bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
 Unveiling the Biosphere: A Comprehensive Overview of GLOBE Program Protocols
Authors: Aceska Natalija
Published: March 2024

The GLOBE Program (www.globe.gov) presents protocols delving into biosphere studies, emphasizing biometry, phenology, and the GLOBE Observer application. These protocols offer a multifaceted approach to understanding and monitoring global ecosystems. Biometry involves precise measurement and analysis, fostering a global network of students, educators, and citizen scientists. Standardized biometric protocols contribute invaluable data to scientific research, unraveling the intricate web of life.In phenology, GLOBE introduces protocols to observe and record life cycle events, deepening understanding of interconnected relationships in ecosystems. Participants contribute to a comprehensive grasp of the biosphere's dynamic nature through systematic data collection and analysis, recognizing patterns and trends.The GLOBE Observer application is pivotal, empowering global scientific participation. Users engage in real-time observations, capturing vital information related to land cover, clouds, and the urban environment. Democratizing scientific involvement, the application enhances spatial and temporal resolution of biosphere data.In summary, GLOBE Program's biosphere protocols provide a systematic framework for studying our planet's living systems. Incorporating biometry and phenology methodologies, along with the GLOBE Observer application, the initiative fosters scientific literacy and contributes to a global understanding of the biosphere. Amidst the challenges of a changing world, GLOBE biosphere protocols stand as a beacon, guiding a more informed and interconnected global community.Keywords: GLOBE Program, biosphere protocols, biometry, phenology, GLOBE Observer application, ecosystem monitoring, scientific literacy, global collaboration, citizen science, data collection.
SISTEM PLUS: a second order Strain Model based method to integrate DInSAR and terrestrial geodetic data.
Authors: Guglielmino Francesco , Puglisi Giuseppe , Spata Alessandro
Published: March 2024

In recent years, great efforts have been made by the research community to define and improve computational methods aimed at integrating DInSAR and GNSS data to estimate three-dimensional (3D) ground displacements maps. In particular, the SISTEM method (Guglielmino et al., 2011), which was the first that used the Strain Model (SM) to solve 3D deformations by combining GNSS and DInSAR data, has been both widely utilized and continuously improved since its proposal.In this work, we propose the SISTEM PLUS method, an evolution of the original SISTEM method achieved through the adoption of a second order Strain Model.The SISTEM PLUS method, like the original SISTEM one, is a linear in the parameters model solved by using the weighted least square (WLS). The usage of a second order Strain Model has yielded the following main advantages: a notable improvement in results accuracy and the provision of a mathematical framework for the effective integration of tilt measurements, in addition to DInSAR and GNSS data.On the other hand, the usage of a second order Strain Model increases the complexity of this new method compared to the original SISTEM. Specifically, the SISTEM PLUS method requires the estimation of a greater number of unknown variables, which in turn, necessitates a larger set of available data to achieve robust estimations.The proposed methodology was tested on both synthetic and experimental data, these last from GNSS and DInSAR measurements carried out on Campi Flegrei area during the 2016-2023 period. In order to appreciate the precision achieved on experimental test results, the estimated standard errors computed by Weight Last Square are provided. These new tests also allowed optimising the choice of specific parameters of the algorithm.Currently the SISTEM PLUS method allows integration of DInSAR data taken from different geometries and different SAR sensors, (e.g. SENTINEL1, ALOS or CSK) and different kind of in situ data (GNSS, Levelling EDM and Tilt). We emphasize that, as the SISTEM PLUS method performs data integration through the resolution of a system of linear in the parameters strain model based equations, each equation being specific for a particular type of data, it has the built-in capability to integrate additional datasets, such as strain-meter and Distributed Fiber Optics to name a few. This is accomplished defining and adding a suitable set of additional strain model based equations, specifically tailored for the new datasets to be integrated, into the system of equations to be solved.These potentialities will be fully exploited in future developments of the presented methods.
Microbially mediated energy storage in the pedosphere 
Authors: Harbottle Michael , Smith Holly , Kennedy Julia , Sapsford Devin , Cleall Peter , Weightman Andrew , Carlos Ugalde-Loo
Published: March 2024

Energy storage is vital to buffer intermittency in power supplies comprised largely or wholly of variable sources (e.g. wind, solar) at large and small scale. Present technologies and those in development (e.g. electrochemical cells) have disadvantages (e.g. cost, resource use, chemical hazard) whilst the capacity required is extremely large and widely distributed. Storage is needed for burgeoning off-grid small-scale infrastructure such as sensor networks as well as larger scale power sources. To address challenges with current technologies we demonstrate the ability of the pedosphere to store electrical energy and act as a natural, biogeochemical battery. The pedosphere, consisting of porous geomaterials such as soil and sediment, is an extensive potential energy repository covering much of the Earth and underpins most infrastructure or situations where power is generated or required. This pre-existing capacity has the potential to simplify energy storage and the installation and management of power generating or consuming infrastructure.In this study the concept of such ‘geo-batteries’ is demonstrated. Controlled microbial synthesis of simple organic molecules in natural porous media (estuarine sediment) is shown, with this organic matter acting as an accessible form of energy storage. When combined with the employment of a microbial fuel cell to extract this energy electrically through degradation of the organic molecules, a battery is formed, with external control over energy input and output through switching of charging and discharging cycles.This project received funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, grant no. EP/X018865/1.
Interaction of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer with degrading Arctic permafrost: A numerical study
Authors: Schlutow Mark , Göckede Mathias
Published: March 2024

