bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Certification systems for the ecological rehabilitation of mined areas
Authors: Galetakis Michail , Varouchakis Emmanouil , Roumpos Christos , Louloudis Georgios
Published: March 2024

Ecological reclamation of mined areas is a critical step in restoring environmental balance. Mining companies and operators are usually required to restore their sites to a condition that supports an agreed post-mining land use and to mitigate environmental and social impacts. To achieve rehabilitation approval, specific closure objectives and completion criteria must be defined to determine whether the necessary outcomes have been attained.  Certifications in this area typically focus on ensuring that reclamation processes meet certain standards and effectively restore the ecosystem. Some well-known certifications include the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) certification and the International Standards Organisation (ISO) environmental management system certification. SER certification often assesses projects based on ecological integrity, historical and cultural considerations, and sustainable management. It ensures that reclamation efforts promote biodiversity, soil health and overall ecosystem resilience. On the other hand, older ISO certifications, particularly ISO 14001, focus on environmental management systems and ISO 26000 on social responsibility. While not specific to ecological reclamation, it provides a framework for organisations to develop and implement environmentally responsible practices. Recent ISO standards like 21795:2021 specify the framework and the processes involved in mine closure and reclamation planning for new and operating mines, and they also provide requirements and recommendations.  These certifications play a critical role in establishing credibility and ensuring that ecological reclamation efforts meet recognised standards. They also contribute to the broader goal of sustainable mining practices. This study examines the evolution of standards for the certification of rehabilitation of mined sites, reflecting the growing awareness of environmental impact and the shift toward sustainable practices.
SUDA: A SUrface Dust Analyser for compositional mapping of the Galilean moon Europa
Authors: Kempf Sascha ,   SUDA Science Team
Published: March 2024

The Surface Dust Analyser (SUDA) is a dust impact mass spectrometer onboard of the Europa Clipper mission for investigating the surface composition of the Galilean moon Europa. The instrument is a Time--Of--Flight (TOF) impact mass spectrometer derived from previously flown dust compositional analyzers on Giotto, Stardust, and Cassini. SUDA uses the technology of the successful Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) operating on Cassini and employs advanced reflectron-type ion optics for increased mass resolution. The instrument will measure the mass, speed, charge, elemental and isotopic composition of impacting grains. Atmosphereless planetary moons such as the Galilean satellites are wrapped into a ballistic dust exosphere populated by tiny samples from the moon's surface produced by impacts of fast micrometeoroids. SUDA will measure the composition of such surface ejecta during close flybys at Europa to obtain key chemical constraints for revealing the satellite's composition, history, and geological evolution. Because of their ballistic orbits, detected ejecta can be traced back to the surface with a spatial resolution roughly equal to the instantaneous altitude of the spacecraft.SUDA will detect a wide variety of compounds from Europa's surface over a concentration range of percent to ppm and connect them to their origin on the surface. This allows simultaneous compositional mapping of many organic and inorganic components, including both major and trace compounds, with a single instrument. Any recent tectonic activity, cryovolcanism, or resurfacing event is detectable by variations in the surface composition. This can be linked to corresponding geological features, including the analysis of compositional variations across large craters on Europa. SUDA will further the understanding of Europa's surface couples to its interior source regions.In this presentation, we will discuss SUDA's unique capabilities to collect compositional ground truth from orbit and how SUDA contributes to the Europa Clipper science goals.
Uncertainties in climate projections and the economics of wind farm portfolios
Authors: Lopez Ana , Lochbihler Kai , Lizcano Gil
Published: March 2024

The deployment of low carbon affordable energy generation technologies plays a crucial role to achieve the Paris Agreement long-term goal to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to limit global temperature increase well below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5º C above pre-industrial levels. In particular wind power installed capacity is projected to increase exponentially over the next few decades. Wind power generation is, however, weather-dependent. Therefore, understanding the variability of wind, how it might be affected by climate change, and how this affects the economics of wind projects seems vital as countries continue to invest in wind energy.At the global level, the last IPCC report (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2022) states that the climate change impact on future wind resources will be limited. Regional studies, however, show that wind resources are projected to increase for instance over Northern Europe and decrease over Southern Europe. In North America, various studies have low agreement for the changes on future resources, in part because the inter-annual variability is larger than the projected changes due to climate change. For South America, some studies find increases in wind resources in windy areas. In general, the compounding of the anthropogenic climate change signal with high spatial and temporal wind variability can lead to large uncertainties in the projected impacts of climate change on wind resources, and as a result, on the economics of a project. In this study we showcase a methodology to analyze the impact of climate change on the economic indicators of a portfolio of wind farm projects across Europe. Projections of changes in wind resources are obtained using an ensemble of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) global climate models statistically downscaled to correct biases and increase the spatial resolution. Uncertainties in climate projections are taken into account by considering an ensemble of climate models and different emissions scenarios as represented by the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) . A series of assumptions about the features of a representative wind farm and its key economic parameters (e.g. capital expenditures and operational costs) are made to compute two common economic indicators: the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).By varying the production following the different climate scenarios, we analyze the impacts of climate change on the economics of the portfolios for different time horizons in the future. We find that the effect of changes of resource on IRR and LCOE depend on the region, emissions scenario and projection period. In the short term, changes are often masked by the internal variability of the resource on the site.We also discuss, from the point of view of our role as climate services provider for the wind industry, the limitations of the data provided in the CMIP6 experiment, and some of the data needs we have identified.
Cloud and Precipitation Microphysical Retrievals from the EarthCARE Cloud Profiling Radar: The C-CLD Product
Authors: Mroz Kamil , Puidgomènech Treserras Bernat , Battaglia Alessandro , Kollias Pavlos
Published: March 2024

