bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved product quality in WAVE-TAC Copernicus Marine Service
Authors: Ollivier Annabelle , Zunino Patricia , Husson Romain , Nigou Adrien , Philip Alexandre , Dibarboure Gerald
Published: March 2024

In the frame of the second phase of the Copernicus Marine Service, starting in 2022, the WAVE Thematic Assembly Centre (TAC), a partnership between CLS and CNES, is responsible for the provision of a near-real-time wave service that started in July 2017. Near-real-time wave products derived from altimetry and SAR measurements are processed and distributed onto the Copernicus Marine Service catalogue.This presentation will describe the existing products – along-track Level 3 and gridded Level 4 – and their applications such as near-real-time assimilation in wave forecasting systems, validation of wave hindcasts, etc.In 2023, nadir data from SWOT mission and S6 were added to the constellation, enlarging the number of missions and techniques proposed in this TAC.R&D work with internal users show that improving nadir data resolution near cost to 5Hz data enlarge the observability of coastal zones and high variability areas.The product quality from CFOSAT mission dedicated to wave observation get better and better, with non wave signal filtering and a wider observability of wavelength between 30m and 1000m.Working on the complementarity of observation between the different missions, Sentinel1, altimetry, CFOSAT and now SWOT appears as the new challenge.The gridded Level-4 SWH and Spectral product directly benefit from the merging of information for NRT products.
 Compiling analysis-ready ice data across cryosphere disciplines 
Authors: Kowalski Julia , Plesa Ana-Catalina , Boxberg Marc , Buffo Jacob , Kalousova Klara , Kerch Johanna , Llorens Maria Gema , Montagnat Maurine , Rückriemen-Bez Tina , Schroeder Dustin , Simson Anna L. , Sotin Christophe , Stephan Katrin , Terschanski Benjamin , Tobie Gabriel , Wolfenbarger Natalie S.
Published: March 2024

Ice is omnipresent in our Solar System: on Earth, on different planetary bodies, and on moons in the outer Solar System. In the past, terrestrial and extraterrestrial cryosphere science mostly developed as independent research fields whereas synergies may shed light on both fields. In fact, close cooperation across different cryosphere research communities is a necessary prerequisite for designing future planetary exploration missions. An in-depth knowledge of similarities and differences between ice regimes on Earth and beyond paves the way for a mission preparation that optimally orchestrates terrestrial analogue field test, lab experiments, and simulation-based extrapolation to hypothesized ice regimes at the target body.The authors of this contribution constitute the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) team Bridging the gap: from terrestrial to icy moons cryospheres, which started in 2023 and brings together scientists of different focus in terrestrial and extra-terrestrial cryosphere research. The overall goal of our project is to make knowledge hidden in the vast amounts of existing data from different research groups accessible by consolidating it into a comprehensive meta-data enriched compilation of ice properties including uncertainty margins if available. This extends to relevant physical regimes and different scales on both Earth, and icy moons including data from field campaign measurements, laboratory experiments, and planetary missions. A particular focus of our work will be to increase the analysis readiness of the data for subsequent data-driven or simulation-based analysis. This approach will provide us with the unique opportunity to transfer and extrapolate the information from the Earth to the outer Solar System bodies.Here, we will introduce the project and its rationale, describe our approach to selecting and compiling the data, as well as how we will make them accessible, and present first results.
Digital Twining of Geophysical Extremes
Authors: Carbonell Ramon , Folch Arnau , Costa Antonio , Orlecka-Sikora Beata , Lanucara Piero , Løvholt Finn , Macías Jorge , Brune Sascha , Gabriel Alice-Agnes , Barsotti Sara , Behrens Joern , Gomez Jorge , Schmittbuhl Jean , Freda Carmela , Kocot Joanna , Giardini Domenico , Afanasiev Michael , Glaves Helen , Badía Rosa
Published: March 2024

The geophysical research community has developed a relatively large amount of numerical codes and scientific methodologies which are able to numerically simulate through physics the extreme behavior of the Earth systems (for example: volcanoes, tsunamis earthquakes, etc). Furthermore,nowadays, large volumes of data have been acquired and, even near real-time data streams are accessible. Therefore, Earth scientist currently have on their hands the possibility of monitoring these events through sophisticated approaches using the current leading edge computational capabilities provided by pre-exascale computing infrastructures. The implementation and deployments of 12 Digital Twin Components (DTCs), addressing different aspects of geophysical extreme events is being carried out by DT-GEO, a project funded under the Horizon Europe programme (2022-2025). Each DTC is intended as self-contained entity embedding flagship simulation codes, Artificial Intelligence layers, large volumes of (real-time) data streams from and into data-lakes, data assimilation methodologies, and overarching workflows which will are executed independently or coupled DTCs in a centralized HPC and/or virtual cloud computing research infrastructure.
Biostratigraphy of the Middle Miocene sediments in boreholes from southern Banat, Serbia
Authors: Gajić Vladislav , Dulić Ivan
Published: March 2024

