bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The topographic growth of Tibetan Plateau in Oligocene-Early Miocene: constraints on the paleo-geography and Yellow River drainage evolution
Authors: Jiao Xiaoqin , Zattin Massimiliano , Olivetti Valerio , Wang Jianqiang , Peng Heng , Cattò Silvia
Published: February 2023

The timing of outward migration of deformation and topographic growth of the Tibetan Plateau remains a debated point. This project is aimed to identify the related uplift and exhumation processes through a combination of techniques (fission-track and U-Pb ages, trace element analysis) on apatite detrital grains collected from modern rivers and Oliog-Miocene sedimentary successions at the south-west margin of the Ordos basin. The results show that the sediments from the Yellow River and the sampled sedimentary sections sourced from the West Qinling Mountain and/or North Qilian Mountain, which, on their turn, imply that outward migration of the Tibetan Plateau was occurring at least since Early Cenozoic. The detrital signature clearly shows the evolution of different drainages, as testified by the different age patterns observed on sediments from the Wei and the Yellow Rivers. Our data demonstrate that these drainages were already identified and completely disconnected since the Oligocene-Early Miocene, thus corroborating the idea of a progressive eastward migration of the Tibetan Plateau since then.
Divergent responses of mountain forests and grasslands to heat and drought events
Authors: Galvagno Marta , Oddi Ludovica , Cremonese Edoardo , Filippa Gianluca , Migliavacca Mirco , Wohlfahrt Georg
Published: February 2023

Both natural and managed ecosystems contribute to mitigating climate change through the process of CO2 sequestration from the atmosphere. However, projections of future global climate indicate that extreme weather events will become more frequent and more intense in the coming years. And since heat waves and droughts can alter the ecosystems functioning, and increase the vulnerability of carbon sinks, this trend represents a potential risk for their contribution to reaching global climate change mitigation goals. Further efforts are therefore needed to assess the resistance and resilience of different ecosystems and land uses to climate change. In this context, Alpine mountain ecosystems face a double challenge, on the one hand, warming in the Alps is occurring twice as fast as in other regions of the planet and drought events are increasingly frequent, on the other, socio-economic changes have led to partial land abandonment, with effects on the composition and distribution of plant species.The main objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of extreme heat and drought events on the functioning of two different ecosystems in the Alps, a European larch forest (Larix decidua Mill.) and an abandoned subalpine pasture dominated by Nardus stricta, both located in the Aosta Valley region (Italy) at about 2100 m asl and thus experiencing the same climate conditions. The eddy covariance method was used to measure the carbon and water fluxes between the ecosystem and the atmosphere. Radiometric vegetation indices (eg. NDVI), and field observations related to plant phenology were used to explain the role of timing in determining the carbon and water fluxes impacts. Finally, functional traits of plant species were used to interpret the divergent ecosystem responses from an adaptive perspective. The results show that the different heat and drought events observed during the ten-year study period (2012-2022) had a variable impact on the different ecosystems monitored, also based on the timing of the extreme event in relation to the phenology of the vegetation and the presence/absence of the snowpack, with impacts generally more severe for the grassland compared to the forest. The contrasting responses observed will be discussed by exploring the linkage between the functioning of the whole ecosystem and the adaptive strategies of individual plant species.
Changes of vegetation and hydrological dynamics in warming climate in a mountainous watershed
Authors: Huang Richao , Chen Xi , Hu Qi , Jiang Shanshan
Published: February 2023

The dynamic global vegetation model LPJ-WHyMe is improved and used, after calibration, to study vegetation and water cycle in a mountainous watershed in the Qilian Mountains in western China and their responses to the warming climate in recent decades. Major results show uphill expansion of all vegetations following the accelerated warming and moistening of the CO2-enriched climate since 1979. Associated with these habitat shifts are the changes of the water use efficiency (WUE) of these plants. Herbaceous plants have shown improved WUE with a peak at elevations 3500-4000 m asl, marked by greater increase of net primary production (NPP) than water use in the elevated warming. However, boreal needleleaf evergreen forest (BNE) show a slight decrease of WUE, though minor in higher elevations. These WUE changes of the vegetation along with increased warming and moistening in the high elevations (>3500 m asl) have redefined the water resources availability of the mountainous watershed. The increased WUE by herbaceous plants below 4000 m asl leaves more snowmelt water and precipitation for runoff, R. This addition of runoff is offset however by the increased surface evaporation and plant transpiration in higher elevations attributed to increased coverage of plants and warmer temperature. This near balance between the opposite effects on R from changes of herbaceous plants is brought to a net reduction of R by the decreased WUE of BNE plants and their expansion in altitude. These changes explain the reduction of total R yield in the study basin observed in the recent decades.
Sand properties investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars
Authors: Kozakiewicz Joanna , Kania Maciej , Salata Dorota , Nowak Leszek
Published: February 2023

