bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving identification of glacier bed materials using converted-wave seismics
Authors: Agnew Ronan , Booth Adam , Brisbourne Alex , Clark Roger , Smith Andy
Published: February 2023

When modelling ice sheet and glacier dynamics, a consideration of basal conditions is essential. Bed topography, hydrology and materials provide important controls on ice flow; however, the materials underlying large sections of the polar ice sheets are unknown. Seismic amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis provides a means of inferring glacier bed properties, namely acoustic impedance and Poisson's ratio, by measuring bed reflectivity as a function of incidence angle.However, existing methods of applying AVO to glaciology only consider the compressional-wave component of the wavefield and solutions suffer from non-uniqueness. This can be addressed using multi-component seismic datasets, in which a strong converted-wave arrival (downgoing compressional-wave energy converted to shear-wave energy upon reflection at the glacier bed) is often present. We present a method of jointly inverting compressional (PP) and converted-wave (PS) seismic data to improve constraint of glacier bed properties.Using synthetic data, we demonstrate that for typical survey geometries, joint inversion of PP- and PS-wave AVO data delivers better-constrained bed acoustic impedance and Poisson’s ratio estimates compared with PP-only inversion. Furthermore, joint inversion can produce comparably constrained results to PP inversion when using input data with a smaller range of incidence angles/offsets (0-30 degree incidence for joint inversion, versus 0-60 degrees for PP- only). This could simplify future field acquisitions on very thick ice, where obtaining data at large incidence angles is difficult.Joint AVO inversion therefore has the potential to improve identification of glacier bed materials and simplify field acquisitions of glacial AVO data. We also present preliminary results from Korff Ice Rise, West Antarctica, where better constraints on bed conditions can help improve our knowledge of ice sheet history in the Weddell Sea sector. Routine measurements of this kind will help constrain ice-sheet model inputs and reduce uncertainty in predictions of sea-level rise.
Five-year PM Chemical Composition and Organic Aerosol (OA) Sources in a European Megacity, London
Authors: Chen Gang , Priestman Max , Font Anna , Tremper Anja , Green David
Published: February 2023

Improving air quality in urban areas is essential since 97% of European cities exceed the annual PM2.5 value of the WHO guidelines (10 μg/m3). Therefore, in order to mitigate adverse health outcomes of air pollutants, it is extremely important to understand the long-term chemical compositions and organic aerosol (OA) sources in the largest European city, London. North Kensington (50.52° N, 0.21° W) is an urban background monitoring station located in a residential area of west London. A Quadrupole Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitors, Q-ACSM (Aerodyne Research Inc., MA, USA), was deployed to continuously monitor submicron non-refractory particulate matter (NR-PM1) from March 2013 until May 2018. The knowledge of OA sources is crucial not only because OA is the main constituent of particulate matter (PM), but also because different sources of OA are known to have different toxicities. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) on the OA matrix of ACSM data remains the most common technique to conduct source apportionment (SA) analyses. By following the standardized protocol developed by Chen et al. (2022), we have retrieved high-quality SA results in these 5 years using the most advanced SA techniques (i.e., rolling PMF (Parworth et al., 2015), the ME-2 solver (Paatero, 1999), and bootstrap resampling (Erfon, 1979)). Additionally, back trajectory analysis has helped identify the geographical origin of OA sources. A variety of auxiliary measurements have been conducted on the same site, which has been used to validate our SA results. Overall, this study provided a rare opportunity to investigate the long-term trends of PM composition and OA sources in a European megacity and provided valuable information for policymakers to understand the effects of mitigation strategies and design more efficient policies.
Source apportionment analysis at an urban background site, a roadside site, and the resulting roadside increment in London, UK
Authors: Tremper Anja H. , Hicks William A. , Priestman Max , Chen Gang , Manousakas Manousos-Ioannis , Prevot Andre S. H. , Green David
Published: February 2023

Traffic remains a key source of PM2.5 and PM10 in urban environments and contributes to PM in the form of exhaust related particles and non-exhaust related particles (Grigoratos and Martini, 2014). It is expected that due to traffic fleet changes and stricter exhaust emissions controls the relative contribution of non-exhaust traffic related particles, such as brake and tyre wear, but also of other urban sources, such as wood smoke and cooking aerosols, will become more significant. To understand these changes in relative contribution, sources need to be identified and quantified in different urban environments. High time resolution measurements of PM composition, such as those from the Xact instrument allow for a more accurate identification and quantification of sources as the high time resolution reflects short term changes due to emission and atmospheric processing. Here we present a comparison of positive matrix factorisation (PMF) analysis at an urban background site, a roadside site, and of the resulting roadside increment. This work aims to improve the identification of non-exhaust traffic emissions.Hourly PM10 measurements of a range of elements were made with the Xact at an urban background and a roadside location in London between Aug. 2019 and Aug. 2020. Source contributions were determined with PMF using the Source Finder software (SoFi) (Canonaco et al., 2013). PMF is carried out in steps: i) initial factor profiles are established for the roadside and background location; ii) factor profiles of the roadside increment are established; iii) the roadside increment profiles are used to improve the factor identification at the roadside and background and results evaluated in comparison with the initial profiles. Black carbon, PM10, PM2.5 mass concentrations and NOx were used to verify PMF results.PMF analysis was initially performed on roadside increment data. The profiles identified were then used to improve the combined PMF for both sites. In this novel approach, the advantages of utilizing the roadside increment are explored to investigate the identification of factors which can be used to quantify traffic impact more accurately at roadside and background locations.This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) under grant NE/T001909/2.ReferencesCanonaco et al, (2013). AMT 6, 3649-2013Grigoratos and G. Martini, 2014; Non-exhaust traffic-related emissions - Brake and tyre wear PM. Report no. Report EUR 26648 EN
The Influence of Fluids on Earthquakes: Insights from Mechanical Modelling
Authors: Marguin Valentin , Simpson Guy
Published: February 2023

