Inland water is an important source of global methane (CH₄) emissions, and CH₄ emitted through ebullition accounts for a large proportion of the total CH₄ emissions from inland waters. Here, the latest progress in domestic and international research has been systematically summarized to introduce the generation, transport, oxidation, and release of CH₄ via ebullition in inland waters as well as the methods and techniques for measuring CH₄ ebullition. Subsequently, temporal and spatial variations in CH₄ ebullition from global inland water were compared at different temporal and spatial scales. In addition, the mechanisms of the relevant influencing factors in the processes of CH₄ generation and ebullition are further summarized, and current development and applications of CH₄ ebullition models are discussed. Finally, potential research directions and challenges related to CH₄ ebullition from inland water are proposed, aiming to provide a basis for subsequent research on CH₄ ebullition, investigation of process and control mechanisms, and model development and estimation in this field.

The Northwest region of China is a major battlefield and an important ecological and environmental security barrier to China’s western development. Flourishing the Belt and Road Initiative, climate change in this region has a direct impact on water resources, ecology, and environmental security. In the context of global climate change, Northwest China has shown an obvious and rapidly developing warming-wetting trend, which has resulted in increasingly prominent environmental and public security risks that are seriously affecting the sustainable development of the regional economy and society. This poses new challenges for climate change responses, water resource management, and disaster prevention and mitigation in this region. Research on the evolution characteristics, causes, and physical mechanisms of warming-wetting as well as its future trends and possible risks were reviewed. It further summarizes the current scientific consensus and existing problems, and finally looks forward to the key directions of future scientific research. A systematic review of the trend, causes, and future projection of climate warming-wetting in Northwest China will have important scientific implications for further research on this issue.

Droughts spread through interrelated land-atmosphere systems and hydrological processes, and evolve into different types of droughts, such as hydrological, agricultural, ecological, and socioeconomic droughts, in different geographical and temporal contexts. Against the backdrop of global climate change and intensified human activities, the propagation and evolution of different types of drought present more uncertainties. Over the past decade, our understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics, research methods, evolutionary processes, and driving factors of drought propagation has gradually deepened, but clear scientific views have not been realized. Beginning from the definition of drought propagation, this study systematically analyzed the scientific connotation of the problem and clarified the developmental stages of drought propagation research. Six quantitative research methods for current drought propagation were comprehensively summarized: threshold method and run theory, correlation analysis, causal analysis, cross-wavelet analysis, probability models, and meteorological-hydrological models. Furthermore, from the perspective of meteorological-hydrological and meteorological-agricultural drought propagation scenarios and drought propagation driving forces, the main acquired scientific knowledge was analyzed and summarized. The findings reveal the propagation order, stage threshold, spatiotemporal heterogeneity, and human-driven processes of drought propagation research worldwide. Finally, a series of challenges that future drought propagation research will face were analyzed. These include further exploration of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the propagation process, bridging the gap between mathematical and physical knowledge to establish trustworthy models, and integrating cross-disciplinary knowledge to achieve a full-process analysis of propagation. The systematical analysis of the progress and challenges of domestic and international drought propagation research will provide key theoretical and methodological support for the next steps in drought disaster analysis and scientific management.

Ozone is among the most important trace gases in Earth’s atmosphere and plays a crucial role in both climate change and ecology. Tropospheric ozone is an important component of photochemical smog, and its variations are closely related to human activity. Monitoring of tropospheric ozone based on satellite remote sensing can help us better understand and quantitatively explain the characteristics of tropospheric ozone changes in different seasons, times, and regions, and explore the mechanism of ozone generation in the troposphere. With the comprehensive development of satellite remote sensing techniques, ozone remote sensing products (e.g., total ozone, profiles, etc.) have improved significantly in terms of accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution. However, the accuracy of tropospheric ozone products is still not sufficient for the current scientific application of the atmospheric composition of the troposphere due to the weak satellite signals and complexity of the subsurface. This review focuses on satellite remote sensing of tropospheric ozone. It outlines and analyzes the development history and current status of ozone satellite remote sensing payloads and discusses the characteristics and applicability of remote sensing retrieval algorithms based on different technologies (direct and indirect retrieval, multiband joint retrieval, collaborated nadir-limb retrieval, and innovative algorithms based on machine learning techniques). It further discusses the application of satellite remote sensing for the provision of reliable tropospheric ozone observation data at the global and regional scales. Overall, this review envisions the application of satellite remote sensing for providing reliable tropospheric ozone observations at the global and regional scales.

Aquatic ecosystems are a significant source of methane emissions. Although methane production has previously been recognized to only occur in oxygen-deprived environments, recent research has shown that aerobic water environments also experience high methane levels, known as the “methane paradox”. This phenomenon is linked to the presence of algae that can directly produce methane through photosynthesis or the use of specific compounds. Moreover, algae create conditions conducive to methane production by other microorganisms. However, the specific ecological mechanism of aerobic methane production by algae remains not yet fully understood, making accurate global methane level accounting difficult. Future studies should focus on uncovering the molecular regulation of aerobic methane production by algae and how they adapt to external conditions.

Rivers connect the terrestrial landscape and oceans and are considered “bioreactors” of carbon. Understanding the carbon cycling processes in rivers and constructing numerical models for riverine carbon cycling is imperative to estimate regional and global carbon budgets. The summary and discussion of the development and application of riverine carbon cycling models remains inadequate. This study reviewed the mechanisms and models of riverine carbon cycling based on a comprehensive literature review. First, we briefly overview the critical processes in migrating and transforming various carbon components, including particulate organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, and dissolved organic carbon. Riverine carbon cycling models are classified into two types: statistical and process-based. The representative models’ simulation methods, applications, advantages, and disadvantages were compared. Based on statistical or machine learning methods, empirical statistical models establish the relationship between the riverine carbon flux and environmental factors. This type of model is simple but has poor extrapolation and universality. Process-based models are based on land surface or hydrological models coupled with river carbon cycling-related biogeochemical processes. This model simulates and predicts variations in different riverine carbon fluxes and is more reliable but complicated. Such models typically focus on different scientific problems, and the representations of riverine carbon cycling-related processes differ among these models. Simulation research on riverine carbon cycling is still in its early stages; however, many shortcomings remain. For example, the representations of terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycling and human activities in existing riverine carbon cycling models are insufficient; thus, they cannot accurately simulate and predict long-term changes in riverine carbon cycling. In the future, it will be necessary to strengthen observations of river carbon cycling processes and improve our understanding of terrestrial and aquatic carbon cycling to represent the mechanisms and processes in the model. This will improve the accuracy of riverine carbon cycling simulations and provide a scientific basis for China to achieve its double-carbon goals.

