bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the Intersection of Science, Activism, and Civil Service: Reflections on the role of scientists in civil service
Authors: Jüling André , Keizer Iris
Published: March 2024

With detailed understanding of planetary boundaries like the connection of continuously increasing global greenhouse gas emissions and the frequency and severity of climate change impacts (geo)scientists recognize the critical need for ambitious political action perhaps more urgently than non-experts. Yet, global policies have consistently failed to deliver on their ambitions, goals, and implementation, making necessary transformations elusive. We argue that (geo)scientists can have a considerable impact beyond the traditional avenues of publishing papers and reports or advising policy makers. Drawing inspiration from historical successes, particularly in non-violent civil disobedience, we explore the considerations of engaging in climate activism from the dual perspectives of scientists and civil servants. Using the example of scientists at public scientific institutions in the Netherlands, we delve into questions surrounding one’s rights, duties, and responsibilities. We aim to stimulate reflection on effective strategies for scientists to advocate for change in the critical arena of climate action and climate justice.
Analysis of the First Year of Postseismic Movements Following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Türkiye) Earthquake Sequence Using InSAR Measurements
Authors: Akoğlu Ahmet M. , Zabcı Cengiz , Çakır Ziyadin
Published: March 2024

The 6 February 2023 sequence that was initiated by the failure of the 50.000 lives and > USD 100 billion in economic damages.We have analysed the first 12 months of postseismic movements following the February 2023 sequence using both Sentinel-1 and ALOS2 radar imagery. Movement along both the East Anatolian and Çardak fault zones are evident with the latter being more pronounced owing (probably) to the line-of-sight N-S insensitivity of the satellites. The time series analysis also shows movement along the westernmost part of the Sürgü fault and a ~20 km N-S oriented fault towards the western end of the Çardak rupture. The continuation of the dominantly E-W oriented Çardak rupture to northeast towards the city of Malatya is also evident in the postseismic data emphasizing once again the elevated seismic risk posed on the city.Apart from the postseismic activity associated with the 2023 sequence another prominent feature observable in the radar data is the continuing aseismic movement along the Pütürge segment of the East Anatolian Fault Zone which was reported earlier by Çakır et al. (2023). Taking into account moderate earthquakes like the August 4th, 2020 Mw 5.6 earthquake that took place in between the 2020 Mw 6.8 Sivrice-Elazığ earthquake rupture zone and the Yarpuzlu restraining bend where the Mw 7.7 event of the 2023 sequence has terminated; we propose that at least 20 km of the segment could still be unbroken. 
 The TEst Site IRpinia fAult (TESIRA) project. Initial Findings from Active-Source Seismic Experiments
Authors: Ferrara Giuseppe , Bruno Pier Paolo Gennaro , Improta Luigi , Maraio Stefano , Iacopini David , Di Fiore Vincenzo , De Martini Paolo Marco
Published: March 2024

The scientific project TESIRA (TEst Site IRpinia fAult), funded in 2021 by the University of Naples “Federico II”, aims, through the integration of a multivariate dataset, to achieve a high-resolution 3D geophysical imaging of the shallow structure of the southern branch of the 1980 Ms=6.9 Fault at Pantano San Gregorio Magno (SA). The set of data acquired during the project life-span included: a microgravimetric survey; 3D and 2D Electrical Resistivity measurements; aeromagnetic and GPR surveys by drone; a CO2 surface degassing measurement and a full-waver electric investigation. Specifically, the active-source seismic dataset acquired at Pantano consists of four high- to very-high resolution seismic profiles spanning a total length of 3150 m and a high-resolution seismic volume covering an area of 12.5 acres. The seismic experiment's location was strategically chosen to illuminate key features of the Pantano basin affected by coseismic surface faulting, such as the rupture during the November 23,1980 Irpinia earthquake and the southern segment of the Pantano-San Gregorio Fault System (PSGM).We share the early findings obtained through standard Common Depth Point processing and post-stack depth migration. Even at this initial stage, the results offer a clear picture of the intricate 3D structure of the basin, revealing a complex pattern of the carbonatic basement resulting from active faulting. Additionally, the seismic images underscore the evident influence of active faulting on the basin's formation and recent sedimentation. Future analyses, including full-waveform inversion and post-stack depth migration, are planned to enhance the imaging of this critical sector in the southern Apennines. Although seismic data present the highest resolution among the geophysical datasets at Pantano, their integration with the extensive data collected during the TESIRA project will facilitate a reliable interpretation of the complex basin subsurface, useful to improve our understanding of the interplay between active surface faulting and recent basin growth pattern.
Characterization of Edge States as Gateway to a Collapse of the Atlantic Ocean Circulation
Authors: Lohmann Johannes
Published: March 2024

