Earth Resources Research Articles

Well-controlled preparation of WO3-x/WSe2 sponges by electric field-assisted laser-induced plasma deposition for hydrovoltaic

Hydrovoltaic, which converts the energy of water into electrical energy, is a regenerative energy harvesting method that utilizes the earth's sufficient water resources. Electricity production relies on water molecules interaction with functional materials. Strategies like surface modification, structure engineering, and ion doping can be used to increase output performance. We present an electric field-assisted laser-induced plasma deposition method to prepare WO3-x/WSe2 sponges for water-induced electricity generation. By adjusting the electric field strength, we are able to control the porosity, Se vacancies, and O doping of the sponges. These modifications directly impact the performance of water-induced electricity generation by altering the streaming potential and ion diffusion gradient of sponge structures. The prepared WO3-x/WSe2 sponges can participate in the complete water cycle to achieve the energy harvesting of different forms of water, obtaining droplet-induced voltages of 65.4 mV and moisture-induced voltages of 207.1 mV. This overcomes the limitation of single-stimulation water-induced electricity systems that require specific conditions. When exposed to Sunlight, the photosensitive properties of WO3-x and WSe2 can lead to a current up to 7 times higher than that produced in darkness. Furthermore, this research can be expanded to develop other two-dimensional materials and be utilized in various applications, such as the self-powering of flexible and wearable electronic devices.

Research progress of oxygen redox in sodium‐layered oxides

AbstractSodium‐ion batteries are emerging as promising alternative energy sources compared to lithium‐ion batteries, due to the abundant sodium resources in Earth's crust and their low cost. Nevertheless, the larger ionic radius of sodium ions leads to minor energy density in sodium‐layered oxide cathodes. To address this, anionic redox has attracted significant attention as it provides additional capacity beyond cationic redox. In this comprehensive review, the history and fundamental mechanisms of anionic redox are systematically summarized, and the recent advancements in sodium‐layered oxides with anionic redox is categorized and discussed according to deficient sodium‐layered oxides, stoichiometric sodium‐layered oxides, and sodium‐rich layered oxides. Finally, several prospects and challenges for anionic redox‐layered oxide cathodes have also been proposed. This review sheds light on the potential trajectory of sodium‐ion battery technology and highlights the pathways to harness the full capabilities of anionic redox for energy storage applications.

éghajlatvédelem poétikája és etikája felé. Ragadozók, bányászat, Szent Ágoston

Towards a Poetics and Ethics of Climate ProtectionThe study addresses the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to climate change, emphasising the role of individual responsibility and political action. It advocates for a shift in thinking, where each person acknowledges their responsibility for climate change, which is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat it. The author agrees with the consensus among climate scientists and scientific circles that human activity is the primary cause of global warming. However, argues that a democratic society lacks a single authoritative figure to dictate actions, placing the onus on individuals to act responsibly and ethically. Exploring the ethical dimensions, the text delves into the philosophical and ethical implications of our relationship with the Earth, drawing on Saint Augustine's reflections on time and the nature of the past. It discusses the concept of exploiting the Earth's resources, likening it to enslaving the past, and emphasises the need to treat these resources as partners in our survival rather than mere commodities. The author argues for a sustainable and ethical approach to resource management, advocating for a balance between taking from and giving back to the Earth. The text concludes by discussing the role of technology, ethics, and legislation in reversing climate change. It highlights the need for more excellent knowledge, responsibility, and collective action to understand and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. János Boros calls for extending Kant's categorical imperative to include the Earth, emphasising the moral obligation to protect and sustain the planet for future generations. Overall, the study is a comprehensive and philosophical exploration of climate change's ethical and practical challenges, advocating for individual responsibility, strong legislative action, and reevaluating our relationship with the Earth.

Heterostructured Co/CeO2-Decorating N-Doped Porous Carbon Nanocubes as Efficient Sulfur Hosts with Enhanced Rate Capability and Cycling Durability toward Room-Temperature Na-S Batteries.

