Climate Global Warming Research Articles

Analysis of Dynamic Evolution and Driving Factors of Low-Carbon Utilization Efficiency of Cultivated Land in China

In order to cope with global climate warming, measurement of the low-carbon utilization efficiency (LCUE) of cultivated land, considering carbon sink and carbon emission effects, is proposed. To address this, based on the data of 30 provinces in China, this study conducts a LCUE evaluation system by the MinDS-U-M productivity index model in order to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors of LCUE with the geographic detector model and GTWR model. The results show the following: (1) Over the past 20 years, the average LCUE value exhibits a slow increasing trend from 2001 to 2021, which ranges from 0.9864 to 1.0272. Provinces with mid-level LCUE ranging from 1.0000 to 1.0990 account for the highest proportion in each period. (2) The annual growth rate of LCUE in the central region is the highest, where the promotion of green technology and farmland protection policies have played important roles. (3) According to the Geodetector analysis, urbanization rate (UR), irrigation index (IR), grain output value (GOV), precipitation (PR), arable land area (ALA), and environmental pollution control (EPC) are important drivers of the spatial difference of LCUE. (4) The GTWR model shows that the positive effects of ALA and SRT have always been concentrated in the main grain-producing areas over time. UR and PR have strong explanatory power for the space/time differentiation of LCUE, especially in eastern coastal regions. IR has an increasing effect on LCUE in the Western region, and the positive effect of EPC on the LCUE is concentrated in the central region. In order to coordinate regional LCUE contradictions, it is suggested to be wary of land resource damage caused by economic development, warn about the impacts of climate change, and strengthen the supervision of land remediation projects in order to achieve sustainable land management.

An aggregation framework to diagnose the compound hydroclimatic change of the Tibetan Plateau using multiple reanalysis data

Study regionThis study was carried on Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is recognized as the “Third Pole” and “Asia Water Tower”. Study focusTP is suffering extreme hydroclimatic change under global climate warming. Quantifying the hydroclimatic change pattern and strength is necessary to protect local to downstream hydrology and water resources. This study promoted an aggregation framework to diagnose the compound hydroclimatic change on TP using several high-resolution reanalysis data. New hydrological insights for the regionThe promoted aggregation framework is efficient to diagnose the compound hydroclimatic change on TP. Both individual applied data and compound result indicate a warming and wetting environment on most TP, combined with increased trend of evapotranspiration (ET) and soil moisture (SM), while decreased trend of runoff (ROF). The hotspots with strong hydroclimatic change mainly located at inner-southeast TP and northeast TP, including Changtang Plateau, sources of Yellow-Yangtze-Mekong-Salween-Brahmaputra river basin, and Qaidam Basin. The compound warming strength is above 0.06 Celsius/mon/a in winter while the wetting trend is above 0.5 mm/mon/a in summer at most hotspots. ET is increased with trend above 0.1 mm/mon/a in spring, summer, autumn at most hotspots. SM is drying at south periphery while wetting at the remaining area with annual and seasonal trend above 0.0005 mm3/mm3/mon/a at hotspots. ROF is decreased with trend above 2 mm/mon/a at south-southeast hotspots in summer and autumn.

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Carbon Emissions and Their Influencing Factors at the County Scale: A Case Study of Zhejiang Province, China

