Mountain front faults form the boundary between mountains and adjacent plains.These faults can propagate toward the plains and escalate the risk of seismic hazard for near cities.The North Tehran Fault(NTF)is a mounta...Mountain front faults form the boundary between mountains and adjacent plains.These faults can propagate toward the plains and escalate the risk of seismic hazard for near cities.The North Tehran Fault(NTF)is a mountain front fault bordering the Central Alborz with Tehran and Karaj plains.Structural and morphotectonic data from interpreted aerial photographs,satellite images,airborne geomagnetic data as well as field surveying have been used for detailed segmentation and evolution of the North Tehran Fault.This resulted in identification of the fault segments as the Niknamdeh,Darband,Darakeh-Garmdarreh,and Karaj from east to west.Active kinematics of these segments includes both thrusting and left-lateral components;but the dominant component is different among the segments.The Niknamdeh segment is connected to the Mosha Fault with a hard linkage,while its connection with the Darband segment is a widespread deformation zone.The connection zone between the Darband and Darakeh-Garmdarreh segments has the highest density of minor faults along the North Tehran Fault.The boundary of the Darakeh-Garmdarreh and Karaj segments is controlled by the F-3 transverse fault that has offset the NTF for~3 km right-laterally.The NTF has inverted from normal to dextral oblique fault in Miocene.The fault kinematics has changed from dextral to sinistral in Pliocene-Quaternary.Further regional oblique convergence resulted in minor fault reactivation such as relay ramp breaching faults,propagation of several footwall branches and hangingwall bypasses geometrical change of alluvial fans,and transfer of deformation front southwardly to the Tehran and Karaj plains.The findings of this paper are also applicable to other active oblique converging mountain fronts,inverted mountain front faults and the transition of deformation from these structures to the foreland basin.展开更多
A recent assessment that quantified potential impacts of solar energy development on water resources in the southwestern United States necessitated the development of a methodology to identify locations of mountain fr...A recent assessment that quantified potential impacts of solar energy development on water resources in the southwestern United States necessitated the development of a methodology to identify locations of mountain front recharge (MFR) in order to guide land development decisions. A spatially explicit, slope-based algorithm was created to delineate MFR zones in 17 arid, mountainous watersheds using elevation and land cover data. Slopes were calculated from elevation data and grouped into 100 classes using iterative self-organizing classification. Candidate MFR zones were identified based on slope classes that were consistent with MFR. Land cover types that were inconsistent with groundwater recharge were excluded from the candidate areas to determine the final MFR zones. No MFR reference maps exist for comparison with the study’s results, so the reliability of the resulting MFR zone maps was evaluated qualitatively using slope, surficial geology, soil, and land cover datasets. MFR zones ranged from 74 km2 to 1547 km2 and accounted for 40% of the total watershed area studied. Slopes and surficial geologic materials that were present in the MFR zones were consistent with conditions at the mountain front, while soils and land cover that were present would generally promote groundwater recharge. Visual inspection of the MFR zone maps also confirmed the presence of well-recognized alluvial fan features in several study watersheds. While qualitative evaluation suggested that the algorithm reliably delineated MFR zones in most watersheds overall, the algorithm was better suited for application in watersheds that had characteristic Basin and Range topography and relatively flat basin floors than areas without these characteristics. Because the algorithm performed well to reliably delineate the spatial distribution of MFR, it would allow researchers to quantify aspects of the hydrologic processes associated with MFR and help local land resource managers to consider protection of critical groundwater recharge regions in their development decisions.展开更多
Mountain-front recharge(MFR) is a process of recharging an aquifer by infiltration of surface flow from streams and adjacent basins in a mountain block and along a mountain front(MF). This is the first attempt in Indi...Mountain-front recharge(MFR) is a process of recharging an aquifer by infiltration of surface flow from streams and adjacent basins in a mountain block and along a mountain front(MF). This is the first attempt in India to estimate MFR along the foothills of Courtallam using hydrogeochemistry and geostatistical tools. The estimation of MFR has been carried out by collecting groundwater samples along the foothills of Courtallam. Collected water samples were analyzed for major cations and anions using standard procedures. Hydrogeochemical facies show the existence of four water types in this region. Calcium-rich water derived from gneissic rock terrain indicates significant recharge from higher elevation. Log p CO_2 and ionic strength of the samples were also calculated to identify the geochemical process. Majority of the collected samples have sodium-rich water and weak ionic strength, which indicate foothill recharge and low residence time. Silicate and carbonate weathering have an equal interplay along the foothills with a relatively large fraction of Mg from the MF. The spatial diagrams of three factors show that the southern part of the study area is dominated by both weathering and anthropogenic processes, whereas the northern part is dominated by both leaching and weathering processes. Thus, the dominant weathering process represented by the second factor indicates the large recharge process along the foothills.展开更多
By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniatur...By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; （2） the stable tectonic stage （J1） where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; （3） the intense tectonic stage （J2-3）, namely the early Yanshan movement; （4） continuous tectonic movement （K-E）, namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and （5） the formation of Longmen Mountain （N-Q）, namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain＇s formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.展开更多
