bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life and Death of Normal Faults: Quantitative Analysis of Fault Network Evolution in 3D Rift Models
Authors: Brune Sascha , Wrona Thilo , Neuharth Derek , Glerum Anne , Naliboff John
Published: March 2022

Quantifying the spatial and temporal evolution of fault systems is crucial in understanding plate boundary deformation and the associated seismic hazard, as well as to help georesources exploration in sedimentary basins. During the last decade, 3D lithospheric-scale geodynamic models have become capable of simulating the evolution of complex fault systems, from the onset of rifting to sea-floor spreading. But since these models describe faults as finite-width shear zones within a deforming continuum, additional efforts are needed to isolate and analyse individual faults, so we can understand the entire life span of normal fault networks.

Here we present 3D numerical forward models using the open-source community software ASPECT. Our thermo-mechanical models include visco-plastic rheology, strain softening as well as lithospheric and asthenospheric layers to capture rift evolution from inception to continental break-up. We quantify normal fault evolution at the surface of the model with a method that describes fault systems as 2D networks consisting of nodes and edges. Building on standard image analysis tools such as skeletonization and edge detection, we establish a hierarchical network structure that groups nodes and edges into components that make up individual evolving faults. This allows us to track fault geometries and kinematics through time enabling us to analyse the growth, linkage and disintegration of faults.

We find that the initial fault network is formed by rapid fault growth and linkage, followed by competition between neighbouring faults and coalescence into a mature fault network. At this stage, faults accumulate displacement without a further increase in length. Upon necking and basin-ward localisation, the first generation of faults shrink and disintegrate successively while being replaced by newly emerging faults in the rift centre. These new faults undergo a localisation process similar to the initial rift stage. We identify several of these basin-ward localisation phases, which all feature this pattern. In oblique rift models, where the extension direction is not parallel to the rift trend, we observe strain partitioning between the rift borders and the centre, with strike-slip faults emerging in the centre even at moderate obliquity. Analysing the spatio-temporal evolution of modelled faults thus allows us to map their entire life span to observed stages of rift system evolution.
Temporal and spatial variability of water vapor isotopic composition in the lower troposphere: insights from ultralight aircraft measurements
Authors: Zannoni Daniele , Steen-Larsen Hans Christian , Sodemann Harald , Durand Amandine , Monod Anne , Clémençon Aurélien , Dherbecourt Jean-Baptiste , Melkonian Jean-Michel , Hamperl Jonas , Totems Julien , Geyskens Nicolas , Geneau Pascal , Chazette Patrick , Nicolas Philippe , Ravier Sylvain , Flamant Cyrille , Raybaut Myriam
Published: March 2022

The lower troposphere is where the surface evapotranspiration flux has a strong impact on the atmospheric water vapor isotopic composition, enabling the investigation of the hydro-ecological features of a specific study area. Even though several studies investigated in the last decade the spatial and temporal variability of tropospheric water vapor isotopic composition with ships, aircrafts, satellites and at fixed locations at ground level, vertical profiles and spatial observations acquired within the same time window in the lower troposphere (<3000 m) are still rare. As part of the ground validation of the EU H2020 LEMON project, we used an UltraLight Aircraft (ULA) equipped with a flight-enabled CRDS water vapor isotopes analyzer to probe the vertical and spatial structure of the lower troposphere in Ardèche, Southern France, between 17 and 23 September 2021. In total, 16 flights with different flight strategies were performed for a total flight time of ~20 hours. The flight patterns were mainly designed to obtain representative vertical profiles of the water vapor column below 3000 m for comparison with ground-based LIDAR and to obtain precise estimates of the humidity and water vapor isotopic composition at specific altitude levels, spanning an area of approximately 10 km x 10 km. Due to the flexibility of the ULA, it was also possible to fly several times throughout the day, allowing to study the daytime temporal evolution of the water vapor column within the boundary layer. In general, vertical profile measurements showed evidence of strong mixing process throughout the lower atmospheric column, with both input from free tropospheric layer and surface evapotranspiration. Water vapor stratification, characterized by a large vertical gradient of the isotopic composition, was observed during early morning flights with increased steepness of the vertical isotopic profile along the day. In some cases, flights focused on horizontal and spatial gridding of water vapor isotopic composition showed variation of more than 10‰ for dD in ~5 km2 and in less than 0.12 hours. We hypothesize this large horizontal variability to be related to development of thermals within the boundary layer. Our next step will be to summarize the spatial and temporal variability of water vapor isotopic composition for allowing a fair comparison between high-resolution isotope-enabled general circulation models, remote sensing and water vapor observations in the boundary layer.
Global Current System of Martian Induced Magnetosphere: a Hybrid View
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Fatemi Shahab
Published: March 2022

Recent spacecraft observations have revealed the averaged global morphology of the magnetospheric current system of Mars. This current system is generated by the induction of the interplanetary magnetic field and the motional electric field of the solar wind. It couples the ionosphere below and the solar wind above and determines the distribution of the energy inputs from the fast-moving solar wind to the planetary atmospheric ions.

