bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Renewable Energy Forecasting with Meteomatics EURO1k Model
Authors: Pasquier Julie Thérèse , Rausch Johannes , Piot Matthias , Schmoeckel Julia , Thaler Marco , Schluchter Christian , Fengler Martin
Published: March 2024

The production of renewable energy from wind and solar sources is intricately linked to meteorological conditions, where wind speed and solar radiation play critical roles. Due to the success of renewable energies, wind turbines are increasingly placed in sites with complex terrain, while solar panels are increasingly situated in alpine areas. However, current weather models often struggle to accurately forecast the weather, especially over complicated topography, due to limitations in spatial resolution. This leads to inaccurate predictions of power production, impacting the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy systems. To address this challenge, Meteomatics developed the EURO1k model, the first pan-European weather model with a 1 km² spatial resolution, providing optimal forecasting for wind and solar power.The EURO1k model offers a 48-hour forecast horizon, generating a new forecast every hour. In addition to standard data sources such as weather stations, radar, satellite data, and radiosondes, the EURO1k model also incorporates data from a network of Meteodrones - small, unmanned aircraft systems developed by Meteomatics - which collect vertical atmospheric profiles up to 6000m in altitude. The high resolution of the EURO1k model enables accurate representation of small-scale weather patterns, resulting in highly accurate and precise forecasts.Meteomatics uses a forecast system that combines various global and regional weather models to predict wind and solar power, aiming to reduce average errors. Recently, EURO1k has been integrated into this system, improving intraday and day-ahead power production forecasts. The normalized root mean square error (nRMSE) was reduced by up to 8.1% for intraday and by up to 8.5% for the day-ahead wind power forecast. Furthermore, a comparison of day-ahead forecasts with actual production data, combined with balancing energy costs, demonstrates improved earnings with the addition of the EURO1k model. Indeed, the EURO1k shows especially better performance in weather situations with large uncertainties. This underscores the added value of EURO1k in power forecasting, enhancing the cost efficiency of renewable energies and fostering greater integration into the energy mix, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.
Crying wolf with the 2023 El Niño: a predicted event that failed to materialize?
Authors: Carniel Sandro , Eusebi Borzelli Gian Luca , Russo Aniello , Carniel Cosimo Enrico
Published: March 2024

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a phenomenon that involves the redistribution of heat in the tropical Pacific Ocean, resulting in irregular oscillations in the sea surface temperature (SST) between warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) phases, and impacting the global planetary climate. In July 2023 the World Meteorological Organization, formally responsible to declare the onset of El Niño, officially announced its onset to the media, urging governments to prepare for potential high impacts on health, ecosystems and economies. However, the analysis of long-term meteorological and oceanographic data updated to the end of 2023 shows that while the eastern Pacific was warmer than normal in the second half of the year, the overall configuration of the tropical Pacific climate system did not indicate a strong El Niño event. Our findings show that the 2023-24 El Niño event, initially predicted to be at least moderate and possibly strong, turned out to be weak and, de facto, the year closed confirming it as a weaker than expected event. Based on historical records, we hypothesize that the state of the Pacific climate system at the end of 2023, following the unusual 2023-24 El Niño, may lead to the development of a strong or very strong El Niño by mid-2024.
Dynamics of soil microbial carbon storage compounds in low fertility landscapes
Authors: Butler Orpheus , Manzoni Stefano , Warren Charles
Published: March 2024

Intracellular storage of carbon (C) by soil micro-organisms is emerging as a key process that influences soil biogeochemical cycling and the broader function of terrestrial ecosystems. One likely role of intracellular C storage is to serve as a stoichiometric buffer against nutritional imbalances in the microbial substrate. Such a function would make storage compounds vital to the long-term function of ecosystems associated with strongly weathered, low fertility soils, yet there have been few studies of intracellular carbon storage in such ecosystems. We examined the dynamics of two putative storage compounds (triacylglycerol [TAG] and polyhydroxybutyrate [PHB]) across two natural soil fertility gradients in eastern Australia. Across all sites and samples, absolute quantities of storage compounds ranged from 0 to 173 µg C g soil-1 in the case of TAG and 0 to 56 µg C g soil-1 for PHB. When standardized to total soil organic C, quantities of storage compounds tended to be markedly higher than those observed in prior studies of temperate and/or agricultural soils. Allocation to storage compounds followed strong trends across natural gradients of soil fertility and tended to peak in phosphorus-deficient and/or retrogressive ecosystems. Across soils of differing parent material, allocation to C storage was highest in infertile soils derived from phosphorus-depleted sandstone and ironstone compared to soils derived from shale and basalt. Likewise, allocation to C storage increased throughout ~700k years of soil development across a strongly weathered podzolic dune chronosequence. Dynamics of community-level C storage allocation were evidently underpinned by a combination of assemblage-level processes, most notably changes in the relative abundance of TAG-rich, C-limited fungal taxa, and physiological plasticity on the level of individual P-limited bacterial cells. Our findings are largely consistent with the surplus/reserve storage framework and highlight the importance of storage compounds for the function of oligotrophic ecosystems and as a major pool of C in soil.
A High-Resolution Artificial Neural Network-Based Model for Predicting Urban Flooding in Hanover, Germany
Authors: Berkhahn Simon , Sämann Robert , Fuchs Lothar , Neuweiler Insa
Published: March 2024

