Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences

Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Dhofar Region of Oman: Balancing Productivity and Environmental Impact

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The Dhofar region of Oman, renowned for its unique monsoon-influenced climate and substantial agricultural potential, faces significant challenges in achieving sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation. This review critically explores a range of sustainable agricultural methods currently implemented in the region, including organic farming, water conservation techniques such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, agroforestry systems, crop rotation, and soil conservation measures like terracing and composting. These strategies aim to mitigate pressing environmental concerns such as water scarcity, soil erosion, and land degradation while enhancing crop yield and farm profitability. The review further examines the economic implications of these practices, evaluating their cost-effectiveness, potential for long-term returns, and influence on the growing market demand for organic and eco-friendly products. Despite their benefits, the broader adoption of these sustainable approaches is hindered by several challenges, including limited access to advanced technologies, inadequate financial resources, lack of technical knowledge, and minimal awareness among local farmers. The article also assesses the role of governmental policies, subsidies, and extension services in promoting the adoption of sustainable agriculture in Dhofar. Finally, it offers strategic recommendations for future research, policy development, and capacity-building initiatives. This review emphasizes the urgent need for continued investment in sustainable solutions to ensure long-term agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability in the region.

Long-Term Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Hazardous Waste Incineration: A Case-Study in Catalonia, Spain

Jose L. Domingo, Joaquim Rovira, Marta Schuhmacher — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This comprehensive review synthesizes findings from the studies conducted for more than two decades to assess environmental and human health impacts near Spain's first hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) located in Constantí (Tarragona, Catalonia). Through integrated analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and metals across soil, vegetation, human tissues, and dietary matrices, the studies have shown: (1) PCDD/F concentrations decreased 75–96% in biological samples and dietary intake over 20 years, aligning with global emission reductions rather than HWI operations; (2) metal trajectories showed arsenic intermittently exceeding carcinogenic thresholds in soils (1.1 × 10^-4 risk index) and chromium accumulating in autopsy tissues (+16% in kidney), although without HWI-specific spatial gradients; (3) systemic biomarkers revealed policy-driven declines—blood lead dropped 70% post-EU regulations, while mercury became undetectable in tissues post-2010. Health risk assessments confirmed that PCDD/F intake (0.122 pg WHO-TEQ/kg/day) remained still below WHO thresholds, with no attributable cancer risks for metals except legacy arsenic. The studies included in the program of surveillance show that PCDD/Fs and metals emissions by the HWI have meant a rather low contribution to population exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs compared to dietary and historical sources. However, residual risks warrant attention. It mainly concerns chromium speciation and arsenic in soils, as well as the effects on vulnerable subpopulations and the synergistic effects among toxicants. Epidemiological studies are also required.

Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in Viet Nam: Evidence from Coastal Households, Quang Nam Province

Nguyen Bang Nong, Huong Lan Thi Tran — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Vietnam, with its twenty-eight coastal provinces, is one of the nations most profoundly affected by the adverse impacts of climate change (CC). These provinces face severe challenges as they contend with the escalating effects of CC, including rising sea levels, typhoons, flooding, and droughts. In this context, this article aims to assess the vulnerability of households' livelihoods in Quang Nam Province by applying the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) developed by Hahn et al., along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change framework (LVI-IPCC). The study utilises five sources of household capital—human, social, physical, natural, and financial—to construct its indices. The data for this article is based on a survey of 200 households. The research methodology combines both quantitative and qualitative methods, including questionnaire interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The research period spans from 2021 to 2023. The study results revealed that the household LVI was 0.371, while the LVI-IPCC was 0.086, highlighting the critical need for access to food and clean water, which scored 0.458 and 0.351, respectively. The research underscores how CC significantly affects the livelihoods of coastal communities, particularly in sectors such as fishing, aquaculture, and agriculture. The study concludes that CC poses significant challenges to the livelihoods of coastal communities in Quang Nam Province and that adaptation measures are necessary to support these communities. The research highlights the importance of livelihood diversification, job transformation, and improving knowledge and skills to enhance the resilience of coastal communities to CC.

