bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making Space for Water: Investing in Nature-based Solutions with Beavers
Authors: Puttock Alan , Barclay Holly , Holden Matt , Burgess Peter , Brazier Richard
Published: March 2024

Our landscapes and watercourses face intense pressures from climate extremes, land use change, declining biodiversity and increased demand for water resources. It is increasingly proposed that by working with natural processes, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can increase resilience to these pressures, providing multiple environmental and societal benefits.Beavers are the archetypal ecosystem engineers and keystone species, which can profoundly alter ecosystem structure and function, creating complex wetland environments (Brazier et al., 2021). Research has shown the return of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) to European landscapes can provide multiple benefits including for biodiversity and water resource management (Puttock et al., 2021). However, beaver activity such as damming and tree-felling within our intensively managed and populated landscapes can also conflict with existing land use (Auster et al., 2019). Therefore, management and policy frameworks are required which mitigate conflicts and maximise the NbS benefits beavers can bring.The Making Space for Water Programme (Barclay et al., 2023) will be introduced, which aims to support land managers to build a network of nature rich wetlands across South West England. This project led by Devon Wildlife Trust, in partnership with the University of Exeter and local landowners is the first of its kind in the UK, aiming to work with wild beavers to deliver natural solutions to address societal challenges.  Case studies will be presented discussing how geospatial mapping and modelling, stakeholder engagement and green finance approaches are being implemented to make catchments ‘beaver ready’, target financial support and enable NbS to deliver significant and lasting benefits. It is hoped that the approach adopted in this project alongside discussion of challenges and benefits can contribute towards progress in the mainstreaming of nature-led NbS approaches.ReferencesAuster, R. E., Puttock, A., & Brazier, R. (2019). Unravelling perceptions of Eurasian beaver reintroduction in Great Britain. Area, area.12576. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12576Barclay, H., Holden, M., Puttock, A., & Burgess, P. (2023) Making Space for Water: Investing in nature-based solutions with beavers. https://www.flipsnack.com/devonwildlifetrust/dwt-beaver-green-finance-programme/full-view.htmlBrazier, R. E., Puttock, A., Graham, H. A., Auster, R. E., Davies, K. H. & Brown, C. M. . (2021). Beaver: Nature’s ecosystem engineers. WIREs Water. DOI:10.1002/wat2.1494Puttock, A., Graham, H. A., Ashe, J., Luscombe, D. J. & Brazier, R. E. (2021). Beaver dams attenuate flow: A multi‐site study. Hydrological Processes, 35(2), e14017. DOI:10.1002/hyp.14017
Reinterpretation of the Fermi acceleration of cosmic rays in terms of the ballistic surfing acceleration in shocks
Authors: Stasiewicz Krzysztof
Published: March 2024

It is shown that the first order Fermi acceleration of cosmic rays, based on a concept of ions reflected by shocks, is equivalent to the ballistic surfing acceleration (BSA) by the convection electric field. Despite big differences in the physics of the processes involved, both models lead to the same expression for the energy gain of a particle after one encounter with the shock, and consequently to the same power-law distribution of the cosmic ray energy spectrum after many encounters. BSA accelerates ions continuously from superthermal energies of 100eV up to very high energies observed in the cosmic ray spectrum. It is shown that the ‘knee’ observed in the spectrum at energy of 5×1015 eV could correspond to ions with gyroradius comparable to the size of shocks in supernova remnants.It has been established that thermalization, heating, and energization of ions and electrons in collisionless shocks are related to the following plasma processes:BSA – ballistic surfing accelerationSWE –  stochastic wave energizationTTT – transit time thermalizationQAH – quasi adiabatic heatingReferences:[1] K. Stasiewicz, MNRAS. 527, L71 (2023), Origin of flat-top electron distributions at the Earth’s bow shock, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slad146[2] K. Stasiewicz, MNRAS. 524, L50 (2023), Transit time  thermalization  and the stochastic wave energization of ions  in quasi-perpendicular shocks,  https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slad071 [3] K. Stasiewicz, B. Eliasson, MNRAS 520, 3238 (2023), Electron heating mechanisms at the bow shock - revisited with Magnetospheric Multiscale measurements, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stad3
Modelling the impact of beaver dams on hydrological extremes following the re-introduction of beavers in England 
Authors: Jackson Benjamin , Puttock Alan , Panici Diego , Brazier Richard
Published: March 2024

