bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of UAV LiDAR, Terrestrial Laser Scanner, and iPhone 15 Pro LiDAR in Rock Discontinuities Characterization for Rockfall Analysis
Authors: Hellmy Afiq , Aripin Faruq , Jaapar Rasid , Mohamad Zakaria , Muhammad Ros Fatihah , Che Omar Rohayu
Published: March 2024

The characterization of discontinuities in rock slopes has traditionally been a time-consuming and expensive endeavor, the physical mapping itself involves extended stages as engineering geologists document key characteristics of the slope's discontinuities. Analyzing these discontinuities and determining their orientations are crucial for assessing the overall stability of a rock mass. However, recent advancements in remote sensing techniques such as UAV LiDAR, Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and iPhone 15 Pro LiDAR have revolutionized this process. Now, it is possible to remotely collect highly detailed point cloud data of a rock slope within a few hours and at significantly safe environment. These methods yield 3D point clouds and high-resolution images of rock outcrops, enabling the creation of three-dimensional reconstructions. The availability of such data has created new opportunities for collecting and assessing information about discontinuity characteristics, particularly geometric properties such as dip, dip direction, spacing, and persistence of joints in a rock slope. This paper presents a comprehensive review on capabilities of respective approach to characterize discontinuities on a rock slope, along with limitations and the advantages. In this study, several representative rock slopes underwent surveys using various techniques, including TLS, UAV LiDAR, and iPhone 15 Pro LiDAR. A comparative analysis of the results was conducted to determine the effectiveness of these new digital surveying and analysis approaches. The results of the study demonstrate better characterization of discontinuities by TLS with minor setbacks such occlusion and orientation bias during data collection. UAV LiDAR information provides comprehensive coverage of the rock outcrop with fewer point cloud density, while the LiDAR data acquisition from iPhone 15 Pro is limited to a specific distance from the rock slope. Indeed, the integration of these three approaches provides more inclusive analysis and characterization of rock discontinuities as each method compliments one another in terms of strength and limitation in characterizing rock slopes at various scales.
North Pacific ENSO Teleconnection to Mediterranean Climates of North America in Late Cretaceous Greenhouse
Authors: Qin Jianming , Gao Yuan , Du Xiaojing , Wang Chengshan
Published: March 2024

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences the world through its teleconnection. Forced by global warming and rising atmospheric CO2 levels, the evolution of ENSO is still under debate. ENSO records in deep-time greenhouse climates can enhance the understanding of ENSO and its teleconnection under global warming.This research analyzes Earth System Model (ESM) outputs of Late Cretaceous to show ENSO teleconnection between North Pacific and Mediterranean Climate region of North America (MCNA) under greenhouse gas and paleogeographic forcing. ESM outputs show 2.1-3.2-year ENSO-band cycles in both sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation in MCNA, which are consistent with records from high-resolution sedimentary archives. The simulated ENSO teleconnection to Late Cretaceous MCNA is more influenced by the Subtropical High than the Aleutian Low. This is thought to be related to paleogeographic forcing, where a closed polar-ward seaway results in a warmer sub-polar Pacific and a more robust Aleutian Low over it. Consequently, under the remote forcing of ENSO, the Subtropical High shifts the Westerlies longitudinally, leading to alterations in both moisture and thermal transportation, which in turn changes the winter precipitation of MCNA.This study reveals that ENSO teleconnections remain robust under Late Cretaceous greenhouse climates, and in comparison with today, forcing from the subtropics played a more significant role in affecting the evolution of North American climate.
Quantifying dust emission following wildfires on the global scale
Authors: Meng Xianglei , Yu Yan , Ginoux Paul
Published: March 2024

Wildfires can reduce vegetation cover and soil adhesivity, thus expanding bare grounds susceptible to wind erosion. Although in situ observations have confirmed dust emission following wildfires, a quantitative and mechanistic understanding of post-fire dust emissions is limited. Here, on the basis of satellite observations of active fires, aerosol abundance, vegetation cover and soil moisture from 2003 to 2020, we found that 91% and 54% of large wildfires are followed by reduced vegetation cover and enhanced dust emission, leaving intensive dust loadings for 1-25 days over normally dust-free regions. Furthermore, small wildfires, which naturally occur more widespread and frequently than large wildfires, lead to more considerable post-fire dust emissions, mostly global semi-arid regions. The occurrence and intensity of post-fire dust emission are regulated primarily by the extent of precedent wildfires and resultant vegetation anomalies, and modulated secondarily by pre-fire drought conditions. Despite the episodic nature of post-fire dust events, the amount of post-fire dust emission has shown an upward trend over the past two decades, especially over the Northern Hemispheric mid-latitudes, where droughts and wildfires are intensifying. These post-fire dust events impose greater socioeconomic and health impacts than dryland dust, due to the closer location of the former to populated areas. With an ongoing enhancement of extreme wildfires and concurrent droughts under global warming, our results emphasize the emerging importance of post-fire dust emissions on global and regional scales.
Parallel numerical simulation of impact crater with perfect matched layers
Authors: Li Huacheng , Zhang Nan , Yue Zongyu , Zhang Jinhai , Miao Zhongzheng
Published: March 2024

