Southeastern China Research Articles

How Can Ecological Product Value Realization Sustainably Enhance the Well-Being of Farmers? A Case Study of Xingyuan Village in China

Although recent years have witnessed a considerable increase in studies on the economic value of ecological products, the extant literature has overlooked the multidimensional enhancement of ecological product value from the perspective of farmers’ well-being. This research aims to examine how the Realization of Ecological Product Value (EPVR) serves as a crucial pathway to promoting the overall well-being of farmers in developing countries. Through a case study of a village in southeastern China, this research reveals that EPVR can enhance farmers’ well-being via various mechanisms as follows: (1) Economic solution to enrich farmers’ livelihood diversity, achieved by leveraging rural resource endowments and comparative advantages; (2) Fair social protection program enabling farmers to enjoy ecological benefits and further achieving urban-rural integration; (3) Environmental protection plan that balances production, living, and ecology; and (4) Grassroots governance tool promoting the governance ability to form collaborative governance model in a community of shared interests. This study offers theoretical support for enhancing human well-being through the realization of ecological product value in rural areas.

Evaluation of Key Development Factors of a Buried Hill Reservoir in the Eastern South China Sea: Nonlinear Component Seepage Model Coupled with EDFM

The HZ 26-B buried hill reservoir is located in the eastern part of the South China Sea. This reservoir is characterized by the development of natural fractures, a high density, and a complex geological structure, featuring an upper condensate gas layer and a lower volatile oil layer. These characteristics present significant challenges for oilfield exploration. To address these challenges, this study employed advanced embedded discrete fracture methods to conduct comprehensive numerical simulations of the fractured buried hill reservoirs. By meticulously characterizing the flow mechanisms within these reservoirs, the study not only reveals their unique characteristics but also establishes an embedded discrete fracture numerical model at the oilfield scale. Furthermore, a combination of single-factor sensitivity analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient method was used to identify the primary controlling factors affecting the development of complex condensate reservoirs in ancient buried hills. The results indicate that the main factors influencing the production capacity are the matrix permeability, geomechanical effects, and natural fracture length. In contrast, the impact of the threshold pressure gradient and bottomhole flow pressure is relatively weak. This study’s findings provide a scientific basis for the efficient development of the HZ 26-B oilfield and offer valuable references and insights for the exploration and development of similar fractured buried hill reservoirs.

Comparative analysis of the spatiotemporal patterns and trends of three types of summer heatwaves in China (1981–2020) using a biometeorological index

AbstractUnder global warming, heatwaves (HWs) are exerting increasing impacts on human life. In order to explore the thermal sensation of HWs under the combined influence of air temperature, humidity, radiation and wind speed, this study utilized the hourly Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) data from the ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) to define daytime, night‐time and compound HWs, and then comparatively analysed their occurrences in China during 1981–2020. Results revealed that daytime HWs affect the majority of regions in China with the exception of the Tibetan Plateau, while both night‐time and compound HWs mainly strike the Yangtze River Basin and the Guangdong–Guangxi region in southeastern China. Additionally, it is noteworthy that a substantial portion of regions experiencing night‐time HWs also encounter compound HWs. The frequency and intensity of all three types of HWs show increasing trends generally in regions where HWs occur. The spatial coverage of HWs grows at rates of 8.05%/10a, 2.11%/10a and 1.62%/10a for the daytime, night‐time and compound types, respectively. For each summer month, the spatial coverage of daytime HWs notably surpasses that of night‐time and compound HWs. Further classifying HWs with intensity, it is found that the spatial coverage of both moderate and severe HW events exhibits discernible rising trends across all three types of HWs. Furthermore, regions with higher HW frequencies are more likely to experience severe HWs as well as record‐breaking ones. Additionally, the spatial coverage of daytime, night‐time and compound record‐breaking HWs is expanding.

Weakened Subtropical Westerlies and Their Deflection by the Tibetan Plateau Contribute to Drying Southeastern China in Early Spring

AbstractAn obvious long‐term drying trend in recent early springs (February–March–April) is observed over southeastern China (SEC). Here, we attribute this drying to the weakened subtropical westerlies and deflected by the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Climatologically, the low‐level southwesterlies at the southeastern margin of the TP, a branch of the upstream subtropical westerly jet deflected by the TP terrain, bring water vapor to SEC and the southerlies move upward over SEC mainly through isentropic gliding mechanism, inducing persistent precipitation in early spring. However, the subtropical westerlies weakened significantly in recent decades due potentially to the decreased Eurasian snow cover. Consequently, an easterly trend appears along the southern margin of the TP with anomalous northeasterlies over SEC. These northeasterlies suppress both moisture supply and upward motions over SEC, and reduce regional early spring precipitation. Our results highlight the interaction between the TP terrain and the weakened subtropical westerlies that leads to the drying SEC.

