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Continents are formed by the amalgamation of numerous micro-terranes and island arcs, so they have spatially varying lithosphere strengths. The Crεave;me brȗlée (CB) model and the Jelly sandwich (JS) model have been commonly used to describe continental lithosphere strength-depth variations. Depending on the strength of continental lower crust, the CB and JS models can be further subdivided into two subclasses, in which the I subclass (CB-I and JS-I) and II subclass (CB-II and JS-II) respectively have a strong or weak lower crust. During continental collision, lithosphere deformation is the byproduct of the comprehensive interaction of multiple terranes. Here we used 2-D thermo-mechanical numerical models that contain three continental terranes to systematically explore the effects of terranes with various strengths on continental deformation, and studied the effects of different rheological assumptions terrane deformation. We find four types of lithosphere deformation patterns: collision, subduction, thickening and delamination, and replacement. Lithosphere structures, especially local pre-existing weaknesses, also have nonnegligible influences on lithosphere deformation. These simulation patterns are seen in observed deformation patterns and structures in East Asia, suggesting they are likely to be naturally occurring modes of intracontinental orogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemlocks (Pinaceae: Tsuga) are widely distributed in North America and East Asia, forming a reticulate evolutionary structure in East Asia with significant ecological importance. To clarify the chloroplast genome characteristics and phylogenetic relationships among Tsuga species, we analyzed the chloroplast genomes of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis, T. chinensis, T. diversifolia, T. dumosa, T. forrestii, and T. sieboldii, performing associated phylogenetic analyses. The results reveal that the chloroplast genome lengths among the six Tsuga species vary from 120,520 to 121,010 bp, encompassing about 108 to 112 genes, including 35/32 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. A codon usage analysis highlighted a preference for A/U-ending codons, and all six nucleotide types have A/T bases and a prevalence of mononucleotides. Notably, all Tsuga species exhibit inverted repeat (IR) contractions and possess unique hexanucleotides absent in the other species of Pinaceae, potentially making them more susceptible to gene recombination or rearrangement during evolution. While most variations are observed in non-coding regions, particularly in intergenic fragments, substantial variation sites are also present within the genes. The phylogenetic tree, constructed using chloroplast genomes, substantiates the sister taxa relationship between Tsuga and Nothotsuga. Furthermore, it confirms that T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis exhibits a closer relationship with T. forrestii than with T. chinensis. These findings not only provide partial evidence that T. chinensis may not constitute a monophyletic species but also underscore the necessity of reevaluating the taxonomic status of T. chinensis var. tchekiangensis. In addition, while the RSCU cluster analysis is basically consistent with the phylogenetic analysis, it also highlights a distinct differentiation between Nothotsuga and Tsuga. This study not only provides molecular-level phylogenetic classification evidence of Pinaceous genera via chloroplast genome analyses but also offers compelling evidence for further exploring the relationships and species delimitation among the hemlocks of East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies suggested that fast‐decay El Niño events are more favorable in generating the western North Pacific anticyclone (WNPAC) in the decaying summer. However, we found that this is not the case for all fast‐decay El Niño events. By comparing two groups of fast‐decay El Niño events with significant and insignificant WNPAC in the following summer, we found that the westward extension of the equatorial Pacific cold sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) and the subtropical central‐north Pacific cold SSTA play important roles in the generation and intensification of the WNPAC during decaying summer. Further analyses indicated that the internal atmospheric mode—North Pacific Oscillation during boreal spring can affect the formation of the cold SSTA over the subtropical central‐north Pacific and the westward extension of the equatorial Pacific cold SSTA during summer. Additional effects of tropical Indian and Atlantic forcing on the maintenance of the WNPAC are also shown. Plain Language Summary: The boreal summer western North Pacific anticyclone (WNPAC) is an important low‐level circulation over the western Pacific, which can have great impacts on the East Asia climate. Previous studies pointed out that the fast‐decay El Niño events are favorable in inducing the WNPAC in the decaying summer. However, our observational and modeling results suggested that not all the fast‐decay El Niño events can generate WNPAC in the decaying summer. By dividing fast‐decay El Niño events into two groups, one with significant WNPAC in the following summer and the other without, we found that the difference in the equatorial Pacific cold sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) westward extension, the subtropical central‐northern Pacific cold SSTA and the tropical Indian/Atlantic warm SSTA are important in causing the diverse response of the WNPAC to the fast‐decay El Niño events during decaying summer. Further analyses indicated that the internal atmospheric mode—North Pacific Oscillation during boreal spring can affect the cold SSTA over the subtropical central‐north Pacific and the westward extension of the equatorial Pacific cold SSTA during boreal summer. The tropical Indian and Atlantic warming, can also directly influence the WNPAC intensity or feedback to the equatorial and subtropical Pacific cooling to influence the WNPAC. Key Points: Fast‐decay El Niño is more favorable in generating western North Pacific anticyclone (WNPAC) in the decaying summer but this is not the case for all fast‐decay El NiñoEquatorial Pacific, subtropical Pacific cold sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) and tropical Indian/Atlantic warm SSTA in summer are key to the diverse response of WNPACThe spring North Pacific Oscillation is important in causing the diverse equatorial and subtropical Pacific cold SSTA forcing in summer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present the first simultaneous assimilation of aerosol optical thicknesses (AOTs) over East Asia retrieved from two next‐generation geostationary satellites named Fengyun‐4A (FY‐4A) and Himawari‐8 with an advanced data assimilation system. A new stringent data‐control method is proposed to assimilate only the high quality aerosol products of FY‐4A. The AOTs retrieved from the two geostationary