Western Region Research Articles

Impact of the regional financial reform on corporate financialization: Evidence from China

This study employs the data of Chinese A–share listed companies from 2007 to 2022, considers the implementation of the regional financial reform pilot zone policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and tests the impact of this reform on the financial asset holdings of nonfinancial firms by using a difference-in-difference model. Based on the findings, the regional financial reform restrains the financialization of nonfinancial firms through two paths: 1) promoting profit equalization, which reduces the return gap between real and financial investments; and 2) balancing the allocation of credit resources, which curbs corporate participation in shadow banking. Further analysis showed that the governance effect of the regional financial reform is especially prominent for firms in regions with lower administrative, market development, and financial development levels, especially in the central and western regions. In the economic consequences test, we found that the dampening effect of the regional financial reform on corporate financialization can promote real investments, especially innovation investments. These findings not only enrich the research on the determinants of corporate financialization and the economic consequences of the regional financial reform, but they also provide insights for financial reforms in other emerging economies.

Impact of climate change on agricultural productivity: a combination of spatial Durbin model and entropy approaches

PurposeGlobal climate change characterized by an increase in temperature has become the focus of attention all over the world. China is a sensitive and significant area of global climate change. This paper specifically aims to examine the association between agricultural productivity and the climate change by using China’s provincial agricultural input–output data from 2000 to 2019 and the climatic data of the ground meteorological stations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used the three-stage spatial Durbin model (SDM) model and entropy method for analysis of collected data; further, the authors also empirically tested the climate change marginal effect on agricultural productivity by using ordinary least square and SDM approaches.FindingsThe results revealed that climate change has a significant negative effect on agricultural productivity, which showed significance in robustness tests, including index replacement, quantile regression and tail reduction. The results of this study also indicated that by subdividing the climatic factors, annual precipitation had no significant impact on the growth of agricultural productivity; further, other climatic variables, including wind speed and temperature, had a substantial adverse effect on agricultural productivity. The heterogeneity test showed that climatic changes ominously hinder agricultural productivity growth only in the western region of China, and in the eastern and central regions, climate change had no effect.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study highlight the importance of various social connections of farm households in designing policies to improve their responses to climate change and expand land productivity in different regions. The study also provides a hypothetical approach to prioritize developing regions that need proper attention to improve crop productivity.Originality/valueThe paper explores the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity by using the climatic data of China. Empirical evidence previously missing in the body of knowledge will support governments and researchers to establish a mechanism to improve climate change mitigation tools in China.

Asymmetric responses of EVI and tree ring growth to extreme climate on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

Extreme climate events have increased in terms of their amplitudes, frequency and severity, greatly affecting ecosystem functions and the balance of the global carbon cycle. However, there are still uncertainties about how extreme climate change will affect tree growth. This study characterized the responses of tree growth to extreme climate on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau from 2000 to 2020. Meanwhile, a back propagation neural network was used to predict tree growth trends under two future emission scenarios from 2020 to 2050. This study revealed that: (1) the tree-ring width index (RWI) showed a decreasing trend (- 0.04/decade) in the eastern region, but the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) showed an increasing trend (0.05/decade) from 2000 to 2020. While both RWI and EVI in the middle and western regions showed increasing trends. (2) The responses of RWI and EVI to extreme climate were regionally asymmetric. In the eastern region, extreme precipitation inhibited tree radial growth, while extreme warm nights promoted tree canopy growth. In two other regions, both extreme precipitation and extreme warm nights promoted tree growth. (3) The model predicts that there was no significant change in RWI and EVI in the western region, but both RWI and EVI showed an increasing trend in the middle and eastern regions under the low emission scenario. Under the high emission scenario, the growth of tree stem and canopy in all three regions shows a general decreasing trend. The results of this study both improved the understanding of the differences in carbon allocation between tree stem (RWI) and canopy (EVI) and identified vulnerability thresholds for tree populations.

