bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous monitoring of greenhouse gases and air pollutants in a single instrument
Authors: Hundt Morten , Timofeeva Maria , Aseev Oleg
Published: March 2022

Air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) can be attributed to a variety of sources, such as transportation vehicles and buildings, waste management and agricultural production, natural events such as forest fires and many others. Simultaneous monitoring of air pollutants and GHG with high selectivity and sensitivity enables to detect and evaluate their sources and sinks. Air pollution modelling and validation of emission inventories or satellite observations require measurements at various spatial and temporal scales. 

Infrared laser (IR) absorption spectroscopy offers an efficient way to determine fingerprints of various gas species in monitored air with high precision and reliability. In the past, this technology was commonly used in “one-species-one-instrument” solutions due to limited coverage of used mid-IR distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers (DFB-QCLs). We provide a new compact laser absorption spectrometer that combines several mid-IR lasers. Our solution allows simultaneous high precision measurements of the greenhouse gases CO2, N2O, H2O and CH4, and the pollutants CO, NO, NO2, O3, SO2 and NH3 within a single instrument.

In our contribution we will demonstrate examples of our instruments’ applications for mobile monitoring of 10 GHG and air pollutants in urban areas, airborne measurements with airships and measurements at low pollution background stations. Furthermore, we will present the results of parallel monitoring with our instrument and standard conventional gas analysers used for GHG and air pollutant measurements. It demonstrates the ability of our instrument to serve as all-in-one solution and to replace up to 7 standard gas analysers opening a wide range of new mobile multi-compound gas monitoring applications for example in (small) airplanes or cars.
Using hydrochory for agricultural landscape revegetation
Authors: Faucher Martin , Bailly Jean-Stéphane
Published: March 2022

Maintaining biodiversity of spontaneous species in agricultural landscapes is a major challenge regarding the bundle of ecosystem services provided by them, such as preservation of water and soil resources. It is possible to increase landscape’s resilience to climate change through their renaturalization with agroecological measures, especially maintenance practices of vegetation cover in agroecological infrastructures. 

In the Mediterranean environment, those infrastructures such as ditches, plot borders or even inter-rows of perennial crops concentrate both biodiversity and flow of matter (water, pollutants, particles), making these landscape elements particularly susceptible to intense rainfall events that contribute to exchange of biodiversity across landscapes. Managing vegetation of these elements is a significant lever for biodiversity maintenance considering impacts of plants on flows of matters, such as water and seeds. Promoting exchanges requires knowledge of the relative importance of the main types of plant dispersal i.e. hydrochory, anemochory and zoochory that affects seed exchange between landscape elements, by making the hypothesis that the hydrochoric dispersion, i.e. by water, is particularly important in the Mediterranean environment. 

To establish the potential of hydrochory to rehabilitate Mediterranean vineyard environments, we proposed a conceptual model of seed exchanges at landscape scale incorporating the levers available to stakeholders (vegetation maintenance in inter-rows, drainage ditches and plot borders), as well as climatic variables and the specific characteristics of each seed present. We will present the first results of seed dispersal experiments after a rainy event on a vineyard plot, as well as manipulations to determine the seed bank, allow us to make a first estimate of seed transport and the rehabilitation potential of Mediterranean vineyard environments. At the end of the experiments, the knowledge obtained will be integrated into a spatially explicit model based on the source-sink principle to simulate the dispersion of seeds by water, this model being considered as a virtual laboratory to co-construct landscape arrangements with stakeholders for maintaining biodiversity.
Marine heat waves: The added value of a high resolution, coupled atmosphere-ocean regional climate model 
Authors: Pontoppidan Marie , De Falco Chiara , Mooney Priscilla A. , Tjiputra Jerry
Published: March 2022

Marine ecosystems are largely impacted by marine heat waves (MHWs). That includes coral reefs which are experiencing coral bleaching and subsequently loss of marine biodiversity because of MHWs. Such reefs are crucial habitat of fish stocks feeding the world’s population. As ocean temperatures increase, the occurrences of MHWs become more frequent. A further solid mechanistic understanding is therefore urgently required for adaptation and mitigation of future changes in MHWs. Importantly, this knowledge is needed on a local-scale.

