Coincidence of abandoned settlements and climate change in the Xinjiang oases zone during the last 2000 years

The study on the relationship of abandoned settlements and climate change in the oases could provide a historical reference for understanding human responses to present and future global warming in the arid zone. A total of 554 abandoned historical settlements in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, were used to examine the relationship between abandoned settlements and temperature change over the past 2000 years. The analysis covered dynastic epochs from the Han Dynasty (206BC–220AD) to the Qing Dynasty (1644AD–1911AD) in the oases of Xinjiang. Greater density of settlements was found at the oases larger than 2000 km², which were more stable and less sensitive to climate change compared to smaller oases. Settlements flourished at small oases and the middle and lower reaches of rivers during warm periods and shrank back to piedmont basins and upstream alluvial fans during cold periods. These results demonstrated responses of oasis agriculture to climate change.     

Coastal environments around Thule settlements in Northeast Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift—Danish Journal of Geography 110(2):143–154, 2010

Inuit have travelled to and settled in the coastal landscapes of Northeast Greenland for several longer periods during the latest ca. 4500 years. Most recently the Thule culture Inuit lived in the region from around 1400 until 1850 AD. The access to partly and periodically ice covered near coastal waters has been crucial to the primarily marine based subsistence strategy of the Thule Inuit culture, and their settlements are therefore found immediately at the coast. Changing geological and geomorphologic settings strongly influence the coastal morphodynamics, and only specific locations offer stable and protected conditions needed for proper winter settlements. The comprehensive study of coastal environments and Thule culture winter settlements in the Young Sound region show an accumulation of winter settlements, nearly all located either in protected pocket beaches or on stable basalt capes. The Thule culture abandoned Northeast Greenland about 1850 AD, and apart from settlements on basalt capes, most of the winter settlement sites in pocket beach areas have been affected by erosion of local character and in some cases also affected by increasing wave erosion during recent periods of less ice in near coastal waters.     

Population distribution and urban growth in Southern Italy, 1871–2011: emergent polycentrism or path-dependent monocentricity?

This study assesses changes in population distribution and the expansion of urban settlements in Southern Italy between 1871 and 2011. Four demographic phases are identified: (i) spatially balanced, mild population growth (1871–1921); (ii) moderate population increase concentrated in coastal and lowland areas (1921–1951); (iii) rapid and diffused population growth (1951–1981); and (iv) population stability with settlement dispersion (1981–2011). While urban growth in the years preceding the 1980s reinforced the polarization in rich and poor areas along the urban-to-rural gradient, since the early 1990s both urban and rural areas showed population dynamics that consolidated low-density settlements scattered around the largest cities. This path, however, does not reflect the evolution towards a more spatially balanced urban development, as observed in other European regions. Causes and consequences of the persistence of a fragmented urban hierarchy with dense settlements and sprawl concentrated around the main cities are finally discussed.     

The impact of abandoned pastoral settlements on plant and nutrient succession in an African savanna ecosystem

We detail the impact of abandoned traditional settlements (or bomas) on plant and nutrient succession in the Amboseli ecosystem, southern Kenya, over the course of a century. Plant and soil data were sampled on and around abandoned settlements. The term, ‘onsite’, refers to the area within the perimeter fence, ‘offsite’ to the area up to 200 m beyond the fence. Herbaceous standing biomass onsite increased in the course of succession to peak at twice offsite levels within two decades. Biomass remained elevated for six decades then dropped to the background levels at the limit of sampling distance. Plant species richness onsite increased rapidly in the course of succession, then stabilized on older bomas. Species composition changed throughout succession, with pioneer herbs and grasses giving way to boma-edge species and woody vegetation later in succession.Soil nutrients, including carbon, nitrogen, magnesium and phosphorus, were highly elevated on abandoned settlements. The various nutrients declined at different rates during the course of plant succession. Potassium, phosphorus and magnesium levels remained at twice offsite levels for over a century, creating islands of high fertility and high plant biomass in the savanna landscape. We conclude that the perturbation caused by shifting nomadic settlements creates localized nutrient and plant diversity hotspots in savanna ecosystems that remain distinct from the surrounding savanna for decades, possibly centuries.     

