bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the historical, technical, and local perception of displacement activity in Joshimath town of Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Lakhera Shobhana , Jaboyedoff Michel , Derron Marc-Henri , Goswami Ajanta , Kc Deepak
Published: March 2024

The study highlights the current situation of displacement activities in Joshimath town of Uttarakhand Himalayas. Positioned in the vicinity of Viakrita and Pandukeshwar thrust, the town is situated on an old landslide and glacial moraine material, and rests on giant gneiss boulders embedded in loose sand matrix (Bhattacharya et al, 1982). Consequently, the slopes are prone to movements like mass wasting and related land subsidence. Moreover, the decadal rise in population, unplanned infrastructure, and toe cutting from Dhauli Ganga river has exacerbated the immense pressure on the already vulnerable slopes.Thus, to understand the cause-impact and the current situation of displacement activity in Joshimath town, the historical and technical findings by previous studies were assessed with respect to the present on-ground situation of displacements and compared to the people’s perception of these disturbances. The historical evidence suggests that slope creep and related subsidence in Joshimath dates from the1960’s and has since been reappearing (Sati et al. 2023). Different technical studies have linked the cause of displacements in Joshimath to land subsidence, groundwater fluctuation and infrastructure overburden with less stress on the landslide displacement being the primary factor. Thus, a comprehensive mapping of landslide scars was done, and it was found that the recorded ground cracks and damaged buildings corresponded well with the mapped landslide scars. The recent field studies conducted in December 2023, suggested that people of Joshimath are not unaware of the landslide activities along the rim regions of Joshimath slope, and at least two communities in the past had to relocate to uphill areas, due to increased toe cutting and slope destabilization along Dhauli Ganga River. Moreover, according to the locals, slope destabilization and related subsidence in Joshimath was exacerbated post the 7th Feburary 2021 debris flow and successive heavy rainfall events in October 2021. Satellite images also suggest the reactivation of old landslides due to toe cutting after the 2021 event and similar destabilization was also triggered post the 2013 flash floods (Sharma et al., 2014). The field observations also highlighted the presence of new cracks and fissures on roads, fields, and repaired constructions. Thus, the increase in toe cutting, followed by slope failures may lead to upslope progression of landslide scars. Also 99% of buildings in Joshimath are non-compliant with the national building codes of 2016, and most of the adversely affected buildings lie in regions on steep slopes of hill (CBRI, 2023). Consequently, the unplanned infrastructure development along such unstable old landslide scars could accelerate slope instability.Keywords: Displacement, Landslides, cracks, toe-cutting, infrastructure
Seismic Site Effects of Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios for the Strong-Motion Stations in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Che-Min , Kuo Chun-Hsiang , Huang Jyun-Yan
Published: March 2024

The resonant frequency and site amplification of Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) for a site have become common and useful site parameters. The present site database for the strong-motion stations of TSMIP (Taiwan Strong Motion Instrumentation Program) in Taiwan only included conventional parameters, including the averaged shear-wave velocity (VS) of the upper 30 meters (VS30), the depth to the horizons of shear-wave velocity larger than 1.0 km/s (Z1.0), and the high-frequency decay parameter (kappa; κ0). In order to complete the HVSR-based site parameters of the database, the earthquake-based HVSR (eHVSR) and microtremor-based HVSR (mHVSR) are conducted for the TSMIP stations within the site database based on the standard procedures suggested by recent studies. The characteristics of eHVSRs and mHVSRs for different VS30-based site classifications are evaluated and discussed. The relationships between HVSR-based parameters, including resonant frequency and amplification, and conventional parameters are systematically assessed. Although the differences between eHVSR and mHVSR are non-negligible for some stations, the results still show high correlations between their derived site parameters and realistic site conditions. The HVSR-based site parameters of the TSMIP stations would be reliable for further studies of strong motion prediction and simulation, seismic hazard analysis, etc, in Taiwan.
Assessing historical and potential future Planetary Boundary transgressions in a consistent modelling framework
Authors: Braun Johanna , Gerten Dieter , Breier Jannes , Stenzel Fabian , Werner Constanze , Lucht Wolfgang
Published: March 2024

