bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent updates of the Coastal Early Warning System of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy): oceanographic forecasts at the local scale
Authors: Unguendoli Silvia , Germano Biolchi Luis , Valentini Andrea , Ferrarin Christian , Umgiesser Georg
Published: March 2024

The coastal areas of Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy) are characterised by different environments, including sandy beaches and the transitional areas of the Po Delta. The low-lying sandy beaches render the local coastlines highly vulnerable to extreme meteo-marine events, which can have serious consequences such as marine ingression, coastal erosion and flooding. The Regional Agency for Prevention, Environment and Energy of Emilia-Romagna (Arpae) manages an Operational Early Warning System for Coastal Risks (EWS) that provides daily forecasts, integrated with a Regional Observing Network. The EWS consists of different implementations of a meteorological model (COSMO), a wave model (SWAN-MEDITARE), an oceanographic model (Adriac, based on COAWST) and a morphodynamics model (XBeach). Adriac oceanographic forecasts are carried out on a regular grid with a fixed resolution (1 km). Structured grids, however, struggle to accurately resolve short scale physical processes and complex bathymetries, especially given the complexity of the regional coastline.. For this reason, a very high resolution hydrodynamic model for the Po Delta and the Emilia-Romagna coast, extending inland up to the Pontelagoscuro station (river flow measurements), was developed. The model (shyfER) is based on the SHYFEM code that solves the hydrodynamic equations on unstructured meshes. It provides daily forecasts (+72 hours) of total water level, salinity, temperature and currents.As salt intrusion in the Po Delta is an important phenomenon that has increased in frequency and intensity in recent years, the model performance in terms of salt wedge representation is currently being evaluated. Furthermore, tests were conducted in terms of microbiological dispersion simulations by coupling the model with BFM (Biogeochemical Fluxes Model) in a 0-dimensional setting.Finally, it is crucial not to overlook the significance of observations, as they enable accurate calibration and validation of models. Thanks to European funding, Arpae has been able to expand its marine-coastal observation network, which currently consists of three tide gauges (at Porto Garibaldi, Cattolica and Cervia), a wave buoy with a current-meter (at Cesenatico) and various multiparametric stations. In addition, a regional monitoring network of eight webcams (camERa) has been installed along the regional littoral allowing continuous monitoring of the coastal areas.Arpae-SIMC is currently involved in several projects to maintain and update the system, including the DIRECTED project (Horizon 2020), which focuses on the "power" of the Early Warning Systems. Together with the Civil Protection of the Emilia-Romagna Region (ARSTPC-ER) Arpae leads the Real-World Lab in Emilia-Romagna.
Spectral Albedo of Dusty Martian CO2  Snow and Ice
Authors: Singh Sehajpal , Singh Deepak , Whicker Chloe A.
Published: March 2024

There is ample evidence to conclude that the ice deposits on solar system bodies—aside from Earth—have complex chemical constitutions. Carbon dioxide ice is prevalent at the poles of Mars and owing to its substantial reflectivity and seasonal variability, it significantly influences the planet's energy budget. Recent evidence of the existence of CO2 ice glaciers on Mars explains the volumetric distribution and accumulation of CO2 ice into the curvilinear basins at the south pole of Mars. While spectral measurements of martian ice have been made, no model of the dusty martian firn or CO2 glacier ice exists at present. Due to their significant effects on snow and ice's albedo reduction, dust and snow metamorphism must be taken into consideration. Here, we adapt the terrestrial Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiation (SNICAR) model and apply it to martian glaciers by incorporating CO2 ice capabilities in the model and validating with the observed remote sensing data. Compared with CO2 snow, we find that CO2 glacier ice albedo is much lower in visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectra. CO2 ice albedo is more sensitive to layer thickness than CO2 snow. We observe a noticeable transition between snow albedos and firn/glacier ice albedos. In particular, the absorption features at 1.435 µm and 2.0 µm caused by asymmetric stretching overtones and combinations of fundamental vibrational modes become damped. At these two wavelengths, the albedo is very small; the glacier ice has a higher albedo than coarse-grained snow because of specular reflection. We observe that small amounts (
Four roles for geoscientists in climate litigation
Authors: Thiery Wim , Pietroiusti Rosa , Savaresi Annalisa , Smis Stefaan
Published: March 2024

The number of climate change lawsuits is exploding,  and so is the need for scientific evidence on climate change in courtrooms. Here we identify four roles that climate researchers can take up in light of these recent developments: expert witness, party support, amicus curiae, and litigation-relevant research. For each role, we highlight recent examples and best practices, as well as pitfalls and their overcoming. These examples overall highlight the urgent need for interdisciplinary research between climate science and legal scholars to bring both research communities closer together. In addition, and in activities where exchange with litigators takes place, it is critical that ingestion of scientific information occurs right from the start of the litigation process.
DInSAR coseismic surface deformation of the 2023 Mw 6.8 Al Haouz earthquake(High Atlas Mountains, Morocco)
Authors: Lanari Riccardo , Occhipinti Martina , Porreca Massimiliano
Published: March 2024

