bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holocene linear dune accumulation in the western Thar desert, India. 
Authors: Nitundil Shashank , Stone Abi , Srivastava Aayush , Songara Komal
Published: March 2024

The densely populated Thar Desert in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent contains a complex spatial pattern of now vegetated dune morphologies. There is a growing dataset of luminescence ages that demonstrates a dominance of Holocene dune dynamics in the preserved record (e.g., Srivastava et al, 2020; Parida et al., 2023; Nitundil et al., 2023). This region is undergoing rapid change in recent decades with widespread flattening of dunes for agricultural land, which is fed by the Indira Gandhi Canal that provides water for irrigation. Our work has developed a training set of >40 samples with published luminescence ages to create a calibration approach for the signals measured using portable luminescence readers (POSL) (Nitundil et al., 2023). Other POSL signal characteristics, such as IRSL:BSL ratios are a good indicator that the Thar sands have a broadly common sedimentary provenance, as well as transport processes and post-depositional histories of mineral weathering. During this work, a rigorous exploration of sediment properties, including moisture content and presence of carbonate was undertaken, and from this, guiding principles for building a calibration curve were developed. Vegetated linear dunes have been sampled in five regions along a ~75 km north-south transect in the western Thar. The POSL calibration has been applied to determine estimated ages for three dunes at the second most northerly site, to shallow depths (2 m) (Nitundil et al., 2023), and from multiple profiles within two dunes at each of three other sites along the transect (a further 19 shallow, 2 m profiles). Fieldwork in September 2023 focussed on obtaining close to full dune vertical profiles via auguring (~10 m depth) from three sites, as well as exploring dynamics across and along a dune using ~0.8 m hand dug pits. This presentation will highlight key findings from the calibration exercise, and present POSL-based ages estimates across the western Thar to explore what they reveal about Holocene dune accumulation in this region.  ReferencesNitundil, S., et al. (2023) Applicability of using portable luminescence reader for rapid age-assessments of dune accumulation in the Thar desert, India. Quat. Geochron. 78, 101468.Parida, S. et al. (2023) Luminescence Dating of Dunes in the Western Thar Desert:  New Data and Regional Synthesis. XXI INQUA Congress, 14-20th July 2023, Rome, Italy.Srivastava, A., et al. (2020) Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes in the Thar Desert: An integrated assessment incorporating new insights from aeolian systems. Quat. Sci. Rev. 233, 106214.
 
The shelf life of pyrite - effects of pyrite weathering in exposed continental shelves on global CO2 and O2
Authors: Kölling Martin , Bouimetarhan Ilham , Zabel Matthias
Published: March 2024

During times of low sea-levels in glacials there is evidence of large-scale pyrite oxidation on exposed continental shelves. While this process directly reduces atmospheric oxygen levels, acid drainage generated by this reaction increases the release of CO2 through carbonate buffering within the previously marine shelf sediments. Although this scenario is expected to result in negative feedback, sea-level and atmospheric CO2 levels have co-varied throughout most of the last 800 thousand years (ka) for which direct records of CO2 exist. Only during peak glacial conditions with sea-levels as low as 125 m lower than today, CO2 levels have reached an apparent lower limit around 190 ppm independent of decreasing sea-levels. Here we show that pyrite driven release of CO2 and decline of O2 during six of the last nine glacial-interglacial cycles are focussed in 10 ka to 40 ka-long periods preceding glacial terminations.Using a sea-level driven model of pyrite weathering in drained continental shelves, we demonstrate that repeated sea-level low-stands force pyrite oxidation to ever greater depths. This occurs whenever the duration of an interglacial is insufficient to restock the shelf pyrite inventory through sulphate reduction in the shelf sediments. During the Quaternary, the decreasing amount of pyrite in the exposed shelf sediments represents a discharging 'acid capacitor' (Kölling et al., 2019). This model was inspired by experience from modelling pyrite weathering in open-pit lignite mine overburden material which may be interpreted as a scaled-down model of glacial continental shelf exposure during sea-level low-stands.If pyrite oxidation forced CO2 release specifically at low sea-levels was sufficient to amplify the orbitally driven climate forcing and trigger glacial terminations, the absence of CO2 release caused by exposed pyrite rather than an astronomically controlled '100 ka pacing' might have extended the length of glacial-interglacial cycles from one to two or three obliquity cycles. Future ocean drilling specifically aiming to recover long cores on shelves could reveal the existence of a 'pyrite gap' that should exist between surficial young pyritic layers and deeper old pyritic sequences with indications of acid leaching. Kölling, M., Bouimetarhan, I., Bowles, M.W. et al. Consistent CO2 release by pyrite oxidation on continental shelves prior to glacial terminations. Nat. Geosci. 12, 929–934 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0465-9
S.A.N.D.S. - Surface Archaeology on the Namib Desert Surface. 
Authors: Stone Abi , Stratford Dominic , Marks Ted , Bynoe Rachel , Efraim Kaarina , Marais Eugene , Smedley Rachel , Leader George
Published: March 2024