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (RT Na-S) batteries have gained significant interest thanks to their satisfactory energy density and abundant earth resources. Nevertheless, practical implementations of RT Na-S batteries are still impeded by serious shuttle effects of sodium polysulfide (NaPS) intermediates, sluggish redox kinetics of cathodes, and poor electronic conductivity from S-species. To solve these problems, heterostructured Co/CeO2-decorating N-doped porous carbon nanocubes (Co/CeO2-NPC) are constructed as a S support, which integrates the strong adsorption and fast conversion of NaPSs, together with superior electronic conductivity. Consequently, the as-synthesized S@Co/CeO2-NPC cathode for RT Na-S batteries exhibits improved rate performance (1275, 561.1, and 485 mAh g-1 at 0.1, 5, and 10 C, respectively) and superior cyclic durability (capacity degeneration of 0.027% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 5 C). Such a S cathode combining a heterostructure interface, hierarchical porous carbon nanocubes, and polar compositions can considerably increase electronic conductivity and promote NaPS adsorption and conversion, achieving superior performance toward RT Na-S batteries.

Assessing the Human Health Benefits of Climate Mitigation, Pollution Prevention, and Biodiversity Preservation.

Since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has amassed great wealth and achieved unprecedented material prosperity. These advances have come, however, at great cost to the planet. They are guided by an economic model that focuses almost exclusively on short-term gain, while ignoring natural capital and human capital. They have relied on the combustion of vast quantities of fossil fuels, massive consumption of the earth's resources, and production and environmental release of enormous quantities of chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, and plastics. They have caused climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, the "Triple Planetary Crisis". They are responsible for more than 9 million premature deaths per year and for widespread disease - impacts that fall disproportionately upon the poor and the vulnerable. To map the human health impacts of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. To outline a framework for assessing the health benefits of interventions against these threats. Actions taken by national governments and international agencies to mitigate climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss can improve health, prevent disease, save lives, and enhance human well-being. Yet assessment of health benefits is largely absent from evaluations of environmental remediation programs. This represents a lost opportunity to quantify the full benefits of environmental remediation and to educate policy makers and the public. We recommend that national governments and international agencies implementing interventions against climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss develop metrics and strategies for quantifying the health benefits of these interventions. We recommend that they deploy these tools in parallel with assessments of ecologic and economic benefits. Health metrics developed by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study may provide a useful starting point.Incorporation of health metrics into assessments of environmental restoration will require building transdisciplinary collaborations. Environmental scientists and engineers will need to work with health scientists to establish evaluation systems that link environmental and economic data with health data. Such systems will assist international agencies as well as national and local governments in prioritizing environmental interventions.

Trade sign, trademark, brand: definitions, conceptual framework and legislation

The definitions and conceptual framework of the following terms are studied: brand, mark, sign and definitions. The research was conducted on the basis of definitions and approaches of these Western marketing «gurus» and practitioners of well-known Western experts in marketing, advertising, management, and psychology, as well as our domestic experts and scientists. Such definitions for a brand include trade, commercial, commodity, brand and others. The analysis of the literature showed that these definitions are identical, and in the Ukrainian case, it is necessary to focus on the legislative framework. The author also studied the definition of a trademark with the following definitions: trade, commercial, commodity, brand and others. These definitions and their conceptual framework were also found to be identical. In addition, the definition and conceptual framework of «brand» were also studied. The main synonyms for the brand in their definitions can be quality, image, memory, positive impressions, psychological effect, advertising and positioning. In the Ukrainian market, consumers and even experts often equate the concepts of a trademark, a trade mark and even a brand. However, this is not correct. I support this understanding of Western and domestic scientists that these are three consecutive steps. If to explain briefly, TS is a sign of indication of goods and services issued in the state according to its legislation. TM is a sign or logo under which the seller sells his goods and which is known to buyers. TM may be identical to the TS, and may not be identical to it. A brand, in turn, can be a well-promoted TM or it can be promoted without TM. In the West, TM and brand are practically the same thing, because there is basically an oligopoly market where several powerful firms operate with a not very developed product market. The terms TS, TM, and brand came to us from the West. The first two in the West were introduced around 20–40 years of the last century, and the brand around 60–70 years of the last century. The brand in the West went through four strategies from commodity to corporate. The basis for the definitions was the goal and historical facts and opportunities. Due to the change in these two factors, we have given a new definition of the brand. This definition is based on the UN resolutions on the exhaustion of the Earth's resources and their inconsistency with the ability to meet the needs of modern man and the right and responsible attitude. That is, we can interpret it as «green» marketing.