How does ICT development in resource-exhausted cities promote the urban green transformation efficiency? Evidence from China

The contradiction between resource depletion and economic growth in resource-exhausted cities is becoming prominent. The role of ICT has been reflected in many policies to promote sustainable urban development. It is necessary to clarify the mechanism of ICT for urban green transformation efficiency (UGTE) in resource-exhausted cities. In this research, 39 resource-exhausted cities in China were selected as the research samples, and panel data were collected for 20 years to assess their ICT development level and their UGTE. The panel regression model, PVAR model, heterogeneity test, and moderating effect test were used to analyze the relationship between the two. The main findings are as follows: (1) ICT has a facilitating effect on UGTE in resource-exhausted cities, with a regression coefficient of 0.170⁎⁎⁎. (2) The improvement of ICT significantly promotes the UGTE in these cities, and the promotional effect reaches a peak after a lag of 6 periods; the original UGTE also has a negative impact on the future ICT development level, and the negative impact reaches a peak after a lag of 6 periods. (3) The promotional effect of ICT on UGTE in resource-exhausted cities consists of being strongest in the eastern region (0.477⁎⁎⁎), then in the central region (0.233⁎⁎⁎), weaker in the western region (0.167⁎⁎), and weakest in the northeastern region (0.080*). (4) The improvement of energy structure, green innovation structure, and urban-rural consumption structure strengthens the promotional effect of ICT on UGTE in resource-exhausted cities. Finally, targeted policy recommendations were proposed.

Exploration of Historical Sites of Art and Culture Exchange on the Silk Road of Pre-Qin and Han Dynasties

Abstract The pre-Qin and Han Silk Road opened up the Central Plains Dynasty to the Eurasian- African continent, not only having extraordinary political, economic and cultural exchanges complementary strategic significance, but also becoming an irreplaceable important window and way for the Central Plains Dynasty to gain cognitive knowledge of the broader world. In particular, the exploration of the artistic and cultural relics and historical background of the Silk Road is a deep excavation and collation of historical materials of exchanges between the East and the West, especially between China and the nationalities in the Western regions in the fields of traditional politics, commerce, economy, art and culture. This depth of excavation and collation of historical materials, so as to clarify the origin of the Silk Road under different historical conditions and the background of its political, economic, art, and cultural significance in forming the civilisation of the countries along the route. This mutual understanding among various nationalities inevitably promotes the shared development of Eastern and Western civilizations. Therefore, the topic discussed in this paper is a retrospective and complementary approach to the Silk Road as a distant civilisation. This exploration is also another purposeful search for the roots of this road, which was known as the “Journey of Adventure” and “Journey of Intercommunication” from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the two Han Dynasties. Accordingly, this paper promotes the discussion from three aspects: the long historical context of the Silk Road, the channel of multi-ethnic art exchange constituted by Silk Road, and the exchange and dissemination of handicraft culture on the Silk Road, excavating these three rich historical materials is more in order to reveal the historical values of the Silk Road.

Sustainable Spatial Distribution and Determinants of Key Rural Tourism Villages in China: Promoting Balanced Regional Development

Understanding the spatial distribution and sustainable development of rural tourism is essential for promoting balanced regional growth and formulating optimized policy strategies. This study aims to provide insights into sustainable development and policy optimization. Utilizing geographic information system technology, dominance analysis, and Geodetector statistical methods, this research offers a comprehensive examination of the spatial patterns and determinants of these distributions. The findings reveal significant regional disparities and clustering, with a higher concentration of key villages in economically developed eastern and central regions and fewer in the less developed western regions. The dominance analysis highlights that provinces such as Zhejiang, Shandong, and Beijing demonstrate strong advantages across multiple dimensions, including ecological environment, economic development, tourism infrastructure, transportation accessibility, policy support, and social development. Conversely, regions such as Ningxia, Qinghai, and Tibet exhibit lower dominance scores, indicating challenges in rural tourism development due to limited resources and infrastructure. Key influencing factors include forest coverage, GDP per capita, the number of star-rated hotels, transportation network density, policy initiatives, and urbanization rates. The results underscore the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to enhance rural tourism competitiveness and suggest targeted strategies for underperforming regions. This study contributes to advancing the theoretical framework of sustainable rural tourism and provides actionable insights for policymakers to foster balanced regional development, ecological conservation, and community-centered tourism practices.

