Jiuzhaigou National Park Research Articles

Exploiting satellite SAR for archaeological prospection and heritage site protection

ABSTRACT Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing has a long history of use and reached a good level of maturity in archaeological and cultural heritage applications, yet further advances are viable through the exploitation of novel sensor data and imaging modes, big data and high-performance computing, advanced and automated analysis methods. This paper showcases the main research avenues in this field, with a focus on archaeological prospection and heritage site protection. Six demonstration use-cases with a wealth of heritage asset types (e.g. excavated and still buried archaeological features, standing monuments, natural reserves, burial mounds, paleo-channels) and respective scientific research objectives are presented: the Ostia-Portus area and the wider Province of Rome (Italy), the city of Wuhan and the Jiuzhaigou National Park (China), and the Siberian “Valley of the Kings” (Russia). Input data encompass both archive and newly tasked medium to very high-resolution imagery acquired over the last decade from satellite (e.g. Copernicus Sentinels and ESA Third Party Missions) and aerial (e.g. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, UAV) platforms, as well as field-based evidence and ground truth, auxiliary topographic data, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and monitoring data from geodetic campaigns and networks. The novel results achieved for the use-cases contribute to the discussion on the advantages and limitations of optical and SAR-based archaeological and heritage applications aimed to detect buried and sub-surface archaeological assets across rural and semi-vegetated landscapes, identify threats to cultural heritage assets due to ground instability and urban development in large metropolises, and monitor post-disaster impacts in natural reserves.

The changes of intergovernmental collaboration dynamic in post-disaster destination management: Network analysis

Employing network analysis, this study explores the changing dynamics of intergovernmental collaboration throughout the whole process of post-disaster destination management. Jiuzhaigou National Park after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake forms the subject of the case study. Our empirical analysis indicates the following findings: first, intergovernmental collaboration is developed both hierarchically and horizontally at the emergency, intermediate and long-term recovery stages of post-disaster destination management, but it is largely dominated by hierarchical interactions; second, local government increasingly acts as a lubricant role in facilitating the functioning of intergovernmental collaboration during the whole process of post-disaster destination management. These findings contribute to greater insights into the changes of intergovernmental collaboration dynamic in comprehensive post-disaster destination management. This study also provides implications for governments and tourism destinations to improve intergovernmental collaboration for more effective destination management in the context of post-disaster.

Magnitude amplification of flash floods caused by large woody in Keze gully in Jiuzhaigou National Park, China

Wood is an important component of flash floods and debris flows in forested mountainous areas. To better understand the characteristics of large wood (LW) movement and its destructive effects on check dams, bridges, and buildings, we conducted field investigations and theoretical calculations on the flash flood process in Keze gully in Jiuzhaigou National Park (China). Based on the gully characteristics and the calculation method, the magnitude amplification ratio of flash flood peak discharge caused by the clogging and breakage processes associated with LW transport reached 2.83 to 3.03 times the mean peak discharge upstream of check dam No. 1. Moreover, the limit analysis and limiting equilibrium state methods were adopted to analyze the additional impact force of LW on the sidewalls of check dams, which resulted in sidewall breaking and sediment block function loss of the check dam. Furthermore, we analyzed the LW transport pattern and formulated a conceptual model of LW transport, including the LW length, channel width, and standing tree spacing. Through this case study, we put forward that the magnitude amplification ratio and the additional impact force of LW should be considered in the design and construction of mitigation engineering projects in forested mountainous areas.

Response of tree rings to earthquakes during the past 350 years at Jiuzhaigou in the eastern Tibet

