Search Results (884)

The architectural settlements of the Dong people are the core representatives of China’s Dong culture. The unique architectural forms created by the Dong people, such as stilted houses, drum towers, and wind-and-rain bridges, demonstrate the wisdom of the Dong people in adapting to mountainous environments and their exquisite construction techniques. However, with the acceleration of urbanization and the impact of tourism development, Dong village architecture is facing multiple challenges, including settlement hollowing-out, the discontinuity of traditional craftsmanship, and the destruction of authenticity. This study proposes a series of protection and restoration strategies by integrating relevant domestic and international theories and practical experiences based on the formal characteristics, cultural value, and current issues of Dong village settlement architecture. It emphasizes the principle of holistic protection, advocates for the combination of authentic restoration and adaptive renewal, and aims to achieve the inheritance of cultural heritage through means such as digital technology, community participation mechanisms, and cross-regional collaborative protection. Furthermore, this study explores the path toward balancing traditional architecture with modern needs, intending to provide theoretical support and a practical reference for the sustainable protection of Dong village settlement architecture and the continuation of cultural memory. Full article

This work analyzes the behavior of the boundary layer subjected to stresses by obstacles using hourly measurements, in the form of time series, of meteorological variables (temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), and magnitude of the wind speed (WS)) in a given period. The study region is Santiago, the capital of Chile. The measurement location is in a rugged basin geography with a nearly pristine atmospheric environment. The time series are analyzed through chaos theory, demonstrating that they are chaotic through the calculation of the parameters Lyapunov exponent (λ > 0), correlation dimension (D_C < 5), Kolmogorov entropy (S_K > 0), Hurst exponent (0.5 < H < 1), and Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZ > 0). These series are simultaneous measurements of the variables of interest, before and after, of three different volumetric geometries arranged as obstacles: a parallelepiped, a cylinder, and a miniature mountain. The three geometries are subject to the influence of the wind and present the same cross-sectional area facing the measuring instruments oriented in the same way. The entropies calculated for each variable in each geometry are compared. It is demonstrated, in a first approximation, that volumetric geometry impacts the magnitude of the entropic fluxes associated with the measured variables, which can affect micrometeorology and, by extension, the climate in general. Furthermore, the study examines which geometry favors greater information loss or greater fractality in the measured variables. Full article

Cold-air pooling (CAP) and frost risk represent significant climate-related hazards in karstic and agricultural environments, where local topography and surface cover strongly modulate microclimatic conditions. This study focuses on the Mohos sinkhole, Hungary’s cold pole, situated on the Bükk Plateau, to investigate the formation, structure, and persistence of CAPs in a Central European karst depression. High-resolution terrain-based modeling was conducted using UAV-derived digital surface models combined with multiple GIS tools (Sky-View Factor, Wind Exposition Index, Cold Air Flow, and Diurnal Anisotropic Heat). These models were validated and enriched by multi-level temperature measurements and thermal imaging under various synoptic conditions. Results reveal that temperature inversions frequently form during clear, calm nights, leading to extreme near-surface cold accumulation within the sinkhole. Inversions may persist into the day due to topographic shading and density stratification. Vegetation and basin geometry influence radiative and turbulent fluxes, shaping the spatial extent and intensity of cold-air layers. The CAP is interpreted as part of a broader interconnected multi-sinkhole system. This integrated approach offers a transferable, cost-effective framework for terrain-driven frost hazard assessment, with direct relevance to precision agriculture, mesoscale model refinement, and site-specific climate adaptation in mountainous or frost-sensitive regions. Full article

To address the challenges of weak power-grid infrastructure, insufficient power supply capacity along mountainous railways, and severe three-phase imbalance caused by imbalanced traction loads at the point of common coupling (PCC), this paper proposes an energy storage configuration method for mountainous railway power grids considering renewable energy integration. First, a distributionally robust chance-constrained energy storage system configuration model is established, with the capacity and rated power of the energy storage system as decision variables, and the investment costs, operational costs, and grid operation costs as the objective function. Subsequently, by linearizing the three-phase AC power flow equations and transforming the model into a directly solvable linear form using conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) theory, the original configuration problem is converted into a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulation. Finally, simulations based on an actual high-altitude mountainous railway power grid validate the economic efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed model. Results demonstrate that energy storage deployment reduces overall system voltage deviation by 40.7% and improves three-phase voltage magnitude imbalance by 16%. Full article