In an attempt to define a safe operating space for humanity, the Planetary Boundary (PB) framework proposes precautionary limits to human interference with nine critical Earth system processes. However, quantitative assessments of these limits and past, present or potential future statuses and transgressions of PBs are (i) inflicted by differences in definitions, data and models used and (ii) require process-based models of the Earth system in the absence of globally available observational datasets on the PB control variables. To advance such process-based and consistent PB quantifications for terrestrial PBs (land system change, biosphere integrity, freshwater change, biogeochemical flows), we developed an R based software package, “boundaries”, for calculation and visualization of PBs based on outputs from the global terrestrial biosphere model LPJmL. The coupled, spatiotemporally explicit and dynamic simulation of the biogeochemical processes underlying the control variables in LPJmL allows for calculation of the temporal evolution of PB statuses, i.e. if, where and how strongly boundaries are transgressed, at different scales (for both planetary and corresponding subglobal boundaries from regional to grid cell scale).Next to a short technical overview on boundaries and its structure, the poster shows calculated current spatially-explicit statuses of the four PBs considered as well as their simulated evolution during past decades, based on one consistent modelling framework and applying the latest PB definitions. In addition to contributing to a better understanding of temporal trajectories, spatial patterns and drivers of PB transgressions, boundaries can be applied to evaluate future scenarios in terms of their PB impacts and potentials to return to a safe space within PBs. As one potential critical PB trade-off, the poster focuses on different land-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies for reducing pressures on the climate change PB. The scenarios’ results show the importance of dietary changes towards less livestock products to release pasture areas for CDR. If forests can be restored on spared land, pressures on multiple PBs could be synergistically alleviated.
Biodiversity-mediated ecosystem functioning in the Amazon: a remote sensing approach
Authors: Santos Maria J. , Villamaina Diego
Published: March 2024

The megadiverse system of the Amazon contributes to many local and global ecosystem processes with potential to trigger an irreversible shift in the functioning of our planet. Yet, Amazon’s biodiversity is complex and remains mostly understudied. Biodiversity distribution patterns likely affect the functioning of this crucial system, yet large scale systematic assessments are still lacking. Herein we examine how can optical remote sensing contribute to understanding biodiversity patterns in the Amazon. We use the spectral diversity approach to map the heterogeneity of spectral signatures as a proxy for heterogeneity in canopy composition using Sentinel-2 imagery over the entire basin. Our map is able to reproduce patterns of primary, secondary and deforested areas, and within the forest areas, the patterns of spectral richness and spectral turnover resemble those expected for the Amazon system, with rapid turnover in species composition closer to the waterways and more stable plant community compositions away from the waterways. We then examine whether the locations with higher or lower spectral variability correspond to different community and trait compositions. We examine the relationship between spectral richness and turnover and the presence of hyperdominant trees in the Amazon. We also examine the multivariate trait space including Specific leaf area (SLA), Leaf dry matter content (LDMC), Leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and Leaf Phosphorous content (LPC) along the gradient of spectral variability to find that trait syndromes vary along the gradient of spectral diversity. These results show that biodiversity biodiversity gradients among the Amazon may explain differences in ecosystem functioning and that approaches such as the spectral heterogeneity may start to shed some light into such relationships, especially over entire and important ecosystems like the Amazon. Further examinations of these processes and relationships are therefore required and will contribute to our better understanding of the feedbacks between biodiversity and earth system processes.
Ionospheric and Tropospheric Impact for InSAR Time Series Analysis in the Central Andes: A Case Study from Northwestern Argentina
Authors: Viotto Sofia , Bookhagen Bodo , Toyos Guillermo , Torrusio Sandra
Published: March 2024

The ionosphere, located 50 km above the Earth's surface is characterized by ionization processes that can significantly impact electromagnetic signals within the microwave wavelength range. The magnitude of the impact depends on the density of free electrons, which have daily and seasonal oscillations but are also tied to the 11-year solar activity cycles. Radar signals are delayed after interacting with free electrons and ions, and the magnitude of such delay is inversely proportional to the radar frequency. Thus, sensors operating in the longer wavelength L-band are more affected than those operating in the C-band. However, even C-band interferograms can be significantly affected if the region is close to the geomagnetic equator.The Central Andes in Northwestern Argentina, being in proximity to the geomagnetic equator, offer an excellent setting to study the impact of the ionosphere on interferograms. Its low vegetation cover results in highly coherent interferograms, and predominantly dry conditions at high elevations lead to small tropospheric disturbances.We employ the split spectrum technique extended to time series analysis to identify interferograms that are impacted by ionospheric contributions. Subsequently, we apply statistical methods to those time series to recognize acquisitions more likely to be contaminated by the ionosphere.  The magnitude of ionospheric contribution is compared to tropospheric delay. We demonstrate the impact of the high-solar activity on interferograms by correlating our time series of ionospheric delay to sunspot activity and total electron content maps. The analysis of Sentinel 1 C-band data from both ascending and descending tracks reveals a more significant contribution in ascending passes in response to the daily cycle of free electron density. These findings prove the relevance of the ionosphere as source of disturbance in interferograms from Sentinel C-band, particularly for studies at the regional scale.
Enduser Driven and Impact-based Time Dependent Tsunami Early Warning (TiDeTEW) in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Fry Bill , Mueller Christopher , Moore Chris , Lane Emily , Andrews Jen , Zweck Chris , Gusman Aditya , Tsang Sophia , Wavelet Emeline , Kaiser Anna , King Ciaran , Wang Xiaoming , Lukovic Biljana
Published: March 2024