The hyper-arid Namib Sand Sea (NSS) represents a significant challenge to human occupation, yet, despite these challenges, Early Stone Age (ESA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) tools are found across this landscape. Whilst surface scatters are hindered by a lack of clear stratigraphy, they provide a spatially integrated record of the structuring of landscape use through time and relationships to sources of raw material and water. Omitting such sites leads to bias in our interpretations of early hominin distribution. We are investigating how and why early hominins were moving into the northern NSS, starting with two interdune pan sites: Namib IV (Leader et al., 2023) and Narabeb. Here we set out the context of these archaeological sites, the stratigraphies observed and our emerging luminescence chronologies for the sedimentary sequences. To establish the palaeoenvironmental context of the lithics (both ESA and MSA) and fossil fauna at Namib IV we dug a series of test pits to explore the sedimentological record. The Namib IV surface has a complex meso-topography with a spatially-patchy, resistant calcareous surface unit, and our test pits reveal a similarly complex sedimentary record across space. This includes the preserved remnant of an aeolian slip face, and elsewhere a number of horizontally bedded units beneath surface calcareous layers. 13 samples from Namib IV were selected for luminescence dating, using pIRIRSL feldspar methods, anticipating ages close to quartz saturation (e.g. Stone et al. (2010) in this region). Narabeb contains predominantly MSA lithics. North (~2 km) of the artifact collection area is a prominent ‘ledge’ of interbedded muds and sands, previously dated using quartz OSL (Stone et al., 2010). We dug two small geotrenches associated with surface calcareous exposures, taking samples for pIRIRSL dating along with two sampling points in the lower unconsolidated dune flank. We also date a sample from the Stone et al. (2010) sequence using pIRIRSL (K fieldspar) to revise the saturated quartz luminescence age estimate. References Leader, G.M., Bynoe, R., Marks, T., Stone, A., Efraim, K., Stratford, D., Marais, E. (2023) Revisiting the Acheulean at Namib IV in the Namib Desert, Namibia. Journal of Field Archaeology 48(5), 380-394.Stone, A., Thomas, D.S.G., Viles, H.A. (2010) Late Quaternary palaeohydrological changes in the northern Namib Sand Sea: new chronologies using OSL dating of interdigitated aeolian and water-lain interdune deposits. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 288 (1-4), 35-53.
Fast recovery of North Atlantic sea level in response to atmospheric CO2 removal
Authors: Wang Sunhee , Shin Yechul , Oh Ji-Hoon , Kug Jong-Seong
Published: March 2024

Human-induced increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) cause global warming, which leads global mean sea level rise. Previous research has shown that even with the reduction or removal of atmospheric CO2, the global mean sea level will not return to its initial level. However, the regional effects of reducing or removing atmospheric CO2 on sea level change have not been extensively studied. In this study, we analyzed global and regional sea level changes over a 560-year period, including 140 years of a linear increase in atmospheric CO2 of 1% per year, followed by 140 years of a linear decrease, and finally 280 years of maintenance at pre-industrial CO2 levels. Our analysis showed that the sea level in the North Atlantic region increased rapidly relative to the global mean, and then recovered rapidly. We attribute these variations to fluctuations in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). As the AMOC weakened, heat and salt were trapped in the lower latitudes of the North Atlantic region, resulting in a slower transfer of these elements to higher latitudes. As the AMOC recovered and overshoot, the accumulated heat and salt were rapidly transferred to higher latitudes, resulting in changes in sea level. Our results suggest that the North Atlantic region is more sensitive to changes in atmospheric CO2 compared to the global mean. The North Atlantic region has a high population density and is expected to suffer significant damage as a result of sea level change. Therefore, continuous research on sea level change in this region is needed, and our study could help improve the ability to predict future sea level change in this area.
Quantification of reliability of roofs subjected to snow loadsdetermined by hydrological models
Authors: Thiis Thomas , Frimannslund Iver , Nori Hevi , Mustafa Zhen
Published: March 2024

Snow loads exert a significant influence on the structural integrity of buildings in the northern hemisphere, necessitating precise assessment methodologies to ensure the reliability of roofs under this environmental stressor. The determination of roof snow load is intricately linked to evaluating the weight of accumulated snow on the roof surface, a critical consideration in the design and construction of buildings. The reliability of a roof structure is conventionally gauged through the computation of the reliability index, denoted as beta. This index integrates the characteristic ground snow load and an estimation of the associated accuracy, forming a crucial metric for structural engineers. Traditionally, the characteristic ground snow load is determined by fitting a series of yearly maximum ground snow load data to a Gumbel distribution, enabling the extraction of the 50-year return period value. This process traditionally relies on data obtained from weather stations, where meticulous measurements of snow depth are conducted alongside either direct measurements or modeling of snow density. However, the landscape of snow load determination is evolving with the advent of more sophisticated hydrological models. In this context, the paper investigates the impact of transitioning from traditional station data to utilizing gridded simulation data for estimating the characteristic snow load on the ground. The hydrological model "SeNorge" serves as a pivotal tool in this investigation, offering simulated ground snow load data at a 1 km grid. The objective is to scrutinize whether this shift in methodology affects the reliability of buildings and infrastructure subjected to snow loads. The study extends its reach across various climatic zones in Norway, comparing results obtained from the hydrological model with measured data from diverse sources. The fundamental question is whether the adoption of simulated ground snow load data, as generated by advanced hydrological models, translates into a corresponding level of reliability when compared to the established paradigm of utilizing standardized ground snow load data. The results demonstrate a variable uncertainty in the quantification of the snow load depending on the climate region and elevation. When this uncertainty is applied to a reliability calculation a straightforward application of hydrological model may not maintain the same level of reliability as the traditional approach employing standardized ground snow load data. The shift in the structural reliability implies that the partial factors should be adjusted achieve the target reliability criteria when moving from measured to simulated snow load maps. This revelation holds substantial implications for the engineering community, urging a cautious approach to the adoption of newer methodologies in snow load assessments.
Reconstruction of palaeoglaciers and palaeoclimate in Zheduo Shan, Eastern Tibetan Plateau, during the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Yang Yanmin
Published: March 2024

