bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revising global river plastic transport
Authors: Stibora Miranda , van Emmerik Tim , Waldschlager Kryss , González Fernández Daniel , Weerts Albrecht
Published: March 2024

Plastic waste is globally of great concern. Rivers have the potential to transport and accumulate large amounts of plastic waste which can have harmful effects on human and animal welfare. Given the durability of plastic waste, the presence of plastic in river environments is forecasted to continue rising. As part of the project INSPIRE (Innovative Solutions for Plastic Free European Rivers), the main goal of our research is to establish a baseline for the current state of plastic litter in European rivers, with the overarching aim of facilitating the reduction of plastic waste. The initial step in achieving this reduction is the accurate modelling of plastic waste in rivers.There is currently a lack of cohesion between plastic transport models, with models independently predicting the export of various plastic sizes (micro- and macroplastics) and in different riverine compartments (river water, riverbed sediment, riverbank). We aim to develop a single model accounting for the interaction between plastic sizes, due to degradation, and mediums, due to resuspension. Existing plastic models also generally use an annual time scale for predicting plastic concentrations in rivers. To estimate the impact of short-term climatic events, like storms and floods, on plastic concentrations in rivers, a higher temporal resolution would add value to plastic modelling.Challenges in plastic modelling have arisen from a lack of data-availability. However, with the rise in focus on plastic research, river plastic data availability has steeply expanded, supporting a revision of current plastic modelling approaches. Our research aims to provide a more holistic approach to plastic modelling by exploring current modelling approaches to ensure an up-to-date understanding of factors affecting plastic concentrations in rivers.Here, we revise and extend previously developed global river plastic models to also account for transport and retention. Modelling the plastic transport in rivers for all plastic sizes and in all mediums will be vital for identifying the types of plastic accumulating in the river, and in which locations. This will be imperative for the effective implementation of mitigation measures to ensure clean and safe waters for the future.
Biodeterioration of historical buildings and sites in north of Lake Tana, Ethiopia: a preliminary investigation
Authors: Demssie Ayenew , De Kock Tim , Ortega-Saez Natalia , Gemeda Blen
Published: March 2024

Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile. The lake is protected as a natural heritage site. It is surrounded by wetlands that provide a sanctuary to a diverse set of flora and fauna some of which are endemic to the region. It is also a culturally significant area. Surrounding the lake and on the islands are found tens of stone built monasteries, churches, bridges and palaces built in the Gondarine period (17th and 18th Century AD) and earlier. However, these buildings are subjected to biological growth in many different types that cause  discoloration and  degradation. The short and intense rainy season contributes to the nature, diversity and intensity of biological colonization of these stone structures. Biofilms, fungi, mosses, lichen and higher plants can be observed, while also small animals such as mites and rodents are agents of bio-deteriorative process. While micro-organisms alter the visual appearance, roots of higher plants are responsible for more severe physical decay on the site and building level, increasing also the impact of moisture-related weathering in decayed locations. However, micro-organisms can also alter the surface properties of materials, like water absorption and retention, and it is currently not well understood to what extend these contribute to the observed forms of degradation, like chipping, fissuring, cracking, etc. This poster aims to address some of the key challenges of managing cultural heritage sites found in a complex, evolving and vulnerable ecosystem, i.e. Lake Tana. Factors such as intense rainfall, humidity, the state of the structures, intensification of agriculture and the perspectives of local communities and stakeholders will be evaluated.
30 years of scatterometer soil moisture research at TU Wien: What’s next?
Authors: Wagner Wolfgang
Published: March 2024

Scatterometer soil moisture research started at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) 30 years ago when attempting to use the first European C-band scatterometer flown on board of the ERS-1 satellite for wet snow mapping over the Canadian Prairies. While it quickly turned out that the detection of wet snow is impossible when the snowpack is shallow, the strong link between C-band backscatter and soil moisture under snow-free conditions became evident [1]. This motivated research on how to disentangle the backscatter contributions from soil moisture and vegetation, which cumulated in the public release of the first global satellite derived soil moisture data set in 2002 [2]. Despite the strong criticism that the scatterometer derived soil moisture data depict in reality only vegetation signals that happen to be correlated with soil moisture dynamics, the positive outcome of independent validation studies led to the decision by EUMETSAT to develop a near-real-time soil moisture service for the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) flown on board of the METOP satellites. This service, being the first of its kind, became operational in 2008, and was later integrated into the Satellite Application Facility for Support to Operational Hydrology and Water Management (H SAF). For continuously improving this ASCAT service, TU Wien has carried out extensive research to quantify the soil moisture retrieval errors and improve the retrieval algorithm and workflows. In this presentation, I will provide an overview of the main developments over the past years, discuss open research challenges, and provide an outlook to the next ASCAT product releases and the upcoming, next-generation scatterometer instrument called SCA, to be flown on the Metop-SG B-satellites.References[1] Wagner et al. (1995) Application of Low-Resolution Active Microwave Remote Sensing (C-Band) over the Canadian Prairies, in Proc. of the 17th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada 13-15 June 1995, 21-28.[2] Scipal et al. (2002) The Global Soil Moisture Archive 1992-2000 from ERS Scatterometer Data: First Results, In: Proceedings IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARRS2002), Toronto, Canada, 24-28 June 2002, 1399-1401.
The study of the spatiotemporal variations and mechanisms for the near‑surface wind speed in China during 1979-2019
Authors: Li Xia
Published: March 2024