We use Amitis, a GPU-based hybrid (particle ions and fluid electrons) numerical model to study the current system. Under the typical space environment condition, we successfully reproduce the morphology of the observed current system, including the bow shock current, the induced magnetospheric boundary current, and the ionospheric current.

With the full information provided by the model, we can calculate the inner product of the electric field intensity and the current density for any location in the simulation domain. Furthermore, we can separate the currents due to solar wind and planetary ions, and separate the electric field terms caused by different mechanisms, thereby clarifying the contribution of different mechanisms to the ion escape in the solar wind interaction with Mars. 
Preferred rossby waves and risks of synchronized heatwaves and harvest failures in observations and model projections
Authors: Kornhuber Kai , Lesk Corey , Schleussner Carl , Jägermeyer Jonas , Pfleiderer Peter , Horton Radley
Published: March 2022

Concurrent weather extremes due to a meandering Jetstream can reduce crop productivity across multiple agricultural regions. However, future changes in associated synoptic climate patterns and their agricultural impacts remain unquantified. Here we investigate the ability of coupled climate crop model simulations to reproduce observed regional production impacts and production co-variabilities across major breadbasket regions of the world. We find that although climate models accurately reproduce atmospheric patterns, they underestimate associated surface anomalies in climate models and yield covariability in crop model simulations. Model estimates of future multiple breadbasket failures are therefore likely conservative, despite a projected future intensification of wave pattern-related extremes identified regionally. Our results suggest that climate risk assessments need to account for these high-impact but deeply-uncertain hazards.
Fracture, erosion and grain size within rivers
Authors: Guerit Laure , Fournereau Marion , Steer Philippe , Lague Dimitri , Astrié Claire
Published: March 2022

Landscape evolution is intimately related to processes of erosion and rock fragmentation that transform the bedrock into granular material that can be transported by rivers. Among the involved processes, rock fracture seems to play a key role on the mechanisms and rates of erosion, and on the size of the produced sediments. Efforts have been focused on erosion along hillslopes, yet, as far as we know, there is no systematic study of the impact of fracture density and orientation on bedrock erosion within rivers and on the geometry of the produced grains. This is partly due to the characteristic timescales of the processes at stake (abrasion and plucking) that strongly limit direct field observations.

            To address this question, we develop an experimental setup designed to simulate the erosion of a fractured bedrock within a river. The setup is made up of an annular plexiglas cylinder, at the bottom of which is placed a fractured concrete disk. The fracture network is designed numerically and then printed in 3D in PolyVinyl Alcohol (PVA), a thermo-plastic that softens when in contact with water. Water and granite sediments are added on the top of the disk, and a motor-driven propeller circulates the water and the sediments so that erosion can proceed. A set of cameras is used to reconstruct the topography by Structure From Motion so that the erosion dynamics is recorded quantitatively and at high-frequency.

            The first set of experiments explore the role of fracture spacing and azimut. The preliminary results suggest that for a given lithology, the relationship between fracture density and sediment size controls the dominant mode of erosion (abrasion vs plucking). We also observe a clear relationship between the fracture spacing and the size of the concrete clasts produced by plucking. We are currently running additional experiments with different fracture orientation and we also explore the role of the granite sediment size. Based on these experimental results, our objective is to build and validate a conceptual model of erosion and landscape evolution that integrates the role of bedrock fracture within rivers.
Engaging the public for water data collection – experiences from the CrowdWater project
Authors: Seibert Jan , Blanco Sara , Scheller Mirjam , Schwarzenbach Franziska , Ze Wang , van Meerveld Ilja
Published: March 2022

CrowdWater is a citizen science project in which we investigate how the public can be involved in the collection of hydrological data, such as stream water levels, soil moisture conditions and the presence of water in temporary streams. Another important part is to study the value of the collected data for hydrological forecasts. Therefore, we have evaluated the potential value of citizen science observations, which might be uncertain and spotty in time, in several studies. The project's long-term goal is to collect a large number of observations and thus improve the prediction of hydrological events, such as drought or flooding, by using data collected by the public in hydrological model calibration. In this presentation, we discuss our experiences from the CrowdWater project with regard to app-based data collection and evaluation of these data. We also highlight methods to ensure data quality, including a gamified approach and machine learning for the analyses of the photos that are submitted through the app. Additionally, we will give an update on new activities in the CrowdWater project.
Changes in aerosol atmospheric composition and radiative forcing in OsloCTM3 over the past two decades – the effect of the updated CEDS emission inventory 
Authors: Skeie Ragnhild Bieltvedt , Myhre Gunnar , Lund Marianne Tronstad
Published: March 2022

