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  • Yihui DING, Yanju LIU, Ying XU, Ping WU, Tong XUE, Jing WANG, Ying SHI, Yingxian ZHANG, Yafang SONG, Pengling WANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(6): 551-562. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.027

    The Northwest region of China is a major battlefield and an important ecological and environmental security barrier to China’s western development. Flourishing the Belt and Road Initiative, climate change in this region has a direct impact on water resources, ecology, and environmental security. In the context of global climate change, Northwest China has shown an obvious and rapidly developing warming-wetting trend, which has resulted in increasingly prominent environmental and public security risks that are seriously affecting the sustainable development of the regional economy and society. This poses new challenges for climate change responses, water resource management, and disaster prevention and mitigation in this region. Research on the evolution characteristics, causes, and physical mechanisms of warming-wetting as well as its future trends and possible risks were reviewed. It further summarizes the current scientific consensus and existing problems, and finally looks forward to the key directions of future scientific research. A systematic review of the trend, causes, and future projection of climate warming-wetting in Northwest China will have important scientific implications for further research on this issue.

  • Jun SHI, Linli CUI, Yudan GU, Ping TANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(8): 771-779. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.042

    Climate extremes threaten human health, economic stability, and the safety of both natural and built environments. Compound extreme events are combinations of multiple climate drivers and/or hazards that contribute to societal or environmental risks, and their impacts on human society and natural ecosystems are often more serious and destructive than those of a single extreme event. Understanding the changes in compound extreme events is important for adaptation, mitigation strategies, and disaster risk management. Here, the definitions and connotations of compound extreme events are briefly discussed, including preconditioned, multivariate, temporal, and spatial compounding events. Subsequently, the progress in compound extreme event research is discussed in terms of temporal and spatial evolution characteristics, influencing factors, and future scenario projections. Given the problems in current research, we suggest that future studies should focus on studying compound extreme events regarding variable/index selection and threshold determination, dependence and interaction analysis among drivers and/or hazards, simulation performance evaluation and future projections, and their dynamic processes and disaster-causing mechanisms. Compound extreme events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in a warming world, and many regions are projected to experience an increase in the probability of compound events with greater global warming. Therefore, we must improve our understanding of the causes and drivers of compound and cascade events.

  • Xiang ZHANG, Shuzhe HUANG, Yuhang GUAN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(6): 563-579. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.024

    Droughts spread through interrelated land-atmosphere systems and hydrological processes, and evolve into different types of droughts, such as hydrological, agricultural, ecological, and socioeconomic droughts, in different geographical and temporal contexts. Against the backdrop of global climate change and intensified human activities, the propagation and evolution of different types of drought present more uncertainties. Over the past decade, our understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics, research methods, evolutionary processes, and driving factors of drought propagation has gradually deepened, but clear scientific views have not been realized. Beginning from the definition of drought propagation, this study systematically analyzed the scientific connotation of the problem and clarified the developmental stages of drought propagation research. Six quantitative research methods for current drought propagation were comprehensively summarized: threshold method and run theory, correlation analysis, causal analysis, cross-wavelet analysis, probability models, and meteorological-hydrological models. Furthermore, from the perspective of meteorological-hydrological and meteorological-agricultural drought propagation scenarios and drought propagation driving forces, the main acquired scientific knowledge was analyzed and summarized. The findings reveal the propagation order, stage threshold, spatiotemporal heterogeneity, and human-driven processes of drought propagation research worldwide. Finally, a series of challenges that future drought propagation research will face were analyzed. These include further exploration of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the propagation process, bridging the gap between mathematical and physical knowledge to establish trustworthy models, and integrating cross-disciplinary knowledge to achieve a full-process analysis of propagation. The systematical analysis of the progress and challenges of domestic and international drought propagation research will provide key theoretical and methodological support for the next steps in drought disaster analysis and scientific management.

  • Yansong HAN, Wei JIANG, Yuwen XIAO, Yangyang YONG, Kefu YU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(5): 515-532. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2022.079

    Tropical Cyclones (TCs) are meteorological phenomena that affect middle and low latitudes worldwide. This paper systematically summarizes and reviews the research progress on the main characteristics, potential influencing factors, and influencing mechanisms of TCs at home and abroad, and summarizes and analyzes their changing trends under the climate background of GW. With the significant increase in global temperature, the sources and tracks of global TCs have shifted poleward, with a slight increase in translation speed, decrease in frequency, and increase in intensity; however, there are significant differences in each ocean. This paper focuses on reviewing the effects of volcanic activity, El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), solar radiation, Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and aerosols on TC activity. Volcanic eruptions release a large amount of aerosols in the stratosphere, thereby reducing sea surface temperature and negatively affecting TCs. However, there are regional variations in this mechanism. ENSO and PDO modulate the global TC activity through teleconnections, while changes in solar activity and ITCZ are also associated with TC activity. Aerosols have opposite influence mechanisms on TCs at different development stages. Due to the lack of time length and the coarse resolution of most surrogate indicators of instrumental TC data, research on the impact of potential influencing factors on TCs under long-term climate fluctuations is severely restricted. In the future, we should be able to quantify the history of storm activities by finding high-resolution record carriers, thereby further analyzing the relationships between TCs and potential influencing factors, and improving our understanding of the change mechanism in TC activity under the influence of climate fluctuations.

  • Xiaokang SHI, Yanbing HU, Panfeng WANG, Wenjun ZHANG, Bo LIU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(9): 916-930. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.051

    At around 20 km height in the atmosphere, a natural phenomenon occurs, in which the lower westerly (easterly) zonal wind changes into the upper easterly (westerly) zonal wind during a specific season, while the meridional wind is very small. This transition layer of the zonal wind is called stratospheric Quasi-Zero Wind Layer (QZWL). The low speed and direction transition of the wind in the QZWL are beneficial for stratospheric airships, high-altitude balloons, and other weakly powered or unpowered near-space vehicles, allowing them to stay there for longer periods. The characteristics of the QZWL with time in the northern hemisphere, the entire China, and key regions in China were summarized based on the QZWL results. The influence mechanisms and characteristics of the thermal wind, stratospheric Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), Stratospheric Sudden Warming (SSW), eddy flux transport of planetary wave, South Asia high and subtropical westerly jet on the QZWL formation were systematically analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of MST radar, laser radar, sounding rocket and upper-air balloon in QZWL detection and some relevant facts were compared and analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of middle atmosphere modeling and numerical weather modeling regarding QZWL forecasting were summarized. Numerical weather modeling is currently the main method for QZWL forecasting and meteorological support, and diagnostic schemes, such as the bottom height and thickness of the QZWL, are the basis for the quantitative study of the refined structure and evolution of the QZWL. The working principle of stratospheric vehicles using the QZWL is summarized. Finally, prospects regarding the key directions of future scientific research are presented. This review of the research progress on the QZWL will provide the basis for the future in-depth study of the QZWL and the deployment and meteorological support of stratospheric vehicles.