The crustal basement of Northwest Germany can be interpreted as an “Avalonian Terrane Assemblage” subdivided by a roughly NW-SE (Hercynian) and SW-NE (Rhenish) running horst and graben system. In Late Devonian and E...The crustal basement of Northwest Germany can be interpreted as an “Avalonian Terrane Assemblage” subdivided by a roughly NW-SE (Hercynian) and SW-NE (Rhenish) running horst and graben system. In Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous times, this assemblage was flooded by the sea and mainly marine carbonates were deposited on the horsts and Stillwater shales in the grabens, as interpretable through magnetotelluric measurements. Dur</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ing the Late Carboniferous Variscan Orogeny, this terrain became the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">coal-rich </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">foreland of the colliding Rhenohercynian belt. The shale-filled grabens </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">reacted </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">through folding and thrusting with different anticlinal patterns, the main</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> carbonate covered horst in a still unknown way. This horst was the location of the Late Carboniferous basin center and of the inverted oil-rich Mesozoic Lower Saxony Basin (southwestern sector), respectively, with the so-called Bramsche Massif therein. It probably acted as an indenter for the evolution of the Variscan ore-rich Harz Mountains and forced the approaching Rhenohercynian orogen to stack the appropriate tectonic nappes by horizontal shortening to very high altitudes and the root into large depths. Based on seismic evidence this root is still an uncompleted crust/mantle transition zone with a deep reflection seismic and petrological Moho and a shallower hardly reflecting refraction seismic velocity Moho. The alternative, partly unsolved location of the Variscan Deformation Front in Northwest Germany may represent the new findings. The results may be supported by a comparison with features of the northern Alpine deformation belt.展开更多
Acute mountain sickness(AMS) is an illness caused by hypoxia due to rapid ascent to altitudes above 2,500 m. Symptoms include headache,nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, all of which usually improve within 1 to 2...Acute mountain sickness(AMS) is an illness caused by hypoxia due to rapid ascent to altitudes above 2,500 m. Symptoms include headache,nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, all of which usually improve within 1 to 2 days. However,untreated AMS can progress to life-threatening conditions such as high-altitude cerebral and pulmonary edema(HACE and HAPE, respectively)^([1]).展开更多
This study investigates extreme rainfall episodes along the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains in North China from 30 July to 1 August 2023.It focuses on two types of extreme hourly rainfall rates(HRRs),i.e.,t...This study investigates extreme rainfall episodes along the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains in North China from 30 July to 1 August 2023.It focuses on two types of extreme hourly rainfall rates(HRRs),i.e.,the maximum regionalaverage HRR and site-observed HRR,which exhibited sequential development over southern,middle,and northern key regions.These rainfall extremes occurred in an environment where a high-pressure barrier over North China prevented the intrusion of cold air masses from the north while a northward-moving typhoon remnant vortex and its associated low-level jet(LLJ)transported warm and moist airflow from the south.Two distinct echo evolution modes and convection initiation mechanisms are identified for the two types of extreme HRRs.The maximum regional-average HRR occurred when the LLJ arrived to the east of the key regions,while the maximum site-observed HRR occurred when the warmer vortex center influenced the regions.Taking the northern key region as a representation,at the time of the maximum regional-average HRR,slantwise ascent of the airflow along a warm-frontal-like boundary released energy related to symmetrical instability,resulting in stratiform rainfall with weak convective cores.The transport of locally initiated convection over the eastern plain region,where the atmospheric stratification was more potentially unstable,also significantly contributed.When the maximum site-observed HRR occurred,the terrain lifting of warm and moist southeast airflow led to intense convection over the mountain foothills.Overall,the passage of the warm-core typhoon remnant vortex and interaction with Taihang Mountains determined the timing and location of extreme HRRs across the key regions.展开更多
The Hengduan Mountains,situated on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,are the longest and widest north-south-oriented mountain range in China,exerting a significant influence on the ecological and geog...The Hengduan Mountains,situated on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,are the longest and widest north-south-oriented mountain range in China,exerting a significant influence on the ecological and geographical pattern.Understanding the topographic and geomorphological characteristics of the Hengduan Mountains is fundamental and crucial for research in related fields such as ecology,geography,and sustainability.In this study,Digital Elevation Model(DEM)data were utilized to extract and analyze the topography and geomorphology(TG)pattern.TG maps have been developed to quantitatively classify the TG types in the Hengduan Mountains by combining the five factors of elevation,slope,aspect,relief and landform.The spatial distribution and quantitative characteristics of these factors were mapped and investigated using geographic information systems.The results revealed that:(1)The Hengduan Mountains exhibit an elongated north-south distribution,with an average elevation of approximately 3746 m,an average slope of around 25°,and an average relief of about 266 m.(2)The Hengduan Mountains display significant elevation differences,with an overall high elevation,characterized by a trend of lower elevation in the east and higher elevation in the west,as well as irregular orientations of various aspects.(3)The 19 landform types were identified,the landform types of the Hengduan Mountains are primarily composed of low-relief high-mountains(42.0618%),low-relief mid-mountains(22.4624%),and high-elevation hills(20.5839%).The results of the study can provide data and information support for the ecology,environmental protection and sustainable development of the Hengduan Mountains.展开更多
Air temperature is an important indicator to analyze climate change in mountainous areas.ERA5 reanalysis air temperature data are important products that were widely used to analyze temperature change in mountainous a...Air temperature is an important indicator to analyze climate change in mountainous areas.ERA5 reanalysis air temperature data are important products that were widely used to analyze temperature change in mountainous areas.However,the reliability of ERA5 reanalysis air temperature over the Qilian Mountains(QLM)is unclear.In this study,we evaluated the reliability of ERA5 monthly averaged reanalysis 2 m air temperature data using the observations at 17 meteorological stations in the QLM from 1979 to 2017.The results showed that:ERA5 reanalysis monthly averaged air temperature data have a good applicability in the QLM in general(R2=0.99).ERA5 reanalysis temperature data overestimated the observed temperature in the QLM in general.Root mean square error(RMSE)increases with the increasing of elevation range,showing that the reliability of ERA5 reanalysis temperature data is worse in higher elevation than that in lower altitude.ERA5 reanalysis temperature can capture observational warming rates well.All the smallest warming rates of observational temperature and ERA5 reanalysis temperature are found in winter,with the warming rates of 0.393°C/10a and 0.360°C/10a,respectively.This study will provide a reference for the application of ERA5 reanalysis monthly averaged air temperature data at different elevation ranges in the Qilian Mountains.展开更多