This study mainly presents the spatiotemporal characteristics and changes of near-surface wind speed with observations from 679 stations over China for 1979–2019. Furthermore, mechanisms of the wind speed changes are also investigated. Major results show that the larger near-surface wind speed mainly occur in northern and eastern regions, Tibetan Plateau and the coastal zones in China. The wind speed in spring is larger than the other seasons with mean value of 2.57 m s−1. Significantly, decreased near-surface wind speed trend in China is detected during 1979–2019, particularly in 1979–1996. The mean rates of decrease in 1979–2019 and 1979–1996 are−0.06 m s−1 (10a)−1 and−0.19 m s−1 (10a)−1, respectively. The decreased trends of the high wind speed percentiles are more significant than the low, especially in 1979–1996. The change rate of the 95th wind speed percentile in 1979–1996 even reaches to −0.48 m s−1 (10a)−1 and passes the significance test at p<0.05. However, the wind speed trend reversed after 1997. The lowest 5th wind speed percentile has the most significant reversal trend. Therefore, the decreased wind speed trend before 1997 is mainly caused by the significant reduction of strong wind, while the reversal trend after 1997 results from weak wind. The variations of the wind speed over China attributed to both the U and V wind components. The significantly declined trend of the surface wind speed is closely related to the weakened upper westerly wind field. In addition, the uneven warming between high and low latitudes may also contribute to the surface wind speed changes through thermal adaption.
Distribution and determinants of biocrusts in global drylands
Authors: Wang Siqing , Chen Ning , Ma Li , Yang Liping , Ma Yali , Zhang Yafeng , Zhao Changming
Published: March 2024

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts hereafter) cover a substantial proportion of dryland ecosystem and play crucial roles in ecological processes such as biogeochemical cycles, water distribution and soil erosion. Consequently, studying the spatial distribution of biocrusts holds great significance for drylands, which is still lacking, especially in a global scale. In this work, we first compiled a global database of ~3,800 biocrusts cover from field surveys, literatures, and open datasets. By training the relationship between biocrust cover and environmental indicators using machine learning approach, we obtained high-resolution (1 km) maps and determining factors of biocrust and its major subtypes (cyanobacterial, lichen, and moss biocrusts) in global drylands. This study found that biocrusts had an average cover of ~30% in drylands, with moss as the major component. Climate was the most important factors for biocrusts, with cyanobacteria and lichens mainly affected by precipitation while mosses mainly by temperature. Finally, to further advance this field, we proposed several potential research topics and aspects, including building standardized database of biocrusts, enhancing non-vascular vegetation dynamic models, integrating multi-sensor monitoring, making full use of machine learning, and focusing on regional research co-development. This work is supposed to significantly contribute to the studies on biocrusts, and thereby to advance our understandings of dryland ecosystem management and restoration.
Spring distribution in Quaternary deposits, South Carpathians, Romania: isotope composition, chemistry and radiocarbon dating
Authors: Bojar Ana-Voica , Chmiel Stanislaw , Bojar Hans-Peter , Varlam Carmen , Barbu Victor , Pelc Andrzej
Published: March 2024

The investigated area is part of a plateau situated at around 350m elevation in the south-western part of the South Carpathians. The area is crossed from north-west to south-east by dry valleys, which cut Pleistocene and Quaternary clastic deposits. Water is flowing across these valleys temporarily, after strong storms or during rainy periods. A groundwater geochemistry study was carried out on water samples collected from different springs and wells. The study was motivated by the fact that springs have represented the only source of potable water in the region, only recently completed by a few wells.Spring distributions and geological data reveal the presence of a multi-layered system situated in the Lower Quaternary deposits. Precipitations and meteorological parameters were monitored in the region for a period over 10 years. The mean δ18O and δD values of groundwater reflect the yearly weighted mean of the isotopic composition of precipitation, demonstrating locally derived recharge. The aquifers are situated at different depths in clastic deposits; the shallower aquifers are affected by evaporations during the drought periods of the summer.The water samples have concentrations of 157 to 852 mg/l for anion and 55 to 308 mg/l for cations, with TDS between 212 and 1157 mg/l. The total dissolved salts limit proposed in the guideline of WHO is 1200 mg/l, above the limit water having a bad taste, all the measured samples are below this limit.The Piper ternary diagrams for spring water indicate that the dominant hydrochemical types is HCO3--Ca+2-Mg+2 with transition toward higher SO4-2 and Mg+2  contents to the deeper aquifer. The anions vary from HCO3- with transition to no dominant- and with Cl- contents higher for the shallower aquifer. The sequence of abundance of cations is generally Ca2+>Mg+2>K+>Na+ and for anions: HCO3->SO4-2>Cl->NO3->F-. The Gibbs diagrams indicate rock weathering as a major driving force for driving the groundwater ionic chemistry in the study area. Radiocarbon dating of DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) indicates a sub recent recharge of the aquifers.The vertical and lateral variations in groundwater chemistry may vary, and are influenced by lateral lithologic variation of the Quaternary clastic deposits. This is an unpredictable quality factor when taking the decision for the drinking water drill locations.
Insights into Mercury’s tidal stresses: Linking present and past potentials
Authors: Burkhard Liliane , Thomas Nicolas
Published: March 2024

