bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building a comprehensive picture of sea surface, troposphere and ionosphere contributions in precise GNSS reflectometry from space
Authors: Semmling Maximilian , Li Weiqiang , Zus Florian , Hoseini Mostafa , Moreno Mario , Hoque Mainul , Wickert Jens , Cardellach Estel , Dielacher Andreas , Nahavandchi Hossein
Published: March 2024

Signals of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are subjected to propagation effects, like reflection, refraction and scintillation. Twenty years ago, a first dedicated payload has been launched on a satellite mission (UK-DMC) to study Earth-reflected GNSS signals and their potential for Earth observations. It was a milestone in the research field of satellite-based reflectometry. The altimetric use of reflectometry is of particular interest for the geoscience community. The permanent and global availability of GNSS signals, exploited in an altimetric reflectometry concept, can help to improve the rather sparse coverage of today’s altimetric products.Studies on altimetric reflectometry concepts started already thirty years ago. However, the sea surface roughness, the limited GNSS signal bandwidth, orbit uncertainties and the sub-mesoscale variability (we assume here a horizontal scale < 50 km) of troposphere and ionosphere pose a persistent challenge for the altimetric interpretation and application of reflectometry data.The ESA nano-satellite mission PRETTY (Passive REflecTometry and dosimeTrY) will investigate the altimetric application of reflectometry. It concentrates on a grazing-angle geometry. A mitigation of roughness-induced signal disturbance can be expected under these angles. On the other hand, at grazing angles tropospheric and ionospheric variability will rise in importance. The PRETTY satellite and payload have been developed by an Austrian consortium and successfully launched on 9th October 2023 into the dedicated polar orbit (roughly 550 km in orbit height). We formed a science consortium (among the here listed partners) to merge competences in the field of altimetry and GNSS signal propagation effects.Based on the mission’s ATBD (Algorithm Theoretical Baseline Document), we conducted simulations and case studies of existing satellite data. They allow a first quantification of expected roughness and sea surface topography effects, as well as, tropospheric and ionospheric biases in grazing-angle geometry. The preliminary results show that, for calm ocean areas (significant wave height < 1 m) and over sea ice, altimetric retrievals reach centimeter level precision. In these specific cases, the residual Doppler shift is small (mHz range) which indicates moderate variability of tropospheric and ionospheric contributions. New observation data of the PRETTY mission is expected early in 2024. Then, we will extend our picture for a more general altimetric use of precise reflectometry data.
Visualising low enthalpy geothermal favourability in Scotland: A map-based screening tool for community scale open-loop ground source heat pumps in superficial aquifers
Authors: Roberts Tristan Alexander , Hartley Adrian , Bond Clare
Published: March 2024

The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 demands a net zero economy in Scotland by 2045, yet in the same year over three quarters of domestic heating was met by natural gas. A novel method and dynamic map resource is developed to visualise low enthalpy geothermal potential for space heating on a community scale using Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) and District Heat Networks (DHNs). This resource is intended to provide a screening tool that enables communities and policy makers to effectively reduce carbon emissions by aiding early-stage decision making and understanding of geothermal potential within the context of their communities. ArcGIS software is used to infer geothermal potential in 49,768km2 of superficial deposits (64% of total land area), in Scotland, using a Favourability Index (FI) and a 1km2 grid. Cells are assigned an FI value (0.0 - 5.0) using ten metrics based on key criteria: 1) deposit coverage, 2) thickness, 3) aquifer productivity, 4) temperature, 5) ground conditions, 6) heat demand, 7) protected land. Map resources developed show lowland areas generally exhibit more favourable conditions particularly within the Midland Valley, and settlements predominantly lie in high favourability areas. ~60% of the population is identified as living in areas where further investigations into community scale GSHPs is warranted, suggesting that the thermal resource held in unconsolidated sediments has significant potential to decarbonise the Scottish heating sector.
Automatic detection of seaweed and mussels in the water column using Python scripts
Authors: Lashkari Samira , Moulaert Ine , Vandorpe Thomas
Published: March 2024