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), Iranian Plateau (IP), and Mongolian Plateau (MP) belong to Asian high-altitude regions. Thermal forcing over the three plateaus is important in contemporaneous and subsequent weather and climate in China. Examination of the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of surface sensible heat over the three plateaus revealed remarkable interannual and interdecadal changes attributable to global warming that occurred from the end of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Their relationships and possible mechanisms are discussed. A summary of the research progress on the impact of surface thermal conditions over the three plateaus on the weather and climate of China during spring and summer revealed three findings. First, over the TP, sensible heating has a significant impact on the formation, development, and eastward movement of the TP vortex, which induces rainstorms in the eastern part of China with an appropriate circulation background. Second, the Tibetan-Iranian Plateau (TIP) “sensible heat driven air-pump” favors the development of upward flow over the Asian monsoon region. The combined contribution of TIP thermal condition is greater than their linear superposition to the summer precipitation in southern China. Third, the warmer and drier conditions in northern China are closely related to the compensatory downdraft induced by thermal forcing over the TP, IP, and MP. In addition, the abnormal surface heating of the three plateaus triggers abnormalities in local circulation and regulates the weather and climate over northern China through teleconnection patterns. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research considerations and challenges regarding the synergism of the TP, IP, and MP.

The global Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) is a critical component of Earth system modeling and plays an essential role in climate projections and marine environmental forecasting. Herein, the history of global OGCM models is systematically reviewed and significant scientific and recent technological advancements are summarized. This review covers three topics involving the core technology of OGCMs: the dynamical core, physics or physical parameterization, and soft-hardware configuration. In the dynamic core, the latest developments in horizontal discretization methods, vertical coordinate schemes, and multi-resolution strategies are explored. Regarding physics, the focus has been on the progress of mesoscale, sub-mesoscale, and boundary-layer mixing parameterizations. In the soft-hardware configuration section, the current status and prospects for the application of heterogeneous computing architectures and artificial intelligence technology in global OGCMs are discussed. The advancement of the LASG/IAP Climate System Ocean Model, a fully autonomous Chinese global OGCM, is also highlighted. Based on key trends and novel ideas in the field of global OGCMs, suggestions are provided for Chinese researchers and relevant policymakers to comprehensively advance R&D strategies and long-term planning for fully autonomous global OGCMs.

Data-driven methods with deep learning as their core have been gradually applied in Earth science; however, challenges remain regarding the interpretability of models and physical consistency. With the background of remote sensing big data, combining deep learning and data assimilation methods to develop new techniques for the simulation and prediction of terrestrial water cycle processes has become an important research direction in Earth science. Τhe progress in deep learning in recent years combines improving the quality of observation data of terrestrial water cycle components and reducing the uncertainty of physical models. Furthermore, the key scientific issues regarding data assimilation in terrestrial hydrology based on deep learning fusing remote sensing big data are classified according to the observations, physical models, and system integration: \mathrm{①} How can the temporal and spatial representativeness of samples be enhanced when deep learning inverts remote sensing products? \mathrm{②} How can a new physics-guided deep learning method be developed within the framework of data assimilation? \mathrm{③} How can the predictability of the terrestrial water cycle be improved through the “data-model” dual drive? Relevant research and exploration should help promote the in-depth application of the “data-model” hybrid modeling method in the field of hydrology and improve the simulation and prediction capacity of the terrestrial water cycle process.

N₂O is an important greenhouse gas that also damages the ozone layer. N₂O emissions have been observed during microalgae cultivation and in microalgae-based ecosystems, such as eutrophic lakes. However, little has been reported on the important role of the N₂O balance in algae and the potential algal N₂O production pathways. A review of recent relevant studies on N₂O synthesis and fixation by algae shows that the studies mainly focus on the relationship between algae and N₂O emissions, several possible pathways of N₂O production and consumption in algae, the influence of the algal microenvironment on the distribution pattern of N₂O, and the potential impacts on global climate change. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change currently does not consider the possible N₂O emissions during algal blooms or algal aquaculture; hence, it is necessary to intensify experimental studies related to algal N₂O production globally to take important steps towards a comprehensive clarification of the important roles of algae in N₂O emission and fixation and a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic ecosystems.

Severe convective weather systems often cause rainstorms, lightning, gales, hail, and other disasters owing to their small spatial scale and rapid and violent development. Accurate forecasting has always been a difficult and bottleneck problem in the international meteorological field, and it is the focus of disaster prevention and mitigation in Shanghai. This research introduces key technologies developed by the Shanghai Meteorological Department in recent years, such as self-adaptive networking observation of strong convection targets, intelligent identification and prediction of strong convection abrupt structural features, machine learning correction of numerical prediction errors, and system integration. Based on this, an intelligent monitoring and early warning system that can simulate the three-dimensional structure and evolution of a strong convective system is established and applied, which has significantly improved the early warning capability fo severe convection in Shanghai. Relevant technical achievements have provided support for major services such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and have been promoted for application in urban disaster prevention and mitigation.

Geodiversity encompasses the diversity of abiotic materials, forms, and processes on and beneath the surface of the Earth. This study investigates the impact of geodiversity on biodiversity, shedding light on the interplay between subsurface-aboveground dynamics and geological-biological roles in natural ecosystems. Synthesizing domestic and international research, we explore the relationship between geodiversity and biodiversity, highlighting their joint role in maintaining natural ecosystems. Specifically, we focus on understanding the formation and maintenance mechanisms of high geodiversity supporting high biodiversity. Additionally, we examine the impact of geodiversity on biodiversity across various spatial scales, noting differences in effects at global, landscape, and local scales. We also underscore the lack of a unified understanding of the impacts of geodiversity on biodiversity and its driving mechanisms, particularly in protected areas. Furthermore, we summarize research methods for geodiversity assessment, including qualitative, quantitative, and qualitative-quantitative approaches, and highlight the effectiveness of the qualitative-quantitative method. Lastly, we suggest that future research should emphasize strengthening empirical analyses of geodiversity on biodiversity within nature reserves, integrating geodiversity on biodiversity research into the management of protected areas, and optimizing geodiversity assessment methods.