Here we use a coupled ocean-atmosphere regional modelling system (COAWST), consisting of the atmospheric model WRF and the ocean model ROMS, to dynamically downscale an area over the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Compared to a global model with coarser horizontal resolution, our 12 km grid spacing resolves smaller scale phenomena and ensures a skilled representation of the air-sea interactions which are important for a correct representation of MHWs. We show the results of a 20-year regional climate simulation and compare the output with two global climate model simulations (NorESM2-MM and NorESM2-MH) to address the added value of the regional simulation. Our high-resolution simulation represents the temporal distribution (frequency and duration) of MHWs well compared to the coarser global models which produce too few, but too long heatwaves in the area.
Non-monotonic growth and motion of the South Atlantic Anomaly
Authors: Amit Hagay , Terra-Nova Filipe , Lézin Maxime , Trindade Ricardo
Published: March 2022

The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is a region at Earth’s surface where the intensity of the magnetic field is particularly low. Accurate characterization of the SAA is important for both fundamental understanding of core dynamics and the geodynamo as well as societal issues such as the erosion of instruments at surface observatories and onboard spacecrafts. Here, we propose new measures to better characterize the SAA area and center, accounting for surface intensity changes outside the SAA region and shape anisotropy. Applying our characterization to a geomagnetic field model covering the historical era, we find that the SAA area and center are more time dependent, including episodes of steady area, eastward drift and rapid southward drift. We interpret these special events in terms of the secular vari‑ation of relevant large‑scale geomagnetic flux patches on the core–mantle boundary. Our characterization may be used as a constraint on Earth‑like numerical dynamo models.
Endeavours into a more automated workflow for regional scale landslide and flash flood event detection in the tropics using IMCLASS
Authors: Michea David , Deijns Axel , Deprez Aline , Dewitte Olivier , Kervyn François , Malet Jean-Philippe
Published: March 2022

Geomorphic hazards such as landslides and flash floods (hereafter called GH) often co-occur
and interact imposing significant impacts in the landscape. Particularly in the tropics, where
GH are under-researched while impact is disproportionally high, establishing regional-scale
inventories of GH events is essential to better understand the behaviour and the patterns in
GH event occurrence. Robust AI-based detection tools such as the IMCLASS classifier
provide an excellent solution to accurately determine the location of GH events. However,
they rely on accurate training samples and require some knowledge on the timing of the event.
This information is regularly unavailable when exploring for new GH events in inaccessible
areas such as the tropics. Here we present our first endeavours into an automated workflow
for detecting unknown events in the tropics using the IMCLASS detection tool associated to
an unsupervised building of training samples using time series of Copernicus Sentinel 2
imagery. Per pixel, we investigate the cumulative difference from the mean over time for a
multitude of spectral index time series (e.g. NDVI, BI, SAVI) and their related z-score time
series. The method allows us to distinguish GH-affected and non-affected pixels based on the
prominence of the peak, and determine an approximate timing based on the location of the
peak within the timeseries. Both information are then used as input for the IMCLASS
classifier. The method is highly optimized in terms of computation time allowing to process
large regions of interest. Preliminary results over Uvira, DRC and the Mahale Mountains,
Tanzania, have shown to be encouraging and provide insight into a more automated workflow
applicable on the regional scale where event occurrence and timing is yet unknown. Further
steps will consist of adapting the workflow to different landscape, topography and climatic
regions.
Joint spatial modelling of sediment nutrients and their ratio in Lake Balaton (Hungary) using multivariate geostatistics
Authors: Szatmári Gábor , Kocsis Mihály , Makó András , Pásztor László , Bakacsi Zsófia
Published: March 2022

Eutrophication, water quality and environmental status of lakes is a global issue that depends not only on the quality and quantity of nutrients stored in lake sediments but also on their relative content. On the example of Lake Balaton (Hungary), we jointly modelled the spatial distribution of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, and their ratio (i.e. nitrogen to phosphorus ratio) in the sediments of the lake and then provided spatial predictions at different supports (i.e. point, basin and entire lake) with the associated prediction uncertainty. The objective of our study was to illustrate the merits of applying multivariate geostatistics when spatial modelling of more than one variable is targeted at various scales in water ecosystems. Exploratory variography confirmed that there is a spatial interdependency between the nutrients and therefore it is better to jointly model their spatial distribution. The results revealed that by the application of multivariate geostatistics the spatial interdependency existing between the nutrients under study can be explicitly taken into account and exploited in the course of spatial modelling to provide coherent and more accurate spatial predictions that could support the complex assessment of the water quality and environmental status of Lake Balaton. Besides, stochastic realizations reproducing the joint spatial variability of the two nutrients can be generated that allow to compute stochastic realizations of their ratio, furthermore, to provide spatially aggregated predictions for larger supports (e.g. basins or entire lake) with the associated prediction uncertainty, which may be better fit to the end-users' demands on spatially explicit information about sediment nutrients. Our study highlighted that it is worthy of applying multivariate geostatistics in case spatial modelling of two or more variables, which jointly vary in space, is targeted in water ecosystems.

