bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using geogenic radon potential to assess designation of radon priority areas in Ireland
Authors: Hughes Meabh , Crowley Quentin
Published: March 2020

Radon is a radioactive gas which emanates from rock, soil and water. Radon concentrations in the
atmosphere are generally very low (typically <5 Bq m-3), however it can occur at much higher levels
in soil (typically 10’s-100’s kBq m-3), or enclosed spaces such as buildings and caves (typically 10’s-
100’s Bq m-3). Exposure to radon and its daughter products is associated with an elevated risk of
developing lung cancer. Ireland has a population weighted indoor radon concentration of 98 Bq m-3
resulting in an estimated 300 annual lung cancer cases per year, representing approximately 12% of
the annual lung cancer cases. A national-scale legislative radon-risk map has a 10 x 10 km spatial
resolution and is based exclusively on indoor radon measurements (i.e. it does not contain any
geological information). The legislative map satisfies the European Council Directive
2013/59/EURATOM Basic Safety Standard, in that it defines “high radon” areas as those where >10%
of homes are estimated to exceed the national reference level of 200 Bq m-3. New buildings in such
areas are legally required to have a barrier, with low radon permeability installed.

This research focuses on a karstic region of SE Ireland, which features some exceptionally high
indoor radon concentrations (65,000 Bq m-3), even though it is not classified as a “high radon” area
on the national legislative map. Here we demonstrate the use of measuring sub-soil radon
concentrations and sub-soil permeability, in order to construct a radon potential (RP) map of the
area. Extremely high sub-soil radon concentrations (>1443 kBqm-3) and radon potential values
(>200) are spatially associated with Namurian shales, interbedded with limestone. Overall, we
classify the study area as high radon potential (RP >35) using this technique. We suggest all areas
underlain by Namurian shales in Ireland should undergo similar radon potential mapping, and if
necessary, should be re-designated as “high radon” areas. If deemed appropriate (i.e. where RP
>35), such a designation will help to protect the general public from the harmful effects of indoor
radon exposure, and will help to lower the incidence of radon-related lung cancer in these areas.
Ensemble weather forecast of precipitation with a stochastic weather generator based on analogues circulation
Authors: Krouma Meriem , Yiou Pascal , Déandréis Céline , Thao Soulivanh
Published: March 2020

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the skills of a stochastic weather generator (SWG) to forecast precipitation in Europe. The SWG is based on the random sampling of circulation analogues, which is a simple form of machine learning simulation. The SWG was developed and tested by Yiou and Déandréis (2019) to forecast daily average temperature and the NAO index. Ensemble forecasts with lead times from 5 to 80 days were evaluated with CRPSS scores against climatology and persistence forecasts. Reasonable scores were obtained up to 20 days.  In this study, we adapt the parameters of the analogue SWG to optimize the simulation of European precipitations. We then analyze the performance of this SWG for lead times of 2 to 20 days, with the forecast skill scores used by Yiou and Déandréis (2019). To achieve this objective, the SWG will use ECA&D precipitation data (Haylock. 2002), and the analogues of circulation will be computed from sea-level pressure (SLP) or geopotential heights (Z500) from the NCEP reanalysis. This provides 100-member ensemble forecasts on a daily time increment. We will evaluate the seasonal dependence of the forecast skills of precipitation and the conditional dependence to weather regimes. Comparisons with “real” medium range forecasts from the ECMWF will be performed.

References

Yiou, P., and Céline D.. Stochastic ensemble climate forecast with an analogue model. Geoscientific Model Development 12, 2 (2019): 723‑34.

Haylock, M. R. et al.. A European daily high-resolution gridded data set of surface temperature and precipitation for 1950-2006. J. Geophys. Res. - Atmospheres 113, D20 (2008): doi:10.1029/2008JD010201.

 

Acknowledge

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 813844.
Update of the volcanic sulfur emission inventory in MOCAGE CTM and its impact on the budget of sulfur species in the atmosphere
Authors: Lamotte Claire , Marécal Virginie , Guth Jonathan
Published: March 2020

Constraining emission inventories into chemistry-transport models (CTM) is essential. In addition to anthropogenic emissions, natural sources of pollutants must be considered. Among them, volcanoes are large emitters of gases, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), a volatile species, causing environmental and health issues.

Volcanic SO2 emission inventories are usually integrated in global CTMs, in order to improve the modelling of chemical species in the atmosphere. Here, we use the model MOCAGE, developed at CNRM, which currently uses Andres & Krasgnoc’s inventory (1998); a temporal average of emission on some 40 volcanoes, monitored through the synergy of satellite data and surface remote sensing instruments, for 25 years (from 1970’s to 1997). However, this inventory is now quite old and is therefore no longer sufficiently accurate.

