bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eutrophication and Trace Metal Cycling in the Salton Sea: A Century of Industrial Impact
Authors: Diamond Charles , Hung Caroline , Lyons Timothy
Published: March 2024

The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake, covering almost 330 square miles of low-lying, inland desert in the Imperial and Eastern Coachella Valleys. Despite the enormous surface area of the lake, it has a maximum depth of only 10.5 meters (an aspect ratio almost identical to that of a sheet of A4 paper), and the region is subject to extreme heat in the summer. Functioning more like an industrial evaporation table, the lake would be very small if not for agricultural and municipal wastewater. Combined, these sources represent the overwhelming majority of annual inflows, with agricultural return flow making the largest contribution by far. This has remained the case for over a century, leading to a host of devastating and predictable consequences—all exacerbated by the fact that the Salton Sea is a closed basin.Over the past hundred years, the salinity of the Salton Sea has risen steadily, while the lake level has experienced significant fluctuations, both up and down. Due to the extremely low angle of the lakebed, small changes in water level lead to dramatic shifts in the location of the shoreline. Over the past five years, for example, tens of thousands of acres of lakebed have been exposed due to water transfer agreements between local water authorities that have reduced inflow. In addition to the ecological devastation that has occurred as the lake has become saltier, the recent exposure of vast areas of lakebed has created an ongoing public health crisis linked to dust emission.Hypereutrophication has been a persistent feature of the lake over time, as the primary source of inflow is unchecked agricultural runoff. Coupled with intense thermal stratification in the summer, high rates of algal and bacterial production in the upper meters drive respiration and anoxia below, leading to efficient recycling of nutrients and a host of consequences for the cycling of sulfur, iron, and redox-sensitive trace metals. Sulfate levels in the Salton Sea are very high (~300 mM), and the water column regularly becomes sulfidic. Most of the iron that enters the basin is sequestered into sediments as iron-oxides within the river deltas. The small amount of iron that makes it beyond quickly precipitates as iron-sulfides, leaving sediments throughout the vast interior of the lake very low in iron. Concentrations of redox-sensitive trace metals within sediments vary spatially and with depth in ways that reflect the redox stratification and overall geometry of the lake, the distribution of iron, and the history of accumulation and sequestration that has ocurred over time within a closed basin. This study explores these relationships through the integration of geochemical data from sediment cores and water samples from multiple transects within the basin, as well as major tributaries, building toward a comprehensive model of trace-metal cycling within the lake prior to and since the influence of agriculture and industry in the region began. 
Modelling and measuring aerobic and anaerobic carbon loss from pig slurry storage
Authors: Dalby Frederik , Hafner Sasha D , Feilberg Anders , Ambrose Herald Wilson , Adamsen Anders Peter
Published: March 2024

Greenhouse gas emission from liquid livestock manure storage is a considerable contributor to global warming and accurate farm-scale models for predicting emission are needed for estimating effects of manure management strategies. In this study we measured degradation of organic matter components of pig slurry with anaerobic and aerobic manure surface and at 10℃ and 20℃. Simultaneously, methane and carbon dioxide emission were measured and carbon emission from both anaerobic and aerobic processes was determined. Carbon dioxide loss due to surface respiration, did not limit methane emission during the incubation experiment at 10℃ and 20℃, but limited production of methane during subsequent anaerobic digestion at 38℃. Surface respiration rates varied between 10 - 80 g CO2 m-2 day-1 and temperature dependent rate equations describing surface respiration was implemented in a farm-scale methane emission model (ABM). ABM simulations suggested that ca. 10% of carbon loss from typical slaughter pig barns and < 2% from outdoor pig manure storage was as carbon dioxide from surface respiration. Simulations also indicated that slurry filling level and seasonal variation in temperature considerably influenced methane to carbon dioxide emission ratio. This combined experimental and modelling study suggest that farm-scale models must reflect carbon loss from both aerobic and anaerobic process to accurately capture carbon emission dynamics and the farm-scale greenhouse gas emission.
Optimized renewable energy production for a low-carbon future to mitigate climate change and associated health impacts
Authors: Gallardo Victoria , Jiménez-Guerrero Pedro , Jerez Sonia
Published: March 2024