There is growing concern that various large-scale elements of the Earth system may undergo catastrophic transitions under future climate change. But already at present-day conditions there is a risk of spontaneous transitions to an undesired state induced by stochastic fluctuations, given that any of those elements occupy a multi-stable regime. For many climate sub-systems this potential present-day multi-stability is still uncertain. For instance, it cannot be ruled out that there is a regime of a collapsed Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) that is stable under present-day conditions. Assuming such an undesired stable state exists, there also exists an additional unstable state called the edge state. This state anchors the basin boundary separating the desired and undesired regimes, and it lies at the heart of the path taken by the system during a noise-induced transition between the two stable states.In this work such an edge state lying between the stable regimes of a vigorous and a collapsed AMOC is computed for the first time in a global ocean model using an edge tracking algorithm. The physical characteristics that set this state apart from the usually observed stable regimes are analyzed. This can be useful to detect if a spontaneous collapse of the AMOC induced by stochastic climate variability is underway, or to detect so-called rate-induced tipping. It may be especially helpful if the system is close to the tipping point where the desired state loses stability. Here the desired stable state and the edge state become increasingly similar, but a transition towards the undesired state may nevertheless be detected early-on if specific signatures of the edge state are recognized.
Changes in soil organic matter forms after the conversion of a meadow into a rainfed forage maize-ley grassland rotation cropland
Authors: Martínez-Solino Ana María , Trasar-Cepeda Carmen , Monterroso Carmela , Rodríguez-Garrido Beatriz , González-Prieto Serafín , Prieto-Fernández Ángeles
Published: March 2024

Agricultural management deeply affects soil properties, with soil organic matter (SOM) being among those most impacted. Nowadays, the importance of adopting agricultural management systems and practices that enhance the storage and stabilization of organic matter in the soil is widely accepted. In this context, the analysis of different SOM fractions is essential for evaluating its stability and obtaining valuable information about its potential long-term persistence.In the present study 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil samples were collected 2 months and 2 years after the conversion of an old meadow into a rainfed forage maize-ley grassland rotation system. Similar reference soil samples were taken from an undisturbed area of the meadow. The SOM in samples collected was analysed using different chemical extractants and particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral associated organic matter (MAOM) were studied using a physical fractionation method (Lopez-Sangil and Rovira, 2013 with unpublished modifications suggested by P. Rovira).The conversion of the meadow into the rotation cropland induced a reduction of soil organic C content and modifications of SOM fractions. Generally, the changes were detected in the first sampling and persisted two years after the implementation of the rotation system. The modification induced by the agricultural management were more pronounced in the 0-10 cm layer than in the 10-20 cm layer.Lopez-Sangil L., Rovira P. 2013. Soil Biol. Biochem. 62, 57–67
Electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) two-phase fluid flow through a porous medium
Authors: Majumdar Promasree , Dasgupta Debabrata
Published: March 2024

The study of the flow of an electrically conducting fluid through a porous medium under the influence of external electric and magnetic fields encompasses numerous engineering and scientific domains, including earth science, nuclear engineering and metallurgy. In geophysical sciences, knowledge of the electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) two-phase flow in a porous medium is crucial for numerous applications, including CO2 sequestration operations and petroleum recovery processes where two-liquid flows are commonly encountered. The objective of this study is to model two-phase fluid flow through a rigid porous domain. In this framework, a numerical model is constructed to precisely characterize the thermal and flow characteristics of electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) flow by incorporating the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, the momentum equation, and the energy equation. A set of transformations is employed to non-dimensionalize the governing second order nonlinear partial differential equations for each region. Subsequently, the equations are numerically solved utilizing the finite element method. An essential variable in this investigation is the Hartmann number (Ha), which represents the strength of the external magnetic field. The analysis reveals that the Hartmann number has a substantial impact on a number of flow parameters. The findings of this research contribute valuable insights to the understanding of EMHD flow in porous media, with potential applications in enhancing petroleum recovery processes.
How does the radiative environment affect the chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres?
Authors: Bach-Møller Nanna , Helling Christiane , Enghoff Martin Bødker , Jørgensen Uffe Gråe
Published: March 2024