Thanks to the development of new satellite observations, it has become possible to produce such inventories with an improved accuracy. The global coverage and higher sensitivity of these instruments has allowed to reference more emission sources (hard-to-access volcanoes, small eruptions or even passive degassing). Hence, a new inventory of Carn et al (2016,2017) based on satellite observations has been implemented in MOCAGE. Besides being recent (from 1978 up to 2015), it combines eruption and passive degassing over more than 160 volcanoes. Passive degassing fluxes are provided as annual averages and eruption fluxes as daily total quantities (in case of events). In addition, information on volcanoes vent altitude and eruptive plume heights is available, which has been used to better constraints the model.

We focus our study at the global scale. The years 2013 and 2014 were chosen as the years with the lowest and highest total eruptive emissions respectively, in Carn's inventory. Thus, 2013 highlights mainly the impact of passive degassing, while 2014 provides additional information on eruptions.

For each of the years studied, the sulfur species budget in MOCAGE simulation is increased when the inventory is updated and therefore the relative contribution of volcanic sulfur emissions is larger. We note the global increase in sulfur dioxide and sulfate aerosol burdens; an increase even more significant when the injection heights of the emissions are taken into account.
Geogenic radon potential mapping using geospatial analysis of multiple radon-related variables: a case study from Southeastern Ireland
Authors: Mousavi Mirsina , Crowley Quentin
Published: March 2020

A detailed investigation of geogenic radon potential (GRP) was carried out using geostatistical analysis on multiple radon-related variables to evaluate natural radiation in an area of Southeast Ireland. The geological setting of the study area includes basal Devonian sandstones and conglomerates overlying an offshoot of the Caledonian Leinster Granite, which intrudes Ordovician sediments. The Ordovician sediments contain traces of autunite (Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2·10–12H2O), which is a uranium-bearing mineral and a source of radon. To model radon release potential at different locations, a spatial regression model was developed in which soil gas radon concentration measured in-situ using a Radon RM-2 detector was considered as a response value. Proxy variables such as local geology, soil types, terrestrial gamma dose rates, radionuclide concentrations from airborne radiometric surveys, soil gas permeability, distance from major faults and a Digital Terrain Model were used as the main predictors. Furthermore, the distribution of indoor radon concentration was simulated using a soil-indoor transfer factor. Finally, the workability of the proposed GRP model was tested by evaluating the correlation between previously measured indoor radon concentrations and the estimated values by the GRP model at the same measurement locations. This model can also be used to estimate the GRPs of other areas where radon-related proxy values are available.        

Keywords: Natural radiation, geogenic radon potential, geostatistical analysis, spatial regression model, indoor radon simulation
Determining latitudinal extent of energetic electron precipitation using MEPED on-board NOAA POES
Authors: Babu Eldho Midhun , Tyssøy Hilde Nesse , Smith-Johnsen Christine , Maliniemi Ville Aleksi , Salice Josephine Alessandra , Millan Robyn
Published: March 2020

Energetic electron precipitation (EEP) from the plasma sheet and the radiation belts, can collide with gases in the atmosphere and deposit their energy. EEP increase the production of NOx and HOx, which will catalytically destroy stratospheric ozone, an important element of atmospheric dynamics. The particle precipitation also causes variation in the radiation belt population. Therefore, measurement of latitudinal extend of the precipitation boundaries is important in quantifying atmospheric effects of Sun-Earth interaction and threats to spacecrafts and astronauts in the Earth’s radiation belt.
This study uses measurements by MEPED detectors of six NOAA/POES and EUMETSAT/METOP satellites during the year 2010 to determine the latitudinal boundaries of EEP and its variability with geomagnetic activity and solar wind drivers. Variation of the boundaries with respect to different particle energies and magnetic local time is studied. The result will be a key element for constructing a model of EEP variability to be applied in atmosphere climate models.
Low cost Evaporometers
Authors: Tejkl Adam , Kavka Petr
Published: March 2020

Research of the evaporation from the water surface is curtailing for measuring the water balance in small catchments.

An ongoing project aims to develop a simple and reliable, easy to reproduce evaporation measuring device. A core part of the device is measuring the water level in the field in cheap form. 3D printed design in combination with open-source cheap electronics is utilized. Methodology and results of the ongoing research project will be presented. The project investigates the affordable and simple technical measures that have the potential to increase the number of opportunities for the measuring of evaporation.

Continuously the theories are developed and tested, subsequently, conclusions are implemented into the next generation of the device. Five generations of 3D printed part have been done, and now the research focus on the electrical and software part of the device. Durability and reliability of the device are tested in the field, in three locations. All plots are also frequently checked by research staff and data is saved and later compared with data measured by the device. Refilling of the evaporation pan is also done by research staff.

Prototype 3 used the experience of all previous prototypes. The construction is equipped with 5 sets of electrodes, each with a measuring range of 10 mm. The total measuring range is 50 mm. The whole structural part of prototype 3 is designed as a printout on a 3D printer, electrodes are printed from a conductive material. Above the electrodes, there is a printed circuit board carrying the microelectronics control module.

