A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

  Subjects -> GEOGRAPHY (Total: 493 journals)
The end of the list has been reached or no journals were found for your choice.
Similar Journals
Journal Cover
Progress in Physical Geography
Journal Prestige (SJR): 1.373
Citation Impact (citeScore): 4
Number of Followers: 13  
 
  Hybrid Journal Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 0309-1333 - ISSN (Online) 1477-0296
Published by Sage Publications Homepage  [1176 journals]
  • Human impacts on vegetation carbon sequestration capacity in the Qilian
           Mountains, northeastern Tibetan Plateau since 2000

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Biao Zeng, Fuguang Zhang, Ying Cao, Yanqi Shen, Zhenhua Meng
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Vegetation carbon sequestration in alpine areas of West China, such as the Qilian Mountains on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, has been subject to long-term human intervention under a warming climate since the launch of the western development strategy (WDS) in 2000. However, the human impacts on vegetation carbon sequestration capacity during this period remain unclear. In this study, the magnitude and direction of human impacts on vegetation carbon sequestration capacity (defined as net primary production, NPP) were assessed by the deviation of remote-sensing–estimated actual NPP data from the simulated potential NPP. The potential value was derived from natural system coupling under the assumption that human activities ceased during the assessment period. The impacts of natural forces and historic human activities were then effectively exfoliated in our final assessment using a process-based IBISi model. The results indicate that the total actual vegetation carbon sequestration capacity in the Qilian Mountains has reduced compared with its potential value since the WDS launched. This reduction was mainly attributed to grazing in the grasslands. However, deforestation, mineral resource exploitation, and the construction of hydropower facilities have also caused a reduction in vegetation carbon sequestration capacity at the local scales. In contrast, forestry protections and afforestation, and agricultural activities associated with reclamation, cultivation, irrigation, and fertilization, have resulted in local increases in the vegetation carbon sequestration capacity in the corresponding forest lands, shrublands, and croplands. These findings highlight the importance of ecological protections for vegetation carbon sequestration and were expected to provide evidence to verify the improvement of ecological management and the increasing of carbon sinks in West China.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-09-06T06:38:54Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231201025
       
  • Prehistoric human occupation and adaptation on the hinterland of the
           Tibetan Plateau in the Early Holocene

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Sunmei Jin, Guangliang Hou, Youcheng Chen, Hong Qiao, Bin Han, Chongyi E, Zhuoma LanCuo, Jingyi Gao, Zhuoma WenDe
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      The occupation process and survival strategies of prehistoric humans on the Tibetan Plateau are important scientific questions for understanding human adaptation to extreme high-altitude environments. Here, we report a newly discovered microlithic site at Daiqu (DQ) in the Tongtian River basin of the central-eastern plateau. We collected 239 lithic artifacts from the DQ site for typological analysis. OSL and AMS14C dating samples were collected from the human active layer. Lipid residues from hearth sediments were analyzed, and we simulated and assessed environmental extremity and route accessibility for the site. Dating results suggest that the stable sedimentary layers began to form around 10.96 ± 0.56 ka BP at the DQ site. Human activity at DQ as early as 9271 ± 143 cal a BP, making it the earliest reported Holocene site with accurate stratigraphic dating on the plateau hinterland to date. Hearths and lithic artifacts indicate that the DQ site was a frequently used seasonal hunting camp, where quality lithic raw material was obtained and microliths processed. Prehistoric humans occupying the site relied on non-ruminant terrestrial animals as food resources. The DQ site is ideally situated to serve as a transit station for hunter-gatherers as they migrated between high and low elevations. Ameliorating Holocene climate promoted prehistoric human exploration of more environmentally extreme areas.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-08-25T03:33:41Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231197168
       
  • Ensemble learning based on remote sensing data for monitoring agricultural
           drought in major winter wheat-producing areas of China

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Lunche Wang, Yuefan Zhang, Xinxin Chen, Yuting Liu, Shaoqiang Wang, Lizhe Wang
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Drought is mainly triggered by the lack of precipitation, which can lead to insufficient water supply for crops thus affecting their growth and development. Reliable drought monitoring is crucial to understanding drought risk and avoiding drought-induced crop yield losses. Based on the Stacking regression method and multiple remotely-sensed drought factors from 2001 to 2017, this study developed an ensemble learning framework for monitoring agricultural drought in major winter wheat-producing areas in China. Stacking used five machine learning algorithms, namely, extreme gradient boosting, support vector regression, extra trees, and multi-layer perceptron, as the base learners to model the relationship between remote sensing drought factors and 1-, 3-, and 6-month standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). In this study, county-level winter wheat yield records and drought maps provided by the Global SPEI database (SPEIbase) were adopted to assess the suitability of Stacking-predicted SPEI drought maps in agricultural drought monitoring. The results show that Stacking outperformed other machine learning algorithms in terms of estimation accuracy, with the highest R2 value of 0.77 and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.47. The longer the time scale of model-predicted SPEI, the higher its correlation with detrended winter wheat yields. The comparison with the drought maps of SPEIbase shows that the Stacking-predicted drought maps successfully captured the spatial pattern and intensity change of drought events. The approach presented in the study has good applicability for agricultural drought monitoring and could be extended to the rest of the areas.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-08-16T05:32:00Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231188814
       