Granulometry, shape, and chemical composition analyses of the sediments studied by the Opportunity rover along its entire 45-km-long traverse have been used to classify sediments and provide information about their origin and depositional processes.We have conducted granulometry and shape analyses of 179 sediment targets visible in MI images [1]. To facilitate the analyses, we have used the PADM algorithm - a semi-automatic tool for particle detection, measurement, and analysis [2]. This allowed identification of more than 70000 individual grains. For chemical composition analysis we used APXS data of 62 sediment targets [3]. The normative mineral composition was calculated from APXS according to the CIPW procedure to calculate the estimated density of the material and to classify in QAPF system.The analyses show five deposit classes: i) dust with very fine sand enriched in sulphur, ii) fine basaltic sand, iii) coarse sand enriched in iron, found only on the plains, iv) gravel enriched in iron, also found on the plains, and iv) gravel with a typical for basalts amount of iron, found at the Endeavour crater rim. These classes occur in the following geomorphological settings: i) dust mixed with very fine sand is common on the leeward side of topographical obstacles, ii) fine sand is present in depressions, iii) coarse sand is related to coarse-grained ripples fields, iv) gravel occur as a lag deposit, especially in coarse-grained ripple troughs and at crater rims and outcrops.The typical diameter of grains for the fine sand is 0.13 mm, and for the coarse sand - 1.20 mm. The best sorted coarse sands were found on the slopes and the crests of coarse-grained ripples. In most cases, the normative mineral composition of deposits fits in the basalt/andesite field of the QAPF classification. The coarse sand found in coarse-grained ripples was characterized by the highest content of iron and shows the most mafic composition in the QAPF diagram. This deviation from the basalt composition is related to iron-rich spherules (a frequent component of the gravel) than to a more mafic type of rock. On the other hand, the coarse sand grains found in ripple fields were characterized by lower roundness than the iron-rich spherules. Therefore, many of the transported by wind coarse sand grains had their origin in partial fragmentation of iron-rich spherules.The work was funded by the Anthropocene Priority Research Area budget under the program "Excellence Initiative – Research University" at the Jagiellonian University.[1] Herkenhoff, K. E. (2003) MER1 Microscopic Imager Science Calibrated Data Bundle. PDS Geosciences Node. DOI: 10.17189/1519006[2] Kozakiewicz, J. (2018). Image Analysis Algorithm for Detection and Measurement of Martian Sand Grains. Earth Science Informatics, 11, 257-272. DOI: 10.1007/s12145-018-0333-y [3] Gellert, R. (2009). MER APXS Derived Oxide Data Bundle. PDS Geosciences (GEO) Node. DOI: 10.17189/1518973
Overview in forensic purpose and application of plant DNA
Authors: Sapienza Daniela , Baldino Gennaro , Lo Piccolo Irene , Somma Roberta , Ventura Spagnolo Elvira , Mondello Cristina , Gualniera Patrizia , Asmundo Alessio
Published: February 2023

The multidisciplinary approach in forensic science led to the development of geology and botany as predictive forensic applications (forensic geology – forensic botany) aimed at analyzing and studying the crime scene for the "solving" of the criminal hypothesis. Over the past fifteen years, the study of plant DNA has been used in forensics science to discriminate the place of origin of plant material found at a crime scene, to identify poisonous vegetable species, as a forensic marker in all cases where determining geographic origin is essential to investigative leads, missing person cases, and intelligence application (Bell et al., 2015), in the identification of Cannabis as support of law authorities in fighting drug abuse and global trafficking. These specific topics to date made it possible to: distinguish a primary crime scene from a secondary one, link a suspect to the crime scene, and determine the date of death. Findings of plant material can be examined through chemical analysis, morphological analysis, DNA analysis, PCR and electrophoresis. Comparative studies may be carried out among the plant remains collected from the victim and suspect and plant sampled on the event scene in order to trace the place where the plant transfer occurred. The analysis of the international literature presented through this review shows the importance of further developments in plant DNA analysis, growing and expanding a global database containing the plant DNA barcode, and implementing specific guidelines for the collection and sampling procedures of forensic samples.
Rapid global hazard forecasting to support early action in data poor regions
Authors: huthoff fredrik , van den berg kris , wegman carolien
Published: February 2023