Middle Miocene sediments in the South-West Banat area were identified based on deep exploration drilling. Based on the identified macrofauna, microfauna and microflora from 15 wells of southwestern Banat, detailed biostratigraphy of the Middle Miocene sediments was made. The biostratigraphy of the studied Middle Miocene sediments of southwestern Banat is based on the standard biozones and biozonations used in several areas of Central Paratethys (Petrovic, 1970; Jiricek, 1975; Papp & Schmid, 1985; Cicha i dr., 1998; Harzhauser & Piller, 2004, Harzhauser & Piller, 2007; Hohenegger i dr., 2014).Micropaleontological studies were performed using two methods: washed residues and thin sections method. During micropaleontological studies, the semiquantitative analysis determined relative abundance of planktonic and benthic foraminifera, as well as the presence of other fossil organisms (calcareous nanoplankton, ostracodes, molluscs).On the basis of determined foraminifera associations, two biostratigraphic zones were established into the Badenian stage and two biostratigraphic zones into the Sarmatian stage. In the Badenian sediments there are associations of foraminifera that correspond to upper levels of the Lower Badenian (Globigerinoides trilobus/Orbulina suturalis zone) and upper levels of the Upper Badenian (Ammonia beccarii/ Elphidium crispum zone). In the Sarmatian sediments there are associations of foraminifera corresponding to the lower parts of the Lower Sarmatian (Elphidium reginum zone) and the higher parts of the Lower Sarmatian (Elphidium hauerinum zone).The results of biostratigraphic research show that foraminifer zones of the Middle Miocene are not developed in the area of southern Banat (Lower lagenide zone, Spiroplectinella carinata zone, Bolivina-Bulimina zone and Porosononion granosum zone). If we consider that these biostratigraphic zones are developed in depressions south from the Sava and Danube river (Drmljanska, Markovacka, Gradistanska, etc.), it can be concluded that in the research area of southern Banat, several tectonic phases during the Middle Miocene can be registered, which will be subject to further research
Geohazard cascade and mechanism of large debris flows in the Rotian river basin (NE Italy): implications to hazard monitoring and management
Authors: Marchi Lorenzo , Borga Marco , Zugliani Daniel , Rosatti Giorgio
Published: March 2024

Torrential risk protection works have a long tradition in the Alps, where these measures have allowed more intensive use of the landscape since the twentieth century and form the basis for rational management of the risk of torrential floods. While the maintenance and management of protective works makes it possible to control their inevitable deterioration and to extend their life, the collapse of these systems should be always considered in the frame of the residual risk management. This work aims to i) analyse the catastrophic debris flow occurred on October 2018 in the Rotian river basin (Eastern Italian Alps) during which a series of check dams collapsed magnifying the event and causing a casualty and severe damages, and ii) to identify implications for hazard monitoring and management. The work is based on post-event investigations, witness accounts, remote sensing information and local station data, hydrogeomorphic data and models, and systematically analyses the geo-environment, climate conditions and check dam structural conditions which characterized the geohazard cascade of events. In particular, results from the application of a couple hydrological and hydraulic model for the triggering and propagation of the debris flows event are used to inform the analysis. The results from this work are exploited to inform a discussion about the future of these works, which concerns not only the structural and maintenance aspects of the single work, but also involves the risk management requests of the systems of works which in recent decades have evolved significantly.
What taxon-specific growth measurements reveal about microbial growth strategies in natural soil communities
Authors: Richter Andreas , Metze Dennis , Canarini Alberto , Fuchslueger Lucia , Schmidt Hannes , Kaiser Christina
Published: March 2024

