bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The tectono-magmatic formation and submarine geohazards of the Japan Sea: Constraints from in-situ trace elements and Sr isotopes of plagioclase and clinopyroxene
Authors: Chen Jing , Chen Shuang-shuang , Cheng Qiu-ming
Published: March 2024

To address the nature of mantle-derived melts and submarine geohazards of the Japan Sea, we present new in-situ compositions for clinopyroxene (trace elements) and plagioclase (trace elements and Sr isotopes) from Sites 794 and 797 tholeiitic basalts. Plagioclase and clinopyroxene from Upper Site 797 and Lower Site 794 are characterized by relatively lower incompatible elements relative to those of Lower Site 797 and Upper Site 794. Lower Site 794 bulk-rocks and minerals have slight enrichment in Sr isotope compositions but depletion in trace element ratios. The observed zoning textures together with in-situ geochemical and isotopic diversity within individual plagioclase indicate fractional crystallization and the contribution of heterogeneous melt. In-situ Sr isotopic disequilibria between plagioclase phenocrysts and groundmass likely have important ramifications for the enriched compositional heterogeneity with the significant influence of recycled subduction-related oceanic fluid/sediment beneath the Japan Sea. The initial extension of the Japan Sea was relatively slow, resulting in the slow replenishment of depleted MORB-type melts derived from the upper mantle, and the extensive mixing of the migrating depleted melt with the preformed surrounding enriched melts. It thus forms the slight depletion of the highly incompatible elements but the enriched invariability of the isotopic compositions of Lower Site 794 bulk- rocks and minerals due to the relatively long half-life of the radiogenic elements. In summary, the expansion velocity of the Japan Sea varies from slow to rapid, which leads to time-progressive variations in the mineral and bulk-rock compositions beneath the Japan Sea. The maximum seismic depth of the earthquake decreases with the increase of the expansion velocity of the Japan Sea.
How Greenland Ice Melt Could Influence Atmospheric Variability
Authors: Christensen Jens H. , Andresen Camilla , Hvidberg Christine , Van der Laan Larissa
Published: March 2024

The climate patterns across Northwest Europe are shaped by the transportation of warm and moist air from the North Atlantic Ocean, driven by large-scale atmospheric circulation. A possible key to this system is the variability in sea surface temperatures (SST) southeast of Greenland, possibly influencing the trajectory of weather systems.A hypothesis suggests that the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet plays a role in altering deep ocean convection in the Labrador Sea, leading to cooling in the ocean region southeast of Greenland. Studies propose that a substantial increase in meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet could potentially slow down the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), impacting the Atlantic Storm track. In a worst-case scenario, this could shift Northwest Europe's climate from mild to subarctic conditions, reminiscent of glacial periods.However, conflicting model studies suggest a different outcome, proposing that subpolar gyre cooling induced by freshwater fluxes might intensify the North Atlantic storm track.To establish a robust connection between Greenland Ice Sheet melt and climate fluctuations in Northwest Europe, extended time series data beyond the instrumental record is essential. Additionally, a comprehensive understanding of specific climatic modes and associated storm track paths influenced by freshwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet is needed.Preliminary evidence suggests a link between Greenland Ice Sheet melt variations and climate fluctuations in Northwest Europe. If fully validated, this connection holds significant implications for accurate climate predictions, particularly given the anticipated rise in melt rates of the Greenland Ice Sheet in the future. Ensuring precise climate predictions is critical for comprehending and preparing for potential shifts in weather patterns that could impact the region's climate and ecosystems
GGOS Portal - The future Metadata Platform for Geodetic Data - Feasibility Study and Perspectives
Authors: Sehnal Martin , Steiner Lena
Published: March 2024

The services of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) provide very important and valuable geodetic data, information, and data products that are increasingly relevant for Earth system research, including monitoring of global change phenomena and a wide range of diverse applications such as satellite navigation, surveying, mapping, engineering, geospatial information systems, and so on.Currently, it is difficult for many people to obtain an overview of all available geodetic products and data. The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) of the IAG aims to fill this gap by developing the GGOS-Portal (ggos.org/portal), which will serve as a unique search and access point (one-stop shop) for geodetic data and products. Data and products will be described by rich metadata and remain physically located at their originating data centers of each contributing IAG service and other data providers. With this future platform, GGOS will contribute to increase the visibility of geodetic data for scientific research and to make other disciplines and the society aware of geodesy and its beneficial products.Several software packages are available for the realization of such a metadata platform. Two of them are particularly suitable for this purpose: GeoNetwork and CKAN. Based on the community survey conducted in spring 2023, a requirements profile for the GGOS portal was drawn up as part of a feasibility study and compared with the tested functionalities of the two software packages. A particular focus was on testing the metadata harvesting function.
U-Pb LA-ICP-MS in situ dating of chrysocolla in copper deposits in Coastal Cordillera, northern Chile
Authors: Ríos-Contesse Juan
Published: March 2024