The strength and sliding behavior of faults in the upper crust are largely controlled by friction and effective stress, which is itself modulated by the fluid pressure. However, while many studies have investigated the role of friction on the earthquake cycle, relatively little effort has gone into understanding the effects linked to dynamic changes in fluid pressure. Here, we explore coupled interactions between slow tectonic loading and fluid pressure generation during the interseismic period with rapid sliding and elastic stress transfer during earthquakes on a plane strain thrust fault in two dimensions. Our models incorporate rate- and state-dependent friction along with dramatic changes in the fault permeability during sliding. In these modes, earthquakes are nucleated where fluid pressures are locally high and then propagated as slip pulses onto stronger parts of the fault. For the model without overpressure, the ruptures are more crack-like. Our model produces a wide range of sliding velocities from rapid to slow earthquakes, which occur due to the presence of high pore pressures prior to rupture. The models also show evidence for aftershocks that are driven by fluid transfer along the fault plane after the mainshock. Overall, we find that the presence of relatively modest fluid overpressures tends to reduce coseismic slip, stress drop, maximum sliding velocity, rupture velocity, and the earthquake recurrence time relative to ruptures in a dry crust. This study shows that fluids can exert an important influence on earthquakes in the crust, which is mostly due to modulation of the effective stress and variations in permeability, and to a lesser extent to poroelastic coupling.
Diurnal greenhouse gas emissions and substrate temperatures from green roofs in north-eastern Italy during summer season
Authors: Lugo-Arroyo Alexandra , Zanin Giampaolo , Thompson Aaron , Maucieri Carmelo , Borin Maurizio
Published: February 2023

Covering building rooftops with vegetation [Green roofs (GR)] holds promise for lowering building temperatures, reducing stormwater runoff, and other ecosystem services, but it is unclear how this will impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions may also be influenced by vegetation type, substrate depth, and irrigation level and we sought to test this by comparing daytime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH4, CO2, and N2O) and daily temperatures, from 48 GR microcosms in North-eastern Italy during a dry-hot summer season (June to September). The microcosms were planted with Sedum spp., cold season grasses, warm season grasses, or wildflowers to a substrate depth of 8 cm or 14 cm, and with an average irrigation level of 1 or 2 mm d-1 for a total of 16 treatments with 3 replicates. We found that vegetation type had a significant effect on temperature [median temp. of 24.8 °C (Sedum) vs 25.5 °C (warm season grasses)] and CH4, CO2, and N2O emissions. While all species emitted net CO2 (median values from 147 to 671 mg m-2  h-1) and captured net N2O (median values were negative from -0.06 to -0.28 mg m-2  h-1)— highlighting a potential GR ecosystem service with a beneficial effect on the environment— CH4 had net negative values (capture) only in microcosms with wildflowers (-0.07 mg m-2  h-1) whereas other treatments had a median emission of 0.09 mg m-2  h-1 . Substrate depth significantly affected CO2 and N2O fluxes with deeper substrate leading to higher CO2 emission (+ 60.7%) and greater N2O uptake (+ 30.8%). Irrigation level only significantly influenced N2O fluxes with a significantly higher uptake supplying 2 mm  (-0.20 mg m-2  h-1) than in the 1 mm  (-0.09 mg m-2  h-1) irrigation treatments. Our study suggests that, in a hot summer season, GRs can improve N2O and CH4 capture, but will likely increase CO2 emissions and that vegetation type and substrate depth can significantly alter emissions and are thus important design parameters.
s2spy, a package to boost (sub) seasonal forecasting with artificial intelligence
Authors: Liu Yang , Schilperoort Bart , van Ingen Jannes , Vijverberg Sem , Kalverla Peter , Coumou Dim
Published: February 2023

Reliable (sub) seasonal (S2S) forecasts remain a huge scientific challenge. The lead-time is too long to benefit from the atmosphere’s inertial memory, but too short for the atmosphere’s boundary conditions to be felt strongly. Only for specific "windows of predictability" (i.e. specific regions, timescales and climatic background states), skillful forecasts are possible, in an otherwise largely unpredictable future. Due to a number of successes in S2S forecasting, the interest in machine learning (ML) is growing fast. However, we argue there is a need for more standardization, consensus on best practices, higher efficiency, and higher reproducibility. Typical S2S ML use-cases, such as (1) pure statistical forecasting based on observations, (2) transfer learning, and (3) post-processing of dynamical model ensembles, require a large coding and preprocessing effort. Such experiments are not trivial to set up, and without sufficient experience and expertise there is a large risk of improper cross-validation and/or improper and non-standard verification.Within a 3-year project, we are developing a high-level Python package called s2spy. Our aim is to make ML workflows more transparent and easier to build, and to facilitate standardization and collaboration across the S2S community. s2spy also contributes to a higher reproducibility and works towards a wider acceptance of standards and best practices. We will present our vision and the capabilities of our package, show-casing that we can build a model from raw climate data up to verification and explanation in only a few lines of code.
The GPM Radiometer Algorithm - from Validation to Uncertainties
Authors: Kummerow Christian
Published: February 2023