Heterotrophic microorganisms decompose soil organic matter to assimilate organic compounds that provide energy and carbon for growth and maintenance. The growth of microbial communities is thus at the heart of the carbon cycle, and understanding how microbial growth is controlled is arguably of paramount importance for understanding global carbon cycling in the present and future climate. Most information on microbial growth comes from work with pure cultures (population level) or from studies of microbial community growth, while understanding the growth of individual microbial taxa in natural communities is poorly studied and understood. However, with the advent of new stable isotope probing techniques based on 18O from labelled water, it is now possible to look beyond the community level to the growth of individual populations of microorganisms in complex soil communities. In addition, recent advances in labelling growing microbial taxa without the addition of liquid water, the so-called ‘vapor qSIP', allow us to analyze microbial growth in complex communities without changing environmental conditions, a prerequisite for studying the behavior of microbial communities in climate change experiments.We report here on two climate change experiments in which we performed taxon-resolved growth measurements under different environmental conditions. Our results show the following:(1) Contrary to our expectations, changing environmental conditions (e.g., soil warming and drought) led to a change in the number of actively growing bacterial taxa, but not in their growth rates. Among other things, this challenges the paradigm developed from a plethora of measurements of microbial community growth that microbial physiology is accelerated by higher temperatures.(2) Many microbial taxa were only actively dividing in specific climate change treatments, i.e., under specific environmental conditions. We conclude that the realized ecological niche of bacteria appears to be much smaller than community growth measurements suggest. Testing, for example, the temperature niche of individual populations (with presumably different functional traits) may therefore lead to very different predictions of soil functions in a future climate.(3) Compared to estimates of total soil microbial community composition (e.g., amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene), the actively growing community is more sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, allowing a more accurate prediction of community structure in a future climate and its functional roles in biogeochemistry.Overall, measuring taxon-resolved population growth rates of complex communities provides a novel, more nuanced and sophisticated picture of soil ecosystems, which may help to develop better predictions of structural and functional changes in microbial ecosystems in a future climate.
Application of Three Machine Learning Models for a Severe Ozone Episode in Mexico City 
Authors: Ahmad Mateen , Rappenglück Bernhard , O. Osibanjo Olabosipo , Retama Armando
Published: March 2024

Mexico City due to its specific topography and strong ozone precursors emissions often faces high surface ozone concentrations which negatively impact the dwellers and the environment of Mexico City. This necessitates developing models with the capacity to rank meteorological and air quality variables contributing to the build-up of ozone during an ozone episode in Mexico City. Such ranking is crucial for regulatory procedures aiming at reducing ozone detrimental effects during an ozone episode. In this study, three machine learning models (Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Tree, feedforward neural network) are used to learn a prediction function that reveals the functional dependence of ozone on its predictors and can predict hourly ozone concentrations using hourly data of eight predictors (nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, shortwave ultraviolet-A radiation, wind direction, wind speed, relative humidity, ambient surface temperature, planetary boundary layer height). The best model, feedforward neural network with 92% accuracy, in conjunction with Shapely Additive exPlanations approach, is utilized to simulate high ozone concentrations and rank the predictors according to their importance in the build-up of ozone during a severe ozone smog episode that occurred in the period 6 - 18 March 2016. The research focuses on Mexico City, but it is equally applicable to any other city in the world.
Development of technical possibilities to restore the ecosystems of quarry heaps
Authors: Kuu Annely , Shanskiy Merrit
Published: March 2024

The increased global demand for energy has led to the opening of large mining areas worldwide. The largest commercially exploited oil shale deposit in the world (total amount of resources 7x109 tons) is located in North-East Estonia. Mining is essential to provide the resources for industries but can result in a destruction of pre-mining and post-mining ecosystem. Restoring ecosystems is one of the most important aspects of contemporary environmental conservation. Naturally, vegetation and soil develop slowly in quarry areas, and so far, quarry reclamation has been in use. One of the primary challenges encountered in the reclamation of mined areas is the low water retention of the soil, known as hydrophobicity, which hinders the establishment of vegetation and soil development. The aim of current work is to find out the suitable technique and technology for the crust material to cover the planting surface that retains moisture and nutrients, which can be used in plant cultivation and ecosystem restoration when covering quarry areas. The goal is to promote plant growth and thus accelerate forest ecosystem establishment. Four test areas were selected: a technically reclaimed oil shale quarry, an unrecultivated sand quarry, a reclaimed gravel quarry, and an unrecultivated gravel quarry.The tree species used were pine (Picea abies), spruce (Pinus sylvestris), and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides Michx). Planting density was calculated according to the recommendations of the Estonian State Forest Management Centre. In each quarry, 100 pines, 100 spruces, and 100 hybrid aspens were planted. The experimental design included a control variant, biochar, sheep wool pellets, sheep wool discs (that are used as mulching material), and two types of biodegradable mulch film, in two replications. The trees were planted in May 2023, and the monitoring of their survival is still ongoing. However, based on the preliminary results, it can be stated that biochar, sheep wool discs, and various biodegradable mulch films had a positive impact on the survival of forest trees. This research is supported by the Circular Economy program of the Environmental Investment Centre through a project with the number RE.4.09.22-0034 and by developmental project of Estonian University of Life Sciences “Valorization of sheep wool for agricultural utilization”.
The origin and tectonic evolution of Hongguleleng ophiolite, Western Junggar, southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt
Authors: Yang Zhengyu , Tribuzio Riccardo , Gong Xiaohan , Luo Qisong , Xu Jifeng
Published: March 2024