The study of supergene minerals has been used as a proxy to unravel the palaeoclimatic conditions that prevailed when it occurred. The youngest age of supergene mineralisation is interpreted as the last time with sufficient moisture; therefore, it will reflect the transition from semi-arid towards hyperarid conditions.The history of dating supergene minerals, mainly alunite and far less common copper-bearing minerals such as atacamite and pseudomalachite, in the Atacama Desert is mainly restricted to the Central Depression and Precordillera indicating that supergene processes were active from 44 to 6 Ma. In contrast, there are only four ages in the Coastal Cordillera, one reported by Sillitoe & McKee, 1996, and three obtained by Reich et al., 2009. This lack of information makes it impossible to constrain the onset of hyperaridity in the Coastal Cordillera and how it relates with the previously mentioned physiographic units.The Coastal Cordillera in northern Chile correspond to a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous magmatic arc consisting mainly of andesites and basaltic andesites intruded by numerous plutonic bodies. It hosts the metallogenic belt with the largest number of mineral deposits in the Antofagasta Region, the majority of which are copper deposits.We test for the first time, the potential of the LA-ICP-MS in situ U-Pb technique to date the deposition of the copper deposits in the Coastal Cordillera and use it as a new proxy to understand its palaeoclimatic evolution. For this purpose, we selected chrysocolla samples from manto- and vein-type deposits hosted in the west side of the Coastal Cordillera.Chrysocolla is an amorphous hydrated copper silicate that precipitate from gel-like material. Furthermore, the chrysocolla may occurs as a replacement of other copper minerals such as malachite and atacamite. Macroscopically it is possible found it in crust, in veins filling cracks along the host rock or in amygdales of andesites. The second most common mineral is atacamite which presents a complex textural relationship with chrysocolla.The amorphous structure of chrysocolla makes difficult that the U and Pb concentrations will be consistent along the same sample. Due to this, we apply a pre-scan with the laser to measure the U-Pb ratio in the sample. After that, the laser spots were defined in tree main areas: highest, intermediate and lowest U-Pb ratio to be secure that we will get a dispersion of the ratios that can help to obtain an isochron.The preliminary results show that the chrysocolla is extremely young (
Exploring climate change: A graphical journey through time
Authors: Iglesias Olaia
Published: March 2024

Commonly, efforts to raise students' awareness of global warming often involve impactful videos or images that focus on consequences rather than causes. However, these resources, while realistic, can feel distant from students' daily lives, falling short of instigating the environmental consciousness educators seek. To address this challenge, we propose an alternative approach—utilizing graphs of real data records and their interpretation. This method could be even more impactful than images and allows us to work on various mathematical skills, such as graph description, pattern identification, and trend analysis.This poster introduces an activity designed to be carried out over two or three sessions of one hour, and utilizing two famous graphs: The Keeling Curve and the Vostok ice core record. The prerequisite concepts needed to carry out the activity are the energy balance and the greenhouse effect. Initially, we must erase the CO2 values from the Y-axis of both graphs.The Keeling Curve serves as the foundation for introducing concepts such as instrumental data and variation patterns, allowing us to observe the continuous increase in CO2 concentration throughout the entire record. The teacher assumes the role of a skeptic, posing the question: "Can we unequivocally attribute this increase to human activity?" This query prompts students to consider the data needed for certainty, leading them to the realization that preindustrial CO2 concentration data are crucial to answering the question.Following this, we present the paleoclimatic record of atmospheric CO2 extracted from the Vostok ice core in Antarctica, covering the past 800,000 years. However, we omit the current outlier data (since 1950 to present), leaving it for participants to complete at the conclusion of the activity. During the session, students are guided to understand core concepts through graph interpretation. Upon observing the glacial-interglacial pattern, students are tasked with predicting CO2 fluctuations for the next 100,000 years by extending the graph. After that, they receive the erased CO2 Y-axis values from the graph and are tasked with finding the corresponding CO2 concentration for that specific day to add to the chart. This value entirely disrupts the predicted pattern, and the resulting graph often prompts cognitive dissonance, leaving a lasting impact on students.This activity enhances scientific understanding of climate change and also emphasizes the seriousness of the current environmental emergency. 
An experimental study of the tree canopy-urban surface system optical and thermal signatures 
Authors: Halios Christos , Haghparast Yasaman , Smith Stefan , Pickles Brian , Shao Li , Mortimer Hugh
Published: March 2024