The principle of measurement consists of gradual interrogation of the set of electrodes, a subsequent reversal of polarity and repeated interrogation. This cycle is repeated several times and the result is averaged, then the next set is measured. The polarity reversal is controlled by the relay. Thanks to the use of printed circuit board it was possible to simplify the device, so only 7 wires, one analog output, polarity reversal control and supply wire to 5 sets of electrodes are led from the whole device.

An important step in the evaluation of the obtained data (the values of current passed through the water), is its analysis. Because values are read very often they differ only slightly. A commonly used vapor unit is mm of water column per day. It is, therefore, necessary to analyze a long time series, at least longer than one day, and covering the entire day from 00:00 to 23:59.

The testing sites are the grounds of the CTU Faculty of Civil Engineering in Dejvice, the experimental sites of the CULS in Prague Suchdol and the Water Research Institute in Prague Podbaba.

The research is funded by the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic (research project TJ02000351 - Development of Tools and Methods Improving Estimation of annual Evaporation Balance).
Tropical expansion driven by poleward advancing subtropical front
Authors: Yang Hu , Lohmann Gerrit , Shi Xiaoxu , Gowan Evan J.
Published: March 2020

Abundance of evidence shows that the tropics are expanding in the past four decades. Despite many attempts to decipher its cause, the underlying dynamical mechanism driving tropical expansion is still not clear. Here, based on observations and multi-model simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5), the variations and trends of tropical width are explored from a regional perspective. We find that the width of the tropics closely follows the meridional displacement of oceanic subtropical front. Under global warming, the subtropical ocean experiences more surface warming due to convergence of surface water. Such enhanced warming, superimposing onto the variation of Pacific Decadal Oscillation, leads to poleward advancing of subtropical front and drives the tropical expansion. Our results, supported by both observations and model simulations, imply that the observed expanding tropics may largely attributed to the anthropogenic global warming rather than the natural climate variability.
Effects of elevated CO2 on nitrogen cycling in soil and alfalfa leaves
Authors: Zong Yuhan , Hu Jing , Zhuang Zhi , Li Yuliang , Liu Weiguo
Published: March 2020

Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration will have an significant impact on the nitrogen cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. The elevation of atmospheric CO2 has become an inevitable trend, and nitrogen is the most important factor affecting plant growth. But it is rare to explore the effect of CO2 on nitrogen cycle by measuring the value of δ15N. The δ15N value as a comprehensive indicator of the nitrogen cycle of the ecosystem, which can not only clarify the migration and transformation of nitrogen, but also effectively indicate the nitrogen limit and nitrogen open level of the ecosystem. Our experiment selected alfalfa (C3 plant) as the research object, then investigated the response of nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and absorbable nitrogen to the elevated CO2 concentration in soil and alfalfa leaves under ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2 (500 and 700ppm) in open top chambers. The 15N isotope value was determined by bacterial denitrification , and 15N-gas chromatography (GC-MS) were applied to further analyze the effect of elevated CO2 concentration on nitrogen cycling in soil and plant leaves. The increase of CO2 concentration led to the decline of various inorganic nitrogen levels in soil, and the δ15N in the soil also showed a certain downward trend, but always maintained a positive value. The nitrogen level and δ15N values in alfalfa leaves did not change significantly, showing a small increase. It indicates that there are different degrees of nitrogen loss in the leaves under the influence of different concentrations of CO2. These results are closely related to the fractional distillation of nitrogen isotopes caused by microorganisms in the process of nitrogen morphologic transformation. We briefly reviewed the changes of nitrogen content in soil and plant leaves under elevated CO2, providing new insights into the nitrogen cycle of soils and plants under high CO2 concentrations. It also provides a scientific basis for the protection of soil and plants under the greenhouse effect.
Geochemical features of Meso-Neoproterozoic dolerite sill on the South-East margin of the Siberian Craton.
Authors: Savelev Aleksandr , Khudoley Andrei , Malyshev Sergey
Published: March 2020

Meso-Neoproterozoic dolerite sills and dykes of the south-east margin of the Siberian Craton are commonly known as linked to the Sette-Daban LIP-related event (Ernst, 2014). They are localized in the Maya-Kyllakh zone which represent moderately deformed sedimentary cover of the craton. The mafic intrusions are numerous and variable in size, but the best studied are large sills up to 200 m thick. Smaller intrusions are identified to be related to the same magmatic event according to their appearance and structural position.

There are several U-Pb and Sm-Nd isochron isotopic dates for the rocks of the Ulakhanbam complex, giving a range of values from 930 to 1000 Ma. Although there is an overlap of several dates within error, sills become younger westward from 974-1005 Ma in the east part of the study area to 932-946 Ma in its west part. Due to wide range of ages they likely represent at least 2 different magmatic events, although long-term event is possible as well. To resolve this issue, new accurate dates are needed.