The mountainous rural regions of China are undergoing enormous changes in space and time.To a certain extent,this change has increased the difficulties in our understanding of rural development in mountainous areas an...The mountainous rural regions of China are undergoing enormous changes in space and time.To a certain extent,this change has increased the difficulties in our understanding of rural development in mountainous areas and brought challenges to development policies and revitalization strategies in mountainous rural regions,especially in karst mountainous areas.In light of the difficulty in and as the key to the development of China's mountainous rural areas,the scientific and systematic construction of indicators for evaluating the level of rural revitalization development and clarifying the level of rural revitalization development and influential factors in karst mountainous areas are of great significance to the implementation of the development of the strategy for the revitalization of the rural areas in karst mountainous areas in China.This study constructed an evaluation index system of the rural regional system and rural revitalization development(RTSRD)from the perspective of rural regional system theory,assessed the spatial differentiation patterns and influential factors of RTSRD,and refined a typical territorial model of rural revitalization development in karst mountainous areas by taking Guizhou Province,a typical karst mountainous region,as a case study area.The evaluation and spatial analyses show that the RTSRD indices of karst mountainous areas in the system perspective show a linear growth trend in all single dimensions,with industrial revitalization(IR)showing the most significant increase each year.In time,the RTSRD of karst mountainous regions has developed from low to high,with evident improvement;spatially,the RTSRD shows the characteristics of‘high in the middle and low in the surroundings,and low in the plateau and low in the depression,'with apparent spatial heterogeneity.In addition,this study found that the spatial and temporal differences in RTSRD result from a combination of endogenous push and exogenous pull in the rural system.In particular,this study has refined a typical regional model of rural revitalization development in karst mountainous regions,which provides theoretical support and case practice for rural development in other karst mountainous regions.At the same time,it provides a basis for decision-making for the county level government and rural development planning.展开更多
Hyla tsinlingensis(Hu et al.,1966)is endemic to China,and is widely distributed in the Qinling and Dabie Mountains.Previous studies have suggested that genetic differentiation and geographical isolation exist between ...Hyla tsinlingensis(Hu et al.,1966)is endemic to China,and is widely distributed in the Qinling and Dabie Mountains.Previous studies have suggested that genetic differentiation and geographical isolation exist between the Qinling Mountains population and Dabie Mountains population of H.tsinlingensis,and that the Dabie Mountains population is a cryptic species.Several Hyla specimens were collected from the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui Province,China during herpetological surveys from 2022‒2024;these specimens belonged to a species previously identified as H.tsinlingensis.Herein,we utilized phylogenetic analyses,morphological comparisons,and advertisement call comparisons,revealing significant differences from those of other known congeners;thus,we describe them as a new species.The discovery of this species implies that there are currently 18 identified species in the genus Hyla,7 of which are found in China.展开更多
Based on comprehensive observations of 20 wire icing events during winter from 2019 to 2021,we investigated the characteristics of the icing properties,the atmospheric boundary layer structure,the raindrop size distri...Based on comprehensive observations of 20 wire icing events during winter from 2019 to 2021,we investigated the characteristics of the icing properties,the atmospheric boundary layer structure,the raindrop size distribution,and their associated effects on the ice accretion mechanism in the mountainous region of Southwest China.The maximum ice weight was positively correlated with the duration of ice accretion in the mountainous area.The duration of precipitation accounted for less than 20%of the icing period in the mountainous area,with solid-phase hydrometeors being predominant.Icing events,dominated by freezing rain(FR)and mixed rain–graupel(more than 70%),were characterized by glaze or highdensity mixed icing.The relationship between the melting energy and refreezing energy reflected the distribution characteristics of the proportion of FR under mixed-phase precipitation.The intensity of the warm layer and the dominant precipitation phase significantly affected the variations in the microphysical properties of FR.The melting of large dry snowflakes significantly contributed to FR in the mountainous areas,resulting in smaller generalized intercepts and larger mass-weighted mean diameters in the presence of a stronger warm layer.Under a weaker warm layer,the value of the massweighted mean diameter was significantly smaller because of the inability of large solid particles to melt.Finally,FR in the mountainous area dominated the ice weight during the rapid ice accumulation period.A numerical simulation of FR icing on wires effectively revealed the evolution of disaster-causing icing in mountainous areas.展开更多
The middle reaches of the Yellow River represent a critically ecologically sensitive and fragile area within the Yellow River Basin(YRB),holding significant scientific value for ecological security assessment and envi...The middle reaches of the Yellow River represent a critically ecologically sensitive and fragile area within the Yellow River Basin(YRB),holding significant scientific value for ecological security assessment and environmental management strategies.This study comprehensively evaluates the evolution of the eco-environment in the“Two Mountains,Seven Rivers,and One Basin”(TSO)area of Shanxi Province from 2000 to 2020 based on fraction vegetation cover(FVC)derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),net primary productivity(NPP)calculated via the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach(CASA),and the remote sensing ecological index(RSEI).The results indicate a significant improvement in the TSO’s eco-environment from 2000 to 2020,with the RSEI values increased from 0.34 in 2000 to 0.41 in 2020(an increase of 17.76%).Both FVC and NPP demonstrated notable upward trends,with FVC increasing by 22.74%and NPP by 53.11%.Spatially,FVC rose by 21.84%,19.72%and 26.06%,respectively in the Two Mountains,Seven Rivers,and the YRB in Shanxi Province.Similarly,the NPPs increased by 51.60%,48.60%,and 61.65%in these regions over the past 21 years.Both FVC and NPP exhibited decreasing patterns from southeast to northwest,with significant eco-environmental improvements in the northern region and slower recovery in the southern region.Precipitation was the primary causes influencing vegetation recovery,showing positive trends in the central and northern TSO regions,while this trend reversed in the southern.The RSEI value indicate substantial eco-environment improvements in the central and northern areas(Sanggan,Daqing and Hutuo River Basins),whereas the southern regions(e.g.,Zhang,Qin,Fen and Sushui River Basins)remain in poor grade.Human activities,particularly land use/cover changes marked by increased forestation and urbanization alongside decreased cultivated land,significantly affected vegetation cover patterns.This study provides scientific references for formulating policies on ecological construction and high-quality development in the YRB.展开更多