Since the 1960s, tsunami early warning has, for the most part, been predicated on using earthquake characterisation as proxy information for tsunami generation. Shortcomings with this approach include large epistemic uncertainties in wave forecasts that typically preclude actionable impact-based forecasts. Fortunately, the tsunami early warning paradigm is shifting. Here we present a prototype next-generation tsunami early warning system implemented by the New Zealand RCET (Rapid Characterisation of Earthquakes and Tsunamis) programme that is currently operational on a best-endeavours basis in New Zealand. This system is based on 1) observational advances including the densification of deep-ocean tsunami meters, 2) scientific advances provided by direct tsunami inversion 3) ensemble and time-dependent forecasting and 4) co-creation with end users of impact-based forecasts products. We call this system TiDeTEW (Time Dependent Tsunami Early Warning)Following the recent deployment of the 12-station NZ DART tsunamimeter array (Fry et al., 2020), New Zealand’s Tsunami Expert Panel (TEP) can now use direct observations of tsunamis to underpin time-dependent tsunami early warning forecasts. By using DART inversions and ensemble modelling, we reduce uncertainties in forecasts enough to generate actionable early warning products that provide information about the evolution of the threat prior to land arrival, analogous to weather forecasting of storm evolution. Our forecasting products are being improved through co-development with at risk coastal communities that are dominantly indigenous Māori. In past natural disasters, the social structure of Māori communities has proven to be a major advantage in response and incorporation of Māori values into decisions around risk tolerance of the early warning products guides our levels of forecast conservatism. Understanding the response structure in these communities and its strong reliance on marae (Māori communal meeting houses) is also guiding our product development.In an aligned effort within the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC), we have developed a risk-based approach to assess the efficacy of this tsunami early warning method. We quantify the relative number of tsunami sources for which data support at least 20 minutes of pre-impact warning time to vulnerable coastal populations. We further map the warning gaps to population density of exposed coastlines. We apply this scheme using the NZ DART network to better quantify domestic and Southwest Pacific risk and resilience gains delivered by NZ DART and further highlight existing gaps and opportunities, largely around local source tsunamis.
Towards monitoring supraglacial lake dynamics in Antarctica with convolutional neural networks
Authors: Baumhoer Celia A. , Koehler Jonas , Lhermitte Stef , Wouters Bert , Dietz Andreas J.
Published: March 2024

Monitoring the dynamics of Antarctic supraglacial lakes is of particular interest in the context of global warming. Supraglacial meltwater accumulation on ice sheets and ice shelves can be a major driver of accelerated ice discharge. This is caused through processes such as surface runoff leading to ice thinning, basal meltwater injection causing basal sliding, and hydrofracture triggering ice shelf collapse and subsequent glacier acceleration. In addition, an increased presence of supraglacial lakes around the Antarctic margin can trigger enhanced melting due to the low albedo of surface lakes, which leads to increased absorption of solar radiation. Hence, continuous monitoring of supraglacial lakes is crucial for improving our understanding of their seasonal variations in extent and their impacts on ice shelf stability and ice sheet surface mass balance. Initially, an automated supraglacial lake mapping approach was developed to create bi-weekly lake extent maps for six Antarctic ice shelves based on fused results from convolutional neural network predictions and a Random Forest (RF) classification trained on Sentinel-1/-2 data. However, regular large-scale monitoring beyond these six selected areas requires a model with higher spatio-temporal transferability and an efficient fully automated data processing workflow. We tested for a potential improvement by replacing the RF-based mapping with an attention-based U-Net, expanding the training and test sites on a total of 23 regions and switching the processing to a more powerful high-performance computing infrastructure. We will discuss how remote sensing-based mapping accuracies can be improved by extending the training/test dataset, selecting the right machine learning model and the choice of processing infrastructure. In the future, the automated processing workflow will provide a regularly updated dataset on supraglacial lake dynamics of 23 Antarctic ice shelves via a web service by exploiting the full archive of available Sentinel-1/-2 satellite imagery.
Heritage Stones: IUGS Designation and its relevance
Authors: Kaur Gurmeet
Published: March 2024