A planet’s orbital eccentricity can experience major changes over time as a result of planetary secular perturbations. Mercury's proximity to the Sun, its unique 3:2 spin-orbit resonance, and its high orbital eccentricity makes it an intriguing subject for investigating tidal forces and their resulting stresses. Throughout its history, Mercury may have experienced a state of further heightened eccentricity, potentially leading to tidal forces significant enough to modify the planet's surface. In the study presented here, we explore the tidal potential currently influencing Mercury and examine possible historical values of eccentricity to estimate past stress values. Employing a four-layer crustal model, we calculate Love numbers that reflect Mercury's internal physical properties and compute global tidal potential, surface stresses, and radial tidal displacement with respect to location and position in orbit. A suggested past orbital eccentricity of e = 0.41 could produce estimated maximum principal surface stresses of ~ +/-70 kPa which are comparable to current diurnal tidal principal stress values for Europa and Enceladus (~ +/-85 kPa). At present, Mercury experiences tidal stress values of up to ~ +/-15 kPa with a tidal bulge that can radially displace the surface by a mean of ~ 2.3 m. As tidal stresses could have been significantly higher in the past, we can hypothesize that Mercury might have experienced surface alterations induced by its orbital dynamics. On the other hand, the present-day surface of the planet has not retained evidence of any tidal stress modifications, suggesting that these characteristics, if present, would have been likely covered by the volcanic activity that persisted up to 3 billion years ago. Sophisticated instruments like the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA), to be inserted into orbit around Mercury in early 2026 onboard the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission, promise to provide unprecedented data and will be instrumental in precisely measuring Mercury's global topography, contributing to a more accurate understanding of the planet's surface variations. This, in turn, will aid in refining our calculations and representations of Mercury's internal structure and its evolution.
A semi-automatic natural language tool to minimize systematic biases in geo-hydrological disaster datasets in tropical Africa
Authors: Valkenborg Bram , Dewitte Olivier , Smets Benoît
Published: March 2024

The high susceptibility to geo-hydrological hazards in tropical Africa and their impacts remain poorly documented in existing disaster databases. Only impactful events with high attention are manually reported, creating systematic biases. Natural Language Processing has the potential to automate the documentation of geo-hydrological disasters. This research focuses on developing a semi-automated tool to extract information from online press and social media posts. Fine-tuned Large Language Models perform a series of tasks, such as question-answering, zero-shot classification, and near-entity recognition, to extract information from these online sources. A three-step approach is proposed for the detection of events: (1) filtering posts or articles on their relevancy, (2) extracting information on the location, timing, and impact and (3) merging and sorting information to document identified events into a structured disaster database. Shortcomings compared to a manual approach remain. These mainly relate to the complexity of the text or toponymic ambiguity when geocoding events. The tool is therefore complementary to other information-gathering approaches. These new sources of information will improve our understanding of the distribution of disasters related to geo-hydrological hazards, especially in data scarce context. Future work will combine this semi-automated tool with remote sensing and citizen science data, to further reduce systematic biases in disaster datasets.
Dispersion induced by braided river morphology
Authors: Vendruscolo Margherita , Camporeale Carlo Vincenzo , Ridolfi Luca
Published: March 2024

Braided rivers were deeply investigated as regards their morphodynamical evolution, conversely less interest was shown for the role that their peculiar topology can play in other phenomena, such as transport processes.Our work deals with the link between the river network structure and the downstream transport of scalars, for example chemical substances (nutrient or pollutant) or suspended sediments. The river network acts as a mixer on the injected substance, thus causing a dispersion effect on the transport process. This phenomenon - known as geomorphological dispersion in the river networks at basin scale - becomes particularly relevant in braided rivers due to the complexity of their networks and their possible crucial impact on fluvial water quality.Adopting the approach of GIUH theory, we develop a mathematical model for the dispersion in braided rivers. In particular, we assume to inject a given initial distributions of the scalar in the network inlets and aim to compute the outlet discharge by only considering the network properties, i.e. discharges at bifurcations, branches travel times, and network topology.What we observe from the results is a strong dominance of the network topology over branch-specific hydraulic properties with regard to the outlet distributions, meaning that the properties at the network scale seem to have more influence than those relative to the scale of the individual branch. Moreover, we show how the outlet distributions depend on network properties. We find that, as the network grows, temporal distributions become closer and closer to Gaussians.  This behaviour - expected in light of the central limit theorem - is caused by the succession of bifurcations and reconnections interspersed with branches having different travel times.
Persistent Carbon Sink at the Ieodo Ocean Research Station in the East China Sea
Authors: Lee Kitack , Kim Ja-Myung , Lee Gyeong-Seok , Jeong Kwang-Young , Oh Hyun-Ju
Published: March 2024

