Spatial differences of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)among counties(cities)on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains

The county(city)located on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains is the primary area to solidify and extend the success of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China in poverty alleviation.Its Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)are intertwined with the concerted economic and social development of Xinjiang and the objective of achieving shared prosperity within the region.This study established a sustainable development evaluation framework by selecting 15 SDGs and 20 secondary indicators from the United Nations’SDGs.The aim of this study is to quantitatively assess the progress of SDGs at the county(city)level on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains.The results indicate that there are substantial variations in the scores of SDGs among the nine counties and one city located on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains.Notable high scores of SDGs are observed in the central and eastern regions,whereas lower scores are prevalent in the western areas.The scores of SDGs,in descending order,are as follows:62.22 for Minfeng County,54.22 for Hotan City,50.21 for Qiemo County,42.54 for Moyu County,41.56 for Ruoqiang County,41.39 for Qira County,39.86 for Lop County,38.25 for Yutian County,38.10 for Pishan County,and 36.87 for Hotan County.The performances of SDGs reveal that Hotan City,Lop County,Minfeng County,and Ruoqiang County have significant sustainable development capacity because they have three or more SDGs ranked as green color.However,Hotan County,Moyu County,Qira County,and Yutian County show the poorest performance,as they lack SDGs with green color.It is important to establish and enhance mechanisms that can ensure sustained income growth among poverty alleviation beneficiaries,sustained improvement in the capacity of rural governance,and the gradual improvement of social security system.These measures will facilitate the effective implementation of SDGs.Finally,this study offers a valuable support for governmental authorities and relevant departments in their decision-making processes.In addition,these results hold significant reference value for assessing SDGs at the county(city)level,particularly in areas characterized by low levels of economic development.

Spatio-temporal variation of water conservation and its impact factors on the southern slope of Qilian Mountains

The ecology of Qilian Mountains has been seriously threatened by uncontrolled grazing and wasteland reclamation. This study examined the ecological changes on the southern slope of Qilian Mountains in China from the perspective of water conservation by classifying different clusters of water conservation functional areas to efficiently use limited human resources to tackle the water conservation protection problem. In this study, we used Integrate Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST) model to estimate water conservation and analyzed the factors that influence the function. The results of this study include:(1) from 2000 to 2015, the water conservation of the southern slope of Qilian Mountains generally showed an increasing trend, and the total water conservation in 2015 increased by 42.18% compared with that in 2000.(2) Rainfall, fractional vegetation cover(FVC), and evapotranspiration have the most significant influence on the water conservation of the study area. Among them, water conservation is positively correlated with rainfall and FVC(P<0.05) and negatively correlated with evapotranspiration(P<0.05).(3) The importance level of water conservation functional areas gradually increases from northwest to southeast, and the region surrounding Menyuan Hui Autonomous County in the southeast of the southern slope of Qilian Mountains is the core water conservation functional area. And(4) the study area was divided into five clusters(Cluster Ⅰ–Cluster Ⅴ) of water conservation, with the areas of Clusters Ⅰ through Ⅴ accounting for 0.58%, 13.74%, 41.23%, 32.43%, and 12.01% of the whole study area, respectively.

Evolution of economic linkage network of the cities and counties on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains,China

The exchanges between cities and counties in the northern slope economic belt of Tianshan Mountains(NSEBTM)are increasingly frequent and the economic linkages are increasingly close,but the spatial distribution of economic development and linkages among the cities and counties within NSEBTM is uneven.Therefore,it is of great significance to study the evolution of spatial-temporal pattern of the economic linkage network of cities and counties on NSEBTM to promote the coordinated and integrated development of the regional economy on NSEBTM.In this study,we used the modified gravity model and social network analysis method to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of the economic linkage network structure of cities and counties on NSEBTM in 2000,2010,and 2020.The results showed that the comprehensive development quality level of cities and counties on NSEBTM increased from 2000 to 2020,its growth rate also increased,and its gap between cities and counties continued expanding.Both the spatial distribution patterns of the comprehensive development quality level of cities and counties on NSEBTM in 2000 and 2010 were presented as“high in the middle and low at both ends”,while the spatial distribution pattern of 2020 was exhibited as“high value and low value staggered”.The total amount of external economic linkages of cities and counties on NSEBTM showed an obvious upward trend,and its gap between cities and counties continued expanding,presenting a pattern of“a strong middle section and weak ends”.The direction of economic linkages of NSEBTM existed obvious central orientation and geographical proximity.The density of economic linkage network of NSEBTM increased from 2000 to 2020,and the structure of economic linkage network changed from single-core structure centered with Urumqi City to multicore structure centered with Urumqi City,Karamay City,Shihezi City,and Changji City,shifting from unbalanced development to balanced development.In the future,we should accelerate the construction of urban agglomeration on NSEBTM,cultivate a modern Urumqi metropolitan area,improve comprehensive development quality of the cities and counties at the eastern and western ends,strengthen the intensity of economic linkages between cities and counties,optimize the economic linkage network,and promote the coordinated and integrated development of regional economy.