Trees growing in the tectonically active and climatically sensitive regions, such as the Tibetan Plateau, frequently suffer damage from strong earthquakes and extreme hydro-climatic events. Spruce trees in the Jiuzhaigou National Park exhibited abrupt periods of growth suppression with durations of 3–9 years, which was demonstrated to have recorded five seismic events during the last 350 years after excluding the climatic impacts. The ring-width reductions occurred immediately after earthquakes in the growing seasons of 1748, 1879 and 2017, and one year later in 1961 when the earthquake occurred after the growing season in 1960. In contrast, seismic signals of the 1976 earthquake were moderated in the tree-ring indices by improved climatic conditions in 1975. The intensity prediction equation and isoseismal modelling results suggested that past earthquakes required a minimum intensity threshold of 6.2–6.8 MMI to significantly impact tree growth, thus indicating a minimum magnitude threshold of Mw5.3 for near-field (≤20 km) earthquakes and Mw7.4 for regional (≤115 km) earthquakes. These results would greatly improve the dendroseismological reconstruction of past earthquake characteristics and the valid assessment of future probabilities in the eastern Tibet, and help to identify and eliminate seismic signals in the dendroclimatological studies in the hazardous environments.

Source tectonic dynamics features of Jiuzhaigou Ms 7.0 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China

On August 8, 2017, a Ms 7.0 earthquake occurred 5 km to the west of Jiuzhaigou National Park, causing 25 deaths and injuring 525. The objective of this study was to explore the seismogenic fault of the earthquake and tectonic dynamics of the source rupture. Field investigations, radon activity tests, remote sensing interpretations, and geophysical data analyses were carried out immediately after the earthquake. The Jiuzhaigou earthquake occurred at the intersection of the northern margin of the Minshan uplift belt and the south part of the Wenxian–Maqin fault in the south margin of the West Qinling geosyncline. There are two surface rupture zones trending northwest (NW), which are ground coseismic ruptures caused by concealed earthquake faults. The rupture on the southwest is the structure triggering the earthquake, along the Jiuzhaitiantang–Epicenter–Wuhuahai. The other one on the northeast (Shangsizhai–Zhongcha–Bimang) is a reactivation and extension of the secondary fault trending NW. The source rupture of this earthquake is a strike-slip shear fracture associated with the fault plane trending NW 331° and steeply dipping 75°, which is continuously expanding at both ends. The tectonic dynamics process of the source rupture is that the “Jiuzhaigou protrusion” is left-lateral sheared along the seismogenic fault in the NW direction. Finally, the Maqin fault and the arc fault system at the top of the “Wenxian protrusion” will be gradually broken through sometime in far future, as well as earthquaketriggered landslides will be further occurred along the narrow corridor between the seismogenic faults. The research results revealed the basic geological data and tectonic dynamic mechanism in this earthquake.

Seismogenic fault and topography control on the spatial patterns of landslides triggered by the 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake

Jiuzhaigou National Park, located in northwest plateau of Sichuan Province, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most popular scenic areas in China. On August 8, 2017, a Mw 6.5 earthquake occurred 5 km to the west of a major scenic area, causing 25 deaths and injuring 525, and the Park was seriously affected. The objective of this study was to explore the controls of seismogenic fault and topographic factors on the spatial patterns of these landslides. Immediately after the main shock, field survey, remote-sensing investigations, and statistical and spatial analysis were undertaken. At least 2212 earthquake-triggered landslides were identified, covering a total area of 11.8 km2. These were mainly shallow landslides and rock falls. Results demonstrated that landslides exhibited a close spatial correlation with seismogenic faults. More than 85% of the landslides occurred at 2200 to 3700 m elevations. The largest quantity of landslides was recorded in places with local topographic reliefs ranging from 200 to 500 m. Slopes in the range of similar to 20A degrees-50A degrees are the most susceptible to failure. Landslides occurred mostly on slopes facing east-northeast (ENE), east (E), east-southeast (ESE), and southeast (SE), which were nearly vertical to the orientation of the seismogenic fault slip. The back-slope direction and thin ridge amplification effects were documented. These results provide insights on the control of the spatial pattern of earthquake-triggered landslides modified by the synergetic effect of seismogenic faults and topography.

