bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of natural Arctic aerosols emitted from a wide range of local sources during ARTofMELT2023
Authors: Freitas Gabriel , Adachi Kouji , Asplund Julia , Creamean Jessie , Mattsson Fredrik , Mavis Camille , Nilsson Lovisa , Salter Matthew , Spiecker Schmidt Jennie , Šantl-Temkiv Tina , Zieger Paul
Published: March 2024

The Arctic has been experiencing a rise in ambient temperature several times higher than the global average. This warming trend has led to a continuous decline in sea ice coverage and snowpack prevalence. Aerosol sources, such as those from the open ocean and tundra, have become more prevalent throughout the year. These sources emit primary biological aerosol particles (bioaerosols) some of which exhibit ice nucleating properties at high temperatures (>-15C). Ice nucleating particles (INPs) play a crucial role in cloud ice formation, affecting cloud physical and optical properties, as well as their lifetime. Consequently, this has a substantial impact on the Arctic climate. During the ARTofMELT2023 expedition (“Atmospheric Rivers and the Onset of Sea Ice Melt 2023”) conducted aboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean, we assessed the relative importance of several natural bioaerosol sources, such as sea ice, snow melt (to simulate melt ponds) and bulk ocean water. This involved several sea spray simulation chamber and nebulizer experiments, referred to as “source experiments”. The aerosol particles generated in the 61 source experiments conducted were analyzed using single-particle ultraviolet fluorescence spectroscopy along with other complementary aerosol measurements. These included particle size, black carbon content, particle chemical composition, as well as the microbial community and INP concentration of emitted particles. Additionally, filter samples were obtained for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Our findings indicate that sea ice and snow melt are more significant sources of bioaerosols compared to the bulk ocean water, including the sea surface microlayer, indicating the potential importance of melt ponds as a local Arctic bioaerosol source. Furthermore, we found significant differences in the chemical composition, black carbon content and size distribution of the various analyzed aerosol sources.
Adaptations in agricultural water management in arid regions: modelling farmer behaviour and cooperation on irrigation sustainability
Authors: El Fartassi Imane , Metcalfe Helen , Milne Alice E. , El Alami Rafiq , Diarra Alhousseine , Alonso-Chavez Vasthi , Waine Toby W. , Zawadzka Joanna , Corstanje Ron
Published: March 2024

The disruptions in weather patterns and intensified drought imposed by climate change in arid and semi-arid areas require prompt adaptation of irrigation strategies to sustain production and build resilience. Our research develops a quantitative methodological framework outlining irrigation management strategies, focusing on groundwater governance and drip irrigation adoption, to pinpoint influential factors steering decision-making. Extensive interviews undertaken in Al Haouz Basin, Morocco, provided insights into irrigation choices. We identified themes through inductive encoding and translated these into an integrative modelling framework relying on a fusion of planned behaviour theory and structural equation modelling. This enabled analysis of relationships among attitudes, norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions to adopt practices and technologies. We tested hypothesized pathways through which these factors influence adoption. Structural equation modelling estimates relationship strengths while accounting for interacting variables. The results show farmers' attitudes towards the efficiency of drip irrigation, the sustainability of groundwater resources, and salinity increase in groundwater play a crucial role in their decision-making processes regarding water usage. Land ownership provides a sense of long-term control over sustainable water usage. However, complexities in subsidy applications and uncertainties in land tenure present substantial barriers to adopting drip irrigation, particularly for small-scale farmers, thereby limiting their capacity to adapt to climate change. Our study uncovers the key factors influencing evolving agricultural practices and delves into the policy implications surrounding these changes. By examining the adaptive strategies of farmers, our research lays a foundation for formulating evidence-based policy reforms to increase agricultural resilience and water sustainability in arid and semi-arid climates.
Synrift and postrift thermal evolution of margins: a re-evaluation of classic models of rifting
Authors: Pérez-Gussinyé Marta , Xin Yangfan , Cunha Tiago , Ram Raghu , Andres-Martinez Miguel , Dong Dongdong , Garcia-Pintado Javier
Published: March 2024