Temporal and spatial responses of ecological resilience to climate change and human activities in the economic belt on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, China

In the Anthropocene era,human activities have become increasingly complex and diversified.The natural ecosystems need higher ecological resilience to ensure regional sustainable development due to rapid urbanization and industrialization as well as other intensified human activities,especially in arid and semi-arid areas.In the study,we chose the economic belt on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains(EBNSTM)in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China as a case study.By collecting geographic data and statistical data from 2010 and 2020,we constructed an ecological resilience assessment model based on the ecosystem habitat quality(EHQ),ecosystem landscape stability(ELS),and ecosystem service value(ESV).Further,we analyzed the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of ecological resilience in the EBNSTM from 2010 to 2020 by spatial autocorrelation analysis,and explored its responses to climate change and human activities using the geographically weighted regression(GWR)model.The results showed that the ecological resilience of the EBNSTM was at a low level and increased from 0.2732 to 0.2773 during 2010–2020.The spatial autocorrelation analysis of ecological resilience exhibited a spatial heterogeneity characteristic of"high in the western region and low in the eastern region",and the spatial clustering trend was enhanced during the study period.Desert,Gobi and rapidly urbanized areas showed low level of ecological resilience,and oasis and mountain areas exhibited high level of ecological resilience.Climate factors had an important impact on ecological resilience.Specifically,average annual temperature and annual precipitation were the key climate factors that improved ecological resilience,while average annual evapotranspiration was the main factor that blocked ecological resilience.Among the human activity factors,the distance from the main road showed a negative correlation with ecological resilience.Both night light index and PM2.5 concentration were negatively correlated with ecological resilience in the areas with better ecological conditions,whereas in the areas with poorer ecological conditions,the correlations were positive.The research findings could provide a scientific reference for protecting the ecological environment and promoting the harmony and stability of the human-land relationship in arid and semi-arid areas.

Forest succession trajectories after fi res in valleys and on slopes in the Greater Khingan Mountains,China

Accurate assessment of postfire vegetation recovery is important for forest management and the conservation of species diversity.Topography is an important factor aff ecting vegetation recovery but whether species composition varies with diff erent recovery stages and between valleys and slopes is unclear.Using fi eld data and a space-for-time substitution method,we quantifi ed species richness and diversity to obtain the successional trajectories of valleys and slopes.We surveyed the species of 10 burned areas from 1986 to 2010 in the Greater Khingan Mountains in northeastern China,and found that with increasing postfi re recovery time,species richness in both valleys and slopes gradually decreased.However,species richness in valleys was relatively higher.Shrubs recovered rapidly in the valleys,and species diversity maximized approximately 11 years after fi re.However,it maximized 17–18 years after fi re on the slopes.Numerous shade-tolerant species were present in the valleys 11 years after fi re but not until after 18 years on slopes.Larch appeared earlier than 11 years after fi re and its recovery was slow in the valleys but appeared quickly on slopes and established dominance early.Our study provides some new insights into vegetation succession after fi re at local scales.After fi re,the vegetation recovery processes diff er with topography and it aff ects the initial rate of recovery and species composition at diff erent successional stages.