Reconstructing the extent and timing of palaeoglaciers and their associated climate is of great importance for understanding the responses of glaciers to climate change. Glacial landforms are well-preserved in Zheduo Shan, one of the high mountain ranges on the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, few studies have constrained glacial chronologies and estimated palaeoclimate in this area. We investigated the glacial advance during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in Zheduo Shan using 10Be surface exposure dating. We then reconstructed the extent and thickness of LGM glaciers based on geomorphological mapping and a flowline-based glacial modelPalaeoIce. Eleven 10Be exposure ages confirmed a major LGM glacial advance between 20.0 ± 3.2 ka and 19.3 ± 2.8 ka. The reconstructed LGM glaciers in this mountain range covered an area of 499.16 km2 with an average ice thickness of 54.4 m and a total ice volume of 52.82 km3. The regional average equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) was estimated as 4524 ± 140 m, 535 ± 140 m lower than the present value. Based on the empirical relationship between precipitation and temperature (P-T model) at the ELAs on the TP, the temperature and precipitation were estimated as 3.10–5.27 ◦C and 10–16% lower during the LGM than the present values, respectively. These results suggest that the LGM glacial advance was more sensitive to temperature than precipitation in Zheduo Shan.
Monitoring volcanic areas through the IREA-CNR airborne SAR infrastructure
Authors: Natale Antonio , Berardino Paolo , Di Vincenzo Alessandro , Esposito Carmen , Lanari Riccardo , Perna Stefano
Published: March 2024

This contribution is aimed at describing the airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) infrastructure developed at the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA) - National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Naples, Italy.The infrastructure consists of a flight and a ground segment.Specifically, the flight segment includes an airborne SAR system, that is, the Multiband Interferometric and Polarimetric SAR (MIPS) sensor [1] owned by IREA-CNR. This is based on the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology, operates at X- and L-band and it can be easily mounted onboard (and unmounted from) different types of aircrafts.The ground segment includes an IT platform for data storage and processing, located at the IREA-CNR laboratories, and the airborne SAR data processing chain, jointly developed by IREA-CNR and University Parthenope, Naples, Italy [2]. Related to the infrastructure, there are also those activities carried out before and during the airborne campaign to guarantee the proper planning and the successful execution of the campaign itself.To show the current capabilities of this infrastructure, in terms of characteristics of the final products as well as of the timely response in emergency scenarios, by way of example we present a case study relevant to a MIPS campaign carried out in the frame of the agreement between IREA-CNR and the Department of Civil Protection of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. In particular, the considered case study has been picked up from a set of airborne SAR campaigns carried out from 2019 to 2022 with the aim of generating multi-temporal single-pass X-Band interferometric Digital Elevation Models of the Stromboli Volcano, in order to perform long-term analyses of the topographic changes related to its eruptive activity [3]. [1] A. Natale, P. Berardino, C. Esposito, G. Palmese, R. Lanari, and S. Perna, “The New Italian Airborne Multiband Interferometric and Polarimetric SAR (MIPS) System: First Flight Test Results,” Int. Geosci. Remote Sens. Symp., vol. 2022-July, pp. 4506–4509, 2022, doi: 10.1109/IGARSS46834.2022.9884189. [2] P. Berardino, A. Natale, C. Esposito, R. Lanari, and S. Perna, “On the Time-Domain Airborne SAR Focusing in the Presence of Strong Azimuth Variations of the Squint Angle,” IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., vol. 61, pp. 1–18, 2023, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2023.3289593. [3] R. Lanari, C. Esposito, P. Berardino, A. Natale, G. Palmese, and S. Perna, “Stromboli volcano monitoring with airborne SAR systems,” in EGU General Assembly 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-10047. 
The Cold Pool Model Intercomparison Project (CP-MIP)
Authors: Kazil Jan , Vogel Raphaela , Blossey Peter , Boeing Steven , Denby Leif , Ghazayel Salima , Heus Thijs , Neggers Roel , Raghunathan Girish , Siebesma Pier
Published: March 2024

