bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change impact on inland flood risks due to compound storm tide and precipitation events for managed low-lying coastal areas.
Authors: Gaslikova Lidia , Bormann Helge , Kebschull Jenny , Weisse Ralf , Meyer Elke
Published: March 2024

Many coastal low-lying areas prone to coastal floods are protected by defense constructions. This often entails the establishing of artificial drainage systems to keep the hinterlands from flooding during heavy rain events. The coincidence of storm tide and heavy precipitation events may considerably limit the technical drainage capacity and lead to flooding. This situation can be exacerbated in the future due to changing conditions of both single drivers as well and their combinations. To assess the risks of inland flooding, a model based approach, combining the results from regional climate models with hydrological model for hinterlands and hydrodynamic model for coastal areas is established and applied. As a focus area, the water board Emden (Germany) and the gauge Knock are selected, which is a low-lying artificially drained area between the Ems river and the North Sea. For historical events, the main drivers leading to diminished drainage capacity and system overload were moderate storm series combined with the large-scale heavy precipitations. Whereas extreme storm tides or heavy precipitations alone posed no significant challenge for the system. The combinations of future emission scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) and regionalized climate models (MPI-ESM and HadGEM2) together with local sea level rise projections are used to estimate the system overload and flood risk under the climate change conditions. For control period, the main cause of moderate system overload appears to be heavy precipitations rather than storm tides. For future projections, the importance and intensity of compound events will increase, reflecting changes in mean sea level and thus storm tides as well as intensification of heavy rain events.
Urban surface runoff under simulated heavy rainfalls
Authors: Czuchaj Aleksandra , Majewski Mikołaj , Marciniak Marek
Published: March 2024

In the face of ongoing climate change, changes in precipitation patterns are observed. More and more often, rainfall is characterized by high intensity and short duration. Such rainfall poses a threat to urban areas as it may generate urban flash floods. As a result of intense rainfall on impermeable surfaces, surface runoff accumulates and the capacity of the storm sewer system is exceeded. The aim of the presented research was to identify the dynamics of surface runoff depending on the rainfall intensity, type of land cover and soil moisture conditions. It was carried out as a series of field experiments with a rainfall simulator.The experiment was conducted at the research station located in the Różany Strumień catchment (Poznań, Poland). The station consists of 4 plots (20 x 1 m each), with different land cover: black fallow, grass, concrete paver blocks and an impermeable testing plot. The program of experiments included seven types of precipitation, corresponding to the classification of Chomicz from A0 (strong rain, intensity 4 mm∙h-1, duration 360 min) to B2 (torrential rain, intensity 60 mm∙h-1, duration 70 min). Each rainfall was simulated twice in dry and wet ground conditions. The experiment was carried out in July 2022.The result of field research is 56 surface runoff dynamics curves depending on: type of land cover, precipitation category according to Chomicz and soil moisture conditions. On the basis of curves obtained from the experiments, four new descriptors were determined, characterizing the variability of surface runoff in urbanized areas: volume of surface runoff, runoff coefficient, the moment of runoff initiation and runoff dynamics coefficient.
Supervised Machine Learning for the Automatic Classification of Triggers from ASIM/MXGS on board the ISS
Authors: Adsuara Jose E. , Navarro-González Javier , Connell Paul , Reglero Víctor , Østgaard Nikolai , Neubert Torsten
Published: March 2024

During ASIM operations from June 2018 until the end of 2019, 486 TGFs were observed. For this task, the ASDC (ASIM Science Data Center) dealt with numerous triggers from the instrument (5000 per week). The relocation of the instrument from EPF SDX to EPF SDN (Starboard Deck Nadir) of the Columbus ISS Module on January 10, 2022, demonstrated that the MXGS location capabilities could be used not only for TGF location but also for imaging GRB events, as its Field of View in the SDN port encompasses both Earth and space.It's worth noting that only a few of the ASIM triggers correspond to TGF events. There is a screening process employing a series of algorithms to detect and discard false positives (triggers that are not TGFs). Nevertheless, the ASIM archive retains all data from every trigger. Due to the extended operational time, there is currently a sufficiently large database that enables us to present the initial results here using novel machine learning methods, such as kernel methods or neural networks, for the automatic categorization of both present and future events.Furthermore, our interest goes beyond mere classification, as we are currently investigating whether various explainability methods applied to these techniques can assist in identifying the relevant features of the signal for such classification. The aim of this work is to provide a tool to quantify new physical processes that could be the cause of instrument triggers and to examine whether there is a connection with the Earth-Space global circuit.
Classification of underwater flow-transverse sedimentary bedforms
Authors: Lefebvre Alice , Dalrymple Robert W , Cisneros Julia , Scheiber Leon , Hulscher Suzanne , Slootman Arnoud , Kleinhans Maarten G. , Miramontes Elda
Published: March 2024