  • Li WANG, Xiaoyue LIU, Jianping HUANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(7): 715-728. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.035

    Human activities have changed the air oxygen content in urban areas and threatened the regional atmospheric oxygen balance. However, studies on urban atmospheric oxygen (O2) remain limited, and a systematic assessment of the mechanisms that drive urban O2 variability is not yet possible. Therefore, the long-term observation of atmospheric O2 in urban areas is of utmost importance. This study provides an in-depth overview of the Lanzhou online atmospheric oxygen observation platform, which is the first in situ, high-precision, continuous atmospheric O2 observation platform in China. The platform uses a gas chromatography-thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD) method to measure the atmospheric O2 content and establishes an XGBoost-based correction model for atmospheric O2 observation data. After correction, the observation system error of atmospheric O2 has significantly reduced to -0.68 μmol/mol. The observation results showed that atmospheric O2 has clear seasonal and daily variation characteristics and good correspondence with urban human activity indicators (NOx). Based on the capabilities of the atmospheric oxygen observation platform demonstrated in this study, the platform can detect microvariations in atmospheric O2 against a high background, providing crucial data to support research into urban atmospheric O2 levels. Due to the close relationship between carbon and oxygen cycles, the long-term observation of atmospheric O2 can be a scientific basis for establishing regionally appropriate “double carbon” practical paths.

  • Ziqi NONG, Pengyu HUANG, Hanlie XU, Xiuqing HU, Min MIN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(5): 533-550. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.019

    With the development of spaceborne low-light imagers, extremely low-magnitude nocturnal visible radiance can accurately be detected. After accurate radiometric calibration, quantitative applications of satellite-based low-light imager observation data attract particularly increased scientific interest. This investigation systematically summarizes the advances in applications and research of satellite-based low-light imager data in the atmospheric, marine, and environmental sciences at night. First, the development history of satellite-based low-light imager payload is briefly introduced. Subsequently, the typical applications of low-light imager data in the atmospheric, marine, and environmental fields and the corresponding new scientific discoveries are summarized. Finally, considering new scientific objectives, advanced design concepts and application prospects for future satellite-based low-light imagers are proposed and discussed.

  • Jiangfeng WEI, Yuanyuan SONG, Boyan LU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(9): 881-889. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.055

    The Diurnal Cycle of Precipitation (DCP) is the result of various dynamic and thermodynamic processes in the climate system and is closely related to the water cycle and land-atmosphere interactions. In North China, the DCP is influenced by factors such as valley wind circulation, boundary layer inertial oscillations, and sea-land breeze circulation, exhibiting two peaks during the early morning and afternoon. In addition, the DCP in North China is influenced by anthropogenic aerosol emissions. This study introduces the fundamental characteristics and factors influencing the DCP in North China and summarizes recent research on the connection between the DCP and land-atmosphere coupling in North China, the modeling of the DCP, and the influence of aerosols on the DCP. The existing scientific knowledge is synthesized, and its shortcomings and challenges are outlined. Overall, investigating the DCP and its influencing factors can help us better understand the mechanisms of precipitation formation and evolution. This provides scientific support for enhancing the accuracy of fine-scale precipitation forecasting.

  • Nan YAO, Yaoming MA
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(6): 580-593. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.029

    The Tibetan Plateau (TP), Iranian Plateau (IP), and Mongolian Plateau (MP) belong to Asian high-altitude regions. Thermal forcing over the three plateaus is important in contemporaneous and subsequent weather and climate in China. Examination of the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of surface sensible heat over the three plateaus revealed remarkable interannual and interdecadal changes attributable to global warming that occurred from the end of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Their relationships and possible mechanisms are discussed. A summary of the research progress on the impact of surface thermal conditions over the three plateaus on the weather and climate of China during spring and summer revealed three findings. First, over the TP, sensible heating has a significant impact on the formation, development, and eastward movement of the TP vortex, which induces rainstorms in the eastern part of China with an appropriate circulation background. Second, the Tibetan-Iranian Plateau (TIP) “sensible heat driven air-pump” favors the development of upward flow over the Asian monsoon region. The combined contribution of TIP thermal condition is greater than their linear superposition to the summer precipitation in southern China. Third, the warmer and drier conditions in northern China are closely related to the compensatory downdraft induced by thermal forcing over the TP, IP, and MP. In addition, the abnormal surface heating of the three plateaus triggers abnormalities in local circulation and regulates the weather and climate over northern China through teleconnection patterns. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research considerations and challenges regarding the synergism of the TP, IP, and MP.

  • Yujiu XIONG, Xu WANG, Chenbin WU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(11): 1097-1106. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.069

    Evapotranspiration (ET) encompasses water loss through transpiration and evaporation from soil and water surfaces. Accurate observation of ET is essential for comprehending the ET process, and mechanism, as well as water-energy nexus and land-atmosphere feedback. ET serves as a pivotal link between the hydrological cycle and energy processes. In-situ measurements provide fundamental datasets for validating remotely sensed ET products. The surface renewal theory differs from the commonly used eddy covariance method in describing the physical ET process. Unlike the expensive sonic anemometers in the eddy covariance system, the surface renewal method is cost-effective because it uses a fine- diameter thermocouple to record high-frequency air temperature and estimate the sensible heat flux through coherent structures. The surface renewal method for measuring ET, with an accuracy comparable to that of the eddy covariance system, and it has been widely applied for ET measurements in America and Europe. Recognizing the substantial potential of this method, this paper reviews the theory of surface renewal and research advancements in the method made over the past 30 years. Additionally, preliminary studies related to ET measurements in China using the surface renewal method are also presented. By summarizing this progress and exploring the challenges in the application of the surface renewal method, we can enhance our understanding and promote a variety of domestic ET observation methods.