The thermal history of margins controls the development of hydrothermal systems during rifting, diagenetic processes in the sediments and the generation and preservation of hydrocarbons. It also affects the depth of the oceanic gateways formed during continental break-up, thereby influencing ocean circulation and ultimately climate (Brune et al., 2023, Pérez-Gussinyé et al., 2023, Peron-Pinvidic et al., 2019). Observed heat-flow values however, do not always comply with classic rifting models. Here, we use 2D numerical models to investigate the relationship between rifting, sedimentation and thermal history of margins. We find that during the synrift, the basement heat flow and temperature are not only controlled by extension factor, but also by synrift sediment thickness and the evolution of deformation. As this progressively focuses oceanward, the proximal sectors thermally relax, while the distal sectors experience peak temperatures. This time lag is important for wide rifted margins. In the postrift, the lithosphere under the hyperextended margins does not return to its original state, at least for ~100 Myrs after breakup. Instead, it mimics that of the adjacent oceanic plate, which is thinner than that of the original continental plate. This results in heat flow values increasing oceanward at postrift stages where classic rifting theory predicts complete thermal relaxation. Our increased heat-flow estimations, may extend hydrocarbon plays into distal margin sectors and adjacent oceanic crust, previously discarded as immature. Finally, our models indicate that commonly used temperature approximations in basin analysis may strongly differ from those occurring in nature (Pérez-Gussinyé et al., 2024). Brune, S., Kolawole, F., Olive, JA. et al. Geodynamics of continental rift initiation and evolution. Nat Rev Earth Environ 4, 235–253 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00391-3Pérez-Gussinyé, M., Collier, J., Armitage, J., Hopper, J. R., Sun, Z., and Ranero, C. R., Towards a process-based understanding of rifted continental margins, in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 2023, doi: 10.1038/s43017-022-00380-yMarta Pérez-Gussinyé, Yanfang Xin, Tiago Cunha,  Raghu Ram, Miguel Andrés-Martínez, Dongdong Dong, Javier García-Pintado,Synrift and postrift thermal evolution of rifted margins: a re-evaluation of classic models of extension, in press, Geol. Soc Spec. Publ., 2024Peron-Pinvidic, G., Manatschal, G., eta al. Rifted Margins: State of the Art and Future Challenges, Front. Earth Sci., 22 August 2019, Sec. Structural Geology and Tectonics, Volume 7 - 2, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00218.
Impacts of tidally driven internal mixing in the Early Eocene Ocean
Authors: Ladant Jean-Baptiste , Millot-Weil Jeanne , de Lavergne Casimir , Green J. A. Mattias , Nguyen Sébastien , Donnadieu Yannick
Published: March 2024

Diapycnal mixing in the ocean interior is largely fueled by internal tides. Mixing schemes that represent the breaking of internal tides are now routinely included in ocean and earth system models applied to the modern and future. However, this is more rarely the case in climate simulations of deep-time intervals of the Earth, for which estimates of the energy dissipated by the tides are not always available. Here, we present and analyze two IPSL-CM5A2 earth system model simulations of the Early Eocene made under the framework of DeepMIP. One simulation includes mixing by locally dissipating internal tides, while the other does not. We show how the inclusion of tidal mixing alters the shape of the deep ocean circulation, and thereby of large-scale biogeochemical patterns, in particular dioxygen distributions. In our simulations, the absence of tidal mixing leads to a deep North Atlantic basin mostly disconnected from the global ocean circulation, which promotes the development of a basin-scale pool of oxygen-deficient waters, at the limit of complete anoxia. The absence of large-scale anoxic records in the deep ocean posterior to the Cretaceous anoxic events suggests that such an ocean state most likely did not occur at any time across the Paleogene. This highlights how crucial it is for climate models applied to the deep-time to integrate the spatial variability of tidally-driven mixing as well as the potential of using biogeochemical models to exclude aberrant dynamical model states for which direct proxies do not exist.
Spaces of resilience. Citizen science for community resilience building
Authors: Zaccaria Anna Maria
Published: March 2024

The role of citizens and local communities in disaster risk assessment, preparedness and mitigation has always been fundamental, but long obscured in public memory, in media translation and often also in scientific reading of natural disasters.During recent years, the citizen science approach - which has become very popular -has drawn attention to the need for active involvement of citizens and communities to produce resilient responses to disasters, through inclusive and participatory bottom-up activities.More specifically, it can increase resilience by building the collective and self-efficacy of individuals, organisations, and communities; above all , it can help to recognize and nurture the local social capital, trust and sense of community. In addition, it can make it possible to exploit previous experiences of disaster governance (e.g. through local memories), activating a knowledge transfer process useful for preparing and responding to catastrophes.Many factors interact on capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to respond to disasters (e.g., Lindell & Prater, 2002; Paton & Johnston, 2006): the collective and self-efficacy (Paton & Johnston, 2006; Paton et al., 2010); outcome expectancy, action coping, leadership, individual and community empowerment, trust, sense of community, and place attachment (Aldrich & Meyer, 2014; Norris, Stevens, Pfefferbaum, Wyche, & Pfefferbaum, 2008); and so on.These factors interact in a "social space-time" in which the socio-cultural characteristics of contexts , the role played by institutional decision-makers, by regulations, by the times of actions become very important.Here we present an overview of some case studies carried out in Italy, focused on contexts affected by natural disasters, particularly harmful from a physical and social point of view. These case studies can be useful to highlight factors/conditions that can hinder or encourage forms of community resilience in the response to events.
Emerging atmospheric pollutants in southern Europe- trends and changes over the past two decades
Authors: Kalivitis Nikos , Kanakidou Maria , Gialesakis Nikos , Chatziparaschos Marios , Mihalopoulos Nikos
Published: March 2024

