion of pollutants. Molybdate ions contained in the tributaries of the Yellow River are dispersed with the water and sediment movement to the whole basin, which will result in water pollution and soil pollution within a certain range. The static adsorption method is adopted to study the adsorption of molybdate ions onto the Yellow River sediment, the adsorption model of molybdate on sediment can be obtained from the experimental data and kinetic analysis can be carried out to lay a good foundation for exploring molybdenum adsorption and removal in actual water flow. The effects of contact time, pollutant concentration, sediment concentration, and agitation frequency on the molybdenum adsorption onto sediment were investigated. In the process of sediment-molybdenum adsorption, the kinetics and isothermal adsorption conformed to the Lennard-Jones equation model and the Freundlich model, respectively. Simultaneously increasing the molybdenum concentration, sediment content, and agitation frequency enhances the adsorption of molybdate onto sediment particles. Higher concentrations within a specific range have a more pronounced effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elements are the indelible imprint left by the Earth on rivers and life entities. Here, we unveil the evident inheritance of persistent elements, from the Earth's upper continental crust, through the Yellow River, to the associated life entities along a 5,200 km continuum of the Mother River of the Chinese nation. In particular, we confirm the coherence of "metal community" composed of more than 60 detected metallic elements throughout water, suspended particulate matter, and sediment in the river, and further extend such elemental correlations to fish species and even the tissues in human body. Our study also reveals an interesting fact that media‐specific metal abundance occurs in a persistent inverse order with metal toxicity, and microbial cells in the river tend to establish their own self‐defense systems against toxic metals through hosting higher‐level resistance genes. These findings not only stress the human needs for integrated trace element provision, but also highlight the fundamental importance of elemental coherence in the river‐coordinated Earth‐life systems for establishing drinking water and dietary standards that benefit ecological and human health. Plain Language Summary: As ubiquitous constituents in Earth's continental crust, metallic elements have been extensively applied in almost all fields of productions and daily life. The inherent stability and persistence of metals render them as ideal biomarkers for tracing elemental inheritance by organisms and ecosystems since the inception of Earth. In the river‐fed Earth‐human systems, we confirm the coherence of metal community from the Earth upper crust through China's Mother River to life entities. Intriguingly, we also reveal that media‐specific metal abundance occurs in an inverse order with metal toxicity in the river, while microbes as the earliest life appeared on the Earth tend to build their own self‐defense systems, characterized by higher‐level resistance genes to toxic metals. By unveiling the inheritance of metal community throughout the "Earth‐river‐life complex," our study provides new evidences for harmonious symbiosis between nature and life entities, and thereby highlights the significant implications of coherent background elements as the basis for establishing drinking water and dietary standards that benefit ecological and human health. Key Points: Evident inheritance of "metal community" is confirmed from Earth continental crust, through river, to life entitiesNature grants greater abundance for lower toxic metals, while microbial cells tend to host higher resistance genes to higher toxic metalsElemental coherence is of great significance for establishing drinking water and dietary standards beneficial to human security [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy minerals offer significant potential in elucidating sediment provenance in a variety of depositional systems. Nevertheless, source identification through heavy minerals remains a relatively understudied aspect, particularly for small floodplain lakes. Located in the North China Plain, Dongping Lake represents an exceptional site for validating the efficacy of this methodology. In this study, we collected 31 samples from Dongping Lake and surrounding floodplains and used analyses of heavy mineral compositions to establish the spatial distribution and characteristics of source regions and modern sediments of Dongping Lake. The heavy mineral assemblages demonstrate significant variations for sediments of the Yellow River and the Dawen River. The Yellow River floodplain samples are dominated by hornblende, epidote, limonite, and actinolite, with minor garnet, sphene, clinozoisite, etc. Samples from the Dawen River are dominated by epidote, hornblende, and actinolite, with minor sphene, clinozoisite, limonite, apatite, etc. Our data show that modern sediments of Dongping Lake exhibit significant variations in heavy mineral assemblages. The mineralogical composition at most sites except for the southeastern part of Dongping Lake is similar to that of sediments in the Yellow