Landscape Stability Research Articles

Assessment of the stability of permafrost landscapes in the developed territories of Western Yakutia

Using GIS technologies, a Map of the resistance of permafrost landscapes of the developed territories of Western Yakutia on a scale of 1:1,000,000 to anthropogenic impacts was compiled. The ice content of the underlying rocks, soil temperature, the thickness of the active layer and the distribution of cryogenic processes were accepted as stability criteria. At the same time, a point system for assessing the stability of landscapes was used. Spatial analysis of permafrost landscapes showed that the largest areas are occupied by stable landscapes (66.8%), relatively stable and relatively unstable landscapes occupy 19,5 and 13,7%, respectively.

System identification and landscape stability of stochastic competition ecosystem

System identification and landscape stability of stochastic competition ecosystem

Late Pleistocene to Holocene alluvial deposits of the Inaouène Valley and their paleoenvironmental significance (north Morocco)

This study investigates the paleoenvironmental changes and fluvial dynamics in the Inaouène River Valley of central northern Morocco over the last 22,000 years. Through comprehensive field study and radiocarbon dating of Upper Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits, the research identifies six main alluvial units reflecting distinct phases of fluvial activity and environmental conditions. These phases include coarse gravel aggradation between ∼22 and 15 cal kaBP, indicating a braided channel system, followed by multiple fine-dominated alluviation phases occurring at ∼13, ∼10, ∼6–5, ∼3, ∼0.7–0.3, and ∼0.1-0 cal kaBP. The trunk channel evolved from a low-sinuosity wandering style in the Early-Middle Holocene to a high-sinuosity pattern in the Late Holocene. Periods of landscape stability, evidenced by soil formation, were dated around 0.3 and 0.8 cal kaBP, with additional episodes estimated just after ∼12 cal kaBP and around 3.8 cal kaBP. Notably, the study also uncovered evidence of significant human intervention during the Middle Holocene.A comparison with other archives enabled us to reconstruct late Pleistocene and Holocene palaeoenvironmental conditions on both regional and supraregional scales, linking specific stages of floodplain development to prevalent influencing factors. Emphasizing the fluvial system response, we present a cause-effect model that focuses on long-lasting climatic phases (e.g., Last Glacial Maximum, MIS2-MIS1 transition, African Humid Period) as well as sub-millennial to centennial Rapid Climate Changes, North Atlantic cooling events, and solar activity minima. Human intervention played a key role in the Inaouène's evolution during the Middle Holocene, as evidenced by clear anthropogenic markers found in the associated deposits. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of the area's geomorphological history but also highlight its significant archaeological potential, opening new avenues for interdisciplinary research in this understudied region.The study offers new insights into central northern Morocco's late Quaternary alluvial geochronology and paleoenvironmental evolution, aligning with regional findings and contributing to a broader understanding of climate-driven landscape changes and human-environment interactions across North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Landscape changes in Czech large protected areas 1950–2020: Two different landscapes types on the same path

Landscape and its development is crucial for viability and management of protected areas, therefore, we focused on Czech large protected areas and analysed their land cover and landscape structure changes from the 1950s to recent times. Based on four milestones (1950, 1990, 2004 and 2020), data from topographic maps and aerial imagery were vectorized and use for following steps as analysing main trends of changes: an increase in forest in all areas and extensification of agriculture; the latter was expressed by permanent grassland growth in almost all areas and by arable land decrease. Urbanisation was reflected in the growth of built-up areas. However, these changes did not take place equally across all protected areas. Therefore, we distinguished two groups: 1) more stable (in terms of land cover change) and forested areas; 2) protected landscape areas which were also established for conservation of cultural landscape with open land cover categories, which showed larger changes. Moreover, landscape structure shows its simplification during the study period across almost all protected areas. Therefore, our results indicate that, in some protected areas, landscape stability and in some others landscape diversity are their values.