 

Acknowledgements: Our research was funded by the National Research Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH), grant number K-131820. The work of Gábor Szatmári was supported by the Premium Postdoctoral Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (PREMIUM-2019-390).
The utilisation of X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography (XCT) for the quantification of carbon dioxide in passively carbonated steel slag.
Authors: Del Angel Lozano Jose Porfirio , Macente Alice , MacDonald John
Published: March 2022

Mineral sequestration using solid alkaline by-products, such as steel slag, is a feasible technology to capture carbon dioxide. This silicate weathering reaction forms solid carbonates, mineralizing the atmospheric CO2 into calcite, which can occur passively under ambient environmental conditions over monthly to decadal timescales. The passive mineralization of carbon dioxide in steel slag is a not well-known reaction, particularly when climate factors influence the mineral carbonation. Non-destructive quantification of CO2 mineralization is necessary to set underpinning knowledge on capturing rates.

The utilisation of X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (XCT) allows the 3D spatial visualisation and quantification of carbon dioxide precipitated as calcite in steel slag pores. We used XCT to analyse samples of legacy steel slag collected in Mexico and Scotland, to determine the effects of environmental factors on mineral carbonation. The XCT data were analysed with image processing to classify the slag volume into three phases (slag, pores, and calcite). The classification of the data into different phases allows the determination of the volume of each phase in the sample as well as its 3D spatial extent, thus enabling the quantification of mineralized CO2 characterized as the calcite phase.

We will present a comparison between the volumes of carbon dioxide passively mineralized in the samples from the Mexican and Scottish collection sites, in the context of contrasting environmental factors. Preliminary results from one of the Scottish samples shows that calcite (mineralized CO2) accounts for  ~ 5 vol. % of the sample, and it is localised across the whole sample.  A comparison of these results between the Mexican and Scottish samples will provide a better understanding of how climatic factors influence the volumes of atmospheric CO2 mineralized by the samples. 
Transport and trapping in complex aquatic canopies: how do coral reefs act as sinks for microplastics?
Authors: Mendrik Freija , Houseago Robert , Waller Catherine , Hackney Christopher , Parsons Daniel
Published: March 2022

The “missing plastic” phenomenon remains, whereby the transport and ultimate fate of microplastics in aquatic environments is mostly unknown. Marine plastic pollution mainly originates from terrestrial sources and upon reaching coastal zones interacts with nearshore ecosystems. Coral reefs in coastal areas are likely exposed to microplastics, especially shallow reefs at low tides, yet the interactions between microplastics and corals are largely unexplored. Reefs can form extremely complex canopies that can trap sediment, and likely act as a sink for microplastic pollution through serval ways: acting as a physical barrier, modifying turbulence and depositional processes, or through incorporation within coral tissue and skeletons. Given reefs form the foundation of highly biodiverse ecosystems, the entrapment of microplastics by coral would possibly increase ingestion by, and physiological damage to, corals and other reef organisms. The broader ecological impact may be considerable, as well as the repercussions for associated ecosystems services for hundreds of millions of people. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change and rising sea temperatures may be accentuated. Despite the growing concern of these consequences and field measurements revealing accumulation in a variety of aquatic canopies, the transport and dispositional processes that drive microplastic trapping in coral canopies is barely understood.

Here, we investigated for the first time the prevalence of microplastic retention by branching coral canopies in a hydraulic flume under several unidirectional flow conditions. Coral colonies were created using 3D-printed models of staghorn coral, Acropora genus, an important reef building species found globally. A set weight of microplastics (biofilmed ground melamine, density 1.6 g/cm³) was released into canopies that represented recovering and healthy reefs to determine entrapment efficiency. Overhead and side cameras tracked microplastic distribution and trapping mechanisms. Furthermore, complimentary flow velocity profiles were acquired to understand the relationships between the canopy hydrodynamics and microplastic distribution. Our results provide an insight into microplastic transport dynamics and entrapment mechanisms within coral canopies. Results show that even sparse reefs may be vulnerable to notable microplastic trapping. The results provide insight that support the conjecture that canopies may act as a global sink for microplastic pollution. Further investigation is required in the exposure of these ecosystems to microplastics and impacts on the wider ecological system health, function, and potential subsequent transfer through food webs.
Characterization of the physical properties of industrial plume aerosols from PRISMA hyperspectral images.
Authors: Calassou Gabriel , Foucher Pierre-Yves , Léon Jean-François
Published: March 2022

According to the European Environmental Agency, industrial fine particles emissions have represented respectively 15% and 6.5% of PM10 and PM2.5 emissions in Europe between 2013 and 2018. Stack emissions are a significant contributor to the atmospheric PM burden. Satellite imagery is a proven technique for stack plume detection although the quantitative retrieval of aerosol properties within the plume remains a challenge. We propose a new method to detect stack plume aerosol properties from hyperspectral satellite imagery.

PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) is a medium-resolution (30 m) hyperspectral imaging mission launched in 2019 and carrying a camera with 239 spectral channels between 0.4 and 2.5 µm. Additionally to PRISMA data, SENTINEL-2/MSI observations within a few days delay from PRISMA acquisition are used in the proposed method to better constrain the surface reflectance conditions over the targeted scenes.

