bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compositional pattern of lignin derived phenols of sediments as a proxy of accumulation of terrestrial organic matter in coastal zone of the Laptev Sea
Authors: Ulyantsev Alexander , Bratskaya Svetlana , Belyaev Nikolay , Dudarev Oleg , Semiletov Igor
Published: March 2021

The modern East Siberian Arctic shelf represents a fascinating area with a vast expansion of subsea permafrost that holds a large pool of frozen immobilised organic carbon (OC). Amplified climate change at high latitudes has raised growing concerns about potential positive carbon–climate feedbacks. Degradation of permafrost in the Arctic could constitute a positive feedback to climate change due to activation of this OC stock, while recognizing the origin and peculiarities of organic matter (OM) is useful for predicting the potential for involving the ancient OC in modern carbon cycling. This paper emphasises the molecular composition of lignin-derived phenols (LDP) in bottom sediments and subsea permafrost from the Laptev Sea shelf as a proxy to describe the main sources, distribution, and preservation of terrestrial OM. The compositional pattern and concentration of LDP revealed irregular dynamics of terrigenous OM supply in the study area, that were governed primarily by continental flows. The OC concentration in the studied sediments varied from 0.04% to 23.1% (mean 1.74%, median 1.07%). The concentration of LDP in the studied 126 samples from five sediment cores obtained from Buor-Khaya Bay varied from 0.7 to 13191 (mean 539, median 63.5) µg/g of dry sediment as the sum of vanillyl, syringyl, and cinnamyl (VSC) compounds and from 0.03 to 27.6 (mean 1.61, median 0.76) mg/100 mg of OC content. All OC-rich samples showed higher concentrations of LDP and virtually non-oxidized lignin. Vegetation proxies suggested that vascular plant tissues account for a signiﬁcant fraction of the lignin in the examined samples, with a strong share of gymnosperms. The concentration of LDP correlates to OC content, indicating a strong supply of terrestrial OC to the study area. Degradation proxies indicate a predominant supply of wood-rich non-oxidized terrestrial OM. The well-preserved lignin revealed in the studied deposits represents a specific feature of Quaternary lithodynamics of the Laptev Sea and is not typical for the majority of bottom sediments of the World Ocean. Good correlation between OC and lignin concentration suggests that terrigenous fluxes were the main contributor to OM supply. Distribution of specific lignin phenols and related ratios coupled with lithology and grain size revealed that fluvial processes have been leading here.

This research was supported through the Russian Scientific Foundation (grant no. 19-77-10044) within the framework of the state assignment of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS (grant no. 0149-2019-0006).
The impact of internal thermal regime of glaciers on climate caused advance and retreat
Authors: Schytt Mannerfelt Erik , Holmlund Per
Published: March 2021

Most glaciers in Sweden have polythermal temperature regimes, where a temperate core of ice is overlain by a cold surface layer. The cold surface layer prolongs the response time of a glacier, and therefore increases the time it takes for a glacier to start advancing during a cooling climate trend. In the late 1980s and 1990s, some glaciers in Sweden advanced due to prolonged periods of positive mass balance, for example Storglaciären. However, far from all glaciers advanced during this period, coincidentally relating to their cold surface layer thickness. This raises the question: what factors drive how and when a polythermal glacier advances, and what climatic signals can be read from traces of past advances and extents? Here, four polythermal glaciers are described in detail since the early 1900s, when they were close to, or at, their largest Holocene extents. These glaciers lie in relatively similar settings, and thus share many resemblances, but also show many diﬀerences. How these glaciers have changed since the early 1900s, how they look today, and what landforms they have left behind, provides an opportunity to explore factors behind their responses. The four studied glaciers are: Mikkaglaciären, Storglaciären, Rabots glaciär, and Mårmaglaciären. The dynamics of glaciers retreating are much better understood than glaciers advancing, as the overwhelming majority of existing data have been collected since the latter 1900s half, during a period of overall negative mass balance. The aim of the study is to describe the current properties of the studied glaciers. Using this knowledge and the landform assemblages in their glacier foreﬁelds, we suggest explanations to how they might have responded to climate change in the past and possible causes for differences in their response.
Spatial variability in Holocene wildfire responses to environmental change in the northern extratropics 
Authors: Kesner David , Harrison Sandy , Blyakharchuk Tatiana , Edwards Mary , Garneau Michelle , Magnan Gabriel , Prentice Colin
Published: March 2021

Fire is an important environmental and ecological process in northern high latitude environments. It is unclear how fire will respond to modern environmental change in this region and its implications for ecosystem processes and human societies. For insight into the long-term evolution of fire regimes, we reconstruct changes in biomass burning in the northern extratropics (>45°N) from the early Holocene (9000 years ago) to the present using the Reading Palaeofire Database, currently the most comprehensive repository of northern extratropical palaeo charcoal records. We examine the different geographic patterns in fire regimes across the northern extratropics from the sub-continental to circum-northern extratropical scale, by quantitatively comparing biomass burning with insolation, CO2,human population records land cover changes. This study provides novel insight into the fire regimes that have characterized the northern extratropics over the Holocene and the differential importance of environmental controls in shaping these burning histories.
Source apportionment of atmospheric P over East Mediterranean using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model
Authors: Violaki Kalliopi , Nenes Athanasios , Tsagkaraki Maria , Paglione Marco , Jacquet Stéphanie , Sempere Richard , Panagiotopoulos Christos
Published: March 2021