On 8th September 2023, the Al Haouz province in Morocco was struck by a strong earthquake of 6.8 Mw. The mainshock was generated by a reverse fault with an ENE-WSW orientation, as suggested by the derived focal mechanism.  To obtain preliminary information of a seismic event, and to characterize the associated seismotectonic framework, in the last decades, the combination of field geology with satellite observations is becoming gradually more frequent. In particular, the DInSAR technique can be a powerful method of analysis to have an initial detailed information on the deformation field produced by the earthquake.  In the present study, to understand the deformation field induced by the event and the structures involved, the DInSAR technique has been applied to obtain displacement maps in LOS, vertical, and horizontal (E-W) directions. On these maps, the geological meaning of both the vertical and horizontal displacement components is interpreted in the framework of the known tectonic structures of the Western High Atlas Belt. The inferred coseismic deformation along its vertical component shows a wide antiform characterized by an overall E-W trend and a slight southward vergence. On the other side, the horizontal (E-W) component of the deformation seems to be affected by the flexuring of the antiform flanks.  Integrating the retrieved DInSAR maps with published geological observations and preliminary seismological data, it is possible to demonstrate how the coseismic deformation pattern may be affected not only by a possible activity of the main Tizi n’test fault but also by the far western High Atlas frontal thrust and by possible blind faults, better oriented to the vertical deformation field. 
Climate variability and food (in)security in medieval and early modern Europe: synthesising the state-of-the-art
Authors: Charpentier Ljungqvist Fredrik , Seim Andrea , Collet Dominik
Published: March 2024

On the basis of our new state-of-the-art research review article “Famines in medieval and early modern Europe – Connecting climate and society”, published in WIREs Climate Change this year, we provide an overview of recent scholarship on food insecurity and famines in Europe during the medieval and early modern periods (c. 700–1800). Focus is placed on how, and to what extent, climatic change and variability can explain the occurrence and severity of food shortages and famines during these periods. Current research, supported by recent advances in palaeoclimatology, has revealed that anomalous cold conditions were the main environmental backdrop for severe food production crises that could result in famines in pre-industrial Europe. Such food crises occurred most frequently between c. 1550 and 1710 during the climax of the Little Ice Age cooling. They can, to a large extent, be connected to the strong dependency on grain in Europe during this period and the limited possibility for long-distance transportation of bulk goods in inland regions. The available body of research demonstrates that famines in medieval and early modern Europe can be best understood as the result of the interactions of climatic and societal stressors responding to pre-existing societal vulnerabilities. We provide some recommendations for future studies on historical food shortages and famines in connection to climatic stress on food production.
Detection of internal waves from oceanic SHH field using neural-network based flow decomposition
Authors: Chouksey Manita , Brecht Rüdiger
Published: March 2024

Disentangling balanced eddy and unbalanced wave motions from the oceanic Sea Surface Height (SSH) fields, is a complex problem made even more challenging due to their non-linear interactions. The high resolution SSH snapshots from the recently launched Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) program will include scales down to O(10) km and resolve internal gravity waves (IGWs). At these scales the IGW signatures co-existing with those of the balanced motions pose two major challenges: (i) disentangling IGWs from balanced motions at the ocean surface, a regime with small scale separation and Rossby number near unity, and (ii) detecting IGW signals from two-dimensional snapshots. Here we address these challenges by using state-of-art flow decomposition methods combined with machine learning (ML) for a range of flow regimes.The currently available flow decomposition methods rely on three-dimensional flow fields and methods to separate these motions from two-dimensional snapshots are currently non-existent. Here we develop a novel method using supervised ML to extract IGWs from snapshots of a flow field and apply it to SWOT SHH field. The initial training and testing is done using Convolution Neural Network algorithms, often used for instance in image classification and pattern recognition problems. The neural network (NN) is trained to detect IGWs in different dynamical regimes based on the decomposition outputs of velocities and model-derived SSH fields from a suite of idealised ocean models outputs of rotating stratified flows with different flow decomposition methods: Higher order decomposition (Eden et al., 2019; Chouksey et al., 2022), Optimal Balance (Masur et al., 2020; Chouksey et al., 2023), and Time Averaged Optimal Balance (Rosenau et al., 2023). The trained NN predicts the flow components from SSH fields generated by the SWOT-simulator and SWOT observations. Analysis using TensorFlow in a shallow water model shows promising results in the prediction of balanced and unbalanced motions by the trained NN. This novel ML-based flow decomposition method is the first of its kind and will provide support for the retrieval of IGW signatures to the SWOT community. 
Topographic controls on lateral expansion and large-scale patterns of peatlands in the northern boreal landscape
Authors: Ehnvall Betty , Ratcliffe Joshua L. , Bohlin Elisabet , Nilsson Mats B. , Öquist Mats G. , Sponseller Ryan A. , Grabs Thomas
Published: March 2024