The transition towards a decarbonized electricity system, based on renewable energies, is urgently needed to achieve the so-called carbon neutrality and help mitigating climate change, among other reasons. At the same time, there is a need for electricity production from renewable energies to be stable in time, or to follow the demand, without substantial fluctuations. The open-access step-wise model called CLIMAX exploits the fact that wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) power present a certain degree of spatio-temporal complementarity in order to reduce the volatility of their combined production at its minimum. In a previous study, CLIMAX was used to identify optimum deployments of PV and wind power facilities across five European domains (Jerez et al., 2023). Here, using these optimum capacity density scenarios, the installed capacity per European country for the period 2012-2020 as reported in IRENA (2020), and ERA5 reanalysis data for the same period, are used to compute capacity factors, and the wind-plus-solar electricity production is estimated and compared to that from a BASE scenario with a homogeneous spatial distribution of installations. Results show that the optimization of the spatial distribution of the wind-plus-solar installed capacities does not only enhance the stability of the energy production in time, but also in terms of mean values (i.e. efficiency). More precisely, an average improvement in the energy production of +47.5 TW·h per year, integrated over Europe, is obtained as compared to BASE. Consequently, pollutant emissions from thermal power plants could have been reduced if electricity would have been produced from these renewable sources. In this work, this reduction is estimated and, in a last step, the potential reduction of human deaths related to air pollution is also evaluated. Results encourage further efforts towards a low-carbon energy future. REFERENCES:Jerez, S., Barriopedro, D., García-López, A., Lorente-Plazas, R., Somoza, A. M., Turco, M., et al. (2023). An action-oriented approach to make the most of the wind and solar power complementarity. Earth's Future, 11, e2022EF003332. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF003332.IRENA. (2020). Renewable capacity statistics 2020. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Science Diplomacy with Nontraditional Actors: Enhancing Geo-Bio-Cultural Diversity in Colombian Cities and Territories
Authors: Marin-Ceron Maria Isabel
Published: March 2024

This ongoing project integrates the concept of science diplomacy, conducting an in-depth exploration of the intricate interrelations among geo-bio-cultural diversity and its pivotal role in peace building, risk management, and climate action in Colombian cities and territories. Leveraging geodiversity assessment and its correlation with biodiversity, we explore how the bio-geo duplex interacts with ethnic diversity in Colombia. The aim is to develop initiatives aligned with the ancestral knowledge of indigenous, African-descended, farmers, and mixed-Colombian communities across cities and territories withing the geoethics concept.In the realm of science diplomacy, our emphasis lies in cultivating international collaboration and knowledge exchange to tackle intricate societal challenges. We seek to foster dialogue and cooperation among traditional and nontraditional actors, advocating for the integration of scientific expertise with local and indigenous knowledge. The study provides a comprehensive analysis, considering historical, environmental, economic, social, and political contexts. It sheds light on how these interactions unfold and their diverse representations across Colombia, including the Caribbean, Pacific, and Andean regions.
Abiotic synthesis of volatile and condensed organic compounds in the deep oceanic lithosphere 
Authors: Andreani Muriel , Herviou Clément , Montagnac Gilles , Fellah Clémentine , Ménez Bénédicte , Pisapia Céline , Lilley Marvin , Früh-Green Gretchen
Published: March 2024

In nature, very few organic compounds are recognized as abiotic. Abiotic methane (CH4) is the most abundant, and can be accompanied by short-chain hydrocarbons (ethane, propane) or organic acids (formate, acetate) in fluidsoccurring in molecular hydrogen (H2)-enriched hydrothermal systems where olivine-bearing rocks are altered via serpentinization reactions, such as along slow and ultra-slow spreading ridges. In addition to those volatiles and dissolved organic species, studies of oceanic serpentinites have highlighted low temperature (T), abiotic formation of organic compounds such as amino acids or various carbonaceous compounds within the rock substrate. This suggests the availability of more diverse abiotic organic reactants than previously expected on Earth, notably in the subseafloor, and questions the reaction paths at their origin.Here we present an rocky road to abiotic organic synthesis and diversification in hydrothermal environments, which involves magmatic degassing and water-consuming mineral reactions occurring in olivine fluid inclusions. This combination gathers key gases (N2, H2, CH4, CH3SH) and various polyaromatic materials associated with nanodiamonds and mineral products of olivine hydration (serpentinization). This endogenous assemblage results from re-speciation and drying of cooling C-O-S-H-N fluids entrapped below 600°C-2kbars in rocks forming the present-day oceanic lithosphere. Samples have been drilled at the Atlantis Massif (30°N Mid-Atlantic Ridge) during IODP Expeditions 304-305, five km to the north of Lost City hydrothermal field where the discharge of abiotic H2, CH4 and formate have been observed in fluids. Fluid inclusions served as a closed microreactor in which serpentinization dries out the system toward macromolecular carbon condensation, while olivine pods keep ingredients trapped until they are remobilized for further reactions at shallower levels. Results greatly extend our understanding of the forms of abiotic organic carbon available in hydrothermal environments and open new pathways for organic synthesis encompassing the role of minerals and drying. Such processes are expected in other planetary bodies wherever olivine-rich magmatic systems get cooled down and hydrated.
Spatiotemporal Causal Effect Estimation
Authors: Herman Rebecca , Runge Jakob
Published: March 2024

