Abstract
Loess is mainly distributed in arid and semiarid areas of the world, and water is essential and precious in the loess areas. Water is also an important factor inducing various geohazards and soil erosion in the loess areas. The thematic issue of Environmental Earth Sciences was edited to reflect the latest research on water and water-related themes in the loess areas of the world, especially on the Chinese Loess Plateau. This editorial introduced the background and initiative of editing this thematic issue, and it also introduced briefly the water environment projects currently underway on the Chinese Loess Plateau such as the grain for green project, the huge land creation project, and the sponge city project. The papers included in the thematic issue were also introduced to give readers a general understanding of their main research points. Finally, some suggestions to boost further water environment research in the loess areas were put forward. All the papers included in the thematic issue will scientifically support the sustainable socio-economic development in the loess areas of the world.
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Acknowledgements
Editing a thematic issue on the topic of water resource development and protection in loess areas of the world has long been a dream of ours, because we know water is extremely important for various uses in loess areas where arid and semiarid climate is dominant. Therefore, we are sincerely grateful to the Editor-in-Chief, Jim LaMoreaux, for his generous support and approval of editing this thematic issue. The entire editorial group of Environmental Earth Sciences is sincerely acknowledged for the work that they have done for our thematic issue. We also extend our thanks to all the reviewers who helped us to review the manuscripts. Without their voluntary support, the publication of this thematic issue would have never been possible. The authors whose papers have been included in this thematic issue, and those whose papers have been unable to be included, are all acknowledged for their interest in this topic. In addition, we thank the various government agencies, in particular, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41502234, 41602238, 41572236, and 41761144059), the Research Funds for Young Stars in Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province (2016KJXX-29), the Special Funds for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges (300102298301), the Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation (161098), the General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580804), the Special Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016T090878), the Ten Thousand Talent Program, and the Special Financial Grant from the Shaanxi Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015BSHTDZZ09) for their support of my research group. Finally, the first author thanks his wife and his new baby boy who bring him a lot of joy in life.
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This article is a part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on Water resources development and protection in loess areas of the world, edited by Drs. Peiyue Li and Hui Qian.
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Li, P., Qian, H. Water resource development and protection in loess areas of the world: a summary to the thematic issue of water in loess. Environ Earth Sci 77, 796 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7984-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7984-3