JournalTOCs

Progress in Physical Geography
Journal Prestige (SJR): 1.373

Citation Impact (citeScore): 4
Number of Followers: 13

Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 0309-1333 - ISSN (Online) 1477-0296
Published by Sage Publications

[1176 journals]

The response of geographical processes to landscape restoration:
China’s research progress
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  Authors: Yanxu Liu, Yu Han, Jincheng Wu, Chenxu Wang, Bojie Fu
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) provides a new momentum for scaling up ecosystem restoration efforts to landscape restoration. China’s recent experience with transformative investment in landscape restoration provides invaluable guidance for the world. We retrospectively reviewed the scientific evidence on the responses of physical, ecological, and social processes to China’s landscape restoration under geographic heterogeneity and obtained four experiences and lessons. First, China’s forest landscape restoration has successfully promoted vegetation growth and enlarged the carbon sink. Second, landscape restoration has reduced the local water yield, while the regional responses of rainfall are still not clear. Third, the local conditions of soil erosion and habitat quality were largely improved by landscape restoration, while the decreases in soil moisture and streamflow demonstrated significant trade-offs among ecosystem services. Last, geographical differentiation existed in the local responses of livelihoods to landscape restoration strategies, and the win‒win solutions between human development and nature improvement under different landscape contexts were still uncertain. We summarize three additional questions as future prospects: what is the scale of the thresholds to prevent overshoot and cascading negative ecological effects' what are people’s prior needs from nature' considering that there may be no universal win‒win pathways, how to promote co-benefits based on regional human–nature relationships'
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-05-15T03:33:02Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231175805
Impacts of irrigation-climate interactions on irrigated soybean yields in
the US Arkansas Delta from 2003 to 2017
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  Authors: Yaqian He, Matthew H. Connolly, Rongting Xu, Xiao Huang, Zhuosen Wang, Marisol Filares Arreguin, Caden Rhodes
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Irrigation has been widely implemented across the globe as a mitigation strategy to combat climate change and erratic rainfall. Irrigation in the confined geographic region like the Arkansas Delta of the US has likely affected heat and moisture fluxes at the land surface with possible effects on regional climate conditions. Irrigation unquestionably benefits crop yields with direct water supplies. However, the effect of irrigation-climate interactions on Arkansas Delta crop yields remains unclear. In this study, we applied multiple satellite and climatic datasets to assess the influence of soybean irrigation in the US Arkansas Delta on the regional climate from 2003 to 2017 and how the resultant climate variability has affected soybean yields. Our findings show that soybean irrigation in the Arkansas Delta leads to statistically insignificant precipitation change and significant daytime and night time cooling during the growing season from June to August over the period of 2003–2017. Using a statistical crop yield model, we further demonstrate that such surface temperature cooling due to irrigation could enhance soybean yields as much as ∼1.13 ([math] 0.87) bu/acre, accounting for 7.78% of total soybean yields gain due to irrigation. Our results highlight the important positive effects of irrigation-climate interactions on soybean yields, which may be more important in the Arkansas Delta, given the depletion of groundwater that farmers relied on most for irrigation.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-04-12T03:21:51Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231169443
Role of Andean tropical montane soil organic carbon in the deglacial
carbon budget
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  Authors: Nicholas S. Bill
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  During the last deglaciation, atmospheric CO2 increased by about 75 ppm. The deep ocean is likely the dominant source of this atmospheric CO2 rise in the atmospheric pool; however, a consensus accounting for the entire 75 ppm remains elusive. Since the deep ocean cannot account for the entire 75 ppm, the terrestrial environment likely makes up the remainder. This paper provides a mechanism for an unaccounted-for portion of the source of this terrestrial carbon, that being soil organic carbon (SOC) from the tropical montane Andes, and with that, minimum constraints on the contribution of SOC to the total rise in atmospheric CO2 during the last deglaciation. Using numerical climate modeling input into an empirical model derived from tropical montane forests of the Andes Mountains in South America, this study finds that during the last deglaciation, the organic layer thickness was thinning from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the present (pre-industrial) in the tropical montane Andes. This overall warming and organic layer thickness thinning may have led to a loss of available carbon storage space, causing a leak of CO2 into the atmosphere over this time scale. This study finds an estimate for the contribution of global atmospheric CO2 from SOC in tropical montane Andean soils is likely at least ∼1.4 ppm CO2 since the LGM.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-04-11T11:09:27Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231169431
The shape-shifting form of UK floodplains: Fusing analysis of the
territorially constructed with analysis of natural terrain processes
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  Authors: John Lewin, Tom O’Shea
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Physically, river floodplains have both the subdued morphology of natural terrain created as extreme discharges and sediments pass through catchment drainage systems and, to an increasing extent, the forms that arise from purposeful human constructions. Together, these direct out-of-channel inundation. As defined here, ‘territories’ and their humanly constructed physical forms have historically consumed or modified naturally created ‘terrains’ in a collection of actions that we summarize as ‘morphophagia’. A more inclusive physical geography is presented, adding-in explanations for the evolutionary phasing of humanly-generated, but environmentally functioning, physical forms in the UK in the Modern Era (since c.1500 CE). Floodplain developments here took place in five main episodes of historically-contingent accumulation: the Early Modern (c.1500–1780 CE) started with a framework of purposeful owned land, and then followed periods that can be related to Kondratieff global economic phases (c.1790–1840,1840–1900,1900–1947,1947–2000 CE). Three different groups of forcings operated: (1) the compartmentalizing and patched infill patterns set by territorial units, rights and developer ownerships; (2) the availability, motivations and timings for capital and labour investment; and (3) the evolving technical possibilities exploited by entrepreneurs and agents. Epistemic frameworks for broadening the analysis of coupled terrain and territory systems, exploring actuating social forces as much as their symptomatic physical outcomes, are discussed. Globally, there have been different forcings, timings and emplacement layouts operating at scales from local river reaches to city expansion and economic regions. As perceptions of environmental stasis now disintegrate, enthusiasm for reinvigorating economic growth, with further population increase and sprawling construction may, as in the past, discount the hazards of floodplain occupation. When and why risky anthropo-physical floodplain emplacements occur needs greater systematic understanding as social and economic initiatives are being considered.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-03-17T11:16:59Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231156510