中国山区乡村聚落空间重构研究进展与展望

中国山区面积大、经济社会发展水平低,促进山区可持续发展,是事关中国现代化进程的关键所在。山区乡村聚落作为山区人地关系地域系统的核心空间单元,是中国乡村地理学的研究重点和热点。论文基于文献回溯和归纳总结的方法,在对中国山区发展概况、乡村聚落空间分布影响因素、演变特征与驱动机制进行系统分析的基础上,明晰了山区乡村聚落空间重构概念内涵、重构思路和方法,总结了中国山区乡村聚落空间重构典型模式与调控策略;认为乡村聚落空间重构存在着主体多重、目标多元、模式多样等典型特征,是一个动态的、复杂的空间优化重组过程。新时代中国山区乡村聚落空间重构应加强以下5个方面的研究：① 山区乡村振兴背景下乡村聚落空间重构作用机理与模式;② 土地利用转型对山区乡村聚落空间重构作用机制;③ 农村宅基地制度改革对山区乡村聚落空间重构影响;④ 新兴业态发展与山区乡村聚落空间重构交互作用关系;⑤ 大数据时代山区乡村聚落空间重构研究方法革新。通过对山区乡村聚落空间重构时代背景、经济社会驱动因素与作用机理、研究方法等方面的实证分析,进一步丰富和完善山区乡村聚落空间重构理论,以期促进中国山区可持续发展和助推现代化实现进程。     

隋朝至1949年山东省沂水县农村居民点的时空格局及驱动力

以山东省沂水县为例,综合历史资料、GIS与定量分析法,以农村居民点建村的时间、所处的地貌类型以及建村时的农户来源地3个指标,系统考察隋朝至1949年农村居民点的时空格局变化及驱动力。结果表明：沂水县1949年的1484个农村居民点,最早建村于隋朝。随着时间的推移,农村居民点建村速率先快后慢,呈倒“U”型演变,明朝建村速率最快。同时,每个朝代初期建村速率较快,后期较慢;随着时间的推移,沂水县农村居民点建村速率快于县域整体农村居民点建村速率的地貌类型沿着平原—丘陵—山地的地貌格局演进,建村时的农户来源地沿着省外—县外—县内的地域格局演进。驱动力研究认为,人地关系状况是影响农村居民点时间格局变化的主导驱动力,战争、政策及气候灾害等通过影响人地关系状况,影响着农村居民点短时间尺度的格局变化;耕地资源禀赋是农村居民点空间格局变化的主导驱动力,农户建村首先选择耕地资源禀赋优越的平原,随着人地矛盾增加,逐步向丘陵和山地转移。     

Information-communication network deployment into derivative territorial structures

An analysis is made of the information-communication network deployment into the center–periphery systems, heterochronous formations and network areas which are derivative territorial structures with respect to the initial network. By using an example of changes in the network position of a number of administrative centers of Asian Russia for 200 years, it is shown that the partitioning of settlements into the information-communication center and the periphery is relatively stable across time. An assessment is made of the transformation of peripheral settlements having regard to the relationship of the status and topological centrality as well as infocommunication–geographical location. The study revealed homochronous, rhythmic- and arrhythmic-heterochronous networks. By analyzing, for different times, the distribution dynamics of elementary postal networks of Asian Russia between the center and the near, middle and far periphery, it was possible to determine a number of characteristic features of the deployment process. It is established that the postal-network areas of the region produce a linear territorial entity. A comparison of the regionalization schemes from different times provided a means of assessing the transformation mechanism of the territorial structure that manifests itself in an extensive, unevenly differently directed deployment of the network with a topological separation between settlements, an increase in their network inequality, and with the consolidation of the linear structure.     

新疆绿洲乡村聚落空间分布特征及其影响因素

乡村聚落研究是乡村地理学研究的核心内容,探讨地域乡村聚落空间特征与影响机理,具有重要的理论与现实意义。利用遥感解译数据,借助空间分析方法揭示新疆绿洲乡村聚落空间分布特征,结合地理探测器技术探讨其空间分异的影响因素;选择阿勒泰样区、天山北坡样区、吐鲁番样区和喀什样区进一步明晰不同自然和社会经济背景下绿洲乡村聚落空间分异的主控因素。结果表明:新疆绿洲乡村聚落密度小、规模小,以集聚模式为主,邻近乡镇中心、道路、河流分布特征明显;乡村聚落空间分布受到乡镇道路可达性、到县城道路可达性、坡度、到河流邻近距离、气温和高程等因素影响,而受社会、经济因素影响不显著。四大样区乡村聚落分布的主控因素存在明显差异,应依据各样区村落发展基础与主控因素,探索不同的乡村聚落空间优化模式与发展振兴方向。     