The high-energy radiation environment of exoplanets can greatly affect their atmospheric chemistry through photo-chemical reactions and ionisation of the upper parts of the atmospheres. In order to analyse the chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres, it is therefore necessary to understand the radiative environment the planet is placed in and what effects it has on the atmosphere. 
The aim of this project is to study how the chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres is affected by the radiative environment. We focus on three different sources of high-energy radiation; the XUV radiation of the host star, the stellar energetic particles (SEPs) of the host star, and the galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) originating from outside the planetary system. We model the disequilibrium chemistry of a gas giant test planet, using the chemical kinetic network, STAND2020, coupled to the 1D photo-chemistry and diffusion code, ARGO. The radiative sources are introduced in the models as spectral energy distributions for the XUV radiation, and as ionisation rates for for the SEPs and GCRs. STAND2020 excels by its complexity in H/C/N/O chemistry which allows us to study the effect of the irradiation on larger complex molecules such as prebiotic molecules and haze precursors. 
In this talk, we present a grid of models run for host stars of the types; O,B,A,F,G,K, and M, under varying influxes of GCRs. For each of the stellar spectral types a representative spectra, combined from observations and models, has been chosen from a comprehensive search of recent literature. The SEP flux for each stellar type is approximated from the stellar activity by scaling the solar SEP spectrum based on observations of X-ray flares. The GCR flux is varied step-wise from no GCRs (representative of a system that is highly shielded by the heliosphere of an active host star) to GCR fluxes estimated for the ISM in the central part of the galaxy (representative of a system in a highly radiative galactic environment with a weak heliosphere of a quiet host star). This grid over radiative environments allows us an insight into the effects of high-energy radiation on atmospheric chemistry, and can help guide our analysis of exoplanet atmosphere observations based on the stellar type of the host star and the environment the system is located in.
Do ice-ocean feedbacks influence a regime shift of the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf cavity?
Authors: Reese Ronja , De Rydt Jan
Published: March 2024

The Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf currently has a “cold” cavity with comparably low melt rates or refreezing at the ice-ocean interface. However, it has been shown that a switch to “warm” conditions under a very strong climate warming scenario is possible within this century (Hellmer et al., 2012). In this case, modified Circumpolar Deep Water that resides at intermediate levels offshore enters the cavity and fuels a 21-fold increase in aggregated melt rates (Naughten et al., 2021), with implications for ice-shelf buttressing and thereby the dynamics of tributary ice streams and glaciers. Interactions of resulting cavity changes with the ocean could furthermore amplify or weaken the increase in ice shelf melting. Here we investigate the influence of ice-ocean feedbacks on sub-shelf melt rates and the regime shift from a “cold” to a “warm” ice-shelf cavity using standalone and coupled configurations of the ice sheet model Úa and the ocean model MITgcm (De Rydt and Gudmundsson, 2016; Naughten et al., 2021). Furthermore, we test their influence on reversibility back to “cold” conditions, and the impact of a regime shift on grounded ice dynamics.
Hydro-acoustic multi-frequency measurements of suspended sediment flux in rivers
Authors: Höllrigl Jakob , Blanckaert Koen , Hurther David , Fromant Guillaume , Storck Florian R.
Published: March 2024

Currently, the estimation of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) fluxes in rivers relies on river discharge and an average SSC, the latter is commonly determined through optical turbidity measurements at a single point in the river cross-section. This approach has limitations, such as the SSC data being extrapolated from a one-point measurement and indirectly determined depending on regular sampling and laboratory analysis, which is cost-intensive.Hydro-acoustic echosounders are an alternative to derive SSC across an entire profile, for accurate conversion from backscatter intensity to SSC knowledge of particle size is a requirement. In this approach, we present a method utilizing multi-frequency hydro-acoustic echosounding in addition to velocity measurements via an ADCP. Operating on various acoustic frequencies allows for the direct estimation of mean particle size from backscatter data at different frequencies over a water profile. River in-situ measurements as well as laboratory experiments have been conducted in different concentration as well as particle size distribution regimes.
Pore scale:  Biofilm growth experiments in laminar flow
Authors: Martin-Candilejo Araceli
Published: March 2024

Microbial life in natural soils encompasses a diverse array of microorganisms, playing a crucial role in various natural and artificial processes. Despite its significance, the understanding of bacterial transport within porous media during water flow remains incomplete.
This study focuses on elucidating the Elemental Biofilm Architectures that emerge in a porous medium under laminar flow conditions—a common natural scenario when water traverses soil. Biofilms, formed by microorganisms and shielded by a self-secreted protective layer, are central to this investigation.
Examining different flow velocities, nutrient concentrations (% LB Broth diluted in water), and oxygen control, the study employs a non-flagellated fluorescent mutant bacterium (P.Putida) to analyze bacterial and biofilm growth in a homogeneous porous medium. Two distinct methodologies, A and B, were employed during experiments.
Methodology A involved initially growing bacteria within the porous media, followed by injecting a bacterial-free flow at a constant rate. In contrast, Methodology B started with a bacteria-free porous medium, injecting a bacterial solution at a constant flow rate throughout the experiment.
Results unveiled diverse architectural formations—streamers, chains, ripples, and fine lines. Both methodologies demonstrated similar biofilm architectures, such as streamers and ripples, albeit with distinct distributions across the porous media. The primary disparity lies in the deposit profile: in Methodology A, biomass predominantly accumulates toward the outlet of the porous media, whereas in Methodology B, it accumulates toward the inlet.
This research sheds light on the intricate dynamics of biofilm growth in porous media subjected to laminar flow, showcasing the impact of varying parameters on bacterial distribution and architectural formations. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of microbial transport in natural environments, offering insights valuable for numerous applications.
Enhancing AMS measurement precision with the incorporation of 𝛿13C data measured with IRMS
Authors: Gwozdz Martina , Jaeschke Andrea , Heinze Stefan , Rethemeyer Janet , Mücher Dennis , Schiffer Markus
Published: March 2024