  • Na YUAN, Lingling Deng, Xia YIN, Shanhai SONG, Suihua LIU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(11): 1145-1157. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.062

    Guizhou Province, characterized by unique topography and complex climatic conditions, offers an excellent opportunity to study spectral surface albedo (short-wave, near-infrared, and visible light). Analyzing this refines surface parameters and understands the characteristics of solar spectral radiation but also provides scientific references to explore the physical processes of the relevant spectral radiation, variables in the process of energy conversion of the earth-air system in mountainous areas at low latitudes. Therefore, based on MCD43A3 albedo data, MCD15A2H Leaf Area Index (LAI), temperature, precipitation, land use, and soil moisture data, using anomalous variance analysis, Theil-Sen (T-S) and Mann-Kendall (M-K) trend analyses, and geophones, we analyzed the spatial and temporal trends and driving factors of spectral surface albedo in Guizhou Province. The results show that interannual changes in spectral surface albedo were in the order of size: near-infrared>short-wave>visible. In addition to visible surface albedo being on the rise (the three bands of surface albedo high-value area were basically the same), there was a line from the northeast to the southwest, and the western distribution of the characteristics of the County of Weining; considering seasonal changes, the size order of short-wave and near-infrared surface albedo was the same, as follows: summer>autumn>spring>winter and that of visible surface albedo was spring>winter. The sizes of short-wave and short-wave albedo were the same, as follows: summer> autumn>spring>winter, and that of visible surface albedo was: spring>winter>autumn>summer; the driving factors of spectral surface albedo were LAI, followed by land use. The results of this study reveal spatial and temporal variations and driving mechanisms of the spectral surface albedo in Guizhou, which can provide a reference for the ecological protection of mountainous areas in Guizhou.

  • Chunlin HUANG, Jinliang HOU, Weide LI, Juan GU, Ying ZHANG, Weixiao HAN, Weizhen WANG, Xiaohu WEN, Gaofeng ZHU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(5): 441-452. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.022

    Data-driven methods with deep learning as their core have been gradually applied in Earth science; however, challenges remain regarding the interpretability of models and physical consistency. With the background of remote sensing big data, combining deep learning and data assimilation methods to develop new techniques for the simulation and prediction of terrestrial water cycle processes has become an important research direction in Earth science. Τhe progress in deep learning in recent years combines improving the quality of observation data of terrestrial water cycle components and reducing the uncertainty of physical models. Furthermore, the key scientific issues regarding data assimilation in terrestrial hydrology based on deep learning fusing remote sensing big data are classified according to the observations, physical models, and system integration: How can the temporal and spatial representativeness of samples be enhanced when deep learning inverts remote sensing products? How can a new physics-guided deep learning method be developed within the framework of data assimilation? How can the predictability of the terrestrial water cycle be improved through the “data-model” dual drive? Relevant research and exploration should help promote the in-depth application of the “data-model” hybrid modeling method in the field of hydrology and improve the simulation and prediction capacity of the terrestrial water cycle process.

  • Liyang ZHANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(5): 453-469. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.018

    Cherts are widely distributed in Precambrian to Cenozoic orogenic belts and sedimentary basins.The origin and depositional environment of cherts are of great importance in understanding the regional paleogeographic, paleotectonic, paleo-ocean, and paleoclimate evolutions. After summarizing the existing geochemical methods for identifying the origin and depositional environment of cherts, it is concluded that the identification of the origin of cherts should focus on authigenic siliceous minerals and use exotic interfusion materials as references. Effective proxies include Al, Ti, Fe, Th, Ge/Si, Si isotopes, Rare Earth Elements (REE), etc. The essence of the discrimination of the depositional environment of cherts is to distinguish the relative contribution of terrigenous and hydrothermal materials; although previous discrimination diagrams provide practicability, they still involve errors and need to be used carefully. As an important type, cherts outcropped in orogenic belts are closely related to the Ocean Plate Stratigraphy (OPS). Here, a correlation scheme between them has been established. According to this correlation scheme, cherts outcropped in orogenic belts can be divided into the ridge subtype, pelagic abyssal plain subtype Ⅰ, pelagic abyssal plain subtype Ⅱ, ocean island-seamount subtype, intra-oceanic arc subtype, and forearc trench subtype. The cherts-OPS correlation scheme not only provides a basis for reconstructing the original sequence of the accretionary complex in an orogenic belt using cherts, but also considers cherts as important evidence for distinguishing the main oceanic basins from the back-arc and inter-arc oceanic basins. Taking the Eocene cherty ooze obtained by oceanic drilling in the Pacific as an example, it is suggested that the main oceanic basin is characterized by deep-sea plain cherty rocks that are almost unaffected by terrigenous and hydrothermal materials. These cherty rocks have geochemical characteristics such as Fe/Ti values close to 20, Eu/Eu* values close to 1.1 and negative Ce/Ce* values. These results provide new perspectives and references for subsequent research on cherts in orogenic belts.

  • Minggui ZHENG, Ming YU, Qiurong FAN, Yuhua LIN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 377-387. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.011

    The inconsistency between the supply and demand of lithium carbonate is becoming increasingly serious. Scientific prediction of the future lithium carbonate demand is of great significance for China’s lithium resource production, import and export arrangements, and national energy policy formulation. Based on a combined model of grey correlation analysis and the ARIMA-GM-BP neural network, data on the driving variables of China’s per capita GDP, industrial structure, urbanization level, grease production, ceramic production, glass production, air conditioning production, lithium-ion battery production, and new energy vehicle production in 2002-2021 were selected to predict China’s lithium carbonate resource demand between 2025 and 2035. The results show that the selected driving variables are highly correlated with China's lithium carbonate resource demand, and the combined model is more accurate than a single model. The predicted average quantity demand for lithium carbonate in 2025, 2030, and 2035 is 0.42 million tons, 0.69 million tons, and 1.03 million tons, respectively. Accordingly, some policy suggestions have been proposed.

  • Tianye WANG, Ping WANG, Zening WU, Jun YIN, Jingjie YU, Huiliang WANG, Zhilei YU, Hongshi XU, Lihe YIN, Denghua YAN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(8): 790-801. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.044

    Ecological resilience, the ability of an ecosystem to absorb and adapt to environmental change to maintain its sustainability, was first systematically introduced by the Canadian ecologist C.S. Holling in 1973 and has since rapidly attracted attention and been used across multiple disciplines. In the context of global change, the response of terrestrial ecosystems to increasingly intensifying arid environments, specifically the spatial patterns and evolutionary mechanisms of vegetation ecological resilience under drought stress, has become a core focus of current ecological and ecohydrological research. In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between vegetation change and water stress, enhancing our understanding of this mechanism. However, the interpretation of the ecological resilience of vegetation varies widely and remains controversial, and one of the main reasons for this is that the understanding of the connotations of ecological resilience is not yet unified. To address this issue, we synthesized the views of researchers worldwide and suggested that the analysis of ecological resilience should not only consider the system resistance and recovery capacity under drought events but also the system response and adaptation behavior under changing environments from the perspective of system evolution. These include resistance, recovery, and adaptation, which should be the three most important dimensions for determining ecological resilience. Focusing on these three main dimensions, we reviewed the results of recent research conducted globally and summarized the current understanding of ecological resilience and the key issues to be addressed in terms of spatial patterns, impact mechanisms, and adaptation strategies for ecological resilience. Through an analysis of the concept of ecological resilience and the current state of research, we hope to promote academic discussions on the definition of ecological resilience and its quantitative methods to facilitate an understanding of the evolution of resilience and its underlying mechanisms.