The importance of natural stones in architecture and cultural decoding is being acknowledged by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Through its global designation ‘IUGS-Heritage Stone', a natural stone that has been extensively used by humanity for the proliferation of cultures and traditions in the past is based on certain criteria, giving visibility to these significant natural stones. The UNESCO-IGCP Project has been instrumental in funding our projects on Heritage stones for the past ten years. The outcome is amazing, with 32 IUGS designated Heritage Stones and 18 more in pipeline awaiting designation. The Heritage stones widely utilized in monuments with significant cultural inference are being designated through a proper procedure designed by the International Commission on Geoheritage of the International Union of Geological Sciences. The need of the hour is to take along geologists, archaeologists, architects, historians, policymakers, and the masses to preserve the stones and monuments that are custodians of our cultural evolution. This multidisciplinary approach guarantees a comprehensive comprehension of their importance.In summary, the rich and multidisciplinary field of studying stones in stone-built monuments, their geological characteristics, and their effects on culture and architecture aids in our appreciation of the legacy of many civilizations and offers insights into innovative architecture and sustainable resource management (one of the sustainable development goals of UNESCO). Promoting stone science research is essential to safeguarding these priceless historical and cultural artefacts for future generations.
The diverse impacts of extreme storms in the European South. The case of Storm Daniel (2023) in Greece.
Authors: Diakakis Michalis , Mavroulis Spyridon , Filis Christos , Bantekas Yiannis , Gogou Marilia , Katsetsiadou Katerina-Nafsika , Mavrouli Maria , Giannopoulos Vasilis , Sarantopoulou Andromachi , Nastos Panagiotis , Vassilakis Emmanuel , Konsolaki Aliki , Kotsi Evelina , Moraitis Sotiris , Stamati Eleftheria , Bakopoulou Athanasia , Skourtsos Emmanuel , Carydis Panayotis , Lekkas Efthymios
Published: March 2024

On September 4, 2023, Storm Daniel moved inland from the Ionian Sea, intensifying due to the warmth of the post-summer Mediterranean Sea, resulting in intense rainfall and thunderstorms over the Balkans. Central Greece was particularly affected, experiencing the highest daily rainfall totals recorded in the region.The storm caused widespread devastation, especially in the Thessaly region, with significant impacts including intense erosion, mass movement phenomena triggered by rainfall, damages from strong winds, inundation, agricultural land damage, loss of life and injuries, impacts on residences and businesses, as well as a substantial toll on the environment and cultural sites.This study focuses on Storm Daniel and its effects in Thessaly, Greece, by creating a database of distinct impact elements based on field surveys and public records. Through this archive, the study explores the range of its impacts, developing a systematic categorization to provide an in-depth understanding of the types and mechanisms of these impacts.Examining extreme storms through post-flood surveys and emphasizing their impacts can enhance our comprehension of associated risks. This knowledge will facilitate more accurate predictions and strategic planning for such events, contributing to improved emergency management and recovery efforts. Anticipating the impacts becomes crucial, particularly in the context of the projected increase in the frequency of such events due to climate change, thereby strengthening our preparedness.
Quantifying Basal Melt of Swiss Glaciers
Authors: Hösli Leo , Huss Matthias , Werder Mauro , Farinotti Daniel
Published: March 2024

Glaciers retreating due to climate change have significant impacts both locally and globally. An essential part of understanding their evolution are mass balance measurements. Although the surface mass balance of glaciers is well known, non-surface components, more specifically basal and internal melt, are not well understood as they are inherently difficult to observe. Local maxima in basal melt on alpine glaciers are believed to result in the formation of large subglacial cavities, potentially leading to so called “collapse features”. The ice loss caused by these collapse features is likely to impact the retreat dynamics of glaciers.Using a parameterized model based on a complete consideration of factors of sub- and englacial energy exchange, basal melt for all 1400 Swiss glaciers was estimated. The model operates with data sets on surface mass balance and glacier geometry, as well as with simplified considerations of the relevant processes. Our model considers energy advection through ice-marginal streams and subglacial air flow, potential energy release from melt water, friction-induced heat release, geothermal heat flux and dissipation of heat uptake by surface melt water. Field observations were used to constrain some of the parameters. Additionally, high-resolution aerial imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs) were used to perform a geostatistical analysis to better understand glacio-hydrological relationships and processes. Besides modelling glacier-wide basal melt, we analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of individual collapse features on a selected group of glaciers in the Swiss Alps, using high resolution DEMs.The model results indicate that the advection of energy through ice-marginal streams and potential-energy release from melt water are the primary contributors to basal melt for Swiss glaciers. The relevance of the modelled components importantly varies between glaciers and depends on glacier size and topography among other factors. At the Swiss-wide scale, total basal melt is modelled to be in the range of a few millimeters to several tens of centimeters water equivalent per year (total mass balance of Swiss glaciers is on average -1 meter water equivalent per year). These results suggest that for some glaciers, basal melt is both a relevant fraction of total mass balance, as well as large enough to be measured using high-resolution in situ GNSS observations.The analysis of glacier collapse features yielded an average life span of 3.5 years and volumes of non-surface ice loss ranging from a few thousand to more than 175’000 m3. These findings, along with the model results, emphasize the substantial role of basal melt in both local retreat dynamics and total glacier-wide mass balance.
EC-KLIM – Coordination of German EarthCARE Validation
Authors: Zechlau Sabrina , Groß Silke , Wandinger Ulla , Baars Holger
Published: March 2024