Despite the recommendations given in Ashley (1990), a plethora of terms continues to be used to describe flow-scale flow-transverse sedimentary bedforms, often without clear definition or distinction between the different nomenclatures. For example, (marine) dunes and sand waves are used interchangeably in many contexts. Smaller bedforms superimposed on larger ones may be referred to as megaripples or secondary dunes. It is currently unclear if different terms are used due to intrinsic morphological or genetic differences or due to the traditions of different scientific communities. Ashley (1990) already noted that the “poor communication among scientists and engineers has perpetuated the multiplicity of terms”. Researchers from fluvial, coastal or deep-marine environments, from industry or academia, from various disciplines, such as sedimentology, oceanography, coastal and offshore engineering or geomorphology may use a specific vocabulary. Furthermore, terminology may differ depending on the country or research group in which they work. All this makes communication difficult and may cause misinterpretations, hindering progress in understanding and cross-disciplinary collaborative pursuits.The aim of the present contribution is to provide an updated classification of the different types of underwater flow-transverse sedimentary bedforms. The intent is to homogenise the nomenclature for researchers coming from different disciplines and working in varied environments, to enable the use of a common classification and terminology to improve knowledge exchange, comparison and dialogue.We propose a description table, which can be used by scientists and practitioners to describe the sedimentary bedforms with which they are working. Importantly, each bedform characteristic is described and the way to calculate the quantitative descriptive parameters is detailed. The description table aims at providing a standard and consistent way to describe the bedforms and their environmental setting prior to classifying them. The description table can be used independently of bedform type and further classification, which should overcome communication issues.Two classification schemes are then proposed. The first is based on an understanding of the genetic processes. This should be used whenever possible because it informs about the underlying processes which formed the bedform. In order to complement the process-based classification, or in situations where the genetic processes are unknown, a second, geomorphological classification is introduced. Thus, we urge the bedform community to consider deploying these descriptor and classification tools and hope our contribution leads to a much more transparent and cohesive future in bedform research.
The Hydro-Climate Service Framework in China in drought detection and water resources evaluation
Authors: Zheng Ziyan , Yang Qing , Duan Yawen , Ma Zhuguo
Published: March 2024

Hydro-Climate Service (HCS) is an important measure and technique to effectively utilize water resources, predict the extreme climatic events and reduce the loss of disasters. Along with global climate change, accelerated water cycle become serious problems in current China which can lead to more severe drought and water shortages. Also, intense human activities have profoundly changed the spatial-temporal characteristics of land surface and water storage. These facts will put forward new requirements for HCS in present and future. In this study, we construct a new HCS framework based on multi-source datasets and advanced numerical models to improve the HCS level in 2 major basins in China. For Yellow River Basins in north China, we detected the historical drought events by introducing comprehensive drought indices in the main irrigated areas of the basin, and over 88% of the drought months in the upper-mid reach can be detected by the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) during 1991 to 2012. In the lower reach, the detection ratios were lower than the upper-mid reach, and scPDSI performed better than SPEI with higher detection ratios. We also used advanced coupled regional model to evaluate the terrestrial water storage (TWS) in Yangtze River Basin in south China. The results show well agreement between simulated TWS and Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) products with high Pearson Coefficient (R=0.81) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NE=0.61) over the whole basins, especially in upper reach (R=0.96, NE=0.88). In middle reach, due to the regulation of the Three Gorges Dam, the TWS evaluated results need to be optimized by the observed streamflow. The results can provide basic scientific supporting for further HCS related mapping, prediction and evaluation in Yellow and Yangtze River Basins, and this HCS framework need to play a more positive role in climate change adaptation in the future.
The quest for an accurate retrieval of vertically complex cloud layers from passive instruments.
Authors: Bozzo Alessio , Spezzi Loredana , Watts Philip , Jackson John
Published: March 2024