Modeling projected impacts of climate and land use/land cover changes on streamflow in Gelana Catchment, Southern Ethiopia

Effective watershed management is extremely critical because changes in the global and local distribution of climate have a direct impact on ecosystems. The primary goal of the current study was to evaluate current and projected climate and land use land cover (LULC) change on streamflow in Gelana catchment. LULC prepared via supervised classification algorithm by using ERDAS (Earth Resources and Development Systems) software, ArcGIS 10.4 (for satellite image processing and map preparation), and the Cellular Automata (CA)-Markov model revealed significant gains in agricultural and built-up over forest and pasture land classes. A coordinated regional climate downscaling experiment under the Africa domain for three regional climate data for two future scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) showed a significant reduction in rainfall from 48.64 % to 4.6 %, while minimum and maximum temperatures increased from 0.58 to 3.35 °C and 0.5 to 2.93 °C, respectively. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to analyze the impact of LULC and climate change on streamflow. The model calibration and validation were carried out by using monthly observed streamflow for the most sensitive parameters by using Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) within the SWAT Calibration of Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP). The model performed well between observed and simulated streamflow, with R2, NSE, PBIAS, P, and r-factors of 0.84, 0.77, −15.9, 0.68, and 0.56 for calibration and 0.88, 0.8, −14, 0.63, and 0.65 for validation, respectively. The results of the study implied the simulated mean annual streamflow increased from 3.22 % to 23.82 % in the case of LULC change alone, while it decreased from 38.2 % to 23.27 % for climate change alone for the near-term of RCP 4.5 and from 45.3 % to 24.6 % for RCP 8.5. Further substantial decline was observed in the combined simulation, from 55.38 % to 42.45 % and 62.15 % to 59.36 % for the near and far future of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. In order to address the constraints, current findings are valuable to scale up sustainable natural resource management.

Predicting and Navigating Environmental Transformations using Machine Learning

In today's world, as ecological challenges continue to rise, the importance of environmental monitoring and conservation cannot be overstated. These efforts play a vital role in countering the adverse impacts of human activities on our planet. The development of predictive models that can accurately predict the results of different conservation measures is essential for the success of these conservation efforts. This paper's objective is to create a Machine Learning (ML) model that predicts how environmental changes can unfold. This prediction helps in proactive monitoring and conservation planning, considering factors like deforestation, air pollution, sea level rise, temperature shifts, and forest preservation. The model relies on machine learning techniques, including AdaBoost, ETS, Prophet, SARIMA, LightGBM, and TL-BLSTM models, to analyze data, uncover trends, and inform decision-making. By offering a thorough assessment of the effects of conservation approaches, this model aids in shaping well-informed decisions regarding the distribution of resources. As a result, this process strengthens initiatives designed to protect biodiversity and the Earth's natural resources. Predicting changes in environmental variables is the main goal of this research, which will improve effective environmental management. In order to draw conclusions that are meaningful, this study compares several models for each of the four crucial factors.

Activated carbon from Camellia oleifera shells for adsorption of Y(iii): experimental and DFT studies.

Yttrium is an important rare earth element and is widely used in fields such as special glass preparation, metallurgy, and materials science. However, it is difficult to recover yttrium ion waste from dilute solutions with traditional processes, resulting in a significant waste of rare earth resources. The simple, effective, and easy-to-operate adsorption method is the most promising method for recovering yttrium, which is of great significance for sustainable development of the rare earth industry. In this study, activated carbon was prepared from Camellia oleifera fruit shells (COS) using phosphoric acid activation, and efficient recovery of Y(iii) from the Camellia oleifera fruit shell activated carbon was studied. Adsorption equilibrium data showed that this activated carbon had a Y(iii) adsorption capacity of 35.41 mg g-1, indicating significant potential for recovery of yttrium ions. The adsorption of Y(iii) by the activated carbon prepared from COS was consistent with the Langmuir model, and the adsorption data were consistent with the pseudo second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process was primarily chemical adsorption. After adsorption, the surface of the activated carbon contained large amounts of N, O, and Y, indicating that Y(iii) was stably adsorbed. The mechanisms for adsorption of Y(iii) on three types of activated carbon were studied through DFT calculations. The results showed that Y(iii) interacted with the carbon atoms on the surfaces to form new chemical bonds. The yttrium ion adsorption capacities for the three different activated carbons decreased in the order C I > C II > C.

