bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NORM-TENORM: Characterization of Uranium, Radium, Lead and Polonium levels in the area of the phosphogypsum basin in South Italy. Radiochemical measurement techniques
Authors: Taroni Mattia , Iannarone Andrea , Zambelli Giacomo
Published: February 2023

The characterization of NORM/TENORM materials must be performed using different nuclear techniques, able to show the complete scheme of the equilibrium of the radionuclides in the different natural chains. The characterization must be done in order to be able to determine the levels of radionuclides present in them, in order to verify the clearance levels for the correct management of the material, of the area management in which they are located and determine any breakage of the natural chains to identify NORM/TENORM pollution phenomena in the environment where these materials are stored. All this is particularly important in order to organize the remediation of polluted sites.In the site of national interest of Tito Scalo (South Italy), "ex Liquichimica" Area, following specific samplings, characterizations were carried out for the determination of Uranium, 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po as well as the gamma emitters with various analytical techniques and through specific radiochemical procedures.The above determinations were performed on various matrices, including surface and groundwater, soils, silt-sediments and plants, for a total of 257 soil samples, 47 groundwater samples, 8 surface water samples, 8 silt-sediment and 10 plant samples.The analyzes were conducted using radiochemical procedures, such as the IAEA/AQ/34:2014 procedure, accredited according to the UNI EN ISO 17025 standard, specific for the determination of U, Ra, Pb and Po in phosphogypsum.The analytical techniques used are complex and involve multiple steps for the treatment of the sample and the sequential separation of the radionuclides for their determination: in particular, the above procedure involves the use of liquid scintillation, alpha and gamma spectrometry after radiochemical treatment of the starting matrix. Processes of this type require, in addition to specific skills, a qualitative process that guarantees the goodness of the entire process.This work shows in detail the IAEA/AQ/34 procedure for the radiological characterization of the phosphogypsum basin of the "ex Liquichimica" area of Tito Scalo, as well as analytical data for each group of analyzed matrices. 
Analysis of Dune Ripple Patterns on the Surface of Earth and Mars to determine Local Sand Transport Conditions: A Machine Learning application.
Authors: Delobel Lucie , Baas Andreas , Moffat David
Published: February 2023

The contemporary surface of Mars is shaped by wind driven sand transport, yet our knowledge of these processes is limited. Sand ripples are small bedform features commonly found superimposing dunes on the surface of Earth and Mars, perpendicular to the local wind direction. The mechanism behind the formation of Mars’ ripples is currently highly debated: either they are formed by saltation like Earth’s aeolian impact ripples, or they are formed by hydrodynamic instability such as subaqueous ripples. Investigating ripple pattern dynamics across the surface of Mars would improve our knowledge of local wind regimes and sand transport conditions, such as whether the dune shape and size affect wind flow, thus ripple patterns.To enable efficient surveying of large areas of the surface of Mars, an automated mapping method has been developed to identify and categorise different classes of ripple patterns. For this project, ripple patterns found on barchan dunes across 40 HiRISE sites in the north polar region of Mars have been classified and segmented. The same mapping method will be applied to Earth’s aeolian impact ripples and subaqueous ripples to compare their morphology and dynamics with those on Mars. By doing so, we hope to determine the mechanism behind the formation of Martian ripples and more broadly enhance our understanding of sand transport conditions on the red planet.
Geochemical Features of Ozvatan (Central Anatolia, Turkey) Carbonatites and Potassic Fenite Zones .
Authors: Unluer Ali Tugcan , Budakoglu Murat
Published: February 2023

The carbonatite complexes are famous for being hosts for various critical elements including Rare Metals (REE) Thorium (Th), and Uranium (U). Turkey hosts a number of carbonatite-related Light Rare Earth Element (LREE) deposits such as the Ozvatan nepheline syenite - carbonatite complex in Central Turkey.  The Upper Cretaceous Ozvatan complex is composed of nepheline syenites, multi-stage calcio-carbonatite dikes, and a metasomatic aureole around carbonatite dikes. The carbonatites of the complex are mainly sövites (coarse-grained calcites) with fluorites and relict silicate minerals such as nephelines. The Sövite dikes of the Özvatan complex are mainly enriched in terms of LREE (up to 2134 ppm). La, Ce, and Nd constitute most of the LREE values in Sövites. The repetitive emplacement of carbonatite emplacement also caused a wide alteration zone with euhedral nephelines, secondary K-feldspars, and garnets. The alteration zones around carbonatite dikes were identified as potassic fenites due to the enrichment of K and incompatible elements including REE, Ba, and Sr. The REE values of K- fenites in the study area are similar to sövite dikes and determined up to 1445 ppm. However, the brecciated K-fenites contain significantly higher values (up to 3596 ppm) than carbonatites and non-brecciated K-fenites. Other incompatible elements such as Th, U, and Nb are also enriched in brecciated K-fenite zones. Carbonatite veinlets in K-fenites are also observed, therefore it can be concluded that the brecciation and metasomatism processes are closely related to multistage carbonatite emplacements.Keywords: Carbonatite, REE- Enrichments, Alkali-Potassic Rocks
Velocity gradient method applied to magnetosheath observations
Authors: Silveira Marcos , Sibeck David , Cardoso Flavia
Published: February 2023