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is being reintroduced to Great Britain after an absence of ~400 years. Beavers are well known for their considerable engineering capabilities. Given the right conditions, beavers construct dams, excavate channels and maintain wetlands. These changes have been demonstrated to have a significant impact upon hydrological extremes in the English environment. There is the potential for beaver re-introduction to have a transformative impact as a widespread nature-based solution (NBS). However, there is a need for policy and management relevant understanding at a national level.Funded by the Environment Agency in England, the aim of this study was to use a modelling approach to be able to estimate how catchments in England may respond to extreme events following the re-introduction of beavers. To accomplish this, we have applied the 2D version of the hydraulic model HEC-RAS to sites across England. Sites were selected that had the potential for beavers to construct dams.Beaver dams are represented within HEC-RAS by digitising a series of weirs intersected by culverts, allowing water to leak through the dam as well as overtopping the weir. To account for uncertainty in dam properties, we configured the model to simulate different configurations of dam height, as well as the “leakiness” of each dam.Using the approach described, HEC-RAS was used to simulate the impact of hypothetical beaver dams on storm events of different magnitudes in addition to low flow scenarios. Results suggest that the impact of beaver dam sequences on hydrology is highly dependent on channel and floodplain topography.We were then able to apply these results to produce an estimation of the impact of beavers on flow regimes at any river stretch in England. This was estimated for three scenarios with high, moderate and low presence of beavers across England. It is hoped that these modelling tools can be used to strategically determine where and how beavers may be able to provide a hydrological NBS and where supporting their wetland creation could be most valuable.
Overview of the impact of climate change on the structure and dynamical properties of the stratosphere
Authors: Añel Juan A. , de la Torre Laura , Kuchař Aleš , García Rolando , Mlynczak Marty M. , Pérez Souto Celia , Šácha Petr
Published: March 2024

Climate change has a significant impact on the structure and properties of the Earth's atmosphere above the tropopause. The most noticeable effects include a decrease in temperature and density. However, it is difficult to establish trends for this region of the atmosphere, which includes the stratosphere and above. This is mainly due to the need for long-term datasets to ensure that the trends are robust and statistically significant. It is also necessary to consider the impact of solar influence when trying to quantify the role of anthropogenic emissions on various variables' trends.In this study, we explore all these issues, including the effects of different metrics on quantification and trends such as differences in geopotential levels, temperature, density, and the width of the layers. To achieve this, we use a combination of reanalysis and satellite data. The results take into account global mean values and latitudinal differences. We observe a contraction and cooling of the stratosphere in all layers, but with some variations.
Assessing winegrape suitability in a changing climate through phenology and thermal physiology  
Authors: Morales-Castilla Ignacio , Aguirre-Iglesias Sofía , Río Lara , Fernández-Pastor Marta , Uscola Fernández Mercedes
Published: March 2024

There is a pressing need for cost-efficient adaptation of agriculture to a warming climate. An increasingly supported approach relies on leveraging varietal diversity, assuming that crop varieties exhibit distinct responses to climate, thereby providing a range of choices under various scenarios. This holds true for winegrapes, where considerable variability in phenological and physiological traits has been documented across varieties. However, it remains unclear whether phenology or physiology is more informative concerning varietal suitability to diverse climate conditions. Additionally, the extent to which phenology and physiology correlate in a predictable manner is still unknown, raising the question of whether one can be utilized as a surrogate of the other. In this study, we address these questions by examining understudied varieties of Iberian winegrapes as a case study. We integrate field phenological observations from the last decades with results from experiments determining the heat tolerance of eight varieties of Spanish and Portuguese winegrapes. Our findings reveal that there is no unequivocal relationship between phenology and thermal physiology. Specifically, later varieties, assumed to better cope with warming climates, do not consistently exhibit greater heat tolerance. These results suggest that phenology and heat tolerance are not interchangeable but instead represent complementary sources of information. Consequently, they can (and should) be integrated into assessments of the risk of thermal stress and climate suitability of winegrape varieties. 
Long-term trends of mesosphere/lower thermosphere gravity wave proxies derived from combined LF spaced receiver and VHF Doppler wind observations
Authors: Jacobi Christoph , Karami Khalil , Kuchar Ales
Published: March 2024

Time series of mesosphere/lower thermosphere half-hourly winds over Collm (51.3°N, 13.0°E) have been obtained from 1984 – 2008 by low frequency (LF) spaced receiver measurements and from 2004 to date by VHR meteor radar Doppler wind observations in the height range 82 – 97 km.  From half-hourly differences of zonal and meridional winds, gravity wave (GW) proxies have been calculated that describe amplitude variations in the period range 1 – 3 hours. After applying corrections to account for instrumental differences, GW climatology and time series have been obtained. The mean GW activity in the upper mesosphere shows maximum amplitudes in summer, while in the lower thermosphere GWs maximize in winter. Positive/negative long-term trends are visible in winter/summer. Interannual and quasi-decadal variations of GW amplitudes are also visible, but these are intermittent. 
Full-waveform inversion of the OBS data from the Japan Trench area affected by the petit-spot volcanism
Authors: Górszczyk Andrzej , Amirzadeh Yousef
Published: March 2024

