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Prevalent PET imaging reconstructs 2γ-photon pairs emitted after an annihilation from para-positronium (p-Ps) and rejects 3γ events from ortho-positronium (o-Ps) as noises. The 3γ/2γ decay ratio is ~ 3/7 in human body theoretically but in fact significantly lower due to pick-off process, hence PET imaging quality is well controlled. In a PET-MR hybrid unit, the MR magnetic field alters positronium decay patterns through magnetic quenching: all o-Ps and excited p-Ps states are split into finer quantum states under strong magnetic field, thus transitions between some triplet and singlet finer states (mz = 0) were no longer forbidden, thus some o-Ps converts to p-Ps spontaneously by emitting hyperfine split (HFS) photons, which also drops 3γ/2γ ratio hence helps PET imaging quality. However, inverse magnetic quenching might also occur if any external source of HFS frequencies is nearby, thus many p-Ps convert to o-Ps by absorbing those HFS photons (induced HFS transitions). This will dramatically increase 3γ/2γ ratio and hence degrade PET imaging quality instantaneously. The HFS spectrum lies in a broad range of microwaves, from 0.02 to 200 GHz. To prevent inverse magnetic quenching, it is necessary to block external microwave sources outside the hybrid vault, by adding a thin metal layer at all directions of the vault. This could be achieved by adopting the metallic Faraday Cage, which was originally for MR shielding, with possible amendment if necessary. The frequencies of excitation pulses in MR imaging overlap with HFS spectrum, however, the chance for mutual interference during hybrid imaging is small, hence there seems no need to veto each other during hybrid scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscoelastic dislocation theory is important to understanding fundamental geodynamics and validating numerical models in the study of earthquake deformation. Available mathematical solutions differ in assumed Earth geometry and formulation of gravity terms, but the main challenge they commonly face is Inverse Laplace Transform (ILT). Limitations in previously used ILT methods tend to degrade the performance and/or accuracy of the solutions. To overcome these limitations, we have derived new Green's functions for a layered spherical Earth based on the Fixed‐Talbot ILT method. The new solution uses a precise density‐gravity relation, includes pre‐stress advection, buoyancy, and self‐gravitation, invokes the bi‐viscous Burgers rheology, and yields deformational and gravitational changes both at the surface and in the interior of the Earth. The Fixed‐Talbot ILT method, which involves a left‐open parabolic integration path in the complex plane, greatly improves computing efficiency and allows convenient use of a large number of Earth layers. Comparison with other existing solutions demonstrates the excellent performance of the new solution. Taking the postseismic deformation of the 2004 Sumatra Mw 9.2 earthquake as an example, we illustrate how to integrate numerically our Green's functions to represent realistic slip distribution over a three‐dimensionally curved fault. The combination of computational efficiency, mathematical completeness in modeling gravitational effects, adaptability to any radial structure of the Earth, and ability to provide results at any depth including the surface enables a powerful tool for forward and inverse modeling of viscoelastic earthquake cycles in a self‐gravitating spherical Earth. Plain Language Summary: Because of Earth's viscoelastic behavior, earthquake‐induced deformational and gravitational changes evolve with time, providing important geodetic signals for the study of earthquake processes. Precise mathematical solutions to describe these changes can be obtained for laterally uniform Earth models, but the efficiency, adaptability, and/or accuracy of the solutions are often hindered by limitations in a key step of deriving these solutions: the Inverse Laplace Transform (ILT). In this work, we derive a new solution by using an advanced method, termed the Fixed‐Talbot method, for the ILT. Our solutions differ from most other available solutions also in the precise formulation of the density‐gravity relation and full inclusion of all the gravity effects. By numerically comparing with other existing solutions, we demonstrate the excellent performance and advantages of the new solution. Using the postseismic deformation of the 2004 Sumatra Mw 9.2 earthquake as an example, we illustrate how to handle arbitrary slip distributions on a three‐dimensionally curved subduction megathrust by numerically integrating the point‐source solution. The new solution provides a powerful and convenient tool for modeling earthquake cycles. Key Points: New solution for deformation and gravitation response of self‐gravitating, viscoelastic, and layered spherical Earth to shear dislocationFixed‐Talbot method for inverse Laplace transform improves efficiency, adaptability, and accuracy of earthquake deformation modelingExamples provided to demonstrate solution performance for complex Earth stratification and distributed slip on 3D‐curved megathrust fault [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem conditions at the regional level are critical factors for environmental management, public awareness, and land use decision making. Regional ecosystem conditions may be examined from the perspectives of ecosystem health, vulnerability, and security, as well as other conceptual frameworks. Vigor, organization, and resilience (VOR) and pressure–stress–response (PSR) are two commonly adopted conceptual models for indicator selection and organization. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is primarily used to determine model weights and indicator combinations. Although there have been many successful efforts in assessing regional ecosystems, they remain affected by a lack of spatially explicit data, weak integration of natural and human dimensions, and uncertain data quality and analyses. In the future, regional ecosystem condition assessments may be advanced by incorporating recent improvements in spatial big data and machine learning to create more operative indicators based on Earth observations and social metrics. The collaboration between ecologists, remote sensing scientists, data analysts, and scientists in other relevant disciplines is critical for the success of future assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic prediction is an effective way to accelerate the rate of agronomic trait improvement in plants. Traditional methods typically use linear regression models with clear assumptions; such methods are unable to capture the complex relationships between genotypes and phenotypes. Non-linear models (e.g., deep neural networks) have been proposed as a superior alternative to linear models because they can capture complex non-additive effects. Here we introduce a deep learning (DL) method, deep neural network genomic prediction (DNNGP), for integration of multi-omics data in plants. We trained DNNGP on four datasets and compared its performance with methods built with five classic models: genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP); two methods based on a machine learning (ML) framework, light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) and support vector regression (SVR); and two methods based on a DL framework, deep learning genomic selection (DeepGS) and deep learning genome-wide association study (DLGWAS). DNNGP is novel in five ways. First, it can be applied to a variety of omics data to predict phenotypes. Second, the multilayered hierarchical structure of DNNGP dynamically learns features from raw data, avoiding overfitting and improving the convergence rate using a batch normalization layer and early stopping and rectified linear activation (rectified linear unit) functions. Third, when small datasets were used, DNNGP produced results that are competitive with results from the other five methods, showing greater prediction accuracy than the other methods when large-scale breeding data were used. Fourth, the computation time required by DNNGP was comparable with that of commonly used methods, up to 10 times faster than DeepGS. Fifth, hyperparameters can easily be batch tuned on a local machine. Compared with GBLUP, LightGBM, SVR, DeepGS and DLGWAS, DNNGP is superior to these existing widely used genomic selection (GS) methods. Moreover, DNNGP can generate robust assessments from diverse datasets, including omics data, and quickly incorporate complex and large datasets into usable models, making it a promising and practical approach for straightforward integration into existing GS platforms. The application of deep learning to plant breeding is an active area of research. This work reports a new method, DNNGP, for prediction of quantitative traits from multi-omics data in the context of genomic selection in plants. DNNGP performs as well as or better than several commonly used methods in a broad range of tasks. The insights gained through the development, testing, and application of DNNGP can benefit genomics applications of deep learning in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following great subduction earthquakes, postseismic deformation of coastal areas shows consistent seaward motion but complex vertical deformation. Understanding both the horizontal and vertical components in the same geodynamic framework presents challenges. Here, by modeling short‐term (a few years) postseismic viscoelastic relaxation (VER) and afterslip following synthetic and real subduction earthquakes, we demonstrate that the complexity of the vertical deformation can be explained in simple terms. Along a margin‐normal profile, VER results in an up‐down‐up trisegment, long‐wavelength pattern common to most megathrust earthquakes, including near‐trench uplift, midway subsidence, and near‐arc uplift, with locations controlled by coseismic fault slip. The magnitude of the first two segments is controlled mainly by oceanic mantle viscosity, and the third by mantle wedge viscosity. In contrast with VER, afterslip results in an up‐down bimodal pattern of variable wavelengths specific to individual earthquakes. Its site‐specific and heterogeneous nature is primarily responsible for the complexity in vertical deformation, but its effect can be adequately modeled using a simple elastic model. If the coast is near the megathrust rupture zone, variable combinations of the VER and afterslip effects lead to either uplift or subsidence. If the coast is in the near‐arc segment of VER deformation, uplift usually occurs. Modeling the common VER process enables the identification of site‐specific afterslip, which helps to understand the mechanism of afterslip in the context of the broad spectrum of fault slip behavior. Our results also have important implications to deciphering coastal paleoseismic records to constrain coseismic versus postseismic deformation of ancient earthquakes. Plain Language Summary: How the Earth surface deforms after great subduction earthquakes yields important information on the physical properties of the mantle and the megathrust fault. A few years after these earthquakes, postseismic deformation of coastal areas shows consistent seaward motion but complex vertical deformation. Our work is focused on understanding this complexity. The postseismic deformation consists of two components. One is due to the gradual response of the mantle, called viscoelastic relaxation, and the other is due to the continuing slip of the megathrust around the rupture zone, called afterslip. We show that the two components have different spatiotemporal characteristics