This presentation delves into the C-CLD processor and its output product, both named the same, developed for the EarthCARE mission. The C-CLD processor has been designed to extract detailed microphysical properties of clouds and precipitation from the EarthCARE Cloud Profiling Radar data. The algorithm introduces a significant advancement by incorporating Doppler velocity information for the first time in space-borne radar retrievals. Our approach integrates an optimal estimation method to deduce vertical profiles of hydrometeor water content and particle characteristic size, employing reflectivity, mean Doppler velocity measurements, and path-integrated attenuation. The algorithm's robustness is further amplified by an ensemble-based method in the ice regions, ensuring both accuracy and consistency in the forward model relations.Emphasizing the algorithm's advancements, we present a comprehensive overview of its theoretical basis and development. This includes the validation process, performance sensitivity analysis and quantification of the information content. The presentation will demonstrate the retrieval efficacy in diverse atmospheric conditions, ranging from warm to cold rain and snow.In addition to algorithmic developments, our research also emphasizes the importance of iterative testing and refinement. Our approach combines model simulations with actual campaign datasets, which include both in-situ and remote sensing measurements, to validate and refine our methods. The rigorous analysis of data from campaigns like CADDIWA or IMPACTS, provided insights that allowed us to improve the C-CLD algorithm, ensuring its robustness and improving the reliability of its retrievals.
Isotopic signatures of fluid inclusions from quartz veins record sub-surface fluid-rock interaction associated with the Variscan orogeny
Authors: Huseynov Akbar Aydin Oglu , van der Lubbe Jeroen , Verdegaal - Warmerdam Suzan , Postma Onno , Kuiper Klaudia , Wijbrans Jan
Published: March 2024

The presence of fluid inclusions in quartz veins is crucial to reconstruct fluid migration pathways in the subsurface. In this study, we provide an innovative approach to analyse  the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of water fluid inclusions using cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS). The CRDS is connected to a mechanical crusher in order to release fluid inclusion water from the host mineral. The evaporated fluid inclusion water from the crushed sample is added to a moistened background of nitrogen gas. For this purpose, we designed a temperature-regulated evaporation unit at Earth Science Stable Isotope Laboratory at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) to ensure that the isotopic composition and concentration of the background water vapour remains constant. The isotopic compositions of the fluid inclusions are calculated by subtracting the isotopic and concentration of the ‘wet’ background.This newly designed setup allows for reliable measurements of the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions of fluid-inclusions in quartz minerals. The objective of this study is to analyse the isotopic compositions of fluid-inclusions in quartz veins from distinct regions in Europe (Germany and Portugal), which are both linked to the Variscan orogeny. The isotopic data align with the modern Global Meteoric Water Line, providing evidence for the presence of meteoric fluids in the examined fold-and-thrust belts of the Variscan orogeny. Complementary microthermometry data, isotopic signatures of silicon and oxygen of  the quartz host mineral further document the cooling of hydrothermal systems under the influence of meteoric water at various geological events. This interpretation concords with the 40Ar/39Ar dating fluid rich fraction of quartz vein minerals.
Intense formation of low liquid clouds over the Arctic sea-ice during May.  
Authors: Lac Jean , Chepfer Hélène
Published: March 2024

Low-liquid stratiform clouds are ubiquitous in the Arctic. Their high surface longwave warming induces change in the surface radiative budget that might have effects on the sea-ice melt especially during transitioning seasons. In particular, low liquid clouds formed in Spring may trigger early melt onset that might have an impact on the following evolution of the sea-ice during summer. 

However, relatively little is known about the existence and the drivers of such clouds in the early melt season. Here we used 13 years of space based lidar cloud profile observations with complementary data to show that the predominance of low clouds happens in May. First, we showed that the low cloud fraction reaches 75% of the Arctic Ocean in May over the sea-ice only with a low interannual variability. This cover increase in May seems to be homogeneous over the whole Arctic Ocean. Second, we investigated potential early summer drivers forming those low liquid clouds. One feature is the moisture sources that could explain the availability of such liquid droplets to form liquid clouds. While the other feature is the boundary layer structure, that might affect the stability and the ocean/atmosphere interaction over sea-ice leads.  