INCREASING THE VALUE OF CHINA'S ENVIRONMENT FOR RECREATION: THE CASE OF JIUZHAIGOU, SICHUAN

Nature-based tourism is increasing rapidly in China, forcing policy makers to pay ever-greater attention to the balance between tourism development and natural resource conservation. Taking Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan, one of China s most famous nature-based tourism sites as an example, this study uses travel cost and contingent valuation methods to estimate the landscape s use value from recreation and users willingness to pay for additional measures of protection, respectively. A hybrid individual-zonal travel cost method (TCM) is adopted to estimate travel cost (approximately 3.2 billion RMB) and the accompanying time value (928 million RMB), and the demand curve reveals an annual consumer surplus of more than 2.8 billion RMB. Contingent valuation methods are used to estimate the median willingness to pay (41.4 RMB per person per year) which result in a total marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) of 70.8 million RMB. This implies a total value of around 7.1 billion RMB for the aesthetic value for Jiuzhaigou in 2012. Comparing this research to previous studies of Jiuzhaigou, the recreation value has steadily increased over the past decade and the average per capita cost of travel has decreased. Given the continued growth of the middle class in China, it can be expected that the value of nature-based tourism to continue to increase into the future. Wise policies and proper planning are critical to ensure the landscape provides its maximum benefits to society.

Traditional Livelihoods, Conservation and Meadow Ecology in Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan, China.

Jiuzhaigou National Park (JNP) is a site of global conservation significance. Conservation policies in JNP include the implementation of two national reforestation programs to increase forest cover and the exclusion of local land-use. We use archaeological excavation, ethnographic interviews, remote sensing and vegetation surveys to examine the implications of these policies for non-forest, montane meadows. We find that Amdo Tibetan people cultivated the valley for >2,000 years, creating and maintaining meadows through land clearing, burning and grazing. Meadows served as sites for gathering plants and mushrooms and over 40 % of contemporary species are ethnobotanically useful. Remote sensing analyses indicate a substantial (69.6 %) decline in meadow area between 1974 and 2004. Respondents report a loss of their "true history" and connections to the past associated with loss of meadows. Conservation policies intended to preserve biodiversity are unintentionally contributing to the loss of these ecologically and culturally significant meadow habitats.

Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China

Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China

Surface ozone in Jiuzhaigou National Park, eastern rim of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Located in southwestern China, Jiuzhaigou National Park is one of the most popular tourism destinations in China, famous for its unique aquatic ecosystems and beautiful forests. However, plants in the park may be at high ozone risk as a result of the intensive use of diesel tour buses in the park. In addition, Jiuzhaigou is close to a region with relatively high regional anthropogenic NO x emissions. During the growing season, also the peak season of tourism, we measured ozone concentration at two sites within the Park and these were: Jiuzhaigou Bureau (JB) and Long Lake (LL). The results indicate that ozone concentrations were not high enough to cause foliar injury during the monitoring period, although the risk of ozone to plants was higher in spring than in summer and autumn. Diurnal ozone cycles at JB and LL displayed significantly higher ozone concentrations in the daytime than in the nighttime, suggesting photochemical production of ozone during the day and ozone deposition during the night as a result of the nocturnal boundary layer. In parallel with the seasonal change of background surface ozone in the Northern Hemisphere, maximum daily 8-h average ozone concentration (MDA8) and daily ozone concentration decreased from spring to autumn at the two sites. This temporal variation in Jiuzhaigou was most likely associated with the downward mixing of ozone-rich air from the free troposphere, because all the high-ozone events (MDA8 ＞ 70.0 ppb) were observed in spring and ozone-rich air from the free troposphere was the dominant cause. In summary, our data suggest that ozone concentrations in Jiuzhaigou were more affected by the regional-scale of background pattern in air quality and meteorological conditions than by local tourist activities.

Influence of tourists’ environmental tropisms on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in natural tourist destinations: A case study of Jiuzhaigou National Park in China

People’s environmental tropism has an effect on their understanding of tourism-nature relationship, and also influences their attitudes to natural resources utilization and environmental protection. Taking Jiuzhaigou National Park of China as a study case, the authors conducted some quantitative analyses with the tools of SPSS 16.0 and LISREL 8.7, to explore the influence of tourists’ environmental tropism on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in the natural tourist destination. Three hypotheses and the theoretic model of influences of tourists’ environmental tropism on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation have been tested and accepted based on the Structural Equation Model analysis on survey data collected in Jiuzhaigou National Park of China. Some conclusions were drawn as follows: 1) tourists’ human-prioritized concept influences their cognition to tourism-nature relationship. This concept has a positive influence on their supportive attitudes to tourism, but a negative influence on their attitudes to nature conservation; 2) tourists’ human-nature coordination concept has a positive influence on their supportive attitudes to both tourism and nature conservation, especially to the latter. This paper generally proves that human’s environmental tropism does have an influence on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in natural tourist destinations.