Accurate cloud properties retrievals from passive instruments are particularly challenging in presence of vertically highly in-homogeneous and/or multiple cloud layers because of the inherent lack of observational constraints for the vertical profile below the cloud top. The Optimal estimation algorithm for Cloud Analysis (OCA) developed at EUMETSAT is capable of retrieving cloud properties of up to two overlapping layers using radiances from imaging instruments. Example of such instruments are the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG), the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) aboard the Meteosat Third Generation and METimage aboard the Metop-Second Generation. Since 2013 OCA retrievals have been operational as demonstrational product for MSG-SEVIRI and are now ready to be disseminated as operational products for MTG-FCI.A number of improvements to the baseline OCA algorithm have been implemented recently including a better initialisation of cloud phase and multi-layer flag and a new forward model to enable the use of solar channels not only in single-layer but also in multi-layer cloud conditions. We also introduced a cloud model with a more complete representation of the vertical inhomogeneity in optical properties.Using observations from the MSG-SEVIRI and MTG-FCI in the visible/near-infrared and infrared channels, we tested the updated algorithm to retrieve simultaneously a set of cloud microphysical and optical properties. To evaluate the accuracy of the retrieval we employ a number of retrieved cloud vertical profiles from Lidar/Radar measurements from both collocated A-Train orbits and in-situ data from the ACTRIS-Cloudnet network. The use of the solar channels in both single and multi-layer clouds enables a more consistent retrieval of their microphysical properties (effective radius and optical thickness). The addition of the vertical inhomogeneity has a significant impact on the retrieved cloud top pressure, bringing it closer to the estimates from the cloud Lidar.The new version of OCA allows for a more complete and consistent retrieval of single- and two-layer cloud profiles and provides some further insights on the vertical distribution of cloud parameters. This in turn can be helpful for various applications such as the height assignment of Atmospheric Motion Vectors and specific visualisations of cloud products for forecasters.
Unravelling Spatial Variability of Sea Level Extremes in the Netherlands: Insights from Observational Data
Authors: Pupić Vurilj Mia , Alvarez Antolinez Jose A. , Morales Napoles Oswaldo , Muis Sanne , Mendez Fernando J.
Published: March 2024

Coastal regions in the Netherlands face persistent challenges from sea level extremes, prompting a comprehensive exploration of their spatial variability. Our study explores the nuances of extreme sea level events across the country, using the observed sea level data from the GESLA-3 (Global Extreme Sea Level Analysis) dataset. We analyse 16 stations with observational periods spanning from 38 to 68 years.The total observed sea level is detrended and split into two components: (i) the tidal component, derived using harmonic analysis, and (ii) the non-tidal residual, calculated by subtracting the obtained tidal signal from the observed sea-level records. Extremes of both total sea level and non-tidal residual are then identified using the Peak over Threshold method, opting for a 70th percentile threshold. This choice allows us to examine less severe scenarios, suitable for risk assessments or planning purposes.Our preliminary analysis of extreme event characteristics, such as the duration and intensity of an event, indicates significant spatial differences across stations. Correlation coefficients between stations, particularly for total extreme sea level characteristics and extreme non-tidal residual characteristics (duration and intensity), show a noticeable pattern that consistently reveals higher values between stations with similar latitudes across all variables. Moreover, the distributions of total extreme sea level characteristics exhibit noteworthy differences as well - for example, in southern regions, the distributions of intensity are more broadly dispersed and skewed to the right, signifying higher events than those in the northern counterparts. However, this distinction is less pronounced when focusing solely on the non-tidal residual, possibly since the total sea level is influenced by factors such as the river inflow, prevalent in the south, and tidal propagation behaviour in the North Sea.As we progress with our analysis, we plan to apply a supervised learning method for classifying extreme events based on storm characteristics, and conduct a clustering analysis to reveal hidden spatial patterns of extreme events, for both total sea level and non-tidal residual. Furthermore, we aim to explore the interactions between surges and tides across different classes of extreme events, unravelling the underlying driving mechanisms of enhanced compound events.In summary, our ongoing study of sea level extremes in the Netherlands, from spatial dynamics to event characteristics, will provide a solid foundation for understanding the driving mechanisms behind the extremes, gaining insights about their natural variability, and evaluating the impacts of changing climatic conditions.
Assessing Atmospheric Mercury Dynamics: A Comparative Analysis of Current Anthropogenic Emission Inventories and their Implications for Concentration and Deposition in India
Authors: Malasani Chakradhar Reddy , Swain Basudev , Patel Ankit , Pulipati Yaswanth , Sharma Amit , Vountas Marco , Liu Pengfei , Gunthe Sachin S.
Published: March 2024