Changing ozone sensitivity in Fujian Province, China, during 2012–2021: Importance of controlling VOC emissions

In the troposphere, ozone (O3) formation can be limited by NOx, VOCs, or both, complicating efforts to reduce O3 by controlling its precursors. This study used formaldehyde (HCHO) data and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) to analyze O3 formation sensitivity in Fujian from 2012 to 2021. Over the past decade, an 8.7% reduction in NO2 VCDs and a 9.91% increase in HCHO VCDs were observed. Due to differences in the primary driving factors, HCHO VCDs exhibit a characteristic seasonal pattern with higher in summer and lower in winter, whereas NO2 VCDs show the opposite trend. O3 formation chemistry was accurately diagnosed by combining satellite-based data and ground-based O3 data. A new threshold value (3.3–4.6) was derived to determine the transition from VOC-limited to NOx-limited O3 formation regimes. Results showed that O3 sensitivity exhibited pronounced seasonal variations. The VOC-limited regime predominates throughout the entire Fujian region in winter, whereas it occupies only 5% of the area in summer. A VOC-limited region was found widely across Fujian on an annual average, but it decreased by 24% over 10 years. Transitional areas experienced a 19% increase. In two natural emission reduction cases (reductions during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and reductions in weekend traffic emissions compared to weekdays), ground-level O3 effectively captured the impacts of sensitivity changes. The impact suggests that when Fujian is in the VOC control region, a significant reduction in NOx, without effective VOC control, might lead to an O3 increase. The importance of controlling VOC emissions is highlighted in Fujian. This study enhances the understanding of O3 formation regimes in southeastern China, which is crucial for developing O3 prevention and control strategies.

Characteristics of dietary patterns, and serum metabolites during the low-gluten diet among Chinese young adults

The number of gluten-restricted dieters is growing, yet its impact on healthy diets and serum profiles is unclear. This study investigated the effects of a 2-week low-gluten diet (LGD) on the dietary patterns, serum metabolic profiles, and health status of 61 young individuals from a university in southeastern China. Data on food intake, serum metabolomics, blood biochemistry, and fecal SCFA were collected. This population was divided into four dietary patterns by k-means method:1 Processed food group (PB, n = 17), 2 Rice group (RB, n = 10), 3 Fish/shrimp-based group (SB, n = 4), and 4 Vegetable group (VB, n = 30). Serum metabolites and fecal SCFA were measured using HPLC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. After 2-week of LGD, the SB group had the highest diet diversity. There were remarked differences in nutrient intake among the four dietary patterns, but no differences in health indices or fecal SCFA. WGCNA method revealed the differences in metabolite metabolite modules 4 and 5, and 3-hydroxybutyric acid, hydrolyzed fumonisin（HFB1）, and palmitoleic acid were the different metabolites among clusters. Following a 2-week LGD, different dietary patterns lead to different nutrient intakes and serum metabolite profiles.

A new species of the newt genus Hypselotriton (Amphibia, Urodela, Salamandridae) from Jiangxi Province, southeastern China.

A new newt species, Hypselotritonhuanggangensis sp. nov., is described based on nine specimens collected from Huanggangshan Mountains, Yanshan County, Jiangxi, China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) obvious black patches with clear boundaries on the whole body; (2) ground color of the dorsal body tan; (3) ground color of venter bright orange; (4) skin rough; (5) vertebral ridge weak; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when forelimb and hindlimb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) postocular orange spot absent; (8) small white warty glands around the eye; (9) two discontinuous longitudinal lines formed by white warty glands from neck to lateral parts of tail. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on the mitochondrial locus of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene fragments. The new species distinctly differs from H.fudingensis by differences in its body measurements, vertebral ridge, dorsal black patches, and ventral black patches. Furthermore, the new species and H.fudingensis are geographically isolated by a series of high mountain ranges, including the Wuyishan and Jiufengshan Mountains. The number of Hypselotriton species is now 11.