On Internationally Marketing Jiuzhaigou National Park After Wenchuan Earthquake

National parks are designated for environmental protection and recreation purposes, which have a close relationship with tourism development. Many national park authorities (NPAs) have recognized the need to establish a more market-driven, sustainable strategic approach to develope tourism therein. For NPs, tourism marketing can serve as a powerful tool to achieve the mandated missions of protecting ecosystem, providing recreation, and fostering social–economic development in local communities, especially in the postdisaster/crisis period. Taking China's Jiuzhaigou National Park (JNP) as an example, a secondary data analysis was conducted to explore the international tourist markets for JNP before and after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Some marketing recommendations were then put forward for JNP's tourism recovery and sustainable development.

Autumn Diatom Variation in Lakes Along Altitude Gradient in the Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan, China*

The Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan,China is also a famous world natural heritage site.The water is the soul of the National Park and the wetland consists of 118 mountain lakes.In order to evaluate the status of the wetland,and to put forward rational advices for the wetland protection,a series of studies on the wetland were conducted.Diatom was used to monitor water quality because of its great sensitiveness to environmental changes.Based on the studies of 17 sampling sites in lakes from 2168 m to 3060 m in a gradient altitude in October ～ December 2007,113 taxa of diatoms(including species and varieties) were observed.The predominant genera in most sampling sites were Fragilaria,Navicula,Cymbella and Gomphonema,but the dominant Cyclotella only in the Long Lake.Two eutrophication-indicating species,Melosira granulata(Ehr.) Ralfs and Stephanodiscus astraea(Ehr.) Grun.,were found for the first time in the lakes of Jiuzhaigou in traveling season,and they disappeared in winter,indicating that human activities had impact on the lakes of Jiuzhaigou,and the ecological system had a strong ability to be recovered by itself.The result of statistical analysis showed that diatom cell density and altitude represented a positive relation as a result of co-effect of environmental factors.The Cairns Sequential Comparison Index(SCI),a simplified method to estimate the relative differences in biological diversity,was high except for the Long Lake,and it had negative relation with altitude and cell density,both resulted from interspecies-competition.But the SCI could not always reflect the quality of the lake water in Jiuzhaigou.Fig 2,Tab 6,Ref 25

Evaluation Criteria for Implementation of a Sustainable Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment System at Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China

The administration of Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan Province, China, is in the process of considering a range of upgrades to their sanitation and wastewater treatment systems. Their case history involves an ongoing series of engineering design flaws and management failures. The administration of the Park identified sustainability, environmental protection, and education goals for their sanitation and wastewater treatment system. To meet the goal of sustainability, environmental and economic concerns of the Park's administration had to be balanced with socio-cultural needs. An advanced reconnaissance method was developed that identified reasons for previous failures, conducted stakeholder analysis and interviews, determined evaluation criteria, and introduced innovative alternatives with records of successful global implementations. This evaluation also helped the Park to better define their goals. To prevent future failures, the administration of the Park must commit to a balanced and thorough evaluation process for selection of a final alternative and institute effective long-term management and monitoring of systems. In addition, to meet goals and achieve energy efficient, cost-effective use of resources, the Park must shift their thinking from one of waste disposal to resource recovery. The method and criteria developed for this case study provides a framework to aid in the successful implementation of sanitation projects in both underdeveloped and developed areas of the world, incorporating socio-cultural values and resource recovery for a complex group of stakeholders.