Within the CRC1211 project-Evolution at the Dry Limit, there is a need for precise dating analysis on soil samples extracted from the Atacama Desert. These samples have a characteristically low carbon content. Consequently, ultra-small samples containing approximately 2-20 𝜇g of carbon, need to be measured reliably. For this reason an elemental analyser (EA) and an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) have been coupled to the 6 MV AMS system of CologneAMS as well as an existing gas interface (GIS). This provides a fully automated, online-analysis of 14C/12C, and it delivers precise values for 𝛿13C. We investigated whether this set-up improves the fractionation correction which is used in the 14C data evaluation. 𝛿13C values from multiple standard materials are measured quasi-simultaneously at the AMS and at the IRMS. Within these measurements we determined that the 𝛿13C values form both AMS and IRMS agree with each other within their respective errors. While the 𝛿13C AMS values scatter multiple orders higher than the IRMS values we concluded that the 𝛿13C IRMS values can be used for a reliable and more precise AMS measurements.
A Tiered Risk Assessment Approach for Assessing Soil Contamination in an Area Adjacent to a Chemical Complex
Authors: Machado Diogo , Maia Nuna , Paiva Cristiana , Fernandes Beatriz , Pereira Ruth , Patinha Carla , Cachada Anabela
Published: March 2024

Inadequate solid waste management and liquid effluent discharged into neighbouring waterways in the past caused serious environmental problems to the area surrounding the Estarreja Chemical Complex (ECC), which is located in northwest Portugal. Nevertheless, a comprehensive environmental risk assessment (ERA) procedure has yet to be undertaken. Starting with Tier 0, data collection and mapping, this work aims to design a tiered ERA for this region. Initial findings suggest that the legacy of ECC past activities may harm the ecosystem, particularly around the main ditch used to transport effluents to the Ria the Aveiro lagoon. Therefore, a Tier 1 was followed, with efforts focused on the vicinity this ditch. This step, in addition to identify the risks due to the presence of contaminants in soils, intended to optimize the approach for larger-scale assessment. This study involved the collection of 23 composite soil samples, which were subjected to comprehensive analysis to assess their fundamental soil characteristics, including pH, organic matter content, electrical conductivity, and water holding capacity. The chemical Line-of-evidence (LoE) included the determination of 34 inorganic elements (Aqua regia digestion and determination by ICP-MS or AES) and of 200 organic compounds (TerrAttesT®). The ecotoxicological LoE included a set of assays with terrestrial and aquatic organisms: seed germination of three terrestrial plants, earthworm avoidance, microalgae and aquatic plant growth inhibition, inhibition of the bioluminescence of an aquatic bacteria, acute immobilisation of a crustacean. The estimation of environmental risk associated with the presence of contaminants in soils was further conducted based on these two LoE. The occurrence rate of samples surpassing the established soil screening values, as well as the magnitude of the values, suggest the continued presence of contamination at the site. However, the impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems appears to be less severe than initially anticipated, with several species showing no significant effects. The inconsistencies between the two LoE indicated a high level of uncertainty, thereby requiring further investigation at Tier 2. Thus, a Tier 2 analysis was conducted to evaluate the chemical availability of contaminants in the soil and perform other ecotoxicological assays, which involved measuring biomass production, earthworm reproduction and biomarkers of exposure. The obtained findings allowed a more comprehensive understanding of the (bio)availability of contaminants in soils and enduring consequences of soil pollutants, while also elucidating any apparent inconsistencies from the preceding Tier. 
Effect of nocturnal urban boundary layer stability and mixing on temperature contrasts between built-up environments and urban parks
Authors: Haeffelin Martial , Ribaud Jean-François , Kotthaus Simone , Dupont Jean-Charles , Lemonsu Aude , Masson Valéry
Published: March 2024

