Bohai Rim Region Research Articles

Bayesian-based analysis of sequence activity characteristics in the Bohai Rim region

Bayesian-based analysis of sequence activity characteristics in the Bohai Rim region

The driving effect of polycentric city network on the coordinated development of regional economy in Bohai Rim region of China

The driving effect of polycentric city network on the coordinated development of regional economy in Bohai Rim region of China

Evolution mechanism and improvement path of marine economy resilience in Bohai Rim Region

The marine economy resilience is one of the key attributes to measure the sustainable development of marine economy system. In this paper, the core and controlling influencing factors are systematically screened out. The cross-scale evolution mechanism of marine economy resilience of overall and inter-provincial in the Bohai Rim Region is explored by using the spatial econometric model based on the spatial effect level. Meanwhile, the feasible improvement path is proposed for each region considering the quantification utility levels of the influencing factors in each region. The results are as follows: (1) Marine industrial structure Ind and ocean-related employment Emp significantly enhance the marine economy resilience in the Bohai Rim Region, while financial development scale Fin significantly inhibits it; (2) The positive development trend of Liaoning’s marine economy resilience is mainly due to the promoting role of financial development scale Fin, marine industrial structure Ind and marine economy scale Sca; (3) The development of marine economy resilience in Tianjin-Hebei mainly depends on marine economy scale Sca and marine infrastructure Cap; (4) Financial development scale Fin, marine industrial structure Ind, marine economy scale Sca and marine infrastructure Cap have jointly promoted the rapid development of Shandong’s marine economy resilience. Therefore, the improvement path of the overall and inter-provincial marine economy resilience in the Bohai Rim Region is determined and proposed, which effectively promote the sustainable and stable development of its marine economy.

Dynamic Multi-Factor Correlation Analysis for Prediction of Provincial Carbon Emissions in China’s Bohai Rim Region

This study presents a dynamic multi-factor correlation analysis method designed to predict provincial carbon dioxide emissions (CDE) within China’s Bohai Rim region, including Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and Liaoning. By employing the sliding window technique, dynamic correlation curves are computed between various influencing factors and CDE at different time intervals, thereby facilitating the identification of key feature attributes. A novel metric, the Consistency Index of Influencing Factors (CIIF), is introduced to evaluate the consistency of these factors across regions. Furthermore, the Accurate Predictive Capability Indicator (APCI) is defined to measure the impact of different feature categories on the prediction accuracy. The findings reveal that models relying on a single influencing factor exhibit limited accuracy, whereas combining multiple factors with diverse correlation features significantly improves the prediction accuracy. This study introduces a refined analytical framework and a comprehensive indicator system for CDE prediction. It enhances the understanding of the complex factors that influence CDE and provides a scientific rationale for implementing effective emission reduction strategies.

Effects of Industrial Structure on the Green Utilization Efficiency of Urban Land: A Case Study of the Bohai Rim Region, China

The green utilization of urban land is a critical component of regional high-quality development. Enhancing the green utilization efficiency of urban land (GUEUL) is of great significance to improving the quality of ecological environment and achieving a green lifestyle and low-carbon production. With the process of urbanization, the industrial structure is constantly adjusted, which has an impact on the structure and efficiency of urban land utilization. Taking 43 cities in the Bohai Rim region as an example, the super-efficiency slack-based measure model with undesirable outputs (super-SBM-undesirable model) was employed to evaluate the GUEUL from 2006 to 2021, and the panel quantile model was used to explore the impact of industrial structure on GUEUL. The results showed that the GUEUL in the Bohai Rim region appeared a fluctuating upward trend from 0.664 in 2006 to 0.837 in 2021. High-value zones shifted from western Liaoning province and southern Shandong province to a “C”-shaped belt around the coastline and expanded continuously, while low-value zones decreased significantly. Furthermore, the influence of industrial structure on GUEUL was significantly positive, but there were significant differences among different efficiency levels. Industrial structure upgrading exerted the most significant effect on GUEUL improvement in low-value zones, while industrial structure rationalization was dominant in high-value zones, and the influence of industrial structure technologization was more significant in medium-low-value zones. Therefore, differentiated industrial structure adjustment policies should be formulated based on the actual condition of each city to improve GUEUL.