  • Environmental heterogeneity as a driver of terrestrial biodiversity on a
           global scale

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Ji-Zhong Wan, Chun-Jing Wang, Pablo A Marquet
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      To improve the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation and risk assessments under global changes, it is necessary to understand the drivers of terrestrial biodiversity on a global scale. Environmental heterogeneity is an important umbrella term for different environmental factors that contribute to species diversity. Previous studies have shown that there are significant relationships between geodiversity and biodiversity on a global scale, and that heterogeneity in geodiversity features and environmental variables, that is indicators of environmental heterogeneity (EH), drive biodiversity at local and regional scales. However, we do not yet know how terrestrial biodiversity is maintained, how well represented are the different taxa, and where would they be more at risks considering their abundances and diversities. In this study, we quantified EH of climate, topography, and land cover. We used four theoretical indexes (i.e., Fisher’s alpha, Shannon’s H, Hurlbert’s PIE, and Good’s u) to quantify terrestrial biodiversity based on abundance and diversity. We used regression models to explore the relationships between environmental heterogeneity and terrestrial biodiversity across different organismic groups (ants, bats, birds, butterflies, frogs, ground beetles, mosquitoes, odonates, orthopterans, rodents, scarab beetles, and trees) globally. We found significant relationships between environmental heterogeneity and terrestrial biodiversity, particularly for trees across the three EH components (climate, topography, and land cover), however, the effects of environmental heterogeneity on terrestrial biodiversity may vary among different groups of organisms. Land cover EH could affect the terrestrial biodiversity for ants, bats, birds, butterflies, frogs, mosquitoes, odonates, orthopterans, rodents, and scarab beetles. Furthermore, there were significant relationships between topographic EH and the terrestrial biodiversity for bats, butterflies, ground beetles, odonates, and trees. Climatic EH had significant effects on the terrestrial biodiversity for all organism groups. Our study provides new insights into biodiversity conservation by considering the terrestrial biodiversity based on EH, an indicator of geodiversity.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-08-11T02:37:21Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231189045
       
  • Go or grow' Feedbacks between moving slopes and shifting plants in
           high mountain environments

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Jana Eichel, Markus Stoffel, Sonja Wipf
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      High mountains are climate change hotspots. Quickly rising temperatures trigger vegetation shifts such as upslope migration, possibly threatening mountain biodiversity. At the same time, mountain slopes are becoming increasingly unstable due to degrading permafrost and changing rain and snowfall regimes, which favour slope movements such as rockfall and debris flows. Slope movements can limit plant colonization, while, at the same time, plant colonization can stabilize moving slopes. Thus, we here propose that response of high mountain environments to climate change depends on a ‘biogeomorphic balance’ between slope movement intensity and the trait-dependent ability of mountain plants to survive and stabilize slopes. We envision three possible scenarios of biogeomorphic balance: (1) Intensifying slope movements limit vegetation shifts and thus amplify instability. (2) Shifting ecosystem engineer species reduce slope movement and facilitate shifts for less movement-adapted species. (3) Trees and tall shrubs shifting on stable slopes limit slope instability but decrease biodiversity. Previous geomorphic, ecological and palaeoecological studies support all three scenarios. Given differences in ecologic and geomorphic response rates to climate change, as well as high environmental heterogeneity and elevational gradients in mountain environments, we posit that future biogeomorphic balances will be variable and heterogeneous in time and space. To further unravel future biogeomorphic balances, we propose three new research directions for joint research of mountain geomorphologists and ecologists, using advancing field measurement, remote sensing and modelling techniques. Recognizing high mountains as ‘biogeomorphic ecosystems’ will help to better safeguard mountain infrastructure, lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-08-09T01:09:34Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231193844
       
  • Book Review: The sun, energy, and climate change

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Bimo Bramantio, Diah Fitri Astuti Ningrum
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.