We present a petrological and geochemical study of the Hongguleleng ophiolite in Western Junggar of Xinjiang (Southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt), which contains the classic Penrose-type ophiolite stratigraphic units. The ophiolite actually includes mantle spinel harzburgites, olivine-rich troctolites within the harzburgites, layered troctolites, plagioclase-bearing wehrlites, olivine gabbros, gabbros and a minor basalt proportion. Compared to other ophiolites from the accretionary orogenic belt, such as those from Tianshan and Inner Mongolia, the lower crust sequence of the Hongguleleng ophiolite is well preserved. The Hongguleleng spinel harzburgite is highly depleted, for instance as documented by the low whole-rock Al2O3 and CaO contents, the low REE concentrations of clinopyroxene, and the high Cr# [molar Cr/(Cr+Al)] of spinel. Overall, the harzburgite chemical compositions document that these mantle peridotites underwent a high degree of partial melting, similar to mantle peridotites from supra-subduction zones. Remarkably, the trace element signature of clinopyroxene is similar in harzburgites and included olivine-rich troctolites, thereby providing evidence for formation of the olivine-rich troctolites by melt-peridotite reaction. On the other hand, the trace element compositions of clinopyroxene from other lower crustal rocks, including the plagioclase-bearing wehrlites, may be reconciled with crystallization from MORB-type melts. However, these clinopyroxenes locally display a significant enrichment in La, Ce and Pb, which could reflect either contamination of the MORB-type melts by continental crust material, or late infiltration of a melt enriched in La-Ce-Pb through the lower ophiolitic crust. To conclude, the Hongguleleng ophiolite shares close similarities to oceanic lithospheres formed at supra-subduction zones. Along with the coeval ophiolites from the Junggar and Tianshan area, the Hongguleleng ophiolites might represent the remnants of the Junggar Ocean during the initiation of subduction.
Anisotropy and XKS-splitting from geodynamic models of double subduction: Testing the limits of interpretation
Authors: Kruse Jan Philipp , Rümpker Georg , Link Frederik , Duretz Thibault , Schmeling Harro
Published: March 2024

We utilize three-dimensional geodynamic models to predict XKS-splitting in double subduction scenarios characterized by two outward-dipping slabs. These models are highly applicable in various realistic settings, such as the central Mediterranean. Our primary focus is on the analysis of XKS-splitting, a key geophysical observable used for inferring seismic anisotropy and mantle flow patterns.Our models simulate the concurrent subduction of two identical oceanic plates separated by a continental plate. The variation in the strength of the separating plate causes a transition from a retreating to a stationary trench. The models offer detailed insights into the temporal evolution of mantle flow patterns, particularly the amount of trench-parallel flow induced by this specific type of subduction.In the subsequent step, we employ the well-known D-Rex model to estimate Crystallographic Preferred Orientation (CPO) development in response to plastic deformation resulting from mantle flow. Based on the D-Rex model results, which incorporate the full elastic tensor of a deformed multiphase polycrystalline mantle aggregate, we derive synthetic apparent splitting parameters and splitting intensities at virtual receivers placed at the surface using multiple-layer anisotropic waveform modeling. To identify regions with pronounced depth-dependent variations of anisotropic properties, particularly the fast polarization directions, we define a complex anisotropy factor dependent on the apparent splitting parameters and splitting intensities.Finally, using the apparent splitting parameters, we conduct two-layer model inversions at selected locations characterized by a large complex anisotropy factor. The two-layer model provides apparent splitting parameters as a result of analytical waveform modeling for two anisotropic layers. We observe that while several models can effectively explain the apparent splitting parameters, only a subset can accurately reproduce the depth-dependent anisotropic properties. Our findings unequivocally demonstrate that a classical XKS-splitting analysis can effectively identify areas characterized by complex anisotropy and provide accurate approximations of the depth-dependent variations of anisotropic properties within these regions. However, caution is warranted when interpreting results obtained through inversion based on a two-layer analysis.
Origin and composition of hydrothermal sediments at Aurora Vent Field, southern Gakkel Ridge (82.9°N)
Authors: Argentino Claudio , Panieri Giuliana , Bjørnå Eivind , Dessandier Pierre-Antoine , Ramirez-Llondra Eva , Buenz Stefan
Published: March 2024

The increasing number of active vents discovered worldwide, and new observations of basin-scale plumes suggest an underestimated role of hydrothermal systems in the ocean element cycling. This is especially true for slow-ultraslow spreading ridges which represent ca. 50% of the global mid-ocean ridge system and have only recently been recognized to host hydrothermal activity. Here, we present new data from sediment cores collected during HACON19 and HACON21 cruises at Aurora Vent Field, Arctic Ocean. We describe and interpret the hydrothermal signals recorded in the sediments at various distances from the active vents, based on core scanning (X-Rays, XRF, Multisensor scanner), and mineralogical and geochemical (XRF%) analyses on discrete samples. Metalliferous sediments surround the vents, with predominance of sulfide and (hydr)oxide minerals. Plume deposits are found several kilometers from the active vent, and their stratigraphic distribution in the longer gravity cores provided insights into the history and dynamics of vent activity since the last Ice age.Acknowledgments: this research was supported by HACON project (Research Council of Norway grant No. 274330) and AKMA project (Research Council of Norway grant No. 287869).
Estimation of soil texture in areas of different parent materials by using gamma ray spectrometry at local and regional scale
Authors: Konen Lars , Ibs-von Seht Malte , Rückamp Daniel , Möller Andreas , Guggenberger Georg , Fries Elke
Published: March 2024

