bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Sea Ice to Icy Shells: Modeling the Dielectric Properties of Ice-Brine Mixtures
Authors: Wolfenbarger Natalie , Schroeder Dustin , Blankenship Donald
Published: March 2024

The search for habitable worlds within our solar system is guided by liquid water. Evidence for global, salty oceans hidden beneath the icy shells of moons in the Jovian system has motivated two upcoming missions: ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice), launched April 2023, and NASA’s Europa Clipper, launching October 2024. Both spacecraft are equipped with ice-penetrating radar instruments, the Radar for Icy Moon Exploration (RIME) and the Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON), that will transmit radio waves into the subsurface and record energy reflected from interfaces defined by contrasts in dielectric properties, such as the ice-ocean interface.The ocean is presumed to be the most extensive liquid water reservoir beneath the surface. However, various ice-water interfaces could exist throughout the ice shell. Dynamic processes such as impacts, convection, tidal heating, strike-slip faulting, and basal fracturing have been hypothesized to influence melt generation or inject ocean water in the ice shell interior. Even in the absence of these dynamic processes, impurities within the ice allow liquid water to be thermodynamically stable as brine at temperatures below the freezing point. In ice shells with non-zero bulk salinity, transitions from solid ice to ice-brine mixtures, or eutectic interfaces, invariably precede the ice-ocean interface. Understanding the detectability and radiometric character of eutectic interfaces is therefore a critical step towards interpreting the data collected by these ice-penetrating radar instruments.In this work, we review measurements and models of the dielectric properties of sea ice and marine ice on Earth. We use these measurements and models as a foundation to propose a path forward for modeling the dielectric properties of eutectic interfaces within an ice shell. We assess how the ice shell's bulk salinity and the thickness of the thermally conductive layer impact the detectability and radiometric characteristics of eutectic interfaces. Our discussion includes how future laboratory measurements of existing terrestrial ice samples coupled to measurements of proxy samples consistent with off-world ocean sources can inform and refine our proposed framework.
Permafrost is disappearing at the Mount Zugspitze (D/A): challenges and results after 10 years of monthly geoelectrical measurements.
Authors: Scandroglio Riccardo , Limbrock Jonas K. , Krautblatter Michael
Published: March 2024

Alpine permafrost degradation boosted by climate change is recorded worldwide, posing a significant threat to slope stability. A comprehensive assessment of this risk necessitates continuous monitoring of the rate of permafrost changes, for example, with electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Although ERT has been employed in more than 1000 studies worldwide to detect permafrost, only a few sites are monitored with high temporal resolution and present more than a decade of uninterrupted observations.Whitin the Kammstollen tunnel (2750 m asl, Mount Zugspitze, DE/AT), geoelectrical tomographies of the north face have been conducted since 2007. In the last ten years, an extensive dataset has been collected monthly employing consistent procedures and permanent electrodes. Recently, we updated the inversion methods to the most recent standards, and after reprocessing old data, we precisely quantified the evolution of permafrost in the last decade. In line with the observed increase in air temperature, the permanently frozen area shows a gradual but consistent reduction during the summer months, with the record minimum value recorded at the end of summer 2023. This study highlights the limits of laboratory calibrations, especially in the presence of different degrees of rock fragmentation (fault zone). Further, we show the influence of error models on inversion results and on the quantification of resistivity changes, confirming the need for repeated estimation of measurement errors. The unique geoelectrical dataset here presented, bolstered by many simultaneous supplementary information, contributes to better defining the role of geoelectrical monitoring for understanding the thermal responses of alpine permafrost environments to present and future climate-change-induced stresses.
In-situ Observations Over Tropical Cyclone Hinnamnor Show Large-Amplitude Gravity Wave Disturbances That Are Underestimated in Reanalysis
Authors: KleinStern Carly , Clouser Benjamin , Bui Thaopaul , Dean-day Jonathan , Moyer Elisabeth
Published: March 2024

Tropical cyclones (TCs) induce gravity waves which radiate outwards and upwards in concentric rings from the core, or spiral formations. These waves deposit momentum at higher altitudes and create temperature fluctuations that can control local cirrus formation. The induced cold temperature fluctuation from the cold phase of the gravity wave can induce relative humidities above the threshold needed for condensate formation. However, TC-induced gravity waves are mainly known from simulations and satellite observations, which are unable to fully capture the fine scale structure of the perturbations. An overflight of TC Hinnamnor during the 2022 ACCLIP campaign provides new, high resolution data. We find a gravity wave amplitude of 4.7 K (centerline to peak) above the TC at 87 mb (~17.6 km). ERA5 reanalysis underestimates the amplitude of the TC-induced gravity waves: amplitudes in ERA5 at 70 mb are more than three times smaller (1.3 K), and the frequency is two times larger, than in-situ measurements. The in-situ-measured amplitude over Hinnamnor is large but not unprecedented for stratospheric gravity waves. We show that in ERA5, TCs regularly produce gravity waves, albeit their amplitudes are underestimated, and that TC Hinnamnor has temperature variations representative of other TCs. Underestimates of gravity wave amplitude can result in an underestimate of cirrus formation in the cold phase of the wave under appropriate conditions.
Evaluating the JAXA GOSAT CO2 retrieval product using NASA CO2 retrieval products and NOAA Carbon Tracker
Authors: Suto Hiroshi , Kikuchi Nobuhiro , Shiomi Kei , Oda Tomohiro , Tashima Tomoko , Kataoka Fumie , Kowata Kenji , Kuze Akihiko
Published: March 2024