Causal discovery and effect estimation for time series provide scientists with a way to extract causal information from observational studies when possible. But the high dimensionality of raw climate data causes computational problems for most analysis methods, and causal inference is no exception. To address this problem, climate scientists usually pre-process climate data using dimension reduction techniques (including seasonal and regional averaging and principle component analysis) that may result in the loss of valuable information before the true analysis even begins. For example, climate scientists often represent El Niño Southern Oscillation variability (ENSO) using the uni-variate Nino3.4 index, which cannot distinguish between central Pacific and eastern Pacific El Niño events, which are believed to impact global climate varaibility in different ways. This study introduces a method for avoiding premature data dimension reduction in causal effect estimation, implemented in tigramite. The method allows the researcher to define multi-variate climate indices, reducing the dimensionality of the causal inference problem via the causal assumptions instead of losing information from the data itself. To investigate the performance of this approach on climate data, we examine the effect of ENSO on the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in simulated data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, phase 6. We choose this as our case study because different types of El Nino are believed to have very different effects on NAO, to the extent that the impact may be completely undetectable in observations when no distinction between the types of ENSO is made. By comparing estimated effects using uni- and multi-variate climate indices, we demonstrate that this method retains valuable information that would be lost in uni-variate analysis, and make recommendations for best practices when using multi-variate climate indices in causal effect estimation.
SPRUCE-MIP: Model Intercomparison of Northern Peatland Carbon Cycle Over the SPRUCE Site
Authors: Ricciuto Daniel , Shi Xiaoying , Wang Yaoping , Hanson Paul , Mao Jiafu , Luo Yiqi , Xu Xiaofeng , Hui Dafeng , He Hongxing , Shao Siya , Hussain Ayesha , Sun Qing , Qiu Chunjing , Ito Akihiko , Melton Joe , Burke Eleanore , Joos Fortunat , Zhou Jian , Zhang Jingwei
Published: March 2024

Peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface but contain about 30% of the global soil carbon pool. The strong sensitivity of C cycle to environmental factors such as soil temperature and moisture has let to concerns about potential positive feedbacks to climate change. However, global models disagree as to the magnitude and spatial distribution of emissions, partially due to missing representations of peatland relevant processes and a scarcity of in situ observations. The Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experiment is a large‐scale climate change manipulation that focuses on the combined response of multiple levels of warming at both ambient and elevated CO2 concentration (eCO2), making it a valuable testbed for the broader modeling community to improve the diagnosis and attribution of C fluxes in peatland ecosystems. Currently, there are 11 models participating in the SPRUCE Model Intercomparison Project (SPRUCE-MIP). In the first stage, all model groups used observed ambient plot atmospheric forcing data to drive a model spin-up simulation with pre-industrial conditions, and a transient simulation with transient atmospheric CO2 concentrations and nitrogen deposition from 1850 to 2014. Then, measured plot-level meteorological forcing and CO2 concentrations from the 10 treatment enclosures and the ambient plot drove 11 transient simulations from 2015 to 2021. The total of 11 simulations represents five levels of temperature treatment with two CO2 levels, and ambient control plot with no enclosure. The five treatment temperatures are +0, 2.25, 4.5, 6.75, 9oC, and the two CO2 levels are ambient and +500 ppm. We evaluated the performance of multiple models against SPRUCE observations, such as the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and CH4 fluxes warming responses under ambient and eCO2 conditions and found that there were wide spreads for warming responses among different models. We will further evaluate the model performances and quantify the associated uncertainties, which may have helpful implications for our understanding of the peatland C cycle and for future projections of Earth system models.
Hydro-climate information services for smallholder farmers: DROP app design, implementation, and evaluation
Authors: Nauta Lisanne , Sutanto Samuel , Supit Iwan , Kranjac-Berisavljevic Gordana , Dogbey Richard , Jamaldeen Baba , Paparrizos Spyridon
Published: March 2024

Rainfed agriculture constitutes the backbone of the economy in many regions of the Global South. Historically, smallholder farmers used their local knowledge to forecast the weather. However, with the increase in climatic variability, they can no longer solely rely on their experience to accurately forecast the weather. DROP App is a hydro-climate information service developed through a co-production approach to address the weather and climate information needs of farmers. The app gathers weather forecast from both local farmers and scientific sources, and presents this information to users to enable them to make informed decisions regarding agriculture. To test its proof-of-concept, the DROP app was implemented in five rice communities in northern Ghana. The app was introduced to farmers, who received training on it use, as well as built their capacity on weather and climate-related phenomena and the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Following the end of the cropping season, farmers evaluated the app and the results revealed that co-production of information played a crucial role to its adoption in relation to other similar platforms. Farmers consider the app as a relatively accurate and reliable source of information for planning agricultural activities. Using forecasts obtained from the app, farmers adjusted their farming activities, such as time of sowing, planting and weeding dates, fertilizer and herbicide application, and harvesting. They additionally demonstrated a significant level of knowledge about weather phenomena as a result to their engagement and capacity building. Although some limitations exist, the DROP app has potential to deliver actionable knowledge for climate-smart farm decision-making and thus, facilitate effective agriculture management.
Degraded pasturelands for sustainable biorenewables production: an ecological approach
Authors: Padgurschi Maíra , de Souza Henzler Daniele , Palma Petrielli Gabriel , A. D. Hernandes Thayse
Published: March 2024