In plasma physics, boundaries play a crucial role separating regions with different plasma regimes. The Earth’s magnetopause is the outermost boundary of the magnetospheric magnetic field, it is defined by the pressure equilibrium between the magnetosheath and the magnetosphere. Similar importance has the bow shock, separating the supersonic solar wind from the magnetosheath plasma. Even though there are satellite missions able to measure locations and other magnetopause/bow shock properties in-situ, most of the time they are somewhere else. Numerical models predict that after crossing the bow shock in the subsolar region the Vx component of the solar wind velocity decreases linearly until zero where it encounters the subsolar magnetopause. When this assumption is valid, it is possible to determine the boundary location using radial gradient measurements of the magnetosheath plasma velocity made deep in the magnetosheath, away from the boundaries. We will present cases where the bow shock and magnetopause stand-off locations are determined using remote multipoint THEMIS magnetosheath velocity observations.  We will define when and where the method is effective.  We will compare results with the predictions of global MHD simulations.
Designing an API for a mineralogical database
Authors: Gavryliv Liubomyr , Ponomar Vitaliy , Putiš Marián
Published: February 2023

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a secured, documented and accessible web service and an entry point to any database—both relational and non-relational. As a rule, it exposes the data in different formats and allows filtering of the data by utilizing the query parameters. Accordingly, it allows the developers and data scientists to retrieve and query data through HTTP or WebSocket protocols using command-line HTTP clients or language-specific ones (e.g., axios, requests). The most complicated and essential aspects of developing an API are choosing the stack, structuring the codebase and optimizing the application's performance. A general rule of thumb is to develop an API to be (1) platform-independent and (2) support the versioning and evolution of the service by adding new functionalities while supporting the previous versions. Other features of a robust and reliable API are documentation according to OpenAPI Specification (OAS), scalability, caching, development and production environments portability, concurrency and more.mineralogy.rocks API for mineralogical and related data is currently a work in progress with open-source code. It follows RESTful architectural concepts, best practices of clean codebase development and the twelve-factor methodology. The application is developed in Django—a Python web framework and utilizes PostgreSQL 13 database under the hood. The APIs' design is organized around the resources, e.g. the endpoints' naming conventions are predictable, standard and follow the same patterns. The codebase structure deviates from the standard out-of-the-box structure provided by the Django framework to isolate database-, server- and application-specific utilities. The local environment of the application is set up using Docker and docker-compose containerization technology for the efficiency of the development. The CI/CD integration has zero downtime—it is organized around GitHub Actions that allow for building the application, deploying the isolated container to a cloud, and updating the Kubernetes cluster application accordingly. The mineralogy.rocks API supports open science and promotes the innovation, quality, and public impact of mineralogy. Our open science activities are implemented to make the results produced and used in research publicly available and their metadata quickly and widely available for reuse.This project, No. 3007/01/01, has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation Programme based on a grant agreement under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie scheme No. 945478 and was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency (contract APVV-19-0065).
Moho and sub-Moho structure in the larger Alpine area from S-to-P conversions
Authors: Kind Rainer , Schmid Stefan , Schneider Felix , Meier Thomas , Yuan Xiaohui , Heit Ben , Schiffer Christian
Published: February 2023

For the understanding of the fate of the lithosphere when continents are colliding, it is necessary to image the structures of the lithosphere. In the case of the Alps, the structure of the Moho is very well known. This is, however, not yet the case for the lower boundary of the lithosphere, the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). We are using S-to-P converted seismic waves to study the structures of the Moho and the LAB beneath the greater Alpine Area with data from the Alparray project and the European networks of permanent seismic stations. Besides a new European Moho map, we present more detailed information about negative velocity gradients (NVG) below the Moho which may be interpreted as LAB. We found the European mantle lithosphere is deepening from about 50°N below the Alps to the Apennines and Dinarides along the entire east-west extension of the Alps. This area has also an east dipping component towards the Pannonian Basin and the Bohemian Massif. In the East and West of this area the European mantle lithosphere is dipping towards the North. We also discuss possible source locations of the volcanoes of the European Cenozoic Rift System in the light of our data.
Investigating the sea level budget in the East China Sea
Authors: Strohmenger Christina , Liu Ziyu , Uebbing Bernd , Kusche Jürgen , Reißner Lennart , Shen Yunzhong , Feng Wei , Chen Qiujie
Published: February 2023