The Residual Cu and Zn in Tropical Soils Two Decades after Amendment with Industrial Waste, Calcite and Cassava-Leaf Compost

Abdul Kadir Salam, Galih Susilowati, Nanik Sriyani, Hery Novpriansyah — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Heavy metal concentrations in soils may decrease over time, correlating with key soil variables such as pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), clay, and organic carbon (organic C) content. The residual Cu and Zn were studied in tropical soils about 20 years after amendment with heavy metal containing industrial waste. Soils amended one time in 1998 with industrial waste, calcite, and cassava-leaf compost were employed as models and analysed for topsoil and subsoil Cu, Zn and several soil properties including pH, CEC, clay and organic C content in 2018. The highest Cu and Zn were detected in high heavy metal plots with the highest waste amendment, lowered by calcite and/or compost. The lower subsoil Cu and Zn were strongly affected by topsoil Cu and Zn. Single variable linear regression showed that the soil Cu and Zn had good relationships with the soil organic C and clay content. The inclusion of soil pH, CEC, clay and organic C content in multiple linear regression analysis improved their correlation coefficients, in which the correlation coefficients of Zn were higher than Cu. Long-term reaction in soils reversed the positive correlation of Cu – pH and Zn – pH in 1998 to the negative correlations in 2018. The soil Cu can be predicted with 33.8% accuracy with equation while the soil Zn with accuracy 39.2% by equation . This results could be utilized to monitor the dynamic of Cu and Zn contamination in soil.

Bridging Emissions to Solutions: Enhancing Environmental Preservation through Green Inbound and Outbound Logistics

Apeksha Garg, Sudha Vemaraju, Marri Madhavi — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Logistics service providers significantly contribute to environmental degradation through improper waste disposal, hazardous packaging materials, excessive fuel consumption, and emissions. This study examines the impact of green inbound logistics and green outbound logistics on environmental, economic, and social performance of logistics companies using survey data from 221 Vietnamese logistics firms. Statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling revealed that green inbound logistics positively influences environmental and social performance while moderately affecting economic outcomes. In contrast, green outbound logistics demonstrates stronger effects on economic and environmental performance but exhibits limited impact on social dimensions. The measurement model showed strong reliability and validity (Cronbach's Alpha >0.70, robust Composite Reliability and Average Variance Extracted values), with excellent fit indices (Chi-Square/df = 1.681, GFI = 0.898, TLI = 0.945, CFI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.056). These findings highlight important distinctions between inbound and outbound green logistics impacts, offering valuable insights for an industry with currently low adoption rates of sustainable practices. The research demonstrates that implementing green logistics enhances both environmental preservation and business performance, providing compelling evidence for companies to accelerate their sustainability transition. By understanding these differential impacts, logistics firms can develop more targeted and effective sustainability strategies that optimize triple bottom line outcomes.

Creating Inclusive Public Parks: Identifying Park Features That Encourage Elderly Visitation in Bangkok, Thailand

Pornraht Pongprasert — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the use of public parks among the elderly in Bangkok, Thailand, amidst shifting demographics. As of mid-2024, seniors aged 60 and older accounted for 20.70% of Thailand's total population. With an annual growth rate of 4.89%, the country is steadily advancing toward becoming a super-aged society. The elderly population increasingly seeks not only senior-friendly housing but also accessible and inclusive public parks or spaces. Parks play a vital role in promoting the health, well-being, and social engagement of elderly individuals. This research explores the relationship between public park use and various independent variables, including public use behavior characteristics and factors associated with the use of public spaces. These factors are categorized into accessibility attributes, diversity attributes, seating arrangement attributes, temperature and weather attributes, aesthetic attributes, safety attributes, and social interaction attributes. Data were collected from 299 respondents, who were asked to rate 25 questions on a 5-point Likert scale, addressing aspects related to their preferences and choices for using public parks. A binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors impacting elderly individuals’ use of public parks in Bangkok. The results indicate that public park use behavior characteristics, along with accessibility, diversity, seating arrangements, aesthetics, safety, and social interaction attributes, significantly influence the use of public parks by elderly individuals. These findings provide valuable insights for public policymakers and park designers, offering recommendations on how to design and develop public parks that better cater to the needs of Bangkok’s aging population.