Urban flooding poses a significant challenge to cities, requiring the development of advanced predictive models to mitigate potential risks and enhance urban resilience. In the present study, we test an artificial neural network (ANN)-based model for predicting urban flooding in the city of Hanover, Germany. The model provides high-resolution spatial analysis on a 5 x 5 meter grid, providing detailed insights into potential flood-prone areas. With a temporal resolution of 5 minutes, the ANN model uses radar-based precipitation data to predict water levels during extreme weather events. The study is part of the FURBAS project (Forecasting urban floods and strong rainfall events, 2022-2025). This research project is a cooperation of the Institute for Technical and Scientific Hydrology (itwh) GmbH, the Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Environmental Physics in Civil Engineering, Leibniz University of Hanover and the municipal operation for Hanover city drainage. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection under grand number 67DAS224.The data driven flood prediction model uses pre-simulated flood scenarios from a physically based model as training data. The model approach of Berkhahn and Neuweiler (2023) was adapted for the present study to cope with the large catchment area of about 260 km².The proposed model could improve timely decision making for urban planning and emergency response in the future. Despite the focus on the specific challenges of the city of Hanover, the chosen modeling approach could also be applied to flood forecasting and management in other cities. With this conference contribution we want to highlight the challenges of real-time forecasting of pluvial urban floods in large catchments and present first preliminary results.Berkhahn, S., & Neuweiler, I. (2023). Data driven real-time prediction of urban floods with spatial and temporal distribution. Journal of Hydrology X, 100167.
Groundwater recharge estimates in agriculturally managed site in Northeast Germany: combining Cosmic ray neutron sensing and soil hydrological modelling
Authors: Scheiffele Lena M. , Dimitrova Petrova Katya , Heistermann Maik , Oswald Sascha E.
Published: March 2024

Brandenburg is among the driest regions in Germany, and heavily relies on groundwater resources for both agricultural and drinking water supply. Already suffering from declining groundwater tables, climate change is expected to exacerbate the situation. For a sustainable management of groundwater resources, the rate of groundwater recharge (GWR) is a key variable. Yet, its quantification remains a challenge, as it cannot be measured directly at the field scaleOne way to estimate GWR is using vadose zone models to simulate the local water balance and the vertical percolation of water towards the groundwater. Observations of soil moisture (SM) in the root zone can provide a means to calibrate such models so that they can adequately represent the local water balance. However, conventional point-scale SM observations notoriously suffer from a lack of horizontal and vertical representativeness, compromising the validity of the calibration.In this study, we explore the potential of cosmic-ray neutron sensors (CRNS) to address this issue. CRNS allow for non-invasive SM monitoring of the shallow root zone at the hectare-scale. We use daily CRNS-based soil moisture estimates to calibrate the vadose zone model HYDRUS-1D, and hence to derive daily estimates of the downward water fluxes below the root-zone, as an approximation of GWR.For this purpose, we explore a unique dataset that was obtained in a research site near Potsdam, Brandenburg, over a period of more than three years. The site features a diversity of agricultural plots, and sits on a gentle hillslope over a glacial till aquifer, with the groundwater table at depths between 1 to 10 m. In an area of around 10 ha, we operated eight CRNS sensors and 27 SM profile probes, complemented by measurements of soil texture and soil hydraulic properties, among others.In various simulation experiments, we evaluate the added value of using CRNS-based soil moisture estimates for model calibration, as a replacement or as a supplement of conventional profile probes. Based on a calibrated model, we also assess long-term (centennial) changes of GWR.
Chemical weathering processes of Himalaya-river systems since Miocene recorded by bulk and clay mineralogy of deep-sea sediments from IODP Expedition 354  
Authors: Bertaz Joffrey , Huyghe Pascale , France-Lanord Christian , Galy Albert , Limonta Mara , Tachambalath Aswin
Published: March 2024