Mid and late Holocene climate changes recorded by biomarkers in the
sediments of Lake Gouchi and their relationship with the cultural
evolution of northern Shaanxi
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  Authors: Rui Yang, Aifeng Zhou, Huan Zhang, Lin Chen, Kaiyu Cao, Youliang Huang, Yongxiu Lu, Weimiao Dong
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The climatic and environmental characteristics of the Holocene are much debated, especially the occurrence of a climatic optimum in the mid-Holocene and the interactions between human civilization and the environment. Knowledge of the Holocene climatic evolution of the Mu Us Sandy Land in North China is important for understanding the cultural development of northern Shaanxi. However, few continuous and high-resolution lake sedimentary records are available from the region. We selected Lake Gouchi, a climatically sensitive site in the Mu Us Sandy Land, for a study of sedimentary organic indicators such as n-alkanes, with the objective of reconstructing the regional climatic history since the mid-Holocene. Our results indicate that during 8130–4500 BP, the regional climate was relatively warm and humid, the terrestrial vegetation was dominated by woody plants, and the nutrient level of the lake was relatively stable. Then the climate gradually became arid. However, at the beginning of 2500 BP, there was an 800-year period of warm and humid conditions. Entering the historical period there was an increase in the environmental impacts of human activities. Overall, the climate of the Gouchi area was influenced by the response of the East Asian summer monsoon to changes in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation, which were responsible for the mid-Holocene Maximum. Comparison of the climatic record of Lake Gouchi with the sequence of cultural evolution in northern Shaanxi reveals a distinct relationship. Favorable climatic conditions were associated with technological development, an increasing population, and a flourishing civilization; whereas less favorable climatic conditions were associated with cultural stagnation or decline.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-03-08T01:14:41Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231159007
Quaternary glaciations in western China: A review of the chronologies
established by absolute dating
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  Authors: Yanan Li, Ping Fu, Renrong Chen, Yingkui Li
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Quaternary glaciations in western China have been investigated over the last century with the emphasis on the Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent regions. Earlier studies were mainly based on field observation and interpretation of geomorphic landforms and processes to identify and define past glacial sequences. The advent of absolute dating techniques, such as optically stimulated luminescence dating and cosmogenic radionuclide exposure dating, has revolutionized glacial chronological research in recent decades. Glacial chronologies have been established across various mountains, providing evidence to reject the Tibetan ice sheet hypothesis. Glacial advances generally occurred synchronously in this region, but the detailed timing, extent, and form of past glaciers vary at different locations. This review presents recent progress and challenges on reconstructing the timing and extent of Quaternary glaciations in western China, seeking to promote further studies and a broader interest from the physical geography community in this critical region.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-25T03:08:20Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231159320
Scale mismatches between predictor and response variables in species
distribution modelling: A review of practices for appropriate grain
selection
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  Authors: Vítězslav Moudrý, Petr Keil, Anna F Cord, Lukáš Gábor, Vincent Lecours, Alejandra Zarzo-Arias, Vojtěch Barták, Marco Malavasi, Duccio Rocchini, Michele Torresani, Kateřina Gdulová, Florencia Grattarola, François Leroy, Elisa Marchetto, Elisa Thouverai, Jiří Prošek, Jan Wild, Petra Šímová
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  There is a lack of guidance on the choice of the spatial grain of predictor and response variables in species distribution models (SDM). This review summarizes the current state of the art with regard to the following points: (i) the effects of changing the resolution of predictor and response variables on model performance; (ii) the effect of conducting multi-grain versus single-grain analysis on model performance; and (iii) the role of land cover type and spatial autocorrelation in selecting the appropriate grain size. In the reviewed literature, we found that coarsening the resolution of the response variable typically leads to declining model performance. Therefore, we recommend aiming for finer resolutions unless there is a reason to do otherwise (e.g. expert knowledge of the ecological scale). We also found that so far, the improvements in model performance reported for multi-grain models have been relatively low and that useful predictions can be generated even from single-scale models. In addition, the use of high-resolution predictors improves model performance; however, there is only limited evidence on whether this applies to models with coarser-resolution response variables (e.g. 100 km2 and coarser). Low-resolution predictors are usually sufficient for species associated with fairly common environmental conditions but not for species associated with less common ones (e.g. common vs rare land cover category). This is because coarsening the resolution reduces variability within heterogeneous predictors and leads to underrepresentation of rare environments, which can lead to a decrease in model performance. Thus, assessing the spatial autocorrelation of the predictors at multiple grains can provide insights into the impacts of coarsening their resolution on model performance. Overall, we observed a lack of studies examining the simultaneous manipulation of the resolution of predictor and response variables. We stress the need to explicitly report the resolution of all predictor and response variables.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-21T03:12:51Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231156362
How do spatial factors of green spaces contribute to flood regulation in
urban areas' A systematic mapping approach
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  Authors: Sina Razzaghi Asl, Hamil Pearsall
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Flooding is increasing in urban areas around the world, leading to loss of life and property damage, and cities are using urban green spaces (UGS) for flood regulation. The spatial attributes of UGS have an important role in controlling and regulating urban flooding, and there is a need for a systematic map on how spatial factors of UGS, such as shape, size, location, or connectivity, impact flooding in urban areas. The objectives of this study are to analyze and synthesize published material to evaluate the impacts of the spatial dimensions of UGS on flood regulation and to identify knowledge gaps and future research directions. Pertinent literature was reviewed and synthesized using the systematic mapping method. The results of this study show that previous research on spatial configuration have examined how variables such as slope, DEM, green space coverage, and landscape shape index impact runoff reduction. Slope was found to be an important, but not determining factor in flood regulation. There is a need for further research on how the geographic context of urban regions, including climatic conditions and land use changes, impacts UGS functionality. Additionally, there is a need for further research on how the spatial configuration of UGS impacts flood vulnerability and intensity, two under-addressed yet important topics in urban flooding.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-14T04:29:14Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231156511