Space-based Greenhouse Gas (GHG) observations done by Japan’s Greenhouse Gas Observing Satellite (GOSAT) and NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) missions have collected long term and spatially dense CO2 data globally. The satellite GHG data have contributed to the monitoring of global CO2 concentrations and the detection of their regional and local changes. Given the high stake of the climate and environment applications, the evaluation of the space-based GHG data is a critical task. Space-based GHG data are often compared to data collected at ~ 30 Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) sites for examining potential biases and errors. Bias-correction methods are often developed based on the comparison to the TCCON data. While satellite GHG data products often show good agreement with TCCON data, we still see regional disagreements among different GHG data. We argue that the TCCON-based evaluation is powerful, but limited, and thus further evaluations of satellite GHG products are necessary. Recently, JAXA developed a new GOSAT GHG product named JAXA/GHG product. Our retrieval product includes total and partial column concentration values of CO2, CH4, H2O as well as solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF). The JAXA/GHG GOSAT CO2 product is compared to NASA’s Atmospheric Carbon Observations from Space (ACOS)-GOSAT L2 full physics retrieval data, NASA’s OCO-2 satellite-based L2 full physics retrieval data, as well as simulated CO2 from the Carbon Tracker global atmospheric inversion system developed by NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory. Our XCO2 comparisons with other satellite products show regional discrepancies over the Pacific Ocean, central Africa, south-east Asia (land), and Amazon areas. The results suggest that these discrepancies could be attributable to retrieved surface pressure and aerosol properties. We also compare near surface and upper tropospheric partial CO2 retrieved values to Carbon Tracker simulated values. These comparisons show the systematic positive discrepancy (~2-3 ppm) in JAXA’s near surface (surface to ~ 4km) CO2 concentration over the oceans against Carbon Tracker.
Air Quality Changes in Lahore, One of the Most Polluted City Worldwide During COVID 19 Lockdowns
Authors: Karim Irfan , Rappenglueck Bernhard
Published: March 2024

Lahore with an annual average of PM2.5 concentrations of 86.5 μg/m3 in 2021 was ranked among the top polluted cities of the world (https://www.iqair.com/us/world-air-quality-ranking). The COVID-19 pandemic altered the human mobility and economic activities immensely, as authorities enforced unprecedented lock down regulations. In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a complete lockdown was observed between 24 March – 31 May, 2020 in Pakistan. This paper aims at investigating the PM2.5, AOD and column amounts of six trace gases (NO2, SO2, CH4, HCHO, C2H2O2, and O3) by comparing periods of reduced emissions during lockdown periods with reference periods without emission reductions over Lahore, Pakistan. HYSPLIT cluster trajectory analyses were performed, which confirmed similar meteorological flow conditions during lockdown and reference periods. This provides confidence that any change in air quality conditions would be due to changes in human activities and associated emissions. The results show about 38% reduction in ambient surface PM2.5 levels during the lockdown period. This change also positively correlated with MODISDB and AERONETAOD data with a decrease of AOD by 42% and 35%, respectively. Reductions for tropospheric columns of NO2 and SO2 were about 20% and 50%, respectively during a semi lockdown period, while no reduction in the CH4, C2H2O2, HCHO and O3 levels occurred. During the lockdown period NO2, O3 and CH4 were about 40%, 45% and 25% lower, respectively, but no reduction in SO2, C2H2O2 and HCHO levels were noticed compared to the reference lockdown period for Lahore. HYSPLIT cluster trajectory analysis revealed the greatest impact on Lahore air quality through local emissions and regional transport from the east (agricultural burning and industry).
Carbonate deposits from historical aqueducts in urban area: an archive for human impact on water management and quality
Authors: Pons-Branchu Edwige , Branchu Philippe , Dapoigny Arnaud , Douville Eric , Dumont Emmanuel , Fernandez Mathieu , Progam Alexino , Jean Soro Liliane
Published: March 2024