Ore mining and smelting are often related to environmental pollution. This study provides information about the geochemical features of Technosols at historical mining and metallurgical sites in the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland, evaluating the contents of potentially toxic trace elements (PTTE) and their behaviours in soils, as well as the influence of soil properties on PTTE mobility. Thirteen soil profiles were studied in eight abandoned mining and smelting sites. PTTE concentrations, including rare earth elements (REE), were measured using ICP-MS and ICP-OES. Selected elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, Sb, Ba, Sr, Co, Ni, Mn and Cr) were fractionated using the modified European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) four-step sequential extraction. Contamination of soils with PTTE was compared against Polish regulatory limits, which were exceeded for Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Hg, As, Co, Ni and Ba, with concentrations exceeding limits by 16, 18, 34 and 160 times for Cu, Hg, As and Ba, respectively, in some profiles. Based on geochemical features depending on parent material properties, the soils examined were divided into three groups. Group I Technosols (near-neutral soils developed from Fe/Mn-ore and carbonate-bearing mining waste) were particularly enriched in Co, Ni, Mn and REE. Group II Technosols (acidic soils developed from polymetallic ore-bearing aluminosilicate mining waste) contained elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn, Hg, As, Sb, Bi, Co, Ag, Ba, Sr, U and Th; they contained lower contents of REE than Group I Technosols. Group III Technosols (soils developed in smelting-affected areas and containing metallurgical waste) were rich in Cu, As, Sb, Ba, Hg, Co and Ag and contained the lowest REE contents among the studied soils. Sequential BCR extraction revealed that PTTE mobility varied strongly according to soil group, with higher mobility of Mn, Cu and Zn in acidic polymetallic ore-derived soils (Group II), while carbonate-rich soils (Group I) showed mainly immobile forms. Metallurgical slag-derived soils (Group III) exhibited complex PTTE behaviour controlled by organic matter and Fe/Mn oxides. Soil properties (pH, carbonates and TOC) seem to control PTTE mobility. Full article

We perform large-eddy simulations (LESs) with realistic radiation, including topographic shading, and an advanced land surface model to investigate drainage flow dynamics in an idealized compound-slope mountain geometry. This allows an analysis not only of fully developed profiles in steady state—the subject of existing analytical solutions—but also of transient two- and three-dimensional dynamics. The evening onset of downslope flow is related to the duration of shadow front propagation along the eastern slopes, for which an analytic form is derived. We demonstrate that the flow response to this radiation pattern is mediated by the thermal inertia of the land through sensitivity to soil moisture. Onset timing differences on opposite sides of the peak are explained by convective structures that persist after sunset over the western slopes when topographic shading is considered. Although these preceding convective systems, as well as the presence of neighboring terrain, inhibit the initial development of drainage flows, the LES develops an approximately steady-state, fully developed flow over the finite slopes and finite nocturnal period. This allows a comparison to analytical models restricted to such cases. New analytical solutions based on surface heat flux boundary conditions, which can be estimated by the coupled land surface model, suggest the need for improved representation of the eddy diffusivity for analytical models of drainage flows. Full article

Mining activities caused heavy metal enrichment in mine soils. Sixty-six soil samplings of 26 mines in the central Tianshan Mountains of China were conducted to reveal heavy metal pollution for the single-factor (P_i), Nemerow comprehensive pollution (P_N), geo-accumulation (I_geo), potential ecological risk (E_i), and health risks. The results indicate that mines in Bayingolin and Aksu exhibit the most severe pollution (P_N = 26.64 and 25.28), characterized by Cd (P_i = 115.18) and As (P_i = 67.20), forming a Cd-As compound pattern. While Ili mines show Ni-Cu co-exceedance, and Turpan mines have lower overall pollution but localized Cd enrichment. Additionally, Cd is identified as the most severe by I_geo, with moderate or higher pollution levels observed in 61.00% of samplings. The E_i assessment revealed that Cd posed the greatest threat, with 100%, 53.80%, and 30.70% of samplings indicating slight, high, and extremely high ecological risk levels, respectively. Health risk assessment indicated that non-carcinogenic risks were dominated by Cr (affecting 19.20% of samplings), while carcinogenic risks were primarily from As (7.70%) and Cd (11.50% of samplings), with Cr exhibiting the highest carcinogenic risk. Furthermore, comparative analysis showed that underground mines led to higher pollution levels (I_geo) for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn compared to open-pit mines, and metal mines incurred greater heavy metal(loid) contamination than non-metal mines. These findings could provide data for mine soil pollution remediation in the central Tianshan Mountains. Full article