The joint ESA and JAXA Earth Explorer mission EarthCARE is designed to close gabs in the knowledge of aerosol, clouds and their interactions, and effects on radiation. For this the platform comprises four remote sensing instruments observing the vertical structure of the atmosphere with a highly spectral resolving lidar and a doppler cloud radar. Together with a hyperspectral imager radiation fluxes can be inferred and compared to the measurements of the on-board broad band radiometer. Based on these four instruments EarthCARE will provide over 40 data products, which are partly synergistic products of observations of all instruments. For the success of the mission it is therefore crucial to exactly validate the individual data products and to quantify their errors. A variety of observational sources are used, reaching from ground-based stations and networks to airborne measurements, and from satellite observations to modelled data. Already in the past a number of dedicated validation campaigns to prepare for validation from German research institutes were carried out with eg. the ground-based cloud observation system LACROS or with an EarthCARE-like payload on board the German research aircraft HALO. After launch a continuous validation of EarthCARE products will be necessary. For this the German Initiative for the Validation of EarthCARE (GIVE) bundles the expertise of the German atmospheric research community and aims at the validation of the entire chain of EarthCARE Level 1 and 2 products and the evaluation of related algorithms and instrument calibrations. The GIVE project will include dedicated campaigns as well as long‐term support over the lifetime of the mission. Here we want to introduce in general the German project EC-KLIM (former project office) to prepare for the use of EarthCARE, and especially of the GIVE project. We will present an overview of past preparation campaigns and of planned German validation activities.
Removing low frequency ocean bottom seismometer tilt noise using simple sensor reorientation
Authors: Crawford Wayne , Laske Gabi , Harmon Nicholas , Rychert Catherine
Published: March 2024

Ocean bottom seismometer data are strongly affected by noise from seafloor currents.  Techniques based on the transfer function between noise on the horizontal and vertical channels are commonly used to “clean” this noise from low-frequency (< 0.1 Hz) vertical channel data, but questions remain about the efficiency of this technique and its effect on seismological signals.  We present a method to “pre-clean” the vertical data through simple rotation of the seismometer to minimize the noise on the vertical channel.  The rotation is nearly identical to that indicated by the transfer function method, but has the advantage of losing no information.  Once this pre-cleaning is performed, transfer-function based cleaning can still be performed, generally resulting in lower noise levels than those obtained using the transfer function method alone and the remaining transfer function may provide information beyond that of the instrument’s mis-alignment with the gravitational field.  We will present examples from datasets around the world and discuss new information revealed.
Size fractionated carbonaceous and iron oxides particles in urban environments in France and Senegal associated with intense emission sources.
Authors: Delville Laurence , Léon Jean-François , Macouin Mélina , Tastevin Yann-Philippe , Gueye Mayoro , Proietti Arnaud , Laffont Laure , Rousse Sonia , Dias-Alves Maria , Demory François , Rochette Pierre , Henrique da Silva Chibane Pedro , Teixera Ustra Andrea , Drigo Loïc
Published: March 2024

Atmospheric aerosols in urban areas are the result of a complex mixture of different anthropogenic sources. The chemical and granulometric profile of urban aerosols varies according to the level of economic and technological development of cities around the world. In particular, road traffic emits carbon compounds (organic and elemental) and metal oxides through combustion, braking and tyre abrasion. Our study focuses on the respective particle size distributions of the carbon and iron oxide fractions using magnetic investigations.We investigated the size distribution of anthropogenic tracers of particulate matter (PM), particulate total carbon (TC) concentration, and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) in two urban settings in France (Toulouse) and Senegal (Sebikotane). Using a cascade impactor, particles were segregated into 5 fractions spanning from PM10 to PM0.01. Particle mass concentration within each size range was determined via gravimetric methods, particulate carbon concentrations were assessed using thermo-optical techniques, and magnetic signals were measured through isothermal induced magnetization acquisitions.Our results showed high concentrations of particulate mass in the coarse fraction (particles larger than 1 µm). The coarse fraction showed a significantly higher magnetic signal than for finer fractions, accounting for 73% in France and 80% in Senegal of the total SIRM. In the ultrafine fraction (
Developing Machine Learning tools for the automatic interpretation of InSAR data
Authors: Bateson Luke , Gonzalez Alvarez Itahisa , Arnhardt Raushan , Fleming Claire , Hussain Ekbal , Jones Lee , Novellino Alessandro , Smith Kay
Published: March 2024