大都市区农村土地非农化空间特征及机理——以广州市为例

随着国家对“三农”问题的关注以及新型城镇化、城乡统筹、新农村建设等一系列重大战略决策的提出,农村聚落的内容再次成为地理学的研究热点。大都市区作为快速城镇化和生产生活要素集聚的重点区域,其农村聚落的用地变化快速且复杂,成为了农村聚落研究的重要内容。本文利用农村土地非农化指数,将2013年广州市农村聚落分为农耕型农村聚落、非农化起步型农村聚落、非农化发展型农村聚落、非农化主导型农村聚落、非农化型农村聚落五种。结合GIS空间分析,对广州市农村土地非农化空间结构进行了研究,得出以下结论：①从市域角度,农村聚落土地非农化总体呈现出围绕大都市内核随距离增加而衰减,由外向内农村聚落土地非农化程度逐步升高。②从各区层面,农村土地非农化程度受副中心城镇化发展水平影响显著,近郊区域呈现面状圈层化分布,远郊则表现出沿道路的线状分布特点。③从局部尺度,重大基础设施对周边农村聚落的土地非农化发展有较大拉动作用,导致高土地非农化农村聚落点状出现。随后采用多元线性回归、地理探测器等方法,确定村内路网密度、与主城距离、流动人口、村集体收入、村民人均收入为影响农村土地非农化水平的主要因素,并在此基础上初步分析各因子对大都市区农村聚落土地非农化的影响机制。本文对如何利用农村非农化进程促进城市发展、优化调控农村土地利用和规划村庄发展提供一定的借鉴。     

乡村振兴下的聚落研究——来自经济地理学视角

论文首先从人地关系视角分析了乡村问题的背景及乡村振兴的内容逻辑,提出乡村衰退是人地关系调整滞后于社会经济发展进程的结果,乡村振兴最终目的就是调整人地关系以适应社会经济发展新阶段的生产要素价值变化。对乡村振兴地理研究的评述发现,多数关注其战略内容的实施,而对乡村人口重要载体的乡村聚落重视不够。事实上,乡村聚落与乡村振兴的关系密切,乡村聚落是乡村地区人类社会经济活动的集中场所,是乡村人地关系调整的核心和关键抓手,在乡村振兴中起关键作用。而已有的乡村聚落地理研究多聚焦空间变化,并且重实证轻机理,尤其是与乡村振兴相关联的聚落演变机理研究尚无成果问世。最后,基于乡村聚落在乡村振兴中关键作用,提出从人地关系协调出发,加强乡村聚落演变理论、乡村聚落空间结构变化趋势、乡村聚落专业化转型、乡村聚落整治优化及乡村聚落风貌景观等5个方面的研究。     

基于Alpha Shape算法的分散式乡村聚落形状划分及其形成研究——以米脂县龙镇为例

为了定量划分分散式乡村聚落的形状类型并探究其形成原因,以陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区米脂县龙镇为例,尝试使用Alpha Shape算法对聚落形状进行提取,通过Boyce-Clark指数计算并划分聚落形状类型,最后结合多元线性回归和回归树的方法探究影响聚落形状的因素。结果表明：100 m滚动半径下,Alpha Shape算法能够提取76.1%聚落的精确轮廓;研究区乡村聚落形状类型可以分为块状矩形及其变种、延伸形、哑铃形和串珠形、带状矩形及其组合、线形5种,Boyce-Clark指数依次增加;高程和Boyce-Clark指数呈显著正相关,水资源可获取性与Boyce-Clark指数在高海拔地区呈负相关,聚落面积与Boyce-Clark指数先呈负相关后呈正相关。研究结果可为分散式聚落生活空间边界的划定提供参考,增进对黄土丘陵沟壑区分散式聚落形态的认识。     

基于空间组合特征的农村居民点重构方向识别

基于湖北省大冶市陈贵镇2012年土地利用变更调查数据,运用核密度估计和空间热点探测法,分析镇域农村居民点空间分布特征,提出一种顾及居民点密度与规模组合特征的农村居民点重构方向识别方法。根据密度与规模的空间组合特征,将全镇农村居民点划分为7种类型,结合改进成本距离测算大规模居民点区有效覆盖范围,提出了城镇化集中型、中心村建设型、协同整治型和内部改造型4种重构模式,明确了规模与密度特征导向下的农村居民点的整治重心和重构方向。     