In March 2022, the United Nations set as a five year target that every place on Earth should be served by Early Warning Systems (EWS) for natural hazards. Such an EWS provides emergency alerts when a natural disaster is imminent and can support local or international (aid) organizations to take effective action early on. Places most vulnerable to natural disasters are often those where little local data and capacity is available to locally develop and operate such a system. As local EWS are not yet available everywhere, robust and reliable global approaches and collaboration initiatives are needed as initial and possible fallback solution.We propose an innovative flood hazard mapping method based on globally available data that can spatially indicate oncoming floods and thereby inform on preparatory actions to take, such as required emergency stocks, needed shelter capacity, clearing of evacuation routes, and strategic protection of vulnerable people and assets. It instantaneously calculates forecasted flood extents based on global precipitation forecasts and the terrain’s natural drainage network. Its functioning is demonstrated for a selection of historical flood events and shows to good agreement with satellite-observed inundated areas, even where flood extents have gone beyond catchment boundaries. The method can easily be scaled-up to other areas around the world and can be expanded to issue automated warnings and provide impact estimates. 
Micro-Meso and Macro Scale Structures in syn-tectonic granite emplaced in a ductile transpression shear zone: A Case Study from the western margin of the South Delhi Fold Belt, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Sarkar Ayan , Chatterjee Sadhana , Roy Alip , Manna Anirban
Published: February 2023

In the northwestern Indian shield, the northeast-southwest trending South Delhi Fold Belt (SDFB) is a multiply folded and poly-metamorphosed rock of the Proterozoic age. Phulad Shear Zone (PSZ) is described as a terrane boundary shear zone that separates the SDFB to the east and Marwar craton to the west. This shear zone is defined by steep easterly dipping mylonitic foliation and strong downdip stretching lineation. The PSZ has developed a ductile transpressive regime with a top-to-the-north-north-west reverse sense of movement during 810Ma. The PSZ shows regional NE-SW trends with small bends of N-S orientation. The present study deals with a variably deformed porphyritic granite named Phulad granite that occurs about 200 by 6 km along and across the PSZ. The Phulad granite is characterized by a bi-modal grain size population with prominent euhedral grains of feldspar clasts (2-6 cm long) in a fine-grained (< 3 mm) mosaic of recrystallized feldspar and quartz aggregates. It consists of phenocrysts of k-feldspar that show characteristic features of magmatic origin. Microstructural study reveals a series of magmatic, sub-magmatic, high-temperature and solid-state deformation structures in this granite. Mesoscopic field relations show evidence of magmatic fabric in the studied granite. The granite also preserves tectonic foliation parallel to this magmatic fabric. Strong foliation developments with mean attitude 24˚/85˚E and prominent stretching lineation have been developed in the granitic rock. A detailed study of structural elements of Phulad granite and PSZ demonstrates a similarity in geometry and style, signifying that the deformation in both units is synchronous, and this granite is emplaced during the regional deformation prior to its complete crystallization. The N-S orientation of the PSZ acted as releasing bends and provided the space required for the emplacement of the granite in a transpressional ductile regime. Monazite chemical age data and conventional zircon age data suggest a magmatic age of 819.1 ± 4 and 818 ± 18 Ma, respectively. Integrating micro-meso and macro scale structures along with geochronology of Phulad granite we suggest that the Phulad granite acted as a stitching pluton at the time of suturing around 810-820Ma.
Temporal factors in the high latitude eddy covariance network design
Authors: Pallandt Martijn , Jung Martin , Goeckede Mathias
Published: February 2023

High latitude regions are increasingly affected by climate change, where large stocks of carbon sequestered in permafrost are at risk of being released. Monitoring this change is therefore vital for our understanding of  the Arctic and global climate, but adverse conditions and the heterogeneity of Arctic landscapes make it exceptionally challenging to gain a comprehensive observational view of the carbon cycle. In this work we explore the growth of the high latitude eddy covariance (EC) network, and evaluate ways to improve its design both from a spatial and temporal aspect to better monitor this vital region. We utilise the relative extrapolation index (EI) metric, a method to assess upscaling errors as a factor of a location's distance in predictor variable space to the EC network. Our EC site survey, last updated in 2022, identified 213 site locations in the Arctic, of which 124 are currently active. Of these active sites, 79% intend to remain active for 5 years or longer, although on average these sites only have 3.1 years of funding. We investigated the effect of limited site activity periods on the network, and found that if sites only stayed active for a maximum of 36 month (3 full years) or 18 month (3 full summers), the network’s mean EI would increase by 27.3 and 24.5 percentage points, respectively. This deterioration in network data coverage is similar to setting the network back to 2012 and 2008, i.e. a time when fewer sites by far were active. In addition, we investigated the effect of long time series of data, and the optimal configuration of the network in depth versus breadth. For the former, our results show that even for time series that are already long, adding more data years still contributes to increasing network performance overall. For the latter, we find that with total site-months remaining constant, many sites with fewer site-months results in a lower EI than a few sites with many site-months. Summarising, our findings demonstrate that a top-down network management should ideally combine long-term monitoring sites with observations that are rotated between multiple observation sites, to capture both long-term trends and spatial heterogeneity in exchange flux rates. 
High-resolution Interseismic Strain Mapping from InSAR Phase-Gradient Stacking: Application to the North Anatolian Fault with Implications to the Non-uniform Strain Distribution Related to Historical Earthquakes
Authors: Liu Ziming , Wang Teng
Published: February 2023