We have developed a methodology for constructing diachronic views of the chemical state of water that infiltrates soils and forms perched aquifers in the north and south of Paris (France). These waters have been drained for centuries and distributed by historic underground aqueducts. The CaCO3 layers deposited by these waters in the aqueducts have been studied.The first challenge is to construct chronologies of these deposits, using uranium-thorium or 14C chronometers and/or lamina counting.Past water quality has been reconstructed using trace elements measured along the growth axis of CaCO3 deposits, combined with isotope analysis (lead, sulfur and strontium) and, in some cases, carbon isotopes.With this methodology, we demonstrate that in Paris, over the last 300 years, the transformation of land use is the most important factor affecting water quality, not only through the presence or absence of building industries, but also through the use of certain materials for construction or embankment. We use this methodology for the study of ancient aqueducts in archaeological sites to discuss water provenance and quality.
Evaluating physics-based representations of hydrological systems through hybrid models and information theory
Authors: Álvarez Chaves Manuel , Acuña Espinoza Eduardo , Ehret Uwe , Guthke Anneli
Published: March 2024

Hydrological models play a crucial role in understanding and predicting streamflow. Recently, hybrid models, combining both physical principles and data-driven approaches, have emerged as promising tools to extract insights into system functioning and increases in model predictive skill which are beyond traditional models.However, the study by Acuña Espinoza et al. (2023) has raised the question whether the flexible data-driven component in a hybrid model might "overwrite" the interpretability of its physics-based counterpart. On the example of conceptual hydrological models with dynamic parameters tuned by LSTM networks, they showed that even in a case where the physics-based representation of the hydrological system is chosen to be nonsensical on purpose, the addition of the flexible data-driven component can lead to a well-performing hybrid model. This compensatory behavior highlights the need for a thorough evaluation of physics-based representations in hybrid hydrological models, i.e., hybrid models should be inspected carefully to understand why and how they predict (so well).In this work, we provide a method to support this inspection: we objectively assess and quantify the contribution of the data-driven component to the overall hybrid model performance. Using information theory and the UNITE toolbox (https://github.com/manuel-alvarez-chaves/unite_toolbox), we measure the entropy of the (hidden) state-space in which the data-driven component of the hybrid model moves. High entropy in this setting means that the LSTM is doing a lot of "compensatory work", and hence alludes to an inadequate representation of the hydrological system in the physics-based component of the hybrid model. By comparing this measure among a set of alternative hybrid models with different physics-based representations, an order in the degree of realism of the considered representations can be established. This is very helpful for model evaluation and improvement as well as system understanding.To illustrate our findings, we present examples from a synthetic case study where a true model does exist. Subsequently, we validate our approach in the context of regional predictions using CAMELS-GB data. This analysis highlights the importance of using diverse representations within hybrid models to ensure the pursuit of "the right answers for the right reasons". Ultimately, our work seeks to contribute to the advancement of hybrid modeling strategies that yield reliable and physically reasonable insights into hydrological systems.ReferencesAcuña Espinoza, E., Loritz, R., Álvarez Chaves, M., Bäuerle, N., & Ehret, U. (2023). To bucket or not to bucket? analyzing the performance and interpretability of hybrid hydrological models with dynamic parameterization. EGUsphere, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1980
Interpretation of low-frequency DAS data acquired during hydraulic fracturing treatments based on geomechanical models
Authors: van der Baan Mirko , Ortega Perez Ana
Published: March 2024

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is a technology that enables continuous, realtime measurements along the entire length of a fiber optic cable. The low-frequency band of DAS can be used to analyze hydraulic fracture geometry and growth. In this study, the low-frequency strain waterfall plots with their corresponding pumping curves were analyzed to obtain information on fracture azimuth, propagation speed, number of fractures created in each stage, and re-stimulation of pre-existing fractures. We also use a simple geomechanical model, described in full detail in Ortega Perez and Van der Baan (Geophysics, 2024), to predict fracture growth rates while accounting for changes in treatment parameters. As expected, the hydraulic fractures principally propagate perpendicular to the treated well, that is, parallel to the direction of maximum horizontal stress. During many stages, multiple frac hits are visible indicating that multiple parallel fractures are created and/or re-opened. Secondary fractures deviate towards the heel of the well, likely due to the cumulative stress shadow caused by previous and current stages. The presence of heart-shaped tips reveals that some stress and/or material barrier is overcome by the hydraulic fracture. The lobes of the heart are best explained by the shear stresses at 45-degree angles from the fracture tip instead of the tensile stresses directly ahead of the tip. Antennas ahead of the fracture hits indicate the re-opening of pre-existing fractures. Tails in the waterfall plots provide information on the continued opening, closing, and interaction of the hydraulic fractures within the fracture domain and stage domain corridors. Analysis of the low-frequency DAS plots thus provides in-depth insights into the rock deformation and rock-fluid interaction processes occurring close to the observation well.
Ecological Accommodation of Soil Hydraulic Properties Driven by Industrial Reforestation in Central Chile 
Authors: Tippett-Vannini Matthew , Selker John
Published: March 2024

Soil hydraulic properties (SHP) are among the indicators of the diversity and health of an ecosystem and are commonly measured by two criteria: infiltration and water retention capacity. By “Ecological Accommodation” we mean the sum biological and non-biological processes which modify the SHP, including bioturbation and the accumulation of organic matter.
 