Green industry: how to make production eco-friendly

The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that green industry is a new area of the economy aimed at preserving the well-being of society through the efficient use of Earth resources. The development of humankind is impossible without the impact on the environment and the use of natural resources: factories are built, waste is incinerated, minerals are mined, forests are cut, and smoking factories are launched. Almost all human actions affect the ecosystem of the Earth; hence, the article discusses whether it is possible to make this impact less harmful. Studies are given on the harm caused by large-scale production to the environment and how to reduce it; how the environmental policy of cities is changing and enterprises are transformed; what is a ‘green industry’ and how to organize production according to its principles. The empirical basis of the study is the research report of the World Health Organization; American scientists and experts of the Swiss company IQAir, the data of the rating of the US Blacksmith Institute (Pure Earth NGO) for the study of the toxic cities, as well as Eric Hobsbawm’s scientific works. The practical significance of the research is aimed at the rational use and organization of work with natural resources, their economical consumption, the use of environmentally friendly technologies in production and in life, and the creation of sustainable conditions for investment in such projects not only by the government authorities, but also by the private sector.

Investigation on pretreatment method for the determination of rare earth elements in polymetallic mineral samples in Pan-Xi region by ICP-MS.

The polymetallic mineral samples in Pan-Xi region are rich in rare earth resources, and exploring an efficient and accurate analysis method is of great significance for their comprehensive utilization. In this study, the samples were decomposed by three methods, namely closed acid dissolution, open acid dissolution with five acid and alkali fusion with sodium peroxide, and the 15 REE were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with Rh and Re as internal standard correction elements. The comparative experiments were conducted using standard substances, and the results showed: (1) The detection limit of closed acid dissolution method was low with relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 2.51% to 9.56% and the accuracy of method (ΔlgC) ranging from 0.006 to 0.073, while the sample processing was long, and the results of some REE were low. (2) The RSD of open acid dissolution with five acid method ranged from 1.93% to 7.96%, and ΔlgC ranged from 0.004 to 0.045 with low results of the determination results of REE. (3) The alkali fusion with sodium peroxide method eliminated the influence of matrix effects by selecting instrument optimization, sample dilution, appropriate internal standard elements, etc. The RSD ranged from 1.24% to 6.49%, and ΔlgC ranged from 0.001 to 0.032. In conclusion, alkali fusion with sodium peroxide method has a fast analysis process, complete sample dissolution, and the accuracy and precision of test results can meet the requirements of specification (DZ/T0011-2015), which is most suitable for the analysis of REE in polymetallic mineral samples from Pan-Xi region.

Impact of Changes in Land use and land cover on Agricultural Productivity in Northern Nigeria

The challenges posed by changes in land use and land cover are greatly affecting agricultural productivity in the semi-arid region of Nigeria. Land use and land cover change affects ecosystem functions and services, which leads to people migrating from one place to another, predominantly rural dwellers. The research studies the impact of land use and land cover change on agricultural productivity and the factors influencing the changes. To achieve this, a remote sensing technique was employed. The Landsat Thematic Mapper Image of 1990, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Image of 2005 and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Image of 2020 were collected and analysed. Six classes of land use and land cover were obtained using Earth Resource Development Assessment System Imagery 9.1 software. The result shows that there was a decrease in the land area occupied by wetland, shrubland and water body, while there was an increase in the land area occupied by bare lands/dunes, settlement and scattered cultivation from the year 1990 to 2020. Increase in bare land/dune, scattered cultivation and settlement were mainly as a result of climate change resulting from overgrazing, a southward movement of dunes from the Sahara desert, increasing farming activities and increasing demand for shelter by the increasing population. The decrease in shrubland, water body, and wetland were also linked to climate change resulting from increasing deforestation, and increasing use of wetland for farming activities. Based on the results of the analysis, it is recommended that measures should be taken to integrate sustainable land management and climate change adaptation options for sustainable Agriculture.

A Study of Strategies for the Conservation and Reuse of Historic Building Spaces

Today there are many ancient buildings from the ancients, these buildings are not only the buildings themselves they carry the human civilization of each different era, so in modern times protecting these ancient buildings is particularly important. The protection of historical buildings is complex, and in this process, there are three important principles, the principle of comprehensive protection, the principle of maintaining the status quo as far as possible, and the principle of historical authenticity, which play a key role in the protection of ancient buildings, so that more ancient buildings with a long history can be preserved. At the same time, due to the limited nature of the earth's resources, the reuse of resources is particularly important nowadays, which can make the limited resources expand their usefulness, and the redevelopment of buildings is also the same. In terms of historical sites this not only does a good job of preservation but also economically promotes the economic development of today's society, so that society can be sustainable development.

