Research on the fine-scale spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of carbon emissions based on nighttime light data: A case study of Xi'an city

Carbon emissions have resulted in severe ecological damage, jeopardizing the very existence of humanity. In China, carbon emissions from urban areas contribute to 80% of the total carbon emissions, this significant contribution underscores the importance of addressing urban emissions. To gain insights into the spatial patterns of carbon emissions in urban areas at the fine-scale regional level, this study utilizes Xi'an as a case study, constructs a fine-scale regional carbon emission estimation model based on energy consumption and NPP-VIIRS-like NTL data, and quantifies multiscale carbon emissions from 2000 to 2021. Furthermore, global spatial autocorrelation, cold and hot spot analysis, and standard deviation ellipse analysis were used to investigate the spatial characteristics of carbon emissions at the street (township) level in Xi'an. This study revealed a sixfold increase in carbon emissions in Xi'an, rising from 51.35 million tons in 2000 to 281.95 million tons in 2021.The area affected by carbon emissions has expanded, with the centre of gravity of emission consistently shifting towards the south. The average street-level carbon emission density fluctuated and doubled compared to that in 2000. The total number of streets with low-carbon-emission-density decreased by 23%, indicating a shift away from low-carbon-emission-density streets. Furthermore, the global Moran's I index consistently remained within the range of 0.85–0.95, indicating significant spatial clustering, with cold spots expanding into surrounding districts and counties. Additionally, this study accurately identified carbon emissions within the city, offering the potential for the development of more precise carbon reduction strategies. Moreover, this approach can provide valuable support for the dynamic monitoring of carbon emissions in developing cities worldwide.