Sustainable land-use patterns for arid lands: A case study in the northern slope areas of the Tianshan Mountains

Sustainable land use patterns are ecological and economic prerequisites of regional sustainable development. This is especially true for arid lands, where the environment is wholly fragile thanks to extremely limited precipitation, and where human activities have greatly transformed natural desert system by clearing natural vegetation, expanding oases and even building dams on inland rivers. However, the current studies on land use patterns are still characterized by field investigations and case studies, with almost no solid scientific basis. This paper holds that land types and their combination patterns are the principal basis for designing sustainable land use patterns, and that GIS and RS-based large-scale land type mapping and the study of their spatial combination structures should be coordinated with the demand of social development. The existing environmental problems induced by irrational land use mostly result from their deviation from the natural properties of land types. Taking the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains （NSTM） as an example and considering land type patterns as the basis of land use patterns, this paper improves the vertical oa- sis-and-mid-mountain two-belts development model and the sustainable mountain land use model for arid lands put forward in recent years; and in terms of oases patterns, it outlines oasis development models, including intensive land use pattern in alluvial-diluvial fans, moderate agricultural development pattern in alluvial plains, and ecological land use pattern in river-end oases.

An analysis of oasis stability in arid areas:a case study in the northern slope areas of the Tianshan Mountains

This paper discusses oasis stability at regional scale with a case study in the northern slope areas of the Tianshan Mountains (NSTM). The results showed certain significant aspects. (1) As long as water resources in the oasis keep stable and their utilization efficiency can be maintained or gradually increased, the primary productivity could be continuously increased and the natural primary productivity keeped relatively stable. In this case, it is considered that the oasis is stable and its sustainable development can be achieved at regional scale. (2) Considering the availability of water resources in the oases, the oases on the alluvial-diluvial fans are highly stable. In the alluvial plain downstream of the groundwater overflowing zones the oases are moderately stable and in the lacustrine deltas or dry lacustrine deltas the oases are lowly stable. (3) Enlargement of oases and the increase of water resources and vegetation coverage in the oasis will certainly enhance the 'cold-island effect' of the oasis and increase the stability of oases.

Impacts of Diurnal Variation of Mountain-plain Solenoid Circulations on Precipitation and Vortices East of the Tibetan Plateau during the Mei-yu Season

Diurnal variations of two mountain-plain solenoid （MPS） circulations associated with ＂first-step＂ terrain [Tibetan Plateau （TP）] and ＂second-step＂ terrain （high mountains between the TP and ＂east plains＂） in China and their influence on the south west vortex （SWV） and the mei-yu front vortex （MYFV） were investigated via a semi-idealized mesoscale numerical model [Weather Research and Forecasting （WRF）] simulation integrated with ten-day average fields （mei-yu period of 1-10 July 2007）. The simulations successfully reproduced two MPS circulations related to first and second-step terrain, diurnal vari- ations from the eastern edge of the TP to the Yangtze River-Huaihe River valleys （YHRV）, and two precipitation maximum centers related to the SWV, MYFV. Analyses of the averaged final seven-day simulation showed the different diurnal peaks of precipitation at different regions： from the aftemoon to early evening at the eastern edge of the TP; in the early evening to the next early morning in the Sichuan Basin （SCB）; and in the late evening to the next early morning over the mei-yu front （MYF）. Analyses of individual two-day cases confirmed that the upward branches of the nightlime MPS circulations enhanced the precipitation over the SWV and the MYFV and revealed that the eastward extension of the SWV and its con vection were conducive to triggering the MYFVs. The eastward propagation of a rainfall streak from the eastern edge of the TP to the eastern coastal region was primarily due to a series of convective activities of several systems from west to east, including the MPS between the TP and SCB, the SWV, the MPS between second-step terrain and tile east plains, and the MYFV.

Response of ecosystem service value to land use/cover change in the northern slope economic belt of the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China

Land use/cover change(LUCC)is becoming more and more frequent and extensive as a result of human activities,and is expected to have a major impact on human welfare by altering ecosystem service value(ESV).In this study,we utilized remote sensing images and statistical data to explore the spatial-temporal changes of land use/cover types and ESV in the northern slope economic belt of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China from 1975 to 2018.During the study period,LUCC in the study region varied significantly.Except grassland and unused land,all the other land use/cover types(cultivated land,forestland,waterbody,and construction land)increased in areas.From 1975 to 2018,the spatial-temporal variations in ESV were also pronounced.The total ESV decreased by 4.00×10^(8) CNY,which was primarily due to the reductions in the areas of grassland and unused land.Waterbody had a much higher ESV than the other land use/cover types.Ultimately,understanding the impact of LUCC on ESV and the interactions among ESV of different land use/cover types will help improve existing land use policies and provide scientific basis for developing new conservation strategies for ecologically fragile areas.