Over the last decade, the total global anthropogenic emissions of aerosol precursors have declined according to the most recent Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) emission inventory. The CEDS emission inventory used in CMIP6 (CEDSv17) has recently been updated and extended from 2014 until 2019 (version v_2021_02_05, CEDSv21). The role of the updated emissions and the trend beyond 2014 on the modeled atmospheric composition and radiative forcing (RF) using an atmospheric chemistry transport model (OsloCTM3), radiative transfer and kernel calculations will be presented. The results post 2014 are also compared to results with SSP2-4.5 scenario emissions as input. In addition, we present consistent modeling results for 2020, with CEDSv21 emissions for 2019 combined with the 2020 CovidMIP-emission perturbation, as aerosol precursor emissions declined further due to containment policies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

For sulphate, the radiative forcing in 2014 relative to 2010 is stronger positive (+0.03 W m-2) using CEDSv21 compared to a neglectable RF using CEDSv17. In 2017 the RF using the SSP scenario and the updated CEDS are equal (+0.07 W m-2) as the SO2 emission reduction in China was included at the starting point of the scenarios (year 2015), but not in the historical emissions (CEDSv17) ending in 2014. Including the effect of COVID-19, the sulphate RF in 2020 was +0.11 W m-2 with 2010 as baseline, with the strongest positive forcing in Eastern China followed by the eastern part of the US. No regions show a negative sulphate RF in 2020 with respect to 2010.

For the total aerosol-radiation RF (including Black Carbon, primary organic aerosol, SOA, nitrate, and biomass burning aerosols) the RF was +0.05 W m-2 in 2019 relative to 2010 based on OsloCTM3 simulations and the most recent CEDS emission inventory. Extending the results to 2020 using estimates for COVID-19 emissions, the forcing is further strengthened to +0.07 W m-2.
The near-surface wind patterns as observed by NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission at Jezero Crater, Mars
Authors: Viúdez-Moreiras Daniel , Newman Claire E. , Gómez-Elvira Javier , Harri Ari-Matti , Genzer María , Tamppari Leslie , de la Torre Manuel , Sánchez Agustín , Hueso Ricardo , Guzewich Scott , Sullivan Rob , Pla Jorge , Navarro Sara , Munguira Asier , Lorenz Ralph , Herkenhoff Kenneth , Rodríguez-Manfredi Jose Antonio , MEDA team the
Published: March 2022

NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landed in Jezero Crater (~18.4ºN, 77.6ºE) on February 2021 at Ls~5º, just after the northern spring equinox. Perseverance carries the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) instrument [1], which includes a wind sensor that is a heritage from previous sensors sent to Mars as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and InSight missions. Those sensors allowed the characterization of the near-surface wind patterns at Gale Crater [2] and Elysium Planitia [3,4]. The wind sensor of MEDA is allowing near-surface wind patterns to be characterized at Perseverance’s landing site, thus complementing the data acquired by previous missions on the surface of Mars.

Previous missions at different locations on the Martian surface observed a contribution by several mechanisms from different scales involved in the near-surface winds, including the effect of local and regional slope winds induced by topography, thermal tides, baroclinic waves and the Hadley cell, each one with a variable weight on the resulting wind patterns as a function of location, season and the presence of dust storms (e.g. [2-4] and references therein). The near-surface wind data acquired by Mars 2020 show a complex dynamics at Jezero Crater, as predicted by models (e.g. [5]). Preliminary interpretation suggests that the diurnal cycle of winds is dominated by the regional circulation mainly forced by slope winds in the Isidis basin region, which interact with the local scale circulation at Jezero and Hadley cell flows. The potential contribution by these mechanisms on the resulting wind patterns measured at Mars2020’s landing site will be presented, with a further focus on the observed wind variability supported by probabilistic models.

 

References:

[1] Rodriguez-Manfredi et al. (2021), SSR, 217(48). [2] Viúdez-Moreiras et al. (2019), Icarus, 319, 909-925. [3] Banfield et al. (2020), Nat.Geo, 13, 190-198. [4] Viúdez-Moreiras et al. (2020) JGR-Planets, 125, e2020JE006493. [5] Newman et al. (2021) SSR, 217(20).
Year-to-year variations of Southern Ocean primary productivity driven by sub-seasonal forcing
Authors: Prend Channing , Keerthi Madhavan , Lévy Marina , Aumont Olivier , Gille Sarah , Talley Lynne
Published: March 2022

Primary productivity in the Southern Ocean plays a key role in global biogeochemical cycles. While much focus has been placed on phytoplankton seasonality, interannual fluctuations exceed the amplitude of the seasonal cycle across large swaths of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Interannual variability of surface chlorophyll, a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, is typically linked to changes in the ocean circulation associated with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). However, it is important to note that variations in annual mean chlorophyll may reflect processes occurring across a broad range of timescales from sub-seasonal to multi-annual. Here, we apply a timeseries decomposition method to satellite-derived surface chlorophyll in order to separate the low-frequency and high-frequency contributions to the interannual variability. Throughout most of the Southern Ocean, interannual variations are dominated by the sub-seasonal component, which is not strongly correlated with the SAM. The multi-annual component, while correlated with the SAM, only accounts for about 10% of the total chlorophyll variance. This suggests that year-to-year variations in annual mean chlorophyll are related to high-frequency events driven by intermittent forcing at small scales, such as storms and eddies, rather than low-frequency climate variability. Consequently, interannual variations of primary productivity are highly localized and do not remain correlated over large regions.
An annual mass balance estimate for each of the world’s glaciers based on observations
Authors: Dussaillant Ines , Hugonnet Romain , Huss Matthias , Berthier Etienne , Paul Frank , Zemp Michael
Published: March 2022