Despite their importance in global carbon and hydrogeochemical cycles, large-scale spatiotemporal analyses of the lateral expansion and landscape patterns of peatlands have been scarce. This has impeded our possibility to scale-up important peatland processes and properties, such as carbon accumulation to the landscape level. Here we combine landscape-level analysis of ten mire chronosequences to study lateral expansion rates, with an in-depth analysis of mire morphometry in a single chronosequence, to quantify controls on peatland distribution patterns. All ten chronosequences are located along the Swedish coast of the Bothnian Bay Lowlands, and span an age range of 0-9000 years of post-glacial land-uplift. Our findings challenge the widespread misconception of linear mire expansion, and showcase how the extent of entire mire populations evolved over the Holocene, and under the control of upland hydro-topography. Landscape wetness, for instance, favored more rapid lateral expansion rates in relatively young parts of the landscapes. Moreover, based on the in-depth analysis of over 3 000 peatlands at one chronosequence, we found time since land emergence an important control on peatland coverage, and on the formation of large mire complexes. Topography, on the other hand, controlled peatland fragmentation and number regardless of landscape age. Altogether, our results illustrate how time since initiation combined with topographic controls influenced lateral expansion, and present-day peatland distribution patterns in the northern boreal landscape.
Estimation of spectral amplification coefficients of seismic motion in Greece and comparison with the corresponding coefficients of  the “Eurocode 8”.
Authors: Chatzianagnostou Eirini , Theodoulidis Nikolaos , Grendas Ioannis , Hatzidimitriou Dimitris , Triantafyllidis Petros
Published: March 2024

In this study the critical role of spectral amplification factors (SAFs) in seismic hazard estimation is emphasized with respect to Seismic Regulations such as Eurocode 8. Thorough analysis is carried out of accelerogram recordings at six (6) selected  stations in Greece, identified as reference sites on “rock” formations. The primary focus is in developing Vsz profile models down to the seismological(H3000) and engineering bedrock (H800), based on single station ambient noise H/V spectral ratio and on the Diffuse Field Concept, by employing the respective “HV-inv” software tool (Garcia-Jerez et al. 2016). These profiles are compared with Vsz ones at the same sites as obtained by ambient noise array data using the Geopsy software tool.Furthermore, all spectra from the data recorded at of the aforementioned reference stations have been corrected for the horizontal and vertical site amplification, among others due to shallow weathered layers, by considering as engineering bedrock the H800 soil-rock interface. After thecorrection of spectra, a parametric Generalized Inversion Technique (GIT) is applied, to theoretically estimate properties of the factors influencing seismic-wave propagation (i.e.  source, path, and site factors). The site spectral amplification factors (SAFs) as estimated by GIT for more than 150 accelerometer stations in Greece, are grouped in site categories according to Eurocode 8. The SAFs estimated in this study, are compared with those proposed in Eurocode 8 and the results are presented and discussed in light of seismic hazard assessment in Greece.
Evolution of Microcracks in Damaged Natural Salt: Insights from 4D imaging
Authors: Ji Yuntao , Spiers Christopher , Hangx Suzanne , de Bresser Hans , Drury Martyn
Published: March 2024

Rocksalt formations are critical candidates for storing natural gas, hydrogen, compressed air energy, and radioactive waste. While pure, undisturbed rock salt deposits exhibit low porosity and impermeability when buried deeply, excavation leads to near-field microcracking and dilatancy in the salt, increasing porosity and permeability. Over time, the connectivity of brine- or water-vapor-filled microcrack networks in deformation-damaged salt is expected to decrease, partly due to dissolution-precipitation healing. In this study, we employ 4D (time-resolved 3D) microtomography to investigate the long-term evolution of dilated grain boundary and microcrack networks developed in deformation-damaged natural salt through brine-assisted processes. Our findings reveal substantial microstructural modification and healing occurring over periods ranging from days to a few months. Cracks and dilated grain boundaries undergo crystallographic faceting, necking, and migration, effectively "recrystallizing" the material and resulting in increased tortuosity and decreased connectivity of the crack network. Understanding the complex interplay between microcracking, healing, and permeability changes in deformation-damaged rock salt is of utmost importance for optimizing storage and disposal applications in geomechanics and physical chemistry. Our research contributes valuable insights to this field and informs the sustainable development and management of rock salt formations for diverse energy storage and waste management needs.
Quantifying baseline soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks to allow establishment of robust carbon accounting framework for sustainable agriculture in Ireland 
Authors: Castellon Meyrat Alex Martin , O'Sullivan Lilian , Wall David , Holloway Paul , Bondi Giulia
Published: March 2024