Atmospheric cold pools form when cool downdrafts from cumulus clouds spread out laterally at the surface. The cool surface air suppresses convection and erases clouds around the downdraft. Over the oceans, the resulting cloud-free areas are often larger than 100 km, and turbulence and clouds recover only after many hours. The properties, mechanisms, lifecycle, and radiative effect of cold pools are currently not well understood. This is in part because the key processes of cold pools proceed on scales below the resolution of large scale models, and in part because of model biases in cold pool simulations by high resolution models.The Cold Pool Model Intercomparison Project (CP-MIP) seeks to investigate and improve the fidelity of model representation of convective cold pools. The goals of CP-MIP are the identification, characterization, and quantification of model biases through comparison with observed cold pool statistics, the convergence of models towards a robust basis for the study of cold pools, and the improved representation of cold pools in high resolution and large scale simulations.We introduce CP-MIP, describe the approaches and objectives, and set out the elements of CP-MIP. The first stage of CP-MIP focuses on shallow convective cold pools over the tropical oceans, which are primarily associated with trade cumulus clouds. Observations from the EUREC4A and ATOMIC field campaigns, and modeling efforts from the CP-MIP partner projects contribute to CP-MIP. We present an analysis of first results.
29 million years of diverse mammalian enamel proteomes from Turkana in the East African Rift System
Authors: Green Daniel , Uno Kevin , Miller Ellen , Feibel Craig , Aoron Eipa , Beck Catherine , Grossman Aryeh , Kirera Francis , Kirinya Martin , Leakey Louise , Liutkus-Pierce Cynthia , Manthi Fredrick , Ndiema Emmanuel , Nyete Cyprian , Rowan John , Russo Gabrielle , Sanders William , Smiley Tara , Princehouse Patricia , Vitek Natasha , Cleland Timothy
Published: March 2024

Exploration of the paleobiology of extinct taxa through ancient DNA and proteomics has been largely limited to Plio-Pleistocene fossils due to molecular breakdown over time, a problem exacerbated in tropical settings. Here, we report small proteomes from the interior enamel of fossils deposited at paleontological sites dating between 29–1.5 Ma in the Turkana Basin, Kenya, which has produced the richest record of Cenozoic mammal evolution in eastern Africa. We recovered enamel protein fragments in all sampled fossils, including a ~ 29 Ma Arsinoitherium specimen belonging to an extinct mammalian order, Embrithopoda. Identified proteins include the classical structural enamel proteins amelogenin, enamelin, and ameloblastin, but also less abundant enamel proteins including collagens and proteases. Protein fragment counts decline in progressively older fossils, but we observe significant variability in Early Miocene preservation across sites, with ~17 Ma deinothere and elephantimorph proboscidean fossils from Buluk preserving substantially more proteins than rhinocerotid and anthracotheriid fossils from ~18 Ma Locherangan and hippopotamids from younger localities at Napudet (< 11 Ma). Most specimens yield known clade-specific diagenetiforms that support morphology-based taxonomic identifications. Matches to clade-specific proteins suggest the future potential of paleoproteomics to contribute to the systematic placement of extinct taxa, but should be approached with caution due to sometimes sparse fragment identification and the possibility of sequence diagenesis. We identify likely modifications that support the ancient age of these proteins, and the oldest examples of advanced glycation end-products and carbamylation yet known. The discovery of protein sequences within dense enamel tissues in one of the persistently warmest regions on Earth promises the discovery of far older proteomes that will aid in the study of the biology and evolutionary relationships of extinct taxa.
Use of sustainable extractants for the Zn recovery from spentbatteries for agricultural purposes
Authors: Barragan Mantilla Silvia Patricia , Ortiz Raquel , Gascó Gabriel , Sánchez Laura , Almendros Patricia , Méndez Ana
Published: March 2024

The demand for metals is increasing, so the need of looking for greener alternatives to obtain them [1]. Techniques such as hydrometallurgy have been thoroughly studied to obtain better metal recoveries from different feedstocks, including low-grade ores, mine tailings, and spent batteries, which are normally difficult and expensive to treat [2]. This study focused on the implementation of an amino acid to promote metal recovery, particularly Zn from spent batteries, and its possible application in agriculture. For the leaching, we used a ratio of glycine (8/1), hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH) at room temperature, 200 rpm, and different pH values (7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0). At 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 22, and 24 h, we measured pH and potential and took aliquots of each sample. Subsequently, samples were characterized by atomic absorption spectrometry and processed. According to the results, the best recoveries were achieved at lower pH values. Although the results obtained are not on par with those of acid leaching systems, they provide important insights into factors that may affect recovery rates (i.e., type of material, pH, glycine/oxidant agent) [3,4], which leads to the development of strategies to optimize them.Acknowledgments: This research has been funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), and European Union “NextGenerationEU” with grant number TED2021-131198B-I00 “GREEN-AGRO-REC”.[1] Henckens, M. L. C. M., Driessen, P. P. J., & Worrell, E. (2014). Metal scarcity and sustainability, analyzing the necessity to reduce the extraction of scarce metals. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 93, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.09.012[2] Mohanraj, G. T., Rahman, M. R., Arya, S. B., Barman, R., Krishnendu, P., & Singh Meena, S. (2022). Characterization study and recovery of copper from low-grade copper ore through hydrometallurgical route. Advanced Powder Technology, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2021.12.001[3] Shin, D., Ahn, J., & Lee, J. (2019). Kinetic study of copper leaching from chalcopyrite concentrate in alkaline glycine solution. Hydrometallurgy, 183, 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.10.021[4] Tanda, B. C., Eksteen, J. J., & Oraby, E. A. (2017). An investigation into the leaching behavior of copper oxide minerals in aqueous alkaline glycine solutions. Hydrometallurgy, 167, 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.11.
Faults segmentation in active external extensional front: insights from seismicity in the Sant'Anna Pelago area, North Apennines
Authors: Lenci Simone , Keir Derek , Molli Giancarlo , Vannucchi Paola , del Ventisette Chiara , Pagli Carolina
Published: March 2024