City centres are almost always warmer than their rural surroundings. During the day, the near-surface air temperature contrasts between built-up areas and rural settings are moderate. At night however, under calm and cloud-free skies, the air in the urban canopy layer can be several degrees warmer than in rural areas. This is known as the urban heat island (UHI), a widely studied urban effect. Excess heat in cities has impacts on human comfort, productivity, and mortality. However, UHI is a highly variable phenomenon that depends both on internal characteristics of the city and external weather conditions.
We study the UHI and its variability in the Paris region at multiple spatial scales, including intra-urban contrasts between built-up areas and urban parks, and at regional scales compared to rural locations. During a one-week, cloud-free heat wave event in summer 2022, we find that intra-urban and regional UHI in the Paris region vary widely from 1 to 5°C and 1 to 8°C, respectively. Using turbulent vertical mixing conditions derived from observations of a wind profiling Doppler Lidar above the city and thermodynamic profiles derived from Windsonds launched at several locations, we relate the intensity of both intra-urban and regional UHI to atmospheric stability of the nocturnal urban boundary layer. We find three different stability and mixing regimes that explain the variability in UHI. We also identify the conditions that lead to the strongest evening cooling in both rural settings and urban parks, and the weakest cooling in the built-up environment, hence associated with the strongest intra-urban contrasts. Finally, we show that the cooling potential of urban parks after sunset depends on their characteristics, such as their size, but also on atmospheric stability regimes in the nocturnal urban boundary layer that drive the relative importance of radiative and turbulent cooling processes in the urban canopy layer.
Noise Study Examples for Infrasound Stations
Authors: Martysevich Pavel , Starovoit Yuri , Ketata Ichrak
Published: March 2024

Recent developments of infrasound background noise models (Marty et al, 2021) and progress in the design of digitizers and microbarometers allow the implementation of accurate infrasound noise studies  when planning installation of new infrasound arrays or upgrading the existing ones. A repository of infrasound equipment self-noise data and infrasound background noise data referred  to the International Monitoring System (IMS) infrasound stations has been developed, and it is based on percentile calculations of the noise distribution. The presented noise study charts show the results of such studies at multiple IMS stations. The outcome  testifies  the need for revision of the IMS minimum requirements for infrasound stations specifications, with particular focus on the microbarometer self-noise, system (digitizer) noise and overall channel dynamic range.
Latitudinal Variation of the Background Solar Wind in the Inner Heliosphere from Multi-Spacecraft Observations
Authors: Biro Nikolett , Opitz Andrea , Nemeth Zoltan , Madar Akos , Timar Aniko , Koban Gergely
Published: March 2024

In order to improve the predictions of the ambient solar wind plasma at planets, moons, comets, and interplanetary spacecraft, we are conducting a multi-spacecraft investigation to study the spatial variation and temporal evolution of solar wind structures. Here we present our results on the spatial variation by investigating the impact of latitudinal spacecraft-target separation on extrapolation accuracy. Using ballistically propagated bulk velocity datasets of the ACE, STEREO A, Parker Solar Probe, and Solar Orbiter spacecraft, we perform statistical analyses and case studies. Our findings indicate that a separation of even a few degrees in latitude can introduce errors into propagation accuracy and needs to be taken into account when incorporating in-situ measurements into solar wind forecasting. We further investigate the role of the heliospheric current sheet in this phenomenon by utilizing coronal modeling. The results are useful in supporting out-of-ecliptic solar wind observations and for the improvement of propagation models.
Mean exit times as global measure of resilience of tropical forest systems under climatic disturbances
Authors: Zheng Yayun , Boers Niklas
Published: March 2024

Both remotely sensed distribution of tree cover and models suggest three alternative stable vegetation states in the tropics: forest, savanna and treeless states. Environmental fluctuation could cause critical transitions from the forest to the savanna state and quantifying the resilience of a given vegetation state is therefore crucial. While previous work has focused mostly on local stability concepts, we investigate here the mean exit time from a given basin of attraction, with partially absorbing and reflecting boundaries, as a global resilience measure. We provide detailed investigations using an established model for tropical tree cover with multistable precipitation regimes. We find that higher precipitation or weaker noise increases the mean exit time of the forest state and, thus, its resilience. Upon investigating the transition times from the forest state to other tree cover states we find that in the bistable precipitation regime the size of environmental fluctuations has a greater impact on the transition probabilities from the forest state compared to precipitation.
Effects of climate change and climate extremes on water quality from monitoring data in the sandy areas of the Netherlands with highly intensive agricultural land use  
Authors: Rozemeijer Joachim , Gommans Kim
Published: March 2024

Many aquatic ecosystems in densely populated delta’s worldwide are under stress from overexploitation and pollution. Global population growth will further increase these pressures in the coming decades, while climate change may amplify the consequences for chemical and ecological water quality. Meteorological variations are a major driver for changes in water quality. Climate change projections foresee higher temperatures and larger extremes in wet and dry periods. Still, the impact of climate change and climate variability on water quality is only poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the integrated effects of climatic variability on the chemical and ecological quality of groundwater and surface water in the sandy part of the Netherlands.  We especially exploited the dense monitoring information from Water Board Aa en Maas to evaluate the water quality response on the past 50 years of climate change and climatic variability.Our results show a direct effect of climate extremes on the leaching of nutrients from agriculture. The 2018-2020 drought for example reduced nutrient concentrations in summer, but the nutrient losses increased in the subsequent wet winter seasons and in the first next wet summer of 2021. In addition, extreme wet conditions give nutrient load pulses and strongly reduce oxygen concentrations which can have both instant and long term effects on downstream ecology. The long-term trends (1990-2022) showed a general improvement in water quality due to reduce inputs, although an accelerated increase in water temperature since 2010 makes the system more vulnerable to eutrophication.
Mobility and bioaccesibility of mine waste and cultivated soil in “La Preciosa II” Mine (South of Spain). 
Authors: Romero-Baena Antonio , Estévez Clara , Delgado Joaquín , Barba-Brioso Cinta , Martín Domingo , Campos Paloma , Miras Adolfo , González Isabel
Published: March 2024