Central Chile is at the tail end of massive land use/land cover transition from several hundred years of wheat cultivation (annually tilled) to short rotation (25-30 yr) silviculture. This allows for neighboring assessment of soil impacts of transitioning sites from cultivated to uncultivated production as a function of time.  Further, the region’s climate geography (a North-South primary axis) allows us to view the soil health impacts of this change in planting along a precipitation gradient (700-1700 mm/yr) to help tease-out the impact of climate on temporal dynamics of soil properties.
 
We measured infiltration in five recently transitioned first rotation locations along this precipitation gradient.  Sampling plots were established for continuous wheat, early-, mid-, and late-stage pine plantations, and Chilean Native Forest. With preliminary analysis of the dry season measurements, we found transitions from wheat to silviculture saw an initial decrease in infiltration (~30% over 10 yrs); however, over time (~30 years) infiltration in the plantations approached that of the Native Forest (increasing by ~500%). These findings suggest that approximately three decades are required for the soil characteristics to transition between annually tilled versus untilled properties (tending to increase infiltration capacity).
Structural Evolution of the Black Sea Basin Using Sectioned Computational Models
Authors: Kaykun Armagan , Pysklywec Russell
Published: March 2024

The tectonic formation of the Black Sea Basin (BSB) has been an ongoing debate: primarily, there is still not a consensus on whether the basin was rifted as one east-west oriented basin, or as two separate basins named Eastern and Western Black Sea Basins. These interpretations are based largely on deep-sea drilling projects and a growing dataset of seismic information (of variable access for academic use). Supporting the two-basin idea is the semi-parallel ridge and depression geometry of the BSB with NW-SE orientation in the Eastern portion of the Black Sea Basin; and W-E orientation in the Western portion of the Black Sea Basin. On the other hand, interpretations for a single basin are supported by the regional structure of the BSB being aligned with the geodynamic models of the basins rifted as a result of slab roll-back. Complicating the understanding of the basin extension and development is the inferred tectonic inversion to shortening in the region starting in the Late Eocene.To propose a model to answer ongoing debates, we interpreted 24 long-offset 2D seismic lines acquired by GWL in 2011 in a structural geology context. We focused on the structural elements such as big scale normal faults, reverse faults, and tectonic inversion features to create a basis for our 2D computational models for both east and west portions of the BSB. One important finding was to determine the null points on basin bounding faults where the extensional tectonic movements stopped, and the compressional tectonic movements started. Utilizing the ASPECT geodynamic code, we built 2D computational models parallel to the selected two 2D seismic profiles. We compared our findings in our seismic interpretations with the results to understand the timing and basin-wide distribution of structural highs and the compressional tectonic features that shaped the BSB.
Seasonal forecasts to support cropping decisions: To whom are these useful, and when?
Authors: Werner Micha , Linés Clara
Published: March 2024

Farmers in irrigated agriculture depend on the water allocated to them through the irrigation season. In drought years, when allocations may be curtailed, early information on water availability is of use to them in supporting their decisions on what to plant and when to plant. Seasonal forecasts provide such early information of water availability, and have been shown to be skilful, though effective lead times depend on the predictability of the local climate as well as the memory of the hydrological system. However, if the information provided is indeed useful, may depend on who uses it, the decisions they take, and the outcomes of those decisions.Here, we explore seasonal forecasts in supporting decisions farmers take in an area with irrigated agriculture in the Ebro basin in Spain. We develop a simple decision model, considering the preferences farmers have and the crop choices they make depending on if water is expected to be abundant or if it is expected to be scarce. The model also considers the interconnected water allocation decision by operators of the reservoir feeding the irrigation area, and the expectation they have of the balance between supply and demand to the end of season. Demand is informed by the (expected) choices farmers make, while supply is predicted using bias corrected ECMWF System 5 seasonal forecasts and a simple hydrological model.To understand to whom the forecast is useful, we consider farmers with differing levels of technical capability, which allows them to plant either one or two crops per season; as well as with differing levels of risk averseness. Decisions informed by the seasonal forecasts for each of these farmer types are then compared to those made using perfect information, and to those made using current allocation practice. We then evaluate (relative) benefit through simulating the outcome of the forecast decisions using the observed climate and a crop model to predict yield, and the market price versus investment costs of crops planted to predict net profits.Results show that seasonal predictions of water availability in the area are skilful, attributed largely to catchment memory, though skill varies; with poorer skill early in the season and around the spring snowmelt. The decision timelines through the season vary per farmer type. Risk averse farmers with less technical capability take key decisions earlier in the season. While forecasts are potentially more useful to those early decisions, we find these are also more sensitive to uncertainty in the forecast. The more technical farmers take decisions late in the season, where skill is higher. They can then rely more on the information provided, though the added value of the forecast to them is lower. These results show that not all are served equally by seasonal forecast information. Some stand to benefit more than others, depending on the decisions they make, and when they take these.
Atmospheric river brings warmth and rainfall to the northern Antarctic Peninsula during the mid-austral winter of 2023
Authors: Bozkurt Deniz , Carrasco Jorge F. , Cordero Raul R. , Fernandoy Francisco , Gómez Alvaro , Carillo Benjamin , Guan Bin
Published: March 2024