New age constraints reveal moraine stabilization thousands of years after deposition during the last deglaciation of western New York, USA

Abstract. The timing of the last deglaciation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in western New York is poorly constrained. The lack of direct chronology in the region has led to a hypothesis that the Laurentide Ice Sheet re-advanced to near its Last Glacial Maximum terminal position in western New York at ∼ 13 ka, which challenges long-standing datasets. To address this hypothesis, we obtained new chronology from the Kent (terminal) and Lake Escarpment (first major recessional) moraines using radiocarbon ages in sediment cores from moraine kettles supplemented with two optically stimulated luminescence ages from topset beds in an ice-contact delta. The two optically stimulated luminescence ages date the Kent (terminal) position to 19.8 ± 2.6 and 20.6 ± 2.9 ka. Within the sediment cores, there is sedimentological evidence of an unstable landscape during basin formation; radiocarbon ages from the lowest sediments in our cores are not in stratigraphic order and date from 19 350–19 600 to 14 050–14 850 cal BP. We interpret these ages as loosely minimum-limiting constraints on ice sheet retreat. Our oldest radiocarbon age of 19 350–19 600 cal BP – from a rip-up clast – suggests ice-free conditions at that time. Above the lowest sediments there is organic-rich silt and radiocarbon ages in stratigraphic order. We interpret the lowest ages in these organic-rich sediments as minimum-limiting constraints on kettle basin formation. The lowest radiocarbon ages from organic-rich sediments from sites on both Kent and Lake Escarpment moraines range from 15 000–15 400 to 13 600–14 000 cal BP. We interpret the 5 kyr lag between the optically stimulated luminescence ages and kettle basin formation as the result of persistent buried ice in ice-cored moraines until ∼ 15 to 14 ka. The cold conditions associated with Heinrich Stadial 1 may have enabled the survival of ice-cored moraines until after 15 ka, and, in turn, climate amelioration during the Bølling period (14.7–14.1 ka) may have initiated landscape stabilization. This model potentially reconciles the sedimentological and chronological evidence underpinning the re-advance hypothesis, which instead could be the result of moraine instability and sediment mobilization during the Bølling–Allerød periods (14.7–13 ka). Age control for future work should focus on features that are not dependent on local climate.

Landscape and paleoenvironmental change in stream valleys of the Central Great Plains, North America, during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (ca. 59–27 ka)

Recent studies of late Quaternary landscape evolution in stream valleys throughout the central Great Plains of North America have identified thick packages of MIS 3-age alluvium and colluvium beneath terraces, alluvial fans, and footslopes. Here, we review and build on these studies to highlight the geomorphic history of river systems in the Central Plains during MIS 3 and reconstruct the paleoclimatic conditions and vegetation communities that existed in the region at that time.A suite of 50 radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence ages indicate that late MIS 3 was a period of widespread landscape stability and soil development in the Central Plains. In general, river systems were actively aggrading during early MIS 3, but aggradation slowed after ca. 40 ka, allowing soils to develop until ca. 30–27 ka. In some river valleys, a second pulse of aggradation occurred shortly after that time followed by a period of landscape stability and pedogenesis during early MIS 2 (ca. 24–19 ka). Evidence for widespread landscape stability in stream valleys implies that high magnitude flooding was minimal. Atmospheric circulation patterns that favor these conditions include zonal airflow that inhibits incursions of moist, maritime air from the Gulf of Mexico.Paleoenvironmental conditions during late MIS 3 were reconstructed using the stable carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen isotopic composition of pedogenic phyllosilicates, carbonates, and organic matter. Estimated paleotemperatures ranged from 6 to 9 °C ± 3 °C and are approximately 4–7 °C lower than modern mean annual temperature. The estimated δ18O values of soil water from phyllosilicates range from −10.6‰ to −9.6‰. These estimates are lower (18O-depleted) by about 1.5–3‰ relative to modern meteoric δ18O values and we estimate that the δ18O of paleoprecipitation was likely 18O-depleted by up to 8.5‰ relative to modern values. Our estimated δ18O values for soil waters in the Central Plains during late MIS 3 can be explained by climatic conditions characterized by 1) cooler temperatures, 2) precipitation being sourced primarily from Pacific/Arctic air masses, 3) seasonal changes in precipitation patterns (i.e., predominantly winter precipitation), or 4) a combination of the above. δ13C values indicate the presence of a notable proportion of C4 vegetation in the Central Plains during late MIS 3. We suggest that C4 productivity was likely favored at that time by a low atmospheric CO2 environment that had sufficiently warm temperatures and effective precipitation during the growing season.