Aquaculture installations become more abundant in large parts of the oceans, with the tendency to promote dual usage of marine space, combining windmill farms and aquaculture installations. In the Horizon Europe funded ULTFARMS project, research into acoustic detection of seaweed and mussel/oyster aquaculture using multibeam echosounders is conducted. Through the acquisition of multibeam water column data and conversion into point cloud data (containing x, y, z, intensity and beam number), automatic detection of relevant cultures is attempted. The conversion of the raw multibeam data into point cloud data is performed using commercial software packages (Qimera and AutoClean), but the open-source software “Ping” (https://github.com/themachinethatgoesping) is a promising candidate for future applications.To obtain automatic detection and volume calculation, several steps are conducted using tailor-made Python scripts. First, the point cloud data are filtered based on their intensity values, discarding low-intensity scatterers and retaining aquaculture installations and (unfortunately) some noise. Second, noise and outliers are removed using statistical outlier removal. Both standard deviation of the point cloud data and outlier detection, deleting points with few neighboring points, is used to retain the dense point cloud areas. Thirdly, clustering of the data is introduced based on the intensity values or the proximity of points using unsupervised machine learning methods including K-means clustering (grouping points into predefined clusters based on their proximity to cluster centers), Gaussian Mixture Model (assigning points to clusters by modeling data as a mixture of probability distributions) or Hdbscan (automatically identifying clusters based on the  varying shapes and densities in a dataset). The result is clusters of seaweed or individual volumes of mussel aquaculture installations. Finally, for each cluster, the volume is calculated using weighted voxelization; each voxel is assigned a weight based on the number of points in the voxel. Voxels with a large weight are considered to be entirely consisting of aquaculture species, while those with a low weight are only partly filled and thus only partly considered in the total volume. In some instances, interpolation of datapoints between beam numbers is needed to obtain a sufficient resolution. This depends on the beam spacing and hence the ping frequency and vessel speed.The scripts are still under development and improvements are still being implemented. Undoubtedly, being able to automatically detect volumes of clusters in aquaculture installations will prove to be a huge cost-reducing step in future aquaculture installations.
Benggang erosion: Critical condition and risk prediction in small watershed
Authors: ou haidong , yuan zaijian , yang xiankun
Published: March 2024

Benggang is an erosion landform developed on the deep weathered crust in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China, characterized by wide distribution and high erosion intensity. Similar erosional landforms globally include the lavakas landform in Madagascar, vocorocas in Brazil, and the "collapse" landform in Japan. However, benggang exhibits distinctive development characteristics that differ from these landforms, thus being considered a geomorphic feature unique to southern China. Investigations into benggang reveal that there are approximately 239000 benggangs in southern China, with a total area of 1220 km2. Since 1949, benggang erosion has caused the destruction of 360,000 hm2 of arable land, damage to over 500,000 houses, and siltation in around 9,000 reservoirs. This has severely hindered residents' lives and economic development, earning it the moniker "ecological ulcer." Previous studies on benggang have primarily focused on the scale of land blocks or sample plots, identifying elevation, slope, and aspect as key factors influencing benggang erosion. Regional-scale studies have found that geological and pedogenic factors, prolonged and intense rainfall, and vegetation cover significantly impact benggang development. However, research on the critical conditions for benggang formation at the small watershed scale is limited. Therefore, this study focuses on the Yuankengshui watershed in Wuhua County, Guangdong Province. Based on drone photogrammetry technology, digital orthophoto images and digital surface models were obtained, and the boundaries of 296 benggangs distributed in the small watersheds were delineated, including the collapsed walls, alluvial bodies, channels and other parts of each benggang. Then, machine learning and multiple linear regression methods are used to analyze the impact of factors such as altitude, slope, aspect, temperature, rainfall, and vegetation cover on the probability of benggang distribution. Results show that benggang is mainly distributed in the 210-230m altitude range, 23-26 ° slope range, 20-60m slope length range, and most of them are located in the sunny slope. Rainstorm is the main reason for the intensified erosion of benggang. Based on the above research, we have established an information based benggang risk prediction model to explore potential benggang occurrence areas and provide reference for future benggang erosion prevention and control.
SnowCast: Hyper-high resolution downscaling model. Snowpack simulation in a mountainous region in Central Spain (Peñalara Massif)
Authors: González Cervera Álvaro , Durán Luis
Published: March 2024

Mountain snowpack serves as a vital water source for both high-altitude regions and adjacent lowlands, significantly impacting local economies through its influence on tourism, communication, logistics, and recreational risks. However, mid-elevation snow cover is diminishing due to climate change (IPCC-2021), emerging as a critical concern in water management. Despite its importance, a lack of comprehensive understanding stems from a scarcity of well-distributed mountain snowpack observations and specific simulation tools. This knowledge gap is more pronounced in Mediterranean mountainous regions, where intricate processes of growth and ablation, high spatial variability, and a high inter-annual variability pose obstacles for models. To address these challenges, hyper-high resolution models (
The role of realistic vegetation variability in climate predictability and prediction
Authors: Alessandri Andrea , Di Carlo Emanuele , Catalano Franco , van den Hurk Bart , Balmaseda Magdalena Alonso , Balsamo Gianpaolo , Boussetta Souhail , Stockdale Tim
Published: March 2024