Measurement, spatial differences and driving effects of well-being levels in China.

As the largest developing country, China has accumulated enormous material wealth since its reform and opening-up policy. How to effectively evaluate the level of well-being in China has become a meaningful research endeavor. Using the entropy method, Dagum Gini coefficient and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition methods, the study examines the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, spatial differences and driving effects of provincial well-being levels from 2007 to 2020. The results of this study suggest that the level of well-being as a whole, as well as in the eastern, central and western regions increased significantly over the period, with an "east-to-west decreasing" distribution in China. In terms of the pattern of inter-provincial distribution, although the level of well-being in the central and western regions has improved at a faster rate, most provinces in the eastern region have always been among the leading teams on the path of livelihood development. There is still enormous room for improvement in the level of well-being in the central and western provinces. The overall differences in the development of well-being in China, as well as intra-regional and inter-regional differences among the three major regions, showed a narrowing trend. Intra-regional differences in the development of well-being are greatest in the western region, and inter-regional differences in the development of well-being are greatest in the eastern and western regions. Inter-regional differences are the main reason for the spatial differences in well-being among China's provinces. The combination of economic, social, ecological and technological effects has led to a gradual increase in the level of well-being over the sample period. Among them, economic, social and technological effects have a clear positive driving effect on the increase of well-being levels, while ecological effect have a certain negative driving influence.

Economic analysis of hydrogen production from electrolyzed water technology by provinces in China

A novel model for measuring the economics of hydrogen generation via electrolytic water projects was constructed. The model overcomes the current problem of incomplete and inaccurate assessments of the price of producing hydrogen via water, which are caused by ignoring the indirect carbon costs of different power generation sources in the process of determining the cost of producing hydrogen via water. The model was used to analyze the price of producing hydrogen via water electrolysis and its sensitivity to the electricity costs of hydrogen production and carbon prices in various provinces of China. With the continuing increase in the penetration of novel energy in China’s power system and the gradual decline in electricity prices, the price of producing hydrogen via electrolytic water is expected to be close to or even lower than that of producing hydrogen via coal in the future. Geographical differences also have a significant impact on the price of producing hydrogen, which is typically higher in the southeastern coastal region than in the western region, because of the local price of electricity and the composition of the energy sources. Provinces that have been effective in developing novel energy sources, such as Qinghai, Sichuan, and others, have been effective in the hydrogen energy industry. Sichuan and other provinces with significant new energy development have a clear advantage in the hydrogen industry. Because provinces with low hydrogen production costs can transport hydrogen to provinces with high hydrogen production costs through pipelines, hydrogen pipelines are planned from Shaanxi to Henan and from Xinjiang to Nei Mongol. These study results reveal the relative economic advantages of producing hydrogen via water electrolysis under various energy and electricity price policies and provide new perspectives on China’s energy strategy and the growth of the hydrogen energy sector.

R&D subsidies, tax reductions and innovation outsourcing of enterprises

As an important part of the innovation behavior of enterprises, innovation outsourcing is characterized by high technology, high threshold, and industry–university–research integration. Its status in the process of China's scientific and technological development has been continuously improved and it has received increasing attention and support through the government's innovation policies. This paper systematically tests the impact of research and development (R&D) subsidies and tax reductions on enterprises' innovation outsourcing. The results show that R&D subsidies and tax reductions can significantly increase enterprises' total amount and share of innovation outsourcing investment. An internal mechanism test shows that R&D subsidies can promote enterprises' innovation outsourcing by improving the adequacy of R&D funds and the quality of R&D staff. In addition, compared to the eastern region and non-state-owned enterprises, government subsidies have a more significant driving effect on innovation outsourcing in the central and western regions and for state-owned enterprises. The conclusions drawn in this paper provide an important empirical basis and policy reference for Chinese enterprises' internal and external innovation behaviors in the context of government innovation policies.

