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For the day-by-day evaporation observation data in the Yangtze River Basin from 1951 to 2019, the effects of the gradual shift of observation instruments from 20 cm diameter evaporation pan (D20) to E601 evaporation pan after 1980 are discussed, including inconsistent data series, and missing and anomalous data. This study proposes a governance and improvement method for dual-source evaporation data (GIME). The method can accomplish the homogenization of data from different observation series and solve the problem of inconsistent and missing data, and we applied it in practice on data of the Yangtze River Basin. Firstly, the primary and secondary periods of the data were obtained by wavelet periodicity analysis; secondly, we considered the first cycle of observations to be representative of the sample and calculated the conversion relationship between the primary and secondary periods; thirdly, the conversion coefficient between the dual-source observations was calculated, and the results were corrected for stations outside the main cycle; finally, the daily evaporation dataset of E601 pan was established through data fusion and interpolation technology. The study found that the annual average conversion coefficients of the D20 and E601 pans in the Yangtze River Basin are basically between 0.55 and 0.80, and there are obvious differences in different regions. The conversion coefficient is positively correlated with relative humidity, wind speed, minimum temperature and altitude; and negatively correlated with sunshine duration, average temperature and maximum temperature. Evaporation is high in the upper reaches of the basin and low in the middle and lower reaches; in particular, evaporation is highest in the southwest, which is associated with the drought hazards. In addition, the article presents the spatial distribution of the conversion coefficients of D20 and E601 pans in the Yangtze River Basin. The results can realize the rapid correction of the evaporation data of the local meteorological department, and can be extended to the processing of other types of data in similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pearl River Delta is one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world, and assessing its resource-environmental pressure of the urban agglomeration is of great importance to the ecological well-being and sustainable development of this region. To systematically assess the impact of human activities on the environment, we established a three-dimensional footprint family model that incorporates the ecological footprint (EF), carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF), and improved the model in which the occupation of natural resources under ecological surplus is represented by the footprint depth, while the footprint size is dispensed with. The improved model addressed the problem that the conventional 3D footprint family model would remain a 2D plane state under ecological surplus, which could thereby distinguish natural capital flows from stocks, and deliver reliable prediction of the human demand for natural capital and the supply of natural environment to natural capital. Based on the improved model, we proposed the resource-environmental pressure (REP) evaluation system. As the proposed system incorporates multiple types of footprints related to ecological resources, water resources and carbon emissions, the assessment will not rely on one single type of footprint and free from subjective judgments, which promotes the shift of resource-environmental pressure research from single-dimensional and descriptive studies to multi-dimensional, prospective, and integrated research. In the present work, we evaluated the REP of the urban agglomeration in the Pearl River Delta in 2000 ~ 2015 and made a quantitative analysis of the three members of the footprint family. The research shows that the major contributors to the increasing REP in the study area from 2000 to 2015 were ecological footprint depth (EFdepth) and carbon footprint depth (CFdepth), which grew rapidly at an annual growth rate of 7.09 and 18.9%, respectively, and the situation is getting worse. Besides, there was a substantial regional difference in the distribution of REP, with the value in the central region significantly higher than in other regions of the study area. These research findings could provide new inspirations for optimization of regional resource utilization and regulation of urban resource-environmental pressure; the research is also expected to provide a scientific basis for decision-makers to systematically evaluate the impact of human activities on the environment and assess resource-environmental pressure in other urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, some regions are facing the challenge of environmental degradation, especially in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration (PRDUA) which is the most economically-dynamic regions in China. The PRDUA has the characteristics of high comprehensive development level and regional development inequalities, further enlarging the complexities and difficulties in assessing the ecological security. Therefore, we established an ecological footprint (EF) model of urban agglomerations and an extended nonlinear STIRPAT model to explore the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and driving mechanisms of the ecological footprint in the