governed by different parameters of the subduction zone system. The combined effects of the two components at different distances from the earthquake rupture zone explain the observed complexity. Understanding the mechanisms of postseismic deformation helps us to understand mantle and fault properties and to properly interpret geological data that constrain deformation due to ancient earthquakes. Key Points: Viscoelastic relaxation (VER) after great subduction earthquakes generates a common up‐down‐up postseismic deformation pattern from trench to arcSite‐specific, heterogenous afterslip causes complexity of coastal vertical postseismic deformation, depending on coast‐rupture distanceSeparately modeling VER and afterslip helps to understand rheology, fault slip behavior, and paleoseismic records [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GNSS on Vancouver Island showed up to 1 cm southeastward postseismic motion. • This far-field postseismic deformation lasted only for 2 – 3 years. • Upper-mantle transient rheology explains the short-lived postseismic deformation. • The lithosphere acted as stress guide against resistance of the asthenosphere. • The observations require the transient rheology to extend to large depths. The Mw 7.8 2012 Haida Gwaii earthquake and the Mw 7.5 2013 Craig earthquake occurred along the Queen Charlotte transpressive margin, two months and 340 km apart. On and near Vancouver Island, hundreds of kilometres southeast of the two events, many continuous Global Navigation Satellite Systems sites underwent no discernable coseismic motion but up to 1 cm southeast postseismic motion (away from epicenters) which lasted for only 2 – 3 years. To resolve the postseismic signal of the two earthquakes, we used a minimum of four years of measurements before the Haida Gwaii earthquake to remove the longer-term motion of these sites that reflect mainly the locking of the Cascadia megathrust. To study the geodynamic process that governed the observed far-field postseismic motion, in particular its short duration, we employ a model of an elastic lithosphere with thickness 20 km and rigidity (μ E) 32 GPa overlying Burgers-viscoelastic mantle layers in a self-gravitating spherical Earth which captures the regionally integrated effect of Earth rheology despite the complex and controversial tectonics of the study area. We find that the short-lived far-field postseismic motion was controlled entirely by the transient rheology. The observations can be explained by a steady-state (Maxwell) viscosity η M of the upper mantle no lower than 1 × 10 19 Pa s with a transient (Kelvin) viscosity η K of about 6 × 10 17 Pa s (Kelvin relaxation time τ K ∼1.2 years) extending to large depths such as > 400 km. The far-field postseismic deformation is the result of the elastic plate serving as a stress guide but resisted by the asthenospheric mantle undergoing transient creep. The lithosphere-asthenosphere coupling is quantified by a "plate Kelvin response time" τ K E = η K / μ E. Rheological parameters can be scaled to other values, but as long as τ K and τ K E stay unchanged, the far-field deformation results remain the same. Our observations presented a unique opportunity to quantify the effect of the transient rheology separately from that of the steady-state rheology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A weak LAB beneath the slab affects deformation following megathrust earthquakes. • Stress relaxation in the low-viscosity LAB enhances landward motion beyond rupture. • Observed deformation can be explained by a thin LAB of low viscosity (<1 × 1017 Pa s). • The preferred LAB thickness of 10 km or less agrees with seismological inferences. • Mechanical effect of LAB with heterogeneous melt distribution deserves further study. The rheology of the seismically imaged Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary (LAB) is an important new question in plate tectonics. If the LAB is associated with ponding of partial melts as inferred from many seismic studies, it should have a low viscosity that minimizes resistance to plate motion and subduction. Here, we propose that recently observed postseismic enhanced landward motion (ELM) in coastal areas outside the rupture zone of large subduction earthquakes provides the first geodetic evidence for a low-viscosity LAB beneath subducting oceanic lithosphere. Using three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element models, we demonstrate that a low-viscosity LAB readily leads to postseismic ELM over broad coastal areas far beyond the rupture zone. If the LAB thickness is assumed to be 10 km, key spatiotemporal characteristics of the observed ELM can be well explained by an LAB viscosity of 5 × 1016 Pa s, orders of magnitude lower than typical asthenospheric viscosities. A thicker LAB such as 20 km with a higher viscosity may also explain the postseismic ELM but is incompatible with existing, albeit limited, near-field vertical deformation observations. The small thickness and the low viscosity of the model LAB are consistent with inferences from seismological observations and support the notion of ponding melts. Our preliminary weak-LAB models also predict diagnostic deformation features that can be tested by future onshore and offshore geodetic observations. Whether a weak LAB is ubiquitously present before and after plate subduction and how its presence and spatial heterogeneity impact postseismic and plate-scale deformation are important research targets for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophysical observations including surface heat flow data indicate the subducting slab becomes fully coupled to the overlying mantle wedge at ∼70–80 km depth. This maximum depth of decoupling (MDD) separates cool, stagnant forearc mantle from warmer, convecting mantle capable of generating arc magmas. Thermodynamic calculations demonstrate that talc is stable in H2O‐undersaturated parts of the mantle wedge where its stability is controlled by the pressure‐dependent, fluid‐absent reaction: talc + forsterite = antigorite + enstatite, which occurs at pressures ∼2–2.5 GPa (∼70–80 km depth) and temperatures <650°C. At shallower depths, H2O‐undersaturated portions of the basal mantle wedge contain talc, which experimental studies show dramatically weakens rocks. At greater depths, talc is restricted to silica‐rich portions of the mantle wedge. The common MDD in subduction zones may reflect the downdip transition from a talc‐present decoupled shear zone to a talc‐absent fully coupled interface along the base of the mantle wedge. Plain Language Summary: In many subduction zones, the relative strength of the plate interface compared to the overlying mantle changes dramatically at 70–80 km depth. At shallower levels, the interface acts as a weak shear zone decoupling the subducting plate from the overlying cool, stagnant mantle. At deeper levels, the strength of the shear zone increases such that subducting plate drives convection in the overlying mantle creating the high temperatures needed for arc magmatism. We propose the change in interface strength may be related to the stability of talc, a very weak mineral, in the forearc mantle. At shallower levels, talc is stable in a wide range of H2O‐undersaturated mantle compositions. At deeper levels, the stability field of talc is dramatically reduced and restricted to silica‐rich regions of the mantle. Key Points: Talc, a very weak mineral, is stable in H2O‐undersaturated ultramafic (mantle) rocks at P < ∼2–2.5 GPa (70–80 km depth) and T < ∼650°CAt pressures greater than ∼2–2.5 GPa, talc breaks down via the P‐dependent reaction: talc + forsterite = antigorite + enstatiteThe breakdown of talc may explain the change in subduction‐interface rheology at 70–80 km depth where full slab‐mantle coupling begins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The fractional vegetation cover in the Yellow River Basin showed an increasing trend. • The soil erosion in the in the study area increased from 1999 to 2010, and the soil erosion improved significantly from 2010 to 2018. • The soil erosion intensity varied with land use, fractional vegetation coverage. • Fractional vegetation coverage is the most explanatory factor of soil erosion in the study area. Soil erosion is a serious and complex environmental problem, which directly leads to soil degradation and reduces land productivity. Analyzing the effect of vegetation restoration on soil erosion is the main way to quantitatively evaluate the contribution of vegetation restoration to soil erosion in semi-arid. This study utilized the RUSLE model and Geodetector method to quantitatively characterize the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil erosion and the contribution of FVC to erosion mitigation in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) since the implementation of the Grain for Green Project (GGP). The main findings are concluded as follows: (1) The fractional vegetation cover (FVC) in the YRB showed an overall increasing trend, with an average annual change rate of 0.006 a−1. (2) Soil erosion in YRB increased from 1999 to 2010, with a 10% increase in soil erosion intensity, and from 2010 to 2018, soil erosion improved significantly with a 31% decrease in soil erosion. The severe erosion areas were mainly concentrated in the Loess Plateau (LP) and the source area of the Yellow River (YR), which generally showed northeast-southwest banding changes. (3) FVC has a relatively stronger explanatory power for soil erosion in the YRB. FVC explained 5% of soil erosion, but the combination of FVC and land use, as well as the combination of FVC and slope, collectively explained 47% of soil erosion. The ecology of the YRB greatly benefits from the implementation of the GGP and other water conservation projects. But there are still necessities to formulate targeted soil and water conservation measures base on careful investigation of local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River-connected lakes with floodplain characteristics have substantial effects on terrestrial hydrologic cycles and are highly sensitive to external disturbances; thus, large-scale hydraulic projects are often constructed in such lakes to mitigate problems in the water environment. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of the water environment in river-connected lakes and the differences in the water environment before and after the hydraulic project operation have received little attention. Here, a well-established coupled hydrodynamic–water quality model was applied to estimate the effects of the Chenglingji Sluice (CS) operation on the hydrodynamic features and water quality of Dongting Lake, a typical river-connected lake in China. The model successfully reproduced the water level and water quality dynamics of Dongting Lake, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.29–1.24 m for water level and a Mean Relative Error (MRE) of 5.76–10.28% and 6.25–8.14% for total nitrogen (TN) and permanganate index (COD Mn), respectively. The spatiotemporal fluctuation of lake water levels was observed over different hydrological periods. Water quality varied considerably spatially, with considerable pollution in East Dongting Lake and the Xiang River inlet. Concentrations of NH 3 -N (ammonia nitrogen), TN, and total phosphorus (TP) first decreased and then increased during the study period, whereas COD Mn concentrations displayed the opposite trend. After the CS operation, the water level increased to 27.11 m and the water surface area increased by 19.29% in the dry period; furthermore, the water quality in the CS operation scenario had low concentrations compared to that of the baseline scenario in the dry period, with concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 0.24 mg/L for TN, 0.001 to 0.015 mg/L for TP, 0.006 to 0.09 mg/L for NH 3 -N, and 0.02 to 0.22 mg/L for COD M , effectively improving the water environment of Dongting Lake. However, the subsequent reaction of the lake environment to changes in hydrological conditions after the CS operation requires further attention. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a low-cost high-performance axial flux Vernier machine (AFVM) with soft magnetic composite (SMC) cores and ferrite magnet is proposed, analyzed and optimized. By cooperating with spoke magnet rotor configuration and 3D magnetic flux stator structure, the proposed AFVM can output higher torque compared with the traditional permanent magnet machine though low-cost low-energy-density ferrite magnet and low-permeability SMC material are adopted. The main electromagnetic topology and operation principle of the proposed AFVM are introduced; then, its main dimensions are investigated and optimized by using sequential optimization method. Moreover, a new multilevel Taguchi design optimization which is an improvement of multilevel optimization is proposed for the torque and power factor optimization. Lastly, its main performance of AFVM optimized by the sequential optimization method and multilevel Taguchi design optimization method has been compared with a normal axial flux machine in terms of torque ability, power factor and efficiency based on 3D finite element method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What controls subduction megathrust seismogenesis downdip of the mantle wedge corner (MWC)? We propose that, in the region of the 2010 Mw = 8.8 Maule, Chile, earthquake, serpentine minerals derived from the base of the hydrated mantle wedge exert a dominant control. Based on modeling, we predict that the megathrust fault zone near the MWC contains abundant lizardite/chrysotile‐rich serpentinite that transforms to antigorite‐rich serpentinite at greater depths. From the MWC at 32–40 km depth to at least 55 km, the predominantly velocity‐strengthening megathrust accommodated dynamic propagation of the 2010 rupture but with small slip and negative stress drop. The downdip distribution of interplate aftershocks exhibits a gap around the MWC that can be explained by the velocity‐strengthening behavior of lizardite/chrysotile. Interspersed velocity‐weakening and dynamic weakening antigorite‐rich patches farther downdip may be responsible for increased abundance of aftershocks and possibly for some of the high‐frequency energy radiation during the 2010 rupture. Plain Language Summary: A subduction megathrust rupture may extend from the trench to beneath populated coastal area. To understand what controls the megathrust seismogenic behavior of its deeper part, we conduct a case study of the 2010 magnitude 8.8 Maule, Chile, earthquake and its aftershocks. With numerical thermal modeling, we find that the deep seisomogenic behavior may be controlled by serpentine materials derived from the base of the overlying hydrated mantle wedge. The deep part of the megathrust ruptured "passively" against increasing resistance (negative stress drop). Lower‐temperature serpentines lizardite and chrysotile that are known to facilitate aseismic slip may be responsible for an observed gap in aftershock distribution in the downdip direction. Higher‐temperature serpentine antigorite that is known to facilitate seismic slip may be responsible for increased aftershocks farther downdip and possibly radiation of high‐frequency energy during the 2010 Maule earthquake. Key Points: Seismogenic behavior of subduction megathrust may be affected by materials derived from the base of the serpentinized forearc mantle wedgeThermopetrologic modeling suggests abundance of lizardite and chrysotile around the mantle wedge corner but antigorite farther downdipSerpentine frictional behavior may explain distributions of stress drop and seismic energy radiation in 2010 rupture and aftershocks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localized geodetic deformation of arctan shape around locked strike‐slip faults is widely reported, but there are also important exceptions showing distributed deformation. Understanding the controlling mechanism is important to hazard assessment and geodynamic analysis. Here we use simple finite element viscoelastic earthquake cycle models to investigate the basic mechanics of this process. Our models feature a vertical strike‐slip fault in an elastic layer overlying a viscoelastic substrate of Maxwell or Burgers rheology, with or without a low‐viscosity shear zone representing deeper extension of the fault. We demonstrate that the primary control on the localization of interseismic deformation is the recurrence interval of past earthquakes. Given viscosity, shorter recurrence leads to greater localization, regardless of the rheological model used. The presence of a low‐viscosity deep fault does not change this conclusion, although it tends to lessen localization by promoting faster postseismic stress relaxation. Distributed deformation, although less reported, is a natural consequence of very long recurrence and in theory should be as common as localized deformation. We think that the apparent propensity of the latter is likely associated with the much greater quantity and better quality of geodetic observations from higher‐rate and shorter‐recurrence faults. Our results also show the important role of nearby earthquakes along the same fault. For faults of relatively short recurrence, frequent ruptures of nearby segments, modeled using a migrating rupture sequence, further enhance localization. For faults of very long recurrence, faster near‐fault deformation induced by a recent earthquake may give a false impression of localized interseismic deformation. Key Points: Shorter earthquake recurrence intervals lead to more localized interseismic deformation; long recurrence leads to distributed deformationRecent rupture of currently locked segment, or of other nearby segments of the same fault, enhances localized deformationApparent universality of localized deformation may owe to abundance of data from shorter‐recurrence faults with recent earthquakes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multimodal workflow for mass spectrometry imaging was developed that combines MALDI imaging with protein identification and quantification by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Thin tissue sections were analyzed by MALDI imaging, and the regions of interest (ROI) were identified using a smoothing and edge detection procedure. A midinfrared laser at 3‐μm wavelength was used to remove the ROI from the brain tissue section after MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI). The captured material was processed using a single‐pot solid‐phase‐enhanced sample preparation (SP3) method and analyzed by LC‐MS/MS using ion mobility (IM) enhanced data independent acquisition (DIA) to identify and quantify proteins; more than 600 proteins were identified. Using a modified database that included isoform and the post‐translational modifications chain, loss of the initial methionine, and acetylation, 14 MALDI MSI peaks were identified. Comparison of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the identified proteins was achieved through an evolutionary relationships classification system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In southern Kurile, interseismic contraction observed with Global Navigation Satellite Systems is faster in the volcanic arc than in the forearc. Here, we use a viscoelastic finite element model to investigate the physical process responsible for the localized deformation. On the basis of thermal and seismic observations that suggest the volcanic arc and backarc to be more compliant than a typical continental lithosphere, we assume a lower rigidity and/or smaller thickness for the arc and backarc. We find that the interseismic observations require the volcanic arc to be very compliant and the backarc to be moderately compliant. The trade‐off between lower rigidity and smaller thickness cannot be resolved by interseismic observations alone, but coseismic observations can help to set a lower limit for the rigidity. Our results indicate that properly accounting for the long‐wavelength lithospheric heterogeneity is important to accurately inferring megathrust locking state from geodetic observations. Plain Language Summary: When the megathrust of a subduction zone is locked, the neighboring crust is shortened like a spring to build up energy for future earthquakes. GPS monitoring of the rate of shortening helps us identify the locked zone. In Hokkaido, however, the rate of shortening is larger in the area hosting a chain of volcanoes, called the volcanic arc. To explain what amplifies the shortening rate, we use computer models to investigate the effect of the lateral variations in the properties of the crust. We find that the faster shortening occurs because the arc area, and to a lesser degree the area farther away from the trench, is more compliant, that is, it offers less resistance to the lateral compression due to megathrust locking. The greater compliance is consistent with what can be inferred from heat flow and seismic imaging in this area. Our results indicate that, in order to accurately infer megathrust locking from GPS observations, we must include the greater compliance in our model. Key Points: Interseismic GNSS velocities in southern Kurile suggest low rigidity and/or thin lithosphere in the arc and, to a lesser degree, backarcInterseismic data cannot resolve trade‐off between rigidity and thickness, but coseismic data provide additional constraints on rigidityAddressing the effect of compliant arc‐back area will greatly improve the estimate of megathrust locking state [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Vegetation change dominated by inter-annual variation and long-term trend. • Variation increases with increasing relief, decreases with increasing timescale. • Vegetation change is positive for maximum, negative for minimum temperature. • Maximum temperature mainly controls inter-annual vegetation variation. Despite numerous studies on the response of vegetation change to climate variation, they have mainly been based on annual mean temperature and annual mean precipitation, and have failed to reveal the impact of climate on the inter-annual variation of vegetation in different geomorphic zones based on non-linear methods and considering daily low and high temperature. In this study, the effect of climate variation on the inter-annual variation of vegetation in different geomorphic zones along the area of t the Yangtze River Basin, China from 1982 to 2015 is revealed using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition method. The results show that the inter-annual variation of vegetation is frequently fluctuating, mainly on a short time scale (3-year time scale), and its contribution gradually increases from 62.35% to 73.57% with increasing relief (from plain to high undulating mountain). The vegetation change of more than 75% of the areas is dominated by inter-annual variations, moreover, the vegetation change of the low relief areas is dominated by the 3-year timescale along with the long-term trend, while that of the other geomorphic zones is dominated by the 3-year timescale only. Inter-annual vegetation variation is positively related to precipitation and maximum temperature, but negatively related to mean temperature and minimum temperature in most areas, with area percentages of 67.20%, 86.55%, 65.38% and 75.02%. Inter-annual