Evaluation of landscape ecological security pattern via the “pattern-function-stability” framework in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration of China

Most studies have assessed and constructed landscape ecological security patterns (LESPs) primarily from the perspective of landscape morphology by employing morphological spatial pattern analysis, with little attention paid to fundamental ecosystem attributes (such as ecosystem functions and stability). Thus, this study proposed a comprehensive evaluation and optimization framework for LESPs from the perspective of “mode function stability” by integrating assessment landscape pattern, ecological function, and landscape stability. A comprehensive evaluation and optimization of the LESPs was conducted using the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration (GPUA) as the research area. The results showed that: (1) Generally, the landscape quality in urban agglomerations was relatively low because of the large area of agricultural vegetation, high human interference, and landscape fragmentation, which caused low levels of landscape pattern, function, and stability. (2) LESPs were mainly determined by landscape stability in urban agglomerations due to low-quality ecosystems, rapid landscape transformation, and severe anthropogenic disturbances. (3) There was a large variation in the landscape function and stability of a certain landscape type due to their different structures and human interference across space in urban agglomerations. According to assessment by “pattern-function-stability” framework, the ecological sources and corridors covered with natural forest were the crucial cornerstone to constructing LESPs, and the rivers in crop planting areas were the inevitably selected corridors, but their ecological function and stability needed further improvement in construction. (4) The framework can assess spatial patterns and ecological functions to further the stability and sustainability of the landscape in maintaining ecological security and facilitating the identification of improvement objectives or measures of individual ecological sources or corridors in regional ecological infrastructure construction practices.

Pandemic effect on company’s sustainability debt policy: The case of Portugal

Amid the relentless grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainability has emerged as a paramount concern across global economies. As businesses grapple with unprecedented challenges, the imperative for sustainable practices in corporate finance becomes increasingly evident. Throughout this crisis, companies have faced staggering financial strains, with diminished turnovers and escalating operational costs pushing many to the brink of collapse. In response, governments worldwide have provided vital support, albeit often insufficient, underscoring the necessity for sustainable mechanisms of intervention. Central to this discourse is an examination of how companies have adapted their financing policies amidst the pandemic’s tumult. Government-backed credit facilities have served as a critical lifeline for numerous businesses, emphasizing the need for sustainable financial instruments readily deployable in times of crisis. Concurrently, moratoriums on existing credit obligations have offered temporary relief, albeit with looming concerns regarding heightened corporate indebtedness. Moreover, the pandemic’s aftermath has witnessed a pronounced uptick in corporate borrowing, compounded by surging interest rates. This confluence underscores the exigency for companies to adopt sustainable financial strategies, mindful not only of short-term exigencies but also the enduring ramifications on financial stability. In navigating these challenges, a holistic approach to sustainability is imperative. Governments must ensure robust support mechanisms, while companies must proactively seek sustainable financing solutions. Concurrently, stakeholders must meticulously weigh the long-term repercussions of financial policy adjustments, thereby fortifying corporate resilience against future crises while safeguarding the stability of the global economy. In essence, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical imperative for sustainability in corporate finance. By heeding this call and embracing sustainable practices, businesses can navigate crises with greater resilience, ensuring not only their survival but also the enduring stability of the economic landscape.