 Three industrial sites have been observed: a coal-fired power plant in Kendal, South Africa (on 25/09/2021), a steel plant in Wuhan, China (on 24/03/2021), and gas flaring at a gas extraction site in Hassi Messaoud, Algeria (on 09/07/2021).The Sentinel-2 acquisitions are set to the PRISMA spectral resolution thanks to a fusion method called the Coupled Non-Negative Matrix Factorisation (Yokoya et al., TGRS, 2011).

Then, the aerosol optical depth and the particulate radius  are  retrieved using an optimal estimation method (Calassou et al., RS, 2020). The retrieved radii range from 0.15 to 0.3 µm with an uncertainty of 5 to 20 nm for the flare emission, from 0.3 to 0.7 µm with an uncertainty of 15 to 40 nm for the steel site emission and from 0.4 to 1.25 µm with an uncertainty of 0.05 to 0.2 µm for the coal plant. The retrieved AOTs vary from 0.2 to 1 for the flaring site, from 0.5 to 3.4 for the steel site plume and from 0.6 to 2.45 for the coal plant emission. The retrieved aerosol radii are of the same order of magnitude as literature data for the flares, while retrieved radii for the coal plant and the steel site are higher due to the potential contribution of a coarse aerosol mode than is not accounted for in the procedure.

The proposed case studies demonstrate the ability of a coupled hyper/moderate spectral satellite imagery for stack plume analysis and open a way to estimate particulate flux emission from stack using space remote sensing. 
Utilising weather station (ISD), and satellite and population (GHSL-SMOD) datasets to estimate Urban Heat Island over locations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
Authors: Tzyrkalli Anna , Hadjinicolaou Panos , Constantinidou Katiana , Lelieveld Jos
Published: March 2022

Local weather and climate conditions are affected by the presence of cities, through their perturbation of the surface energy balance. A well-know manifestation is the Urban Heat Island (UHI) in which land surface and near surface air temperatures are higher over a city compared to its rural surroundings. In this work, we explore the suitability of air temperature station records, in conjunction with urbanization data derived from land and population data, to provide credible urban-rural temperature differences for the MENA region.

Specifically, for air temperature we utilize daily and sub-daily time-series from the Integrated Surface Database (ISD), resulting in more than 300 station records for the MENA. We subsequently characterize the degree of urbanization of these stations using the gridded, 1km x km GHSL Settlement model (GHSL-SMOD) data that calculate 8 classes of urban and rural spatial entities from built-up area (Landsat) and population (CIESIN Gridded Population of the World) data. Examples of the derived UHI magnitude from the identified station pairs will be shown, and the associated assumptions and limitations of the followed approach will be discussed.
Coupling between biomass growth and hydraulic properties of porous systems
Authors: Jiao Wenqiao , Scheidweiler David , De Anna Pietro
Published: March 2022

Permeable systems can accommodate the flow of fluids through their porous structure that is characterized by solid impermeable grains and empty volumes (the pores). Biofilms are complex and heterogeneous aggregates of communities of microorganisms adhered together, and biofilm growth will affect the evolution of the pore system, such as changing the morphology and structure of grains and reduce the porosity in the host media, and then result in significant alteration in hydrodynamic and transport properties of the porous media. So far, this has been overlooked. Thus, we develope an experimental method to measure the flow through a microfluidics replica of a homogeneous porous medium while imposing a macroscopic pressure gradient. With this novel set-up, we explore the influence of the pore structure that is altered by the growth of biofilms on the hydraulic permeability of porous media.
Evaluation of the photosynthesis-driven biomass allocation scheme in land surface models
Authors: De Pue Jan , Barrios José Miguel , Arboleda Alirio , Hamdi Rafiq , Janssens Ivan , Balzarolo Manuela , Gellens-Meulenberghs Françoise
Published: March 2022

To capture the vegetation-driven seasonal variability in surface fluxes, land surface models (LSM) simulate the evolution of leaf area index (LAI) prognostically. A common approach to achieve this, is by directly coupling the carbon assimilation flux to the leaf biomass evolution.
In this study, we evaluate this scheme by isolating it from the LSM framework, and forcing it with in situ observations of the carbon flux from a selection of 56 sites from the ICOS network. The resulting LAI is validated with the remote sensed product from Copernicus GLS. The parametrization of the biomass allocation scheme in ISBA was adopted, and a sensitivity analysis was performed.
Across a broad range of vegetation types and climate regions, it was found that the simulated phenological cycle was delayed, compared to the observations. The results highlight the importance of non-structural carbohydrate dynamics in LSM, which can decouple the direct link between photosynthesis and leaf biomass.
Stomatal optimization under uncertain climate: the role of discounting
Authors: Mau Yair , Bayer Yuval
Published: March 2022