Sea level change is not uniform around the globe. We focus on regional sea level change in the East China Sea (ECS), a Western Pacific marginal sea of 770.000 km2, with a densely populated and economically important coastal area. Several challenges arise when investigating past and current sea level change and budgets in this region.Ocean mass change is observed by GRACE(-FO). However, one needs to account for hydrological signals leaking from land into the ocean, as well as for sediment discharge from rivers. Steric contributions are usually measured by Argo floats, but from the shallow inner shelf of the ECS only few data are available. Thus, ocean reanalyses should be handled with caution. Total sea level change from altimetry can be compared to tide gauge data, but gauges are sparsely distributed in the ECS area and only few stations are co-located with GNSS to account for vertical land motion.In this contribution, we analyze and compare different data products to better understand regional sea level change and its contributors. Time series of ECS- averaged levels (total from altimetry, mass from GRACE and GRACE-FO and steric from ORAS5 reanalysis) are computed and compared in terms of trend, seasonal amplitudes and correlations. Additionally, spatial patterns are investigated, revealing that the shallow coastal regions, vast continental shelf areas and deep sea areas show distinct characteristic behaviors of sea level change. Altimetry and tide gauge data show a correlation of higher than 70% for 11 of 13 available records. Finally, we compare the individual data sets to results of a joint sea level inversion framework (Uebbing, 2022).
How much did the Nitrates Directive contribute to changes in surface water nitrate concentrations across German catchments?
Authors: Nguyen Tam , Kumar Rohini , Ebeling Pia , Sarrazin Fanny , Musolff Andreas , Fleckenstein Jan
Published: February 2023

Nitrate originating from agricultural lands is identified as one of the main causes of water pollution in Europe. As a result, the European Nitrates Directive (ND) was introduced in 1991 to protect water bodies from nitrate pollution by reducing diffuse nitrogen inputs. Despite decades having passed since its implementation, there are diverging observations of nitrate concentration changes in surface waters in Europe. Recent work suggested that the success of input reduction can be strongly blurred due to long water and nitrogen transit times and the built-up of nitrogen stores in catchment soils, making it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of the ND. Therefore, it is still unclear to what extent the ND contributed to changes in surface water nitrate concentrations.  Such understanding could help to develop better management policies. In this study, we used previously calibrated nitrate export models for various German catchments (Nguyen et al., 2022) based on the principle of water transit times and observed inputs (baseline scenario). We then force these models with different N input trajectories that assume no implementation of the ND (hypothetical scenarios). Here, we will compare simulation results from the baseline scenario with hypothetical scenarios to evaluate the effectiveness of the ND implementation as well as its controlling factors. In addition, we will also check if different catchments respond differently to changes in N inputs to see whether different management strategies are needed for different catchments.Nguyen, T. V., Sarrazin, F. J., Ebeling, P., Musolff, A., Fleckenstein, J. H., & Kumar, R. (2022). Toward understanding of long-term nitrogen transport and retention dynamics across German catchments. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL100278. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100278
Seasonal and Diurnal Variations of Orographic Clouds on Mars with EMM/EXI observations and the Mars Planetary Climate Model
Authors: Fernando Anton , Wolff Mike , Forget Francois
Published: February 2023

The formation of water ice clouds can significantly influence the Martian climate, although the Martian atmosphere contains low water vapor concentrations compared to terrestrial levels. The lower Martian atmosphere exhibits three global water ice cloud systems: Aphelion cloud belt (ACB), polar hoods (PHs), and orographic clouds. These clouds are associated with topography, solar heating, global atmospheric circulation, wave activity, and local convection. An appreciable amount of research has been conducted on the first two regimes (ACB and PHs) and very little attention has been given to the third regime (orographic clouds). In general, orographic clouds are observed in northern Spring and summer since they are associated with the major Martian volcanoes. Water ice optical depths provided by the Emirates Exploration Imager (EXI) of the Emirate Mars Mission (EMM) will be used to investigate seasonal and diurnal variations of such clouds in the Tharsis volcanic region: Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons, Arsia Mons, and Olympus Mons. Additionally, context will be provided using the meteorological fields from the Mars PCM (Mars Planetary Climate Model led by Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique Paris, France). This study provides a general picture of how Martian water ice clouds correlate with Mars PCM's meteorological variables: water ice optical depth, atmospheric temperature, meteorological winds, and water vapor mixing ratio. 
Detailed Architecture of the Manda Hararo Magmatic Segment in Afar, Ethiopia:
Authors: Birhane Yafet Gebrewold , Pik Raphael , Bellahsen Nicolas , France Lydéric , Flahaut Jessica , Schimmelpfennig Irene , Ayalew Dereje , Yirgu Gezahegn
Published: February 2023