Costs and resource distribution of direct services for HIV in Uganda

ObjectiveIn high HIV-burden countries like Uganda, financing and resource allocation for HIV services have rapidly evolved. This study aimed to employ time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to examine the allocation of...

How green governance empowers high-quality development: An EKC framework-based analysis of ESG and green total factor productivity.

High-quality development represents a fundamental shift in China's economy from scale and speed to quality and efficiency. In this transition, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices are not only closely integrated with China's development strategy but have also become a core standard for measuring development quality. Nevertheless, research on how ESG practices specifically promote high-quality development in Chinese enterprises remains limited. Based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory framework, this study uses data from the Huazheng ESG Index from 2009 to 2022 and employs fixed effect models, mediation effect models, and heterogeneity analysis to examine the specific impact of China's ESG practices on corporate high-quality development from multiple dimensions. The results show that there is a "U-shaped" relationship between the ESG practices of Chinese listed companies and green total factor productivity (GTFP). Initially, improving ESG practices may temporarily suppress GTFP, but as ESG levels further improve, they exhibit a significant positive impact on GTFP. Corporations significantly boost productivity by alleviating financing constraints and promoting green technological innovation, although the direct impact on technological advancement remains relatively limited. In China's western regions and industries such as manufacturing, electricity, heat, gas, and water production and supply, wholesale and retail, and information transmission, software, and information technology services, the positive effects of ESG on GTFP are particularly evident. Based on these findings, it is recommended that governments and financial institutions collaborate to promote green credit policies and increase support for the research and development of green technologies. Additionally, environmental education and resource use optimization should be strengthened, especially in industries such as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries, and the exchange of ESG technologies and experiences between industries should be encouraged.

The impact of town planning on direct residential CO2 emissions in rural China

China's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060 has made decarbonization a key principle for spatial planning (also referred to as urban/city/town planning). Although the mitigation effect of spatial planning in urban areas has been well documented, its significance in rural development has yet to be investigated. This paper addresses this research gap by empirically examining the influence of town planning on rural direct residential CO2 emissions (DRCEs) across 30 provinces in China. Based on various quantitative models, this study not only confirms the significant impact of town planning on rural DRCEs and the moderation effect of plan implementation capacity but also discloses that different dimensions of town planning have disparate roles in rural DRCE reduction. Additionally, regional variations in the mitigation effects of town planning on rural DRCEs were observed. The study also reveals spatial spillover effects, indicating that the influence of town planning on rural DRCEs extends beyond individual areas. Overall, China's experiences demonstrate that well-managed town planning could play an essential role in low-carbon rural revitalization or, otherwise, it may augment rural DRCEs per capita. Consequently, governments should ascribe great importance to low-carbon town planning and allocate sufficient resources to towns, especially those in the central and western regions, so that they can afford professional planning consultation and adequate staffing in plan implementation. Moreover, governments should cooperate to promote knowledge sharing and transferring of low-carbon planning.