Overall, this study suggests a peak of Arctic low liquid clouds occurring in May that might impact the sea-ice summer melt by triggering early Spring melt. 
Analysis of DAS and slow strain measurements recorded during circulation tests at the FORGE geothermal underground laboratory
Authors: Stanek Frantisek , Vera Rodriguez Ismael , Wolpert Joseph , Podrasky David , Stork Anna , Chamarczuk Michal , Becker Matt , Ajo-Franklin Jonathan
Published: March 2024

FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) is an underground field laboratory located in Utah, western United States, and sponsored by the US Department of Energy. The FORGE site is situated above a young, hot granitoid formation. The site has been used as a testbed for institutions interested in enhanced geothermal systems. As part of recent research work conducted at the site, a new deviated well was drilled adjacent to a previously stimulated well. Both wells were drilled into the granite volume. Circulation tests were performed over a period of approximately two days following completion of the second well. The circulation tests were monitored with two distributed optical sensing systems. One of the systems was recording in the new well and included measurements of distributed acoustics (DAS), temperature (DTS) and strain (DSS). The other system recorded from a preexisting well located about 500 m away and consisted of DAS measurements in a vertical cable.Over the duration of the circulation tests, the two DAS systems detected on the order of 250 microseismic events in the close vicinity of the new well. A preliminary analysis of this group of events in terms of their hierarchical clustering allowed the selection of a small subset of them, which was used for the joint inversion of their absolute location and a layered velocity model for the site. The two-well DAS data of some of the events with absolute location was then used as a reference to estimate relative locations for the rest of the event’s catalogue. The estimated relative locations display a SW-NE alignment approximately perpendicular to the orientation of the new deviated well within the depth range of about 2300m to 2500m measured from the ground level. The location uncertainties more often show longer horizontal elongations suggesting a better depth constraint compared to the epicentral locations.DTS data was analyzed in conjunction with slow strain data derived from the DAS data. Following the circulation tests, a ramp-like feature was observed beginning at approximate 1500m migrating upward throughout time in the slow strain data potentially indicating preferential fluid flow at this depth. Slow strain data is inextricably tied to temperature due to the thermal elongation of fiber, and as such, a thermal anomaly with similar characteristics is also observed at this depth. However, similar warming trends exist at various intervals throughout the well without the accompanied slow strain response indicating a truly anomalous interval that features unique DTS and slow strain response.
Challenges and opportunities from an in-house cross collaboration between three research infrastructure data repositories
Authors: D'Onofrio Claudio , Karstens Ute , Vermeulen Alex , Mirzov Oleg , Zogopoulos Zois
Published: March 2024

The ICOS Carbon Portal is the main data repository for the Integrated Carbon Observation System Research Infrastructure (ICOS RI), covering the domains Atmosphere, Ocean, and Ecosystems. Data from ICOS is available and accessible for humans and machines with a rich set of metadata under a CC BY 4.0 licence. The core services for the data portal (https://data.icos-cp.eu/portal/) are open-source software and are available on GitHub (https://github.com/ICOS-Carbon-Portal). The main goal for the development was to make the European greenhouse gas measurements accessible as FAIR as possible. This led to a mature and stable data portal which was subsequently adapted to be applied by another Research Infrastructure namely SITES, a national Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science, and the European Horizon 2020 project PAUL, pilot applications in urban landscapes (ICOS Cities). Although all three data portals use the same software core and are hosted at the ICOS Carbon Portal, they are independent from each other and base on slightly different ontologies. Hence, we have a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities of accessing and combining data from three or more different data sources and compare FAIR aspects of the datasets. How do we deal with attribution of the used data using correct citations? Do we have access to the licence for each data sets, are they different and what are the implications? How do we combine the data for further analysis keeping track of provenance and origin?Further we will try to step back from the implementation of a service on specific data sets (which is kind of a hands-on bottom-up approach) and look at scalability to include other (environmental/ENVRI) data portals and think more about the top-down approach like the European Open Science Cloud EOSC. Can we offer a generalised service level for automated data processing from machine to machine? What do we need to process cross domain data sets?
Machine learning aerosol impacts on regional climate change.
Authors: Dewey Maura , Ekman Annica , Watson-Parris Duncan , Hansson Hans Christen
Published: March 2024