Significant carbon emissions, a key contributor to global climate warming, pose risks to ecosystems and human living conditions. It is crucial to monitor the spatial and temporal patterns of carbon emissions at the county level to reach the goals of carbon peak and neutrality. This study examines carbon emissions and economic and social problems data from 89 counties in Zhejiang Province. It employs analytical techniques such as LISA time path, spatio-temporal transition, and standard deviational ellipse to investigate the trends of carbon emissions from 2002 to 2022. Furthermore, it utilizes the GTWR model to evaluate the factors that influence these emissions on a county scale. The findings reveal the following: (1) The LISA time path analysis indicates a pronounced local spatial structure in the distribution of carbon emissions in Zhejiang Province from 2002 to 2022, characterized by increasing stability, notable path dependency, and some degree of spatial integration, albeit with a diminishing trend in overall integration. (2) The LISA spatio-temporal transition analysis indicates significant path dependency or lock-in effects in the county-level spatial clustering of carbon emissions. (3) Over the period 2002–2022, the centroid of carbon emissions in Zhejiang’s counties mainly oscillated between 120°55′15″ E and 120°57′01″ E and between 29°55′52″ N and 29°59′11″ N, with a general northeastward shift forming a “V” pattern. This shift resulted in a stable “northeast–southwest” spatial distribution. (4) Factors such as population size, urbanization rate, and economic development level predominantly accelerate carbon emissions, whereas industrial structure tends to curb them. It is crucial to customize carbon mitigation plans to suit the circumstances of each county. This study provides insight into the spatial and temporal patterns of carbon emissions at the county level in Zhejiang Province. It offers crucial guidance for developing targeted and practical strategies to reduce carbon emissions.

60-YEAR REMOTE SENSING OBSERVATIONS REVEALED CROSS-CYCLE EVOLUTION OF THE BRUNT ICE SHELF IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL WARMING

Abstract. The Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) holds the potential to raise global sea levels by a staggering 57 m. Ice shelves, extensions of these ice sheets into the ocean, play a crucial role in stabilizing the upstream ice sheet. The Brunt Ice Shelf (BIS), located in the Southern Weddell Sea region and proximal to the continental shelf break, stands as a vital indicator for the region's response to global climate warming. Hence, this study systematically employs a range of remote sensing and field data, including remote sensing data from 1963 to 2023 (ARGON images, Landsat1-9 images, Sentinel-1 images, ICESat-2 altimetry data, etc.) and in-situ ice flow velocity data since 1956, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the BIS's calving cycle and evolution over nearly six decades. The results reveal a significant exacerbation of both dynamical and structural instabilities in the BIS compared to the calving cycle in the 1970s. Combining analyses of air temperature from meteorological station, water temperature from ocean models and in-situ measurements such as Conductivity-Temperature-Depth profiles, the study suggests that the increased instability of the BIS is likely linked to the intrusion of warmer currents over the continental shelf. This research provides valuable insights into the evolving behavior of the BIS in response to changing climate conditions, underscoring the critical role of remote sensing data in advancing our understanding of these processes on a global scale.

Radial growth responses of Larix gmelinii to drought events in dry and wet areas of northern temperate forests

Drought stress caused by global climate warming affects tree growth in both dry and wet areas. However, the differences in tree growth responses to drought in dry and wet areas are poorly understood. Here, we collected 93 tree cores to analyze the differences in the radial growth responses of larch (Larix gmelinii) under climate change and tree growth resilience under drought events in the Altai Mountains (dry area) and Changbai Mountains (wet area). The results showed that larch growth in the Altai Mountains was significantly positively correlated with the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI) in all months and precipitation in the previous growth season and May, whereas it was significantly (p < 0.05) negatively correlated with temperature in May and the previous June to August. In the Changbai Mountains, larch growth was significantly positively correlated with May maximum and mean temperature, and significantly positively and negatively correlated with precipitation in April and May，respectively (p < 0.05). The mean resistance (recovery) of larch growth to drought in wet areas were significantly stronger (weaker) than that in dry areas (p < 0.05). Moreover, strengthening the drought frequency led to a significant (p < 0.05) decline in larch resistance in dry areas. Therefore, warming-induced increases in drought stress will aggravate negative impacts on the radial growth of larch forests in temperate dry areas but not in wet areas in the future.