variation is mainly controlled by maximum temperature in most areas (54.77%). These results will deepen our understanding of the vegetation-climate relationship, suggesting that the responses of inter-annual variation in vegetation to climate vary not only on different time scales, but also in indifferent geomorphic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal structure of subduction zones controls many important processes such as metamorphic devolatilization, arc magmatism, and seismicity. However, the thermal state of subducted oceanic slab predicted by subduction zone thermal models down to ∼80 km depth is systematically cooler than inferred from exhumed metamorphic slab rocks, raising questions about the current understanding of subduction dynamics portrayed by these models. Upon synthesizing previous petrological studies and estimating slab ages of ancient subduction zones from metamorphic terranes, we think that exhumation of subducted oceanic metamorphic rocks is extremely rare and likely requires unusual processes that are not an integral component of normal subduction dynamics. We construct simple numerical scenarios to illustrate how the thermal regime under some unusual conditions at the beginning and ending stages of a subduction margin may deviate from the normal subduction process. At the beginning stage of subduction, a shallow maximum decoupling depth (MDD) between the slab and mantle wedge enables viscous mantle wedge flow to reach a shallow depth, bringing heat to make slab rocks warmer than in a mature subduction zone. At the ending stage of subduction, if subduction cessation is in the form of slab stalling and if the stalled slab is not immediately exhumed, the slab rocks can be warmed up by the heat from the warm mantle wedge and underlying asthenosphere. In either situation, the slab rocks can be much warmer than normal before they are exhumed by other dynamic processes. Observed exhumed rocks are not expected to represent the normal subduction process and should not be directly compared with thermal models that are designed for the normal process. To extract important information about general geodynamic processes from these rocks, we must first understand the processes these rocks went through. • Exhumed metamorphic oceanic rocks are derived from very young to very old slabs. • Exhumed slab rocks likely represent conditions not typical of normal subduction. • The rocks may not be directly comparable with models designed for normal subduction. • Shallow mantle wedge flow can make slab rocks hot at the beginning of subduction. • Warming of stalled slab can make slab rocks hot at the ending of subduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract RNA was obtained from discrete locations of frozen rat brain tissue sections through infrared (IR) laser ablation using a 3-μm wavelength in transmission geometry. The ablated plume was captured in a microcentrifuge tube containing RNAse-free buffer and processed using a commercial RNA purification kit. RNA transfer efficiency and integrity were evaluated based on automated electrophoresis in microfluidic chips. Reproducible IR-laser ablation of intact RNA was demonstrated with purified RNA at laser fluences of 3–5 kJ/m2 (72 ± 12% transfer efficiency) and with tissue sections at a laser fluence of 13 kJ/m2 (79 ± 14% transfer efficiency); laser energies were attenuated ∼20% by the soda-lime glass slides used to support the samples. RNA integrity from tissue ablation was >90% of its original RIN value (∼7) and the purified RNA was sufficiently intact for conversion to cDNA and subsequent qPCR assay. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Localized RNA microsampling from tissue using IR laser ablation capture. • RNA sampling efficiency 75%. • RNA integrity >90% after laser ablation. • Captured RNA used for cDNA synthesis and mRNA quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rupture‐zone averaged static stress drop in the 2011 M=9 Tohoku‐Oki earthquake was less than 5 MPa, but it caused a stress reversal in most of the offshore forearc, although the reversal is less well constrained far offshore by earthquake mechanisms because of 20‐ to 30‐km errors in event depths. Using a finite element model of force balance, we demonstrate that the stress reversal unambiguously indicates (1) a very weak subduction megathrust and (2) very low differential stresses in the forearc. Prior to the reversal, the upper limit of megathrust strength could not be determined from forearc stresses. In the forearc, effects of megathrust friction and gravity are in a fragile balance, and stresses fluctuate around a neutral state in earthquake cycles. If most of the offshore forearc is to be compressive before but extensional after the earthquake, the effective friction coefficient of the megathrust must be ~0.032. Under low differential stresses associated with megathrust weakness, the forearc is generally well below yielding. Applying the concepts of dynamic Coulomb wedge, we show that the inner wedge, and by inference farther landward, stays stable throughout earthquake cycles. The outer wedge is stable most of the time but may occasionally enter a critical state during great earthquakes; its geometry suggests that complete stress drop of the underlying shallow megathrust is unlikely to have happened. We reason that the occurrence of earthquakes and active faulting under low stress in the stable forearc is due to heterogeneities in structure, stress, and/or pore fluid pressure. Key Points: Stress reversal in offshore forearc due to the Tohoku‐Oki earthquake indicates weak subduction megathrust with effective friction ~0.032Most of the forearc is under very low differential stress and is stable throughout subduction earthquake cycles except the outer wedgeEarthquakes and active faulting in a strong and stable forearc reflect heterogeneities in structure, stress, and/or pore fluid pressure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared (IR) laser ablation at 3 μm wavelength was used to extract enzymes from tissue and quantitatively determine their activity. Experiments were conducted with trypsin, which was ablated, captured and then used to digest bovine serum albumin (BSA). BSA digests were evaluated using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) and sequence coverage of 59% was achieved. Quantification was performed using trypsin and catalase standards and rat brain tissue by fluorescence spectroscopy. Both enzymes were reproducibly transferred with an efficiency of 75 ± 8% at laser fluences between 10 and 30 kJ/m 2 . Trypsin retained 37 ± 2% of its activity and catalase retained 50 ± 7%. The activity of catalase from tissue was tested using three consecutive 50 μm thick rat brain sections. Two 4 mm 2 regions were ablated and captured from the cortex and cerebellum regions. The absolute catalase concentration in the two regions was consistent with previously published data, demonstrating transfer of intact enzymes from tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a viscoelastic Earth, stresses slowly built up due to fault locking are relaxed concurrently during the entire interseismic period. This interseismic stress relaxation causes crustal deformation much farther away from the locked fault than can be explained using elastic models that neglect the relaxation. Here we develop a viscoelastic geodetic inversion model to address this problem at Cascadia. We invert ~500 horizontal velocity vectors based on continuous and campaign geodetic measurements over the past two decades. Ambiguities arising from long‐term rotation of upper‐plate crustal blocks are addressed by test‐correcting the geodetic velocities with two different block‐motion models. Fault back slip (i.e., slip deficit) Green's functions are derived using a Maxwell viscoelastic finite element model with realistic subduction zone structure and megathrust geometry. The preferred model features a narrow and shallow megathrust locked zone, consistent with earlier thermorheological reasoning. For an elastic model to fit the data to the same fidelity, megathrust locking has to extend to much greater depths. However, even with the viscoelastic model, the land‐based geodetic data still cannot resolve whether there is some creep (incomplete locking) in the shallowest part of the megathrust far offshore. Neither can the land data fully resolve along‐strike variations of the locking state. These ambiguities can be resolved only when adequate seafloor geodetic data are obtained. Key Points: Widespread interseismic deformation reflects viscoelastic relaxation but may be interpreted as deep locking by elastic modelsViscoelastic geodetic inversion models indicate megathrust locking at shallow depths at CascadiaRegardless of Earth rheology, near‐trench ambiguity of locking state can be resolved only by future seafloor observations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: After a great subduction earthquake, viscoelastic stress relaxation causes opposing motion of Earth's surface in the strike‐normal direction, with the dividing boundary located roughly above the downdip termination of the rupture. As the effect of the viscoelastic relaxation decays with time, the effect of the relocking of the megathrust becomes increasingly dominant to cause the dividing boundary to migrate away from the rupture zone, eventually leading to wholesale landward motion. The evolution of the postseismic deformation is controlled not only by mantle viscosity but also by the size of the earthquake. Large coseismic fault slip induces greater stress perturbation that takes a longer time to relax, and a greater rupture length along‐strike results in a pattern of postseismic viscous mantle flow less efficient for stress relaxation. Here we employ spherical‐Earth finite element models of Burgers rheology to quantify postseismic deformation processes for ten 8.0 ≤ Mw ≤ 9.5 subduction earthquakes. Using geodetic data as constraints, we reconstruct spatiotemporally continuous evolution of the postseismic deformation following each earthquake. We comparatively examine the “reference time” when the dividing boundary of the opposing motion passes through the map view location of the 50‐km depth contour of the subduction interface. Our results suggest a positive dependence of the reference time on earthquake size, although site‐ and/or event‐specific factors such as subduction rate, afterslip, and postseismic locking state of the megathrust also affect the evolution. Upper mantle viscosities constrained by available geodetic observations show somewhat different values between subduction zones located far from one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological efficiencies of rocky desertification control measures at the regional scale remain unclear. It is urgent and challenging to determine the influences of ecological engineering on the variations of ecosystem services, and to evaluate the ecological benefit of rocky desertification control measures. In this study, variations of three kinds of ecosystem services (water regulation, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration) were analysed in a typical karst region of Northwest Guangxi China during the period from 2000 to 2010. The relative importance of the main factors that influence these three ecosystem services were analysed using radial basis function network, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO), and principal component analysis. The results showed that over half of the study area has experienced an increase in water regulation (50.39%) and soil conservation (58.53%), and approximately 28.24% of the study region has undergone increased carbon