Climate extremes threaten human health, economic stability, and the safety of both natural and built environments. Compound extreme events are combinations of multiple climate drivers and/or hazards that contribute to societal or environmental risks, and their impacts on human society and natural ecosystems are often more serious and destructive than those of a single extreme event. Understanding the changes in compound extreme events is important for adaptation, mitigation strategies, and disaster risk management. Here, the definitions and connotations of compound extreme events are briefly discussed, including preconditioned, multivariate, temporal, and spatial compounding events. Subsequently, the progress in compound extreme event research is discussed in terms of temporal and spatial evolution characteristics, influencing factors, and future scenario projections. Given the problems in current research, we suggest that future studies should focus on studying compound extreme events regarding variable/index selection and threshold determination, dependence and interaction analysis among drivers and/or hazards, simulation performance evaluation and future projections, and their dynamic processes and disaster-causing mechanisms. Compound extreme events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in a warming world, and many regions are projected to experience an increase in the probability of compound events with greater global warming. Therefore, we must improve our understanding of the causes and drivers of compound and cascade events.

Since the middle of the 20th century, analog experiments have provided an independent method for studying geodynamic processes. Based on analog experiments, this paper reviews the similarity mechanism between the natural prototype and experimental model of geodynamic processes and reviews the mechanism and characteristics of the lithosphere dynamic process revealed by analog experiments. Furthermore, we compare analog data of the Cantabria Belt and Zagros Iran Plateau. Analog experiments use dry particle materials, (non-) linear viscous rheological materials, and viscoelastic materials to establish multilayer material structure models (i.e., double-, three-, and four-layer lithosphere structures). In general, the analog experimental devices include three types: an internal dynamic drive model of the conservation of the system energy material, external dynamic drive model of the open system, and internal and external dynamic hybrid drive models. Geodynamic deformation of the lithosphere is controlled by the coupling of multiple layers of the lithosphere (i.e., elastic strength or viscous stiffness) and an inherited heterogeneous structure. This controls the deformation of the basin-mountain system in the shallow water and lithosphere. The analog experiment data can provide a better explanation of the geodynamic processes and would play an increasingly important role in tectonic evolution, big-data structure of the basin, and disaster warning.

Since the inception of the (U-Th)/He thermochronometer at the turn of the last century, it has assumed an increasingly pivotal role in geology and related disciplines, notably in the dating of apatite and zircon. However, the occurrence of apatite and zircon is relatively restricted in nature, significantly constraining the advancement and application of (U-Th)/He dating. Through ongoing, comprehensive investigations into He diffusion kinetics and advancements in analytical technology, alongside apatite and zircon, other minerals (U-Th)/He thermochronologies have also made significant strides, progressively refining and broadening their applications, thereby opening new avenues for the (U-Th)/He thermochronometer. Moreover, different minerals record distinct geological information; hence, employing (U-Th)/He dating across multiple minerals enhances our comprehension of geological processes. This paper provides a concise overview of the progress in (U-Th)/He dating of hematite, goethite, magnetite, carbonate minerals, conodont, fluorite, perovskite, spinel, rutile, and garnet, with a focus on the advanced research in hematite, goethite, magnetite, carbonate minerals, and conodont (U-Th)/He dating, which are relatively mature. Presently, these novel methodologies have found applications in diverse fields such as ore deposits, sedimentology, tectonic geology, geodynamics, and environmental science, particularly in determining mineralization age, reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoclimates, elucidating processes of oceanic crust alteration, subduction, and exhumation, understanding the functioning of hydrothermal systems, investigating fault deformation, and conducting paleoseismic research, wherein they are poised to play a pivotal role. However, several challenges persist, including multiple diffusion domains, the impact of radiation damage and chemical composition on helium diffusion, loss of parent isotopes during heating and degassing, and open behavior within the (U-Th)/He system, often resulting in dispersed thermochronological (U-Th)/He dates. Thus, further investigations into He diffusion behavior in these minerals, enhancements in experimental methodologies, and improvements in instrument accuracy are imperative to ensure the precision of (U-Th)/He data, thereby furnishing a more dependable framework for understanding geological processes.

Global lake systems have been facing ubiquitous aquatic environmental challenges since 1950. The baseline and changing history of lake aquatic environments can be reconstructed by quantitative transfer functions, which aids in the assessment of the degree of human impact on lake ecosystems and in setting practical targets for ecological restoration. The basic processes of developing and applying quantitative transfer functions are first introduced. Then, typical case studies from various lake catchments are comprehensively summarized to elaborate on the application of quantitative transfer functions based on sedimentary subfossils to reconstruct lake aquatic environmental parameters. These parameters include water pH, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, transparency, water level, salinity, and temperature. The rate and magnitude of deviation from natural baselines due to anthropogenic disturbances, changing trajectories, and underlying mechanisms in typical lake environments in the Anthropocene were examined from multiple perspectives. Finally, constraints and prospects for lake transfer functions are discussed from the following aspects: developing new indicators and a multi-proxy approach, improving training sets with larger sample sizes and machine learning, improving modern ecological studies of biological indicators, and combining transfer functions with ecosystem modeling to further improve the quality of transfer functions and enlarge application fields to provide scientific references and guidance for future research.

As a result of global warming, the melting of ice-rich permafrost causes the ground to collapse, thereby creating thermokarst lakes, while the greenhouse effect caused by the concurrent release of greenhouse gases results in a positive feedback with climate warming. Microorganisms play important roles in various aspects of the carbon cycle. Understanding the mechanisms of microbial regulation of the carbon cycle in thermally melting lakes is of great significance for coping with future climate change. Therefore, by combining previous studies, this paper first elucidates the formation process of thermokarst lakes and the microorganisms inhabiting these special habitats; subsequently, the main microorganisms involved in organic carbon decomposition, methane production, and methane oxidation, and the regulation mechanisms and influencing factors are analyzed in detail. Based on this analysis, we conclude the following: \mathrm{①} The organic matter in thermokarst lakes originates from the land, while some nutrients, such as phosphates, plant biopolymers, and leucine residues, are also transported from the land to the water. \mathrm{②} With improvements in temperature and aeration conditions, the availability of most nutrients increases the genetic diversity of microorganisms and promotes their roles in organic carbon decomposition. Changes in temperature, substrate, dissolved oxygen, and microbial community affect the processes of methane production, methane oxidation, and carbon sequestration, thereby affecting the carbon cycle. \mathrm{③} Some deficiencies in previous studies are summarized, and a new research perspective is proposed to deepen our understanding of microbial involvement in the carbon cycle in thermokarst lakes. With the help of metagenomic technology and incubation, the regulatory mechanisms of microbes for the carbon cycle can be revealed more clearly, and field observations of carbon emissions from thermokarst lakes under different environmental conditions can be strengthened. Exploring the use of microbes for mitigating the negative effects of climate change should be based on the above fundamental research.