The vulnerability of Arctic permafrost to climate change is evident, with anticipated widespread enhanced thawing under climate warming. This process may release substantial amounts of organic carbon. The positive feedback mechanism resulting from accelerated thaw and increased carbon emission is suspected to be a potential tipping element, possibly occurring within the 1.5 °C global warming range of the Paris Agreement. The consequences of Arctic permafrost thaw extend beyond carbon release, with the capability to drastically alter Earth's surface in Northern high latitudes.This study employs high-resolution Large Eddy Simulations to investigate the impact of changing surfaces in the Arctic region on the neutrally stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Utilizing a stochastic land cover model based on Gaussian Random Fields, representative permafrost landscapes are classified by distinct surface features. Experiments varying the areal fraction and surface correlation length of these surface features reveal significant insights into the sensitivity of the boundary layer to surface heterogeneity.Key findings include a substantial impact of areal fraction of open water bodies on aggregated sensible heat flux at the blending height, suggesting a potential feedback mechanism: The smaller the areal fraction of open water bodies, the greater the sensible heat flux, the warmer the surface. Additionally, the blending height is significantly influenced by the correlation length of surface features. A longer surface correlation length leads to an increased blending height, highlighting the relevance of this metric for land surface models focused on Arctic permafrost.
Geophysical Imaging Of Shallow Geological Structures In Malta
Authors: Iregbeyen Peter , D’Amico Sebstiano , Galone Luciano , Colica Emanuele , Villani Fabio , Martino Salvatore , Iannucci Roberto , Aigbedion Isaac
Published: March 2024

 ABSTRACT There have been growing needs for scientists to search for efficiently high-resolution geophysical techniques to image the subsurface features, formations, and shallow geologic structures (e.g. faults, void, stratigraphy features). At shallow depths, an in-depth understanding of these features/structures could be  pivotal in in the management of the environment and crucial examination of hazardous terrains which are of growing threat to human safety. In the case of Malta, with a limited land space, their study could be relevant to the environmental planning agency in advocating for safe building sites for structural architecture as well as use of land. In this regard, this study will be investigating such features located in Malta, one in the Selmun Promontory, located in the north-eastern zone, and the second in the Mellieha valley located in the north-western zone of the Maltese archipelago. On the Selmun area ERTs arrays and passive seismic measurements were recorded both in the slope and on the plateau. Results are interpreted in terms of geological stratigraphy and whether zones on the plateau were identified, where rock falls and other slope processes are incipient.In the Mellieha Area, ERTs arrays, GPR scans and ambient noise measurements indicate the presence of unmapped fault zones and sediment distribution, improving the understanding of the local geology.  
Advancing recycled pavement performance monitoring with fiber optic sensing 
Authors: Plati Christina , Gkyrtis Konstantinos , Loizos Andreas
Published: March 2024

The reuse of existing materials instead of virgin material is becoming increasingly popular in the construction of road pavements worldwide, as it increases the sustainability of the pavements. In the case of severely deteriorated asphalt pavements, interventions beyond the bottom of the asphalt layers are required. To limit the time required for rehabilitation, Cold In-Place Recycling (CIPR) has proven to be an effective means of significantly shortening the construction phase and ensuring cost efficiency. However, robust testing and structural monitoring is required to ensure the long-term performance of the recycled pavement.This research presents a possible integration of non-destructive monitoring methods for the purpose of investigation, such as the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) commonly used for testing conventional pavements, and more advanced inspection tools such as fiber optic sensors. As the latter represent a relatively costly approach, the selection of suitable locations for their installation both along and in the depth of the pavement is crucial to obtain meaningful information. To investigate this crucial issue, a CIPR pavement with foamed asphalt as base stabilizer was considered for monitoring. Preliminary investigations allowed the critical failure locations of the pavement to be defined so that the fiber optic sensors could be installed at the appropriate depth. Thereafter, continuous real-time monitoring with fiber optic sensors, supported by FWD testing at regular intervals for validation purposes, enabled a long-term assessment of the structural soundness of the pavement, which is a prerequisite for maintaining resilient road structures.
Coupling of Groundwater with Atmosphere: A New Anthropogenic Component in the Global Hydrological Cycle
Authors: Ajay Ajay , Sanyal Prasanta
Published: March 2024