The soil organic carbon (SOC) and stocks mediate pivotal ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, climate regulation by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient cycling, provisioning habitats for organisms, water supply, and production of food, fiber and fuel. In agricultural systems, multiple factors including climate, soil types, vegetation, and land management affect the SOC dynamics. However, the coupled impacts among these factors on SOC stocks at farm and regional scale are still unknown. Therefore, it is crucial to expand our understanding of carbon cycle under different scenarios to develop more sustainable agro-ecosystems at national level. To achieve this, Teagasc is leading the Signpost Program a multiannual sampling campaign aiming to build an accurate baseline of SOC stocks across different soil types, land uses and management regimes in Ireland. This will help to understand the carbon dynamics in Irish agricultural soils, revealing the composition and stability of SOC in depth. To build the baseline for longtime soil carbon observatory, SOC data and soil health indicators for 148 soil profiles have been collected to date within 37 farms across the country. The method for site selection was based on combination of geographic information system (GIS) techniques and the catena approach, covering different climatic regions, soil types, and farming systems along the dominant hillslope within each farm. The soil samples were taken at each 15 cm increment up to 60 cm soil depth. The baseline data includes estimation of chemical properties such as potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) obtained by Morgan’s extraction; pH, total nitrogen (N), total carbon (C), and organic carbon (SOC); aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P). It also includes physical properties such as bulk density based on three replicates per each range of sampling depth and finally clay, silt, and sand content to be assessed by spectroscopy measurements. Finally, SOC stocks across P scenarios, C/N ratio, and C:N:P ratios are estimated to understand the capacity of soils to sequester carbon and the nutrients dynamics under different management regimes and soil types. The Signpost initiative emphasizes soil management practices with long-term benefits for the environment and expand knowledge to contribute to sequestering carbon, improving overall soil health to support progression of sustainable agricultural systems.
Influence of irrigation on soil moisture and evaporation based on Sentinel 1 backscatter observations and an evaporation retrieval model
Authors: Oztas Baris , Villanueva Oscar Baez , Petrova Irina Yu. , Bonte Olivier , Dari Jacopo , Raml Bernhard , Vreugdenhil Mariette , Wagner Wolfgang , Miralles Diego
Published: March 2024

Irrigation stands out as a primary driver influencing water dynamics over agricultural regions. Its estimation in time and space is complex, and satellite observations are only indirectly related to irrigation. Conveniently, Sentinel 1 SAR observations are sensitive soil moisture dynamics and irrigation, and can be used to estimate these dynamics at high resolution. The influence of irrigation on transpiration is however even more complicated to unravel from space observations. Current evaporation retrieval models are not designed to represent the influence of irrigation. However, the current availability of Sentinel 1 observations represents an opportunity to fill this gap.In this presentation, the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM) will be adapted to assimilate Sentinel 1 backscatter, using the Ebro river basin in Spain as a study case. While GLEAM's coarse resolution has to date hindered its application in the context of agricultural management, recent efforts during the Digital Twin Earth ESA initiative have yielded a GLEAM version at 1km resolution over the Mediterranean region that will be used in the context of this study. Here, we aim to leverage the high-resolution (1-km) GLEAM and explore its coupling to the Water Cloud Model to enable the forward data assimilation of Sentinel 1 backscatter. Several data assimilation techniques, such as Ensemble Kalman Filter, will be applied, seeking to find a method to estimate evaporation and soil moisture in irrigated land that can be transferable to basins where irrigation volumes are not available.
The role of volatiles in forming high-grade porphyry Cu deposits: learnings from apatite inclusions in zircon
Authors: Consuma Giulia , Kemp Anthony , Martin Laure , Tattich Brian , Hagemann Steffen , Fiorentini Marco
Published: March 2024

Volatiles, such as H2O, S, Cl and CO2, play a crucial role in regulating volcanic emissions and contribute significantly to the genesis of ore deposits. However, a comprehensive understanding of their role presents a significant challenge due to the intricate task of quantifying the volatile budget and assessing the timeframe linked to magma ascent and volatile exsolution in ore systems.Apatite, Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH), stands out as a well-established repository of various volatile species (H2O, CO2, S, halogens) in addition to numerous trace elements, making it an excellent mineral to study the volatile budget of magmas. When encapsulated in zircon, apatite inclusions can preserve a unique record of the abundance of volatile ore-forming constituents, eliminating potential influences from diffusion, degassing, and alteration effects associated with late-stage melts and/or hydrothermal fluids.Our investigation focuses on thoroughly examining such inclusions, alongside groundmass apatite from the Escondida porphyry Cu-Mo±Au district in Northern Chile, which represents one of the most significant high-grade porphyry copper districts in the world. The ore-forming magmatism of the Escondida district took place in the framework of the protracted late Eocene-Oligocene arc magmatic activity, favouring the emplacement of multiphase porphyry stocks.To resolve the volatile budget of the melt/fluid responsible for the Cu-Mo±Au mineralization in Escondida, we selected a suit of minimally altered samples from mineralized felsic-intermediate igneous intrusions as well as barren counterparts that are spatially associated with the copper mineralization but do not contain metals in sufficient quantity to be extracted and sold at a profit.The employed multi-microanalytical approach on apatite (SEM-BSE-CL imaging, EPMA, δ34S by SIMS) and the host zircon (Ti-in-zircon geothermometry, U-Pb geochronology), allowed us to determine: a) the concentrations of halogens in the melt, which contribute to our understanding of the initial, optimal volatile composition for high-grade copper mineralization; b) the pathway and relative timing of volatile exsolution during the magmatic-hydrothermal stage; c) the hydrothermal volatile record of apatite associated with the mineralization stage.Our work provides new insights into the role of volatiles in arc magmatic settings, demonstrating their potential in shaping economically viable deposits, a crucial cornerstone for a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.    
Evidence of past anaerobic oxidation of methane from coastal sediments
Authors: Huang Shuya , Zhang Xia , Lin Chunming
Published: March 2024