  • Yang GAO, Juhua XIONG, Zhonghao ZHANG, Shun CAI, Li ZHANG, Yu AN, Kaixu BAI, Ruzi LI, Yanli YANG, Zhen YANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(10): 1015-1024. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.063

    The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has received widespread attention as the primary funding institution for basic scientific research in China. Here, we analyze the results of the proposals received by the Division of Geography, Department of Earth Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China, in 2023. An analysis of the proposal review and funding processes was undertaken for three sub-disciplines (Physical Geography, Human Geography and Geographic Informatics); three types of projects (general program, Young Scientists Funding Program, and Regional Funding Project); and four scientific themes or focus areas, as formulated by the NSFC. In addition, issues to be noted in the proposal submission and peer review are discussed. For projects completed by the end of 2022, we first analyzed the publication status of SCI/SSCI/EI/CSCD/CSSCI indexed articles in various project categories and then focused on the representative achievements.

  • Senwei TONG, Jinyu YANG, Xianhui WAN, Qingqing NIU, Shuh-Ji KAO
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(7): 688-702. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.033

    Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) is one of the most active trace forms of nitrogen in oceans, and it is the key intermediate product of many nitrogen cycle processes, such as ammonia oxidation, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and anaerobic ammonia oxidation. Therefore, it is an important component of the marine nitrogen cycle network framework. Concurrently, NH2OH is an important precursor of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O), closely related to the production and release of marine N2O. Accordingly, a systematic understanding of the source and sink, spatiotemporal variations, and regulatory mechanisms of NH2OH in the ocean is essential to understand the oceanic nitrogen cycle and climate effects. However, the nanomolar concentration of NH2OH in the ocean and its complex and active migration and transformation processes render the oceanographic community’s understanding of NH2OH unclear. Current research on marine NH2OH is systematically reviewed, focusing on the potential source and sink processes of NH2OH, the determination methods of NH2OH, the possible contribution of NH2OH to marine N2O, and the distribution characteristics and potential impact factors of NH2OH in the ocean. Finally, the problems and difficulties in determining NH2OH and the possible mechanisms affecting its distribution are summarized, and suggestions and prospects for future research on marine NH2OH are discussed.

  • Qingwei ZENG, Lei LIU, Shuai HU, Xichuan LIU, Taichang GAO
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(7): 661-674. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.034

    The accurate acquisition of in situ particle detection information in clouds is important in revealing the physical mechanism of cloud precipitation formation, improving the parameterization scheme of numerical weather prediction models, and evaluating the seeding effect of weather modification. Digital holographic measurement technology can obtain three-dimensional positioning information of particles and has advantages, including a wide measurement range (μm to mm), high spatial resolution (mm magnitude), and accurate determination of instrument sampling space. Therefore, it has wide application prospects in cloud microphysics observations. This study summarizes the current situation of holographic cloud particle imagers worldwide. Several key technical issues involved in the development of instruments were analyzed, such as the holographic optical path design, mechanical protection design, and hologram processing. Applications of holographic observations to reveal the freezing mechanism of ice crystals in mixed-phase clouds and microphysical mechanisms in clouds with turbulent mixing were introduced. Finally, certain thoughts and prospects were discussed from the perspective of technology application, which can provide a reference for the development of related instruments and research on cloud microphysics observations.

  • Yafei XIA, Yuhui LIU, Ting GAO, Chengshuai LIU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 331-348. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2022.088

    Heavy metal migration and enrichment in areas affected by mining and smelting cause severe soil contamination. A thorough understanding of the sources and migration of heavy metals in the soil is the scientific basis for the efficient treatment of soil pollution. In recent years, metal stable isotopes have shown great advantages in identifying sources of soil heavy metal contamination and analyzing heavy metal migration processes, thus acting as powerful tools to trace the environmental behavior of heavy metals. In this paper, we reviewed the analysis technology, tracing principles, and tracing models of metal stable isotopes, determined the isotope fractionations caused by mineral mining and smelting processes (high-temperature smelting, electrochemical processes, and tailing weathering), and discussed the representative applications of metal stable isotopes in the traceability of soil pollution in mining- and smelting-affected areas. The V isotope system is in the initial stages of investigation, and its applications in heavy metal soil source analysis are relatively lacking. Zn, Cd, and Hg isotopes are advantageous for identifying heavy metal contamination sources associated with high-temperature smelting processes. Cu, Tl, and Ni isotopes can directly indicate the ore content of the soil. However, some problems remain, such as the difficulty in analyzing certain systems of metallic stable isotopes, limitations in the application of tracer models, and source uncertainties due to isotope fractionation. Therefore, in the future, it will be necessary to further explore and optimize metal isotope analysis methods, establish more metal stable isotope fingerprints, develop traceability models with stronger applicability and more accurate results, comprehend the characteristics and mechanisms of isotope fractionation in complex interfacial processes and reactions, and strengthen the practical application of metal stable isotopes to trace the history of soil heavy metal pollution.

  • Mengwei DUAN, Ruren LI, Dong LIU, Xintong JIANG, Zhiqiang QIU, Keyu LI
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(7): 675-687. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.030

    Dynamic monitoring of suspended sediment in rivers has important application values for channel changes, safe operation of water conservancy projects, ecology, and environmental protection. Real-time remote sensing technology can monitor suspended sediment in sizeable regional river water bodies. Compared to large bodies of water such as oceans and lakes, remote sensing of suspended sediment in rivers has received less attention. Existing research has primarily focused on estuarine areas where rivers enter the sea. This study systematically summarizes published data sources and models of satellite remote sensing of suspended sediment in rivers worldwide to fully utilize the advantages of multi-source satellite remote sensing data with different temporal, spatial, and spectral resolutions and to realize remote sensing monitoring of suspended sediment transport in a broader area and at different river levels. The difficulties and challenges of satellite remote sensing of suspended sediments in rivers are discussed. On this basis, the future development of remote sensing monitoring of suspended sediment in rivers has been viewed from three perspectives: removing atmospheric correction of the proximity effect, concentration on remote sensing considering suspended sediment particle size distribution, and three-dimensional remote sensing of suspended sediment transport flux.