River, but differs markedly from that in the Dawen River. This variation indicates that the Yellow River contributes significant volumes of sediment to modern sediments of Dongping Lake. The results are also confirmed by the grain-size end-member unmixing analysis in modern sediments of the lake. Specifically, materials derived from the Yellow River exhibit a widespread dispersion across the lake, whilst those originated from the Dawen River are primarily concentrated in the river mouth. In addition, proximally eroded materials from the west shore of the lake also have some extent of influence, but are mainly distributed in the western region of the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addressing sediment accumulation challenges in the water diversion canal and enhancing both water utilization and ecological conditions, this study introduces a fish mouth engineering design, akin to the sediment reduction strategies used at the Dujiangyan water conservancy hub. A specialized two-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model was developed, specifically tailored to the Qixing Canal section in Ningxia. Utilizing SMS software, an unstructured grid division of the study area was executed. The research employed simulations under two distinct scenarios: direct water diversion and fish mouth engineering at the canal head. These simulations were pivotal in analyzing the variations in sedimentation thickness and sediment concentration across different flow rates and irrigation cycles. It was observed that the use of the fish mouth engineering for water diversion significantly improved the sedimentation thickness, underscores the efficacy of the fish mouth model in altering the structural characteristics of water flow and achieving a redistribution of water flow and sediment within the canal. This approach to fish mouth diversion and sediment reduction substantially curtails sediment accumulation in the irrigation canal, presenting a viable strategy for canal head design in the self-flow irrigation areas of the Yellow River. This research result provides certain reference value for water conservancy engineering organizations.

In addressing sediment accumulation challenges in the water diversion canal and enhancing both water utilization and ecological conditions, this study introduces a fish mouth engineering design, akin to the sediment reduction strategies used at the Dujiangyan water conservancy hub. A specialized two-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model was developed, specifically tailored to the Qixing Canal section in Ningxia. Utilizing SMS software, an unstructured grid division of the study area was executed. The research employed simulations under two distinct scenarios: direct water diversion and fish mouth engineering at the canal head. These simulations were pivotal in analyzing the variations in sedimentation thickness and sediment concentration across different flow rates and irrigation cycles. It was observed that the use of the fish mouth engineering for water diversion significantly improved the sedimentation thickness, underscores the efficacy of the fish mouth model in altering the structural characteristics of water flow and achieving a redistribution of water flow and sediment within the canal. This approach to fish mouth diversion and sediment reduction substantially curtails sediment accumulation in the irrigation canal, presenting a viable strategy for canal head design in the self-flow irrigation areas of the Yellow River. This research result provides certain reference value for water conservancy engineering organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the horizontal eco-compensation mechanism across the Yellow River Basin and promote ecological protection and high-quality development within the region, this paper fully considered the economic and social status of the nine provinces (autonomous regions) along the river, including population, fiscal budget revenue, and the results of their governance and ecological protection. By emplo- ying the factor method and socio-economic statistics of the nine provinces (autonomous regions) along the Yellow River Basin, the total a- mount of horizontal eco-compensation funds raised in 2021 and the financial contributions and allocations of the provincial (autonomous re- gion) governments were calculated. The calculation results indicate that a) in 2021, a total of 5.618 billion yuan in horizontal eco-compensa- tion funds is raised in the Yellow River Basin, with 4.618 billion yuan coming from vertical transfer payments from the central government and 1.00 billion yuan from nine provinces (autonomous regions). b) The distribution of horizontal eco-compensation funds is relatively high in the upper and middle reaches of the water conservation and ecological protection management areas, while it is relatively low in the middle and lower reaches of the water conservation and ecological protection benefit areas. This allocation is conducive to incentivizing upstream provinces to further engage in active ecological environmental protection and management activities. c) The middle and lower portions of the basin, which are more economically developed, are typically the places that benefit