Good knowledge on soil texture is a base for a sound land use management as one of the driving factors for soil fertility, and thus for a worldwide sustainable food production and safe drinking water supply using groundwater resources. Furthermore, soil texture is one of the driving factors of soil fertility. In particular, in countries of the Global South but also in other regions, high quality digital information on soil properties on regional level are rather scarce. While conventional soil inventories are time consuming, digital mapping of soil properties is a promising approach to close these gaps time and cost efficiently. For this purpose, a reliable method was developed within the project “ReCharBo” (Regional Characterisation of Soil Properties) to minimize field and laboratory work by combining gamma ray spectrometry with conventional soil survey at selected study areas characterized by different soil parent materials. Data acquisition was performed by using a portable gamma ray spectrometer and soil sampling at local scale as well as by helicopter-borne gamma ray spectrometry at regional level.For the estimation of soil texture by gamma spectral data at different soil parent materials we developed classic multiple linear regression models based on  laboratory analyses of grain size and total Potassium and Thorium contents. To consider the soil parent materials, we calculated clay-, silt- and sand-Potassium-Ratios based on laboratory data and integrated them into the models. The statistical models were validated by dividing the data set randomly fifty-fifty into a training, and a validation data set. The results on the validation data set show that soil texture can be predicted with an error (RMSE) of 5.8% (Clay), 5.5% (Silt) and 4.6% (Sand) by gamma ray spectrometry. Based on these models, soil texture can reliably be estimated by gamma ray spectrometry accompanied by a scarce soil sampling in regions with poor data.
Multiple competing securities and transitions impact future water resource solutions: the importance of integrated approaches to frame, investigate and build resilient water futures
Authors: McDonnell Rachael
Published: March 2024

Water security is impacted by complex inter-related drivers from within and beyond the hydrological system. The demands to address challenges to energy security, food security, climate security, and biodiversity security through various just-transitions all have implications for water security but this dimension is rarely considered in the different solution spaces. Increasing water risks from many drivers including climate change are also challenging the possibilities of these transitions to deliver safe, sustainable and just solutions. There is thus a critical need for water research to support insight, innovations, and tradeoffs, that include variables and drivers beyond those of hydrological systems. To bring impact on the ground, researchers need to develop framings, methods, and models that work across traditional siloes to deliver evidence, technical innovations and policy solutions that deliver in the local environmental, social, economic, and political contexts. Following this framing, a case study from the Middle East North Africa will be given on joined up research across many disciplinary boundaries to deliver insight and solutions to manage drought risk in Morocco and Jordan. Global and local interactions playing out in these locations demand new water thinking and ideas are put forward on how to achieve this. The approaches used draw on a plethora of methods, data and approaches from development in agricultural water management, through seasonal precipitation forecasting, and policy and planning through to understand the drivers to internal displacement of people through the threat multiplier effects of droughts. 
Submarine Morphology Offshore Crotone (Calabrian Accretionary Prism, Central Mediterranean): Pockmark Fields and a Mud Diapir in a Mobile Shale Domain
Authors: Argnani Andrea , Rovere Marzia
Published: March 2024

Fluid expulsion and sediment mobilization are typical processes in accretionary prisms, where sediments are scraped off the subducting plate and piled up and squeezed to originate a tectonic prism, resulting in fluid venting, mud volcanoes and mud diapirs. The Mediterranean region is characterized by subduction zones where residual portions of the Tethyan oceans have survived the Aftica-Eurasia continental collision. Among these subduction zones, the Calabrian accretionary prism is known to be populated by mud volcanoes. The Ionian offshore of the Crotone promontory offers examples where the expressions of fluid expulsion and sediment mobilization are visible both in the subsurface and at the seafloor. The analysis of a proprietary 3D seismic cube allows to characterize patterns of pockmarks, which are direct expression of fluid expulsion at the seafloor, and to identify a mud diapir which appears at the seafloor as a large mud pool, ca. 1200 m in diameter. The high resolution 3D seismic profiles also allow to infer differences in the  mechanisms of fluid focussing at very shallow depth. Small, closely spaced normal faults, produced by outer arc extension, and dilation in the shallow unconsolidated sediments, due to sharp slope gradient increase, both favour fluid focussing. In some instances it can be shown that fluid venting also contributed to destabilize the uppermost sedimentary strata, triggering small landslides along the slope. A Pliocene extensional system has  developed within a mobile shale domain. The diapir that surfaces as a mud pool has been mobilized along a recent extensional fault, which tapped into the mobile shale domain. Furthermore, a fossil mud pool has also been recognized in the study area. This fossil mud pool is sealed by undeformed sedimentary strata which allow to constrain a minimum age for fluid and sediment mobilization in the accretionary prism. Seismic reflections amplitude suggests that the fossil conduit still acts as a preferential fluid seepage pathway, contributing to destibilize the overlaying slope sediments.
Relationships between the structure and activity of microbial communities in legume-cereal intercropping - new possibilities of old plant cultivation methods
Authors: Frąc Magdalena , Siegieda Dominika , Gryta Agata , Panek Jacek , Pylak Michał , Mącik Mateusz , Pertile Giorgia , Oszust Karolina , Sisodia Priyal , Feledyn-Szewczyk Beata , Pathan Shamina , Pietramellara Giacomo
Published: March 2024