Vegetation is a relevant and highly dynamic component of the Earth system and its variability – at seasonal, interannual, decadal and longer timescales – modulates the coupling with the atmosphere by affecting surface variables such as roughness, albedo and evapotranspiration. In this study, we investigate the effects of improved representation of vegetation dynamics on climate predictability and prediction at the seasonal timescale. To this aim, the observational constraints from the latest generation satellite dataset of vegetation Leaf Area Index (LAI) have been integrated in the modeling, including a parameterization of the effective vegetation cover as a function of LAI. The improved vegetation representation is implemented in HTESSEL, which is the land surface model included in the seasonal forecasting (ECMWF SEAS5) systems used in this work.Our results show that the realistic representation of vegetation variability has significant effects on both potential predictability and actual prediction skill at the seasonal time scale. It is shown a significant improvement of the skill in predicting boreal winter (December-January-February; DJF) 2m Temperature (T2M) at 1-month lead time especially over Euro-Asian boreal forests; the improvement is at least in part due to the more realistic representation of the interannual albedo variability that is related to the changes in vegetation shading over snow. Remarkably, from the region with the most considerable T2M improvement originates a large-scale ameliorating effect on circulation encompassing Northern Hemisphere middle-to-high latitudes from Siberia to the North Atlantic. The results indicate that the coupling with the improved vegetation might operate by amplifying locally the signal originating from the North Atlantic sector, therefore improving both potential predictability and actual skill over the region. Concurrently, the improved predictability and skill over the Euro-Asian forests appears to feedback to the large-scale circulation enhancing the representation of the circulation pattern and associated interannual anomalies.
What can we learn about multi-hazard impact and risk dynamics from the international disaster database EM-DAT? 
Authors: Jäger Wiebke , Tiggeloven Timothy , de Ruiter Marleen , Ward Philip
Published: March 2024

Understanding multi-hazard impacts and dynamics is essential for understanding risk and developing effective risk reduction measures. Recent studies have been reporting more extreme, compounding impacts from compound events, consecutive disasters or multi-hazards than from individual hazard events owing to complex dynamics and interdependencies of the risk drivers hazard, exposure and vulnerability. As our current understanding of these impacts is primarily based on individual notable events, this study aims to contribute with a systematic review and comparison of socio-economic impacts from historical single- versus multi-hazard events globally. To this end we analyze the data of the international disaster database EM-DAT, which is the main publicly available source that contains quantitative information on socio-economic impacts with global coverage and widely-used in disaster risk science. Being aware of its known issues and limitations, including biases and inconsistencies, we also investigate and evaluate its trustworthiness for the purpose of gaining understanding on multi-hazard impact and risk dynamics.
The rapid retreat of two lake-terminating outlet glaciers of the Northern Patagonian Ice Sheet and underestimation of mass loss due to subaqueous ice volume
Authors: Egli Pascal Emanuel , Dussaillant Inés , Irarrazaval Iñigo , Somos-Valenzuela Marcelo , Sotomayor González Benjamín , Lizama Elizabet , Morales Bastián , Fernandez Joaquín
Published: March 2024

The first-ever field measurements conducted at the outlet glaciers Gualas and Reichert at the Northern Patagonian Ice Sheet, Chile, provide the basis for this work. Both glaciers currently terminate in large (2 km resp. 9 km length) proglacial lakes. The glaciers have retreated rapidly over the past four decades, whereby Reichert glacier retreated by over 100 m per year. Our bathymetry measurements of these lakes make it possible to estimate the mass loss and make assumptions about floatation of these glaciers during retreat. The lakes have depths of up to 250 resp. 350 m and therefore the volume previously occupied by the glaciers is significant. Recent UAV surveys of the final 3 km of the tongue of both glaciers and satellite data provide high-resolution elevation models and are employed to estimate mass loss since the 2000s. With this preliminary study we aim to investigate whether mass loss of these glaciers has been underestimated due to neglected subaqueous ice mass loss. Knowledge from this study will contribute to improving past, present and future mass change estimates of similar glaciers, with relevance for, e.g., sea level rise contribution from ice sheets and their outlet glaciers.
Analysing the impact of solar radiation management on the terrestrial biosphere in CMIP6 models
Authors: Parry Isobel , Ritchie Paul , Cox Peter
Published: March 2024

Solar radiation management (SRM) has the potential to artificially cool the Earth by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight. One commonly researched SRM strategy is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), which involves the injection of sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere that scatter incoming solar radiation, thus cooling the planet. There are large uncertainties in the potential impact that solar radiation management could have on the biosphere, and further work is required to improve our understanding of the risks associated with this form of climate intervention. This presentation examines the impact of SRM on vegetation carbon, net primary productivity, and land carbon. We take results from five 6th generation climate models (CMIP6) which ran experiments as part of the geoengineering model intercomparison project (GeoMIP) and compare them with a high emissions scenario (ssp585). The GeoMIP experiments aim to investigate the global effects of using stratospheric aerosol injections and directly decreasing solar irradiance to reduce global temperatures to a ‘middle of the road’ scenario (ssp245), but without reducing the high greenhouse gas concentrations. Compared to ssp585, we find that ssp585 plus SRM tends to increases global NPP and land carbon storage. The global patterns of change in vegetation carbon storage vary between the ESMs, but there is a widespread agreement that SRM would have a positive impact on carbon storage and NPP  in the Amazon rainforest.
Growth of hydraulic fractures with constricted opening and leakoff
Authors: Shapiro Serge , Dyskin Arcady , Pasternak Pasternak
Published: March 2024