PRDUA, subsequently predicted the impact of population changes on the ecological footprint from 2000 to 2100 using Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenarios (SSP1-SSP5) database. The findings reveal that the ecological footprint increased significantly, but the average annual growth slowed down after 2014. Simultaneously, the ecological footprint had a phenomenon of spatial aggregation, and gradually migrated to Shenzhen. Growing population contributed most to the expansion of the ecological footprint, followed by per capita GDP and urban green area, while there was uncertainty about the impact of technology on the ecological footprint. Further, our study also demonstrated that the classical Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis did not exist between economic development and ecological footprint in the PRDUA. Finally, the results of the prediction show that ecological footprint contributed by population changes in most cities of the PRDUA peak in 2040–2060, of which the largest peaks in SSP5 scenario. The findings are intended to provide references for other urban agglomeration in the world, which are with the problem of unbalanced development between economy and ecology. • EF of the PRDUA increased significantly, but the growth slowed down after 2014. • EF has a phenomenon of spatial aggregation, and gradually migrated to Shenzhen. • Growing population makes the largest contribution to EF, while there is uncertainty about the impact of technology to EF. • EF contributed by population changes in most cities of the PRDUA peak in 2040-2060. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-evolution of marine redox conditions and early animals during the early Cambrian was fundamental to the development of modern Earth ecosystem. Numerous Burgess Shale-type fossil Lagerstätten (i.e., the Chengjiang and Qingjiang biotas) in South China offer taphonomic windows to probe the evolutionary traits of early animals and marine redox variations, and to evaluate the relationship between the two during the Cambrian Ages 2 and 3 (~529 to 514 Ma). Here, we critically review records of various geochemical proxies and fossil assemblages from 24 Lagerstätten-bearing lower Cambrian sections representing a wide variety of depositional settings from the deep basin to inner shelf across the Nanhua Basin, South China. Geochemical redox proxies: Fe speciation, and Mo and U enrichment factors were utilized to reconstruct water depth-related redox gradients within the early Cambrian Nanhua Basin. The results show that a dynamic 'euxinic wedge' may have existed at the mid-depth, and its expansion/contraction may have controlled redox variations in the Nanhua Basin during the early Cambrian. The dramatic contraction of the euxinic wedge in the Cambrian Age 3 suggests that local oceanic oxygenated states coincided with the emergence of the Chengjiang and Qingjiang biotas. Meanwhile, a ~ 25‰ negative shift in pyrite sulfur isotopes deciphers a major increase in seawater sulfate availability, reflecting strongly enhanced subaerial oxidative weathering and/or a lower burial flux of pyrite. Concurrent variations in U and Mo isotopes support the global extent of this ocean oxygenation event. Accordingly, the global marine oxygenation may have facilitated the emergence of both ecologic complexity and biodiversification of early animals indicated by the Chengjiang and Qingjiang Lagerstätten in the early Cambrian (mainly Cambrian Age 3). • Lower Cambrian black shales were deposited widely across the South China Craton • A dynamic mid-depth 'euxinic wedge' existed in Nanhua Basin during early Cambrian • A transient oxygenation event occurred during Cambrian Age 3 • This event ventilated shallow-marine areas but expanded anoxia in deep-marine areas • This event coincided with emergence of the Chengjiang and Qingjiang biotas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE) was a dramatic climatic event during the early Late Triassic. The CPE has been recognized worldwide and is marked by the termination of carbonate platform successions and by pronounced negative δ13C excursions (denoted as the CPE excursion). The onset of the CPE has been proposed to be linked with the volatile eruption of the Wrangellia Large Igneous Province (W-LIP). However, this extreme climatic event remains disputed in terms of its precise global correlation, timing of onset, duration, and global magnitude. We compiled a database of 13 conodont biozone-controlled stable-isotope reference sections throughout the Tethyan region. After a reexamination of previously published conodont taxonomy from each section, the statistics on the conodont assemblages/zones yield a global set of 17 high-resolution conodont Unitary Association Zones (UAZs) spanning the entire Carnian successions. A set of age-tie points placed an age model on this global UAZ scale. We added paired δ13C carb and δ13C org data from two sections in South China to other records in this global database, and then normalized all carbon-isotope datasets. A pronounced negative δ13C carb excursion with a magnitude of −2± 0.5‰ (from an average of ~3‰ to ~1‰) is evident in these normalized trends and is recognized around the entire Tethys realm. The CPE excursion coincides with conodont UAZ-4 (~234 Ma) through UAZ-8 (within the Mazzaella carnica and Paragondolella praelindae zones, Julian2) and has a duration of ca. 1.5 Myr. We note that an apparent delayed onset of