Ландшафтно-экологическое территориальное зонирование (на материалах Акмолинской области)

Introduction. Modern human activities in nature are subject to increasing regulation and restrictions, which should be reflected in systems for the use of natural resources, primarily in agricultural production. The problem under consideration is of particular relevance for the regions of Northern Kazakhstan, since the natural landscapes of the region have been radically changed and transformed into natural and agricultural complexes with a disturbed landscape-ecological balance.From the point of view of modern natural science, the organization of the rational use of rural areas should be solved by applying a concept based on the landscape-ecological approach. The purpose of the study. Territorial zoning of the agricultural landscape to optimize the use of agricultural land based on the landscape-ecological approach. Research methods. Cartographic materials used as the basis for the creation of diagrams and design developments, obtained on the basis of data from the virtual information system of the land cadastre of the Republic of Kazakhstan and processed using the ArcGIS program. Research results. Based on materials from the steppe zone of the Akmola region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an analysis of landscape conditions and ecological stability of agricultural landscape systems was carried out. Analysis of territorial landscape zoning allowed us to conclude that the predominant part of the field landscapes of the steppe eons of this region is occupied by natural-territorial complexes of watershed spaces and watershed slopes, and the most common form of relief is slope surfaces. Ecological zoning of agricultural landscapes in the Akmola region revealed that the most common agricultural landscapes are characterized by weak stability and unstable agricultural landscapes. The article proposes a methodology for territorial zoning of agricultural lands on a landscape-ecological basis in the conditions of the Akmola region. It includes the following procedure: drawing up a landscape map. identification of homogeneous ecological zones; agrolandscape microzoning. As a result of research at the research object, a scheme of territorial landscape-ecological zoning for land use of agricultural formations was compiled, which is based on taking into account the paradynamic landscape structure of steppe landscapes and the degree of their anthropogenic transformation. At the same time, relatively homogeneous landscape-ecological microzones were identified, within which the elementary landscapes of the steppe catena were differentiated according to measures that stabilize the stability of the agricultural landscape. Conclusions. 1. On the territory of the Akmola region, natural landscapes have been transformed into agricultural production modifications. with a low degree of sustainability, requiring measures to maintain landscape-ecological balance. 2. The methodology for territorial zoning of steppe agricultural landscapes should be based on taking into account the paradynamic landscape structure of steppe landscapes, i.e. its catenary device. 3. Application of the results of territorial landscape-ecological zoning in design developments for the use and protection of land will allow the selection of optimal directions that ensure the sustainability of agricultural landscapes.

Anthropogenic impact on agricultural landscapes of the Akmola region of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The relevance of research topic is confirmed by the presence of environmental problems of steppe land use and the need for its rationalization. The article examines the issues of ecological stability of agrolandscapes of the steppe zone in agricultural circulation and determines environmental and economic damage that occurs when their functioning is disrupted. The goal is to assess the degree of anthropogenic influence when using agricultural landscapes based on the example of the Akmola region. The content of research topic determined the choice of the following methods: historical, logical, statistical, system analysis, graphic modeling. Results - taking into account factors that destabilize the landscape-ecological balance, ecological zoning was carried out in the region, the degree of stability of steppe agricultural landscapes under anthropogenic influence was determined, based on mathematical model of erosion process, intensity of washout was calculated, environmental and economic losses arising in connection with violation were indicated, self-regulation of landscapes, environmental protection (antierosion) measures have been developed. The amount of residual flushing after they are carried out characterizes the effectiveness of reducing the water flows. Conclusions - field agrolandscapes of agricultural enterprises of the Akmola region, specializing in production of crop products, can be classified as anthropogenically disturbed with low degree of environmental stability, which is due to the significant plowing of their territory. One of the main factors of environmental destabilization in steppe agricultural entities is the spread of water erosion on slope arable land, environmental damage from which is confirmed by the loss of soil layer. The proposed measures to support landscape environmental stability can be applied when planning the use of land resources and developing on-farm land management projects.