High-resolution geodetic measurements of the accumulated strains along active faults are important for faulting dynamics studies and seismic hazard evaluation. InSAR has been widely applied to measure the interseismic strain along active strike-slip faults. However, phase unwrapping errors, tropospheric delays, along with over-smooth effects in calculating the strain from velocity limit its capability of mapping the highly localized strain along faults. Phase-gradient stacking that sums up the wrapped phase differences of adjacent pixels has been successfully applied to reveal localized deformation across coseismic fractures and slow-moving landslides, yet lacks application to reveal interseismic strain along faults. Here, we conduct phase-gradient stacking on Sentinel-1 SAR interferograms, for the first time, to map the interseismic strain along the North Anatolian Fault with unprecedented resolution. We reveal several segments with extremely high strain rates attributed to shallow creep of the fault. By comparing with historical earthquake ruptures, we find that the creeps are either related to afterslip of recent earthquakes, or related to slip deficits of earthquakes occurred decades ago, challenging the opinion that the NAF has a uniform surface strain rate, particularly along its eastern portion. Our results show that the phase-gradient stacking can not only reduce the computation burden from phase unwrapping and tropospheric correction, but also achieve a much higher spatial resolution strain map than the traditional InSAR method. The proposed method can be applied to other large strikes-slip faults for distinguishing segments with surface creep and strong coupling and therefore better quantify the shallow strain budget and its associated hazards.
Moonquake-Triggered Mass Wasting Processes on Icy Worlds
Authors: Pappalardo Robert , Mills Mackenzie , Panning Mark , Leonard Erin , Howell Samuel
Published: February 2023

Intense tectonism is evident on many outer solar system satellites with some surface regions exhibiting ridge-and-trough structures which have characteristics suggestive of normal faulting. In some cases, topographic lows between subparallel ridges are sites of smooth material displaying few craters. We consider whether such smooth material can be generated by mass wasting triggered from local seismic shaking. We hypothesize that debris would flow from topographic highs into lows, initially mobilized by moonquake-induced seismic shaking during formation of local tectonic ridges, covering and infilling older terrain. We analyze the feasibility of seismicity to trigger mass movements by measuring fault scarp dimensions to estimate quake moment magnitudes. Seismic moment (Mo) is defined as the energy release caused by a fault rupture and subsequent quake, and moment magnitude (Mw) is a logarithmic scaling of Mo, a function of shear modulus µ (here adopted as 3.5 GPa for ice), Ab, the area of the rupture block face in m2, and p, the resulting scarp slip in m. Given that p is currently unknown for icy satellites, we consider a range of assumed values in our calculations. The resulting magnitude range is 5.3–8.6, and we use numerical modeling to estimate seismic accelerations resulting from such quakes.Magnitude ranges are used to model resulting seismic accelerations. Interior models to create the synthetic seismograms were generated using Planetprofile, based on current constraints of spacecraft data. Synthetic seismograms were then reconstructed for arbitrarily placed receivers and a seismic source within the generated satellite interior models. The seismic source strength is set to be within our calculated magnitude range.We adopt surface gravitational acceleration as the criterion which, if exceeded, implies that coseismic mass wasting is expected. Modeled seismic accelerations can exceed satellite gravitational accelerations, particularly near quake epicenters. Thus, seismic events could feasibly cause mass wasting of material to form some fine-scale smooth surfaces observed on at least three icy satellites: Ganymede, Europa, and Enceladus.Currently, existing image resolution, areal extent, and stereo coverage are severely constrained. A better understanding of tectonic and coseismic mass wasting processes will be possible when the Europa Clipper and JUICE missions provide high-resolution surface imaging, including stereo imaging, along with subsurface radar sounding, for both Europa and Ganymede.
Using environmental radioactivity to create a national scale peatlands map: a case study from Ireland
Authors: O Leary David , Connolly John , Gilet Louis , Hodgson Jim , Brown Colin , Daly Eve
Published: February 2023