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission was launched in February 2014 as a joint mission between JAXA from Japan and NASA from the United States.  GPM carries a state of the art dual-frequency precipitation radar and a multi-channel passive microwave radiometer that acts not only to enhance the radar’s retrieval capability, but also as a reference for a constellation of existing satellites carrying passive microwave sensors.  In April 2022, GPM approved V 7 of its precipitation products starting with GMI and continuing with the constellation of radiometers.  The precipitation products from these sensors are consistent by design and show relatively minor differences in the mean global sense.  Validation results will be shown for work done over the Continental United States using a Radar/Gauge composite as truth, and Kwajalein atoll to represent truth over tropical oceans.  The validation results are a necessary but not sufficient component to quantify the algorithm’s uncertainties.  Good results for bias, MAR and RMSE are demonstrated.  Validation results, however, are only able to assess errors at their own sites, and systematic errors, in particular, are not actually systematic, but regime dependent errors that vary as a function of how well the algorithm assumptions are captured at the validation sites.   This talk will explore ways of validating not by location, but by precipitation states that, the environment that the precipitation evolves in, as a way of obtaining robust statistics of individual precipitation states that are universal and can be applied with confidence to areas outside the validation domain.
Response of the ENSO-driven CO2 flux variability in the equatorial Pacific under high-warming scenario
Authors: Vaittinada Ayar Pradeebane , Tjiputra Jerry , Bopp Laurent , Christian Jim , Ilyina Tatiana , Krasting John , Séférian Roland , Tsujino Hiroyuki , Watanabe Michio , Yool Andrew
Published: February 2023

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) widely modulates the global carbon cycle. More specifically, it alters the net uptake of carbon in the tropical ocean. Over the tropical Pacific, less carbon is released during El Niño, while the opposite is the case for La Niña. Here, the skill of Earth system models (ESMs) from the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to simulate the observed tropical Pacific CO2 flux variability in response to ENSO is assessed. The temporal amplitude and spatial extent of CO2 flux anomalies vary considerably among models, while the surface temperature signals of El Niño and La Niña phases are generally well represented. Under historical conditions followed by the high-warming Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP5-8.5) scenarios, about half the ESMs simulate a reversal in ENSO–CO2 flux relationship. This gradual shift, which occurs as early as the first half of the 21st century, is associated with a high CO2-induced increase in the Revelle factor that leads to stronger sensitivity of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) to changes in surface temperature between ENSO phases. At the same time, uptake of anthropogenic CO2 substantially increases upper-ocean dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations (reducing its vertical gradient in the thermocline) and weakens the ENSO-modulated surface DIC variability. The response of the ENSO–CO2 flux relationship to future climate change is sensitive to the contemporary mean state of the carbonate ion concentration in the tropics. We present an emergent constraint between the simulated contemporary carbonate concentration with the projected cumulated CO2 fluxes. Models that simulate shifts in the ENSO–CO2 flux relationship simulate positive bias in surface carbonate concentrations.
Ecohydrological dynamics in the Central American and Andean Páramo: Insights from a modelling analysis using a Budyko-type model for non-stationary conditions
Authors: Esquivel-Hernández Germain , Sánchez-Murillo Ricardo , Mosquera Giovanny M. , Crespo Patricio , Célleri Rolando , Pesantez Juan , Lahuatte Braulio , Vargas-Salazar Enzo
Published: February 2023

The Páramo is a high‐elevation tropical grassland ecosystem that plays an important role in the regional water cycle of Central America and the northern Andes. However, refined information about the ecohydrological partitioning in these mountainous biomes is scarce. This work aimed to assess sub-annual or monthly variations in the ecohydrological conditions along a N-S transect with three Páramo sites: Chirripó (Costa Rica) and El Carmen and Cajas (north and south Ecuador, respectively). A Budyko-type model for conditions under which evapotranspiration surpasses precipitation using monthly meteorological observations and evapotranspiration products (May 2016-April 2019) was applied to evaluate short-term ecohydrological dynamics based on the aridity index and precipitation partitioning in the Páramo sites. Stronger hydroclimatic variations were found in Chirripó than in the Andean Páramos, related with significant increments in the evaporative index (AET/P) during the dry season. We also found a clear separation between Chirripó and the Ecuadorian Páramos owing to a higher ecohydrological resilience (i.e., similar trajectories in the energy excess or 1- AET/PET and the water excess or Q/P) in Chirripó during dry season and a more effective regulation by the additional water available to evapotranspiration besides direct precipitation (y0, range: 37 – 90 %). Our results reveal the complex ecohydrological functional properties of the Páramo and its sensitivity to future moisture changes (e.g., ENSO cycles) that could alter its water yield synchronicity. 
The Great Lakes Runoff Intercomparison Project (GRIP-GL)
Authors: Mai Juliane , Shen Hongren , Tolson Bryan , Gaborit Étienne , Arsenault Richard , Craig James , Fortin Vincent , Fry Lauren , Gauch Martin , Klotz Daniel , Kratzert Frederik , O'Brien Nicole , Princz Daniel , Rasiya Koya Sinan , Roy Tirthankar , Seglenieks Frank , Shretha Narayan , Temgoua Andre Guy , Vionnet Vincent , Waddell Jonathan
Published: February 2023