  • Donghai LIU, Jing HUANG, Juan LIU, Yang ZHOU, Kun QIN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 349-362. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.005

    Mesoscale weather phenomena have a significant impact on human production and life. Mesoscale numerical prediction models are one of the main tools used for numerical weather prediction. Owing to the limitations of model resolution and insufficient understanding of the physical mechanisms of weather phenomena, many complex weather processes can only be implicitly expressed by parameterization schemes, the research of which is helpful in promoting the continuous optimization of the simulation and prediction effects of mesoscale numerical prediction models. Based on the characteristics of typical mesoscale numerical prediction models at home and abroad, the research status of cumulus convective, cloud microphysical, planetary boundary layer, land surface process, and radiation transfer process parameterization schemes, which are important according to the main forms of atmospheric motion, have been summarized. The theoretical basis and application scenarios of representative parameterization schemes are also compared in the present study. The main research paradigms in this field are comparative experiments that include the comparison of different scheme effects in simulating the same weather phenomenon, comparison of the same scheme effects in different weather scenarios, and optimization experiments on independent or combined schemes. In the future, the physical mechanisms of various weather phenomena and their influencing factors will be explored in depth, and parameterization schemes will be coupled at the levels of multiple elements, scales, and schemes. Subsequently, the simulation of the gray area will receive more attention, and the application options of parameterization schemes will be more diversified. Owing to the arrival of the big data era and the high demand for data analysis, parameterization schemes and machine learning will be developed to form a new mechanism driven by methods and data.

  • Yu LIU, Jianqiang SUN, Zhijun WU, Wei ZHANG, Yanan ZHANG, Tao CHEN, Ziyan LI, Wengeng CAO, Peng WANG, Xiangyu MIN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(10): 1055-1068. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.066

    We analyzed the submissions, acceptances, reviews, and grant funding of various projects managed by the Environmental Geosciences Division,National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2023, and we summarized the outcomes of funded and completed projects of this discipline at the end of 2022. Based on this analysis, the advances in environmental geosciences are discussed.

  • Chunxiao WANG, Yaoming MA, Cunbo HAN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 414-428. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.013

    Studying the atmospheric boundary layer over the Tibetan Plateau is of great significance for understanding the heat and water budget, weather, and climate change of the plateau and its surrounding areas. However, the research on the weather and climate of the Tibetan Plateau is restricted by the lack of observational data. The atmospheric science experiments on the atmospheric boundary layer over the Tibetan Plateau were reviewed in the present study. Furthermore, the research progress on the height, wind field structure, temperature, and humidity field structure of the atmospheric boundary layer over the Tibetan Plateau was summarized, and the development mechanism of the atmospheric boundary layer was introduced from the perspectives of thermal and atmospheric dynamics. Accordingly, the shortcomings of the current research in this field were discussed, and it was highlighted that the research on the atmospheric boundary layer of the Tibetan Plateau is still in the exploration stage and that the research on the development mechanism is not thorough enough. Few studies have simultaneously examined the linkages between different regions on the plateau at the same time. Finally, considering the aforementioned shortcomings, future developments have been proposed.

  • Qian XU, Cunde XIAO, Yaru FENG, Zhiheng DU, Lei WANG, Zhiqiang WEI
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(5): 470-482. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.016

    As a result of global warming, the melting of ice-rich permafrost causes the ground to collapse, thereby creating thermokarst lakes, while the greenhouse effect caused by the concurrent release of greenhouse gases results in a positive feedback with climate warming. Microorganisms play important roles in various aspects of the carbon cycle. Understanding the mechanisms of microbial regulation of the carbon cycle in thermally melting lakes is of great significance for coping with future climate change. Therefore, by combining previous studies, this paper first elucidates the formation process of thermokarst lakes and the microorganisms inhabiting these special habitats; subsequently, the main microorganisms involved in organic carbon decomposition, methane production, and methane oxidation, and the regulation mechanisms and influencing factors are analyzed in detail. Based on this analysis, we conclude the following: The organic matter in thermokarst lakes originates from the land, while some nutrients, such as phosphates, plant biopolymers, and leucine residues, are also transported from the land to the water. With improvements in temperature and aeration conditions, the availability of most nutrients increases the genetic diversity of microorganisms and promotes their roles in organic carbon decomposition. Changes in temperature, substrate, dissolved oxygen, and microbial community affect the processes of methane production, methane oxidation, and carbon sequestration, thereby affecting the carbon cycle. Some deficiencies in previous studies are summarized, and a new research perspective is proposed to deepen our understanding of microbial involvement in the carbon cycle in thermokarst lakes. With the help of metagenomic technology and incubation, the regulatory mechanisms of microbes for the carbon cycle can be revealed more clearly, and field observations of carbon emissions from thermokarst lakes under different environmental conditions can be strengthened. Exploring the use of microbes for mitigating the negative effects of climate change should be based on the above fundamental research.

  • Xueqi NIU, Weiwei SHI, Wenxin WU, Shuwei LIU, Ping YANG, Siliang LI, Zhifeng YAN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(8): 802-814. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.043

    Inland water is an important source of global methane (CH4) emissions, and CH4 emitted through ebullition accounts for a large proportion of the total CH4 emissions from inland waters. Here, the latest progress in domestic and international research has been systematically summarized to introduce the generation, transport, oxidation, and release of CH4 via ebullition in inland waters as well as the methods and techniques for measuring CH4 ebullition. Subsequently, temporal and spatial variations in CH4 ebullition from global inland water were compared at different temporal and spatial scales. In addition, the mechanisms of the relevant influencing factors in the processes of CH4 generation and ebullition are further summarized, and current development and applications of CH4 ebullition models are discussed. Finally, potential research directions and challenges related to CH4 ebullition from inland water are proposed, aiming to provide a basis for subsequent research on CH4 ebullition, investigation of process and control mechanisms, and model development and estimation in this field.

  • Liming BO, Wei WEI, Lang ZHAO, Li YIN, Junnan XIA
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 401-413. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.014

    A scientific understanding of the spatio-temporal evolution process and driving factors of water ecological space in the Tibetan Plateau is an urgent requirement to build the “Asian water tower” and establish the coordinated and sustainable development of human-water resources-ecology in the region. In this study, a spatial transformation matrix, spatial correlation analysis, and geographical detector were used to determine the evolutionary characteristics and driving mechanisms of the aquatic ecological space in the Tibetan Plateau from 2000–2020. The following results were obtained: During the past 20 years, the aquatic ecological space in the Tibetan Plateau has increased by 21.53%. The northwest side of the Hengduan Mountains, the intersection of Tibet and the Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces, “Dari County, Guoluo Prefecture, Qinghai Province-Chayu County, Linzhi City, Tibet Autonomous Region,” had the most significant increase. The transformation from other ecological space to water ecological space is the dominant change type, and climate warming and human influence have caused glaciers and snowmelt to flow into rivers and lakes. Therefore, water resources in the Tibetan Plateau have melted and water ecological space have been extended eastward. The evolution of water ecological space in the Tibetan Plateau is jointly driven by many factors, such as policy engineering, natural geography, traffic location, and social economy. Each type of factor had a nonlinearly enhanced interactive driving effect as a whole; this caused the average value of the action intensity q of natural geography and traffic location to be far greater than that of other factors, which is the dominant driving factor for the evolution of the water ecological space in the Tibetan Plateau.