Prediction and Modelling of Land Use Change in Pesawaran District Lampung Using ANN and Cellular Automata

Irma lusi Nugraheni, Mustofa Usman, Sutarto Sutarto — Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The simultaneous increase in development in Pesawaran Regency is closely correlated with the intense competition for land use. However, low policy implementation effectiveness has led to construction beyond designated spatial plan. The study used a quantitative survey using Landsat images in 2016, 2019, and 2022. The data analysis techniques used geographic information systems integrated with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Cellular Automata (CA) models. This study aims to predict land-use change in 2031, evaluate its alignment with spatial planning, and provide guidance for controlling land-use change. The results showed that there has been an increase in land use. In 2019, built-up land reached 7,069.65 Ha. The model shows its ability to predict land simulation and transformation, where it is predicted that built-up land in 2031 will experience an increase of up to 40.10%, so development and change cannot be avoided every year. This study also suggests that decision-makers and local governments should reconsider spatial planning strategies. This study shows that there have been many land use changes from 2016 to 2022. The model shows its ability to predict simulation and land transformation. When using the model, there are many changes in the land use area in 2031. This is due to wet agricultural land turning into built-up land by almost 70%. This study shows that road network influence land-use change. The cellular automata model managed to capture the complexity with simple rules. Predictions for future research should focus on conserving wetlands and primary forests.

Adopting Conservation Agriculture Systems in Morocco: A Case Study

Othmane Brache, Said Laaribya, Ayoub Bouta, Bojan Simovski — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This research paper addresses, from an ecogeographic perspective within a localised context, a new concept of nature conservation within modern farming systems: the direct seeding technique based on the principles of the Conservation Agriculture System (CAS). The adoption of CAS aims to increase soil fertility, promote biodiversity, and sustain production, making it one of the most effective adaptation solutions available to address the challenges of climate change. CAS is defined as a farming system based on three key principles: minimal soil disturbance (reduced or zero tillage), maintaining a permanent soil cover (with residues from previous crops), and adopting crop rotation (diversifying crops rather than limiting them to a single type in consecutive seasons). However, there is limited research and a lack of scientific studies on the implementation of conservation agriculture in developing nations such as Morocco, particularly in the Had Kourt region. This study aims to assess the feasibility of CAS compared to traditional agricultural systems by surveying the opinions of farmers who have experience with both systems and comparing the outcomes of their practices based on simple indicators as an initial stage, with further analysis of additional indicators planned through subsequent scientific investigations. The sampling method used in this study is non-discriminatory, as semi-structured interviews were conducted with a group of farmers to gather their opinions on CAS. The adoption of conservation agriculture has been linked to prior knowledge of the system, acquired through training and fieldwork via application platforms, which remain limited in scope.

Characterization and Management of Sewage Sludge in Abomey Calavi: Pathways to Sustainable Treatment Solutions

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

In the Republic of Benin, as in many other West African countries, urban areas have experienced rapid population growth in recent years. This situation has led to an increasing demand for sanitation facilities, necessitating regular emptying of these systems. In a bid to reduce health risks and protect the surrounding natural environment, the management of the by-products from these systems has become a significant concern for decision-makers at various levels. This study aims to characterize fecal sludge at the Abomey-Calavi treatment station and suggest a mixed biological treatment approach. Fifteen sewage sludge samples were collected in 1,500 ml plastic bottles from Adjagbo's Sewage Treatment Station, operated by SGDS-SA, a Waste Management and Sanitation company. Physico-chemical parameters were determined using spectrophotometric analysis. Colonies were enumerated using membrane filtration and inoculation. Correlation analysis was performed on sewage sludge samples. The main results indicate an alkaline character (pH > 7) and a high organic pollutant load in the fecal sludge, with average concentrations of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand over 5 days (BOD₅) at 18,730 mg O₂.L⁻¹ and 6,612 mg O₂.L⁻¹, respectively. The COD/BOD₅ ratio of 2.83 suggests that the material is partially biodegradable. Furthermore, the nutrients exhibited high concentrations of nitrates, with an average value of 4,786 mg.L⁻¹, while nitrites, ammoniacal nitrogen, and orthophosphates had average concentrations of 22.48 mg.L⁻¹, 119.74 mg.L⁻¹, and 239.0 mg.L⁻¹, respectively. This study characterized fecal sludge at the Abomey-Calavi treatment station and suggests a mixed biological treatment approach.