from ecological protection and are crucial in helping to raise money for horizontal eco-compensation in the Yellow River Basin. As a result, the middle and lower reaches of the basin's economically developed areas are encouraged to increase their financial support for horizontal eco-compensation. d) The factor method, which balances the environmental and economic benefits of basin ecological protection and management, reflects fairness and scientificity in the calculation of the standard for horizontal eco-compensation. It is suggested that the Yellow River Basin's horizontal eco-compensation should be increased fur- ther, and that a multi-eco-compensation mechanism involving social participation and government leadership should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyse the possibility of digitizing the music heritage of the Yellow River basin. The digitization of the musical heritage of the Yellow River basin facilitates the preservation and advancement of the cultural legacy of the region, as well as ensuring accessibility to it for researchers, educators, and the public. This process is executed through online platforms and databases, thereby providing inclusive access to the cultural heritage. The investigation engaged a cohort of 50 experts specializing in archiving and digitization. Throughout the study, a comprehensive examination of the technical facets of the conversion of analogue recordings into digital formats was undertaken. Furthermore, the research encompassed an analysis of the experiential integration of digital music archives of the Yellow River basin into the educational processes of the China Conservatory of Music, achieved through a survey administered to the faculty members. The research identified technical challenges associated with the digital processing of analogue music recordings, encompassing issues related to noise (64 per cent) and distortions (44 per cent). Seventy percent of the respondents underscored the significant role of digital archives in research and educational projects. However, 44 per cent highlighted difficulties in integrating them into educational curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To protect and optimize the landscape ecology of the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches, this study evaluates the landscape ecology of the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches. This study found that between 2000 and 2020, the area of grassland landscape in the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches gradually decreased, with its shape index and patch shape index decreasing to 10.6 and 1.1. Moreover, the number of patches in forest and grassland types increased to 239 and 189, and the fragmentation degree of patches in forest and grassland types increased. Therefore, on the basis of the unreasonable spatial structure and high degree of fragmentation of the landscape ecology in the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches, this study proposes strategies for optimizing land use and spatial structure in the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches and strategies for constructing ecological core areas. This is to achieve the restoration and protection of geomorphic landscapes, maintain the ecological balance, and promote sustainable advancement in the region. By studying the ecological assessment of geomorphic landscapes and the optimization of ecological space in the Yellow River's middle and lower reaches, scientific basis and decision-making support will be provided for the ecological environment protection and sustainable advancement of the Yellow River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: To elucidate the characteristics of functional feeding groups among macroinvertebrates during various months in the upper Yellow River, and their relationship with environmental factors, 33 sampling points were strategically placed across both gorge and plain regions. Collectively, these areas hosted 65 taxonomic units (genus or species) of macroinvertebrates, among which the collector-gatherers were predominantly dominant. Notably, Gammarus sp. and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, among the collector-gatherers, emerged as the prevalent species across both the gorge and plain areas. Mantel tests indicated that dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and orthophosphate were significant environmental determinants influencing the functional feeding groups of macroinvertebrates. Evaluations based on the Hilsenhoff Biological Index and the Shannon–Wiener Index suggest that the water quality of the upper Yellow River is moderate. An analysis using functional feeding group parameters showed a progressive increase in the biomass of macroinvertebrates from upstream (gorge areas) to downstream (plain areas), accompanied by enhanced habitat stability. Cascade hydropower development was pinpointed as a crucial factor impacting habitat stability. These insights provide relevant data and a theoretical basis for the conservation of aquatic biological resources and watershed management in the upper Yellow River. Against the backdrop of hydropower development in the upper Yellow River, comprehending the spatiotemporal variation and