The Ganga-Brahmaputra river system transports up to 600 million tons of sediment annually from the Himalayan range to the Bengal Fan. The catchment of the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system is characterized by highly contrasting lithologies and exhumation rates which strongly influence erosion and chemical weathering processes. Recent studies have emphasized the importance and role of floodplains for the chemical weathering of sediments eroded from Himalayan mountains. Changes in sediment chemical weathering are controlled by climatic changes, such as variations in Indian summer monsoon precipitation and glacial interglacial cycles. However, further exploration is needed to understand the impact of anthropic changes and long-term climatic and tectonic forcings on the chemical weathering regime of the Ganga-Brahmaputra system. We present the bulk and clay mineralogy, obtained with XRD, of turbiditic sediments collected from the Bengal Fan in the Indian Ocean during the IODP Expedition 354. The clay mineralogical assemblages of IODP Expedition 354 present a dominance of illite and chlorite throughout the record with a relative increase of smectite and kaolinite content during the Miocene. Such clay mineralogy is consistent with the clay mineralogy of sediments from Leg 22 site 218 from DSDP (which was reoccupied for  IODP Expedition 354). Miocene bulk sediments are relatively enriched in smectite, kaolinite, goethite, and terrigenous carbonates (calcite and dolomite). Therefore, our mineralogy results are showing a change in chemical weathering regime affecting the Himalaya system between the Miocene and Quaternary.  The Quaternary is characterized by a lower content of smectite, kaolinite and carbonates, the presence of amphiboles and an enrichment in micaceous minerals (muscovite/illite, biotite, chlorite) and plagioclases as also inferred from Raman spectroscopy (Limonta et al., 2023). This indicates that during the Miocene the chemical weathering of ferro-magnesian minerals and calco-sodic feldspars was more efficient as shown by geochemical data (Tachambalath, 2023). The decrease in chemical weathering intensity from Late Miocene is consistent with the concurrent Late Cenozoic global cooling and drying of Himalayan front associated with the decrease in Indian monsoon seasonality and/or precipitation after 10-8 Ma (Clift and Webb, 2019). Here, we show that the change in the Indian monsoon system from 10-8 Ma is marked in the Bengal Fan turbiditic sediments mineralogy.
Alignment of industry, regulation and academia for quantification of carbon dioxide removal by enhanced weathering
Authors: Larkin Christina , Clarkson Matthew , Swoboda Philip , Reershemius Tom , Suhrhoff T. Jesper , Maesano Cara , Campbell James
Published: March 2024

Terrestrial enhanced weathering (EW) is a promising emerging carbon dioxide removal technique which involves the acceleration of natural weathering processes via the deployment of crushed rock feedstocks, typically Ca- and Mg-rich silicates, in soils. While models predict this has the potential to remove multiple gigatonnes of CO2 annually1,2, as an open-system pathway, the measurement (monitoring), reporting, and verification (MRV) of carbon removal and storage is challenging3. We will review the current literature showing the state-of-play of different methods for monitoring EW, as well as outlining links between industry, regulation and academia. Additionally, we outline a set of enhanced weathering carbon definitions in order to align academic studies and emergent industry in this area with the established voluntary carbon offset market. We will discuss two main pathways for measuring EW, one focused on solid phase measurements4 and the other on the aqueous phase3,5. Additionally, gas phase measurements have been deployed to understand CO2 fluxes, but are dominated by short-term organic carbon cycling. We emphasise that, although there is complexity in tracing EW CDR in the natural field environment, established literature validates existing approaches, and each measurement approach has strengths and limitations. The complexity inherent in EW is navigable through redundant measurement strategies and well designed experiments, which we highlight are crucial in the nascent stages of the EW industry.1Taylor, L. L. et al. Nat. Clim. Change 6, 402–406 (2016)2Beerling, D. J. et al. Nature 583, 242–248 (2020)3Clarkson, M. O. et al. preprint EarthArXiv (2023)4Reershemius, T., Kelland, M.E., et al.. Environ. Sci. Technol. (2023) 5Larkin, C. S. et al. Front. Clim. 4, (2022).
Upper amphibolite- and granulite-facies metabasites: the natural record
Authors: Forshaw Jacob , Green Eleanor , Lanari Pierre
Published: March 2024

Upper amphibolite- and granulite-facies metabasites, ubiquitous in Archaean and Proterozoic terranes, represent a critical source of information on the lower continental crust. Elucidating the metamorphism of these rocks provides insights into the processes occurring at depth throughout Earth’s history. However, despite a century of geochemical studies examining high-temperature metabasites in the rock record, several aspects of their phase equilibria remain enigmatic, complicating the development of reliable thermodynamic equations of state for key phases.This problem exists in part because studies of natural rocks primarily aim to establish the pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions of their respective region. Whilst researchers typically examine the relationship between the geochemical composition of different phases in pursuit of these P-T estimates, observations are necessarily restricted to the bulk composition of their rock and the P-T conditions at which the minerals equilibrated. In contrast, when developing equations of state, a rigorous understanding of how mineral compositions vary for a wide range of pressures, temperatures, and bulk compositions is required. This study lays the groundwork for such an understanding of metabasic phase equilibria by compiling a database of geochemical analyses from studies of natural samples worldwide.Whole rock compositions, phase assemblages, modal abundances, and mineral compositions have been extracted from over 100 studies in the literature to construct a database containing >1000 samples. First, we determine the median value for and examine the range in the major- and minor-element whole rock composition of metabasites. These values are then compared to several average basalt compositions from the literature. Second, we examine the range and variability in the composition of individual minerals and the partitioning of elements between them. Third, using wet chemical analyses from the database, we test the ability of current ferric iron estimation techniques to reproduce that measured in garnet, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and amphibole. Future work will use this database to test the capability of new thermodynamic equations of state and make it available as a community resource.This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 850530).
Petrologic constraints on the activity of the youngest explosive events at Yali volcano (South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc, Greece): plumbing system architecture and implication for hazard assessment.
Authors: Braschi Eleonora , Vougioukalakis George E. , Francalanci Lorella
Published: March 2024

The Yali volcanic centre is a relatively young volcano that was active within the last 40,000 year and is part of the Nisyros-Kos volcanic field, representing the most recent evidence of magmatic activity in the western part of the South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc, together with the post-caldera lava dome activity occurred at the nearby Nisyros volcano.  

