bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biofilm Growth in Porous Media well approximated by Fractal Multirate Mass Transfer with Advective-Diffusive Solute Exchange
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Carrera Jesús , Saaltink Maarten W. , Petchamé-Guerrero Jordi , Herrera Graciela S. , Valhondo Cristina
Published: March 2024

Biofilm growth in porous media changes the hydrodynamic properties of the medium: porosity and permeability decrease, and dispersivity increases. However, the first arrival of breakthrough curves (BTCs) is more reduced than derived from the reduction in porosity, and the BTC tail becomes heavier. These observations suggest the need for multicontinuum models (Multi-Rate Mass Transfer, MRMT) which describe reactive transport in heterogeneous porous media and facilitate the simulation of localized reactions often observed within biofilms. Here, we present a conceptual model of biochemical reactive transport with dynamic biofilm growth based on MRMT formulations. The model incorporates microbial growth by updating the porosity, dispersivity, and local mass exchange between mobile water and the immobile biofilm according to the stoichiometry and kinetic rate laws of biochemical reactions. This model has been successfully tested using two sets of laboratory data. We found that (1) the basic model based on the growth of uniformly sized biofilm aggregates (memory function with 1/2 slope), fails to reproduce laboratory tracer tests and rate of biofilm growth, while the fractal growth model, which we obtain by integrating the memory functions of biofilm aggregates with a power law distribution, does; (2) The biofilm memory function evolves as the biofilm grows in response to the varying aggregate size distribution; and (3) the early time portion of eluted volume BTCs are independent of flow rate, whereas the tail becomes heavier when the flow rate is decreased, that both advection controlled and diffusion controlled mass exchange coexist in biofilms.
Sensitivity of Evapotranspiration, Total Water Storage Change and Discharge to different Potential Evapotranspiration Methods
Authors: Thakur Vishal , Rakovec Oldrich , Kumar Rohini , Markonis Yannis
Published: March 2024

Hydrological models are effective tools for understanding and quantifying changes in wateravailability over time. These models excel in quantifying various hydrological components suchas runoff (Q), total water storage (TWS), evapotranspiration (ET) . Precipitation (P) and Po-tential Evapotranspiration (PET) are the most important required inputs for modeling thesecomponents. In modeling, sensitivity of P is well-acknowledged. However, a notable gap existsin assessing the sensitivity of PET methods in hydrological models. This study systematicallyexamines the sensitivity in terms of slopes, of 12 distinct PET methods spanning differentclasses (temperature-based, radiation-based and their combinations) on ET, total water stor-age change (TWSC) and Q. More than 100 European catchments were studied using mesoscaleHydrological Model (mHM). Our results show that PET methods differ significantly at annualand seasonal scales. For instance, overall annual PET ranges from approximately 250-2200mm/year across European catchments. PET increases from energy-limited to water-limitedcatchments. Temperature-based PET methods is higher in magnitude than radiation and com-binational type at summer, spring-season, and annual scale. No clear pattern was observed forthe winter and autumn season. We also examined ET, Q, and TWSC slopes and comparedthem with PET’s slopes. Our study illuminates the pivotal role of PET methods in hydrologicalmodeling, emphasizing the need for researchers to select PET methods judiciously accordingto the specific objectives of their studies.
The Significance of the Melt-Pond Scheme in a CMIP6 Global Climate Model
Authors: Diamond Rachel , Schroeder David , Sime Louise , Ridley Jeff , Feltham Danny
Published: March 2024

The impact of melt ponds on sea ice albedo has been observed and documented. In general circulation models, ponds are now accounted for through indirect diagnostic treatments (“implicit” schemes) or prognostic melt-pond parameterizations (“explicit” schemes). However, there has been a lack of studies showing the impacts of these schemes on simulated Arctic climate. We focus here on rectifying this using the general circulation model HadGEM3, one of the few models with a detailed explicit pond scheme. We identify the impact of melt ponds on the sea ice and climate, and associated ice–ocean–atmosphere interactions. We run a set of constant forcing simulations for three different periods and show, for the first time, that using mechanistically different pond schemes can lead to very significantly different sea ice and climate states. Under near-future conditions, an implicit scheme never yields an ice-free summer Arctic, while an explicit scheme yields an ice-free Arctic in 35% of years and raises autumn Arctic air temperatures by 5° to 8°C. We find that impacts on climate and sea ice depend on the ice state: under near-future and last-interglacial conditions, the thin sea ice is very sensitive to pond formation and parameterization, whereas during the preindustrial period the thicker sea ice is less sensitive to the pond scheme choice. Both of these two commonly used parameterizations of sea ice albedo yield similar results under preindustrial conditions but in warmer climates lead to very different Arctic sea ice and ocean and atmospheric temperatures. Thus, changes to physical parameterizations in the sea ice model can have large impacts on simulated sea ice, ocean, and atmosphere.
Statistical study of multi-spacecraft events and shocks observed in solar cycle 25
Authors: Kartavykh Yulia , Heber Bernd , Wimmer-Schweingruber Robert F. , Dresing Nina , Trotta Domenico , Kollhoff Alexander , Droege Hendrik , Klassen Andreas , Kilpua Emilia , Gieseler Jan , Droege Wolfgang , Gomez-Herrero Raul , Espinosa Lara Francisco , Rodriguez-Garcia Laura , Rodríguez-Pacheco Javier , Vainio Rami
Published: March 2024