Remote sensing for vegetation monitoring can involve mixed pixels with contributions from vegetation and background surfaces, causing biases in signals and their interpretations. This is especially so in cases when remote sensing applications are deployed in conditions with sparse vegetation, such as trees in urban areas, where multiple components within a pixel need to be considered; in such cases, the contained spectral information can be difficult to interpret.A ground-based experimental layout consisting of a spectrometer and a thermal camera mounted on a portable crane for assessing the optical and thermal signatures of the tree canopy - underlying surface system, was deployed in a controlled field experiment. Two groups of five identically arranged containerised Acer platanoides 'Columnare' were placed into two adjacent built and non-built local microenvironments. Using the obtained thermal signatures, the relative contribution of the underlying surface and tree canopy to the overall spectral reflectance variation was examined.A moderate correlation between the canopy-background temperature difference and the spectral reflectance for the built local microenvironment indicates that the synergy between thermal and spectral measurements in the fine scale is a promising method for disentangling the combined signal components. Further results will be presented in the conference.
Examining the thermal characteristics of a highly diverse Andean mountain ecosystem in southern Ecuador and explore the process of regionalizing its thermal patterns.
Authors: Grigusova Paulina , Dobbermann Maik , Bendix Jörg
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the thermal characteristics of a highly biodiverse mountain ecosystem in southern Ecuador. The analysis involves temperature measurements conducted within the native mountain forest and at open sites across an altitudinal range from 1600 to 3200 meters. The primary methodological objective is to create a tool for regionalizing air temperature, enabling the generation of spatial datasets for average monthly mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures using observational data. These temperature maps, based on data spanning from 1999 to 2023, are essential for ecological projects operating in areas lacking climate station data.To develop the temperature maps, a combination of a straightforward detrending technique, a Digital Elevation Model, and a satellite-based land cover classification is employed. This classification also provides information on the relative forest cover per pixel. The specific focus of the study is to examine the thermal structure of both components of the ecosystem (pastures and natural vegetation), with special attention given to how the conversion of natural forest into pasture affects the ecosystem's temperature regulation service.The findings reveal a distinct thermal variation throughout the year, influenced in part by changes in synoptic weather patterns and the impact of land cover. Thermal amplitudes are notably low during the primary rainy season when cloudiness and air humidity are high. However, they become more pronounced in the relatively dry season, marked by differences in daily irradiance and outgoing nocturnal radiation between land cover units. Lower pasture areas, resulting from slash-and-burn practices on the natural forest, experience the most extreme thermal conditions, while the atmosphere within the mountain forest remains slightly cooler due to the regulating effects of dense vegetation.In summary, the study underscores that clearing the forest diminishes the ecosystem's thermal regulation function (regulating ecosystem services). This reduction in thermal regulation could pose challenges, especially in the context of anticipated global warming trends in the future.
Reliable El Niño forecasting before the spring predictability barrier
Authors: Ludescher Josef , Bunde Armin , Schellnhuber Hans Joachim
Published: March 2024

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the most consequential driver of interannual global climate variability and can lead to extreme weather events like drought or flooding in various parts of the world. Current operational forecasts are hampered by the so-called spring predictability barrier (SPB), which makes forecasts before or during the boreal spring particularly challenging. In recent years, we developed several methods based on complex system science that can provide reliable El Niño forecasts well before the SPB, thus about doubling the pre-warning time. The first of these methods is based on a dynamical climate network (CN) consisting of nodes that are reanalysis grid points in the Pacific, and links between them, whose strength is characterized by the cross-correlations of the atmospheric surface temperatures at the grid points. In the calendar year before an El Niño event, the links between the eastern equatorial Pacific and the rest of the tropical Pacific tend to strengthen such that the average link strength exceeds a certain threshold. This property serves as a precursor to forecast the onset of El Niño events. In particular, the CN-based method has already provided 12 real-time forecasts, 11 of which turned out to be correct (p = 5.1*10-3). Here, we discuss an improvement of the CN method as well as the combination with other El Niño forecasting methods. Approaches based on information entropy and the zonal temperature gradient in the western Pacific provide additional forecasts with about 1 year lead time for the magnitude and the type of an upcoming El Niño event, respectively. Combining the three methods provides not only more information about an upcoming El Niño, particularly about the risk exposure of a given geographical location, but concurring forecasts can support each other and lead to higher overall confidence in the forecast. This was the case, for instance, at the end of 2022, when the combined method correctly forecasted a moderate-to-strong El Niño of eastern Pacific type for 2023.  
Behavioural Insights for Climate Information and Services in Africa
Authors: Dookie Denyse S. , Conway Declan
Published: March 2024