One of the challenges in climate change studies is understanding the moisture source, oceanic or terrestrial, responsible for the recent increase in global land precipitation evident by ERA-5 reanalysis data.  To explain the moisture source responsible for increase in the land precipitation we have used the d-excess value of precipitation which distinctly inherits the signature of various processes in the hydrological cycle and has been widely used for the validation of general circulation models. We created a global monthly time series of d-excess value (1978-2021) using precipitation isotope data (n= 62,665) from 913 sites. Since 1996, the enigmatic surge in the d-excess value aligns with the rise in the global land precipitation which cannot be explained by the already known moisture source of the global water cycle. Such a huge spike in d-exces value suggests an increase in contribution from the terrestrial moisture, especially from the evaporation of irrigated groundwater, a component which was not considered in the global hydrologic cycle. To feed the growing population, introduction of multiple cropping seasons and a decrease in the frequency of global land precipitation led to an increase in the groundwater-dependent agricultural practice. Previous studies have shown that the extraction of groundwater for irrigation is so huge and significant that it has been held responsible for global sea level rise  and drift of Earth’s rotation axis. In Spite of that, the remotely sensed data and land surface models partition the moisture sources of water cycle in the various components; such as transpiration, open water evaporation,  canopy interception, bare soil evaporation and  snow sublimation, however, never considered the coupling of groundwater with atmosphere. Therefore, to understand the global hydrological cycle, the moisture and energy exchange between groundwater and atmosphere, via evaporation of irrigated water, should be considered. Here, the enigmatic rise in d-excess value, equivalent to glacial-interglacial scale variation, signifies human domination in the global hydrological cycle.  
Quantitative constraints on crustal stress and strength from seismological observations in the Armutlu Peninsula (northwestern Türkiye)
Authors: Bocchini Gian Maria , Martínez-Garzón Patricia , Dielforder Armin , Smeraglia Luca , Harrington Rebecca M. , Bohnhoff Marco
Published: March 2024

The Armutlu Peninsula in north western Türkiye, a horst zone in an active transtensional pull-apart basin, is bounded by two major sub-branches of the North Anatolian Fault zone and host high rates of seismicity in the northern part. The ~25-station SMARTnet surface seismic network was installed in 2019-2020 with the purpose of augmenting permanent seismic stations in the northern part of the Armutlu Peninsula and to help increase the detection of small-magnitude earthquakes. Here, we employ a waveform-based clustering method that integrates detailed information from the seismicity and focal mechanism distribution enabled by the added station coverage to investigate the geometry and kinematics of the seismically active structures. We start by using an enhanced earthquake catalog of >4,000 double-difference-relocated events and >150 focal mechanisms obtained using P-wave polarities and amplitudes in the time period between January 2019 and February 2020. We perform a formal inversion of the stress field orientation from focal mechanisms to investigate the regional deviatoric stress field and its relation with activated fault structures. The stress-field inversion uses input data that combines the enhanced focal-mechanism catalog from background seismic events together with published focal mechanisms of M≥2.5 events that occurred between 1999 and 2019. Stress inversion results show an extensional stress regime for the broader northern Armutlu Peninsula and a transtensional stress regime for a narrow region of ~80 km2, referred to as the Esenköy Seismic Zone (ESZ). Within the ESZ, the minimum principal stress (σ3) is approximately horizontal and NE-trending, while the maximum (σ1) and intermediate (σ2) principal stresses are close in magnitude and vary between near vertical and near horizontal. We observe clusters of normal and strike-slip faulting events identified in the ESZ through waveform-based clustering analysis that are optimally oriented with respect to the stress field we derive for the area. The minimum principal stress in the ESZ is rotated clockwise by ~10-15° with respect to the minimum principal stress inferred for the broader Armutlu Peninsula and eastern Sea of Marmara. Based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, we quantify the relative and absolute magnitudes of the principal stresses, determine the local crustal stress and strength conditions, and will present a discussion of the implications for regional tectonic forces.
Zonal Winds of Uranus: Analysis, Modelling and Prospects
Authors: Soyuer Deniz , Helled Ravit , Neuenschwander Benno , Morf Luca
Published: March 2024

Uranus is observed to have fast surface zonal winds with speeds reaching up to 200 ms−1 relative to its assumed bulk rotation. The exact decay behaviour of the winds is uncertain, but there is indirect evidence that they must decay rapidly in relatively shallow layers of Uranus. By analysing thousands of Uranus interior structure models our study investigates the Uranian zonal wind decay via past zonal gravitational harmonics measurements, as well as understanding our limitations of future zonal wind constraints with a prospective Uranus mission (as proposed by NASA’s Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032). In addition, we explore the effect of zonal wind decay on planetary shapes, the relationship of zonal wind decay and planetary bulk rotation, and the effect of alternative surface zonal wind profile fits to surface wind measurements on aforementioned phenomena.
Harnessing LEO and CubeSat constellations for ionospheric irregularity detection
Authors: Mohanty Shradha , Hoque M. Mainul
Published: March 2024