Model intercomparison studies are carried out to test and compare the simulated outputs of various model setups over the same study domain. The Great Lakes region is such a domain of high public interest as it not only resembles a challenging region to model with its trans-boundary location, strong lake effects, and regions of strong human impact but is also one of the most densely populated areas in the United States and Canada. This study brought together a wide range of researchers setting up their models of choice in a highly standardized experimental setup using the same geophysical datasets, forcings, common routing product, and locations of performance evaluation across the 1x106 km2 study domain. The study comprises 13 models covering a wide range of model types from Machine Learning based, basin-wise, subbasin-based, and gridded models that are either locally or globally calibrated or calibrated for one of each of six predefined regions of the watershed. This study not only compares models regarding their capability to simulated streamflow (Q) but also evaluates the quality of simulated actual evapotranspiration (AET), surface soil moisture (SSM), and snow water equivalent (SWE).The main results of this study are:The comparison of models regarding streamflow reveals the superior quality of the Machine Learning based model in all experiments performed.
While the locally calibrated models lead to good performance in calibration and temporal, they lose performance when they are transferred to locations the model has not been calibrated on.
The regionally calibrated models exhibit low performances in highly regulated and urban areas as well as agricultural regions in the US.
Comparisons of additional model outputs against gridded reference datasets show that aggregating model outputs and the reference dataset to basin scale can lead to different conclusions than a comparison at the native grid scale.
A multi-objective-based analysis of the model performances across all variables reveals overall excellent performing locally calibrated models as well as regionally calibrated models.
Model outputs and observations produced and used in this study are available on an interactive website (www.hydrohub.org/mips_introduction.html#grip-gl) and on FRDR (http://www.frdr-dfdr.ca).
A quantitative analysis of the source of inter-model spread in Arctic surface warming response to increased CO2 concentration
Authors: Hu Xiaoming , Liu Yangchi , Kong Yunqi , Yang Qinghua
Published: February 2023

This study exams the main sources of inter-model spread in Arctic amplification of surface warming simulated in the abrupt-4×CO2 experiments of 18 CMIP6 models. It is found that the same seasonal energy transfer mechanism, namely that the part of extra solar energy absorbed by Arctic Ocean in summer due to sea-ice melting is temporally stored in ocean in summer and is released in cold months, is responsible for the Arctic amplification in each of the 18 simulations. The models with more (less) ice melting and heat storing in the ocean in summer have the stronger (weaker) ocean heat release in cold season. Associated with more (less) heat release in cold months are more (less) clouds, stronger (weaker) poleward heat transport, and stronger (weaker) upward surface sensible and latent heat fluxes. This explains why the Arctic surface warming is strongest in the cold months and so is its inter-model spread.
Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars
Authors: Henderson Sarah , Halekas Jasper , Espley Jared , Elrod Meredith
Published: February 2023

Solar wind protons can interact directly with the hydrogen corona of Mars through charge exchange, resulting in energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) able to penetrate deep into the upper atmosphere of Mars. ENAs can undergo multiple charge changing interactions, leading to an observable beam of penetrating protons in the upper atmosphere. We seek to characterize the behavior of these protons in the presence of magnetic fields using data collected by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft. We find that backscattered penetrating proton flux is enhanced in regions where the magnetic field strength is greater than 200 nT. We also find a strong correlation at CO2 column densities less than 5.5 × 1014 cm−2 between magnetic field strength and the observed backscattered and downwardflux. We do not see significant changes in penetrating proton flux with magnetic field strengths on the order of 10 nT.
Snow Depth derived from Sentinel-1 compared to in-situ observations in northern Finland
Authors: Lemos Adriano , Riihelä Aku
Published: February 2023