Historically, peatlands have acted as globally important carbon sequestration habitats via the storage of organic material. Modern degraded/drained peatlands emit this carbon as CO2 via decomposition of the stored organic material. Through restoration projects, in which the water table is raised, peatlands may become carbon neutral or possibly carbon negative. National restoration plans require a knowledge of peatland extent and spatial distribution across large geographic areas.Globally, current peatland maps are created in a variety of ways including the use of optical satellite remote sensing or combinations of legacy soil/quaternary maps. However, optical remote sensing cannot detect peatlands under landcover such as forest or grassland. Legacy maps are often created from sparse in-situ augur, borehole, or trial pit data. These types of measurements do not allow for accurate measurement of peatland boundaries.Radiometrics, a geophysical method that measures radiation emitted from geological materials, is particularly suited to peatland studies. Modelling of radiometric attenuation shows that a statistical difference is present in recorded potassium, equivalent uranium and equivalent thorium counts acquired over peat, compared to those acquired over a non-peat/mineral soil. Mineral soils contain geological material which acts as a source of gamma radiation. Peat, being a mostly organic material, is generally not considered a source of radiation. Peat also tends to be saturated and water acts to attenuate the recorded gamma signature. These effects combined means that peatlands are represented as a “low” radiometric signal in the landscape.In Ireland, the Tellus survey, acquired by the Geological Survey, Ireland (GSI) aims to acquire airborne data including electromagnetic, magnetic, and radiometric data, consistently across the country (flight line spacing of 200m). This study uses Tellus airborne radiometric data in combination with machine learning classification techniques, to identify peatlands under modified landcover, such as forestry and grasslands and to increase the spatial resolution of existing peatland map to 50 x 50 m. The methodology is robust and can be applied in all areas where these data exist. The results may update national and international carbon inventories of peatlands area and geographic distribution and inform European policy.
Identifying and addressing hotspots of high climate sensitivity for global agriculture
Authors: Tuninetti Marta , Davis Kyle
Published: February 2023

Meeting future food demand will require transformations toward sustainable and resilient food systems that simultaneously increase production, minimize environmental impacts, and adapt to climate change. With fluctuations in temperature and precipitation exercising a growing influence on production stability across the planet, a detailed understanding of where cropping patterns are vulnerable to climatic stresses is a missing yet critical step for developing solutions that enhance the climate resilience of crop production. Here we address this urgent need by combining gridded climate data, spatially-explicit agricultural statistics, and process-based crop modeling to quantify global patterns of rainfed and irrigated crop climate sensitivity (measured as the percent reduction in median yield under extreme climate conditions) and climate-associated production losses for 17 major crops, accounting for 75% of global primary production. This climate sensitivity metric is ideally suited for identifying locations where each crop tends to be subject to high climate variability and where crop production may be susceptible to high climate-related production losses. We estimate -10.1% and -6.8% losses in global rainfed and irrigated production (respectively) under historically observed extreme climate conditions - enough calories to feed 2.1 billion people - and find hotspots of climate sensitivity in the central US, eastern Brazil, the Mediterranean basin, and South Asia, among other regions. We then focus on monsoon cereals (rice, maize, millet, sorghum) to illustrate how sustainable irrigation expansion and targeted crop switching could reduce climate sensitivity, finding that 62% of production losses could be avoided while increasing overall production by 14%. Our new scalable and universal approach to measuring the climate sensitivity of crops enables the assessment of where climate-related production losses tend to be largest and where mitigating actions and investments can be proactively targeted to better ensure the stability and increased supply of global crop production.
Submesoscale Eddies in the Southern California Bight Derived from a Decade of High Frequency Radar Observations
Authors: Payandeh Ali Reza , Libe Washburn Libe , Emery Brian , Ohlmann Carter
Published: February 2023

Submesoscale eddies form an important component of the circulation of the Southern California Bight (SCB), greatly impacting ecological processes. Despite their acknowledged significance in influencing ocean physics and biology, submesoscale eddies have been exceptionally hard to observe because of the technical challenges posed by both field and remote platforms. Here using a decade of high-frequency radar (HFR) surface current data we address this challenge for the SCB. Over the ten years of data, our research has mapped out the spatial distribution of submesoscale eddies and provided their seasonal and inter-annual variations. Between 2012 and 2021, a total of 235229 eddies were detected, averaging 452 eddies per week. Of these, 56% were cyclonic and 44% were anticyclonic. The contribution is roughly equal if eddies through their life spans are counted as one occurrence. This is because cyclonic eddies lived longer. The spatial distribution of eddies exhibited strong topographically related heterogeneity. Spatially coherent eddies, which reoccurred in certain locations over time, formed hotspots of eddy activity, largely in association with headlands. However, there were hotspots that did not seem to be associated with any typographic feature. Eddy temporal variations were examined at seasonal and interannual scales. On seasonal scales, eddies were found to be more numerous in the summer and early fall than in the spring. In August, the number of eddies was the highest, with 55% more observed eddies than in April, the least active month. The strong equatorward flow in the springtime seems to be linked with the reduced eddy activity at this time, likely due to the flow's suppressing effect on vortices and instabilities. At interannual scales, the eddy activity substantially increased in association with the 2014-2015 Blob event and the 2015-2016 El Niño. Observed eddies rose by 38% in 2014 compared to 2013 and remained high in 2015 and 2016. The results of this study are useful for the validation of numerical modeling studies in the SCB and could be of interest to the biological community to evaluate links between ecosystems and submesoscale activity along the highly productive coasts of the SCB.
Air quality assement for Suceava County, Romania
Authors: Lazurca (Andrei) Liliana Gina , Mihăilă Dumitru , Bistricean Petruț Ionel , Horodnic Vasilică Dănuț
Published: February 2023