The Afar depression at the northern end of the East African Rift system is the only analog on earth where magmatic continental rifting and associated ongoing break-up processes are exposed onshore. This unique active system presents the key advantage to expose extensional structures related to ocean-continent transition, with magmatic rift segments characterized by contrasted morphologies, and magmato-tectonic styles. The main goal of this study is to identify the location and investigate the functioning and persistence of magma reservoirs at the active magmatic segments in the central Afar depression (Manda Hararo, northern Tendaho grabben), in order to (i) highlight their relationships and potential control with the first- and second-order local segmentation, and (ii) understand the interplay between magmatic and tectonic processes during the generation of such magmatic crust. We combine remote sensing, field investigations, precise and comprehensive mapping of volcanic and tectonic structures, cosmogenic (36Cl) exposure dating of lava surfaces, and geochemical analysis to constrain the temporal frame and the dynamics of magmatic and tectonic processes. The first result of remote sensing analysis allows us to identify two active and self-consistent axial rift subsegments within this extensional system, map detailed lava flow fields which form these segment surfaces and investigate their relationships with caldera formation and focussed fissural activity. Geochemical analysis and dating of lava flows from this Manda Hararo rift system will be conducted to test the integrity of this model of contiguous subsegments.
Surface stress dissipation during growth front nucleation as mechanism for spherulitic crystal growth
Authors: Meister Patrick
Published: February 2023

Spherulitic crystal growth structures are omnipresent in the sedimentary realm. They occur as allochems, such as ooids, as crystal fans in stromatolites or as botryoids in tufa and speleothems. The spherulitic structure is due to radially arranged crystallographic axes which manifests as round outer shapes and the characteristic extinction cross under cross-polarized light. Often, spherulitic structures are ascribed to some mystic biological effect, however, without providing any further explanation of the underlying mechanism.While the overall driving force for spherulitic growth arises from the crystals attempting to reduce their surface energy, several pathways have been suggested in the literature by which the crystal structure and shape relaxes to the stress field imposed by the surface energy. Prominent is the concept of auto-deformation, where low-angle branching is introduced by crystallographic rearrangement in the interior of the crystal, due to cascades of discrete fracturing. In contrast, a growth front nucleation model has been suggested, in which case low-angle branching already nucleates as atoms or ions are being attached. In this mechanism, the stress field is dissipated before the atoms are incorporated permanently in the crystal lattice, which has the advantage that no bond-breaking event would be necessary (Meister, in press1). From a non-classical point of view, the growth front model can be modified in the sense that already existing nano-particles are attaching in an oriented way, so that low-angle boundaries are established.Ultimately, the prevailing crystal growth mode depends on crystal growth kinetics, as a result of both macroscopic factors – such as the supersaturation ratio of the bulk solution and interfacial energy – and molecular-scale factors that shape the nano-scale energy landscape. The mineralogical and crystallographic structure that can be reached by overcoming the lowest possible kinetic barrier should result, just as predicted by Ostwald’s step rule (Meister, in press2). Inorganic and organic co-solutes may act as modifiers, impacting the interface energy landscape and thereby shifting the boundary between step-flow growth and adhesive growth, facilitating non-crystallographic branching, and, thus, provoking configurations different from idiomorphic crystals.1) Meister, P. (in press) Spherulitic mineral growth: auto-deformation, growth front nucleation, or semi-oriented attachment? In P. Meister, C. Fischer and N. Preto (Eds.): “Nucleation and growth of sedimentary minerals”, IAS Special Publications, accepted.2) Meister, P. (in press) Ostwald’s step rule: a consequence of growth kinetics and nano-scale energy landscape. In P. Meister, C. Fischer and N. Preto (Eds.): “Nucleation and growth of sedimentary minerals”, IAS Special Publications, accepted.
Gamification of a “geomorphology” bachelor’s degree course
Authors: Segoni Samuele
Published: February 2023

To increase the engagement of the students and to explore alternative teaching activities, a didactical experiment was carried out at the University of Firenze (Italy): the teaching course “Basic elements of geomorphology” was reorganized to include relevant elements of gamification. The main one was a competition among the students based on a serial quiz game, which was carried out at the end of each lesson. This activity was called “Who wants to be a geomorphologist?”, clearly paraphrasing a notorious TV show. The students used their mobile device to access a series of quizzes, previously prepared by the teacher to test the reasoning skills of the students, their ability to make connections between distinct topics, and their capability to enter in a “geomorphological state of mind”. Each participant scored some points based on the answers provided and a general ranking was updated after each lesson. The prize (a “bonus” during the final examination for the top three students) was very attractive for the students, which demonstrated a strong engagement and a positive attitude towards the gaming activity. In turn, the activity was an effective didactical tool as allowed the students to better focus on some key concepts delivered by the teacher.
Role of Aerosol-Induced Radiative Cooling on the Evening Transitions Observed in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Authors: Singh Suryadev Pratap , Sreenivas Kr
Published: February 2023