Spatiotemporal evolution of landscape stability in World Heritage Karst Sites: a case study of Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst

Landscape stability is a paramount concern within the field of landscape ecology. Indices of landscape patterns not only facilitate an effective analysis of land use transformations but also delve into the mechanisms of landscape disturbances across various spatial and temporal dimensions. Utilizing land use data spanning from 2014 to 2022 for the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang South China Karst (SCK) World Heritage Sites (WHSs), this study delves into the landscape dynamics of these areas over the past 8 years. This investigation employs landscape pattern indices and a moving window technique to construct a landscape stability evaluation model, incorporating indices such as the Contagion Index, Patch Density, and Total Edge Contrast. Moreover, the study employs Moran's I, a spatial autocorrelation index, to scrutinize the shifts in geographical heterogeneity of landscape stability within the said period. The findings reveal: (1) Between 2014 and 2022, the landscape patterns of the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang WHSs have undergone significant transformations, with Woodland emerging as the predominant landscape type and its area exhibiting an upward trend in recent years. (2) The level of fragmentation within the research area has decreased, landscape diversity has diminished, and the aggregation index has risen, according to the landscape pattern indices from 2014 to 2022, indicating that conservation measures have significantly influenced the evolution of landscape patterns. (3) Throughout most of the study period, landscape stability predominantly remained at a relatively stable level, albeit with noticeable fluctuations in years heavily impacted by human activities. (4) The areas of high-high agglomeration and the hotspots of the heritage sites were primarily concentrated within the core zones of these sites, suggesting focused areas of conservation and landscape integrity.

The Alluvial Geoarchaeology of the Upper River Kennet in the Avebury Landscape: a Monumental Transformation of a Stable Landscape

Geoarchaeological research as part of the AHRC funded Living with Monuments (LwM) project investigated the upper Kennet river system across the Avebury World Heritage landscape. The results demonstrate that in the early–mid-Holocene (c. 9500–1000 bc) there was very low erosion of disturbed soils into the floodplain, with floodplain deposits confined to a naturally forming bedload fluvial deposit aggrading in a shallow channel of inter-linked deeper pools. At the time of the Neolithic monument building in the 4th–early 3rd millennium bc, the river was wide and shallow with areas of presumed braid plain. Between c. 4000 and 1000 bc, a human induced signature of soil erosion became a minor component of fluvial sedimentation in the Kennet palaeo-channel but it was small scale and localised. This strongly suggests that there is little evidence of widespread woodland removal associated with Neolithic farming and monument building, despite the evidently large timber requirements for Neolithic sites like the West Kennet palisade enclosures. Consequently, there was relatively light human disturbance of the hinterland and valley slopes over the longue durée until the later Bronze Age/Early Iron Age, with a predominance of pasture over arable land. Rather than large Neolithic monument complexes being constructed within woodland clearings, representing ancestral and sacred spaces, the substantially much more open landscape provided a suitable landscape with areas of sarsen spreads potentially easily visible. During the period c. 3000–1000 bc, the sediment load within the channel slowly increased with alluvial deposition of increasingly humic silty clays across the valley floor. However, this only represents small-scale landscape disturbance. It is from the Late Bronze Age–Early Iron Age when the anthropogenic signal of human driven alluviation becomes dominant and overtakes the bedload fluvial signal across the floodplain, with localised colluvial deposits on the floodplain margins. Subsequently, the alluvial archive describes more extensive human impact across this landscape, including the disturbance of loessic-rich soils in the catchment. The deposition of floodplain wide alluvium continues throughout the Roman, medieval, and post-medieval periods, correlating with the development of a low-flow, single channel, with alluvial sediments describing a decreasing energy in the depositional environment.

Biogeochemical traces and microbe-mineral interactions in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert

Life found various ways to thrive in hostile desert environments. Common adaptation mechanisms are protection against desiccation and UV radiation in biofilms and biocrusts as well as the hypolithic and endolithic colonization of rocks. One of those hostile regions is the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile with its hyperarid core, counted among the most arid places on Earth. Besides the aridity, life faces severe restrictions in these surroundings, e.g. extremely high UV radiation, scarce nutrient supply, and immense salt concentrations. Still, microbial communities and soil organic matter are crucial for the stability of soils and surface sediments in arid ecosystems. Combining molecular mass spectrometry for lipid biomarkers, scanning electron microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we individually investigated two factors that are of particular importance for the stability of dryland landscapes now and in the future: 1) We studied biogeochemical traces (organic remnants) in surface sediments along an aridity gradient with regard to possible decomposition and/or sequestration of organic compounds. 2) We investigated the interaction of lithobiontic and endolithic microbial communities with the mineral surface with special regard to the stability of soil and surface sediment structures in different areas of the Atacama Desert: in the region of the Salar Grande, Pisagua, and the Quebrada da Aroma. We analyzed halite- and calcium sulfate-dominated evaporitic crusts with and without visible microbial colonization. Organic traces were present in all investigated samples. Following an aridity gradient along the Quebrada de Aroma from an annual precipitation of about 20 mm to the hyperarid core with approx. 2 mm, we found a decrease in functionalized molecular compounds and plant-derived biomarkers (long-chain fatty acids, sterols) as well as an increase in aromatic hydrocarbons, indicating strongly decomposed remnants of plants and microorganisms. The investigation of halite- and calcium sulfate-dominated evaporitic crusts from the Salar Grande, Pisagua, and Aroma region revealed tight interactions of microorganisms with the mineral substrate. Indications of recent bacterial activity were ubiquitous (e.g. short-chain membrane fatty acids, carbohydrates of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that especially the microbial EPS within evaporites seems to biochemically stabilize mineral aggregates by agglutination. Moreover, fungal biomarkers showed that fungi and fungal parts of lichen were not only present at the surface of physical soil crusts but form widespread networks in the crusts and thereby contribute significantly to the physical stabilization of soils and surface sediments and erosion protection.

Геохимическая оценка системы «поверхностная вода – донные отложения» в зоне горнопромышленного техногенеза

Introduction. Tailings dumps are the most common by-product of the process of extracting valuable minerals and metals from mined ore. Their placement is accompanied by a violation of the natural properties of natural landscapes, changes in the geochemistry of soils and the hydrochemistry of the aquatic environment, the accumulation of heavy metals and toxicants in depositing media. The issues of geochemistry and stability of landscapes, the safety of natural and technical systems, the identification, study, assessment and forecast of their development in the conditions of increasing techno genesis is an urgent global problem. One of the most important directions in the geochemistry of mountain landscapes and mining and industrial ecology is the purposeful study of the relationship and interdependence of the processes of technogenic geochemical migration of the main and associated ore-forming elements into the environment with the technological processes of ore extraction and processing. The development of scientifically-based principles for the organization of control and monitoring of disturbed geo-systems in the conditions of techno genesis is not only an important fundamental research task, but has practical significance in order to preserve natural landscapes and mountain geo-systems. Purpose of research. Geochemical assessment of the “surface water-bottom sediments” system in the area of a copper-molybdenum deposit. Materials and methods. The research methodology is based on the theoretical foundations of landscape geochemistry. The object of the study is the system “surface water-bottom sediments” in the zone of technogenic influence of the tailings dump of a copper-molybdenum deposit. Field and standard physical-chemical methods, Excel graphics, geo-information analysis, 3D modeling Statistica were used. Discussion. Geochemical testing of the surface river in the tailings storage area revealed a significant enrichment of the aquatic environment with salt ions, which enter the surface water in the form of dam filtrate. The violation of the ratio of alkali metal ions, as well as the ratio of alkali-earth metal ions to alkali metal ions, which is a geochemical anomaly for fresh surface natural waters, is shown. As a result of constant filtration through the body of the tailings dam, heavy metals also enter the river water, primarily Cu, Mo, Fe, which, under conditions of an alkaline water environment, accumulate mainly at the bottom of the watercourse in the form of insoluble deposits. The coefficients of accumulation of metals in bottom sediments relative to clerks are obtained. The spatial dynamics of their distribution and variability along the riverbed are revealed, which makes it possible to predict the development of the situation in the zone of mining and industrial techno genesis. 3D models of the distribution of the analyzed metals from the properties of the pH medium, the main regulating factor of the formation of various forms of heavy metals, are obtained. Conclusion. It is shown that the hydro-geochemical features in the “surface water – bottom sediments” system of the river in the area of the tailings dam inherit chemical ore occurrence during Cu, Mo, Fe extraction. This indicates a technogenic transformation of the hydrosphere in a zone with a predominance of mining and industrial specialization of the deposit. The results obtained are of scientific interest as an empirical model for studying the process of formation of sedimentary ores, which, in turn, represents a fundamental aspect for the development of the theory of subsoil development design and studying the processes of formation of technogenic deposits.