Low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellite missions are frequently using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Occultation (RO) technique for atmospheric and ionospheric remote sensing. The application of GNSS RO technique has increased manifolds with the advent of CubeSat technology. In this study, we investigated the simultaneous occurrence of local nighttime F-layer ionospheric irregularities and amplitude scintillations in low-latitude equatorial regions using 1 Hz COSMIC-2 electron density profiles (ionPrfs) and high rate 50 Hz ionospheric profiles (conPhs) from Spire’s CubeSat constellation, respectively. Both datasets are accessed from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) repository.An ionospheric irregularity detection algorithm is developed using a digital non-recursive finite impulse response (FIR) high-pass filter and applied on both the electron density (Ne) and total electron content (TEC) profiles from COSMIC-2 mission. The filter operates in the s domain, where s is defined as the distance between the highest and lowest tangent point heights. If the fluctuations in Ne and TEC exceed a set threshold, the corresponding COSMIC-2 profile is identified as having irregularities. In case of Spire GNSS-RO profiles, scintillation events are identified when the amplitude scintillation index (S4) at GPS L1 frequency exceeds the set threshold. COSMIC-2 and Spire datasets from September 2021 until May 2023 (20 months) are used in this long-term comparative study.We observe a good agreement in the statistics of number of Spire and COSMIC-2 profiles detecting (showing possible signature of) scintillations/ ionospheric irregularities. Both Spire and COSMIC-2 data show that the scintillation occurrence rate is much higher during the equinoxes (spring and autumn seasons) agreeing well with existing scintillation literature. From the COSMIC-2 data alone, we also notice a direct relation with the solar activity, i.e., the number of irregularity events slowly increases as we approach the solar maximum. This study indicates the capability of LEO satellites and CubeSat missions, especially in GNSS-RO configuration, for providing an important contribution to scintillation monitoring.
Feeling the “pulse”: long-term studies are key to understanding carbon dynamics in bio-weathering
Authors: Boito Lucilla , Steinwidder Laura , Frings Patrick , Vienne Arthur , Rijnders Jet , Roussard Jasper , Vicca Sara
Published: March 2024

Besides rapid and deep greenhouse gas emission reductions, atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal strategies (CDRs) will be necessary to mitigate anthropogenic climate change. A promising CDR is Enhanced rock Weathering (EW), deployed on croplands. So far, most research focused on lab-based weathering and sequestration rates, but these might differ substantially in field settings, where biota may have a strong effect on EW processes (e.g., via bio-weathering). Additionally, these studies are mostly short-term, thus limiting our knowledge on the long-term effects of silicate addition on croplands.Here, we set up a mesocosm experiment to quantify the carbon (C) sequestration of EW and how this is affected by biota. The experiment consisted of soils applied with basalt and combinations of corn and/or earthworms. It spanned over two growing seasons, for a total duration of 16 months. We measured i) Soil CO2 Efflux (SCE) , ii) porewater and leachate water alkalinity, Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), pH and other elemental chemistry, and iii) soil pH and elemental chemistry in order to determine weathering rates.Our data shows that basalt had a different effect on SCE in the two growing seasons. In both seasons, the effect of basalt depended on plant presence, though in two different directions. In the first growing season, basalt increased emissions significantly compared to controls, but only when plants were present. In contrast, during the second growing season basalt significantly decreased SCE over time compared to controls, but only in absence of plants. Here, there was no effect of basalt on SCE whenever plants were present. These contrasting results suggest an initial stimulation of SCE (“pulse”) due to basalt application, especially prominent in the presence of plants and possibly involving changes in soil organic carbon dynamics. These findings highlight the need for long-term studies that outlast that initial “pulse” and elucidate the fate of organic carbon in order to accurately quantify the CDR potential of EW, as well as the role of biota therein.
Comparison of geomagnetically induced currents in the US and UK power grid using network analysis
Authors: Orr Lauren , Chapman Sandra , McGranaghan Ryan
Published: March 2024