the CPE excursion in South China relative to elsewhere in the Tethys as suggested by previous studies may have been an artifact caused by incomplete conodont-stratigraphic records and/or irregularities in taxonomic identification. A carbon and phosphorus cycle model highlight the strong relationship between the eruption of the W-LIP and CPE excursion; however, the estimated amount of CO 2 volatiles released by the W-LIP would directly account for only ~25% of the total amount of light‑carbon required to explain the combined magnitude and duration of the global CPE excursion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introduce an evaluation approach for the Ecological Service Value of Water (ESV-W). • Improve the assessment of Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) by introducing the Agricultural Price Index (API) into the Equivalence Factor (EF). • Improve the Water Allocation and Simulation Model (WAS) to simulate and quantify the 'natural-artificial' soil water cycle. • Analysis of the ESV and ESV-W in the Yangtze River Basin from 2005 to 2020. This paper introduces an evaluation approach for the Ecological Service Value of Water (ESV-W) by coupling the assessment of Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) with the Water Allocation and Simulation Model (WAS). The proposed method is applied to evaluate ESV and ESV-W in the Yangtze River Basin from 2005 to 2020. Firstly, an improved Equivalence Factor (EF) method is employed to estimate ESV by considering different land use types and service categories. Then, the enhanced WAS model is used to quantify and identify the role of the 'natural-artificial' soil water cycle in supporting the ecological service functions. Finally, by integrating the ESV evaluation system with the WAS model, the evaluation method for ESV-W is established. The results indicated that from 2005 to 2020, the total ESV increased from 4.0 to 5.6 trillion US Dollars, with forests being the primary contributor among land use types (about 52%), and regulating services are dominating among service categories (about 70%). The spatial distribution of the ESV showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest in the Yangtze River Basin, while the ESV-W exhibited high values concentrated along the main stream of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and lower in the middle. The ESV-W of the 'natural' soil water cycle still dominates (over 96%), but the ESV-W of the 'artificial' soil water cycle has been rapidly increasing in recent years. In 2020, the ESV-W per unit water of precipitation, irrigation, and ecological water were 4.0 Dollars/ m 3 , 0.7 Dollars/ m 3 , and 32.4 Dollars/ m 3 , respectively. This study aims to provide references for the protection of water ecosystems and the sustainable utilization of water resources. It also serves as a reference for improving the evaluation system of ESV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry, associated with substantial resource consumption, has posed crucial environmental challenges, mainly in climate change, energy, and water crisis. Considering that cotton is the most manufactured natural fiber and that textile dyeing plays an indispensable role in serving people's demand for fashion and aesthetics, this study conducted an integrated impact-oriented carbon–water–energy (CWE) footprint analysis of dyed cotton fabric production in China from a cradle-to-gate perspective. Results showed that the carbon, energy, and freshwater ecotoxicity footprints of dyeing 1 ton of pure cotton fabrics were 15627.20 kg CO 2 eq, 3405.30 kg oil eq, and 2.01 × 105 PAF·m3·d, respectively. Fiber production, chemical production, and direct emissions were identified as the major contributors to CWE footprints. Cotton straw mulching, advanced dyeing technology, and national power structure optimization were explored to foster sustainable optimization of the cotton-made textile industry. At the conventional wet-processing stage, the dyeing phase had the greatest contribution (56.3%–85.6%) to the environmental impacts from chemicals, followed by pretreatment with a 13.8%–28.3% share. Nonaqueous dyeing routes reduced carbon footprint by 49.1% and water scarcity by 75% compared with water-based dyeing processes, with noticeable increases in noncarcinogen and carcinogen categories. Comprehensive wastewater discharge regulations should be further developed, and the scientific layout between regions along the supply chain from the upstream link to dyeing areas should be strengthened to effectively manage environmental pressures in the textile dyeing industry. • A carbon–water–energy footprint analysis of cotton fabric dyeing is conducted. • Fiber cultivation, chemicals, and direct emissions dominated the footprint. • Heavy metals discharged to water played a 31.8% role on freshwater ecotoxicity. • Sodium sulfate and dyes prevailed in the footprint of chemicals for wet-processing. • Straw utilization and renewable energy utilization yield environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potatoes, as a crucial crop for future food security, face challenges due to environmental externalities throughout their production process, which may impede the industry's environmental and economic sustainability. However, knowledge gaps persist regarding the integrated environmental-economic performance of potato production systems. This study aims to (1) construct the linkages among potato agronomic