  • Qiue XU, Yuanmei JIAO, Zhaonian ZHANG, Yinping DING, Hongsen ZHANG, Yan TAO
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(6): 594-609. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.028

    Groundwater dating is one of the key links in the study of water cycles, especially in hydrogeology. However, the proposed concept of groundwater age and its dating methods are complex and difficult to distinguish, which hinders practical application and further development. This study systematically examines the concept of groundwater age and resident time that often appear in academic circles, simultaneously differentiating and analyzing the derived idealized age, tracer age, apparent age, age distribution, and model age, and comprehensively analyzes and draws a relationship diagram among the definitions. Data of the sample collection and analysis methods, advantages, and disadvantages of the natural isotopes of groundwater dating (including the radionuclide decay method and stable nuclide linear calculation method), and the methods for detecting radionuclides produced by human activities and greenhouse gas tracers are summarized and reviewed. There are two perspectives of groundwater dating methods: water sample points and water systems. The model interpretation methods of multi-tracer combination and age data from the perspective of the water body system (dynamic) are reviewed. Furthermore, we synthetically state that the groundwater dating method should be determined comprehensively according to the research objectives and range of application of tracers, with more attention paid to the study of age distribution characterizing the spatiotemporal dynamics of groundwater systems. Future studies should strengthen the integration and model research of multidisciplinary data, such as geology, hydrology, and hydrochemistry, to establish a numerical model of groundwater flow to describe age distribution and model research.

  • Jianshi WANG, Chengxin WANG, Wanxia REN, Yanzhi ZHAO, Bing XUE
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(7): 757-768. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.039

    Carbon peaking and neutrality involve the interaction between the Earth’s natural environment and the human economic system, reflecting the coordinated development of the human-earth system. Geography, with the human-earth system at its research core, provides important theoretical support in studying carbon peaking and neutrality. Based on the goal-oriented thinking of “discipline branch-data method-research object-result contribution” we reviewed and summarized the literature on carbon peaking and neutrality published by mainstream geography journals and scholars in China since 2000: The research themes of carbon peaking and neutrality under different geography branches. Physical geography focuses on anthropogenic and natural carbon sources and changes in carbon sinks, focusing on the spatial and temporal variation of carbon emissions and the formation mechanism. Information geography focuses on constructing carbon datasets with high spatial and temporal resolution and developing spatial analysis tools. Carbon accounting methods include the emission factor, actual measurement, input-output, and remote sensing estimation methods. Carbon data sources include socioeconomic statistics, remote-sensing satellite monitoring data, new data sources, and databases. Geographic analysis models were used to describe the spatial distribution patterns of carbon sources and sinks. Carbon peaking and neutrality research from the perspective of geography are divided into spatial objects and activity objects, the former focusing on the spatial characteristics and patterns of carbon sources and sinks at different scales, such as micro, meso, and macro; the latter focusing on the geographical distribution of carbon sources and sinks generated by energy, industry, agriculture, land use change, and forestry activities. Geography’s contribution to carbon peaking and neutrality includes spatial differentiation of low-carbon governance by the law of geospatial differentiation, low-carbon national land by the composite system of “economy-society-ecology,” spatial pattern optimization, and coordination of the human-earth system of the regional low-carbon actor governance network. Finally, future directions for carbon peaking and neutrality research from the perspective of geography are proposed in terms of data development, methodological models, decision-making, and global contexts to provide a reference for geography to serve the goals of carbon peaking and neutrality.

  • Chunlin HUANG, Yaya FENG, Feng GAO, Xueyan ZHAO, Fanglei ZHONG, Qingping CHENG, Yanqiang WEI, Xiaoyu SONG, Bao WANG, Penglong WANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(10): 987-998. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.060

    Quantitative assessments of progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the complex interactions of indicators are critical for monitoring the achievement of SDGs and guiding policymaking and implementation. Based on Big Earth Data and the SDGs global indicator framework, an index system for evaluating progress towards SDGs in frontier, multi-ethnic underdeveloped areas was developed from the perspective of social, economic, and environmental dimensions and included 70 indicators. The study area was the National Innovation Demonstration Zone (Lincang) for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The model incorporated regional characteristics and data acquisitioned from Lincang in 2015-2020 through field research. Consequently, we calculated the social, economic, and environmental sub-indices and integrated index of sustainable development of Lincang City from 2015 to 2020, evaluated the progress trend of SDGs and indicators, and proposed key challenges and solutions for the sustainable development of Lincang City. Research shows that the integrated index and the social, economic, and environmental sub-indices of sustainable development have shown an increasing trend from 2015 to 2020. In terms of the SDGs, progress was achieved with respect to all 16 SDGs. The average annual growth rate of SDG 5 was the highest, whereas that of SDG 13 remained unchanged. In addition, 81% of indicators showed acceptable progress. This study provides a reference for sustainable development planning in other typical demonstration areas and underdeveloped mountainous areas in China and worldwide.

  • Xiang ZHANG, Wen SUN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(5): 493-504. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.020

    From 2015 to 2017, the Western Cape province in South Africa suffered a severe drought, resulting in an extreme shortage of water resources in the city, making its capital, Cape Town, the first modern city in human history to face the threat of a “Day Zero” disaster (i.e., the day when the city’s water taps are turned off). However, the interaction mechanisms and processes of various disaster-causing factors remain unclear, and how to scientifically cope with the natural precipitation variation mode by man-made water-supply management needs to be further explored. Therefore, this paper explores the key stages, spatial distribution, and management benefits from the three dimensions of meteorological drought, hydrological drought, and urban water supply management. The results show the following: The Western Cape experienced a significant increase in the area and intensity of meteorological drought from 2015 to 2017, with the most severe drought conditions occurring in May 2017. Compared with the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the drought detected by Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was more significant. The hydrological drought conditions in the Western Cape in May 2017 were the most severe. This is broadly consistent with the pattern of spatial and temporal characteristics of meteorological drought, reflecting the rapid spread of meteorological-hydrological drought. Both the Standardized Runoff Index (SRI) results and the change in reservoir water volume reflect water scarcity in the region, indicating that the drought event had a serious impact on the Western Cape, which relies heavily on rainfall and reservoir water supply. The Western Cape government adopted different levels of water restrictions and management policies in response to the evolution of this drought, effectively delaying and avoiding a “Day Zero” disaster; however, addressing the political and economic aspects of water inequality is still debatable and worth improving. This paper shows that urban drought problems involve multiple systems and interactions among the meteorology, hydrology, and water supply, and need to be monitored, understood, and mitigated in terms of the spatial and temporal processes.