THE INFLUENCE OF GREEN PRODUCTS ON PURCHASE DECISION BEHAVIOR IN GENERATION Y AND Z WITH GREEN KNOWLEDGE AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLE

Plastic waste is one of the causes of global warming and uncontrolled climate change, so that it becomes one of the causes of increasingly severe skin problems. Plastic waste in Indonesia is still an important environmental problem and is receiving more attention in various fields, including the beauty industry. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of green products on consumer purchasing decisions mediated by green knowledge on love beauty and planet products. A quantitative strategy with a causal descriptive approach was adopted. SMART PLS 3.0 software and the structural equation modeling (SEM) analytical approach. The research was conducted in the city of Bandung, and the sample technique utilized was accidental sampling with a total of 400 respondents. Based on the results of the descriptive analysis of the variables green product, green knowledge and purchasing decisions in the very good category and based on the SEM-PLS analysis it shows a positive and significant influence, which means that consumers' perceptions of love beauty and planet products are green products so that purchasing decisions mediated by green knowledge have been carried out well. The respondents who dominated this study were the Z generation group or born in 1997-2012. This happened because Z generation in Indonesia cares enough about environmental issues and participates in activities with environmental issues compared to other generations.

Permafrost degradation and its consequences for carbon storage in soils of Interior Alaska

Permafrost soils in the northern hemisphere are known to harbor large amounts of soil organic matter (SOM). Global climate warming endangers this stable soil organic carbon (SOC) pool by triggering permafrost thaw and deepening the active layer, while at the same time progressing soil formation. But depending, e.g., on ice content or drainage, conditions in the degraded permafrost can range from water-saturated/anoxic to dry/oxic, with concomitant shifts in SOM stabilizing mechanisms. In this field study in Interior Alaska, we investigated two sites featuring degraded permafrost, one water-saturated and the other well-drained, alongside a third site with intact permafrost. Soil aggregate- and density fractions highlighted that permafrost thaw promoted macroaggregate formation, amplified by the incorporation of particulate organic matter, in topsoils of both degradation sites, thus potentially counteracting a decrease in topsoil SOC induced by the permafrost thawing. However, the subsoils were found to store notably less SOC than the intact permafrost in all fractions of both degradation sites. Our investigations revealed up to net 75% smaller SOC storage in the upper 100 cm of degraded permafrost soils as compared to the intact one, predominantly related to the subsoils, while differences between soils of wet and dry degraded landscapes were minor. This study provides evidence that the consideration of different permafrost degradation landscapes and the employment of soil fractionation techniques is a useful combination to investigate soil development and SOM stabilization processes in this sensitive ecosystem.

Modeling thermoregulatory responses during high-intensity exercise in warm environments.

The six cylinder thermoregulatory model (SCTM) has been validated thoroughly for resting humans. This type of modeling is helpful to predict and develop guidance for safe performance of work and recreational activities. In the context of a warming global climate, updating the accuracy of the model for intense exercise in warm environments will help a wide range of individuals in athletic, recreational, and military settings. Three sets of previously collected data were used to determine SCTM accuracy. Dataset 1: two groups [large (LG) 91.5 kg and small (SM) 67.7 kg] of individuals performed 60 min of semirecumbent cycling in temperate conditions (25.1°C) at metabolic rates of 570-700 W. Dataset 2: two LG (100 kg) and SM (65.8 kg) groups performed 60 min of semirecumbent cycling in warm/hot environmental conditions (36.2°C) at metabolic rates of 590-680 W. Dataset 3: seven volunteers completed 8-km track trials (∼30 min) in cool (17°C) and warm (30°C) environments. The volunteers' metabolic rates were estimated to be 1,268 W and 1,166 W, respectively. For all datasets, SCTM-predicted core temperatures were found to be similar to the observed core temperatures. The root mean square deviations (RMSDs) ranged from 0.06 to 0.46°C with an average of 0.2°C deviation, which is less than the acceptance threshold of 0.5°C. Thus, the present validation shows that SCTM predicts core temperatures with acceptable accuracy during intense exercise in warm environments and successfully captures core temperature differences between large and small individuals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The SCTM has been validated thoroughly for resting humans in warm and cold environments and during water immersion. The present study further demonstrated that SCTM predicts core temperatures with acceptable accuracy during intense exercise up to 1,300 W in temperate and warm environments and captures core temperature differences between large and small individuals. SCTM is potentially useful to develop guidance for safe operation in athletic, military, and occupational settings during exposure to warm or hot environments.