Coastal systems are particularly sensitive to climate divers such as sea-level rise and environmental evolution, playing important roles in greenhouse gas sink and carbon sequestration. Despite the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) consumes 90% of global methane (CH4) produced by marine sediments, and AOM rates are also considerable in freshwater environments, most attention was paid to AOM in surface sediments, and little work has addressed the potential occurrence of AOM from coastal systems in the geological past and its interaction with climate change.A 60-m-long sediment core was investigated at the Qiantang River (QR) mouth, eastern China. The QR incised valley underlies the main part of the modern QR estuary, its sediment fill recorded the complete postglacial transgressive-regressive cycle in response to Holocene sea-level rise. Combining sedimentary Fe and P speciation with the distribution of vivianite and 34S-enriched pyrite, the sulfate-driven AOM (SD-AOM) was proved to occur at the depth interval of 38.8-39.6 m, a transition zone between two stratigraphic units (paleo-estuarine and offshore shallow marine). The intense and sustained SD-AOM is likely triggered by the rapid sea-level jump and plays a critical role in CH4 and P sink, which gives us a new perspective on understanding the elemental cycling and climate change in coastal systems in the past.
In-flight and ground-based measurements of nitrogen oxide emissions from latest generation jet engines and 100% sustainable aviation fuel
Authors: Roiger Anke , Harlass Theresa , Braeuer Tiziana , Schlager Hans , Schumann Ulrich , Sauer Daniel , Voigt Christiane , Doernbrack Andreas , Maerkl Raphael , Dischl Rebecca , Schripp Tobias , Bondorf Linda , Grein Tobias , Gauthier Maxime , Renard Charles , Luff Darren , Johnson Mark , Madden Paul , Swann Peter , Sallinen Reetu
Published: March 2024

Nitrogen oxides, emitted from air traffic, are of concern due to their impact on climate by changing atmospheric ozone and methane levels. Using the DLR research aircraft Falcon, total reactive nitrogen (NOy) measurements were carried out at high altitudes to characterize emissions in the fresh aircraft exhaust from the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engine aboard the long-range Airbus A350-941 aircraft. The impact of different engine thrust settings, monitored in terms of combustor inlet temperature, pressure, and engine fuel flow, was tested for three different fuel types under similar atmospheric conditions: Jet A-1, for the first time a 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and a blend of both fuels. In addition, a range of combustor temperatures were tested during ground emission measurements. We confirm that the NOx emission index increases with increasing combustion temperature, pressure and fuel flow. We find that as expected, the fuel type has no measurable effect on the NOx emission index. These measurements are used to evaluate cruise NOx emission index estimates from three engine emission models. Our measurements thus help to evaluate the ground to cruise correlation of current engine models, serve as input for climate modelling, and extend the extremely sparse data set on in-flight aircraft NOx emissions to newer engine generations.
Pseudobrookite-based ceramics with low thermal conductivity prepared from Fe-Ti-rich heavy mineral sand concentrate
Authors: Hanžel Darko , Daneu Nina , Radoševič Tina , Bernik Slavko , Mazaj Matjaž , Maček Kržmanc Marjeta , Verhovšek Dejan , Kocjan Andraž , Vrabec Mirijam , Spreitzer Matjaž , Guilmeau Emmanuel
Published: March 2024

The potential of using natural Fe-Ti-rich heavy mineral sand, as an abundant, inexpensive, and ecologically acceptable raw material for the processing of pseudobrookite-based ceramics for thermoelectric applications is presented. The as-received raw powder was used in untreated form or after pre-oxidation at 600°C, 700°C, and 800°C for 1h in an air. The starting powders were consolidated into dense compacts via conventional solid-state sintering or spark plasma sintering. The phase composition, ferrous:ferric ratio and microstructural characteristics of the powders and sintered compacts were investigated by XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy and SEM. The samples with a higher fraction of pseudobrookite exhibit relatively low thermal conductivity ranging between 2 and 3 W m-1 K-1, which is promising for practical thermoelectric applications. The Seebeck coefficient depends on the ferrous:ferric ratio and is rather low, leading to low power factor values for all the samples which will have to be improved for practical applications.
Demonstrating the accessibility of Space with SBUDNIC
Authors: Bigagli Lorenzo ,   SBUDNIC Team (2)
Published: March 2024