Analysis on Change Tendency of the Precipitation Resource during Growth Period of the Conventional Crops in Plain Area before Taihang Mountains

[Objective] The aim was to study change tendency of the precipitation resource during growth period of the conventional crops in plain area before Taihang Mountains. [ Method] Based on daily precipitation data at Shijiazhuang meteorological station in recent 51 years, average rainfall dudng growth periods of the 9 kinds of conventional crops was obtained. Precipitation tendency dudng growth periods of the 9 kinds of conventional crops in plain area before Taihang Mountains was analyzed by Mann-Kendall nonparametric test. [ Result] Seen from rainfall during growth pedods of the different crops, rainfall was the least during the growth period of winter wheat, followed by summer corn. Rainfall during growth peri- ods of the cotton, oil plant, vegetable, fruit tree, potato, rice and legumes was more. Under different guaranteed rates, precipitation change also had difference. Rainfall change during growth periods of the wheat and corn was bigger, and rainfall change during growth period of the rice was smaller. Change degree of the precipitation during growth periods of the cotton, oil plant, vegetable, fruit tree and legumes was equivalent, while precipitation change during growth period of the potato was the biggest. Seen from change tendency of the precipitation during growth periods of the different crops, precipitation in the growth period of winter wheat was increasing at a speed of 0.62 mm/a. However, precipitation in growth periods of the other crops had a decreasing tendency. Precipitation in the growth periods of summer corn and legumes decreased at the same speed which was 2.11 mm/a, while precipitation in growth periods of the cotton, oil plant, vegetable, fruit tree, potato and rice decreased insignificantly. [ Con dusion] The study laid foundation for determination of the agricultural irrigation water and provided theoretical reference for regional agricultural water-saving.

The intensity of slope and fluvial processes after a catastrophic windthrow event in small catchments in the Tatra Mountains

Strong wind events frequently result in creating large areas of windthrow, which causes abrupt environmental changes. Bare soil surfaces within pits and root plates potentially expose soil to erosion. Absence of forest may alter the dynamics of water circulation. In this study we attempt to answer the question of whether extensive windthrows influence the magnitude of geomorphic processes in 6 small second-to third-order catchments with area ranging from 0.09 km^(2) to 0.8 km^(2). Three of the catchments were significantly affected by a windthrow which occurred in December 2013 in the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains, and the other three catchments were mostly forested and served as control catchments. We mapped the pits created by the windthrow and the linear scars created by salvage logging operations in search of any signs of erosion within them. We also mapped all post-windthrow landslides created in the windthrow-affected catchments. The impact of the windthrow on the fluvial system was investigated by measuring a set of channel characteristics and determining bedload transport intensity using painted tracers in all the windthrow-affected and control catchments. Both pits and linear scars created by harvesting tend to become overgrown by vegetation in the first several years after the windthrow. The only signs of erosion were observed in 10% of the pits located on convergent slopes. During the period from the windthrow event in 2013 until 2019, 5 very small(total area <100 m^(2)) shallow landslides were created. The mean distance of bedload transport was similar(t-test, p=0.05) in most of the windthrow-affected and control catchments. The mapping of channels revealed many cases of root plates fallen into a channel and pits created near a channel. A significant amount of woody debris delivered into the channels influenced the activity of fluvial processes by creating alternating zones of erosion and accumulation.

A Study of Soil Nutrients in the Terrace Field Changed from Mountain Slope in Three Gorges Reservoir Region

In order to accurately grasp the soil fertility in Three Gorges Reservoir Region after changing mountain slope into terrace field,we take Wushan County for example,and use the spatio-temporal substitution method to analyze the soil nutrient status and trend about the terrace field changed from mountain slope under different length of implementation.The results show that the soil fertility is generally low in the study area,and according to the soil nutrient grading standards in the second national land survey,the average content of total nitrogen,available potassium,organic matter and available phosphorus reaches Standard III,Standard III,Standard IV and Standard V,respectively,and the spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients is small.Compared to the sloping land,the terrace field changed from mountain slope has increasing soil nutrients on the whole with the length of farming.The mean of various indicators about soil nutrients in the terrace field changed from mountain slope for 2 years is lower than in the sloping land,and there is the biggest difference in soil fertility,while the mean of various indicators about soil nutrients in the terrace field changed from mountain slope for 14 years shows a linear upward trend,and the difference in soil fertility decreases.