Worldwide changes in the land use and climate are the main drivers that have triggered a decline in both biological and cultural diversities, and the degradation of ecosystems. In countries like Brazil, deforestation is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is increased, in some cases, by the degradation. As response to those challenges, degraded areas have emerged as a promising option for cultivating biomass to produce biorenewables, aligning with the concept of a 'green transition'. Brazil stands out as a viable region for new cropland requirement to address the global demand for biorenewables production. Nevertheless, despite the large areas of degraded pastureland in Brazil, identifying those for growing the crops avoiding worsening the principal causes of biodiversity loss is an issue to be addressed. We evaluated the ecological feasibility of degraded pasturelands as potential areas for biomass production. We selected four exclusion criteria based on the Brazilian legal framework and the conventions and agreements to which the country is a signatory. In 2021, Brazil had 98.1 Mha of degraded pasturelands with the largest portion (63.9 Mha) experiencing a moderate level of degradation, mostly in Amazon biome (22.3 Mha). In addition, Brazilian legislation for biofuels production (Renovabio) predicts the exclusion of Amazon and Pantanal (a Brazilian wetland) biomes as eligible areas. Those biomes were the first exclusion criteria, remaining 65.1 Mha after its exclusion. In terms of protected areas, another adopted criterion, the land of traditional populations evaluated contains fewer degraded areas (0.3 Mha), when compared to the other Brazilian conservation categories (1.2 Mha). In the excluded degraded pasturelands (55.8 Mha, in total), the restoration of native vegetation should be prioritized to enhance biodiversity loss and the mitigation of climate change. Restoration efforts may vary by region, but agroforestry systems using native species of the biome could be a positive alternative. In addition to prioritizing the recovery of habitat and biodiversity loss, this approach has the potential to decrease local social vulnerabilities and to promote sustainable biorenewables production. By prioritizing the conservation of biological diversity, Brazil still has 42.3 Mha available for biorenewables, which corresponds to almost the total area currently under soybean cultivation in the country. The greater availability of degraded pastureland areas is within the Brazilian savanna. In addition to be a biodiversity hotspot, the Brazilian savanna is also central to water supply, contributing to important river basins in the country. Future work should consider other criteria such as water scarcity and climate vulnerability since it is necessary to evaluate the whole biorenewables’ value chains to assure sustainability.
Hydrology, water chemistry and organic matter in peatland pools and headwater streams
Authors: Moody Cat , Holden Joseph , Chapman Pippa , Bell Nicholle , Mackay Logan , Kitson Ezra
Published: March 2024

 

Peatland pools that result from human activities (e.g. disturbance from building roads, or rewetting) have different hydrology to pools that have formed naturally. This impacts on biogeochemical processes within the pool. Studies of peatland pools in the Flow Country (Scotland, UK) showed artificial pools had a smaller surface area than natural pools, but natural pools were shallower and had less variable depth than artificial pools. During storm events, the artificial pools had a significantly larger response to rainfall input. The site with artificial peat pools had more variable water table depths within the peat than the site with natural pools. There were also differences in biogeochemistry between the natural and artificial pools: natural pools had lower organic carbon (OC) and dissolved CO2 concentration than artificial pools, and there was a higher carbon turnover in natural pools.
Similar to peatland pools, small headwater streams are hotspots for OC processing. In a study of 200 small peatland water bodies across the UK (headwaters, streams and pools, with catchment area less than 1 km2 and at least 70% peat cover), the mean dissolved OC (DOC) concentration was 24 mg C L-1 (95% CI: 21-27), but in pools, the mean DOC concentration was higher, 34 mg C L-1. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) elemental composition was also significantly different from pools, headwaters and small streams.
As a result of these studies, two samples of DOM (one from natural and one from an artificial pool) were analysed using FT-ICR MS. There were 11,424 molecular formulae identified in the two samples. There were 6,167 individual compounds in DOM from the artificial pool, of which 29% were unique to that pool (not found in the natural pool); there were 5,257 compounds in the natural pool DOM, of which 17% were unique to that pool. There were differences in structural indicators (e.g. double bond equivalent) and average size (e.g. m/z) of DOM compounds unique to each pool.
These studies have shown how catchment-scale peatland condition is detectable on the molecular level, causing differences in organic matter structure, which will have implications for carbon turnover, processing and transport, and GHG emissions from peatland water.
Conservation paleobiology: Reconstructing the baseline of parasitic-host interaction for Chamelea gallina in the Northern Adriatic.
Authors: Huntley John , Fitzgerald Erin , Delaney Ryan , Scarponi Daniele
Published: March 2024