Recent research has extensively analyzed summertime atmospheric river (AR) events in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) using ground-based and atmospheric observations, yet a significant gap remains in understanding the occurrence and impacts of ARs during the Antarctic winter. This study focuses on an extraordinary warming event in the AP between 1 and 3 July 2023, utilizing data from recent wintertime field campaigns and ERA5 reanalysis. On 2 July, the Frei station in northern AP recorded a remarkable daily maximum near-surface air temperature of 2.7°C, significantly higher than the mean winter value of -3.8°C and surpassing the winter 99th percentile of 1.8°C. On 2-3 July, at least 6 hours of liquid precipitation were recorded, as corroborated by ERA5 data, leading to notable rain-on-snow and melt events. This occurrence challenges conventional expectations, as liquid precipitation during the depths of the southern winter is exceedingly rare in Antarctica. Radiosonde observations indicated a substantial elevation of the freezing level to about 650 meters, a stark contrast to the 20 meters observed before the event. These observations also revealed a moist and nearly saturated atmospheric profile. The event was synoptically characterized by a distinct trough over the Bellingshausen Sea and a pronounced northwest-southeast oriented blocking ridge from the southwestern Atlantic to the Weddell Sea, resulting in a dipole-like pressure pattern around the AP. These conditions were instrumental in the development of an AR with a north-to-south flow. This flow was marked by maximum integrated vapor transport values exceeding 500 kg m-1 s-1, channeling warm, moisture-laden air from continental South America towards the AP. A long-term winter trend analysis reveals a significant strengthening of the dipole pattern, which correlates with increased frequencies of ARs and consequently leads to notable warm temperature anomalies over the northern AP. The study underscores the importance of understanding the complex relationship between local, synoptic conditions, and the dynamics of ARs in influencing winter climate patterns in the AP. This study's ongoing high-resolution simulations and isotope analysis aim to uncover the detailed characteristics and isotopic signatures of this extraordinary warming event, enhancing our understanding of its origins and impacts.
Morphodynamic classification of moraine cliffs of the Southern Baltic Sea coast
Authors: Winowski Marcin , Kostrzewski Andrzej , Zwoliński Zbigniew
Published: March 2024

Cliff coasts constitute an important geoecosystem of the Southern Baltic coast. The varied geological structure, cliff morphology, and variable hydrometeorological conditions in the annual and multi-annual cycles result in the development of different types of relief, which determine the morphodynamic type of the cliffs. The changes in relief that occur over the annual and multi-annual cycle are good indicators of cliff coastal morphodynamics.The variation in cliff relief is mainly determined by the lithology, resistance and structure of the sediments. Regardless of the geological structure, the most important factor determining cliff morphodynamics is the morphogenetic activity of the sea. In addition to storm surges, denudational processes associated with mass movements and washout play a very important role. Slopes composed of compact glacial till are mainly modelled by striprockfall and flow processes, while slopes dominated by sandy series are subject to dry ravel processes. In the case of cliffs with a more varied structure conditioning the occurrence of groundwater outflows, the dominant process shaping the relief is landsliding and flow processes. The above conditions, combined with seasonal weathering variability, determine the characteristic types of moraine cliff relief.A long-term and systematic study of the cliff morphodynamics of Wolin Island and other cliff sections comprising the southern Baltic coast has provided the basis for presenting a morphodynamic classification of moraine cliffs.The classification was based on two criteria: lithological and morphogenetic. While the lithological criterion takes into account the dominant type of sediment building the cliff slope (clayey, sandy, sandy-clay), the morphogenetic criterion takes into account the genetic type of forms shaping the cliff relief. Based on the criterion of morphogenetic typology, forms related to rockfall, flow, landslide and dry ravel should be distinguished. It should be pointed out that the type of landforms is strictly conditioned by the lithology of the cliff.Taking into account the assumed classification criteria, the following types were distinguished: rockfall-flow, talus-landslide, rockfall-landslide and landslide-flow. The presented morphodynamic types, in connection with seasonal variability of weathering types, are subject to constant change. Depending on the prevailing hydrometeorological conditions, the presented cliff types may occur in different variants (rockfall, flow, landslide and talus).In a time of ongoing climate change, the morphogenetic potential of all morphodynamic factors modelling cliff relief is projected to increase systematically. This situation suggests that all the proposed morphodynamic types will be modelled with increasing intensity in the future, and that the process of transition through the various stages of development will accelerate significantly.
Inelastic strain efficiency of small earthquakes as an indicator for proximity of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (M7.3)
Authors: Matsumoto Satoshi
Published: March 2024