A shift from stating ‘what the weather will be’ to understanding ‘what the weather will do’ marks the importance of early warning and early action and highlights the role and potential value of climate information and services. Within this recognition, however, there is an implicit assumption of availability of and access to credible, salient, and legitimate information about the hazard threat as well as understanding of locational exposure and vulnerability. Effective communication of threat is also implied, as it is vital to align with the risk perceptions of users, communities, and organisations in order to motivate responses which are available and perceived to be feasible and helpful.This research explores these underpinning assumptions of climate information and climate risk management practices through a behavioural and psychological science lens. We do this within the construct of the CLARE “Behavioural Adaptation for water Security and Inclusion” (BASIN) project, which focuses on improving water security and inclusion in a changing climate in Africa. Noting that progress towards inclusive water security and equitable climate adaptation is underscored by understanding risk management decisions, the BASIN project focuses on how such decisions are shaped by social structures to support behaviour change in the water community and wider society. As such, this paper will synthesise behavioural and psychological science insights to support equitable and effective climate information use given a review of available early warning information and consideration of local knowledge and decision-making realities.
Fossil otoliths reveal changing predator-prey dynamics and partial resilience in reef fishes
Authors: O'Dea Aaron , De Gracia Brigida , García-Méndez Kimberly , Cybulski Jonathan , Lueders-Dumont Jessica , Dillon Erin
Published: March 2024

Predatory fishes are expected to regulate the abundances and body sizes of prey fishes on coral reefs, which may, in turn, have cascading effects across the food web. However, such top-down processes have been challenging to test, especially on Caribbean reefs where predator communities have been altered by centuries of selective harvesting, and therefore potentially function differently. To address this shifting baseline problem, we used Holocene fossil, archeological and modern fish remains (5758 otoliths and 807 shark denticles) to track changes in the relative abundances and body sizes of fishes of different functional and trophic modes on Caribbean reefs in Panama and the Dominican Republic over millennia. Piscivorous fish declined in relative abundance by 50-70% and became smaller since major human exploitation, which would have resulted in a decline in predation intensity since prehistoric times. In contrast, prey fishes like anchovy and damselfish became more abundant and larger over the same time period, consistent with a release from predation. Cryptobenthic fishes showed no change in body size or abundance over time, most likely because they are protected from predation and are controlled to a greater extent by habitat and food availability than predation. Our data support the hypothesis that predator loss has precipitated a release from predation for certain prey fish species, and yet despite this, some important facets of reef function have remained resilient over time.
The GRUVO web application: Bringing groundwater level predictions across Germany to the public
Authors: Broda Stefan , Nölscher Maximilian , Heber Matthias , Clos Patrick , Zaepke Markus , Stolz Wolfgang
Published: March 2024

The provision of current and predicted groundwater levels across Germany has become increasingly important, particularly due to the increasing likelihood of consecutive dry years. To address this issue, we present the interactive web application GRUVO, which was developed as a first step to provide groundwater level forecasts and relevant information in a targeted manner for different user groups. We also provide an overview of the features and operation of the application in its current version.In addition to the visualisation of current groundwater levels, this mainly includes the presentation of monthly updated groundwater level forecasts and projections for short-term (up to 3 months), medium-term (up to 10 years) and long-term (up to 2100) forecast horizons at over 100 so-called reference monitoring sites (RM) distributed throughout Germany. Each of these RMs represents the groundwater levels or dynamics of a few thousand so-called cluster monitoring sites (CMs). This mapping of RMs to CMs was previously determined using a clustering approach. The RM prediction is based on 1-D convolutional neural networks (CNN), which are trained using time series of measured groundwater level data from the responsible state offices as target variables and measured meteorological forcing data from the German Weather Service (DWD) as predictors. Forecasted or projected meteorological information from the DWD is then used to predict future groundwater levels.Apart from the available features of the current version, this contribution highlights operational challenges and nuances. It also outlines possible extensions for future development.
Evaluating the Sensitivity of Hydrological Impacts to Different Climate Model Weighting Strategies
Authors: Rahimpour Asenjan Mehrad , Brissette Francois , Martel Jean-Luc , Arsenault Richard
Published: March 2024

The use of Multi-model ensembles (MMEs) has become crucial in assessing future climate change impacts and uncertainties. These ensembles leverage simulations from various global climate models (GCMs). While the traditional "model democracy" method, where equal weights are assigned to all models, has succeeded in reproducing the mean state of historical climate, it faces challenges in hydrological impact studies. Two key criticisms prompt the investigation of model democracy: the diverse performance of GCMs across different variables and locations, and the assumption of independence among ensemble members. Shared modules and features in climate models may introduce common biases, affecting confidence in projection uncertainty and potentially increasing uncertainties in climate change predictions. To address these challenges, diverse weighting approaches are explored, assigning varying weights to GCMs based on their performance in diagnostic metrics. While equal weighting is a common approach, unequal-weighting methods aim for a more reliable ensemble mean or constrained uncertainty.This study assesses five weighting schemes—equal weighting, random weighting, skill-based weighting, the representation of annual cycle (RAC), and Reliability Ensemble Averaging (REA)—in hydrological impact evaluations. We utilized data from A set of 22 CMIP6 GMCs, coupled with a lumped hydrological model, and one bias correction method across 3107 North American catchments during the 1971-2000 and 2071-2100 periods. To understand how weighting methods influence streamflow bias in future periods, we used a "pseudo-reality" method, which involves comparing the bias between the weighted mean of climate models and a selected model used as a reference dataset. Through multiple iterations considering climate variables and geographic regions, this research aims to uncover the complex interactions between weighting schemes and their implications for hydrological assessments.Our findings indicate that the performance of equal weighting and other weighting methods are similar in cases where bias correction has been applied. Bias correction is commonly used in climate change impact assessments due to the inherent inaccuracies in climate models, and in such cases equal weighting approach would provide adequate results for climate change impact assessment studies. For scenarios without bias correction, applying unequal weights provides improved simulation performance and reliability. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights to the broader landscape of climate change impact studies, emphasizing the importance of tailored weighting strategies in enhancing the reliability of hydrological assessments.
"Strombolian" explosions in Hawai'i
Authors: Tisdale Caroline , Houghton Bruce
Published: March 2024