Interpreting the Geomorphology of Carolina Bays as Secondary Impact Structures

Christopher Cottrell, Antonio Zamora — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the Carolina Bays and Nebraska Rainwater Basins, using high-resolution LiDAR elevation models to analyze their unique shapes. The research reveals that well-preserved Bays exhibit precise elliptical geometry, distinguishing them from various oriented lakes they are often compared to. While the timing of their formation is discussed, the primary goal of this paper is to establish a repeatable method for quantifying the elliptical nature of these dominant geomorphic landforms. By applying the least squares method to points selected along the perimeters of these extraordinary basins, the study confirms their elliptical geometry with an error margin of less than 3%. This rigorous mathematical approach sets a high standard for any hypothesis attempting to explain the origin of these depressions using natural environmental conditions. Notably, the long axes of these elliptical basins converge near the Great Lakes region, and since ellipses can be described as conic sections, this finding supports the plausibility of a cosmic impact origin. The study suggests that these basins may be secondary impact features formed during a past glacial cycle of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. This research establishes a strong mathematical foundation to support future studies on the possible impact origin of the Carolina Bays and Nebraska Rainwater Basins.

Urban Flood Risk Management Based on Asset Life Cycle Method for Drainage System: Case Study Gedebage Area, Bandung, Indonesia

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Flooding is a natural phenomenon influenced by various factors and occurs frequently across many regions in Indonesia, including Gedebage in Bandung City, West Java. Gedebage is one of the city’s lowest-lying areas, with an elevation of 666–669 meters above sea level, making it particularly prone to recurrent flooding. The main issue is the absence of an integrated disaster management system. This research aims to identify the drainage system's asset life cycle (planning, implementation, and operation & maintenance) and assess flood risk in Gedebage. The risk assessment was conducted using questionnaires to evaluate the likelihood and potential impact of risks. In response to major risks, appropriate mitigation strategies were developed. Mitigation efforts included both structural and non-structural measures. The structural mitigation design involved selecting technological alternatives using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a decision-making tool that helps compare multiple criteria and alternatives in a structured way. The results indicate that 27% of the assessed risks were unacceptable, 42% undesirable, and 31% acceptable. Flood risk in Gedebage can be managed through structural actions, such as drainage revitalization using a closed system, and non-structural strategies, including human-centric, administrative, and cultural approaches. Based on AHP analysis, the most effective technology was a closed drainage system and porous paving blocks.

The Right to Public Participation in Advancing Environmental Sustainability in South African Cities

Fredua Agyemang — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Promoting environmental sustainability in South Africa’s cities through public participation is vital for fostering inclusive governance and equitable decision-making. Currently, 63% of South Africa’s population—and 64% of its youth—live in urban areas, with this figure expected to rise to nearly 80% by 2050. Rapid urbanisation brings significant environmental challenges, including air and noise pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and inadequate waste management. Globally, cities contribute over 70% of GHG emissions and consume two-thirds of the world’s energy. South African cities face similar issues: worsening air quality in regions like the Highveld, water scarcity, urban flooding, waste management problems, and biodiversity loss due to urban sprawl. This article explores how South Africa’s constitutional and legislative frameworks support public participation in promoting urban environmental sustainability. Using doctrinal research, it examines key legal instruments—including the Constitution and environmental laws—that establish participatory rights and promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. The article draws on court decisions and case studies to highlight ongoing barriers to meaningful participation, particularly for marginalised communities. These include administrative inefficiencies, political interference, and unequal access to information and resources. The article concludes by proposing strategies such as capacity-building initiatives, the integration of traditional knowledge systems, and enhanced institutional coordination to strengthen public participation and improve urban environmental outcomes, addressing both global environmental pressures and South Africa’s unique urban sustainability challenges.

High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes from Optimized Single-Step Carbonized Michelia Champaca Biomass

Dibyashree Shrestha — Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study explores the potential of Michelia champaca wood as a sustainable and locally available precursor for the fabrication of high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. Activated carbons were synthesized through single-step carbonization at 400 °C and 500 °C (SSC-400 °C and SSC-500 °C) and double-step carbonization at 400 °C (DSC-400 °C), with all samples activated using H₃PO₄. The effects of carbonization stratergy on the structural, morphological, and electrochemical characteristics of the resulting carbon materials were systematically evaluated, using techniques such as BET, SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman scattering, FTIR, CV, GCD and EIS. Among the samples, SSC-400 °C exhibited the best electrochemical performance, achieving a specific capacitance of 292.2 Fg⁻¹, an energy density of 6.4 Wh kg⁻¹, and a power density of 198.4 W kg⁻¹. This superior performance is attributed to its optimized pore structure, improved surface functionality and enhanced conductivity. SSC-500 °C showed marginally lower performance, whereas, DSC-400 °C displayed the least favorable results, indicating that double-step carbonization process may negatively affect material quality by disrupting the pore network. This work highlights a strong correlation between synthesis methodology and electrochemical efficiency, directly reinforcing the importance of process optimization in electrode material development. The findings contribute to the broader goal of developing cost-effective, renewable and environmentally friendly energy storage systems. By valorizing biomass waste, the study supports global movements toward green energy technologies and circular carbon economies, offering a viable pathway for sustainable supercapacitor development and practical applications in energy storage devices.