satellites are both comparable to the ground‐based observations over East Asia, and the FY‐4A provides twice the number of the Himawari‐8 AOT retrievals. Validations with independent observations demonstrate the joint assimilation significantly improve the aerosol analysis and forecast skill over East Asia especially in South China, reducing the model biases of 70% and 40%. The aerosol model performances at 95% independent 61 ground‐based sites are more benefited from joint assimilation than single‐sensor assimilation. This demonstrates the high impact and innovative application of joint assimilation technique in the air quality modeling. Plain Language Summary: Fengyun‐4A (FY‐4A) and Himawari‐8, China's and Japan's next‐generation geostationary satellites, can both provide the aerosol monitoring with high temporal‐spatial resolution. However, the coverage areas and sampling numbers from only one geostationary satellite are still insufficient to dramatically advance the aerosol performance. In this study, we present the first application of aerosol optical thicknesses retrieved from FY‐4A and Himawari‐8 to reveal the benefits of joint assimilation on the aerosol forecast and analysis performances over East Asia. Key Points: A new quality‐control method making the best quality of Fengyun‐4A aerosol products for data assimilation is proposedIt is the first attempt to simultaneously assimilate aerosol optical thicknesses (AOTs) from two geostationary satellites with an advanced data assimilation systemJointly assimilating AOTs of two geostationary satellites significantly enhances model performances over East Asia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C warming experiments of Community Earth System Model, this study documents future changes in the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and associated monsoon precipitation. The model reproduces reasonably well the climatology of East Asian summer rainfall. All ensemble means show an increase in EASM intensity and associated precipitation over most parts of the East Asian region in 1.5 °C "never-exceed" (1.5degNE), 1.5 °C "overshoot" (1.5degOS), and 2.0 °C (2.0degNE) experiments. There is no significant difference in the future changes in EASM intensity, EASM precipitation, and its location among the three scenarios. A moisture budget analysis demonstrates that the increased precipitation over East Asia in three scenarios should be ascribed to the changes in evaporation, vertical motion, and humidity. The contributions of these three dominant terms increase sequentially under 1.5degNE, 1.5degOS, and 2degNE scenarios. However, the differences among the three scenarios are quite small in three dominant terms. Over East Asia, the contributions of evaporation and vertical motion are generally larger than that of humidity to the domain-averaged EASM rainfall in each scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study comprehensively analyzed the trend of conduct disorder burden at the global, regional, and national levels. • Globally, the conduct disorder burden, as measured by prevalence, slightly increased from 1990 to 2019. • Males had a higher burden than females, but females had a greater increment than males over time. • In 2019, the highest conduct disorder burden was observed in Western Europe, followed by Eastern Europe. • The most significant increment in conduct disorder burden was observed in high-income North America, followed by East Asia and South Asia. Conduct disorder is one of the least widely recognized and studied psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the burden of conduct disorder at the global, regional, and national levels based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 estimates. Globally, the age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs) of conduct disorder slightly increased from 1990 to 2019 with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) at 0.147. Males had a higher burden than females, but females had a greater increment in ASPRs than males over time. In 2019, the highest ASPR of conduct disorder was observed in Western Europe, followed by Eastern Europe, with the lowest one found in East Asia, then South Asia. However, the most significant increment in ASPRs was observed in high-income North America, followed by East Asia, and South Asia. The EAPCs at the national level were negatively associated with the ASPRs in 1990. The burden of conduct disorder continues to increase globally, especially in high-income North America, East Asia, and South Asia, and should have more attention focused on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a study of the effects of thinning on East Asian subtropical plantation forest diversity, using a comparison of spider communities and guild composition in Chamaecyparis formosensis forests in central Taiwan. It says that thinning practices alter the understory vegetation structures in a subtropical C. formosensis plantation, despite not increasing its species richness. Moreover, this alteration can increase habitat heterogeneity and spider diversity.

Podocarpium is an extinct genus in Fabaceae with rich fossil records in Eurasia dating back to the Eocene. However, the diversification and biogeographic histories of Podocarpium are poorly known due to a lack of fossils in some key regions, such as the Tibetan Plateau, an area recently shown to be crucial for floristic exchanges worldwide in the geological past. Here, we describe well-preserved fossil pods of Podocarpium from the late Eocene (~ 35 Ma) of the Lunpola Basin, central Tibetan Plateau, China. Together with detailed morphological observation and geometric morphology analysis, these fossil pods are named Podocarpium tibeticum W.-C. Li, J. Huang et T. Su sp. nov., characterized by asymmetrical elliptical valves, olecranon fruit beak, and a clearly oblique base. This material comprises the oldest fossil record of Podocarpium from the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions. The discovery of P. tibeticum shows Podocarpium was present in central Tibet by the late Eocene. Together with previous fossil records, it indicates that Podocarpium may have originated in East Asia, migrated into the central valley of Tibet in the late Eocene, and then spread westward to Europe through a low-latitude path of island chains along the Neotethys. Results of paleoecological niche modeling demonstrate that Podocarpium had an almost worldwide potential distribution range in the Eocene, but this sharply contracted thereafter until by the Pliocene it was restricted to a small area of East Asia. Generally, this finding further supports the idea that what is now the central Tibetan Plateau was a globally significant hub for Paleogene floristic exchange. • First report of Podocarpium in central Tibetan Plateau. • Shows a new fossil pod species of Podocarpium. • Enhances understanding of its historic distribution globally. • Podocarpium is sensitive for dry and cool climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]