La Preciosa II is an abandoned copper-pyrite and chalcopyrite mine site located in the eastern part of Seville Province (South of Spain), close to Neogene materials of the Guadalquivir Basin (calcarenite and marl). Recently, a part of the mine wastes were covered with such carbonated rocks and building materials, as a reclamation purpose for agricultural activities such as growing citric trees. However, acid mine drainage is still leaching from the subsoil, discharging into a natural stream (neutral pH) and then into the Guadalquivir river. A mineralogical and geochemical study of mine wastes and cultivated soils was carried out to assess the environmental impact and the potential health risk.Several samples from the mine wastes and the cultivated soils were collected. Major and potentially toxic elements (PTE) were determined by X-ray fluorescence and the mineralogy by X-ray diffraction. Some samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy and one mine waste, and one soil samples were selected for sequential extractions and oral bioaccesibility (BARGE method).The cultivated soils were composed of quartz, calcite, feldspar, illite and traces of gypsum. The mine waste showed pyrite, quartz, magnetite, mica, amphibole, and secondary minerals such as jarosite and gypsum. The lack of calcite in mine wastes and some of the soil samples suggests that carbonate materials were completely dissolved to form gypsum, but no more neutralizing potential is present in the mine wastes.Very high concentrations of PTE were found in the mine wastes and soil samples. Some of them, such as Cu (up to 0.7 %), Zn (up to 0.2 %) and Ag (up to 50 mg/kg) could even be recovered, contributing to the circular economy. The high content in Pb (up to 0,8 %) occurred in samples with jarosite, highlighting the role of this mineral in the retention of Pb. Other very toxic elements such as As and Cd were also present.Sequential extractions showed a high mobility of Cd and Zn, and important fraction of Cu associated to sulphides, as well as Pb associated to crystalline iron oxy-hydroxides, mainly jarosite. The mobility of PTE in the soil sample was lower than in the mine wastes, showing that the amendment of carbonate rocks decreased the mobility of PTE. The oral bioaccesibility was also higher in mine wastes, but a fraction of Zn, Cu, Co and, partially, Pb is still bioaccessible in the soil sample studied.The addition of carbonates promotes the precipitation of secondary minerals and decrease the mobility and bioaccesibility of PTE. However, more efforts are necessary to remediate the mine waste dumps in la Preciosa II, focused to preserve the environment, avoid the transfer soil-plants, and consequently reduce the human health risks.
A digital twin for volcanic deformation merging 3D numerical simulations and AI
Authors: Montagna Chiara P , Garg Deepak , Allegra Martina , Cannavò Flavio , Currenti Gilda , Bruni Rebecca , Papale Paolo
Published: March 2024

At active volcanoes, surface deformation is often a reflection of subsurface magma activity that is associated with pressure variations in magma sources. Magma dynamics cause a change of stress in the surrounding rocks. Consequently, the deformation signals propagate through the rocks and arrive at the surface where the monitoring network records them.
It is invaluable to have an automated tool that can instantly analyze the surface signals and give information about the evolution of the location and magnitude of pressure variations in case of volcanic unrest. Inverse methods employed for this often suffer from ill-posedness of the problem and non-uniqueness of solutions.
To this end, we are developing a digital twin to use on Mount Etna volcano, combining the capability of numerical simulations and AI. Our digital twin is composed of two AI models: the first AI model (AI1) will be trained on multi-parametric data to recognize unrest situations, and the second AI model (AI2) will be trained on a large number (order 10^5 - 10^6) of 3D elastostatic numerical simulations for dike intrusions with the real topography and best available heterogeneous elastic rock properties of Mount Etna Volcano using a forward modeling approach. Numerical simulations will be performed on Fenix HPC resources using the advanced open-source multi-physics finite element software Gales.
Both AI modules will be developed and trained independently and then put into use together. After activation, AI1 will analyze the streaming of monitoring data and activate AI2 in case of a volcanic crisis. AI2 will provide information about the acting volcanic source.
The software will be provided as an open-source package to allow replication on other volcanoes. The tool will serve as an unprecedented prototype for civil protection authorities to manage volcanic crises.
Application of novel generative diffusion models to precipitation downscaling
Authors: Saoulis Alex , Moraga Sebastian , Lord Natalie , Uhe Peter , Addor Nans
Published: March 2024