北方农牧交错带农村居民点分布特征及其对土地利用的影响——以科尔沁左翼中旗为例

选取农牧交错带的典型地区--科尔沁左翼中旗作为研究区,对不同海拔、坡度、坡向等要素上农村居民点的分布特征进行了研究,分析农村居民点对农牧交错带内土地利用格局的影响。结果表明:① 居民点主要分布在海拔200 m以下,坡度小于6°的地区以及阴坡上;② 农村居民点对土地利用格局有着直接影响,居民点密度越高的地区,耕地所占比重越大,草地越少;反之,则草地所占比重越大,耕地越少;③ 在牧业区,距离居民点越远,草地比例越小,耕地比例越大,农业区和农牧区则相反。     

分形视角下的陕北黄土高原沟壑区城乡居民点分布特征研究——以无定河流域为例

2015年12月召开的中央城市工作会议提出“在中西部地区培育发展一批城市群、区域性中心城市,让中西部地区广大群众在家门口也能分享城镇化成果”。黄土高原是我国水土流失最严重和生态环境最敏感的地区之一,地貌水系特征对其城镇化建设尤为重要。从黄土高原独特的分形地貌入手,以无定河流域为研究对象,探究城乡居民点与地貌水系的耦合关系。分形维数上,通过盒维数法测算出19处小流域沟道水系分形维数,并分析城乡居民点的数量、等级与沟道分形维数的内在联系。空间上,采取缓冲区分析居民点与沟道水系的临近关系并探究水系与居民点等级对应特征。研究发现：在数理分析上,（1）各小流域的分形维数越高,单位面积的居民点数量越多;沟道分形维数一定时,高等级居民点的出现会降低沟道内单位面积低级别居民点数量。（2）河谷沟道的分形维数达到1.223是沟道内出现县城的必要而不充分条件。在空间分析上,（3）城乡居民点分布与分形沟道水系相临近,并且居民点等级分布规律具有自相似性、层级迭代性。基于以上特征探索具有地域特色的镇村体系布局模式,以期为该地区城镇建设提供理论依据。     

The study of size-grade of prehistoric settlements in the Circum-Songshan area based on SOFM network

Choosing site area, cultural layer thickness, significant relics and significant remains as the variables, we applied cluster analysis to the ancient settlements of four cultural periods, respectively, which were Peiligang, Yangshao, Longshan and Xiashang, in 9000–3000 a BP, around Songshan Mountain. Through application of the SOFM (self-organizing feature map) networks, every type of ancient settlements was classified into different size-grades. By this means, the Peiligang settlements were divided into two grades, Yangshao and Longshan settlements were divided into three grades, respectively, and Xiashang settlements were divided into four grades. The results suggested that the size-grade diversity of ancient settlements was not significant during the Peiligang period in this area. Around the middle-late Yangshao period (5000 a BP), the size-grade diversity of ancient settlements began to appear, a process that continued during the Longshan period and finally matured in the Xiashang period. Moreover, the results reflected the regional differences in cultural characteristics in a particular period, which were mainly represented in that there were three Peiligang cultural systems distributed in different areas. Such differences also existed in the spatial distributive characteristics between the Xia and Shang cultures. Based on the size-grade study of ancient settlements in the Circum-Songshan area, it was found that the SOFM networks method was very suitable for size-grade classification of ancient settlements, since, using this method, adjacent cells would compete and learn from each other, a benefit that reduced the effect on classification by the inaccuracy of site acreages.     

Dynamic changes and transitions of agricultural landscape patterns in mountainous areas: A case study from the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Analyzing the agricultural landscape patterns in mountainous areas is critical to clarify the dynamic changes and development direction of agricultural landscapes. This also plays a significant role in the rational planning and management of agricultural land. A theoretical framework for agricultural landscape pattern transitions in mountainous areas is proposed to fill the gap of current research with an empirical study in the Caotangxi Watershed, Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA), China. The transition characteristics of agricultural landscape patterns from 2000 to 2018 as represented by sloping farmland, abandoned land, and orchards are analyzed from a holistic-local perspective. The results indicate that the orchards expanded along river valleys, and abandoned land expanded at high elevations, which led to reduced sloping farmland. This phenomenon gives regional landscape differences at the holistic and local levels. Namely, it enhances the region’s holistic landscape diversity but causes fragmentation and aggregation of landscape patches in local areas. The agricultural landscape pattern transitions within the farming range in the study area are manifested primarily in four modes: sloping farmland-orchard conversion type (FOCT), comprehensive conversion type (CCT), partially abandoned type (PAT), and wholly abandoned type (WAT). Each transition mode reveals different development stages of the mountainous agricultural landscape patterns. In general, the agricultural landscape pattern transition is driven by socioeconomic factors in mountainous areas of the TGRA and is bidirectional. This attribute is expressed as the transition from the traditional grain-planting landscape with an even distribution to the eco-economic win-win orchard in valleys and transitions from sloping farmland to abandoned land in high-elevation areas. Overall, the results of this study reveal the uniqueness of agricultural landscape pattern evolutions in China’s mountainous areas in recent decades, which has enlightened the in-depth understandings of rural land use and agricultural ecosystems in mountainous areas of the TGRA, as well as improvements in rural developments and ecological environments.     

