Adaptive governance is increasingly considered a feasible approach to address the uncertainties and complexities of social-ecological system (SES), whereas its role on SES coupling has not been sufficiently testified. Empirical evidence is provided in this paper with the case of northwestern China, a region struggling with economic backwardness and ecological vulnerability. Given the ambiguities in scholarship on the causal relationship between adaptive governance and SES coupling, we develop a theoretical framework to outline the driving mechanism of adaptive governance by focusing on its impact on ecosystem service (ES) delivery. Within the framework, ecosystem governance and social system governance are identified as pathways of adaptive governance, which are estimated on their effects on SES coupling by FGLS. The results show that (1) only the synergy of them can positively promote SES coupling rather than isolated one of them, and (2) only social system governance presents a lustrous role in restraining the effect of resource-dependence on SES coupling as opposed to ecosystem governance. The practice of northwestern China again evidences its key leader’s role in seizing the opportunity window and social innovation. The results further uncover the necessity of synthesizing the social and ecological dimensions for shaping adaptive governance and the direction of targeted reforms for catalyzing the transition to adaptive governance.

To study the lateral seepage field in the tension saturated zone (TSZ), an experiment with no evaporation and precipitation infiltration was carried out in a self-made seepage tank filled up with fine sand. Based on the data and plots obtained, the lateral seepage field distribution features in the TSZ can be divided into three area for discussion: ascending area, descending area, and the nearly horizontal flow area. In the ascending and descending area, the total water potential gradient diminished from the recharge area to the discharge area and the seepage velocity was faster. In the nearly horizontal flow area, the total water potential gradient was lower and the seepage velocity was slower. The pressure potential gradually decreased horizontally from the recharge area to the discharge area, while in the vertical profile, it gradually decreased from the bottom to the top in the whole seepage area. In the absence of evaporation, the vertical water exchange among the saturated zone, TSZ, and unsaturated zone in nearly horizontal flow area is weak. Contrarily, in the ascending area and descending area, vertical water flows through both the phreatic surface and the upper interface of the TSZ. When there is lateral seepage in the TSZ, the thickness of the TSZ generally increases from the ascending area to the nearly horizontal area and then to the descending area. It should be pointed out that in the nearly horizontal area, the TSZ thickness is approximately equal to the height of the water column. Overall, the lateral seepage in the TSZ can be regarded as a stable siphon process, hence the siphon tube model can be further used to depict this lateral seepage.

: We developed a GNSS-assisted InSAR phase unwrapping algorithm for large-deformation DInSAR data processing in coal mining areas. Utilizing the Markov random field (MRF) theory and simulated annealing, the algorithm derived the energy function using MRF theory, Gibbs distribution, and the Hammersley–Clifford theorem. It calculated an image probability ratio and unwrapped the phase through iterative calculations of the initial integer perimeter matrix, interference phase, and weight matrix. Algorithm reliability was confirmed by combining simulated phases with digital elevation model (DEM) data for deconvolution calculations, showing good agreement with real phase-value results (median error: 4.8 × 10⁻⁴). Applied to ALOS-2 data in the Jinfeng mining area, the algorithm transformed interferometric phase into deformation, obtaining simulated deformation by fitting GNSS monitoring data. It effectively solved meter-scale deformation variables between single-period images, particularly for unwrapping problems due to decoherence. To improve calculation speed, a coherence-based threshold was set. Points with high coherence avoided iterative optimization, while points below the threshold underwent iterative optimization (coherence threshold: 0.32). The algorithm achieved a median error of 30.29 mm and a relative error of 2.5% compared to GNSS fitting results, meeting accuracy requirements for mining subsidence monitoring in large mining areas.

In arid open-pit mines, rainfall-triggered slope instability presents significant risks, but quantitative thresholds are poorly defined due to limited integration of transient seepage and stability in low-permeability soils. This study fills this gap by using GeoStudio’s SEEP/W and SLOPE/W modules to simulate rainfall effects on a moderately steep-slope (51° average) limestone mine slope in Ningxia’s Kazimiao Mining Area (annual precipitation: 181.1 mm). The novelty lies in identifying a 12 h saturation window under intense rainfall (≥100 mm h⁻¹), during which pore water pressure stabilizes as soil reaches saturation, creating an “infiltration buffering effect” driven by arid soil properties (hydraulic conductivity: 2.12 × 10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹). Results show that the factor of safety (FOS) drops sharply within 12 h (e.g., from 1.614 naturally to 1.010 at 200 mm h⁻¹) and then stabilizes, with FOS remaining >1.05 (basically stable) under rainfall intensities ≤ 50 mm h⁻¹, but drops into the less-stable range (1.00–1.05) at 100–200 mm h⁻¹, reaching marginal stability (FOS ≈ 0.98–1.02) after 24 h of extreme events, according to GB/T 32864-2016. Slope protection measures increase FOS (e.g., 2.518 naturally). These findings quantify higher instability thresholds in arid compared to humid regions, supporting regional guidelines and informing early-warning systems amid climate-related extremes. This framework enhances sustainable slope management for mines worldwide in arid–semi-arid zones.