Eruptions labeled "Strombolian" – characterized by spaced discrete explosions that occur when gas pockets burst at the magma free-surface  – represent an endmember of basaltic volcanism, yet the term's applicability outside Stromboli volcano (Italy) itself remains controversial. The occurrence of Strombolian-like activity in diverse settings necessitates a more nuanced approach to classification and characterization. This study presents a quantitative analysis of transient short-lived (seconds to tens of seconds) mafic explosions from two eruptions: the 2011 Kamoamoa eruption of Kīlauea and the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea (USA, Hawai'i). Ground-based video recordings are the primary data source. Advancements in image processing allow for the efficient analysis of key eruption parameters including explosion frequencies, durations, and repose intervals, as well as 2D particle exit velocities, size distributions, and mass eruption rates and total mass per explosion. Preliminary results revealed that compared to “normal” Strombolian activity at Stromboli, discrete explosions at Kīlauea in 2011 and 2018 were often shorter lived, more closely spaced, and less intense. These findings suggest a spectrum of Strombolian-like behavior, influenced by factors such as magma composition, shallow conduit geometry, and most importantly gas behavior and flux. This diversity of activity challenges the application of the "Strombolian" label and emphasizes the need for quantitative characterization of discrete basaltic explosions outside of Stromboli.
Twin storms and the performance of storm surge barriers
Authors: Bakker Alexander , Rovers Dion
Published: March 2024

Early 2022, four severe storms (Corrie, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin) raged over the Netherlands, of which the latter three hit the Dutch coast in only four days. The question is how well the Dutch flood protection system can deal with such a series of storms. Will there be enough time to recover from the previous storm?The Maeslant barrier is a storm surge barrier near Rotterdam that exists of two enormous floating sector doors. In rest, they are safely located in the dry docks along the shore. Yet, in case of the most severe storms the doors are floated to the middle of the river and submerged to retain storm surges from the sea. After the storm they are floated up again and moved back to the docks. During its operation the Maeslant barrier is likely to be more vulnerable for small damages, that may lead to the temporal unavailability of the surge retaining function.This study investigates 1) the probability that the barrier needs to close shortly after a previous closure and 2) the flood risk as a result of failure of the second closure. Herewith, we distinguish two different phenomena. The two-top storm is a single storm during which the barrier needs to close twice and open in between as a result of the astronomical tide. The twin storm (or even triplet or multiple storm) is a cluster of severe storms that succeed each other shortly.The probabilities of both phenomena are estimated from a data-analysis of a long record of sea level observations at Hoek van Holland, close to Rotterdam. The associated flood risk is estimated from a simple conceptual model of the failure probability of the Maeslant barrier.
A Process-Informed Determination of Credibility Across Different Downscaling Methods
Authors: Bukovsky Melissa , McGinnis Seth , McCrary Rachel , Mearns Linda
Published: March 2024