Project Crescent – A Proposal to Build a Sustainable Moon Base

The proposed initiative, named "Project Crescent," delineates a comprehensive strategy for the creation of a sustainable Moon base, followed by the development of a permanent human settlement on the lunar surface. Organized into four distinct phases, the project initiates with scientific exploration, leveraging existing lunar mission data to inform future missions effectively. The second phase concentrates on the construction of temporary outposts, utilizing inflatable habitats and lunar resources to establish the foundational infrastructure for sustainable bases. Advancing into the third phase, the focus shifts to the establishment of permanent habitats with the overarching goal of achieving self-sufficiency through a combination of Earth trade, resource utilization, and engagement in economic ventures such as asteroid mining and energy production. The ultimate phase envisions the Moon base experiencing exponential growth, evolving into an independent and economically productive hub dedicated to scientific advancement and space exploration. Despite the inherent challenges associated with such a monumental undertaking, the authors posit that a Moon base represents a pivotal stride toward interplanetary civilization and is imperative for securing humanity's survival beyond the confines of Earth.

Vitamin content in seaweeds: A systematic review on water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins for adult daily intake

Background:With the global population on the rise, there is a growing imperative for scientists to innovate new foods utilizing the Earth's resources, catering to consumer preferences, and promoting health benefits. There is a claim that algae, particularly seaweeds, represent an exceptional source of vitamins. Seaweeds, belonging to the marine algae category, harbor potential functional compounds targeted at mitigating metabolic risk factors. They can be integrated into food and beverage preparation either as a whole plant or as extracts. Despite assertions regarding seaweed's vitamin richness, this aspect remains unverified in humans.Objectives:This study aims to undertake a comprehensive literature review to evaluate the amount of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins in seaweeds, with a specific focus on vitamins B12, C, and Carotenoids.Methods:A comprehensive search for full-text, English-only publications was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar, covering the period from 2016 to 2022. Two search terms were employed on PubMed, yielding 7 and 781 studies, respectively. From these, three studies met the pre-determined eligibility criteria for inclusion. On Google Scholar, the search generated 17,100 studies, and after screening, two studies met the eligibility criteria out of sixty. In total, five relevant publications were identified. The composition of seaweeds was then compared to other dietary sources and nutritional intakes.Results: Seaweeds prove to be a superior source of vitamin C compared to iceberg lettuce, although not abundant for food consumption. They serve as an alternative source of vitamin B12 for the vegetarian population, and Vitamin A (carotenoids) found in seaweeds surpasses that in carrots. The vitamin A content ranges from 2–10% of Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI), while vitamin C content varies from 1–23% of RNI, and vitamin B12 content varies from 107–446% of RNI. Seaweeds exhibit substantial potential as food supplements and as ingredients in the food industry, providing a noteworthy amount of nutritional value.Conclusions: Seaweeds have the potential to enhance daily vitamin intake, particularly for vitamin B12, C, and Carotenoids, in comparison to the recommended dietary allowance.Keywords: Seaweeds, Algae, Marine Algae, Vitamins, Vitamin C

ماحولیاتی تلوث پر فقہائے کرام کے تعزیری احکام تحفظِ ماحول پر اسلامی تعلیمات کی عصری معنویت

Concerning the alarming pace of environmental pollution globally, it is crucial to consider any points of view, especially faith-based perspectives, to tackle this complex situation. This research analyses the current consequences of Islamic environmental regulations, specifically examining jurists' views on ecological sustainability, private property, and penalties for individuals causing environmental damage. Scholars in the Islamic faith have expressed different judgments and concepts regarding environmental pollution. The instructions cover conserving the planet, securing private belongings, and outlining penalties for individuals harming their surroundings. The article analyses how jurists handle ecological problems within Islamic law by drawing from conventional Islamic legal texts and modern interpretations. The investigation uncovers a variety of legal decisions that highlight the significance of ecological preservation as a matter of faith and ethical need. Jurists emphasize the interdependence between humans and larger ecosystems and promote ethical handling of earth's resources. Moreover, they emphasize the concept of transparency, stating that people are responsible for the outcomes of their choices in their surroundings. This article aims to clarify the legal viewpoints on environmental pollution to enhance current debates on environmental ethics and policy development. The importance of Islamic jurisprudence in dealing with current environmental issues is highlighted, emphasizing the need for more focus on the moral aspects of protecting the environment in various cultures and religions. Eventually, it supports an integrated strategy that combines moral, legal, and theological factors in protecting the earth for subsequent generations.