ecological evaluation of macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (FFGs) is paramount for the conservation and restoration of aquatic biological resources in watersheds. Detailed surveys of macroinvertebrates were conducted in the gorge and plain areas of the upper Yellow River in July 2022 and March, May, and October 2023, culminating in the identification of 65 taxonomic units (genus or species) spanning 4 phyla, 14 orders, and 35 families. Of these, 41 taxonomic units were discovered in the gorge areas and 57 in the plain areas. Among the FFGs of macroinvertebrates in the upper Yellow River, collector-gatherers were overwhelmingly dominant, followed by scrapers, collector-filterers, predators, and shredders. Concerning river section types, dominant species in the gorge areas included Gammarus sp., Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, and Polypedilum sp. among collector-gatherers, while in the plain areas, dominant species included Ecdyonurus sp. among scrapers, Hydropsyche sp. among collector-filterers, and Gammarus sp., Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, and Chironomus sp. among collector-gatherers. A Mantel test revealed that dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and orthophosphate were the primary environmental factors affecting the FFGs of macroinvertebrates in the upper Yellow River, with variations observed in their effects across different months. The evaluation results of the Hilsenhoff Biological Index and Shannon–Wiener Index indicate that the water quality of the upper Yellow River is at a moderate level. An assessment of the upper Yellow River ecosystem using FFG parameters demonstrated that macroinvertebrate biomass progressively increased from upstream (gorge areas) to downstream (plain areas) spatially, accompanied by increasing habitat stability, with cascade hydropower development identified as a key factor impacting habitat stability. These findings provide pertinent data and a theoretical foundation for the protection of aquatic biological resources and watershed management in the upper Yellow River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation age of the middle Yellow River and the existence of a northward‐flowing river have been fiercely debated. The age distribution of detrital zircon varied spatiotemporally and produced contradictory provenance interpretations. The Jinshaan Gorge, the main part of the middle Yellow River and key to studying fluvial evolution and clarifying disputes, developed its topography during the late Cenozoic. In this study, we systematically review the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the North China Craton, perform detrital zircon U–Pb dating in the Neogene−Quaternary sediments and investigate the topography along the Jinshaan Gorge, and the sedimentology and chronological framework of these sediments. We propose that the Gorge of the middle Yellow River could have developed since the Neogene, controlled by the tectono‐geomorphologic evolution of the North China Craton in a dominantly extensional environment. No evidence supports a northward‐flowing river during the Early Pleistocene or even earlier in the Jinshaan Gorge. We attribute the provenance variations of the Cenozoic sediments to detrital mixing of diverse geological units, local and distant, and especially highlight the systematic provenance shift between the Neogene and Quaternary sediments caused by bedrock downcutting and recycling aeolian sediments. The increased 1.5−0.33 Ga component of the lower Yellow River during the Early Pleistocene was likely caused by enhanced loess accumulation and should not be individually used as a proxy for the Yellow River formation. We emphasize the significance of a comprehensive study of river evolution. Plain Language Summary: Three‐quarters of the Yellow River channel is located on the North China Craton, but the formation and evolution of the Yellow River have been usually attributed to the upper reaches due to the growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Geological units, such as aeolian deposits have a significant impact on the fluvial sediments of the Yellow River, and only systematic work can help unraveling their provenance and potential recycling. We have found that the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton between the rigid Ordos Block and the Lvliang Shan controlled the initial entrenchment of the Jinshaan Gorge in the middle Yellow River since the late or maybe the early Miocene. We have also revealed the complex spatial provenance changes of the fluvial sediments along the Yellow River and the systematic provenance shift between the Neogene and Quaternary sediments. At the same time, we emphasize the significance of an integrated study combining tectono‐geomorphic features, sedimentology and quantitative analysis, such as provenance, for the reconstruction of the river geological evolution. Key Points: The middle Yellow River has developed under the extensional tectonic evolution of the North China Craton since the CenozoicSystematic provenance shift between the Neogene and Quaternary sediments was caused by bedrock downcutting and aeolian depositionDetrital signal from the Tibetan Plateau cannot be transported