НИЗКОУГЛЕРОДНАЯ ЭНЕРГЕТИКА И ГЛОБАЛЬНОЕ ПОТЕПЛЕНИЕ КЛИМАТА

The problem of global climate warming and attempts to solve it, including using low-carbon power engineering, are analyzed. The success of solving this problem depends on the degree of understanding of the processes which cause it. As more and more data speak about natural causes of climate fluctuations, and of anthropogenic factors the greatest contribution to the warming is made by thermal pollution rather than the anthropogenic growth of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, low-carbon power, with all its positive qualities, is unable to solve the problem of climate warming.

Spatiotemporal Variation in Extreme Climate in the Yellow River Basin and its Impacts on Vegetation Coverage

Global warming and extreme climate events (ECEs) have grown more frequent, and it is essential to investigate the influences of ECEs on vegetation in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) and other environmentally fragile areas. This study was based on data from 86 meteorological stations in the YRB for the period 2000–2020. Twenty-five extreme climate indices (ECIs) were chosen, encompassing four dimensions: extreme value, intensity, duration, and frequency. The trend analysis approach was used to examine the spatiotemporal characteristics of extreme climate conditions. Additionally, geographical detectors and Pearson correlation analysis methods were employed to quantitatively assess the influence of ECEs on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) method was adopted to analyze the regression of twenty-five ECIs. The findings revealed the following: (1) Over the last 21 years, there has been a distinct rise in both the extreme precipitation indices (EPIs) and the extreme temperature indices (ETIs). (2) The spatial distribution of the NDVI throughout the year displayed the characteristic of being high in the south and low in the north. The annual NDVI demonstrated a noteworthy increase at a rate of 0.055/decade, with the enhancement encompassing an extensive area of 87.33%. (3) The investigation revealed that EPIs, including PRCPTOT, R10mm, CWD, R95p, and CDD, had explanatory values surpassing 0.4. This implied that the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme precipitation played pivotal roles in steering vegetation alterations in the YRB. (4) The correlation between the EPIs and vegetation was greater than the ETIs. Grassland meadows exhibited greater sensitivity to precipitation than woody plants. The EPIs (excluding CDD and SDII) and the ETIs (TXn) displayed a substantial positive correlation with the NDVI in regions hosting grasslands, broadleaf forests, and shrubs. Desert vegetation and cultivated plants were less affected by ECEs. This study underscores the importance of the interplay between extreme climate and vegetation in the YRB. Additionally, it provides a scientific basis for formulating environmental safeguarding strategies.

Integrated physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses of drought stress alleviation in Ehretia macrophylla Wall. seedlings by SiO2 NPs (silica nanoparticles).

With environmental problems such as climate global warming, drought has become one of the major stress factors, because it severely affects the plant growth and development. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are crucial for mitigating abiotic stresses suffered by plants in unfavorable environmental conditions and further promoting plant growth, such as drought. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different concentrations of SiO2 NPs on the growth of the Ehretia macrophylla Wall. seedlings under severe drought stress (water content in soil, 30-35%). The treatment was started by starting spraying different concentrations of SiO2 NPs on seedlings of Ehretia macrophyla, which were consistently under normal and severe drought conditions (soil moisture content 30-35%), respectively, at the seedling stage, followed by physiological and biochemical measurements, transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses. SiO2 NPs (100 mg·L-1) treatment reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes under drought stress. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 1451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the leaves of E. macrophylla seedlings were regulated by SiO2 NPs under drought stress, and these genes mainly participate in auxin signal transduction and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. This study also found that the metabolism of fatty acids and α-linolenic acids may play a key role in the enhancement of drought tolerance in SiO2 NP-treated E. macrophylla seedlings. Metabolomics studies indicated that the accumulation level of secondary metabolites related to drought tolerance was higher after SiO2 NPs treatment. This study revealed insights into the physiological mechanisms induced by SiO2 NPs for enhancing the drought tolerance of plants.

ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИ ОБУСЛОВЛЕННЫЕ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЯ, ВЫЗВАННЫЕ ИЗМЕНЕНИЕМ МЕТЕОРОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ФАКТОРОВ: ДИАГНОСТИКА И ПУТИ ПРОТИВОДЕЙСТВИЯ

Climatic and geographic factors characterizing local conditions, as well as the ecological state of the external environment, have a direct effect on human health, morbidity, and life expectancy. The paper considers the basic concepts of medical ecology, a pathogenetic role of environmental atmospheric pollution in the development of environmentally induced and environmentally dependent diseases associated with exposure to meteorological factors. In addition to the major hygienic risk factors affecting the public health (a level of air, water, and soil pollution), the levels of acoustic and electromagnetic background, the type of human nutrition, architectural and planning conditions of human life are of significant importance. Global climate warming causes numerous environmental changes, primarily an increase in surface air temperature, which in turn entails global changes in weather conditions that lead to various weather anomalies. Human health is directly dependent on environmental conditions and a degree of adaptation to them. The paper highlights the issues of diagnosing environmentally induced diseases and measures to counteract their spread. Based on the system diagnosis using physiological indicators of human health and the integration of the adaptation and nosological approaches, a hardware-software complex has been developed and introduced into medical practice. Corrective technologies of regenerative medicine that are used for ecologically dependent pathologies are described. Their application in the process of the complex sanatorium and resort treatment is most effective.

The explosion of pests and diseases due to climate change

Climate change has been felt over the last few decades in Indonesia, especially in Aceh. Uncertain climatic conditions can affect crop production and food distribution. Insect pests and plant pathogens respond differently to various causes of climate change. An increase in temperature causes changes in the behavior of pests and diseases in terms of their ability to attack. This review discusses the impact of rising temperatures and CO2 levels in the atmosphere on the ability to attack insect pests and pathogens on crops. Global climate warming is expected to trigger an expansion of pests and disease geographic distribution from lowland to highland, increase their survival, and increase the number of new host plants. The survey carried out in Central Aceh on an Arabica coffee plantation showed that leaf spots caused by Hemiliea vastatrix can attack a coffee plantation at an altitude of 1.400 meters, while the same case is also found at the same altitude where coffee berry borer pest (Hyphothenemus hampei) and coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella) can attack arabica coffee plantation. A comprehensive assessment of the impact of climate change on pests and plant diseases needs to be carried out to get an integrated pest management strategy.

How Neglected Crops Can Solve the World’s Food Problems?

Humankind is in crisis! Our ever-growing population, global warming, and changing climate is threatening our ability to produce enough food in the future. We rely on only a few major crops (such as maize, wheat, and rice) as our main food crops. These crops have been successfully farmed over thousands of years to feed humankind and keep people from being hungry. However, the major food crops do not provide sufficient nutrition, and these crops are also struggling to grow and produce food under changing climate conditions. We need alternative food crops! Legumes like peas and beans are one tasty alternative. In this article, we will tell you how legume crops are useful to humankind and why they are so well suited for our ever-changing world.

A New Philosophy For Sustainable Consumerism

With growing awareness of unsustainable practices, communities are forcing the business and governments to take serious steps towards sustainability. Microplastics are entering the food chain and eventually reaching humans (Barboza, Vethaak, Lavorante, Lundebye, &amp; Guilhermino, 2018; Mercogliano, Avio, Regoli, Anastasio, Colavita, &amp; Santonicola, 2020) The threat of global warming and recurrent climate disasters necessitate immediate action. However, all governments and corporations rely on 'increase in demand’ as a metric of growth, which prevents them from doing anything meaningful to ensure our planet’s long-term viability. Against the above paradox, this article tries to discover a compromise between sustainability, consumption, and economic growth. It is a theoretical framework for proposing a solution in which businesses can expand in tandem with our planet’s long-term future or a glance through the areas where the Keynesian economy can coexist with environmentalists’ concerns. The proposed framework claims significance in terms of practicality than the perfection of a solution.