Impact craters are the primary geomorphic features on the surfaces of celestial bodies such as the Moon, and their formation has significant implications for the evolutionary history of the celestial body. The study of the impact crater formation process relies mainly on numerical simulation methods, with two-dimensional simulations capable of reproducing general patterns of impact processes and providing high resolution while conserving computational resources. In previous cratering simulations, the code iSALE-2D has been widely used. However, to suppress the influence of artificial reflections from the numerical boundaries, a much larger model is usually necessary in iSALE-2D simulations (a model domain of at least 10 times of the basin diameter).  This undoubtedly greatly reduces computational efficiency. To overcome this limitation, in this study, we developed a novel two-dimensional code SALEc-2D based on SALE. This new hydrocode employs the perfect matched layer (PML) method to suppress artificial reflections at numerical boundaries. This method enhances computational efficiency while ensuring reliable results. Additionally, we implemented MPI parallel algorithms in the new code to further improve computational efficiency. To validate the reliability of our code, we compare the results from SALEc-2D and iSALE-2D with same input parameters. The results from both codes were nearly identical when PML is disabled. Simulations that would take over ten hours using the conventional iSALE-2D code can now be completed in less than half an hour using our code, SALEc-2D, on a standard computer with 16 cores. We anticipate that our code will find widespread application in numerical simulations of impact craters in the future.
Optimizing Medslik-II: Parametrization through a bayesian search algorithm applied at the Baniyas oil spill incident (Syria, 2021)
Authors: Atake Igor , Accarino Gabriele , Carlo Marco , Elia Donatello , Coppini Giovanni , Aloisio Giovanni
Published: March 2024

Oil spill incidents can have a significative negative impact on coastal and marine ecosystems as well as human activities. Despite increased maritime safety, the European Maritime Safety Agency's Cleanseanet program detected a substantial increase in spills within the Mediterranean basin. The accurate prediction of the transport and transformation of the oil slick is a key aspect for assessing the impacts of the spill on coastal and marine areas. In this context, numerical oil spill modeling plays a crucial role in understanding unseen impacts and filling observational gaps. Such models are executed according to a set of physical simulation parameters, which are usually hand-picked, relying mostly on the modeler's expertise. Proper selection of such parameters is key for ensuring accurate results. This study proposes a novel technique integrating satellite observations, the Medslik-II oil spill model and Machine Learning for enhancing the oil spill results by optimizing the model parametrization. A Bayesian Optimization Framework was implemented to search for the optimal configuration through the parameter space. A real oil spill case, that occurred in the Baniyas area (Syria) in 2021, was used to validate the proposed approach. Results from early evaluation of such framework are promising and demonstrated that coupling physics- and data-driven techniques can lead to more precise risk assessment and planning for oil spill incidents.
Assessment of Soil Erosion in the Pan-Third Pole Region
Authors: Yang Xuyan , Du Chaozheng , Yang Qinke , Wang Chunmei , Pang Guowei , Wang Lei , Long Yongqing
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Climate change and human activities are seriously affecting the intensity and extent of soil erosion in the Pan-Third Pole region (PTP), which covers an area of approximately 5.14 × 107 km2. Accurate assessment of soil wind and water erosion is crucial for controlling soil degradation. In this study, soil water erosion in the PTP was estimated for 2018 using sampling units and the China Soil Loss Equation (CSLE), and soil wind erosion in the PTP from 1982 to 2020 was simulated using the Revised Soil Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ), based on meteorological, soils, topographic, and remote sensing data. The results showed that: (1) Soil water erosion in the PTP mainly occurs in East Asia, South Asia, and the Black Sea coastal region, and the average soil wind erosion rate of the whole region is 263.4 t•km-2•a-1, and the average water erosion rate of the key erosion areas with water erosion rates exceeding 2,500 t•km-2•a-1 is 22.6 times higher than the average water erosion rate of the study area, and annual erosion amounted to 57.1×108t, accounting for 38.6% of total erosion amount. The soil water erosion rates of cropland, grassland, and forest were 525.7 t•km-2•a-1, 362.6 t•km-2•a-1, and 185.6 t•km-2•a-1, respectively. (2) Soil wind erosion in the PTP mainly occurs in cropland and grassland in semi-arid areas, and aeolian sand activity primarily occurring in extremely arid and arid areas (deserts), and the average multi-year soil wind erosion rate in regions other than deserts is 633.65 t•km-2•a-1, of which the mean soil wind erosion rate in the area where soil wind erosion rate is greater than 50 t•km-2•a-1 was 4,316.94 t•km-2•a-1, for cropland, grassland, and scrubland were 1,981.14 t•km-2•a-1, 3,815.05 t•km-2•a-1, and 4,010.95 t•km-2•a-1, respectively. (3) From 1982 to 2020, the soil wind erosion rate in the PTP decreased by 10.61 t•km-2•a-1. The proportion of the area with a decreasing trend was 19.53%, while the proportion of the area with an increasing trend was 28.35%. (4) Soil wind and water combined erosion mainly occur in cross-border regions of northern Syria, the Indus River Plain, the northern border of Iran and Afghanistan, the southwestern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, central Mongolia, the central part of the Loess Plateau, Inner Mongolia, and the bordering areas of the three eastern provinces, the average soil erosion rate of is 4,534.77 t•km-2•a-1, with the average soil erosion rates for grassland and cropland being 4,752.41 t•km-2•a-1 and 1,495.68 t•km-2•a-1, respectively. This study provided a comprehensive understanding of soil erosion (both soil wind and water erosion) in the PTP, and offered valuable data and decision-making support for current and future soil erosion prevention and ecological restoration projects.
Intracontinental magmatism and its chronology, geochemistry, Lu-Hf isotopic characteristics—a case from Mesozoic composite pluton in the North China Craton  
Authors: Sun Junyi
Published: March 2024