Prediction of water inflow into a tunnel is a crucial prerequisite for the waterproof and drainage design of mountain tunnels in water-rich areas.Based on the proposed Baiyun Mountain Tunnel project in Guangzhou,a num...Prediction of water inflow into a tunnel is a crucial prerequisite for the waterproof and drainage design of mountain tunnels in water-rich areas.Based on the proposed Baiyun Mountain Tunnel project in Guangzhou,a numerical percolation model of random fractured rock of a tunnel underpassing a water reservoir is established to study the seepage characteristics of surrounding rock,the law of water inflow,and the change of lining water pressure,considering the local artificial boundary conditions for seepage in large rock mass,.In addition,the influences of rock permeability,fracture aperture,grouting circle thickness,and penetration are analyzed.The results show that:(1)Only fractures with aperture wider than 0.1 mm can play a significant role in water conduction in rocks with the permeability lower than 10^(-11)m^(2);(2)The greater the permeability difference between the fractures and rocks,the more remarkable the effects of fractures on the surrounding rock seepage field and cavern water inflow;(3)The sensitivity of grouting waterproof function to grouting circle thickness,grouting ring penetration,and rock permeability is significantly higher than that of tunnel buried depth and fracture aperture;(4)The lining water head is much more sensitive to the grouting circle thickness and penetration than to the tunnel buried depth;(5)With the grouting range enlarging,the impact of grouting circle permeability on the precipitation pressure role of the grouting ring increases;(6)For the interesting tunnel designed to be built at the depth of 70 m,the grouting circle with the thickness of 0.5 m and permeability of 10-^(14)m^(2)is recommended.展开更多
On April 30,the 22nd China Xiza ng Mountai neering Conventi on in 2025 comme need.As its flagship eve nt,the Luodui Peak Mountaineering Expedition took place from May 2 to 3 in Yangbajain Town of Lhasa,attracting more...On April 30,the 22nd China Xiza ng Mountai neering Conventi on in 2025 comme need.As its flagship eve nt,the Luodui Peak Mountaineering Expedition took place from May 2 to 3 in Yangbajain Town of Lhasa,attracting more than 160 mountain climbing enthusiasts from all over the country.展开更多
This is an in-depth journey to experience the ice and snow of Changbai Mountain.In these few days,you will explore Changbai Mountain and enjoy powder skiing;gallop on the ski trail;watch the stunning wonders of snow r...This is an in-depth journey to experience the ice and snow of Changbai Mountain.In these few days,you will explore Changbai Mountain and enjoy powder skiing;gallop on the ski trail;watch the stunning wonders of snow rime on thousands of trees;conquer the ice and snow wilderness on a snowmobile and start an in depth magical mystery tour in lilin Province.展开更多
This study represents a pioneering effort to analyze the impact of avalanches descending into Morskie Oko from Marchwiczny Gully,the most active avalanche path around the lake.It focuses on catastrophic avalanches tha...This study represents a pioneering effort to analyze the impact of avalanches descending into Morskie Oko from Marchwiczny Gully,the most active avalanche path around the lake.It focuses on catastrophic avalanches that descended from the analyzed gully,as reported in the literature from the 1900s until now.However,only the data collected in recent years,our field studies,combined with modern LIDAR data and GIS-based modeling,allowed us to perform a detailed analysis.The GIS-based approach effectively uses spatial data to address snow avalanche modeling challenges.Although the study area lies within Tatra National Park,no official services carry out systematic avalanche monitoring or measurements.The impact of hazardous events,such as snow avalanches,on the most famous Polish mountain lake,Morskie Oko,has been poorly described in the literature and has yet to be discovered.Therefore,to analyze the selected avalanche parameters,we mainly used our ground and additional aerial photographs taken by local mountain services and related field measurements.Our analysis resulted in figurative estimates of the extent and volume of avalanche snow and its weight,both on the surface of the ice sheet and the part of the avalanche that did not reach the lake's shore and remained on the slope of Marchwiczny Gully.For example,the values for the mighty avalanche on February 3,2023,are 23,500 m~3 and 4,700 tons on the ice surface and 20,000 m~3 and 4,000 tons on the slope.It was determined that avalanches that descend onto the studied lake's surface result in its shallowing.This process occurs because of sedimentation of slope material carried by avalanches,especially during the final phase of ice cover melting.When openings appear in the solid ice cover in spring,floating ice can migrate,driven by wind pressure,and deposit avalanche material in various parts of the lake bottom.Thus,avalanches contributed to the gradual disappearance of the lake.展开更多
In a small village nestled at the foot of a towering mountain lived a young woman named Maya.She had always been fascinated by the mountains majestic beauty and often dreamed of reaching its summit.Every day,she would...In a small village nestled at the foot of a towering mountain lived a young woman named Maya.She had always been fascinated by the mountains majestic beauty and often dreamed of reaching its summit.Every day,she would look up at the peak,imagining what it would be like to stand on top of the mountain,and see the world from that height.展开更多
Soil organic carbon(SOC)from different sources and with distinct chemical properties exhibit variations in their accumulation mechanisms.Exploring the effects of different litter treatments on SOC storage is of great ...Soil organic carbon(SOC)from different sources and with distinct chemical properties exhibit variations in their accumulation mechanisms.Exploring the effects of different litter treatments on SOC storage is of great significance for understanding the formation and accumulation mechanisms of the SOC pool.The feedback mechanisms of new and old SOC in response to tree species and litter treatments were quantitatively analyzed by the C3 plant/C4 soil replacement method.The litter treatments included no litter,aboveground litter,belowground forest litter,and aboveground+belowground litter,totaling four treatments.The results showed that in the first year,cork oak(Quercusvariabilis)exhibited the highest net SOC content increment and net new SOC increment,but the values declined rapidly from the second year onward.The net increment in SOC content was positive at all sample sites,while the priming effect was not significant at any site.Litter treatments had a significant impact on both SOC content and net SOC increment.Compared with aboveground litter,belowground litter was more effective in increasing SOC Content and net SOC increment.展开更多