Microplastics distribution, ecological risk and outflows of rivers in the Bohai Rim region of China - A flux model considering small and medium-sized rivers

Microplastics (MPs) pollution and its ecological risks have attracted increasing global attention. The Bohai Rim region (BRR), as the economic and population center of the entire northern China, still lacks a precise assessment of MPs pollution. Although current attention on MPs pollution mainly focuses on large rivers, small and medium-sized rivers are more numerous and more closely connected to human activities. In this study, measurement data of MPs from 11 estuaries in the BRR was collected to understand MPs distribution and ecological risk. The results indicate that the overall MPs pollution in these estuaries is still at a low level, with an average abundance of 1254.3 particles m−3. While the pollution load index (1.85) is relatively low, the potential ecological risk of PVC in some area (S8, EPVC = 1433.78, III) warrants further attention. Then we integrated data from 22 relevant rivers (covering all size rivers) in this region from the literature to fit a MPs flux model and assessed the MPs outflow from the four provinces and cities in the region. A strong correlation is achieved between modeled estimates and field measurements (r2 = 0.74), which can well estimate the river MPs outflows in northern China such as the Nanfei River. The MPs outflow from the four provinces (cities) is calculated to be 123.235 (range 44.415–242.314) T year−1, of which Shandong accounted for >80 % (104.066 T year−1). The small and medium-sized rivers accounted for 47 % (58.08 T year−1), whose contribution to MPs outflows should not be underestimated. This study can help us to accurately assess MPs pollution in different coastal areas in northern China, benefiting the formulation of precise control measures and policies for marine MPs pollution.

A Ternary Diagram Approach to Investigate the Competition within the Bohai Sea Rim Multi-Port Group

The Bohai Rim region constitutes the third prominent “growth pole” in China’s economic landscape, wherein the Bohai Rim multi-port system, encompassing Tianjin Port, Dalian Port, and Qingdao Port, engages in intense competition to establish itself as the foremost shipping hub in northern China. This study compares the ternary diagram method and employs the comprehensive concentration index (CCI), Lerner index (LI), and spatial shift-share analysis (SSSA) methods to delve into the intricacies of concentration, inequality, and evolving competitive dynamics within the Bohai Rim multi-port system over the four decades spanning from 1981 to 2023. The aim is to analyze the evolutionary trajectory and underlying dynamic mechanisms of this multipartite port system. The analysis delineates the development trajectory of the system into three stages: the dominant stage of Tianjin Port from 1981 to 1990, the efficiency competition stage from 1991 to 1996, and the ascendancy of Qingdao Port from 1997 to 2023. The results indicate that: (i) the Bohai Rim multi-port system exhibits a relatively low level of concentration, ensuring balanced growth within a non-monopolistic competitive environment; (ii) the internal competitiveness of the Bohai Rim multi-port system has gradually shifted from Tianjin Port to Qingdao Port, with Dalian Port experiencing steady development in its container transport capabilities. (iii) Dalian Port has witnessed a decline in container throughput since 2015, indicating a weakening competitive posture. These revelations suggest that Qingdao Port is a viable candidate for development into the northern China shipping center, leveraging its increasing competitiveness and strategic location. The method applied in this study may also prove beneficial for similar multi-port systems elsewhere.

Study on Interprovincial Equity and the Decoupling of Carbon Emissions in the Construction Industry—A Case Study in China

Interprovincial disparities in carbon emissions from the construction industry (CECI) are an important challenge for future emissions reductions. Based on the CECI data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, the interprovincial equity and decoupling of CECI were examined in this study. The conclusions are as follows: (1): The main CECI growth regions were the eastern Bohai Rim region and the Pearl River Delta region. Heilongjiang basically achieved a CECI carbon peak in 2016. (2) The three northeastern provinces and western provinces were the main high–high and low–low aggregation areas, respectively. The greatest degree of inequality was found in the western provinces. The inequality between the eastern and western areas was the largest, while the inequality between the central and western areas was the smallest. The inequality in CECI in the north–south region decreased year by year. (3) The decoupling status of Shandong and some western provinces has significantly worsened, while the decoupling status of Sichuan, Yunnan, and some eastern developed provinces has been improving. These conclusions will contribute to the improvement of regional emission reduction strategies.