Research on the current situation and countermeasures of low-carbon ecological urban development: a case study of Guangdong Province

Abstract Current global climate change, increasing energy depletion, and continuous environmental degradation have made it crucial to transform the economic development model into a low-carbon economy. Urban development, being one of the major sources of carbon emissions, has made low-carbon and ecological urban development an important topic on the international agenda. This article uses principal component analysis and the entropy weight method to quantitatively evaluate the development of low-carbon ecological cities in Guangdong Province from three aspects: economic and social factors, living environment, and resource and environmental factors. Based on the current situation, it proposes development strategies to provide references and guidance for further low-carbon ecological economic development in Guangdong Province. In the current world situation, with global climate warming, increasing energy depletion, and continuous environmental deterioration, the transformation of the economic development model into a low-carbon economy is of great significance. Urban development, being a major source of carbon emissions, makes low-carbon and ecological urban development an increasingly prominent topic in international societal development. This paper quantitatively evaluates the development of low-carbon and ecological cities in Guangdong Province using principal component analysis (PCA) and the entropy weight method. The results indicate that economic and social development plays a decisive role in the development of low-carbon cities. Strategies for development are proposed in response to the current situation, providing guidance and reference for further progress toward a low-carbon and ecological economy in Guangdong Province.

Soil Fungi and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in the Profile of a Forest Arenosol

To help solve the actual problem of global climate warming, it is important to comprehensively study soil organic carbon (SOC), soil fungi, and other parameters at different depths in the soil. This study was aimed at investigating the chemical and microbiological parameters and their interactions at various soil depths (0–5 to 195–200 cm) in an Arenosol in a Scots pine stand in southwestern Lithuania, with a focus on the main groups of fungi and their influence on SOC. The highest diversity of soil fungi species was found at a depth of 50–55 cm. Saprotrophs were dominant at all investigated soil depths. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were mostly abundant at depths of up to 50–55 cm. The C:N ratio gradually decreased down to 50–55 cm, then increased in deeper soil layers (from 50–55 to 195–200 cm). This means that the most active mineralization processes occur at depths of between 0 and 55 cm. Carbon stabilization processes occur at depths of 100–105 to 195–200 cm, and most of this carbon does not enter the atmosphere nor contribute to the process of climate change.

Investigation of the engineering and environmental properties of cement mortars incorporating ladle furnace steel slag

While the use of ladle steel slag in concrete offers several potential advantages, there are significant research gaps that need to be addressed to promote its safe and effective utilization in the construction industry, e.g. the variations in slag properties, such as chemical composition and physical characteristics, can influence concrete performance. Moreover, even there is some research on the mechanical properties of concrete containing ladle steel slag, more in-depth studies are needed to assess the long-term durability of such concrete and the research should focus more on evaluating the environmental impact of using ladle steel slag in concrete. The paper reports the fundamental findings of a research study focused on the treatment of ladle slag to be applied as a cement substitute in the manufacturing of cement products. The research aimed to determine the optimal proportion of admixture based on treated ladle slag and evaluate the environmental properties of the resulting cement composites. The treatment process involved mechanical activation, specifically grinding the ladle slag fraction of 0/8 mm using a vibrating mill (Coarse slag) and a ball mill (Fine slag). The treated ladle slag, as an admixture, was examined in conjunction with four types of cement (CEM I, CEM II, CEM III, and CEM V). The research findings revealed that the incorporation of coarse ladle slag enhanced the workability of fresh cement paste across all tested formulations. Moreover, the utilization of treated ladle slag as an admixture in cement paste (substituting cement) exhibited a retarding effect on the setting time. As the age of the test specimens progressed (90 to180 days), the strength properties of the samples with ladle slag admixture approached those of the cement composites prepared using natural aggregates. The climate change impact of cement mortars per strength unit spanned from 0.82 to 2.75 kg CO2eq/MPa for composites incorporating finely-ground slag, and from 0.9 to 3.1 kg CO2eq/MPa for composites utilizing coarse slag. The grinding of ladle slag, even up to 30 wt% cement replacement, did not significantly impact the overall global warming potential and climate change, considering the average mill energy consumption of 50 kWh per 1 t of material.