Evaluation of the coordination-difference-driven sustainability of 12 urban agglomerations in China based on the dynamic probability weighting method

The sustainable development of urban agglomerations represents a significant driving force in national and global development. This study establishes an indicator system comprising factors associated with the economy, society, and environment, in accordance with the Triple Bottom Line, to assess the sustainability of 12 urban agglomerations in China. A novel framework is proposed, including a dynamic probability weighting method based on sufficient stochastic simulations and a coordination-difference-driven aggregation approach that considers the coordination degree and differences between evaluated objects. The evaluation revealed significant regional disparities in urban agglomeration sustainability from 2012 to 2021. The eastern region's Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and Shandong Peninsula exhibit above-average sustainability performance. Conversely, the western region's Guangzhong, Guangxi Beibu Gulf, Chengyu, and Ningxia Yellow River regions exhibit below-average performance. Moreover, the growth rate of sustainability values for the 12 urban agglomerations followed a downward trajectory. Furthermore, the environmental dimension is the primary driver of sustainable development in urban agglomerations, while the economic dimension represents the main obstacle. These findings offer policymakers a scientific and practical framework to guide sustainability-related decisions.

Rural financial institutions, access to credit and production inputs of rural households

This paper studies the impact of rural financial institutions on farmers' production input from the perspective of rural bank branch adjustment and rural household credit access. Based on the data of rural bank outlets and China Household Income Survey (CHIP) in 293 prefecture-level cities in China from 2013 to 2018, the results show that rural financial outlets have a significant positive impact on farmers' production input, and each unit increase in the number of bank outlets will increase farmers' production input by 0.24 units, and the proportion of consumer expenditure will decrease by 0.071 units. The number of bank outlets has significant heterogeneity of household head and region on the production input of farmers, and the bank outlets have a greater impact on the production input of farmers with high education level. The increase in the number of bank outlets in the eastern region can significantly increase the production input of farmers, but the increase in the number of bank outlets in the central and western regions will reduce the production input of farmers. The mechanism analysis shows that the increase of branches of rural financial institutions improves farmers' access to credit, which is an important channel affecting farmers' production input. This study provides a reference for the reform of rural financial institutions and the revitalization of rural industries in China.

The Prevalence and Impact of Migraine Among Physicians in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Migraine is a primary headache disorder and one of the most common causes of disability worldwide. Prior reports showed a higher prevalence of migraine among physicians. We conducted this study to estimate the prevalence of migraine among physicians in Saudi Arabia, as well as its impact on quality of life. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated online questionnaire that was distributed among physicians in various medical and surgical specialties in Saudi Arabia from January to June 2023. The inclusion criteria involved physicians in all specialties, who worked in governmental or private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Employed or healthcare workers other than physicians were excluded. To measure the impact of headache on a person's quality of life, the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) test was applied. Statistical analysis of the study was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results We had 387 respondents, of whom 362 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 33.02 ± 9.07 years, and genders were distributed equally. Most physicians worked in departments of internal medicine, family medicine, general practice, and general surgery. The prevalence of migraine was recorded in 17.1% (62 patients) of all the included participants, with a female predominance. MIDAS revealed a total mean score of 16.823±14.149. The severity grades were classified as moderate (37.1%), severe (35.5%), or little to no (21.0%). Stress and light were cited as the top factors that trigger or worsen migraine, while sleep, rest, and quiet and darknesswere cited as the top relieving factors. The average number of headache attacks (month) was 6.823. Most patients with migraine were board residents (27.4%), living in the western region (53.2%), and working in a governmental hospital (38.7%). Conclusion Migraine is a common disorder among physicians in Saudi Arabia, with significant moderate-to-severe disability. Stress is identified as a major trigger. Proper awareness, stress management programs, and therapeutic intervention may mitigate the untoward consequences of migraine.

Megabenthic Diversity Patterns on a Seamount in the Philippine Sea: Implications for Conservation Planning on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge.