Vertical temperature profile close to the ground controls many micrometeorological processes. These include development of inversion layer, occurrence of fog, pollution dispersion and vertical transport of heat and moisture.  We here present results from an extensive field study, conducted at the observation site next to the north runway at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, India (13.208°N, 77.704°E). At the site, we have deployed a HATPRO microwave radiometer, a Windcube Lidar, a set of 4-component radiative flux sensors, a weather station, a 2m mast carrying humidity and temperature sensors for monitoring temperature and humidity, along with a soil temperature profiler and two soil heat flux sensors. With this arrangement at the site, we continuously monitor the vertical profile of temperature, relative and absolute humidity from surface to 10 km height.Evening transition of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) observed during and after the sunset (under calm and clear sky conditions) indicates the development of Lifted Temperature Minimum (LTM) type vertical temperature profiles at the site. Boundary layer cooling observed after the sunset extends more than 200 m from the surface. Cooling is strong near the ground. This leads to formation of penetrative-convection layer close to the ground. Above this unstable convective layer, a stable inversion layer develops that extends to several hundred meters in height.We will present results from the numerical simulation of the ABL, by initializing from the radiometer observed vertical profile of temperature before sunset. Numerical simulations are based on a high-resolution, one-dimensional radiation model, coupled with ground temperature with and without aerosols' presence. LTM height, intensity, and its evolution with time observed from the field experiments and simulations have been compared and analyzed regarding radiation budget, aerosol property, number density, and soil emissivity. Results presented here indicate that the observed temperature profile in the field experiments matches closely with the simulations only when the presence of aerosols is considered in the numerical simulations. A high concentration of the aerosol in the surface layer, close to the ground enhances the radiative cooling and leads to the formation of the LTM profile.
What is driving coastline migration in the Wadden Sea? Quantifying the coastal geometry with geodetic and Earth observation techniques
Authors: Aschenneller Bene , Rietbroek Roelof , van der Wal Daphne
Published: February 2023

Higher sea levels can affect the position of a coastline by increased inundation and more erosion through higher wave energy. Other morphological processes like sediment transport by currents or river discharge and sediment accumulation by plants or coastal engineering structures may enhance or counteract coastline retreat. Additionally, vertical land motions caused e.g. by extraction of gas, water or oil change the relative sea level with similar effects on the coastline as absolute sea level changes. In order to be able to assess the severity of future sea level rise and the effects on coastlines for local populations and industries, we first need to separate the effect of sea level changes on the coastline positions from the effects of vertical land motions and of morphodynamics. Here, we approach this problem by combining vertical sea surface heights from satellite altimetry measurements with horizontal coastline positions extracted from optical remote sensing images.In this case study for the barrier island of Terschelling in the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea, we quantify the different parts of the coastal geometry using geodetic and Earth observations covering a maximum time span of 30 years. For the vertical part, we show timeseries of sea surface height anomalies derived from satellite radar altimetry and compare them to recordings of two nearby tide gauges combined with vertical land motions from the available GNSS station. For the horizontal part, we show tidally corrected timeseries of cross-shore changes extracted from Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery. A yearly Digital Elevation Model for the Netherlands from LiDAR and bathymetry observations (JARKUS) is used to test the sensitivity of the coastline position to sea level height and beach slope. In the future, the combined evaluation of sea surface and topographic heights together with the horizontal coastline positions will increase our understanding of climate change impacts on the coast. The methods designed in this case study serve as the basis for studies at other coasts.
Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing to Monitor and Investigate Eruptive Events at Stromboli Volcano, Italy
Authors: Biagioli Francesco , Métaxian Jean-Philippe , Stutzmann Eléonore , Ripepe Maurizio , Trabattoni Alister , Bernard Pascal , Longo Roberto , Diana Gianluca , Innocenti Lorenzo , Capdeville Yann , Bouin Marie-Paul , Lacanna Giorgio
Published: February 2023

Volcano seismology is essential for understanding, monitoring, and forecasting eruptive events. The use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology can be particularly useful for this purpose because of its high temporal and spatial resolution, which may help to overcome the challenges of deploying and maintaining seismic arrays on volcanoes.Between 2020 and 2022, we installed 4 km of optical fibre on Stromboli volcano, Italy, whose persistent activity is well-suited for investigating the related dynamic strain rate. The cable was buried at a depth of 30 cm and the layout geometry was designed to provide wide coverage while being constrained by natural obstacles and topographical features. Seismometers were also installed along the fibre. DAS data were collected using a Febus A1-R interrogator, and the acquisition period increased from one week in 2020 to over four months in 2022. We recorded volcanic tremor, ordinary explosions (several per hour), two major explosions in 2021 and 2022, and the entire sequence of a pyroclastic flow in 2022. DAS and seismic data show good agreement in both time and frequency domains after converting strain rate to velocity and vice versa using different methodologies. Beamforming of DAS data shows a dominant signal in the 3-5 Hz frequency band coming from the active craters. We will also present preliminary results of major explosions and pyroclastic flow. This experiment demonstrates that DAS can be used for monitoring volcanic activity.
Statistical study of substorm recovery phases in the inner magnetosphere and magnetotail
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Pulkkinen Tuija , Connor DiMarco , Brenner Austin
Published: February 2023