Petit-spot volcanoes, recently discovered volcanic structures, have significantly enriched our understanding of intraplate volcanism, particularly occuring in response to plate flexure during subduction. Discovery of these volcanoes in the vicinity of the Japan Trench marked a milestone showcasing the profound impact of tectonic processes on the intraplate volcanism and supporting the existence of small-degree melts at the base of the lithosphere.One of the key question marks surrounding the petit-spot volcanoes is the extraction and ascent of melts to the seabed that would required development of lithospheric-scale fractures. As for now, no physical model has been devised to validate this hypothesis. The complexities involved in understanding the intricate genesis of petit-spot volcanism underline the need for its further investigation with innovative approaches.In 2017 Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) carried out an active seismic survey to investigate the geological setting impacted by petit-spot volcanism in the trench-outer-rise region of the Japan Trench. During the survey 40 ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) were deployed at 2 km intervals along an 80-km long 2D receiver profile, coupled with the firing of 983 air-gun shots at 100 m intervals along an extensive 100-km shooting profile. The resulting dataset creates an opportunity for in-depth analysis of subsurface and holds the potential for constructing a high-resolution velocity model with full-waveform inversion (FWI).In this work we use first arrival traveltime tomography and time-domain acoustic FWI to reconstruct P-wave velocity model at the wavelet resolution. We push the inversion up to 8 Hz, which allows us to delineate sharp velocity contrasts within the incoming plate that are likely related to the petit-spot volcanism phenomenon occurring in this region. The resulting velocity model promises to contribute to our comprehension of intraplate volcanism, offering a perspective on the broadening of our understanding the underlying processes causing intraplate volcanism.
Impacts of Air Pollutant Emissions on Solar Energy Generation
Authors: Yao Fei , Palmer Paul , Liu Jianzheng , Chen Hongwen , Wang Yuan
Published: March 2024

Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere and deposited on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels reduce PV energy generation. Reducing anthropogenic PM sources will therefore increase carbon-free energy generation. However, we lack a global understanding of the sectors that would be the most effective at achieving the necessary reductions in PM sources. We combine well-evaluated models of solar PV performance and atmospheric composition to show that deep cuts in air pollutant emissions from the residential sector substantially benefit Asian PV power output. Specifically, halving residential emissions of PM would lead to an additional 10.3 TWh yr-1 and 2.5 TWh yr-1 of PV energy generation in China and India in 2020, respectively. Compared to the 2020 electricity generation of 261.6 TWh yr-1 and 54.4 TWh yr-1 from solar PV technology in China and India, respectively, these unrealised sources of energy generation represent an improvement of approximately 4-5%. While anthropogenic PM sources originate mainly from producers, they are responding to changes in domestic and international consumer demand. This raises a critical question about the extent to which consumers, who benefit from the emission process, should be responsible for the resulting unrealised, cleaner PV energy generation. Focusing on Northeast Asia (NEA), we investigate the source-receptor relationship of PV energy losses attributable to PM pollution among China, South Korea, and Japan by incorporating a new input-output model into the combined models of solar PV performance and atmospheric composition. Our findings reveal that the solar energy generation losses attributable to PM pollution in NEA caused by emissions produced in China surpass those linked to China’s consumption that stimulates emissions in China and elsewhere, with the disparity amounting to 9.3 TWh yr-1. Conversely, a reverse pattern is observed for solar energy generation losses linked to emissions produced versus induced by consumption in South Korea and Japan, where the disparities are found to be -0.023 TWh yr-1 and -0.231 TWh yr-1, respectively. In other words, when we consider international trade across NEA, we find there is diminished (augmented) responsibility for China (South Korea and Japan) in explaining PV-related energy losses attributable to PM pollution.
An approach for the reduction of the sediment volume transported by debris flow from the high-sloping reach of a debris-flow channel
Authors: Gregoretti Carlo , Barbini Matteo , Bernard Martino , Boreggio Mauro , Lopez Sandival , Schiavo Massimiliano
Published: March 2024

Usual works for the reduction of the sediment volume transported by debris flows are the retention basins. Retention basins are usually built on the intermediate and low-sloping reaches of the debris-flow channels or at their end, where the terrain slope is usually not high. When the space required for trapping all the sediment volume is not available or the upper part of the basin must be protected deposition areas can be used. The deposition area is a retention basin without the downstream berm, to be placed in the high-sloping reach of a debris-flow channel. Therefore, it is proposed an approach for the progressive reduction of the sediment volume transported by debris flow: an in-series combination of deposition areas in the high-sloping reaches of the channel, and retention basins in the intermediate low-sloping reaches of the flow path.An application of such approach is shown for the design of the control works on Ru Secco Creek at the purpose of defending the resort area and the village of San Vito di Cadore (Northeast Italian Alps).
Hydrothermally altered rocks of La Fossa, Vulcano island (Italy): Implications for flank instability from coupled drone photogrammetry and rock mechanical measurements
Authors: De Jarnatt Benjamin , Walter Thomas R. , Heap Michael J. , Mueller Daniel , Nikutta Julia , Pisciotta Antonino Fabio
Published: March 2024