The oligotrophic tropical western Pacific region is characterized by a high density of seamounts, with the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) being the longest seamount chain here. Effective spatial management plans for seamount ecosystems necessitate an understanding of distribution patterns and key environmental factors influencing benthic communities. However, knowledge regarding deep-sea biodiversity patterns over intricate topography remains limited. In this study, we investigated a seamount with a water depth of 522 m at the summit located in the southern section of KPR. Survey transects were conducted from 522 m to 4059 m. By analyzing video-recorded data obtained by a human-occupied vehicle (HOV) during dives and environmental variables derived from bathymetry, distinct assemblages were identified through noise clustering. α- and β-diversity patterns within the seamount megabenthic community were analyzed across the depth gradient, along with investigation of their environmental drivers. A total of 10,596 megafauna individuals were documented, categorized into 88 morphospecies and statistically separated into six distinct community clusters using noise clustering analysis. Species abundance and richness were highest within the 700-800 m water depth range, declining notably beyond 2100 m, indicating a critical threshold for habitat classification in this region. The β-diversity of megabenthic communities was high (0.836). Although β-diversity patterns along the depth gradient were mostly dominated by differences in species richness, the contribution of species replacement increased with depth, becoming dominant at depths greater than 3000 m. Depth emerged as the primary driver of spatial variation in community structure, while near-bottom current velocity, topographic parameters (bathymetric position index, slope), and substrate type also influenced the formation of microhabitats. The study highlights the depth gradients, thresholds, and other intricate environmental factors shaping the spatial heterogeneity of these communities. It provides valuable insights for the future development of effective survey and conservation strategies for benthic biodiversity on the KPR.

Country and continent-wise trends in mortality rates of ovarian cancer from 1980-2021: An analysis of GBD study 2021.

148 Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the major causes of cancer related deaths in women worldwide. Early detection, primarily via ultrasound , can result in lower mortality and morbidity. We present a comprehensive evaluation derived from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, depicting the ovarian cancer associated mortality pattern from 1980 to 2021. Methods: Data were methodically retrieved from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study, which included age-standardized death rates, Years of Lost Life (YLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The dataset was stratified globally and categorized by continent, with Africa divided into Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Central regions, and by World Bank income levels. Joinpoint Regression was employed to determine average annual percentage changes (AAPC). Results: Globally, the Age standardized death rates (ASDR) for ovarian cancer had an overall decline from 1980 to 2021. In 1980, the ASDR was 4.64 (95% UI: 4.3-5.14), and it declined to 4.05 (AAPC: -0.315; 95% CI: -0.35 to -0.27) in 2021. Globally, the disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) rate was 132.4 (95% UI: 121.3–145.6) per 100,000 people in 1990, and it decreased to 115.14 (AAPC: -0.44; 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.36) in 2021. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized years of life lost (YLL) showed a uniform drop with an AAPC of -0.36 (95% CI: -0.40 to -0.31). However, in continent wise analysis, while the Americas and Europe had continuously declining ASDRs, Asia and Africa had an increasing trend throughout the predetermined time frame. From 1980 to 2021, America had an AAPC of -0.67 (95% CI: -0.69 to -0.65). Similarly, Europe also had a decreasing trend from 1980 to 2021 with an AAPC of -0.48 (95% CI: -0.50 to -0.45). The AAPC for Africa was 1.203 (95% CI: 1.19 to 1.21), showing a greater incline compared to the other continents. The AAPC for Asia was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.527 to 0.563). During further analysis of the African region, we observed that southern and eastern Africa had the highest ASDRs. According to World Bank income levels, low-income and lower-middle-income countries had increasing death rates, while high and upper-middle income countries had decreasing death rates from 1980 to 2021. Conclusions: The study disclosed a global decline in ovarian cancer fatality rates from 1980 to 2021. Although significant progress has been made in the Americas and Europe, mortality rates have risen in Asia and Africa, with southern and eastern Africa exhibiting particularly high rates. An increase in death rates is also observed in low- and lower-middle-income countries, contrasting with an overall decrease globally and in high-income nations.