The Application of Three-Dimensional Integrated Protection Technology in High Slope Control of Mountainous Highway

In the process of China's national economy construction,the role of highway traffic is unquestionable.And with the continuous development of society and the continuous improvement of highway grade,the work of the highway slope governance become a top priority,especially for some mountainous area highway,strengthen management of slope is very critical.The emergence of three-dimensional comprehensive protection technology has created great convenience for the management of the slope of the mountainous highway,and the safety of the mountain highway has been improved effectively.In view of this,the paper focuses on the application of three-dimensional integrated protection technology in the treatment of highway high slope in mountainous areas for reference and reference.

Modelling the flexural buckling failure of stratified rock slopes based on the multilayer beam model

The buckling failure of stratified rock slopes intersected by a set of steep discontinuities that are approximately parallel to the slope surface is frequently encountered while constructing railways and roadways in mountainous areas. In this study, an analytical approach based on the energy equilibrium principle is presented to solve the flexural buckling stability of stratified rock slopes within the framework of multilayer beam theory. The generalized HoekBrown failure criterion is introduced to reflect the influences of slope size(scale effects) on the buckling stability. Subsequently, numerical and physical modellings from previous literatures are employed to validate the proposed approach. Furthermore, a practical case of Bawang Mountain landslide is also used for the comparative analysis. The study shows that the present analytical approach is capable to provide a more reasonable assessment for the buckling failure of stratified rock slopes, compared with several existing analytical approaches. Finally, a detailed parametric study is implemented, and the results indicate that the effects of rock strength, rock deformation modulus, geological strength index, layer thickness and disturbance degree of rock mass on the buckling failure of stratified rock slopes are more significant than that of rock type and slope angle.

Fractal features and infiltration characteristics of the soil from different land uses in a small watershed in a rocky,mountainous area in Shandong Province

We studied infiltration and fractal mechanisms on sloping farmlands in a small watershed in Shandong Province in the rocky mountain areas of northern China.We studied soil fraction and soil water retention curves,and developed a soil infiltration model to analyze its quantitative relationship with soil particle size and pore dimensions under four types of land use,including sloping farmland,abandoned land,natural forest,and forest plantation(Malus pumila,Crataegus pinnatifida).Soil stability infiltration rate ranked as sloping farmland>abandoned land>natural forest>forest plantation.The sequence of soil particle size and pore dimension ranked as natural forest>forest plantation>abandoned land>sloping farmland.There were significant positive correlations between soil particle size and pore dimension,and both were positively correlated with the percent volume of silt and clay.They were negatively correlated with soil infiltration rate.The Horton model and the power function model were more suitable for simulating soil infiltration and the infiltration rate.We concluded that the soil in this area displayed typical fragments of rocky mountainous regions due to the loss of silt and clay caused by cultivation on sloping farmland.The uniformity and fractal dimensions of soil particle sizes and pore distribution decreased,thereby enhancing soil infiltration capacity and decreasing soil water retention capacity.

Slope Seismic Response Monitoring on the Aftershocks of the Wenchuan Earthquake in the Mianzhu Section

Previous investigations have shown that the seismic response of slopes during the Wenchuan earthquake was highly variable.The present study tries to give an answer to the question:Which are the main factors affecting the seismic response degree of slopes? With the support of the China Geological Survey Bureau,we set 3 monitoring sections in Jiulong slope,Mianzhu city,China with the aim to record the site response of the slope during the aftershocks of the Wenchuan earthquake.After the Wenchuan earthquake,which happened on 12 May 2008,30 aftershocks have been recorded in these monitoring points.We analyzed 11 records,with magnitudes ranging from ML = 4.6 to ML = 3.1.The amplification factors of the horizontal compound PGA and 3D compound PGA have been determined for the 3 points at different elevations on the slope.Results showed that the dynamic response of the slope on the earthquake was controlled by factors such as topography and the thickness of the Quaternary overburden.

