Areas Of Tibet Research Articles

Analysis of Moho Structure in Central Tibet Area Revealed by Deep Reflection Seismic Method

Analysis of Moho Structure in Central Tibet Area Revealed by Deep Reflection Seismic Method

Persistence of a shallow-marine environment in the western Kunlun area (northwestern Tibet) until the early Maastrichtian: evidence from radiolitid rudist bivalves

The closing of the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic dramatically affected the palaeogeography, palaeoenvironment and biotic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas. The timing of closure of the Tethys Ocean in different areas is recorded by the youngest marine deposits. In the western Kunlun area of northwestern Tibet, the Tielongtan Group represents the youngest marine deposits, and is rich in rudist bivalves; however, its depositional age, particularly the age of final deposition, is poorly constrained. Systematic and palaeobiogeographic analyses were conducted on rudists from the Tielongtan Group in the eastern Loqzung Mountains. Four genera and two species were identified: Biradiolites boldjuanensis, Gorjanovicia acuticostata, Durania sp. and Radiolites sp. The occurrence of the lower Maastrichtian index fossil, Biradiolites boldjuanensis, indicates that deposition of the Tielongtan Group continued until the early Maastrichtian. Therefore, the results of this and previous studies indicate that deposition of the Tielongtan Group spanned from at least the Turonian to the early Maastrichtian. Palaeobiogeographical analyses show that B. boldjuanensis was endemic in Central Asia, whereas G. acuticostata might have extended beyond the Mediterranean region. During the Late Cretaceous, the shallow ocean in the western Kunlun area contained both cosmopolitan and endemic rudists.

Pan-African and Early Paleozoic Orogenic Events in Southern Tibet: Evidence from Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Kangbuzhenri Gneissic Granite in the Zhegu Area

The Zhegu area in southern Tibet is situated in the central and eastern part of the Tethys Himalayan tectonic belt, with the Kangbuzhenri area being abundant in gneissic granites. This study examines the petrology, chronology, and geochemistry of the Kangbuzhenri gneissic granite, providing insights into its Pan-African and Early Paleozoic geological evolution. The zircon U-Pb chronology indicates an upper intercept age of ~539 Ma, reflecting Pan-African orogenic events in the eastern part of the Tethys Himalayan tectonic belt, and a lower intercept age of ~144 Ma, representing a late tectonic–thermal event. Geochemically, the gneissic granites are calc-alkaline peraluminous rocks with high SiO2 and Al2O3 contents and low TiO2, P2O5, MgO, and FeOT contents. The gneissic granites are enriched in LREE and LILEs (Rb, Pb, Th, U, etc.), but relatively depleted in HREE and HFSEs (Nb, Ti, P, etc.). Most of them show a weak negative δEu anomaly, except for two samples which show a significant negative δEu anomaly due to the crystallization of plagioclase. Based on the above study, most of the gneissic granites exhibited the characteristics of an I-type granite, while two of the samples were a highly differentiated I-type granite with S-type affinities. All the above characteristics indicate that the gneissic granite likely originated from the partial melting of crustal materials and sediments with a minor involvement of mantle-derived materials. Combined with the previous chronological studies, the Kangbuzhenri gneissic granites were formed in an extensional tectonic environment during post-collision orogeny and then they were influenced by the Kerguelen mantle plume tectonic–thermal event around ~144 Ma and the subsequent Southern Tibet Detachment System (STDS).