The geodetic method has become a popular tool to measure glacier elevation changes over large glacierized regions with high accuracy for multi-annual to decadal time periods. In contrast, the glaciological method provides annually to seasonally resolved information on glacier evolution, but only for a small sample of the world’s glaciers (less than 1%). Various methods have been proposed to bridge the gap on spatio-temporal coverage of glacier change observations and to provide annually-resolved glacier mass balances using the geodetic sample as calibration. Thanks to a new global and near-complete (96% of the world glaciers) dataset of geodetic mass balance observations, this goal has become feasible at the global scale. Inspired by previous methodological frameworks, we developed a new approach to combine the glacier distribution from the globally-complete Randolph Glacier Inventory with the mass balance and elevation change observations from the Fluctuation of Glaciers database of the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). Our results provide a global assessment of annual glacier mass changes and related uncertainties for every individual glacier during the 2000–2020 period. The glacier-specific time series can then be integrated into an annually-resolved global gridded glacier change product at any user-requested spatial resolution, useful for comparison with gravity-based products, calibration or validation of glacier mass balance models operating at a global scale and to improve calculations of the glacier contribution to regional hydrology and global sea-level rise.
Functional diatom responses to Neoglacial environmental change in a dark and a clear shallow subarctic lake
Authors: Rantala Marttiina , Kivilä Henriikka , Meyer-Jacob Carsten , Luoto Tomi , Atti Sanna , Smol John , Nevalainen Liisa
Published: March 2022

Algal communities in northern lakes respond sensitively to climate changes but their responses vary considerably between ecosystems. Functional approaches may help us better understand the nature of the biotic responses to environmental change, though presently this approach has rarely been used in northern lake environments. We explored patterns in diatom (Bacillariophyceae) species and functional composition during the Neoglacial in two shallow oligotrophic lakes typical of the Fennoscandian subarctic region. Sediment carbon and nitrogen isotope (δ13C, δ15N) and elemental biogeochemistry and spectral (visible-near infrared [VNIR] inferred lake-water total organic carbon [TOC] and sediment chlorophyll a) indices were used to track broad-scale environmental transitions over the past three millennia. A number of congruent change patterns were observed indicative of centennial to millennial scale changes in lake productivity, the inflow of organic carbon from land, and sediment organic carbon content. Both the dark colored woodland lake and the clear tundra lake displayed a gradual decline in lake water TOC concentrations attributed to Neoglacial cooling and transient increases in primary production associated with warmer periods and, in particular, the 20th century warming. Although the Neoglacial evolution of the lakes showed similarities, diatom functional responses were not uniform between the lakes. In the dark woodland lake, functional shifts appeared most strongly connected to declining lake-water TOC and sediment organic carbon content, and were reflected, most notably, as a decline in motile species affiliated with high organic levels and low-light conditions. In the clear tundra lake, changes in lake productivity and sediment organic carbon were reflected most distinctly in the abundance of attached and colonial life forms but the relationships were more ambiguous. While many of the observed shifts aligned with expectations based on earlier research linking diatom functional traits to changing light and organic carbon levels, discrepancies among the lakes and functional groups call for further refinement to detect ecologically meaningful traits in divergent aquatic environments. Both species and functional composition in the two lakes indicated that, despite distinct anthropogenic imprints in the biogeochemical record, human impact on the lakes’ diatoms has not, as yet, been profound.
Self-guided smartphone excursions in university teaching – experiences from exploring ‘Water in the City’ 
Authors: Seibert Jan , Schwarzenbach Franziska , van Meerveld Ilja
Published: March 2022

The pandemic has changed teaching dramatically. Similar to many other university teachers, we were faced with an unprecedented situation when the university closed in spring 2020, a few weeks after the start of the semester. In this presentation, we report and discuss our experiences from teaching a first-year Bachelor level introductory course in Hydrology with almost 200 students. In particular, we focus on the excursion for this course. We were in the fortunate position that we had started to develop a new smartphone-based self-guided excursion on the topic of ‘Water in the city’. We accelerated this development and used it to replace the traditional group excursion, which had to be cancelled. We used the self-guided excursion again in 2021.The student feedback was overall very positive, and therefore we plan to continue to use the excursion in the coming years. In this presentation, we describe the excursion, discuss the experiences of the students, and present materials and ideas that could be useful for similar excursions at other universities.
Diffuse He and H2 emissions from Cumbre Vieja volcano before and during the recent eruption, La Palma, Canary Islands
Authors: Melián Gladys , Meire Ana , Amonte Cecilia , Pitti Pimienta Lia , Di Nardo Daniel , Alonso Mar , Smit Maud , Leal Victoria , García-Hernández Rubén , Hernández William , Pereira Sonia M.M. , Aguiar Simone , Ferrera Leticia , Pérez Nemesio M.
Published: March 2022