The influence, extent, intensity, and spatiotemporal evolution of the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate on Eastern China during the Middle Mesozoic remains unknown. The Shanxi province, located in the central part of the North China Craton, has found several Mesozoic igneous rocks as typical intracontinental magmatism. Here, systematic zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating, whole rock geochemistry, and in-situ zircon Lu-Hf isotopic analysis were conducted on different lithologies from the outcrop of the composite pluton to study how these Mesozoic rocks formed and whether they are directly or indirectly related to the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate. The results show that the composite pluton has a high silica, potassium-calcareous alkalinity, and aluminum content, and it is classified as an I/S granite. The composite pluton is enriched in large ionic lithophilic elements such as Rb and K and depleted in high field strength elements such as Nb and Ta. The chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns exhibit a right skewed distribution of light rare earth element enrichment and heavy rare earth element depletion. The overall formation of the composite pluton occurred in four different periods. At 162±1 Ma, the quartz-porphyry originated from the lower paleo-crust and was subjected to water-rich fluids. At 152±1 Ma, the porphyritic biotitic granite originated from the metamorphic composite pluton in the middle and upper crust, which were formed by the breakdown and dehydration of mica as a result of decompression melting. At 142±1 Ma, the quartz diorite formed in the thickened lower crust, with contribution of mantle material during the formation process, and was affected by subduction fluids. At 136±2 Ma, the granite formed via the activation of magma from remelted metamorphic sedimentary rock in the upper-middle crust and mixed with magma originating from the younger crust. In addition to the regional geological background, it is believed that the magmatism indicates that the central part of the North China Craton underwent a transition from compression to extension from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, and this transition was related to the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate as it began to subduct under eastern Asia in the Early Jurassic, and then Cretaceous extensional state due to the retreat of the Pacific Ocean.
Keywords: Mesozoic composite rock; Chakou ; U–Pb dating, Petrogenesis; Tectonic evolution; North China Craton.
Solar Wind Energetic Neutral Atom Observation at Mars by MINPA Onboard the Tianwen-1 Orbiter
Authors: Ma Jijie , Li Wenya , Kong Linggao , Galli André , Wurz Peter , Tang Binbin , Zhang Yiteng , Xie Lianghai , Wang Limin , Qiao Fuhao
Published: March 2024

The Mars Ion and Neutral Particle Analyzer (MINPA), one of the seven scientific payloads onboard the Tianwen-1 orbiter, was designed to measure ions and energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) at Mars. Here, we present MINPA's first results of the solar-wind ENAs, which are produced through the charge exchange process between the solar wind hydrogen ions and the neutral atoms of the Martian exosphere. We perform a comprehensive comparison between the inflight ENA data and ground calibration results to understand the energy and angular distributions of the solar-wind ENA signals by MINPA, and an algorithm is developed to convert the ENA count rate to intensity. The contamination by solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and the observation independency between ENAs and ions are both evaluated. We will present several cases and statistic results of the solar wind ENA observations, and their intensities are estimated to be 10^5~10^6 cm^-2 sr^-1 s^-1, which is in good agreement with previous model attempts.
High Iron and Manganese in Groundwater of Brahmaputra River Plains: concerns for drinking water quality and remediation
Authors: Aind David Anand , Mukherjee Abhijit
Published: March 2024