      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-08-05T02:58:13Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231188839
       
  • Comments on Souza et al. (2022) “Recent geomorphological changes in the
           Paraiba do Sul delta, South America East Coast”

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Guilherme Borges Fernandez, Thais Baptista da Rocha, José Maria Landin Dominguez, Sergio Cadena Vasconcelos, Gilberto Tavares de Macedo Dias, André da Costa, Mariana Silva Figueiredo, Alberto Garcia Figueiredo Junior, Cleverson Guizan Silva, Thiago Gonçalves Pereira, Beatriz Abreu Machado
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Souza et al. (2022) based on grain size analyses, Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) ages in fluvial sediments, and regional topography affirmed that most of the Paraiba do Sul River Delta (PSRD) has been deposited during the Little Ice Age (LIA). Souza et al. (2022) also inferred that after the LIA, PSRD presents shoreline erosion, using OSL undetermined results, regional topography, and field photographs, suggesting the direct connection of erosion and human intervention along river basin. As the results obtained by Souza et al. (2022) present several inconsistences about coastal evolution, and question previous works about PDRD developed in the last 30 years, we discuss these in three different sections, covering geological, historical, and recent geomorphological changes in PDRD.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-07-15T08:23:37Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231182701
       
  • Identification of priority areas for soil erosion control based on minimum
           administrative units and karst landforms in karst areas of Guizhou

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Jun Jing, Rui Li, Yushan Zhang, Qinglin Wu
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Soil erosion is one of the most serious ecological threats in karst areas of Southwest China. The identification of priority areas for remediation and its driving factors is essential to improving the efficiency of prevention and control. The present study systematically considered natural and socio-economic factors not involved in the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model, and determined priority areas for soil erosion management based on minimum administrative units and karst landforms. Then, the driving factors were identified by using geographic detector. The results showed that the priority areas were mainly concentrated in the southwest, southeast and northeast, overlapping with the severely eroded areas (Erosion rate=45.79 t·ha−1·a−1). Gradient risk zones had geomorphological differences, but the most eroded zones were all controlled by bedrock exposure rates, elevation, or slope position. The spatial correlation and high erosion rate of priority areas provided opportunities to optimize the efficiency and cost of control. Driving factors were affected by karst landforms. The explanation power of slope position on soil erosion was higher in the peak cluster depressions and karst basins with small undulations ([math]), while the karst gorges, trough valleys and plateaus with large undulations gradually decreased ([math]). The interaction of driving factors will enhance the explanatory power for soil erosion. Among them, the repetition rate of elevation was 60%, and the repetition rate of lithology and development index was 40%. This study provides useful information for identifying and managing priority areas for soil erosion control, and enriches the theory of soil and water conservation in karst areas.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-07-15T01:51:03Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231189350
       
  • The evolution of open biomass burning during summer crop harvest in the
           North China Plain

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Shiyu Li, Ming Zhang, Lunche Wang, Qian Cao, Wenmin Qin
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Open biomass burning (OBB) negatively impacts air quality by discharging abundant fine particulate matter (PM2.5, aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm) and trace gases. The statistical methods and numerical simulations have been used to estimate emissions from OBB. The former is poor in producing reliable distributions and transport of emissions, while studies with the latter have focused on cases analysis over short periods. This study investigates the multi-year evaluation of OBB and its contribution to PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) based on satellite observations and numerical modeling over the North China Plain. The number of fires increased by 206% from 2008 to 2012, and decreased by 84% from 2012 to 2016, indicating that the implementation of straw burning ban policy had achieved significant positive effects. The simulation from Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry showed that the surface concentrations of PM2.5 and BC emitted by OBB in the burning source area increased from 22 and 3.22 μg/m3, respectively, in 2008 to 45.77 and 6.47 μg/m3, respectively, in 2012, and then decreased to 1.41 and 0.22 μg/m3, respectively, in 2016. The differentiated impacts on air quality of policies across provinces are also investigated. Open crop straw burning was banned early in Shandong and Henan provinces, but they suffer from poor air quality due to open straw burning until the effective straw burning ban in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, which suggests the need for interregional collaboration for pollution control.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-07-13T10:33:39Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231187817
       
  • The roles of environmental conditions in the pollutant emission-induced
           gross primary production change: Co-contribution of meteorological fields
           and regulation of its background gradients