The PMF receptor model was applied to a combined dataset using specific markers such as phospholipids and sugars together with other metals (e.g. Al, Pb, V) and ions (e.g. K+, Ca2+, SO42-, NO3-) as tracers of main aerosol sources in order to characterize the sources of P in atmospheric particles. The samples were collected from East Mediterranean; an oligotrophic region, strongly P-limited, with atmospheric nutrients deposition affecting its primary productivity. The results revealed that dominant sources of P compounds are the dust (43%) and the bioaerosols (34%). The coexistence of these sources in the spring period increased the organic P up to 53% of total P with more than a half to originate from bioaerosols. Dust is the major source of inorganic P forms with almost equal contribution to the phosphate ions and to the condensed P forms (e.g pyrophosphate or phosphorous minerals).

Based on the results of source apportionment analysis and the atmospheric concentration of P species, the maximum annual deposition scaled to the East Mediterranean surface was 21.5 Gg P with almost equal deposition of org-P and phosphate ions. The soluble P content from dust aerosols is the similar magnitude of potential bioavailable organic P emitted from bioaerosols (~4 Gg P y-1), especially during the stratification period, when surface water is mostly nutrient starved. Anthropogenic pollution contributes slightly higher to organic P comparing with phosphate ions, while the latter is produced mainly secondary. Biomass burning emissions in the area are associated mainly with the more soluble P.

 
Regionalization of Reservoir regulation parameters using physiographic and climatological predictors
Authors: Shrestha Pallav Kumar , Thober Stephan , Samaniego Luis
Published: March 2021

Present regional and global scale hydrology has to account for man-made reservoirs that impart significant regulation signature into the downstream streamflow regime. Optimization of domains with large number of reservoirs would incur multitude of reservoir regulation parameters. Such parameter-set-per-reservoir approach not only results in excessive computational costs but also, by principle, lacks effective constraining of the parameter space. We propose an approach to derive single set of parameters for all the reservoirs and lakes in the modelling domain. The hypothesis is that reservoir regulation parameters can be regionalized using physiography and climatology at lakes and their catchments.

To test this hypothesis, we setup a modeling domain for the São Francisco basin of Northeast Brazil in the mesoscale hydrological model (mHM, www.ufz.de/mhm). The domain consists of climatology ranging from tropical (As) to semi-arid (BSh) and reservoirs with catchment area varying from less than 500 km2 to greater than 500,000 km2. We carried out correlation analysis between selected physiographical and climatological predictors and the reservoir parameters of the multiscale lake module, mLM, of the mHM model (https://presentations.copernicus.org/EGU2020/EGU2020-6047_presentation.pdf). For an instance, the reservoir rule curves in mLM are estimated based on inflow and position of water level. The predictors here are inflow and water level which are normalized using catchment area and the shape of the reservoir, respectively. Similarly, the timing and shape parameters of rule curves were plotted against the climatological characteristics of the upstream catchment. The preliminary results reveal significant trends between the mLM parameters and the normalized predictors. These mathematical relationships, better known as transfer functions, can now be used to generate a single global reservoir parameter set.

The demonstrated hypothesis helps to optimize regulated hydrology using a single parameter set, irrespective of size, location and inherent climatology of reservoirs involved. This is inline with the pre-existing paradigm of multiscale parameter regionalization (MPR) of mHM. The findings contribute to the contemporary effort of hydrological modeling society towards improved global scale hydrological modeling.
Controls of nitrogen cycling under gaining and losing conditions in a first order agricultural stream
Authors: Jimenez-Fernandez Oscar , Osenbrück Karsten , Schwientek Marc , Knöller Kay , Fleckenstein Jan
Published: March 2021

Low order streams drain a big proportion of river catchments. They are not only fed by groundwater, but may also lose water to their connected aquifers and, in turn, can contribute to a substantial fraction of groundwater recharge. In such cases, these streams are typically characterized by the coexistence of gaining and losing stream reaches. Along the bidirectional exchange flow paths large biogeochemical gradients can evolve so that the exchange zones can function as hotspots for biogeochemical processes (such as the important (de)nitrification processes in croplands), which can substantially change under these two conditions. An agricultural first order stream (Schönbrunnen) in south-western Germany was equipped with stream gauging stations and piezometers were installed in the adjacent shallow aquifer, in order to find out how these biogeochemical processes change under losing versus gaining conditions. Hydrological and hydrochemical variables within the immediate vicinity of the stream, as well as stable nitrogen isotopes have been monitored between August 2017 and May 2020 to spatially and temporally identify the controls of nitrogen cycling dynamics in the Schönbrunnen.