July–August minimum temperature variability encoded in latewood blue intensity in southeastern China

AbstractTree‐ring blue intensity (BI) is well known as a relatively new proxy, which has been utilized for temperature reconstructions over some regions of the worldwide, and has great research potential. In this study, based on tree‐ring data from Pinus massoniana in northwestern Wuyi Mountains in southeastern China, we established a series of tree‐ring width (TRW), earlywood BI (EWBI), latewood BI (LWBI) and delta BI (ΔBI) chronologies. The correlation analysis results indicated that BI chronologies are better than TRW chronology in relation to climate factors; EWBI chronology is a positive correlation with three temperatures (Tmean, Tmax and Tmin), whereas ΔBI and LWBI chronologies almost are negative correlations with temperatures. The LWBI chronology exhibited the highest correlation in July–August Tmin during 1955–2021 (r = −0.61, p < 0.01) and for the reconstruction. The reconstruction model could explain 36.64% of the observed variance. The reconstructed series spanned from 1843 to 2021 and documented three warm periods (1843–1863, 1874–1888 and 1992–2021) and one cold period (1911–1991), and Tmin rapidly warming since 1950s, which is similar to variation in the surrounding temperature reconstruction and is also consistent with the rate of global warming published by the IPCC. The result shows that the summer Tmin anomaly in southeast China is related significantly to the quasi‐biennial oscillation in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Spatial and temporal characteristics of warm season convective storms over the southeastern coast of China

Utilizing observational data from the Xiamen radar station during the warm season of 2015–2018 (May to September), this study employs a convective storm identification algorithm to statistically analyze the spatiotemporal distribution, diurnal propagation, and seasonal variability of convective storms over the southeastern coast of China. Key findings include: (1) Significant monthly variations in convective storm frequency, with peaks in August over land areas of Zhangzhou and Xiamen's northwest, and offshore southeast of Xiamen. Seasonal circulation patterns, particularly the subtropical high and northern high-level troughs, drive these variations. (2) Large-scale convective storms are most frequent, while small-scale ones are less common. Mid-deep convective storms dominate, particularly in southern Zhangzhou and southwestern mountainous Quanzhou, whereas shallow convective storms are rare and scattered. High-frequency areas correlate with higher terrain, underscoring the influence of topography on storm occurrence and development. (3) Hovmöller plots reveal a bimodal diurnal pattern in propagation of storms for July and August, with peaks in the daytime and late night. Daytime storms propagate from coastal to higher terrain areas, while nighttime storms maybe driven by enhanced vertical wind shear. These findings enhance the understanding of convective storms in the region and highlight the crucial role of the circulation background, terrain, and prevailing wind directions in the spatiotemporal characteristics of warm season convective storms in southeastern China.

Measurement report: Impact of cloud processes on secondary organic aerosols at a forested mountain site in southeastern China

Measurement report: Impact of cloud processes on secondary organic aerosols at a forested mountain site in southeastern China

The Impact of Urban Forest Landscape on Thermal Environment Based on Deep Learning: A Case of Three Main Cities in Southeastern China

Accelerated urbanization has exacerbated the urban heat island phenomenon, and urban forests have been recognized as an effective strategy for modulating thermal environments. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of systematic investigations into the nonlinear associations between the detailed spatial configurations of urban forests and thermal conditions. We proposed a deep learning-based approach to extract forest data, utilizing multisource high-resolution remote sensing data with relative radiometric correction. Subsequently, we employed deep neural networks (DNNs) to quantify the linkages between urban forest landscape patterns and land surface temperature (LST) in summer and winter across Fuzhou, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou in Fujian Province, China. Our findings indicate the following: (1) Our extraction approach outperforms DeepLabv3+, FCN_8S, and SegNet in terms of extraction precision and adaptability, achieving an overall accuracy (OA) of 87.57%; furthermore, the implementation of relative radiometric correction enhances both the extraction precision and model generalizability, improving OA by 0.05%. (2) Geographic and seasonal differences influence the urban forests’ cooling effects, with more pronounced cooling in summer, particularly in Zhangzhou. (3) The significance of forest landscape composition and configuration in affecting the thermal environment varies seasonally; landscape configuration plays a more pivotal role in modulating surface temperatures across the three cities, with a more critical role in winter than in summer. (4) Seasonal and city-specific variations in forest spatial patterns influence LST. Adopting the appropriate forest structures tailored to specific seasons, cities, and scales can optimize cooling effects. These results offer quantitative insights into urban heat island dynamics and carry significant implications for urban planning strategies.