Despite the ongoing advancements in Earth system simulation, the results from Global Climate Models (GCMs) are still not refined enough to be directly applied to numerous climate impact issues. There are many techniques available to downscale GCM outputs to finer resolutions, from basic statistical adjustments to more complex methods like dynamical downscaling and machine learning. However, these methods often yield different results, making it difficult to assess their relative reliability, particularly when comparing statistical versus dynamical downscaling methods.We consider downscaled results to be credible when the phenomena and processes producing it are consistent; for instance, if it’s raining, the necessary conditions for rain (such as lift and atmospheric moisture) should be present. To assess various downscaling techniques, and demonstrate this technique, we examine the occurrence of rainfall at a location the Southern Great Plains, specifically near the DOE ARRM site in Oklahoma during May, the rainiest month. In this scenario, we are looking for an atmospheric setup that produces uplift at this location and corresponds with the northward movement of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.By comparing the composite synoptic-scale meteorological conditions on days with and without rain from the GCM being downscaled or from the downscaling method, as appropriate, we can verify if the outcomes of downscaling GCM precipitation align with the processes that drive them. This method offers a process-based added-value analysis strategy for all kinds of downscaling techniques, which extends beyond basic measures of statistical resemblance.We’ve used two regional climate models (RegCM4 & WRF), a machine learning technique (U-Net CNN), and four statistical methods of different complexities to downscale precipitation from three distinct GCMs. By using this method to compare them with each other and the raw GCM results, we’ve discovered that all downscaling methods can yield plausible outcomes when the GCM performs well, as they inherit its credibility. However, when the GCM’s performance is subpar, only dynamical methods can rectify regional circulation errors, unlike the other methods. Interestingly, we also found that simpler statistical methods outperform more complex non-dynamical methods when dealing with poor GCM inputs.
On the connection between the jet stream and high-impact, extreme storms in midlatitudes
Authors: Afargan Gerstman Hilla , Domeisen Daniela I.V.
Published: March 2024

Extreme storms are a major natural hazard in the extratropics. These storms can cause substantial economic damage due to strong winds and flooding, interrupt transportation networks and electricity supply and lead to casualties. Future climate projections predict an extension of the storm track further into Europe posing a potential for increased risk with climate change, especially in winter. However, despite its importance, the connection between extreme, high-impact extratropical storms in midlatitudes and changes in the jet stream remains uncertain. Using reanalysis data and multi-model ensemble of climate models under future socio-economic scenarios, we examine the variability of extreme and high-impact storms in the northern hemisphere midlatitude and investigate the connection between jet stream intensity and extreme storm impacts. For this purpose, extreme storm events are diagnosed using the wind field (defined as spatially organized clusters exceeding the 98th percentiles of wind speeds over a specific area for a specific duration). High-impact storms, on the other hand, are identified according to the Emergency Events Database, a global database on natural and technological disasters, for the period 1998 to 2023. This comparison provides insights on extreme storm damage variability in midlatitudes and allows us to explore regional differences in storm damage and future changes. Understanding and connecting the dynamical processes controlling the variability of the jet stream and extreme, high-impact storms in midlatitudes is essential for skillful prediction of these extreme hazards under climate change and for assessing their potentially devastating impacts.
Re-assessment of hydroxyl radical chemistry using new observation data and model comparisons
Authors: Stevens Philip , Price Paige , Bottorff Brandon , Jenkins Jena , Brune William
Published: March 2024

Atmospheric formation of ozone and secondary organic aerosols as well as the removal of greenhouse gases such as methane and hydrofluorocarbons depend on the fast radical cycling of the hydroxyl radical (OH). Previous measurements of these radicals in forest environments have shown serious discrepancies with model predictions, bringing into question our understanding of OH radical chemistry, especially in regions characterized by low NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) and high biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) concentrations. However, previous studies have discovered that some OH radical measurement techniques may be sensitive to interferences, such as from the ozonolysis of BVOCs. This has the potential to cause artificially high observations of OH especially in forested areas. In this work, we present an analysis of previous measurements of OH radical concentrations from rural, suburban, and urban areas while accounting for the measured interferences and covering a wide range of NOx concentrations. This re-assessment provides insight regarding our current understanding of OH radical recycling under low NOx and high BVOC conditions.
BryoMicroClim: Collecting bryophyte-relevant microclimate data to assess the gap between macro- and microclimate 
Authors: Hespanhol Helena ,   BryoMicroClim
Published: March 2024

Significant mismatches between macro- and microclimates challenge our ability to accurately estimate the climatic conditions experienced by organisms and thus to predict responses to climate change. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between macro- and microclimate for small-scale plants such as bryophytes, which are highly dependent on local environmental conditions.To achieve this, we established a Europe-wide collaborative network of bryologists (the BryoMicroClim project), to measure the microclimate experienced by a bryophyte species. The moss Hedwigia striata, evaluated as near-threatened in Europe (Hodgetts et al., 2019), was selected as the target species. This species grows mainly in forests or rocky areas. We selected 15 sampling sites across Europe, spanning a wide range of climate conditions (Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Wales, Scotland, and Sweden). In each site, mostly continuous forested areas, we measured air temperature and humidity using three dataloggers (Envloggers, Environmental loggers) installed near H. striata populations. In the Iberian Peninsula, we also installed other dataloggers (BtMs, Bryolichen Temperature Moisture), specifically designed to measure ambient temperature, humidity, and water content of nonvascular cryptogams.We used the slope and equilibrium approach (Grill et al., 2022) to infer if the microclimate temperature and relative humidity variability (as measured by the in-situ dataloggers) is buffered or amplified in relation to the macroclimate variability (from ERA5-Land and ERA5 data). We observed that microclimate temperatures were buffered or amplified depending on site conditions. As hypothesized, microclimate temperatures had a buffered variability in dense forest sites. Our results suggest that collecting bryophyte-relevant microclimate data at fine spatial resolutions and long time scales will be critical to better understand the potential vulnerability of bryophytes to climate change.
Fault pattern and kinematics at the Tyrrhenian-Ionian transition zone (northern Messina Strait)
Authors: Conti Alessia , Cuffaro Marco , Ficini Eleonora , Petricca Patrizio , Billi Andrea , Bosman Alessandro , Ferrante Valentina , Muccini Filippo , Romano Valentina , Ligi Marco , Doglioni Carlo , Bigi Sabina
Published: March 2024