SBUDNIC is a student-managed project that demonstrated the potential for efficient, inexpensive, open-source satellite design and production by (1) launching a 3U CubeSat with a reproducible parts cost of 6.210 USD; (2) completing design, development, and testing within 14 months; and (3) doing this in a team of under 30 undergraduate and graduate students with no prior Space systems experience.SBUDNIC’s low unit cost precluded the use of most Space-qualified components, leading to novel subsystem designs that deviated from industry practices. A particularly important contribution to Space technology was a Kapton drag sail designed to stabilize SBUDNIC and accelerate its deorbiting.Over SBUDNIC's lifetime, the team used publicly available positioning data (collected by the United States Space Force, and as compiled and shared on space-track.org) to monitor the trajectory of SBUDNIC and the other 3U satellites that launched with it. SBUDNIC's reentry from 550 km was swift, especially in comparison to the 3U reference satellites: it occurred on August 10, 2023, after only 441 days in Space. By comparison, the orbit of the 3U reference satellites decayed around 50 kilometers over that same time span. SBUDNIC's rapid decay therefore suggests that the drag sail was effective and functioned to purpose. SBUDNIC’s deorbit was 95% faster than anticipated by pre-launch engineering simulations, suggesting a far-higher-than-average atmospheric density at its altitude, likely influenced by heightened solar activity, although further investigation might identify additional contributing factors to such accelerated descent.SBUDNIC's key goal of making Space exploration more accessible is not limited to the availability of the parts used. The entire satellite project follows the Open Architecture philosophy, and significant effort was made to engage student and hobbyist communities with the mission. The timely program execution, launch, and subsequent deorbit of SBUDNIC demonstrated techniques for manufacture and design that can facilitate low-cost, short-timeline satellite programs for many applications. Additionally, SBUDNIC's orbital decay data sets, though unintended, offer scientific value for Space Weather studies, underscoring the potential of LEO satellites in understanding geospace dynamics.The SBUDNIC project was a collaboration between the National Research Council of Italy and the Brown University School of Engineering, with support from D-Orbit, AMSAT-Italy, La Sapienza-University of Rome and NASA Rhode Island Space Grant.
EFECT: A tool for pore pressure projection and data management
Authors: Ziebarth Malte , Drews Michael , Duschl Florian , Shatyrbayeva Indira , Heidbach Oliver , Müller Birgit
Published: March 2024

Advance information about local pore pressure distribution is crucial for the drilling of deep geothermal wells. Incorrect adjustment of the drilling mud density leads to drastic differences between wellbore pressure and the ambient pore pressure. Large pressure differences may result in severe drilling problems such as kicks, wellbore instabilities and subsequent partial or full loss of the previous borehole progress. In particular for small geothermal ventures on a communal level, this loss may pose a significant financial risk.We present current work on EFECT, a tool that helps to organize existing pore pressure measurement data and to generate geologically informed pore pressure estimates based on these existing data. EFECT integrates geographic information system (GIS) components that allow the user to explore pore pressure data sets and select offset wells for a planned well location. As a first step, the regional aggregate pore pressure model shows general features of the regional pore pressure with depth. The core feature of EFECT is the projection of the offset wells’ pore pressure to the target well based on matching stratigraphic units. Two projection algorithms are provided that assume either (1) overpressure or (2) vertical effective stress is constant between target and offset wells.EFECT is part of a larger effort to develop a global pore pressure database with a standardized quality ranking. The data from this database, consisting of pore pressure measurements and indicators such as well tests, kicks and mud weight data, provide a standard that users may augment with their own data. This standard data set can be particularly useful for small geothermal ventures. We illustrate EFECT using data from a precursor of the global pore pressure database covering the SE German part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin (Bavarian Molasse Basin).
The first glaciers at Ivrea, southern Alpine Foreland 
Authors: Guha Shantamoy , Valla Pierre , Yla-Mella Lotta , Knudsen Mads Faurschou , Gianotti Franco , Monegato Giovanni , Serra Elena , Stübner Konstanze , Lachner Johannes , Rugel Georg , Jansen John D.
Published: March 2024

Pleistocene Glaciations and their effects on Alpine topography have drawn scientific attention since well before the days of Penck and Brückner (1909), although this indomitable pair left a strong legacy to build upon. The onset of large-scale glaciations in the Alps relative to the growth of the other great Northern Hemisphere ice sheets remains a first-order question in the Quaternary sciences. Previous chronologies from the southern Alpine Foreland based on magnetostratigraphy (Muttoni et al. 2003) and from the northern Alpine Foreland based on 10Be-26Al burial dating (Knudsen et al. 2020) converge around 1.0–0.9 Ma, during the Middle Pleistocene Transition (~1.2–0.8 Ma).Extensive moraine complexes in the southern Alpine Foreland, such as those at Ivrea, offer a valuable opportunity to determine when glaciers advanced beyond the Alpine rangefront for the first time. The Ivrea Morainic Amphitheatre comprises interbedded glacial tills at the outlet of the Aosta Valley in NW Italy (Gianotti et al. 2015). The oldest tills have been attributed by previous workers to a stage before the Matuyama-Brunhes magnetic polarity reversal (~ 0.8 Ma).We apply 10Be-26Al burial dating to the oldest glacigenic deposits at Ivrea, utilizing the Monte Carlo-based inversion model, P-PINI (Particle-Pathway Inversion of Nuclide Inventories). Our preliminary results indicate that the first major glacial advance occurred ~ 1.3–1.1 Ma. We combine these analyses with detrital thermochronology measurements on pebbles collected from preglacial sediments at Ivrea. These pebbles indicate provenance from the Austroalpine Massifs and an absence of the External Massifs (Mont Blanc granites)-in contrast to the present-day Aosta Valley sediments, which show the cooling signature of the Mont Blanc granites. We reflect on the coincident timing of the exhumation of the External Massifs and the earliest large-scale Alpine glaciations at the onset of the Middle Pleistocene Transition.
Towards an online GIS platform to enhance data and research sharing among meteorologists, natural hazard experts, governments, and the public
Authors: Wang Xuetong , Beck Hylke , Lombardo Luigi
Published: March 2024