Chemical composition of mafic intrusions is not uniform also varying from east to west. The average Y, Zr, Nb, La, Ce, and Nd concentrations in the intrusions from the east part of the study area are approximately two times higher than in the western ones. The separation into two groups is also observed in triple discriminatory diagrams according to Sm, Ti, V, and Sc. However, εNd(T) values vary from 2.3 to 7.5 without clear correlation with chemical composition. Thus, the revealed patterns basically support interpretation with occurrence of two stages of magmatic activity, the first of which is characterized by enrichment of REEs and other elements.

The studies were supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 19-77-10048.
Strong future increases in Arctic precipitation variability linked to poleward moisture transport
Authors: Bintanja Richard , van der Wiel Karin , van der Linden Eveline , Reusen Jesse , Bogerd Linda , Krikken Folmer , Selten Frank
Published: March 2020

The Arctic region is projected to experience amplified warming as well as strongly increasing precipitation rates. Equally important to trends in the mean climate are changes in interannual variability, but changes in precipitation fluctuations are highly uncertain and the associated processes unknown. Here we use various state-of-the-art global climate model simulations to show that interannual variability of Arctic precipitation will likely increase markedly (up to 40% over the 21st century), especially in summer. This can be attributed to increased poleward atmospheric moisture transport variability associated with enhanced moisture content, possibly modulated by atmospheric dynamics. Because both the means and variability of Arctic precipitation will increase, years/seasons with excessive precipitation will occur more often, as will the associated impacts.
Present and future water security under socioeconomic and climate changes in the Vilcanota-Urubamba basin
Authors: Goyburo Andres , Rau Pedro , Lavado Waldo , Drenkhan Fabian , Buytaert Wouter
Published: March 2020

This research assesses present (2009-2016) and future (until 2100) levels of water security taking into consideration socioeconomic and climate change scenarios using the WEAP (Water Evaluation and Planning) tool for semidistributed hydrological modeling. The study area covers the  Vilcanota-Urubamba basin in the southern Peruvian Andes and presents a complex water demand context as a glacier-fed system.

Current total water demand is estimated in 5.12E+9 m3/year and includes agriculture (6674.17 m3/year), domestic (7.79E+07m3/year), industrial (1.01E+06 m3/year) and energy (5.03e+9 m3/year) consumption. For assessing the current water supply, observed flow data is used to simulate and validate the model (also accounting for glacier melt contribution). The analysis of unmet water demand for the period 2016–2100 was computed using the soil moisture scheme of the WEAP model, which simulates the hydrological cycle and generates future scenarios for water demand. Different scenarios were generated for external driving factors (population growth and increasing agriculture area) and the impact of climate change to evaluate their effect on the current water supply system. 

These results will allow for the first time to evaluate the impact of changes in glacier melt contributions on water security taking into account also changes in water demand.

This study also further explores the importance of incorporating science and policy within a broader study of water security. As a result, it is expected to deliver high spatial resolution water demand maps and adaptation strategies for stakeholders. This research is part of the RAHU project as a new multidisciplinary collaboration between UK and Peruvian scientists.
Mountain waves produced by a stratified shear flow with a boundary layer: transition from downstream sheltering to upstream blocking
Authors: Lott Francois , Deremble Bruno , Soufflet Clément
Published: March 2020

A non-hydrostatic theory for mountain flow with a boundary layer of constant eddy viscosity is presented. The theory predicts that dissipation impacts the dynamics over a an inner layer which depth δ is predicted by viscous critical level theory. In the near neutral case, the surface pressure decreases when the flow crosses the mountain to balance an increase in surface friction along the ground. This produces a form drag which can be predicted quantitatively. With stratification, internal waves start to control the dynamics and produce a wave drag that can also be predicted. For weak stratification, upward propagating mountain waves and reflected waves interact destructively and low drag states occur, whereas for moderate stability they interact constructively and high drag states are reached. In very stable cases the reflected waves do not affect the drag much.

The sign and vertical profiles of the Reynolds stress are profoundly affected by stability. In the neutral case and up to the point where internal waves interact constructively, the Reynolds stress in the flow is positive, with maximum around the top of the inner layer, decelerating the large scale flow in the inner layer and accelerating it above. In the stable case, the opposite occurs, and the large scale flow above the inner layer is decelerated as expected for dissipated mountain waves. These opposed behaviors challenge how mountain form drag and mountain wave drag should be parameterized in large-scale models.