The Neogene-to-Recent tectonic evolution of the Northern Apennines has been characterized by contraction in the foreland, accompanied by extension in the internal domain. While the architectural and kinematic aspects of these two distinct sectors are better-known, uncertainties persist regarding the transition between them. Understanding the tectonics is made more complex since the width of the internal extensional domain increases south-eastward as the Northern Apennines steps eastward across Italy.The Sant'Anna Pelago area, located on the Tuscan-Emilian ridge between Alpe di Succiso (NW) and Monte Cimone (SE), exhibits pronounced instrumental seismicity with over a thousand recorded events over the last ~15 years, forming the focus of this study. Sant'Anna Pelago represents a critical zone as the extensional front is situated near the outermost out-of-sequence contractional front affecting the Tuscan Nappe. The region locates close to the orographic divide, and also where the width of the internal extension starts widening significantly eastward. Seismicity in Sant’Anna is expressed through three major seismic sequences over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022, with events concentrated in 2013, 2018, and 2022. P and S arrival times from 56 evenly distributed stations within 130 km radius from the publicly available INGV database were utilized to perform a preliminary relocation of seismic clusters using NonLinLoc and a local velocity model. Subsequent precise relocations were conducted using differential arrival times through HypoDD.The relocation revealed three primary deep clusters and several minor aligned ones. The 2013 sequence is 8-km-long, 10-17 km deep, strikes parallel (NW) with the Apenninic trend, and dips 50 degrees towards the SW. This structure aligns prominently with the southern tip of the Zola master fault, surfacing near Pieve Pelago. Earthquakes are particularly dense at the southern tip of this structure. The subsequent clusters are in the footwall of the 2013 sequence, and at similar depths. These show several discrete, sub-vertical structures oriented E-W, each approximately 3 km long. These clusters geometrically resemble synthetic en-echelon faults situated in the footwall of the Zola fault. The western tips of these structures align along a potential envelope segment linking them to the 2013 cluster, a transverse SW-NE structure orthogonal to the Apenninic structure and the Zola Fault. We interpret the 2013 sequence as normal slip on a reactivated NW striking Apenninic contractional structure, and the subsequent en-echelon sequences on E-W faults as mostly normal slip in a dextral stepping zone of local re-orientation of stress. The interpretations will however, be tested with earthquake focal mechanisms and field structural geology. 
Tropical Cyclone and Convective Storm Observations with the NASA TROPICS Constellation Mission
Authors: Blackwell William ,   TROPICS Science Team
Published: March 2024

Four NASA TROPICS Earth Venture (EVI-3) CubeSat constellation satellites were successfully launched into orbit on May 8 and May 25, 2023 (two CubeSats in each of the two launches).  TROPICS is now providing nearly all-weather observations of precipitation horizontal structure, cloud ice, and 3-D temperature and humidity at high temporal resolution to conduct high-value science investigations of tropical cyclones. TROPICS is providing rapid-refresh microwave measurements (median refresh rate of approximately 60 minutes for the baseline mission) over the tropics that can be used to observe the thermodynamics of the troposphere and precipitation structure for storm systems at the mesoscale and synoptic scale over the entire storm lifecycle. Hundreds of high-resolution images of tropical cyclones have been captured thus far by the TROPICS mission, revealing detailed structure of the eyewall and surrounding rain bands.  The new 205-GHz channel in particular (together with a traditional channel near 92 GHz) is providing new information on the inner storm structure, and, coupled with the relatively frequent revisit and low downlink latency, is already informing tropical cyclone analysis at operational centers.The TROPICS constellation mission comprises four 3U CubeSats (5.4 kg each) in two low-Earth orbital planes inclined at approximately 33 degrees with a 550-km altitude. Each CubeSat comprises a Blue Canyon Technologies bus and a high-performance radiometer payload to provide temperature profiles using seven channels near the 118.75 GHz oxygen absorption line, water vapor profiles using three channels near the 183 GHz water vapor absorption line, imagery in a single channel near 90 GHz for precipitation measurements (when combined with higher resolution water vapor channels), and a single channel at 205 GHz that is more sensitive to precipitation-sized ice particles. TROPICS spatial resolution and measurement sensitivity is comparable with current state-of-the-art observing platforms. Data is downlinked to the ground via the KSAT-Lite ground network with latencies better than one hour. NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program Office approved the separate TROPICS Pathfinder mission, which launched into a sun-synchronous orbit on June 30, 2021, in advance of the TROPICS constellation mission as a technology demonstration and risk reduction effort. The TROPICS Pathfinder mission continues has yielded useful data for 30+ months of operation and has provided an opportunity to checkout and optimize all mission elements prior to the primary constellation mission.
Extreme waves over a shoal, and extreme forces on a submerged cylinder behind the shoal
Authors: Samseth Karen , Trulsen Karsten
Published: March 2024