Topography of the 410 and 660 km discontinuities beneath the Tibetan plateau and adjacent areas

To investigate the three-dimensional spatial distribution of subducted oceanic slab segments and their consequential effect on the thermal and hydrous composition of the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath the entire Tibetan Plateau, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of approximately 655,000 P-to-s receiver functions (RFs), obtained from 735 broadband seismic stations. These RFs were utilized to delineate the 410 km (d410) and 660 km (d660) seismic discontinuities, which represent the upper and lower boundaries of the MTZ, respectively. The RFs were grouped within circular bins with a radius of 1 degree and stacked to image the discontinuities. The mean apparent depths derived based on the 1-D IASP91 Earth model for the d410 and d660 across the entire study area are 412.2±8.3 km and 668.9±8.5 km respectively, and the MTZ thickness is 256.5±6.9 km. The observed apparent depths underwent subsequent correction utilizing multiple velocity models. Several areas in central Tibet exhibit a normal d410 and an anomalously deep d660, which can be attributed to the combined effect of the negative thermal anomaly and dehydration associated with subducted slab segments that have penetrated at least to the d660 depth. The anomalous thickening of the MTZ beneath the southeastern Tibetan Plateau surrounding the Tengchong volcanic field can be explained by the dehydration of the subducted Indian Slab. Significant thinning of the MTZ associated with the deepening of the d410 beneath the western Tian Shan may indicate active thermal upwelling originating from the MTZ.

The last of their kind: Is the genus Scutiger (Anura: Megophryidae) a relict element of the paleo-Transhimalaya biota?

The orographic evolution of the Himalaya-Tibet Mountain system continues to be a subject of controversy, leading to considerable uncertainty regarding the environment and surface elevation of the Tibetan Plateau during the Cenozoic era. As many geoscientific (but not paleontological) studies suggest, elevations close to modern heights exist in vast areas of Tibet since at least the late Paleogene, implicating the presence of large-scale alpine environments for more than 30 million years. To explore a recently proposed alternative model that assumes a warm temperate environment across paleo-Tibet, we carried out a phylogeographic survey using genomic analyses of samples covering the range of endemic lazy toads (Scutiger) across the Himalaya-Tibet orogen. We identified two main clades, with several, geographically distinct subclades. The long temporal gap between the stem and crown age of Scutiger may suggest high extinction rates. Diversification within the crown group, depending on the calibration, occurred either from the Mid-Miocene or Late-Miocene and continued until the Holocene. The present-day Himalayan Scutiger fauna could have evolved from lineages that existed on the southern edges of the paleo-Tibetan area (the Transhimalaya = Gangdese Shan), while extant species living on the eastern edge of the Plateau originated probably from the eastern edges of northern parts of the ancestral Tibetan area (Hoh Xil, Tanggula Shan). Based on the Mid-Miocene divergence time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction, we propose that uplift-associated aridification of a warm temperate Miocene-Tibet, coupled with high extirpation rates of ancestral populations, and species range shifts along drainage systems and epigenetic transverse valleys of the rising mountains, is a plausible scenario explaining the phylogenetic structure of Scutiger. This hypothesis aligns with the fossil record but conflicts with geoscientific concepts of high elevated Tibetan Plateau since the late Paleogene. Considering a Late-Miocene/Pliocene divergence time, an alternative scenario of dispersal from SE Asia into the East, Central, and West Himalaya cannot be excluded, although essential evolutionary and biogeographic aspects remain unresolved within this model.

Spatial Differentiation Characteristics, Driving Mechanisms, and Governance Strategies of Rural Poverty in Eastern Tibet

Rural areas in Tibet, with its complex terrain, fragile ecology, and poor facilities, are subject to a combination of social–ecological system elements, facing the typical risks of recurrent, marginal, and potential poverty. At present, the spatial differentiation and driving mechanism of rural spatial poverty risk in Tibet are not clear, which adversely affects the formulation of differentiated and precise governance strategies. Thus, based on the social–ecological system perspective, 967 poor rural villages in eastern Tibet were taken as an example, using intelligent techniques such as random forest, geographic detector, and multi-scale geographically weighted regression to identify the spatial differentiation characteristics and the driving mechanism of poverty. The results indicated that (1) the high poverty incidence of rural areas in eastern Tibet showed a scattered block distribution, of which approximately 37% of the villages presented a spatial distribution characterised by a high degree of clustering of the high poverty incidence. (2) Topography and the level of public facilities were key factors influencing the poverty levels of rural areas in eastern Tibet, in which the coupling explanatory power between the construction land slope index (CLSI) and several poverty-causing factors was high. (3) Geological disaster, land surface temperature, CLSI, traffic accessibility, livestock resources, cropland per capita, and tourism resources differentially drove the poverty incidence of rural areas in eastern Tibet, forming spatial partitions dominated by the risks of potential, marginal, and recurrent poverty. For different partitions, differentiated governance strategies of upgrading ecological environments, optimising geographical locations, and revitalising social resources were proposed to provide references for solving the problem of relative poverty in the new period.