Hydrothermal alteration is well recognized to change the physical and mechanical properties of volcanic rocks and promote instability and flank collapse. Here, we investigate La Fossa of Vulcano Island (Italy), the southernmost exposure of the Aeolian volcanic archipelago, and its associated regions of hydrothermal alteration. La Fossa’s accessibility, altered flanks, history of mass wasting events, and periods of escalating fumarole activity set an ideal environment for a natural laboratory. We used drone remote sensing methods coupled with field and ongoing laboratory rock property measurements to classify regions of hydrothermal alteration and assess their associated rock properties. Our results have (1) identified a heterogenous distribution of alteration intensity and alteration types, (2) distinguished a relationship between decreasing rock strength and increasing alteration, and (3) correlated regions with the weakest rock strength with hydrothermally altered flanks. This combined approach allows us to explore the relationships between hydrothermal alteration, rock strength, and flank instability of La Fossa. 
Water and energy storage in the European Union: current situation and future challenges
Authors: Quaranta Emanuele , Pistocchi Alberto
Published: March 2024

Water storage is a key element in the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE Nexus). Water storage systems can be designed in different ways and for serving several purposes. Water storage is also associated to energy storage, when there are turbines that can produce energy (hydropower) from the stored water. More than 95% of the current energy storage in the European Union (EU), and worldwide, is stored in artificial reservoirs behind dams. In the EU there are 4491 large dams according to the ICOLD 2023 register of dams and 40% are for multiple uses. Overall, 48% of EU’s large dams are powered. The theoretical potential of energy storage Es in hydropower reservoirs (Es = k·h·V, V=reservoir volume in m3, h=head in m, k=coefficient for the units) is some tens of TWh in the EU. The theoretical potential so calculated is 9 TWh for pumped-hydropower storage (PHS) plants. However, the real technical storage capacity is much less than the theoretical one (1200 GWh in PHSs).As the impacts of climate change have considerable effects on people and ecosystems, which are exacerbated by a rising demand for water due to population and economic growth, higher temperatures and decrease in precipitation in certain regions, water&energy storage capacity needs to increase in the future, and should consider the interdependence of water, energy and food security and ecosystems – water, soil, and land. In this contribution, the current state-of-the art of PHSs in the EU is discussed and the challenges are presented considering the recent developments at the European Commission and the results of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory. The sustainable development opportunities for PHS are discussed also considering the recent Horizon calls for projects launched by the European Commission and the ongoing discussions on water and energy storage needs, with focus on emerging technologies and strategies, e.g. sustainable refurbishment, digitalization, new electro-mechanical equipment and reservoir interconnection.
Deep plumbing model of the Cenozoic Manzaz / Atakor intraplate volcanic system, Central Hoggar, Northwest Africa, based on electrical resistivity models
Authors: Boukhalfa Zakaria , J. Comeau Matthew , Benhallou Amel , Bouzid Abderrezak , Bendaoud Abderrahmane
Published: March 2024

Continental intraplate volcanic systems, with their location far from plate tectonic boundaries, are not well understood: the crustal and lithospheric mantle structure of these systems remain enigmatic and there is no consensus on the mechanisms that cause melt generation and ascent. The Cenozoic saw the development of numerous volcanic provinces on the African plate. This includes the Hoggar volcanic province, located in Northwest Africa, part of the Tuareg shield. It is composed of several massifs with contrasting ages and eruptive styles. The magmatic activity began at around 34 Ma and continued throughout the Neogene-Quaternary. Phonolite and trachyte domes as well as scoria cones and necks are found in the Manzaz and Atakor volcanic districts. In order to image the crustal and lithospheric mantle structure of this region, and to understand the origins and potential mechanisms of the continental intraplate volcanic activity in the Central Hoggar and specifically the Atakor/Manzaz area, we acquired magnetotelluric (MT) measurements from 40 locations and generated a 3-D electrical resistivity model. The model covers an area of about 100 km by 200 km. Images of the subsurface architecture, in terms of electrical resistivity, from the near-surface to the lithospheric mantle, allow us image the deep plumbing system of the volcanic system. Low resistivity features (i.e., conductors) in the crust that are narrow, linear structures trending approximately north-south, are revealed along the two boundaries of the Azrou N’Fad terrane, in the Manzaz area. They likely reflect the Pan-African mega-shear zones, which were reactivated throughout the tectonic evolution of the region. The model reveals that these faults are lithospheric-scale. In addition, the low-resistivity features likely represent the signatures of past fluid flow. The location of the recent Cenozoic volcanic activity was likely influenced by the pre-existing structure. A deep feature of moderate conductivity is located in the upper lithospheric mantle directly beneath the Manzaz and Atakor Volcanic Districts. It may represent the origin of the overlying anomalies and may suggest metasomatism of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle.Keywords:  intraplate, Hoggar, alkaline volcanism, magnetotelluric, electrical resistivity.
SAGE II and SAGE III/ISS inference of the optical perturbations caused by volcanic eruptions
Authors: Thomason Larry , Kovilakam Mahesh
Published: March 2024