Optimality principles have been used to explain stomatal behavior, assuming that plants maximize carbon assimilation, while minimizing water expenditures. This optimization is often realized in models under arbitrary time horizons, from instantaneous optimization to unknown time periods of days and weeks. Here we introduce the concept of “discounting” to the optimization framework. Simply put, discounting makes the assumption that a plant cares more about its fluxes of carbon and water at the present moment than those in the future, where a “discount rate” is used to quantify the amount by which the present is more valued than the future. We explore how the plant continually updates its prior density functions (in the Bayesian sense) regarding future climatic conditions, and how this mechanism relates to memory. We also show that instantaneous optimization and the usual optimization over a fixed period of time are but the extremes in a rich spectrum of behavior in the discount rate axis. Finally, we discuss how to link the idea of discounting to risk attitudes and isohydricity.
Short-term surface velocity variations of the Argentière glacier monitored with a high-resolution continuous GNSS network
Authors: Togaibekov Anuar , Walpersdorf Andrea , Gimbert Florent
Published: March 2022

The motion of glaciers with a temperate base is highly variable in time and space as a result of glacier basal sliding being strongly modulated by subglacial hydrology. Here we investigate short term (diurnal to multi-diurnal) changes in horizontal velocity and vertical displacement caused by melt and rain water input events on the Argentière Glacier (French Alps). We use up to 13 permanent GNSS stations that have been operating continuously over three full years (since April 2019). We report observations of strong surface acceleration events occurring in response to late summer storms, during which a velocity pulse propagates from up to down glacier at a migrating speed of about 0.1 m/s, which is typical of flow drainage speeds in the distributed system. We thus suggest that transient changes in the surface velocity field during intense and short-term water input events reflect transient changes in the distributed system flow properties. Although the efficient drainage system is expected to be well developed at this time of the year, this latter does not appear to play a primary role in our observations. Using concomitant observations of subglacial flow discharge and seismic tremor amplitudes we are able to estimate the average height of cavities and the associated cavity-drainage conductivity. Examination of the vertical displacement suggests that a vertical motion of the glacier (uplift) is largely controlled by the volume increase in subglacial water cavities rather than by the vertical strain rate change. These observational constraints may be crucial to test subglacial drainage and transient friction theories.
Holocene Paleoenvironments in the Western Mediterranean Sea: palynological evidences on the Algerian coast and climatic reconstructions
Authors: Coussin Vincent , Penaud Aurélie , Combourieu-Nebout Nathalie , Peyron Odile , Sicre Marie Alexandrine , Tisnerat-Laborde Nadine , Babonneau Nathalie , Cattaneo Antonio
Published: March 2022

Environmental conditions along the Algerian margin (AM) involve complex atmosphere-hydrosphere-biosphere interactions with superimposed anthropogenic activities on adjacent watersheds across the Holocene. Surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean entering the western Mediterranean Sea become the Algerian Current (AC) flowing along the North African coast and generating anticyclonic eddies. Upwelled waters are other recurring hydrological feature reflecting the instability of the AC. In this area, Holocene vegetation and paleohydrological dynamics have not yet been described. The marine core MD04-2801 (2,067 m water depth) has been analyzed to assess environmental and climatic conditions over the last 14 kyrs BP at a secular-scale resolution to fill this gap. A multi-proxy approach including terrestrial (pollen grains and continental non-pollen palynomorphs such as Glomus spores and freshwater microalgae) and marine (dinoflagellate cysts or dinocysts) palynological data as well as sedimentological data (grain-size analysis and clay mineral assemblages) and biomarkers (alkenones and n-alkanes) have been used to investigate the links between past sea surface hydrological conditions characterized by the over-representation of heterotrophic dinocyst taxa (especially Brigantedinium spp.) and regional environmental changes on nearby watersheds. Quantifications of hydrological and climate parameters are also estimated using the Modern Analogue Technique applied to dinocyst and pollen assemblages. Our data evidence linkages between continental dryness or moisture and surface ocean conditions. High productivity is recorded during the cold and arid climate conditions of the Younger Dryas (12.7 to 11.7 ka BP). During the Early-Middle Holocene (11.7 to 8.2 and 8.2 to 4.2 ka BP), fluvial discharges increase concomitantly with the colonization of coastlands by the Mediterranean forest and oligotrophic conditions in the AM. In contrast, aridification characterizes the Late Holocene with the notable 4.2 ka BP megadrought  between 4.3 and 3.9 ka BP. Comparison between with other paleoenvironmental records from the Gulf of Cadiz to the Siculo-Tunisian strait underlines a west to east climatic gradient at orbital and infra-orbital timescales, with marked cold-dry events at 9, 8.1, 7.3 and 6.5 ka BP. This zonal gradient is discussed to explain contradictory results from the Alboran Sea to Tunisia. Finally, the last 3 kyrs BP highlight the establishment of modern ocean production conditions reflecting both vertical mixing in the AM (wind-driven eddies of the AC) and nutrient-enriched fluvial discharges intensified by human land-use.
Evaluating the distribution and mineralization of soil organic carbon pool in relation to soil geochemistry under different land use in volcanic soil
Authors: Anindita Sastrika , Sleutel Steven , Finke Peter
Published: March 2022