The Model and Implementation of Quranic Integral Ecofeminism at The Iiq Takhassus Islamic Boarding School Jakarta-Indonesia

Purpose: Reconsideration of stereotype gender of the ecofeminist paradigm which states that male hypermasculinity is one of the factors causing natural destruction. Theoretical framework: Carolyn Merchant explained that environmental damage has a correlation with men's domineering attitude toward women. The domineering attitude of men towards women affects the domineering attitude of men in exploiting the earth's resources. This is because both the earth and women have the same character, namely: silent, receptive, submissive, and surrender. Interestingly, in the research results of IPPC in 2019, the words of Merchant are not fully justified, this is because environmental damage is caused by modern human lifestyles that are not friendly to the environment. Likewise, Febriani rebutted the Merchant's statement with the verse of the Quran which stated that environmental damage was caused by "al-nās", namely humans who have matured socially, this editorial is mentioned for humans in general, both for men and women (Q.S. al-Rūm [30]: 41), Febriani also stated that character stereotypes for men and women are not found in the al-Qur’an. Method/design/approach: The method for Quranic interpretation using in this paper is maudu’i/thematic method. The authors also use qualitative observations to examine the concepts and categories in each subsequent event giving meaning to the research subject or observation. Result and conclution: The authors find a Quranic integral ecofeminism model which is understood in terms of “Environmental awareness and movement by involving men and women in a cooperative and complementary manner, by balancing the potential for physical and spiritual, rational and emotional, as individual, social and spiritual beings”. The Quranic integral ecofeminism model developed at the IIQ Takhassus Islamic boarding school, by providing awareness that feminine characters such as nurturing, loving, protecting, creative, and caring can be carried out by all parties in the campus ecosystem, both men and women. Likewise, masculine characters are needed in environmental maintenance such as visionary, consistent, wise and responsible. Research implication: The main contribution of this study is to reveal the insights of the al-Qur’an regarding the solution to the environmental damage problems if one of the causes is the gender stereotypes for men and women. In addition to interpreting verses, this study is equipped with psychological studies in building everyone’s balance of feminine and masculine character so that they can interact harmoniously and respecting humans and the environment. This study is expected to minimize the problems of environmental damage as well as gender stereotype. Originality/value: The concept of “Quranic Integral Ecofeminism” and the success of this concept which was implemented at IIQ Jakarta, Indonesia

Cross-sensitivity analysis of land use transition and ecological service values in rare earth mining areas in southern China

Exploring the cross-sensitivity between land use transformation and ecological service values in rare earth mining areas is of great significance for the development of ecological protection and restoration in rare earth mining areas. To study the impact of land use changes on ecosystem service functions in rare earth mining areas, firstly, the land use change trends in the study area from 2009 to 2019 were analyzed using the land transfer matrix; then the distribution of ecosystem service values and the flow direction of ecosystem service values in the study area were measured based on the ecosystem service value equivalents; a spatial autocorrelation analysis was done on the ecosystem service values to explore their spatial distribution patterns; and finally, the cross-sensitivity coefficient was used to quantitatively assess the extent and direction of the impact of land use change on ecosystem service values. The results show that the land use types in the study area are mainly forest land and farmland, with woodland accounting for the highest proportion of the study area. The ESV changes in the study area are consistent with the trend of land use transformation, with the overall increase and decrease being comparable, and the decrease in ESV is mainly concentrated in the areas with a large increase in mining land and construction land; during the study period, the study area was significantly reduced with low—low cluster areas and the ecological environment was improved; from 2009 to 2014, the ecological sensitivity coefficient is more variable, and is more sensitive to the net conversion between water and desert, from 2014 to 2019, the ecological sensitivity coefficient is less variable, and the most sensitive is the net conversion between cultivated land and water. The study area should be reasonably developed for rare earth resources and the ecological environment around the mining area should be reasonably protected to build an ecological security pattern.