The structure of the flow around the mountain is also strongly affected by stability: it is characterized by non separated sheltering in the neutral case, by upstream blocking in the very stable case, and at intermediate stability by the presence of a strong but isolated wave crest immediately downstream of the ridge.
Wildfires promoted by contrasting soil moisture anomalies in humid versus arid regions
Authors: Oh Sungmin , Hou Xinyuan , Orth Rene
Published: March 2020

Wildfires are essential for ecosystem development, thereby affecting the global carbon cycle. Soil moisture is a major driver of wildfires, however, due to a lack of large-scale observations it remains unclear which spatio-temporal soil moisture patterns promote wildfires. Using satellite-based soil moisture data, we show contrasting soil moisture anomalies preceding the locally largest wildfires in space and time. In arid regions wetter-than-average soils enable sufficient biomass growth required to fuel fires. By contrast, in humid regions fires are typically preceded by dry soil moisture anomalies inducing suitable ignition conditions and flammability in an otherwise too wet environment. In both regions, soil moisture anomalies are continuously decreasing over the months before the fire occurrence, often from above-normal to below-normal. These signals are most pronounced for larger fires in sparsely populated areas with low human influence. Resolving natural soil moisture-fire interactions supports fire modelling and enables improved fire forecasts and early warning.
Modeling of groundwater table depth anomalies using Long Short-Term Memory networks over Europe
Authors: Ma Yueling , Montzka Carsten , Bayat Bagher , Kollet Stefan
Published: March 2020

Groundwater is the dominant source of fresh water in many European countries. However, due to a lack of near-real-time water table depth (wtd) observations, monitoring of groundwater resources is not feasible at the continental scale. Thus, an alternative approach is required to produce wtd data from other available observations near-real-time. In this study, we propose Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to model monthly wtd anomalies over Europe utilizing monthly precipitation anomalies as input. LSTM networks are a special type of artificial neural networks, showing great promise in exploiting long-term dependencies between time series, which is expected in the response of groundwater to precipitation. To establish the methodology, spatially and temporally continuous data from terrestrial simulations at the continental scale were applied with a spatial resolution of 0.11°, ranging from the year 1996 to 2016 (Furusho-Percot et al., 2019). They were divided into a training set (1996 – 2012), a validation set (2012 – 2014) and a testing set (2015 -2016) to construct local models on selected pixels over eight PRUDENCE regions. The outputs of the LSTM networks showed good agreement with the simulation results in locations with a shallow wtd (~3m). It is important to note, the quality of the models was strongly affected by the amount of snow cover. Moreover, with the introduction of monthly evapotranspiration anomalies as additional input, pronounced improvements of the network performances were only obtained in more arid regions (i.e., Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean). Our results demonstrate the potential of LSTM networks to produce high-quality wtd anomalies from hydrometeorological variables that are monitored at the large scale and part of operational forecasting systems potentially facilitating the implementation of an efficient groundwater monitoring system over Europe.

Reference:

Furusho-Percot, C., Goergen, K., Hartick, C., Kulkarni, K., Keune, J. and Kollet, S. (2019). Pan-European groundwater to atmosphere terrestrial systems climatology from a physically consistent simulation. Scientific Data, 6(1).
Empirical Parameterization of the Wind-induced Drift Currents
Authors: Polnikov Vladislav , Ma Hongyu
Published: March 2020

Results of measurements of the drift currents induced by waves and wind at the wavy water surface are presented. The measurements were executed by means of surface floats in a large tank with the dimensions of 32.5x1x2 m3. Three cases were studied: (i) regular (narrow-band) mechanical waves; (ii) irregular (wide-band) mechanical waves; and (iii) wind waves.

The measured surface-drift currents induced by mechanical waves, Ud, are compared with the Stokes drift at the surface, USt, estimated by the well-known formula with the integral over a wave spectrum. In this case, it was found that ratio Ud / USt is varying in the range 0.5 – 0.93 and slightly growing with the decrease of wave steepness, having no visible dependence on the breaking intensity. These estimations are used to separate the wind-induced drift current, Udw, from the total drift at the presence of wind.

In the case of wind waves, the wind-induced part of the surface drift, Udw, is compared with the friction velocity, u*. In our measurements, the ratio Udw / u* varies systematically in the range 0.65 – 1.2. Taking into account the percentage of wave breaking, Br, the wave age, A, and the wave steepness, Ϭ = akp, it was found the parameterization:  Udw = (Br + Ϭ A) u*, which corresponds to the observations with the mean error less than 10%. For the first time, this ratio provides the dependence of the surface wind drift on the surface wave parameters.
Sub-seasonal Monsoon Onset forecasting over West Africa
Authors: Thompson Elisabeth , Wainwright Caroline , Hirons Linda , Marques de Andrade Felipe , Woolnough Steven
Published: March 2020

Skilful onset forecasts are highly sought after in West Africa, due to the importance of monsoon onset for agriculture, disease prevalence and energy provision. With research on the sub-seasonal timescale bridging the gap between weather and seasonal forecasts, sub-seasonal forecasts may provide useful information in the period preceding monsoon onset. This study explores sub-seasonal monsoon onset forecasts over West Africa using three operational ensemble prediction systems (ECMWF, UKMO, and NCEP) from the Sub-seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) prediction project database in order to determine the spatial scale and lead time at which sub-seasonal forecasts can provide useful monsoon onset information. Current research and operational methods of determining onset are identified and compared. The effect of spatial averaging on onset forecasting and skill is explored by comparing regional [Coast, Forest, Transition and North] and local forecasts at 4 major cities over Ghana.