to and detected in the lower Yellow River [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources, energy, and food are essential for the development of society, and they are strongly interdependent. The coupling and coordination relationships of the water–energy–food (WEF) system are important for regional resource security and high-quality development. The Yellow River Irrigation Area in Shandong Province, China, is a grain production base and has a substantial impact on national food security. To examine the water, energy, and food subsystem dynamics in this area, an evaluation system for the WEF system was established. A comprehensive weighting method based on game theory was employed to determine index weights. TOPSIS was used to assess the development level of the WEF system. A coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the evolution of the coupling coordination degree of the WEF system from 2000 to 2020, and a GWR model was constructed to explore the spatial heterogeneity of its driving factors. The findings indicated that the development level of the WEF system in the study area was moderate, with a gradual upward trend. The coupling coordination degree fluctuated between 0.62 and 0.739. The GWR model revealed that temperature had an overall negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with the greatest impact on the central irrigation area; the slope and NDVI had a negative effect, with increasing intensity from the southwest to the northeast; and rainfall had an overall positive effect, with the greatest impact on the irrigation area near the estuary in the northeast. Overall, the building area ratio had a negative effect on the coupling coordination degree, with exceptions in some areas. These research outcomes provide theoretical support for sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River irrigation areas of Shandong Province and methodological reference data for studying collaborative resource utilization in irrigation regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runoff prediction is of great importance to water utilization and water-project regulation. Although sun activity has been considered an important factor in runoff, little modeling has been constructed. This study put forward a forecast heuristic combining back propagation neural network (BPNN) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) for annual runoff based on sunspot number and applied it to the Yellow River of China for the period 1956–2016 and assessed the contribution of the sunspot number by placing sole BPNN modeling on the time series as a contrast. First, the heuristic is made up of BPNN calibration and PSO optimization: (1) we use historical data to calibrate BPNN models and obtain a prediction of the sunspot number for training and testing stages; (2) we use the PSO to minimize the difference between the predicted runoff of both BPNN and a linear equation for forecasting stage. Second, the application offers interesting findings: (1) while BPNN calibration obtains first-class forecasting with the ratio >85% with <20% absolute error in training and testing stages, the PSO can achieve similar performance in the forecasting stage; (2) the heuristic can achieve better prediction in years with a lower sunspot number; (3) besides the influence of the sun activity, atmospheric circulation, water usage, and water-project regulation do play important roles on the measured or natural runoff to some extent. This study could provide useful insights into further forecasting of measured and natural runoff under this forecast heuristic in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal flood control operation of reservoir groups aims to achieve effective water disaster prevention and provide a reference for real-time flood control decision-making. Aiming at the issues of difficulty in decomposing flood control targets and "dimensional disaster" in calculation, an optimal flood control dispatching model for mixed-linked reservoirs group based on the maximum peak shaving criterion was built. Utilizing the round-robin method effectively reduced dimensionality and combined with particle swarm optimization algorithm for efficient solution optimization. Taking the example of a mixed-connected reservoir group composed of five large reservoirs on the upper reaches of Huayuankou section of the Yellow River, a joint optimization scheduling of the reservoir group was conducted for typical years. The results indicate that compared to conventional scheduling, the optimized dispatching scheme effectively deduces the optimal solution. It reduces peak flow at flood control points and stabilizes the flow discharge process. Additionally, it enhances flood control reliability of controlling reservoirs and significantly alleviates flood control pressure of the Lower Yellow River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to intensified human activities like hydropower development, biodiversity in the upper Yellow River faces severe threats. In 2019, we conducted a survey across all reservoirs in the river section from Longyangxia to Liujiaxia in the upper Yellow River, focusing on key aquatic organisms such as benthic macroinvertebrates and fish. The benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) and the fish stocking index (FSI) were used to assess the river's biotic integrity. We collected 54 macroinvertebrate species with an average biomass of 1.28g/m², predominantly featuring species like Gammarus sp. and Palaemon modestus. Additionally, 39 fish species were captured, with Gymnocypris eckloni, Pseudorasbora parva, and Triplophysa pappenheimi being the most common, with an average weight of 43.27 g per individual. The B-IBI scores ranged from 1.06 to 3.04, averaging 78; the number of native fish species varied from 3 to 15 per location, resulting in an FSI score of 69. This indicated that the biotic integrity of the Longyangxia to Liujiaxia section was common yet still significantly impacted by human activities. This study highlights the impacts of human activities on the river's ecosystem and aims to guide ecological protection and restoration efforts in the upper Yellow River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooperative operation of cascade reservoir systems is an efficient way to regulate water resources. However, noncooperation among various reservoir stakeholders is often observed in practice; this produces an interesting dilemma in the game of water resource management. Considering the upper Yellow River cascade reservoir system as a case study, in this paper we model and analyze the cooperation dilemma in a cascade reservoir system. In our game theoretical analysis, we find that, except for the most upstream reservoir, all reservoirs have free-ride strategies. The free-ride strategy indicates that a reservoir obtains free gain from the cooperation of other reservoirs due to spatial connections, and this fact changes the cooperative game in terms of equilibrium and benefit allocation. The results show that the regulation capacity of the free rider directly affects the equilibrium and benefit allocation of the game. A midstream reservoir with a small or medium regulation capacity tends to employ a free-ride strategy. A midstream reservoir with a large regulation capacity can entirely interrupt the cooperation between upstream and downstream reservoirs, interestingly, which can lead to the disappearance of the free-ride strategy for the midstream reservoir. However, the downstream reservoir may employ a free-ride strategy when the midstream reservoir chooses to cooperate. This implies that grand cooperation is not stable when considering free-ride, whereas partial coalitions are more likely to form. In this paper, we derive equilibrium in the cooperative game of cascade reservoirs, providing theoretical interpretation of the noncooperation phenomenon in the operation of cascade reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mud area in the northern offshore of the Shandong Peninsula constitutes a dynamic source–sink system in China's continental shelf and is a hotspot for research. However, the provenance of the sediments remains controversial, and the depositional environment is not yet fully understood. This paper performed accelerator mass spectrometry 14C dating, grain-size analysis, clay mineralogic analysis, and geochemical analysis of the ZZ04 sediment core. The results showed that this core primarily comprises silt and clay, reflecting weak sedimentary hydrodynamic conditions and stable deposition. The clay mineral assemblage—illite, smectite, chlorite, and kaolinite—indicates strong physical weathering. The provenance of the mud area was mainly from the Yellow River, Shandong Peninsula rivers, and Yangtze River, highlighting its multi-source characteristics. The smectite/(illite + chlorite) ratio in the ZZ04 core serves as a mineralogical indicator of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). Eight significant East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) intensifications were identified, correlating with global cooling events similar to those at 1.89, 1.4, 1.03, and 0.62 thousand years ago. During the EAWM period, the coastal current and the Yellow Sea warm current play crucial roles in the transportation of matter and heat flux in the mud area. In contrast, during the EASM period, the sediments are predominantly sourced from the Shandong Peninsula rivers, contributing terrigenous materials shaped by chemical weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To promote the coordinated and sustainable development of hydropower exploitation and ecological environment in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, a fine simulation of the downstream riverway of Yangqu Hydropower Station was carried out to analyze the impact of the changes in water depth and flow velocity on fish habitats after the impoundment of Yangqu Hydropower Station. In this paper, Gymnocypris eckloni was selected as the target fish species. The fish habitat model was constructed using MIKE21. The habitat quality of the target fish species was graded by the fuzzy logic method with suitable flow velocity and water depth as conditions. The Weighted Usable Area (WUA)—flow response relationship of fish habitats under different qualities was studied, and the ecological flow required by the target fish species was obtained. The results indicated that the suitable ecological flow range, derived from the