Holocene stratigraphic architecture of a Mediterranean delta and implication for sediment budget evolution: Example of the Rhône delta

Deltaic systems evolve as a result of interactions between the hydroclimatic processes that occur in the catchment area and the coastal marine processes that reshape the coastline. The Holocene evolution of these environments is controlled by climate and anthropization, which are rarely considered in models of the evolution of deltaic systems. The Rhône delta has recorded the impact of climatic variations as well as the development and evolution of human societies over the Holocene period. This system underwent a post-glacial evolution controlled by global climatic warming punctuated by short periods of cooling, fluvial metamorphoses and a rapid marine transgression generated by the melting of the ice caps, followed by the initiation of delta progradation from around 7000 cal yr BP. Sedimentological and chronostratigraphic studies of 17 cores, supplementing an existing dataset on the deltaic plain and the prodelta, have enabled us to construct well-constrained stratigraphic correlations, making it possible to specify the spatio-temporal evolution of the Rhône delta. The variation in sedimentary fluxes was assessed for the different sequences identified, using 95 new core datings to constrain the sequential evolution of the different lobes. From the stratigraphic correlations on the delta and the estimated volumes of sediments exported out of the deltaic system, the total sediment volume between 11,700 cal yr BP and today is estimated at 126 billion m3. The variation of sediment fluxes has been adjusted according to the different phases of lobe progradation linked with the climate oscillations and the anthropic activity evolution during the Holocene. Taken together, these data highlight contrasting periods corresponding to the Roman period, the Little Ice Age and finally the ‘Anthropocene’, that can be compared to the main Mediterranean deltaic systems during the Holocene.

Ecological and economic influencing factors on the spatial and temporal evolution of carbon balance zoning in the Taihu Basin

The escalation in carbon dioxide concentration has precipitated global climate warming, accentuating ecological and environmental concerns. Notably, China stands as the world’s largest carbon emitter, with the Taihu Lake basin emerging as a carbon-intensive region within the country. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis spanning 2005 to 2020, calculating the economic contribution coefficient of carbon emissions and the ecological carrying coefficient of carbon absorption in the Taihu Lake basin. The study includes a delineation of carbon balance zones and an exploration of the geographical and spatial influences of both ecosystem and economic factors. The overarching trend in carbon emissions within the Taihu Lake Basin initially exhibited rapid growth, followed by a fluctuating decline, with the pivotal year being 2012, recording the apex of emissions at 575.8293 million tons. Concurrently, total carbon absorption demonstrated a fluctuating growth trajectory, ascending from 82.3503 million tons in 2005 to 85.6488 million tons in 2020. The carbon emission intensity in the basin manifested a pattern of high concentration in the northeast and low concentration in the southwest, while the carbon absorption intensity displayed the inverse pattern. The carbon balance across the Taihu Lake Basin revealed a spatial incongruity, characterized by a suboptimal pattern in the northeast and a favorable pattern in the southwest. Zhejiang Province emerged as an ecological stronghold within the basin, acting as the primary carbon sink functional area. Urban built-up areas and forested regions emerged as principal influencers of carbon balance in the Taihu Lake basin. Urban construction land, population density, and arable land area were identified as primary contributors to carbon emissions, whereas per capita GDP, forests, grasslands, and water bodies were identified as main contributors to carbon absorption in the watershed.