U-Th-Pb dating, trace elements, and Sr-Nd isotopes of monazite and allanite as recorders for multi-stage rare earth element mineralization and remobilization in carbonatite dike systems

Carbonatite hosts the most important rare earth resources in the world, but the precise timing, ore-forming history, and mechanism of rare earth mineralization in carbonatite systems are still in debate. Here, we report a rare corona texture of monazite-allanite-fluorapatite from the Huangjiagou carbonatite in the Lesser Qinling of central China, and demonstrate that the U-Th-Pb dating, trace elements, and Sr-Nd isotopes of these minerals in the corona are useful tools to unravel multiple-stage events for rare earth element (REE) mineralization and mobilization. The first mineralization event took place at ca. 219 Ma as revealed by the monazite U-Pb age, the same as regional carbonatite forming ages, but the Th-Pb age has been disturbed, which shows a negative correlation with Th contents. The second mineralization event occurred at ca. 128 Ma, as revealed by in situ U-Pb dating of allanite, coeval with the intrusions of neighboring I-type granite. The initial Sr-Nd isotope ratios of allanite show a downtrend from the center to the rim of monazite-allanite-apatite coronas to approach the ratios of neighboring granite, indicating an increasing effect by the metasomatism of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids during the growth of these REE-mineral coronas. Therefore, a two-episode REE mineralization was recognized with the replacement of ca. 219 Ma monazite by ca. 128 Ma allanite-apatite coronas on the function of magmatic-hydrothermal fluid metasomatism, and this process accompanies the disturbance of Th/Pb geochronology in monazite. Allanite as the product of monazite dissolution can represent the later-stage REE mineralization tracing the REE reworking processes under the hydrothermal conditions in carbonatite systems. Our study highlights the implication of monazite-allanite-fluorapatite coronas on the REE remobilization and mineralization in carbonatite systems.

Simultaneous estimation of five temporally regular land variables at seven spatial resolutions from seven satellite data using a multi-scale and multi-depth convolutional neural network

Various satellite sensors have provided a huge amount of observations of Earth's environment at variable spatial and temporal resolutions. Many global coarse-resolution land products have been generated from single-satellite data, but global temporally regular land products at fine spatial resolutions (say 10-30 m) are scarce because of infrequent observations. An ideal inversion framework can estimate multiple global continuous land variables at different spatial resolutions by combining all sources of satellite data. This paper proposes a new framework that can estimate five land variables simultaneously from the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance acquired by seven satellite sensors based on a multi-scale and multi-depth convolutional neural network (MSDCNN). This framework enables us to estimate temporally regular land variables at as fine as 10 m spatial resolution by transforming information from satellite data at coarser spatial resolutions. The estimated land variables include Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), shortwave albedo, visible albedo, and spectral reflectance. Seven sensors that acquire data at different spatial resolutions, include Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) (750 m), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (500 m), Fengyun-3 (FY-3) Medium Resolution Spectral Imager (MERSI) (250 m), China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 04 (CBERS-04) Wide Field Imager (WFI) (73 m), Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) (30 m), Gaofen-1 (GF-1) Wide-Field-of-View (16 m) and Sentinel 2 A/B Multispectral Imager (MSI) (10 m). This framework is mainly composed of four steps. First, a Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE) optimization method is adopted to estimate these variables from VIIRS TOA reference. Second, a joint-output random forest regression (RF) method is used to link the satellite observations and the estimated values from step 1. Third, the six-type multi-resolution satellite observations are used to downscale the VIIRS TOA reflectance to six different spatial resolutions by using the MSDCNN. Finally, the downscaled six-resolution VIIRS TOA reflectance is fed into the multiple-variable RF model to estimate land variables. The framework was validated, and the results based on high-resolution reference maps from ImagineS network and time series shortwave albedo field values from Surface Radiation (SURFRAD) and Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) network show that the retrieved variables had high validation accuracy, with root mean square error (RMSE) ranges of 0.361–0.489 (LAI), 0.023–0.120 (FAPAR), 0.013–0.026 (snow-free shortwave albedo), respectively. Comparison results of the retrieved multi-scale variables with the Sentinel 2 A/B (10 m), Landsat 8 (30 m), Global LAnd Surface Satellite (GLASS, 250 m, 500 m), MODIS (500 m), and VIIRS (750 m) products show that their values were close, with RMSE ranges of 0.107–0.273 (LAI), 0.015–0.027 (FAPAR), 0.003–0.007 (shortwave albedo), 0.001–0.007 (visible albedo), and 0.003–0.025 (spectral reflectance), respectively. The results of the direct validation as well as the product intercomparison show that this novel framework has the potential to be used in estimating global land variables at various spatial scales using a variety of satellite data sources.