近1 ka以来河西地区的沙漠化及对高强度人类活动的响应分析

河西地区地处青藏高原区与西北干旱区过渡带,是当下推进"一带一路"伟大战略建设的重要通道。同时,该地区也是我国沙漠化最严重地区之一。通过对已发表的河西地区风沙堆积事件与历史时期战争、人口数量、降水变化进行综合对比研究,分析了该地区近1 ka以来沙漠化的主导因素。结果显示：（1）在最近1 ka以来,河西地区的沙漠化主要发生在0.91 ka、0.74 ka、0.68 ka、0.44 ka、0.32 ka、0.24 ka、0.18~0.12 ka和<0.1 ka时段。（2）0.91 ka、0.74 ka、0.68 ka、0.44 ka和0.24 ka时段的沙漠化敏感地响应了高强度的战争活动,0.32 ka时段的沙漠化是对区域低降水量的响应。（3）近200 a以来的沙漠化是对人口快速增长的响应。     

避难国政策影响下的欧洲难民危机时空格局及迁移优化

欧洲是“一带一路”倡议的重点覆盖地域,是亚欧大陆经济走廊的重要组成,维护其地区安全稳定,排除干扰中欧两大市场合作互联的潜在安全隐患,对于“一带一路”倡议的稳固推进十分必要。基于地理学视角,考虑难民安置政策因素,采用灰色关联分析、层次分析、多目标规划等方法对2015-2017年欧洲难民危机时空演变过程及迁移格局优化进行分析。① 时空演化分析显示难民集中于2015年登陆欧洲,欧洲各国登陆难民、接收难民数量极化突出,双重失衡;② 灰色关联分析显示难民迁移决策具有福利优先、收入优先的导向,各国难民政策调整为迁移决策带来不确定性,既有迁移格局难以长期维持;③ 层次分析显示北欧西欧国家难民宜居性较高,东欧南欧国家宜居性相对较差,部分避难国承担安置难民数量与其宜居性不符;④ 多目标规划的优化格局显示,由于欧洲各国忽视全球化背景致使难民政策指向错误,迁移网络更加混乱失衡,优化后来自土耳其、乌克兰的难民迁移趋势向西欧集中,来自希腊、匈牙利的难民迁移趋势在空间上更加平均分散,来自意大利的难民迁移趋势向西欧南欧呈扇形分散。优化后迁移格局有助于缓解地区安全局势、为“一带一路”建设创造良好的政治、经济环境,平衡劳动力资源配置,为建设投资提供潜在市场。最后在研究结果的基础上提出若干协同合作调整难民迁移格局的危机缓解措施。     

从地缘关系视角解析“一带一路”的行动路径

“一带一路”倡议是人类历史上最伟大的全球治理工程,开辟了政治地理学研究的新纪元,为地缘关系研究提供了大舞台。地理学是从时间、空间和自然—社会系统三个维度理解陆地表层过程的科学,对地缘关系研究具有独特的功能和作用。因此,从地理学视角研究地缘关系具有其他学科无法比拟的优势。“一带一路”是当前最具挑战的科学和政策命题,从地缘关系视角研究“一带一路”,需要加强四个方面的结合：① 在科学思维上,需要还原论与系统论思维相结合;② 在科学数据建设上,需要社会人文与自然环境数据相结合;③ 在科学问题选择上,需要社会过程、人文过程、政治过程和自然过程相结合;④ 在研究方法上,需要经验方法、实证方法、系统方法与大数据研究方法相结合。中国地理学者应兼顾政治地理学科建设、地缘关系的学科交叉研究和“一带一路”全球实践开展研究。     

“一带一路”沿线国家贸易网络空间结构与邻近性

“一带一路”倡议致力于构建全方位、多层次、复合型的互联互通网络,沿线国家之间相互贸易形成的网络有利于加速经济要素跨区域的自由流动,进一步提升“一带一路”区域经济资源的整合效率,对重塑欧亚大陆政经版图和优化中国地缘环境具有重大影响。采用复杂网络和地统计方法,借助GIS、Pajek、Ucinet和数据库等技术手段,对“一带一路”贸易网络的拓扑性质、空间结构以及节点的邻近性深入研究。主要结论有：① “一带一路”沿线国家贸易网络具有小世界和无标度性质,遵循增长性和择优选择;② 沿线国家贸易具有典型的“核心—边缘”等级性,中国对沿线国家产业升级和经济发展具有引领和带动作用;③ 贸易网络是“混合型”结构,呈现枢纽辐射式为主、全连通式并存的联系模式,不同中心性空间分布差异显著;④ 拓展引力模型对“一带一路”沿线国家贸易网络具有较强的解释力,贸易关系存在大国效应和地理邻近效应,科研邻近和语言邻近是重要的推动力,制度邻近的影响呈显著负相关,文化邻近的正向作用相对较弱。因此,中国宜遵循“由近及远”的原则,重点强化对邻近国家的贸易渗透,再加强对沿线重点国家的贸易辐射,进而向重点国家的周边地区拓展,从不同空间层次制定差异化政策,发挥科研和语言邻近的推动作用,强化对沿线国家的文化渗透。     