The first deep-snouted tyrannosaur from Upper Cretaceous Ganzhou City of southeastern China

Tyrannosaurids were the most derived group of Tyrannosauroidea and are characterized by having two body plans: gracile, long-snouted and robust, deep-snouted skulls. Both groups lived sympatrically in central Asia. Here, we report a new deep-snouted tyrannosaurid, Asiatyrannus xui gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous of Ganzhou City, southeastern China, which has produced the large-bodied and long-snouted Qianzhousaurus. Based on histological analysis, the holotype of Asiatyrannus xui is not a somatically mature adult, but it already passed through the most rapid growth stages. Asiatyrannus is a small to medium-sized tyrannosaurine, with a skull length of 47.5 cm and an estimated total body length of 3.5–4 m; or around half the size of Qianzhousaurus and other large-bodied tyrannosaurines in similar growth stages. Asiatyrannus and Qianzhousaurus are sympatric tyrannosaurid genera in the Maastrichtian of southeastern China. Asiatyrannus differs from Qianzhousaurus in that it has a proportionally deeper snout, longer premaxilla, deeper maxilla, and deeper dentary, and the cornual process of the lacrimal is inflated without developing a discrete horn. The different skull proportions and body sizes suggest that Asiatyrannus and Qianzhousaurus likely had different feeding strategies and occupied different ecological niches.

Seasonal characteristics of nosocomial infection in a psychiatric hospital in China with different nosocomial prevention and control backgrounds: a retrospective study

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between various prevention and control measures for nosocomial infections (NIs) in psychiatric hospitals and patients with mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of NIs in psychiatric hospitals and provide a reference for infection prevention and control in this setting. Data from the NI monitoring system of a psychiatric hospital in southeastern China were analysed. Patients who were hospitalized for mental disorders from January 1, 2016, to November 30, 2019, were classified into the non-COVID-19 containment group (NC19C group, n = 898), while those who were hospitalized from January 25, 2020, to November 30, 2022, were classified into the COVID-19 containment group (C19C group, n = 840). The data were analysed using SPSS version 22.0, and independent sample t tests, chi-square tests, correlation analyses, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. A significance level of P < 0.0024 was applied. The incidence rate of NIs was higher in autumn in the NC19C group, while no seasonal difference was detected in the C19C group (P < 0.0024). Further analysis revealed that in the C19C group, the risk of hospitalized patients with mental disorders developing hospital-acquired pneumonia in spring was 0.362 times that in winter (OR = 0.362, 95% CI = 0.200 ~ 0.656, P = 0.001), and in summer, the risk was 0.342 times that in winter (OR = 0.342, 95% CI = 0.185 ~ 0.633 P = 0.001). Patients aged 18–44 years had a 4.260 times higher risk of developing hospital-acquired upper respiratory tract infections than did those aged 60 years and older (OR = 4.260, 95% CI = 2.143 ~ 8.470; P = 0.000). The risk of acquiring urinary tract infections in the hospital was 0.324 times greater among patients aged 18–44 years than for patients aged 60 years and older (OR = 0.324, 95% CI = 0.171–0.613; P = 0.001). The NC19C group did not exhibit the aforementioned differences. During the NC19C period, differences were observed in the diagnosis of hospital-acquired infections and sex (all P = 0.000). Psychiatric hospitals exhibit distinct nosocomial infection characteristics under the context of various infection control measures. Against the backdrop of strengthened infection control, the nosocomial infection characteristics of psychiatric hospitals may be associated with the features of mental disorders.