Size distribution of earthquakes, characterized by the power law decay (b-value), sometime displays the major earthquakes before their occurrence. The b-value reflect state of stress and proximity of fault failure condition according to previous studies. However, the causes are difficult to separate each other. This study proposes an additional indicator reflecting the proximity. Seismic moment release in a volume by small earthquake indicates inelastic strain. The efficiency of inelastic strain on stress loaded medium exhibits proximity to strength of the medium based on Mohr diagram and Coulomb failure condition. Thus, we adopt the efficiency as the indicator. We examine b-value and the efficiency variation in pre- and post- seismic activity of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence. Weighted b-value distribution by the efficiency captured the initiation point of the Kumamoto earthquake. The result suggests utilizing both b-value and the efficiency contribute to improving earthquake alerts and disaster mitigation.
Modelling solar energy effects on rewetted peatlands
Authors: Porada Philipp , Tiemeyer Bärbel , Piayda Arndt
Published: March 2024

The rewetting of agriculturally used peatland is essential to reduce carbon (C) emissions and may thus make an important contribution to climate protection. As one possibility to maintain economical use of the areas despite permanently wet ground, the installation of photovoltaic systems was suggested. In addition to generating energy, the solar panels could have other positive effects on the ecosystem: They potentially reduce evaporation and thus dryness in summer, which is important for reducing emissions. More stable moist conditions may also promote the establishment of specialized species of raised bog vegetation, which are the goal of nature conservation efforts. However, high coverage of solar panels could also lead to a lack of light, and the resulting absence of specialized bog species may even increase C emissions via indirect effects. Here we present a new bog vegetation modelling approach that aims to provide an initial estimate of the optimal degree of solar panel coverage from the perspective of climate protection and nature conservation, for given climatic and soil conditions. The model is validated against observational data of microclimate variables, soil temperature and water level from a test site on rewetted peat soil, under the influence of different coverage levels of solar panels in a multifactorial experiment. With our approach, we plan to provide recommendations for action for the planning of solar parks on rewetted, formerly agricultural peatlands to landowners and other stakeholders.
Eruption age and magma evolution history of the Sinsudo Tuff in the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin, Korea
Authors: Chae Yong-Un , Jeong Youn-Joong , Kim Jong-Sun , Ha Sujin , Joo Young Ji , Shin Seungwon , Lim Hyoun Soo
Published: March 2024

On the Korean Peninsula, located in the eastern region of East Asia, the Gyeongsang Basin, a representative sedimentary basin formed during the Cretaceous Period, occupies about a fourth of South Korea. In the Gyeongsang Basin, the Kusandong Tuff (ca. 103 Ma; Kim et al., 2013), a representative marker bed, is distributed across approximately 200 km from north to south. About 2.5 m-thick tuff layer also develops in Sinsu and Changseon islands, located in the southern part of the basin. There is controversy as to whether it is the southernmost extension of the Kusandong Tuff or a separate tuff body. To resolve this, a total of 4 samples were collected from two islands, and LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating was performed. As a result, all samples were slightly contaminated with common lead, and lower intercept ages of ca. 99 Ma were calculated, indicating a systematically younger than the reported ages of Kusandong Tuff (ca. 103 Ma). And zircons used in age calculations are largely divided into two domains accoring to the significant differences in brightness in cathodoluminescence (CL) images. Based on the combination of these domains, zircons show: 1) dark overall, 2) dark in the core with bright rims (known as reverse zoning), and 3) only bright oscillatory zoning with/without some inherited cores. In general, dark domains have a uranium content of ca. 3000-7000 ppm, while bright ones range from 34-541 ppm. And in the CL image, some boundary of the dark domains in the cores had melted and infiltrated by bright ones. To understand the evolutionary history of the magma that formed these zircons, trace and rare earth elements were analyzed using LA-ICP-MS. The results indicate that the dark domains of zircons were formed in relatively highly evolved and cooler magma, while the bright domains of zircons were formed in less evolved and hotter magma. To summarize the magma evolution model, crystallization of dark domains occurred first in relatively highly evolved magma, and then domains showing bright and distinct oscillatory zoning were formed with the injection of less evolved magma from deeper sources. At the same time, bright domains grew on the rims of existing dark zircons due to the injected magma. It is thought that the new magma injected into the existing magma chamber caused an increase in internal pressure, which ultimately led to the volcanic eruption. Considering the dating results, it is believed that all of these processes occurred over a short period of time, roughly limited to about 99 Ma on the geological time scale.
Creating the world’s first Weather Risk Free & Climate Resilient area: WeRISE Project 
Authors: Elaiopoulos Michail , Borrelli Ciro , Oyama Takehiro , Watanabe Hiroki , Boella Michelle , Giorgi Emanuele , Caliri Antonino , Minerdo Roberto , Pescetto Federico Ottavio
Published: March 2024