Seasonal snow in the northern regions plays an important role providing water resources for both consumption and hydropower generation. Moreover, the snow depth in the northern Finland during winter exceeds 1 m, impacting local agriculture, vegetation, tourism and recreational activities. The objective of this study is to estimate snow depth using an empirical methodology applied to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images and compare with in situ measurements collected by automatic weather stations (AWS) and snow courses in northern Finland. Snow depth estimates with high spatiotemporal resolution can improve our understand of seasonal snow mass in complex access areas. Here, we use an adapted version of the empirical methodology developed by Lievens et al. (2019) to estimate snow depth using Sentinel-1 constellation (C-band). The algorithm utilizes changes in the cross-polarized backscatter measurements of SAR images repeatedly acquired on the same orbit to avoid geometry distortions. We use SNAP toolbox, combined with the Copernicus digital elevation model (DEM), posted at 30 meters, in the pre-processing stage.  The snow retrievals between 2019 and 2022 are compared to three automatic weather stations and four snow courses measurements collected over the same period. The ongoing Sentinel-1 snow depth retrievals during the winter 2021/2022 demonstrate a correlation of 0.76, when compared to in situ measurements, supporting the potential ability to derive snow changes in regions where in situ measurements of snow are currently lacking. Despite the good agreement between the empirical algorithm and the collected datasets on land, further investigation is still necessary to better understand the backscatter response over frozen lake areas. Thanks to the effort of international space agencies, we have available currently, and in a near future, global coverage at high resolution SAR imagery and, combined with installed automatic weather stations, opens the possibility of a wide spatial monitoring of snow variations.
A new precipitation emulator (PREMU v1.0) for lower-complexity models
Authors: Liu Gang , Peng Shushi , Huntingford Chris , Xi Yi
Published: February 2023

Abstract. Precipitation is a crucial component of the global water
cycle. Rainfall features (e.g., strength or frequency) strongly affect
societal activities and are closely associated with the functioning of
terrestrial ecosystems. Hence, predicting global and gridded precipitation
under different emission scenarios is an essential output of climate change
research, enabling a better understanding of future interactions between
land biomes and climate change. Some current lower-complexity models (LCMs)
are designed to emulate precipitation in a computationally effective way.
However, for precipitation in particular, they are known to have large
errors due to their simpler linear scaling of precipitation changes against
global warming (e.g., IMOGEN; Zelazowski et al., 2018). Here, to reduce the
errors in emulating precipitation, we provide a data-calibrated
precipitation emulator (PREMU), offering a convenient and computationally
effective way to estimate and represent precipitation well, as simulated by
different Earth system models (ESMs) and under different user-prescribed
emission scenarios. We construct the relationship between global and local
precipitation and modes of global gridded temperature and find that the
emulator shows good performance in predicting historically observed
precipitation from Global Soil Wetness Project
Phase 3 (GSWP3). The ESM-specific emulator also estimates well the
simulated precipitation of nine ESMs and under four dissimilar future
scenarios of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). Our ESM-specific
emulator also reproduced well interannual fluctuations (R=0.82–0.93, p<0.001) of global land average precipitation (GLAP) simulated by
the nine ESMs, as well as their trends and spatial patterns. The default
configuration of our emulator only requires gridded temperature, also
available from lower-complexity models such as IMOGEN (Zelazowski et al.,
2018) and MESMER (Beusch et al., 2022; Nath et al., 2022), which themselves
are calibrated against ESMs. Therefore, our precipitation emulator can be
directly coupled within other LCMs, improving on, for instance, the current
emulations of precipitation implicit in IMOGEN. The PREMU model has the
opportunity to provide the driving conditions to model well the hydrological
cycle, ecological processes and their interactions with climate change.
Critically, the efficiency of LCMs allows them to make projections for many
more potential future trajectories in atmospheric GHG concentrations than is
possible with full ESMs due to the high computational requirement of the
latter. By coupling with PREMU, LCMs will have the ability to emulate
gridded precipitation; thus, they can be widely coupled with hydrological
models or land surface models.
The impact of GNSS Zenith Total Delay data assimilation on the short-term precipitable water vapor and precipitation forecast over Italy using the WRF model
Authors: Torcasio Rosa Claudia , Mascitelli Alessandra , Realini Eugenio , Barindelli Stefano , Tagliaferro Giulio , Puca Silvia , Dietrich Stefano , Federico Stefano
Published: February 2023

Abstract. The impact of assimilating GNSS-ZTD (Global Navigation Satellite Systems - Zenith Total Delay) on the precipitable water vapor and precipitation forecast over Italy is studied for the month of October 2019, characterized by several moderate to intense precipitation events. The WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model 4.1.3 is used with its 3DVar data assimilation system to assimilate ZTD observations from 388 GNSS receivers distributed over the country. The dataset was built collecting data from all the major national and regional GNSS permanent networks, achieving dense coverage over the whole area. Results show that WRF underestimates the atmospheric water vapor content for the period, and GNSS-ZTD data assimilation improves this underestimation. The water vapor forecast is verified for the forecast hours 1–6 h after the last data assimilation time, while the precipitation forecast is verified in the phases 0–3 h and 3–6 h after the last data assimilation time. More than 3000 rain gauges spread over Italy were used to verify the precipitation forecast. The application of GNSS-ZTD data assimilation to a case study showed an improvement of the precipitation forecast in different ways, the main drawback being the prediction of false alarms. Considering the study over the whole period, GNSS-ZTD data assimilation had a positive impact on the precipitable water vapor and rainfall forecast, with an improvement of the performance up to 6 hours, and with statistically significant results for moderate to intense rainfall thresholds (25–30 mm/3 h).
Editorial: Hit by a Pandemic in a Time of Scarcity
Authors: Oudshoorn Abe
Published: February 2023