Gaining and losing conditions at the Schönbrunnen were determined by salt tracer experiments and the flow direction (upwelling groundwater or downwelling streamwater) of the exchanging fluxes was determined based on hydraulic head contour maps.

Hydrochemical data suggests that nitrate reduction occurs within the first 20 cm of the streambed in the losing reaches. In these reaches, isotopic data depicts that nitrate is reduced along the flow path between stream and groundwater. Ammonium and organic electron donors (DOC) were found at greater depths in these reaches. By contrast, increasing nitrite and nitrate concentrations were observed also along the last 20 cm of the upwelling flow paths (gaining reaches). In summary, assuming that the transition zone between groundwater and streams is only a hotspot for denitrification might not always be true, as our field data suggests that redox conditions in the streambed, and in turn, the resulting biogeochemical processes differed substantially between losing and gaining reaches.
Optimizing forecast-based actions for extreme rainfall in Peru
Authors: Lala Jonathan , Bazo Juan , Anand Vaibhav , Block Paul
Published: March 2021

Natural disaster management has recently seen a major innovation through the advent of standardized forecast-based action and financing protocols. Given a forecast with adequate skill and lead time, relief actions can be taken before, rather than after, a disaster, saving lives and property while also transferring some ex-post risk to ex-ante risk for the relief agency. Multi-stage actions, in which forecasts with longer leads allow for preparation while short-term forecasts trigger direct actions, may be particularly effective at reducing risk. Multi-stage protocols, however, have not been explicitly optimized, either through trigger mechanisms or forecast tailoring. This study considers a multi-stage early action protocol developed by the Peruvian Red Cross for El Niño-induced extreme rainfall in coastal Peru. A sensitivity analysis of trigger thresholds, forecast methods, and levels of risk aversion is conducted to recommend optimal actions. Results demonstrate the relative importance of benefit-cost ratios at different lead times; forecast technology and risk aversion play a lesser but still valuable role. Moreover, the optimization framework can be utilized without post-disaster monitoring and evaluation, enabling the proliferation of effective plans in other disaster-prone regions.
Steady-state valley width revealed by alluvial terrace sequences
Authors: Tofelde Stefanie , Bufe Aaron , Turowski Jens M.
Published: March 2021

Lateral erosion by rivers drives valley widening and controls valley-bottom width. The current lack of a comprehensive valley-widening model complicates the reproduction of the full range of valley shapes that we find in nature as well as the prediction of valley evolution under different climatic and tectonic boundary conditions. Field data have shown that water discharge and valley wall lithology control lateral erosion rates. However, order-of magnitude variations in valley width formed in uniform lithology and under similar discharge conditions suggest additional, so far unquantified controls on valley width.

Fluvial terrace sequences offer an opportunity to study valley-width evolution under comparable discharge and lithologic conditions. Alluvial terraces are composed of flat surfaces and steep walls carved into previously deposited river sediments. They form where a river alternates between phases of lateral valley widening by lateral planation and vertical incision and terrace formation. In order to form an entire terrace staircase, such alternations have to repeat and many Quaternary terrace staircases are interpreted to be driven by cyclic climate changes. Because Quaternary climate cycles have had comparable amplitudes and durations, individual surfaces in paired climate-driven terrace sequences preserve the widths of valleys that have formed under similar discharge conditions, lithologies and over comparable time-intervals. We use a global compilation of 16 climatically formed alluvial terrace sequences to investigate controls on valley width.

Between 90 and 99% of the variance in valley width can be explained by a linear relationship of the width with the total valley depth. Hence, at least one of the missing controls on valley width must scale (close to) linearly with valley depth. Ruling-out a preservation bias and a number of parameters that are unrelated to valley depth, we propose a model that relates valley width to a competition between the sediment supplied from valley walls and the river’s capacity to rework sediment, such that a lateral sediment-flux steady state is reached. According to our model the valley width-depth relationship is controlled by (1) the horizontal hillslope-erosion rate, (2) the lateral sediment-transport capacity of the river and (3) the valley-width which forms in the absence of lateral-sediment input. Hence, the model allows to predict valley width when all of the above parameters are quantified in the field. Alternatively, any of the three parameters can be predicted when valley width is measured. The new model is able to reproduce the first-order trend observed in terrace-derived valley widths and it can explain the evolution of paired terrace sequences, which has so far been a major challenge.
Mechanisms of bastnasite formation: replacement of calcite by rare earth carbonates.
Authors: Szucs Adrienn Maria , Stavropoulou Alexandra , O'Donnell Claire , Davis Seana , Rodriguez-Blanco Juan Diego
Published: March 2021