Intercropping has been known for a long time, but despite its many agronomic benefits, it still constitutes a small niche in agricultural cropping systems. It is known that this type of cropping systems improves biodiversity through several synergistic effects between plant species cultivated together. Legume-cereal intercropping, may also contribute to reducing expenditure on mineral fertilization, due to legume symbiosis with microbes that fix atmospheric nitrogen.The assumption of this study is that intercropping creates more complex and lasting systems and interactions in the soil-plant-microbiome system. Therefore, they stimulate various part of communities, contributing to a more diverse community, which drives the processes of environmental changes resulting from various root exudates. Moreover, they also increase the co-occurrence of various bacteria and fungi, thus ensuring greater stability, health and quality of agroecosystems.The research was carried out based on a large-scale field experiment conducted at the Experimental Station in Osiny (Lubelskie Voivodeship, Poland, N: 51°28, E: 22°4) established in 1994, the aim of which was a comparison of different agricultural production systems: organic, integrated and conventional high-input. The general design of the field experiment has been described by Feledyn-Szewczyk et al. (2019).The aim of this study was to determine differences in the structure and activity of the microbiome of wheat and the soil under its cultivation in an organic, integrated and conventional cultivation systems of this plant, taking into account the complexity of plant communities occurring simultaneously in the field during the growing season. The organic system included intercropping of wheat with clovers and grasses, integrated wheat and clover, and conventional wheat cultivation with pure sowing. The research methods included spectrophotometric approach for enzymatic activity and EcoPlates functional diversity evaluation and next-generation sequencing was used for microbial structure determination of various ecological niches (soil, rhizosphere, roots and shoots).The results may constitute an important link for a new vision of agriculture, including the use of a close connection between the soil-plant- microbiome for the development of sustainable crop production strategies and management practices for future resilient crop cultivations.This work was supported in the frame of Horizon Europe Programme, agreement no. Project 101082289 — LEGUMINOSEFeledyn-Szewczyk B., Matyka M., Staniak M., 2019, Comparison of the Effect of Perennial Energy Crops and Agricultural Crops on Weed Flora Diversity. Agronomy 2019, 9, 695; doi:10.3390/agronomy9110695
How closely related are the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and El Niño-Southern Oscillation?
Authors: Cowan Tim , Heidemann Hanna , Power Scott B. , Henley Benjamin J.
Published: March 2024

Sea surface temperature (SST) patterns in the Pacific Ocean cause climate variability in many parts of the world. This is due to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on interannual timescales and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) acting on decadal to interdecadal timescales, modifying ENSO teleconnections. However, how both ENSO, ENSO diversity and the IPO interact with each other still requires further clarification. In this study, we use observations of Pacific Ocean SSTs from 1920 to 2022 to explore the statistical relationships between decadal ENSO variability and the IPO. More specifically, we show how ENSO event characteristics of both central and eastern Pacific El Niño, as well as all La Niña events varies between their occurrence in warm (positive), compared to cool (negative) phases of the IPO. We further show that up to 60% of the variability in the IPO Tripole Index can be reconstructed by using simple ENSO metrics such as the relative frequency of El Niño and La Niña events. While statistically a clear relationship between ENSO and the IPO exists, some of the IPO’s key features, especially North Pacific SSTs, cannot be explained by decadal ENSO variability.  
Assessing impacts of farming systems on biodiversity using predictive indicators: a gradient of complexity
Authors: Bockstaller Christian , Soulé Emma , Dallaporta Bastien , Sirami Clélia
Published: March 2024