During the last years, there has been increasing interest in freak waves and freak forces caused by change in bathymetry. Our research follows the pioneering work of Bitner (Bitner, 1980), who studied how the statistical distribution changed for waves propagating over variable depth. Laboratory data of surface waves from Marin, where waves propagated from deeper to shallower water, were analyzed in Trulsen, Zeng, and Gramstad, 2012. They found a local maximum for kurtosis at the beginning of shallower water. Experimental measurements of Raustl in Trulsen, Raustl, et al., 2020 showed an increase in kurtosis and skewness near the front of the plateau of the shoal, and a minimum in skewness at the lee side. Experimental velocity measurements of Jorde in Trulsen, Raustl, et al., 2020 led to the observation that the velocities had a local maximum and minimum in skewness at the same places as for the surface elevation, but the kurtosis had maximum on the lee side of the shoal. By numerical simulation, the same results were reached by Lawrence, Trulsen, and Gramstad, 2021. This lead us to ask if the forces on a horizontal cylinder would have a similar maximum of kurtosis behind the shoal.We have done experiments in a wave flume measuring surface elevations and correspond-ing velocities over and behind a shoal, and the resulting forces on a horizontal cylinder behind a shoal, as sketched in fig. 1. Ultrasound probes were placed around the shoal, and an ADV could be moved horizontally over the shoal. The cylinder was equipped with force transducers, and could also be moved. The waves were generated according to the Pierson-Moskowitz spectrum, different from most earlier research that employed the JONSWAP spectrum. In the same way, as for the JONSWAP spectrum in earlier research, we observe the increase in skewness and kurtosis for surface elevation at the front end of the shoal. We also see the increase in kurtosis of the velocity field on the lee side of the shoal. Our force measurements indeed show an increase in skewness and kurtosis on the lee side of the shoal compared to over at the bottom, especially for the horizontal forces. Therefore, there might be reason to be cautious about extreme forces when placing structures behind a shoal.
Interactive City Information Model for Urban Environmental Assessments
Authors: Ntassiou Konstantina , Cavalieri Chiara , Agudo-Sierra Elena , Bossard Alexandre , Llaguno-Munitxa Maider
Published: March 2024

This research proposes a novel City Information Model (CIM), for the development of urban environmental assessments. The model combines aboveground and underground 3D assets, to inform urban policies on issues such as, rainwater management or urban green infrastructure planning. The model furnishes quantitative metrics for parcel-level characterizations, enabling an assessment of the present state and potential for development. The neighborhood of Heyvaert, and more precisely the perimeter of its operational masterplan, spanning 0.65 km2 in the Brussels Capital Region (BCR), was used as a case study. Geospatial data, including stratigraphy, streets, sidewalks, buildings, roofs, and green infrastructure, was gathered. From this data, environmental indicators, including rainwater collection, solar capacity, and green cover, were derived at the building parcel level. Subsequently, the model was presented through an interactive WebGIS platform. The research evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed CIM model to assist in urban environmental assessment planning. The study also investigates incorporating interactive features in a WebGIS platform, with the aim of creating a participatory 3D CIM that actively involves stakeholders.
Integrated and conjunctive Reservoir and Aquifer Management to improve water security in the Elqui Basin, Chile
Authors: Faneca Sànchez Marta , ten Velden Corine , García Grez Felipe , Becker Bernhard , van Duijne Hans
Published: March 2024

Reservoir operation and groundwater management, and specifically Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) are often tackled separately despite the common objective to store water when it is available and provide water when needed. Few studies focus on the conjunctive management of reservoirs and aquifers to optimize IWRM in basins. This work takes into consideration the combined management of reservoir operation and MAR for the Elqui Basin in the Coquimbo region, Chile and proposes a conceptual model for integrated modelling. The conceptual model captures the complexity of integrated management in terms of contributing processes, time and spatial scales, risks, data and models and proposes approaches for an integrated tool. The Elqui Basin is located in the northern part of Chile. The last decade it has been exposed to prolonged and severe droughts. This has posed enormous pressure on the already scarce water resources, causing overexploitation of groundwater resulting in drastic lowering of the groundwater table. To analyse optimization of water allocation in the basin (including reservoir management and MAR), in addition to the conceptual model, a real time control model (RTC-tools) is developed by coupling a hydrological model (WFLOW) and a groundwater model (iMODFLOW) to RTC-tools. The RTC-tools exercise shows when and how much water would be available to infiltrate through MAR, whilst also considering the water demand of the many different users in the basin. Preliminary results show that while infrastructure should be adapted to conduct and infiltrate water in the region, reservoir operation and water allocation could be optimized to make MAR possible.
UPPER CRETACEOUS SCAGLIA TYPE LIMESTONE FROM KLEPA Mts. (NORTH MACEDONIA) – SEDIMENTOLOGY AND BIOSTRATIGRAPHY
Authors: Gajić Violeta , Dunčić Milena , Mladenović Ana , Prelević Dejan
Published: March 2024