The pandemic hit at a time of high rates of housing exclusion globally. While there have been many discussions of "a new normal", what we have seen is increased housing costs and therefore increased exclusion. This editorial presents concern for the lack of structural changes and a call for us as a global community to do better in preventing and ending homelessness.
Підвищення вогнегасних властивостей сипких матеріалів шляхом введення кристалогідратів
Authors: Makarenko Viktoriya
Published: February 2023

Встановлено суттєве підвищення вогнегасних властивостей бінарних шарів легких сипких матеріалів у разі введення до складу засобу гасіння кристалогідратів. Введення кристалогідратів було запропоновано для підвищення охолоджуючої здатності, ізолюючої, флегматизуючої та інгібуючої дії вогнегасного засобу на основі сипких матеріалів. Для забезпечення підвищення ізолюючої дії було обґрунтовано вибір кристалогідратів з малими температурами плавлення. Це дозволило забезпечити плавлення кристалогідрату та заповнення порожнин між гранулами сипких матеріалів. Для забезпечення підвищення інгібуючої дії обрано кристалогідрати, які мають у своєму складі іони-інгібітори. Запропоновано три шляхи введення кристалогідратів до складу вогнегасної системи: насипання кристалогідрату в порошкоподібному стані на верхній шар бінарної вогнегасної системи на основі сипких матеріалів; його введення шляхом просочення сипкого матеріалу насиченим водним розчином кристалогідрату та покриття сипкого матеріалу тонким шаром кристалічного кристалогідрату. В якості нижнього шару, який забезпечує плавучість системи, використано подрібнене піноскло. В якості верхнього шару з підвищеними ізолюючими властивостями обґрунтовано використання спученого перліту з розміром гранул 1,2±0,2 мм і пластинчатого вермикуліту з розміром пластинок 1×2 і 2×5 мм. На основі експериментальних досліджень впливу низки кристалогідратів на вогнегасні характеристики бінарних шарів легких пористих матеріалів встановлено, що у найбільшій ступені вогнегасні властивості підвішують змочений насиченим розчином гідрофосфату натрію перліт (0,35 см) та змочені цим же розчином вермикуліти (0,3 см та 0,5 см відповідно). Аналіз одержаних даних дозволяє зробити висновок, що основний внесок у підвищення вогнегасних характеристик за рахунок введення кристалогідрату Na2HPO4·12H2O в двошарову вогнегасну систему обумовлений інгібуванням процесу горіння бензину.
Люмінесцентне одношарове покриття для зовнішньої поверхні пожежних напірних рукавів
Authors: Kudin Alexander , Goroneskul Marianna , Andryushchenko Lyubov , Borysenko (Borisenko) Vitalii
Published: February 2023

Розглянуто експлуатаційні характеристики пожежних напірних рукавів,такі як: механічна міцність, гідрофобність, стійкість до впливу кліматичних факторів, термо- та вогнестійкість, видимість у темряві тощо, в залежності від наявності зовнішнього захисного покриття і його компонентного складу. Саме вплив компонентного складу люмінесцентних покриттів на характеристики виробів був об’єктом досліджень. Показано, що перспективною полімерною основою флуоресцентних покриттів є силіконовий еластомер Sylgard-184; ефективною флуоресцентною добавкою зеленого кольору є кумарин-7, який надає покриттю бажаного жовтого кольору; введення наповнювача галуазиту до складу люмінесцентного шару дозволяє істотно збільшити адгезію покриття до підкладки. Розглянуто багатошарову структуру покриттів і перспективні матеріали для створення флуоресцентних покриттів для пожежних напірних рукавів. Показано, що за певних умов число шарів захисного покриття можна скоротити до одного за рахунок суміщення декількох функцій одним шаром. Встановлено, що вогнестійкість тканинної підкладки не погіршується після нанесення флуоресцентного покриття, захисні властивості одношарового покриття дозволяють підвищити стійкість тканини до УФ-світла і негативного впливу атмосферних чинників, тим самим запобігаючи деградації характеристик тканинного каркаса під час експлуатації. Показано, що механічні характеристики отриманих зразків не змінюються після кліматичних випробувань, що дозволяє прогнозувати збільшення терміну експлуатації. Запропонований склад композиції і спосіб нанесення люмінесцентного покриття є більш простим у порівнянні з аналогами і дозволяє зменшити товщину та вагу одношарового покриття, тканина стає більш м’якою і зручною, каркас пожежних напірних рукавів не втрачає гнучкості, а покриття є багатофункціональним.
Температурний режим факельної установки закритого типу
Authors: Zimin Sergej , Afanasenko Kostiantyn , Lypovyi Volodymyr
Published: February 2023

