How to identify transitional geospace in mountainous areas? An approach using a transitional index from the perspective of coupled human and natural systems

Abstract:

The coupling of humans and nature differs in terms of distribution and intensity, thus producing a gradient of synthetic geographical environments. Within this variety of gradients, the transitional zone represents a complex space where dynamic processes and unstable conditions are observed. Based on the concepts of ecotone and transitional zone, we propose a conceptual framework for the transitional geospace of coupled human and natural systems and a quantitative identification method for the zone. Taking the Sichuan Basin as an example, this study defined the strength and direction of the coupling of the natural ecosystem and socioeconomic system and divided different types of transitional geospace. The transitional geospace of the strong coupling type accounted for approximately 16.7% of the study area. Nine of the ten counties with the largest proportion of the type were formerly nationally poor counties in the study area. In the strong coupling type, human and nature jointly explained a high proportion of the variance in transitional stability (e.g., in Shifang city, with an unexplained proportion of 1.7%). The discovery and characterization of the transitional geospace types is crucial for facilitating more effective land use planning and sustainable balance among the population, resources, and environment.