During geomagnetic storms the electrical power grid is vulnerable to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) caused by sharp changes in magnetic and geoelectric fields. In the UK the measurement of GIC in the power grid is extremely limited with most GIC estimates coming from a model of the high voltage grid. The US has collected geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) data for 18 geomagnetic storms. Network theory is routinely used to estimate the resilience of the physical power grid, and its robustness to the removal of nodes, when faced with threats ranging from natural hazards to cyber-attacks but is currently not applied to GIC. By applying network theory to both the modelled UK dataset and measured US dataset, we can utilize known parameters to test for vulnerabilities to space weather in the power grid across varying spatial and temporal scales. The network is formed using methods of association between the GIC data at each transformer. The monitors are the nodes of the network and the links are defined as when the wavelet cross-correlation of the GIC is sufficiently high (1). The wavelet transform is used to localise the GIC response to the storm across time scales. Whilst previous network science studies have focused on the physical topology of the power grid, our method focuses on the dynamical response of the grid to GIC. Despite the difference in latitude and local time we see many similarities between the modelled UK and measured US GIC data, particularly during the sudden commencement. Initial results show the same nodes repeatedly appearing as the most highly connected to the network across multiple events. These nodes could be key to providing resilience and/or prediction of forthcoming disturbance of the power grid in the event of a large geomagnetic storm.(1) Orr, L., Chapman, S. C., Beggan, C. D. (2021). Space Weather, 19, e2021SW002772.
Inferring Debris Properties on Debris-Covered Glaciers: Implications for Glacier Modelling
Authors: Melo Velasco Vicente , Miles Evan , McCarthy Michael , Shaw Thomas E. , Fyffe Catirona , Pellicciotti Francesca
Published: March 2024

Debris, ranging from thin surface dust to medial moraines and thick, continuous layers in ablation zones, partially covers glaciers all around the world. By modifying energy transfer from the atmosphere to the ice, the supraglacial debris layer fundamentally controls sub-debris melt rates. Debris physical properties such as surface roughness (z0) and thermal conductivity (k) have only been derived from local measurements at a few sites, and modelling studies of debris-covered glaciers have often relied on literature values. The correct representation of these properties in energy-balance models is crucial for understanding the climate-glacier dynamics and how debris-covered glaciers will behave in the future. There are several established methods to derive these properties from field measurements, yet relatively few studies undertake to measure properties for their sites, or to evaluate the resulting property values.We undertook an observational campaign to investigate supraglacial debris properties at Pirámide Glacier, in the central Chilean Andes. First, we used established approaches, as well as some variations on those approaches, to derive z0 from wind-temperature tower data and k from thermistor strings in the debris at three glacier locations. Second, we determined locally-optimal k and z0 values to reproduce observed ice melt: we optimised k by simulating energy conduction through the debris with the surface temperature as an input, then optimised z0 by running a complete energy-balance model using the observed surface meteorology. We then conducted point-scale energy-balance modelling using the z0 and k values obtained i) with the derivations from field measurements; ii) through optimisation, or; iii) from the typical values found in literature. This allowed us to evaluate how the different methods perform by comparing the modelled and measured ice melt. Our results show that deriving local debris properties from measurements is challenging and that measured values can differ significantly from common literature values. The values derived from measured data can vary significantly depending on the method employed. It is important to note that these values can also differ significantly from the values required by an energy-balance model to accurately represent sub-debris ice melt. Furthermore, energy-balance models typically assume a representation of heat transfer within the supraglacial debris layer based solely on conduction and require a bulk thermal conductivity value. This highlights the necessity of efforts to reevaluate measurements in the field and reconsider our definition of debris properties in melt modelling.
Statistical characteristic differences of raindrop size distribution during rainy seasons in the Pan Third Pole region
Authors: Mao Wenqian , Li Guang , Zhang Wenyu
Published: March 2024

The Qilian Mountains, a series of marginal mountains in the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau (TP), are a vitally important ecological protection barrier in the northwestern arid areas. In order to improve understanding of the microstructure of precipitation, the characteristics of raindrop size distribution (DSD) were analyzed using the Second Tibetan Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Expedition of observations. The Qilian Mountains region has its own unique DSD characteristics with a smaller raindrop diameter and a higher number concentration (3.69 for log10Nw and 0.94 mm for Dm) comparing with eastern, southern, northern, and central China, but are similar to those of southeastern TP. For all rainfall events, the number concentrations of small and large raindrops in the interior and on the southern slopes were greater than on the northern slopes, but midsize raindrops were less. The DSD spectrum of the interior was more variable and differed significantly from that of the northern slopes. The differences in the normalized intercept parameters of the DSD for stratiform and convective rainfall were 8.3 % and 10.4 %, respectively, and those of the mass-weighted mean diameters were 10.0 % and 23.4 %, respectively, while the standard deviations of DSD parameters at interior sites were larger. The differences in the coefficient and exponent of the Z–R relationship were 2.5 % and 10.7 %, respectively, with an increasing value of the coefficient from the southern to the northern slopes for stratiform rainfall but the opposite for convective rainfall. In addition, the DSD characteristics and Z–R relationships were more similar at the ipsilateral sites and had smaller differences between the southern slopes and interior of the mountains
Dinarides slab gap - fact or fiction
Authors: Golub Lucija , Rondenay Stéphane , Stipčević Josip
Published: March 2024