Analysis of the evolution, losses and gains of tidal wetlands in the Bohai Rim based on image data cube

Under the influence of challenges posed by both human and natural factors, tidal wetlands in the Bohai Rim have been confronting severe threats. It is imperative to comprehend the evolution, as well as the losses and gains of tidal wetlands in the Bohai Rim, for effective coastal management and planning. However, the dynamic fluctuations in the losses and gains of tidal wetlands in this region are frequently overlooked. In this study, employing image data cubes and frequency method, we systematically monitored tidal wetlands in the Bohai Rim spanning the period from 1986 to 2022. Additionally, we performed an exhaustive analysis of the evolution, losses, and gains of tidal wetlands within the provinces and municipality surrounding the Bohai Rim, as well as a detailed analysis of typical areas. This study unveiled three key findings. Firstly, tidal wetlands in Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, and Shandong had experienced significant declines of 42%, 66.3%, 71.08% and 60.52% from 1986 to 2022, respectively; they had contracted spatially and changed from a contiguous complete distribution to a scattered fragmented distribution. Secondly, reclamation and erosion had led to the loss of tidal wetlands, while sedimentation had led to the gain of tidal wetlands. The loss area of tidal wetlands caused by reclamation and erosion, as well as the gain area of tidal wetlands caused by sedimentation, had exhibited fluctuating changes from 1986 to 2022. Finally, the area of tidal wetlands in the Liaohe River Delta, Tianjin Port, and Yellow River Delta had decreased by 46.48%, 74.96% and 22.36% from 1986 to 2022, respectively; and tidal wetlands in these three typical areas had spatially contracted. Our findings offer a fresh perspective and a solid scientific foundation for the effective management and strategic planning of tidal wetlands in the Bohai Rim region.

Spatial relevance of synergistic effects between air pollutants and carbon dioxide emission reductions: A case study in the Bohai Rim region of China

Analyzing the spatial correlation of synergistic effect of reducing air pollutants and carbon dioxide (SERAC) between cities, which are spatial hubs characterized by dense populations, industries, and energy usage, provides a foundation for devising regional joint prevention and control policies tailored to local circumstances at this scale. The study analyzed 43 cities in the Bohai Rim region, assessing synergistic emission reduction effects from 2006 to 2020 using a coupled coordination model based on air pollutants (AP) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission trends. Social network analysis is employed to investigate the structural characteristics and robustness of the spatial correlation network and to unveil the position and significance of each city within the network. The study found that: (1) AP emission equivalent peaked in 2011, while the growth rate of CO2 emission equivalent slowed down in the Bohai Rim region. (2) The low-value areas for the SERAC are spatially clustered in Beijing, Tianjin, and Tangshan, with 90% of the cities in a coordinated state. (3) The network showcasing the spatial correlation between the SERAC features both “local clustering” and “global correlation” coexisting, and its robustness needs improvement. (4) Membership within the plates is relatively stable. On this basis, it is proposed that the Bohai Rim region can enhance the SERAC by establishing a “lead-follow” inter-city mechanism, strengthen the stabilizing role of core entities, implement differentiated emission reduction measures in communities, and expand regional cooperation, ultimately reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

The spatial spillover effect and its attenuation boundary of urban economy on port efficiency.

Cities are commonly recognized as the immediate hinterland of ports and play a crucial role in fostering the sustainable development of ports. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the influence of cities on ports. By employing panel data from 2001 to 2021 for both ports and cities in the Bohai Rim region, this study examines the spatial spillover effect of urban economy on port efficiency using the spatial error model (SEM). The findings show that urban economies have a significant spatial spillover effect on port efficiency, but this effect diminishes across different spatial matrices. In particular, the geographical matrix demonstrates a stronger spatial spillover effect of the urban economy on port efficiency. These research findings help to establish a collaborative mechanism for port-city development and provide useful insights for government management decision-making.