relationship between the weighted total area of habitats of different qualities and flow variations, ranged from 350 to 1100 m3/s. Furthermore, the suitable flow range determined through the proportion of WUA of habitats of different qualities was between 600 and 1150 m3/s. After a comprehensive analysis, the final suitable ecological flow range was determined to be 600 to 1150 m3/s. The proportion of high‐quality habitat WUA ranged from 0.26 to 0.50, As the traffic increased, it first increased and then decreased, and was most affected by changes in traffic, the proportion of medium‐quality habitat WUA fluctuated between 0.40 and 0.55, showing an overall upward trend. Meanwhile, the proportion of low‐quality habitat WUA increased from 0.11 to 0.21, indicating the smallest impact from flow variations. The research results could provide a certain reference for the ecological scheduling of hydropower stations in the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

The Yellow River is the main source of water for urban and rural area and agricultural irrigation in northern China. Herein, the distribution and risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were investigated from the Yellow River in Shandong Province, China. The total concentration of PFAAs (∑PFAAs) in surface water and sediments were 37.5–2128 ng/L (mean: 167 ng/L) and not detected−6.95 ng/g dry weight (dw) (mean: 1.02 ng/g dw), respectively. Short-chain PFAAs-perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) were the most prevalent PFAAs in surface water. Source analysis showed that firefighting foam (proportion: 31.3 %) and textile treatments and food packaging (proportion: 30.3 %) were the main sources of PFAAs in water. Based on the concentration of PFAAs in water, ecological and potential human health risks were assessed. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) posed nonnegligible ecological risk for some aquatic organisms. Levels of PFAAs (e.g., PFOA, PFNA, and PFDA etc.) in some water samples were higher than the advisory guidelines of PFAAs concentrations in water worldwide, indicating a potential human health risk. Therefore, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA are the key focus of pollutants in the water of the Yellow River in Shandong Province, and the standards and limits of these PFAAs in environments including surface water and sediment should be promoted.

Abstract Profiling antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Yellow River of China’s Henan Province is essential for understanding the health risks of antibiotic resistance. The profiling of ARGs was investigated using high-throughput qPCR from water samples in seven representative regions of the Yellow River. The absolute and relative abundances of ARGs and moble genetic elements (MGEs) were higher in summer than in winter (ANOVA, p

The Qingshuigou Channel, as the current tail channel of the Yellow River, formed by the diversion of the Diaokou River in 1976, has undergone a particularly dramatic spatio-temporal evolution, and its evolution processes and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. On the basis of the flood season cross section data for the river downstream of the Lijin Hydrological Station from 1976 to 2017, the current study calculated the main channel morphological characteristics of the tail channel in different reaches using a reach-scale morphological parameter calculation method and K -means clustering analysis. An elevated riverbed index was proposed to identify the elevated riverbed situation of the river channel. The results show that from 1976 to 2017, the bankfull area experienced repeated processes of decrease and increase, and the main channel morphology gradually changed from wide and shallow to narrow and deep over time. For most of the time period, the conveyance capacity of the main channel gradually decreased from upstream to downstream. The elevated riverbed situation gradually became more severe along the river reach from 0 to 85 km away from Lijin, but was less severe in the reach more than 85 km downstream of Lijin. The most severe elevated riverbed situation appeared mainly in the range of 71–83 km below Lijin in 1991–1995. When the sediment-carrying capacity of the water flow was strong, the bankfull area of the main channel increased, and the elevated riverbed situation was alleviated. River channel projects have helped to maintain the narrow and deep shape of the main channel, but the installation of farm dikes have aggravated the elevated riverbed situation. At the same time, extension and diversion of the tail channel have changed the erosion base level, greatly affecting the evolution of the channel morphology. The current study has provided a typical case for exploring the processes and mechanisms of tail channel evolution. • The bankfull area and the coefficient of fluvial facies were comprehensively considered to evaluate the conveyance capacity. • An elevated riverbed index, C , is proposed to evaluate the elevated riverbed situation. • The positions of the reach prone to breaching were analyzed, and found to be where the conveyance capacity is weak and the elevated riverbed situation is severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]