Here we develop a machine learning emulator based on the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM) to predict regional climate responses to aerosol emissions and use it to study the sensitivity of surface temperature to anthropogenic emission changes in key policy regions. Aerosol emissions have both an immediate local effect on air quality, and regional effects on climate in terms of changes to temperature and precipitation distributions via direct radiative impacts and indirect cloud-aerosol interactions. Regional climate change depends on a balance between aerosol and greenhouse gas forcing, and in particular extreme events are very sensitive to changes in aerosol emissions. Our goal is to provide a tool which can be used to test the impacts of policy-driven emission changes efficiently and accurately, while retaining the spatio-temporal complexity of the larger physics-based Earth System Model.
Diversity of rocky planet atmospheres in the H-C-O-N-S-Cl system with interior dissolution
Authors: Sossi Paolo , Thompson Maggie , Tian Meng , Hakim Kaustubh , Bower Dan
Published: March 2024

Given the host of existing and upcoming observations of rocky (exo)planet atmospheres, a quantitative understanding of the key factors that control the nature and composition of atmospheres around these diverse worlds is needed. The speciation of major atmosphere-forming components around molten rocky planets, both within and beyond the solar system, is dictated by their abundances, the equilibrium chemistry between gas species, and their solubilities in the rocky interior. Moreover, as pressure increases at the atmosphere-interior interface, the thermodynamic behaviour of the gas phase diverges from that of the ideal case. Here, we combine these considerations into a new Python package, atmodeller, which is a flexible tool kit for computing the equilibrium conditions at the melt-atmosphere interface. Given a set of planetary parameters (e.g., surface temperature, planetary mass, radius, mantle melt fraction) and an initial volatile budget, atmodeller uses experimentally calibrated solubility laws, together with free energy data for gas species, to determine how volatiles partition between the atmosphere and interior of the planet. This package can be applied widely to rocky planets, from super-Earths to sub-Neptunes with gaseous envelopes. Within the H-C-N-O-S-Cl system, we investigate the diverse range of atmospheric compositions and the impact of volatile dissolution into the interior for a set of known rocky exoplanets (e.g., the TRAPPIST-1 system) based on the current observational constraints from JWST. In addition, we use atmodeller to simulate the effects of volatile solubilities and non-ideal conditions on H2-dominated super-Earth- and sub-Neptune atmospheres (in the H-O-Si system), such as that of the recently observed exoplanet K2-18 b. Atmodeller is a new tool to study rocky (exo)planets, uniquely incorporating equilibrium chemistry, volatile solubilities and gas non-ideality to establish the connection between rocky planet interiors and their atmospheres.
When can rewetting of forested peatlands reduce extreme flows?
Authors: Elenius Maria , Pers Charlotta , Schützer Sara , Arheimer Berit
Published: March 2024

Historical drainage to improve agricultural and forestry practices has resulted in almost 1 million km of artificial channels in Sweden. This has reduced the storage of water in the landscape, and there are concerns related to the potential impacts on extreme flows, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient outputs. A large national restoration program aims to rewet 100 000 hectares forested peatland. However, there is limited evidence in what the impacts will be.Here, we implemented national information on ditches to the hydrological model HYPE and investigated the conditions at which removal of ditches in forested peatland could mitigate extreme flows under various conditions of the climate and local hydrology. We found that the impact on discharge at the level of 10 km2 sub-catchments or larger was small, mostly because only small fractions of the catchments consist of drained forested peatlands, meaning there is considerable mixing with other runoff. However, smaller streams with runoff primarily from the restored peatlands could have substantial impacts of restoration, which may be important for local biodiversity.For instance, a modelling sensitivity study showed the minimum runoff per year from forested peatlands increased by up to about 15 % after removing ditches and the maximum runoff was reduced by up to about 25 %. Importantly, an increase in the minimum runoff was only obtained if the minimum groundwater level was low enough in relation to the depth of ditches. Similarly, a reduction of the largest yearly runoff required that ditches were not too deep.If conditions were not favorable to mitigate extreme runoff, the opposite situation often occurred instead, with worse extremes. Therefore, although the impact on extreme flows was negligible at the level of 10 km2 catchments or larger, it is crucial to choose appropriate sites for restoration with respect to runoff extremes if there are sensitive smaller streams with runoff deriving mostly from the peatlands. The work presented here shows how this can be performed with the use of indicators for groundwater levels and ditch drainage prior to rewetting. Specifically, the minimum runoff is expected to increase only if the minimum groundwater level prior to rewetting is below the depth of ditches, or close to that depth. Reductions in the maximum runoff require ditches are not too deep, and large reductions cannot be expected if the groundwater level was already temporarily above the soil surface prior to rewetting, for example due to lateral inflow.
Choice Question (MCQ) Peer Construction for Training Students as Climate Change decision-makers or Knowledge Spreaders
Authors: Vidal Gérard , Eyraud Charles-Henri , Larose Carole , Lejan Éric
Published: March 2024