activities, pollution emissions, environmental impacts, and economic input and output, (2) evaluate the environmental-economic burden flows of potato production across 26 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020, (3) explore the spatiotemporal variation of environmental–economic performance, and (4) provide feasible recommendation for sustainable potato production. This study developed an integrated life cycle environmental-economic assessment framework that combines life cycle environmental impact assessment, economic assessment, and life cycle costing methods. Chinese status quo (e.g., temperature, precipitation, population, life expectancy, geographic location, and resource conditions) and field remediation projects were considered. The results reveal that in 2020, the external costs associated with potato production amounted to $3.3 billion, constituting 17.2% of the total costs (including actual and external costs). Predominantly, these external costs are predominantly attributable to the global warming impact, with an estimated 172.1 kg CO 2 eq per ton of potatoes produced. Accounting for external costs, the profitability of potato production is projected to decrease by 35.7%. Targeted reduction in fertilizer and electricity inputs could mitigate external costs by 1.5 and 2 times, respectively. Although the potential exists for sustainability improvements, our analysis indicates current potato production has environmental-economic merits compared with major crops. Consuming 100 g of cooked potatoes can help avoid approximately 1.29 min of health damage. Temporal variations highlight a positive trend in potato production in China, wherein a harmonious balance between economic development and environmental protection is observed. Nonetheless, regional disparities in environmental-economic performance are evident, with high-output areas primarily concentrated in the central region (between 100°E and 110°E), yet seldom achieving high efficiency. This study underscores the importance of leveraging the potential of potato production in regions like Shanxi, Shandong, and the Yangtze River basin to enhance overall environmental-economic sustainability in the potato industry and foster sustainable agricultural development in China. [Display omitted] • A life cycle environmental–economic assessment of potato production is conducted. • Environmental burden of potato production potentially reduces profitability by 36%. • Reducing input in fertilizer use yields environmental benefits by 1.5 times. • Eating potato has environmental–economy–nutrition benefits compared to staple foods. • Energy utilization of potato straw has environmental–economic synergistic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined microbialites deposited near the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) at the Xiejiacao section of South China, including the size and morphology of pyrite framboids, carbonate carbon isotopes (δ13C carb), carbonate associated sulfur isotope (δ34S CAS), major and trace elements, and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations. The microbialite unit is much thicker than the PTB beds in deeper water sections, providing more detailed geochemical records from that time. A prominent negative δ13C carb excursion was recognized in association with the second phase of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction (PTME), comparable with that of several other shallow platform facies sections worldwide. δ34S CAS stratigraphic profiles also show a negative excursion, with minimum values occurring slightly later than those of δ13C carb. The minimum peak can be calibrated to the middle part of the conodont Isarcicella staeschei Zone, corresponding to the second phase of PTME. Over all, the carbon and sulfur isotopes demonstrate a coupled long-term relationship with large negative excursions during the Permian–Triassic transition followed by gradual recovery in the lowest Triassic, represented an extremely low concentration of sulfate in the ocean during this period. In contrast, the C S isotopes are strongly decoupled within the microbialite unit, which could be linked with the oxygen-poor conditions and microbial sulfate reduction (MSR: Sulfate reducing microorganisms facilitated the precipitation of sulfide and carbonate, such as SO 4 2− + 2CH 2 O → H 2 S + 2HCO 3 −). The second phase of PTME was calibrated to the top of the microbialite unit, which was marked by the second δ13C carb -δ34S CAS negative excursions. The distinct marine oxygen deficiency was indicated by the small pyrite framboids, relatively high values of U EF (>1) and Ce/Ce* (>0.8). Combined with the previous biostratigraphic work, we propose that continuous volcanic activity induced intensified marine anoxia, leading to biotic mortality in the second phase of the PTME. Overall, our isotopic and geochemical data, integrated with results of previous studies, provided a new explanation for the carbon and sulfur isotope variations and additional evidences into the concurrent environmental changes during the Permian–Triassic transition. • Despite showing a coupled long-term relationship during the P–Tr transition, C-S isotopes were decoupled within microbialite. • Decoupled C-S isotopes within microbialite could be linked with oxygen-poor condition and active microbial sulfate reduction. • The 2nd phase of PTME is marked by δ13C carb and δ34S CAS negative excursions and marine anoxia