Dry deposition fluxes and inhalation risks of toxic elements in total suspended particles in the Bohai Rim region: Long-term trends and potential sources

Long-term changes in dry deposition fluxes (DDF) and health risks for toxic elements (TE) in total suspended particles (TSP) in the Bohai Rim region are important for assessing control effects of pollution sources. Thus, we investigated the trends in DDF and concentrations for TSP and TE and health risks of TE in eight cities in the region from 2011–2020. TSP concentration and DDF showed general downward trends. Compared to the before Clear Air Action Plan (BCAAP, 2011–2012) period, concentration and DDF of TE over the Clear Air Action Plan (CAAP, 2013–2017) period substantially decreased, with the highest decrease rates in Zn, Cd, and Cr. During the study period, non-carcinogenic (HI) and total carcinogenic (TCR) risks for children and adults were 0.09 and 0.04, and 1.54 × 10−5 and 2.65 × 10−5, respectively, with Cr6+ and As being dominant contributors. Compared to the BCAAP period, HI and TCR over the CAAP period decreased by 36.8 % and 32.4 %, respectively. However, their risks increased over the Blue Sky Protection Campaign (BSPC, 2018–2020) period. Potential source contribution function suggested substantial changes in potential risk areas over different control periods, with the BSPC primarily being on land and the Yellow Sea.

Assessing the technical efficiency performance of Chinese ports logistics: Evidence from the DEA and fsQCA.

Ports are critical centers of international trade and global logistics now that economic globalization has taken hold. The efficiency performance of port logistics is crucial to building an emerging pattern of development in which domestic and foreign dual cycles are complementary for China. This paper examines the efficiency performance of 19 ports within five major economic circles in China. It explores how their efficiency is distributed, and the configurations of efficiency improvement during the new normal of China's economy. First, the DEA-BCC model is employed to calculate the technical efficiency performance and distribution of each port from 2011 to 2020. Then, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was applied to integrate and analyze the influencing factors. The results show as follows: (1) Each port group performed differently on efficiency rankings, as well as regional distributions. Among these, the port groups of the Bohai Rim region, the Yangtze River Delta region, and the Bohai Rim region continue to rank highly. (2) From the perspective of configuration analysis, the results suggest that government support is not necessary for port logistics with better economic endowments. However, it is critical for backward ones. (3) A rational industrial structure can enhance levels of infrastructure, openness, and information technology, improving port performance. The findings can provide theoretical and practical references for better promoting the development of Chinese port management.al references for better promoting the development of Chinese port management.

2020–2022年环渤海地区8 m分辨率露天采矿区空间分布数据集

With the increase of mining activities in China, the ecological environment around mines is facing unprecedented pressure, leading to a series of resource, ecological and environmental problems, such as air pollution, soil erosion, solid waste pollution, landslides and debris flows. To precisely obtain the spatial distribution data of open-pit mining, scholars and regulatory bodies are actively seeking timely and efficient methods to monitor open-pit mining areas by using the remote sensing, an innovative technology, for this purpose. In this research, we adopted high-resolution optical remote sensing image GF-6 with a resolution of 8m to obtain the open-pit mining dataset in the Bohai Rim through rule-based feature extraction, time-series image discrimination and visual interpretation methods, covering over 8000 open-pit mining areas. The dataset exhibits a high level of accuracy, with an overall accuracy of 95.0%, a producer accuracy of 98.0% and a user accuracy of 92.4%. It effectively reflects the spatial dynamics in the distribution of open-pit mining areas within the Bohai Rim region and reveals the influence of economic growth and policy-making on these changes. Thus, the dataset can offer valuable data support for managing open-pit mining operations and the development of related policies.