The interaction of rare earth bearing (La, Nd, Dy) aqueous solutions with calcite crystals at was studied at ambient and hydrothermal conditions (25-220 °C) and resulted in the solvent-mediated surface precipitation and subsequent pseudomorphic mineral replacement of calcite by rare earth carbonates. Calcite grains were replaced from their periphery inwards, and the newly formed REE-bearing carbonates follow the crystallisation sequence lanthanite [REE2(CO3)3·8H2O] → kozoite [orthorhombic REECO3(OH)] → hydroxylbastnasite [hexagonal REECO3(OH)]. The specific rare earth involved in these processes and the temperature have a significant role in the polymorph selection, crystallisation pathways and kinetics of mineral replacement. La- and Nd-bearing kozoite, grows oriented onto the calcite surface, forming an epitaxy, due to their structural similarities. This phase forms elongated crystals on [100], with the {011} and {0-11} as major forms. The epitaxial relationship is (104) [010]cc ║(001) [100]koz and is strongly dependent on the ionic radius of the rare earth in the structure of kozoite. These results have strong implications for the understanding of mineralisation reactions occurring in REE-bearing carbonatite deposits, the most important resources of rare earths in the world.
Detection of tremors in the Marlborough region and its relationship with the 2016 Mw 7.9 Kaikoura (New Zealand) earthquake
Authors: Romanet Pierre , Aden-Antoniow Florent , Ando Ryosuke , Bannister Stephen , Chamberlain Calum , Iio Yoshihisa , Matsumoto Satoshi , Okada Tomomi , Sibson Richard H. , Toh Akiko , Ide Satoshi
Published: March 2021

Seismic tremor has previously been reported in the Marlborough (New Zealand) region, with detections made using the national GeoNet network. However, because of the sparsity of that network, only 40 tremors were detected using 6 stations. We conducted a similar analysis again, but this time using data from 4 stations from the GeoNet network as well as 16 stations from a local campaign network, bringing the total number of stations to 20. Our new tremor catalog contains 4699 tremors (around 100 times more events than the previous catalog) and spans the period 2013-2019 which include the major 2016 Mw7.9 Kaikoura earthquake. Based on our current knowledge, that makes the Marlborough region the most active region for tremors in New Zealand.

 

The observed tremor in the region are split into two clusters, separated by a gap of around 20 km. The South-West cluster has an elongated shape in the direction of the upper-plate dextral strike-slip (Hope and Clarence) faults. The occurrence of tremor before the Mw 7.9 Kaikoura earthquake is fairly constant over time. After the earthquake however we observe  a strong acceleration in the rate of tremor, that slowly recovers over time. At the end of the analysis (May 2019), more than 2 years after Kaikoura earthquake, the tremor burst rate has still not recovered to the previous rate before the earthquake. We also observe several episodes of tremor migration, with a migration velocity of around ~50km/day, most of the migration being from South-West to North-East.

 

This new tremor catalog provides a unique opportunity to better understand possible interaction of a major earthquake with the tremor activity and will help to better understand the local tectonic activity of the Marlborough region.

 
The MARINA-Plastic model: Global river export of macro- and microplastics from over 10,000 sub-basins to coastal seas
Authors: Strokal Maryna , Vriend Paul , van Wijnen Jikke , Kroeze Carolien , van Emmerik Tim
Published: March 2021

Plastics are found in different sizes in many rivers and coastal waters worldwide. Our understanding of the sources of this plastic is poor. Quantitative, and spatially explicit data on plastic loads is needed to design effective plastic pollution reduction strategies. One way to gather such data is through modeling studies. To this end, we develop the MARINA-Plastic model for macro- and microplastic. The MARINA-Plastic model quantifies annual river export of macro- and microplastic by source from sub-basins to coastal waters of the world. The model runs for over 10,000 sub-basins and considers point (e.g., sewage systems) and diffuse (e.g., mismanaged solid waste on land) sources of plastics in rivers. We evaluate and validate the model using a “building trust” approach. Evaluation results indicate the robustness of the model performance.

Results of the MARINA-Plastic model show that approximately 10% of all sub-basins are, today, responsible for over 90% of macroplastic inputs to rivers globally. Asia and Africa are responsible for approximately 80% of the plastic export by rivers globally. Coastal waters of Asia and Africa are predominantly polluted with macroplastics from diffuse sources in terms of mass, whereas coastal waters of Europe and North America are predominantly polluted with microplastics from point sources. Middle- and downstream activities contribute largely to coastal water pollution with plastics for selected case studies. These case studies are six large rivers, of which the drainage areas are divided into up-, middle- and downstream sub-basins. These rivers are the Mississippi (North America), Amazon (South America), Danube (Europe), Niger (Africa), Nile (Africa), and the Yangtze (Asia) rivers. Our analysis shows that reducing plastic pollution in coastal waters requires improvement of the wastewater treatment in Europe and North America and solid waste management in Asia and Africa.