Quantitative reconstruction of paleotemperature has become a critical link in understanding the evolution of the Earth’s climate system. However, only few reliable continental temperature reconstruction indicators are available. Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraether membrane lipids (GDGTs) are derived from microbial cell membranes. The MBT/CBT and TEX86 indices related to GDGTs have been applied to the quantitative paleotemperature reconstruction of lake systems. However, because of the complexity of the lake systems and the particularity of the plateau climate, the application of relevant indicators in lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is affected. Therefore, it is vital to conduct detailed modern process analyses of the target lakes and investigate the potential applications of these indices. In this study, 24 samples of soil, lake, and river surface sediments were collected from Heihai Lake on the northern Tibetan Plateau. The sources of GDGTs in the Heihai Lake sedimentary system were analyzed. The responses of the GDGTs and their related indicators to environmental factors were discussed. The applicability of the MBT/CBT index and temperature conversion function to the temperature reconstruction of plateau lakes was investigated. Results show that there are some endogenous GDGT compounds present in Heihai Lake, and that water depth has a significant effect on the composition and distribution of GDGTs. Conductivity and TOC have weak effects on GDGTs, and the MBT/CBT index has some limitations in reconstructing lake temperature in high-altitude and cold regions. Therefore, more suitable temperature indicators and correction equations for plateau lakes need to be established by combining the regional characteristics, climate types, and ecological responses of microorganisms to special environments.

Pyrite, a significant heavy mineral in shale, aids in the comprehension of shale depositional environments. Referencing the Wufeng-Long₁ subsection Formation of the Luzhou Block in Sichuan Basin, a network model for pyrite SEM image segmentation was established via core mineral experiments, SEM observations, network model refinement, and feature parameter analysis. The model assesses the sedimentary environment of the study block using pyrite framboid parameters. \mathrm{①} Our findings indicated that enhancement of the UNet-Im model for pyrite framboid SEM images resulted in a segmentation precision of 0.863, demonstrating the effectiveness of the enhancement measures. \mathrm{②} Pyrite content varied from 2.95% in the Long{}_{\mathrm{1}}^{\mathrm{1}~\mathrm{3}} minor layer to 0.83% in the Wufeng Formation, with the Long{}_{\mathrm{1}}^{\mathrm{4}} minor layer at 2.03%. \mathrm{③} Pyrite depositional environments are deduced as deep-water sulfide environments, strong reducing environments, strong-weak reduction environments, and reductive-suboxidative environments based on pyrite framboid characteristics. This study accurately segmented pyrite SEM images to enhance the exploration and development of intelligence in this industry.

The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy voted that the Anthropocene should be defined by a Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP or ‘golden spike’) as a formal chronostratigraphic unit. Increasing evidence has shown that human activities have drastically intensified since the mid-twentieth century, altering the original rate and direction of Earth’s evolution, triggering a profound impact on Earth’s environment, and leaving their imprint on geological records through physical, chemical, and biological markers. Consequently, the 1950s was assumed to be the ideal onset of the Anthropocene. Currently, 12 candidate sites for the GSSP of the Anthropocene have been proposed for consideration by the AWG. Chinese researchers have made outstanding progress in recent years regarding the establishment of a system of proxies for human activities and the global comparison of the candidate sites for the GSSP of the Anthropocene. These proxies, including anthropogenic radioactive isotopes, microplastics, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and diatoms, have great potential as markers of human activities. These proxies recorded in the sediments of Sihailongwan Maar Lake, which is far away from cities and less affected by human activities, indicate that this site is sensitive to global change. The concentrations of ^{239, 240}Pu have drastically increased since 1953 CE in the sediment profile collected from Sihailongwan Maar Lake. as Additionally, other proxies such as PAHs, ¹²⁹I, soot ¹⁴C, SCP (spheroidal carbonaceous particles), DNA, δ¹³C, and Pb exhibit synchronous changes near 1953 CE, indicating the onset of Anthropocene. Two sediment stratotype profiles collected from Sihailongwan Maar Lake and Beppu Bay, Japan, were selected by the AWG as auxiliary sections for the GSSP of the Anthropocene. The ultimate goal of Anthropocene science should be to deepen the theory and technological innovation of sustainable development of the Earth-humans system and adaptation based on clarifying the impact of human activities on the Earth system.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) stresses threat of the continuous melting of polar ice sheets and hence rising global sea levels on our socioeconomic and living environment. However, large uncertainty remains in future projections of Earth’s ice sheet, which might be reduced by improving our understanding of its evolution history and associated dynamics by ice-sheet modeling. Glacial index method is an effective approach to investigate transient ice sheet change by interpolating discrete climate forcing into continuous climate forcing based on paleoclimate proxies. This indicates the choice of paleoclimate proxy might be of crucial impact on simulated transient ice sheet change. Here we investigate this issue with a focus on the tempo-spatial evolution of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheet during the last glacial cycle using two sets (six in total) of proxies representing global sea level and temperature changes, respectively. Three key conclusions are summarized in the following. First, the characteristics of proxy trajectory have a significant influence on the simulated ice volume’s evolutionary characteristics. Second, the presence of millennial-scale abrupt climate change events in proxies lowers the simulated overall ice volume when tendency and amplitude of proxies are similar. Third, ice sheet extent is constrained by the summer 0 °C isotherm which is modulated by the tendency and amplitude of different proxies, even when subjected to the same Last Glacial Maximum climate forcing. Therefore, our results emphasize the need to carefully consider the characteristics of paleoclimate proxies when using the glacial index method for studying global ice sheet changes over time. Understanding the limitations and potential biases associated with the chosen proxies is crucial to avoid misinterpretation and overstatement of modeling results.