After more than 40 years of reasoned alerts from the scientific community directed towards society, with minimal impact, a recent surge in the size and frequency of extraordinary climatic events has begun to reshape the perspectives of ordinary citizens. This situation underscores the challenge of directly influencing society with scientific evidence or models, emphasizing the crucial role of universities in training students who will occupy intermediate or elevated positions that may impact society at large.While "Climate Fresk" has gained widespread popularity in higher education institutions as an effective tool for raising awareness about climate change and the intricate processes affecting our global earth ecosystem, concerns have arisen at the university level. The repetition of "Climate Fresk" or similar tools may be perceived as greenwashing practices, as university students are already well-acquainted with the issue. Hence, there is a need to surpass mere awareness in higher education.As TASK Change Leaders at ENS-Lyon, we explored pedagogical and assessment tools provided by Sulitest. This initiative, extends beyond climate and ocean changes, it places a significant emphasis on various topics, including Sustainable Development Goals, earth limits, and driving processes of climate change. One of the major interest of the approach is to address all disciplines (scientific or non scientific).We built a three-step strategy involving:
Administering a positioning test to enable students to assess their performance relative to the institution and the wider community.

Utilizing the looping tool from Sulitest, wherein small teams of students generate Multiple Choice Questions accompanied by a list of academic publications validating the terms of their questions. Subsequently, these questions are discussed in large interdisciplinary open groups, compelling students to articulate questions and answers intelligible across all disciplines.

Participating in the TASK to receive an assessment of their proficiency in sustainable development, evaluated by an external body.

This strategy, particularly the second step, empowers students to assume the role of a teacher or knowledge spreader in the face of a diverse peer community. It serves as a simulation of their potential future roles as educators, knowledge spreaders or decision-makers, instilling an understanding of the importance of providing validated sources and the challenges associated with crafting questions and answers comprehensible to all, preparing them for future teaching or decision-making scenarios. A notable byproduct is the creation of valuable pedagogical resources in a "connectivist MOOC flavor."Beyond the training benefits, membership in the TASK Change Leaders group provides opportunities for discussions on the sustainability of education, green education, and competency frameworks, to apply to ourselves the concepts we are teaching.
Monitoring techniques for rockfall hazard across Malta, Mediterranean Sea.
Authors: Gauci Christopher , Colica Emanuele , Fenech Daniel , Buhagiar George
Published: March 2024

The Maltese Islands are exposed to a variety of environmental impacts because of their geographic position, one such impact being coastal hazards arising from erosion, exacerbated by climate change. The prevailing mitigation approach has traditionally been based on visual assessment of risk in specific sites rather than scientifically gathered information as an evidence basis for action to mitigate such risks. Constant monitoring is required to identify the probability and patterns of these events, which would assist in prediction. This was done using in situ measurements which include tiltmeter readings and topographic nail distances.  Certain sites were chosen across the Maltese islands for both installations, selected through historical research and other datasets including dangerous signage installations. Several nails were designated between primary and secondary signifying more stable to unstable cliff edge respectively. Distances using a total station were then taken from primary nails to the secondary nails for consecutive datasets. Tilt plates were installed in three areas with the nails and data recorded by positioning the tiltmeter at different directional axis. 
Variability of tree methane emissions across regions of the Amazon rainforest
Authors: Blincow Holly , McNaramara Niall , Hoyt Alison , Gomez Carla , Elias Dafydd , Lamb Jack , De Sousa Rodrigo , Gris Darlene , Pequeno Reis Leonardo , Pangala Sunitha
Published: March 2024

Trees are recently understood to emit large quantities of CH4 through their stems, particularly in tropical wetland environments. There are still large uncertainties of the processes driving tree CH4 emissions, however, the primary mechanism is thought to be through transfer of CH4 produced in soil into tree biomass and then to the atmosphere. Another possible mechanism is via anaerobic decomposition of rotting tree biomass in stems. In the Brazilian Amazon, very little is known about sources and variability of tree CH4 emissions and how they may vary across different flooded regions.Across regions of the Amazon we aim to understand the variation of CH4 emissions from trees. These regions are characterised as white water flooded forest (Várzea region) and black water flooded forest (Igapo region). Using two tree species of similar ages across two regions, we measured tree CH4 emissions and surrounding porewater CH4 concentrations for two flooded seasons. Across all study locations and tree species we found large but variable net CH4 emissions ranging from 0.01 to 84 mg m-2 hr-1. These variations in emissions are significantly influenced by the tree species. Furthermore, we measured significantly different fluxes when measuring the same tree species across two regions, suggesting there could be vast alterations in flux when attempting to measure emissions across the Amazon region.Our work also revealed that CH4 emission was highest at the base of trees (30 cm) compared to measurements made higher up the stem (70 cm). This is consistent with radial diffusion of soil derived CH4 up the stem and also stongly suggests the source of CH4 is soil derived. Porewater concentrations of CH4 throughout the soil column further supports tree CH4 emission deriving from soil.Furthermore, we analysed the stable isotopic carbon values of emitted CH4 and demonstrate that this vertical reduction in emitted CH4 is also in part a product of biological oxidation of CH4 by methanotrophic bacteria located in woody material. The isotopic profile varied between two tree species and at the base of the tree compared with higher up the stem. We also noted individual tree species had isotopic variability across the two sites.These results show significant CH4 emissions from trees to atmosphere in the Amazon. By using common tree species of similar ages we demonstrate that the strength and variability of these emissions are strongly influenced by site specific variables that require further investigation.
Effect of Holocene environmental change on the size structure of mollusc indicator species of the northern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Schweigl Lukas , Nawrot Rafał , Tomašových Adam , Zuschin Martin
Published: March 2024