 Unlike major ocean basins, the role of coastal and marginal seas as an anthropogenic CO2 reservoir has been less studied. Using discrete surface measurements between Ieodo and Jeju Island (2015–2023) and continuous measurements at Ieodo (seasonal coverage for 2017–2019 and the year-round coverage for 2020–2023), we concluded that an increase in phytoplankton biomass from April to mid-August equalized much of the temperature-driven increase in the surface pCO2 and thus made the Ieodo Ocean Research Station a moderate sink of CO2. From November to March, both a large pCO2 reduction driven by a temperature reduction and a high air–sea CO2 exchange rate because of high windspeeds transformed the basin into a substantial CO2 sink, yielding an annual net C uptake of 61.7 g C m–2 yr–1. The present study provides observational evidence for confirming a mechanism in the shallow waters of the continental shelves accumulating a significant amount of CO2, via reinforced cooling and promoted biological CO2 uptake, to be transported from surface waters of the basin to the interior of the adjacent East Sea deep ocean.
Analogue Modelling to Support Seismic Interpretation in the Eastern Carpathian Bend Zone, Romania
Authors: Tocariu Ioana Silvia Mihaela , Tamas Alexandra , Tamas Dan Mircea , Dohan Daria , Lapadat Alexandru , Schleder Zsolt , Krezsek Csaba
Published: March 2024

Studying the complex subsurface structures in fold-and-thrust belts, such as the Eastern Carpathian Bend Zone, remains challenging due to poor seismic data quality caused by steep and intricate structures alongside multiple detachment levels.To address this, we have conducted eight analogue modelling experiments at the Structural Modelling Laboratory of Babes-Bolyai University with mechanical stratigraphy scaled to the area of interest. We used coloured quartz sand, glass microspheres and silicone to simulate brittle rocks, ductile shales, and salt, respectively. The materials were layered in a 120 cm long deformation box, which was shortened at a constant rate of one centimetre per hour. The experiments were monitored using timelapse photography and particle image velocimetry. The models were consolidated, serially sectioned, and photographed. MOVE software (Petroleum Experts) was used for importing the section images and interpreting the 3D structural style for the models.The structural style of the experiments varied based on the change in parameters, such as layer thickness, materials, shortening amounts, as well as the timing of erosion and salt deposition. The following description will refer to the most common deformation features observed in the experiments but will use the equivalent formation names and ages. The most noteworthy features are the post-salt lower Miocene's decoupling from the pre-salt section, the lower Miocene upper Kliwa formation decoupling from the Oligocene lower Kliwa formation along the lower Miocene Podu Morii shales, and the distinct wavelengths for the post-salt, upper Kliwa, and pre-upper Kliwa structures.Considering well data, outcrop data, analogue modelling observations, and the 3D model, we performed seismic interpretation. This guided seismic data interpretation revealed short-wavelength upper Kliwa disharmonic folding, Oligocene–Cretaceous thrust-related hanging-wall anticlines, and large thrust fault displacements leading to hanging-wall erosion and out-of-sequence reactivation of the thrust faults. The results of these experiments proved to be effective tools for comprehending the controlling factors of deformation in the Eastern Carpathian Bend Zone and can aid in the interpretation of subsurface data, especially in areas with poor seismic data quality.
Understanding and Managing Plant Species Invasiveness: Unraveling Vegetation Type-Specific Correlations with Species Traits and Indicators
Authors: Blennow Kristina , Palmér Cecilia
Published: March 2024

Efficient management of invasive plant species, threatening biodiversity, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing their invasiveness within specific habitats. Analysing an index of vascular plant species invasiveness alongside a dataset of plant species indicators and traits, our study reveals correlations between the invasiveness index and plant species indicators and traits. Importantly, these correlations exhibit variations based on the vegetation type of the habitat.
We interpret the consistency of these correlations across vegetation types as indicative of the competitive advantages invasive species possess in specific habitats. This insight underscores the potential for tailored management strategies at the local level. Leveraging machine learning models, we employ the Shapley variable importance measure for variable selection to correlate plant species invasiveness with indicators and traits specific to each vegetation type.
In summary, our research underscores the significance of integrating vegetation type-specific factors when formulating invasive species management plans. By identifying the competitive advantages of invasive species in particular habitats, our study provides vital information for regional and local authorities to implement targeted control measures.
A history of storminess and flooding on the west coast of Scotland reconstructed from metamorphic cave-grown speleothems
Authors: Xie Kang , Lee Martin , Persano Cristina , Faithfull John , Cheng Hai , Lawson Tim
Published: March 2024