The matching of water and land resources often directly affects food production in various regions and is the basis for high-quality economic and social development and modernization of agricultural production. Using nine provinces along the Yellow River as examples, based on the cross-coupling of four elements, such as the natural background of water resources and water resources for total water consumption control, this study constructed a ternary synergistic model of water-cultivated land-grain by cross-coupling. The matching coefficients of water and soil resources from 2010 to 2020 under each scenario were calculated, and the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of water and soil resources matching along the “province-city” scale of the nine provinces along the Yellow River and the contribution degree of each element were analyzed. The results showed that: \mathrm{①} The matching degree of binary water and soil resources based on the natural background of water resources in the nine provinces was improved as a whole, and the matching pattern of water and soil resources was relatively stable; however, the regional differences are notable and manifested as “high in the west and low in the east.” \mathrm{②} Along the three-way coordinated matching pattern of water-arable land and grain in the nine provinces, from the perspective of the total amount of cultivated land and the amount of irrigated arable land in the natural background of water resources, roughly three distribution patterns were presented: the western and northeastern regions were severely water-deficient areas, the northern and north-central regions typically had varying degrees of water shortage, and the central and eastern regions exhibited a diversified distribution pattern; from the perspective of total water consumption control, a remarkable difference is observed between the total amount of cultivated land and the three-way cooperative matching pattern of irrigated cultivated ground. \mathrm{③} Under the four scenarios, the average contribution rate of water resources were >50%, and the sum of the effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water and the contribution rate of the irrigation quota were >30%, indicating that increasing the effective utilization coefficient and setting a reasonable irrigation quota had a decisive impact on the change in water and soil resource matching. These results improve our understanding of the relationship between water resources and exploitation, cultivated land production capacity, and reclamation, as well as the interdependence and constraints of the grain planting structure.

Satellite-based fast inversion for nitrogen oxides (NO _x =NO+NO₂) emissions at low computational costs and high resolutions (≤5 km or finer) can provide timely, detailed data to support targeted pollution control. To date, a variety of low-cost fast inversion methods have been developed, such as the Exponentially Modified Gaussian (EMG), Divergence (DIV), and the PHLET (Peking University High-resolution Lifetime-Emission-Transport) models. However, quantitative comparisons of these methods and their emission results are lacking. This study compares the above three inversion methods for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region during the summer of 2019. We found that the EMG model, which was designed for point source emission inversion, performs poorly in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei due to dense emission sources even within each city. The DIV considers the horizontal transport of NO _x with a predetermined (fixed) lifetime and can quickly identify the locations of emission sources; however, it tends to underestimate the emission amounts and even leads to negative emissions in many places. PHLET algorithm considers the horizontal transport of NO₂, the nonlinear relationship between local NO₂ concentrations and lifetimes, and the two-way matching between irregular satellite pixels and regular model grid cells, resulting in more reliable emission estimates. Filling in missing satellite data through data fusion, improving wind data resolution and accuracy, and improving NO _x chemical loss estimation will significantly enhance the quality of emission inversion.

The inconsistency between the supply and demand of lithium carbonate is becoming increasingly serious. Scientific prediction of the future lithium carbonate demand is of great significance for China’s lithium resource production, import and export arrangements, and national energy policy formulation. Based on a combined model of grey correlation analysis and the ARIMA-GM-BP neural network, data on the driving variables of China’s per capita GDP, industrial structure, urbanization level, grease production, ceramic production, glass production, air conditioning production, lithium-ion battery production, and new energy vehicle production in 2002-2021 were selected to predict China’s lithium carbonate resource demand between 2025 and 2035. The results show that the selected driving variables are highly correlated with China's lithium carbonate resource demand, and the combined model is more accurate than a single model. The predicted average quantity demand for lithium carbonate in 2025, 2030, and 2035 is 0.42 million tons, 0.69 million tons, and 1.03 million tons, respectively. Accordingly, some policy suggestions have been proposed.

Carbon neutrality has become a topic of global consensus. To achieve carbon neutrality, it is also important to enhance carbon sequestration and sink capabilities, apart from the development of new energy to minimize carbon emissions. Carbon sinks can be divided into marine and terrestrial types. The marine carbon sink is mainly composed of three parts: the coastal ecological carbon sink mainly formed by the carbon sequestration effect of coastal vegetation and coastal sediment load, and the marine ecological carbon sink mainly formed by dissolution and microbial pumps in the ocean. Both are directly related to monsoon oceanic current conditions, terrestrial organic inputs, coastal geographical conditions, and human activity. The feasibility of an artificial oceanic carbon sink depends on its impact on marine ecology. In terrestrial carbon sinks, vegetation carbon sinks are formed by organic carbon generated by the photosynthesis of terrestrial plants, including forest, grassland, and wetland vegetation. The influencing factors include temperature and precipitation, atmospheric composition, land use and its changes, and natural disturbance effects. Natural geological carbon sinks mostly consist of soil and karst carbon sinks. Soil carbon sinks are affected by regional vegetation, climatic conditions, soil utilization, and other factors. Karst carbon sinks are mainly produced by weathering between carbonate and silicate rocks absorbing atmospheric CO₂, which is affected by temperature, precipitation, rock type, hydrological conditions, and human activity. An artificial geological carbon sink was formed because the captured CO₂ was injected into the designated area underground for storage. The storage capacity depends on the evaluation of geological characteristics, reservoir conditions, oil distribution, and production. For the future, it is necessary to act decisively in climatic, natural resources, the social economy, and other aspects to fix carbon, enhance carbon sequestration, and achieve carbon neutrality.

The upper Yellow River is the most important water conservation area as well as the runoff and confluence area in the Yellow River Basin, and accounts for more than half of the runoff of the entire basin. Therefore, it is of great significance to the ecological protection, water resource security, and food security of the entire Yellow River Basin. Scientifically understanding the change characteristics of natural environmental factors and deeply exploring the coordination problem of natural environmental factors can promote ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Based on the macro understanding of the six important characteristics of natural environmental elements, such as climate, hydrology, and ecology, in the upper Yellow River under the background of global warming and the implementation of national ecological protection projects and water resource management policies, this study describes the natural disharmony among hydrology, soil, climate, and ecology in the upper Yellow River. Moreover, from the perspective of the coordination of natural environmental elements, this study puts forward five scientific ideas on how to eliminate the traditional thinking and misunderstanding of ecology and development problems in the upper Yellow River, as well as six scientific suggestions on how to build an ecological protection and high-quality development model with regional characteristics. This study has important guiding significance for the promotion of ecological protection and high-quality development of the upper Yellow River.