“WeRise” is a medium scale, applied research, cooperative project, initiated in the coastal communities of the central east Italian peninsula, in the coasts of Abruzzi Region. The project aims in evaluating an holistic approach to address existing and future weather and climate risks. The central pillars of the proposed solutions consist in providing hyper-localized, high accuracy weather alerts and climate analysis (50, 100 and 150 years), integrated with all civic activity, from infrastructural project design to urban planning and economic development of the whole region. From an architectural and IT point of view, the project consists in a digital comunication platform that, from one side enables citizens to access high accuracy weather alerts and climatic projections, while give to local governments a power tool to stay connected with the citizens and coordinate activities in cases of extreme weather events and disasters. Of course the system represents also a powerfull approach to disaster preparedness and prevention. WeRise employs a two-phased strategy - an initial pilot application that involves 12 comunities in the cities of Lanciano, San Vito Chietino, Ortona and Francavilla al Mare, followed by a regional scale up designed to integrate around 100K citizens. The pilot phase focuses on deploying and testing technology in a controlled environment, assessing its effectiveness in real-world settings. The project aims to bring a new level of precision to weather alerts and risk management, directly benefiting both infrastructure planning and communities’ safety. Primary goals include enhancing weather resilience at the local level, improving emergency response mechanisms, and supporting informed decision-making in urban planning and economic activities. Initial findings from the pilot phase indicate a significant impact on community preparedness and risk mitigation, promising for broader applications. The project’s next steps involve expanding the tested approach to larger, more diverse regions, with an aim to evaluate and develop a national-scale model to organically manage weather and climate risks in Italy.
Identification of deterioration factors and diagnosis of the “Dar lqadi” or “Bîmâristân de Sala” facade, Sala, Morocco.
Authors: Belhaj Siham , Belhaj Omaima Esssaad , Rhffari Aziz , Erraoui Boutaina
Published: March 2024

The mâristân of Sala, better known under the names of Funduq Askour or Dar el Qadi is an ancient medical school located in Sala, Morocco, which was built during the Marinid era in the mid-14th century. In turn mâristân (hospital or hospice), foundouq (caravanserai) then sharia court, it ended up being transformed into a traditional music museum.The mâristân of Sala was built according to Andalusian architecture, in this work we will dissect the architectural layout of the building firstly then we will identify the traditional construction materials that exist on the site such as calcarenite stone, zellige, wood, to then identify the damage that has affected these materials as well as their production processes.
Improved analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in speleothems
Authors: Schäfer Johanna , Spötl Christoph , Hoffmann Thorsten
Published: March 2024

Speleothems are valuable paleoenvironmental archives that can grow continuously over thousands of years and are particularly favorable due to reliable dating using the 230Th/U-method. As the caves in which these mineral deposits are formed are largely closed systems and the speleothems resist chemical alteration, it is possible to analyse organic substances in addition to established proxies such as stable isotopes and trace elements. [1] The analysis of organic markers has only recently come into focus but shows promising results for the reconstruction of past climatic conditions, especially regarding vegetation changes and paleofires.  [2]Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic compounds consisting of one or more fused aromatic rings. They are formed, for example, during the incomplete combustion of biomass and enter caves with the infiltrating water, where they are incorporated into speleothems. [3] Alongside other proxies such as levoglucosan (combustion product of cellulose), they can provide information about past vegetation and fire activity.As only a small fraction of PAHs reaches the speleothems, suitable sample preparation methods are required to maximize the amount of analyte while keeping the required amount of sample low. We present a rapid and easy extraction method using an ultrasonic bath and the addition of keepers to reduce the loss of low molecular weight PAHs like naphthalene during the evaporation process.The developed method, as well as a new and fast GC-HRMS method, was applied to a particularly old flowstone from the Conturines Cave in northern Italy, dating back to the Pliocene. [1] A. Blyth et al. Quat. Sci. Rev. 149 (2016) 1-17. [2] J. Homann et al. Biogeosciences. 20 (2023) 3249–3260. [3] Y.Sun et al. Chemosphere 230 (2019) 616–627.
Reconstructing timeframes, processes and environmental implications of Late Quaternary aeolian Parna deposition in south-eastern Australia
Authors: Lauer Felix , Marx Samuel , Dare-Edwards Anthony , May Jan-Hendrik
Published: March 2024