Sensitivity of mountain runoff to climate change for Urumqi and Kaidu rivers originating from the Tianshan Mountains

The mountain watersheds of Kaidu River and Urumqi River, which separately originate from the south and north-side of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, are selected as the study area. The characteristics and trends on variation of temperature, precipitation and runoff, and the correlativity between temperature, precipitation, and runoffwere analyzed based on the past 40 years of observational data from the correlative hydrological and weather stations in the study areas. Various weather scene combinations are assumed and the response models of runoff to climate change are established in order to evaluate the sensitivity of runoff to climate change in the study areas based on the foregoing analysis, Results show that all variations of temperature, precipitation, and runoff overall present an oscillating and increasing trend since the 1960s and this increase are quite evident after 1990. There is a markedly positive correlation between mountain runoff, temperature, and precipitation while there are obvious regional differences of responding degree to precipitation and temperature between mountain runoff of Ummqi River and Kaidu River Basins Also, mountain runoff of Urumqi River Basin is more sensitive to precipitation change than that of Kaidu River Basin, and mountain runoff of Kaidu River Basin is more sensitive to temperature change than that of Ummqi River Basin.

The role of tree uprooting in the transporting of sediment and mixing of soil in the Tatra Mountains

Tree uprooting is an important process which leads to many geomorphic consequences.Some of the most important are the transport of sediment and mixing of soil.The aim of this article is to make a detailed examination of the magnitude of sediment transport caused by an extreme windthrow event in three severely affected catchments.Also,a comparison is made of the windthrow event with a mass movement event in the aspect of the magnitude of sediment transport and soil mixing.The study was conducted in three second-to third-order catchments in the Tatra Mountains,where a strong foehn wind event caused extensive windthrow in 2013,and a high-magnitude rainfall event triggered mass movements in 2007.The volume of sediment uplifted by the uprooting event was calculated based on the mapping of root plates using high-resolution(0.04 m)aerial images and measurements of root plate volumes conducted in the field.The volume of sediment transported by shallow landslides was determined based on a Digital Elevation Model(DEM1-m resolution).Windthrows affected 34%,76%,and94%of the area of the investigated catchments.Most of the trees had fallen downslope.The direction of treefall was influenced by the slope aspect and steepness.Root plates and pits covered 1.3%,4.8%,and 5.4%of the area of the catchments.Sediment flux generated by the uprooting event,calculated for the entire area of each investigated catchment ranged from 8.1×10^(–4) to 9.9×10^(–3) m^(3) m^(–1) event^(–1).This was notably lower than the sediment flux generated by the mass movement event(also calculated for the entire area of each catchment),which was 1.8-6.1×10^(–2)m^(3) m^(–1) event^(–1).By contrast,uprooting affected a much larger area than the mass movement event,which underlines its significant role in the mixing of soil.

Spatial Variation of Soil Depth and Shallow Slope Failures in Sangun Mountains, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Shallow slope failure is often induced by rainfall infiltration in a soil mantle overlying a less permeable bedrock. Soil depth is an important input parameter in slope stability analysis. This paper provides the spatial variation of soil depth and the occurrence of slope failure in Sangun mountains area. The spatial pattern of soil depth was simulated by proses based model using airborne laser survey data (LiDAR data) and Geographic Information System (GIS) function. As a function for soil production, we use in the study area a numerical model developed by Dietrich?et al.?(1995) to predict the local spatial variation of the depth of soil. The soil depth data measured at 20 locations that represent morphological variability are used as a sample data set to test the model results. Furthermore, the soil depth variations are compared to the slope failure distribution in the whole area. Slope failure locations in the study area are identified from interpretation of aerial photographs and field surveys. Fifty-five of slope failures are considered for slope failure hazard analysis. Therefore, the slope failures occur more frequently at soil depth intervals in the ranged from 1.01 m to 1.5 m.

Up on the Mountain As more and more Chinese hit the slopes,a fledgling ski industry looks to boom

EVERY year in China, one million people take up skiing. China. Skiing. Although the two aren’t yet synonymous, flocks of newly converted devotees, a booming industry and even faint Olympic hopes are snowballing the sport into a cultural phenomenon.The Swiss Alps it isn’t, but the closest ski area to the capital is Nanshan Ski Village. Outfitted