Vulnerability of a coupled natural and human system in a changing environment: dynamics of Lanzhou's urban landscape

We used a multidisciplinary approach to assess the vulnerability of a coupled natural and human (CNH) system in Lanzhou, China. Lanzhou's urban settlement and expansion depended highly on the waterway of the Yellow River and its surrounding geographic setting. Lanzhou's dramatic fluctuation of population was linked with its position as a bordering city between different geographic regions and the controls of ethnic/cultural groups. During the modern phase (1949 to the present), Lanzhou experienced rapid urban expansion, especially after 1979, propelled by industrialization policies by the national government. However, Lanzhou's environment degraded seriously with severe air, water, and soil pollution as well as low green coverage and affected urban climate, especially after the 1970s. We argue that geophysical factors, economic regimes, and institutional factors are all crucial in explaining the dynamics of the CNH system in Lanzhou.