Urban agglomerations underpin regional economic growth and sustainability transitions, yet the spatial heterogeneity and drivers of land use intensity (LUI) remain insufficiently resolved in inland settings. This study develops a high-resolution framework—combining a 1 km hexagonal grid with XGBoost-SHAP—to (i) map subsystem-specific LUI evolution, (ii) identify dominant drivers and nonlinear thresholds, and (iii) inform differentiated, sustainable land governance in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration (GPUA) over 2000–2020. Composite LUI indices were constructed for human settlement (HS), cropland (CS), and forest (FS) subsystems; eleven natural, socioeconomic, urban–rural, and locational variables served as candidate drivers. The results show marked redistributions across subsystems. In HS, the share of low-intensity cells declined (86.54% to 83.18%) as that of medium- (12.10% to 14.26%) and high-intensity ones (1.22% to 2.56%) increased, forming a continuous high-intensity corridor between Xi’an and Xianyang by 2020. CS shifted toward medium-intensity (32.53% to 50.57%) with the contraction of high-intensity cells (26.62% to 14.53%), evidencing strong dynamism (55.1% net intensification; 38.5% net decline). FS transitioned to low-intensity dominance by 2020 (59.12%), with stability and delayed growth concentrated in conserved mountainous zones. Urban–rural gradients were distinct: HS rose by >20% (relative to 2000) in cores but remained low and stable in rural areas (mean < 0.20); CS peaked and stayed stable at fringes (mean ≈ 0.60); FS shifted from an inverse gradient (2000–2010) to core-area recovery by 2020. Explainable machine learning revealed inverted U-shaped relationships for HS (per capita GDP) and CS (population density) and a unimodal peak for FS with respect to distance to urban centers; model performance was strong (HS R² up to 0.82) with robust validation. Policy recommendations are subsystem-specific: enforce growth boundaries and prioritize infill/polycentric networks (HS); pair farmland redlines with precision agriculture (CS); and maintain ecological redlines with differentiated conservation and afforestation (FS). The framework offers transferable, data-driven evidence for calibrating thresholds and sequencing interventions to reconcile land use intensification with ecological integrity in rapidly urbanizing contexts. Full article

In high-density built environments, perceived density (PD)—shaped by physical, socio-cultural, and perceptual factors—often induces sensations of crowding, stress, and spatial oppression. Although green spaces are recognised for their stress-reducing effects, the influence of built-environment characteristics on public sentiment under stringent mobility restrictions remains inadequately explored. This study takes Chongqing, a representative mountainous metropolis in China, as a case to examine how natural and built environmental elements modulate emotional valence across varying PD levels. Using housing data (n = 4865) and geotagged Weibo posts (n = 120,319) collected during the 2022 lockdown, we constructed a PD-sensitive sentiment dictionary and applied Python’s Jieba package and natural language processing (NLP) techniques to analyse emotional scores related to PD. Spatial and bivariate autocorrelation analyses revealed clustered patterns of sentiment distribution and their association with physical density. Using entropy weighting, building density and floor area ratio were integrated to classify residential built environments (RBEs) into five tiers based on natural breaks. Key factors influencing positive sentiment across PD groups were identified through Pearson correlation heatmaps and OLS regression. Three main findings emerged: (1) Although higher-PD areas yielded a greater volume of positive sentiment expressions, they exhibited lower diversity and intensity compared to low-PD areas, suggesting inferior emotional quality; (2) Environmental and socio-cultural factors showed limited effects on sentiment in low-PD areas, whereas medium- and high-PD areas benefited from a significantly enhanced cumulative effect through the integration of socio-cultural amenities and transportation facilities—however, this positive correlation reversed at the highest level (RBE 5); (3) The model explained 20.3% of the variance in positive sentiment, with spatial autocorrelation effectively controlled. These findings offer nuanced insights into the nonlinear mechanisms linking urban form and emotional well-being in high-density mountainous settings, providing theoretical and practical guidance for emotion-sensitive urban planning. Full article