Chalet farming,as a specific type of agricultural landscape management,has been established in many European mountain ranges,including the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains in Czechia.During the ...Chalet farming,as a specific type of agricultural landscape management,has been established in many European mountain ranges,including the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains in Czechia.During the operation of such farming from 16/17th century till 1945,many changes in land use/land cover and landscape at all occurred,which are generally evaluated positively.Turbulent events including political,economic and social changes and the displacement of the German-speaking population associated with them in the mid-20th century rapidly ended this development,causing significant landscape changes,such as the abandonment of agricultural land and succession,afforestation,expansion of the alpine tree line,reduction of diversity.The aim of our study is to evaluate changes of land cover(forests,dwarf pine,grasslands,other areas)from 1936/1946 till 2021,secondary succession and driving forces of change for selected meadow enclaves in the Krkonose Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains after the decline of mountain chalet farming since the middle of 20th century.We used remote sensing methods(aerial imagery)and field research(dendrochronology and comparative photography)to detect the land use/land cover changes in the selected study areas in the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains.We documented the process of the succession,which occurred almost immediately after the end of farming,peaking about 10–20 years later,with an earlier start in the Hruby Jeseník Mountains.The succession led to the significant change of land use/land cover and these processes were similar in both mountain ranges.The largest changes were a decrease in grasslands by 62%–64%and an increase in forest area by 33%–40%for both study areas.The abandonment of land is the main consequence of a crucial political driving forces(displacement of German-speaking population)in the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains.展开更多
文摘Mountain front faults form the boundary between mountains and adjacent plains.These faults can propagate toward the plains and escalate the risk of seismic hazard for near cities.The North Tehran Fault(NTF)is a mountain front fault bordering the Central Alborz with Tehran and Karaj plains.Structural and morphotectonic data from interpreted aerial photographs,satellite images,airborne geomagnetic data as well as field surveying have been used for detailed segmentation and evolution of the North Tehran Fault.This resulted in identification of the fault segments as the Niknamdeh,Darband,Darakeh-Garmdarreh,and Karaj from east to west.Active kinematics of these segments includes both thrusting and left-lateral components;but the dominant component is different among the segments.The Niknamdeh segment is connected to the Mosha Fault with a hard linkage,while its connection with the Darband segment is a widespread deformation zone.The connection zone between the Darband and Darakeh-Garmdarreh segments has the highest density of minor faults along the North Tehran Fault.The boundary of the Darakeh-Garmdarreh and Karaj segments is controlled by the F-3 transverse fault that has offset the NTF for~3 km right-laterally.The NTF has inverted from normal to dextral oblique fault in Miocene.The fault kinematics has changed from dextral to sinistral in Pliocene-Quaternary.Further regional oblique convergence resulted in minor fault reactivation such as relay ramp breaching faults,propagation of several footwall branches and hangingwall bypasses geometrical change of alluvial fans,and transfer of deformation front southwardly to the Tehran and Karaj plains.The findings of this paper are also applicable to other active oblique converging mountain fronts,inverted mountain front faults and the transition of deformation from these structures to the foreland basin.
文摘A recent assessment that quantified potential impacts of solar energy development on water resources in the southwestern United States necessitated the development of a methodology to identify locations of mountain front recharge (MFR) in order to guide land development decisions. A spatially explicit, slope-based algorithm was created to delineate MFR zones in 17 arid, mountainous watersheds using elevation and land cover data. Slopes were calculated from elevation data and grouped into 100 classes using iterative self-organizing classification. Candidate MFR zones were identified based on slope classes that were consistent with MFR. Land cover types that were inconsistent with groundwater recharge were excluded from the candidate areas to determine the final MFR zones. No MFR reference maps exist for comparison with the study’s results, so the reliability of the resulting MFR zone maps was evaluated qualitatively using slope, surficial geology, soil, and land cover datasets. MFR zones ranged from 74 km2 to 1547 km2 and accounted for 40% of the total watershed area studied. Slopes and surficial geologic materials that were present in the MFR zones were consistent with conditions at the mountain front, while soils and land cover that were present would generally promote groundwater recharge. Visual inspection of the MFR zone maps also confirmed the presence of well-recognized alluvial fan features in several study watersheds. While qualitative evaluation suggested that the algorithm reliably delineated MFR zones in most watersheds overall, the algorithm was better suited for application in watersheds that had characteristic Basin and Range topography and relatively flat basin floors than areas without these characteristics. Because the algorithm performed well to reliably delineate the spatial distribution of MFR, it would allow researchers to quantify aspects of the hydrologic processes associated with MFR and help local land resource managers to consider protection of critical groundwater recharge regions in their development decisions.
基金the Science & Engineering Research Board(SERB),New Delhi(No:SB/S4/ES-699/2013) for providing necessary financial support
文摘Mountain-front recharge(MFR) is a process of recharging an aquifer by infiltration of surface flow from streams and adjacent basins in a mountain block and along a mountain front(MF). This is the first attempt in India to estimate MFR along the foothills of Courtallam using hydrogeochemistry and geostatistical tools. The estimation of MFR has been carried out by collecting groundwater samples along the foothills of Courtallam. Collected water samples were analyzed for major cations and anions using standard procedures. Hydrogeochemical facies show the existence of four water types in this region. Calcium-rich water derived from gneissic rock terrain indicates significant recharge from higher elevation. Log p CO_2 and ionic strength of the samples were also calculated to identify the geochemical process. Majority of the collected samples have sodium-rich water and weak ionic strength, which indicate foothill recharge and low residence time. Silicate and carbonate weathering have an equal interplay along the foothills with a relatively large fraction of Mg from the MF. The spatial diagrams of three factors show that the southern part of the study area is dominated by both weathering and anthropogenic processes, whereas the northern part is dominated by both leaching and weathering processes. Thus, the dominant weathering process represented by the second factor indicates the large recharge process along the foothills.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No.40672143,40472107,and 40172076)the National Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (grant No.2005CB422107 and G1999043305)+1 种基金the Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of Education Ministry (grant No.2003-03)the Project of Southwestern Exploration and Development Division Company,SINOPEC (GJ-51-0602).
文摘By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; （2） the stable tectonic stage （J1） where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; （3） the intense tectonic stage （J2-3）, namely the early Yanshan movement; （4） continuous tectonic movement （K-E）, namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and （5） the formation of Longmen Mountain （N-Q）, namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain＇s formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.