The Yali volcanic activity (bot explosive and effusive) is still poorly studied, and the plumbing system architecture and magma ascent pathways are barely defined, although it represents an important element to be considered for the evaluation of the volcanic hazard and the potential risk in the area, associated to the accumulation of evolving magma body in the crust.  

The aim of our study is thus to detail the nature of juvenile materials and the evaluation of the magmatic processes occurring in the plumbing system. This would provide important information to define the relationships between the different eruptive events that occurred during the Yali volcano evolution.  

The present-day edifice is constituted by the remnant of the original volcano after intense tectonic and erosion processes. It is composed by two distinct parts with difficult stratigraphic correlation due to the limited exposure and continuity of the deposits. The SW part is built up by a thick succession of pyroclastic materials, generated by the eruption of a submarine pyroclastic deposit (Lower Pumice -YLP) followed by a subaerial activity leading to the emplacement of a pumice-rich pyroclastic fallout (Upper Pumice-YUP) that is topped by two layers of reworked pumice-rich deposits (YRL), separated by a thin paleosoil. The NE part is formed by the eruption of large perlitic lava flows and obsidian lava domes associated to an explosive episode generating the Kamara tuff cone.   

The main volume of the erupted products (pumices and lavas) is composed by evolved juveniles of rhyolitic composition. All the pyroclastic deposits, including the Kamara tuff cone host a variable amount of mafic, crystal-rich clasts (SiO2 from 52.5 to 67.5 wt.%) suggesting the occurrence of mingling processes between different evolved magmas in the feeding reservoir/s, thus implying a mafic, deep, refill of the plumbing system. Our data show that the YLP and YUP pumice have similar homogeneous composition, with the latter having a slightly less evolved character. They also display a quite distinct major, trace elements and Sr-Nd isotopes behavior compared to pumices of the YRL. The lavas are even more evolved than pumices. Moreover, the mafic components reveal a heterogeneous composition and isotopic signatures, suggesting the presence of a complex plumbing system feeding the different explosive and effusive eruptions. 
Comparison of effective diffusion rates in multiple ice cores
Authors: Rhodes Rachael , Bollet-Quivogne Yvan , Clarke Daniel , Barnes Piers , Wolff Eric
Published: March 2024

To extract climatically relevant chemical signals from the deepest, oldest ice in the polar ice sheets, we must first understand the degree to which chemical ions diffuse within solid ice. Volcanic sulfate peaks are the ideal target for such an investigation because they have a uniform peak shape at deposition. Processes of chemical diffusion and ice sheet thinning modify sulfate peak shapes with depth/age in an ice core. Our previous work developed a forward model, which simulates sulfate peak evolution in the ice sheet, and identifies the optimum effective diffusion rate for individual peaks. Analysis of the EPICA Dome C (EDC) sulfate record over the last 450 kyr suggests that the rate of sulfate diffusion is initially relatively rapid (2.4 ± 1.7 x 10-7 m2yr-1 median for Holocene ice) and slows down over time to rates on the order of 1 x 10-8 m2 yr-1 or less. We hypothesize this may result from a switch in the mechanism of diffusion resulting from the changing location of sulfate ions within the ice microstructure. Here we apply our forward model to three other ice cores: NGRIP (Greenland), EDML (East Antarctica) and WAIS Divide (West Antarctica) to determine sulfate diffusion rates and their evolution over depth/age. These ice cores are different to each other, and to EDC, in terms of their temperature profiles, ice grain size evolution and dust loading, all factors which may influence sulfate diffusion rates.
Quantifying methane flux dynamics in rewetted boreal peatlands: Impact of water table depth and soil temperature
Authors: Hautala Roosa , Ojanen Paavo , Adhikari Gopal , Jokelainen Liisa , Liutu Otto , Minkkinen Kari
Published: March 2024