Apart from the health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated water, the suitability of water, based on its visual appeal, taste, and odor, is a matter of paramount importance. Elevated levels of Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) lead to the discoloration of sanitary wares and laundry, besides resulting in deposits within distribution systems and contributing to an undesirable taste in drinking water. The mobilization of Fe and Mn in groundwater is predominantly governed by redox processes. In this study, we conducted an analysis of shallow groundwater (n=145) in the Brahmaputra River Plains (BRP), India, which shows that 85 percent (n=123) and 80 percent (n=116) of the groundwater exceed the WHO acceptable limit of Fe (0.3 mg/L) and Mn (0.1 mg/L), respectively. The highest concentration of Iron (II) is 7 mg/L with a median value of 3 mg/L (n=35). However, they are heterogeneously distributed among the Piedmont deposits, Older Alluviums, and Younger Alluviums. Spearman’s correlation shows that total Fe has a strong correlation (0.89) with Fe (II), and a comparison between them reveals that Fe (II) is the dominant species. The reducing nature of the groundwater with low dissolved oxygen and a high dissolved organic carbon suggests reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides as a possible mechanism of Fe and Mn release in the groundwater. Therefore, there is a need to mitigate the high Fe and Mn levels in the groundwater-sourced drinking water to avoid health and suitability concerns. Treatment facilities, including the use of iron-removal sand filters and aeration, have been installed across the region to mitigate the problem. Investigation of Fe (II) concentrations in the treated household-supplied water shows a considerable decrease in the Fe (II). Implementing effective mitigation measures, such as the use of iron-removal filters, is crucial to ensure the provision of safe drinking water.
Cover-basement relationships in a fold-and-thrust belt with inherited uneven weak horizons distribution: example from the southern Pyrenees across the Jaca basin
Authors: Muñoz Josep , Izquierdo Esther , Toro Rosibeth , Santolaria Pablo , Granado Pablo , Pueyo Emilio , Casas Antonio
Published: March 2024

We present a new cross-section across the Jaca basin in the southern Pyrenees, aiming to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of deformation in a fold-and-thrust belt. In this study, we have integrated all available subsurface data, including seismic sections and well data, with surface data to construct a balanced cross-section and partial restored cross-sections that illustrate the evolution of the south-Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt.Contractional deformation, initiating the development of the Pyrenean Mountain belt, started during Late Cretaceous times due to the reactivation of the Early Cretaceous hyperextended margin. Subsequently, deformation progressed during the Paleogene within the unstretched Iberian plate. In this region, the kinematics of the thrust wedge was controlled by inherited extensional faults and the unevenly distribution of Triassic evaporites above the basement.Although deformation progressed toward the foreland, synchronous thrusting characterized the internal deformation of the thrust wedge. The localization and switching of deformation along the fold-and-thrust belt resulted from the interaction of unevenly distributed weak layers, including salt, and syntectonic sedimentation.This work illustrates how detailed fieldwork, when combined with subsurface data and news concepts and methodologies (such as the use of drone imagery and analogue and numerical modelling), can significantly improve the understanding of the structure and evolution of fold-and-thrust belts.
Satellite-based monitoring of methane emissions from China's rice hub
Authors: Liang Ruosi , Zhang Yuzhong
Published: March 2024

Rice cultivation is one of the dominant anthropogenic methane sources in China and globally. However, it is often challenging to accurately quantify national and regional rice methane emissions. Conventional bottom-up methods often rely on a small number of ground-based flux measurements to derive emission factors or to calibrate process-based models, despite of inherently high heterogeneity in rice methane emission intensities. Satellite observations provide an independent regional-scale constraint on the magnitude of rice methane emissions. We apply atmospheric methane observations from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) to a high-resolution (0.625° × 0.5°) inversion to estimate monthly methane emissions for 2021 from Heilongjiang province in Northeast China, which is the country’s largest rice province. Our optimal estimate of annual rice methane emissions is 0.89 (0.57 – 1.04) Tg a−1, a factor of 2 or more higher than various bottom-up estimates. The results show that rice methane emissions in Heilongjiang peak during the tillering stage in June, consistent with intermittent flooding as the primary practice of water-regime management. This one-peak seasonality differs from the two-peak pattern in the prior estimate of the inversion (EDGAR v6.0) but agrees with flux measurements taken at a site in the region. Finally, our results are used to evaluate and improve process-based models of rice methane emissions.
Developing gravimetric water level meter
Authors: Jeong YooSik , Jo Ho Jeong , Park Soo Jeong , Kong Oh Yoon
Published: March 2024