Tree phenotypes vary because of genotype–climate interactions, and this variation influences host selection by tree-killing bark beetles. As climate-driven bark beetle outbreaks intensify, identifying phenotypic traits that best predict resistance or susceptibility is critical. We examined genetic variation, secondary chemistry, growth rates, and climate sensitivity in interior ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Engelm.) at two sites in the Black Hills—Devils Tower National Monument (DETO), Wyoming, and Wind Cave National Park (WICA), South Dakota—experiencing low-moderate levels of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) activity. Genetic structure differed between sites. At DETO, large and small trees formed a single genetic cluster, whereas at WICA, two clusters emerged, one consisting of large trees and another comprising both small and large trees. The concentrations of some terpenes also differed between sites. Compared to beetle-killed trees, surviving trees exhibited distinct lifelong growth patterns and greater sensitivity to climate. Notably, surviving trees showed significant correlations of growth with climate variables, while beetle-killed trees were relatively insensitive. Long-term responsiveness of growth to climate was a stronger predictor of tree susceptibility to beetles than responses in years just before attacks occurred. These findings suggest trees with lower sensitivity to climate may be more vulnerable to beetle attack under changing climatic conditions. Full article

Forest parks are vital terrestrial ecosystems that provide multiple ecosystem services (ESs) to both society and nature, including carbon storage, water conservation, soil retention, and tourism-related cultural services. These services are essential for maintaining ecological security and supporting socio-economic development. However, little is known about how ESs vary across forest parks situated in different karst landforms, and integrated re-search on the combined effects of climate, vegetation, karst surface characteristics, and tourism remains limited. In this study, we examine forest parks in Guizhou Province, China, selecting four key ESs—water conservation, soil retention, carbon storage, and cultural services associated with tourism—and evaluate their levels through a comprehensive ecosystem services index (CES). We apply a structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to disentangle how climate, vegetation, karst surface features, and tourism activities drive spatial heterogeneity in CES. The results reveal significant differences among karst land-form units: carbon storage is relatively low in karst plateaus and gorges, whereas water conservation is highest in non-karst areas. Together, the four categories of driving factors explain 71.6–74.2% of the variance in CES, with climate emerging as the dominant contributor to spatial variation. For individual services, the principal drivers differ: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and tourist numbers are jointly shaped by karst surface characteristics and climate, while multi-year average spring precipitation is the most influential factor across forest parks. This study provides new evidence of the socio-ecological mechanisms regulating ESs in karst mountain forestscapes and offers a scientific reference for enhancing and regeneratively managing ecosystem services in these fragile regions. Full article

Understanding the spatial heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of traditional villages is critical for their tailored preservation and revitalization. Existing studies often overlook intra-regional variations shaped by historical and cultural contexts. In addition, the lack of systematic quantitative approaches limits the formulation of effective conservation strategies. This study addresses these gaps by examining 71 nationally listed traditional villages across five prefectures in southern Sichuan, China. We first mapped spatial patterns using ArcGIS10.5 and Geodetector. Then we applied GWR (adjusted R² = 0.70), K-means clustering, and Kruskal–Wallis tests to examine the spatial heterogeneity. This workflow resulted in three different village clusters related to historical migration: S1-Indigenous (n = 14)—Villages established before the Ming Dynasty, primarily inhabited by indigenous Sichuan residents. S2-Huguang migrants (n = 30)—Villages formed during the late Ming to early Qing “Huguang Migration to Sichuan,” facilitated by proximity to rivers and transport routes. S3-Refugees (n = 27)—Villages settled by war refugees from northern and eastern Sichuan, often located in secure, high-elevation areas. Based on these findings, we propose tailored conservation strategies: preserving historical layout and architectural integrity in S1; maintaining migration-shaped forms and highlighting cultural imprints in S2; and balancing spatial conservation with improved mountain road accessibility in S3. Full article