Peatland restoration starts with rewetting by blocking or filling the ditches. Successful rewetting is anticipated to start the restoration process towards the conditions of natural peatland. One of the major processes, affected by drainage and restoration, is hydrology and more precisely water table depth (WT). Drainage lowers the water table creating oxic conditions where rewetting aims to increase the WT and restore anoxic environment in the soil.Most of the methane production in peatland happens in anaerobic waterlogged conditions by methanogenic Archaea during methanogenesis, and we know that the rate of CH4 gas flux is influenced by factors such as soil temperature, water table depth, plant community and pH. At the same time, methane oxidation happens in the aerobic peat layer and the balance between production and consumption determines the methane flux to the atmosphere.We measured methane gas flux at 27 rewetted, 6 natural and 7 drained, fertile peatland forests in Southern and Central Finland between 6/2021-11/2023.  Sites were rewetted 3-30 years ago. We used the closed chamber method with portable gas analyzers. Flux measurements were done biweekly to monthly while water table and soil temperature were measured with automatic water and temperature loggers hourly. Vegetation mapping was done during the summer 2023. We will compare methane fluxes in drained, rewetted and pristine peatlands using this new material and old published data from Finnish peatlands.We hypothesize to see an increase in methane emissions after rewetting from drained towards natural levels. We also expect to see higher seasonal methane dynamics in rewetted than in natural peatlands, as WT dynamics appears to be higher in rewetted than in natural mires. 
A barycenter-based approach for the multi-model ensembling of subseasonal forecasts
Authors: Le Coz Camille , Tantet Alexis , Flamary Rémi , Plougonven Riwal
Published: March 2024

Combining ensemble forecasts from different models into a multi-model ensemble (MME) have been shown to improve forecast skill at different time-scales, including the sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) one. Here, we investigate a new method to build such MME based on barycenter.Recognizing ensemble forecasts as discrete probability distributions, we work directly in the probability distribution space. This allows us to use existing tools in this space, and in particular the concept of barycenter. The barycenter of a collection of distributions (or the ensemble forecasts here) is the distribution that best represents them, based on a given metric. The barycenter can thus be seen as the combination of these distributions, and so used to build a MME. We compare two barycenters based on different metrics: the L2 and the Wasserstein distances. The Wasserstein distance corresponds to the cost of the optimal transport between two distributions and has interesting properties in the distribution space. We compare it to the L2-barycenter which is in fact shown to be equivalent to the well-known “pooling” MME method (i.e. the concatenation of the different ensembles members). Another interesting point of the barycenters is that they allow you to give different weights to the models and so to easily build a weighted-MME. The weights have an important impact on the skill of the MMEs. We are thus optimizing the weights by learning them from the data using cross-validation on the forecasts.The two barycenter-based MMEs are applied to the combination of the models from the S2S project’s database. Their performances are evaluated for the prediction of weekly 2m-temperature during European winter with respect to different metrics. As a proof of concept, we first start with the combination of two models, namely the European Centre Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) models. We show that the two MMEs are generally able to perform as well or better than both the single-models, but that the best combination method depends on the chosen metric. We then extend the barycenter approach to the combination of more models, of which we will discuss preliminary results.
Fault scarps and tectonic strain in young seafloor
Authors: Cannat Mathilde , Chen Jie , Escartin Javier
Published: March 2024

Fault scarps at Mid-Ocean Ridges (MOR) are well recognized on the seafloor and often measured to estimate the tectonic component of plate spreading. However, tectonic strain estimates based on the dimensions of fault scarps that can be traced on seafloor topographic maps (which we refer to as apparent tectonic strain) differ from the actual whole tectonic strain. This is clearly the case at relatively melt-poor slow-ultraslow ridge segment ends, where strain is accommodated by detachment faults that do not produce linear fault scarps at the seafloor. This contribution explores the relation between actual and apparent tectonic strain in magma robust MOR regions (at fast, intermediate spreading ridges, and in the magmatically robust segment centers of slow-ultraslow ridges). We use high-resolution (1-2 m) bathymetry data at 8 MOR sites, which span a broad range of spreading rates (14-110 km/Ma) and melt fluxes. To the first degree, apparent tectonic strain is highest at slow spreading ridges, which have the lowest melt fluxes, and decreases as melt flux increases (fast spreading ridges). We examine how faults nucleate and evolve on the young axial seafloor, while establishing the relationships to volcanism. Apparent tectonic strain derived from the dimensions of fault scarps on the young seafloor is reduced due to lava flows that cover pre-existing faults. Apparent tectonic strain also includes a component of strain that is not related to far-field tectonic stresses but to stalled dike intrusions that induce extensional faults in the shallow crust. This mechanism is probably responsible for the high apparent tectonic strain estimated at domal volcanos found at the center of intermediate-slow-ultraslow ridge segments. Apparent tectonic strain at and near MOR thus poorly reflects the real tectonic component of plate divergence, instead relating to the interplay between tectonic and magmatic processes over different time scales.
Introducing a new statistical theory to quantify the Gaussianity of the continuous seismic signal
Authors: Beucler Éric , Bonnin Mickaël , Cuvier Arthur
Published: March 2024