Spatial association of coastal towns and villages in Funing District, Qinhuangdao: A study using social network analysis

This study aims to explore how the spatial network structure between towns and villages can be optimized, which is a crucial element of rural revitalization strategies. For this investigation, we choose Funing District in Qinhuangdao, situated along the coastal region of the Bohai Sea. To achieve this, a gravity model is constructed through integration and collection of data, then applied social network analysis (SNA) techniques. Empirical analysis is conducted using ArcGIS and the NetworkX library in Python to uncover essential aspects of the town-village network in Funing District, including overall network density, centrality, cohesive subgroups, and core-periphery structures. The results of this research reveal a core-periphery structure in the town-village network of Funing District, highlighting significant hierarchical differences among nodes regarding spatial connectivity. With these findings in mind, specific measures are proposed to improve the flow of elements between nodes and optimize the spatial network structure. These measures encompass enhancing the strategic position of urban nodes, endorsing rural revitalization initiatives, and actively advocating for the establishment of a spatial layout embodying "one core, three stars, four guards, one axis and one belt" to facilitate resources and elements integration between urban and rural locales. Furthermore, this study offers valuable insights and references for town-village planning and development across the Bohai Rim region, encompassing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and analogous regions.

Contradictions in human-nature relationships threaten coastal resilience and sustainability in the Bohai Rim Region, China.

Under the challenge of global environmental change and rapid development, tremendous risks brought about by natural disasters and human activities have increased environmental pressures for sustainable development. How to improve coastal resilience in the process of urban development has become an important topic in academia. In this study, a variable fuzzy recognition model was used to measure the level of coastal resilience in 17 cities in the Bohai Rim region, and then the kernel density, thiel index, and random forest model were used to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of coastal resilience. The results show that (1) The overall resilience level of the Bohai Rim region is increasing over time, but at a relatively slow rate. (2) Coastal resilience has significant spatial unevenness, with high-level cities dominated by Tianjin, Qingdao, Yantai, etc. and low-level cities dominated by Cangzhou, Panjin, Yingkou, Binzhou, etc. (3) The influence of economic development, infrastructure, innovation ability, technology investment, and government regulation on coastal resilience decreases in order. Based on the research findings, the study can not only make suggestions for the actual regulation strategy but also provide empirical and theoretical experience for other coastal countries.

Health risk assessment of municipal solid waste incineration emissions based on regression analysis

This study examined the potential health risks posed by the operation of 96 waste-to-energy (WtE) plants in 30 cities in the Bohai Rim of China. Utilizing a sophisticated simulation approach, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with the California Puff (CALPUFF) model, we obtained the spatial distribution of pollutants emitted by WtE plants in the atmosphere. Hazard indices (HI) and cancer risks (CR) were calculated for each plant using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's recommended methodologies. The results indicated that both HIs and CRs were generally low, with values below the accepted threshold of 1.0 and 1.0 × 10−6, respectively. Specifically, the average HI and CR values for the entire study area were 2.95 × 10−3 and 3.43 × 10−7, respectively. However, some variability in these values was observed depending on the location and type of WtE plant. A thorough analysis of various parameters, such as waste composition, moisture content, and operating conditions, was conducted to identify the factors that influence the health risks associated with incineration. The findings suggest that proper waste sorting and categorization, increased cost of construction, and elevated height of chimneys are effective strategies for reducing the health risks associated with incineration. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential health risks associated with WtE plants in the Bohai Rim region of China. The findings can serve as useful guidelines for law enforcement wings and industry professionals seeking to minimize the risks associated with municipal solid waste (MSW) management and promote sustainable development.

Spatial-temporal evolution of carbon emissions and spatial-temporal heterogeneity of influencing factors in the Bohai Rim Region, China.

The total change in carbon emissions in the Bohai Rim Region (BRR) plays a guiding role in the policy formulation of carbon emission reduction in northern China. Taking the 43 cities in the BRR as an example, the spatial-temporal evolution of carbon emissions in the BRR was analyzed using kernel density estimation (KDE), map visualization, and standard deviation ellipses, and the spatial autocorrelation model was used to explore the spatial clustering of carbon emissions. On this basis, the spatial-temporal heterogeneity of the factors influencing carbon emissions is explained using a Geodetector. The results are as follows: (i) During the study period, the carbon emissions in the BRR were on the rise, the share of carbon emissions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region (BTHR) and Liaoning Province was decreasing, and the contribution of Shandong Province was gradually enhanced. The spatial distribution of carbon emissions shows a geographical pattern of "middle-high and low-outside." (ii) Carbon emissions from different regions show the characteristics of BTHR > Shandong Province > Liaoning Province. The high-value carbon emission area continues to move from the northwest of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei to the southeast. (iii) Municipal carbon emissions showed a significant positive spatial correlation in the later part of the study. The high-high aggregation area is in Tianjin, and the low-low aggregation area is in Liaoning Province. (iv) The level of transport development contributes to carbon emissions with the highest growth rate, followed by industrial structure. There are also regional differences in the dominant influences on municipal carbon emission differences. Population size, urbanization, and economic development level are the core influencing factors of carbon emissions in the BTHR, Shandong Province, and Liaoning Province, respectively. In addition, the explanatory power of the interaction between the level of economic development and other factors on carbon emissions is at a high level.