Speleothems are not only valuable archives for reconstructing paleoclimate but can also witness climatic events including storms and floods. Two speleothems have been collected from nearshore caves on the islands of Jura and Islay, on the west coast of Scotland. The Jura cave is ~62 km northeast of the one on Islay, yet intriguingly U/Th dating shows that both speleothems began to grow at ~2,400 yr BP. This simultaneous start in calcite deposition could be related to relative sea-level change. Both speleothems have a fine-scale colour banding, and these layers are of a similar age. The dark brown layers in the Islay speleothem correlate well with storm events identified from the island’s peat bogs (Kylander et al., 2020). The black layers in the Jura speleothem formed due to the presence of manganese oxides and are thought to be indicative of cave flooding (Belli et al., 2017). We therefore suggest that periodic changes to the chemical composition and oxygenation of dripwaters in the Jura and Islay caves reflect near-synchronous Late Holocene storm events and associated flooding on the west coast of Scotland. Belli, R., et al. (2017). Investigating the hydrological significance of stalagmite geochemistry (Mg, Sr) using Sr isotope and particulate element records across the Late Glacial-to-Holocene transition. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 199, 247–263.Kylander, M. E., et al. (2020). It’s in your glass: A history of sea level and storminess from the Laphroaig bog, Islay (southwestern Scotland). Boreas, 49(1), 152–167.
Impact of the vertical coordinate system on the Baltic Sea hydrography
Authors: Pemberton Per , Mulder Erik , Bruciaferri Diego
Published: March 2024

The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed brackish marginal sea in Northern Europe. It is a sensitive system where increased anthropogenic pressure has led to a poor ecological status, with resulting hypoxia and increased algal blooms. The circulation, hydrography and stratification are strongly constrained by the bathymetric features of the region and the net freshwater input. The shallow entrance region limits the inflow of oceanic water from the North Sea, while the net freshwater input drives an estuarine-like circulation that leads to an outflow-dominated net exchange. Episodically inflows can occur through the connecting straits. When these inflows are substantial enough, during so-called Major Baltic Inflows (MBIs), they can ventilate the deeper parts of the Baltic Sea and oxygenate the deepwater.
One of the most important design choices for an ocean model is the vertical coordinate system. Traditionally most regional Baltic Sea models have employed z-coordinates, although both terrain-following and adaptive vertical coordinate models also exist. Here we use a NEMO-based configuration (NEMO-Nordic) to study how the choice of the vertical coordinate system impacts the Baltic Sea hydrography and the representation of MBIs. A recently developed Multi Envelope s-coordinate (MEs) configuration is compared to two versions of a well-established z-coordinates with partial steps (zps and zps_bfr) configuration. MEs and zps use a constant roughness length scale (z0), while zps_bfr has a tuned horizontally variable z0. Overall, the MEs configuration shows very promising results compared to the zps/zps_bfr configurations. Based on observations from a number of monitoring stations we find generally lower error metrics for MEs, particularly for salinity. Both the MEs and zps_bfr configurations represent the stratification and MBIs well, while the zps configuration has a large positive bias in salinity, indicating too strong inflows. Our results show that one can achieve similar results with MEs and zps-type configurations, provided that the model using geopotential levels employs a significantly ad-hoc tuned bottom friction. In the latter case, however, such a tuning has no physical justification and involves a quite time-consuming series of sensitivity experiments and computational resources. Furthermore, we find that MEs has a more dynamical and well-resolved bottom boundary layer which at some locations leads to higher variability in near-bottom salinities and temperatures compared to zps/zps_bfr and observations.
Threshold response of non-moss biocrusts to decreasing precipitation
Authors: Jiang Hongyu , Chen Ning , Yang Liping , Wang hiqing , Ma Yali , Ma Li , Qi Yuhan , Ye Qianhai , Yu Xinyue , Chang Qinqin , Luo Haoran , Zhou Zhixin , Zhao Changming
Published: March 2024