  • Yu LI, Junjie DUAN, Haiye LI, Mingjun GAO, Yuxin ZHANG, Yaxin XUE
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 388-400. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.015

    Lakes play an essential role in the evolution of regional water cycles and ecosystems. In previous studies on lake evolution, most lake sediment proxy indicators have been used to reconstruct lake and climate change processes. However, there is a lack of quantitative research on the lake water cycle characteristics. Based on the water balance model for watersheds and lakes in distinct periods and the lake energy balance model based on the simulation of the transient climate, water balance calculations and lake evolution simulations for six typical lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas were carried out in this study. The results showed that the precipitation and evaporation variabilities in Xiao Qaidam Lake and Lop Nur were relatively small during the Holocene. The precipitation and evaporation variabilities in Selinco and Namco were relatively large during the early-middle Holocene, mainly controlled by temperature and net radiation changes. The precipitation and evaporation variabilities in Qinghai Lake and Zhuyeze were close during the early and mid-late Holocene. This study systematically analyzed and calculated the evolution of lake water cycle elements in different climatic regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Holocene, which will help to understand the paleoclimatic mechanism of lake evolution in this region.

  • Xianye ZHAO, Wei WANG, Chengguo GUAN, Chenran SONG, Ke PANG, Zhe CHEN, Chuanming ZHOU, Xunlai YUAN
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(8): 838-851. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.040

    The Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event (GOE, approximately 2.43~2.06 Ga) is the first significant atmospheric oxygen increase and fundamentally changed the environment and habitability of the Earth. This study summarizes the research progress on the GOE and related carbon cycle perturbation events in the early and middle Paleoproterozoic, focusing on the time frame, initiation process, and mechanism of the GOE, extremely δ13Ccarb-positive excursion event (Lomagundi-Jatuli event), and carbon cycle perturbation events after the GOE. The initiation of the GOE was intermittent, and research on the initiation mechanism presents diverse viewpoints. The atmosphere-ocean system experienced oxidation and deoxygenation processes during the Lomagundi-Jatuli event, in which the initiation mechanism may have been caused by the increase in ocean primary productivity during this period, but the influence of other mechanisms (such as the deep carbon cycle of the Earth) cannot be ruled out. After the Lomagundi-Jatuli event, global organic carbon burial increased significantly and lasted until approximately 1.7 Ga (Shunga event), during which there was a δ13Ccarb-negative excursion event (Shunga-Francevillian event). The mechanism of the Shunga and Shunga-Francevillian events remains to be studied.

  • Bo LI, Yitong YIN, Xiangyu GUAN, Xiong WU, Ximing LUO
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(4): 363-376. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2022.091

    Mercury has received widespread attention as a toxic heavy metal contaminant. Organic mercury, especially methyl mercury (MeHg), is more toxic than inorganic mercury and can easily accumulate in the food chain; therefore, the problem of inorganic to organic mercury conversion has attracted much attention in recent years. Most previous research has focused on mercury methylation in marine environments, and research on freshwater environments, especially wetlands, is lacking. The uniqueness and complexity of the wetland environment make it a prominent MeHg production unit, and the bioaccumulation effect is evident. In the present study, the pathways, mechanisms, influencing factors, and related biological effects of organic mercury conversion to inorganic mercury in wetlands are systematically summarized. Sediments, particulate organic carbon, and periphyton organisms are important microenvironments for MeHg generation, and frequent interactions between organisms guarantee the high methylation potential of wetlands. Therefore, strengthening the research on Hg methylation in various wetlands is of great significance for protecting the ecology of wetlands and the health of residents.

  • Chao LI, Guohui CHEN, Zhiyuan HE, Ping WANG, Fei XUE, Yifan SHI
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(7): 729-744. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.038

    The migration processes of the Cenozoic intracontinental foreland basins in western China provide valuable insights into the shortening and uplifting histories of coupled orogenic belts. A comprehensive review of the research methodologies used to reconstruct foreland basin migration and its quantitative relationship with crustal shortening enables us to uncover the structural implications of this process. Seismic reflection profiles crossing the foreland basins image the stratal onlaps and conglomerate-sandstone transitions in the basins. Based on the interpretations of seismic profiles, the migration rate of foreland basins can be determined by integrating stratigraphic age constraints derived from magnetostratigraphy. The variations in the rates correspond to the variations in the underthrusting rates of the foreland basin basement relative to the orogenic belts, revealing changes in the horizontal crustal shortening rates absorbed by the orogenic belts. Through a comparative analysis of the migration processes of the rejuvenated intracontinental foreland basins on the northern side of the West Kunlun Mountains and the southern and northern sides of the Tianshan Mountains, these two mountains contrast markedly in terms of crustal shortening rates and deformation patterns since approximately 30 Ma. The contrast between these mountains indicates differences in their dynamic mechanisms. Furthermore, this method holds great potential for future applications in unraveling the growth process of the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

  • Xianmeng MENG, Meng HUANG, Jie HUANG, Qi ZHAO, Dengfeng LIU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(8): 780-789. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.023

    Watershed geomorphology and river network structure controlled by tectonic frameworks, regional climate, vegetation, and biological factors are the combined results of the long-term internal and external forces of the Earth. Owing to the different tectonic, lithological, and climatic conditions in various regions, different watersheds have different geomorphic and river network structural characteristics that influence hydrological response mechanisms. In this study, the characteristic parameters for a quantitative description of the watershed geomorphic system and river network morphology are presented, and the impacts of tectonics, lithology, climate, and other factors on watershed geomorphology and river network structures are reviewed. Based on this, it is emphasized that reproducing the evolution of watershed geomorphology and quantifying its main controlling factors is the main problem. Subsequently, the birth, development, and application of the geomorphic evolution model are expounded. Finally, it is suggested that the main future development direction should involve combining traditional geomorphological research methods and geomorphic evolution models to study the influencing mechanisms of watershed geomorphology and river network structure.