Machine Learning (ML) is playing an increasingly valuable role in statistical downscaling. Capable of leveraging complex, non-linear relationships latent in the training data, the community has demonstrated significant potential for ML to learn a downscaling mapping. Following the perfect-prognosis (PP) approach, ML models can be trained on historical reanalysis data to learn a relationship between coarse predictors and higher resolution (i.e. downscaled) predictands. Once trained, the models can then be evaluated on general circulation model (GCM) outputs to generate regional downscaled results. Due to the relatively low computational cost of training and utilising these models, they can be used to efficiently downscale large ensembles of climate models over regional to global domains.This work employs a novel diffusion algorithm to downscale climate data. Diffusion models have proven highly successful in applications such as natural image generation and super-resolution (the natural image analogue to climate downscaling). Diffusion models have been shown to significantly outperform earlier generative ML models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs); they can produce highly diverse samples, emulate fine details with high fidelity, and exhibit much more stable training than alternative ML models. This work trains and evaluates diffusion models on the Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) observational dataset over the Colorado River Basin (USA). High resolution (10km x 10km) MSWEP fields are artificially coarsened to generate training data. Once trained, the models are applied to bias-corrected climate model outputs to evaluate their ability to generate realistic downscaled precipitation fields. Performance is compared with several benchmarks, including classical regression techniques as well as alternative ML models.
Dew is disappearing from much of Germany, what does it mean for seasonal plant growth?
Authors: Terry Tyson , Jentsch Anke
Published: March 2024

Trends of increasing global air temperatures are shifting the water balance of many ecosystems with drastic subsequent effects for vegetation. Dew is thought to be particularly sensitive to atmospheric changes due to its fundamental reliance on the interaction between water vapor and temperature. While several studies have shown that dew can be an important water source for specific plant species, efforts have consisted of a subset of species over short periods, leaving a knowledge gap concerning the effects of dew on ecosystems across larger spatial and temporal extents. Here we use hourly climate data from 221 stations in Germany and remote sensing of plant greenness during the growing season to understand: What are the long-term trends in dew amount in Germany, and are they influencing seasonal plant growth? Our results indicate that long-term changes in dewfall are common across Germany, with 30% of our sites showing significant declines in dew amount over the last 20 years, whereas 12% show significant increases in dew. We found that total dew accumulation had small but significant effects on vegetation greenness across Germany. On average, we estimate that during the growing season, dew increases peak greenness by four percent and total cumulative greenness by three percent. Dew impacts on greenness metrics indicate it has an important role in plant ecosystem health and productivity. Current atmospheric trends may not only decrease the amount of dew during the growing season in Germany, but also lead to higher water deficit, where dew amount plays a larger role in water and energy balance.
Is methane being released from Norwegian glaciers? 
Authors: Stehrer Polášková Anna , Hatton Jade , Yde Jacob Clement , Engen Siri Hesland , Trubač Jakub , Costa Pinto Wentzel Lia , Lamarche-Gagnon Guillaume , Tingey Sarah , Wadham Jemma , Stibal Marek , Sapper Sarah Elise
Published: March 2024

Recent research underscores a potential, yet overlooked, positive climate feedback mechanism: the transport of subglacially produced methane (CH4) to the atmosphere via meltwater. While the majority of research focused on release from beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, mountain glaciers have been largely understudied, creating a gap in our understanding of the spatial distribution of subglacial CH4 emissions. Emerging research from glaciers in Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and China suggests the presence of CH4 release also from glaciers other than the Greenland Ice Sheet. Here, we explore the potential of CH4 release from outlet glaciers of the Jostedalsbreen ice cap and Midtdalsbreen in central Norway. We investigated whether meltwaters from outlet glaciers of Jostedalsbreen (Tuftebreen, Fåbergstølsbreen, Bøyabreen, Supphelebreen, Austerdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen), along with Midtdalsbreen in Finse, act as a source of CH4 to the atmosphere. We collected discrete samples for dissolved CH4 (dCH4) and CO2 concentrations at all glacier outlets multiple times throughout the melt season. Additionally, we conducted longer time-series measurements of dCH4 at Tuftebreen, Fåbergstølsbreen and Midtdalsbreen, utilizing custom-made dCH4 sensors. Accompanying these measurements were samples analysed for water chemistry and stable isotopes of dCO2 (δ13C-CO2) in samples where concentrations were elevated compared to atmospheric equilibrium. Our results indicate that dCH4 concentrations in the meltwater of all studied glaciers remained below atmospheric equilibrium concentrations throughout the melt season. In contrast, dCO2 concentrations surpassed atmospheric equilibrium levels, suggesting that the studied glacial runoffs do not act as CH4 source to the atmosphere but might contribute as a small source of CO2. This dataset of dissolved greenhouse gases enhances our understanding of the spatial distribution of subglacial CH4 emissions, fostering discussions on carbon cycling beneath glaciers and the factors influencing the presence or absence of CH4 emissions from the subglacial domain.
Statistical downscaling and bias correction for daily precipitation in the South Korea using the PRIDE model
Authors: Sang Jeong , Kim Maeng-Ki , Lee Youngseok
Published: March 2024