According to the Air Quality Framework Directive, air pollutant concentration levels have to be assessed and reported annually by each European Union member state, taking into consideration European air quality standards. Plans and programmes should be implemented in zones and agglomerations where pollutant concentrations exceed the limit and target values. The main purpose of this research study is to analyse the concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere, their spatial and temporal trends and to draw an overall picture of air quality in Suceava County. The study uses an hourly database for SO2, NO2, CO, PM10 and O3 pollutants, from 2009-2020, from 4 air quality monitoring stations in Suceava County. Pollutant levels were statistically and graphically / cartographically modeled for the entire 2009-2020 interval on the distributive-spatial and regime, temporal component. Inter-station differences and similarities were analyzed causally. The results showed that PM10 air pollution is the biggest challenge for the Suceava city, the highest multi-year average of 31.86 µg/m3 is recorded at the SV2 station in the Burdujeni district although it does not exceed the limit value for the protection of human health (40 µg/m3). Average daily PM10 levels place Suceava County in quality class III (good). SO2 pollution in Suceava County is limited, with average hourly concentrations well below the hourly limit for the protection of human health throughout the period analysed. Based on diurnal average levels, statistical calculations for SO2 and NO2 show that at all four stations in the county, air quality was excellent. The ozone is measured only at three stations: EM3, SV1, SV2. In Suceava county, the multi-year average ozone concentration was 49.61 μg/m3. According to the daily average level of O3, the study area falls into quality class II, very good.  The average CO levels indicate an excelent air quality.
Exotic invasive trees affect germination and growth of understory plants via soil modifications
Authors: Medina Villar Silvia , de Torre Sáez Ana , Montoya Ruíz Antonio Manuel , de las Heras  Puñal Paloma , Pérez Corona M. Esther
Published: February 2023

Biological invasions may affect diversity in different ways. In the case of exotic invasive plants, as soon as they arrive to a new ecosystem they may directly compete for resources with native plants, make the native environment toxic for native plants or modify soil properties in a way that hinder native plants. The exotic invasive trees, Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacaica, are listed as 20 of the most harmful exotic invasive species in Spain, but their mechanisms of impact are still not clear. In this study we investigated the extent to which these exotic invasive trees may affect understory native plants via soil modifications. In a riparian forest, we collected soils around exotic (A. altissima and R. pseudoacaica) and native trees (Populus alba) trees. Half of the soils were supplemented with activated carbon (AC) to reveal possible effects via the release of phytotoxic compounds from the invasive trees to the soil. We added seeds of native herb species (target species), Trifolium repens and Dactylis glomerata, to pots containing the different soils. We moistened the soils to favor seed germination. The emergence of plants was counted daily, and the aerial biomass reached by the plants was also measured. Independently of the addition of AC, compared to native soils, those of the exotic invasive trees negatively affected the target species. The biomass of T. repens and the emergence speed of D. glomerata was lower in A. altissima soils than in native soils. The emergence speed of T. repens was affected by both exotic soils. The effects produced by the exotic trees may be attributed to changes in soil properties but not to the release of phytotoxic compounds.
Drought variability in the Spanish Mediterranean Basin during the Dalton Solar Minimum period (1790-1830)
Authors: Barriendos Mariano , Barriendos Josep , Hernández María , Gil-Guirado Salvador , Olcina-Cantos Jorge
Published: February 2023