Over the past decades, air pollution mitigation measures have been applied extensively in Europe with a direct impact on the particulate matter (PM) load and composition. The Mediterranean atmospheric aerosol burden is not only characterized by emissions from anthropogenic sources but is also strongly influenced by the arid areas of North Africa and the Middle East, the marine environment, and atmospheric transformation. Here, we analyse data from various databases to investigate the evolution of unregulated particulate pollutants, namely ultrafine particles (UFP), desert dust (DD) and black carbon (BC) in the Eastern Mediterranean region over the last 20 years. Ground-based (AERONET) and satellite-based (MODIS/Terra) remote sensing observations, reanalysis products (MERRA-2) and in-situ observations (Finokalia environmental research station - finokalia.chemistry.uoc.gr) were used to investigate the variability and the trends of atmospheric aerosols.A decrease in the AOT was observed during the studied period, which was also reflected in the ground-based PM10 measurements. In addition to the decrease in sulfate content observed as a result of EU regulations, the AOT of dust was found to be decreasing as well. At the same time a statistically significant increase in the Ångström exponent was observed for all datasets, suggesting that the overall size of aerosols in the eastern Mediterranean is decreasing.  Ground-based measurements of submicron atmospheric aerosol number concentrations showed an increase in total aerosol number, which was more pronounced for the UFP. At the same time, an increase in the absorption coefficient of aerosol particles was observed, indicating an increase in the BC content, which could contribute to the increase in UFP concentrations. Overall, it was found that despite the apparent decrease in aerosol constituents in terms of particulate matter due to the regulations applied in Europe over the last decades, pollutants such as BC and UFP, which are hazardous to human health and may influence climate at the regional scale, appear to be increasing and new approaches are required for effective clean air strategies.
Advancing Climate Resilience in the Canary Islands: Insights from the NATALIE Project on Nature-Based Solutions
Authors: Martínez León Jorge , Marazuela Calvo Miguel Ángel , Baquedano Carlos , Jimenez Jon , Gasco Cervero Samanta , Rodríguez-Martín Jesica , Carlos Santamarta Juan , García-Gil Alejandro
Published: March 2024

Advancing Climate Resilience in the Canary Islands: Insights from the NATALIE Project on Nature-Based Solutions Jorge Martínez León1, Carlos Baquedano1, Miguel Ángel Marazuela1, Jon Jimenez2, Samanta Gasco Cervero3 Jesica Rodríguez-Martín4, Juan Carlos Santamarta5 and Alejandro García-Gil1, 1Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain (a.garcia@igme.es)2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain3Madrid Health Department, Madrid City Council, Spain.4 Department of Techniques and Projects in Engineering and Architecture, University of La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife, Spain.5Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering. University of La Laguna, Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain This communication outlines the research framework of the NATALIE project, emphasizing the application of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to address pressing climate change challenges across three distinct case studies in the Canary Islands—Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura. The primary focus is on utilizing NBS as transformative measures to bolster resilience throughout the archipelago. Identified challenges encompass escalating extreme rainfall intensities leading to floods, uncontrolled runoff, water quality degradation from sewer overflows, desertification, and the management of groundwater bodies under future climate change scenarios. The showcased activities include a series of NBS and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in Gran Canaria, with specific attention given to the Maspalomas lagoon. Tenerife's La Laguna case study highlights innovative NBS aimed at preventing flooding, presenting cost-effective alternatives for the construction of new drainage systems. Fuerteventura's initiative involves implementing natural treatment systems to combat nitrogen and pollutants, coupled with the utilization of regenerated water for restoring degraded wetlands. Furthermore, the research explores the monitoring of retention and infiltration capacities of traditional agricultural and rainwater storage systems. The overarching goal of this research is to advocate for a comprehensive and diverse implementation of NBS, thereby contributing significantly to the resilience of the Canary Islands against the multifaceted impacts of climate change. 
Erosion rates estimates on a post-mining site
Authors: Grangeon Thomas , Raphaël Tur , De Lary de Latour Louis , Masson Florian , Olivier Cerdan
Published: March 2024

Mining waste serves as a significant example illustrating the transport of contaminants in association with rainfall, runoff, and erosion. Due to past or ongoing metal extraction activities, mining waste deposits are widespread across numerous countries. Rainfall events affecting these areas can lead to environmental concerns due to both liquid and particulate transfers. Acid mine drainage has been extensively researched in this context, illustrating the transfers linked to the liquid phase. Furthermore, rock crushing and high metal concentrations in the waste create materials with minimal cohesion and little vegetation cover, making them highly susceptible to surface erosion. As a result, mine wastes may also be particularly prone to contaminant transport in the particulate phase, although such transfers have received comparatively less attention than liquid transfers. Assessments of surface erosion caused by rainfall and runoff are still lacking in literature, which limits our comprehension and ability to model these processes in these unique environments.We propose estimating erosion rates on a 3.8-hectare post-mining site located in central France. Given the high erosion rates, we opted to combine two distinct methodologies based on elevation differences: i) erosion pins for simple and reliable but localized estimates of erosion rates, and ii) differences in Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). In this study, the DEM was obtained using a novel handheld laser scanner. Both methods yielded results within the same range, indicating substantial erosion rates and thereby highlighting the significance of particulate transport. Depending on the local circumstances (e.g., tailings characteristics, tailing-to-stream connectivity), future studies should consider both liquid and particulate transport from post-mining sites to develop relevant mitigation strategies.
Understanding Martian megaflood-infiltration Landscapes at Hebrus Valles through Laboratory Experiments
Authors: Costard Francois , Rodriguez Alexis , Godin Etienne , Sejourne Antoine , Kargel Jeffrey
Published: March 2024