Magnetospheric substorm is recognized as an important mechanism for transferring and dissipating solar wind energy to the ionosphere and near-Earth regions. A substorm is generally thought to consist of three phases: growth phase, expansion phase, and the recovery phase, and the total duration of a substorm is about 2–4 hour. In this work, we present a statistical study of the magnetotail state during different phases of substorms, recovery phase in particular, for a period of 5 years from 2016-2020 using multi-spacecraft and ground magnetic measurements. For best spatial and temporal coverage of the inner magnetosphere and magnetotail, we use THEMIS, RBSP, MMS mission observations complemented by the SuperMAG database of measurements from ground-based magnetometers. To examine the duration of substorm expansion and recovery phases in the ionosphere, inner magnetosphere and magnetotail, we first find the substorm peak and end times from a list of substorm onsets available on the SuperMAG website. Substorm peak corresponds to the peak intensity of the westward electrojet provided by the SML (SuperMAG AL) index. For the current analysis period, we obtain a few thousand events when there are at least two spacecraft in the tail, which provides good statistics. To determine the time scales of expansion and recovery phases in the inner magnetosphere and magnetotail, we divide the observations into different bins based on X and Y position of the spacecraft. Keeping focus at the center of the tail, i. e., -5 < Y < 8 RE, the bins are chosen to be -4 to -7 RE, -7 to -10 RE, -10 to -15 RE, and -15 to -25 RE. A superposed epoch analysis is performed on the IGRF field subtracted ($ \Delta Bz =Bz_{Measured}- Bz_{IGRF}$) $Bz$ component of observed magnetic field for complete period of analysis. To find the time scale for recovery phase, we center the superposed epoch around the peak time. Our results show that the timescale of the field recovery is  more than an hour near the geostationary orbit (-4 to -7 RE), 30 min to less than an hour in the range -7 to -10 RE and even shorter as we go beyond -10 RE. The results presented in this work will help understand the spatial and temporal evolution of substorms in the magnetotail, and will significantly improve our understanding of space physics.
Identifying the Role of Structures in the Mineralization of Shahr-e Babak Epithermal Gold Deposit: Implications for Epithermal Gold Exploration in East Kerman, Southeastern Iran
Authors: Shafiee Shaghayegh , Niroomand Shojaeddin , Soleymani Majid
Published: February 2023

Epithermal base and precious veins are typically structurally controlled, and structures are fundamental to fluid flow and mineralization in hydrothermal deposits. In recent mineral explorations in east Kerman, especially in the northeast of the Shahr-e Babak area, it was found that structures play a key role in the mineralization of epithermal gold deposits. Shahr-e Babak epithermal gold deposit is located at 30°27'54.80'' N, 54°31'47'' E in the southeast of the Sanandaj Sirjan Zone, east of Kerman. The lithological outcrops of the Shahr-e Babak deposit area consist of Cretaceous felsic to mafic intrusive and extrusive rocks, Eocene micrite limestone and sandstone intruded by hornblende diorite, granodiorite, and microgranite stocks and dykes. Gold mineralization with an average grade of 1.5 g/t, is associated with anomalous Ag, Mo, Pb, and Sb and is usually concentrated in jasperoids with argillic and silicification alteration halos which are < 120 m in length and average about 10 m in width within east-west trending structures.  The Shahr-e Babak deposit area is located in a restraining bend of the Shahr-e Babak fault. There is a strike-slip duplex and E-W trending fault lens with an approximate 5×7 kilometers area related to the young movements of the Shahr-e Babak fault. For these reasons, the rocks in the deposit area have been ruptured and crushed which are not associated with extensive hydrothermal alterations. According to measurements, faults can be divided into three main groups. The first group is the main faults with 80–90-degree trending, the second group consists of faults with 100–120-degree trending and the last category is minor faults with NE-SW and NW-SE trending. A combination of field observations, measurements of faults and fractures, and drill core logging indicates that gold-bearing jasperoids are formed along strike-slip faults with a 100–120-degree trend in lens-shaped fault zones that change in thickness with depth. The recent discovery of the Shahr-e Babak epithermal gold deposit, located on a restraining bend of the Shahr-e Babak fault, highlights the exploration potential for epithermal gold mineralization in East Kerman. In addition, undiscoverable epithermal gold deposits may be hidden below the regionally extensive Quaternary cover.
Influence of Environmental Parameters on Highly Sensitive Instruments at Moxa Geodynamic Observatory
Authors: Kasburg Valentin , Breuer Alexander , Bücker Martin , Kukowski Nina
Published: February 2023

Strainmeters measure the change in length between two known fixed points and are used primarily to identify and estimate tectonic strain. In addition to tectonic strain, these instruments also record changes in strain caused by other phenomena such as Earth tides and fluctuations of meteorological signals like changes in groundwater levels caused by precipitation, which may be much larger than tectonic strain and thus mask its signals. To avoid meteorological influences as far as possible, horizontal strainmeters often are maintained in galleries such that tectonically induced strain signals are not affected by other sources of noise.At Moxa Geodynamic Observatory, located in central Germany, two laser strainmeters with a base length of 26 m each are maintained in galleries oriented north-south and east-west. Their resolution is in the nano-scale and sampling rate is 0.1 Hz. Mountain overburden in the gallery is comparatively low at approx. 30 m and in addition, the hydrogeological situation of the subsurface surrounding the observatory, is very heterogeneous. Therefore, amplitudes of meteorological phenomena are still quite high. In order to correct meteorological influences in the recorded strain time-series, they first need to be better understood. For doing so, long time-series - a decade at least – are needed. As the laser strainmeters continuously record since summer 2011, these are now available.We present the results of weighting various meteorological parameters on the strainmeter recordings by training Long Short Term Memory Networks and perturbing input parameters for the test data. In this way, the contribution of each parameter to the meteorologically induced strain signals can be estimated. This knowledge is subsequently used to eliminate meteorological influences from the time-series recordings of strain.
Atmospheric circulation-constrained model sensitivity recalibrates Arctic climate projections
Authors: Topal Daniel , Ding Qinghua
Published: February 2023