sequestration. Environmental factors had a substantial impact on the ecosystem services, and the order of relative importance was as follows: geology > soil > vegetation > temperature > precipitation. Anthropogenic activities have played an important role in the changes to the ecosystem services. In addition to the significant conversion of other land types to woodland (approximately 46.80% of the total transfer area), the vegetation species, shape, and fraction, which are greatly influenced by human activities, contributed 79.05% to the variance. This resulted in a high KMO value of 0.912 (>0.9, represents very suitable), and the Bartlett test was significant (Sig. 0.00). These results showed that although natural environmental factors remained basic influences on the pattern of ecosystem services, anthropogenic activities of ecological engineering projects also had important and positive influences on the ecosystem services. This study also indicated that satellite images and new methods should be applied to deal with the relative lack of existing datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces novel extreme value prediction method that can be used for a variety of offshore engineering applications. First, to demonstrate the novel method, fictitious data from a non-linear Duffing oscillator and measured wave heights were used as examples. The second incident included a container ship that experienced significant deck panel strains while traveling across the Atlantic Ocean in bad weather. The main concern for cargo ship transportation is potential loss of container owing to violent movements. It is challenging to model such a situation because waves and ship motions are both non-stationary and complicatedly nonlinear. Extreme motions greatly increase the role of nonlinearities, activating effects of second and higher order. Furthermore, due to the scaling and the choice of sea state, laboratory testing may also be called into doubt. Therefore, data collected from actual ships during difficult weather voyages offers a special perspective on the statistics of ship motions. This paper aims to highlight an alternative method of extrapolation that is based on intrinsic properties of the data set itself and does not assume any extrapolation functional class. Extreme value predictions typically originate from certain statistical distribution functional classes to fit the data and then extrapolate. Engineering design can make use of the unique extrapolation method that has been proposed. The proposed method's forecast accuracy has been verified in comparison to the Averaged Conditional Exceedance Rate (ACER) extrapolation method. • A novel deconvolution method for extreme value predictions is introduced. • Real life cargo vessel onboard measured has been used to validate novel method. • The method has been validated by comparison with other well established method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• N addition increased POC via accelerating aboveground litter input in the valley. • N addition increased MAOC via increasing CUE and necromass formation in the valley. • N addition enhanced POC by increasing fine root biomass on the slope. • N addition inhibited MAOC by declining microbial necromass on the slope. While the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics to atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition have been widely investigated, little is known in terms of if, and how the responses are modulated by topography. Here, a N addition experiment with three N addition levels, i.e., 0, 50 and 100 kg N ha−1 yr−1, was carried out in the valley and on the slope of a subtropical karst forest. Soil type was Cambisols on the slope but Luvisols in the valley developed on a mixture of limestone and dolomite. Bulk SOC content in the valley was marginally (p < 0.1) enhanced attributed to the stimulation of both particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC), but that on the slope was not significantly altered owing to enhanced POC but suppressed MAOC under N addition. High N addition (100 kg N ha−1 yr−1) significantly increased POC through accelerating aboveground litter input, and increased MAOC via increasing carbon use efficiency (CUE) and necromass formation in the valley. On the slope, high N addition significantly stimulated POC owing to increase of fine root biomass, but inhibited MAOC due to decrease in microbial necromass accumulation. Our results suggest that the impacts of N addition on SOC formation and hence persistence likely modulated by topography, so that provide a novel view in underlying the differential responses of SOC pool to N addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared (IR) laser ablation was used to remove material from tissue sections mounted on microscope slides, with subsequent capture in a solvent-containing microcentrifuge tube. Experiments conducted with a 3200-bp double-stranded plasmid DNA template demonstrated IR-laser ablation transfer of intact DNA. The transfer efficiency and the molecular integrity of the captured DNA were evaluated using Sanger sequencing, gel electrophoresis, and fluorimetric analysis. The plasmid DNA was reproducibly transferred with an efficiency of 59 ± 3% at laser fluences of between 10 and 20 kJ/m at a wavelength of 3 μm. IR laser ablation sample transfer was then used to ablate and capture DNA from 50-μm-thick rat brain and kidney tissue sections. DNA was extracted from the captured material using five commercial DNA extraction kits that employed significantly divergent methodologies, with all kits recovering sufficient DNA for successful amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four sets of primers were employed, targeting one region of the CYP 11b2 gene (376 bp) and three different regions of the Snn1g gene (298, 168, and 281 bp). The PCR results were not consistently reliable when using unpurified ablation samples; however, after extraction, all samples produced PCR products of the expected size. This work expands the sampling capabilities of IR laser ablation, demonstrating that DNA can be isolated from tissue samples for genomic assays. Due to the small size of the ablation regions (1 mm), this technique will be useful for sampling discrete cell populations from tissue sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To alleviate the severe rocky desertification and improve the ecological degradation conditions in Southwest China, the national and local Chinese governments have implemented a series of Ecological Restoration Projects (ERPs) since the late 1990s. This study proposed a remote sensing based approach to evaluate the long-term efforts of the ERPs started in 2000. The method applies a time-series trend analysis of satellite based vegetation data corrected for climatic influences to reveal human induced vegetation changes. The improved residual method is combined with statistics on the invested project funds to derive an index, Project Effectiveness Index (PEI), measuring the project effectiveness at county scale. High effectiveness is detected in the Guangxi Province, moderate effectiveness in the Guizhou Province, and low and no effectiveness in the Yunnan Province. Successful implementations are closely related to the combined influences from climatic conditions and human management. The landforms of Peak Forest Plain and Peak Cluster Depression regions in the Guangxi Province are characterized by temperate climate with sufficient rainfall generally leading to a high effectiveness. For the karst regions of the Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces with rough terrain and lower rainfall combined with poor management practices (unsuitable species selection, low compensation rate for peasants), only low or even no effect of project implementations can be observed. However, the effectiveness distribution is not homogeneous and counties with high project effectiveness in spite of complex natural conditions were identified, while counties with negative vegetation trends despite relatively favorable conditions and high investments were also distinguished. The proposed framework is expected to be of high relevance in general monitoring of the successfulness of ecological conservation projects in relation to invested funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of a combination of new observational tools and a flurry of large megathrust earthquakes, tremendous progress has been made in recent years towards understanding the process of great subduction earthquakes at Cascadia and other subduction zones around the world. This review article attempts to clarify some of widely used geodynamic concepts and identify the most important scientific questions for future research related to megathrust behaviour. It is important to specify how the megathrust seismogenic zone has been defined when comparing data and models. Observations and concepts currently used to define the seismogenic zone include: (A) the stability transition in rate-and-state dependent friction; (B) the slip zone of large interplate earthquakes; (C) the distribution of small-medium earthquakes; and (D) the geodetically-determined zone of fault locking. Land-based geodetic measurements indicate that the Cascadia megathrust is locked to some extent, but the degree of locking is not well constrained. The near absence of detectable interplate seismicity, with the exception of a segment near 44.5°N and near the Mendocino Triple Junction, is presently interpreted to indicate full locking along most of Cascadia. Resolving the locking state requires seafloor geodetic measurements. The slip behaviour of the shallowest segment of the megathrust and its tsunamigenic potential are complex and variable. Structural studies combined with modeling have the potential to improve our understanding of the signature left in the structure by the slip history. For several reasons, but mostly because of interseismic viscoelastic stress relaxation, the downdip limit of megathrust locking cannot be reliably constrained by geodetic data. Independent information is needed on the composition and thermal state of fault zone materials. The spatial relationship between the seismogenic zone and the zone of Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) remains controversial. Observations from the Nankai subduction zone and the San Andreas Fault suggest that ETS does not mark a simple spatial transition from seismic to aseismic behaviour and that multiple transitions may be present because of petrological and rheological changes with depth. Coseismic rupture in the AD 1700 Cascadia earthquake has been shown to vary along strike, and it is important to investigate whether the position of boundaries between high slip and low slip are stationary with time (and therefore probably geologically controlled) and are reflected in current interseismic locking of the megathrust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether lithospheric stress can reach the maximum level predicted by the Christmas-tree strength envelope is a fundamental question but with controversial answers. There is little controversy that a deforming lithosphere in high heat flow regions is likely critically stressed, i.e., at full yield at all depths, as described by the envelope. But different conceptual frameworks offer opposite views for very cold lithosphere, either at full yield or far below yield. Here, we use simple numerical models to investigate stresses in end-member cold cratonic lithosphere (e.g., Canadian Craton) in comparison with end-member warm plate-boundary lithosphere (e.g., Canadian Cordillera). The two key elements of our modelling are (1) that lithospheric stress