We show that the MARINA-Plastic model is applicable to get a better understanding of the sources and the spatial variability of the plastic pollution in rivers and coastal waters. The model allows to analyse the impact of upstream activities on downstream plastic pollution and to explore effects of environmental policies on plastics in waters. This information can help to develop effective solutions for reducing future plastic pollution.
A global analysis of the interplay between flood severity ad human dynamics in floodplains
Authors: Mazzoleni Maurizio , Mård Johanna , Rusca Maria , Odongo Vincent , Lindersson Sara , Di Baldassarre Giuliano
Published: March 2021

This study aims at exploring whether changes in the spatial distribution of the human population and the built-up areas within floodplains can be associated with extreme flood events generating severe economic losses and fatalities. We relate economic losses and fatalities caused by floods during 1990‐2000, with changes in human population and built‐up areas in floodplains during 2000‐2015 by exploiting global archives as the Global Human Settlement, GFPLAIN250m, and the EM-DAT datasets. Despite the frequent flood losses in the previous period 1990‐2000, we found that population and built‐up areas in floodplains increased in the period 2000‐2015 for the majority of the analyzed countries. On the other hand, we observed a reduction in floodplains population after more severe flood losses that occurred in the period 1975‐2000. Finally, floodplains population increased after a period of high flood fatalities in low‐income countries, while built‐up areas increased after a period of frequent economic losses in upper‐middle and high‐income countries. This study can be used as a general framework for advancing knowledge of human‐flood interactions and support the development of sustainable policies and measures for flood risk management and disaster risk reduction.
Insights into the seasonal dynamics of the lake-terminating glacier Fjallsjökull, south-east Iceland, inferred using ultra-high resolution repeat UAV imagery
Authors: Baurley Nathaniel , Hart Jane
Published: March 2021

Proglacial lakes are becoming ubiquitous at the termini of many glaciers worldwide, leading to increased glacier mass loss and terminus retreat due to the influence such lakes are having upon ice dynamics. However, despite the highly dynamic nature and relative insensitivity to climate of many lake-terminating glaciers, an understanding of the key processes forcing their behaviour is lacking. As a result, it is difficult at present to accurately assess and predict the future response of these glaciers to continued warming. In addition, current methods of investigating lake-terminating glacier dynamics primarily involve the use of satellite remote sensing, which despite its clear importance in cryospheric studies does suffer from important limitations. A novel alternative is the use of repeat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, which can provide high resolution (cm-scale) imagery of the ice surface at varying spatial and temporal scales, depending on the needs of the researcher. As a result, this study utilised ultra-high resolution repeat UAV imagery to provide insights into the changing dynamics of Fjallsjökull, a lake-terminating glacier in southeast Iceland, over two periods during the 2019 summer melt season. The findings indicate that the overall dynamics of the glacier are controlled by the ~120 m deep subglacial channel under the study region, which is causing the glacier to flow faster as it enters deeper water, leading to increased ice acceleration, thinning and retreat. Such a correspondence between ice velocity and surface thinning suggests the implementation of the positive feedback mechanism “dynamic thinning” in this region of Fjallsjökull, with such heightened rates of surface thinning and frontal retreat continuing in future until the glacier recedes out of the subglacial channel into shallower water. Within this overall pattern, however, more localised, short-term changes in glacier dynamics are also observed which are likely to be forced primarily by subaqueous melting at the waterline, rather than being solely influenced by the basal topography. Although further work is required to add additional support to these findings, they clearly indicate the complex nature of the calving process and the dynamics of calving glaciers in general, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of lake-terminating glaciers at varying spatial and temporal scales.
Soil carbon persistence governed by plant input and mineral protection at the regional and global scales
Authors: Chen Leiyi , Fang Kai , Wei Bin , Qin Shuqi , Feng Xuehui , Hu Tianyu , Ji Chengjun , Yang Yuanhe
Published: March 2021

Elucidating the processes underlying the persistence of soil organic matter (SOM) is a prerequisite for accurately projecting soil carbon feedback to climate change. However, the potential role of plant carbon input in regulating the SOM preservation over broad geographic scales remains unclear. Based on large-scale soil radiocarbon(△14C) measurements from the Tibetan Plateau and International Soil Radiocarbon Database (ISRaD), we found that plant carbon input was the major contributor to topsoil carbon destabilization at the regional and global scales, despite the universal associations of topsoil ∆14C with climatic and mineral variables as well as SOM chemical composition. By contrast, mineral protection by iron-aluminum oxides and cations became more important in preserving SOM in deep soils. These findings illustrate divergent controls of SOM persistence across soil layers, which provide new insights for constraining models to better predict multi-layer soil carbon dynamics under changing environments.
Timing and Extent of Late Quaternary Glaciation in the Ahuriri River Valley, Southern Alps, New Zealand
Authors: Tielidze Levan , Eaves Shaun , Norton Kevin , Mackintosh Andrew
Published: March 2021

Some valleys in South Island, New Zealand already have a number of well-dated glacier records. However, understanding of the precise timing of old glacial events in many valleys still remains poor. For this purpose, the cosmogenic 10Be surface exposure dating technique was used to constrain the timing and extent of late Quaternary glaciation in the Ahuriri River valley, Southern Alps, New Zealand. The 33 10Be surface-exposure ages from two different moraine complexes range from 16.6±0.4 ka to 19.7±0.5 ka suggesting rapid glacier recession (~17 km) during the last deglaciation.

Field observation and geomorphological mapping were also used to investigate the extent and drivers of glaciation in this valley. For the final step, we created detail and comprehensive map of the glacial geomorphology in an area covered by palaeo Ahuriri Glacier, in the central Southern Alps. Geomorphological mapping from high-resolution aerial imagery, large scale topographical maps, average resolution DEM, and several field investigations allowed us to produce the 1:38,000 scale map for the entire study site covering an area of about 532 km2.