Sedimentary sequences with major aeolian dust contribution blanket the flat to hilly landscapes of eastern New South Wales. Originally identified by Butler in 1956 within the Riverine Plain and adjoining hills, these widespread clay-rich sediments were termed "Parna”. Parna – which has often been compared to loess – is thought to be fine-grained sediment generated through exogenic processes in arid environments and transported as stable aggregates by prevailing westerly winds during the Quaternary. The primary hypothesized source regions for Parna are arid and semi-arid river and lake systems situated in the western Murray-Darling Basin. Despite the prolonged critical discourse surrounding the concept and terminology of Parna, investigations addressing unresolved questions have been limited, with absolute dating of the aeolian sequences being restricted to only a few sites.Given the complexity of the Parna sequences resulting from the interaction of aeolian, hillslope and pedological processes, we choose a multimethodological approach combining field observations, grain size analysis, geochronological and geochemical methods to investigate the processes and time frames of sedimentation and sediment provenance. Results of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating for several Parna sites in the Wagga Wagga (Beattie 1972) and Yass region, show age estimates reaching back 150,000 years. Sedimentological parameters are used to distinguish between material derived from local hillslope and aeolian input. Geochemical characteristics will help to trace sources and pathways of the aeolian material. Advancing our understanding of the Parna concept, implying large-scale deposition but also deflation of aeolian material, is one component of reconstructing Quaternary landscape development and environmental conditions in south-eastern Australia.Butler, B.E., 1956. Parna-an aeolian clay. Australian Journal of Science, 18(5), 145-151.Beattie, J.A., 1972. Groundsurfaces of the Wagga Wagga Region, New South Wales. C.S.I.R.O Soil. Pub Australia. No. 28.
Coronal Magnetic Eruptions: Observations, Models, and Techniques 
Authors: Al-Haddad Nada , Berger Mitchell , Yu Wenyuan , Regnault Florian , Lugaz Noé , Farrugia Charles , Zhuang Bin
Published: March 2024

Multi-spacecraft measurements of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have made advancements in understanding their complex magnetic configurations and structures in interplanetary space. Analysis techniques for single-spacecraft measurements were initially adapted, however, they fall short in fully leveraging the potential of multi-spacecraft data. Recent efforts have aimed to rectify this limitation by developing specialized analysis methods tailored explicitly for multi-spacecraft measurements. These advancements allow for a more comprehensive understanding of CMEs' structures, propagation, and aging.Moreover, the existing models and theories used to interpret CME data often rely on assumptions that might oversimplify the complexities of these phenomena. To address this, newer models and numerical simulations are being developed to test and validate these assumptions, ensuring a more accurate representation of CME properties. In addition, mathematical tools capable of deriving the intricate topological properties inherent in CME structures in IP space need to be developed.One crucial aspect highlighted in this presentation is the necessity for dedicated multi-spacecraft missions specifically designed to capture the variation scales of magnetic structures within CMEs. This emphasizes the importance of optimal spacecraft formations that can provide optimal measurements, that allows for a better understanding of the magnetic configuration and internal structures of CMEs.
Evaluating the Impact of Climate Risk Scores on Property Purchase Decisions
Authors: Newell Ben , Ghasemi Omid
Published: March 2024

An increasing number of organizations are providing climate risk information for real estate properties in the form of climate risk scores. We investigate individuals' attitudes toward the accuracy of such information and whether this information impacts participants' willingness to buy properties. In a series of online experiments, participants (N=612) were asked to rate the desirability of a range of properties based on different attributes, including price, size, and year built. These properties were paired with high, low, or no climate risk scores. Following these tasks, participants completed surveys measuring their beliefs and perceptions regarding climate risk. Experiment 1 manipulated risk-level between subjects and found that participants were less willing to buy high-risk properties than low-risk properties or properties with no risk information, with no significant differences between the last two. Experiment 2, manipulated risk scores within-subject and found that not only were the high-risk properties rated lower than no risk and low-risk ones, but participants were also more willing to buy the low-risk properties than those with no risk information. In Experiment 3, the same tendency to buy low-risk properties compared to high-risk ones was found among a sample of homeowners, regardless of the timeframe (12 months vs. 30 years) and the granularity (risk at the property-level vs. postcode-level) of the risk information. The findings also revealed that individual beliefs and perceptions of climate change did not impact willingness ratings for any of the property types, except in Experiment 3, in which the higher expected risk due to climate change was negatively related to willingness to buy high-risk properties. Together, the findings suggest that climate risk scores impact individuals' assessments of properties, regardless of their beliefs and experience with climate-related events. 