Fracture growth in rocks is not continuous; the fracture traces exhibit numerous interruptionsand overlapping. This is an indication of the presence of bridges distributed (in 3D) all overthe fracture. While the bridges themselves make little obstruction for the fluid flow in thehydraulic fracture, they constrict the fracture opening and thus narrow the channel transmittingthe fracturing fluid. The effect of distributed bridges on the fracture opening can be modelledby introducing a Winkler layer in the fracture with an effective stiffness combining the averagebridge stiffness and the number of bridges per unit area of the fracture.When the fracturing fluid is injected and the leakoff is not negligible, the fracture size iscontrolled by the fracturing fluid left in the fracture after leakoff rather than by the stressconcentration/singularity at the fracture contour. The flow of the fluid and filling of the fracturedepends upon the fracture geometry and is also controlled by the bridges. However, the bridgesweakly influence the time dependence of the fracture dimensions: the KGD and PKN fracturesgrow proportionally to the square root of time: the effect is only in coefficients. Only in disc-like cracks the constriction reduces the rate of crack growth and weakens the time dependenceof the fracture radius.Acknowledgement. The authors acknowledge support from the Australian Research Councilthrough project DP190103260.
 Python Scripting in Google Earth Engine Code Editor with the Open Earth Engine extension
Authors: Gravey Mathieu
Published: March 2024

The integration of Python scripting within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) code editor, enabled by the Open Earth Engine Extension (OEEex), introduces a practical and accessible approach to geospatial analysis. This development, powered by Pyodide —a Python runtime built for browser environments— allows users to write and execute Python code directly within the GEE interface without the need for local Python installations.This feature caters especially to those more familiar with Python than JavaScript, providing a user-friendly platform for conducting Earth observation and analysis. It also facilitates the use of popular Python libraries such as Matplotlib for data visualization and scikit-learn for machine learning, directly within the GEE ecosystem.The presentation will highlight some of the technical implementation, emphasizing how Python scripts can be executed in a browser environment without additional setup requirements. We will discuss the integration process, the challenges faced, and the solutions developed to ensure seamless functionality.Demonstrations will showcase the capabilities of this integration, highlighting how Python can be utilized for various geospatial processing tasks in GEE. We aim to provide a realistic overview of the extension's capabilities, its impact on enhancing the flexibility of GEE, and its potential applications in remote sensing and Earth system science research.
Impact of the hydrothermal activity on the seawater chemistry above the Kolumbo volcano (southern Aegean Sea - Greece)
Authors: Longo Manfredi , D'Alessandro Walter , Grassa Fausto , Heimbürger-Boavida Lars Eric , Lazzaro Gianluca , Scirè Scappuzzo Sergio Simone , Nomikou Paraskevi , Polymenakou Paraskevi , Rizzo Andrea Luca
Published: March 2024

Within the framework of SANTORY (SANTORini’s seafloor volcanic observatorY) project, funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation and with the financial support of the Municipality of Thira, three oceanographic cruises were performed in December 2022 and June and October 2023, with the research vessels PHILIA and AEGAEO of the HCMR at the submarine volcano Kolumbo, 7 km NE of Santorini. Kolumbo is considered to be one of the most active submarine volcanic complexes in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, while being easily accessible from land.. The oceanographic surveys were mainly aimed at the deployment of a new generation observatory along with several multiple innovative sensors such as temperature sensors, inclinometers, pressure gauges, optical cameras, multispectral and stereo camera, radioactivity sensor gSniffer and the γ-radiation imager. During the surveys, several water column profiles were also performed in order to collect seawater samples for chemical analysis. At the bottom of the Kolumbo crater (500m depth), acidic and slightly reducing conditions prevail, due to the presence of several active hydrothermal vents. This agrees with previous studies and with the data recorded by the deployed observatory. Collected samples have been analyzed for the chemical and isotope (carbon, helium and argon) composition of the dissolved gases as well as for the major, minor and trace element concentrations. The results indicate that the morphology of the crater allows the buildup of persistent anomalies that extend from the bottom up to the lowest crater-rim level at about 250-meter depth. We will discuss the temporal variability of the Kolumbo venting dynamics and the explore in detail the resulting vertical gradients in the crater funnel.
Assessment of different building representations in numerical urban flood modeling
Authors: Mahajan Karan , De Vos Leon Frederik
Published: March 2024