Most of the Martian outflow channels have terminal areas buried beneath the younger sediments of the northern plains. Hebrus Valles, situated SE of Utopia Planitia, is exceptional in that its lowermost areas shows an abrupt disappearance of channels into a large cluster of pits. Our study aims to document the possibility of Hebrus Valles interacting with some preexisting underground cavernous networks. We conducted a series of flume experiments to simulate infiltration, including polygonally tunneling buried in sand. To replicate the Hebrus morphology, we constructed an orthogonal pattern of ice slabs before the experimentation, which after melting, simulated cave geometries. Our results reproduce incision features like those at the terminus of Hebrus Valles, implying that these discontinuities facilitated underground conduit generation. Our results provide the first laboratory-based confirmation of this type of catastrophic flood with infiltration processes inferred from remote-sensing observations. Our laboratory results show that floods are captured by sinkholes and can deliver a regional interconnection of channels and caves, which should have contributed actively to the dynamic of such floodwater infiltration in Hebrus Valles.Reference: Costard, F., Rodriguez, JAP, E. Godin, A. Séjourné, & J. Kargel. (2024). Deciphering Martian Flood Infiltration Processes at Hebrus Valles: Insights from Laboratory Experiments and Remote Sensing Observations. J. Geophys. Res. Planets. 129, e2023JE007770, doi/10.1029/2023JE00777
Climate change's influence on Cut-off Lows in the future
Authors: Mishra Aditya N. , Maraun Douglas , Schiemann Reinhard , Hodges Kevin , Zappa Giuseppe
Published: March 2024

Cut-off Lows (COLs) are mid-latitude storms that are detached from the main westerly flow. They tend to propagate slower than other mid-latitude storms and are often harbingers of heavy and persistent rainfall. COLs have long been subject to thorough studies that have examined the physical structure and climatology across both hemispheres, however, their assessment in models is relatively low. In fact, there is no study on future changes in COLs in models. In this study, we analyze the cut-off lows in the northern hemisphere in the historic and future time slices in the CMIP6 dataset to study the frequency, duration, and intensity of the cut-off lows alongside the changes in velocity. Results show that the COL season, which is currently mostly limited to summer, extends into spring over Europe, North America, and Asia. This rise in activity in spring is more pronounced for COLs that are long-lasting and also have higher intensity maxima, i.e., the most impactful ones. Moreover, COL propagation velocity for persistent systems is due to slow down over North America in the summer. Slow-moving COLs are known to cause heavy localized rainfall. Through this study, we fill the information gap on the first insights of projected future changes in COLs by using TRACK to detect and trace COLs in the SSP5-8.5 projections of the CMIP6 ensemble. 
Estimating methane fluxes in Northern Italy by inverse modeling: Evaluating optimal particle transport release heights in mountainous regions
Authors: Dahl Lilja , L. Thompson Rona , Bigi Alessandro
Published: March 2024

The Po valley, situated in Northern Italy, is a flat region with mountains on the northern and southern ends, characterized by intensive animal farming and agriculture practices (including rice cultivation), all of which are significant sources of methane (CH4) emissions. Although both sources and sinks of strong greenhouse gases are well identified, large uncertainties still remain in estimating the CH4  budget. However, inverse modeling is an observation-based approach that can be used independently to verify existing emission inventories. The objective is to estimate CH4  surface-atmosphere fluxes in Northern Italy for the year 2019 over a nested grid covering the Po valley at 0.1°x0.1° horiz. grid res. using the atmospheric inversion framework FLexInvert+. The framework integrates atmospheric CH4  mixing ratios from 17 ICOS sites, background mixing ratios using the CAMS inversion product, prior information (with total emissions of 594 Tg y-1), and an atmospheric transport model to optimize surface fluxes to best match the observation. The FlexPart model is used to simulate the source-receptor relationship using ECMWF ERA5 windfields at 0.5°x0.5° horiz. res., and relates the surface fluxes to the changes in CH4  mixing ratios. Modeling the dispersion of particles over complex terrain, i.e. the Alps, is challenging due to processes interacting with the orography, and a coarse model resolution smoothens the slope and elevation of the mountain. Hence, a sensitivity analysis was carried out for the six mountain sites >1000 m a.s.l. located within the nested domain to assess the optimal particle release height using 7-days backtrajectories. The inversion results from three different release heights were examined using 1) the original sampling height of CH4 a.s.l., 2) the pressure-based height, determined by identifying the model-level height that minimized the difference between the modeled pressure and observed pressure at the receptor site, and 3) the potential temperature-based height, determined by matching the modeled potential temperature with observations to identify the model-level height. The hypsometric equation was applied to obtain the release height, and an averaged particle release height was selected for the entire year based on nighttime observations. Initial findings highlight significant differences in posterior estimates among the three release heights and hold promising prospects for achieving improved inversion results.
Improving sub-seasonal forecasting of East Asian monsoon precipitation with deep learning
Authors: Jiahui Zhou , Liu Fei
Published: March 2024