An analysis of multiwavelength stratospheric aerosol extinction coefficient data from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II and III/ISS instruments by Thomason et al. (2021) demonstrated a coherent relationship between the perturbation in extinction coefficient in an eruption’s main aerosol layer and the wavelength dependence of that perturbation. The relationship was observed to span multiple orders of magnitude in the aerosol extinction coefficient of stratospheric impact of volcanic events. Since that publication, the 2022 eruption by Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is noted for several unique features including its intensity and altitude of the aerosol injection. It is also among the largest eruptions since the 1991 eruption by Mt. Pinatubo. In this paper, we show that this eruption fits well into the extinction coefficient/extinction coefficient ratio space found in the previous publication. In addition, while the previous publication was focused on the peak extinction coefficient following the eruption, herein we examine how well the spatial distribution of enhanced aerosol extinction follows the simple relationship between extinction coefficient and extinction coefficient for the by Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai  eruption and those previously examined.Thomason, L. W., Kovilakam, M., Schmidt, A., von Savigny, C., Knepp, T., and Rieger, L.: Evidence for the predictability of changes in the stratospheric aerosol size following volcanic eruptions of diverse magnitudes using space-based instruments, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 1143–1158, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1143-2021, 2021.
Spatial distribution characteristics and analysis of groundwater pollution in the Palancia River Basin
Authors: Picó Yolanda , Andreu Vicente
Published: March 2024

Micro-organic contaminants in groundwater harm the environment and human health. They result from current human activities and past pollution. A study in the Palancia River Basin examined the occurrence and concentrations of these contaminants in water. In this study, 10 groundwater and 10 surface water samples were collected, analyzing a total of 100 contaminants for this study. Carbamazepine and caffeine indicate urban pollution, while pesticides and their metabolites (terbuthylazine, desethylterbuthylazine, metolachlor, simazine, propazine) mainly signal crop production. All chosen MO were found in both the aquifer and Palancia River. In groundwater, the most common were terbutylazine (detected in 50 % with a max concentration of 101.0 ng L−1), carbamazepine (40%, 50.0 ng L−1), and desethylterbuthylazine (35%, 15.0 ng L−1). In addition to the selected contaminants identified as indicators of pollution, up to 18 different pesticides, 12 pharmaceuticals, and various industrial-origin products were found. Comparisons with global studies suggest concentrations reflect the specific land use in recharge areas.Acknowledgements.- This work has been supported by Grant PID2022-138556OB-C22 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”
GHG monitoring from microsatellite using compact micro-LiDAR and Push-broom spectrometer
Authors: Stepanova Daria , Armandillo Errico , Adam Mariana , Ramirez Ivan
Published: March 2024

In the context of growing climate change concerns, accurate and real-time monitoring of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) is imperative. AIRMO's innovative GHG emissions monitoring service is at the forefront of addressing this need, offering high-resolution and high-sensitivity emissions data. Local winds, along with presence of aerosol and thin clouds significantly impacts the accuracy of GHG flux measurements, hence the output data quality.The Airmo service, under development,  is powered by a small satellite constellation equipped with 3 co-located instruments including a pushbroom SWIR spectrometer, micro LiDAR, and an RGB camera. In this context, the LiDAR emerges as a pivotal tool due to its unique capability to characterise both winds and aerosols. The major difference and mission impact brought by AIRMO relies on complementing and supplementing the column Radiance data produced by the Spectrometer with atmospheric data from the LiDAR, including data about aerosol layers and cirrus cloud’s optical properties.This approach enables precise localization of GHG sources with spatial resolution capabilities down to 30 meters. Temporal resolution with a revisit rate of 4 hours with complete deployment ensures timely data for tracking emission changes. High spectral sensitivity in the SWIR range guarantees retrieval accuracy and spectral line characterization. The expe4cted accuracy of methane measurements lies within ±5 ppb and CO2 within ±2 ppm, offering unprecedented precision in GHG quantification.The upcoming In-Orbit Demonstration (IoD) mission will showcase AIRMO's capability to meet stringent observation requirements and validate its operational framework in alignment with mission objectives. Two airborne campaigns are  planned for 1st and 3rd   Q 2024.The paper will provide an overview of the status of the Mission and critical payload development and performance.
Simulating and Studying Greenhouse Effect in your classroom with Arduino UNO
Authors: Louvaris Konstantinos , Mammi Antonia - Zoi
Published: March 2024

The lesson employs a hands-on approach, involving a Greenhouse Effect Simulation using an Arduino UNO. This approach, following the principals of J. Bruno’s learning by discovery and trying to avoid the criticism to the original greenhouse effect experiments raised by a recent paper (M. Bertò et al, 2014) aims to make the subject more interesting for students, fostering practical skills in science and technology. Students experiment with modifying variables in a simulation setup, which includes a glass basin with limestone gravel, an infrared lamp, and a sprayer. The simulation introduces the concept of acid rain and its interaction with limestone, resulting in the release of CO2. Three scenarios are explored: one without CO2, one with water vapor but no CO2, and one with "acid rain on limestone," generating CO2. The sources of atmospheric CO2, including natural and anthropogenic processes, are discussed within this context.To monitor temperature changes in the simulation, students use Arduino, a temperature sensor and an infrared sensor allowing them to analyze and understand the impact of different scenarios on temperature patterns. The lesson emphasizes the importance of monitoring temperature changes in correlation with climate patterns, providing students with a tangible connection to real-world challenges. Note that basic Arduino concepts are introduced to familiarize students with microcontrollers, sensors, and programming. Subject: Geology - Geography, Chemistry, InformaticsGrade: 12-14 years oldDuration:  two class periodsGeneral Objectives: This lesson includes a brief overview of greenhouse effect and its causes and impacts on temperature patterns and climate change.Lesson Plan - Objectives: The students get familiar with greenhouse effect and systemic correlations.
The students experimenting with a Greenhouse Effect Simulation.
The students monitor the Temperature in Simulation
Groundwater recharge from ephemeral rivers of the Canterbury Plains (New-Zealand): historical reconstruction using satellite imagery and environmental implications
Authors: Di Ciacca Antoine , Brand Maxime , Knight L. Guinevere , Durney Patrick
Published: March 2024