Parasites play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. However, as human activities continue to degrade the environment and contribute to climate change, it is essential to understand if and how parasite-host interactions has been affected. In this study, we examined the relationship between the bivalve species Chamelea gallina and trematodes. Trematodes are a group of parasites with no significant body fossil record. We analyzed the dynamics of the trematode population, including its diversity, prevalence, pit size, and pit aggregation, by studying 193 infested valves and 838 pits retrieved in fossil and dead assemblages of C. gallina from Adriatic Sea Basin (Italy). The samples were collected from Late Holocene marine succession (~3 ky cal B.P. with sub-centennial error) and thanatocoenosis from the modern seabed. Our analysis based on Gaussian finite mixture modeling shows no decrease in the number of trematode taxa infesting C. gallina over the past 3000 years. However, the prevalence of trematode infestation decreased significantly over time (one order of magnitude), along with the average number of pits, median size, and parasite pit aggregation. These changes suggest a severe decline (or collapse) of the trematode-C. gallina interaction in the Adriatic Sea during a time of increasing human influence on this land-locked basin.
Quantification of storage change at two contrasting eddy covariance sites
Authors: Gorlenko Anastasia , Kissas Konstantinos , Scheutz Charlotte , Ibrom Andreas
Published: March 2024

Eddy covariance (EC) flux measurements are relevant for the study of global change biology when integrated over long-term periods (Baldocchi, 2019). This could lead to researchers being reluctant to adopt state-of-the-art correction methods, especially for sites that have collected continuous data and trends for the last 20 years. The storage change (SC) correction has often been overlooked and simplified and is generally under-investigated in the literature. The present study highlights the dynamics of the storage change term in two different landscapes and proposes a simple correction factor that can be applied backwards to historical data in a forested ecosystem.The first studied site is a mixed deciduous forest in Denmark (DK-Sor), where a sequential vertical profile system (12 heights) has been installed in 2021 to characterize the vertical component of the storage change more accurately. We compare the often-used 1 point method with the results from the profile system for CO2 and H2O. We study the SC component in terms of its diurnal course, its impact on the annual carbon budget, and its relation to atmospheric stability parameters.The second site is a Danish rural area (DK-Hove), where four different greenhouse gas fluxes are measured with EC sensors installed at 3 heights on a 200 m tall telecommunication tower. The SC profile system here consists of 5 levels and needs to adapt to the dynamic eddy covariance measurement height of the landscape-scale GHG monitoring system. We present 6 months of SC data from the tall tower for CO2, CH4, N2O and CO, their diurnal courses and relation to meteorological variables.Overall, this work aims at bringing an additional contribution to shed light on the often-neglected SC term. Reference:Baldocchi, Dennis D. How eddy covariance flux measurements have contributed to our understanding of Global Change Biology. United Kingdom: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1111/gcb.14807.
Activities of the Comet Interceptor Comet Environment and Target Identification Working Groups
Authors: Jones Geraint , Snodgrass Colin , Guilbert-Lepoutre Aurelie , Vincent Jean-Baptiste , Goetz Charlotte , Martellato Elena , Sugita Seiji , Kueppers Kueppers
Published: March 2024

Comet Interceptor is an European Space Agency (ESA) mission in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It aims to characterise through a close flyby a long period comet, preferably dynamically new, or an interstellar object. The main spacecraft will be accompanied in its encounter with the target comet’s nucleus by two small probes, one provided by Europe, and the other by Japan. The mission is planned for launch in 2029. Its Science Working Team (SWT) is supported in specific scientific and science operation areas by Working Groups (WGs). These are the Target Identification WG and Comet Environment WG. The latter comprises three sub-WGs, covering the Nucleus, Near-Environment, and Far-Environment. Here, we provide a brief overview of the mission, and present and describe the aims and activities of the working groups. The search is already underway for potential comets to encounter, and preparations are being made for the scientific exploitation of the data from the mission’s three spacecraft.
Impacts of pine processionary moth defoliation on tree water use patterns
Authors: Houdas Hermine , Hernández-Alonso Héctor , Olano José Miguel , Hultine Kevin , Bush Susan , Guo Jessica , de la Encarnación Coca María , Sangüesa-Barreda Gabriel
Published: March 2024