Exploring the distribution and habitat preferences of Polytrichaceae (Bryophyta) in Tibet, China

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau stands as one of the most ecologically fragile and biodiversity-rich regions globally. Understanding the distribution of different taxa and their relationship with environmental factors is crucial for effective conservation and sustainable management. Polytrichaceae, a significant bryophyte family widely distributed in Tibet, displays distinct structural, morphological, and phylogenetic traits compared to other mosses. Despite its importance, the distribution of Polytrichaceae in Tibet and its correlation with environmental factors have yet to be explored. In this study, we used an optimized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model to explore the potential suitable habitats of Polytrichaceae in Tibet, aiming to clarify their geographic distribution pattern as well as the key environmental influence factors. The model had high accuracy with an average Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.933 and True Skill Statistics (TSS) value of 0.789. The results showed that the potential suitability habitats of Polytrichaceae were mainly located in southeastern Tibet, and the low suitable, moderately suitable, and highly suitable habitats accounted for 12.53 %, 6.84 %, and 3.31 % of the total area of Tibet respectively. Unsuitable habitats were mainly located in northwestern Tibet, accounting for about 77.32 %. In Tibet, temperature factors (Mean Temperature of Coldest Quarter (Bio11) and Annual Mean Temperature (Bio1)) played a pivotal role in determining the potential suitable habitats for Polytrichaceae, and elevation, precipitation, and vegetation coverage also had an important influence. The family preferred warm, moist and densely vegetated habitats in Tibet. This study enriched our ecological understanding of bryophyte ecology in this region and provided data-driven support for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management in Tibet.

Structural Background of Geda Area in Tibet and Its Influence on Exercise and Training Activities

Tectonic geology is one of the most critical factors affecting geological activities in the regional geological background. By studying the structural geological environment of Geda Township and analyzing its geological units and tectonic stresses, it is concluded that: (1) Six large faults developed in the area in the near-north-south direction control the basic geological and tectonic structure of the working area and affect the spatial structure of the area; The depression of the fault is the Geda fault depression basin, and the flat valley area of the basin is relatively flat, which is conducive to the assembly and cantonment of troops. (2) The extension scale of the fault system extends a large scale, the direction of nearly north-south, in the engineering layout or field mobility, and the fault zone should be avoided as much as possible in engineering layout or field maneuvering; (3) There are many valleys, gullies and other connected landforms in the area, which are conducive to the passage of troops and logistics supplies; (4) The tectonic pattern of Geda sedimentary basin formed by the near-north-south oriented Geda sedimentary basin basin-control rupture system provides a good channel for field maneuvering; (5) The north-south fault system leads to the development of cracks and good penetration in the area, and the groundwater penetrates the surface well due to various effects such as pressure or siphon, and the entire water supply system in the area is guaranteed. Based on the combination of structural geology and military geology, this study preliminarily reviews the relationship between the two, and provides ideas for the integration of the two professional disciplines.