According to Korean Statistical Information Service(KOSIS)’s data, the area of the Republic of Korea is 100,444 km2 and the area of Seoul, the capital city of Korea, is 605 km2, which is only 0.6 % of the area of Korea. However, the population of the Korea is 51.75 million, and that of Seoul is 9.39 million, accounting for a large 18 % of Korea. A large number of these densely populated cities are located in river basins. In most of time, water resources stored upstream are used as various purposes(drinking, industrial, and agricultural use) and drained downstream. During summer monsoon, however, rain that falls in the basin is discharged downstream as quickly as possible to prevent flooding. But heavy, concentrated rain caused by recent climate change often leads to capacity to exceed designed capacity. Moreover, inundation occurred due to neglect of neglect of drain pipe and street inlet and is becoming a serious social problem.This study was conducted to observe the ‘flood level’ in the city, which is basic data for flood management. We already have the ability to accurately and conveniently measure the water level and transmit the data when flooding occurs at multiple point in the city. To monitor water levels in underpasses and areas where poor drainage is expected, rods on the centerline of roadway or border of the sidewalk are used. The prototype has been completed, and additional work is underway to miniaturize the built-in equipment(board, communication, and battery) and to extend battery duration. To maintain accuracy of measurement in the process of the miniaturization, it is important to secure enough distance between weight and outer case to minimize the surface tension effect. So it is necessary to understand the relationship between the weight-outer case distance and water level observation measurements. This relationship was confirmed through various weights and outer cases. As a result, the accuracy was found to be sufficient when a weight-outer case distance is about 9 mm or longer.Acknowledgement : This research was support by a (2022-MOIS63-002) of Cooperative Research Method and Safety Management Technology in National Disaster funded by Ministry of Interior and Safety(MOIS, Korea).
Estimates of Arctic Ocean carbon uptake from atmospheric inverse analyses for the period 2000-2017
Authors: Ghosh Jayashree , Suntharalingam Parvadha , Chen Zhaohui , Kaiser Jan , Bakker Dorothee , Dutch Victoria
Published: March 2024

 The Arctic Ocean is responsible for around 5-10% of oceanic CO2 uptake, despite the region only accounting for approximately 4% of the world's oceans (Bates & Mathis, 2009). In this study, we investigate the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean in the Arctic Ocean for the period 2000-2017. Our estimates are obtained using the GEOSChem-LETKF inverse model system (Chen et al. 2021), in combination with data from the NOAA surface CO2 monitoring network (ObsPack, Cooperative Global Atmospheric Data Integration Project, 2018). We evaluate the impact of alternative representations of the prior flux distribution for air-sea CO2 fluxes. These include the following datasets: Landschutzer et al. (2016), Rodenbeck et al. (2014), and Watson et al. (2020). We present estimates of the long-term trend, year-to-year fluctuations, and regional and seasonal variability in air-sea CO2 exchange in the Arctic Ocean, with a focus on the region north of 58˚N. The sea ice extent of the regional seas of the Arctic Ocean has an influence on the magnitude and seasonality of the regional air-sea CO2 flux. We also investigate the potential links between changes in sea-ice extent and changes in air-sea CO2 fluxes.
Varying Relationship between La Nin a and SST Anomalies in the Kuroshio and Adjacent Regions during Boreal Winter: Role of the East Asian Winter Monsoon
Authors: Chen Sheng , Chen Jiepeng , Wang Xin , Xiao Ziniu
Published: March 2024

The winter sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Kuroshio and adjacent regions (KAR), which greatly influence the East Asian–North Pacific–North American climate, are closely related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This SST relationship between the KAR and the equatorial eastern-central Pacific is widely assumed to be symmetric between El Niño and La Niña. Compared to previous studies indicating the significant and strong KAR warming during El Niño winters, this study indicates weakly negative KAR SST anomalies in the composite analysis for all La Niña events. Positive winter KAR SST anomalies unexpectedly appear in approximately half of La Niña events, which counteract negative SST anomalies in the rest of La Niña events. Further analysis suggests that the impact of La Niña on KAR SST anomalies is modulated by the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) during early winter. The weaker-than-normal EAWM offsets the anomalous northeasterly winds in the KAR induced by La Niña and then reinforces the KAR warming through warm oceanic advection. As for strong EAWM, it enhances the northeasterly winds to the west of an anomalous Philippine Sea cyclone associated with La Niña, leading to KAR cooling with more latent heat flux loss from the ocean and anomalous cold oceanic advection. Additionally, when the EAWM is independent of ENSO and is associated with the western Pacific pattern, it also can exhibit a pronounced influence on the KAR SST anomalies via the major processes of surface latent flux and horizontal heat advection in the ocean, accompanied by a change in Kuroshio transport.
Migration patterns of source materials and their potential indication for debris flow initiation in Wenchuan seismic area
Authors: Zhang Wen
Published: March 2024

The occurrence of debris flows is contingent upon the synergistic influence of the distribution and volume of loose source materials and rainfall intensity, particularly in seismic areas where sediment has undergone long-term evolution and migration. Unfortunately, conventional monitoring and warning methods neglect the effect of sediment migration on debris flow generation due to their inherent constraints in capturing long-term and sustained sediment evolution across the entire catchment. In this study, we propose an innovative utilization of small baseline interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SBAS-InSAR) technology as a promising solution for investigating sediment migration patterns prior to debris flows, which offers long-term continuous monitoring at the catchment scale. Unlike temporary monitoring, this study provides valuable insights into the long-term dynamics of sediment by analyzing the erosion and deposition processes within a seismic catchment. It not only uncovers the persistent transition of bank sediment into channel sediment over several years following the earthquake but also identifies the presence of sustained erosion in the channel sediment prior to the initiation of debris flows. On the basis of the time series analysis, this study establishes the correlation between the pre-disaster indication of sediment mobilization and debris flow initiation, which emphasizes its significance in developing a method that possesses prolonged early warning capabilities for predicting the occurrence of debris flows. In conclusion, SBAS-InSAR is an effective approach for monitoring all-weather sediment evolution at large spatiotemporal scales, which contributes to the enhancement in debris flow early warning systems and the protection of human lives and properties.
Incorporating cell evolution into object-based convective storm nowcasting
Authors: Hsu Yun-Man , Wang Li-Pen
Published: March 2024