La Palma Island (708 km2) is located at the north-west and is one of the youngest (~2.0My) of the Canarian Archipelago. On September 19, 2021, a new volcanic eruption occurred at Cumbre Vieja volcanic system at the southern part of the island, the most active basaltic volcano in the Canaries. The erupting fissure (~1.0 km-length) is characterized by lava effusion, strombolian activity, lava fountaining, ash venting and gas jetting. After 85 days of eruption finished on December 13, 2021. We report herein the results of an intensive soil gas study, focused on non-reactive and/or highly mobile gases such as helium (He) and hydrogen (H2), in Cumbre Vieja. He has unique characteristics as a geochemical tracer: it is chemically inert and radioactively stable, non-biogenic, highly mobile and relatively insoluble in water. H2 is one of the most abundant trace species in volcano-hydrothermal systems and is a key participant in many redox reactions occurring in the hydrothermal reservoir gas. Since 2002, soil gas samples were regularly collected at ~40 cm depth using a metallic probe at 600 sites for each survey. He content was analysed by means of a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS; Pfeiffer Omnistar 422 and HIDEN QGA) and H2 concentrations by a micro-gas chromatograph (microGC; VARIAN CP490). Spatial distribution maps have been constructed following the sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) procedure to quantify the diffuse He and H2 emission from the studied area. The time series of both diffuse He and H2 emission show significant increases before and during the occurrence of seismic swarms that took place in the period 2017-2021. During the eruptive period, significant increases in diffuse He and H2 emission were also observed with good temporal agreement with the increase of the volcanic tremor. These increases in diffuse He and H2 emission preceded the peak of diffuse CO2 emission as expected by the characteristics of these gases. The absence of visible volcanic gas emissions (fumaroles, hot springs, etc.) at the surface environment of Cumbre Vieja, makes this type of studies in an essential tool for volcanic surveillance purposes.

 
Hydro-sediment-morphodynamic process of landslide-induced barrier lake
Authors: Li Ji , Cao Zhixian , Borthwick Alistair
Published: March 2022

A large landslide impacting a river may cause a multi-phase chain of hazards, comprising landslide-generated waves, inundation as a barrier lake develops upstream a landslide dam arising from rapid sediment deposition, and downstream flooding due to barrier lake outburst. Two major landslides (each of volume ~ 107 m3) occurred successively on 10th October and 3rd November 2018 at Baige village, Tibet, China. Both landslides led to a natural dam that completely blocked the Jinsha River, along with a barrier lake filled with upstream river inflow. Although the first barrier lake breached naturally, a significant quantity of residual material from the first landslide dam was left behind without being eroded. After the second landslide occurred, a flood channel was urgently constructed to facilitate an artificial breach of the barrier lake as it formed. Here a computational investigation is presented of the hydro-sediment-morphodynamic processes of the Baige barrier lake, using a recent 2D double layer-averaged two-phase flow model. This is the first modelling study of the whole field and whole processes for the formation and outburst of a landslide-induced barrier lake as well as the resultant floods, without evoking presumptions on dam breach (which have prevailed for decades and bear much uncertainty). The computed results agree well with field observations in terms of landslide-generated waves, landslide dam morphology, stage and discharge hydrographs at the dam site and downstream flood hydrographs. The artificial flood channel is shown to be effective for alleviating downstream inundation. Relatively low inflow discharge and large initial landslide volume favour landslide dam and barrier lake formation, but delay the outburst and downstream flood. The present 2D double layer-averaged two-phase model holds great promise for assessing future landslide-induced multi-hazard chains in rivers, and informing mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Multiple interactions in a Neutron Monitor
Authors: Mangeard Pierre-Simon , Clem John , Evenson Paul , Nuntiyakul Waraporn , Ruffolo David , Sáiz Alejandro , Seripienlert Achara , Seunarine Surujhdeo
Published: March 2022

The flux of low-energy (GeV-range) Galactic cosmic rays at Earth is modulated by the long term magnetic variations of the Sun (11-year sunspot cycle and 22-year magnetic solar cycle). This process known as Solar modulation is most pronounced at 1 GeV and below. However, it also operates at much higher energy, still exhibiting solar magnetic polarity dependence. For the last decades, ground-based neutron monitors provided valuable observations of the solar modulation up to a rigidity cutoff of about 17 GV. To extend the energy range of the neutron monitor observations, we recently upgraded the electronics of the Princess Sirindhorn Neutron Monitor in Thailand (PSNM, the operating neutron monitor at the highest geomagnetic rigidity cutoff) to record complex combinations of hits in multiple proportional counters. We present here the detection of multiple-hit events recorded at the PSNM. We discuss these observations with the help of a detailed Monte-Carlo simulation of energetic neutrons interacting in the detector. Finally, we estimate the nucleonic spectrum of the atmospheric secondary particles at the altitude of the detector.
Understanding and mitigating challenges to food security through observations, projections, and early warning and action capabilities
Authors: Kafera Godfrey
Published: March 2022