 

‘This work was supported by UK Research and Innovation as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund, African SWIFT programme, grant number NE/P021077/1’
Water supply of an ecologically vulnerable wood pasture area at Kőszeg (Hungary)
Authors: Szőke Előd , Csáki Péter , Kalicz Péter , Zagyvai-Kiss Katalin Anita , Primusz Péter , Gribovszki Zoltán
Published: March 2020

The reconstruction of a wood pasture area and a marsh meadow and thereby achieve a more complex biodiversity are the aims of an ongoing project in Western Hungary (Kőszeg Mountains, Őrség National Park Directorate). Previously, the project area (70 hectares) was used as pasture and as meadow. Later it was abandoned, resulted in an increased spread of shrubs and weeds. Climate change may harm the water balance of the vulnerable wetlands. To ensure and manage the water supply and retention in the project area several interventions are planned. The hydrological investigations started in April 2019. Groundwater levels and surface soil moisture (at the surroundings of the wells) are monitored manually once a week at the four selected points in the area. According to the initial results, the groundwater levels and the surface soil moisture values follow the typical seasonal change. A decrease can be detected during the vegetation period, while an increase started in the dormant season. Since the measurements started before the installation of the water control structures and the grazing, the current results can be interpreted as the results of the control period. Thus, the effects of the water supply and retention will be subsequently analyzed.

The research was supported by the “EFOP-3.6.1-16-2016-00018 – Improving the role of research+development+innovation in the higher education through institutional developments assisting intelligent specialization in Sopron and Szombathely” project.
Drought impact assessments for crop production need to be crop-specific
Authors: Nouri Hamideh , Eyshi Rezaei Ehsan , Siebert Stefan
Published: March 2020

By an additional 83 million people to the world’s population every day, the global population is expected to reach about 9.8 billion by 2050. Feeding these billions is one of the challenges of this century, and extreme events like droughts bring more complexity to the challenge of global food security. Previous agricultural drought studies on the regional or national scale revealed that drought affects specific crops differently; however, these studies are limited to a few major crops or specific regions. Here we analyse for the first time, to our knowledge, crop responses to drought for 25 rainfed crops on a global scale and differentiate crop responses to aridity and drought for thirty years (1986-2016). We use actual and potential crop evapotranspiration calculated by the Global Crop Water Model (GCWM) and develop the two indicators of Crop Drought Index (CDI) and Aridity Index (AI) to investigate the effect of water stress on crop production worldwide. We show crops’ behaviours in extreme drought events differ in time and space. Years with the most severe drought events also differed for the specific crops. To interpret the impacts of drought and aridity on individual crops in specific locations, and avoid any misperception on their potential damages, we map crop-specific AI and crop-specific CDI of all 25 crops during the study period. We compare the spatio-temporal variation of CDI against a global map of AI for each crop to reflect different impacts of long-term water stress experience (aridity) against extreme events (drought). We learn different crops have different responses to aridity and drought. Our findings are of critical importance for drought-resilient agricultural plans and may help to guide the implementation of food security and food aid strategies.

 
Passive seismic velocity monitoring of natural faults: The FaultScan project
Authors: Brenguier Florent , Mordret Aurelien , Ben-Zion Yehuda , Vernon Frank , Boué Pierre , Johnson Christopher , Share Pieter-Ewald
Published: March 2020

Laboratory experiments report that detectable seismic velocity changes should occur in the vicinity of fault zones prior to earthquakes. However, operating permanent active seismic sources to monitor natural faults at seismogenic depth has been nearly impossible to achieve. The FaultScan project (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Cal. San Diego, Univ. South. Cal.) aims at leveraging permanent cultural sources of ambient seismic noise to continuously probe fault zones at a few kilometers depth with seismic interferometry. Results of an exploratory seismic experiment in Southern California demonstrate that correlations of train-generated seismic signals allow daily reconstruction of direct P body-waves probing the San Jacinto Fault down to 4 km depth. In order to study long-term earthquake preparation processes we will monitor the San Jacinto Fault using such approach for at least two years by deploying dense seismic arrays in the San Jacinto Fault region. The outcome of this project may facilitate monitoring the entire San Andreas Fault system using the railway and highway network of California. We acknowledge support from the European Research Council under grant No.~817803, FAULTSCAN.
AMOC hysteresis in an eddy-permitting GCM and monitoring indicators
Authors: Jackson Laura , Wood Richard
Published: March 2020

We conduct idealised experiments with HadGEM3-GC2, which is a pre-CMIP6 eddy-permitting GCM, to test for the presence of thresholds in the AMOC. We add fresh water to the North Atlantic for different rates and lengths of time, and then examine the AMOC recovery. In some cases the AMOC recovers to its original strength, however if the AMOC weakens sufficiently it does not recover and stays in a weak state for up to 300 years.