Anthropogenic disturbances such as pollution, eutrophication and increased frequency of hypoxia led to profound changes in the abundances of marine species and overall community structure. They also led to changes in the population size structure of some species, a phenomenon still little understood. In this project, we use data from sediment cores to document long-term changes in population size structure of two common mollusc species of soft bottom communities of the northern Adriatic Sea (NAS): the bivalve Varicorbula gibba (Olivi, 1792) and the gastropod Turritellinella tricarinata (Brocchi, 1814) (= Turritella communis Risso, 1826). They are similar in their habitat preferences, but V. gibba is an opportunistic species with a higher tolerance of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Ecological monitoring and analyses of sediment cores have shown that T. tricarinata was replaced by V. gibba as the dominant species of soft bottom communities in the NAS during the 20th century, probably due to increased eutrophication and a higher frequency of hypoxia. It has also been shown that V. gibba did increase in average size.We test whether size changes have also occurred in T. tricarinata using material from sediment cores from the area off the Po delta in the western-, and Panzano and Koper Bays in the eastern NAS. The cores capture the last 150 to 7,000 years depending on the location. Measurements of shell length and width are used to analyze population size structure. Changes in sediment composition and geochemical proxies of pollution and eutrophication are studied as possible drivers of size changes and are placed in a chronological framework based on radiocarbon-dated shells.Our preliminary results indicate that although abundance of T. tricarinata decreased throughout the region in the second half of the 20th century, shell length increased in some stations during that time. This pattern contrasts with the results of previous studies, which suggested that larger specimens of molluscs are more vulnerable to hypoxia. Our results may reflect complex interactions between nutrient enrichment and oxygen availability in controlling population dynamics of this species. However, more data are necessary to document long-term trends in population size structure driven by natural environmental change and to establish a baseline for size variability in T. tricarinata and V. gibba in the NAS prior to increased anthropogenic impact. Our study will provide a better understanding of how population size structure of marine benthic species changes in response to anthropogenic disturbances.
Vertical characterization of particles in stratified lakes
Authors: Amini Hossein , Masigol Hossein , Kirillin Georgiy , Grossart Hans-Peter
Published: March 2024

Density stratification is a distinctive feature of lakes characterized by a less dense layer (epilimnion) on top of a denser water (hypolimnion) separated by a strong density jump (pycnocline) between them. While the main driver of thermal lake stratification is temperature, this phenomenon changes the vertical particles distribution, which in turn may affect lake stratification, when suspended particles (including both non-organic and organic ones) cause an overall increase in water column density. Sinking of particles to denser layers changes the sinking rates and may produce particle accumulation at the density interface (pycnocline) having important consequences for organic matter turnover. To investigate the interaction of the physical water properties and distribution of particles as a consequence of the stratification, we used in this study the particle tracking system UVP 6 (Under Vision Profiler) for particle characterization in a stratified Lake Stechlin, Berlin, Germany. The preliminary results, as expected, show that the particle abundance changes in concordance with temperature, which proves the dependency of particle characteristics (size and concentration) on the vertical temperature distribution.
Sequential type batch reactor (SBTR): A novel advancement in adsorption system for removal of pollutant from drinking water
Authors: Ghosal Partha Sarathi , Sahu Saswata
Published: March 2024

The adsorptive removal of pollutant is a widely applicable process in environmental engineering. The major issue associated with many promising adsorbents is their low hydraulic conductivity, which renders their applicability in column based field level operation despite of their proved efficacy in batch mode in the laboratory. In this context, development of a novel sequential batch type reactor (SBTR) in the field of adsorption has shown its applicability in continuous operation using the benefits of the adsorbent characteristics in batch mode (Indian Patent No: 416891).
In the present study, SBTR was applied on fluoride removal from water by two adsorbents, viz. calcined Ca-Al-(NO3) layered double hydroxide and Alumina Olivine Composite. Those adsorbents could not be used for column study due to their fine particle size and low hydraulic conductivity, although their adsorption capacity was found high in batch study. In the continuous operation, the assessment of time for filling, batch scale adsorption reaction, separation of adsorbent by settling, collection of treated water and taking out of the adsorbent from reactor is computed from the batch scale preliminary studies. The cycle of fill (4 h), batch adsorption reaction (4 h) and separation, collection etc. (4 h) was considered. Three numbers of the tank are taken in parallel. The adsorption studies in the SBTR were conducted for various adsorbent dose, concentration, time, agitation rate, etc. The reactor can bring down the fluoride from 10 mg/L to below the standard at an agitation rate of 500 rpm and an adsorbent dose of 1.5 and 5 g/L for calcined Ca-Al-(NO3) LDH and AOC, respectively. SBTR exhibited its promising opportunity in continuous operation universally in field irrespective of the size and characteristics of the adsorbent. The present work brings this type of reactor for the first time in the field of adsorption with significant advancement in water treatment.
Keywords Continuous reactor, Batch Study, Sequencial operation, Water treatment, Adsorbent
The dynamics of low-latitude sub-surface oceanic jets
Authors: Jian Shi-Wei , Haynes Peter
Published: March 2024