A conceptual hydrological model of semiarid Andean headwater systems in
Chile
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  Authors: Gonzalo Navarro, Shelley MacDonell, Rémi Valois
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Semiarid Andean headwaters are key components of the hydrological system of north-central Chile as this is the main source of runoff which supports ecosystems and population located downstream. This study develops a conceptual hydrological model of the Chilean semiarid Andes headwaters, based on an integrative critical analysis of the current state of published research in the region. We combine a plethora of literature focused on isolated hydrological units including extensive literature on glacier and snowpack hydrological processes and less abundant literature on permafrost landforms, groundwater dynamics and other hydrological features. Among others, we identify important knowledge gaps related to the hydrogeomorphological understanding of permafrost area and its interaction with groundwater, as well as deep aquifer recharge and circulation. These two research topics are necessary next steps to better constrain model predictions of catchment response to future climatic scenarios associated with decreasing water contribution from glaciers and precipitation.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-09T07:09:13Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221147649
Corrigendum to The Longleaf Tree-Ring Network: Reviewing and expanding the
utility of Pinus palustris Mill. Dendrochronological data
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  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-04T09:59:18Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231156695
Dynamic bundles to detect the spatiotemporal characteristics and impact
factors of ecosystem services in northern China
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  Authors: Ruonan Li, Lingqiao Kong, Yanzheng Yang, Yu Wang, Hua Zheng, Mei Liang
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of multiple ecosystem services (ESs) and their complex internal relationships is crucial for regional collaborative sustainable development. The lack of research on the temporal dynamics of multiple ESs and their internal relationships limits the effective management of ecosystem services. Based on spatial patterns and temporal dynamics, we mapped the changes in five key ESs and assessed the internal relationships over 1324 counties in northern China from 2000 to 2018. The spatial differences in ES relationships were clustered into four distinct ES bundles, and we quantified the driving force of spatiotemporal pattern changes in ES bundles. Our results showed that the relationships among ESs changed with time. From 2000 to 2018, the ES bundle pattern changed mainly in the east. The relationship of some counties changed from the trade-off between provisioning and regulating ESs to synergy, while the others changed from low synergy to high synergy. The identification of impact factors of the service cluster pattern showed that the dominant force factor for improving ecosystem service synergy in northern China is the initial condition, and the contribution of human land management and economic development is approximately 11.0% in the high-level synergy bundles and greater than 20.0% in other bundles. By addressing the spatiotemporal change in ES bundles, we clearly identified the direction and strength of the ES response to ecosystem management and provided a basis for large-scale land management evaluation and effective information for future policy making in northern China and other areas with similar natural conditions.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-01T02:35:39Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231154174
Rural outmigration generates a carbon sink in South China karst
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  Authors: Jingyi Chang, Yuemin Yue, Xiaowei Tong, Martin Brandt, Chunhua Zhang, Xuemei Zhang, Xiangkun Qi, Kelin Wang
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  China karst is a global hotspot of increasing vegetation cover, with ecological conservation projects being considered as the main driver. New research using global datasets also indicates that rural outmigration has contributed to increasing biomass at national scale. However, the link between rural outmigration and vegetation cover increase has not been established at regional scale, and it remains unclear as to whether increases in biomass do, in fact, improve the environmental conditions. In this study, we use local field and statistical data on population density and rocky desertification areas to study population movements and changes in aboveground biomass in relation to rocky desertification in South China karst during 2000–2017. Our results show that the urban population in this region increased by 8.3 million people between 2005 and 2015, and the rural population decreased by 4.8 million people. We find that aboveground biomass increased most in rural areas with low human pressure, and that there was an almost linear relationship between increase in biomass and rural outmigration, with the highest increase in aboveground biomass density (1.5 MgC ha−1 yr−1) observed in areas where rural outmigration was highest, and the lowest increase in aboveground biomass density (1.1 MgC ha−1 yr−1) where rural outmigration was lowest. Rocky desertification areas decreased with a higher level of rural outmigration. Using local field data, our study confirmed that rural outmigration can generate a carbon sink at regional scale by reducing rocky desertification.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-01-31T12:00:18Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231154177
Soil as part of the Earth system
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  Authors: Richard Huggett
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The idea that soil or the pedosphere is connected to the other terrestrial spheres dates back at least to 1880. Some 26 years later, the interdependency of the terrestrial spheres was established, but a fully integrative approach to addressing the interdependence of the biosphere, pedosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and toposphere did not emerge until the advent of Earth Systems Science during the 1980s. A significant development within the Earth Systems approach was a re-evaluation of the pedosphere’s role in the global system, the outcome of which is at least twofold: first, an appraisal of the pedosphere as a two-way interactor with the other terrestrial spheres, the study of which has given rise to some “new” pedologies—biopedology, geopedology, topopedology, hydropedology, and anthropopedology; and second, the pedosphere as a key component of what has become known as the Earth’s Critical Zone. The background, current status, and prospects of these hybrid pedologies and the extent to which they truly deal with interdependencies within the environment are the focus of this article.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-01-11T04:27:15Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221147655
Multi-source remote sensing data shows a significant increase in
vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau since 2000
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  Authors: Junliu Yang, Zhongbao Xin, Yanzhang Huang, Xiaoyu Liang