The coefficient of variation α is a critical parameter in the Brownian Passage Time (BPT) model, used to quantify the variability of large earthquake recurrence intervals. In this paper, a new estimation method is proposed for α based on paleoseismic sequences across multiple faults within a given tectonic region. By integrating Monte Carlo simulations with a Bayesian framework, the method assesses the probability distribution of α without assuming that the sample average recurrence interval equals the true mean μ, thereby avoiding epistemic bias. To validate the method, 1,000,000 simulations were conducted in two study areas of differing spatial scales. In the Western Qilian Mountains-Hexi Corridor, the posterior mean of α is 0.36 (without dating uncertainty) and 0.34 (with uncertainty). Expanding the analysis to 29 faults across western China, the estimated α increases to 0.39 (without dating uncertainty) and 0.36 (with uncertainty), with substantially reduced uncertainty bounds. The results reveal that increasing the number of paleoseismic sequences significantly reduces the uncertainty in estimating α, while considering dating uncertainty has only a minor impact. The methodology provides a robust framework for deriving region-specific recurrence variability parameters and proves particularly valuable for tectonically active regions where individual fault records are sparse but collectively form comprehensive datasets across multiple fault systems. Full article

The rapid development of transportation infrastructure in mountainous terrains, soft-soil foundations, and high-fill embankments poses stability challenges for conventional embankments, driving the application of advanced three-dimensional reinforced soil technologies. Geogrid with Strengthened Nodes (GSN) is one such innovation, forming a three-dimensional structure by placing block-shaped nodes at geogrid rib intersections. Current research on GSN focuses mainly on pullout tests and numerical simulations, while model-scale studies of its load-bearing deformation behavior and soil pressure distribution remain scarce. This study presents laboratory model tests to assess the reinforcement performance of GSN-reinforced embankments under static and dynamic strip loads. Under static loading, the ultimate bearing capacity of GSN-reinforced embankments increased by 74.58% compared with unreinforced cases and by 26.2% compared with conventional geogrids. Under dynamic loading, cumulative settlement decreased by 32.82%, and lateral displacement at the slope crest was reduced by 64.34%. The strengthened node design improved soil shear strength and controlled lateral deformation via enhanced lateral resistance, creating a more stable “reinforced zone” that alleviated local stress concentrations. Overall, GSN significantly enhanced embankment bearing capacity and stability, outperforming traditional geogrid reinforcement under both static and dynamic conditions, and providing a promising solution for challenging geotechnical environments. Full article

Land use/cover (LUCC) change in arid oasis–desert ecotones has significant implications for spatial governance in ecologically fragile regions. To better capture the temporal and spatial complexity of land transitions, this study developed a vector tracing method by integrating time-series remote sensing data with vector-based transfer pathways. Analysis of northern Oman from 1995 to 2020 revealed the following: (1) Arable land and impervious surfaces expanded from 0.51% to 1.09% and from 0.31% to 0.98%, respectively, while sand declined from 99.03% to 97.01%. Spatially, arable land was concentrated in piedmont irrigation zones, impervious surfaces near coastal cities, and shrubland and grassland along the Al-Hajar Mountains, forming a complementary land use mosaic. (2) Human activities were the dominant driver, with typical one-way chains accounting for 69.76% of total change. Sand was mainly transformed into arable land (7_C1, 7_D1, 7_E1; where the first part denotes the original type, the letter denotes the year of change, and the last digit denotes the new type), impervious surfaces (7_C6, 7_D6, 7_E6), and shrubland (7_E4). (3) Water scarcity and an arid climate remained primary constraints, manifested in typical reciprocating chains in the oasis–desert interface (7_D1_E7, 7_A1_B7, 7_C1_D7) and in the arid vegetation zone along the Al-Hajar Mountain foothills (7_D3_E7, 7_C3_D7), together accounting for 24.50% of total change. (4) The region exhibited coordinated transitions among oasis, urban, and ecological land, avoiding the common conflict of cropland loss to urbanization. During the study period, transitions among arable land, impervious surfaces, forest, shrubland, and wetland were rare (Type 16: 3.31%, Type 82: 2.89%, Type 12: 0.04%, Type 18: 0.01%). The case of northern Oman provides a valuable reference for collaborative spatial governance in ecologically fragile arid zones. Future research should integrate socio-economic drivers, climate change projections, and higher-temporal-resolution data to enhance the applicability of the chain-spectrum method in other arid regions. Full article