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Xuan Gui, Lunche Wang, Qian Cao, Shiyu Li, Weixia Jiang, Shaoqiang Wang
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Anthropogenic emissions affect vegetation photosynthesis and carbon flux through meteorological variations induced by aerosols and clouds. However, the insufficient consideration of meteorological conditions limits the understanding of relevant mechanisms, and further inhibits the projection of future terrestrial carbon balance. Based on multiple sets of model simulations, we characterized changes in gross primary production (GPP) due to three typical individual pollutants emissions (black carbon, organic carbon, and sulfate), quantified the relative contributions of co-varied environmental factors, and explored the regulatory roles of background meteorological conditions across China. Our results showed that the heterogeneous GPP enhancement induced by emissions was dominated by cloud cover (CC) change. During its short-term effect, air temperature (Tair), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and radiation (both quality and quantity) played a collectively non-negligible role in GPP variation, among which the universal diffuse radiation fertilization effect was generally far less than the benefits of brighter, cooler, and wetter environmental conditions. However, the sensitivity of GPP to an individual environmental variable was also altered by background meteorological gradients, whose changing pattern differed substantially among factors, indicating that the meteorological-regulated vegetation optimal photosynthetic range was a trade-off among heat, water, and light instead of being controlled by the univariable. This study implies that a deeper understanding of concurrent environmental variables is an effective way to reduce uncertainties in assessing the terrestrial carbon cycle perturbation exerted by human-induced emissions, especially under future scenarios with ongoing climate change.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-07-11T04:24:57Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231186893
       
  • Experimental and numerical investigation on the hydraulic design criteria
           for a step-pool nature-like fishway

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: Sruthi T Kalathil, Venu Chandra
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Hydraulic considerations specific for the design of step-pool nature-like fishways (NLFs) are limited to the body dimensions of the target species. Additional hydraulic criteria for flow depth, maximum values for each of pool depth, velocity, and turbulent kinetic energy in terms of the weir opening width and discharge can help design an optimum step-pool NLF. The present study developed design charts and rating curves based on numerical modeling using the computational fluid dynamics software FLOW-3D® HYDRO. Instantaneous velocity measurements on a 1:4 scaled physical model of a step-pool nature-like fishway designed as per the available design guidelines have been used to validate the numerical model. The hydrodynamics of the fishway with respect to the weir opening ratio br (0.10, 0.25, 0.45, 0.65, and 1.00) and discharge Q (0.1–1.5 m3/s) was analyzed through numerical simulations on a prototype scale. The simulation results showed that the maximum flow velocity and the averaged velocity over the crest at br = 0.10 and 0.25 are considerably lower than at br> 0.25. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy and energy dissipation factors for the tested range of discharges were within recommended limits for br = 0.10 and 0.25. The present study outcome in terms of the design charts and rating curves that illustrate the relationship between different variables can be used for an optimum design and ease in field implementation. In addition, the bed structure of the step-pool NLF presented in this study can be used to recreate full-scale or pilot models.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-07-07T07:49:41Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231187619
       
  • Reply to the comments on Souza et al. (2022) “Recent geomorphological
           changes in the Paraiba do Sul delta, South America East Coast”

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      Authors: André de Oliveira Souza, Luca Lämmle, Archimedes Perez Filho, Carlo Donadio
      Abstract: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Ahead of Print.
      Scientific knowledge advances by the discussions about hypotheses, methods, and results, wherein the contradictory plays a positive role developing new theoretical-methodological approaches. In a positive debate to the progress of the science, the agreements and disagreements must only permeate the scientific scope and based on ethics to be away from the conflicts of interest. From this perspective, after knowing the submission entitled Comments on Souza et al. (2022) “Recent geomorphological changes in the Paraiba do Sul delta, South America East Coast” to the journal Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment (PPG), which addressed several issues concerning to the results published in that article, we wrote this response to clarify the doubts related with the original paper. The comment’s authors focus mainly on the da Rocha et al. (2019), a locally published article that did not fully encompass the complexity of processes and geomorphological dynamics related to the delta evolution. Furthermore, it did not present the parameters used in the geochronological analyses in accordance with the international literature. Finally, the discussions presented in the original article contribute to advances in knowledge about the responses of the Paraíba do Sul delta to the Little Ice Age.
      Citation: Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
      PubDate: 2023-06-12T11:15:48Z
      DOI: 10.1177/03091333231182699
       
  • The response of geographical processes to landscape restoration:
           China’s research progress

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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
       
  • How do spatial factors of green spaces contribute to flood regulation in
           urban areas' A systematic mapping approach

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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
       
  • Dynamic bundles to detect the spatiotemporal characteristics and impact
           factors of ecosystem services in northern China

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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
       
  • Multi-source remote sensing data shows a significant increase in
           vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau since 2000

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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

    • Free pre-print version: Loading...

      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
       
 
JournalTOCs
School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
Email: journaltocs@hw.ac.uk
Tel: +00 44 (0)131 4513762
 


Your IP address: 34.239.148.127
 
Home (Search)
API
About JournalTOCs
News (blog, publications)
JournalTOCs on Twitter   JournalTOCs on Facebook

JournalTOCs © 2009-