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  In recent years, there has been growing concern that vegetation changes on the Tibetan Plateau are associated with climate change (temperature and precipitation) and human activities. This study used six types of remote sensing vegetation data, including GIMMS (Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping Studies) NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) NDVI, MODIS EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index), SPOT Vegetation (Spot-VGT) NDVI, LAI (Leaf Area Index) and NPP (Net Primary Productivity), and applied the maximum synthesis method, trend analysis, correlation analysis, and multivariate statistical analysis to investigate vegetation change processes since the 1980s. The study showed that the amount of vegetation on the TP had increased significantly since 2000 (p < .01), especially in the northeastern part of the TP. There was no significant change prior to 2000. The different vegetation data sources varied greatly. Four remote sensing indices, MODIS EVI, Spot-VGT NDVI, LAI, and NPP, showed a significant increase in vegetation from 2000, accounting for 16.18%, 44.55%, 30.44% and 8.94% of the total area, respectively (p < .05). Multiple data sources provided a more comprehensive understanding, whereas a single data source had substantial uncertainty. Human activities, such as the implementation of large-scale ecological projects, played a dominant role in increasing vegetation, while climate change played a subsidiary role. The MODIS EVI, Spot-VGT NDVI, LAI, and NPP data showed that the area of increased vegetation caused by human activities accounted for 53.51%, 45.68%, 37.52%, and 31.79% of the total area of the TP, respectively. The relative increase from climate change was 10.28%, 17.49%, 13.15%, and 8.82%, respectively. The current study applied multi-source remotely sensed vegetation data, which effectively reduced the uncertainty caused by individual data sources and provided more rigorous and scientific research conclusions.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-01-06T03:34:54Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221148052
The Longleaf Tree-Ring Network: Reviewing and expanding the utility of
Pinus palustris Mill. Dendrochronological data
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  Authors: Grant L Harley, Matthew D Therrell, Justin T Maxwell, Arvind Bhuta, Joshua C Bregy, Karen J Heeter, Thomas Patterson, Maegen Rochner, Monica T Rother, Michael Stambaugh, Nicole E Zampieri, Jan Altman, Savannah A Collins-Key, Christopher M Gentry, Christopher Guiterman, Jean M Huffman, Daniel J Johnson, Daniel J King, Evan R Larson, Caroline Leland, Hung TT Nguyen, Neil Pederson, Joshua J Puhlick, Mukund Palat Rao, Milagros Rodriguez-Caton, John B Sakulich, Neelratan Singh, Clay S Tucker, Saskia L van de Gevel, April L Kaiser, Sarir Ahmad
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) and related ecosystem is an icon of the southeastern United States (US). Once covering an estimated 37 million ha from Texas to Florida to Virginia, the near-extirpation of, and subsequent restoration efforts for, the species has been well-documented over the past ca. 100 years. Although longleaf pine is one of the longest-lived tree species in the southeastern US—with documented ages of over 400 years—its use has not been reviewed in the field of dendrochronology. In this paper, we review the utility of longleaf pine tree-ring data within the applications of four primary, topical research areas: climatology and paleoclimate reconstruction, fire history, ecology, and archeology/cultural studies. Further, we highlight knowledge gaps in these topical areas, for which we introduce the Longleaf Tree-Ring Network (LTRN). The overarching purpose of the LTRN is to coalesce partners and data to expand the scientific use of longleaf pine tree-ring data across the southeastern US. As a first example of LTRN analytics, we show that the development of seasonwood chronologies (earlywood width, latewood width, and total width) enhances the utility of longleaf pine tree-ring data, indicating the value of these seasonwood metrics for future studies. We find that at 21 sites distributed across the species’ range, latewood width chronologies outperform both their earlywood and total width counterparts in mean correlation coefficient (RBAR = 0.55, 0.46, 0.52, respectively). Strategic plans for increasing the utility of longleaf pine dendrochronology in the southeastern US include [1] saving remnant material (e.g., stumps, logs, and building construction timbers) from decay, extraction, and fire consumption to help extend tree-ring records, and [2] developing new chronologies in LTRN spatial gaps to facilitate broad-scale analyses of longleaf pine ecosystems within the context of the topical groups presented.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-01-02T05:07:38Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221147652
Progress in physical geography special issue: Physical geography in the
Maya Lowlands
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  Authors: Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, Duncan Cook, Billie Lee Turner
  First page: 175
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-03-04T11:09:02Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231162688
Four millennia of geomorphic change and human settlement in the lower
Usumacinta–Grijalva River Basin, Mexico
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  Authors: Esperanza Muñoz-Salinas, Duncan Cook, Miguel Castillo, Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach
  First page: 227
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The lower Usumacinta–Grijalva River Basin contains one of the richest biodiversity landscapes of the Maya region. Our research is based on (1) an integrative literature review of the geomorphological and archaeological papers published about the lower Usumacinta–Grijalva River Basin and (2) topographic analysis of digital elevation models using a geographical information system to explore the relationship between past human settlement and landscape accessibility along the coastal plain of Tabasco. This work provides a new synthesis of previous research and proposes new models for the geomorphic evolution of the lower Usumacinta–Grijalva River Basin in the context of four millennia of human land use and settlement. For the evolution of the strand-plain of the Usumacinta and Grijalva rivers, there are two published geochronological models that provide different chronologies. We discuss here how both geochronological models encompass Pre-Columbian human settlement in the delta. Interestingly, we notice that one of them overlaps a possible high-magnitude flood event (or events) that drove large geomorphic change around 750 CE (1200 BP), with implications for settlement patterns and chronology. Based on topographical analysis of the eastern-distal sector of the Usumacinta–Grijalva delta, we propose a new model for the evolution of this area with implications for the human occupation during the Mesoamerican Terminal Classic and Early Postclassic on the delta. As one of the main conclusions, we propose that the Pom–Atasta water bodies predate much of the Usumacinta–Grijalva delta and the most recent phase of delta building overlays the original lagoon barriers, resulting in a geomorphic setting more attractive to local human occupation after the Terminal Classic period. According to one of the geochronological models of the delta, this dates to ca. 900 CE, preceding the establishment of nearby settlements such as Atasta.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2023-02-20T04:58:29Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333231156506
Quantitative analysis and spatial distribution of landform spatial
structure on Loess Plateau
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  Authors: Siwei Lin, Nan Chen, Zhzou Qianqian, Qiu Feng, Xie Jing, Qi Meng, Fan Yugui, Yang Zihao, Lin Weibin, Deng JiaYin, Tu Ping