Predictions of the intensities of solar particle events are often fraught with uncertainties. Insufficient knowledge and understanding of the solar sources of the particles, and the conditions in the corona and in the inner heliosphere, as well as magnetic connectivity, have been limiting factors in making further progress. This presentation covers a study done by one of the Work Packages of the SERPENTINE project, and is based on the analysis of lists prepared by two other work packages of the same project, and logically consists of two parts. In the first part we performed a statistical analysis of a list of 45 multi-spacecraft events in solar cycle 25 observed by five spacecraft located in the inner Heliosphere (Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe, Stereo A, Bepi Colombo), and one located at 1 AU close to the Earth (SOHO or Wind). The list, while prepared with a focus on the detection of protons above 25 MeV by two or more spacecraft, contains also information about electron observations around 100 keV and 1 MeV, respectively.  Aiming to investigate the processes which are responsible for spreading energetic particles in longitude and latitude, and to estimate the importance of perpendicular diffusion in the latitudinal direction, we considered, together with other parameters, not only the longitudinal distances to the source, but also the differences in the total angle. In this part of our study we used methods such as correlation analysis and principal component analysis, and applied them to the list as a whole, as well as to different types of events. For example, we found that in the case of narrow-spread events perpendicular diffusion is sufficient to explain the spreading of particles from the solar source into the heliosphere, while in the case of wide-spread events an additional acceleration source is needed. We also evaluated the role of the speeds and sizes of the associated coronal mass ejections, as well as features of EUV waves appearing in the events, and relate different types of microwave (radio) emission to different groups of events. In the second part of this work we performed a statistical analysis of a list of 61 interplanetary shocks, observed by Solar Orbiter.  By using a superposed epoch analysis, we built a statistical picture of ion time profiles around the shock front in several energy ranges. We also investigated which shock parameters are more important for particle energization by propagating interplanetary shocks, particularly in the case of an overlap in these lists.This study has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101004159 (SERPENTINE).
What can we learn on internal tides with the 1-day phase of SWOT ?
Authors: Carrere Loren , Tchilibou Michel , Lyard Florent , Ubelmann Clément , Dibarboure Gérald
Published: March 2024

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) altimetry mission launched in 2022 makes 2D observations of sea surface height (SSH) using SAR radar interferometric techniques.  Compared to previous altimetry missions, SWOT extends SSH observations to 15-30 km and offers opportunities to understand better ocean dynamic processes such as mesoscale, sub mesoscale and internal tides (IT).     This study based on SWOT observations during the Calval (1-day orbit, from mid-March to mid-July) period gives insight into the capability of SWOT to observe IT.  We analyzed the SWOT tracks crossing the Brazilian coast around the Amazon shelf.  The results show that SWOT IT observations in this region are made up of mode 1 and mode 2 but also of strong higher mode (50-2 km).  The M2 coherent IT model deduced from SWOT presents the same spatial distribution as the M2 model from Zaron et al., 2019.  Over this period, the rate of incoherent internal tidal is over 0.5 for modes 1 and 2 and almost 0.9 for higher modes.
Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan glaciers under global warming
Authors: Salerno Franco , Guyennon Nicolas , Yang Kun , E. Shaw Thomas , Lin Changgui , Colombo Nicola , Romano Emanuele , Gruber Stephan , Bolch Tobias , Alessandri Andrea , Cristofanelli Paolo , Putero Davide , Diolaiuti Guglielmina , Tartari Gianni , Thakuri Sudeep , Miles Evan S. , Bonomelli Sara , Pellicciotti Francesca
Published: March 2024

Understanding the response of Himalayan glaciers to global warming is vital because of their role as a water source for the Asian subcontinent. However, great uncertainties still exist on the climate drivers of past and present glacier changes across scales. Here, we analyse continuous hourly climate station data from a glacierized elevation (Pyramid station, Mount Everest) since 1994 together with other ground observations and climate reanalysis. We show that a decrease in maximum air temperature and precipitation occurred during the last three decades at Pyramid in response to global warming. Reanalysis data suggest a broader occurrence of this effect in the glacierized areas of the Himalaya. We hypothesize that the counterintuitive cooling is caused by enhanced sensible heat exchange and the associated increase in glacier katabatic wind, which draws cool air downward from higher elevations. The stronger katabatic winds have also lowered the elevation of local wind convergence, thereby diminishing precipitation in glacial areas and negatively affecting glacier mass balance. This local cooling may have partially preserved glaciers from melting and could help protect the periglacial environment (Salerno, Guyennon, et al., 2023).Salerno, F., Guyennon, N., et al. Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan glaciers under global warming. Nat. Geosci. 16, 1120–1127 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01331-y
Compound and cascading droughts and heatwaves decrease yields by more than half in Sinaloa, Mexico
Authors: Sutanto Samuel Jonson , Mora Susana , Supit Iwan , Wang Mengru
Published: March 2024