 Land use through its control on vegetation and fertilization can impact on soil geochemistry which in turn also
influences the stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC). Here, we assess soil organic carbon pools following a
fractionation method by Zimmermann et al. (2007), and analyse the fate of SOC with a process-based soil genesis
model, SoilGen2. We hypothesized that geochemical properties influenced the distribution of SOC and these
properties can be applied in a model context to modify the decay rate of soil carbon pool. A set of volcanic soils
data from Mt.Tangkuban Perahu and Mt. Burangrang in Indonesia covering different land uses (primary forest,
pine forest, and agriculture) from Holocene age was used in this study. In the model, calibration was done
sequentially including (i) weathering of amorphous and primary minerals, and (ii) decay of soil organic carbon.
These processes are represented by various process parameters, and each simulation was run on a 8-10k year
time scale. Our SOC fractionation study showed that the dominant SOC pool was located in sand-aggregate
fractions and was higher with agricultural land use. This pool was positively correlated to pH, exchangeable Ca,
aluminum-oxalate extraction (Alo), and amorphous materials. This result is also in line with a better performance
in the SOC model by applying geochemically-modified rates. Our calibrated model shows the advantage of
including geochemical rate modifier in the volcanic soils. Further, the SOC levels will also be investigated under
different climate projection using SoilGen model. 
Modelling the relative effect of different climate factors, vegetation and dust deposition on the MIS-13 and MIS-11 paleosol development on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Ranathunga Keerthika Nirmani , Finke Peter , Yin Qiuzhen , Wu Zhipeng
Published: March 2022

The Chinese loess-paleosol sequences provide valuable records of the Quaternary climate changes. However, the relative contributions of the Quaternary paleoclimate (e.g. precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, vegetation and dust addition) on interglacial paleosol development, and which factor plays a key role are inadequately studied in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Here, we examine the relative contributions of these factors on paleosol development on the CLP by a sensitivity analysis. For this, we simulate paleosol development using the climate-soil model LOVECLIM-SoilGen2.

The sensitivity analysis was done during two interglacials, MIS11 and MIS13, where MIS11 shows quite contrasting climate forcing with MIS-13. Several simulations were run; in each simulation, one parameter is allowed to change at a time (e.g. precipitation), and others are kept constant (as in reference). A reference simulation is included 100-year average values of the end of Holocene simulation mimicking the Pre-Industrial climate. Additionally, combined effects of climatic parameters (e.g. precipitation and evapotranspiration) were investigated, and mean absolute error was calculated between each of the sensitivity simulation and the actual simulation (combination of all soil forming factors).   

Our results show that precipitation has the largest influence on the depth redistribution of soil properties (calcite and clay) in MIS11 and MIS13 and dust addition is the dominant factor affecting the amount of simulated calcite and clay. Our results indicate that potential evapotranspiration has a pronounced impact during MIS13. Unlike the simulated MIS11 paleosol, which is explained by precipitation plus dust addition, the MIS13 paleosol development is better explained when potential evapotranspiration is also taken into account during this extreme interglacial. 
Coupling the Coastal and Regional Ocean COmmunity model (CROCO) with the Biogeochemical Flux Model (BFM)
Authors: Vodopivec Martin , Strnisa Filip , Kosec Gregor
Published: March 2022

With more than 50 variables, the Biogeochemical Flux Model (BFM) is one of the most advanced and complex marine biogeochemical models available. In addition to several phytoplankton and zooplankton groups, it also includes bacterioplankton, and its modular structure allows for the relatively straightforward addition of new plankton functional types (PFT). The BFM is used in the Copernicus Marine Service products for the Mediterranean Sea and these should provide ideal initial and boundary conditions for more detailed regional studies. Here we present the coupling of the BFM with the Coastal and Regional Ocean COmmunity model (CROCO; based on ROMS_AGRIF and SNH). The latter is a non-hydrostatic, terrain-following, free-surface ocean model with a highly efficient time-stepping algorithm, making it very suitable for high-resolution simulations and topographies with a wide range of depths. The models are directly coupled without an intermediate coupler and can be executed in parallel via Message Passing Interface (MPI). We present the results of an idealized case and these are in a good agreement with a similar configuration of a coupled MITgcm-BFM run (Cossarini et al., 2017). Not surprisingly, the coupled system CROCO-BFM proves to be computationally intensive given the large number of variables, and we explore different speed-up possibilities.
Consistent and Flexible Thermodynamics in Atmospheric Models Using Internal Energy as a Thermodynamic Potential
Authors: Bowen Paul , Thuburn John
Published: March 2022