This newly created map along with the new 10Be surface exposure dataset will help us in better understanding of past glacier-climate interactions in the Southern Alps and in the Southern Hemisphere in general.
The temporal variability of near-inertial internal waves in an internal tide beam
Authors: Löb Jonas , Rhein Monika
Published: March 2021

Low mode internal waves in the stratified ocean are generated by the interaction between barotropic tides and seafloor topography and by the wind field in the near-inertial range. They are crucial for interior mixing and for the oceanic energy pathways, since they carry a large portion of the energy of the entire internal wave field. Long-term observations of energy fluxes of internal waves are sparse. The aim of this work is to study the temporal variability of wind generated low mode near-inertial internal waves inside an internal tide beam emanating from seamounts south of the Azores. For this, 20 months of consecutive mooring observations are used to calculate the mode 1 and mode 2 near-inertial energy fluxes as well as kinetic and potential energies. The gathered time series of near-inertial internal wave energy flux is not steady due to its intermittent forcing and is neither dominated by either mode 1 or mode 2. It shows a peak induced by a distinct strong wind event which is directly linked to wind-power input into the mixed layer north-east of the mooring location, and allows a comparison between the wind event and a background state. Furthermore, indications of non-linear interactions of the near-inertial waves with the internal tides in the form of resonant triad interaction and non-linear self-interaction have been found. This study provides new insights on the relative importance of single wind events and reinforces the assumption of a global non-uniform distribution of near-inertial energy with emphasis in regions where these events occur often and regularly. It furthermore displays its importance to be adequately incorporated into ocean general circulation models and in generating ocean mixing estimates by near-inertial waves as a similarly important component next to the internal tides.
Optimizing surface water pumping operations utilizing hydrological forecasting and a genetic algorithm
Authors: Yassin Mohammed , Maher Keiron , Speight Vanessa , Shucksmith James
Published: March 2021

Ensuring the resilience and security of water supply will be one of the most significant future challenges facing water utilities worldwide given potential impacts of climate change and population growth. The development of new water resource options is costly, hence the need to develop techniques to maximize the potential and resilience of current water resource assets without compromising environmental regulations. The availability of real-time meteorological and hydrological data combined with real-time forecasting techniques provide a potential to increase water abstraction volumes without compromising environmental regulations and reduce operational costs. This paper presents an approach for managing surface water abstraction utilizing real-time flow forecasting techniques, coupled with a water resource model and Genetic Algorithm optimization. To evaluate this approach, a retrospective analysis of a historical period 2017/2018 is conducted, comparing historic water abstractions, reservoir water level data, flows downstream abstraction point and energy costs at a case study abstraction site within a catchment in the UK with corresponding simulations based on forecasted flows. Simulation results show that on average 25 Ml/day of additional water could have been abstracted using the forecasting led scheme, without compromising environmental regulations. The results show that rapid declines in reservoir levels during low flow periods can be avoided and energy costs can be significantly reduced (by approximately £ 0.35M / annum) using the proposed approach. This study demonstrates the benefits of utilizing real-time flow forecasting and flexible water pumping schedules to maximize the value of existing surface water resources, in some cases this may reduce the need for significant investment to increase the resilience of supply. Further work will seek to extend the approach to enable optimization of pumping and water release operations in multi reservoir systems.
A new record of the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event from Scotland (UK) and environmental responses
Authors: Chen Wenhan , Kemp David Bryan , He Tianchen , Huang Chunju
Published: March 2021

The early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE, ~183 Ma) was characterized by a prominent environmental perturbation, likely associated with a large amount of 12C-enriched carbon released into the global ocean-atmosphere system. This effusion caused a marked disruption to the global carbon cycle and propagated a series of remarkable changes in ocean chemistry and climate. Although the T-OAE has been recognized worldwide, clear geographic differences in the character of the event and its environmental effects have been recognized. Here, we present new geochemical data from a lower Toarcian succession on the Isle of Raasay, NE Scotland (Hebrides Basin, Northwest European Shelf). Organic carbon isotope data through the Raasay section reveal a pronounced negative excursion, similar to that recognised globally. The excursion interval is enriched in organic matter, and redox sensitive element data suggest that suboxic bottom water conditions contemporaneously occurred, likely interspersed with anoxic episodes. Our findings contrast with evidence of more pervasive anoxia/euxinia in nearby basins, and emphasize how deoxygenation was spatially variable within the T-OAE. Inorganic geochemical data and sedimentological observations suggest a significant enhancement in chemical weathering and coarse-grained detrital flux during the T-OAE on Raasay. These findings support evidence from other localities for a strengthening of hydrological cycling in response to global warming during the T-OAE.
Vanishing weekly cycles in American and Canadian hydropeaking rivers
Authors: Dery Stephen , Stadnyk Tricia , Troy Tara , Hernandez-Henriquez Marco
Published: March 2021