According to the latest IPCC report, climate change directly impacts the intensity and frequency of floods in urban areas. As a result, Flash floods, characterized by a rapid increase in flood peak during a short duration, are becoming more common. Managing these flash floods is a crucial yet challenging task for water authorities. One important tool supporting the management of flash floods are 2-D hydrodynamic models.In this study, we use the 2-D module of the openTELEMAC-MASCARET software to investigate the effect of the building representation on an urban flash flood. For this, we isolate a sinuous-shaped building group within an artificial study area. The building group itself and the topography in the model are derived from the Moabit district in Berlin. The buildings are cut out from the model as a hole, and the impact on the model results from the vertex distribution around these holes is assessed. We compare different algorithms to resample the vertices of the building. First, we design an algorithm that resamples the vertices of the building edges at an even distance while conserving the overall shape of the building. The resampling distance is set globally but slightly varies for every building edge. This algorithm is then compared with built-in resampling tools from other software: one tool also conserves the shape of the building yet cannot resample the vertices at an even distance (from QGIS), and another tool resamples at an even distance, yet does not conserve the building shape (from SMS). A change in the distribution of vertices causes a change in the mesh distribution around the buildings. Hence, the flow pattern around the buildings also changes. Additionally, we study the numerical stability of the different distributions. With this study, we aim to deepen the understanding of building representation in urban flood modeling and set the path for further investigations within this topic.
Objective tuning of an EMIC using present-day observations and Last Glacial Maximum climate reconstructions
Authors: Racky Muriel , Pollak Felix , Ziegler Elisa , Weitzel Nils , Rehfeld Kira
Published: March 2024

Climate models rely on parametrizations of unresolved Earth system processes. These often include uncertain parameters that are estimated in a procedure called tuning, where the model output is optimized with respect to selected climate observations. Most models are tuned against present-day observations. However, if the parametrizations robustly represent the underlying physics, a tuned set of model parameters should be valid independent of the simulated climate, including climate states very different from present-day such as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).Here, we present the procedure for and the results of an iterative Bayesian tuning of PlaSim-LSG, an Earth system model of intermediate complexity (EMIC). Its low computational cost allows for long simulation periods and large ensembles. For a preliminary tuning restricted to observational information from recent decades, we find a less realistic LGM state of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and sea ice distribution than in the default model version. This could imply that tuning based only on present-day observations might be insufficient to target significantly colder climates such as the LGM. However, prior sensitivity studies have shown that PlaSim-LSG is capable of simulating a wide range of AMOC states under varying ocean diffusivity parameters and handling of freshwater runoff. Therefore, we redefine tuning targets, combining present-day observations with LGM climate reconstructions. We investigate how the weighting of the different climate state metrics in the tuning target impacts the resulting present-day and LGM climates. The goal of this exploratory approach is to test parameter sensitivity and identify state-dependent parameters. This could be used in the future to inform model development decisions by focusing on improving parametrizations with highly state-dependent parameters.
A deep learning macroecological model to assess the combined effect of habitat loss and climate change on biodiversity
Authors: Boussange Victor , Midolo Gabriele , Sanchez Théophile , Malle Johanna , Karger Dirk N.
Published: March 2024

Climate change and habitat loss are major drivers of biodiversity loss, yet their combined effects at local and global scales remain insufficiently understood. To improve our understanding of the response of biodiversity to these intertwined drivers, we introduce a deep learning, spatially explicit macroecological model. Our model builds upon fundamental ecological generalizations, namely species-area relationships (SAR) and environmental niches, to predict local species richness based on habitat type, habitat surface area, and local climate and environmental predictors. Focusing on European plant species, we compile a comprehensive dataset consisting of habitat polygons, along with associated bioclimatic and environmental conditions. This dataset, complemented with opportunistic species occurrence data used to derive local species richness, is employed to train our deep-learning model. The model's accuracy is validated against an independent, plot-based dataset. This validation step not only demonstrates the model's capacity to accurately predict species richness across diverse habitat types and environmental conditions but also facilitates uncertainty estimation. We use explainable AI techniques to dissect the processes guiding the model's predictions, advancing our understanding of the complex relationships between climate, habitat, and biodiversity, and identifying vegetation group-specific drivers of species richness. We further discuss the model's potential for conducting comprehensive biodiversity change attribution studies. Looking ahead, we outline how the approach could be extended to predict functional groups. This is a crucial step towards coupling climate and biodiversity models to capture not only the effects of climate on biodiversity but also the feedbacks provoked by biodiversity on Earth system processes.
Coupling between severe weather events and the middle atmosphere, potentially affecting even the ionospheric heights
Authors: Potužníková Kateřina , Kozubek Michal , Koucká Knížová Petra , Chum Jaroslav
Published: March 2024