Anthropogenic mercury emissions pose significant risks to both human health and ecosystems, particularly when transformed into methylmercury. India stands as the second-largest contributor to mercury emissions, estimated at 144.7 tonnes of Hg/year, with uncertainties ranging from 75 to 330 Mg/year 1. India ratified the Minamata Convention in 2018, committing to address and mitigate mercury pollution2. Knowledge of Indian specific characteristics of mercury emission sources is essential for implementing effective mitigation strategies. However, India currently lacks a national emission inventory, with only limited estimates available3. This research explores the impact of different anthropogenic emission inventories (AMAP/UNEP-2010, EDGAR, STREETS, AMAP/UNEP-2015) on mercury concentration and deposition patterns in India. We employ nested simulations of the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem over India for the year 2013-15. The current study also investigates the impact of grid resolution and meteorology on spatial distribution of Hg concentrations and deposition using MERRA-2 and GEOS-FP meterological datasets. Additionally, the study delves into the seasonal variations of Hg concentration and deposition across different regions of India, analysing their correlation with various meteorological parameters (such as rainfall). These findings are crucial for gaining insights into the dynamics of the mercury cycle in the environment. Furthur results will be presented.References:1.AMAP/UNEP (2013) Technical background report for the global mercury assessment 2013. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme/UNEP Chemicals Branch, Oslo/Geneva2.UNEP. Parties and Signatories Minamata Convention on Mercury. https://www.mercuryconvention.org/en/parties (accessed 2024-01-09)3.Sharma, B. M., Bharat, G. K., Šebková, K., & Scheringer, M. (2019). Implementation of the Minamata Convention to manage mercury pollution in India: challenges and opportunities. Environmental Sciences Europe, 31, 1-12.
Global Evaluation of Terrestrial Evapotranspiration Trend from Diagnostic Products
Authors: Ruan Fangzheng , Yang Yuting
Published: March 2024

Evapotranspiration (ET) represents a pivotal process interlinking the water, energy, and carbon cycles within the Earth's environmental systems. In the context of global climate change, the discernible escalation in global ET has been extensively documented since the early 1980s. Nevertheless, considerable uncertainties persist in appraising the trajectory of estimated ET trends, with the magnitude of the global ET trends revealed by individual estimates differing by over an order of magnitude. Here, we present a comprehensive comparison of 11 state-of-the-art global ET products, comparing them with water balance-inferred ET across 69 major global basins, and contrasting them with direct, long-term ET observations from 20 eddy covariance sites. Our findings underscore a generally inadequate performance of existing ET products in replicating global and regional ET trends. A notable revelation is that the majority of ET products falter in correctly identifying the sign of water balance-derived and/or eddy covariance-observed ET trends in over 50% of catchments/flux sites. For catchment/flux sites where the signs of ET trends are accurately identified by the products, there is a prevalent tendency towards underestimating the magnitude of these trends. In addition, we find these ET products generally perform better in estimating ET trends in relatively arid climates and in croplands where the vegetation cover is more uniform. Finally, we elucidate that misclassification of land use types and insufficient representation of human activities, such as irrigation, groundwater extraction, and large-scale water diversion, constitute primary sources of uncertainty in the estimated ET. These insights are poised to advance future data assimilation efforts and foster the development of more reliable ET products at both basin and ecosystem scales, offering decision-makers an informed basis for selecting appropriate ET products.
Challenges and Opportunities for Research Infrastructure Co-location to Improve Understanding of Terrestrial Carbon Cycling in Northern European Forests
Authors: Futter Martyn , Högbom Lars , Moldan Filip , Peacock Michael , Villwock Holger
Published: March 2024

Forest carbon sequestration is a key part of the European transition to carbon neutrality. Quantification of forest carbon sequestration rates relies on relies on successful integration of high volumes of remote sensing and in-situ data arriving at ever increasing velocities with a bewildering variety of “long tail” and legacy data. Research Infrastructures (RIs) can add value to these data by supporting their harmonised, cross-site collection, curation and publication and by providing a platform for assessing data veracity. Integration of RI networks through site co-location and standardised observation methods has been proposed as one way of dealing with the Big Data needed to quantify societally relevant environmental processes including those related to the carbon cycle. However, the full potential of RI network integration as a tool to improve environmental understanding has yet to be realised.Here, we review current successes, identify challenges to better integration, and suggest ways forward. We provide recommendations for scientists, site managers and policy makers that will support the transition to a Big Data approach to quantifying and communicating forest carbon sequestration using the Swedish situation as an example.
Predicting Atlantic and Benguela Niño events with deep learning 
Authors: Bachelery Marie-Lou , Brajard Julien , Patacchiola Massimiliano , Keenlyside Noel
Published: March 2024