The world is confronted with the increasing threat of food insecurity which is driven by several shocks including droughts, floods, and conflict. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is currently feeding over 95million people around the globe in urgent need of food including those in high emergency countries like Southern Madagascar, Haiti, Afghanistan, Northern Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The situation has been worsened by the impacts of COVID - 19 interrelated factors of movement restrictions and reduced economic activity, which together have caused income losses at the household level. Discussions with institutions like the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), United Nations (UN) partners and respective governments in Southern Africa have clearly shown that the impacts of these shocks are more devastating in countries where early warning systems are weak. Over the years, USAID's Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has invested in building the capacity of partners and governments to timely identify key shocks that are likely to cause food insecurity in different countries. Using a methodology called scenario development, FEWS NET has been able to develop understanding of the current situation, create informed assumptions about the future, compare their possible effects to food security and the likely responses of various actors. The ability to develop early warning systems helps to estimate future food security outcomes many months in advance, so that decision makers have adequate time to plan for and respond to potential humanitarian crises. This presentation seeks to (i) explore the different methods used to project the likely impacts of shocks on food security in different environments, (ii) highlight the strengths of collaborative partnerships in enhancing early warning systems to promote early action in food security response, and (iii) discuss the use of science products to improve forecasting of future food insecurity outcomes. The use of agrometeorological and remote sensing products including Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and CHIRPS Rainfall Estimates has proved useful in identifying hotspots of drought and have helped to facilitate projections in areas where physical access is impossible due to factors like conflict. Practical examples including those from southern Africa will be used to enrich discussions under this topic.
blueSeis-1C Fiber Optical Gyroscope for enhanced and versatile ground rotation measurements
Authors: Guattari Frédéric , Lenogue Guillaume , Gautier Kevin , Anthonioz Hugo , Couderette André
Published: March 2022

First results have been already shared about large mockup of giant Fiber-Optic Gyroscope from iXblue, having diameter as large as 1.2 meters, and the development road to reach an industrial product have been drawn.

Finally it appears that even if an improved performance is always wanted by scientists, a portable instrument remains the first criteria. Therefore blueSeis-1C is the smallest giant FOG achievable to our knowledge with only 400mm diameter. Moreover, it has been made to open various application use, thanks to its particular mechanical design.

With some delays, the first production units of blueSeis-1C are finally manufactured, and their tests results will be disclosed in this paper, including self-noise at 5nrad/s/VHz, flat on a very broadband from 50Hz to 10-3Hz. Scale factor variation in time and in temperature, bias variation in temperature, linearity, magnetic sensitivity, and transfer function results will be presented too.
Uncertainty in solar wind propagation may explain polar cap potential saturation
Authors: Sivadas Nithin , Sibeck David , Subramanyan Varsha , Walach Maria-Theresia , Murphy Kyle , Halford Alexa
Published: March 2022

The polar cap potential, a measure of the magnetosphere's response to the solar wind, levels off during high solar wind electric field values. Several explanations have been proposed for this saturation effect, but there has been no consensus. We show that the saturation may merely be a perception created by uncertainty in the solar wind measurements and its propagation to the polar cap. Correcting this uncertainty reveals a true response that is linear across the full range of the solar wind electric field values. These findings indicate that extreme space weather events can elicit a larger impact on Earth than we'd expect if the polar cap potential were to saturate.
On the systematic utilisation of remotely sensed observations in a coupled glacier system model
Authors: Fürst Johannes J. , Diener Theresa , Gillet-Chaulet Fabien
Published: March 2022

In the wake of global warming, the cryosphere undergoes fundamental changes all over the world. The vast majority of glaciers are retreating under present climatic conditions. As they have an essential role for their immediate environment and dominate the sea-level contribution from the cryosphere, close monitoring is key. However, regular field-based monitoring campaigns are laborious and concentrate only on selected glacier sites. Increased spatial and temporal coverage can be attained with satellite remote sensing, which provides information on geometric and dynamic changes in regular intervals on global scales. Yet there is no convincing strategy to systematically utilise this remotely sensed information in regional glacier system models.

Here, we attempt to simulate the evolution of the Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps during the last decades. For this purpose, we pursue a coupled modelling approach that comprises a Full-Stokes ice-dynamic module as well as a simple description of the surface mass balance. The general idea is to exclusively rely on remote observations to inform the glacier system model. Input data comprise multi-temporal glacier outlines, digital elevation models and surface velocity fields. These data are fed into an ensemble Kalman filter approach that readily considers observations as they become available. As Rhône Glacier is well-surveyed, in-situ measurements on SMB, velocity, thickness and elevation are primarily withheld for validation. Currently, we develop and test best practices on how to implement this assimilation procedure. The performance is therefore evaluated against available ground-truth measurements. The ultimate goal is that this assimilation strategy is easily transferrable to regional scales.
STIX solar flare image reconstruction and classification using machine learning
Authors: Xiao Hualin , Krucker Säm , Ryan Daniel , Battaglia Andrea , Lastufka Erica , László Etesi , Dickson Ewan , Wang Wen
Published: March 2022

The Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) is an instrument onboard Solar Orbiter. It measures X-rays emitted during solar flares in the energy range from 4 to 150 keV and takes X-ray images by using an indirect imaging technique, based on the Moiré effect. STIX instrument
consists of 32 pairs of tungsten grids and 32 pixelated CdTe detector units. Flare Images can be reconstructed on the ground using algorithms such as back-projection, forward-fit, and maximum-entropy after full pixel data are downloaded. Here we report a new image reconstruction and
classification model based on machine learning. Results will be discussed and compared with those from the traditional algorithms.
The ESA Hera mission to the binary asteroid (65803) Didymos:Planetary Defense and Science
Authors: Küppers Michael , Michel Patrick , Ulamec Stephan , Fitzsimmons Alan , Green Simon , Lazzarin Monica , Carnelli Ian , Martino Paolo ,   The Hera Science Team
Published: March 2022

The impact of the NASA DART spacecraft on the 160 m-diameter natural satellite called Dimorphos
of the binary asteroid 65803 Didymos on 26 September 2022 will change its orbital period around
Didymos. The change can be detected by Earth-based observers. Before impact, DART will deploy the Italian LICIACube that will
provide images of the first instants after impact. ESA’s Hera spacecraft will rendezvous Didymos four
years after the impact.

Hera will characterize in detail the properties of a Near-Earth Asteroid that are most relevant to
planetary defense:
•Measuring the mass of Dimorphos to determine the momentum transfer efficiency from DART
impact.
•Investigating in detail the crater produced by DART to improve our understanding of the cratering
process and the mechanisms by which the crater formation drives the momentum transfer
efficiency.
•Observing subtle dynamical effects (e.g. libration imposed by the impact, orbital and spin
excitation of Dimorphos) that are difficult to detect for remote observers.
•Characterising the surface and interior of Dimorphos to allow scaling of the momentum transfer
efficiency to different asteroids.

Hera will also provide unique asteroid science. It will rendezvous for the first
time with a binary asteroid. The secondary has a diameter of only 160 m, the smallest asteroid visited so far. Moreover, for the first time, internal and subsurface properties will be directly measured. From small asteroid internal and surface structures, through
rubble-pile evolution, impact cratering physics, to the long-term effects of space weathering in the
inner Solar System, Hera will have a major impact on many fields. How do binaries form? What is the surface composition of the asteroid pair? What are its internal properties?  What are the surface structure and regolith mobility on both Didymos and Dimorphos?
And what will be the size and the morphology of the crater left by DART? These questions and many others will be addressed by Hera as a natural outcome of its investigations focused on planetary defense.
Kinetic signatures of magnetic reconnection in the global hybrid-Vlasov and local particle-in-cell simulations.  
Authors: Zaitsev Ivan , Divin Andrey , Ganse Urs , Pfau-Kempf Yann , Battarbee Markus , Alho Markku , Suni Jonas , Grandin Maxime , Turc Lucile , Cozzani Giulia , Bussov Maarja , Dubart Maxime , George Harriet , Horaites Konstantinos , Papadakis Konstantinos , Manglayev Talgat , Tarvus Vertti , Zhou Honyang , Palmroth Minna
Published: March 2022

Magnetic reconnection is the energy converter in space plasma that releases magnetic energy into the kinetic energy of particles. We study the magnetotail reconnection in the first 3D global magnetospheric hybrid-Vlasov simulation performed with Vlasiator code. We also performed a simulation of symmetric magnetic reconnection in particle-in-cell technique with the iPIC3D code to compare ion kinetic signatures of reconnection for both hybrid-Vlasov and fully-kinetic approaches. Despite the relatively coarse spatial resolution in the global 3D hybrid-Vlasov model, we are able to recognize the most distinguished reconnection features: ion demagnetization, non-gyrotropic ion acceleration and energy dissipation. Using the well-known signatures of the different subregions of symmetric magnetic reconnection we are able to identify ion diffusion regions, separatrices and reconnection jet fronts in the global simulation. Guided by the measure of the ion perpendicular slippage, we identify ion diffusion regions where ion non-gyrotropic crescent-type distributions are formed. These distinguishable features are nicely visible in the PIC simulation data as well. Separatrix regions are visible as the layers containing the potential Hall electric field at the boundaries of accelerated outflow. Reconnection jet fronts in the global simulation are highlighted at the positions where the energy dissipation peaks. Three-dimensional effects affecting the extending of the reconnection characteristics in the equatorial plane are discussed.
Rainfall thresholds for shallow landslides occurrence in a prone area of Northern Italy
Authors: Vivaldi Valerio , Bordoni Massimiliano , Meisina Claudia
Published: March 2022