Conversion of coastal marsh to aquaculture ponds altered soil ammonia oxidiser community and decreased ammonia oxidation potential

AbstractIntroductionAs a crucial component of the nitrogen cycle, ammonia oxidation in soil can be driven by canonical ammonia‐oxidising archaea (AOA) and bacteria, as well as complete ammonia oxidiser (CMX Nitrospira). Land use change can disrupt and alter the soil microbial community and the nitrogen cycle.Materials &amp; MethodsWe compared the soil ammonia‐oxidising microorganisms and ammonia oxidation potentials in a coastal marsh and nearby reclaimed aquaculture ponds, monthly over a 10‐month period in southeastern China. The abundance of ammonia oxidisers was assessed by real‐time quantitative PCR and the community structure of CMX Nitrospira was evaluated by high‐throughput sequencing.ResultsThe ammonia oxidiser community was dominated by AOA in the marsh (91%) and was made up of similar proportions of AOA and CMX Nitrospira in the aquaculture ponds (46%–47%). The CMX Nitrospira community structure changed significantly between habitat types, mainly driven by opposite change in relative abundance of clade B versus clades A.2 and A.3. Aquaculture reclamation decreased the soil potential ammonia oxidation rate (PAO) by an order of magnitude, and AOA was the only significant predictor of PAO among all ammonia oxidiser groups.ConclusionOur results suggest that aquaculture reclamation from coastal marshes would significantly alter the soil ammonia oxidiser community and decrease ammonia oxidation rate, and CMX Nitrospira appear to play a relative larger role in nitrogen cycling in aquaculture ponds.

Study on the Mechanical Properties of Roots and Friction Characteristics of the Root–Soil Interface of Two Tree Species in the Coastal Region of Southeastern China

The tensile strength of roots and the friction characteristics of the root–soil interface of tree species are the indicators that play a crucial role in understanding the mechanism of soil reinforcement by roots. To calculate the effectiveness of the reinforcement of soil by tree roots based on essential influencing parameters, typical trees in the coastal region of southeastern China selected for this study were subjected to tests of the tensile mechanical properties of their roots, as well as studies on the friction characteristics of the root–soil interface and the microscopic interfaces. The results indicated that in the 1–7 diameter classes, the root tensile strength of both Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata was negatively correlated with the root diameter in accordance with the power function. The root tensile strength of these two trees, however, was positively correlated with the lignin content but negatively correlated with cellulose and hemicellulose contents. The shear strength at the root–soil interface and the vertical load exhibited a constitutive relationship, which followed the Mohr–Coulomb criterion. As the root diameter increased, both the cohesion and the friction coefficients at the root–soil interface gradually increased, but the growth rate stood at around 15%. The cohesion value of the root–soil interface of the two trees decreased linearly with the increase in soil moisture content within the range of 25 to 45%. At the microinterface, the root surface of C. lanceolata exhibited concave grooves and convex ridges that extended along the axial direction of roots, with their height differences increasing with the enlargement of the root diameter. The rough surface of P. massoniana roots had areas composed of polygonal meshes, with an increase observed in the mesh density with increasing root diameter.

Moving forward from escaping the poverty trap in China's greenest regions: Examining four decades of socioecological evolution to re-orient sustainable development policies

Afforestation is an important aspect of ecosystem restoration (ER) and poverty alleviation (PA) through direct and indirect social, economic, and environmental effects. However, the existing afforestation projects worldwide have mainly viewed economic benefits through the narrow lens of subsistence and livelihood, thereby underestimating both indirect PA and the associated negative effects on agricultural production when formulating long-term solutions to global poverty. This study aimed to systematically examine the ecological, agricultural, and economic effects of ecosystem restoration in southeastern China over four decades based on biophysical models and statistical records, and further proposed an upgraded strategy for sustainable PA through ER that addresses conservation objectives and resource needs. We found that ER promoted vegetation growth and enhanced carbon sequestration and soil retention. Meanwhile, industrial transformation improved the economic scale and livelihood diversity (i.e., disposable income), which alleviated poverty and improved social services and infrastructure conditions. Nevertheless, the secondary and tertiary industries gradually replaced the primary industry in terms of output, and increased animal husbandry and forestry development weakened crop planting. Planting structure adjustments further threatened the stability of the grain supply, particularly after 1999, which could potentially lead to a grain crisis. Therefore, we propose upgraded forest management and coordinated development policies to avoid a grain crisis, improve livelihood diversity, balance multidimensional benefits, and facilitate sustainable development. Study results serve as a valuable reference for policy formulation and ER measures for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable PA.