In this study, we produced grid climate data set of 1km×1km horizontal resolution in South Korea using 5 types of RCM (HadGEM3-RA, CCLM, RegCM4, WRF, GRIMs) results based on Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) four scenarios (tier1: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5) of the IPCC 6th report. The high-resolution future scenario data of South Korea were calculated using the PRIDE (PRism based Dynamic downscaling Error correction) model based on MK (Modified Korean)-PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model), a statistical downscaling method that can estimate grid data of horizontal high-resolution using observational station data in South Korea. And then, the QDM (Quantile Delta Mapping) method was used to correct bias due to climate change trend in high-resolution data of future period. The PRIDE model results were evaluated as realistically reflecting seasonal changes and topographical characteristics in South Korea. Furthermore, we assessed uncertainty for future climate data using the results of 5-ensemble models. As a result, in temperature, uncertainties due to internal variability and model were larger than due to scenario in the near future, and the influence of the scenario became greater as it progressed towards the end of 21st century. On the other hand, in the case of precipitation, the uncertainty according to the model over the entire future period was the largest, exceeding 60%.
An Investigation into the Effectiveness of MachineLearning Algorithms for earthquake Magnitude Prediction using Seismic Data
Authors: Alabowsh Basil , Li Wei
Published: March 2024

The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of six different regression models for earthquake magnitude prediction using seismic data, a novel approach in the field of earthquake prediction. The selected models were K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), linear regression, decision trees, random forest, support vector regression, neural networks, and gradient boosting. The evaluation of the models was based on various metrics such as mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), R-squared score, and explained variance score. The data was split into training and testing sets to ensure that the models were being evaluated on unseen data and to avoid overfitting. The results showed that the random forest and gradient boosting models performed the best in predicting earthquake magnitudes using seismic data, which is a significant finding in the field of earthquake prediction. These models had the highest R-squared scores, which indicates that they captured a significant portion of the variance in the target variable, magnitude. On the other hand, the neural networks and support vector regression models performed poorly, with negative R-squared scores, suggesting that they were not a good fit for the data. This study provides a novel contribution to the field of earthquake prediction, as it provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms for earthquake magnitude prediction using seismic data. The results clearly demonstrate that the random forest and gradient boosting models are the most effective models for this task, which has practical implications for earthquake hazard assessment and disaster management. The results of this study contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field of earthquake prediction and have the potential to inform future research in this area.
Investigating the Runoff Disparities in Land Surface Models
Authors: Brêda João Paulo , Melsen Lieke , Athanasiadis Ioannis , van der Ploeg Martine
Published: March 2024

Land Surface Models (LSM) provide a vast range of runoff estimates. Although many LSMs applications are not focused on land hydrology, runoff is essential for the water balance closure and it should be better looked after. As LSMs become increasingly complex it becomes harder to identify what causes the disparity between the models. Therefore we propose a study to improve the understanding of the estimated runoff from 6 LSMs. We investigate the influence of some land features on daily runoff time series (hydrographs). To do so, we created a metamodel for each LSM, different land cover (LC) classes, and clay- and sand-predominant soils. The LSMs were taken from the Earth2Observe (Htessel, Jules, Orchidee and Surfex) and GLDAS (Noah and Catchment) projects and have a spatial resolution of 0.25o x 0.25o. The metamodel structure consists of a slightly modified LSTM that includes topography, daily evapotranspiration variables, and rainfall + snowmelt as input. The metamodels were trained with 18 cells and 10 years duration and validated with the same number of cells and years. We defined 20 classes of land cover applying k-means to the original land cover maps of each LSM to obtain a comparable set between the models. Therefore, there will be 240 metamodels (6 LSMs x 20 LC classes x 2 soil textures) from which we can provide hydrographs given controlled meteorological conditions. With this tool available we can observe the runoff response to a rainfall event after changing prior soil conditions. For example: a) a dry soil condition (several days without rain); b) a wet soil condition (several days of rain); c) or how fast the soil becomes completely wet/dry (no changes on the runoff event from that day onwards). Then, we can evaluate the importance of the soil texture compared to the structure of the LSMs for each class of land cover, specifically focusing on indices such as total volume, peak volume, and recession coefficient. So far, we already observed a one-order-of-magnitude difference in the subsurface runoff of the Catchment LSM compared to the others. With this analysis, we expect to obtain insights into what is causing such great disparities in runoff estimates and point towards paths of higher agreement.