A complex system of alternating zonal jets has been observed in the low latitude Pacific ocean, both on the equator and extending away into the subtropics. The dynamics of the subtropical jets, which also seem to be associated with strong cross-jet gradients in chemical tracers, may be similar to those of much-studied beta-plane zonal jets, but the effect of longitudinal boundaries, which are present in oceanic cases, on such jets is still puzzling. The forcing mechanism behind this set of oceanic zonal jets and what determines its horizontal and vertical structure are also poorly understood. We consider a beta-plane two-dimensional model with rigid boundary conditions and apply stochastic forcing, which without rigid boundaries would generate zonal jets. The instantaneous flow field is strongly time-dependent, with a large component of stochastically forced basin modes. This seems to disrupt the formation of alternating zonal jets, which, in contrast to the case without rigid boundaries, are observable only in the time-mean field and much weaker than the instantaneous flow. There is some evidence that these apparent time-mean jets are primarily the signature of stochastically forced basin modes rather than genuinely persistent jet-like flows. Adding tracers to the model allows the investigation of the relation between jet structure and the transport and mixing of tracers, and act as an important diagnostic to verify the presence or absence of jets. The instantaneous tracer field in the case with rigid boundaries is highly unsteady and, unlike the doubly periodic case, the jet structure is not manifested in the tracer field. Two-dimensional simulations with simple rigid boundary geometry may overestimate the generation of basin modes relative to the real ocean. Non-uniform damping is applied as a model device to break the interaction between the flow and boundaries and test whether it can inhibit basin modes and hence allow generation of steady zonal jets. With this non-uniform damping, jets present in the zonal mean field become more persistent as our redefined zonostrophy parameter increases, but there exist caveats we need to examine further, such as small ratio of energy in the zonal flow to the total energy as compared to much-studied cases without boundaries.
Comprehensive Analysis of Hydrological Dynamics and Uncertainties in the Moroccan High Atlas: A Focus on Seasonal Precipitation, Runoff, and Flood Events
Authors: Benkirane Myriam , Amazirh Abdelhakim , Bouras El Houssaine , Chakir Adnane , Khabba Said
Published: March 2024

The Mediterranean regions, particularly the Moroccan High Atlas, is exposed to natural risks associated with the hydrological cycle, notably intense precipitation events that trigger sudden floods. This research delves into the subtleties of hydrological dynamics in the High Atlas watersheds, specifically in the Zat watershed, to comprehend the seasonality of precipitation and runoff and elucidate the origins of floods.The results reveal a strong correlation between observed and simulated hydrographs, affirming the model's capability to capture complex hydrological processes. Evaluation metrics, particularly the Nash coefficient, demonstrate a robust model performance during the calibration phase, ranging from 61.9% to 90%. This attests to the model's ability to reproduce the dynamic nature of hydrological systems in the Moroccan High Atlas.It is noteworthy that the study identifies the snowmelt process as a significant factor of uncertainty in runoff flooding parameters. The complexities associated with snowmelt, especially in the context of spring precipitation, emerge as a crucial factor influencing uncertainties in the simulated results. This finding underscores the importance of accurately representing snowmelt dynamics in hydrological simulations for regions prone to natural risks.Moreover, the integration of Probability Distribution Functions and Monte Carlo simulations, coupled with rigorous evaluation metrics, enhances our understanding of calibration parameter uncertainties and validates the model's performance. The identified influence of snowmelt on runoff flooding parameters provides crucial insights for future model improvements and the development of effective mitigation strategies in regions vulnerable to natural risks. This research contributes to advancing hydrological modeling practices in complex terrain. Keywords: Seasonality, Rainfall-Runoff, Floods, Calibration, Monte Carlo simulation, Parameter Uncertainty, Hydrological Modeling, Snowmelt Dynamics, Natural Risks.
Measurement of Water Vapor on Commercial Aviation Flight Tracks
Authors: Herndon Scott , Dyroff Christoph , Daube Bruce , Yacovitch Tara , Moore Michael
Published: March 2024