The intensification of the global climate crisis has heightened the urgency of achieving carbon neutrality. The Chinese government aims to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2060. To achieve this goal, in addition to accelerating energy transformation and reducing fossil fuel consumption, we also need to develop “negative carbon technologies” to offset the unavoidable carbon emissions in social production and life. The ocean has immense potential for carbon storage, as it is the largest active carbon sink on Earth. The research and development of “negative carbon technology” in the ocean is on the rise. Its primary technical paths include blue carbon management, geological storage, artificial upwelling, enhanced weathering, and iron fertilization. Theoretically, the coupling of multiple technical paths can be realized through the compound optimization of the components and methods of addition, as enhanced weathering and fertilization of iron involve the artificial addition of exogenous substances to the ocean; thus, the efficiency of ocean carbon sequestration and carbon storage can be further improved. In this paper, we refer to this potentially composite technique as “artificial dust”. The ultimate purpose of “artificial dust” is to increase the production of recalcitrant organic carbon (rather than primary productivity), accelerate the deposition and burial of organic carbon, and increase seawater alkalinity. It is intended to adjust the algal population structure and promote the growth of algae that are more difficult to degrade by improving iron fertilization materials and dosing methods. Further, in the peak season of algae death and degradation, the second-level “artificial dust” primarily composed of silicate rock/mineral powder is added. This promotes the aggregation and deposition of organic carbon, accelerates the fixation of inorganic dust produced by algal mineralization based on enhanced weathering theory, and reduces the re-release of CO₂ from seawater. The technical concept of “artificial dust” provides a broader insight for future theoretical research on marine “negative carbon technology.”

To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and agglomeration characteristics of carbon emissions in the Pearl River Basin, we constructed a carbon emission estimation model by coupling multi-source data. The spatiotemporal dynamics and spatial correlation characteristics of urban carbon emissions were explored using exploratory spatiotemporal data analysis and modified gravity modeling. The findings indicate that the total carbon emissions in the Pearl River Basin increased from 312.67 million tons to 336.54 million tons. Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou consistently stood out as cities with the highest carbon emissions. On the grid scale, the high-value carbon emission agglomeration expands towards the periphery, with the Pearl River Delta region serving as the core, whereas the high-value carbon emission area in the middle and upper reaches is characterized by a point-like distribution. Carbon emissions in the Pearl River Basin show a positive spatial correlation, although there is a decreasing trend in the spatial interaction effect. Furthermore, there is a positive synergistic trend among neighboring cities in terms of carbon emissions. The average linkage intensity of urban carbon emissions increases from 5.93 to 18.97, indicating strengthened connectivity among cities. The carbon emissions network structure shows a trend towards centralization. This method incorporates carbon sources and sinks into the calculation process, has potential practical value, and can support the development of a carbon reduction strategy.

The Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) serves as a crucial window for understanding the Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the North China Craton. However, the lack of research on collision-related structures, particularly in the southern segment, significantly impedes a thorough understanding of the tectonic evolution of the TNCO. A systematic study of the structure and geochronology was conducted on the Taihua Complex in the southern part of the TNCO. The results indicate that the Taihua Complex underwent intense ductile deformation with widespread preservation of ductile shear zones and syn-shearing folds, notably sheath folds. The kinematics of ductile shear zones and syn-shearing folds exhibit consistent top-to-the-WNW sense of shear, with deformation temperatures ranging from 600 to 650°C. The evolution of syn-shearing folds and the rotation of syn-tectonic leucocratic veins within shear zones record the progressive deformation process. The zircon U-Pb ages of syntectonic migmatites within the shear zones constrain the timing of ductile deformation to between 1 890 and 1 843 Ma. A comprehensive analysis of the geometry, kinematics, geochronology, and deformation temperatures suggests that ductile shear zones and regionally scaled sheath folds represent the exhumation structures of the orogenic belt, supporting the orogenic model of SE-directed subduction polarity. Based on the new structural and chronological data, in conjunction with previous research, it is proposed that the TNCO experienced a protracted orogenic evolution process, with the interval from 1.97 to 1.89 Ga signifying the continental subduction stage, 1.89 to 1.84 Ga corresponding to the subsequent exhumation stage, and 1.84 to 1.78 Ga corresponding to the post-orogenic extension phase. This protracted collisional orogeny process in the TNCO provides robust evidence for the sustained occurrence of a large-scale collisional orogeny for over 100 Mya.

The Middle Miocene Climate Transition (MMCT, 14.2~13.9 Ma) was a global climate change event characterized by significant changes in ice sheets, ocean currents, and carbon cycles. Clarifying the driving mechanism is important for understanding the global cooling during the Cenozoic. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of MMCT, one emphasizing the reorganization of ocean circulation and the other highlighting the importance of the carbon cycle. However, neither hypothesis can explain the various phenomena of the MMCT. The ice sheets, ocean circulation, and carbon cycle are crucial in the mechanism of the MMCT, and form a coupled system that causes climate change on Earth. With the help of these three elements and combined with geological records, these two mechanisms lead to an increase in deep ocean carbon storage and a decrease in atmospheric pCO₂, which further promotes climate cooling and ice sheet growth. In comparison with that on carbon cycle processes and ice sheet changes, existing research regarding ocean circulation, particularly in the deep Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean, during the MMCT period is insufficient. Consequently, future research should focus on the changes in ocean circulation in these key regions to improve our understanding of the forcing mechanism of MMCT.