Predicting the Potential Risk Area of the Invasive Plant Galinsoga parviflora in Tibet Using the MaxEnt Model

The Tibetan plateau, with complex and diverse ecosystems, is an important ecological security barrier to China. However, climate change and the spread of invasive plant species have imperiled the once pristine and diverse ecosystem of the region. To prevent the further spread and control of invasive plants, it is important to delineate the potential distribution patterns of alien invasive plants at the regional scale across Tibet and understand their responses to climate change. Galinsoga parviflora Cav., a member of the family Asteraceae, is an annual herbaceous plant distributed globally as an invasive weed and possesses characteristics that make it highly invasive, such as a strong ability to proliferate and disperse. The species is also known to have an allelopathic effect. There has been no report on the spatial distribution of G. parviflora in Tibet. Using field survey data, we investigated the risk of G. parviflora invasion and its impacts on the ecological safety of Tibet. We employed the MaxEnt model using the R language and SPSS software to optimize and select model parameters and data. We acquired various environmental variables along with current and future climate change scenarios (two carbon emission scenarios, SSP126 and SSP585, for the years 2050 and 2090) to predict the geographic distribution and potential risk areas in Tibet that G. parviflora can invade. The MaxEnt model accurately predicted the distribution of G. parviflora in Tibet with an average AUC of 0.985. The most suitable environmental conditions in which G. parviflora performed the best in Tibet included a mean annual temperature of 6.2–10.0 °C and an elevation range of 2672–3744 m above sea level. Our results indicate that low precipitation during the coldest quarter of the year (mean temperature −2–3 °C) was the most important variable predicting G. parviflora distribution. The results also showed that the species was hardly found when precipitation in the coldest quarter exceeded 155 mm. The current potential invasion risk areas for G. parviflora included the river valleys of central, southeastern, and eastern Tibet. With future climate change scenarios (i.e., SSP126, SSP585), the suitable habitats for G. parviflora distribution will likely shift to northwest regions from the southeast. Particularly under the highest carbon emission scenario (i.e., SSP585), the potential risk area expands more rapidly, and the center of distribution shifts to northwest regions. These findings provide useful information about the current and future changes in G. parviflora distribution in Tibet, which is crucial for the comprehensive and proactive management and control of G. parviflora under future climate change.

Laboratory-accelerated simulation and calibration method for ultraviolet aging of asphalt binders based on radiation equivalent conversion

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant environmental factor that accelerates the aging of asphalt pavements. To address the gap in the equivalence conversion relationship between laboratory simulation parameters and field environmental factors for asphalt pavement aging in the Tibet area of China, this study investigates the relationship between laboratory simulations and field service for asphalt aging. The results indicate that using macroscopic rheological parameters (rutting factor (G*/sin δ), average recovery rate (R), and average non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr)) and microscopic parameters (sulfoxide index (SI) and glass transition temperature (Tg)) as quantitative indicators can evaluate the equivalent degrees of laboratory and field aging. Furthermore, this study introduces a correction coefficient for laboratory-accelerated simulated aging to improve the accuracy of the equivalent radiation conversion formula. The correction coefficient range for 90# matrix asphalt is 1.36–2.05, while the range for SBS modified asphalt is 0.82–1.64. This study provides a valuable database for establishing the relationship between laboratory simulations and field service for asphalt aging and offers a parameter basis and technical support for designing durable asphalt pavements in areas with intense UV radiation.

Automatic identification and interpretation of discontinuities of rock slope from a 3D point cloud based on UAV nap-of-the-object photogrammetry

Research on rock slopes has attracted considerable attention in the fields of infrastructure construction and disaster prevention. The search for an efficient and reliable method for discontinuity collection is an important task for various studies of jointed rock slope. Capturing high-precision and complete rock exposure images based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multi-angle and nap-of-the-object photogrammetry technology is proposed to realize the construction of a millimeter-level 3D point cloud for the high and steep slope. This study develops a new automatic methodology for discontinuity identification and interpretation. A Delaunay triangulation network is created for connecting adjacent points in the point cloud to calculate normal vectors and search for neighbor points efficiently. Combined with the modified region-growing algorithm, an automatic procedure which identifies discontinuities and acquires geometrical parameters efficiently and accurately is established. The proposed approach is applied to the high-steep rock slope on the northern bank of the Sequ Grand Bridge in the Changdu area of Tibet. Compared with the results from the manual survey, the proposed method is more reliable and exhibits high accuracy for discontinuity identification and interpretation on rock exposure.

