Three-dimensional S-wave velocity structure of the upper crust in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area:insights into the basins structure and genesis of hot springs

As one of the four largest bay areas with strong economic activities in the world,the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GHMGBA)is located in the zone of interaction between the South China Block(SCB)and the South China Sea(SCS).Under the influence of complex geologic evolution,basin-range structures,fault systems and hot springs are well developed here.However,the characteristics of geological structures and the genetic mechanism of these geological phenomena are still unclear.Therefore,we performed ambient noise tomography to obtain 3-D upper crust(0-7.5 km)S-wave velocity structures of the GHMGBA by using 40-day continuous waveform data from 130 seismic stations in the GHMGBA.Our results show that sedimentary basins in the GHMGBA are mainly characterized by low-velocity anomalies.S-wave velocities of sediment formation in basins are about 2.8-3.1 km/s.Rapid changes in velocity appear at the edges of the basins,which correspond to the NE-,NEE-,and NW-trending faults,indicating prominent basin-controlling effects of the faults.The Sanshui Basin(SSB),the largest in the GHMGBA,has a developmental depth of about 4 km,and there is a significant difference in velocity gradient between the east and west sides of the basin,indicating that SSB has experienced east-west asymmetric expansion.Moreover,there are prominent low-velocity anomalies at a depth of about 4.5 km beneath the hot springs at the west of the Zhujiang(Pearl)River estuary(ZRE).We infer that the low-velocity anomalies are fluid reservoirs of the hot springs,which lead to the development of the hot springs on the surface.In addition,the distribution of main cities in the GHMGBA shows a spatial correlation with low-velocity areas at shallow depths(<3 km).The population development trend in the GHMGBA in the past 20 years is also mainly concentrated in the structural province of relatively low-velocity.In combination with the GHMGBA basin structures and drainage distribution characteristics,we suggest that the basic geological environment to some extent affects the habitability of the human settlement and thus determines the distribution and development trend of the main urban context.We believe that the 3-D S-wave velocity structure of the upper crust of the GHMGBA obtained in this study,as well as the deep structural characteristics of the basins and hot springs,will provide support to urban construction planning and geological hazards research of the GHMGBA.

Identifying Spatial Heterogeneity in the Effects of High-Tech Firm Density on Housing Prices:Evidence from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,China

Innovation capitalization is a new concept in innovation geography research.Extant research on a city scale has proven that innovation is an important factor affecting housing prices and verified that innovation has a capitalization effect.However,few studies investigate the spatial heterogeneity of innovation capitalization.Thus,case verification at the urban agglomeration scale is needed.Therefore,this study proposes a theoretical framework for the spatial heterogeneity of innovation capitalization at the urban agglomeration scale.Examining the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GHMGBA),China as a case study,the study investigated the spatial heterogeneity of the influence of high-tech firms,representing innovation,on housing prices.This work verified the spatial heterogeneity of innovation capitalization.The study constructed a data set influencing housing prices,comprising 11 factors in 5 categories(high-tech firms,convenience of living facilities,built environment,the natural environment,and the fundamentals of the districts)for 419 subdistricts in the GHMGBA.On the global scale,the study finds that high-tech firms have a significant and positive influence on housing prices,with the housing price increasing by 0.0156%when high-tech firm density increases by 1%.Furthermore,a semi-geographically weighted regression(SGWR)analysis shows that the influence of high-tech firms on housing prices has spatial heterogeneity.The areas where high-tech firms have a significant and positive influence on housing prices are mainly in the GuangzhouFoshan metropolitan area,western Shenzhen-Dongguan,north-central Zhongshan-Nansha district,and Guangzhou—all areas with densely distributed high-tech firms.These results confirm the spatial heterogeneity of innovation capitalization and the need for further discussion of its scale and spatial limitations.The study offers implications for relevant GHMGBA administrative authorities for spatially differentiated development strategies and housing policies that consider the role of innovation in successful urban development.