Promoting Green Choices: Vietnamese Students’ Intentions to Use Electric Taxi Services and Sustainability Factors

Dan Thi Thanh Nguyen, Ngoc Thi Kim Pham — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Sustainable development has become a critical global priority, and green transportation solutions, such as electric taxis, play a vital role in achieving this goal. This study examines the factors influencing students' intentions to adopt electric taxi services in Hanoi, Vietnam, as a step toward sustainable urban mobility. We surveyed 573 students and analyzed key determinants using reliability tests, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and linear regression. The results indicate that four factors significantly influence adoption intentions: Perceived Usefulness and Sustainability, Price, Brand Awareness, and Service Quality. Among these, Perceived Usefulness and Sustainability had the strongest positive impact, while Service Quality exerted the weakest influence. Notably, Habit and Ease of Use & Transaction Convenience were found to be statistically insignificant in the final model. These findings provide practical implications for businesses and policymakers aiming to use electric taxi adoption. To enhance appeal, stakeholders should emphasize environmental benefits, competitive pricing, and brand recognition while improving service reliability. By addressing these factors, electric taxi services can accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation, aligning with global climate goals and transforming urban mobility. This study offers actionable insights for encouraging greener travel behaviors among students, a key demographic for long-term sustainability impact.

Study on Response Capacity of Drainage Systems in Coastal Urban of Vietnam Under the Impact of Extreme Weather Events

Van Hong Nguyen, Thanh Long Pham, Thao Hien Nguyen, Truong An Dang — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Coastal cities in Vietnam face increasing urban flooding vulnerability due to climate change-induced extreme precipitation. This study evaluates the response capacity of urban drainage systems, using Vung Tau City as a case study. We employed a comprehensive approach, combining Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curve analysis with hydrodynamic modeling, to assess drainage performance under current and projected rainfall intensities. A significant rainfall event on June 19, 2020 (54.4 mm in 3 h, peaking at 42 mm/h), which exceeded the 5-year return period design (TCVN 7957:2008), caused widespread flooding (25-50 cm depths). Design rainfall hyetographs for 2, 5, and 10-year return periods (TCVN 7957:2008) were developed. Results show that under more extreme scenarios, flooded areas increase significantly, with depths up to 1.05 m in the 10-year scenario and prolonged durations due to stormwater routing through regulatory lakes. The analysis reveals the current infrastructure meets only 64% of the 5-year return period demands and merely 41% for a 10-year period. This research highlights the urgent need for enhanced flood management in Vung Tau and similar coastal cities, suggesting upgrades to drainage capacity, implementation of sustainable urban drainage systems, and improved early warning. These insights are valuable for developing climate-resilient infrastructure.

Effect of Scattered Solar Radiation on the Informativeness of Polarization Lidar Studies of High-Level Clouds

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

During daylight laser polarization sensing of high-level clouds (HLCs), the lidar receiving system generates a signal caused by not only backscattered laser radiation, but also scattered solar radiation, the intensity and polarization of which depends on the Sun’s location. If a cloud contains spatially oriented ice particles, then it becomes anisotropic, that is, the coefficients of directional light scattering of such a cloud depend on the Sun’s zenith and azimuth angles. In this work, the possibility of using the effect of anisotropic scattering of solar radiation on the predictive ability of machine learning algorithms in solving the problem of predicting the HLC backscattering phase matrix (BSPM) was evaluated. The hypothesis that solar radiation scattered on HLCs has no effect on the BSPM elements of such clouds determined with a polarization lidar was tested. The operation of two algorithms for predicting the BSPM elements is evaluated. To train the first one, meteorological data were used as input parameters; for the second algorithm, the azimuthal and zenith angles of the Sun's position were added to the meteorological parameters. It is shown that there is no significant improvement in the predictive ability of the algorithm.