Accurate subseasonal forecast of East Asian summer monsoon precipitation (EASM) is pivotal, impacting the livelihoods of billions. However, the proficiency of state-of-the-art subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) models in forecasting precipitation remains constrained. We developed a convolutional neural network regression model, harnessing the more reliably predicted atmospheric variables from dynamic models to enhance their forecast skills for precipitation. The outcomes of the CNN model are promising: a 12% increase in accuracy and a 10% reduction in RMSE for precipitation forecast at the lead time of one week. The predictive skill of dynamic models for atmospheric variables shows a significant correlation with the performance of the CNN model. Ablation experiments on various predictors reveal that xx is the most influential factor affecting the CNN model's performance.
Going back to the Roots: The Challenge of Teaching Mathematics in Atmospheric Sciences
Authors: Stiperski Ivana
Published: March 2024

The integral role of mathematics in atmospheric sciences is undeniable, representing the foundation upon which we comprehend, describe, and predict atmospheric dynamics. Yet, the way that atmospheric topics are commonly introduced in high school does not highlight this mathematical underpinning of the subject. Students often begin their undergraduate journey with insufficient preparation for the demanding quantitative components of the subject, compounded by an inadequate foundation in manipulating and analysing equations.This disconnection is further exacerbated by prevalent instructional methods in frontal teaching. Notably, the widespread use of powerpoint presentations, while adept at conveying the visual components of atmospheric sciences, falls short in fostering students' abilities to engage with and internalize complex mathematical derivations and their practical applications. This results in high stress for students in the first semesters and a missed opportunity for a deeper comprehension of the subject matter.Here I explore the challenges of teaching mathematical concepts to atmospheric science students. The study is based on a survey conducted among the students from undergraduate to doctoral levels, currently enrolled in the Atmospheric Sciences programmes at the University of Innsbruck.  The survey highlights the still irreplicable role of more traditional teaching methods, particularly the utilization of blackboards for equation derivations and creation of conceptual sketches, which are noticeably absent from powerpoint-centric approaches.  A special focus is placed on first-semester bachelor's students who additionally received structured guidance on higher education study techniques, effective note-taking, and preparations for equation-intensive examinations through the newly introduced Buddy-Mentoring system at the University of Innsbruck. This group reported a notable enhancement in their educational experience, underlining the significance of tailored mentorship in bridging the academic transition from high school to university-level atmospheric sciences. 
Ocean biogeochemical reconstructions to estimate historical ocean CO2 uptake
Authors: Bernardello Raffaele , Sicardi Valentina , Lapin Vladimir , Ortega Pablo , Ruprich-Robert Yohan , Tourigny Etienne , Ferrer Eric
Published: March 2024

Given the role of the ocean in mitigating climate change through CO2 absorption, it is important to improve our abil ity to quantify the historical ocean CO2 uptake, including its natural variability, for carbon budgeting purposes. In this study we present an exhaustive intercomparison between two ocean modelling practices that can be used to reconstruct the historical ocean CO2 uptake. By comparing the simulations to a wide array of ocean physical and biogeochemical observational datasets, we show how constraining the ocean physics towards observed temperature and salinity results in a better representation of global biogeochemistry. We identify the main driver of this improvement to be a more realistic representation of large scale meridional overturning circulation together with improvements in mixed layer depth and sea surface temperature. Nevertheless, surface chlorophyll was rather insensitive to these changes, and, in some regions, its representation worsened. We identified the causes of this response to be a combination of a lack of robust parameter optimization and limited changes in environmental conditions for phytoplankton. We conclude that although the direct validation of CO2 fluxes is challenging, the pervasive improvement observed in most aspects of biogeochemistry when applying data assimilation of observed temperature and salinity is encouraging; therefore, data assimilation should be included in multi-method international efforts aimed at reconstructing the ocean CO2 uptake.
MERLIN – Measuring methane with lidar from space
Authors: Feist Dietrich G. , Zechlau Sabrina , Ehret Gerhard , Bousquet Philippe
Published: March 2024