We present a groundbreaking water vapor sensor specifically engineered for autonomous deployment on commercial aircraft. This innovative sensor was recently put to the test aboard a research aircraft, which conducted chase flights aimed at assessing the emissions from sustainable aviation fuel. In this presentation, we will explore the sensor's performance in flight conditions and delve into the key design features that make it suitable for this application.A significant aspect of our study is the potential of this monitoring system to serve as a routine, cost-effective, and highly reliable solution for automated water vapor measurement on commercial flights. The data acquired through this system is expected to significantly enhance now-casting model systems. Specifically, it will provide high-resolution water vapor data crucial for evaluating the Appleman-Schmidt criterion, thereby aiding in the prevention of persistent contrail formation – a major environmental concern in aviation.Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and value of implementing such a water vapor monitoring system in commercial aviation, with implications for both environmental monitoring and the advancement of sustainable aviation practices.
Flood Risk Mapping Through Advanced Machine Learning Techniques and Geomorphic Data Integration
Authors: Saavedra Navarro Jorge , Zhuang Ruodan , Albertini Cinzia , Manfreda Salvatore
Published: March 2024

Flood events rank among the most destructive natural hazards, necessitating comprehensive risk management strategies to mitigate their impact on human health, the environment, cultural heritage, and economic activities. In this context, various approaches have been developed for identifying flood-prone areas, but there is still a need to enhance their capabilities due to dynamic changes in landscape and infrastructure.In recent years, there has been a proliferation of remote sensing observations that can support dynamic and continuous mapping of flood-prone areas by integrating the most updated information. This study explores the potential of machine learning (ML) techniques, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Navies Bayer model, utilizing geomorphic information such as slope, elevation, precipitation, land use/land cover, elevation difference to the nearest river, and others as predictor variables. The best model and set of variables were explored by adopting approximately 30 variables spanning types, hydrologic, topographic, and categorical categories. Careful consideration was given to avoiding high correlations between variables in test subsets, ensuring relevance, and avoiding redundancy. Calibration and validation of the model employ Copernicus Emergency Management Service maps from Sentinel-2 satellite coupled with regional maps of past flood events.Results highlight that the best ML technique is represented by the Random Forest, adopting a range of 5 to 8 variables for effective delineation of flood-prone areas. Among the selected variables, the most relevant ones include Rainfall, Geomorphic Flood index - GFI, Lithology, and others. The study demonstrates that a minimal amount of information (between 0.1% and 10%) suffices for optimal model performance (AUC greater than 0.8).The study covered the entire territory of Italy, resulting in a flood-prone map at a 90m resolution, validated with flood maps provided by national agencies and obtained through traditional hydraulic models.Keywords: satellite images, flood-prone areas, Machine Learning, GFI, flood risk.
Towards a super-simplified OH chemistry for ICON-ART
Authors: Dietz Philipp , Hanft Valentin , Reimus Tim , Versick Stefan , Ruhnke Roland , Braesicke Peter
Published: March 2024

Monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is essential to face global warming and climate change. The ITMS project (“Integriertes Treibhausgas Monitoringsystem”, in English “integrated GHG monitoring system”)[1], is designed to establish at the German Meteorological Service (DWD) an operational GHG data assimilation service based on the model system ICON-ART[2] to enable Germany to operationally monitor the sources and sinks of three important GHGs: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).In the first phase of the ITMS project DWD together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and other partners are focusing on the emission, distribution and depletion of methane. In the troposphere, methane is mainly depleted by the chemical reaction with the OH-radical. Tropospheric OH is created mostly by the photolytic destruction of ozone (O3) and thus its abundance depends on the available solar radiation and the ozone concentration (i.a.). The calculation of this chemical system is computationally expensive. Therefore a simplified calculation of the OH chemistry has to be included in the ICON-ART forward model.Here, we present the current state of a super-simplified OH-chemistry for ICON-ART, a data-driven approach based on Minschwaner et al., 2011[3]. The OH concentration is hereby estimated based on the solar zenith angle (SZA) at the respective grid cell, as well as two parameters which are trained priorly on existing OH and SZA data.[1] www.itms-germany.de[2] Schröter, J., Rieger, D., Stassen, C., Vogel, H., Weimer, M., Werchner, S., Förstner, J., Prill, F., Reinert, D., Zängl, G., Giorgetta, M., Ruhnke, R., Vogel, B., and Braesicke, P.: ICON-ART 2.1: a flexible tracer framework and its application for composition studies in numerical weather forecasting and climate simulations, Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 4043–4068, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-4043-2018, 2018.[3] Minschwaner, K., Manney, G. L., Wang, S. H., and Harwood, R. S.: Hydroxyl in the stratosphere and mesosphere – Part 1: Diurnal variability, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 955–962, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-955-2011, 2011.