The Arctic climate system has been suggested to be ‘en route’ to a new state with seasonally ice-free conditions expected within two-three decades under high-emissions scenarios. Here we show the prospect of its delayed emergence stemming from a consideration of observed and modelled Arctic cryosphere sensitivity to atmospheric circulation changes. While the observed Arctic warming contains a substantial contribution from large-scale circulation, it is not reflected in the modelled forced response. Numerical model simulations with the CESM2 with an active Greenland ice sheet model (CISM2), where model winds are nudged towards the observed state, advocate for the need to have a circulation-based model sensitivity evaluation metric. Hence a recalibration is proposed by matching the warming signals free of atmospheric circulation impacts in observations and models over 1979-2020. This constraint yields a ~decade delay in the projected timing of the first seasonally sea-ice free Arctic and widespread Greenland melting. Accounting for the role of large-scale atmospheric forcing in Arctic climate change offers new perspectives of estimating Arctic sea- and land-ice sensitivity to anthropogenic forcing and understanding the recently emerging issue of some CMIP6 climate models being ‘too hot’.
Identifying and optimizing the key parameterization processes and parameters associated with land-atmosphere interactions in WRF-Chem model to better predict O3 pollution
Authors: Han Tian , Zhang Jing , Franke Philipp , Che Yunfei , Zhou Lihua , Deng Xiaoqing
Published: February 2023

The Weather Research and Forecasting  with Chemistry model (WRF-Chem) is one of the state-of-art models for studying air quality. Its meteorological module and chemical module are fully coupled, making it an ideal model for exploring the interaction between meteorological and chemical processes. However, it still needs great improvement in simulating near-surface ozone in a heavy pollution event. Except for the emissions, the model parameterization processes and parameters are one of the most critical factors, meanwhile, existing great uncertainties. It is of great significance to find out the most important parameterization processes and parameters that affect the simulation results for accurate simulation. The model simulation performance is usually estimated by comparing the simulation variable with observations of some indicators, such as relative humidity, wind speed, temperature, short-wave radiation flux and boundary layer height, which have important effects on ozone concentration. By calculating the sensitivity of ozone concentration and these factors to the parameters through some parameter sensitivity experiments, the key parameters and physico-chemical processes for ozone simulation can be found out. At present, it is known that the land-atmosphere coupling process has a great influence on ozone simulation, but it is not clear which mechanism and parameter are the key factors. For this purpose, a series of parameter sensitivity experiments were designed. This study considered the land surface process, planetary boundary process, cloud microphysics process, near-surface layer process and cumulus cloud process. Six microphysics schemes, three groups of near-surface schemes, six boundary layer schemes and three cloud microphysics schemes with the best performance in WRF-Chem were selected, and a total of 120 simulations were performed. The Morris one-at-a-time (MOAT) method was used to screen out the physical and chemical processes and parameters that have important effects on ozone pollution and adaptive surrogate modeling-based optimization (ASMO) method was used to optimize these key parameters, which can explore the role of different physical processes in regulating land-atmosphere interaction, quantify the uncertainty of model physical processes, and provide evidence to improve the model physical parameterization, so as to improve the near-surface ozone simulation.
The linkage between near-saturated hydraulic conductivity and tritium leaching
Authors: Xin Ping , Pesch Charles , Norgaard Trine , Heckrath Goswin , Zhang Kai , W.de Jonge Lis , V.Iversen Bo
Published: February 2023