We test various indictors that have been proposed for monitoring the AMOC with this ensemble of experiments (and other scenarios). In particular we ask whether fingerprints can provide early warning or faster detection of weakening or recovery, or indications of crossing the threshold. We find metrics that perform best are the temperature metrics based on large scale differences, the large scale meridional density gradient, and the vertical density difference in the Labrador Sea. Mixed layer depth is also useful for indicating whether the AMOC recovers after weakening. 
Overview of the Instellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Mission
Authors: McComas David
Published: March 2020

This talk provides an overview of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission and what we hope and expect to learn from it. IMAP is currently in Phase B and is slated to launch in the fall of 2024. IMAP simultaneously investigates two of the most important, and intimately coupled, research areas in Heliophysics today: 1) the acceleration of energetic particles and 2) the interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium. IMAP’s ten instruments provide a complete set of observations to simultaneously examine the particle injection and acceleration processes at 1 AU while remotely dissecting the global heliospheric interaction and its response to particle populations generated through these processes. For more information about IMAP, see: McComas, D.J., et al., Interstellar mapping and acceleration Probe (IMAP): A New NASA Mission, Space Science Review, 214:116, doi:10.1007/s11214-018-0550-1, 2018.

Open Access: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11214-018-0550-1 
Reducing the memory requirements of parameter estimation using model order reduction
Authors: Verlaan Martin , Wang Xiaohui , Lin Hai Xiang
Published: March 2020

Previous development of a parameter estimation scheme for a Global Tide and Surge Model (GTSM) showed that accurate estimation of the parameters is currently limited by the memory use of the analysis step and the computational demand. Because the estimation algorithm solver requires storage of the model output matching each observation for each parameter (or ensemble member), the requirement of memory storage gets out of control as the model simulation time increases, the model output and observation matrix become too large. The popular approach of localization does not work here because the tides propagate all over the globe in days, while parameter estimation requires weeks at least. Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) is a useful technique to reduce the high dimension system with a smaller linear subspace. Singular values decomposition (SVD) is one of the methods to derive the POD modes, which is generally applied for space patterns. In this study, we focus on the application of POD in time patterns by using SVD to reduce the dimension in time patterns. As expected, the time patterns show a strong resemblance to the tidal constituents, but the same method is likely to work for a wider range of problems, which indicate that the memory requirements can be reduced dramatically by projection the model output and observations onto the time-POD patterns.
Digital Earth in a Transformed Society
Authors: Mazzetti Paolo , Nativi Stefano , Wang Changlin
Published: March 2020

Last September, about 400 delegates gathered in Florence, Italy from all over the world, to attend the 11th International Symposium on Digital Earth (ISDE11). The Opening Plenary session (held in the historic Salone dei Cinquecento at Palazzo Vecchio) included a celebration ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the International Symposium on Digital Earth, which was initiated in Beijing, China in November 1999 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

In the framework of ISDE11, about 30 sessions illustrated the various challenges and opportunities in building a Digital Earth. They included five Grand Debates and Plenary sessions dealing with issues related to: “Trust and Ethics in Digital Earth”; “Digital Earth for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”; “ISDE in a Transformed Society”; “Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Transformation”; and “New Knowledge Ecosystems.” Moreover, ISDE11 endorsed and approved a new Declaration by the International Society for the Digital Earth (i.e. the 2019 ISDE Florence Declaration) that, after 10 years, lays the path to a new definition of Digital Earth that will be finalized in the first months of 2020.

This presentation will discuss the main outcomes of ISDE11 as well as the future vision of Digital Earth in a Transformed Society.
The comparison of smartphone, Vis- and atomic emission spectrometers for soil P analysis by Mehlich 3 method
Authors: Tõnutare Tõnis , Oras Aldo
Published: March 2020

The possibilities of analytical instruments are growing rapidly and the precision of analysis is increasing pidevalt. On the parallel with the development of high tech instrumentation, we can find large number of solutions for analytical determinations using simple, non analytical equipment. One of the trends in the development of analytical techniques and solutions is to find possibilities for a simple and cheap method for providing analysis. This has been made possible due to rapid development of biochemical, chemical, physical sciences and computer technology during the last decade.  

In many scientific articles we can find solutions using digital cameras and smartphones as spectrometers and data collecting devices.  And it is not only a few single experiments. There is a already a term known in scientific literature as „lab on phone“.

This has raised a question such as in which cases do we have the confidence in the results obtained from the useage of smartphones and when is it required to have the precision of spectrometrial measurements.