Ever since the first regional teleseismic tomography images of the central Mediterranean region, one aspect that has stood out in nearly every model is the missing deep slab under the north and central Dinarides. In contrast, concurrent investigations of crustal formation have pointed to a deep crustal root under the whole of the Dinarides, supporting the hypothesis of a laterally continuous slab. In the last decade, several attempts have been made to untangle this conundrum but without much success. Nevertheless, these efforts have yielded some notable new findings, such as possible lithospheric delamination under the central Dinarides. This study aims to utilize all the available seismological results in combination with several new analyses to shed light on the upper mantle structure beneath the central Dinarides. We conducted the SKS shear-wave splitting analysis using 21 stations from the Croatian national seismic network and 7 stations from the AlpArray network. We considered events that occurred between 2010 and 2022 with magnitudes greater than MW = 6.0 and epicentral distances ranging between 85° and 120°. In parallel, a teleseismic Generalized Radon Transform (GRT) migration was conducted along a set of 2D profiles to provide structural insights into the subduction zone within the study area. Data from the Croatian national seismic network, the CRONOS temporary network, and the AdriaArray Temporary Network were used for the migration. For this approach, we considered events that occurred after January 2020 within the epicentral distance range of 30° - 100° and magnitudes greater than MW = 5.5. In addition to these two new analyses, we used other seismological results from previous investigations (including S-receiver functions and ambient noise tomography) to fill in the gaps in our investigation of the lithospheric structure under central Dinarides. Preliminary results exhibit distinctive patterns: the orientation of SKS fast axes, indicative of mantle flow, in the north and central External Dinarides aligns perpendicular to the mountain chain’s strike. However, this orientation abruptly transitions to a NW-SE direction further from the coast and continues in the northern part of Croatia. Results from converted/scattered-waves and ambient noise, for their part, point to a thickened crust under the central and southern External Dinarides, with a high-velocity anomaly reaching at least 100 km depth but a relatively thin lithosphere. Taken together these results suggest that the slab blocks the mantle flow up to depths of 100 – 150 km.
Role of unfavorable impurities in CO2 mineralization process of industrial solid waste: Uncertainties in decarbonization potential 
Authors: Liu Yikai , Chen Qiusong , Dalconi Maria Chiara , Valentini Luca , Yuan Xinyi , Molinari Simone , Wang Yunming , Artioli Gilberto
Published: March 2024

Using industrial solid waste to capture CO2 by mineral carbonation is considered one of the promising technologies to prevent waste disposal while combating global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Especially, the carbonation reaction is spontaneous and the carbonated products are relatively stable; thus, mineral carbonation is an effective means of stabilizing CO2 and valorizing industrial solid waste. Previous estimations report that a 4.02 Gt per year mitigation potential can be facilitated through CO2 mineralization of industrial solid waste. However, existing estimates do not take into account the impacts of unfavorable impurities, which have broad uncertainty and variability due to different industrial processes and ore sources. The existence of certain impurities might influence the rate of the carbonation reaction and therefore, the amount of CO2 captured and carbonates formed. For instance, some elements (e.g., Pb, Cd, and Mn in mine tailings) can enhance the CO2 capture capacity due to the precipitation of heavy metal carbonates. While some organics (e.g., organic matter in sludge) and anions (e.g., phosphates in phosphogypsum) can influence the carbonation reactions negatively. Especially, the questionable releasing behavior of these potentially toxic elements can bring about new environmental issues when the deposited body reaches groundwater or aquifer resources. Therefore, in this work, we have attempted to clarify the roles of impurities in the mineralization process and the afterward usage period, including the accelerating or retarding effects of impurities in carbonation and the leaching behavior of potentially toxic elements. Industrial solid wastes from different sectors, such as typical mine tailings (e.g., copper mine tailings and nickel mine tailings), industrial by-products (e.g., phosphogypsum, fly ash, red mud, and coal gasification slag), and construction and demolition waste, are used for accelerated and atmospheric carbonation at ambient temperatures. Our study reveals that although mineralization and in-stu storage could turn industrial solid wastes into a global carbon mitigation sink, unfavorable impurities may curb abatement potential.
Ground motion prediction using Physics-Informed Symbolic Learning (PISL)
Authors: Liu Xianwei , Chen Su , Fu Lei , Li Xiaojun , Cotton Fabrice
Published: March 2024