The “open era” of climate science is marked by an abundance of datasets across various environmental variables. While there are many evaluation studies, researchers and practitioners often still struggle to select the most suitable dataset or product for their study. The year 2023 marked the hottest year on record, resulting in a series of destructive hazard events, including heatwaves, wildfires, and floods. These conditions underscore the urgent need for enhanced preparedness in disaster risk reduction (DRR). In the field of natural hazards, environmental data are crucial for building more accurate models. We will take 'P' (precipitation) as an example in the presentation, as it's a major trigger for multiple hazards such as floods and landslides. There are dozens of publicly freely available global gridded P products available (including satellite, (re)analysis, gauge, and combinations thereof), but estimates  from different products at the same time and location can differ significantly. Currently, there is no effective platform that facilitates the sharing of quantitative information on the relative strengths and weaknesses of these P products between meteorologists and other stakeholders. To address this challenge, we propose the development of a web-based GIS platform which allows users to interactively explore the globe, click on different locations, and access various statistics and databases. Multiple P products and evaluation statistics can be accessed via the platform. We hope this platform will host multiple hazards-related datasets, fostering better collaboration between scientists in the fields of DRR and meteorology. Initially focusing on P data based on our expertise in precipitation and landslide hazard modeling, we aim to expand this resource by involving more scientists from related fields. Additionally, we plan to integrate a ChatGPT-based extension to streamline data access and enhance efficiency for researchers, practitioners, and laypeople. We want to contribute to the collective effort in creating a dynamic, accessible repository of resources and initiatives for the wider geoscience community.
Speciated aerosol water diagnostics in the global Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) Integrated Forecast System (IFS-COMPO)
Authors: Metzger Swen , Rémy Samuel , Williams Jason E. , Huijnen Vincent , Bingen Christine , Minganti Daniele , Chabrillat Simon , Flemming Johannes
Published: March 2024

The ECMWF’s Integrated Forecasting System (IFS-COMPO) is the European global atmospheric model used to provide global analyses and forecasts of atmospheric composition, including aerosols as well as reactive trace gases and greenhouse gases in both the troposphere and stratosphere within the framework of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).Recently the Equilibrium Simplified Aerosol Model for Climate version 12 (EQSAM4Clim-v12) has been implemented in IFS-COMPO and will be used in cycle 49R1 to compute the inorganic gas/aerosol equilibrium partitioning involving major ammonium, sulphate and nitrate compounds, i.e., NH3/NH4+, H2SO4/HSO4-/SO42- and HNO3/NO3-, as well as the non-volatile mineral cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+. The composition and aerosol water mass (AW) is calculated by EQSAM4Clim through the neutralization of anions by cations, which yields numerous salt compounds. In EQSAM4Clim, all salt compounds (except CaSO4) can partition between the liquid and solid aerosol phase, depending on temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), AW and the T-dependent RH of Deliquescence of (a) single solute compound solutions (RHD) and (b) of mixed salt solutions (MRHD).The possibility to store the speciated AW from each EQSAM4Clim salt compound has been implemented in IFS-COMPO in an experimental version. Additionally, the associated compound’s growth factors (GF) and various aerosol properties have been added to the IFS-COMPO output diagnostics. Here, we show that results related to the speciated AW and GFs as computed by EQSAM4Clim-v12 in IFS-COMPO based on RHD compare well with the corresponding lookup table values of IFS-COMPO that are currently used operationally. The speciated aerosol water diagnostics based on MRHD will be used to improve the aerosol optical depth (AOD) calculations. Differences between an AW and GF based AOD coupling will be discussed.
The bigger peat picture: Spatio-temporal modelling of peatland water table depth using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, DSM, and field collected data.
Authors: Toca Linda , Gimona Alessandro , Donaldson-Selby Gillian , Smart Catherine , Sideris Konstantinos , Ball Jonathan , Artz Rebekka
Published: March 2024