The objective evaluation of small-scale variables’ forecast performance is vital for the application and development of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). Traditional point-to-point verification has significant limitations in the evaluation of high-resolution NWP. The Object-based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) method utilizes convolution functions and a given threshold to identify objects in the forecast and observation fields, extract their attributes, and diagnose the performance of the NWP. It has been widely applied in weather forecasting. This paper systematically reviews the academic ideas, technical framework, algorithm flow, and verification indices of the MODE spatial verification method. Subsequently, this paper summarizes the typical applications of MODE verification in precipitation forecasting, weather radar, satellite cloud images, ensemble forecasting, and other elements. It elaborates on the significance of verification results in evaluating the quality of NWP and their role in improving the accuracy of weather forecast results, both subjectively and objectively. Furthermore, it introduces recent updates and developments in MODE verification methods. These include the comprehensive evaluation index MODE Composite Score (MCS), which considers the mismatched attributes of objects, three-dimensional spatiotemporal object tracking using ellipsoids as targets, and the verification method, MODE Time Domain (MTD). Finally, it discusses the MODE verification method's applicability, advantages, and limitations while considering its future development direction and application prospects. The purpose of this study is to provide references for better application and diagnosis of NWP performance using the MODE method.

The dynamics of the deep-sea Bottom Boundary Layer (BBL) directly control the deep-sea sedimentation process, making it the most important energy and material exchange layer in deep-sea science. According to existing sporadic observations, BBL dynamics controlled by multi-scale motions in the ocean differ greatly from current theories, and there remains a lack of systematic quantitative studies on the deep-sea sedimentation process influenced by BBL dynamics. Based on the theoretical framework, sporadic in-situ observations, and numerical and laboratory research, the following points are reviewed and summarized herein: \mathrm{①} Basic characteristics of BBL flow and its turbulent characteristics; \mathrm{②} Effects of tides, internal waves, mesoscale eddies, and large-scale circulation on the BBL dynamics in the deep sea. This review provides a background for further research on deep-sea sediment dynamics based on observations of BBL dynamic processes.

Coprophilous fungal spores, “Non-Pollen Palynomorph” parts of pollen analysis, are mainly used to reconstruct past changes in the population sizes of herbivores and intensity of pastoral activities. By systematically summarizing research examples of modern processes and paleoecological applications of coprophilous fungal spores at home and abroad, this study identified that foreign research has focused on the diversity, influencing factors, and dissemination, transportation, and deposition processes of coprophilous fungal spores. Sporormiella-type, Sordaria spp., and Podospora sp. have emerged as reliable indicators of herbivore activity; in particular Sporormiella-type coprophilous fungal spores have found widespread applications in different study areas. A strong correlation between coprophilous fungal spores and grazing activity has been found in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. International paleoecological studies have demonstrated that Sporormiella-type fungal spores effectively indicate the extinction of large herbivores and fluctuations in grazing intensity. Domestic studies have identified the suppression of human hunting activities by herbivores during the Early and Middle Holocene. Key transitional periods were identified, such as the beginning of grazing activity about 5.6 ka, an increase after approximately 4.0 ka, and a significant increase during the historical period. In future research, it will be necessary to enhance the modern processes of coprophilous fungal spores investigation to understand the production, transmission, deposition, and preservation of coprophilous fungal spores and the mechanisms involved. Additionally, to explore the relationship between coprophilous fungal spores and herbivore population sizes, vegetation status, sedimentary environment, and transport dynamics to provide valuable information for the accurate interpretation of fossil coprophilous fungal spore records of natural sedimentary strata by combining multiple indicators and employing interdisciplinary evidence. Therefore, further research regarding the modern processes and applications of coprophilous fungal spores is of great significance in understanding the histories of past human activities and their interactions with environmental changes.

On August 24, 2023, the Japanese government started discharging the Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water (FNCW) into the North Pacific. This process is bound to pose radiation risks for the marine ecological environment. In this study, we analyzed the concentrations of major artificial radionuclides in the FNCW and estimated their inventories. Based on the data provided by the Tokyo Electric Power Company, we found that the concentrations of ³H in FNCW tanks as of March 2023 ranged from 1.9×10⁵ to 25.0×10⁵ Bq/L, significantly exceeding the maximum release concentration for ³H (6×10⁴ Bq/L) allowed by Japanese law. In addition, the concentrations of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹²⁹I in some FNCW tanks were higher than the corresponding maximum release concentrations (30 Bq/L for ⁹⁰Sr and 9 Bq/L for ¹²⁹I) allowed by Japanese law. The inventories of ³H and ¹²⁹I in the FNCW before the discharge were estimated to be 0.9 and 6.2×10⁹ Bq, respectively, i.e., comparable to the leakage amounts of ³H (0.1~1.0 PBq) and ¹²⁹I (6.9×10⁹ Bq) to the ocean during the nuclear accident stage. We further discuss the migration and behavior of typical Fukushima radionuclides (e.g., ³H, ¹⁴C, ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹²⁹I, ^{134, 137}Cs, and ^{239, 240}Pu) in marine environments from three aspects: \mathrm{①} transport of Fukushima radionuclides by ocean currents in the Pacific; \mathrm{②} sediment adsorption to radionuclides; and \mathrm{③} marine biota uptake of radionuclides. This study is expected to provide scientific foundations and insights for radiation monitoring and risk assessment, which may be required for an appropriate response to the discharge of the FNCW.

Heavy metal migration and enrichment in areas affected by mining and smelting cause severe soil contamination. A thorough understanding of the sources and migration of heavy metals in the soil is the scientific basis for the efficient treatment of soil pollution. In recent years, metal stable isotopes have shown great advantages in identifying sources of soil heavy metal contamination and analyzing heavy metal migration processes, thus acting as powerful tools to trace the environmental behavior of heavy metals. In this paper, we reviewed the analysis technology, tracing principles, and tracing models of metal stable isotopes, determined the isotope fractionations caused by mineral mining and smelting processes (high-temperature smelting, electrochemical processes, and tailing weathering), and discussed the representative applications of metal stable isotopes in the traceability of soil pollution in mining- and smelting-affected areas. The V isotope system is in the initial stages of investigation, and its applications in heavy metal soil source analysis are relatively lacking. Zn, Cd, and Hg isotopes are advantageous for identifying heavy metal contamination sources associated with high-temperature smelting processes. Cu, Tl, and Ni isotopes can directly indicate the ore content of the soil. However, some problems remain, such as the difficulty in analyzing certain systems of metallic stable isotopes, limitations in the application of tracer models, and source uncertainties due to isotope fractionation. Therefore, in the future, it will be necessary to further explore and optimize metal isotope analysis methods, establish more metal stable isotope fingerprints, develop traceability models with stronger applicability and more accurate results, comprehend the characteristics and mechanisms of isotope fractionation in complex interfacial processes and reactions, and strengthen the practical application of metal stable isotopes to trace the history of soil heavy metal pollution.

