Earth System Science in Drainage Regions Connected with Societal Development

Xie Shucheng; Yan Detian; Zhu Zongmin; Zhang Hongbin; Ling Wenli; Peng Songbai

doi:10.3799/dqkx.2024.113

Abstract：Earth system science becomes one of the most important themes of geosciences in modern days,featured by the investigations on interactions among Earth spheres.Meanwhile,Chinese governments are paying great attention to the societal development of some typical regions.Integration of the scientific frontiers of geosciences with regional societal development thus leads to the proposal of Earth system science in drainage regions in connection with the regional societal development,exemplified by the Yangtze drainage regions in which two national developmental strategies including the Yangtze economic belt,and the economic integration of the lower Yangtze regions are being constructed.Earth system science in drainage regions deals with the geological processes,evolution and effects prior to,during and after the origin of the large river systems.Three issues are in particular discussed here;they include the interactions between surface and deep Earth and their effects on mineral resources,interactions and coevolution between life and environments,and the relationship between the environments and cultures and civilization in the drainage regions.Some important scientific achievements related to the three issues are summarized here,with the proposal of some critical points left to be deciphered.To further understand the evolution of the system in drainage regions in geological history,one of the most important linkages to deal with would be the coupling and co-evolution among water,carbon and heat,in particular the relationship between hydrothermal dynamics and carbon cycles.This linkage shows close connection with the regional resources,ecological environmental conditions,geohazards,the culture and civilization,understanding of which plays important roles on the regional societal development.