Hundreds of large cities worldwide are sinking; and this will get worse as by 2050 when almost 70% of the world’s population is set to live in megalopolises, the majority of these are in low lying coastal areas. At the same time sea levels are rising. According to the World Economic Forum, several of the globe’s cities, including New York, Dhaka, London and Bordeaux, could be partially or totally submerged by 2050-2100. As a city grows the environment is put under additional pressure and this often leads to subsidence. land less suitable for building upon is developed, in low lying coastal regions these areas are often poorly consolidated recent superficial deposits. Loading of such deposits causes consolidation which adds to subsidence resulting from increased groundwater abstraction required for industry and to support a growing population.In order to mitigate against the effects of subsidence it is imperative to understand the subsidence; its location, magnitude, timing and crucially the underlying cause. InSAR offers the ability to understand the spatial extent, magnitude and timing and when integrated with in-situ data the cause can be determined. However, this interpretation process can take a significant amount of time. With the advent of continental scale InSAR data, such as the European Ground Motion Service, and automated online processing facilities such as COMETS LICSBAS system InSAR data is becoming far easier to access. This means huge volumes of data are generated and therefore automated methods are required to extract not only the areas of ground motion but also to indicate the underlying cause of the motion.To this end we have been using integrated time series of optical and InSAR data for areas of rapid urban growth to understand the cause of subsidence. Combination of interpretations with expected patterns of subsidence derived from models of groundwater abstraction and ground loading allow us to separate subsidence signals from these causational factors. In turn this enables the generation of characteristic time series of subsidence that we would expect to see as a result of each process. Such characteristic time series form libraries that will be the basis for machine learning to automatically interpret the InSAR data.We will present the creation of such subsidence libraries and illustrate the process with examples from Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur and Bandung. We will also present the machine learning method where a fully automated approach using Seasonal and Trend decomposition allows trends (such as stable, linear subsidence, non-linear subsidence and seasonal) within the InSAR time series to be identified and grouped into common trend behaviours. Metrics based on derived trends also allow the ‘strength’ of certain components (such as seasonal signals) to be automatically assessed.
Identifying Moraine-Dammed Glacial Lakes Using Moraine Accumulation Characteristics and Vision Transformer 
Authors: Xu Jinhao , Feng Min , Sui Yijie
Published: March 2024

Moraine-dammed glacial lakes are naturally formed by the accumulation of moraine debris in high mountain glacier environments. Due to their remote locations and the challenges in identification, these lakes often elude systematic and comprehensive surveys. However, under the influences of glacier melting and climate change, they can potentially cause catastrophic outburst floods, threatening the safety of downstream communities and the stability of ecosystems. Therefore, precise identification and monitoring of these lakes are crucial for disaster early warning and risk management.The aim of this study is to develop a novel method based on multi-source remote sensing data and Vision Transformer technology for effectively identifying moraine-dammed glacial lakes. Traditional remote sensing methods face numerous challenges in these high mountain environments, such as confusion with similar water bodies and the impact of complex terrain. Our proposed method focuses on utilizing moraine accumulation characteristics, a key factor in the formation of moraine-dammed lakes. By analyzing the relationship between glacier movement and lake formation, we aim to more accurately identify potential dammed lakes, thereby reducing misidentifications.We are using high-resolution satellite imagery and terrain data, combined with the Vision Transformer model for feature extraction. This model is capable of efficiently processing a large amount of complex spatial data and identifying specific geographical and geomorphological features. We are focusing on changes at the glacier front and terrain changes related to lake formation. Through this approach, we aim to extract key features directly related to the formation of moraine-dammed glacial lakes, thus improving the accuracy of identification.Additionally, we are establishing a database containing samples of known moraine-dammed glacial lakes to train and validate our model. By comparing it with existing databases of moraine-dammed glacial lakes, we aim to further test the effectiveness and reliability of our method. We are anticipating that this research will provide a new technological approach for monitoring moraine-dammed glacial lakes, with significant scientific importance and practical value in understanding the mechanisms of lake formation, assessing potential risks, and developing effective disaster prevention measures.
Develop an Application for Detecting Thunderstorm Cells and Tracking Their Motion Behaviour From Radar Images by Using Image Processing Techniques
Authors: Ramadoss Mahesh , Kumar Gajendra , Kanaujiya Brajesh Kumar , Sobhanan Arun , Mishra Anoop Kumar , Thirunavukkarasu Meyyappan , Gopal Murugesan
Published: March 2024