The current climate change scenario is increasing concerns about the frequency of droughts in the Mediterranean region and the management of water resources. For this reason, it is interesting to study the most severe droughts of the recent past in order to better characterise the current phenomenon and future adaptive strategies.One of these episodes of great magnitude and significant impact on economic and social activity were the droughts that occurred in the first third of the 19th century in the Mediterranean basins of the Iberian Peninsula. This relatively brief period, placed at the end of the Little Ice Age, contains up to four episodes of drought that affected the Spanish Mediterranean Basins. Their occurrence can be linked to known climatic forcing factors. On the one hand, the effects of the Dalton Solar Minimum (1790-1830). On the other hand, the effects of three different volcanic eruptions produced in the intertropical latitudes with a VEI equal or greater than 5: the Unknown eruption of 1809, the Tambora eruption of 1815 and the Galunggung eruption of 1822.The climatic characterisation of the drought in this period is proposed with the use of historical proxy-data based on rogation ceremonies to monitor situations of rainfall deficit at high temporal resolution (daily/monthly). For drought assessment, a drought information classification system is proposed based on an index that takes into account the basic characteristics of each episode (duration, extent and severity). This classification will be tested to determine the behaviour of the droughts that affected the Spanish Mediterranean Basin during the period of the Dalton Solar Minimum.The results obtained from the application of these methodologies and materials allow the identification of severe droughts that affected the Spanish Mediterranean Basin during this period. Some of these years with severe droughts are 1807, 1812, 1817-1818, the most severe drought in the overall of the series, and 1822-1825. The description and cartographic representation of the historical data about these droughts allows us to assess their severity due to the extraordinary persistence of the rainfall deficits and their capacity to affect simultaneously distant regions.Finally, in order to compare the results obtained from the historical data recorded in Barcelona about rainfall deficits, we use the instrumental meteorological series of Barcelona. This data series begun in 1780 recording data on temperature and pressure and begun recording precipitation in 1786. The information from those records allows the comparison with the historical data.
SUSTAINABILITY HUB: a virtual world island to teach Agenda 2030 and Sustainability
Authors: Occhioni Michelina , Beccaceci Alessandra , Paris Eleonora
Published: February 2023

A virtual world island called Sustainability Hub is described, residing in a virtual world focused on STEM (Techland) created by one of the author as a teaching tool for 11-14 years old students.  Techland is based on the 3D platform Opensimulator, widely used to build virtual scenarios and learning environments accessed by users in forms of avatars.Sustainability Hub focuses on Sustainability and Agenda 2030. The learning path is composed of six thematic areas, each one devoted to a specific topic:-Welcome area for students’ and teachers’ training and orienteering-Global issues area, where are explained  the main issues humans have to face, like climate change, loss of biodiversity, over exploitation of georesources, world population growth and so on.-Georesources and circular economy, where the importance of recycling waste and favoring circular economy in industrial processes is highlighted. -Environmental footprint indicators area, focused on the tools used to measure the impact of human activities on planet Earth, like carbon-, water-, ecological footprint and the Material Flow Indicator called also Ecological Rucksack-Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals area, which shows the timeline path to the approval of Agenda 2030 in 2015 and the description of all Sustainable Development Goals and Targets.-Sustainable City Game area represents the final part of the experience, where students/avatars can play a virtual version of a sort of the Goose game trying to solve quizzes and challenges on topics related to the themes treated in the Hub.In each zone multimedia presentations, links to external websites, videos and online games are present. Various interactive 3D objects, when clicked, perform animations that explain abstract concepts, data and facts or allow practical activities such as the calculation of the carbon footprint. Students explore the learning environment consulting documents and interacting with the 3D objects (gamification approach). At the end of each area students have to solve a quiz to acquire a badge and continue to the next section.The island has been experimented during the pandemic lockdown with 136 students (11-14 years old) that accessed the world from home. Pre- and post-activity questionnaires were administered, showing good results in the cognitive test and appreciation of the activity in the satisfaction survey. In particular, they were happy to make practical activities in the forced online teaching period, improving socialization in the difficult pandemic time, feeling close to their classmates.
Investigating firn and ice anisotropy around the EastGRIP Camp, North East Greenland Ice Stream, from ambient noise surface waves
Authors: Pearce Emma , Zigone Dimitri , Schoonman Charlie , Franke Steven , Eisen Olaf , Rimpot Joachim
Published: February 2023

We use cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise data between pairs of 9 broadband three component seismometers to investigate variations in velocity structure and anisotropy in the vicinity of the EastGRIP camp along and across flow of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS).From the 9-component correlation tensors associated with all station pairs we derive dispersion curves of Rayleigh and Love wave group velocities between station pairs at frequencies from 1 to 25 Hz. The distributions of the Rayleigh and Love group velocities exhibit anisotropy variations for the along and across flow component. To better assess those variations, we invert the dispersions curves to shear wave velocities in the horizontal (Vsh) and vertical (Vsv) direction for the top 300 m of the NEGIS using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach.The reconstructed 1-D shear velocity model revels radial anisotropy in the NEGIS. Along and across flow vertical shear wave velocities (Vsv) identify comparable velocity profiles for all depths. However, horizontal shear wave velocities (Vsh) are faster by approximately 250 m/s in the along flow direction below a depth of 100 m, i.e. below the firn-ice transition.This type of anisotropy seems to arise from the alignment of a crystallographic preferred orientation, due to deformation associated with shear zones. The role of anisotropy as e.g. created by air bubbles in the firn and ice matrix, is yet unclear.Faster Vsh velocities in the along flow direction support that the NEGIS has crystal orientation alignment normal to the plane of shear compression (i.e. ice crystals orientated across flow) within the upper 300 m of the ice stream and are in alignment with the results from other methods. We demonstrate that simple, short duration (2-3 weeks), passive seismic deployment and environmental noise-based analysis can be used to determine the anisotropy of the upper part of ice masses.
Quasi-Objective Eddy Visualization from Sparse Drifter Data
Authors: Encinas Bartos Alex Pablo , O. Aksamit Nikolas , Haller George
Published: February 2023