Extreme Atlantic and Benguela Niño events continue to significantly impact the tropical Atlantic region, with far-reaching consequences for African climate and ecosystems. Despite attempts to forecast these events using traditional seasonal forecasting systems, success remains low, reinforcing the growing idea that these events are unpredictable. To overcome the limitations of dynamical prediction systems, we introduce a deep learning-based statistical prediction model for Atlantic and Benguela Niño events. Our convolutional neural network (CNN) model, trained on 90 years of reanalysis data incorporating surface and 100m-averaged temperature variables, demonstrates the capability to forecast the Atlantic and Benguela Niño indices with lead times of up to 3-4 months. Notably, the CNN model excels in forecasting peak-season events with remarkable accuracy extending up to 5 months ahead. Gradient sensitivity analysis reveals the ability of the CNN model to exploit known physical precursors, particularly the connection to equatorial dynamics and the South Atlantic Anticyclone, for accurate predictions of Benguela Niño events. This study challenges the perception of the Tropical Atlantic as inherently unpredictable, underscoring the potential of deep learning to enhance our understanding and forecasting of critical climate events. 
New insight into the Evolution of the Jasmund Glacitectonic Complex from Seismic Mapping of Glacial Erosion Unconformity East of Rügen (SW Baltic Sea)
Authors: Haimerl Benedikt , Seidel Elisabeth , Gehrmann Anna , Preine Jonas , Schmidt Maryse C. , Hübscher Christian
Published: March 2024

The Jasmund Glacitectonic Complex (JGC) on the island of Rügen (NE Germany) is a key area where the interplay between glaciation, erosion and tectonics can be studied. Previous reconstructions are based on land-based and outcrop studies. Here, we use 148 high-resolution multi-channel seismic reflection profiles from several cruises of the University of Hamburg with RV ALKOR as well as adjacent borehole data to decipher the offshore extent of the JGC. The seismic data image erosional channels and depressions as well as moraines, which delineate the mainly southwestward directed Weichselian glacier movement. The depth of the erosional surface at around 100 m correlates with the previously modelled décollement depth. Furthermore, these results suggest a continuation of the observed glacial features onshore, highlighting the connection between the marine and terrestrial features of the JGC. Our investigations suggest that the complex evolution of the JGC is not due to three distinct ice streams, as proposed by previous studies. Instead, our data suggest that a single southwestward ice flow, which splits northeast of Jasmund, is responsible for the three-phase evolution. During the formation of the northern and eastern subcomplexes, the Cretaceous sediments were overthrusted almost perpendicular to the ice movement. In the southern subcomplex, however, the overthrusting was caused by the lateral pressure of the ice flow passing south of Jasmund. This study provides a methodological blueprint for the study of similar glacitectonic complexes elsewhere.
Rockfalls risk assessment along a E45 motorway section in South Tyrol (Italy)
Authors: Lelli Francesco , De Rosa Leonardo , Simeoni Lucia , Ronchetti Francesco , Critelli Vincenzo , Corsini Alessandro
Published: March 2024

The E45 motorway in South Tyrol (Italy) is exposed to rockfalls in many locations. For this reason, a significant number of rockfall risk reduction measures (nets, barriers, etc) has been progressively installed since its construction. Planning of further mitigation and monitoring measures can benefit from the assessment over a large-area and at adequate scale, of the exposure to rockfalls and of the associated risk, a piece of knowledge that this study has provided for a 13.5 km motorway section.First, susceptibility mapping has been carried out using bivariate statistical methods with supporting evidences from an inventory of rockfalls occurrences covering the period 1993 to 2020. This has allowed to define potential rockfall detachment zones located upslope the E45. For each zone, rockfall runout modelling with RocPro3D software by considering 0.5 m and 2.0 m blocks diameter and high-resolution Lidar DTM has allowed to assess potential interactions between rockfall and different motorway structures (i.e. viaduct piers, tunnel entrances and road embankments). Spatial-temporal frequency of 2 m diameter rockfall (i.e. n° of rockfalls per year and unit area) has been assessed on the basis of the inventory of rockfalls occurrences and of the overall extent of slopes resulting highly susceptible to rockfalls. On such basis, the expected rockfall triggering frequency (n° events/year) in each source area has been assessed by considering its extension.  Hazard has been assessed by using an heuristic matrix-based approach that combines frequency and geomechanics (expressed by the GSI) of the rock masses. Rockfall spatial impact frequency, energy and bounce height determined by runout models have been used to establish exposure and vulnerability (i.e. expected damage level) of the motorway infrastructures. Finally, risk has been evaluated in function of hazard and vulnerability (by using combination matrices tailored to each type of interaction of rockfall – on infrastructures taken into consideration.Results allowed us to determine and map that, out of the total 13.5 km motorway section considered, about 1.5 km for 0.5 m diameter blocks, and about 3.2 km considering 2.0 m diameter blocks, should be considered at high to very high rockfall risk. This result is also relevant with respect to the identification of priorities for more in-depth slope-scale surveys and monitoring of rockfalls in the perspective of further structural and non-structural mitigation measures implementation.
Modelling the influence of biogenic SOA precursor volatility on aerosol forcing
Authors: Irfan Muhammed , Kühn Thomas , Yli-Juuti Taina , Laakso Anton , Holopainen Eemeli , R. Worsnop Douglas , Virtanen Annele , Kokkola Harri
Published: March 2024