Sub-daily and weekly streamflow cycles termed hydropeaking are common features in regulated rivers across the globe. Weekly periodicity in flows arises from fluctuating hydropower demand and production tied to socioeconomic activity, typically with higher consumption during weekdays followed by reductions on weekends. In this presentation, we will introduce a novel weekly hydropeaking index to quantify the intensity and prevalence of weekly hydropeaking cycles at 368 sites across the United States of America (USA) and Canada over 1920-2019. Our results reveal a robust weekly hydropeaking signal exists at 1.3% of available sites starting in 1920 with a fraction that peaks at 16.7% of sites in 1963. Highly hydropeaking signals then diminish to only 3.3% of available sites in 2019, marking a 21st century declining pattern in hydropeaking intensity across parts of North America. Application of the Mann-Kendall Test reveals 95 locally significant declines in weekly hydropeaking intensity between 1980-2019. Our results can be attributed to diminishing differences between streamflow on weekends versus weekdays in regulated rivers across Canada and the USA. We will conclude the presentation with a discussion on how these findings may be tied to shifts in socioeconomic activity, alternative modes of electricity production, and legislative and policy changes impacting water management in regulated systems.
Calibration of a neutral particle beam source with the novel Absolute Beam Monitor
Authors: Gasser Jonathan , Galli André , Wurz Peter
Published: March 2021

The energetic neutral atom detection instrument IMAP-Lo is part of the scientific payload of the upcoming Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission by NASA and is designed to analyse interstellar neutral and heliospheric Energetic Neutral Atom fluxes and their composition for energies from 1000 eV down to 10 eV. IMAP is dedicated to extend our knowledge of the local interstellar medium (LISM) and its interaction with the solar magnetic field and the heliosphere. Most importantly, H, He, O and Ne ENAs will be analysed.

Calibration and testing of IMAP-Lo is planned in MEFISTO, a unique laboratory test facility for ion and neutral particle instruments at the University of Bern, which can provide the required neutral atom beams. In MEFISTO we have a microwave-induced plasma ion source for beam energies up to 100 keV/q. The ion beam can be converted to a neutral beam in the energy range 10 eV – 3 keV with a removable ion beam neutralizer with decelerating the ion beam first and subsequent neutralisation via surface reflection. It comes with an estimated beam energy reduction of 15 % and energy-dependent transmission. The neutral beam flux into the test chamber therefore depends on the ion beam energy, intensity and species. To improve the calibration process for ENA space instruments such as IMAP-Lo, it is important to measure the neutral beam flux and energy in the test facility.

The Absolute Beam Monitor (ABM) is a novel laboratory device developed for absolute neutral particle flux measurements and energy determination of neutral atom beams. The ABM takes advantage of secondary electron emission during surface scattering of incident neutral atoms off a highly polished tungsten plate. The effective rate of neutrals is inferred from detecting secondary electrons and reflected atoms in two electron multipliers as well as its coincidence signal rate. Time difference of the two signals yields the neutrals energy. To date, the ABM is the only device to measure absolute fluxes of neutral atoms in this energy range.

Measurements of the neutral beam source in MEFISTO have been performed for several species using the ABM to determine the relation between the effective neutral atom flux and the primary ion beam current at the charge conversion surface, as well as the neutral beam energy, for ion energies from 1000 eV down to 10 eV.
The Economic Impact, Contribution, and Challenges of Micro Business Enterprises to the Local Development
Authors: Quingco Joyfe G. , Leonoras Carmenda S.
Published: February 2021

Micro Business Enterprises (MBEs) is the lifeblood for economic development. Using a descriptive quantitative research design, the study aimed to investigate the impact of MBEs to economic development.  As to impact, in general, it was of a moderate extent. Among the indicators, technology has the highest mean interpreted to a high extent, while infrastructure development scored the lowest mean score, which reflected a moderate degree. The study further delved into the economic contribution and challenges encountered by MBEs. The findings basically implied that MBEs were rooted in the entrepreneur's commitment to do business that promotes progress and development to the local economy.
Masinloc, Zambales: Augustinian Recollect Mission (1607-1902)
Authors: Romanillos Emmanuel Luis A.
Published: February 2021

Zambales carved a special niche in Augustinian Recollect mission history. Recollects evangelized Mariveles, then part of Zambales, where their protomartyr Miguel de la Madre de Dios met his death. Rodrigo de San Miguel later set up five towns. In 1607, Andrés del Espíritu Santo founded Masinloc and then proceeded to create Casborran [Alaminos], Bolinao, Balincaguin [Mabini] and Agno in Pangasinan.  Blessed Francisco de Jesús resided there before his 1632 martyrdom in Nagasaki. We recall the successful defense of Masinloc in 1649 against 600 Moro pirates by the natives headed by Father Francisco de San José. Its parish priest José Aranguren became Manila archbishop in 1845. In the wake of the Revolution, the returning Agustín Pérez was welcomed by his parishioners. He restored the Catholic worship and urged Aglipayans to return to the fold. In 1902, Father Pérez left due to a conflict with its anti-friar mayor. Thus, ended its Recollect history. But the legacy of Christian faith lives on. The parish church of 1745 is a witness to the zealous Recollect evangelization and the people’s steadfast Catholic faith.
Evaluation of a Training of Trainers Program on Food Safety and Nutrition Security
Authors: Mana-ay Alvyn Klein A.
Published: February 2021