The Messina Strait and surrounding areas are one of the most interesting regions of the western Mediterranean Sea, characterized by the complex interplay between the Mesozoic-Paleogene Ionian basin, where the Calabrian Arc accretionary prism extends towards the southeast, and the Neogene Tyrrhenian back-arc basin to the northwest.Complex fault networks with different kinematics, running from the inner side of the Calabrian arc through the Messina Strait and the Ionian coast of Sicily, as far as the Hyblean Plateau, result from the coexistence of different geodynamic settings in the area. Some of these faults are responsible for several of the largest earthquakes occurred in southern Italy and the Mediterranean Sea in recent times. Different works aimed at establishing a relationship between seismogenic sources and mapped faults, defining the location and rupture mechanism of some of these fault lineaments. Even tough, many uncertainties still exist for earthquakes occurred in offshore areas, where the fault kinematics and geometry are in some cases still poorly constrained.In this work, we focus on a group of offshore faults located between the northern sector of the Messina Strait and the Gioia Basin (southern Tyrrhenian Sea). We aim at understanding the kinematics and the style of deformation in this area, and to investigate the role played by the main fault networks in the framework of the regional complex geodynamic setting of the Ionian-Tyrrhenian transition zone. This study is based on the interpretation of a multichannel seismic dataset (TIR10 survey), combined with the analysis of morpho-bathymetric and geodetic data, and with numerical modeling. This multidisciplinary and multiscale approach can contribute to unravel the particular role of this region in the context of a stepwise migrating subduction system and provides new constrains for the study of this highly populated area characterized by severe seismic and tsunamigenic hazard.
A deep learning approach to study Jupiter's interior from Juno
Authors: Ziv Maayan , Galanti Eli , Sheffer Amir , Howard Saburo , Guillot Tristan , Kaspi Yohai
Published: March 2024

The interior structure of Jupiter holds information on its formation and evolution processes, with the two research fields highly related to one another. The range of plausible interior structures is constrained by the gravity field measured by the Juno mission, the atmospheric abundances measured by Galileo, and the 1 bar temperature estimated from radio occultation. Consequently, it is also affected by the surface winds and their internal structure, which significantly contribute to the gravity field. Inferring the range of plausible interior structures requires an intensive computational search of combinations of various planetary properties, such as the cloud-level temperature, compositions, core features, etc., matching the observations. This search requires computing ~10^8 interior models. Here, we propose an efficient deep learning method to generate unique interior models using the very accurate but computationally demanding concentric MacLaurin spheroid method. We train a neural network to predict interior model results accurately. This allows us to perform a broad parameter space search by computing only ~10^4 interior models, resulting in a large sample of plausible interior structures. The network can also be used to infer the non-linear relations between the physical features and the observable gravity field and mass.
Tower-based radar observations of sub-daily water dynamics in boreal forests
Authors: Fransson Johan E.S. , Monteith Albert R. , Persson Henrik J. , Ulander Lars M.H.
Published: March 2024