Our study analyses the coupling between the troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere during severe weather events of the last two years. We selected several situations with a rapid cold front transition associated with a strong jet stream visible at 300 hPa. We also selected several summer situations associated with organised convection on the sub-synoptic horizontal scale in the tropical air mass. It is known that the frequency and extremity of thunderstorms will continue to increase significantly according to climate model projections for Central and Eastern Europe. We study the winds in the stratosphere during the selected situations and their possible influence on the ionosphere.To analyse the tropospheric situation, we use data from standard weather station measurements, vertical radiometric sounding data, and surface and upper level weather charts provided by the GFS and ICON models. For detailed analyses of the ionospheric plasma response, we use data from the European ionospheric vertical sounding observatories and an array of Doppler sounders.
Machine-learning based feature selection for a regional flood damage model
Authors: Rodriguez Castro Daniela , Rafiezadeh Shahi Kasra , Sairam Nivedita , Fischer Melanie , Samprogna Mohor Guilherme , Thieken Annegret , Dewals Benjamin , Kreibich Heidi
Published: March 2024

After the 2021 floods in Europe, independent data collection initiatives were undertaken in the impacted areas of Belgium and Germany. The resulting datasets at residential building level contain valuable information on hazard characteristics, vulnerability of exposed assets, socio-economic factors and coping capacity of the inhabitants and the emergency services (i.e., emergency and precautionary measures). A transnational analysis of these datasets enhances our understanding of flood damage mechanisms.The data analysed resulted from 420, and 609 standardized surveys with private households affected by the 2021 floods in Belgium and Germany, respectively. Of these, 277 correspond to the area of Rhineland-Palatinate, and 332 were from North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. A set of 64 potential damage influencing variables were harmonized across the datasets. The initial phase involved conducting descriptive statistics of the selected variables in three regions: the Vesdre valley in Belgium, the Ahr valley in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) and affected regions in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany).In a second step, the most influential variables for predicting flood damage to residential buildings were identified by means of feature selection. This was conducted using the linear approaches multilinear with k-best predictors, and Elastic net regression as well as the non-linear techniques Random Forest and Conditional Inference Trees. Total building loss and the total content loss were used as target values. Based on different evaluation metrics, the most important variables describing absolute building damage and absolute contents damage in the three analyzed areas, were identified.Commonalities and differences in flood characteristics and damage in the three regions will be presented and interpreted in detail.
Regional variations in relative sea level changes influenced by non-linear vertical land motion 
Authors: Oelsmann Julius , Marcos Marta , Passaro Marcello , Sanchez Laura , Dettmering Denise , Dangendorf Sönke , Seitz Florian
Published: March 2024

Vertical land movements can cause regional relative sea level changes to differ substantially from climate-driven absolute sea level changes. While absolute sea level has been accurately monitored by satellite altimetry since 1992, there are limited observations of vertical land motion. Vertical land motion is generally modeled as a linear process, despite some evidence of non-linear motion associated with tectonic activity, changes in surface loading, or groundwater extraction. As a result, the temporal evolution of vertical land motion, and its contribution to projected sea level rise and its uncertainty, remains unresolved. Here, we present a probabilistic vertical land motion reconstruction from 1995-2020 and determine the impact of regional scale and non-linear vertical land motion on relative sea level projections up to 2150. We show that regional variations in projected coastal sea level changes are equally influenced by vertical land motion and climate-driven processes, with vertical land motion causing relative sea level changes of up to 50 cm by 2150. Accounting for non-linear vertical land motion increases the uncertainty in projections by up to 1 m on a regional scale. Our results highlight the uncertainty in future coastal impacts and demonstrate the importance of including non-linear vertical land motions in sea level change projections. In addition to its application to regional sea level projections, the vertical land motion estimate is an important source of information for various sea level studies focusing on the analysis of tide gauge or satellite altimetry observations in coastal areas.
Multiple Evolution Modes of Megaripples in the Qaidam Basin
Authors: Li Chao , Dong Zhibao , Zhang Zhi
Published: March 2024

Aeolian landforms provide valuable insights into the planetary surface environment and its evolutionary history. In this study, the formation and evolution of megaripples in the Qaidam Basin and their relationship with the development environment are analyzed. By quantifying the wind environment, morphology, grain size distribution, sedimentary structure, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age of megaripples, we propose for the first time that there are multiple megaripple evolution modes. Investigation revealed that three evolution modes were responsible for forming megaripples in different equilibrium states: transient, stable, and metastable. Well-sorted coarse sand grains accumulate on ridges and overlay poorly-sorted fine sand grains to form transient megaripples. Stable megaripples have alternating sedimentary bedding of coarse and fine sand grains. Metastable megaripples have a secondary ripple formation on the surface. Throughout their formation, coarse and fine sand grains undergo recombination. The response of coarse grains to the change in wind speed lags behind that of fine grains. This process controls the erosion and accumulation of megaripples and affects their size and sedimentary structure. The evolution mode, scale, and sedimentary structure of megaripples are influenced by the grain size range under the same wind conditions. The OSL ages of the coarse-grained megaripple sediments are less than 700 years. This study provides a fresh perspective on the coexistence of various sand ripples and transverse aeolian ridges found on Mars.
Creating welcoming learning environments - towards institutional guidelines for more inclusive field courses in the geosciences 
Authors: Miesen Floreana , Rodari Léa , Emch Natalie , King Georgina , Delaney Ian
Published: March 2024