In numerous regions, surface water courses provide essential recharge to aquifers, particularly in times of increased aridity. In the Canterbury Plains (New Zealand), gravel-bed rivers are a major source of groundwater recharge to the aquifers, which are intensively pumped for irrigation but also sustain a number of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Some of these rivers lose so much of their water to the underlying aquifers that they are ephemeral.In this study, a recently developed method has been employed to estimate transmission losses in the upper Selwyn and Orari Rivers using the extensive Planet Monitoring satellite image collection (2010-2023). Using a simple linear modelling approach, we have converted the transmission losses to total groundwater recharge and extended the record to the 1980s. This dataset unveils historical variations in groundwater recharge from these rivers.The findings indicate an average annual groundwater recharge of approximately 50 million m³/y from the upper Selwyn and about 183 million m³/y from the upper Orari. Notably, the influence of climate is evident through significant interannual fluctuations (up to 100%) correlated with precipitation, tied to broader climatic phenomena such as El Niño/La Niña and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation. However, no distinct impact of longer-term climate change has been observed in this context.Moreover, this study delves into the environmental implications of these recharge sources. Notably, the upper Selwyn River sustains a critical groundwater-dependent ecosystem, supporting the endangered Kōwaro (Canterbury mudfish) in springs downstream of the studied losing reach. The analysis reveals that recharge from the upper Selwyn maintains adequate water levels and flows in these springs. However, during dry periods, when the seasonal average recharge rate drops below 2 m³/s, groundwater levels are insufficient to reach the springs, potentially causing harmful effects on this ecosystem.Ongoing research focuses on further exploring the environmental implications of groundwater recharge from the upper Selwyn and Orari Rivers and explaining the differences observed between the two river systems.
HydroPML: Towards Unified Scientific Paradigms for Machine Learning and Process-based Hydrology
Authors: Xu Qingsong , Shi Yilei , Bamber Jonathan , Tuo Ye , Ludwig Ralf , Zhu Xiao Xiang
Published: March 2024

Accurate hydrological understanding and water cycle prediction are crucial for addressing scientific and societal challenges associated with the management of water resources, particularly under the dynamic influence of anthropogenic climate change. Existing work predominantly concentrates on the development of machine learning (ML) in this field, yet there is a clear distinction between hydrology and ML as separate paradigms. Here, we introduce physics-aware ML as a transformative approach to overcome the perceived barrier and revolutionize both fields. Specifically, we present a comprehensive review of the physics-aware ML methods, building a structured community (PaML) of existing methodologies that integrate prior physical knowledge or physics-based modeling into ML. We systematically analyze these PaML methodologies with respect to four aspects: physical data-guided ML, physics-informed ML, physics-embedded ML, and physics-aware hybrid learning. PaML facilitates ML-aided hypotheses, accelerating insights from big data and fostering scientific discoveries. We initiate a systematic exploration of hydrology in PaML, including rainfall-runoff and hydrodynamic processes, and highlight the most promising and challenging directions for different objectives and PaML methods. Finally, a new PaML-based hydrology platform, termed HydroPML, is released as a foundation for applications based on hydrological processes [1]. HydroPML presents a range of hydrology applications, including but not limited to rainfall-runoff-inundation modeling, real-time flood forecasting (FloodCast), rainfall-induced landslide forecasting (LandslideCast), and cutting-edge PaML methods, to enhance the explainability and causality of ML and lay the groundwork for the digital water cycle's realization. The HydroPML platform is publicly available at https://hydropml.github.io/.[1] Xu, Qingsong, et al. "Physics-aware Machine Learning Revolutionizes Scientific Paradigm for Machine Learning and Process-based Hydrology." arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.05227 (2023).
Shifts in plant water use patterns during increasing VPD across 122 years of breeding in U.S. Midwest spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes
Authors: Köhler Tina , Ossola Emma , Anderson James , Carminati Andrea , Sadok Walid
Published: March 2024