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The Loess Plateau is the largest gully geomorphic region in the world, characterized by the most intense soil erosion in a typical loess-covered area. Previous studies have focused on the terrain and texture of this region; however, there have been no systematic studies on the gully spatial structure of the Loess Plateau. Therefore, the present study investigated the characteristics and spatial distribution of landform spatial structure over the Loess Plateau. Specifically, gully weighted complex networks (GWCNs) were applied to simulate the gully spatial structure of loess landforms, and a series of quantitative indices were introduced to delineate these. Using 57 geomorphological units uniformly distributed across the Loess Plateau as test areas and six typical loess landforms as sample areas, GWCNs were constructed, and using these GWCNs, the spatial structure and internal mechanisms of typical loess landforms were explored. From a series of fresh insights, such as the regional scale-free distribution, homologous structure, tightness, community effect, connectivity, stability, and complexity, regular variations in quantitative indices delineate the spatial distribution of the characteristics of landform spatial structure over the plateau. Moreover, the spatial distribution of complex network indices exhibited strong spatial coupling with loess landforms. Overall, GWCNs could be effectively used for landform recognition and performed well. In conclusion, these experimental results suggest that introducing complex networks into landform studies can offer novel insights into landform quantitative analyses. The present work is of great significance, as it proposes a new methodology for describing the spatial structure and terrain features of landforms in quantitative analyses and furthers our understanding of landform genesis.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-11-21T05:15:20Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221134192
Costa Rican wetlands vulnerability index
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  Authors: Néstor Veas-Ayala, Marcela Alfaro-Córdoba, Adolfo Quesada-Román
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Costa Rica comprises approximately 6% of the world’s biodiversity. Among these lush ecosystems, wetlands are represented in mangrove forests near the sea, along river lowlands, sedimentary and volcanic mountains, and highland páramo landscapes. In 2018, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), through the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) carried out the new National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) which identified 10,699 wetland polygons. This assessment collected key information such as location, characteristics of the wetland, land use in the vicinity, threats, and other generalities. Based on these valuable results, we propose a wetland Vulnerability Index composed of a Condition Index and a Hazard Index to determine the different vulnerability conditions of each wetland unit. Our findings provide a better comprehension of the status of wetlands in Costa Rica with an environmental geography perspective. Located in a climate change hotspot, Costa Rica’s conservation policies and actions should consider how to manage the most vulnerable wetlands at different scales. This methodology can improve and generate regional and national wetlands inventories as a basis for evidence-based decision making in other latitudes.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-10-26T03:26:20Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221134189
Peat definitions: A critical review
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  Authors: Mauro Lourenco, Jennifer M Fitchett, Stephan Woodborne
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Peatlands are carbon-rich ecosystems that comprise the largest terrestrial carbon store. Peatland preservation has been acknowledged on the global scale as a key nature-based component in addressing climate change. Despite their importance, there is no globally recognised definitions for peat or peatland, which influences efforts in quantifying global peat carbon stocks. We present a critical review on peatland definitions, including peat nomenclature and changing criteria for peatland classification through time. We focus on two important criteria: the minimum depth of the surface organic layer and the minimum percentage of organic carbon. We highlight the disparity between definitions, peatland nomenclature and peatland classifications. It is challenging to determine whether one definition should take precedence over another, even when considering the most common criteria. We propose that future peatland definitions focus on carbon storage and potential greenhouse gas emissions. This involves four physical and chemical characteristics of the peatland deposit: (1) Peatland extent, (2) peat thickness, (3) peat carbon content and (4) peat bulk density (volumetric carbon content). The growth dynamics and carbon flux of the peatland deposit should also become a routine part of inventories. In future, international technical agencies and experts can advise on the standardisation of concept definitions and methods, these must focus on the preservation of peatlands from the perspective of climate science.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-10-04T12:14:36Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221118353
Multifaceted characteristics of aridity changes and causal mechanisms in
Chinese drylands
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  Authors: Ying Hu, Fangli Wei, Bojie Fu, Shuai Wang, Lanhui Wang, Yongzhe Chen
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  The water cycle is accelerating in the context of global warming. However, how the multifaceted characteristics of aridity, particularly atmospheric, hydrological, and ecological drying, change and interact with each other are largely unknown. A gap we bridged was discovering the causal relationships underlying the atmosphere-hydrosphere-biosphere nexus from the nonlinear dynamic system perspective based on convergent cross mapping (CCM). Dryland area in China has expanded since 1982, while the vegetation greenness indicated by leaf area index has been increasing during the same period. The results showed that the causality among atmospheric, hydrological, and ecological drying in different subtypes of drylands was different. In arid and semi-arid regions: vegetation changes were mainly driven by soil moisture (SM) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and VPD regulated SM. In hyper-arid and dry sub-humid areas: VPD dominated vegetation changes. VPD increases did not contribute to SM loss under the intense water stress in hyper-arid regions, as the soil water supply cannot meet the atmospheric water demand. In dry sub-humid areas, human disturbances have attenuated the dependence of vegetation changes on SM variability. This research pioneers complex nonlinear dynamic analyses on the multifaceted characteristics of ecosystems, which can deepen our understanding of atmosphere-vegetation-soil interactions in drylands and guide the sustainable management of dryland ecosystems in China and elsewhere.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-10-03T11:33:51Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221129867
Articulation of the cross-boundary effects of China’s ecological
conservation redline program: A perspective on the ecological security
network and ecological radiation
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  Authors: Fujun Du, Jiangbo Gao, Liyuan Zuo, Yuan Jiang