Ground Motion Models (GMM) are an essential component in seismic hazard analysis. In recent years, Machine Learning (ML) methods have made significant progress in advancing GMM research. However, their effectiveness is hindered by certain limitations. Firstly, some ML methods, such as neural networks, lack interpretability, which poses challenges for researchers and engineers. Secondly, these methods may have limited extrapolation capabilities and may struggle to accurately capture data distribution characteristics when predicting scenarios beyond the scope of the training data. To address these shortcomings, we propose a physics-informed symbolic learning (PISL) approach for constructing GMMs. Symbolic learning extracts an interpretable expression from data using sparse regression. To tackle sparse data issues in the near-field of large earthquakes, we have introduced a near-field saturation factor into the model. This factor contains physics information and guides the model to accurately capture near-field saturation properties even with limited data. We used the NGA-West2 database to develop GMMs for Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), Peak Ground Velocity (PGV), and Pseudo-Spectral Acceleration (PSA) within the period range of 0.01s-10s. The study conducted comparative analyses using Mw-scaling, RJB-scaling, and VS30-scaling cases with empirical regression models. Model stability was assessed through residual calculations and standard deviation analysis. The results indicate that our model predictions are comparable to those of classical empirical models, with no significant differences in residual distribution and standard deviations. The extrapolation ability of the symbolic learning approach was validated using seismic events outside the training data, including the Wenchuan earthquake and Turkey earthquake. In conclusion, the method described above integrates physical knowledge and data-driven approaches, simplifying the equations while achieving similar results. Symbolic learning methods then provide a new perspective for the application of ML in engineering seismology.
Model development for a water supply catchment in southeast Brazil
Authors: de Sousa Matos Ana Clara , Höge Marvin , Medeiros do Nascimento Thiago Victor , de Oliveira Corrêa Gustavo , Oliveira e Silva Francisco Eustáquio , Fenicia Fabrizio
Published: March 2024

Brazil faced a severe water crisis during the mid-2010s, resulting in water scarcity and water rationing in various cities. The Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region was seriously affected. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and home to roughly 5 million people (Costa et al., 2015) and mining industry. The region’s water supply relies on a complex and integrated system, which combines a water abstraction at the Velhas river and three reservoirs. One of these reservoirs, named Serra Azul, reached a minimum of only 5,4 % of its total capacity during the crisis. Here, we demonstrate tools for improving the water management in this area, by developing a hydrological model suitable for mountainous regions with tropical climates. Our case study was the Serra Azul reservoir’s well-gauged catchment. We selected 12 gauges that cover several head waters and rivers section in the 260 km² area.  We used these discharge data (3-5 years), and available static catchments' attributes (e.g. subsurface properties), to adapt a flexible framework for conceptual hydrological modeling. Hence, we identified a suitable model structure using SUPERFLEX (Fenicia et al., 2014). The findings show that by including soil type, lithology and land cover as explanatory variables in the model, we obtained significant improvements in performance, e.g. the correlation between the base flow index estimated for observed and simulated time-series increased from 0.40 to 0.76. We also accounted for groundwater contributions to the streamflow, modelling the relation between the percentage of porous aquifer within each catchment and its flow magnitude. Thereby, we improved the average NSE and timeseries correlation considerably.  Overall, we successfully set up a parsimonious hydrologic model for water resources management in a region that is notoriously difficult to predict, where anthropic activities such as mining and agriculture have a decisive impact on the water cycle. References:Costa et al. Caracterização e Quadros de Análise Comparativa da Governança Metropolitana no Brasil: análise comparativa das funções públicas de interesse comum (Componente 2)-RM do Rio de Janeiro (Relatório de Pesquisa). (2015). Rio de Janeiro: Institute for Applied Economic Research–Ipea.Fenicia et al. "Catchment properties, function, and conceptual model representation: is there a correspondence?." Hydrological Processes 28.4 (2014): 2451-2467.
Agricultural mulch films as soil microplastic contamination factor
Authors: Cugler Moreira Ana Carolina , Wilken Florian , Fiener Peter
Published: March 2024

Plastic mulch films are increasingly used in agriculture to improve yields and simplify harvest as well as work processes. Beside the agronomic advantages, the use of mulch films is also associated with the risk of (micro) plastics entering the soil system. To which extend weathering and fragmentation of mulch films potentially leads to a soil contamination depends on the plastic characteristics, e.g. in terms of thickness, colour and UV resistance, which is associated with different purposes of mulch film application. This study aims to analyse the changes in plastic film properties as basis for plastic fragmentation and finally microplastic contamination, resulting from photodegradation and mechanical stress. We used different plastic mulch films and applied fixed UV light intensities at 50ºC temperature. We applied varying time of UV exposure and performed an abrasion test, where plastic film and soil were mixed at 4 rpm for 2 months to simulate mechanical stress. After the different treatments the effects on chemical groups, surface characteristics, hydrophobicity and mechanical stability of the mulch films were analysed. Therefore, the following techniques were utilized: (i) Fourier transform infrared with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, (ii) 3d laser confocal scanner microscopy (LSM), (iii) optical contact angle (OCA) analysis, and (iv) universal nanomechanical testing (UNAT). The FTIR-ATR analysis revealed spectral changes indicating an alteration in the carbonyl group content, related to photodegradation, when compared with samples without UV treatment. The OCA also demonstrated variations in the wettability of samples in both treatments, caused by the variation on the carbonyl content. Mechanical stress treatment also highlights changes on the sample surface, e.g., new scratches on the sample surface. UNAT results indicate variation on the Young’s modulus, related to the samples crystallinity. Overall, the combination of analyses suggests that photodegradation and mechanical stress cause changes in the carbonyl content, which can influence wettability and mechanical stability. Together with the surface changes under mechanical stress, the study presents a potential pathway of mulch foil fragmentation and MP formation.
Infrared emission spectroscopy for trace gas retrievals in the Arctic
Authors: Heizmann Lukas , Palm Mathias , Notholt Justus , Buschmann Matthias
Published: March 2024