The research area is located in the central part of North Macedonia, in the area of the Klepa Mts. Based on sedimentological, micropaleontological and biostratigraphical investigations of samples from both the east and west side of the Klepa Mts., sedimentary rocks of the Upper Creaceous age are determined. During the latest Cretaceous, this area was dominated by the sedimentation of dominantly carbonate rocks with variable amounts of clastic components.From the tectonic point of view, investigated area belongs to the contact zone between the Adriatic microplate (on the west) and the Eurasian margin (on the east). This contact zone is represented by a relatively wide area, that evolved in the form of tectonically active sedimentary basins due to a convergence between the aforementioned tectonic plates. However, the nature of this contact zone, also known as the Sava-Vardar zone, which extends along the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, is still a matter of debate. The traditional view explains the Sava – Vardar zone as the remnant of the Late Cretaceous oceanic domain, which subducted under the Eurasian plate and initiated the formation of the Banat-Timok-Srednjegornje volcanic arc. Nevertheless, based on the study of several Upper Cretaceous basaltic occurrences within the Sava-Vardar zone, it is concluded that they are of an intraplate origin. Following that, if we assume that this traditional point of view for the contact zone is true, these basalts should be interpreted as being formed in the forearc region. Alternatively, if these basaltic occurrences are of intracontinental origin, they can be interpreted as being formed in the area of a diffuse tectonic zone between the Adriatic microplate and the Eurasian plate, that was suitable for the formation of pull-apart basins.Investigated carbonate rocks are represented by reddish, locally pinkish, or grey, light-gray hemipelagic and pelagic biomicrites with very rich planktonic and benthic foraminiferal associations and other diverse micro- and macrofossil assemblages (calcareous nannoplankton, calcified radiolarians, palynomorphs, inoceramids, as well as reef-fossil detritus, transported to deeper parts of the basin). According to biostratigraphical analysis, defined units of scaglia type limestones of the Klepa Mts. implied that basin formation began during late Santonian.A study of lithological and stratigraphical characteristics on the field, as well as the determination of a very rich association of the Upper Cretaceous fossils, indicate constant sedimentation from the late Santonian to early Maastrichtian time in the area of the Klepa Mts. Palaeoecological characteristics of the determined association of planktonic foraminifers indicate relatively deep sedimentation (~300 m) of the studied limestones, with periodical changes in bathymetry.Acknowledgement: This research was financed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia through project RECON TETHYS (7744807).
An Assessment of the Global PFAS Burden to Our Waters
Authors: O'Carroll Denis , Ackerman Grunfeld Diana , Gilbert Daniel , Hou Jennifer , Lee Matthew , Kibbey Tohren
Published: March 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used extensively in a range of consumer and industrial products since the 1950s, including in fire-fighting foam, given their exceptional interfacial properties and stability. However, concerns related to PFAS (eco)toxicity have only become widely known in the last 25 years. Passage of PFAS regulations and advisories has now proceeded at a much quicker rate than for many groups of anthropogenic chemicals, with the breadth of PFAS subject to regulation continually increasing and deemed acceptable levels continually decreasing. Here, we summarize global surface and groundwater PFAS data (n > 45,000) to quantify the extent to which PFAS water concentrations exceed drinking water advisories and regulations globally (e.g., European Union Directive 2020/2184, US EPA, Health Canda) as well as in the context of the Stockholm Convention for the protection of human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants.  For example, our analysis suggests that 32% and 16% of sampled groundwater and surface water exceed the threshold of 1.0 for the unitless US PFAS hazard index for drinking water, respectively, when there is no known source of PFAS contamination, with the rate of exceedance increasing when there is a known source. The extent of exceedances for other jurisdictions will be discussed. Further, analysis of PFAS embodied in consumer products suggests that typical methods used to quantify PFAS in surface and groundwater likely underestimate total PFAS concentration.  Given this the future environmental burden posed by PFAS is likely underestimated.
Fault rupture mapping of the February 6, 2023 earthquake sequence, eastern Türkiye
Authors: Meng Jiannan , Kusky Timothy , Mooney Walter D. , Bozkurt Erdin , Bodur Mehmet Nuri , Wang Lu
Published: March 2024

The powerful earthquake that struck eastern Türkiye on February 6th 2023 is the most devastating earthquake of the past century in the region. Here we present our first-hand field measurements of the ground offsets and the high resolution (centimeter level) drone-mapped surface ruptures 10 days after the first shock. It is clear that the initial rupture was on the Dead Sea fault zone (DSFZ), yet maximum displacements and energy release (Mw 7.8) occurred 24 sec later when rupture transferred to the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). Seven hours later, a Mw 4.5 aftershock at the junction of the EAFZ with the east-west striking Çardak-Sürgü fault (Ç-SF) triggered the second large (Mw 7.5) earthquake, causing another round of the damage in the region. The maximum ground offsets are around 47.5 kilometers away from the epicenter in this event on the EAFZ. The surface ruptures directly cut young basins and mountains, as well as activating some pre-existing surfaces. Our observation provides important data on surface deformation during large continental strike-slip earthquakes, rupture propagation mechanisms, and how slip may be transferred between complex fault systems. We also provide insight into how slip along linked fault systems accommodates global plate motions.
A dynamical-systems perspective on aerosol-stratocumulus interactions
Authors: Glassmeier Franziska , Hernandez Benjamin
Published: March 2024