Radar-based nowcasting plays a crucial role in meeting the urgent demand for short-term, high-intensity convective rainfall predictions. Given the dynamic and clustering nature of convective storms, object-based nowcasting has emerged as an effective approach, characterised by its ability to identify, track, and extrapolate their motion. These models excel in identifying rainfall objects in radar images and constructing their temporal associations. However, a critical limitation in many of existing methods lies in their lack of mechanism to incorporate the evolution of rain cell intensity into the nowcasting process.A recent study by Cheng et al. (2023) demonstrated the effectiveness of utilising convective core altitude – a property retrieved from three-dimensional radar data– to improve the prediction of the evolution of single-core convective cell lifecycle. Their results suggest that, compared to persistence nowcasts, the prediction errors in rainfall intensity can be reduced by 50% at 15-min forecast lead time. However, this model focused on predicting ‘mean’ cell properties, while promising, still falls short for operational forecasting.This research aims to enhance object-based nowcasting by developing methods to integrate the cell evolution model proposed by Cheng et al. (2023) with an operational positional forecasting model. A recent development of a Kalman filter based object-based convective storm nowcasting model, co-developed by researchers from several international sectors and the UK Met Office (Wang et al., 2022), is employed here for positional prediction of convective cells. The key challenge of the integration lies in producing spatial-distributed convective cell nowcasts and the associated evolution prediction uncertainty that can be incorporated with the positional prediction uncertainty under a Kalman filter framework. To tackle this challenge, we test on two approaches. Inspired by Shehu and Haberlandt (2022), the first approach employs a cell analog method to identify historical cells with similar mean properties predicted by the cell evolution model. Those cell analogs with high similarity are then used to empirically constitute prediction uncertainty. For the second approach, we generate spatially-distributed cells via fitting bivariate Gaussian or Exponential shape (Willems, 2001; Féral et al., 2003) models using predicted mean properties, which can further cell samples with similar mean properties. Two approaches will then be integrated with the positional nowcasting model, respectively. Probabilistic nowcasting will be undertaken to generate ensemble nowcasts that account for both positional and evolution variations. Ensemble members from each approach at each forecasting time step can constitute a convective storm ‘hazard’ map. We will indirectly evaluate the performance of two proposed approaches via assessing these hazard maps with radar observations. 
Physical Drivers and Future Risks of the 2014-like Southeast Asia Drought
Authors: Ma Shuping , Peng Xiao , He Xiaogang
Published: March 2024

The Western Malay Archipelago undergoes a severe drought in early 2014, with Singapore experiencing its longest recorded drought period of 62 days from January 13 to March 15, a record dating back to 1929. Here we conduct in-depth analysis to examine the physical drivers of this unprecedented drought. We find that the 2014 drought is primarily due to anomalously high pressure over Southeast Asia. This condition induces the convergence of mid-to-upper level airflows, which then intensifies the subsidence. Simultaneously, the dry and cold airflows from the western and northern continents further exacerbated the subsidence. Anomalous geopotential heights are closely related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO): during the drought, Atlantic sea temperatures exhibit an abnormal tripole pattern, with the MJO in phases 7 and 8. The wave activity flux analysis show that, the NAO induces an eastward-propagating wave train at mid to low latitudes, leading to suppressed convection over the tropical Indian Ocean and a positive anomaly in geopotential height over Southeast Asia. In addition, we find that the seasonal averaged vertical motion (Omega) and relative humidity (RH) anomaly during 2014 Jan-Mar is unprecedented in the observational record from 1980 to 2020, with a return period of Omega and RH likely (>66% probability) in the range of 43~98 years with a median of 147 years. Climate projections based on the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models indicate that dynamical component under global warming is the main driver increasing the frequency of 2014-like droughts in the future.
Agricultural pollution in Indian Interstate Trade Network
Authors: Goyal Shekhar , Dave Raviraj , Bhatia Udit , Kumar Rohini
Published: March 2024