Radar remote sensing observations are predominantly affected by the concentration and spatial distribution of water in natural scenes. This motivates the utilization of high-resolution spaceborne radar observations for monitoring the water status of vegetation and the impacts of climate change on forests globally. While current satellite-based synthetic aperture radar observations are limited to temporal resolutions of days, tower-based radar observations of forests are capable of capturing detailed sub-daily physiological responses to variations in soil water availability and meteorological conditions. Such experiments demonstrate the scientific value of prospective sub-daily space-borne observations in the future.The BorealScat tower-based radar experiment conducted in southern Sweden from 2017 to 2021 has captured various ecophysiological phenomena in a boreo-nemoral forest, including water stress and degradation induced by spruce bark beetles (Ips typographus). To gain a deeper insight into the sub-daily impacts of forest water dynamics on radar observations, the BorealScat-2 tower-based radar experiment was initiated in a boreal forest, located in northern Sweden in 2022. Along with in-situ sensors characterizing the water status on the tree level and an eddy-covariance flux tower, this initiative aims to compile a comprehensive and open dataset. The goal is to enhance our understanding and modelling of the relationship between traditional ground-based forest information, eddy-covariance flux measurements and radar remote sensing observables.The data gathered by BorealScat-2 stands out as the most radiometrically precise high-resolution time series ever recorded in forest environments, resolving the subtle water content-induced signatures in radar measurements. Preliminary findings from the 2022 growing season, highlight the detectability of a diurnal radar signature across all conventional radar remote sensing bands (i.e. C-, L- and P-band). Moreover, metrics akin to tree water deficit, as measured by high-resolution point dendrometers, can be derived from interferometric radar observations. The fine temporal resolution of the data also unveils distinct signatures corresponding to intercepted precipitation in time series measurements. These findings underscore the need for sub-daily observations from space-borne satellites to monitor vegetation water status.
Quantifying the role of the stratosphere in upward wave propagation during stratospheric polar vortex disturbances: an SNAPSI Working Group 4 analysis
Authors: Ayarzagüena Blanca , Butler Amy H. , Garfinkel Chaim , Hitchcock Peter , Afargan-Gerstman Hilla , Birner Thomas , Calvo Natalia , de la Cámara Álvaro , Gómez Nahuel , Jucker Martin , Koren Gebrand , Lawrence Zachary , Manney Gloria , Ning Wuhan , Osman Marisol , Rupp Philip , Taguchi Masakazu , Wicker Wolfgang , Wu Zheng ,   SNAPSI WG4
Published: March 2024

Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are the most dramatic wintertime stratospheric phenomena. They are preceded by a sustained wave dissipation in the stratosphere that leads to the deceleration of the polar vortex. The signal from SSWs then typically propagates downward reaching the troposphere and inducing a negative phase of the Annular Mode that may persist several weeks up to two months. Incorporating then stratospheric information in subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecast systems has been shown to improve the skill of S2S predictions for surface climate. However, on average, present S2S forecast systems can only predict SSWs around two weeks before the onset of the event. A suggested strategy to increase their predictability is to improve the representation of triggering mechanisms of SSWs. However, while there is a consensus on the relevance of the wave activity for that, the origin of the rapid enhancement of stratospheric wave activity prior to SSWs is not sufficiently understood.The aim of this study is two-fold: to assess the ability of forecast systems to reproduce the stratospheric wave amplification during SSWs and to quantify the role of the stratosphere in this enhanced upward wave propagation. To do so, we analyze the triggering mechanisms of three different SSWs, the boreal SSWs of 2018 and 2019 and the austral minor SSW of 2019, by means of SNAPSI (Stratospheric Nudging And Predictable Surface Impacts) sets of forecast ensembles. These ensembles include free-evolving atmospheric runs and nudged simulations where the zonally-symmetric stratospheric state is nudged to either observations of a certain SSW or a climatological state. Our results show that models struggle to predict the SSW of 2018, as they are not able to capture the strong enhancement of wavenumber-2 wave activity around one week before the event. In contrast, most ensemble members of all models are able to simulate both SSWs of 2019, but with some common issues such as an early timing for the NH event and a weaker deceleration of the vortex in the case of the SH SSW. In the three cases, capturing both the tropospheric precursors and the interactions of waves with the stratospheric flow are revealed to be crucial for the occurrence of the phenomena. However, the relative role of each contribution is different depending on the individual event. This is a contribution of the Working Group 4 of the SNAPSI initiative.
Automated Python workflow for generating Sentinel-1 PSI and SBAS interferometric stacks using SNAP on the Geospatial Computing Platform
Authors: Zaki Amira , Chang Ling , Manzella Irene , Meijde Mark van der , Girgin Serkan , Tanyas Hakan , Fadel Islam
Published: March 2024

SNAP (Sentinel Application Platform) is an ESA open-source package distinguished by its stability and user-friendly interface, especially while conducting interferometric SAR (InSAR) processing. However, SNAP-ESA is limited by the lack of a flexible algorithm to generate InSAR time series stacks for both Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) techniques. Moreover, another limitation is the computational requirement to generate InSAR time series interferometric stacks for the available data time span over large areas. In this research, we introduce an innovative automated Python Workflow built upon SNAP-ESA, namely SNAPWF. SNAPWF integrates the capabilities of open-source ASF-search and SNAP-ESA software, enabling network graph generation for PSI and SBAS. The generated network graphs are then utilized to generate the InSAR stacks using SNAP-ESA flexible Graph Processing Framework (GPF) through the Graph Processing Tool (GPT). SNAPWF has the capability to export the interferometric stacks to different file formats that enable further analysis in other available software packages. We implemented and tested SNAPWF on a dedicated geospatial cloud computing platform (GCP). The results demonstrated its capability to generate complete interferometric stacks for Sentinel-1 scenes for PSI and SBAS implemented for a study area across Kenya and Tanzania in 6 hours for one year of data. Moreover, the performance test results showed the possible utilization of the variable resources to accelerate the processing steps.