Sluggish rise of the western Gangdese mountains after India-Eurasia collision

With the most prominent topography on Earth, the Tibetan Plateau has profound influences on the hydrologic cycle and climate dynamics in Asia. However, the regional uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau remains highly debated. Here, we use europium anomalies and LREE/HREE ratio in detrital zircon, combined with whole-rock La/YbN ratio, to constrain the crustal thickness and topographic evolution of the Gangdese mountains in southern Tibet. Europium anomaly, controlled by pressure-sensitive minerals plagioclase and garnet, has been shown to correlate with crustal thickness. Our results reveal contrasting crustal thickening histories of the eastern (east of ∼88°E) and western (west of ∼88°E) parts of the Gangdese. Prior to the India-Eurasia collision (∼60–55 Ma), the crust of the eastern Gangdese thickened continuously from ∼40 km to nearly 60 km, while the western Gangdese maintained a mildly thickened crust of ∼50 km. Both parts underwent substantial thinning (to 40–45 km) immediately before the India-Eurasia collision, but the eastern Gangdese re-thickened rapidly afterwards. In the western Gangdese, post-collisional thickening was delayed until ∼40–20 Ma, which resulted in a mild elevation of ∼2000 m for most areas of southern Tibet until the late Oligocene. This diachronous uplift of the Gangdese after collision may have resulted from more mantle-derived magma additions in the eastern Gangdese before collision, which could rheologically weaken its lithosphere. We suggest that the diachronous uplift of the Gangdese after the India-Eurasia collision may have dominated the moisture transfer pattern across southern Tibet through the late Eocene and intensified the South Asian monsoon through the Oligocene-Miocene boundary (∼25–20 Ma).

Identification of a Rye Spring Mutant Derived from a Winter Rye Variety by High-Altitude Environment Screening Using RNA Sequencing Technology.

Wintergrazer-70 and Ganyin No1 are high-yield forage varieties suitable for cultivation in high-altitude areas of Tibet (4300 m above sea level). Ganyin No1 was developed from Wintergrazer-70, with the latter serving as its parent variety. Ganyin No1 was identified as a spring variety, and subsequent RNA sequencing was conducted. RNA sequencing analysis identified 4 differentially expressed genes related to vernalization and 28 genes related to photoperiod regulation. The Sc7296g5-i1G3 gene is related to the flowering inhibition of rye, which may be related to the phenotypic difference in the Ganyin No1 variety in winter and spring. This finding provides valuable insights for future research on Ganyin No1, especially in addressing feed shortages in Tibet during winter and spring.

Optimal and Multi-View Strategic Hybrid Deep Learning for Old Landslide Detection in the Loess Plateau, Northwest China

Old landslides in the Loess Plateau, Northwest China usually occurred over a relatively long period, and their sizes are usually smaller compared to old landslides in the alpine valley areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Southeast Tibet. These landslide areas may have been changed either partially or greatly, and they are usually covered with vegetation and similar to their surrounding environment. Therefore, it is a great challenge to detect them using high-resolution remote sensing images with only orthophoto view. This paper proposes the optimal-view and multi-view strategic hybrid deep learning (OMV-HDL) method for old loess landslide detection. First, the optimal-view dataset in the Yan’an area (YA-OP) was established to solve the problem of insufficient optical features in orthophoto images. Second, in order to make the process of interpretation more labor-saving, the optimal-view and multi-view (OMV) strategy was proposed. Third, hybrid deep learning with weighted boxes fusion (HDL-WBF) was proposed to detect old loess landslides effectively. The experimental results with the constructed optimal-view dataset and multi-view data show that the proposed method has excellent performance among the compared methods—the F1 score and AP (mean) of the proposed method were improved by about 30% compared with the single detection model using traditional orthophoto-view data—and that it has good detection performance on multi-view data with the recall of 81.4%.