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  China’s Ecological Conservation Redline (ECR) program ensures the coordination and sustainability of natural and economic development while maintaining regional ecological security. Current research focuses on the ecosystem services within ECR areas but ignores cross-boundary ecological flow and the interactions between the internal and external ecological effects of ECR areas. In addition, the ecological background has spatial continuity that is not limited by boundaries, and the radiation effect areas extending beyond ECR areas have not been quantified. In this study, the Beijing ECR areas and ecological security network were integrated in order to connect the ecological process and landscape pattern to the ECR through the circulation path of ecological corridors, and cross-boundary effects between patches were examined. The field spread model was used to quantify the radiation influence range of ECR areas. Additionally, 972.46 km of ecological corridors were identified in Beijing, and abundant corridors effectively linked the ECR areas and maintained the material cycle. In the surrounding areas, ecological corridors were spread radially, with a total length of 941.85 km, promoting cross-boundary ecological flow between the ECR and surrounding source areas. This study used 25 ecological nodes to constitute the cross-boundary ecological security network system. The total radiation area based on the ECR source was 9572.16 km2. These results provide support for the radiation effect of ECR and cross-boundary ecological flows and suggest a useful model for sustainable ecological development and cross-boundary management.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-09-30T01:15:01Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221129788
Geodiversity inclusiveness in biodiversity assessment
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  Authors: Jake RA Crisp, Joanna C Ellison, Andrew Fischer, Jia SD Tan
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Biodiversity assessment is constitutive in establishing conservation priorities and outcomes, and geodiversity complements species richness as a surrogate in the absence of species data, improves statistical modelling and can facilitate prediction of species distribution and abundance. Yet, geodiversity is frequently excluded, and biodiversity prioritised in conservation endeavours such as ecosystem-based management. Therefore, combined geodiversity and biodiversity assessment approaches present practical benefits to conservation such as improved collaboration between biologists and geoscientists, efficacious indicators of conservation value, and abatement of biodiversity partialities and wider inclusion of geodiversity in conservation literature. This study scientometrically analysed 240 biodiversity assessment publications to investigate geodiversity inclusiveness, methodological trends, geographic trends, environment-type trends and future directions in biodiversity assessment methods. Results showed these species richness articles frequently included geodiversity-relevant terms such as hydrological, soil, geological and geomorphological components, but the all-encompassing ‘geodiversity’ term was absent entirely. Geographic trends showed many potential economic, social, cultural and political factors influencing geodiversity inclusiveness in biodiversity assessment. For example, Australia’s relatively resource exploitative approach to geology and early involvement in the inception of the geodiversity concept could explain the high frequency of geological-related terms in Australian biodiversity assessments. Methodological trends showed dominance by field-based biodiversity assessments such as trapping methods, followed transects, quadrats, net methods and observations. Given the specific sample size of literature analysed, inferences from this study relate only to biodiversity assessment methods and not biodiversity discourse in its entirety. Subsequent research could investigate specific factors, such as social, economic or political, and their influence on geodiversity inclusiveness in biodiversity assessment methods.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-09-04T05:25:28Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221122292
Ecosystem services dynamics towards SDGs in the belt and road Initiative
cities
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  Authors: Wenze Yue, Jinhui Xiong, Yong Liu, Haoxuan Xia
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  In the unprecedented global changes, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a common beacon for all countries’ development worldwide. Systemic analysis of the ecosystem services (ESs) changes during rapid urbanization can provide helpful information for ecosystem management toward the 2030 SDGs. However, existing research seldom focuses on simulating future scenarios of SDG-oriented urbanization and associated ESs changes. We proposed three 2030 SDGs-related urbanization scenarios: the baseline development scenario (BDS), ecological protection scenario (EPS), and rapid urbanization scenario (RUS). We further evaluated the three ESs component changes and synergies, including habitat quality (HQ), carbon storage (CS), and water yield (WY) till 2030, using the cases of 67 capital cities in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Region. Results reveal that most cities will face ESs loss from 2020 to 2030. EPS can effectively alleviate the ESs loss and assist the ESs increment. The correlations between ESs components vary in the degree among the three scenarios. HQ and CS have a robust synergetic relationship in most cities. The correlations between CS and WY, and HQ and WY are mostly synergetic except for a few western Asian cities. The EPS can stabilize the ecosystem structure and facilitate SDG-oriented development. The findings help achieve sustainable urbanization by conserving ESs guided by the SDGs.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-08-27T03:51:43Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221118364
A review of spatial statistical approaches to modeling water quality
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  Authors: Junjie Chen, Heejun Chang
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Wildfire has increased in severity and frequency with climate change and human activities in recent years, threatening water-related ecosystem services. Forested watersheds are at risk of impacts of wildfires that alter land cover, and hydrological processes, and influence drinking water quality and aquatic habitat. To date, most research on post-fire hydrologic effects has focused on water quantity, while stream temperature and turbidity received less attention. In this study, we reviewed 62 articles to examine wildfire drivers and processes associated with turbidity and stream temperature behavior through a geographic lens in the context of ecosystem services. Our goals were to (1) evaluate drivers of post-fire changes in turbidity and stream temperature; (2) examine mechanisms and processes responsible for spatial and temporal variabilities of changes; and (3) address scale-dependent knowledge gaps to recommend future research directions. Positive correlations between turbidity changes following wildfire were heavily influenced by fire severity, forest diversity, and landscape alterations by human activities such as salvage logging. Stream temperature increases result from loss of riparian canopy cover and decreased shading, but they were highly site-specific and dependent on topographic variations. We attribute variabilities in our findings to climate variability and heavy disparity across spatial and temporal scales when assessing the direction and magnitude of post-fire impacts. Future research should incorporate more long-term rigorous monitoring efforts and spatiotemporally explicit models to better represent the complex post-fire hydrologic system that influences water quality.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-08-23T01:51:57Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221118363
A power-law relation of surface roughness and ages of alluvial fans in a
hyperarid environment: A case study in the Dead Sea area
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  Authors: Qiang Su, Junjie Ren, Xianyan Wang, Oubo Liang