Coupling Imports of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen and Particulate Organic Matter by Aquaculture Sewage to Zhangjiang Estuary, Southeastern China

Estuary ecosystems serve as crucial connectors between terrestrial and marine environments, thus playing vital roles in maintaining the ecological balance of coastal marine ecosystems. In recent years, the eutrophication in estuaries caused by aquaculture sewage has been revealed, highlighting the necessity to understand its influence on the nutrient conditions and carbon storage of estuaries. In this study, δ15N and δ18O were used to indicate the contribution of aquaculture-derived sewage to dissolved inorganic nitrogen in Zhangjiang Estuary, and δ13C and C:N ratio were used to reveal its effects on the particulate organic matter. The major results are as follows: (1) Aquaculture water contributed 62~86% and 60~100% of the total nitrate and ammonium in Zhangjiang Estuary, respectively, and the drainage periods of the cultured species has a great influence on the content and composition of dissolved inorganic nitrogen. (2) Aquaculture water was also the major source of particulate organic matter (24~33% of the total content) here, most of which may be derived from crab ponds. (3) The imports of nutrients by aquaculture water may potentially regulate particulate organic matter in Zhangjiang Estuary by promoting the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Our study revealed the coupling effects of aquaculture activities on the nitrogen and carbon storage in an estuarine ecosystem. It also indicates that isotopes may be efficient in the monitoring of a coastal environment, which may further aid the management of inshore cultivation.

Application of Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation for Disintegration Control of Granite Residual Soil

Granite residual soil is widely distributed in Southeastern China. Such soils exhibit mechanical characteristics such as loose, rich cracks and easy disintegration, resulting in severe soil erosion disasters under rainfall conditions. Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a green alternative for soil stabilization. In this study, a new strategy for the disintegration control of granite residual soil using MICP technology is proposed. The effects of the bacterial solution concentration, the cementation solution concentration, and the treatment cycle are investigated through a disintegration test. The optimal treatment parameters for granite residual soil using MICP technology are determined by analyzing the disintegration processes and residual quality indicators of disintegration. The results show that the treated samples have three types of disintegration: complete disintegration, incomplete disintegration, and non-disintegration. The precipitated calcium carbonate (CaCO3) bonds the soil particles and fills the pores. Taking into account the effectiveness and cost and a bacterial solution concentration OD600 = 0.75, five cycles of MICP treatment with a cementation solution concentration of 1.2 mol/L is optimal for the disintegration control of granite residual soil. The cementation-action effects of CaCO3 are verified through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscope. These findings suggest that MICP is a promising candidate to control the disintegration of granite residual soil.

Variation in Niche and Interspecific Associations across Elevations in Subtropical Forest Communities of the Wuyi Mountains, Southeastern China

Variation in Niche and Interspecific Associations across Elevations in Subtropical Forest Communities of the Wuyi Mountains, Southeastern China

The associations of Tibetan Plateau spring snow cover with East Asian summer monsoon rainfall before and after 1990

In recent decades, the existence of a relationship between snow cover on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) rainfall has been emphasized. According to recently published studies this snow-monsoon relationship experienced a shift after 1990. Although the changing snow-monsoon relationship has been studied, the causes of the interdecadal changes remain unclear. This study assesses the associations of TP spring snow cover with EASM rainfall before and after 1990 and explores what possible mechanisms could be responsible for the interdecadal changes. Correlation and composite analyses were used to assess the strength of the relationship between TP spring snow cover and EASM rainfall and to analyze the atmospheric and land surface patterns associated with high snow cover. The outcomes suggest that the relationship between TP spring snow cover and EASM rainfall changes from partially negative to positive over all regions of the TP from 1968–1990 (P1) to 1991–2019 (P2), implying that more snow cover is associated with less (more) EASM rainfall during P1 (P2). In P1, years with high snow cover are associated with an anomalous cyclone southwest of the TP (positioned over Iran and Pakistan) in spring, which persists into the following summer, partly due to the underlying snow cover. The anomalous cyclone is accompanied by downstream anomalies over East Asia, which form a strong east-west oriented wave pattern and induce a northerly inflow of dry air over East Asia, reducing rainfall over the northern EASM domain. In P2, high snow cover years are associated with an anomalous cyclone over the western TP, which weakens and loses its significance in May-June and summer, partly due to a decline in snow forcing. Southeastward propagation of wave energy in May-June initiates the formation of an anomalous anticyclone over southeastern China and the western North Pacific. Concurrently, a meridional circulation develops over East Asia that enhances the southwesterly moisture inflow, resulting in increased EASM rainfall. The changing snow-monsoon relationship can be linked to different wave train patterns resulting from changes in the background zonal wind and meridional temperature gradients. This research contributes to a better understanding of the changing snow-monsoon relationship.