Stomatal conductance is the principal mechanism of plants to regulate transpiration rates in response to environmental conditions. However, disturbances directly affecting leaves, such as outbreaks of defoliating insects, can impact the ability of trees to control canopy water loss, leading to significant shifts in plant water relations and forest water budget dynamics. One such example is the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa; PPM), the main defoliating insect of pines and cedars in the Mediterranean Basin, that could have a significant effect on forest ecohydrology and tree vulnerability to drought. However, despite its potential relevance, PPM effects on tree water use patterns remain largely unexplored. Our study aimed to assess the effects of PPM defoliation on tree hydraulic patterns over time, and on tree stomatal sensitivity to soil water limitations during and after defoliation periods. We conducted a 12-month study of two stands in a Pinus nigra forest affected by PPM in Spain by combining measurements of stem sap flux, soil water content, and micrometeorology. The selection of the study site was based on the high presence of PPM nests during October and November, marking the onset of the defoliation period. In each stand, we installed 15 sap flux sensors on trees with contrasting abundance of PPM nests. These devices recorded sap flux density (Js), air temperature and air relative humidity at an hourly resolution. Ten TMS-4 dataloggers were also placed in each stand to measure soil temperature and soil water content (SWC) to a depth of 14 cm. The percentage of defoliation was visually assessed both at the beginning and at the end of the defoliation period, in November and next season May. Sensitivity in tree water use to changes in soil moisture was determined using stepwise regression models to estimate the breakpoint at the tree level between SWC and Js, representing the point at which constraints on water use shifts from SWC to atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). We hypothesized that defoliation would initially increase tree water use in relation to VPD due to damage to the leaf cuticle and/or reductions in stomatal sensitivity to aridity as the leaves are consumed by PPM. Results indicate a transitory increase in sap flux density with defoliation, with differences between the trees that tend to be reduced over time. By offering novel insights into the importance of defoliation in water use patterns and its regulation in relation to environmental conditions, our study contributes to enhanced decision-making for water conservation efforts.
The Virtual Alpine Observatory (VAO) acting to better observe, understand, forecast and react to climate change in a combined Network of European High-Altitude Research Stations
Authors: Krautblatter Michael , Stammberger Verena , Einhellinger Birgit , Theiler Helmut , Zeitler Reinhard , Zebisch Marc , Ludewig Elke , Marton Peter , Cotte Nathalie , Močnik Griša , Leuenberger Markus , Decurtins Silvio , Kraushaar Sabine
Published: March 2024

The Alpine region undergoes a faster and more pronounced climate change than surrounding lowlands and, therefore, is a time machine showing the things to come in a changing climate and environment. Under the influence of a robust warming trend, witnessing an ascent of >1°C since the 1980s significant effects are visible and measurable in atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and most apparently the cryosphere.The Virtual Alpine Observatory is an assemblage comprising European Alpine Observatories, high alpine research facilities, data archives, and supercomputing centers, seamlessly interwoven through shared infrastructure and collaborative research pursuits. It is the answer to how the complex Alpine environmental system can be addressed by an interdisciplinary, cross-border collaborating research paradigm. At its core, the primary objective is to orchestrate collective endeavors aimed at observing, comprehending, and prognosticating the ramifications of climate change on the Alpine expanse. This extends to the multifaceted facets of the environment in multiple aspects.This alliance of researchers and data-gathering institutions spanning the Alpine landscape and analogous mountainous terrains in Europe propels the exploration of data patterns transcending national boundaries. In doing so, it creates a reservoir of data, knowledge and scientific approaches that surpasses the cumulative understanding derived from its individual constituents.In the upcoming discourse, we illuminate the network's future goals, composition, unveil forthcoming research initiatives, expound upon data availabilities, and deliberate on the trajectories that lie ahead for collaborative efforts.The VAO network is substantially funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection.
Toward an optimal assessment of UAV vertical magnetic gradient arrangement
Authors: Accomando Filippo , Florio Giovanni , Dupuy Bastien , Lee Madeline
Published: March 2024

Among the geophysical methods, magnetic surveys are ones of the most used and reliable techniques to investigate archaeological sites. These targets are usually shallow sources generating weak amplitude anomalies. The vertical gradient measurements are preferred to the magnetic fields since it has a better sensitivity to the magnetic contributions due to shallow sources (the gradient fields decay faster than the magnetic field) and a better ability to distinguish and separate interfering anomaly due nearby sources. Thanks to the large deployment of UAV (Unmanned Aircraft System) of the recent years, in this work, we arranged a gradiometric system, trying one of the first attempts of vertical gradient measurements by drones for archaeological applications. These mobile platforms help to cover very large areas (this should help to follow better the long and regular shape of buried buildings) maintaining the same resolution of traditional ground surveys, with less times and risk and over sites of difficult access. However, the measurement of vertical gradients in drone-borne magnetometry is generally not taken into consideration, as it poses additional challenges to the survey and successive data processing In this work, we arranged the magnetic sensors as a gradiometric system, obtaining a direct estimate of the vertical magnetic gradient in a single flight. We conducted our surveys with the Geometrics Micro-Fabricated Atomic Magnetometer (MFAM).
Iterative Ratio Method: a method to map the depth to the Moho from gravity anomalies
Authors: Wang Dingding , Wang Wanyin , Florio Giovanni
Published: March 2024