Assessment of the resistance of landscapes of the Altai Republic
 to anthropogenic impacts

Currently, there are many points of view on assessing the resistance of landscapes to anthropogenic impact, but there are no generally accepted methods for quantitative assessment of the emergent properties of geosystems. Various methods and approaches have been developed that are based on indices of sustainability and well-being, as well as classification models, the vast majority of which are based on a score-index approach. The work provides an integral assessment of the environmental sustainability of the landscapes of the Altai Republic, which is based on a number of physical and geographical factors that influence the stability of the existing geosystems. The most important among them are: relief (especially the steepness of slopes), vegetation cover, soils, density of the river network, water balance and land types. As a result, it was established that there is a general pattern - with increasing altitude above sea level, the ecological sustainability of landscapes decreases. Against the background of this pattern, flattened areas of intermountain basins stand out, where stability increases somewhat. Thus, in the north-west of the republic, landscapes of high environmental sustainability predominate, which are succeded by less stable landscapes of the central regions, and on the slopes of the North and South Chuysky, Katunsky ridges, the Tabyn-Bogdo-Ola massif, the ecological sustainability of landscapes is noticeably reduced.

Carbon Fate, Iron Dissolution, and Molecular Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter in Thawed Yedoma Permafrost under Varying Redox Conditions.

Permafrost soils store ∼50% of terrestrial C, with Yedoma permafrost containing ∼25% of the total C. Permafrost is undergoing degradation due to thawing, with potentially hazardous effects on landscape stability and water resources. Complicating ongoing efforts to project the ultimate fate of deep permafrost C is the poorly constrained role of the redox environment, Fe-minerals, and its redox-active phases, which may modulate organic C-abundance, composition, and reactivity through complexation and catalytic processes. We characterized C fate, Fe fractions, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) isolates from permafrost-thaw under varying redox conditions. Under anoxic incubation conditions, 33% of the initial C was lost as gaseous species within 21 days, while under oxic conditions, 58% of C was lost. Under anoxic incubation, 42% of the total initial C was preserved in a dissolved fraction. Lignin-like compounds dominated permafrost-thaw, followed by lipid- and protein-like compounds. However, under anoxic incubation conditions, there was accumulation of lipid-like compounds and reduction in the nominal oxidation state of C over time, regardless of the compound classes. DOM dynamics may be affected by microbial activity and abiotic processes mediated by Fe-minerals related to selective DOM fractionation and/or its oxidation. Chemodiversity DOM signatures could serve as valuable proxies to track redox conditions with permafrost-thaw.

Land cover changes across Greenland dominated by a doubling of vegetation in three decades

Land cover responses to climate change must be quantified for understanding Arctic climate, managing Arctic water resources, maintaining the health and livelihoods of Arctic societies and for sustainable economic development. This need is especially pressing in Greenland, where climate changes are amongst the most pronounced of anywhere in the Arctic. Ice loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet and from glaciers and ice caps has increased since the 1980s and consequently the proglacial parts of Greenland have expanded rapidly. Here we determine proglacial land cover changes at 30 m spatial resolution across Greenland during the last three decades. Besides the vastly decreased ice cover (− 28,707 km2 ± 9767 km2), we find a doubling in total areal coverage of vegetation (111% ± 13%), a quadrupling in wetlands coverage (380% ± 29%), increased meltwater (15% ± 15%), decreased bare bedrock (− 16% ± 4%) and increased coverage of fine unconsolidated sediment (4% ± 13%). We identify that land cover change is strongly associated with the difference in the number of positive degree days, especially above 6 °C between the 1980s and the present day. Contrastingly, absolute temperature increase has a negligible association with land cover change. We explain that these land cover changes represent local rapid and intense geomorphological activity that has profound consequences for land surface albedo, greenhouse gas emissions, landscape stability and sediment delivery, and biogeochemical processes.