Lagrangian eddies, generally referred to as elliptic Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) in the dynamical systems literature, are material objects that trap and transport floating particles over large distances in the ocean in a coherent fashion. In order to expand our understanding of the transport of marine tracers, we need to accurately and reliably track the evolution of vortical flow structures. Drifter trajectories represent a valuable but sparse source of information for this purpose. We employ a recently developed single-trajectory Lagrangian diagnostic tool, the trajectory rotation average (TRA), to visualize oceanic vortices (or eddies) from sparse drifter data in a quasi-objective fashion. We apply the TRA to two drifter data sets that cover various oceanographic scales: the Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD) and the Global Drifter Program (GDP). Based on the TRA, we develop a general algorithm that extracts approximate eddy boundaries. We find that the TRA outperforms other available single-trajectory-based eddy detection methodologies on sparse drifter data and identifies eddies on scales that are unresolved by satellite-altimetry.
Physics-informed Machine Learning prediction of ambient solar wind speed
Authors: Camporeale Enrico , Hu Andong
Published: February 2023

Forecasting the ambient solar wind several days in advance still proves extremely difficult. In fact, state-of-the-art models (either physics-based or based on machine learning) do not consistently outperform simple baseline predictions based on 1-day persistence or 27-day recurrence. In turn, our inability to precisely forecast the ambient solar wind impacts both the accuracy and the lead-time of every Geospace and Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere model used for space weather purposes.
Here, we present preliminary results about a physics-informed machine learning model that aims to predict the ambient solar wind up to 5 days ahead, by combining Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) observations and a simplified solar wind propagation model, known as HUX (Heliospheric Upwind eXtrapolation). In essence the model learns a coronal model in a completely data-driven fashion, by using ACE observations as its target.
Vanadium Potentiality of Late Silurian-Early Devonian Black Shales in Northwestern Black Sea Region, Turkey
Authors: Sutcu Naside Merve , Doner Zeynep , Unluer Ali Tugcan , Kumral Mustafa
Published: February 2023

Vanadium (V), is primarily used in the production of metal alloys (in addition to high strength low alloy properties) and reinforcing titanium alloys, take notice in the current critical element list by organizations such as the European Union and USGS. There is no detailed study on the exploration of vanadium resources in Turkey. Recently, vanadium can be extracted from several different types of mineral deposits and from fossil fuels. Black shales can be considered as one of the vanadium resources recently. Black shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks containing not only in organic matter but also in specific trace elements, like V, Mo, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Se, Pb and U.The study area is located in the Karabük – Kastamonu in Black Sea region of Turkey and primarily consist of Silurian aged black shales. These black shales can be described as a Hercynian continental sliver, which represents the northernmost part of the Western Pontides . This study focuses on revealing the content and major controlling factor of V of Late Silurian-Early Devonian aged black shales in the northwestern Black Sea Region of Turkey. In the end, the depositional model was established. Studied black shales have a wide range of vanadium content, varying from 74 to 400 μg/g. It can be stated that authigenic enrichments in modern suboxic settings, and likely represent the removal of dissolved V as V(IV). V(IV) was adsorped by organic matter. This result is also supported by several redox indicators such as V systematics (V/Sc, V/Ni) as well as ratios of Ni/Co, Th/U, and Mo/Mn. The reducing of V(III), is mainly associated with the excessive H2S accumulation in sediments and bottom waters and strong reducing conditions is also a key factor. In this circumstance, the decoupling mechanism of V changes from surface adsorption to ionic substitution forming solid solution series with Al in clays. In addition, the Al−Fe−Mn discriminant diagram of siliceous rocks, show that the genesis of siliceous rocks are close to the biogenic origin. The moderate positive correlation of V vs. TOC (R2=0.52) crossplot and the lack of correlation of V vs. clay-forming elements (Al2O3, K2O, Na2O, and CaO) mean that the organic matter rather than clay minerals can play a role in V enrichments. Also, it means that water conditions were controlled by elevated organic matter flux and consequent oxygen drawdown. Nevertheless, the discreteness of data in cross-plot diagrams may imply that a portion of the V in the samples occurs in other forms in addition to occurring in relation to organic matter. More detailed investigations are necessary.Keywords: Vanadium potential; Black shales; Depositional model; Northwestern Black Sea; Turkey