Розроблено та виготовлено експериментальний стенд, що моделює факельну установку закритого (екранованого) типу з метою дослідження температурного режиму при її виході на сталий режим роботи. Отримано дані щодо розподілу температур в контрольних точках кожуху експериментального стенду під час його пуску та виходу на сталий режим. Розробка стенду проводилася на основі статистичного аналізу аварій на факельних установка та аналізу пожежної небезпеки факельних установок і факельних пристроїв, як їх частини, для промислових підприємств хімічного, нафто-хімічного, енергетичного комплексів, до яких також відносяться підприємства біогазового комплексу, під час якого встановлено, що дані пристрої можуть представляти небезпеку при їх пуску і роботі в сталому режимі. Визначення температур в точках контролю проводилося за допомогою пірометру GM900 і тепловізору WT3320 HQ. Дослідження проводились для горіння метану без домішок діоксиду вуглецю при вказаних умовах навколишнього середовища. Отримання значень температур проводилася в 12 контрольних точках по периметру та висоті кожуху установки при витраті газу 11 та 19 л/хв. Встановлено, що установка після пуску виходить на сталий режим роботи в проміжках часу 250–300 с з початку роботи. При цьому спостерігається підвищення температури в контрольних точках кожуху по висоті. За результатами експерименту проведено порівняння середньої температури на зовнішній поверхні кожуха в точках 1–12 при різних витратах. Встановлено, що збільшення витрати газу призводить до підвищення температур в точках 5–12 до 40 %, а в точках 1–4 до зменшення на 20 % при сталому режимі. Отримані експериментальні дані можуть бути використані, яка основа для розробки математичної моделі щодо зміни температур на поверхні кожуху факельних систем закритого типу протягом часу.
Визначення параметрів акустичного приладу екіпірування рятувальників
Authors: Levterow Alexander , Statyvka Evgeniy
Published: February 2023

В рамках використання ефекту акустичної емісії розглядається можливість створення для екіпірування рятувальників пристроїв орієнтації в просторі. Обґрунтовано впровадження пристрою акустичної дії, розміщеного на спорядженні рятувальника як додаткового елементу спорядження для підвищення ефективності орієнтування у незадовільному для візуального контролю середовищі з метою скорочення часу пошуку постраждалого та часу, що необхідний для евакуації. Обґрунтовано впровадження пристрою акустичної дії для зниження кількості випадків травмування рятувальників під час виконання аварійно-рятувальних робіт у приміщеннях та в умовах з незадовільним візуальним контролем, особливо у воєнний час, що дозволить скоротити час пошуку постраждалого, убезпечити рятувальника від травм та знизити загальний час проведення пошуково-рятувальних робіт та робіт з ліквідації надзвичайних ситуацій. Визначено найбільш впливові на акустичні хвилі характеристики надзвичайної ситуації внаслідок пожежі. Запропоновано використати коригуючи коефіцієнти, що враховують вплив характеристик надзвичайної ситуації на акустичні хвилі: кут падіння, концентрацію зважених частинок, температуру, хвильовий опір середовища при визначенні параметрів перешкоди та відстані до неї з метою підвищення точності вимірів. Запропоновано застосовувати: коефіцієнт відображення, хвильовий імпеданс, температуру середовища. Запропоновано залежність, яка враховує вплив на поширення акустичних хвиль при визначенні форми перешкоди. Запропоновано технічне рішення та схема розміщення сенсорів пристрою акустичної дій на спорядженні рятувальника для визначення форми перешкоди. Обґрунтовано розміщення пристроїв акустичної дії на спорядженні рятувальника на рівні колін для зниження травматизму при пересуванні в умовах незадовільного візуального контролю.
Impact of Insurance Sector Investment on the Capitalisation of Nigerian Exchange Group (1999-2021)
Authors: P.W. Andabai , P.O. Owei
Published: February 2023

This study investigates the impact of insurance sector investment on the capitalisation of the Nigeria exchange group; for the period 1999-2021. Secondary data are collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistics bulletin; 2021. The study uses the capitalisation of the Nigerian exchange group as the dependent variable. In contrast, total insurance investment, Total income of insurance companies, and total insurance premiums from the Nigerian exchange group are used as the explanatory variables to measure insurance sector investment. Hypotheses are formulated and tested using time series econometric techniques. The study indicates that total insurance investment has a significant positive impact on the capitalisation of the Nigerian stock market group. The total income of insurance companies has no significant impact on the Nigerian exchange group's capitalisation. The study reveals that total insurance premiums have a significant negative impact on the capitalisation of the Nigerian stock market group. The coefficient of determination indicates that changes in insurance sector investment variables can explain about 64% of the Nigerian exchange group's capitalisation variations. The study concludes that insurance sector investment has a significant impact on the capitalisation of the Nigerian exchange group. The study, therefore, recommends that there should be further consolidation in the Nigerian insurance market in conjunction with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Insurance businesses should increase stock market investments to get a better return on such assets. For the growing number of premiums traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the premiums of insurance firms listed on the floor should be reasonable to the policyholders.
Taxes and Income Inequality in Nigeria: 1980 – 2020
Authors: E. Appah , S.S. Iweias
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the relationship between taxes and income inequality in Nigeria from 1980 to 2020. The specific objectives were to investigate the relationship between personal income tax and Gini coefficient, evaluate the relationship between company’s income tax and Gini coefficient, assess the relationship between petroleum profit tax and Gini coefficient, determine the relationship between capital gain tax and Gini coefficient, investigate the relationship between value added tax and Gini coefficient, evaluate the relationship between custom and excise duty and Gini coefficient from 1980 to 2020 in Nigeria. The study adopted ex post facto and correlational research design. The population of the study consisted of taxes and gini coefficient in Nigeria from 1980 to 2020. The secondary data were sourced from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of various publications ranging from 1980 to 2020. The study used univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. The results revealed a positive and insignificant relationship between personal income tax company’s income tax (CIT), petroleum profit tax (PPT), capital gain tax (CGT), value added tax (VAT), custom excise duties (CED) and Gini coefficient for the period under study, while strong positive relationship when literacy rate moderate tax structure, and weak positive and insignificant relationship. On the basis of the findings, the study concluded that taxes such as personal income tax, company income tax, petroleum profit tax, capital gain tax, value added tax and customs and excise duties influence the level of income inequality in Nigeria. The study recommends, amongst other things, that the government should ensure compliance to tax payments, because taxes provide a powerful policy tool effectively used for curing economic and social ills and should not to be set too high, as this would discourage investments.
Utilization of Maternal Health Services in Slum Area of Butwal Sub-Metropolitian City
Authors: Chhetri Pradip , Priyanka Jyoti , Shrestha Rubina , Shrestha Saneep , Nepal Rajeev , Bhusal Chetkant , Nepali Sushmita , Aryal Basanti
Published: February 2023