尼日利亚奥贡广东自贸区发展历程与产业聚集研究

利用贸易结合度指数分析中尼双方相互贸易依赖程度,总结中国对尼贸易与投资特征;在回顾尼日利亚奥贡广东自贸区的发展历程基础上,利用EG指数分析园区产业聚集程度,得出了园区多数产业集聚度较高,并符合尼日利亚鼓励先锋行业要求的结果;通过对结果的分析与讨论,总结目前园区在产业、基础设施、东道国政治经济环境等方面面临的挑战;最后从政府与企业两方面提出园区产业优化与发展的建议。     

The nexus approach to water–energy–food security: an option for adaptation to climate change

Developing countries face a difficult challenge in meeting the growing demands for food, water, and energy, which is further compounded by climate change. Effective adaptation to change requires the efficient use of land, water, energy, and other vital resources, and coordinated efforts to minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies. However, as in many developing countries, the policy process in South Asia generally follows a sectoral approach that does not take into account the interconnections and interdependence among the three sectors. Although the concept of a water–energy–food nexus is gaining currency, and adaptation to climate change has become an urgent need, little effort has been made so far to understand the linkages between the nexus perspective and adaptation to climate change. Using the Hindu Kush Himalayan region as an example, this article seeks to increase understanding of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, explains why it is important to consider this nexus in the context of adaptation responses, and argues that focusing on trade-offs and synergies using a nexus approach could facilitate greater climate change adaptation and help ensure food, water, and energy security by enhancing resource use efficiency and encouraging greater policy coherence. It concludes that a nexus-based adaption approach – which integrates a nexus perspective into climate change adaptation plans and an adaptation perspective into development plans – is crucial for effective adaptation. The article provides a conceptual framework for considering the nexus approach in relation to climate change adaptation, discusses the potential synergies, trade-offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective.

Policy relevance

This article draws attention to the importance of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, and the implications for sustainable development and adaptation. The potential synergies and complementarities among the sectors should be used to guide formulation of effective adaptation options. The issues highlight the need for a shift in policy approaches from a sectoral focus, which can result in competing and counterproductive actions, to an integrated approach with policy coherence among the sectors that uses knowledge of the interlinkages to maximize gain, optimize trade-offs, and avoid negative impacts.     

Main Frontal thrust deformation and topographic growth of the Mohand Range,northwest Himalaya

The Main Frontal thrust (MFT) uplifts the Himalayan topographic front. Deciphering MFT deformation kinematics is crucial for understanding how the orogen accommodates continuing continental collision and assessing associated hazards. Here, we (a) detail newly discovered fault-zone exposures along the MFT at the Mohand Range front in northwestern India and (b) apply contemporary fault zone theory to show that the MFT is an emergent fault with a well-developed fault zone overlain by uplifted Quaternary gravels over a horizontal length of ∼700 m. Northward from the front, the fault zone grades from a central, gouge-dominated core to a hanging-wall, rock-dominated damage zone. We observed incohesive, non-foliated breccia, fault gouge, and brittle deformation microstructures within the fractured country rocks (Middle Siwaliks) and outcrop scale, non-plunging folds in the proximal hanging wall. We interpret these observations to suggest that (1) elastico-frictional (brittle) deformation processes operated in the fault zone at near surface (∼1–5 km depth) conditions and (2) the folds formed first at the propagating MFT fault tip, then were subsequently dismembered by the fault itself. Thus, we interpret the Mohand Range as a fault-propagation fold driven by an emergent MFT in contrast to the consensus view that it is a fault-bend fold. A fault-propagation fold model is more consistent with these new observations, the modern range-scale topography, and existing erosion estimates. To further evaluate our proposed structural model, we used a Boundary Element Method-based dislocation model to simulate topographic growth from excess slip at a propagating fault tip. Results show that the frontal topography could have evolved by slip along a (a) near-surface fault plane consistent with the present-day MFT location, or (b) blind MFT at ∼3 km depth farther north near the drainage divide. Comparing modelled vs. measured high resolution (∼16 cm) topographic profiles for each case provides permissible end-member scenarios of an either dynamically-evolving, high erosion, northward-migrating frontal scarp or a static, low, and symmetric, MHT-related fold, respectively. Our integrated approach is expected to deliver an improved understanding of coupled fault-generated deformation and topographic growth that may be applied more broadly across the entire Himalayan front.     