Drought and heatwave events contribute to agricultural loss worldwide. The impact is further exacerbated with the occurrences of compound and cascading droughts and heatwaves. Here we present a study that evaluates the impact of compound and cascading droughts and heatwaves on Maize yield in Sinaloa Mexico, simulated using the WOFOST crop model. Drought and heatwave events were identified using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI-3) and threshold method, respectively. Results show that significant yield reductions are found during extreme drought events, emphasizing the vulnerability of maize farming to unfavorable drought conditions. While heatwaves alone did not show a significant impact on maize yields, the compound and cascading droughts and heatwaves amplify the loss of Maize yields up to 44% compared to normal conditions. This study highlights the need for adaptive strategies in agriculture to sustain food security during extreme events, especially in the context of a multi-hazard framework.
The effect of slope on soil organic matter and on microbial communities under different soil management practices.
Authors: Gismero Rodríguez Laura , Aguilar-Romero Inés , Gómez José Alfonso , Valverde Ángel , Knicker Heike
Published: March 2024

In Mediterranean regions, olive plantations are commonly located on steep slopes, leading to significant erosion. To mitigate soil loss, sustainable management practices often involve allowing natural vegetation cover to grow in the inter-tree spaces. To provide insights into the impact of different management forms on soil quality, we collected topsoil samples (0-15 cm) from an olive orchard with an 11% slope located in Southern Spain (Benacazón, Seville). Samples were taken along the slope of plotsmanaged with conventional tillage (CT) and with natural cover (NC). Additionally, soilsfrom the tree line, treated with herbicide (TL-Herb.), were included. To account for seasonality effects, sampling campaigns were conducted in autumn 2022 (following the dry season) and spring 2023 (after the rainy season). Soil organic matter content will be correlated with the management practices, slope location and microorganism abundance, determined through phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). Microbial respiration analysis will be also performed, using MicroRespto assess microbial activity. The main hypothesis is that plots with vegetation cover will have higher SOM and total microbial biomass contents. We also expect an impact of slope location not only on the size of the microbial pool but also on the microbial biodiversity.
Assessing the degree of impact from iceberg activities on penguin colonies of Clarence Island
Authors: Lin Hong , Cheng Xiao , Li Teng , Shi Qian , Liang Qi , Meng Xinyu , Wang Shaoyin , Zheng Lei
Published: March 2024

During August and September 2023, three giant icebergs, each bigger than Paris, successively grazed Clarence Island in the northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula, a home to a population of over 100,000 penguins. This incident may serve as a clarion call for the increasing iceberg calving due to global warming and its subsequent impact on the Antarctic ecosystem. Here we investigated this unexpected event using satellite imagery, employing wind speed, ocean currents, and seabed topography data to understand the behavior of the icebergs. During the study period, eastward winds and northward currents favored the drift of icebergs away from the island, and the deeper waters off the east coast reduced the probability of iceberg grounding. Nevertheless, iceberg D30A still left a significant amount of floating ice during its grazing passage. Moreover, we integrated historical records and probabilistic analyses of iceberg grounding to assess the degree of impact on penguin colonies of Clarence Island. Among the eleven colonies, only one in the northern region exhibits low impact, whereas two colonies in the southeastern region experience high impact. In a warming future, with an increase in iceberg calving events, penguin colonies located in iceberg drift hotspots are likely to experience greater impacts from iceberg activities. Therefore, we call upon the public to pay heed to climate warming and implement measures to mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, thereby alleviating the threat to penguin ecosystems.
The Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Distribution of Urban Landslides in Istanbul Megacity
Authors: Yılmaz Abdüssamet , Görüm Tolga , Süzen Mehmet Lütfi , Talay Tarık , Bostancıoğlu İsra
Published: March 2024