Fieldwork is a cornerstone of many geoscience study programmes, enhancing student learning experiences and fostering lasting social bonds. However, field-based courses can impose significant mental, physical, and financial burdens on students. This may inadvertently exclude and discriminate against those who lack the means to participate or deviate from the stereotypical image of field scientists. In designing field courses that support a wide range of students, the geosciences community has the opportunity to create a more welcoming environment and benefit from a more diverse generation of geoscientists. 
We share experiences and insights from our journey to develop institutional guidelines for field courses, which acknowledge and promote diversity, accessibility, and student well-being. We reflect on navigating the hurdles encountered while drafting these guidelines and the means to gain support for them. We explore the cultural shifts needed to challenge more conventional approaches to field-based teaching, along with questioning who traditionally participates and how courses are structured. We contrast bottom-up and needs-based approaches with top-down directives, emphasising effective communication between students and field trip leaders, as well as the impact of hierarchical structures. 
By addressing issues like physical fitness requirements and financial limitations, we propose strategies to lower entry barriers. In doing so, we aim to support and attract students from diverse backgrounds. The presentation also underscores the significance of proper communication, before, during, and after field courses, setting expectations and addressing student's concerns or challenges. Finally, we advocate for a comprehensive approach to safety, including considerations of mental health, harassment, and discrimination in formal risk assessments, accompanied by adequate training for field trip leaders.
Water availability determines heat stress response in temperate broadleaved tree species
Authors: Zeppan Jana , Huelsmann Lisa , Ruehr Nadine
Published: March 2024

Heat waves and co-occurring droughts are increasing in frequency and magnitude in Central Europe with major impacts on tree water and carbon dynamics. So far, knowledge on how common temperate broadleaved tree species respond to combined heat and drought remains limited. To understand if tree species might tolerate future climate conditions, knowledge on their ability to regulate canopy temperature, sustain gas exchange and prevent leaf damage is essential. In our study we explored the impacts of increasing temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) combined with a mild soil drought on three broadleaved tree species Fagus sylvatica, Acer platanoides and Quercus robur. Seedlings were subjected to a gradual temperature increase from 25°C to 45°C in a greenhouse, experiencing either well-watered control or mild drought conditions. Using single tree chambers, we assessed changes in leaf temperature, gas exchange and leaf senescence.We found that with higher temperatures and VPD transpirational cooling of the leaves increased in all species, even though it was lowest for A. platanoides. Under mild drought conditions leaf cooling was strongly limited and leaf temperatures mostly exceeded air temperatures. Drought limitations were also reflected in the gas exchange with overall lower net assimilation, stomatal conductance and transpiration rates.  Still, drought and control trees both exhibited increased transpiration rates with higher temperature and VPD. At the same time stomatal conductance and net assimilation decreased with increased heat. Consequently, water-use efficiency strongly declined under well-watered and drought conditions for all species, emphasizing the crucial role of water during heat stress. For Q. robur these declines in gas exchange only happened at temperatures beyond 38°C under well-watered conditions, indicating higher thermal thresholds. This was also reflected in the leaf senescence as Q. robur avoided visible leaf damage entirely. In contrast, F. sylvatica and A. platanoides demonstrated high leaf senescence particularly in combination with drought.In summary, our study highlights the importance of water availability for thermal regulation and sustaining positive net carbon uptake. Even though all species showed similar trends in their heat response, sustained net assimilation and avoidance of leaf damage point towards a potentially better heat resistance of Q. robur compared to the other two species.
Geomorphic invaders: Geomorphic potential and landscape controls on the biogeomorphology and ecosystem engineering of Dreissenid mussels
Authors: Sanders Catherine
Published: March 2024