Macropore flow in structured soils is an important process in relation to the transport of water, contaminants and nutrients in the soil. A close relation exists between hydraulic conductivity K(h) near saturation and the potential of macropore ﬂow. At the same time, tracer breakthrough experiments in the laboratory can determine the degree of macropore flow. In this study, we aim to investigate a direct link between tracer breakthrough characteristics and soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) of structured soils, which may explain spatial variation of solute transport in soils. We used SHPs and tracer breakthrough characteristics for 71 undisturbed topsoil columns (19 cm height, 20 cm diameter) from Denmark. We deﬁned K10 (near-saturated hydraulic conductivity) as K(h) at a matric potential (h) of −10 cm and used logarithmic transformation, logK10. On the same soil columns, we calculated the 5%, 25%, and 50 % arrival times (AT) as the percentage of the cumulative relative mass of tracer percolating through the bottom of the soil column. The regression analyses proved significant positive relation between logK10 and 5% AT, 25% AT, and 50 % AT. The saturated hydraulic conductivity appeared to be less critical for the shape of the tracer breakthrough curves. In addition, the 5% AT, 25% AT, and 5 0%AT correlated with soil pF values at 1.7, 2.0, and 2.5 (volumetric water content at h equal to −100 cm, −300 cm, and −500 cm, respectively) showing significant negative correlations.  Linking SHPs with tracer breakthrough characteristics on large intact columns thus proves highly useful for characterizing soil macropore functions.
Investigation of the Geomagnetically Induced Current Index levels in the Mediterranean region during the strongest magnetic storms of solar cycle 24
Authors: Boutsi Adamantia Zoe , Balasis Georgios , Dimitrakoudis Stavros , Daglis Ioannis A. , Tsinganos Kanaris , Papadimitriou Constantinos , Giannakis Omiros
Published: February 2023

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) constitute an integral part of space weather research and are a subject of ever-growing attention for countries located in the low and middle latitudes. A series of recent studies highlights the importance of considering GIC risks for the Mediterranean region. Here, we exploit data from the HellENIc GeoMagnetic Array (ENIGMA), which is deployed in Greece, complemented by magnetic observatories in the Mediterranean region (Italy, France, Spain, Algeria and Turkey), to calculate values of the GIC index, i.e., a proxy of the geoelectric field calculated entirely from geomagnetic field variations. We perform our analysis for the most intense magnetic storms (Dst < -150 nT) of solar cycle 24. Our results show that GIC index increases are well correlated with Storm Sudden Commencements (SSCs). However, the GIC indices do not exceed “low” activity levels despite the increases in their values, at all magnetic stations / observatories under study during the selected storm events.
Exploring Planetary Geomorphology with NASA’s Solar System Treks
Authors: Day Brian , Law Emily
Published: February 2023

NASA's Solar System Treks Project (SSTP) online portals provide web-based suites of interactive visualization and analysis tools to enable planetary scientists, mission planners, students, and the general public to access mapped data products from past and current missions for a growing number of planetary bodies. The Solar System Treks portals provide advanced data visualization and analysis capabilities for data returned from a vast number of instruments aboard many past and current missions to a growing number of planetary bodies throughout Solar System. Multiple map projections as well as interactive 3D views are available to optimize visualization of different landforms. A detailed set of analysis tools helps users find and interpret morphological features across diverse landscapes on the surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids. In some cases, these tools make use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to help users locate, identify, and understand landforms drawn from very large datasets. Having an integrated suite of portals presenting geomorphology across a range of planetary bodies within the Solar System greatly facilitates studies of comparative planetology. The portals are currently being used for site selection and analysis by NASA and its international and commercial partners supporting upcoming missions. Today, 11 web portals in the program are available to the public. This list includes portals for the Moon; the planets Mercury, Venus, and Mars; the asteroids Bennu, Ryugu, Vesta, and Ceres; and the outer moons Titan and Europa. The Icy Moons Trek portal features seven of Saturn’s smaller icy moons. All of the portals are unified under a project home site with supporting content. These web-based portals are free resources and publicly available. This presentation for EGU will detail and share examples of the how the portals can be applied to research in planetary geomorphology.
Improvements in infrared gas analyzers for measuring atmospheric gases on moving platforms
Authors: Bogoev Ivan , Vandemark Douglas , Emond Marc , Miller Scott , Shellito Shawn , Covert Jason
Published: February 2023

Accurate observations of atmospheric composition and exchange of greenhouse gases between the ecosystems and the atmosphere are critical for constraining climate models. Infrared gas analyzers (IRGA) using either broad band non-dispersive or narrow band tunable laser technologies are widely used for this purpose. Typically, such analyzers are installed on stationary meteorological towers over land; but an increasing number of systems are being deployed on mobile platforms and buoys to extend the spatial coverage and include measurements over water.  One technological challenge is that the motion of the platform influences the gas concentration measurements. Empirical correction methods have been proposed, but their universality is limited because the source of these sensor-related effects and their underlining mechanisms have not been understood. In this study we identified the dominant source of the error: orientation-dependent temperature stabilization of the thermoelectrically cooled infrared detector. To further investigate this hypothesis and gain insights to a solution, a new prototype closed-path IRGA with an improved infrared detector was developed. In the study, we compared the performance of the prototype to standard models of commercially available IRGA measuring CO2 and H2O.  Tilt experiments with side-by-side mounted IRGAs were first conducted on a controlled laboratory platform with independent pitch and roll axes. Over the ±30° range of angular position, the orientation-correlated errors were reduced by a factor of 4 to 10 on CO2 and a factor of 2 to 8 on H2O. Subsequent testing was performed duplicating realistic buoy motion in a deep-water tank with typical at-sea combined pitch and roll motion. In these tests, improvements in the measurement errors were similar to the laboratory experiments. Implications for the correction of past field measurements and insights for further sensor optimization and system improvements are discussed.