We have been working on the development of a method for determination of plant available phosphorus from extracts obtained by Mehlich 3 method for some years. During our work many soils have been analysed by diferent methods: digital image analysis and spectroscopical analysis. In our presentation we compare the results of soil P analysis obtained by smartphone, Vis-spectrometry and atomic emission spectrometry.
Evaluating the effect of variable lithologies on rates of knickpoint migration in the Wutach catchment, southern Germany
Authors: Ludwig Andreas , Schwanghart Wolfgang , Kober Florian , Landgraf Angela
Published: March 2020

The topographic evolution of landscapes strongly depends on the resistance of bedrock to erosion. Detachment-limited fluvial landscapes are commonly analyzed and modelled with the stream power incision model (SPIM) which parametrizes erosional efficiency by the bulk parameter K whose value is largely determined by bedrock erodibility. Inversion of the SPIM using longitudinal river profiles enables resolving values of K if histories of rock-uplift or base level change are known. Here, we present an approach to estimate K-values for the Wutach catchment, southern Germany. The catchment is a prominent example of river piracy that occurred ~18 ka ago as response to headward erosion of a tributary to the Rhine. Base level fall of up to 170 m triggered a wave of upstream migrating knickpoints that represent markers for the transient response of the landscape. Knickpoint migration along the main trunk stream and its tributaries passed different lithological settings, which allows us to estimate K for crystalline and sedimentary bedrock units of variable erodibility.
Synthetic aperture radar coherence as a proxy for geomorphic activity
Authors: Olen Stephanie , Bookhagen Bodo
Published: March 2020

Mountain landscapes are shaped by hillslope and fluvial processes that remove and transport material and sediment. Developing proxies to map these processes through space and time is a key element in better understanding their distribution and drivers. Remotely sensed and satellite observations of Earth’s surface are greatly expanding the reach of geomorphologists and presenting a myriad of new opportunities to explore and quantify Earth surface processes. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR), in particular, promises to be a powerful tool for mapping and quantifying geomorphic processes. Here, we exploit a time series of coherence estimates between SAR images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission. Coherence is the spatial correlation between two SAR images and is sensitive to changes in both the phase (elevation) and amplitude (surface backscatter) of the received radar signal. Geomorphic processes such as landsliding, hillslope slump, cobble movement, or alluvial sediment transport can result in loss of SAR coherence. In regions without significant vegetation or anthropomorphic input, we therefore propose that coherence loss is a proxy for surface sediment movement and geomorphic activity. We constructed time series of Sentinel-1 coherence images spanning three to five years for arid and semi-arid regions of the Argentinian Central Andes and the north-western Himalaya. Both regions are characterized by active tectonics and seasonal climatic gradients. The relatively short revisit time of the Sentinel-1 satellites (~2-4 weeks in our regions of interest) mean that we can not only map geomorphic activity averaged over multiple years, but observe intra-annual and seasonal differences throughout a given year. We are also able to compare interannual geomorphic responses during years with, e.g.,  relatively strong or weak monsoon seasons.

 

We couple our Sentinel-1 coherence time series with a compilation of published 10-Berrylium terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide basin-wide denudation rates from the Open Cosmogenic isoTOPe and lUmineScence (OCTOPUS) database. For basins with cosmogenic data, we derive temporal and spatial statistics of our coherence time series. Across regional gradients, the range of coherence within basins positively correlates to millennial denudation rates and to topographic metrics used to indicate long-term uplift (e.g., channel steepness). Outlying basins include those in which erosion is driven by large, deep-seeded landslides that occur over repeat times longer than our multi-year observation period. Our study suggests that a dense time series of interferometric coherence can be used as a proxy for surface sediment movement and landscape stability in vegetation-free settings at event to decadal timescales.
Complex Time Methods and Chameleon Scalar Fields in the Dynamics of Spatial Extremes
Authors: Panagoulia Dionysia , Zisopoulou Kalomoira
Published: March 2020

Complex Time Methods and Chameleon Scalar Fields in the Dynamics of Spatial Extremes

Dionysia Panagoulia1 and Kalomoira Zisopoulou 2

1 School of Civil Engineering, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece. E-mail dpanag@hydro.ntua.gr

 2 Travaux Publics, Becket House, London, United Kingdom

It is shown that complex time in classical physics may transform the action functional Lagrangian and Lagrangian density processes to, among others, energy descriptive functionals. By imposing restrictions in the problem coordinate space as per need, such as Sobolev or Hardy spaces, or to the complex time plane such as the two variable Hilbert Space dependent Bergman. Decomposition new results are obtained which facilitate a better understanding of the mechanism governing spatial extremes in terms of flows.
The introduction of Khoury-Weltman type chameleon scalar fields will, by the recognition of existing oscillatory patterns, pave a connective chain of momenta between smaller and larger objects which will uncover the causal relationships between them which will allow for variable reduction in multivariate methods.