Humanity’s contemporary challenge in achieving global food security is sustainably feeding the rising global population. Intensive agricultural practices have powered green revolutions, helping nations attain self-sufficiency. However, these fertilizer-intensive methods and exploitative trade systems have created unsustainable agrarian systems. To probe the environmental consequences on production hubs, we map the fate of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in India’s interstate staple crop trade over the recent decade. Here, we analysed the spatiotemporal evolution of physical and virtual nutrient flow within India's interstate agricultural trade network, examining the environmental load on key production regions, assessing the sustainability of domestic wheat and rice trade systems in light of nutrient surplus, and providing policy recommendations for environmentally sustainable food security. Our examination of the cereal crop trade reveals that the Nation's food bowls contributing significantly towards domestic food security are sacrificing their environmental goals by becoming pollution-rich and water-poor. Our study emphasises policies focusing on redistributing funds from agricultural subsidies that aggravate environmental disparity to those incentivising sustainable production. The findings could offer a foundation for designing and exploring alternate trade network configurations that aim for environmental sustainability without compromising food security goals. 
Unveiling Socio-economic Inequity in Local-Scale Compound Flood Risks in Indian Coastal City
Authors: Dave Raviraj , Bhatia Udit
Published: March 2024

The warming climate has increased the frequency and intensity of floods in urban areas globally. The accelerating populace, coupled with rapid urbanization, amplifies the impact of floods that strain local communities. Existing disparities of unequal exposure to floods in vulnerable communities further burden post-disaster recovery, necessitating comprehensive urban-scale risk assessments. In this study, we quantify this unequal exposure by integrating flood hazards induced by stream flow, rainfall, and storm tides with the measure of socio-economic disadvantage. A 3-way coupled hydrodynamic model has been developed on the MIKE+ over the flood-prone city of Kozhikode, integrating the influence of stormwater drains, tide, and flow through the channel to generate flood hazard scenarios. Socio-economic vulnerability is quantified using a nonparametric data envelopment analysis that accounts for demographic indicators. The initial assessment reveals a disparity in flood exposure, with socially vulnerable populations in Kozhikode bearing a disproportionately higher burden, exacerbating challenges for less resilient communities. The results from the application of the Lorenz curve at the ward level further emphasize the inequitable distribution of flood risk. Our study provides valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of different drivers of floods and their impact on communities for formulating targeted planning and adaptation strategies for reducing flood risk equitably and sustainable urban resilience. 
Impacts comparison by using different hydraulic models on the 2011 flood in Thailand
Authors: Terrier Morgane , Joffrain Mathis
Published: March 2024

The 2011 flood event in Thailand was devastating both in terms of lives and economic losses. Following this event, the (re)insurance industry have deeply transformed its underwriting practices and used new modeling tools, both external and internal.A loss is linked both to hazard and sites characteristics. As an insurer's exposure changes, losses for the same event can differ greatly from past observations. Therefore, hazard maps representing a past event can be used to estimate losses as of today.Building an internal flood risk model requires to create a large set of spatial grids of flood depth. The water depth spatialisation, based on the water level of identified rivers, is a crucial part of the modeling and called the hydraulic modeling.This poster will :(i) the use of two hydraulic models to obtain a flood footprint: The software Super-Fast Inundation of CoastS (SFINCS) (Leijnse et al., 2021), a 2D open-source fast numerical model, and LISFLOOD-FP (Bates, 2004).(ii) calculate insured losses on a fictive portfolio in Thailand using these two models with the same inputs.(iii) describe and explain the discrepancies steming from (ii).
Sedimentary and crustal structures beneath the northern Ordos basin constrained by receiver functions and Pn multiples
Authors: Yin Weiliang , Yu Chunquan
Published: March 2024

Knowledge of elastic properties of the Earth's crust provide important constraints on its chemical composition, isostasy and tectonic evolution. However, accurate determination of crustal properties beneath sedimentary basins is challenging. This challenge mainly arises from interference caused by sedimentary reverberations, which may either mask desired signals or cause significant bias in parameter estimates. Some studies attempted to remove the sediment effect by applying wavefield downward continuation or resonance filters to conventional receiver functions, but successful applications were limited. Recently, a novel method utilizing Pn and its multiples, named as PnPn, has been developed and proven effective in imaging the Moho beneath sedimentary basins. Arrival times of Pn multiples are sensitive to crustal thickness (H) and P wave speed (Vp). In contrast, arrival times of converted phases in receiver functions are most sensitive to crustal thickness and Vp/Vs ratio. In this study, we apply a joint analysis of the newly developed Pn multiple method and conventional receiver functions to investigate the sedimentary and crustal structures of the northern Ordos basin along a west-east trending profile. We first apply a multi-frequency receiver function waveform fitting technique to constrain the shallow sediment structure. Then, we combine receiver functions and Pn multiples to determine the thickness, Vp and Vp/Vs ratio of the crystalline crust. Our results show that the interior of the Ordos basin is characterized by thick sediments, with the maximum thickness reaching 4.6 km. The sediment thickness shoals toward the eastern margin of the Ordos basin. The sediment structure in general is consistent with previous findings from active source studies and is of higher resolution than previous passive source studies. For the crystalline crust beneath the northern Ordos basin, the absolute Vp ranges from 6.45 to 6.57 km/s and the Vp/Vs ratio ranges from 1.73 to 1.78. These values suggest an overall intermediate crustal composition beneath the northern Ordos basin, in contrast to felsic crustal composition beneath the eastern North China Craton. The crustal thickness in the interior of the northern Ordos basin is remarkably flat, approximately 40 km, closely aligning with the Airy model. However, a deviation from Airy isostasy of approximately 5 km in crustal thickness is observed at the eastern margin of the Ordos basin, which could be due to increased bulk density of the crust accompanying the thinning of low-density sedimentary layer.
A database for the outer sizes of tropical cyclones over the Middle Americas
Authors: Perez Estrada Adolfo , Domínguez Sarmiento Christian
Published: March 2024