Foodborne diseases (FBDs) remain a serious human health problem, and food safety plays an essential role in addressing this public health issue. This study aimed at evaluating the training of trainers program on food safety and nutrition security using a qualitative descriptive approach. The training exposed the participants to food safety topics in food processing and preservation with an emphasis on the nature of food safety hazards and the personal hygiene of food handlers in food preparation. The new trainers then organized and conducted actual seminar-workshops in their respective communities. The results of the evaluation indicate that the primary driver of the success of the program was institutional support by the local government partners. Overall, the program was able to achieve its ultimate goal of capacitating a group of local trainers on food safety in hopes of addressing the problem of FBDs through a cascade of training.
Liberating Farmers from Tenancy Bondage: The Land and Agrarian Reform Programs of Ramon Magsaysay (1954-1957)
Authors: Portera Eric F. , Hila Antonio C.
Published: February 2021

The past economic colonial policies in the Philippines created severe issues for land tenancy and distribution patterns. When Magsaysay won the presidency in 1953, his administration carried the banner of land and agrarian reform as its core policy. The paper investigated how Magsaysay Administration’s agrarian reform policies addressed the needs of the peasants. Further, the study presents the land and agrarian reform programs enacted by the Magsaysay Administration, from conceptualization to implementation, their results, and efficacy in easing the tenancy problem of farmers. Using the historical method, the study showed that Magsaysay's land and agrarian reform program provided security of tenure to the farmers. It enabled them to become more independent, self-reliant, and responsible citizens. Ultimately, the program succeeded in protecting the farmers from the uncertainty and threat of land deprivation and, in effect, curtailed insurgency. Magsaysay's program also proved influential to succeeding administrations in the design and construction of their land and agrarian reform laws.
Gender-Responsiveness and Its Influence on Gender Equality and Economic Performance of State Colleges and Universities
Authors: Ballados Ma. Teresa B. , Guevarra Joseph G.
Published: February 2021

State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) are expected to take initiatives to promote gender and development. This study aims to assess gender-responsiveness and its influence on gender equality and the economic performance of SUCs in Negros Occidental, Philippines.  The descriptive research design was employed and utilized a researcher-made questionnaire to gather data from randomly selected 36 administrators and 236 employees of SUCs.  Using the mean, descriptive results showed high gender responsiveness and a great extent of influence on gender equality and the economic performance of SUCs. Also, the results of the Analysis of Variance and Kruskal-Wallis revealed that significant differences occurred in the level of gender responsiveness and the extent of influence on gender equality among SUCs. Employing Spearman rho, significant relationships were found among gender responsiveness, influence on gender equality, and economic performance. Higher gender-responsiveness may lead to a greater influence on the promotion of gender equality and economic performance.
Last Decade of the Recollects in San Carlos Borromeo Parish, Negros Occidental (1965-1975)
Authors: Romanillos Emmanuel Luis A.
Published: February 2021

The controversial cession of San Carlos Borromeo Parish in 1975 by the Augustinian Recollects to the diocesan clergy was significant. Unknown by the present generation, the story is recalled in detail forty-five years after. Rich in primary sources and personal interviews with Recollects and diocesan priests, both protagonists, and eyewitnesses were utilized. The narrative objectively recounts the Recollect ministry in San Carlos. It then focuses on the diocesan consultors' meeting in October 1974 that sanctioned the takeover despite the lack of priests, the uninformed Recollect superiors' vicarial meeting on the reshuffle of curates in November 1974, and the persistent takeover rumors in San Carlos since October 1974. The official cession—that included Calatrava and Barangay Quezon parishes—happened on 6 January 1975. Reasons are revealed and discussed. In retrospect, the early beginnings of San Carlos and its creation as a diocese in 1988 have reminisced. Highlighted is Bishop Epifanio Surban's heartfelt gratitude for the Recollect evangelization effort.
Ethical Climate, Job Satisfaction, and Organizational Commitment of Hotel Employees
Authors: Menes Carmen C. , Haguisan III Ismael A.
Published: February 2021

Ethical climate in the workplace has a relationship with job satisfaction and organizational commitment; thus, influencing organizational productivity. This descriptive-correlational study confirmed the relationship between ethical climate, job satisfaction, and hotel employees’ organizational commitment. Using stratified random sampling proportionate allocation, 152 employees from two hotels with the same owner and management were identified as respondents. An adapted-modified survey questionnaire was used to collect the data.  Mean, standard deviation, and Pearson r were used to analyze the data. The employees in the standard class hotels perceived an ethical work environment.  They were slightly satisfied and committed to their job. Their perceived ethical climate showed a significant relationship with job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The management may explore various ways to improve the ethical climate, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of employees to attain higher productivity.