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Despite recent advances in mapping and dating alluvial fans, due to the availability of high-resolution remote sensing data and Quaternary dating techniques, quantifying surface features in remote sensing data remains a challenge. Surface roughness is a time-dependent feature under stable conditions, which indicates the relative age of alluvial fans in a hyperarid environment. Although surface roughness can be quantitatively inferred from remote sensing data, determining surface roughness in a uniform index remains a complex problem. Here, we used the normalized backscatter intensity (NBI) from high-resolution ALOS PALSAR data to quantify alluvial fan surface roughness, which is further used to quantitatively map alluvial fans. We established a robust power-law relation between the NBI value (R) and the in-situ age (T) as measured with independently dated alluvial fans. Based on the R-T relation, it can be further to apply the R measurement to T estimates as old as ∼540 ka with an average uncertainty of ∼25% on a regional scale. The NBI value, independent of atmospheric conditions and sensitive to surface roughness variability, is an effective criterion for quickly distinguishing alluvial fans and performing age estimation. We propose that insolation weathering is an important physical weathering pattern in the Dead Sea area, which mainly controls the surface roughness in this hyperarid region.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-08-17T12:02:31Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221118641
Assessing the effectiveness of alternative landslide partitioning in
machine learning methods for landslide prediction in the complex Himalayan
terrain
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  Authors: Muhammad Tayyib Riaz, Muhammad Basharat, Maria Teresa Brunetti
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Several devastating landslides have occurred in the NW Himalayas, which has prompted several researchers to strive for improvement in landslide susceptibility modelling (LSM) methodologies. This research analyzes the effectiveness of alternative landslide partitioning techniques on LSM in the landslide-prone district, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. We developed a landslide inventory of 961 landslides and then traditionally divided it into training (672; 70%) and testing (289; 30%) samples. These training samples (672) are processed by the Average Nearest Neighbour Index (ANNI) method to estimate the spatial pattern of landslides in nature. The results provide an ANNI ratio of 0.672 confirming that the landslides distribution pattern is cluster in the complex Himalayan terrain of Muzaffarabad. Among 672, the majority of landslides (529; 79%) depict cluster behaviour, while 189 landslides (21%) depict random behaviour. To evaluate the effectiveness of landslide cluster samples in prediction, five machine learning algorithms (MLAs), that is, K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Naïve Bayes (NB), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Logistic Regression (LR) using proposed cluster (529) and traditional (672) random training samples along with 17 geo-environmental factors are executed. However, testing samples (289; 30%) separated at the initial stage remained the same to check the model’s effectiveness. The areas under the curve (AUC-ROC), sensitivity, specificity, Kappa index and accuracy (ACC) have been used to evaluate the MLA’s performances. An alternative partitioning technique (cluster) shows the highest predictive power with AUC-ROC values ranging from 0.96 to 0.86, Kappa index ranges from 0.76 to 0.60 and ACC ranges from 0.90 to 0.83. Conversely, the random partitioning approach performs less well with AUC-ROC values ranging from 0.95 to 0.83, Kappa index ranges from 0.70 to 0.49 and ACC ranges from 0.87 to 0.80. In comparison, the RF cluster sampling-based model outperforms the other models and their counterparts. The RF model achieved the highest accuracy (0.902), highest AUC (0.962) and highest Kappa index (0.755) followed by XGboost having ACC (0.885), AUC (0.95) and Kappa index (0.724) employing proposed cluster training samples. However, traditional random training samples yield comparatively low ACC of RF (0.868) and XGboost (0.862). These results confirm that cluster training sampling performs well in obtaining reliable and precise LSMs for complex Himalayan terrain. Although random landslide partitioning for training datasets is seldom utilized in LSM, this study highlights that cluster partitioning for landslide training datasets might be a realistic and reliable approach.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-07-12T02:36:44Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221113660
Classics revisited/from the archive Mayan Urbanism: Impact on a Tropical
Karst Environment
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  Authors: Mark Brenner
  First page: 179
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Deevey et al.’s (1979) Mayan Urbanism: Impact on a Tropical Karst Environment combined paleo-demographic data from the Lowland Maya region, obtained from archaeological survey and test-pitting, with paleolimnological data derived from local lakes, to evaluate the environmental impacts of long-term, ancient Maya agro-engineering activities in the region. The interdisciplinary approach to studying human-environment interactions was novel at the time and paved the way for many subsequent hybrid Earth Science/Archaeology projects in the Maya area.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-07-06T08:04:17Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221112360
Progress report: Drought and water management in ancient Maya society
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  Authors: Tripti Bhattacharya, Samantha Krause, Dan Penny, David Wahl
  First page: 189
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Paleoclimate research in the Maya region of Mesoamerica provides compelling evidence of drought during key periods of cultural transition in Maya society. These include the transition from the Preclassic to the Classic, and from Classic to the Postclassic. Previous research emphasized a causal relationship between drought and cultural change, or so-called “collapse” in the Maya region. Recent advances in the range and precision of climate-sensitive proxies and the development of new archives have enabled quantitative reconstructions of past hydroclimate, as well as providing evidence of high impact, short-duration events, such as tropical cyclones. Simultaneously, archaeological research has unearthed widespread evidence of technologies used by the Maya to exert control over water resources in urban, rural, and agricultural settings. Evidence suggests that many of these water features were in use for multiple generations, possibly centuries, and many were constructed during the Terminal Preclassic and Terminal Classic periods. We suggest that, given the availability of new archaeological and paleoclimate records, these data can be combined to identify the full complexity of Maya adaptation to hydroclimate variability to emphasize adaptation and resilience to both water scarcity and over-abundance (e.g., flooding). Such syntheses, which can offer lessons for present-day efforts to grapple with regional climate change, will benefit from additional studies in data-poor zones of the Maya region, as well as public archiving of paleoclimate and archaeological data.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-09-27T12:58:57Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221129784
The development and disintegration of a Classic Maya center and its
climate context
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  Authors: KM Prufer, AE Thompson, AD Wickert, DJ Kennett
  First page: 205