Precipitation regime has been dramatically shifted under global warming, and will especially reshape the water-limited dryland ecosystems, and biomes therein. Among the biological organisms, biocrust (complex communities consisting of soil particles, photoautotrophic (algae, cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses), and heterotrophic (e.g., bacteria, fungi, archaea) organisms) is a critical component, and tends to be fragile relative to vascular plants. However, it remains largely unclear how do different types of biocrust respond to the altered precipitation regime. In this study, we employed a 4-year water-altering (4 treatment levels: -75%, -50%, -25%, 0%) field experiment in the Loess Plateau to explore the issue. We found that moss biocrust exhibited a decreasing trend along the declining precipitation, which effect became even deteriorated with time. In contrast, non-moss biocrusts responded to declining precipitation convexly, reaching maxima under -25% precipitation treatment. By employing structural equation model, we found that moss biocrusts relative to non-moss biocrusts tended to be water-demanding, i.e., precipitation amount had a stronger effect, and declining precipitation had a cumulative effect. However, non-moss biocrusts more likely were affected by precipitation frequency. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the responses of biocrusts to varying precipitation, which is of utmost importance for maintaining functions and services, and conservation and restoration of dryland ecosystems.
Seismotectonic interpretation and edge detection of the potential fault on the SE Aegean Sea using the total horizontal derivative method
Authors: Tamtaş Burçin Didem , Toktay Hazel Deniz
Published: March 2024

The faults and the fault zones are essential to determine the seismotectonic features and the regime of a region and to produce seismic hazard and risk maps. Many geophysical methods, such as seismic, magnetic and gravity are used to determine the location and direction of faults. This study aims to detect potential fault edges located in the south-southwest of Nisyros Island and west of Tilos Island in the southeastern Aegean Sea and to interpret the seismic activity and faulting characterization. To this end, the potential fault edges were initially detected using the total horizontal derivative method on the gravity dataset collected from the WGM2008 database. The obtained spatial locations were combined with the seismicity and the focal mechanisms of the earthquakes. The detected fault has a northeast-southwest orientation with normal faulting. It was proved that this obtained fault is not included in the active faults of the Eurasia database (AFEAD), European Fault - Source Model 2020 (EFSM20) database and the Mineral Research and Exploration General Directorate (MTA) active fault map. Moreover, this observed fault was detected as longer than the fault shown on the National Observatory of Athens (NOAFAULTs) in terms of length. Consequently, it is highly recommended that this potential fault, which produces earthquakes with a moment magnitude greater than 4.0 (on instrumental period) must be added to such fault databases to increase and spread the knowledge of seismological and seismotectonic research.
Monitoring Building Instability by Sentinel-1 PS-InSAR:A Case Study in Taipei, Taiwan
Authors: Chang Yun-Chiao , Tseng Kuo-Hsin
Published: March 2024

Abstract:
The improvement of spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) technology has recently accelerated advancements and innovations in geological and engineering fields. One of the time series analysis techniques, PS-InSAR, utilizes persistent scatterers (PS) with stable phase information from SAR images over time and monitors surface deformation with millimeter accuracy. In this study, we aim to conduct PSInSAR in the Dazhi District of Taipei, where a major part was the old Keelung River, and a segment of the river channel was cut off in the 1990s. Owing to its geological characteristics and persistent compaction, this district has experienced land subsidence, posing a threat to residential buildings. A recent occurrence of damages in a district building has garnered public attention to the safety of structures, leading to increased calls for investigating the viability of satellite monitoring.
We intend to use ESA’s Sentinel-1 and apply PS-InSAR at the pixel level to measure the structure’s subtle motion in 2018–2023.In our preliminary test from a corner reflector set on the top of a building, the accuracy of pixel-wise detection of line-of-sight motion achieves ~1 cm level. The deformation in the neighboring area of the damaged building is shown, while an accelerated sinking velocity has been noted since early 2023. It may provide a case study to discern potential collapse beforehand and set warning criteria.
Key Words: Persistent Scatterer InSAR, Sentinel-1, Building collapse, Deformation
The Clauzetto stone and its presence in the built heritage of NE Italy.
Authors: Frangipane Anna
Published: March 2024

Clauzetto stone is a pale brown fossiliferous limestone, quarried in limited quantities in the western piedmont area of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.
Despite the rare presence in the national built heritage, it represents a relevant element of identity in its NE area, where it has been widely used in Renaissance, by Lombard sculptors, and in the XX century, when it has been chosen by architect Carlo Scarpa for important masterpieces, as Verona’s Castelvecchio renovation works and Olivetti Shop in Venice.
Historical quarrying sites has been identified by recent studies, based on extended archives research and references evidences analysis, supported by on-site surveying campaigns, allowing to provide a complete description of the supplying contest and to create a link among artefacts and quarries, from the past to present times.
Based on that, the mapping of Renaissance masterpieces realised in Clauzetto stone has been fruitfully carried out by art historians. Besides, the research has given evidence of the relevant use of Clauzetto stone in the contemporary built heritage.
The contribution provides a description of the results of these activities, filling a gap of knowledge for a niche stone of national built heritage, but not for that without interest.
A Millennial Perspective on Coulomb Stress Transfer Impact in the seismicity of the Central Apennine Fault System
Authors: Valentini Giorgio , Volatili Tiziano , Galli Paolo , Tondi Emanuele
Published: March 2024