High water table depths (WTD) and water-saturated soil are important elements for peatlands to remain healthy and are crucial targets in peatland restoration projects. Recent studies have suggested that Earth Observation data might be applicable for this task, but proposed models often lack either the spatial extension or the temporal dimension. This study has been developing a spatio-temporal model of peatland water table depth by combining time series of satellite data, namely Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2; aerial data, namely Getmapping Digital Surface Model (DSM); and field collected water table depth measurements to provide the ability to evaluate WTD changes both spatially and over time. Water table depth measurements were collected from 59 loggers between February and September of 2018, with loggers covering peatlands in various condition clustered around four research sites in the North of Scotland. NDVI, NDWI and OPTRAM indices were derived from reconstructed cloud-free imagery of Sentinel-2 at 5-day intervals. Similarly, VV, VH, and incidence angle values were obtained from Sentinel-1 imagery at the same time interval. Finally, a Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) was calculated using GetMapping DSM data. A Generalised Additive Model (GAM) was then fitted using all above mentioned inputs with 70% training and 30% testing split method. The model showed a good overall fit (R2=0.59 for training data; R2=0.49 for testing data), with optical covariates outperforming the radar covariates. The model was then applied spatially using the R terra package, providing raster imagery of predicted WTD for 24 unique dates with clear distinction in wetness both over different seasons, and spatially in the landscape.Following this successful application, work is in progress to test the model on additional sites across Scotland and on European level to further test the applicability of the model to a wider range of northern peatlands.
Towards a better understanding of the constraints and biases of atmospheric methane inversions
Authors: Dasgupta Bibhasvata , Menoud Malika , van der Veen Carina , Maisch Ceres , France James , Platt Stephen , Myhre Cathrine , Levin Ingeborg , Moossen Heiko , Michel Sylvia , Pandey Sudhanshu , Houwelling Sander , Warwick Nicola , Nisbet Euan , Fujita Ryo , Roeckmann Thomas
Published: March 2024

Atmospheric models, ranging from simple box models to advanced 3-D transport models, play a crucial role in interpreting observations related to atmospheric pollution and global warming. Their ubiquitous use has provided valuable insights, yet understanding the trade-offs and benefits of model complexity requires careful consideration, as the specific limitations and advantages depend on the application at hand. In an attempt to monitor atmospheric levels of methane with a 2-box inversion model, powered by global CAMS inventories for 5 major emission categories namely Agriculture, Wetlands, Pyrogenic, Fossils and Waste, sink specific lifetimes for troposphere, stratosphere and soil, hemispheric gradients and 40 years of polar observations of methane mole fraction and isotope composition from 10 stations, we identified several caveats of the methane budget. This work investigates the production and consumption of methane at source and sinks respectively, by the optimization of either CH4 emissions exclusively or both emissions and the isotopic signatures from the five emission categories. In addition, the significance of model parameters such as source isotopic composition, sink kinetic isotopic effects, errors associated with emissions and isotopic measurements, as well as model spin-up/spin-down criteria and the mutual controls of the tracers are evaluated to understand the dynamics of the atmospheric methane cycle. Incorporation of δ2H alongside methane mole fraction (χ(CH4)) and δ13C into inversion models has improved our understanding of the methane sources and sinks significantly, however the simplifications and assumptions need to be tested for model sensitivity to yield more accurate results as well as build more robust models. 
Resolving the Slip-Rate Inconsistency of the Northern Dead Sea Fault 
Authors: Jonsson Sigurjon , Li Xing , Liu Shaozhuo , Ma Zhangfeng , Castro-Perdomo Nicolas , Cesca Simone , Masson Frédéric , Klinger Yann
Published: March 2024

Geological studies, GPS observations, and plate motion models consistently show that the slip rate for most of the Dead Sea Fault (DSF) is 4-5 mm/year. However, for the northernmost DSF, just south of where the 2023 Kharamanmaraş earthquakes occurred, results differ, with GPS results from Syria (from before 2010) indicating a lower rate of only 2-3 mm/year. Conventional InSAR observations have not provided useful information about the present-day strain accumulation on the DSF, due to the fault’s north-south orientation and the insensitivity of InSAR to north-south displacements. Therefore, to study this slip-rate inconsistency and overcome limited access to the northern DSF in Syria, we employed time-series analysis of along-track burst-overlap interferometric (BOI) observations from 2014-2021 Sentinel-1 data to retrieve the interseismic horizontal fault-parallel displacements in the burst-overlap areas. Elastic modeling based on the BOI velocities indicates the fault slip rate decreases from ~5 mm/year in the south to only 2.8 mm/year at the northern DSF in Syria, in agreement with the GPS observations. Using what we know about earthquake clustering statistics on the DSF, we also demonstrate that the higher paloseismological slip rate on the northern DSF, which primarily comes from offset markers in the past 3500 years, could by chance be inflated by earthquake clustering. Furthermore, we suggest that the northern Sinai plate, west of the northern DSF is its own micro-plate (Latakia-Tartus plate), separated from the main Sinai plate in the south by a diffuse offshore plate boundary zone between Lebanon the Cyprus arc. This interpretation is supported by elevated offshore seismicity and the several moment tensor solutions we could determine. Together, our results resolve the long-standing slip-rate inconsistency along the northern DSF and indicate lower earthquake hazard for that part of the fault than previously thought.