Thunderstorms can lead to heavy or extreme heavy rainfall events and impact many sectors, such as aviation, urban infrastructure, and power systems. In Aviation Meteorology, The main objective of weather radar1 is to identify thunderstorm cells on the flight route and issue warning messages with the traces of wind motions, rainfall intensity and possible turbulence. These attributes contribute significantly to how air navigation is performed safely and efficiently against high-risk weather hazardous zones. To improve the severe thunderstorm forecast, develop an automated thunderstorm warning system application that detects the thunderstorm cells from the radar images by using image processing techniques. It recognizes the size of the thunderstorm cells and measures the gauge between the airport and each cell. Moreover, estimating the velocity of cell movement towards the airport is an added advantage. It is an added-value product of the Aviation Weather Decision Support System2 (AWDSS). This application utilizes the two main Python packages OpenCV3 and Wradlib4 . Keywords: Aviation Meteorology, Decision Support System, Image Processing Technique, Weather radar, OpenCV, Thunderstorm, Radar Imaging.  References1) Theodore Fujita, T., McCarthy, J. (1990). The Application of Weather Radar to Aviation Meteorology. In: Atlas, D. (eds) Radar in Meteorology. American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-935704-15-7_43.2) Eilts, Michael & Shaw, Brent & Barrere, Charles & Fritchie, Robert & Carpenter, Richard & Spencer, Phillip & Li, Yanhong & Ladwig, William & Mitchell, Dewayne & Johnson, J. & Conway, J. (2015). THE AVIATION WEATHER DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM: DATA INTEGRATION AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SUPPORT OF AVIATION OPERATIONS.3) Open Souce Computer Vision (OpenCV),https://docs.opencv.org/4.x/.4) wradlib: An Open Source Library for Weather Radar Data Processing, https://docs.wradlib.org/en/latest/.
Anthropocene breakdown of predator-prey interactions in the northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Zuschin Martin , Nawrot Rafał , Dengg Markus , Gallmetzer Ivo , Haselmair Alexandra , Kowalewski Michal , Scarponi Daniele , Wurzer Sandra , Tomašových Adam
Published: March 2024

Predation can play an important role in shaping marine ecosystems, but we often lack long-term baseline data that would allow for tracking how predator-prey interactions have responded to increasing anthropogenic impact. Here, we assess temporal changes in benthic community composition and interactions between drilling predatory gastropods and their molluscan prey using the Holocene fossil record of the northern Adriatic Sea (NAS), a shallow shelf characterized by a long history of human transformation of coastal and deltaic ecosystems. Molluscan assemblages differ between the Isonzo and Po prodeltas but both regions show consistent temporal trends in the abundance of dominant species. Samples of mollusc prey collected at high stratigraphic resolution indicate that drilling frequencies have drastically declined in the prodelta of the Po River since the mid-20th century, while a weaker trend in more condensed sediments of the Isonzo delta is not statistically significant. The decrease in drilling predation intensity and the community turnover is related to the loss of predatory gastropods, decreased abundance of preferred and increased abundance of less-preferred prey organisms, and a rapidly progressing infaunalization observed in the northern Adriatic basin during the most recent decades. Our results align with data showing the substantial depletion of marine resources at higher trophic levels in the NAS and indicate that the strong simplification of the food web since the late 19th century accelerated since the mid-20th century.
The Impact of Injection Protocol and Stress Preconditioning on the Hydro-Mechanical Response of the Crystalline Rock
Authors: Jalali Mohammadreza , Selvadurai Paul , Spagnuolo Elena , Meier Men-Andrin , Dal Zilio Luca , Gholizadeh Doonechaly Nima , Bröker Kai , Osten Julian , Rosskopf Martina , Obermann Anne , Amann Florian ,   FEAR Team
Published: March 2024

Hydraulic stimulation has been extensively utilized in the geothermal industry as the primary technique to create and develop an efficient heat exchanger in a low-permeable reservoir rock. This technique entails high-pressure fluid injection under various injection schemes to perturb the local stress field at both borehole and reservoir scales, leading to permanent permeability enhancement of the stimulated volume through shear dislocation and dilation. These stress disturbances can also potentially trigger and/or induce seismicity in the reservoir and beyond. Understanding how different injection protocols serve as a preconditioning tool and their impact on the hydro-mechanical response of the stimulated volume would enhance our understanding of geothermal reservoir enhancement and induced seismicity mitigation. In the preparatory phase of the FEAR (Fault Activation and Earthquake Rupture) project in Bedretto Underground Laboratory (Switzerland), various injection protocols were utilized to understand the hydro-mechanical responses of the stimulated volume as well as earthquake rupture processes such as nucleation and premonitory slip. The adopted injection protocols include a) constant pressure injection for a specific time followed by step-rate injection and b) constant pressure withdrawal for a specific time followed by step-rate injection. In both protocols, an approximately equal amount of water (~3000 liters) was injected over the stimulation phase. Each injection protocol was associated with the pre- and post-characterization tests such as HTPF (hydraulic tests on pre-existing fractures) tests. Hydro-mechanical response of the host rock during these tests was monitored using various pressure, strain, and acoustic emission sensors in the injection and monitoring boreholes. At first glance, there appears to be no significant difference in the hydro-mechanical responses as well as the seismicity pattern of these two injection protocols, yet deeper investigation mostly based on the strain data reveals that strategy a) produced more heterogeneity in strain rate on the fiber-optic array whereas b) produced a more homogenized response. Numerical modelling and an experimental campaign in the laboratory are now underway to better understand the underlying mechanisms producing this response with the aim to best select a proper injection protocol for the goal of the FEAR project.
Sentinel-3 Land Ice Thematic Product: Evaluation of Greenland surface elevation and elevation change. 
Authors: Simonsen Sebastian B. , Sandberg Sørensen Louise , Rose Stine K. , Aublanc Jérémie
Published: March 2024