As a megacity, Istanbul has been a regional center of attraction in terms of its historical, cultural, and economic importance from past to present. In terms of this feature, it has continuously received migration and expanded its urban area due to the increasing population. Rapid urbanization has brought an urban growth model with low resilience to natural hazards. In this city, which is expected to face a major earthquake in the near future, the distribution of landslides has not been focused on covering the entire urban area. In order to make the city resilient in terms of current hazards and secondary hazards after a possible earthquake, different geoscience projects were initiated by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 2022. In this context, we conducted a detailed landslide assessment for the entire city of Istanbul using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) derived from LiDAR, multi-temporal optical stereo-photo derived, and satellite imageries covering the period between 2013 and 2023. In total, 20,537 individual landslides were identified and mapped in the entire city area from the airborne LiDAR data and multi-temporal aerial photos. In order to determine the change in the distribution of landslides we prepared multi-temporal landslide inventories using multi-temporal optical aerial photographs and satellite images between 2013 and 2023. In this respect, we found that 3241 landslides were excavated, and 468 new landslides were triggered due to anthropogenic activities such as infrastructure, road construction, mining, airport construction, urban parks, and new settlement areas. We also revealed that the legacy effect in paleo-landslide complexes plays a vital role in the reactivation of many deep-seated landslides. Many of these landslides were also reactivated due to construction and infrastructure problems. In this context, we have revealed that anthropogenic impacts are the most important parameter on the current distribution dynamics of urban landslides in Istanbul. We conclude our study by highlighting that this new and comprehensive landslide inventory prepared for the megacity of Istanbul will contribute to determining landslide avoidance zones for planning new settlements and industrial areas.
Investigating the usage of physically modeled snow cover vs. webcam-based snow cover for driving plant species distribution models
Authors: Kollert Andreas , Chytrý Kryŝtof , Mayr Andreas , Hülber Karl , Rutzinger Martin
Published: March 2024

Snow is a crucial factor determining plant species distributions in alpine and arctic environments. Therefore, metrics like the duration of snow cover are important predictors to model plant distributions. Many studies employed snow cover metrics derived from optical satellite image time series. Such satellite-derived observations are easily accessible and highly consistent, making them a viable choice for current and past conditions. However, an inherent limitation is their applicability for future projections of snow cover, which is only possible by establishing statistical relationships to ancillary data sets. Snow cover simulated by a physically-based snow model could circumvent these constraints, but it was rarely employed for predicting alpine plant species distributions. Increasing availability of input data, computational power and data sets for validation nowadays allow for modeling at reasonably high resolutions.To this end, we report first results of several modeling experiments, to quantify the differences of using snow cover metrics derived from webcam time series and modeled snow data for a study site of approximately 5 km² in the Stubaier Alps (Tyrol, Austria). Melt-out date is one of most commonly used snow metrics in species distribution models. Hence, we derive the melt-out dates from two seasons (2022 and 2023) of webcam-based and modeled snow cover. Subsequently, we modeled the distribution of 79 plant species with the melt-out dates as predictors along with several proxies for topographic heterogeneity at spatial resolutions of 1 m and 20 m in order to account for the small-scale variability of snow cover in alpine landscapes. The study demonstrates how the usage of modeled and observed snow data affects modeling of high-alpine vegetation distribution. These insights are important for appropriately designing species distribution modeling studies based on modeled rather than observed snow data.Acknowledgements: This work has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 883669).
Physics-based uncertainty modeling of deep-seated landslides using InSAR: A case of El Forn (Andorra)
Authors: Lau Rachael
Published: March 2024

Deep-seated landslide monitoring can require extensive insitu monitoring tools, typically involving equipping boreholes with extensometers, thermometers, and piezometers – proving to be an expensive and labor-intensive task. This work focuses on assessing deep-seated landslide stability by using the physics-based modeling, in partnership with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), as a diagnostic tool for assessing stability in remote regions. We use the case of the insitu monitored El Forn landslide in Canillo, Andorra. We used available Sentinel-1 data to create a velocity map from deformation time series in 2019 and inputted it into a calibrated physics-based predictive model. Using the correlation between the model’s velocity, the insitu observed velocity and the velocity derived from InSAR, we create a normalized real-time risk map of the landslide.
The Implementation of the BEP+BEM Offline Parameterization Scheme: Exploring Urban Dynamics through Climatic Projections
Authors: Pappaccogli Gianluca , Zonato Andrea , Martilli Alberto , Buccolieri Riccardo , Lionello Piero
Published: March 2024

As climate change continues to exert an impact on urban areas, the comprehension of its effects on the urban environment becomes crucial for sustainable urban planning. This study presents a novel approach employing the Building Effect Parameterization (BEP) coupled with a Building Energy Model (BEM) in an offline configuration to simulate urban climates. The multi-layer BEP+BEM model, properly describes the vertical arrangement of urban fabric, accounting for the distribution of heat, moisture, and momentum sources throughout the urban canopy layer. Additionally, energy consumption within buildings for both cooling and heating is estimated by the BEM, providing a comprehensive perspective on the urban energy balance. Coupled with a 1-D column model of urban canopy flow, the BEP+BEM offline model accurately estimates drag coefficients and turbulent length scales based on urban fabric characteristics. In the proposed version, the model has been extended to consider additional factors such as green areas and street trees, along with existing green roofs, photovoltaic panels and the permeability of urban materials. This expansion enhances the model's capability to assess the effectiveness of sustainable infrastructure in mitigating climate change effects on urban areas. In this study, the BEP+BEM scheme is forced by data from climate projections, allowing for the dynamic representation of various Local Climate Zones (LCZs) under distinct climatic conditions. Simulations in different LCZs and under different climatic conditions are compared to evaluate the impact of climate change on urban environment, enabling the exploration of how different urban areas respond to changing meteorological forcings. The sensitivity analysis includes a range of standard urban typologies (i.e. LCZs), capturing the complexity of interactions between the built environment and the atmosphere. This approach offers an assessment of the impacts of climate change on key urban phenomena, such as urban heat islands (UHI), thermal discomfort, and heightened energy consumption by buildings. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights for the urban climate community, policymakers, and researchers with the aim of enhancing the resilience of cities in the face of a changing climate. By bridging the gap between climate projections and urban climate simulations, a consistent framework is presented in this work for evaluating and adapting various urban environments to future climatic conditions.
Accounting for shallow sedimentary layers for accurate earthquake localization using submarine Distributed Acoustic Sensing
Authors: Trabattoni Alister , Baillet Marie , van den Ende Martijn , Vernet Clara , Rivet Diane
Published: March 2024