Approximations in the moist thermodynamics of atmospheric models can often be inconsistent. Different parts of numerical models may handle the thermodynamics in different ways, or the approximations may disagree with the laws of thermodynamics. To address these problems all relevant thermodynamic quantities may be derived from a defined thermodynamic potential; approximations are then instead made to the potential itself - this guarantees self-consistency, as well as flexibility. Previous work showed that this concept is viable for vapour and liquid water mixtures in a moist atmospheric system using the Gibbs potential. However, on extension to include the ice phase an ambiguity is encountered at the triple-point. To resolve this ambiguity, here the internal energy potential is used instead. Constrained maximisation methods on the entropy can be used to solve for the system equilibrium state. However, a further extension is necessary for atmospheric systems. In the Earth’s atmosphere many important non-equilibrium processes take place; for example, freezing of super-cooled water, and evaporation into subsaturated air. To fully capture processes such as these, the equilibrium method must be reformulated to involve finite rates of approach towards equilibrium. Here the principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics are used, beginning with a set of phenomenological equations, to show how non-equilibrium moist processes may be coupled to a semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian dynamical core. A standard bubble test case and simulations of cloudy thermals are presented to demonstrate the viability of the approach for equilibrium thermodynamics, as well as the more complex non-equilibrium regime.
A novel method for objective identification of weather-relevant 3-D potential vorticity anomalies
Authors: Fischer Christoph , Fink Andreas H. , Schömer Elmar , van der Linden Roderick , Maier-Gerber Michael , Rautenhaus Marc , Chung Shun Yiu , Kriening Marvin , Riemer Michael
Published: March 2022

Potential vorticity (PV) analysis plays a central role in studying atmospheric dynamics and in particular in studying the life cycle of weather systems. The three-dimensional (3-D) structure and temporal evolution of the associated PV anomalies, however, are not yet fully understood. An automated technique to objectively identify 3-D PV anomalies can help to shed light on 3-D atmospheric dynamics in specific case studies, as well as facilitate statistical evaluations within climatological studies. Such a technique to identify PV anomalies fully in 3-D, however, does not yet exist.

This study presents a novel algorithm for the objective identification of PV anomalies. The algorithm is inspired by morphological image processing techniques and can be applied to both two-dimensional (2-D) and 3-D fields on vertically isentropic levels.

The method maps input data to a horizontally stereographic projection and relies on an efficient computation of horizontal distances within the projected field. Candidates for PV anomaly features are filtered according to heuristic criteria, and feature description vectors are obtained for further analysis. The generated feature descriptions are well suited for subsequent case studies of 3-D atmospheric dynamics, or for generation of climatologies of feature characteristics.

We evaluate our approach by comparison with an existing 2-D technique, and demonstrate the full 3-D perspective by means of meteorological case studies comprising tropical cyclogenesis and a subtropical extreme rainfall event. These case studies demonstrate the complexity and variations in the 3-D structure of the detected PV anomalies. Such anomalies are often insufficiently captured by a 2-D method. We discuss further advantages of using a 3-D approach, including elimination of temporal inconsistencies in the detected features due to 3-D structural variation, and elimination of the need to manually select a specific isentropic level on which the anomalies are assumed to be best captured.
Investigating the impact of active layer thickening on vertical soil moisture distribution in the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Jiang Huiru , Yi Yonghong , Zhang Wenjiang , Chen Deliang , Li Rongxing
Published: March 2022

Permafrost degradation caused by climate warming has potentially large impact on the hydro-eco environment in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) through affecting soil water redistribution, and it is critical to investigate the soil moisture changes and estimate their response to future climate conditions. In this study, we first analyzed the in-situ soil temperature and moisture data to examine the impact of active layer thickening on soil moisture redistribution. There is generally a “water-rich zone” around the bottom of the active layer at sites with the active layer thickness (ALT) greater than ~2 m, and a relative low soil moisture zone occurs approximately between the bottom of the root zone (~ 0.4 m) and the bottom of the active layer. However, at shallower-ALT sites (e.g., ALT< 2 m), a “soil water rich zone” occurs at the upper active layer rather than at the bottom of the active layer, and soil moisture at the deeper active layer generally shows a decreasing trend along soil depth. We used a process-based permafrost hydrology model to represent the above effects of active layer thickening on soil moisture redistribution through modifying the soil hydraulic profile. Model sensitivity runs indicate that soil moisture redistribution with active layer thickening is largely due to dramatic changes of hydraulic conductivity between the root zone and deeper layers (>~ 1m). The saturated hydraulic conductivity tends to increase a little in the root zoon and then show a sharp exponential decline along soil depth, while the pedo-transfer functions that are commonly used in models cannot reproduce this process well.