Vibrational Spectroscopic Study for Qualitative Assessment of Mn‐oxide Ore

Manganese oxide ore from the Bonai‐Keonjhar belt of Odisha, India, has been qualitatively assessed through Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. Three categories of ore, namely, high‐grade (MnO₂: >72%), medium‐grade (MnO₂: 55‐72%) and low‐grade (MnO₂:40‐55%) from four mine profiles, Purnapani, Joda West, Khandbandh and Bamebariwere, were collected and subjected to vibrational spectroscopic studies. The use of Raman analysis in the microscopic configuration allowed the spectra to be taken at different points on the polished ore. Besides the Raman features of the ß‐MnO₂(Pyrolusite) phases, other signals were assigned to isolated FeO ions accommodated in vacancies and to some aluminium silicates. The three grades of ore show different Raman spectra. The FTIR spectra also exhibit contrasting pattern in different grade sample and support these findings. This study demonstrates the use of vibrational spectroscopy to assess the quality of Mn‐oxide ore that could provide a substitute to cumbersome wet chemical analysis     

Geology and tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the Himalayan metamorphic core: insights from the Mugu Karnali transect,Western Nepal (Central Himalaya)

New structural and tectono‐metamorphic data are presented from a geological transect along the Mugu Karnali valley, in Western Nepal (Central Himalaya), where an almost continuous cross‐section from the Lesser Himalaya Sequence to the Everest Series through the medium‐high‐grade Greater Himalayan Sequence (GHS) is exposed. Detailed meso‐ and micro‐structural analyses were carried out along the transect. Pressure (P)–temperature (T) conditions and P–T–deformation paths for samples from different structural units were derived by calculating pseudosections in the MnNKCFMASHT system. Systematic increase of P–T conditions, from ~0.75 GPa to 560 °C up to ≥1.0 GPa–750 °C, has been detected starting from the garnet zone up to the K‐feldspar + aluminosilicate zone. Our investigation reveals how these units are characterized by different P–T evolutions and well‐developed tectonic boundaries. Integrating our meso‐ and micro‐structural data with those of metamorphism and geochronology, a diachronism in deformation and metamorphism can be highlighted along the transect, where different crustal slices were underthrust, metamorphosed and exhumed at different times. The GHS is not a single tectonic unit, but it is composed of (at least) three different crustal slices, in agreement with a model of in‐sequence shearing by accretion of material from the Indian plate, where coeval activity of basal thrusting at the bottom with normal shearing at the top of the GHS is not strictly required for its exhumation.     

Metamorphism of high‐P metagreywacke from the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis: phase equilibria and P–T path

High‐pressure (HP) metagreywacke from the Namche Barwa Complex, Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS), consists of garnet, biotite, plagioclase, quartz, rutile and ilmenite with or without K‐feldspar, sillimanite, cordierite, spinel and orthopyroxene. Two types of metagreywacke are recognized: medium‐temperature (MT) and high‐temperature (HT) types. Garnet in the MT metagreywacke shows significant growth zoning and contains lower MgO than the weakly zoned garnet in the HT metagreywacke. Petrographic observations and phase equilibria modelling for four representative samples indicate that both types of metagreywacke experienced clockwise P–T paths subdivided into three stages: stage I is the pre‐peak prograde to pressure peak (P_max) stage characterized by progressive increase in P–T conditions. The P_max conditions are estimated using the garnet composition with maximum CaO, being 12.5–13.5 kbar and 685–725 °C for the MT metagreywacke, and 15–16 kbar and 825–835 °C for the HT one. Stage II is the post‐P_max decompression with heating or near‐isothermal to T_max stage and the T_max conditions, constrained using the garnet compositions with maximum MgO, are 11 kbar and 760 °C for the MT metagreywacke, and ~12 kbar and 830–845 °C for the HT one. The modelled mineral assemblages at T_max are garnet + biotite + K‐feldspar + rutile + plagioclase ± ilmenite in the presence of melt for both types of metagreywacke, consistent with the petrographic observations. Stage III is the post‐T_max retrograde metamorphism, characterized by decompression and cooling. The modelling suggests that the melts with high Na/K ratios (1.7–5.2) have been produced during stages I and II, which could be responsible for the formation of sodium‐rich leucogranites. This study and previous results indicate that the Higher Himalayan Crystallines in the EHS consist of MT–HP and HT–HP metamorphic units separated by a speculated tectonic contact. Petrological and structural discontinuities within the EHS cannot be easily interpreted with ‘tectonic aneurysm’ model.