Interfaces characterized by a density contrast are widely distributed in the Earth's interior, and their depths can be recovered by inversion of gravity data. A key parameter of the interface inversion is the density contrast. We propose to estimate a constant density contrast by a new method: the iterative-ratio method. It is based on the approximate invariance of the product between depth and a constant density contrast and on the availability of several depth constraints. The estimated density contrast is used to update the interface depth. By processing the synthetic Moho models, the inversion results show that the method is slightly affected by data noise and by the number of constraints, but it is sensitive to the constraint uncertainty. The method is finally demonstrated by mapping the Moho of the Santos basin (Brazil) according to the depth constraints and the regional gravity anomalies.
Pleistocene evolution of Ninnis and Cook glaciers (East Antarctica) from a micropaleontological and sedimentological study: Preliminary result
Authors: Torricella Fiorenza , Andò Sergio , Battaglia Francesca , Caburlotto Andrea , Colizza Ester , Crosta Xavier , De Santis Laura , Etorneau Johan , Gallerani Andrea , Gentz Torben , Leventer Amy , Macrì Patrizia , Melis Romana , Perotti Matteo , Salvi Gianguido , Tesi Tommaso , Zurli Luca
Published: March 2024

The Cook Ice Shelf and Ninnis Glacier drain a large part of the Wilkes Land Basin, which contains the equivalent of about 4 metres of sea level. The glaciers in this region are thought to have retreated during the warm climatic phases of the Pleistocene, but the extent of the retreat and the identification of the driving forces are still controversial. The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of regional depositional processes and environmental conditions that shed light on the dynamics of the ice sheet and the factors that determine its stability and instability (ocean and atmospheric temperature and precipitation), and ultimately to refine the projected evolution of these glaciers. We here present the preliminary results of a multidisciplinary study (textural analyses, geochemical, chemical and petrographic analyses, paleomagnetic and micropaleontological determinations) carried out on six sediment cores collected on the continental slope off the Cook Ice Shelf and Ninnis Glacier in the framework of the Programma Nazionale di Ricerca in Antartide - PNRA project COLLAPSE ("Cook glacier-Ocean system, sea LeveL and Antarctic Past Stability'). We are currently documenting sedimentological processes and oceanographic conditions in this region during the Late Pleistocene. We identified three main units: the first unit consists of laminated silt with low microfossil content and is interpreted as influenced by bottom current; the second unit is a massive silt with ice debris, and very low microfossil content and is interpreted as indicating a period with intense ice calving with iceberg production; the third unit is a bioturbated mud with high microfossil content.   The microfossil content, especially the diatoms, suggest that this unit is deposited during a period of open water.
Advancements in Seismic Data Integration and Stochastic Simulation for Geological Modeling in PZero
Authors: Hussain Waqas , Bistacchi Andrea
Published: March 2024

Seismic data integration plays a pivotal role in enhancing the capabilities of geological modellingsoftware. Our current research focuses on the improvement of seismic interpretation tools within thePZero software in the framework of the Geosciences IR project lead by the Italian GeologicalSurvey GitHub - andrea-bistacchi/PZero. The objective is to seamlessly incorporate seismic datainto the geological modelling workflow, enabling more comprehensive and accurate models ofsubsurface structures.The initial phase of our work involved using various libraries to import and analyze seismicdatasets, either 2D or 3D within the PZero framework. We have successfully achieved theimportation of SEGY files into PZero, marking a significant milestone in our efforts. Integratingseismic data is a crucial step that sets the foundation for constructing detailed geological models,allowing us to enhance our understanding of subsurface geological features.Soon, our research trajectory aims to develop advanced algorithms for stochastic simulation tailoredexplicitly for modelling clastic sedimentary alluvial plains. The ongoing work includes developingadvanced stochastic simulation algorithms tailored for modelling clastic sedimentary environments,relevant to both conventional energy resources and emerging sustainable energy storage solutions.These advancements in seismic data integration and simulation within PZero will significantlycontribute to the field of reservoir modelling. They provide a robust framework for predicting thebehavior of subsurface energy storage systems, which is pivotal in the transition to a low-carbonenergy future.
Monthly Monitoring of Greenland Glacier Dynamics Using Swath processed CryoSat-2 SARIn Data
Authors: Havelund Andersen Natalia , Sandberg Sørensen Louise , Bjerregaard Simonsen Sebastian , Winstrup Mai
Published: March 2024

This study presents a novel methodology for developing monthly surface elevation change maps from over a decade of CryoSat-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (SARIn) data. This offers a detailed spatial and temporal understanding of sub-annual mass loss from Greenland Ice Sheet glaciers. Leveraging the satellite's swath processing capabilities, we derive precise surface elevations to capture seasonal variations. The resulting maps enable us to identify and analyze dynamic glacier changes, and responses to climatic conditions. This research enhances our comprehension of glacier dynamics and aids in validating the mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet. It contributes data for predicting future sea-level rise in the context of climate change.
Development of JAXA L2 algorithm to retrieve aerosol and cloud properties using ATLID and MSI
Authors: Nishizawa Tomoaki , Kudo Rei , Oikawa Eiji , Higurashi Akiko , Jin Yoshitaka , Sato Kaori , Okamoto Hajime
Published: March 2024