The quality of the seismic signal recorded at permanent and temporary stations is sometimes degraded, either abruptly or over time. The most likely cause is a high level of humidity, leading to corrosion of the connectors but environmental changes can also alter recording conditions in various frequency ranges and not necessarily for all three components in the same way. Assuming that the continuous seismic signal can be described by a normal distribution, we present a new approach to quantify the seismogram quality and to point out any time sample that deviates from this Gaussian assumption. To this end the notion of background Gaussian signal (BGS) to statistically describe a set of samples that follows a normal distribution. The discrete function obtained by sorting the samples in ascending order of amplitudes is compared to a modified probit function to retrieve the elements composing the BGS, and its statistical properties, mostly the Gaussian standard deviation, which can then differ from the classical standard deviation. Hence the ratio of both standard deviations directly quantifies the dominant gaussianity of the continuous signal and any variation reflects a statistical modification of the signal quality. We present examples showing daily variations in this ratio for stations known to have been affected by humidity, resulting in signal degradation. The theory developed can be used to detect subtle variations in the Gaussianity of the signal, but also to point out any samples that don't match the Gaussianity assumption, which can then be used for other seismological purposes, such as coda determination.
EarthCARE Cal/Val Campaigns - Overview
Authors: von Bismarck Jonas , Koopman Robert , Rusli Stephanie , Davidson Malcolm , Bernaerts Dirk , Wallace Kotska , Fehr Thorsten , Hummel Timon , Tzallas Vasileios , Frommknecht Bjoern , Eisinger Michael
Published: March 2024

 

The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) is a satellite mission developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to measure global profiles of aerosol, cloud and precipitation properties along with radiative fluxes and derived warming rates, with the goal of advancing our understanding of cloud-aerosol and radiation interactions and the Earth's radiative budget.   

Assuring the data quality of EarthCARE science products early after launch is an essential effort. This will be realised based on contributions from the independent EarthCARE validation team (ECVT) under coordination by ESA as well as monitoring-, calibration- and campaign activities performed under ESA (co-)management.  

 

An early focus to stabilize the data quality will be on airborne activities underflying the satellite with remote sensing and in-situ payloads. This will be done either in the context of larger science field campaigns or in individual activities, flanked by ground based measurement activities. 

 

The presentation will give an overview of ESA’s planned EarthCARE campaign activities, both directly implemented by ESA and in collaboration with science teams, and selected airborne and ground based instrument developments critical for the EarthCARE validation. 
Subaqueous carbonate speleothems as paleotemperature archives –clumped isotope thermometry and stable isotope compositions of inclusion-hosted water
Authors: Demény Attila , Berentés Ágnes , Rinyu László , Kovács Ivett , Surányi Gergely , Virág Magdolna
Published: March 2024

Clumped isotope measurements of carbonates and stable isotope analyses of water trapped in fluid inclusions are both promising techniques to determine carbonate formation temperatures. Cave-hosted carbonate deposits (speleothems) would be excellent targets for such studies, but kinetic fractionations and diagenetic influences frequently deteriorate the temperature data obtained with these methods. However, subaqueous carbonate deposits may provide reliable data as kinetic fractionations are less significant in underwater environment. In the present study subaqueous carbonate formations were investigated, whose formation temperatures were directly measured in the water. Additionally, temperatures calculated from oxygen isotope fractionations between calcite and fluid inclusion hosted water were compared with clumped isotope temperatures obtained for subaqueous carbonate formations in cave-hosted lakes. The clumped isotope temperatures fit the measured and calculated temperatures within the analytical precisions. Our study shows that subaqueous carbonate speleothems are useful targets for clumped isotope and inclusion water analyses, and therefore they are valuable paleotemperature archives.
Plasma wave occurrences during substorm events 
Authors: Shah Trunali , Bhaskara Veenadhari , Omura Yoshiharu , Ojha Biswajit , Singh Satyavir , Ebihara Yusuke
Published: March 2024

The Earth's magnetosphere is a dynamic system subject to various disturbances, among which substorms play a significant role in influencing its impact on the surrounding plasma environment. Close to the substorm onset satellites flying in the night side often observe reconfiguration of magnetic field lines from tail like to quasi-dipole like. This phenomenon is called magnetic field dipolarization. Studying the particle and wave dynamics during this phenomenon is crucial to understand as it accelerates the ion population and alters the generation condition of waves associated with it. Using the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite (EMFISIS) onboard the Van Allen Probes spacecraft, the present study investigates the magnetic field fluctuations corresponding to substorm onset. We examine thirteen substorm occurrences with L < 6.6 and within wide a range of MLT (18:00 to 06:00). Our investigation reveals significant magnetic field fluctuations exhibiting power from gyrofrequency of O+ extending up to gyrofrequency of H+. We additionally calculate the plasma and magnetic pressures, providing insight into the mechanism triggering ion injection during these occurrences. The role of heavy ions (He+ and O+) in the disappearance of stop bands and the corresponding mechanisms involved in this phenomenon it will we presented.
INGV experience on radon monitoring in the Ciampino Municipality (Rome, Italy): a link between research and territory
Authors: Sciarra Alessandra , Pizzino Luca , Galli Gianfranco , Cinti Daniele , Ciotoli Giancarlo , Bigi Sabina
Published: March 2024