Methane is known to be the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas induced warming after carbon dioxide. However, we know much less about its sources and sinks on global to regional scales and their sensitivity to climate change. Emissions of methane from permafrost and from the abundant number of wetlands, lakes, and rivers located in arctic and tropic regions are expected to substantially increase during this century due to the rapid climate warming. Therefore, disentangling natural and anthropogenic methane fluxes is a key scientific task.The French-German Methane Remote Sensing LIDAR Mission MERLIN is designed to measure highly accurate atmospheric columns of methane to identify natural fluxes and emissions to better quantify global and regional sources and sinks, aiming at - reducing uncertainties on the global methane budget. To accomplish this, MERLIN will be relying on its Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) lidar to access methane atmospheric concentration at all latitudes and in all seasons. Especially, MERLIN will be able to provide spaceborne methane observations also in regions with high cloud cover and at high latitudes in winter time and in the so-called shoulder seasons. The IPDA measurements are insensitive to ground albedo variations and atmospheric aerosol load and will therefore achieve a level of accuracy not possible with the current available passive measurement techniques in space but will provide highly valuable information for closing knowledge gaps concerning global to regional methane distributions. The launch date of the MERLIN satellite is expected in 2029. Here we want to provide an overview of the MERLIN mission together with some discussion on the validation needs.
Atmospheric circulation changes due to delayed stratospheric aerosol injection in high-res CESM
Authors: de Jong Jasper
Published: March 2024

A proposed method to aid in mitigating global climate change is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). Recent work on SAI has shown its ability to reverse some of the changes induced by global warming, if employed properly. Still, many uncertainties on the effects of SAI exist. It is unclear if we can reverse the same amount of change with delayed SAI at high resolution, to be defined as 0.25 degree atmosphere or finer. A method is introduced that produces the needed atmospheric forcing for the atmospheric model component, which has a lower model top than more generally used in SAI studies. This method is based on existing data from the Geoengineering Large Ensemble Project (GLENS), and allows us to run high-resolution experiments. In this study, we further investigate atmospheric circulation changes using the Community Earth System Model (CESM), with a focus on Antarctica.
An evaluation of low-cost terrestrial LiDAR sensors for assessing geomorphic change
Authors: Perks Matthew , Pitman Seb , Bainbridge Rupert , Diaz Moreno Alejandro , Dunning Stuart
Published: March 2024

For process geomorphologists, accurate topographic data acquired at appropriate spatio-temporal resolution is often the cornerstone of research. Recent decades have seen advances in our ability to generate highly accurate topographic data, primarily through the application of remote sensing techniques. Structure from Motion Multi View Stereo (SfM-MVS) and LiDAR have revolutionised the spatial resolution of surveys across large spatial extents. Continuing technological developments have led to commercialisation of small form LiDAR sensors that are suited to deployment on both mobile (e.g. uncrewed aerial systems), and in fixed semi-permanent installations. Whilst the former has been adopted (e.g. DJI Zenmuse L1), the potential for the latter to generate data suitable for geomorphic investigations has yet to be assessed. We address this gap here in the context of a three-month deployment where channel change is assessed in an adjusting fluvial system. We find that the small form sensors generate change detection products comparable to those generated using an industry-grade LiDAR system (Riegl VZ-4000). Areas of no geomorphic change are adequately characterised as such (mean 3D change of 0.014m compared with 0.0014m for the Riegl), with differences in median change estimates in eroding sections of between 0.01-0.03m. We illustrate that this data enables accurate characterisation of river channel adjustments through extraction of bank long-profiles, the assessment of bank retreat patterns which help elucidate failure mechanics, and for the extraction of water surface elevations. Deployment of this emerging, new technology will enable better process understanding across a variety of geomorphic systems as data can be captured in 4D with near real-time processing.
Global change effects on Mediterranean pine forests: hotspots of dieback
Authors: Sanchez-Salguero Raul , Gazol Antonio , Vicente-Serrano Sergio , Battipaglia Giovanna , Ripullone Francesco , Hevia Andrea , Camarero J. Julio
Published: March 2024

The effects of climate extremes on the vulnerability to forest dieback of widely distributed Mediterranean pine species are poorly understood but important for forecasting their responses to climate change. As air temperature increases, evaporative demand will also rise, exceeding the drought tolerance of tree species to pervasive droughts. Using a spatially comprehensive network of six pine species with > 800 tree-ring chronologies, > 500 plots from the the ICP-forest network (defoliation, moratlity, etc) and drought-induced mortality database combined with NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) encompassing the wide ecological and climatic gradients across Mediterranean Basin. We show that an increase of climate water deficit produced legacy post-drought effects on growth with strong variation in growth across its distributional range, but common patterns were found within each provenance. Vulnerability to legacy effects of extreme droughts were most prevalent in dry provenances and western, in contrast to limited legacy effects after drought observed in wet provenances and high-elevation sites. Post‐drought legacies decreased with latitude and wetter conditions but decreased with spring precipitation in western mediterranean. Trees from dry, rear-edges sites in the Mediterranean Basin were more vulnerable to recurrent droughts than trees from wet. The increase in summer temperature and evapotranspiration favour hotter droughts that can increase defoliation, decrease tree growth and productity casusing drought-induced forest dieback in drier regions over the next decades.
A global database of natural hazards impacts reported in the scientific literature
Authors: Nunes Carvalho Taís Maria , Zscheischler Jakob , Kuhlicke Christian , Madruga de Brito Mariana
Published: March 2024