Multimodal network path optimization based on a two‐stage algorithm in the perspective of sustainable transport development

AbstractThe environmental issues brought on by carbon emissions from transport have risen to prominence in recent years. More and more academics are using the multi‐objective path optimization method to solve the multimodal optimization problem from the standpoint of sustainable development in order to address the environmental issues brought on by the transport process. The research proposes a two‐stage method to handle multi‐objective optimization convergence and simplify multimodal transport path optimization. In the first stage, a fuzzy C clustering model is established, and based on the clustering results, the multimodal transport network nodes are identified. In the second stage, a multimodal transport multi‐objective path optimization model is established, and the optimal path is solved using a genetic algorithm. The research method was applied in the Bohai Rim region. Results indicated that the fuzzy C‐clustering method and the genetic method were able to select the optimal node city, thus solving the actual site selection problem of multimodal transportation networks. Using the FCM model, the 86 city nodes were categorized into four types, leading to the establishment of the most proficient multimodal transportation network in the Bohai Rim region. Using a genetic algorithm for optimization, a stable state is reached after 25 iterations. In the validation experiment on path optimization, the cost was reduced by 47.12% compared to the minimum single objective time, and transportation carbon emissions saw a reduction of 28.23%. Similarly, compared to the lowest target for transportation carbon emissions, the cost was reduced by 39.48% and the time was reduced by 38.12%. Compared to the lowest target for transportation carbon emissions, the time was reduced by 32.02% and the carbon emissions were reduced by 19.23%. Notably, the transportation multi‐objective path optimization model showed significant improvement compared to the single‐target model. The research method has been proven to be superior, and can offer the most optimal transportation route guidance for participants in multimodal transportation. Furthermore, it can effectively tackle the issue of node selection convergence and multi‐objective optimization, while also serving as a valuable source of data to support the theoretical advancement of multimodal transportation network path optimization.

Spatiotemporal Pattern of Urban Sprawl Based on the Weighted Urban Proliferation Model: A Case Study of the Bohai Rim Region in China

Since the reform and opening up, China’s urbanization level has increased rapidly, with the urbanization rate rising from 17.92% in 1978 to 63.89% in 2020. At the same time, the extreme expansion of urban space has gradually become a common phenomenon, and the problem of urban sprawl has become a stumbling block to the high-quality development of Chinese cities. The traditional single-indicator method and multi-indicator method have obvious shortcomings in the richness of index dimension and the subjectivity of indicator selection, respectively, when measuring urban sprawl quantitatively. In this study, based on the weighted urban proliferation (WUP) model, we integrated the three independent dimensions of urban permeation (UP), dispersion of built-up areas (DIS), and utilization density (UD) to verify the applicability and feasibility of the model for quantifying the spatiotemporal pattern of urban sprawl, taking the Bohai Rim region in China as an example. There were four main results. Most cities in the Bohai Rim region had a moderate-to-high level of urban sprawl, with obvious spatial heterogeneity by province. The average WUP of cities in the Bohai Rim region increased by 61.83% from 2000 to 2020, and cities with moderate urban sprawl became cities with high sprawl. The urban sprawl process in the Bohai Rim region accelerated during 2010−2015 and stabilized thereafter. The increase in WUP caused by the growth of built-up areas is the main driver of urban sprawl in the Bohai Rim region. This study found that the WUP model can be effectively applied to the Bohai Rim region of China, where it reflects the multidimensional features of urban sprawl and provides new insight into its spatiotemporal pattern.