The Sentinel-3 satellite series, developed by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus Programme, currently comprises two satellites, Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B, launched on 16th February 2016 and 25th April 2018, respectively. These satellites are equipped with various instruments, including a radar altimeter, enabling them to conduct operational topography measurements of the Earth's surface. The primary objective of the Sentinel-3 constellation concerning land ice is to provide highly accurate topographic measurements of polar ice sheets. This data is crucial in supporting, e.g., ice sheet mass balance studies. Unlike previous missions that utilized conventional pulse-limited altimeters, Sentinel-3 employs an advanced SAR Radar ALtimeter (SRAL) with delay-doppler capabilities, resulting in significantly enhanced spatial resolution for surface topography measurements. The Sentinel-3 Mission Performance Cluster (MPC) is tasked with monitoring the stability and accuracy of the mission. Here, we report on the latest findings on the Greenland ice sheet.ESA and the MPC recently developed a specialized delay-Doppler Level-2 processing chain (thematic products) over three dedicated surfaces: Inland Waters, sea ice, and Land Ice. For land ice, delay-Doppler processing with an extended window has been implemented to enhance the coverage of the ice sheet margins. With the improved coverage at the ice sheet margins, we can now access and monitor the fastest-changing regions of the Greenland ice sheet. Hence, the essential climate variable surface elevation change (SEC) can directly be derived solely from Sentinel-3 and, due to the operational concept of the Sentinel program, is ensured to provide continuous observations until at least 2030. Here, we present the latest SEC results based on the land ice thematic product and compare it to the other polar altimetric missions (CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2) to provide a benchmark for the performance of the Sentinel-3 mission for the time to come with less abundant polar radar altimeters.   
Evaluating CLM5-FATES performance with different complexities of vegetation dynamics across European forested sites
Authors: Naz Bibi S. , Poppe Christian , Franssen Harrie-Jan Hendricks , Fisher Rosie , Cabrera Juan Baca , Vereecken Harry
Published: March 2024

Land surface models (LSMs), when coupled with vegetation dynamic models, serve as useful tools to understand how ecosystem changes impact carbon and water cycling and interact with the climate. However, simplified vegetation parameterization schemes within LSMs makes it challenging to capture the full dynamics of vegetation processes, leading to significant uncertainties in the simulated ecosystem variables. To assess these uncertainties stemming from different model complexities in vegetation representations, we conducted model simulations employing different vegetation parameterization schemes: (1) using static vegetation distribution and prescribed leaf area index (LAI), (2) simulating full carbon cycle with static vegetation, and (3) explicitly simulating fully dynamic carbon and vegetation distribution.Here, we use a vegetation demographic model, the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Simulator (FATES) coupled with the Community Land Model (CLM5) to evaluate the representation of vegetation dynamics and related surface fluxes across multiple forested sites in Europe selected from the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) station network. Comparison with observations showed that the CLM5-FATES model, with the full vegetation dynamics implementation, exhibited better model performance in simulating gross primary production (GPP) than the runs with prescribed leaf-area climatology. However, the model showed an underestimation of LAI with low interannual variations compared to satellite-based MODIS data, particularly for sites with evergreen forests. Additionally, the model's performance in simulating hydrological fluxes (such as soil moisture (SM) and evapotranspiration (ET)) remained consistent across all sites, irrespective of model complexity. Future work will explore uncertainties in simulated vegetation structure and distributions and parameter optimization to improve model performance in simulating forest growth and composition.
Comparative Analysis of Geophysical Flow Models: Voellmy, μ(I), and μ(R) Rheologies 
Authors: Zhuang Yu , McArdell Brian , Bartelt Perry
Published: March 2024

The experimental-based μ(I) rheology is now prevalent to describe the movement of gravitational mass flows. Though the μ(I) rheology has been successfully applied to the modelling of historical debris flows and rock avalanches, its physical implication is not fully understood. In this study, we re-formulate the μ(I) rheology as a Voellmy-type relationship, which is composed of a Coulomb friction term and a turbulent term. We find that different from the classic Voellmy rheology (ξ is a constant), the turbulent coefficient ξ in the μ(I) rheology is heavily dependent on the avalanche height and velocity, indicating the shear-thinning features. However, as μ(I) rheology is a pure function of velocity (for a constant height), the friction exhibits no change during the acceleration and deceleration stage. With this purpose, we introduce a newly proposed μ(R) rheology that relates the friction to the production and decay of fluctuation energy (granular temperature) R. Using one-dimensional block models, we show the equivalence of I and R, and elucidate why similar results of μ(I) and μ(R) rheologies are easily obtained. Ultimately, this comparative analysis offers valuable insights into improving geophysical flow models, enhancing our understanding of flow behavior's dependence on various factors and leading to more accurate assessments and mitigation of geophysical hazards.