文摘The crustal basement of Northwest Germany can be interpreted as an “Avalonian Terrane Assemblage” subdivided by a roughly NW-SE (Hercynian) and SW-NE (Rhenish) running horst and graben system. In Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous times, this assemblage was flooded by the sea and mainly marine carbonates were deposited on the horsts and Stillwater shales in the grabens, as interpretable through magnetotelluric measurements. Dur</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ing the Late Carboniferous Variscan Orogeny, this terrain became the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">coal-rich </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">foreland of the colliding Rhenohercynian belt. The shale-filled grabens </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">reacted </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">through folding and thrusting with different anticlinal patterns, the main</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> carbonate covered horst in a still unknown way. This horst was the location of the Late Carboniferous basin center and of the inverted oil-rich Mesozoic Lower Saxony Basin (southwestern sector), respectively, with the so-called Bramsche Massif therein. It probably acted as an indenter for the evolution of the Variscan ore-rich Harz Mountains and forced the approaching Rhenohercynian orogen to stack the appropriate tectonic nappes by horizontal shortening to very high altitudes and the root into large depths. Based on seismic evidence this root is still an uncompleted crust/mantle transition zone with a deep reflection seismic and petrological Moho and a shallower hardly reflecting refraction seismic velocity Moho. The alternative, partly unsolved location of the Variscan Deformation Front in Northwest Germany may represent the new findings. The results may be supported by a comparison with features of the northern Alpine deformation belt.
文摘Acute mountain sickness(AMS) is an illness caused by hypoxia due to rapid ascent to altitudes above 2,500 m. Symptoms include headache,nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, all of which usually improve within 1 to 2 days. However,untreated AMS can progress to life-threatening conditions such as high-altitude cerebral and pulmonary edema(HACE and HAPE, respectively)^([1]).
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFC3003903)Natural Science Foundation of Beijing(Grant No.8222079)and of China(Grant No.42475014,U2442204)the Basic Research Fund of CAMS(2023Z001).
文摘This study investigates extreme rainfall episodes along the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains in North China from 30 July to 1 August 2023.It focuses on two types of extreme hourly rainfall rates(HRRs),i.e.,the maximum regionalaverage HRR and site-observed HRR,which exhibited sequential development over southern,middle,and northern key regions.These rainfall extremes occurred in an environment where a high-pressure barrier over North China prevented the intrusion of cold air masses from the north while a northward-moving typhoon remnant vortex and its associated low-level jet(LLJ)transported warm and moist airflow from the south.Two distinct echo evolution modes and convection initiation mechanisms are identified for the two types of extreme HRRs.The maximum regional-average HRR occurred when the LLJ arrived to the east of the key regions,while the maximum site-observed HRR occurred when the warmer vortex center influenced the regions.Taking the northern key region as a representation,at the time of the maximum regional-average HRR,slantwise ascent of the airflow along a warm-frontal-like boundary released energy related to symmetrical instability,resulting in stratiform rainfall with weak convective cores.The transport of locally initiated convection over the eastern plain region,where the atmospheric stratification was more potentially unstable,also significantly contributed.When the maximum site-observed HRR occurred,the terrain lifting of warm and moist southeast airflow led to intense convection over the mountain foothills.Overall,the passage of the warm-core typhoon remnant vortex and interaction with Taihang Mountains determined the timing and location of extreme HRRs across the key regions.
基金funded by the Yunnan Provincial Basic Research Joint Special Fund Project(2019FH001(-052))Cangshan Mountain Synthetic Scientific Expeditions Fund.
文摘The Hengduan Mountains,situated on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,are the longest and widest north-south-oriented mountain range in China,exerting a significant influence on the ecological and geographical pattern.Understanding the topographic and geomorphological characteristics of the Hengduan Mountains is fundamental and crucial for research in related fields such as ecology,geography,and sustainability.In this study,Digital Elevation Model(DEM)data were utilized to extract and analyze the topography and geomorphology(TG)pattern.TG maps have been developed to quantitatively classify the TG types in the Hengduan Mountains by combining the five factors of elevation,slope,aspect,relief and landform.The spatial distribution and quantitative characteristics of these factors were mapped and investigated using geographic information systems.The results revealed that:(1)The Hengduan Mountains exhibit an elongated north-south distribution,with an average elevation of approximately 3746 m,an average slope of around 25°,and an average relief of about 266 m.(2)The Hengduan Mountains display significant elevation differences,with an overall high elevation,characterized by a trend of lower elevation in the east and higher elevation in the west,as well as irregular orientations of various aspects.(3)The 19 landform types were identified,the landform types of the Hengduan Mountains are primarily composed of low-relief high-mountains(42.0618%),low-relief mid-mountains(22.4624%),and high-elevation hills(20.5839%).The results of the study can provide data and information support for the ecology,environmental protection and sustainable development of the Hengduan Mountains.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41621001)。
文摘Air temperature is an important indicator to analyze climate change in mountainous areas.ERA5 reanalysis air temperature data are important products that were widely used to analyze temperature change in mountainous areas.However,the reliability of ERA5 reanalysis air temperature over the Qilian Mountains(QLM)is unclear.In this study,we evaluated the reliability of ERA5 monthly averaged reanalysis 2 m air temperature data using the observations at 17 meteorological stations in the QLM from 1979 to 2017.The results showed that:ERA5 reanalysis monthly averaged air temperature data have a good applicability in the QLM in general(R2=0.99).ERA5 reanalysis temperature data overestimated the observed temperature in the QLM in general.Root mean square error(RMSE)increases with the increasing of elevation range,showing that the reliability of ERA5 reanalysis temperature data is worse in higher elevation than that in lower altitude.ERA5 reanalysis temperature can capture observational warming rates well.All the smallest warming rates of observational temperature and ERA5 reanalysis temperature are found in winter,with the warming rates of 0.393°C/10a and 0.360°C/10a,respectively.This study will provide a reference for the application of ERA5 reanalysis monthly averaged air temperature data at different elevation ranges in the Qilian Mountains.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42061035)the Guizhou Provincial Program on Commercialization of Scientific and Technological Achievements([2022]010)。
文摘The mountainous rural regions of China are undergoing enormous changes in space and time.To a certain extent,this change has increased the difficulties in our understanding of rural development in mountainous areas and brought challenges to development policies and revitalization strategies in mountainous rural regions,especially in karst mountainous areas.In light of the difficulty in and as the key to the development of China's mountainous rural areas,the scientific and systematic construction of indicators for evaluating the level of rural revitalization development and clarifying the level of rural revitalization development and influential factors in karst mountainous areas are of great significance to the implementation of the development of the strategy for the revitalization of the rural areas in karst mountainous areas in China.This study constructed an evaluation index system of the rural regional system and rural revitalization development(RTSRD)from the perspective of rural regional system theory,assessed the spatial differentiation patterns and influential factors of RTSRD,and refined a typical territorial model of rural revitalization development in karst mountainous areas by taking Guizhou Province,a typical karst mountainous region,as a case study area.The evaluation and spatial analyses show that the RTSRD indices of karst mountainous areas in the system perspective show a linear growth trend in all single dimensions,with industrial revitalization(IR)showing the most significant increase each year.In time,the RTSRD of karst mountainous regions has developed from low to high,with evident improvement;spatially,the RTSRD shows the characteristics of‘high in the middle and low in the surroundings,and low in the plateau and low in the depression,'with apparent spatial heterogeneity.In addition,this study found that the spatial and temporal differences in RTSRD result from a combination of endogenous push and exogenous pull in the rural system.In particular,this study has refined a typical regional model of rural revitalization development in karst mountainous regions,which provides theoretical support and case practice for rural development in other karst mountainous regions.At the same time,it provides a basis for decision-making for the county level government and rural development planning.