We have developed JAXA L2 algorithm to retrieve aerosol and cloud optical properties using data of 355nm high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) with depolarization measurement function “ATLID” onboard EarthCARE satellite, to determine the global distribution of aerosols and clouds and to better understand cloud-aerosol interactions and their climate impacts. Using the three channel data of the ATLID, the developed algorithm estimates (1) extinction coefficient, backscatter coefficient and depolarization ratio of particles (aerosols and clouds) without assuming a particle lidar ratio, (2) identifies molecule-rich, aerosol-rich, or cloud-rich slab layers, (3) classifies particle type (e.g., dust and maritime), (4) retrieves planetary boundary layer height, and (5) estimates extinction coefficients for several main aerosol components such as dust, sea-salt, carbonaceous, and water-soluble aerosols using difference in depolarization and light absorption properties of the aerosol components. Furthermore, we have developed aerosol retrieval algorithm using both the ATLID and multi-spectral imager “MSI”. This algorithm retrieves vertically mean mode-radii for dust and fine-mode aerosols as well as the extinction coefficients for the four aerosol components using the three channels of the ATLID and radiances at 670nm and 865nm of MSI. The algorithms described above were developed based on our developed algorithm for the CALIOP and MODIS measurements. In the presentation, the overview of the algorithms and their performance will be described. In addition, related studies will be presented.
Spatial Variability of precipitation lapse rates incomplex topographical regions - application in France
Authors: Dura Valentin , Favre Anne-Catherine , Penot David , Evin Guillaume
Published: March 2024

The estimation of annual precipitation in ungauged mountainous areas where stationsare primarily situated in valleys is a crucial task in hydrology. Water Resources are very un-certain at high altitudes due to difficult estimations of ice cover, water content in snowpacks,and the weak instrumentation of these remote lands. Precipitation lapse rates (PLRs) aredefined as the increasing or decreasing rate of precipitation amounts with the elevation, andplay a pivotal role in this regard. However, the documentation of PLR in mountainous re-gions remains weak even though their utilization in hydrological applications is5 important.PLRs are often computed from rain gauge amounts, which are dependent on spatial samplingand are not representative of high-altitude areas. The emergence and accessibility of griddedprecipitation products offer a remarkable opportunity to investigate the spatial variabilityand the spatial-scale dependence of PLR in a varied and complex topography region. At theregional scale (10,000 km2), six different rainfall products (rainfall reanalysis, satellite, radar)are compared in their ability to reproduce the altitude dependence of the annual precipita-tion of 1836 stations located in France. The Convection-Permitting Regional Climate Model(CP-RCM) AROME is found to be more appropriate than radar and satellite-based productscommonly used in hydrology. The fine resolution of AROME (2.5 km) allows for a preciseassessment of the influence of the altitude on annual precipitation on 23 massifs (∼ 1000km2) and 2748 small catchments (∼ 100 km2) through linear regressions. With AROME,PLRs are in the majority positive (95 % in the range 0.55–13.10 %/100 m). The variabil-ity of PLR is higher in high-altitude regions such as the French Alps, reflecting shelteringeffects. This study emphasizes the interest of conducting PLR investigation at a fine scaleto effectively assess their spatial variability and therefore reliable precipitation estimates inmountainous areas, respecting the hydrological balance in high-altitude catchments.
Quantitative analysis of Antarctic channel distribution and the role played by continental geomorphology in channel evolution
Authors: Huang Hua , Huang Xiaoxia
Published: March 2024

The submarine channel, also known as submarine canyon, is a narrow and long negative terrain that cuts to the shelf or slope and widely developed on the global continental margins. There are numerous factors in forming channels, including climate change, topography, sediment sources and grain size, and sea level change. However, for high latitudes, especially in the Antarctic region, the controlling factors of the formation and evolution of the channel are still poorly understood. In this study, we conduct a systematic analysis of the channels in various regions of the Antarctic continental margin with the aim of identifying the differences of the channels between the East and West Antarctic continental margins and associated controlling factors. We identified 2126 channels on the Antarctic continental margin based on IBCSO V2 data (International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean Version 2). The submarine channels and their possible factors in six regions (Weddell Sea, Amundsen Sea, Ross Sea, Wilkes Land, Prydz Bay and Dronning Maud Land) are statistically analyzed. Quantitative analysis shows that there are obvious differences in the geomorphology of submarine channels between the East and West Antarctic continental margin. First, consider the differences in the landscape. The shelf is narrower on the east and wider on the west. There are prominent troughs running across the broad shelf. West Antarctica has a gentler slope gradient than the East Antarctic continental margin, and the ice velocity is much faster. Second, submarine channels on the West Antarctica continental margin are longer and wider in cross section, with most large-scale channels extending beyond the slope foot, whereas submarine channels on the East Antarctica continental margin are deeper but shorter, with fewer channels. We consider that shelf width, slope gradient, trough and ice velocity can control sediment transportation and thus affect the size of channels. Channels are longer and wider on the margin with wide shelf, prominent trough and fast ice velocity, while they are shorter and deeper on the margin with steep slope.