Predicting the distribution and characteristics of Chinese pangolin habitat in China: Implications for conservation

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is on the verge of extinction. Overuse and habitat loss have decimated the pangolin population across China. Understanding the habitat status of pangolins is a prerequisite for conservation, but this understanding is lacking due to difficulties in surveying and monitoring this species. This study used the MaxEnt model to analyze the current habitat distribution of Chinese pangolins by summarizing distribution records for China from 2010–2022. Moderate- and high-quality habitat of Chinese pangolins covers about 554,025 km2, mainly in 10 provinces in East and South China, together with a small area in Yunnan and Tibet. The majority of pangolin habitats (89.32%) were distributed in the forests of low mountains and hills; only 8.92% of habitats overlap with protected areas. Prey abundance and climate are key factors affecting pangolin distribution. Land-use changes leading to habitat encroachment and/or affecting prey abundance, and climate change may underlie their shrinking distribution. Considering that the current protected area coverage of Chinese pangolin habitat is low, we recommend adjusting or expanding the boundaries of protected areas to improve coverage. The focus should be on strengthening the population and habitat management of Chinese pangolin outside protected areas. Within pangolin ranges, conservation can be achieved through improving the education of community residents, implementing stronger community economic development policies, replacing lost logging income from residents’ private forest land with economic compensation, and strictly regulating the location of infrastructure and residential area construction. The goal of these four key actions is to increase the public’s awareness and enthusiasm for pangolins, reduce the willingness of community residents to hunt pangolin, and prevent the destruction of and encroachment into existing pangolin habitat.

The Art of Neighboring beyond the Nation: Ethnic and Religious Pluralism in Southwest China

Northwest Yunnan is nested in the border areas of Tibet, Myanmar, and Southwest China. The religiously and ethnically diverse region has astonishingly seen a lack of “conflict”, as is often assumed in regions of ethnic and religious differences. This paper argues that there is an organic form of pluralism through frequent inter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages, multi-lingual daily interactions, and strategic ethnicity registrations. Ethnic and religious boundaries are made permanently or temporarily permeable through the celebration of boundary-crossing rituals such as weddings and funerals and other shared experiences such as collective labor and migrant work. Despite an increasingly strong push to be integrated into the state power through various top-down developmental projects, minority peoples here still use kinship, collective rituals, and other shared experiences to foster group formation that is fluid, porous, and malleable, instilling empathy and obligation as the basis of this pluralistic borderland society. This organic form of pluralism presents an alternative to the nation as the standard modern form of community. This paper ultimately argues that this specific type of plurality requires us to think beyond the normative liberal notions of religious tolerance and diversity that are still promoted within the frame of the exclusivist nation-state.

Association between soybean product consumption and executive function in Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents.

This sought to explore the association between soybean product consumption and executive function (EF) in Chinese Tibetan adolescents in high-altitude areas. A total of 1,184 Tibetan children and adolescents were tested on demographic variables, soybean product consumption, and executive function in Lhasa and Nagchu regions of Tibet, China, using stratified whole population sampling. One-way ANOVA, linear regression analysis, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the associations existing between soybean product consumption and executive function. The proportions of Hardly ever, Occasionally, and Often in Soy Consumption among Tibetan children and adolescents in high altitude areas of Tibet, China were 21.7, 50.3, and 28.0%, respectively. The difference in 2 back reaction time among Tibetan children and adolescents with different soybean product consumption was statistically significant (F = 6.374, p = 0.002). The difference in conversion function reaction time was also statistically significant (F = 8.129, p < 0.001). Taking the soybean product consumption ≥6 t/w group as the reference group, after adjusting the relevant factors, those with soybean product consumption ≤1 t/w showed a statistically significant increase in Inhibit Function Dysfunction (OR = 1.844, 95% CI: 1.152, 2.951) and Conversion Function Dysfunction (OR = 2.008, 95% CI: 1.106, 3.646) had an increased risk of Conversion Function Dysfunction (OR = 2.008, 95% CI: 1.106, 3.646), which was significantly different (p < 0.05). There is an association between soybean product consumption and inhibitory control and translational flexibility of brain executive functions in Chinese Tibetan children and children and adolescents at high altitude.