  • Jianjun HE, Weixiong ZHAO, Zhe LIU, Haile XUE, Yali YANG, Ye KUANG
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(10): 1083-1096. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.068

    Division V (Atmospheric Discipline) of the Department of Earth Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), successfully completed the application, review, funding, and conclusion of the centralized receipt of the Program in 2023. In terms of program applications, Division V of the Department of Earth Sciences received 1 928 applications from the General Program, Young Scientists Fund, and Fund for Less Developed Regions in 2023, indicating an increase of 6.1% over the applications in 2022. Two applications were rejected because of non-compliance with management standards in 2023, and this result is an improvement compared to previous years. Atmospheric Discipline received 62 applications for National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 92 applications for Excellent Young Scientists Fund, and 49 applications for key program in the field of ‘Weather, climate, and associated sustainable development.’ From the perspective of reviews, the comprehensive evaluation scores of communication reviews for the General Program, Young Scientists Fund, and Fund for Less Developed Regions increased compared to the previous two years. This review clarifies the positioning of the “supporting technology” section to support programs that are truly engaged in key technology research and development. In terms of funding, the total number of the three types of funds reached 417, and the average funding rate was 21.6%, which was lower than that in 2022. In total, 319 projects were concluded in 2022, and performance indicators, such as the number of published papers, were comparable to those in previous years.

  • Jianghui LI, Fengling YU, Xiongwei NIU, Tian ZHOU, Yunxiu ZHANG, Wenling LI
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(11): 1121-1144. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.071

    Marine carbon storage plays a crucial role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure the efficient and safe storage of CO2, it is imperative to monitor the potential migration of CO2 before, during, and after injection. Current methods for monitoring marine carbon storage encompass built-in sensor monitoring focusing on the seabed wellbore, geophysical monitoring targeting reservoirs and caprocks, and marine environmental monitoring focusing on the seafloor and water column. These three methods can be used to obtain temperature/pressure/acoustic data near the injection/monitoring wellbore, seismic/electromagnetic/gravity data of deep reservoirs and caprocks, and acoustic/chemical/oceanographic data of near-bottom sedimentary layers and seawater, respectively. Analyzing these datasets is expected to reveal the migration characteristics of CO2 injected into the formation. However, the integrated use of relevant monitoring methods and technologies and the design of high-quality monitoring strategies currently pose significant challenges for both academic and engineering communities. To enable scientific and systematic monitoring of the safety of marine carbon storage, offering essential guidance for offshore storage operations, and concurrently enhancing monitoring efficiency while reducing monitoring costs, we have compiled the fundamental principles, application status, and challenges encountered by different monitoring methods and technologies. We also anticipate future development of monitoring technologies for marine carbon storage.

  • Jun SUN, Ting GU, Dai JIA, Yang FU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2024, 39(1): 12-22. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.073

    N2O is an important greenhouse gas that also damages the ozone layer. N2O emissions have been observed during microalgae cultivation and in microalgae-based ecosystems, such as eutrophic lakes. However, little has been reported on the important role of the N2O balance in algae and the potential algal N2O production pathways. A review of recent relevant studies on N2O synthesis and fixation by algae shows that the studies mainly focus on the relationship between algae and N2O emissions, several possible pathways of N2O production and consumption in algae, the influence of the algal microenvironment on the distribution pattern of N2O, and the potential impacts on global climate change. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change currently does not consider the possible N2O emissions during algal blooms or algal aquaculture; hence, it is necessary to intensify experimental studies related to algal N2O production globally to take important steps towards a comprehensive clarification of the important roles of algae in N2O emission and fixation and a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic ecosystems.

  • Jian XU, Zhuo ZHANG, Lanlan RAO, Yapeng WANG, Huanhuan YAN, LETU HUSI, Chong SHI, Song LIU, TANA GEGEN, Wenyu WANG, Entao SHI, Shun YAO, Jun ZHU, Yongmei WANG, Xiaolong DONG, Jiancheng SHI
    Advances in Earth Science. 2024, 39(1): 56-70. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2024.002

    Ozone is among the most important trace gases in Earth’s atmosphere and plays a crucial role in both climate change and ecology. Tropospheric ozone is an important component of photochemical smog, and its variations are closely related to human activity. Monitoring of tropospheric ozone based on satellite remote sensing can help us better understand and quantitatively explain the characteristics of tropospheric ozone changes in different seasons, times, and regions, and explore the mechanism of ozone generation in the troposphere. With the comprehensive development of satellite remote sensing techniques, ozone remote sensing products (e.g., total ozone, profiles, etc.) have improved significantly in terms of accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution. However, the accuracy of tropospheric ozone products is still not sufficient for the current scientific application of the atmospheric composition of the troposphere due to the weak satellite signals and complexity of the subsurface. This review focuses on satellite remote sensing of tropospheric ozone. It outlines and analyzes the development history and current status of ozone satellite remote sensing payloads and discusses the characteristics and applicability of remote sensing retrieval algorithms based on different technologies (direct and indirect retrieval, multiband joint retrieval, collaborated nadir-limb retrieval, and innovative algorithms based on machine learning techniques). It further discusses the application of satellite remote sensing for the provision of reliable tropospheric ozone observation data at the global and regional scales. Overall, this review envisions the application of satellite remote sensing for providing reliable tropospheric ozone observations at the global and regional scales.

  • Xuebing ZHANG, Zehe ZHANG, Xiankai LU
    Advances in Earth Science. 2023, 38(10): 999-1014. https://doi.org/10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2023.061

    Globalization and elevated atmospheric Nitrogen (N) deposition have significantly altered the terrestrial carbon cycle. Soil microbial Carbon Use Efficiency (CUE) plays a key role in adjusting soil cycling rates and processes and is also an important parameter in soil C cycle models. However, the effects of elevated N deposition on soil microbial CUE are often inconsistent, which limits the reliability of predictions of both soil C cycle dynamics and C storage capacity under global changes. Here, we review advances in research on soil microbial CUE and measurement methods. We further explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of increased nitrogen deposition on CUE from both biological and abiotic perspectives in forest ecosystems. In terms of biological mechanisms, N deposition can affect CUE by changing microbial biomass and community structure and by regulating microbial enzyme activities. In terms of abiotic mechanisms, N deposition can affect CUE by changing the N addition-induced changes in the soil nitrogen state, soil stoichiometry, soil pH, and aboveground vegetation dynamics (such as root exudates and litter input), which can independently or jointly affect soil microbial CUE. In general, moderate nitrogen deposition can alleviate ecosystem nitrogen limitation and stimulate microbial activity, thus increasing soil microbial CUE. In contrast, excessive N deposition decreases microbial CUE by inhibiting microbial growth. Lastly, the potential research activities and recommendations for future research are presented. Therefore, it is imperative to optimize the determination of microbial CUE for comparative research among different ecosystems. At temporal and spatial scales, more attention should be paid to the interaction effects of multiple factors under global changes, so that there is a strong theoretical basis for evaluating and predicting the soil carbon sequestration capacity in forest ecosystems.