builds up elastically with horizontal tectonic loading not only in the elastic–frictional brittle regime but also in the viscoelastic ductile regime, and (2) that the stress level is limited by the available tectonic force. In a cratonic lithosphere, the limiting tectonic force is sustained by competent rock material over a large depth range, represented by the competent thickness Tc that exceeds 90 km. The lithosphere undergoes mostly elastic deformation at a stress level of a few tens of MPa. While weakly stressed strong lithosphere can still produce limited earthquakes at shallow depths due to structural and stress heterogeneity, the lithospheric stress under horizontal tectonic loading is theoretically predicted to be orders of magnitude lower than predicted by the Christmas-tree envelope. Stresses in a real lithosphere may substantially deviate from this theoretical level because of spatiotemporal variations in rheology and structure. For example, the stress memory of past loading history in cold lithosphere may or may not be erased by more recent tectonic stresses. Because much of previous scientific debates on lithospheric stress levels and comparison with seismicity were focused on topographically induced flexural stress, we also investigate the effect of vertical loading. We show that the effective elastic thickness Te derived from the flexural response is a reasonable proxy for Tc derived from horizontal tectonic loading; a very large Te such as > 80 km is generally associated with very low tectonic stress far below yield. However, the flexure-induced bending stress is not directly comparable with seismicity because it may either enhance or suppress seismogenic stress in the crust. • Stress in cratons is limited by tectonic force from distant plate boundaries. • Average stress in cratonic lithosphere decreases as competent thickness increases. • Craton lithosphere undergoes mostly elastic deformation. • Brittle yielding and seismicity are restricted to very shallow crustal levels. • Effective elastic thickness is large even though average differential stress is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation cover is a commonly used indicator to evaluate terrestrial environmental conditions. Changes in the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation alter the structures and functions of the landscape, thereby affecting ecological processes. Hilly southern China is an important ecological restoration area, in which the vegetation cover and land use has changed significantly. However, very few studies have considered vegetation changes due to multiple factors in this region. We investigated the spatiotemporal variations in vegetation cover using a Normal Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time-series data set obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and climate data from 2000 to 2010. Our results indicate that the NDVI during the growing season had increased by 0.03% during the 11-year period. Patterns of change in vegetation cover differed among locations, with 58.7% of the study area displaying increased NDVI values, and in 7.3% of the study area, within an ecological restoration zone, the increase was significant. Effective ecological restoration programs, such as Grain for Green and hill closure for afforestation, have improved the environmental conditions. The spatiotemporal variations in vegetation cover were likely to be a synergistic impact of climate change (fluctuations in temperature and precipitation) and human activities. A residual analysis of the changes in the NDVI indicated that human activities had either improved or degraded vegetation cover in some parts of southern China. Specifically, the negative effects of extreme weather events in 2009 and 2010 offset the positive benefits of ecological reconstruction programs in the western part of the study area. This indicates that extreme weather events should be considered in the design and planning of future ecological reconstruction. Drought-resistant plant species might be considered for future ecological projects. However, an eco-risk assessment should be conducted when introducing drought-resistant plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a large subduction earthquake, crustal deformation continues to occur, with a complex pattern of evolution. This postseismic deformation is due primarily to viscoelastic relaxation of stresses induced by the earthquake rupture and continuing slip (afterslip) or relocking of different parts of the fault. When postseismic geodetic observations are used to study Earth's rheology and fault behaviour, it is commonly assumed that short-term (a few years) deformation near the rupture zone is caused mainly by afterslip, and that viscoelasticity is important only for longer-term deformation. However, it is difficult to test the validity of this assumption against conventional geodetic data. Here we show that new seafloor GPS (Global Positioning System) observations immediately after the great Tohoku-oki earthquake provide unambiguous evidence for the dominant role of viscoelastic relaxation in short-term postseismic deformation. These data reveal fast landward motion of the trench area, opposing the seaward motion of GPS sites on land. Using numerical models of transient viscoelastic mantle rheology, we demonstrate that the landward motion is a consequence of relaxation of stresses induced by the asymmetric rupture of the thrust earthquake, a process previously unknown because of the lack of near-field observations. Our findings indicate that previous models assuming an elastic Earth will have substantially overestimated afterslip downdip of the rupture zone, and underestimated afterslip updip of the rupture zone; our knowledge of fault friction based on these estimates therefore needs to be revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In karst regions, the spatial heterogeneity of soil mineral oxides and environmental variables is still not clear. We investigated the spatial heterogeneity of SiO, AlO, FeO, CaO, MgO, PO, KO, and MnO contents in the soils of slope land, plantation forest, secondary forest, and primary forest, as well as their relationships with environmental variables in a karst region of Southwest China. Geostatistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were applied to analyze the field data. The results show that SiO was the predominant mineral in the soils (45.02%-67.33%), followed by AlO and FeO. Most soil mineral oxide components had a strong spatial dependence, except for CaO, MgO, and PO in the plantation forest, MgO and PO in the secondary forest, and CaO in the slope land. Dimensionality reduction in PCA was not appropriate due to the strong spatial heterogeneity in the ecosystems. Soil mineral oxide components, the main factors in all ecosystems, had greater influences on vegetation than those of conventional soil properties. There were close relationships between soil mineral oxide components and vegetation, topography, and conventional soil properties. Mineral oxide components affected species diversity, organic matter and nitrogen levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) storage for soils with discontinuous distribution in the karst regions of southwest China poses a challenge due to the predominant carbonate bedrock. In addition, it is not clear how effective the ecological restoration and reconstruction policies, which have been conducted in this region since the 1990s, have been in terms of SOC sequestration. In this study, we explored the ability of an empirical model and validated it using field survey data to predict the coverage of discontinuous distribution soil in a karst region in southwest China. Employing the soil coverage map, survey data of SOC at a soil depth of 0–15 cm, and three land use/cover maps in 1990, 2004, and 2011, we estimated the changes of SOC storages in the study area. Results showed that the land use/cover changes induced by the implementation of ecological restoration policies promoted SOC storage in the karst region. The SOC storage increased from 2.34 Tg to 3.01 Tg and soil organic carbon density increased from 2.72 kg/m2to 3.50 kg/m2over the study period. The mountain closure policy, Grain for Green program, and migration program currently implemented in the karst region have contributed to a decline in the rate of SOC decomposition and the reduction of soil disturbance, which resulted in carbon sequestration in the global carbon cycle while also improving the ecologically fragile karst environment. SOC storage may have been overestimated by almost twofold while ignoring the discontinuous distribution features of soil cover in the karst region. However, along with an increase in both population and agricultural activities, SOC storage in the nonkarst area declined from 1990 to 2011. With the ecological restoration occurring in the karst area, losses of SOC induced by increased farming activities in the nonkarst area should not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Among the wide range of thermal, petrologic, hydrological, and structural factors that potentially affect subduction earthquakes, the roughness of the subducting seafloor is among the most important. By reviewing seismic and geodetic studies of megathrust locking/creeping state, we find that creeping is the predominant mode of subduction in areas of extremely rugged subducting seafloor such as the Kyushu margin, Manila Trench, northern Hikurangi, and southeastern Costa Rica. In Java and Mariana, megathrust creeping state is not yet constrained by geodetic observations, but the very rugged subducting seafloor and lack of large earthquakes also suggest aseismic creep. Large topographic features on otherwise relatively smooth subducting seafloor such as the Nazca Ridge off Peru, the Investigator Fracture Zone off Sumatra, and the Joban seamount chain in southern Japan Trench also cause creep and often stop the propagation of large ruptures. Similar to all other known giant earthquakes, the Tohoku earthquake of March 2011 occurred in an area of relatively smooth subducting seafloor. The Tohoku event also offers an example of subducting seamounts stopping rupture propagation. Very rugged subducting seafloor not only retards the process of shear localization, but also gives rise to heterogeneous stresses. In this situation, the fault zone creeps because of distributed deformation of fractured rocks, and the creep may take place as transient events of various spatial and temporal scales accompanied with small and medium-size earthquakes. This process cannot be described as stable or unstable friction along a single contact surface. The association of large earthquakes with relatively smooth subducting seafloor and creep with very rugged subducting seafloor calls for further investigation. Seafloor near-trench geodetic monitoring, high-resolution imaging of subduction fault structure, studies of exhumed ancient subduction zones, and laboratory studies of low-temperature creep will greatly improve our understanding of the seismogenic and creep processes and their hazard implications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on trench breaching rupture of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake that occurred along a thin fault zone. It mentions that Tohoku rupture started at 20 to 30 km depth and spread in all directions along the plate boundary fault. It states that main cause for the sloping sea shore was the large shallow slip that leads to sudden disturbance in seawater resulting tsunami.