Study on the Tourist Traffic Characteristics of People Entering Tibet and People in the Area

Because Tibet's unique geographic location creates different modes of tourist transportation, this paper aims to study its tourist travel modes as well as transportation accessibility to tourist attractions. It has two parts: in-region and out-of-region.(This article "in-region" refers to in Tibet and "out-of-region" refers to out of Tibet.)Research on the transportation mode of people entering Tibet from outside the region: calculate the utility value of different travel transportation modes, establish a sharing rate model to get the respective rate of transportation modes entering Tibet, and get the characteristics of travel transportation outside the region based on the above research. Research on travel traffic network of people in the region: observe the spatial distribution of tourist attractions in each area of Tibet based on the differentiation of Tibet's administrative regions, establish a spatial distribution model of attractions, and further study the traffic network characteristics of tourist attractions in the region with the distribution of attractions; analyze the accessibility and reachability of tourist attractions in each urban area of Tibet to study the characteristics of the travel traffic network in the region. In this paper, it is found that travelers going to Tibet mainly rely on the railroad to enter Tibet, and the attractions in the area are gathered and the tourist traffic is mainly centered in Lhasa, forming a tourist traffic network throughout the whole Tibet area. The study of Tibet's tourism traffic characteristics is of great significance to the layout of tourism traffic modes outside the region and the optimization of tourism traffic network in the region.

The Disappearing Technology and Products of Traditional Tibetan Village Blacksmiths

Tibetans have a long history of iron mining, smelting, and forging. For centuries, craftsmen in major cities and large iron production centers made high-quality swords and suits of armor, as well as decorative iron ritual objects for monasteries and the elites, but blacksmithing workshops in small villages have always produced and repaired everyday objects for agricultural and home use. Modern political changes, along with greater availability of industrial objects in local markets, have greatly reduced the rank of the village blacksmith. Ethnographic fieldwork reported here from two Tibetan Bön villages in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, China (once part of traditional Amdo area of Tibet), highlights some of the threats to the continued existence of village blacksmiths. Both a part-time blacksmith in one village and a full-time blacksmith in another make only a marginal living from their work. Their descendants are unlikely to continue the business. Many of the village blacksmiths in the area have already stopped production and closed their workshops. It is likely that the village blacksmith tradition might soon disappear altogether in this region of the world without support. Preservation of this tradition could benefit both cultural and environmental sustainability goals.

Old Landslide Detection Using Optical Remote Sensing Images Based on Improved YOLOv8

The reactivation of old landslides can be triggered by heavy destructive earthquakes, heavy rainfall, and ongoing human activities, thereby resulting in the occurrence of secondary landslides. However, most existing models are designed for detecting nascent landslides and there are few algorithms for old landslide detection. In this paper, we introduce a novel landslide detection model known as YOLOv8-CW, built upon the YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once) architecture, to tackle the formidable challenge of identifying old landslides. We replace the Complete-IoU loss function in the original model with the Wise-IoU loss function to mitigate the impact of low-quality samples on model training and improve detection recall rate. We integrate a CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) attention mechanism into our model to enhance detection accuracy. By focusing on the southwest river basin of the Sichuan–Tibet area, we collect 558 optical remote sensing images of old landslides in three channels from Google Earth and establish a dataset specifically for old landslide detection. Compared to the original model, our proposed YOLOv8-CW model achieves an increase in detection accuracy of 10.9%, recall rate of 6%, and F1 score from 0.66 to 0.74, respectively. These results demonstrate that our improved model exhibits excellent performance in detecting old landslides within the Sichuan–Tibet area.