Background: High maternal morbidity and mortality has been a major public health problem in Nepal which may be due to the low utilization of maternal health services in Nepal. Utilization of maternal services is found very low in slum areas as compared to upscale areas. This study aims to find out the prevalence of utilization of maternal health services and its associated factors in slum areas of Butwal sub-Metropolitan city.

Methods: A community based cross sectionalstudy was conducted among 202 women who had given birth to baby within 1 year. Semi-structured questionnaire and face to face interview was done to collect the data. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results:The results showed thatabout 81.18% women had taken complete ANC and 34.65% had taken complete PNC services as per protocol of WHO. Multivariate logistic regression showed that respondent education, monthly income, nearest to health care facilities, knowledge level, and women’s autonomy was found to be associated significantly with complete utilization of ANC services. Similarly, Respondent occupation and nearest to health care facilities were found to be associated significantly with complete utilization of PNC.

Conclusion: Though ANC utilization was found to be satisfactory but PNC utilization was found very low so more focused should be given to increase the utilization of PNC services in slum area.
Fallacies of Meta-argumentation
Authors: Aikin Scott , Casey John
Published: February 2023

This article argues that the theoretical concept of meta-argumentative fallacy is useful. The authors argue for this along two lines. The first is that with the concept, the authors may clarify the concept of meta-argumentation. That is, by theorizing where meta-argument goes wrong, the authors may capture the norms of this level of argumentation. The second is that the concept of meta-argumentative fallacies provides an explanatory model for a variety of errors in argument otherwise difficult to theorize. The authors take three as exemplary: the straw man, both sides, and free speech fallacies.
La dictadura de Pinochet como fronda: una resignificación de la crisis institucional chilena
Authors: León Pinochet José Manuel
Published: February 2023

Este ensayo analiza el proceso constituyente que actualmente se vive en Chile a partir de una relectura del tradicional texto de Alberto Edwards, La fronda aristocrática. Se considera al proyecto de refundación promovido por la dictadura como una segunda fronda aristocrática, en la que la élite chilena —los patricios en el texto de Edwards— logran instaurar un modelo político que les permite controlar el destino del país de manera semejante a la llamada ‘República Parlamentaria’. Así, la llegada de Arturo Alessandri y su Constitución de 1925 inició un período en que el Ejecutivo logró mantener a raya a los ‘patricios’ y que duró hasta 1973, cuando nuevamente las élites son capaces de inducir un proceso que instaura un modelo político que es instrumental a sus intereses. La crisis del modelo actual es leída en esta misma clave, revelando semejanzas muy interesantes que permiten reinterpretar el giro de la actividad política nacional.
Una aproximación a la cultura de evaluación
Authors: Martínez Reyes Nelson Rubén
Published: February 2023

Este artículo aborda la evaluación del aprendizaje como una cultura que, juntamente con otras culturas, concurre en las instituciones educativas. Dicho artículo desarrolla la tesis de que la evaluación se manifiesta y se hace evidente como cultura en un conjunto de creencias, valores, tradiciones y prácticas, de las cuales se hace una aproximación.
Estimación de la tasa de retorno a la educación
Authors: Salamanca Laura
Published: February 2023

El estudio estima la tasa de retorno de la educación aplicando el modelo de Mincer según niveles educativos con base en datos de ingreso de la encuesta de hogares de 2007. Como resultado del estudio se estima una tasa de retorno para la educación de 10%, lo cual evidencia que los salarios en El Salvador reciben un impacto positivo si las personas poseen un cierto nivel educativo, y éste presenta una tendencia creciente, dado que hasta el 2002 los resultados arrojaban alrededor de un 8%. Esto nos indica que en El Salvador se valora cada vez más  la inversión en educación, dado que los retornos privados a medida que pasa el tiempo se ven mayormente impactados. Las otras variables que inciden en el nivel de salarios que obtiene un trabajador son la experiencia, el ser hombre y el residir en la zona urbana. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de crear políticas que traten de evitar un cierto tipo de discriminación y favorezcan la equidad en las oportunidades laborales y la remuneración recibida.