induced by volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabrication is regarded as a pivot for realizing sustainable building construction. Nevertheless, the sustainable manufacture level of prefabricated components remains unclear. To fill this gap, this study analyzed the environmental impact and optimization potential of prefabricated components via a life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Additionally, social and economic cost were assessed through LCA-based life cycle costing method to reveal the sustainability of prefabricated components. Results indicated that prefabrication rates of 50% and 30% could reduce the potential global warming impact by 31.78% and 13.94%, respectively, compared with the conventional construction method. However, prefabricated components production in China generated up to $ 4.35 × 109 social cost, with critical optimization areas focused on the provinces of Shandong and Hubei. By using artificial neural network estimation, 30% replacement of concrete by demolished concrete lumps could reduce potential fossil depletion and social cost by 10%, decreasing 5.08 × 109 kg CO 2 eq potential global warming for China. Meanwhile, partial replacement of fuels with refuse-derived fuels and improved steel scrap utilization could contribute to further improving environmental performance. • Prefabricated component sustainability was analyzed via a life cycle approach. • Social cost of prefabricated components accounted for 25% in life cycle cost. • A prefabrication rate of 50% can reduce potential global warming by 31.78%. • Reusing demolished concrete lumps can yield around 10% of ecosystem benefits. • Employing refuse-derived fuels and improved adoption steel scrap are eco-friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Smithian-Spathian boundary (SSB) transition was recently identified as a major biocrisis on the road to marine ecosystem recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction. Marine anoxia is hypothesized to have played an important role in the SSB biocrisis. However, an understanding of the relationship of this biocrisis to contemporaneous marine redox conditions has been hampered by limited knowledge of the timing, duration, and extent of anoxia during the Smithian-Spathian (S-S) transition. Here, we present a high-resolution carbonate U-isotope record from the Jiarong section of South China that spans the mid-Smithian to mid-Spathian interval. This record shows persistent negativeδ238U values (averaging −0.56‰) in the late Smithian, followed by a rapid positive shift (from −0.78‰ to −0.10‰) across the SSB, and then a more gradual shift back to lower δ238U values in the early to mid-Spathian. U isotope mass balance modeling suggests that the global area of anoxic seafloor expanded strongly during the late Smithian and the early to mid-Spathian but contracted sharply during the S-S transition. This redox pattern shows an excellent correspondence to previously published tropical sea-surface temperature (SST) records, with peak oceanic anoxia coinciding with the Smithian Thermal Maximum (STM) and diminished anoxia during a pronounced global cooling event at the SSB. Although paleontological records commonly do not distinguish between terminations during the late Smithian and SSB, we hypothesize that the SSB biocrisis, which was marked by sharp diversity losses among conodonts, ammonoids, and other marine invertebrates, was primarily associated with the STM, in which case oceanic anoxia is likely to have been a major stressor of mid-Olenekian marine biotas. • First high-resolution δ238U carb record for the mid-Smithian to the mid-Spathian. • δ238U carb profile shows rapid positive shift across the SSB. • Global seafloor anoxia declines from 30-60% to 0.2–0.6% during the SSB transition. • Peak anoxia coincided with the STM and contracted anoxia with the SSB cooling event. • Variation in SSTs and ocean redox condition together affect biological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems provide benefits to human well-being, but highly concentrated human activities also cause environmental pressure. Previous studies focused only on one aspect: either ecosystem services (ESs) or ecosystem damage (ED). To provide comprehensive view of ecosystem status in the selected study area, an integrated ecosystem performance analytic framework was established based on the ED-ESs synergistic effect. This study quantitatively analyzed the dynamic variation in ecosystem status from both ED and ESs perspectives with a case study of Jinan City, China, from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that the environmental and economic impacts caused by pollution were 692.87 species.year and $15.58 × 10 8 in 2020, respectively, and they were mainly derived from energy consumption. Regarding ESs, three regulating services (water retention, soil retention, and carbon sequestration) increased from south to north, whereas material services presented the opposite trend. Ecosystem service value had declined after peaking in 2010 when material services contributed the most. Overall, the Jinan City suffered from ecosystem decline, with ecosystem performance on a downward trend from 2000 to 2020. Finally, the characterization factors of four ESs were appropriately incorporated into the life cycle impact assessment to drive the evolution in ecosystem performance calculations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)