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology facilitates the instrumentation of areas that are challenging to access with conventional instruments. In Chile, the presence of offshore submarine telecommunication cables offers a unique opportunity to instrument a major subduction zone close to the trench. Here we report an analysis of DAS data collected during a one–month campaign, sensing a commercial telecom cable connecting Concón to La Serena positioned several dozen kilometers off the coast.  

The earthquake recordings displayed P and S arrivals along with an additional Ps arrival, which is the result of the conversion of the P-wave at the bedrock/sediment interface. These three phase arrivals were identified and manually picked taking advantage of the spatial continuity of DAS measurements. To correctly account for the presence of the sediment layer in the localization procedure we introduced sedimentary corrections, which are a modification of the conventional station corrections. Instead of introducing an arbitrary constant time delay for each station and each phase, the corrections are derived from a physical first order modeling of the wave propagation in the sediments. The estimation of sedimentary parameters relies on: (i) the observed delay between the transmitted P-phase and the converted Ps-phase that give an indication of the sediment thickness; (ii) an inversion of the P- and S-wave speed in the sediments which is made possible thanks to the high sensor spatial density.   

We show that sedimentary corrections: (i) can represent most of the observed pick residual bias while only requiring the inversion of two global parameters (compared to station correction that requires three parameters per station); (ii) allow one to retrieve the sediment thickness and wave speed values that are consistent with common values for sediments; (iii) reduces the residuals of the earthquake hypocenter localization. The proposed correction method should improve the hypocenter estimation quality, facilitating the analysis of geological structures, and will contribute to a more detailed view of seismic activity in the studied area. 
Investigating the interior of Ganymede, Callisto and Europa with JUICE
Authors: Van Hoolst Tim , Tobie Gabriel , Vallat Claire ,   JUICE WG1 SSR
Published: March 2024

On 14 April 2023, the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) of ESA was launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It will arrive at Jupiter and its moons in July 2031. Here we describe how JUICE will investigate the interior of the three icy Galilean moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. Best insights into their interior, such as from an induced magnetic field, tides, rotation variations, and radar reflections, will be obtained during close flybys of the moons with altitudes of about 1000 km or less and during the Ganymede orbital phase at an average altitude of about 500 km and less. The 9-month long orbital phase around Ganymede, the first of its kind around another moon than our moon, will allow an unprecedented and detailed insight into the moon’s interior, from the central regions where a magnetic field is generated to the internal ocean and outer ice shell. Multiple flybys of Callisto will constrain the density structure, clarify the differences in evolution compared to Ganymede and will provide key constraints on the origin and early evolution of the Jupiter system. JUICE will visit Europa only during two close flybys and will perform geophysical investigations on selected areas, complementary to those performed by Europa Clipper.We emphasize the synergistic aspects of the different geophysical investigations, showing how different instruments will work together to probe the hydrosphere, internal differentiation, dynamics, and evolution of these icy moons. In situ measurements and remote sensing observations will support the geophysical instruments to achieve these goals by providing complementary information about tectonics, potential plumes, surface composition, and exchange processes between ocean, ice and surface. Additional insight into the dissipative processes in the Jupiter system will be provided by accurate tracking of the JUICE spacecraft. 
Detection of plastic film residues on cropland using remote sensing techniques: from proximal to UAV-based remote sensing
Authors: Fabrizi Alessandro , Fiener Peter , Van Oost Kristof , Wilken Florian
Published: March 2024