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in continental cropping systems of the U.S. Midwest have shown a consistent upward trajectory over the past century due to successful breeding efforts and improvements in crop management. However, the looming threat of increasingly extreme temperature trends and the rising evaporative demand (vapor pressure deficit, VPD) during the cropping season in that region may require adaptive water use strategies to maintain or further increase wheat yield potential. Therefore, our objective was to investigate whether the observed increase in yield over the last 122 years coincides with a shift in plant water use strategies, i.e., the transpiration rate (TR) sensitivity to rising VPD.In this study, we selected 15 spring wheat genotypes from Minnesota with a year of release (YOR) spanning from 1898 to 2020 to capture the genetic yield gains achieved during that period by the local breeding program. We tested plant transpiration rate in response to rising VPD ranging from 0.5 to 2.8 kPa in a climate chamber in wet soil and potted conditions. Additionally, we measured several traits that capture plant hydraulic properties, including stomatal conductance, plant hydraulic conductance, leaf area, above- and belowground biomass, and stomatal morphological properties.Our investigation revealed that at a critical VPD beyond 1.83 ± 0.17 kPa, a significant portion of the tested genotypes expressed a limited increase in TR with increasing VPD, indicating a decline in stomatal conductance. No discernible correlation was observed between parameters characterizing plant water use strategies or the plant hydraulic system and YOR over the whole 122-year window. However, a moving window analysis unveiled that post the green revolution (around 1960 ± 15 years), breeding for yield indirectly favored less hydraulically conductive plants with a reduced leaf area and a linearization of the transpiration rate response to increasing VPD, as evidenced by a decreasing difference in slopes beyond a critical VPD. This resulted in a less pronounced reduction in water use due to a restricted TR response to increasing VPD and, thus, a lower sensitivity to rising VPD. Our study indicates that hydraulic traits such as the TR sensitivity to VPD might have been under the control of a cryptic selection mechanism by breeders as they increased wheat yield potential in the region, at least from the 1960s onwards. This points to the promising possibility of using such traits to improve yields under drier climates.
HELPING: Co-creating and communicating water solutions in a globally changing world
Authors: Olusola Adeyemi , Castelli Giulio , Ceperley Natalie
Published: March 2024

The current IAHS decade is dedicated to "Hydrology Engaging Local People IN one Global world" (HELPING). One of the core mandates of HELPING, as captured under Theme 3, emphasizes the co-creation of water knowledge and communication. Even though co-creation is not novel, especially within a participatory framework, defining and providing boundaries has been challenging when viewed through a hydrological lens. Our ongoing discussions and meetings have focused on understanding the uniqueness of this Theme and how best we can HELP to utilize diverse communication instruments IN one Global world. For Theme 3, we intend to answer questions such as: (a) How best can we co-create hydrological knowledge (indigenous/traditional and evidence-based) between people and disciplines? (b) How can we improve and increase the visibility of the hydrological decade? (c) How can we provide water solutions through the active engagement of Local People? Some answers to these questions lie in focusing on bottom-up approaches to solve the water crisis in a globally changing world. We acknowledge the fluidities in HELPING regarding the co-creation of water knowledge, which underscores the recognition of variability and complexity within this endeavour. As such, we intend to be diverse in our approach by amplifying silent voices that may have been overlooked, also with a decolonial perspective, and engaging other perspectives from other disciplines, such as but not limited to social sciences and humanities, specifically those whose work intersects sociohydrology, hydro-sociology, hydropolitics and hydronarratives.  
Remote-Sensing Magnetotail Dynamics from Low Earth Orbit with CINEMA
Authors: Millan Robyn , Ukhorskiy Sasha ,   CINEMA Science Team
Published: March 2024

Low-altitude measurements provide a unique vantage point for studying processes occurring in the magnetosphere, taking advantage of the fact that energetic particles move quickly along magnetic field lines. Low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) polar satellites can sample a vast volume of space as they rapidly traverse magnetic field lines, obtaining a radial snapshot of the entire magnetotail in minutes. CINEMA (Cross-scale INvestigation of Earth's Magnetotail and Aurora) is a NASA Small Explorer mission concept with the overarching goal to understand the role of plasma sheet structure and evolution in Earth’s multiscale magnetospheric convection cycle. How the magnetotail maintains steady convection, and when and how it decides to explosively release stored energy, are major unsolved mysteries of space physics. CINEMA’s nine satellites in LEO polar orbits each carry an on-board imager, particle sensors, and magnetometers, and quickly traverse the low-altitude footprint of the magnetotail, capturing its evolution at different scales. CINEMA obtains information about the structure of the magnetotail remotely through its imprint on particle pitch-angle distributions, providing an unprecedented view of particle isotropy boundaries. Mesoscale aurora and bursty energetic particle precipitation serve as tracers of specific mesoscale and kinetic-scale dynamics. Field-aligned currents (FACs) that connect the magnetotail to the ionosphere are sensed by measuring magnetic field variations at each satellite. Together, these observations reveal the physics underlying multiscale magnetotail convection.
Controlling factors on sediment partitioning at deltaic bifurcations: a mixed Eulerian-Lagrangian modelling approach
Authors: Barile Gabriele , Passalacqua Paola
Published: March 2024