The mercury flux in soils was investigated, which were amended by gypsums from flue gas desulphurization (FGD) units of coal-fired power plants. Studies have been carried out in confined greenhouses using FGD gypsum treated soils. Major research focus is uptakes of mercury by plants, and emission of mercury into the atmosphere under varying application rates of FGD gypsum, simulating rainfall irrigations, soils, and plants types. Higher FGD gypsum application rates generally led to higher mercury concentrations in the soils, the increased mercury emissions into the atmosphere, and the increased mercury contents in plants (especially in roots and leaves). Soil properties and plant species can play important roles in mercury transports. Some plants, such as tall fescue, were able to prevent mercury from atmospheric emission and infiltration in the soil. Mercury concentration in the stem of plants was found to be increased and then leveled off upon increasing FGD gypsum application. However, mercury in roots and leaves was generally increased upon increasing FGD gypsum application rates. Some mercury was likely absorbed by leaves of plants from emitted mercury in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: From the 1950s to 1980s, the rapid disappearance of vegetation led to severe environmental degradation in the karst region of southwest China. Projects to restore vegetation have been applied in this area since the 1990s. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of restoration on karst vegetation. Vegetation succession, an ecological phenomenon involving predictable changes in plant communities, can serve as an indicator of environmental changes. Remote-sensing techniques have been utilized to map vegetation communities and succession at regional scales. However, shadows caused by the rough karst landforms in this area of China make the application of remotely sensed imagery challenging. Here, we used three Landsat Thematic Mapper images from 1990, 2004, and 2011 to examine whether various image pre-processing methods (vegetation indices, topographic correction, and minimum noise fraction [MNF] transformation) and a digital elevation model improved image classification. Using a maximum likelihood classifier, vegetation communities were classified into five classes (successional stages) of grass, grass–shrub, shrub, tree–shrub, and forest. The results indicated that a combination of inverse MNF transformed bands, the normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), and the moisture stress index (MSI) minimized topographic effects and consequently produced the best input for imagery classification and provided the best classification results and showed ongoing vegetation succession in the study area from 1990 to 2011. Dominant vegetation communities had shifted from early successional stages (i.e., grass and grass–shrub) in 1990 to forest and tree–shrub in 2011. Increases in patch number and average patch area for forest and tree–shrub communities at the class level suggested the expansion of these two communities. Enhanced patch connectivity and aggregation at the landscape level indirectly signified decreases in disturbances to forest and tree–shrub communities. These results demonstrate that ecological restoration and reconstruction efforts in the area have helped to restore vegetation cover. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Subduction zones produce the largest earthquakes. Over the past two decades, space geodesy has revolutionized our view of crustal deformation between consecutive earthquakes. The short time span of modern measurements necessitates comparative studies of subduction zones that are at different stages of the deformation cycle. Piecing together geodetic 'snapshots' from different subduction zones leads to a unifying picture in which the deformation is controlled by both the short-term (years) and long-term (decades and centuries) viscous behaviour of the mantle. Traditional views based on elastic models, such as coseismic deformation being a mirror image of interseismic deformation, are being thoroughly revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seamount subduction is a common process in subduction zone tectonics. Contradicting a widely held expectation that subducting seamounts generate large earthquakes, seamounts subduct largely aseismically, producing numerous small earthquakes. On rare occasions when they do produce relatively large events, the ruptures tend to be complex, suggesting multiple rupture patches or faults. We explain that the seismogenic behavior of these seamounts is controlled by the development and evolution of an adjacent fracture network during subduction and cannot be described using the frictional behavior of a single fault. The complex structure and heterogeneous stresses of this network provide a favorable condition for aseismic creep and small earthquakes but an unfavorable condition for the generation and propagation of large ruptures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The responses of spatiotemporal variation of ecosystem service values (ESVs) to landscape pattern from 1985 to 2005 in a typical Karst area of the northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, were examined using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques in this paper. The total ecosystem service values declined significantly from 1985 to 1990, and then increased slowly from 1990 to 2005, almost equaled to the 1985 level. The ecosystem service values tended to decline from the west to the east and from mountainous regions to peak-cluster depression areas in 1985, 1990, 2000 and 2005 respectively. During the period from 1985 to 2005, the ecosystem service values have increased in the middle and eastern parts of the study area. Landscape pattern indices, such as total area, largest patch index, contagion, aggregative index, effective mesh and proportion of like adjacencies, are significantly correlated with ecosystem service values. This suggests that ecosystem service values tend to increase with the growth of patch area and patch connectivity. However, there are negative correlations between ecosystem service values and landscape pattern indices, such as division index and patch richness. It indicates that ecosystem service values decrease with patch fragmentation and patch size shrinkage. The ecosystem conditions in the typical Karst area have been improved because of the control measures of rocky desertification. It is important to protect key landscape types, such as woodland, shrub and grassland, and to increase patch size and connectivity to avoid further fragmentation. Furthermore, it is necessary to reduce disturbances to ensure the growth of ecosystem service values and to facilitate the sustainable development in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Two types of tumor hypoxia most likely exist in human cancers: Chronic hypoxia due to the paucity of blood capillaries and acute hypoxia due to temporary shutdown of microvasculatures or fluctuation in the red cell flux. In a recent hypoxia imaging study using 18F-FMISO PET, the authors observed variation in tracer uptake in two sequential images and hypothesized that variation in acute hypoxia may be the cause. In this study, they develop an iterative optimization method to delineate chronic and acute hypoxia based on the 18F-FMISO PET serial images. Methods: They assume that (1) chronic hypoxia is the same in the two scans and can be represented by a Gaussian distribution, while (2) acute hypoxia varies in the two scans and can be represented by Poisson distributions. For validation, they used Monte Carlo simulations to generate pairs of 18F-FMISO PET images with known proportion of chronic and acute hypoxia and then applied the optimization method to the simulated serial images, yielding excellent fit between the input and the fitted results. They then applied this method to the serial 18F-FMISO PET images of 14 patients with head and neck cancers. Results: The results show good fit of the chronic hypoxia to Gaussian distributions for 13 out of 14 patients (with R2>0.7). Similarly, acute hypoxia appears to be well described by the Poisson distribution (R2>0.7) with three exceptions. The model calculation yielded the amount of acute hypoxia, which differed among the patients, ranging from ∼13% to 52%, with an average of ∼34%. Conclusions: This is the first effort to separate acute and chronic hypoxia from serial PET images of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vigorous fluid circulation maintained in newly subducted ocean crust significantly affects subduction zone temperatures on the Nankai margin, Japan. The shallow part of the igneous ocean crust is pervasively fractured and thus highly permeable, allowing vigorous hydro thermal circulation. This circulation has been recognized as an important control on the thermal budget and evolution of ocean crust worldwide. However, existing subduction zone thermal models either do not include hydrothermal circulation in ocean crust or assume that it abruptly stops upon subduction. Here we use a conductive proxy to incorporate the thermal effects of high Nusselt number fluid circulation in subducting crust into a subduction zone thermal model. Hydrothermal circulation reduces temperatures in the seismogenic zone of the Nankai margin plate boundary fault by ~20 °C at the updip limit of seismicity and ~100 °C at the downdip limit. With improved thermal models for subduction zones that include the effects of hydrothermal circulation in subducting crust, estimates of metamorphic reaction progress and interpretations of fault zone processes on various margins may need to be revisited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We inverted GPS velocities from 20 continuous and 53 campaign sites in the northern Cascadia subduction zone using a Bayesian inverse method to estimate the locking state of the plate interface. The results are consistent with previous estimates based on thermal arguments and forward modeling. They suggest that the completely locked segment of the plate interface is offshore and that the degree of locking gradually decreases landward. The very gradual transition from full locking to full slip approximates the effect of stress relaxation that is not included by the elastic model assumed for the inversion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The karst area in southwest China is, in recent decades, one of the world's regions with the fastest vegetation growth and increase in aboveground biomass. The improvement in the ecological conditions within this region can, to a large extent, be attributed to ecological protection projects. However, it remains unclear whether the observed increase in vegetation cover could mitigate rocky desertification at large scale. In this study, we utilized information from large field campaigns in the years 2005, 2011, and 2016, supported by satellite imagery interpretation and statistics on ecological protection projects, to explore the impact of restoration efforts on rocky desertification mitigation and vegetation resilience/resistance. The results show that restoration efforts caused a net decrease of 26.14% in areas affected by rocky desertification from 2005 to 2016. The larger the restoration efforts, the stronger the decrease in rocky desertification areas, and also the vulnerability of landscapes towards desertification; the probability of rocky desertification occurring decreased almost linearly with increased restoration efforts. In addition, both vegetation resilience and resistance against climate variations increased with restoration efforts. Restoration efforts were mainly responsible for the recovery of the ecosystem, showing that human impact is the main driver for the reversal