Ciampino area has been the subject, from 1999 onwards, to reiterated geochemical surveys on soil-gas, spring waters and groundwater, commissioned by the municipality to INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology). Indeed, this area is affected by huge CO2 emissions of volcanic origin and high levels of indoor radon. Both gases can constitute a big concern for local population known as Natural Gas Hazard (NGH). Accordingly, the distribution of the two gases in groundwater, soils and indoor buildings must be assessed in order to define sectors of the territory more exposed to NGH.Interest in the Natural Gas Hazard arose mainly starting from November 1995, when several homes, basements and wells were affected by widespread exhalations, to the point of danger to human health.The most area affected is characterized by abundant and concentrated gas leaks which caused the death of 29 cattle and some sheep in September 1999 and March 2000, until December 2000 when a paroxysmal episode caused the death of a man.The main activities carried out in the last 25 years have concerned:-    sampling of water sites (about 100 natural springs, public and private wells), measuring chemical-physical parameters, CO2 and 222Rn contents;-    monthly indoor radon measurements (around 500/year) in 14 selected sites (both private homes and workplaces, including schools);-    measurements of radon in soils (about 300) to identify the areas with the greatest degassing and the possible relationship with existing tectonic structures;-    continuous indoor radon measurements in a selected home;-    spot measurements in groundwater and intervention in the event of reports from the municipality and/or private citizens of emergency situations resulting from gaseous emanations falling in areas of the municipal territory of Ciampino.The data obtained include measurements of flux and concentration of soil gases, distribution of pCO2 and radon in groundwater, radionuclide content in soils from different geological units, indoor radon measurements.All this data has allowed us to define the sectors at greatest risk, by identification and delimitation of NGH risk areas. Dissemination and information activities on the NGH were carried out through public meetings, seminars and the drafting of brochures. Also training activities for the staff of the Civil Protection and Environment Offices of the Municipality were performed.The experience gained has allowed the participation of INGV in a European project Life Respire for the monitoring and remediation of the radon problem.Based on the distribution of the different samples collected: soil gas, terrestrial gamma dose rate and rock/soil samples by radionuclide content, we were able to provide the local authorities the map of the geogenic potential of radon for the whole municipal territory.
25 Ma of physiographic changes and mammal macroevolution
Authors: Lorcery Manon , Husson Laurent , Salles Tristan , Hagen Oskar , Skeels Alexander , Lavergne Sébastien
Published: March 2024

Changes in the physical environment, whether geological or climatic, are known to be major drivers of biodiversity. At the interface between the solid Earth and the climate lies the physiography, and landscape complexity and variety may control biodiversity mechanisms at a finer scale that the large scale patterns of plate tectonics and global climate. To test whether variation of physiography through time and space can explain the current richness pattern of biodiversity and understand the impact of landscape complexity evolution on specific mechanistic processes, we simulated the diversification of terrestrial mammals at global scale, over 125 Ma of geological and climatic changes, using a spatially explicit eco-evolutionary simulation model (genesis). We designed four evolutionary scenarios in which evolution was only dependent on climate and plate tectonics (M0), and scenarios where physiographic diversity was implemented in speciation (M1), dispersion (M2) and niche ecology (M3). To assess whether model predictions are consistent with the empirical distribution of terrestrial mammals, we statistically identify general emergent patterns of biodiversity within and across spatial and temporal scales. 
The Groundwater Global App - global groundwater measurements with the smartphone
Authors: Diederen Dirk
Published: March 2024

Make the invisible visible!
With Groundwater Global Foundation we offer a mobile app with public registration, which can be used by anyone.
Utilizing speaker and microphone, this mobile app turns anyone's smartphone into a groundwater measurement device.
The measurement is based on acoustic resonance and currently works down to thirty meters deep, providing large coverage world-wide.
Hand measurements such as these may be used as a first basis for groundwater management, or may complement fully automatic systems with the occasional calibration.
The mobile app works in internet connected regions, as all recordings are centrally collected in a single database in the cloud.
Recordings are analysed on a webserver, after which the groundwater depth is returned to the mobile app.
One unique aspect that this system has to offer is that it allows for citizens and water professionals to operate jointly.
Respecting privacy, citizens' measurements are private by default.
However, citizens can choose explicitly to unlock their locations, making them publicly visible and thereby turning themselves into citizen scientists.
Datasets are available for download from the database API (csv, xlsx, json) in a few different ways.
The system works with open data in the sense that everyone can download their own measurements.
Water professionals, including academic professionals, can download their own measurements from the API by project(s).
Interestingly, we provide the option that water professionals can download citizen science data by region, where they simply have to provide us with a shapefile for the region/area of interest.
https://groundwater.global/
https://app.groundwater.global/
Global drivers of lake dead zone formation at the mouths of major rivers
Authors: Kraemer Benjamin
Published: March 2024