An analysis on the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of landscape ecological risk in Qilian Mountain National Park

As a key ecological function area and a priority area for biodiversity conservation in China, Qilian Mountain National Park is facing a severe test of its ecological environment, and the study of its landscape ecological risk is of great significance to the construction and high-quality development of the Qilian Mountain National Park. In this research, based on land use data from six periods (i.e., year in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020) in the Qilian Mountain National Park, we divided the ecological risk plots, calculated the landscape pattern, and constructed the landscape ecological risk index to deeply explore the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of landscape ecological risk in Qilian Mountain National Park by using ArcGIS, Fragstats and GeoDa. The results showed that: Grassland is the predominant land use type, the area covered by woodland and grassland have exhibited a significant increase since 1995. Landscape fragmentation and disturbance indices exhibit fluctuations across different years, but showed an overall decreasing trend, and landscape stability was improved in the study area. There were obvious differences in the disturbance indices of different landscape types, with grassland and bare land having the highest values. Ecological risk in the study area is heterogeneous, with an overall low ecological risk and a shift to a lower risk level, and a decreasing trend in ecological risk, which is positively correlated spatially and mainly manifested as a “low-low” aggregation. Global warming and unreasonable human activities have exacerbated the ecological degradation of Qilian Mountain National Park, but a series of ecological restoration strategies after the establishment of the national park have gradually improved the regional ecological environment.

Recent intensified erosion and massive sediment deposition in Tibetan Plateau rivers

Recent climate change has caused an increase in warming-driven erosion and sediment transport processes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Yet a lack of measurements hinders our understanding of basin-scale sediment dynamics and associated spatiotemporal changes. Here, using satellite-based estimates of suspended sediment, we reconstruct the quantitative history and patterns of erosion and sediment transport in major headwater basins from 1986 to 2021. Out of 13 warming-affected headwater regions, 63% of the rivers have experienced significant increases in sediment flux. Despite such intensified erosion, we find that 30% of the total suspended sediment flux has been temporarily deposited within rivers. Our findings reveal a pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity within and across basins. The recurrent fluctuations in erosion-deposition patterns within river channels not only result in the underestimation of erosion magnitude but also drive continuous transformations in valley morphology, thereby endangering local ecosystems, landscape stability, and infrastructure project safety.

Soil Inorganic Carbon Formation and the Sequestration of Secondary Carbonates in Global Carbon Pools: A Review

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC), a potential carbon sink especially in arid and semi-arid environments, contributes to soil development, landscape stability, carbon (C) sequestration, and global C dynamics but due to the lack of SIC scientific reporting in most C sequestration research, its importance is unclear. A detailed overview of primary and secondary carbonate occurrence, formation, and importance is much needed to understand the role of pedogenic (PC)/secondary carbonate (a common biogeochemically derived soil mineral over time) in the SIC. The mechanisms involved in the formation of PC including carbon dioxide (CO2) from microbial respiration and precipitation, silicate mineral weathering, dissolution, and reprecipitation are highlighted. The isotopic composition of carbonates related to biological C3 or C4 carbon fixation pathways and other paleoecologic and/or climactic factors responsible for new soil carbonate formation are discussed in detail. To address the lack of knowledge associated with SIC, this review attempts to highlight the currently known aspects of the literature, and briefly describe the formation and methodologies that can aid in addressing the research gaps surrounding SIC sequestration. The authors also suggest that greater focus needs to be provided on the actual measurement of SIC to develop a more comprehensive SIC inventory to provide sound data for future research direction, and modeling efforts and to predict C terrestrial storage and change efficiently.