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) plays a significant role in atmospheric processes, influencing particulate matter, air quality, and global climate. The volatility basis set (VBS) framework facilitates simulating the large number of SOA species by grouping SOA precursors based on volatility, thus reducing computational challenges. However, volatilities of SOA forming vapors are inadequately constrained in global climate models, causing uncertainties in predicted aerosol mass loads and climate effects. Using a process-scale particle growth model and a global climate model, we analyse the sensitivity of simulated cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and SOA mass concentrations to the volatility distribution of SOA precursor gases from monoterpenes emitted by boreal trees. Our findings reveal that uncertainties in the volatilities of condensing organic vapors significantly affect particle growth rates and CCN survival in the process-scale model. Global model simulations show less sensitivity in CCN and cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC). A one order of magnitude shifts in volatility results in a 13% increase or a 9% decrease in SOA mass concentration over the boreal region. Furthermore, the study compares a finely resolved 9-bin VBS setup and a coarser 3-bin VBS setup, highlighting the importance of accurately representing saturation concentration values for volatility bins, especially in global models with reduced bin numbers. In addition, the study found that the radiative forcing attributed to changes in SOA is notably more sensitive to the volatility distribution of semi-volatile compounds than low-volatile compounds. This underscores the need for improved representations of semi-volatile compounds in global scale models to accurately predict aerosol loads and subsequent climate effects.
Quantitative geodiversity inventory and evaluation on the example of Slovenia
Authors: Trenchovska Aleksandra
Published: March 2024

Geodiversity is defined as the natural range of abiotic features and processes. In this work, a quantitative GIS-based geodiversity inventory and evaluation of Slovenia is presented. Slovenia lies on the intersection of the mountain (Alps and Dinaric Alps), continental (Pannonian Basin), and coastal/maritime (Mediterranean) landscape types therefore represents a natural laboratory for geodiversity studies. To determine the geodiversity distribution pattern, an inventory of geodiversity elements was carried out. Through documental research, remote sensing methods and field validation work were identified 544.088 geodiversity elements and classified in four main categories: geological (224), geomorphological (541.505), hydrological (2.358), and topographical (1). Based on the inventory data three geodiversity parameters, including richness, abundance, and geodiversity index were calculated in a GIS environment using a 5 × 5 km grid cell size. The geodiversity index was calculated by multiplying the layers of richness and the mean of the terrain ruggedness index. To enhance the applicability of the results to tourism, education, and nature conservation, we employed the Jenks classification method to categorize geodiversity parameters into five distinct classes. The results show that the highest richness class spans across 1.65% of Slovenia's land surface, featuring a maximum of 13 different geodiversity elements within a grid cell. The highest abundance class covers 5.33% of the area, exhibiting the highest count of 6,198 geodiversity elements within a grid cell. Notably, the highest geodiversity index class encompasses 1.55% of Slovenia's territory, primarily concentrated in two prominent areas within the mountainous landscape where glacial, fluvial, and karstic processes and landforms interweave. The results help to inform scientists and managers about abiotic conservation values, and decision-making processes, fostering effective strategies for the preservation and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity.
Role of Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) in modulating recent changes in tropical large-scale atmospheric circulations
Authors: Wu Mingna
Published: March 2024

The Pacific Walker circulation (PWC) and Hadley circulation (HC) are the most prominent circulations of the Earth, which can exert far-reaching impacts on global and regional hydrological cycles. Both of these two large-scale circulations have experienced significant changes under global warming. Specifically, the PWC is reported to strengthen since the 1980s while the HC is proposed to widen. The causes behind these observed changes have been the subject of climate research, with divergent views on the influence of external forcing versus internal variability. Here, based on initial-condition large ensemble simulations, we quantify the relative contributions of internal variability and external forcing in modulating recent changes in tropical large-scale atmospheric circulations. We find that the recent PWC strengthening and HC widening is robust consequences of internal variability rather than external forcing. We further reveal that Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) is the dominant internal mode, with its phase evolution contributing about 63% of the observed PWC strengthening and at least 73% of the HC widening in the Northern Hemisphere.
Alternative migration strategies of fin whales in the Mediterranean sea : evidence of a lunar influence
Authors: Fontana Clément , Glotin Hervé , Brandini Carlo
Published: March 2024