Our results indicate that shallower ALT helps to retain soil moisture in the soil root zone; however, when ALT increases to a certain depth, the root-zone soil layer tends to lose water because of little recharge from deeper (>~1m) soils due to the dramatical decreases in soil hydraulic conductivity. Therefore, active layer thickening may exacerbate soil drying in the root-zone, which will have negative impacts on the vegetation growth and performances of ecosystem functioning. We will further investigate the soil moisture changes under different climate scenarios in order to better project the future hydro-eco response in the TP permafrost region.
Lithology Mapping with Satellite, Fieldwork-based Spectral data, and Machine Learning: the case study of Beiras Group (Central Portugal)
Authors: Pereira João , Pereira Alcides J.S.C. , Gil Artur , Mantas Vasco M.
Published: March 2022

The lack of cartography increases the problematic of poor knowledge of geological resources and land management in regions that could benefit greatly from this information. Remote sensing has been an invaluable mean of obtaining data to perform geological mapping objectively and with high scientific accuracy. In Portugal, there is a large gap of cartographic information at 1:50 000 scale throughout the territory, so this work intends to complement this problem through a set of techniques and methodologies applied to a study of a region of Grupo das Beiras.

Spectral databases serve as an initial tool for any methodology involving spectral analysis, namely for the development of cartography methods and quick characterization of rock samples.

To address these issues, a multispectral analysis of january and july 2015th scenes with low cloud cover and atmospheric corrections (level 2) was obtained from Landsat 8 (LS8). Certain statistical tests such as ANOVA and Tukey's were applied to both images to clearly know whether significant differences exist between lithologies.

For the hyperspectral analysis, two sampling campaigns were carried out with the collection of rock samples of metasediments and granites and soil. The analysis was performed in fresh samples, crushed samples (2 mm - 500 μm; 500 μm - 125μm; <125 μm) and soil samples demonstrating a significantly different spectral behavior among various particle sizes in the hyperspectral signatures between fresh and crushed samples. X-ray fluorescence (FRX) was used to obtain geochemical data of major elements to validate the spectral results obtained. As a result, there were identified correspondences between the obtained hyperspectral data and the databases as well in the literature meaning that the spectral signatures of this research are consistent with the studied samples.

The creation of machine learning models is an emerging tool for cartography in which LS8 reflectance data was used for this elaboration. In this work and for this context the models proved to be useful and successful for the image classification from algorithms assigned for this function.
Deciphering multiple metasomatism beneath Mindszentkálla (Bakony-Balaton Highland Volcanic Field, western Pannonian Basin) revealed by upper mantle peridotite xenoliths
Authors: Patkó Levente , Kovács Zoltán , Liptai Nóra , Aradi László E. , Berkesi Márta , Ciazela Jakub , Hidas Károly , Garrido Carlos J. , Kovács István J.
Published: March 2022

The Bakony-Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (BBHVF), where Neogene alkali basalts and their pyroclasts host a great number of upper mantle xenoliths, is situated in the western part of the Pannonian Basin. One of the barely investigated xenolith localities of the BBHVF is Mindszentkálla. In the BBHVF, most of the xenoliths have lherzolitic modal composition, however, the Mindszentkálla locality is dominated by harzburgites. In addition to the homogeneous coarse-grained harzburgite xenoliths, we collected composite and multiple composite (with more than two different domains) xenoliths that represent small-scale heterogeneities. Harzburgite, interpreted as the host rock, is crosscut by dunitic, orthopyroxenitic, apatite-bearing websteritic, and amphibole-phlogopite-bearing veins.

To understand the evolution of the conspicuously complex mantle beneath Mindszentkálla, in situ major and trace element analyses were carried out on all rock-forming minerals. The major element chemistry of silicate minerals in the harzburgite wall rock and dunite veins show lower basaltic element (Fe, Mn, Ti, Na) contents with respect to the orthopyroxenitic and websteritic veins. The rare earth elements display flat or spoon-shaped patterns in the harzburgitic clinopyroxenes, whereas the websteritic clinopyroxenes and the amphiboles of the amphibole-phlogopite vein are enriched in light rare earth elements.

The observed textural and geochemical features indicate that the Mindszentkálla xenoliths could have gone through significant mineralogical and compositional modifications in at least two events. During the first event, the lherzolitic mantle was metasomatized most likely by a silica-rich melt, which could have resulted in orthopyroxene-rich peridotitic lithology. The metasomatizing Si-rich melt is likely related to a former subduction event.

The second metasomatic event led to the formation of dunite, orthopyroxenite, apatite-bearing websterite, and amphibole-phlogopite-bearing veins. These lithologies are likely the products of interactions between volatile-enriched, asthenosphere-derived basaltic melts and the peridotite wall rock, or they represent the high-pressure crystallization of such melts. The ascent of these mafic melts may have happened shortly before the xenolith entrapment during the Neogene basaltic volcanism.