Plastic residues found on cropland span across a wide range of polymers, shapes, sizes, and sources, which are all factors influencing the environmental risks of plastic pollution. A major potential plastic source of cropland soil systems is the intentional use of plastic in agriculture. Despite their role in improving crop production and management, plastic films have been associated with the generation of macro- and micro-plastic residues. Understanding the variables driving plastic film pollution and residue generation is important to quantify the overall input into soil systems and design good management practices. However, plastic residues are usually collected by manual sampling and quantified by ex-situ analyses, which is very time-consuming and limits data acquisition to small areas.This study aims to analyse the potential of remote sensing data acquired from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a fast and cost-effective method for the detection of macroplastic residues on cropland. To understand the factors influencing plastic film detection when moving from pristine films to residues in soil, we collected hyperspectral (i.e., with a spectroradiometer) and multispectral data (i.e., with a multispectral camera) on different plastic films in an experimental outdoor setup. We used two different soils as a background and simulated the following conditions: pristine films, crumpled films, soil-covered films, and crumpled and soil-covered films. In this way, we built spectral libraries and identified absorption peaks. Moreover, the simulated spectral signature of plastic film residues matched the magnitude of changes observed in field samples available for black mulching films. We then assessed major challenges and possible workflows for detecting plastic residues with a multispectral camera mounted on a UAV.
Dynamic and static strain sensitivity of seismic velocity variations at Ischia Island, southern Italy 
Authors: Tarantino Stefania , Poli Piero , Vassallo Maurizio , D'Agostino Nicola
Published: March 2024

Ischia Island is the westernmost, active volcanic complex of the Campanian plain (Southern Italy, Civetta et al., 1991). A long-term depressurization (Sepe et al., 2007) in the local hydrothermal system is causing deflation and contraction (Trasatti et al., 2019) of the surrounding volcanic edifice. In 2017 a Mw 3.9 shallow earthquake occurred in Casamicciola, in the northern part of the island, causing landslides and several collapses (Nappi et al., 2018). Here we present seismic velocity variation measurements δv/v over 8 years (2016-2023) for variable coda waves time lapse using empirical Green's functions reconstructed by autocorrelation of seismic noise recorded at local velocimeters. We compared velocity variations time series with the temporal evolution of the strain, obtained from displacements measured at the GPS network deployed on the island.  We focused on short-term velocity variations caused by the earthquake and on the long-term trend of δv/v measurements. This latter shows to be related to the deformation mechanism affecting the volcanic edifice. We found high values in both dynamic and static strain sensitivity of velocity variations with appreciable differences on the island, reflecting the anisotropic pattern of depressurization. This also proves a significant non-linearity in the elastic properties of the local volcanic materials. The joint use of geodetic methods and ambient noise monitoring revealed a remarkable sensitivity of δv/v to depressurization processes and its potential to enhance our understanding of the dynamics of the magmatic system.ReferencesCivetta, L., Gallo, G., & Orsi, G. (1991). Sr- and Nd-isotope and trace-element constraints on the chemical evolution of the magmatic system of Ischia (Italy) in the last 55 ka. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 46(3–4), 213–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-0273(91)90084-DNappi, R., Alessio, G., Gaudiosi, G., Nave, R., Marotta, E., Siniscalchi, V., Civico, R., Pizzimenti, L., Peluso, R., Belviso, P., & Porfido, S. (2018). The 21 August 2017 Md 4.0 Casamicciola Earthquake: First Evidence of Coseismic Normal Surface Faulting at the Ischia Volcanic Island. Seismological Research Letters, 89(4), 1323–1334. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180063Sepe, V., Atzori, S., & Ventura, G. (2007). Subsidence due to crack closure and depressurization of hydrothermal systems: a case study from Mt Epomeo (Ischia Island, Italy). Terra Nova, 19(2), 127–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2006.00727.xTrasatti, E., Acocella, V., Di Vito, M. A., Del Gaudio, C., Weber, G., Aquino, I., Caliro, S., Chiodini, G., de Vita, S., Ricco, C., & Caricchi, L. (2019). Magma Degassing as a Source of Long‐Term Seismicity at Volcanoes: The Ischia Island (Italy) Case. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(24), 14421–14429. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL08537
Science communication and the law: Lessons learned from being an expert witness
Authors: Slattery Michael
Published: March 2024

In this paper, I focus on my personal experiences as an academic, educator, and researcher serving as an expert witness in environmental litigation. I discuss the relevance of my work in these roles within the context of two legal cases: the first, centered on soil erosion and sedimentation in small reservoirs, and the second, involving property damage from catastrophic flooding during two tropical storms.  My objective is to demonstrate the extent and impact of the geosciences overall, and the field of geomorphology specifically, in contributing to legal proceedings related to environmental disputes. Throughout the years, I have collaborated with exceptional lawyers, each of whom has been invaluable in preparing me for cases, particularly in simplifying complex concepts and conveying them effectively. The ability to articulate the scientific process and principles to non-specialist audiences, such as lawyers, judges, and juries, in a lucid and comprehensible manner, is crucial to ensuring that the expert's testimony is relatable and compelling.
How developing grabens dictate volcanism shifts in rifts
Authors: Ferrante Gaetano , Rivalta Eleonora , Maccaferri Francesco
Published: March 2024

