High-precision and high-resolution surface deformation provide crucial constraints for studying the kinematic characteristics and dynamic mechanisms of crustal movement. Considering the limitations of existing geodetic observations, we used Sentinel-1 SAR images and accurate GNSS velocity to obtain a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) surface velocity map across the Laohushan segment and the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake rupture zone of the Haiyuan Fault on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. We tied the InSAR LOS (Line of Sight) velocity to the stable Eurasian reference frame adopted by GNSS. Using Kriging interpolation constrained by GNSS north–south components, we decomposed the ascending and descending InSAR velocities into east–west and vertical components to derive a high-resolution 3D deformation. We found that a sharp velocity gradient extending ~45 km along the strike of the Laohushan segment, with a differential movement of ~3 mm/a across the fault, manifests in the east–west velocity component, suggesting that shallow creep has propagated to the surface. However, the east–west velocity component did not exhibit an abrupt discontinuity in the rupture zone of the Haiyuan earthquake. Subsidence caused by anthropogenic and hydrological processes in the region, such as groundwater extraction, coal mining, and hydrologic effects, exhibited distinct distribution characteristics in the vertical velocity component. Our study provides valuable insights into the crustal movement in this region.

The implementation of vegetation restoration projects in the Three-North Sandstorm Region has provided a critical opportunity for ecological rehabilitation. A thorough exploration of the mutual feedback mechanisms between land use and vegetation dynamics holds significant guiding value for ecological restoration practices. This study innovatively integrates the Hurst index, trend analysis, and significance testing to systematically analyze the characteristics of vegetation dynamics and their responses to land-use changes from 1990 to 2020. By constructing a multidimensional evaluation system, including the comprehensive land-use index (L) and land-use change rate (R), this research is the first to quantitatively reveal the relationship between land-use characteristics and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) across different desertification regions. Key findings include: (1) Vegetation in the study area exhibited a significant improvement trend, with 92.12% of regions showing a Hurst index > 0.5, indicating strong persistence in vegetation recovery. (2) Land-use transitions revealed a consistent increase in construction land across all sandy regions, accompanied by the conversion of unused land to grassland. (3) The fluctuation of R gradually narrowed from 1990 to 2020, while the L demonstrated a significant upward trend. (4) The R generally exerted a negative influence on NDVI, whereas the L exhibited a threshold effect. Specifically, NDVI increased with rising L when L < 215 (e.g., MWSD, KBQD regions), but declined when L exceeded 215 (e.g., SNS region). This suggests that frequent land-use changes hinder vegetation growth, while moderate increases in land-use intensity initially promote biomass accumulation—until a critical threshold is surpassed, beyond which further intensification exerts adverse effects. One-way ANOVA and significance testing further demonstrated that climate predominantly drove NDVI increases in cropland, forest, shrubland, and grassland, whereas human activities played a decisive role in vegetation growth within unused or sparsely vegetated areas. This study not only quantitatively identifies critical thresholds for land-use impacts on vegetation but also provides a scientific foundation for targeted ecological restoration strategies, offering practical insights for reconciling ecological conservation with land-use demands.

Spatial heterogeneity in economic benefits of water use provides crucial evidence for the evaluation of water diversion projects and the spatial equilibrium of water resource allocation. However, research focusing on the economic benefits of water use in major industries within Chinese cities remains insufficient. We collected water use and value added data of agriculture, industry, and service sectors of 334 Chinese cities in 2017, and used the benefit allocation coefficient method to calculated the economic benefit of water use in the three sectors. Then we analyzed spatial heterogeneity in the economic benefits of water use: for agricultural sector, the high economic benefit of water use regions are primarily concentrated on both sides surrounding of the “Hu Huanyong Line”; regions with high economic benefit of industrial water use are mainly found in the North China Plain, the middle and lower Huanghe River basin, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, Chongqing and Chengdu; and the economic benefit of service water use is higher in the north than in the south. Based on the fundamental distribution of water resources and the spatial heterogeneity in the economic benefits of water use, potential water diversion areas can be preliminarily identified: the Haihe River Basin in the North China Plain and some areas in the southeast coastal region are potential receiving areas, and the eastern regions of Southwest China with abundant water resources and lower elevations, along with the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are potential source areas. Further research about marginal benefits and water use costs, along with dynamic updates, is required for water resource allocation of China.

Spatial heterogeneity in economic benefits of water use provides crucial evidence for the evaluation of water diversion projects and the spatial equilibrium of water resource allocation. Using city-level data from 2017 on the sectoral water use and value added in 334 Chinese cities, we estimated the economic benefits of water use in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors using the allocation coefficient method. We then revealed the spatial heterogeneity combining an exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) method. For the agricultural sector, the high economic benefit of water use regions are primarily concentrated on both sides of the “Hu Huanyong Line”; regions with high economic benefit of industrial water use are mainly found in the North China Plain, the middle and lower Huanghe River basin, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, Chongqing and Chengdu, and the economic benefit of service water use is higher in the north than in the south. ESDA provides significant evidence for the analysis of spatial heterogeneity with regard to the economic benefits of water use in China. Based on the fundamental distribution of water resources and the spatial heterogeneity in the economic benefits of water use, potential water diversion areas can be preliminarily identified. The Haihe River Basin in the North China Plain and some areas in the southeast coastal region are potential receiving areas, and the eastern regions of Southwest China with abundant water resources and lower elevations, along with the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are potential source areas. Further research about marginal benefits and water use costs, along with dynamic updates, is required for water resource allocation of China.