Human–environment dynamics during the Iron Age in the Lofoten Islands,Norway

Integrated archaeological and paleoenvironmental investigations provide long-term perspectives on human–environment interactions. In the North Atlantic region, early human settlements were established in marginal agricultural environments and were susceptible to various environmental stressors. The Lofoten Islands have had an important role in the history of this region, particularly during the Iron Age, when Lofoten developed from pioneering agricultural settlements to a prominent node of power and trade under Viking chieftains. Iron Age developments in Lofoten were concurrent with significant natural environmental changes, including variations in climate and sea level. However, there has not been a comprehensive investigation of their influence on early settlements. The purpose of the study is to review Iron Age cultural developments in Lofoten using published archaeological data and paleoenvironmental records of past climate and sea-level change, and to present specific examples of the intersection of early human development and natural environmental changes. The findings show that climate changes probably influenced agricultural phases and that relative sea-level variations had important impacts on maritime developments. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that human–environment interactions were significant factors in Lofoten’s history and the authors suggest specific areas for future research.     

辽代西拉木伦河流域聚落分布与环境选择

辽代西拉木伦河流域及毗邻地区的聚落是分析论证农业开垦范围与环境扰动的重要依据,作者将这一地区的聚落分为两类,其中之一为散居在各处的基层聚落,规模小,人口少,围绕聚落形成的耕地范围也有限,不是造成环境扰动的主要方面。另一类以府、州城为中心形成的聚落,人口集中,耕地范围大,且大部分州治城邑属契丹历史纪念地,而不是农业垦殖适宜地;个别州治城邑地处沙地中部,不具备农业开垦的条件,由于人口集中,这些农田插花地不但范围大,而且是引起环境问题的关键地区。     

长江上游山区聚落与水土保持的耦合机制

运用地理学、生态学和物理学的理论，从全新的角度对长江上游山区聚落形成的环境机制进行了系统的分析，提出山区聚落与水土保持之间存在的内在联系：1．山区聚落场所地处山体的自然截流部位，山区耕地的数量和质量是人类聚落对山地坡面过程中水、土资源截流效果的指示器，截留的规模决定聚落规模；2．小流域综合治理是一个完整的截流或节流体系，水土保持的本质就是对山地坡面过程截留；3．通过水土保持，人类获得赖以生存的物质和能量。因此，水土保持是山区聚落生态建设的基础工程，是链接人口、资源与环境协调发展的纽带，沟通人文聚落与自然环境和谐共处的桥梁。     

快速城镇化背景下海岛农村居民点空间演变——以福建海坛岛为例

以平潭综合实验区主岛--海坛岛为研究区,基于 2000、2009 和 2013 年 3 期 SPOT 遥感数据,运用单一土地利用动态度、马尔科夫转移矩阵模型、最近邻点统计量、核密度估计、探索性数据分析和空间“热点”探测方法定量分析海坛岛农村居民点时空分布特征及其演变规律,并从景观生态学角度深入分析农村居民点空间分布特征的影响因素。结果表明：1）2000―2013 年间农村居民点扩张明显,面积共增加 399.69 hm² ,主要转自耕地和林地,后期（2009―2013 年）的增量、增速均比前期（2000―2009 年）大,说明综合实验区的成立对海坛岛农村居民点扩张产生重要影响。2）海坛岛农村居民点扩展主要形式：一是块状扩展,即沿原有斑块向四周蔓延式向外扩展;二是带状扩展,即沿各乡镇的交通干线向两侧或某侧扩展。3）2000、2009 和 2013 年海坛岛农村居民点的空间分布均表现出显著的聚集特征,呈现高密度小规模集聚分布与低密度大规模集聚分布格局,且随时间变化,农村居民点集聚程度不断提高。4）坡度、地形起伏度、道路和河流等景观要素对海坛岛农村居民点的布局有显著影响,农村居民点主要分布在地势平坦、坡度平缓（0~10°）、近水源（距河流＜1 500 m）以及交通便利（距离道路＜500 m）的地方,且扩张趋势明显;反之,农村居民点分布明显较少。