Volcanism in continental rifts is generally observed to shift over time from the inside of the graben to its flanks and back. These patterns are commonly observed across rifts from different tectonic contexts, different abundance of melt, and regardless of the rifts' specific complexities, suggesting a common control. However, despite recent advances, the mechanisms governing the spatio-temporal evolution of rift magmatism are still poorly understood. Here we test the hypothesis that the spatio-temporal evolution of rift volcanism is controlled by the crustal stresses produced during the development of the rift basin. To do so, we couple a gravitational unloading model of crustal stresses with a boundary element dike propagation code to investigate the effect of a deepening graben on the evolution of magma trajectories in rifts. We find that the progressive deepening of a graben rotates the direction of the principal stresses in the crust, deflecting ascending dikes. This causes a relatively sudden shift of volcanism from the inside of the graben to its flanks during the early stages of rifting. The intensification of this stress pattern, caused by further deepening of the basin, promotes the formation of lower crustal sill-like intrusions. These horizontal bodies can stack under the rift, shallowing the depth at which dikes nucleate, eventually causing a late stage of in-rift axial volcanism, which can alternatively be induced by compensation of graben unloading by sediment infill. Our model reproduces the general patterns of volcanism in rifts and provides a framework to explain their commonalities and account for possible differences. Given the agreement between our model results and observations, we conclude that the evolution of the stresses generated by a developing rift basin can account alone for the major aspects of the spatio-temporal evolution of rift magmatism.
Global characterisation of land-atmosphere interactions during flash droughts using satellite observations
Authors: Harris Bethan , Taylor Christopher , Ghent Darren , Dorigo Wouter
Published: March 2024

Land-atmosphere interactions are known to be important for the development of flash droughts, and improving the representation of these interactions in subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecasting models would provide a potential source of skill for predicting these events. However, understanding the land-atmosphere coupling processes involved in flash drought development globally is hindered by the fact that key variables such as root-zone soil moisture and surface latent and sensible heat fluxes cannot be directly observed from satellites. In this study, we use a definition of flash droughts based on ESA CCI soil moisture to explore the composite behaviour of land-atmosphere variables around flash drought onset dates. We exploit satellite-observed land surface temperature (LST) data from ESA CCI to diagnose the balance between latent and sensible surface heat fluxes by computing the difference between LST and 2m air temperature (T2m) from ERA5 reanalysis. Since the standardised anomaly of the sensible heat flux is approximately equal to the standardised anomaly of LST-T2m, this method allows us to identify increases in sensible heat flux anomalies during flash droughts. When radiation conditions remain approximately constant, this is associated with the onset of a water-limited evaporative regime. We explore the spatial variation in the sensitivity of both LST-T2m and Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD) to flash drought events, to understand where the surface energy budget changes most strongly and where impacts on vegetation are most severe. Additionally, we consider which satellite-observable variables are most promising for providing information that can improve the S2S prediction of flash droughts.
Characteristics of surface melt potential over Antarctic ice shelves based on regional atmospheric model simulations of summer air temperature extremes from 1979/80 to 2018/19
Authors: Orr Andrew , Deb Pranab , Clem Kyle , Gilbert Ella , Bromwich David , Boberg Fredrik , Colwell Steve , Hansen Nicolaj , Lazzara Matthew , Mooney Priscilla , Mottram Ruth , Niwano Masashi , Phillips Tony , Pishniak Denis , Reijmer Carleen , van de Berg Willem Jan , Webster Stuart , Zou Xun
Published: March 2024

We calculate a regional surface “melt potential” index (MPI) over Antarctic ice shelves that describes the frequency (MPI-freq, %) and intensity (MPI-int, K) of daily maximum summer temperatures exceeding a melt threshold of 273.15 K. This is used to determine which ice shelves are vulnerable to melt-induced hydrofracture and is calculated using near-surface temperature output for each summer from 1979/80 to 2018/19 from two high-resolution regional atmospheric model hindcasts (using the MetUM and HIRHAM5). MPI is highest for Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves (MPI-freq 23-35%, MPI-int 1.2-2.1 K), lowest (2-3%, < 0 K) for Ronne-Filchner and Ross ice shelves, and around 10-24% and 0.6-1.7 K for the other West and East Antarctic ice shelves. Hotspots of MPI are apparent over many ice shelves, and they also show a decreasing trend in MPI-freq. The regional circulation patterns associated with high MPI values over West and East Antarctic ice shelves are remarkably consistent for their respective region but tied to different large-scale climate forcings. The West Antarctic circulation resembles the central Pacific El Niño pattern with a stationary Rossby wave and a strong anticyclone over the high-latitude South Pacific. By contrast, the East Antarctic circulation comprises a zonally symmetric negative Southern Annular Mode pattern with a strong regional anticyclone on the plateau and enhanced coastal easterlies/weakened Southern Ocean westerlies. Values of MPI are 3-4 times larger for a lower temperature/melt threshold of 271.15 K used in a sensitivity test, as melting can occur at temperatures lower than 273.15 K depending on snowpack properties.
Research and Development within the Scientific Computing Branch of NOAA’s Global Systems Laboratory
Authors: Jankov Isidora , Abdi Daniel , Bharwani Naureen , Carpenter Emily , Harrop Christopher , Holt Chritina , Madden Paul , Sliwinski Timothy , Rosenberg Duane , Bernardet Ligia
Published: March 2024