Future Change in the Contribution of Riming and Depositional Growth to the Surface Solid Precipitation in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract This study examined future changes in the microphysical properties of surface solid precipitation over Hokkaido, Japan. A process-tracking model that predicts the mass of the hydrometeors generated by each cloud microphysical process was implemented in a meteorological model. This implementation aimed to analyze the mass fraction of hydrometeors resulting from depositional growth and the riming process to the total mass of surface solid precipitation. Results from pseudo–global warming experiments suggest two potential future changes in the characteristics of surface solid precipitation over Hokkaido. First, the rimed particles are expected to increase and be dominant over the west and northwest coast of Hokkaido, where heavy snowfall occurs primarily due to the lake effect. Second, the mass fraction from depositional growth under relatively higher temperatures is expected to increase. This increase is anticipated to be dominant over the eastern part and mountainous area of Hokkaido. Additionally, the fraction of liquid precipitation to total precipitation is expected to increase in the future. These results suggest that the microphysical properties of solid precipitation in Hokkaido are expected to be similar to those observed in the current climate over Hokuriku, the central part of Japan even in warmer climate conditions. Significance Statement This study examines potential future changes in the growth processes contributing to surface precipitation particles in Hokkaido, Japan. The surface solid precipitation particles in the western and eastern regions of Hokkaido are mainly generated through depositional growth that occurs within the temperature ranges −36° to −20°C and −20° to −10°C, respectively. A future shift is anticipated, with riming becoming the primary process. This shift suggests that snowfall particles will be heavier than those in the current climate, which would increase the snow-removal workload. The change in precipitation characteristics could influence adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change in cold regions.

Surface temperature modulations induced by Rossby Wave Breaking over Indian region

Abstract Upper-level Rossby Wave Breaking (RWB) significantly affects surface weather patterns in the subtropical Indian region through influencing wind circulation often resulting in extremes in rainfall and surface temperatures. While the impact of RWB on rainfall is relatively well understood, its role in modulating surface temperatures within the Indian subcontinent is less explored. This study examines the link between pre-monsoon (March to May) RWB events and the occurrence of extreme surface temperatures and heatwaves by considering long-term data of 43 years between 1979 and 2021. We identify 139 RWB events using a potential vorticity (PV) contour searching algorithm over the Indian sub-continent. Our analysis reveals a significant amplification in temperature both to the west and east of the breaking PV streamers. These temperature anomalies, which last for 3–4 days during the breaking events, strongly correlate with the maximum day of breaking. Further, regression analyses explain the reasons behind the temperature enhancement mainly on the western and eastern flank of RWB. It indicates a positive association between upper-level PV anomalies and anticyclonic circulations at 250 hPa, along with subsidence at 500 hPa, leading to drier conditions in the western and eastern regions of the PV streamers. Additionally, the decomposition of temperature anomalies during RWB events reveals that surface warming is primarily driven by diabatic heating on both sides of the centroid, with stronger adiabatic heating in regions of upper-level anticyclonic circulation and significant temperature advection predominantly on the western side of the centroid, resulting in dry weather and the poleward movement of warm air toward the ridges near the PV streamers.

The industrial technological spillover effect and differentiation characteristics of industrial chains in the ecological efficiency of the yellow river basin

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) stands as a critical ecological barrier and a significant economic hub, bridging the western and eastern regions of China. To investigate the synergy of ecoefficiency within the industrial chain of the YRB, this paper introduces a novel research approach. By establishing an industrial technology similarity matrix, spatial econometric models can be employed to analyze spillover effects, which provides a new tool for related research and overcomes some drawbacks of previous studies. The study reveals that industrial ecoefficiency exhibits distinct interaction characteristics across different spatial dimensions. Specifically, the interaction effect within the province is notably superior to that observed within the YRB, as well as in the broader region encompassing the adjacent provinces of the YRB. The upstream and downstream provinces demonstrate a robust level of interaction within their local scopes. However, the middle reaches of provinces exhibit a weak link that undermines the spillover capacity of industrial ecoefficiency across the entire YRB. This finding suggests that hierarchical policy measures should be devised according to the characteristics of spillover effects across various spatial dimensions.