Tropical cyclones (TCs) pose a constant threat to populations residing within tropical and subtropical regions. The direct impacts of TCs, such as intense surface winds, storm surge, and heavy precipitation near the center, are well known. However, the indirect effects (e.g, disruption of the upper-level mean wind flow resulting in continental convection, and precipitation associated with cloud bands away from the cyclone's center), are often underestimated.It is crucial to comprehensively characterize the size of TCs, taking into account both direct and indirect effects, as this new size definition  could improve early warning systems. While various studies employ different parameterizations to describe cyclone size, many of them overlook precipitation. To address this gap, the ROCLOUD technique was developed using  a Python-based algorithm. This algorithm utilizes information on the TC’s position, the extent of cloud bands, and the size of the wind field to define an outersize for TCs located over the oceanic basins in the Middle Americas. In addition to ROCLOUD, we also developed a technique that uses the spatial distribution of TC rainfall to define the outer TC size, named as RPB algorithm. This technique  utilizes a threshold of 2.5 mm in the precipitation satellite products for depicting TC rainfall. Our dual approach provides a comprehensive understanding of TC  sizes, considering the presence of rainfall that can lead to disasters.Our database shows  external sizes and positions of TCs (recorded every 6 hours) over the North Atlantic (NA) and Eastern Pacific (EP) Oceans during the 2000-2020 period. We got 191 and 336 positions  from the NA and EP basins, respectively. Statistical analysis reveals the coverage of oceanic basins and highlights their differences. We conclude that ROCLOUD offers an operational approximation of the external size of TCs, especially in situations where storms pose a threat to continental regions. The study discusses the utility of both versions of ROCLOUD and RPB for  the Tropical Cyclone Early Warning System over Mexico (EWS-TC), shedding light on the impact of TC sizes that can lead to disasters.
Fostering cross-disciplinary research - Training, workshops and summer schools of Geo-INQUIRE EU-project
Authors: Majdanski Mariusz , Christadler Iris , Puglisi Giuseppe , Michalek Jan , Weege Stefanie , Cotton Fabrice , Strollo Angelo , Prestes Mateus , Pedersen Helle , Danciu Laurentiu , Urvois Marc , Lorito Stefano , Bailo Daniele , Lange Otto , Festa Gaetano
Published: March 2024

The Geo-INQUIRE (Geosphere INfrastructure for QUestions into Integrated REsearch) project, supported by the Horizon Europe Programme, is aimed at enhancing the Earth Sciences Research Infrastructures and services to make data and high-level products accessible to the broad Geoscience scientific community. Geo-INQUIRE’s goal is to encourage curiosity-driven studies into understanding the Geosystem processes at the interface between the solid Earth, the oceans and the atmosphere using big data collections, high-performance computing methods and cutting-edge facilities.The project has a strong focus on supporting dynamic development of the actual use of research infrastructures. Training, networking, and community-building activities will be key to foster it. The methodology ensures empowering participation of both young and experienced researchers, also from often underrepresented communities, but also incorporates new and intersectional perspectives, while addressing current major environmental and economic challenges and fertilising curiosity-driven, cross-disciplinary research.The project dissemination activities include a series of open online training and more specialised on-site workshops focused on data, data products and software solutions. Researchers, early-stage scientists, students are communities which will be able to explore the various fields of geosphere-related science, also not directly related to their field, with the possible connection through Research Infrastructures. Through lectures and use cases, we expect to show and teach them how to use data and information coming from cross-disciplinary RIs. We would like to increase the awareness of the capacity and capabilities of “other” RIs, as well as data integration and importance of FAIR principles. The training offer is constantly updated on the project web page www.geo-inquire.eu.In addition, two summer schools will be organised, dedicated to cross-disciplinary interactions of solid Earth with marine science and with atmospheric physics. The first school will be organised in autumn 2024 in Gulf of Corinth (Greece), and the second one in autumn 2025 in Catania, Sicily (Italy).The applications for training activities will be evaluated by a panel that reviews the technical and scientific feasibility of the proposed application project, ensuring equal opportunities and diversity in terms of gender, geographical distribution and career stage. The data and products generated during the Transnational Accesses to research facilities will be made available to the scientific community via the project strict adherence to FAIR principles.Geo-INQUIRE is funded by the European Commission under project number 101058518 within the HORIZON-INFRA-2021-SERV-01 call.