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  Research in Southern Belize has produced a 1000-year record of coupled human and environmental relationships at the ancient Maya city Uxbenká. Located at the southeastern margin of the Maya Lowlands, this region has excellent agricultural land and some of the highest rainfall in the Maya region. Uxbenká was the founding political center in southern Belize after 100 BCE. After 850 years, Uxbenká experienced a long geopolitical disintegration ending in depopulation as part of broad regional collapse. We use kernel density and summed probability distributions of 167 high-precision AMS 14C dates to reconstruct relative changes in population and investments in the built environment throughout the growth and decline of the polity. Those data are compared to an annually resolved speleothem paleoclimate record from Yok Balum cave, located less than 3 km from Uxbenká’s civic ceremonial core. With no Classic Period wetland fields or evidence for large-scale landscape investments in agricultural intensification, food production would have been rainfall dependent as was water availability for household use. Using a 30 m SRTM DEM, we compute flow accumulation and the upvalley extents of river networks while varying the input precipitation to reflect hypothesized changes in paleorainfall over time. Our data suggest that Uxbenká experienced rapid growth following a severe drought at 200 CE, as well as cycles of growth and contraction until just after 750 CE. We find that geopolitical disintegration in southern Belize was already underway when a severe drought began at 830 CE. That six-decade drought likely contributed to the abandonment of Uxbenká and limited geopolitical reorganization.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-07-05T04:39:05Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221112359
Tree species on environmental gradients in subtropical forest of northwest
Belize, in the Maya Lowlands
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  Authors: Sheila E Ward, Nicholas Brokaw, Stanley Walling, Marisol Cortes-Rincon
  First page: 249
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  We studied species composition and spatial distributions of tree species, and the underlying topography and soil, in subtropical forests of northwest Belize, a region in the Maya Lowlands. Our goal was to learn how much the spatial distributions of species vary and are predictable over the landscape. The study was done in old-growth, subtropical moist forest on limestone-derived topography and soil. We identified to species all trees ≥10 cm DBH in 209 400-m2 plots. For each plot, we characterized topographic setting and analyzed soil nutrients and texture. We recorded 3,984 individual trees of ∼140 tree species and used the 3,775 individuals of the 69 species occurring in ≥5 plots in multivariate analyses, including Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS). NMS showed that 73% of the variation in species composition per plot was associated with the first three ordination axes. Sixteen out of the 34 quantitative variables we measured were correlated at R2> 10% with the axes. Of the categorical variables, Topographic Class was strongly associated with species composition, and USDA Texture Class less so. Of the 69 focal tree species, the abundances of 21 were correlated at R2> 10% with one or more axes of the NMS ordination. Importantly, these 21 species accounted for 68% of all individual trees sampled in the 209 plots. Twenty-three species were indicators of particular topographic and soil classes. We conclude that patterns of tree species distribution are strongly and predictably associated with different topographic and soil conditions in this landscape. In the past, the ancient Maya could have used this type of predictable plant–soil relationship to optimize their agriculture. In the future, our results are a basis for predicting local shifts in tree species distributions due to climate change.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-12-21T03:12:00Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221143643
Assessing the lidar revolution in the Maya lowlands: A geographic approach
to understanding feature classification accuracy
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  Authors: Thomas G Garrison, Amy E Thompson, Samantha Krause, Sara Eshleman, Juan C Fernandez-Diaz, J Dennis Baldwin, Rafael Cambranes
  First page: 270
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  It has been well over a decade since lidar-based research began in earnest in the Maya Lowlands of southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Most investigations have an archaeological focus, with a few integrating studies of the ancient Maya with analyses of local ecology and land-use. A review of frequently cited publications reveals a lack of consistency in assessing the accuracy of archaeological feature classifications in lidar data with variables such as sensor type, class definitions, and ground-truthing methods differentially affecting assessment results across the Lowlands. In general, area-based ground-truthing approaches to classifications of full waveform lidar data present the most comprehensive accuracy assessments. New assessment data from the Buenavista Valley of north-central Guatemala are presented to compare against existing studies and to demonstrate how a geographic approach (a comprehensive, landscape-scale study of features over space and time) to classification error assessment can enhance understanding of classification accuracy. Results show that meaningful comparisons of archaeological features across lidar datasets cannot be considered reliable without more uniform and detailed presentations of accuracy assessment methods, analyses, and results. The article concludes with recommendations for how such collaborations might proceed.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-11-10T11:11:06Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221138050
Advances in remote sensing of the early Anthropocene in tropical wetlands:
From biplanes to lidar and machine learning
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  Authors: Colin Doyle, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, Timothy Beach
  First page: 293
  Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
  This paper reviews the history of remote sensing for mapping ancient Maya wetland fields in Central America and provides a new assessment using machine learning with LiDAR data. We evaluate past uses of radar, multispectral, and LiDAR datasets in Northwest Belize across well-studied wetland field complexes that occur under different vegetation conditions. Next, we compare topographic products derived from LiDAR data commonly used for archaeology and geomorphology. Lastly, we train a machine learning algorithm to detect ancient canals with LiDAR data and test the algorithm on a newly rediscovered field system. The spatial resolution of any dataset must be sufficiently high (2-m or finer resolution) to detect most of these canals reliably. High resolution multispectral sensors can detect canals in open areas, but most wetland complexes are under dense tropical forest impenetrable to multispectral instruments. LiDAR data were the most useful due to the high spatial resolution (0.5-m) and the ability to penetrate canopy, but still have limitations under certain conditions. The intensity of the LiDAR returns with multispectral LiDAR systems can reveal differences in soil and vegetation between ancient canals and fields in places leveled by modern farmers. The algorithm successfully maps ancient canals but has many false positives in natural depressions and drainages. Although the machine learning approach tested here cannot be used on its own, we used it with the LiDAR visualizations to refine the canal estimates from previous studies, mapping nearly 50% more canals in the Central Rio Bravo floodplain than originally published.
  Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
  PubDate: 2022-10-20T01:21:25Z
  DOI: 10.1177/03091333221134185