Anthropogenic hillslope terraces and swidden agriculture in Jiuzhaigou National Park, northern Sichuan, China

Small, irregular terraces on hillslopes, or terracettes, are common landscape features throughout west central China. Despite their prevalence, there is limited understanding of the nature of these topographic features, the processes that form them, and the role humans played in their formation. We used an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the geology, ecology, and cultural history of terracette development within Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan Province, China. Terracettes occur on south facing, 20° slopes at 2500 m elevation, which appears to coincide with places people historically preferred to build villages. Ethnographic interviews suggest that traditional swidden agricultural cycles removed tree roots, causing the loess sediments to lose cohesion, slump, and the terrace risers to retreat uphill over time. This evidence is supported by landslide debris at terracette faces. Archaeological analysis of terracette sites reveal remains of rammed spread soil structures, bones, stone tools, and ceramics dating from at least 2200 years before present within a distinct paleosol layer. Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating of terracette sediments ranged in age from between 1500 and 2000 14C yr BP and between 16 and 0.30 ka, respectively. These multiple lines of evidence indicate a long history of human habitation within Jiuzhaigou National Park and, taken together, suggest strong links between terracette formation and human–landuse interactions.

Residents' Perceptions of Tourism Impacts: An Analysis of Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation

Investigating residents' perception of tourism impacts is a good method to analyze the status of tourism impact. Due to the underlying correlation among several impacts indices, tourism impacts are generally very complex to model. Various methods such as single-variable and statistics used in previous authoritative studies are not sensitive enough, which may affect the decision-making process adversely. The purpose of this research is to present the fuzzy synthetic evaluation method to analyze residents' perceptions of tourism impacts. Basic attributes and a hierarchical framework of tourism impacts are defined and formed. Then weighted vectors are determined according to the knowledge and experience of experts. The weighted evaluation matrices are then aggregated to get the fuzzy sets of tourism impacts. In the final stage, the final fuzzy sets are defuzzified to get the rank of residents' perceptions of tourism impacts. Sensitivity of fuzzy synthetic evaluation is quite high compared to other index evaluation techniques. A case study in Jiuzhaigou National Park of China is provided to demonstrate the application of this method. The findings clearly indicate that the fuzzy synthetic evaluation may successfully harmonize inherent complex conditions in residents' perception of tourism impact.

Fuzzy synthetic evaluation on resident’s perceptions of tourism impacts

Tourism can have both positive and negative outcomes for residents in tourism destinations. It is a good method to analyze the status of tourism impact by means of investigating residents’ perceptions of it. Various methods have been used in previous authoritative studies. However, owing to inherent imprecision, difficulties always exist in some conventional methodologies when describing the interpretation of linguistic or measured uncertainties for real-world random phenomena. The purpose of this research is to present the fuzzy synthetic evaluation method to investigate residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts. At first, basic attributes and a hierarchical framework of tourism impacts are defined and formed. Secondly, the weighted vectors are determined according to the knowledge and experience of experts. Thirdly, the weighted evaluation matrices are aggregated to get the fuzzy sets of tourism impacts. In the last stage, the final fuzzy sets are defuzzified to get the rank of the residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts. A case study in Jiuzhaigou National Park of China is provided to demonstrate the application of this method.

Debris flow prevention pattern in national parks ??Taking the world natural heritage Jiuzhaigou as an example

With the development of the ecological tourism, how to control debris flow in national parks becomes an urgent problem. The characteristics of prevention of the debris flow in the areas are systematically studied, and a scientific strategy is introduced for dealing with debris flows. In term of the activity attribute of the debris flow and objects protected in Jiuzhaigou, some methods are proposed to arrange the projects of hazard mitigation, and finally an approach is established to carry out the technology in the control of the debris flow scientifically, reasonably and feasibly. Integrating the aforesaid strategy with methods, the pattern of prevention and countermeasures of the debris flow has been theorized, in this way the mitigation hazards engineering is in harmony with the natural view and combined with the ecology. The prevention pattern of the debris flow in national parks is divergent from those in other areas such as towns, traffic lines, and farmland. After the successful application of the pattern in the Jiuzhaigou National Park, it effectively controls debris flows and achieves the expected target, such as conserving the landscape resource, sustaining ecological environment, and securing the visitors and residents.