Agriculture plays a major role in the erosion of biodiversity, which represents one of the exceeded planetary boundaries. In the quest for solution to mitigate impacts of farming systems on biodiversity, it is essential to have tools to assess these impacts. Besides a plethora of indicators using field measurement of abundance or/and species richness of one or several taxa, predictive indicators offer a compromise between feasibility and integration of processes. Such indicators do not require in situ measurements and enable linking the response of biodiversity to drivers like agricultural practices.Here we review three examples of predictive indicators representing a gradient of complexity regarding the number of input variables on field practices and landscape structure, the number of output variables on biodiversity components, and the model structure. The three indicators are NIVA-Biodiversity, BioSyScan and I-BIO.NIVA-Biodiversity assesses biodiversity at the landscape and regional level, assessing biodiversity through a global score, without any precision on taxonomic or functional components, based on the percentage of semi-natural habitats (SNH), field size and crop diversity. BioSyScan is calculated at field level and assesses the impacts of field management (e.g. tillage, fertilization, pesticides spraying) and landscape variables (e.g field size and SNH) on soil-dependent species and mobile species. Last, I-BIO considers direct impacts of cropping systems on five taxonomic groups (microorganisms, plants, soil invertebrates, flying invertebrates and vertebrates) and indirect impacts through trophic chains.  It includes more precise variables on field and landscape management than the two other indicators. The three indicators are based on mixed models using linguistic rules “if-then”. While I-BIO is based on the DEXi tool and remains totally qualitative, NIVA-Biodiversity and BioSyScan were designed using the CONTRA aggregation method integrating fuzzy subsets in the decision rules, to mitigate threshold effects and increase transparency. We will highlight the potential use of each indicator using case studies, discuss the pros and cons of each indicator, and present the research needs to ensure their scientific validity.
On the modification of neighbourhood-scale atmospheric dispersion within urban morphologies by the buoyancy effect - a CFD study
Authors: Wai Ka-Ming , Yuan Chao
Published: March 2024

Extreme weather conditions associated with climate change could impact urban living in many ways. These conditions include flooding caused by extreme rainfall events and tidal surges caused by super tropical cyclones. Among these weather extremes, the extreme regional calm wind condition (ERCWC or weak synoptic forcing condition) relevant to air pollution has been less studied. Meanwhile, current urban planning guidelines for air quality consider only prevailing weather conditions without taking extreme weather into account. The current computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study examines urban air pollution dispersion under the influence of urban heat associated with ERCWC. First, our large-eddy simulation (LES) turbulent model results were validated with the results of the ETH Zürich Atmospheric Boundary Layer Water Tunnel experiment. We then examined the simulated airflow patterns and dispersion patterns inside representative urban parametric models. The National Supercomputing Centre Singapore provided all computing resources for our simulations. The adopted parametric models were developed based on urban density analysis to reflect the real urban morphology of Singapore. The models consist of nine building clusters, each containing 24 generic building blocks. The study compared the prevailing wind scenario with calm scenario driven by buoyancy. Inlet boundary conditions for the former and latter scenarios were determined by using the annual-average wind velocity measured at an urban weather station and zero wind velocity, respectively. In the latter scenario, ground and building surfaces were set at 5°C above ambient temperatures, which is within Singapore's measured values. There were a total of four sources of line emission in the computational domain. New insights and implications were found regarding urban air dispersion within the urban canopy layer for the buoyancy-driven scenario (the ERCWC) over the prevailing wind scenario. Wind reversal at certain areas for the buoyancy-driven scenario is an example, which leads to upwind sites to become downwind sites. We recommend upgrading the current guidelines for urban planning to improve urban resilience during extreme weather conditions by implementing mitigation measures, some of which were discussed in this study.
Sedimentary gas ebullition in shallow waters of the Central North Sea (German Dogger Bank)
Authors: Heeschen Katja , Schlömer Stefan , Kopte Robert , Römer Miriam , Blumenberg Martin
Published: March 2024

In the North Sea a number of surveys have turned their attention to the extent of methane emissions from abandoned or decommissioned wells that may provide gas migration pathways for shallow biogenic gas accumulations. As part of the diverse and partly contradicting investigations, the research cruise MSM98 was to study sedimentary gas ebullition and the consequent distribution and fate of methane (CH4) within the water column in the German EEZ, particularly at the eastern Dogger Bank in the German EEZ, where a number of abandoned wells and natural gas ebullition sites are present. During MSM98 in January 2021, sedimentary gases were sampled from two different ebullition sites using an ROV. Their main component was biogenic methane, isotopically light ethane with concentrations of 50 - 125 ppm and traces of propane. The area of the Berta salt dome on the eastern Dogger Bank was the only study site with significant elevations of methane in the water column. Four additional abandoned well sites in the German EEZ had methane concentrations close to the background values, with methane profiles at two sites showing a slightly irregular pattern. Methane maxima at known ebullition sites were significantly lower compared to an earlier study in summer 2019, when the water column was stratified with a clear thermocline. During the first three days of sampling at the eastern Dogger Bank, trace amounts of ethane and propane were detected in water samples throughout the water column showing decreasing concentrations with time. For these thermogenic gases, the analysis of currents and hydrographic properties indicated a source outside the working area. In conjunction with ventilated offshore waters coming into the working area these allochthonous light hydrocarbons disappeared except for background concentrations of methane. Short-term changes, likely horizontal input of light hydrocarbons, and rapid mixing of the complete water column did not allow for any quantitative statement with regard to sedimentary input of methane into the water column or export of methane into the atmosphere.
Off-target effects of biological nitrification inhibitors on soil microbial substrate use and enzyme activity in an agricultural soil 
Authors: Karbon Iris , Madani Konstanze , Prommer Judith , Rojas Paula , Giguere Andrew , Sedlacek Christopher , Sandén Taru , Spiegel Heide , Pjevac Petra , Fuchslueger Lucia
Published: March 2024