The increased frequency and magnitude of natural hazards might significantly increase social, economic, and health impacts on society in the next decades. Existing studies and databases of natural hazard impacts have several limitations, such as (1) a low level of detail on how people were affected; (2) an underestimation of the impacts; (3) a limited geographical range; and (4) a lack of information on the source of the data. However, scientific publications, reports, and handbooks compose a large data repository that can provide valuable and trustworthy information on natural hazards. We are building a global database on the impacts of natural hazards that have been documented since 1950 in the scientific literature. We mapped global research on climatological, hydrological, and meteorological extremes, such as heatwaves and floods. We retrieved over 40 thousand full-text open-access papers from ScienceDirect and Pubmed. Documents were coded according to (i) relevance: if the study describes impacts from a natural hazard, (ii) hazard class: single or multiple hazards, and (iii) event assessment: specific or multiple climate-related events. A randomly selected sample of the documents was manually labeled and a classification model was trained to classify the remaining papers. We further developed an annotation scheme for marking information on climate-related hazards in scientific publications, such as the date and location of hazard and their impacts. The inter-annotator agreement analysis shows the complexity of this task and the high annotation quality in our corpus. This work fills a critical gap in information extraction tasks within the natural hazards research domain, providing a robust foundation for future studies and analysis.
Characterization of dust impact spots on various materials
Authors: Pavlů Jiří , Nouzák Libor , Wild Jan , Juha Libor , Sternovsky Zoltan , Šafránková Jana , Němeček Zdeněk
Published: March 2024

Understanding the interaction between dust grains and spacecraft materials is crucial for spacecraft dust observations. This study focuses on the characterization of hypervelocity space dust impact spots on a variety of materials commonly used in spacecraft construction. Utilizing laboratory-based experiments, we investigate the spots created by hypervelocity impacts.Experimental setups involve subjecting different materials, including polymers, metals, and composites, to controlled impacts by accelerated micro-sized dust particles. We employ advanced imaging techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to analyze impact spots at micro and nanoscales. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is employed to assess compositional changes induced by impact events.Preliminary results reveal unique impact signatures on diverse materials, showcasing variations in crater morphology, size distribution, and material response. The identification of surface modifications, including fractures, melting, and the formation of ejecta, provides valuable insights into the underlying physics of hypervelocity impacts on different materials. We attempt to extend our observations towards the ejecta creation efficency by various materials.
Record of denudation processes in the sediments of a tundra lake (Petuniabukta, Central Spitsbergen)
Authors: Zwoliński Zbigniew , Mazurek Małgorzata , Paluszkiewicz Renata , Janiec Piotr
Published: March 2024

On the eastern coast of Petunia Bay there is a complex of tundra lakes at various stages of geosuccession. A characteristic feature is the occurrence of tundra lakes on raised sea terraces. The geoecosystem of raised sea terraces with tundra lakes is clearly separated from the neighboring geoecosystems in terms of geology, lithology, morphology, hydrology and phytosociology. The lowest erosion-accumulation terraces from the middle and younger Holocene range from 5 to 16 m a.s.l. The terraces are composed of marine gravel and rock deposits with a significant content of calcium carbonate and the remains of malacofauna. The research results indicate diverse sources of origin of denudation solutes occurring in coastal lakes. The conducted research contributed to the creation of a model of the functioning of tundra lakes. Mapping and field tests of bedrock sediments were carried out in designated geoecological zones around lakes: sampling of sediments for mechanical and petrographic composition, measurement of humidity, temperature, specific conductivity EC, pH and calcium carbonate content in the soil. In addition, drilling was carried out in the lake sediments and around the lake, based on which the nature and rate of denudation processes were estimated.
Climate activism as a form of science communication and public engagement
Authors: Oldeman Arthur , Keizer Iris , Jüling André
Published: March 2024

The current state and future projections of the climate and environmental crises call for science to be able to have a deep impact on society, and to have it quickly. Here we discuss how scientists engaging in climate activism can contribute to educating the general public and press for urgent action, as well as under which conditions such scientific activism can be most effective.Traditionally, science has mostly interacted with society by making scientific results public, without interfering in how politicians, business and the general public would make use of them. Similarly, the role of science educators has been often confined to spreading knowledge to students and broader audiences, independently of how this knowledge affects society. However, such communication and education efforts appear insufficient considering unambitious policies with regards to the current climate and ecological crises. As a result, many scientists, both within and outside academia, have been looking for other ways to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis. Notably, communication efforts have increasingly extended to public support of environmental action movements and participation in protests and civil disobedience actions.In this work, we discuss how activism can be complementary to classical approaches of science communication and public education on the urgency of the climate and environmental crises. We will highlight recent examples of civil disobedience by scientists with a focus on the Netherlands. We also present the reaction from stakeholders such as politicians and representatives of companies, as well as the reception of such actions by the scientific community. We discuss the place of activism in the broader scientific community, where our viewpoint is that scientific activism can only become an efficient way of science communication and public engagement if (i) it is accepted and respected within the scientific community, and (ii) it adheres to rules allowing such communication to maintain or increase scientific reputation in society. We also stress the supportive role of universities and research institutes in enabling the engagement with activism, especially for early career scientists. Scientific institutions should emphasize that climate activism and advocacy is welcome among both researchers and educators, that their freedom of speech is protected, and that such activities are recognized as valuable.
Vesteris Seamount - Magma plumbing dynamics and petrological evolution of an alkaline intra-plate volcano of non-plume and non-rifting origin
Authors: Röhler Aaron , Beier Christoph , Klügel Andreas , Bach Wolfgang , Haase Karsten
Published: March 2024