基金The Comprehensive Monitoring Station for National Ecological Quality in the Dabie Mountains(Forest)Ecological Monitoring for the Years 2024‒2025(ZF2024-18-1376)。
文摘Hyla tsinlingensis(Hu et al.,1966)is endemic to China,and is widely distributed in the Qinling and Dabie Mountains.Previous studies have suggested that genetic differentiation and geographical isolation exist between the Qinling Mountains population and Dabie Mountains population of H.tsinlingensis,and that the Dabie Mountains population is a cryptic species.Several Hyla specimens were collected from the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui Province,China during herpetological surveys from 2022‒2024;these specimens belonged to a species previously identified as H.tsinlingensis.Herein,we utilized phylogenetic analyses,morphological comparisons,and advertisement call comparisons,revealing significant differences from those of other known congeners;thus,we describe them as a new species.The discovery of this species implies that there are currently 18 identified species in the genus Hyla,7 of which are found in China.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42325503)the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation and the Meteorological Innovation and Development Project of China(Grant Nos.2023AFD096 and 2022CFD122)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Wuhan(Grant No.2024020901030454)the Beijige Foundation of NJIAS(Grant No.BJG202304)。
文摘Based on comprehensive observations of 20 wire icing events during winter from 2019 to 2021,we investigated the characteristics of the icing properties,the atmospheric boundary layer structure,the raindrop size distribution,and their associated effects on the ice accretion mechanism in the mountainous region of Southwest China.The maximum ice weight was positively correlated with the duration of ice accretion in the mountainous area.The duration of precipitation accounted for less than 20%of the icing period in the mountainous area,with solid-phase hydrometeors being predominant.Icing events,dominated by freezing rain(FR)and mixed rain–graupel(more than 70%),were characterized by glaze or highdensity mixed icing.The relationship between the melting energy and refreezing energy reflected the distribution characteristics of the proportion of FR under mixed-phase precipitation.The intensity of the warm layer and the dominant precipitation phase significantly affected the variations in the microphysical properties of FR.The melting of large dry snowflakes significantly contributed to FR in the mountainous areas,resulting in smaller generalized intercepts and larger mass-weighted mean diameters in the presence of a stronger warm layer.Under a weaker warm layer,the value of the massweighted mean diameter was significantly smaller because of the inability of large solid particles to melt.Finally,FR in the mountainous area dominated the ice weight during the rapid ice accumulation period.A numerical simulation of FR icing on wires effectively revealed the evolution of disaster-causing icing in mountainous areas.
基金This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province(202203021212497,20210302123265)the Shanxi Normal University School Fund(Research Project on Major Issues of High-Quality Development in Shanxi Province,GZLFZ2327).
文摘The middle reaches of the Yellow River represent a critically ecologically sensitive and fragile area within the Yellow River Basin(YRB),holding significant scientific value for ecological security assessment and environmental management strategies.This study comprehensively evaluates the evolution of the eco-environment in the“Two Mountains,Seven Rivers,and One Basin”(TSO)area of Shanxi Province from 2000 to 2020 based on fraction vegetation cover(FVC)derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),net primary productivity(NPP)calculated via the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach(CASA),and the remote sensing ecological index(RSEI).The results indicate a significant improvement in the TSO’s eco-environment from 2000 to 2020,with the RSEI values increased from 0.34 in 2000 to 0.41 in 2020(an increase of 17.76%).Both FVC and NPP demonstrated notable upward trends,with FVC increasing by 22.74%and NPP by 53.11%.Spatially,FVC rose by 21.84%,19.72%and 26.06%,respectively in the Two Mountains,Seven Rivers,and the YRB in Shanxi Province.Similarly,the NPPs increased by 51.60%,48.60%,and 61.65%in these regions over the past 21 years.Both FVC and NPP exhibited decreasing patterns from southeast to northwest,with significant eco-environmental improvements in the northern region and slower recovery in the southern region.Precipitation was the primary causes influencing vegetation recovery,showing positive trends in the central and northern TSO regions,while this trend reversed in the southern.The RSEI value indicate substantial eco-environment improvements in the central and northern areas(Sanggan,Daqing and Hutuo River Basins),whereas the southern regions(e.g.,Zhang,Qin,Fen and Sushui River Basins)remain in poor grade.Human activities,particularly land use/cover changes marked by increased forestation and urbanization alongside decreased cultivated land,significantly affected vegetation cover patterns.This study provides scientific references for formulating policies on ecological construction and high-quality development in the YRB.