Sediment partitioning at river bifurcations plays a crucial role in determining the morphological evolution of river deltas. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the controlling factors that determine how sediments are partitioned at bifurcations, especially for suspended-load dominated systems such as river deltas. We employed dorado, a Lagrangian reduced-complexity particle tracking model, and a 2D shallow-water hydrodynamic model to investigate this gap. First, we routed sediment particles on calibrated hydrodynamic simulations performed for the Wax Lake Delta. The resulting asymmetries in the sediment partitioning at bifurcations showed good agreement with available field data on sediment concentration and observations of the spatial distribution of sand deposits in the different delta branches. To better interpret our results and extend them to similar deltaic contexts, we developed a simplified model of deltaic bifurcation and analyzed the possible controlling factors on sediment partitioning. We show how different planform controls influence sediment partitioning at the bifurcation node, including channel width, bifurcation angle, and bed elevation differences between the anabranches. Our analysis helps understand preferential pathways for sediment transport in river deltas, with noteworthy implications for delta management.
Improving Rapid Earthquake Characterization of Tsunami Early Warning for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific
Authors: Lacoua Luce , Fry Bill , Gorman Andrew , Liao Yi-Wun Mika , Foundotos Laetitia , Zweck Chris , Jamelot Anthony
Published: March 2024

Aotearoa New Zealand, located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, is vulnerable to tsunamis. The Rapid Characterization of Earthquakes and Tsunami (RCET) project, led by GNS Science (Geological and Nuclear Sciences), aims to improve rapid analysis of large local and regional earthquakes to determine their tsunamigenic potential. Within this project, we are focusing on a simple but rapid and robust estimation of the location and magnitude of an earthquake by refining automated moment tensor inversions. A method to estimate these parameters is the W-phase inversion. Unlike simpler automated magnitude determinations routinely used to analyze earthquakes in New Zealand, the W-phase does not saturate with magnitude, making it better at quantifying Mw for the largest earthquakes. It also provides the centroid, rather than the hypocentre of an earthquake, allowing better estimation of the spatial distribution of shaking impacts. For these reasons we are developing synthetic earthquake waveforms to refine W-phase inversions for Mw ~5+ earthquakes in New Zealand and Mw 6.5+ earthquakes in the southwest Pacific, including the Hikurangi-Kermadec subduction zone. The current tsunami early warning procedure calculates W-phase solutions within 20 minutes of earthquake origins and aims to reduce it to 5-10 minutes. 

With a large set of high-magnitude events adapted to New Zealand and Hikurangi-Kermadec context, we will refine our understanding of the limits regional W- phase inversion. We are focusing on the minimum magnitude we can accurately estimate, the minimal station coverage required and the complexity of the source that can be apprehended by the W-phase.

To improve W-phase solutions for New Zealand, we simulate earthquake waveforms using a catalogue of synthetic ruptures on the Hikurangi-Kermadec subduction zone, produced by RSQSim (Rate and State Earthquake Simulator) under the RNC2 (Resilience to Nature’s Challenge 2) project. To generate the waveforms, we use SPECFEM3D Globe, a finite element method-based software that simulates wave propagation through a global velocity model of the Earth. The simulated waveforms are then postprocessed and inverted to obtain a W-phase solution. Preliminary results define which minimum waveform resolution is required to observe a W-phase and that a simple centroid moment tensor source provides an adequate W-phase solution. 
Dynamical Downscaling Simulation of Asian Climate with a Bias-Corrected CMIP6 Dataset: Evaluation 
Authors: Xu Zhongfeng , Han Ying , Zhang Meng-Zhuo , Tam Chi-Yung , Yang Zong-Liang , EL Kenawy Ahmed , Fu Congbin
Published: March 2024

    In this study, we aim to assess the impacts of GCM bias correction on dynamical downscaling simulation over the Asia-western North Pacific region. Three simulations were conducted with a 25-km grid spacing for the period 1980–2014. The first simulation (WRF_ERA5) was driven by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis 5 (ERA5) dataset and served as the validation dataset. The original GCM dataset (MPI-ESM1-2-HR model) was used to drive the second simulation (WRF_GCM), while the third simulation (WRF_GCMbc) was driven by the bias-corrected GCM dataset. The bias-corrected GCM data has an ERA5-based mean and interannual variance but the long-term trends are derived from the ensemble mean of 18 CMIP6 models. Results demonstrate that the WRF_GCMbc significantly reduced the root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) of the climatological mean of downscaled variables, including temperature, precipitation, snow, wind, relative humidity, and planetary boundary layer height by 50%–90% compared to the WRF_GCM. Similarly, the RMSEs of interannual-to-interdecadal variances of downscaled variables were reduced by 30%–60%. Furthermore, the WRF_GCMbc better captured the annual cycle of the monsoon circulation and intraseasonal and day-to-day variabilities. The leading empirical orthogonal function (EOF) shows a monopole precipitation mode in the WRF_GCM. In contrast, the WRF_GCMbc successfully reproduced the observed tri-pole mode of summer precipitation over eastern China. This improvement could be attributed to a better-simulated location of the western North Pacific subtropical high in the WRF_GCMbc after GCM bias correction.