The solar absorption spectroscopy has been established as a powerful tool to monitor the trace gas composition of the atmosphere and is used in world wide networks such as TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) and NDACC (Network for Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change). The solar absorption measurements have the disadvantage that in Arctic regions there are no measurements possible during polar night leading to significant gaps in the data record. To fill those gaps we deploy a Bruker Vertex 80 spectrometer in emission geometry at the AWIPEV station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. For highest possible resolution of 0.08 cm⁻¹, one-sided interferograms are recorded. Total power calibration procedures with two reference black bodies developed for double-sided interferograms (having lower resolution) are adjusted to obtain radiometrically calibrated zenith viewing emission spectra. The optimal estimation method is used to retrieve atmospheric water vapor and methane for cloud-free scenes. Results are compared to radiosondes and TCCON measurements. We investigate in detail the influence of black body emissivity and temperature uncertainty as quality check of our setup. The importance of spectral resolution is tested to prepare our retrieval to work with other instruments such as the 1 cm⁻¹ resolution E-AERI deployed during the MOSAiC campaign.
Sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) prediction of droughts over India using different data-driven models
Authors: Singh Sarmistha , Valiya  Veetil Sidhan
Published: March 2024

Drought, an extreme meteorological phenomenon, has significant impacts on a country's social, economic, and environmental stability. Early prediction of drought is crucial to provide warning and preparedness measures. Sub-seasonal prediction, which encompasses a few weeks to a few months ahead, is a critical timescale with limited memory of initial conditions, and not significantly controlled by boundary conditions. Presently, dynamical models have drawn much attention in the sub-seasonal precipitation forecast, however, the accuracy in drought prediction remains low. Currently, various dynamical models such as North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) provide sub-seasonal prediction of hydro-meteorological variables for the entire globe. The efficacy of NMME model output for sub-seasonal drought prediction has not been explored in India. Also, a comprehensive study regarding the inclusion of climate indices as potential predictors for S2S drought prediction is lacking in the literature. We have investigated the potentiality of NMME precipitation output for sub-seasonal drought prediction over India and found out that the NMME model output doesn’t show a reasonable S2S forecast for 3-months standardized precipitation index (SPI3). Further, the study utilized data-driven models such as auto-regression, support vector regression (SVR), XGboost, and recurrent neural network (RNN) with climatic indices and previous month lagged value as predictors to improve the prediction skill. The results show that statistical models are superior to dynamic models. Although the previous monthly data is adequate for lead 1 drought prediction for most of the grids over India, the inclusion of climatic oscillation information was found to be the potential predictor and necessary for higher lead predictions. For example, the western disturbance index helped predict droughts at 2-months lead for the Northwest region of India. Moreover, the wavelet-based post-processing technique has shown the potential to enhance drought predictions significantly. The outcomes of this study will provide an outlook for the sub-seasonal to seasonal drought prediction over India and aid in the improvement of decision-making.
Modeling thermal diffusivity in permafrost rock slopes to identify non-conductive heat fluxes
Authors: Weber Samuel , Cicoira Alessandro
Published: March 2024

Permafrost is warming and thawing globally because of climate change, which has consequences for slope stability. Despite numerous studies focusing on permafrost evolution, knowledge of the physical properties of frozen ground is based on a few in-situ measurements and laboratory experiments. There are few observations on water fluxes in permafrost, which are rapidly changing due to active layer thickening, ground ice melt, talik formation, and modified permeability. Particular attention should be given to changes in the thermal regime, an indicator of permafrost degradation and deep water infiltration, which are currently inducing deep-seated slope instabilities.In this study, we use data from the 29 temperature boreholes of the Swiss Permafrost Monitoring Network PERMOS to quantify the thermal diffusivity in different permafrost rock slopes characterized by the three landforms: rock glacier, talus slope, or bedrock. We apply statistical and numerical modeling approaches and calculate the thermal diffusivity for each instrumented depth in a two-month window that iterates by one day. The thermal diffusivity at each instrumented depth is additionally inverted for each calendar year using analytical modeling to validate the results.This systematic analysis of the PERMOS borehole temperature data, with three independent methods, allows us to derive a well-constrained range for the thermal properties of different substrates in mountain permafrost. Isolating spatial and temporal anomalies in thermal diffusivity, we can further investigate non-conductive processes governed by thawing and/or water advection. Given the one-dimensional heat conservation equation, the non-conductive heat flux can be quantified using the difference between the observed and modeled temperature change. Once concluded, this analysis will represent the basis for many other studies investigating the thermal and mechanical behavior of mountain permafrost rock slopes.