As computing power continues to improve, the horizontal grid resolution of numerical weather prediction models has reached the kilometer-to-sub-kilometer scale. This grid scale is comparable to the characteristic turbulent scales in the convective boundary layer, allowing the numerical models to resolve the organized convective structures. The assumptions of traditional one-dimensional boundary layer parameterization schemes (suitable for horizontal resolutions of several kilometers or coarser) and large eddy simulation three-dimensional turbulent closure schemes (suitable for horizontal resolutions below several tens of meters) do not hold at this scale, which is referred to as the gray zone. This study discusses the applicability and limitations of traditional parameterization methods and introduces the gray zone of the convective boundary layer from three perspectives: theory, methodological approaches, and impact. It summarizes the characteristics of the simulation methods at the CBL gray zone scale developed over the past two decades and explores the impact of the boundary layer process simulation at this scale on other physical processes (e.g., shallow/deep convection) in numerical models. Further, we anticipate future research directions and approaches.

Sandy braided rivers can create extensive oil and gas reservoirs, with channel bars representing predominant sedimentary features. These bars, including compound middle channel bars and compound sidebars, exhibit complex internal architectural patterns resulting from multiple episodes of erosion, cutting, and redeposition during formation. To address these complexities, numerical simulations of sedimentation were employed to replicate the growth and evolution of the bars, enabling the analysis of repetitive sedimentation and erosion-cutting processes shaping their architecture. The results indicate the following: \mathrm{①} compound middle bars experienced downward migration followed by lateral migration due to water flow from both sides, whereas sidebars underwent lateral migration first and then downward migration due to water flow from one side; \mathrm{②} compound middle bars developed through downstream, lateral, and vertical accretions, whereas sidebars formed through lateral, vertical, or infilling deposits, all from bottom to top; and \mathrm{③} compound sidebars exhibited greater variation in the scale of lateral accretions compared to middle bars, displaying multiple generations and intricate interleaving relationships. A deeper understanding of the internal architecture of middle and sidebars provides novel insights into the characterization of underground oil and gas reservoirs.

Groundwater dating is one of the key links in the study of water cycles, especially in hydrogeology. However, the proposed concept of groundwater age and its dating methods are complex and difficult to distinguish, which hinders practical application and further development. This study systematically examines the concept of groundwater age and resident time that often appear in academic circles, simultaneously differentiating and analyzing the derived idealized age, tracer age, apparent age, age distribution, and model age, and comprehensively analyzes and draws a relationship diagram among the definitions. Data of the sample collection and analysis methods, advantages, and disadvantages of the natural isotopes of groundwater dating (including the radionuclide decay method and stable nuclide linear calculation method), and the methods for detecting radionuclides produced by human activities and greenhouse gas tracers are summarized and reviewed. There are two perspectives of groundwater dating methods: water sample points and water systems. The model interpretation methods of multi-tracer combination and age data from the perspective of the water body system (dynamic) are reviewed. Furthermore, we synthetically state that the groundwater dating method should be determined comprehensively according to the research objectives and range of application of tracers, with more attention paid to the study of age distribution characterizing the spatiotemporal dynamics of groundwater systems. Future studies should strengthen the integration and model research of multidisciplinary data, such as geology, hydrology, and hydrochemistry, to establish a numerical model of groundwater flow to describe age distribution and model research.

Ocean aerosols are of important because of their climatic and environmental effects. When bubbles in seawater rise to the surface and burst, they enrich the surface-active substances present in the sea-surface microlayer into Sea Spray Aerosol (SSA), thus affecting their physical and chemical properties. In this study, the sources and quantitative characterization methods for marine surface-active substances are reviewed. The effects of surface-active substances on the concentration and particle size distribution of SSA are addressed, and the influencing mechanisms of hygroscopicity, cloud condensation nucleation activity, and ice nucleation activity are summarized. Owing to different sources, types, and other environmental conditions; the effects of surface-active substances on SSA generation and physicochemical properties vary significantly, making it difficult to study the environmental and climatic effects of SSA. In the future, further observational and modeling research on surface-active substances is required to provide scientific support for improved regional and global modeling of SSA.

There exist three sets of quality shale that developed in the Dalong, Wujiangping, and Maokou Formations during the mid-upper Permian, which are important replacements for marine shale gas exploration or the Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formation. Based on the relationships between important geological events built on an isochronous stratigraphic framework, sedimentary structures, paleoenvironments, and ancient living organisms, the influence of major geological events, such as middle-late Permian upwelling and volcanic activity, on the development of organic-rich shale in northeastern Sichuan was studied. \mathrm{①} It was concluded that the 3rd member of the Maokou-Dalong Formation can be divided into five four-level sequences, among which the systems of TST1, TST3, TST4, and TST5 are favorable for black organic-rich siliceous shale development, and the geological response characteristics of Middle and Late Permian volcanic activity and upwelling events were clarified. \mathrm{②} A high-quality shale development model with the combined action of volcanic activity, upwelling, and other geological events was established. It was clear that SqPm-2 represents the initial stage underwent by tectonic extension. The upwelling brought abundant soluble silicon and other nutrients that are favorable for the rapid breeding of organisms such as diatoms, siliceous sponges, and radiolarians. Belonging to a typical coupled developing mode of upwelling and organisms, the shale has high carbon (>10.0%) and silicon (>70.0%) content, whereas the thickness is relatively thin, a typical “thin and high-quality” characteristic, which represents a favorable new layer for shale gas exploration in the Puguang area. SqPw-2 is the state that underwent rapid extension, the tephra that carries abundant nutrients is favorable for organic matter accumulation, belonging to the coupled developing mode of volcanic activity and organisms. The TOC of shale is >4% and siliceous minerals >50.0%, but it is relatively thin, which is favorable for further exploration and expansion. SqPd-1~SqPd-2 is the flourishing stage whereby the ocean trough came into being. The base subsided, and upwelling and hydrothermalism enabled siliceous organisms to flourish. A great deal of organic matter is maintained in deep anoxic environments, belonging to a coupled development mode of upwelling and thermal fluids. The high-quality shale layer is relatively thick (>30 m), which offers good exploration potential and is a favorable stratum for the next step of large-scale shale gas storage and production.