Rainfall-induced shallow landslides can provoke severe consequences to people, infrastructures, cultivations and environment. For these reasons, it is necessary assessing the spatial and temporal probability of occurrence of these phenomena in the most prone zones of a territory, for early warning system strategies and land planning. The most adopted method for the determination of triggering events are rainfall thresholds. Empirical thresholds consider only rainfall attributes, such as duration, intensity and cumulated amount, while physically-based thresholds take into consideration also soil attribute, representing the soil conditions at the beginning of an event, such as the soil saturation degree at the depth of the sliding surface. This work focused to develop hydro empirical and physically-based thresholds for the occurrence of shallow landslides, taking into account field rainfall observations and soil moisture data, retrieved by hydrometeorological monitoring stations datasets. Monitoring stations were placed in 2 test sites representative of the hilly area of northern Italian Apennines and provided hydrometeorological time series, collecting data every 10 minutes. Empirical thresholds showed a good capacity to detect True Positives (TP: 95%) but they resulted affected by a high percentage of False Positives (FP: 24%), while physically-based thresholds detected 100% of TP and only 7% of FP, confirming the importance of soil conditions at the beginning of the event. Physically-based thresholds are reconstructed through a data-driven technique, based on “random forest”, that allows to find the best pair of parameters chosen within rainfall cumulated amounts and mean soil moisture conditions between 1 and 7 days. The model is calibrated considering a time span of 11 years (2007-2018) and validated using data between 2019 and 2021. The methodological approach is testing in different catchments of Oltrepò Pavese hilly area (northern Italy), that is representative of Italian Apennines environment. This work was made in the frame of the ANDROMEDA project, funded by Fondazione Cariplo.
Relations between geomorphic and geologic framework and sinkhole distribution of the South Franconian Alb, Germany
Authors: Trappe Martin , Hein Martin
Published: March 2022

The South Franconian Alb is a well known karst area in Southern Germany. It comprises mainly of a slightly inclined plateau intersected by a few rivers and numberless dry valleys. Main rocks are limestones and dolomites of Jurassic Age.

Numerous sinkholes occur within the area. Unfortunately, till now the data collection is fragmentary done for the whole area. Consequently, the sinkhole distribution is incomplete and very heterogenously spread. Nevertheless, to gain insights into the background of sinkhole distribution and the associated geologic, geomorphic and land use conditions the available data were compiled. Different local archives, the available geologic and topographic maps of the South Franconian Alb were searched for sinkhole informations, on the other hand digital elevation models from selected areas were detected for hollow shapes or depressions to estimate the maximum quantity of possible dolines. For all detected objects both verified sinkholes and unclassified depressions the geomorphological environment, cover deposit, host rock, rock facies, stratigraphy and land use were listed.

First results show great discrepancies for the sinkhole distribution related to land use. More than 90% of the detected objects are located within forests although forested areas cover only 30-50% of the South Franconian Alb. Thus, most of former sinkholes were destroyed by agricultural or other activities. Furthermore, historic mining activities (stone-age chert mining, historic mining pit areas for iron mining, small local quarries) have also changed the sinkhole distribution. Due to such anthropogenic overprinting of the landscape an automatic detection of dolines from digital elevation models requires a very critical assessment.

Geologically, sinkhole occurrences are closely related to the host rock distribution or rock facies. About 60% of sinkholes are hosted by dolomites, massive reefal or thick-bedded limestones whereas dolines within platy or thin-bedded rocks occur more rare.

 
Landslide hydrology: new challenges in landslide prediction
Authors: Marino Pasquale , Greco Roberto , Bogaard Thom A.
Published: March 2022

Rainfall-induced landslides are a damaging natural hazard occurring worldwide. Generally, slope failure mechanisms are quite established, as they are related to pore water pressure increase or gradients (either in saturated or unsaturated soil conditions), while the hydrological processes that control the conditions that predispose the slopes to landslide triggering are rarely, or only indirectly, considered. In fact, understanding and modelling these processes, usually developing over spatial and temporal scales much larger than the landslide itself, have been neglected for decades by the scientific community involved in landslide hazard assessment.

More recently, increasing attention has been given to the driving hydrological processes in landslide field research, but several challenging aspects are still open: the inclusion of large scale (in time and space) processes in the assessment of the hydrological balance of the potentially unstable soil mass; the effects of drainage processes through the soil-bedrock interface at slope scale; the mismatch of soil mechanics and hydrological models, in terms of scale and process conceptualization; the inclusion of catchment hydrological information in landslide hazard assessment.

Identification of predisposing hydrological processes in hillslopes and their inﬂuence on landslide triggering can significantly improve the predictive performance of landslide models, whatever their application scale (i.e., from hillslope to regional) and level of complexity (i.e., from physically-based distributed to lumped empirical). Recently, studies that consider the role of predisposing hydrological processes in landslide triggering have been rising, and landslide hydrology is progressively establishing itself throughout the scientific community. A brief overview of some significant recent results of landslide hydrology is presented, with specific reference to: assessment of slope water balance for the identification of major hydrological processes predisposing slopes to failure; definition of empirical hydrometeorological thresholds for landslide prediction, by coupling triggering precipitation depth with either antecedent water content at slope scale, or catchment water storage.