文摘Prediction of water inflow into a tunnel is a crucial prerequisite for the waterproof and drainage design of mountain tunnels in water-rich areas.Based on the proposed Baiyun Mountain Tunnel project in Guangzhou,a numerical percolation model of random fractured rock of a tunnel underpassing a water reservoir is established to study the seepage characteristics of surrounding rock,the law of water inflow,and the change of lining water pressure,considering the local artificial boundary conditions for seepage in large rock mass,.In addition,the influences of rock permeability,fracture aperture,grouting circle thickness,and penetration are analyzed.The results show that:(1)Only fractures with aperture wider than 0.1 mm can play a significant role in water conduction in rocks with the permeability lower than 10^(-11)m^(2);(2)The greater the permeability difference between the fractures and rocks,the more remarkable the effects of fractures on the surrounding rock seepage field and cavern water inflow;(3)The sensitivity of grouting waterproof function to grouting circle thickness,grouting ring penetration,and rock permeability is significantly higher than that of tunnel buried depth and fracture aperture;(4)The lining water head is much more sensitive to the grouting circle thickness and penetration than to the tunnel buried depth;(5)With the grouting range enlarging,the impact of grouting circle permeability on the precipitation pressure role of the grouting ring increases;(6)For the interesting tunnel designed to be built at the depth of 70 m,the grouting circle with the thickness of 0.5 m and permeability of 10-^(14)m^(2)is recommended.
文摘On April 30,the 22nd China Xiza ng Mountai neering Conventi on in 2025 comme need.As its flagship eve nt,the Luodui Peak Mountaineering Expedition took place from May 2 to 3 in Yangbajain Town of Lhasa,attracting more than 160 mountain climbing enthusiasts from all over the country.
文摘This is an in-depth journey to experience the ice and snow of Changbai Mountain.In these few days,you will explore Changbai Mountain and enjoy powder skiing;gallop on the ski trail;watch the stunning wonders of snow rime on thousands of trees;conquer the ice and snow wilderness on a snowmobile and start an in depth magical mystery tour in lilin Province.
文摘This study represents a pioneering effort to analyze the impact of avalanches descending into Morskie Oko from Marchwiczny Gully,the most active avalanche path around the lake.It focuses on catastrophic avalanches that descended from the analyzed gully,as reported in the literature from the 1900s until now.However,only the data collected in recent years,our field studies,combined with modern LIDAR data and GIS-based modeling,allowed us to perform a detailed analysis.The GIS-based approach effectively uses spatial data to address snow avalanche modeling challenges.Although the study area lies within Tatra National Park,no official services carry out systematic avalanche monitoring or measurements.The impact of hazardous events,such as snow avalanches,on the most famous Polish mountain lake,Morskie Oko,has been poorly described in the literature and has yet to be discovered.Therefore,to analyze the selected avalanche parameters,we mainly used our ground and additional aerial photographs taken by local mountain services and related field measurements.Our analysis resulted in figurative estimates of the extent and volume of avalanche snow and its weight,both on the surface of the ice sheet and the part of the avalanche that did not reach the lake's shore and remained on the slope of Marchwiczny Gully.For example,the values for the mighty avalanche on February 3,2023,are 23,500 m~3 and 4,700 tons on the ice surface and 20,000 m~3 and 4,000 tons on the slope.It was determined that avalanches that descend onto the studied lake's surface result in its shallowing.This process occurs because of sedimentation of slope material carried by avalanches,especially during the final phase of ice cover melting.When openings appear in the solid ice cover in spring,floating ice can migrate,driven by wind pressure,and deposit avalanche material in various parts of the lake bottom.Thus,avalanches contributed to the gradual disappearance of the lake.
文摘In a small village nestled at the foot of a towering mountain lived a young woman named Maya.She had always been fascinated by the mountains majestic beauty and often dreamed of reaching its summit.Every day,she would look up at the peak,imagining what it would be like to stand on top of the mountain,and see the world from that height.
基金Sponsored by The National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271848).
文摘Soil organic carbon(SOC)from different sources and with distinct chemical properties exhibit variations in their accumulation mechanisms.Exploring the effects of different litter treatments on SOC storage is of great significance for understanding the formation and accumulation mechanisms of the SOC pool.The feedback mechanisms of new and old SOC in response to tree species and litter treatments were quantitatively analyzed by the C3 plant/C4 soil replacement method.The litter treatments included no litter,aboveground litter,belowground forest litter,and aboveground+belowground litter,totaling four treatments.The results showed that in the first year,cork oak(Quercusvariabilis)exhibited the highest net SOC content increment and net new SOC increment,but the values declined rapidly from the second year onward.The net increment in SOC content was positive at all sample sites,while the priming effect was not significant at any site.Litter treatments had a significant impact on both SOC content and net SOC increment.Compared with aboveground litter,belowground litter was more effective in increasing SOC Content and net SOC increment.
基金funded by the European Commission,CINEA Horizon Europe project no.101081307“Towards Sustainable Land-Use in the Context of Climate Change and Biodiversity in Europe(Europe-LAND)”。
文摘Chalet farming,as a specific type of agricultural landscape management,has been established in many European mountain ranges,including the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains in Czechia.During the operation of such farming from 16/17th century till 1945,many changes in land use/land cover and landscape at all occurred,which are generally evaluated positively.Turbulent events including political,economic and social changes and the displacement of the German-speaking population associated with them in the mid-20th century rapidly ended this development,causing significant landscape changes,such as the abandonment of agricultural land and succession,afforestation,expansion of the alpine tree line,reduction of diversity.The aim of our study is to evaluate changes of land cover(forests,dwarf pine,grasslands,other areas)from 1936/1946 till 2021,secondary succession and driving forces of change for selected meadow enclaves in the Krkonose Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains after the decline of mountain chalet farming since the middle of 20th century.We used remote sensing methods(aerial imagery)and field research(dendrochronology and comparative photography)to detect the land use/land cover changes in the selected study areas in the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains.We documented the process of the succession,which occurred almost immediately after the end of farming,peaking about 10–20 years later,with an earlier start in the Hruby Jeseník Mountains.The succession led to the significant change of land use/land cover and these processes were similar in both mountain ranges.The largest changes were a decrease in grasslands by 62%–64%and an increase in forest area by 33%–40%for both study areas.The abandonment of land is the main consequence of a crucial political driving forces(displacement of German-speaking population)in the Krkono?e Mountains and the Hruby Jeseník Mountains.