Dead zones are commonly associated with marine coastal areas where rivers deposit excessive nutrients leading to local anoxia sometimes stretching for hundreds of kilometers. Marine dead zones are well-recognized for their adverse effects on ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities. But in contrast, the global extent and drivers of dead zone formation near inflowing rivers to the world’s lakes remains uncertain despite the importance of lakes for drinking water supplies, recreation, and biodiversity. Here, I used 742 million bias-corrected chlorophyll-a (chl-a) estimates merged over 6 satellite sensors (daily, 1 to 4 km resolution) to map dead zones at the mouths of major inflowing rivers in more than 100 large lakes and asses their changes from 1997 to 2020. Dead zones were present in lakes across geographic and climatic gradients and were associated with a combination of urban and agricultural activities in lake watersheds. Dead zones expanded in some lakes even as water quality offshore improved. This spatiotemporal complexity demonstrates the value of moderate resolution mapping of lake dead zones to inform water management decision-making and to determine the local ecological consequences of human activity. 
Hydraulic modelling of permeable pavements to mitigate pluvial flooding in the city of Genoa, Italy
Authors: Cauteruccio Arianna , Chinchella Enrico , Boni Giorgio , Lanza Luca G.
Published: March 2024

Rapidly evolving pluvial floodings are typically experienced in cities due to the inefficiency of the urban drainage system in terms of the hydraulic failure of the storm water pipes and/or the insufficient capacity of the storm drain inlets. This is mainly due to the limited extension of the urban catchment areas, with a high building density and largely impervious surfaces. In addition, the rainfall regime in the Mediterranean region is characterized by short-duration and high-intensity events, which typically have a rather limited spatial extension and a very rapid evolution. The case study investigated in the present work is located within the metropolitan area of Genoa (Italy), which has recently experienced pluvial flooding, although associated with a rainfall event characterised by a low return period (between 1.5 and 3 years). The studied urban catchment is characterised by a flat area of about 1 km2, bordered to the north by hills and to the south by the seaport.With the aim of partially restoring the natural retention and detention capacity of the catchment area, the conversion of selected impervious pavements around buildings into permeable pavements is tested by means of hydraulic simulation. The hydrological behaviour of the applied solution has been experimentally derived in the “E. Marchi” hydraulic laboratory of the Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA) of the University of Genoa (Italy). A special in situ survey was preliminarily carried out to determine the number, type and degree of clogging of the rainwater inlets located in the study area.Hydraulic modelling is carried out using the HEC-RAS 2D software code (v. 6.3.1). The stormwater drainage inlets are simulated as pumping stations with a customised stage-discharge relationship based on the available literature studies, while the hydrological response of the permeable pavements is set in terms of flow hydrographs along linear boundary layers enclosing the converted areas. Results are presented in the form of flood hazard maps and flooded water volumes within the study area for different return periods of the forcing rainfall event. Various extensions of the permeable pavement are tested to quantify the mitigation effect associated with the investigated sustainable urban drainage solution.This study was carried out within the RETURN Extended Partnership and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU (National Recovery and Resilience Plan – NRRP, Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.3 – D.D. 1243 2/8/2022, PE0000005).
Investigating the Climate Impacts of Afforestation and Deforestation in Europe via 5 km climate model simulations
Authors: Caporaso Luca , Duveiller Gregory , Piccardo Matteo , Massaro Emanuele , Roebroek Caspar , Migliavacca Mirco , Cescatti Alessandro
Published: March 2024

In the context of the European Green Deal framework, understanding the intricate and varied impacts of afforestation and deforestation across different regions is paramount. A complex interplay of environmental factors shapes the resulting climate effects. Evaluating these impacts and their spatial variability is crucial for formulating effective and context-specific climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.This study takes a comprehensive approach, investigating both local and non-local effects of afforestation and deforestation within Europe, with a specific emphasis on the radiative budget and temperature dynamics.  Utilizing the cutting-edge Regional Climate Model (RegCM5) in conjunction with the Community Land Model version 4.5 (CLM4.5), we conducted simulations at a fine-scale, convective-permitting resolution of 5 km. This granular approach allows for an in-depth understanding of climate dynamics, shedding light on the distinct climate responses to forest cover alterations at various locations.We conducted three simulations spanning the period 2004-2014: a control run and two scenarios involving afforestation and deforestation.  We concentrated on analyzing climatic changes through variables such as land surface temperature, near-surface air temperature, and the energy fluxes at the Earth's surface and the top of the atmosphere (TOA). Results suggest that afforestation/deforestation can yield substantial impacts on the climate system. It underscores the critical importance of evaluating biophysical effects at a high resolution, emphasizing the need to incorporate such considerations into climate change mitigation strategies.Recognizing the location-dependent nature of afforestation and deforestation climate impacts, combined with the capabilities of advanced modeling tools, underscores the importance of flexible and adaptable land use planning. The practical implications of our findings extend to policymaking, offering insights that can inform sustainable land use decisions. These insights can guide the formulation of resilient and sustainable land use policies, aligning with the ambitious objectives of the European Green Deal.