This research examines the influence of static Coulomb Stress Transfer (CST) in shaping the seismic cycles associated with the Central Apennine Fault System (CAFS), an active tectonic region that witnessed numerous destructive seismic events over the last millennium.We selected 15 seismic events in the CAFS, dating from 1279 CE to the present, all exceeding Mw 6.0. Out of these, 9 events were specifically chosen for CST analysis, based on their spatial-temporal proximity to later activated faults. The study not only investigates static stress transfer for each event, but also considers the cumulative CST from recent earthquakes, providing a holistic view of the current stress environment. Following a novel approach, we utilized a three-dimensional fault modeling technique, with ellipses representing the 2D geometry of faults at depth. This approach accounts for strike variations and employs a variable strike three-dimensional elliptical model for enhanced precision in CST calculations.Our case studies within the CAFS suggest that CST might have been a critical factor in either triggering or inhibiting fault activities. Instances of fault reactivation following high stress transfers and scenarios showing the dampening effects of stress shadows were observed. This intricate understanding of CST has practical implications, offering insights into potential future earthquake patterns and aiding in devising targeted risk mitigation strategies.The complexity of CAFS reveals intricate stress patterns emerging from the interplay of different seismic episodes. These patterns of stress lobes interact in complex ways, influencing adjacent faults by amplifying, neutralizing, or diversifying their CST impacts. Through detailed analyses and cutting-edge modeling techniques, our study provides valuable insights for future research directions and practical approaches to seismic risk reduction. It underscores the strong impact of CST on shaping a region's seismic history and highlights the necessity of ongoing research in this vital area of geosciences.
Can urban heating inadvertently induce urban cooling?
Authors: Laan Klaas , Kool Dilia
Published: March 2024

EGU24-7970Can urban heating inadvertently induce urban cooling?Klaas Laan and Dilia Kool Cities are getting hotter—and will continue to get hotter with projected climate change and increases in urbanization. However, is it possible that rising temperatures present an opportunity for enhanced evaporative cooling? Evaporative cooling generally increases linearly with an increase in the vegetative fraction. But it is also well documented that this linearity breaks down at a certain point, and that as the vegetation becomes denser, the relative increase in evapotranspiration becomes more marginal. One possible explanation is the known phenomenon that lateral heat advection enhances evapotranspiration from “scattered” or “patchy” vegetation. Lateral heat advection occurs when there is a large temperature contrast between hot, non-vegetated surfaces and much cooler vegetated surfaces. Lateral heat advection is expected to be larger at lower vegetation fractions (more source areas) and in climates that have more extreme temperatures (arid regions, future climate change-affected areas (?)). We expect that potential evaporation per unit area, enhanced by lateral heat advection, will be inversely proportional to the vegetation fraction. Thus, higher temperatures and lower vegetation fractions would result in higher evaporative cooling per unit vegetated area. This, then, could explain the non-linear relationship between evaporative cooling and vegetation fraction.We here present a novel analysis of the dynamics of potential and actual evapotranspiration as a function of vegetation fraction using an existing urban energy balance dataset for 13 locations representing a range of climate conditions (Lipson et al., 2022; doi 10.5194/essd-14-5157-2022). A separate assessment of the horizontal component of potential evaporation and its potential implications for enhanced evaporation sheds light on whether urban heating could, to some extent, induce urban cooling.
Determination of Cirrus Occurrence and Distribution Characteristics Over the Tibetan Plateau Based on the SWOP Campaign
Authors: Yang Zhen , Li Dan , Luo Jiali , Tian Wenshou , Bai Zhixuan , Li Qian , Zhang Jinqiang , Wang Haoyue , Zheng Xiangdong , Vömel Holger , Wienhold Frand G. , Peter Thomas , Hurst Dale , Bian Jianchun
Published: March 2024

Balloon sounding with the Compact Optical Backscatter Aerosol Detector (COBALD) and Frost Point hygrometers (FPs) provides in situ data for a better understanding of the vertical distribution of cirrus clouds. In this study, eight summer balloon-borne measurements in Kunming (2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017) and Lhasa (2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020) over the Tibetan Plateau were used to show the distribution characteristics of cirrus clouds. Differences of cirrus occurrence were compared by different indices: the backscatter ratio (BSR) at a 455 nm/940 nm wavelength (BSR455 > 1.2/BSR940 > 2), the color index (CI > 7), and the relative humidity with respect to ice (RHice > 70%). Analysis of the profiles indicated that BSR455 > 1.2 was the optimal criterion to identify the cirrus layer and depict the distribution of the CI and RHice within cirrus clouds. The results showed that the median CI (RHice) within the cirrus clouds at both sites was mostly in the 18–20 (90%–110%) range at pressures below 120 hPa. Furthermore, the balloon-borne measurements combined with Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) measurements indicated a high frequency of cirrus occurrence near the tropopause in Kunming and Lhasa. The top height of cirrus occurrence at both sites was above the cold point tropopause and the lapse rate tropopause. Both Kunming and Lhasa had the highest frequency of thin cirrus clouds in the 0–0.4 km vertical cirrus thickness range.
Measuring dynamical properties of atmospheric convection using C2OMODO: a tandem of microwave radiometers
Authors: Lefebvre Thomas , Brogniez Helene , Hermozo Laura , Chevalier Frédéric
Published: March 2024