Zebra mussels (Dreissena bugensis) and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are invasive throughout much of the northern hemisphere. Whilst much attention has been paid to their role in altering aquatic systems via their filter feeding, little attention has been given to their role as geomorphic agents, or the relationships between geomorphology and their ecosystem engineering. We aimed to understand the controls and feedbacks between fluvial geomorphology and Dreissenid mussel invasion, utilising field, laboratory, and numerical modelling approaches. We found important consequences for both geomorphology and ecosystems, with mussel invasion significantly impacting annual sediment transport rates, and positively facilitating the invasion of further priority invasive species.Quagga mussels attach to benthic sediments using byssal threads, which affects sediment stability and thereby broader river geomorphology. At an invaded gravel bed river, quagga mussels attached >500 g m-2 of mineral sediments together. In ex situ flume experiments, this process increased critical shear stress by 40%. Numerical modelling of flow at the study river was used to upscale these stresses to estimate changes to sediment transport over a recorded five-year flow period, which indicated that typical densities of quagga mussels may reduce the occurrence of a geomorphically active flood event from Q30 to Q2, and reduce sediment transport by 74%. Thus, substantial alterations to bedload sediment transport may occur following quagga mussel invasion.Dreissenid mussels are also ecosystem engineers, where their shells provide a unique stable habitat in fine-grained rivers. Field surveys found that mussel shells positively facilitate macroinvertebrate communities, but preferentially facilitate co-evolved, high-priority invasive amphipods. The construction of a spatial model of riverbed grainsize across England and Wales, combined with an analysis of Environment Agency nationwide presence/absence records, identified that ecosystem engineering by zebra mussels was particularly powerful in fine-grained river systems to other invasive taxa. Supporting mechanistic aquarium experiments indicated that the ecosystem engineering of zebra mussels may support the invasions of high-profile amphipod species into otherwise unfavourable habitats, which could not be invaded without mussel engineering. Channelisation and dredging, which simplify river channels, may benefit Dreissenid mussel ecosystem engineering and the facilitation of other invasive species. Instead, Nature-based Solutions could be employed to restore the geomorphic functioning of systems, which may improve resilience against high-priority invasive species.
Understanding the Complexity: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Land Use Intensification on Soil Fauna in Global Agroecosystems
Authors: Betancur Corredor Bibiana , Zaitsev Andrey , Russell David
Published: March 2024

Increased land use intensity, especially the transition from extensive to intensively managed agroecosystems, is frequently referred to as one of the primary causes of the decline in global biodiversity and is thought to be the primary force influencing soil biodiversity. For appropriate land management in the face of future land use change, it is essential to comprehend how soil biodiversity responds to various land use regimes. Still, there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the consistent responses of various taxonomic groups to intensification of land use.We systematically assessed and quantified through meta-analysis the effects of various forms of land use intensification on soil organisms in global agroecosystems (192 studies included, 3190 pairwise observations comparing intensified land use to undisturbed ecosystems across 59 countries) and analyzed the dependence of these effects on abiotic factors such as soil properties (organic matter, pH, nutrient and water availability, texture) and climatic zone.We observed a substantial decline in springtails abundance (-34%) and species richness (-16%), while earthworms experience a positive abundance trend (+217%) but a reduction in species richness (-12%). Enchytraeids exhibit a negative impact on abundance (-32%) with no effect on species richness. Mites show a positive increase in abundance (+129%), but a significant reduction in species richness (-50%). Nematodes, on the other hand, experience a negative impact on abundance (-7%) with no effect on species richness.Focusing specifically on earthworms, we observed varying effects depending on the specific forms of intensification employed. Positive impacts on earthworm abundance are observed with agroforestry (+60%), cover crops, low input cropping (+113%), managed grasslands (+52%), vegetable gardens (+52%), and pastures (+218%). Conversely, negative effects are noted in arable cropland (-24%), orchards (-35%), specialty crops (-61%), crop livestock integration (-13%), and managed forests (-95%). Furthermore, the analysis reveals that the intensification effects on earthworm abundance vary across different climatic zones, with significant impacts observed in zones A and C. Higher intensification effects are noted in areas with greater mean annual precipitation, higher soil pH, finer soil textures (clayey, loamy, and silty), and increased organic matter content.This comprehensive exploration sheds light on the intricate dynamics between land-use intensification and soil fauna, providing valuable insights for sustainable land management practices tailored to different ecological contexts.
Experimental studies on the stability of bicarbonate-enriched seawater solutions
Authors: Varliero Selene , Comazzi Federico , Campo Francesco Pietro , Cappello Stefano , Cappello Giovanni , Caserini Stefano , Macchi Piero , Raos Guido
Published: March 2024

The deployment of carbon dioxide storage is a challenge that must be overcome in order to reach the net zero emissions objective. Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OEA) is a promising method for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it pemanently in seawater as bicarbonates, with the co-benefit of counteracting ocean acidification. The challenge for future applications is ensuring a stable storage, avoiding adverse side effects on the environment or phenomena that can reduce efficiency, such as degassing of carbon dioxide and precipitation of alkaline minerals.The work presented in this study investigates the stability of the carbonate system of seawater, after adding alkalinity by two different pathways. One is the simple addition of NaHCO3 to artificial seawater, on a laboratory scale. The other is a test on a more complex system, consisting of a pilot plant that uses natural seawater, CO2 and calcium hydroxide and produces a carbon-enriched solution at the same pH of natural seawater. We suggest safe levels for the increase of alkalinity and considering the dilution of the solution with seawater in natural environments. The results represent important steps towards the achievement of safe and efficient ocean-based carbon storage and OAE.