High nitrification rates and substantial nitrogen (N) losses through nitrate leaching and N2O emissions make current agricultural practices unsustainable, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Synthetic nitrification inhibitors (SNIs) can be amended with N-fertilizers to reduce the conversion of ammonia to nitrate by soil nitrifiers. SNIs aim to increase agricultural nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), but they have several disadvantages (e.g., costs, ineffectiveness in the field, possible accumulation in the food chain). The use of biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs), naturally occurring in plant root exudates, could become an alternative to SNIs. Potential BNIs should be highly specifically targeting nitrification, but for most known BNIs it is unclear if and how they affect other soil microorganisms and biogeochemical processes.This study aimed to investigate possible off-target effects of BNIs in agricultural soils. We tested the effect of two candidate BNIs (Methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate and DL-limonene) in slurry assays on soil microbial communities from a typical Austrian agricultural field (Linz, pH 6.89±0.12, fertilized with 120 kg N ha-1 yr-1), and compared them to a known SNI (nitrapyrin), and two further nitrification inhibitors (phenylacetylene and octyne). The slurries were incubated for eight days and CO2 production, pH, as well as nitrate- and N2O accumulation were measured. At the end of the incubation, we analyzed fluorescence-based enzyme activity, as well as microbial substrate use efficiency using ‘Biolog©’ assays to test the influence on general microbial activity, selected microbial soil processes, and the effectiveness of nitrification inhibition, respectively.Our results showed that both tested BNIs significantly reduced net nitrification rates, but also affected other biogeochemical processes, even though limonene lost some effectiveness during the incubation. MHPP was heavily respired by heterotrophic microorganisms, leading to a drop in pH and heterotrophic competition for the remaining ammonium, therefore likely acting as an indirect nitrification inhibitor. Extracellular enzymes were also affected: MHPP led to increased potential β-glucosidase activity, while nitrapyrin led to a decrease in potential phosphatase activity. General soil microbial substrate use diversity seemed to be unaffected by the input of either BNIs or SNIs. Whether or not the observed off-target effects are positive and what they mean for the large-scale application of BNIs in the agricultural industry remains to be further investigated.
A deep learning pipeline for automatic microfossil analysis and classification
Authors: Martinsen Iver , Wade David , Ricaud Benjamin , Godtliebsen Fred
Published: March 2024

Microfossils are important in climate analysis and in exploration of subsea energy resources. The abundance and distribution of species found in sediment cores provide valuable information, but the analysis is difficult and time consuming as it is based on manual work by human experts. It is also a challenge to have enough labelled data to train a standard deep learning classifier on microfossil images. We propose an efficient pipeline for processing and grouping fossils by species from microscope slides using self-supervised learning. First we show how to efficiently extract crops from whole slide images by adapting previously trained object detection algorithms. Second, we provide a comparison of a range of contrastive self-supervised learning methods to classify and identify microfossil from very few labels. We obtain excellent results with convolutional neural networks and vision transformers fine-tuned by self-supervision.
A Digital Assistant for Digital Twin Earth
Authors: Koubarakis Manolis , Corsi Marco , Leoni Cristian , Pasquali Giorgio , Pratola Chiara , Tilia Simone , Kefalidis Sergios-Anestis , Plas Konstantinos , Pollali Mariangela , Tsokanaridou Myrto , Hackstein Jakob Heinrich , Sümbül Gencer , Demir Begüm
Published: March 2024

We present an AI-powered digital assistant that includes four search engines for satellite images (search by image, search by caption, visual question answering and knowledge graph question answering) that are orchestrated by a task interpreter in order to answer complex requests of users looking for Earth observation data. The digital assistant will be demonstrated in three use cases: vessel detection, water bodies dynamics and training dataset construction. The digital assistant builds on recent work of the academic project partners on deep learning techniques for satellite images, search engines for satellite images, visual question answering, question answering over knowledge graphs and linked geospatial data, and question answering engines for satellite data archives. This work is funded by the European Space Agency project "DA4DTE: Demonstrator Precursor Digital Assistant Interface For Digital Twin Earth''. The project consortium is led by the Italian company eGEOS, with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the TU Berlin as subcontractors.