The evolution of stratocumulus cloud decks is governed by three timescales: the large-scale evolution of the boundary layer, the mesoscale evolution of liquid water path and cloud fraction, and the microscale processes of cloud microphysics and aerosol-cloud interactions. Our quantitative understanding of aerosol-cloud-climate cooling is especially challenged by the mesoscale response of stratocumulus decks to aerosol perturbations. This response can on the one hand be muted because cloud adjustments partially compensate an initial effect, a feature known as buffering or resilience. On the other hand, stratocumulus may respond by drastic transitions between the closed- and open-cell morphologies or into the shallow-cumulus regime. We will conceptualize this behavior from the perspective of dynamical-systems theory. Our description can be visualized as a quasi-potential landscape. This landscape quantifies the resilience of mesoscale cloud states to perturbations and charts transition pathways. Building on this, we will explore implications for the quantification of adjustments, especially in cloud fraction.
Analyzing energy security outcomes of decarbonization across income groups in GCAM-USA
Authors: Casper Kelly , Zhang Ying , Waldhoff Stephanie , O'Neill Brian
Published: March 2024

The equity implications brought on by climate change and the actions taken in response are a growing area of interest. Such implications are important for the design and implementation of transformative policies but are understudied at subnational levels, especially with considerations to impacts on human well-being. Specifically, integrated assessment models (IAMs), the primary tools for evaluating these policies and their implications, have advanced science and policymaking but lack detailed subnational information. In this study, we developed projections of U.S. state-level income distributions (Casper et al., 2023), represented by income deciles, and incorporated those projections into an IAM (GCAM-USA) to examine the effects of decarbonization policies on residential energy security, a key aspect of human well-being, across ten income groups in each state. Importantly, our projections of residential energy security include several metrics in order to represent the multi-faceted nature of energy security and to explore tradeoffs that consumers at different income levels may need to make in response to changing energy prices. Specifically, we estimate energy service consumption, the satiation gap, and energy burden for each decile. Our study identifies unequal impacts across groups, with the most significant impact observed among mid-to-low income groups. In 2050, the projected energy burden is lower than in 2020 due to the projected increase in income over time relative to changes in energy service prices. However, the lowest income group in most states still experiences ‘high’ energy burden in 2050 under business-as-usual, while the decarbonization policies leads to even higher energy burden for the lowest income group (households spending additional 0.6% out of income for residential energy services).With the lowest income groups experiencing worse outcomes, this work suggests that targeted policy interventions that consider the impacts on different groups will promote more equitable transitions to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy. The results focus solely on the impacts of decarbonization policies on residential energy security metrics, excluding other potential positive effects on human well-being like reductions in air pollution.References Casper, K. C., Narayan, K. B., O’Neill, B. C., Waldhoff, S. T., Zhang, Y., & Wejnert-Depue, C. P. (2023). Non-parametric projections of the net-income distribution for all U.S. states for the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Environmental Research Letters, 18(11), 114001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acf9b8
Can your Smartwatch Measure Ambient Air Temperature?
Authors: Parchami Mahya , Nazarian Negin , Hart Melissa , Liu Sijie
Published: March 2024

Urban overheating, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and global climate change, stands as a critical environmental challenge for our cities. Despite ongoing efforts to collect high-resolution datasets, a gap persists in human-centric monitoring of urban heat, specifically focusing on the immediate surroundings of individuals as they navigate urban environments. This study aims to develop a reliable prediction model for air temperature in dynamic outdoor settings, providing a comprehensive understanding of how individuals are affected by heat at any given moment and location.
The wearable monitoring method, as introduced in Nazarian et al. (2021), integrates environmental and physiological responses to offer a more holistic view of the human experience in urban areas. Smartwatches equipped with sensors measure air temperature and relative humidity at the wrist, along with skin temperature and heart rate. These measurements are then compared with data from a highly-accurate mobile weather station—MaRTy cart—which captures six-directional radiation, wind speed, ambient temperature, and relative humidity. A prediction model for ambient air temperature is proposed based on the wearable datasets. Predicting air temperature using wearable devices introduces a new, comprehensive, and personalized approach to measuring urban heat impacts in cities.
Results indicate that ambient air temperature can be predicted with 95 percent accuracy using data from wrist-mounted wearables, achieving a target attainment within ±0.45 °C. In the air temperature prediction model, variables such as air temperature at the wrist (Taw), skin temperature (Ts), and relative humidity at the wrist (RHaw) demonstrated the most significant impact, while Heart Rate (HR) and walking speed (S) had the least influence. These findings underscore the reliability and accuracy of the wearable methodology in predicting air temperature.