Convective clouds serve as a primary mechanism for the transfer of thermal energy, moisture, and momentum through the troposphere. The lack of understanding of the convective updraft properties and their relationship to environmental factors limit our ability to represent deep convection and its feedbacks in large-scale circulation models. Satellites are the only viable means of efficiently sampling tropical convective clouds, predominantly found in ocean-covered regions.The C2OMODO Project, proposed by CNES as contribution to the AOS NASA program scheduled for 2029, aims to target the vertical development of deep convective cells. The proposed concept is a tandem of identical microwave radiometers aboard two different satellites in the same orbit, separated by a small-time delay, between 1 and 2 minutes. Each radiometer will measure at 89 GHz, 183 GHz (6 Channels) and 325 GHz (6 Channels), with footprints of 10, 5, and 3 km, respectively. These observations inform about the vertical distribution of ice, thanks to the scattering of radiation (in the line of ICI, STERNA, SAPHIR instruments). The derivative-time measurements of the C2OMODO tandem will provide information on the updraft dynamics of growing convective cells. Furthermore, C2OMODO will contribute to enhance the understanding of the life cycle of convective systems and improve the representation of deep convection in both weather prediction and climate models.The aim of the presented study is to introduce the inversion method developed to estimate convective mass flux of ice from C2OMODO measurements, based on the variational approach (1D-VAR). Assimilation approaches, based on Bayesian theory, are commonly applied to the inversion of satellite observations. To simulate C2OMODO measurements, the radiative transfer model, RTTOV, serves as the forward operator while the mesoscale model MESO-NH is used as nature-like representation for atmospheric state. Only growing convective cells are selected in this work. The general 1D-VAR approach is adapted to integrate derivative-time measurements, thereby directly incorporating the dynamical properties in the restitution process. In this presentation, we describe the ongoing development of the variational approach. Additionally, the restitution of vertical ice mass flux and the performance of the 1D-VAR be discussed.The ongoing development of this method has yielded promising preliminary results, instilling optimism about the wealth of information that will be accessible through C2OMODO.
Land Subsidence in Sayung, Demak: A Socio-Geographical Perspective on Governance
Authors: Akmalia Rizka , Budiyono Yus , Oktaviani Aulia , Riyalda Bondan Fiqi , Ariyoko Ibrahim Dwi , Sardjoe Nishchal , Hasan Shahnoor
Published: March 2024

There are several investigations on the topic of monitoring land subsidence, especially in the Northern Java area. In particular, Sayung district of Demak Regency experiences a rate of subsidence up to 15 cm/year [1]. The rate has exacerbated pertinent risk of tidal flooding, while causing major coastal erosion too [2]. Most of the research also focused on monitoring physical aspects [3] with less focus on understanding its societal impacts. The objective of this research is to understand the land subsidence from the people who experience it and to draw some insights on the governance of land subsidence. We implement geo-spatial analysis to observe changes of the physical environment followed by semi-structured interviews with communities of different levels of the area. Our geo-spatial analysis found changes in the physical environment in the most impacted land subsidence area. Subsequently, our interviews have documented impacts of land subsidence, responses of the community, and response of governance at the higher level. We found that communities falsely adapt to the current condition, which makes everyday life constantly struggle with water, without knowing that land subsidence was the cause of permanent inundation. The transforms of landscapes, lives and livelihoods have influenced societal perceptions and the interrelation between the communities and water in the area. We also found that understandings and responses to land subsidence in Sayung varies according to socio-cultural identities, prejudices, epistemic understandings, and preferred practices of those experiencing or associated with the phenomenon. This requires rethinking of a polycentric governance of land subsidence in the area. Finally, we suggest some explorative ideas for policy actions and further research to contribute to the required rethinking on land subsidence.
References
[1] T. Mous, B. van Veen, R. Oost, R. Akmalia, R. Dam, G. Oude Essink, P.S.J. Minderhoud. (2022). Explaining land subsidence variation in the coastal cities of Semarang and Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia. TISOLS 2023. https://www.tisols.org/conference
[2] Rahmawati, N., Vuillaume, J. F., & Purnama, I. L. S. (2013). Salt intrusion in coastal and lowland areas of Semarang city. Journal of Hydrology, 494, 146–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.04.031
[3] Hamdani, R. S., Hadi, S. P., Rudiarto, I. (2021). Progress or Regress? A Systematic Review on Two Decades of Monitoring and Addressing Land Subsidence Hazards in Semarang City. Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 24, Art. no. 24, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.3390/su132413755.