Using remote sensing images of different time phases from 1990 to 2018, the surface coverage information of northern Yantai (coastline, 2 km from coastline to land) was extracted by means of average high tide line and visual interpretation. The end point change rate (EPR) and linear regression rate were used to study the coastline change rate, the fractal dimension of the coastline in the study area was analyzed, and the change of the type of coastal surface cover was analyzed by the transition matrix. The results show that: (1) Form 1990 to 2018, a significant trend of a continuous increase in the total length of coastline was observed with an increase of 181.08 km (43.18%). In the study area, the coastline of Laizhou had the greatest change rate with an EPR value of 33.67 m/a, whereas the coastline of Laishan had the smallest change rate with an EPR value of 0.30 m/a. (2) Over the past 30 years, with the rapid economic development of Yantai and the ensuant urbanization, the total surface area of the coastal zone in the study area has increased by 144.94 km², mainly in the areas covered by structures and forests/grasses, by 112.96 km² and 96.08 km², respectively, while the areas of desert/bare land and water have decreased by 92.26 km² and 12.32 km², respectively. (3) The changes among different types in the study area were clear, mainly from desert/bare land, cultivated land, and building areas to forests/grasses cover and structures. The change areas were mainly concentrated in Laizhou, Longkou, Zhifu, and Penglai. Frequent human activities are an important factor affecting the continuous expansion of the coastal areas of Jiaodong Peninsula to the sea. Aquaculture, coastal construction, construction of artificial islands, and expansion of port terminals have seriously affected the sustainability of ecological resources in the coastal areas. At the same time, the changes in the ecological environment in the coastal zone will have a greater impact on the health of the coastal zone.

The A’nyêmaqên Mountains have the largest concentration of glaciers in the Yellow River basin, which play a crucial role in regulating the runoff regime of the Yellow River. Thus, the quantification of glacier mass balance and its effects on river runoff is greatly required. However, current studies mainly focus on mass changes since 2000. Here, we report for the first time region-wide glacier elevation and mass changes, which were derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) produced from historical topographic maps (TOPO), SRTM retrievals, and ASTER L1A stereo imagery spanning the past 50 years. The results indicated a negative mass balance (−0.24 ± 0.05 m w.e. a⁻¹) of all glaciers for the 1966–2018 timespan. The mass loss rapidly accelerated from −0.16 ± 0.09 m w.e. a⁻¹ in 1966–2000 to −0.36 ± 0.06 m w.e. a⁻¹ during the period from 2000–2018. The rise in mass loss rate from 2000 onwards was mainly associated with the rapidly increased summer warming.

Ocean temperature anomalies can drive anomalous atmospheric circulation, further impacting High Mountain Asia’s glacier dynamics, but this teleconnection remains underexplored. Here we present robust interannual and multidecadal relationships between glacier mass balance over the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and the North Atlantic sea surface temperature anomalies, after removing anthropogenic warming trends. The annual sea surface temperature tripole pattern explains 33.6% of the interannual glacier mass variability, mediated by the atmospheric wave train. On multi-decadal timescales, the average glacier mass loss of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau accelerates from −0.16 ± 0.14 m w.e. yr⁻¹ (1965–2000) to −0.25 ± 0.10 m w.e. yr⁻¹ (2000–2020), coinciding with a phase shift of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. Anomalous North Atlantic warming triggers mid-latitude Rossby waves and an anticyclone over the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, amplifying early-21st-century regional warming through reduced clouds and albedo to enhance glacier mass loss. These results emphasize the crucial role of natural variability in the North Atlantic ocean alongside anthropogenic forcing in comprehensively understanding glacier response to future climate changes.

Red tides have many harmful effects on offshore ecosystem and even human health, which has become a global marine environmental problem. In recent years, the occurrence of red tides has become more frequent and extensive in the offshore area of China. As one of the important sea areas in northern China, the north of Shandong Peninsula is also facing the impact of red tides. Relevant data and information on red tides outbreaks around the north of Shandong Peninsula (This study refers to the coastal area of Yantai) from 2000 to 2019 were collected in this study, and then, the comprehensive human activity intensity model was constructed. It was found that the occurrence of red tides in this area had a certain aggregation on both temporal and spatial scales, and the reason was related to nearshore human activities. Different types of land cover in coastal zone had a more significant impact on the occurrence of red tides. The types of water and structures had a certain correlation with the occurrence of red tides.

In polar regions, positive feedback of snow and ice albedo can intensify global warming. While recent significant decreases in Arctic surface ice albedo have drawn considerable attention, Antarctic surface albedo variability remains underexplored. Here, satellite albedo product CLARA-A2.1-SAL is first validated and then used to investigate spatial and temporal trends in the summer albedo over the Antarctic from 1982 to 2018, along with their association with Antarctic sea ice changes. The SAL product matches well surface albedo observations from eight stations, suggesting its robust performance in Antarctica. Summer surface albedo averaged over the entire ice sheet shows a downward trend since 1982, albeit not statistically significant. In contrast, a significant upward trend is observed in the sea ice region. Spatially, for ice sheet surface albedo, positive trends occur in the eastern Antarctica Peninsula and the margins of East Antarctica, whereas other regions exhibit negative trends, most prominently in the Ross and Ronne ice shelves. For sea ice albedo, positive trends are observed in the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea, but negative trends are observed in the Bellingshausen and the Amundsen Seas. Between 2016 and 2018, an unusual decrease in the sea ice extent significantly affected both sea ice and Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) surface albedo changes. However, for the 1982–2015 period, while the effect of sea ice on its own albedo is significant, its impact on ice sheet albedo is less apparent. Air temperature and snow depth also contribute much to sea ice albedo changes. However, on ice sheet surface albedo, the influence of temperature and snow accumulation appears limited.

The glaciers of the Himalayas are essential for water resources in South Asia and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, but they are undergoing accelerated mass loss, posing risks to water security and increasing glacial hazards. This study examines long-term changes in the geometry and flow speeds of both land- and lake-terminating glaciers at the headwaters of the Yarlung Zangbo River, using field measurements, remote sensing, and numerical ice flow modeling. We observed significant heterogeneity in glacier behaviors across the region, with notable differences between glacier terminus types and even among neighboring glaciers of the same type. Between 1974 and 2020, glacier thinning and mass loss rates doubled in the early 21st century ($-0.57\pm 0.05$ m w.e. a⁻¹) compared to 1974–2000 ($-0.24\pm 0.11$ m w.e. a⁻¹). While lake-terminating glaciers generally experienced more rapid retreat and mass loss, the land-terminating N241 Glacier displayed comparable mass loss rates. Lake-terminating glaciers retreated by over 1000 m between 1990 and 2019, while land-terminating glaciers retreated by less than 750 m. The ITS_LIVE velocity dataset showed higher and more variable flow speeds in lake-terminating glaciers. Numerical modeling from 2000 to 2017 revealed divergent changes in flow regimes, with lake-terminating glaciers generally experiencing acceleration, while land-terminating glaciers showed either a slowing down or stable flow behavior. Our findings underscore the significant role of lake-terminating glaciers in contributing to ice mass loss, emphasizing the need for advanced glacier models that incorporate dynamic processes such as frontal calving and longitudinal coupling.