SIF: Satellite Image Fusion for Deforestation Analysis in the Amazon Using S-1 and S-2 Data for LULC Applications

Priyanka Darbari, Ankush Agarwal , Manoj Kumar — Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Deforestation is the purpose of converting forest into land and reforestation compared to deforestation is very low. That’s why closely and accurately deforestation monitoring using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite images for better vision is required. This paper proposes an effective image fusion technique that combines S-1/2 data to improve the deforested areas. Based on review, Optical and SAR image fusion produces high-resolution images for better deforestation monitoring. To enhance the S-1/2 images, preprocessing is needed as per requirements and then, collocation between the two different types of images to mitigate the image registration problem, and after that, apply an image fusion machine learning approach, PCA-Wavelet. As per analysis, PCA helps to maintain spatial resolution, and Wavelet helps to preserve spectral resolution, gives better-fused images compared to other techniques. As per results, 2019 S-2 preprocessed collocated image enhances 42.2508 km² deforested area, S-1 preprocessed collocated image enhances 23.7918 km² deforested area, and after fusion of the 2019 S-1/2 images, it enhances 16.5335 km²deforested area. Similarly, the 2023 S-2 preprocessed collocated image enhances 49.2216 km²deforested area, S-1 preprocessed collocated image enhances 23.8459 km²deforested area after fusion of the 2023 S-1/2 images, enhancing 35.9185 km²deforested area. These improvements show that combining data sources gives a clearer and more reliable picture of forest loss over time. The overall paper objective is to apply effective techniques for image fusion of Brazil's Amazon Forest and analyze the difference between collocated image pixels and fused image pixels for accurate analysis of deforested area.

Assessment and Driving Factors of Desertification Vulnerability in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China: A MEDALUS-Based Approach

Yu Ren, Xidong Chen — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

As a major worldwide issue, desertification poses significant threats to ecosystem stability and long-term socio-economic growth. Within China, the Mu Us Sandy land represents a crucial region for studying desertification phenomena. Comprehending how desertification risks are distributed spatially and what mechanisms drive them remains fundamental for implementing effective strategies in land management and risk mitigation. Our research evaluated desertification vulnerability across the Mu Us Sandy land by applying the MEDALUS model, while investigating causal factors via geographical detector methodology. Findings indicated that territories with high desertification vulnerability extend across 71,401.7 km², constituting 76.87% of the entire region, while zones facing extreme desertification hazard cover 20,578.9 km² (22.16%), primarily concentrated in a band-like pattern along the western boundary of the Mu Us Sandy land. Among the four primary indicators, management quality emerged as the most significant driver of desertification susceptibility, followed by vegetation quality and soil quality. Additionally, drought resistance, land use intensity, and erosion protection were identified as the key factors driving desertification sensitivity. The investigation offers significant theoretical perspectives that can guide the formulation of enhanced strategies for controlling desertification and promoting sustainable land resource utilization within the Mu Us Sandy land region.

Study of the Present and Future Scenario Heatwaves and Heat Stress for the Few Important States of India

Sakshi Sharma, Abhishek Kumar, Arun Chakraborty, Vineet Sharma — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

India is highly vulnerable to climate change and is going to increase its average annual temperature over the next few decades. The impact of heatwaves and related mortality is a concern for the country. In this paper, we aim to study the heatwaves and heat stress-related Heat Index vulnerability using heat index temperature. In this analysis, a heat index temperature is calculated based on temperature and relative humidity for six different states (Delhi, West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh) of India to determine the heat stress vulnerability for which heat cramps and heat strokes are possible. Our analysis shows that most of the heatwaves and severe heatwaves occurred during 2010 for all the states. The heatwaves are observed only in the summer months. All the states of our study reached the Extreme Caution category of the Heat Index showing the Danger to Extreme Danger category during April to June. Future projection scenarios show an increase in heat stress-related vulnerability. SSP2-4.5 scenario showed that Delhi, Punjab, and West Bengal reached an Extreme Danger state during June for which death due to heat strokes is possible under continued exposure to heatwaves. The HI related vulnerability of SSP5-8.5 is like SSP2-4.5 except for Andhra Pradesh which shows an Extreme Danger state in May and June during which heat strokes are possible under continued exposure to heatwaves. This study provides spatial variability of heat stress and Heat Index vulnerability which may help adopt future strategies for heat-related policy implication.