The NOAA Global Systems Laboratory, Earth Prediction Advancement Division, Scientific Computing Branch team works on approaches to facilitate development of cloud-resolving, Earth system prediction systems suitable for the next generation of exascale high performance computing (HPC), including exploration of machine learning (ML) algorithms within our systems for improved performance and reduced computational cost. Our work is divided into two main categories: incremental - shorter term and innovative - longer term challenges. Work related to incremental changes focuses on existing NOAA algorithms and improvement of their performance on different architectures (e.g. adapting existing codes to run on GPUs). The more innovative aspects focus on development and evaluation of new algorithms and approaches to environmental modeling that simultaneously improve prediction accuracy, performance, and portability. For this purpose we have developed the GeoFLuid Object Workflow (GeoFLOW), a C++ framework with convective (and other)  dynamics, high order truncation, quantifiable dissipation, an option to use a variety of 2D and 3D grids, and excellent strong scaling and on-node properties. An evaluation of the use of ML-based emulators for different components of the earth system prediction models also forms an important part of our research. Finally, a large portion of our research and development activities involves building federated and unified workflows to facilitate both the effective use of distributed computing resources as well as easy configuration for nontrivial workflow applications in research and operations.A comprehensive summary of these research and development activities will be presented.
Influence of focused fluid flow on the development of submarine lateral spreading. Aguilas high (Gulf of Vera, Western Mediterranean)
Authors: Yenes Mariano , Nespereira José , Casas David , Monterrubio Serafín , Ercilla Gemma , García Máximo , Alonso Belén
Published: March 2024

The Gulf of Vera (Western Mediterranean) presents a complex geomorphology that is the result of the sedimentary response to the Aguilas tectonic indentation Arc in the framework of the Eurasian–Africa plate collision. This indentation has caused the quasi-continuous oversteepening of the entire margin, which has favored the gravitational instability of the 97% of its seafloor. This margin is one of the most affected by mass movements in the SW Mediterranean Sea. With a characteristic instability of 0.356 km2 and a mean volume of 0.0108 km3, the continental slope shows moderate events comparable to those of other Mediterranean areas.The Aguilas high is one of the structural highs shaping the margin. Its top is characterized by a smooth surface shaped by sedimentary deposits (contourites). Those deposits are affected on the southern edge by a pockform field, erosive features (scars) and deposits with the characteristic ridges of spreading processes.The aim of this work is to define from morphological and geotechnical point of view the instabilities observed on the summit of the high as well as to evaluate the role of fluid flow over those instability processes. Different data set have been merged and combined, including very high-resolution bathymetric data, gravity cores and in-situ geotechnical data (CPTu tests).The results obtained define a geotechnical weak interval at depths between 10 and 15 m below seafloor which is compatible with a detachment surface where lateral spreads developed. The processes would be driven by liquefaction (cyclic softening) triggered by seismic events that affects the clayey sediments present on the stratigraphic record. This process may also favour the vertical fluid flow due to overpressure that may explain the pockform field observed. The spatial association between pockforms and scars observed, evidence a strong link between liquefaction, fluid flow and instability in the study area. This research was funded by the Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Grant PID2022-138258OB-I00 (inGRAVITAS). 
Estimation of the Length of Day (LOD) from DORIS observations
Authors: Kumar Vikash , Stepanek Petr , Filler Vratislav , Dikshit Onkar , Balasubramanian Nagarajan
Published: March 2024

We estimated the true Length of Day (LOD) from DORIS observations. The DORIS RINEX data has been processed by the DORIS development version of the Bernese GPS Software 5.2. We performed single satellite and multisatellite (Sentinel-6A, Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, Jason-3, HY-2C, HY-2D, SARAL, and Cryosat-2), and pre-eliminated solutions. The DORIS data has been processed separately for each satellite on the basis of daily arcs. The troposphere, frequency offset, and orbit parameters were pre-eliminated from the normal equation systems and the finalized matrices were combined on a weekly basis. Hence, individual satellite solutions as well as multi-satellite combined solutions were created. From this solution, we calculated the transformation parameters w.r.t. ITRF 2020 (more precisely w.r.t. the DORIS extension DPOD 2020,) and after applying the 7-parameter Helmert transformation we calculated the RMS w.r.t. DPOD 2020.We performed solutions with different settings, in particular with different handling of cross-track once-per-revolution harmonic parameters (adjusted with different constraints or not adjusted), since the amplitude of the sine term correlates with LOD. For a comparison of our results, we used the IERS 20 C04 model as a reference.