Vesteris Seamount is a solitary, alkaline intraplate volcano of non-plume and non-rifting origin located in the Norwegian-Greenland Basin. During RV Maria S. Merian Cruise MSM86 highly detailed sampling of the Seamount recovered over 70 rock samples from the whole volcanic edifice during TV-Grab and ROV Marum SQUID operations. Major- and trace element geochemical analyses of matrix compositions and phenocrysts were conducted by electron microprobe and laser ablation ICP-MS. To investigate the petrogenesis of the Vesteris rock suite and the magma plumbing dynamics the analytical results were applied to least-squares mass balance and clinopyroxene-liquid thermobarometry models.Primitive basanites and alkali-basalts reflect individual melt batches from a deep mantle source. A tight liquid line of descent can be observed from basanitic to trachytic compositions. The main control on the magmatic evolution is exerted by fractional crystallization. Textural and chemical evidence indicate a more pronounced influence of magma mixing during the genesis of the evolved tephriphonolitic and trachytic compositions.Results from our clinopyroxene-melt thermobarometry calculations show a bimodal pressure distribution that indicates upper mantle storage between 500 and 850 MPa (15-27 km depth) and shallower crustal storage between 250 and 460 MPa (7-14 km). The magmatic evolution of basanites and alkali-basalts by crystal fractionation began in the upper mantle and subsequently migrated into crustal levels where phonotephritic to trachytic magma compositions developed. A multi-stage model for the evolution of the magma plumbing system below Vesteris Seamount is proposed based on the geochemical and thermobarometric data.Initially, dykes transported deep mantle melts to the surface. Subsequent dyke and sill emplacement and high magma fluxes led to the formation of a reservoir in the upper mantle and magma accumulation zone at the uppermost mantle to Moho levels. Progressive weakening of the crust and continuing high magma fluxes led to and development of a crustal storage zone. At a later stage volcanic activity became more episodic and magmatic evolution was controlled mainly by fractional crystallization. The basanites and phonotephrites were stored at upper mantle levels, evolved tephriphonolitic and trachytic magmas were stored at crustal levels prior to eruption. During episodes of increased volcanic activity, the crustal reservoir was recharged by batches of poorly differentiated melts and initiated magma mixing.
Change of winter climate indicators over the Carpathian Basin
Authors: Szabó Péter , Pongrácz Rita
Published: March 2024

Winter phenomena such as fog and freezing rain can significantly impact our daily lives by creating hazardous conditions for transportation and other outdoor activities. Dense fog reduces visibility, leading to traffic disruptions and potential accidents on roads, while freezing rain leaves surfaces with a layer of ice with high risks of falls and slide resulting in personal injuries, in addition, both can disrupt air travel as well. The Carpathian Basin can experience an increased occurrence and persistence of fog due to its unique geographical features, such as low-lying areas, lower wind speed, and river valleys that facilitate temperature inversions. Freezing rain is also prevalent in the Carpathian Basin when raindrops of warmer air masses from the Mediterranean fall through a sub-freezing, inversional layer of air before reaching the ground.To assess these impacts, we created a methodology based on daily, gridded data sets: we analyzed daily minimum and mean temperature, mean relative humidity, and wind speed for the fog from the best available, homogenized, high-resolution HuClim observational database. For the freezing rain, we collected hourly variables of temperature, total precipitation, and snow from the high-resolution, observation-based but modeled reanalysis of ERA5-Land. For the future, we assessed corrected, daily variables from an ensemble of EURO-CORDEX regional climate model simulations. Several scenarios were taken into account for the effects of human activity: RCP2.6 is a scenario aiming at 2 °C global warming by 2100, RCP4.5 urges strong mitigation from 2040, while RCP8.5 is a non-mitigation scenario.Results suggest that the number of foggy days slightly decreased over parts of the area of interest in the last few decades, but freezing rain did not change remarkably. Regarding the future, the days with fog would decrease significantly following the RCP8.5 scenario, especially by the end of the 21st century, while they would not change much with the RCP2.6. These are one of the rare positive impacts of regional climate change, however, it does not compensate for the adverse effects of anthropogenic climate change.