Understanding migrational behavior of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Mediterranean basin is of greatest importance in terms of research on cetaceans, but also in terms of conservation for a specie considered as ‘endangered’ based on the IUCN Red List criteria. We investigate in this study the migrational behavior of several individuals from this population. Several datasets (telemetry-tracking, satellite-estimated chlorophyll concentration and oceanic currents) are used to assess their long- and short-term behavioral adaptations to diverse biomes. We highlight the fact that meeting points with the North Atlantic population exist at strategical environmental locations. We prove that migrating fin whales show distinct swimming behaviors depending on the lunar phases by comparing their daily distances swam to the tortuosity of their paths. These distinct behaviors might be due to prey availability as well as acting as a temporal trigger to maximize chances of reproduction success. Indeed, this migration strategies of the Mediterranean population is also explained by reproductive constraints of an isolated population susceptible to inbreeding. We then focus the study on two fin whale paths in the Strait of Sicily showing that they are able to communicate between each others, adapt their foraging area to instantaneous moon-driven changes of oceanic conditions but also to follow cyclic seasonal variations of resources availability. We finally bring a new insight on an alternative pattern for migration strategies of fin whales in the Mediterranean sea.
Coronal Bright Points observed in the corona and photosphere with SDO and Hinode
Authors: Kraus Isabella , Bourdin Philippe
Published: March 2024

The exact coronal heating mechanism remains a riddle, but magnetically active regions are known to host coronal loops with extreme-UV emission. But also at much smaller sizes, up to 10 Mm, there are bipolar regions that can be associated with UV emission in coronal bright points (CBPs). We study the statistical properties of CBPs with continuous data from the SDO spacecraft to track the lifetime of CBPs. We use their tracking data to verify that the lower corona co-rotates with the photosphere. In a next step, we aim to reproduce an isolated CBP in a 3D magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulation. To this end, we need observational data to drive the simulation from both, SDO/HMI and Hinode/NFI. As these instruments feature different resolutions and field-of-views, they also detect different levels of small-scale and large-scale magnetic structures in the photosphere. As we know, these magnetic patches are advected from photospheric horizontal motions and create the necessary Poynting flux at the base of the corona. Combining these data from two very different instruments is a task that needs careful overlaying, so that not artificial effects would appear in the MHD simulation. We use a multi-scale overlaying method to enlarge the field-of-view of Hinode with SDO data, to drive the simulation with consistent photospheric magnetic fields. The bottom and top boundaries are fully closed for any mass and heat flows. The output of the simulation will allow us to compute synthetic UV emission maps that we may compare directly to SDO and Hinode observations. With our model we test if the field-line braiding mechanism is sufficient to heat a CPB to the required temperature. We find that loop-like CBPs usually originate from bipolar regions. Weaker magnetic polarities produce fainter and hence cooler CBPs. And the same time, we find that lifetimes of typical CPBs are easily more than 6 hours. This supports the theory that the heating of CBP is mainly based on magnetic energy dissipation through a relatively steady and slow magnetic reconnection process.
The influence of liming with oil-shale ash on the soluble P fraction in soil
Authors: Tonutare Tonu , Kõlli Raimo , Tõnutare Tõnis , Krebstein Kadri
Published: March 2024

The acidification of agriculturally used soils is a widely known phenomenon. Acidification may be caused by various factors. One part of the acidification results from natural processes, including acid plant root exudates and the oxidation of flora and fauna residues in the soil. Another contributing factor is acidic rain, which may have a natural origin or be caused by human activities such as burning coal, sulfur-containing materials, and emissions from metallurgy and chemical factories.
For sustainable agriculture, it is essential to maintain the optimum soil pH to ensure high yields. Typically, liming is employed to establish the suitable pH for plant growth, using carbonaceous materials. Commonly used materials include milled limestone or dolomite, and sometimes ashes from biomaterial. In Estonia, for over 60 years, fly ash from the burning of oil shale in power plants has been used for liming agriculturally used fields. However, the bottom ash from power plants remains unused and is stored in ash hills, accumulating to more than 600 million tons. This ash is an alkaline material with a high content of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. In 2025, the company RagnSells plans to start an experimental factory producing high-quality CaCO3 from this ash. The residue of this process will be a white solid alkaline material with an increased content of magnesium, making it suitable for liming agriculturally used fields. As liming can lock some phosphorus in the soil into an insoluble phase, there may be a decrease in soluble (plant-available) phosphorus. Therefore, we conducted an incubation experiment with this experimental liming agent on three different soils and used two fertilizer norms.  Our research aimed to monitor changes in water-extractable and plant-available P (by the AL method) content in different soils during a 24-week incubation period.
Deciphering the dynamics of the Mulde Event—Bayesian ultra-high-resolution ostracod paleocommunity analysis 
Authors: Daumantas Liudas , Rinkevičiūtė Simona , Radzevičius Sigitas , Spiridonov Andrej
Published: March 2024