of rocky desertification. Our study provides scientific evidence on rocky desertification control being an important step towards a sustainable development of the landscapes of Southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smooth subducting seafloor usually leads to a smooth megathrust, which promotes great earthquakes. We present a case study at the northern Manila Trench to emphasize that the process depends also on sediment accretion and deformation. Here, a very rugged igneous basement is hidden beneath a smooth sediment cover on the incoming seafloor. Seismic imaging indicates that most of the sediment is scraped off at the trench, resulting in an uneven décollement interrupted by partially exposed subducted seamounts. New thermal models confirm the presence of large frictional heating, also consistent with a rough and strong megathrust. Our findings in conjunction with the low degree of megathrust locking reported in the literature are compatible with the notion of strong creep. Consequent implications to regional seismic and tsunami hazards call for further investigations, especially with new seafloor geodetic monitoring and improved paleoseismic studies. Plain Language Summary: Great earthquakes, usually accompanied with large tsunamis, tend to occur in subduction zones where the megathrust fault is smooth. In appraising the potential of such great earthquakes, it is customary to use the ruggedness of the incoming seafloor before subduction to represent the roughness of the megathrust. In this work, we conduct a case study at the northern Manila Trench subduction zone to demonstrate that a smooth incoming seafloor does not always lead to a smooth megathrust. If the seafloor smoothness owes to a thick sediment cover, a rugged basement hidden beneath the sediment can still lead to a rough megathrust if most of the sediment is scraped off when the seafloor is subducted. We show seismic imaging results that indicate sediment scraping‐off at the trench to expose basement relief such as seamounts. The lack of a very smooth megathrust suggests lower potential for great earthquakes, but an accurate assessment of regional seismic and tsunami hazards requires other independent observations that help to constrain strain accumulation across the trench and earthquake history. Key Points: Seismic imaging shows that rugged igneous basement hidden beneath smooth sediment on subducting seafloor can lead to rough megathrustThermal modeling constrained by heat flow observations indicates large frictional heating, consistent with a very rough megathrustPossibility of a strong‐creep megathrust raises scientific questions in assessing seismic and tsunami hazards at northern Manila Trench [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subduction megathrust ruptures that breach the trench, such as in the 2011 M = 9 Tohoku‐oki earthquake, can be very tsunamigenic. However, whether buried ruptures are intrinsically less tsunamigenic has not been fully investigated. Here, we conduct this investigation by studying the mechanics of seafloor deformation and the resultant tsunami runup. With a trench‐breaching rupture, deformation is dominated by the rigid‐body translation of the frontal upper plate, and seafloor uplift is enhanced by the horizontal motion of the sloping seafloor. With a buried rupture, the rigid‐body motion is reduced, but the shortening of the upper plate due to seaward slip termination causes elastic thickening to enhance tsunamigenic seafloor uplift. By combining a finite‐element deformation model and a shallow‐water equation tsunami model, we systematically test various subduction zone geometrical and slip parameters to study the trade‐off between rigid‐body translation and elastic thickening in causing seafloor uplift and tsunami runup. To isolate the effect of slip depth, we compare scenarios with the same peak slip and rupture width. We find that very shallow ruptures, including those breaching the trench, are generally less tsunamigenic than deeper ruptures. Given peak slip, tsunamigenic potential is maximized if the rupture is not too shallow or too deep but is buried to moderate depths. Our model tests using variable hypothetical rupture depths suggest that, with a slip magnitude as large as in the 2011 Tohoku‐oki earthquake, tsunami runups as high as the observed would occur even if the rupture were fully buried. Plain Language Summary: During subduction earthquakes, sudden seafloor deformation due to megathrust slip raises seawater to generate tsunamis. If the slip breaches the trench, seawater is raised by the seaward motion of the sloping seafloor. If the near‐trench part of fault refuses to slip, in a scenario called buried rupture, the seafloor will bulge to raise seawater. Here we combine computer models of seafloor deformation and tsunami propagation to study how the two types of rupture control tsunami runup. We find that, given slip size and location, their tsunamigenic potential is similar owing to a trade‐off mechanism. With buried rupture, tsunami generation is weakened by lessened motion of the sloping seafloor but strengthened by increased seafloor bulging. The effect is the opposite for a trench‐breaching rupture. We also find that if a rupture is buried to an optimal moderate depth, the bulging effect and tsunami size are maximized. These findings clarify that the key reason for a large tsunami is how large, not just how shallow, the megathrust slip is. This knowledge helps to understand why some recent megathrust earthquakes, including the 2011 M = 9 Tohoku‐oki earthquake, were so tsunamigenic. For tsunami hazard assessment, the tsunamigenic potential of buried ruptures should not be underrated. Key Points: Tsunamigenic seafloor uplift due to megathrust slip reflects a trade‐off between rigid‐body translation and elastic thickeningModerately buried slip is usually more tsunamigenic than trench‐breaching slip of the same size, because of enhanced elastic thickeningWhat determines tsunami size, such as in the 2011 Tohoku‐oki tsunami, is mainly how large, not just how shallow, the offshore slip is [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the spatiotemporal characteristics of water quality and related driving factors is essential for lake water quality management. To further understand the unique relationship between hydrological conditions and water quality in river-connected lakes, we analysed the spatiotemporal variations of water quality and hydrological factors in Dongting Lake from 1991 to 2018 and identified the effects of the operation of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on lake water quality. The total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations showed general increasing trends in the pre-TGD period, in contrast to a significant increasing TN trend and a decreasing TP trend in the post-TGD period, the latter of which was closely linked to a prominent decrease of water and suspended sediment discharge after the initiation of TGD operation. TN concentrations showed significant spatial variations during the study period, with the highest concentration in East Dongting Lake and the lowest concentration in West Dongting Lake. Nutrient inputs were the dominant pollution source determining the water quality of Dongting Lake; water discharge and water level were also important factors controlling the spatiotemporal variability of water quality. The contribution of the four tributaries to lake water quality was much greater than that of the three channels, accounting for 89.94–92.25% of N inputs and 74.10–75.85% of P inputs. Moreover, the contribution of the three channels to lake water quality decreased after TGD operation, mainly because of reduced nutrient input, water discharge, and suspended sediment discharge. This study indicates that controlling pollutant effluents in tributaries and monitoring hydrological conditions within the lake are the key factors necessary to improve the water quality in Dongting Lake and may provide a practical reference for water quality management in river-connected lakes worldwide. Image 1 • Water quality in Dongting Lake exhibited significant spatiotemporal variations. • Hydrological conditions and nutrient input mutually affect water quality in Dongting Lake. • The contribution of four tributaries to lake water quality exceeded that of the three channels. • The impact of three channels on water quality of Dongting Lake is weakened due to Three Gorges Dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exact solution of a set of coupled Boussinesq-like equations is obtained procedurally by the function-series (FS) method without any ansatz. Meanwhile, the FS method itself is systematized into a universal approach to soliton-bearing nonlinear equation by introducing the convergence criterion. © 1994 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How hydrothermal factors and CO 2 concentration affect the vegetation carbon sink over time and across elevation gradients is crucial for carbon sequestration and enhancement, which remains unclear. Here, the temporal changes of the interannual relationship of net primary productivity (NPP) with hydrothermal factors and CO 2 concentration over elevation were revealed using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method and moving window-based multiple regression analysis during 1981–2018, in a case study of six provinces along the 'Maritime Silk Road' of China. We found that: (1) except for low-elevation farmland, the interannual relationship of vegetation NPP with CO 2 (R NPP-CO2), precipitation accumulation (R NPP-PA), soil moisture (R NPP-SM), downward surface shortwave radiation (R NPP-SR) and minimum temperature (R NPP-TMN) is mainly positive, while the relationship with maximum temperature (TMAX, R NPP-TMX) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD, R NPP-VPD) is mainly negative, indicating that most hydrothermal factors can increase NPP except TMAX and VPD. Most of the interannual relationship is strengthening, especially for thermal factor, indicating the strengthened impacts of hydrothermal factors and CO 2, while the weakening relationship with hydrological factors accounted for large areas, which cannot be ignored. (2) With increasing elevation, the positive R NPP-CO2 diminished, while the positive R NPP-SM and the negative R NPP-VPD amplified, indicating the positive impacts from CO 2 decreased, while those from SM and VPD increased. Meanwhile, R NPP-SR , R NPP-TMN , and R NPP-PA reversed from positive to negative, while R NPP-TMX reversals from negative to positive, indicating reversed impacts. (3) With increasing elevation, the temporal changes of positive R NPP-CO2 and R NPP-SM varied from weakening to strengthening and from strengthening to weakening, respectively, while those of R NPP-SR and R NPP-TMN together with R NPP-PA varied from strengthening positive to strengthening negative and weakening negative, respectively. Meanwhile, the strengthening negative of R NPP-TMX , and R NPP-VPD , changed to weakening positive and weakening negative, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of the divergent trends of the interannual relationship of NPP with hydrothermal factors and CO 2 concentration across elevation for accurate prediction of future carbon sink potential under global change. [Display omitted] • Interannual relationships between environmental factors and NPP were mostly positive. • Interannual relationship are strengthening, especially for thermal factors. • Elevation has significant effects on the temporal trends below 200m and above 1000m. • The relationship showed divergent trends across elevation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]