Silurian period witnessed a series of global extinction events, such as the Mulde/lundgreni Event during of the late Wenlock epoch.  These events triggered complex and abrupt changes in Earth's biota. The brief nature of these events requires a high sampling resolution for paleontological studies, a feat seldom achieved. By integrating published data with new samples from the Gėluva-118 core, we have attained resolution of ≈ 10 Ka in examining ostracod paleocommunities during the Mulde/lundgreni Event.Our approach involved a custom-made binary recursive segmentation algorithm for the hierarchical subdivision of stratigraphically contiguous segments. This algorithm was applied to the ostracod taxonomic compositional time series data from the Gėluva-118 core (Lithuania). The results revealed significant changes in ostracod community composition, enabling us to delineate the event's stages. We employed a Bayesian Age-Depth model to assess the timing of these changes. The median and 95% Highest Density Interval (HDI) durations for each stage, as well as for the entire event, are as follows: Collapse – 50 Ka (11 – 171 Ka), Maximal Stress – 120 Ka (31 – 601 Ka), Recovery – 80 Ka (21 – 576 Ka), and the entire Mulde/lundgreni Event – 260 Ka (100 – 1,136 Ka). Our analysis of bootstrapped sample averages of diversity indices revealed that the Maximal Stress stage, marked by a severe scarcity of ostracods, signified a distinct shift in community diversity state. Prior to this stage, ostracod communities were less diverse, yet exhibited higher increases in evenness with growing diversity, indicating distinct community assembly and community structure patterns. Ostracod communities from the Collapse and Recovery stages resembled those adjacent to the Mulde/lundgreni Event interval but showed significantly reduced abundances, lower inverse Simpson index, and higher evenness. Furthermore, our findings suggest a nonlinear recovery stage, punctuated by setbacks and stabilization phases.These insights demonstrate the potential of high-resolution paleontological studies in deciphering the chronology and pace of intermittent global events.This research was supported by S-MIP-21- 9 “The role of spatial structuring in major transitions in macroevolution”.
Condition assessment of limestone tombs Theban Necropolis (Luxor, Egypt)
Authors: Török Ákos , Zomborácz Tamás
Published: March 2024

The Theban Mountain, on the west bank of the river Nile, near Luxor is internationally known as the burial site of Egyptian Dynasties. The current study focuses on four tombs dating back to the late Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period. The tombs are located on the hill's southern slope and were cut into the rock. Their geometry is characteristic since at least six horizontal rows were excavated above one another. Sedimentary rocks of the study area form parts of Tarawan Cretaceous, Esna Shale and Theba Limestone formations. All four tombs were once lavishly decorated with wall paintings and reliefs carved directly into the carbonatic rocks. Until now, these structures have gone through considerable erosion in addition to the occurring damages resulting from their reuse as modern habitations until the late 20th century. Thus, most of the tombs’ decorations have perished or heavily deteriorated. Since 1983 a Hungarian Archaeological Mission has been exploring the site. Numerous attempts have been made to reconstruct the fragmented walls and conserve the remaining works of art, however, very little effort has been made to understand the deterioration process and its origins. This research describes the geological conditions, petrology and sedimentology of local carbonates, fracture pattern, micro-climatic conditions of the tombs, and decay forms. Stratification, micro-cracking and discontinuities were also mapped. The painted and carved surfaces were documented, and the condition of the walls was assessed. On-site tests included moisture content measurements (vertical profiling) and the detection of surface strength by non-destructive methods. Sensors were placed at various parts of the tombs, recording temperature and relative humidity. The main trigger mechanisms of deterioration processes were identified and preservation measures were made. This study aims to provide an example that helps assess the conditions of rock-cut tombs in arid climates and the changes linked to micro-climatic conditions.
Space-time wave extreme analysis during typhoon event in the surrounding waters of South Korea
Authors: Abdullah Faizal Ade Rahmahuddin , Yoo Jeseon
Published: March 2024

South Korea typically experiences one or two typhoons per year in the surrounding waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The intensification of typhoons often leads to significant coastal disasters caused by extreme waves in the region. This study presents an analysis of space-time wave extreme parameters, including maximum crest and wave height, using the spectral wave model WAVEWATCH III (WWIII) in the typhoon event. Wind data from ERA-5 reanalysis has been employed as the forcing field in the model. To assess the model's performance, simulations were compared with observational data during Typhoon Hinnamnor on September 4-6, 2022, using a stereo camera system installed on the Gageocho Ocean Research Station, an offshore platform in the Yellow Sea, southwest of South Korea. The results indicate that the spectral shapes and simulated space-time wave extremes have been found in fair agreement with observed data. However, some discrepancies primarily arise from inaccuracies in the wind forcing during the experiment.