bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A cross-disciplinary approach to understanding Antarctic Ice Sheet histories: combining cosmogenic nuclides with records of Antarctic springtails in Dronning Maud Land
Authors: Cooper Emma-Louise , Stevens Mark I. , Mackintosh Andrew N.
Published: March 2024

Our understanding of Antarctic Ice Sheet evolution has largely relied on geological evidence from a combination of onshore and offshore archives. In particular, terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (e.g., 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, 14C) have now been extensively employed to assess the timing and drivers of past ice sheet change. Yet, such chronologies are incomplete, can be compromised by complex burial-exposure histories, and are not ideally suited to reconstructing the long-term (hundreds of thousands to millions of years) evolution of the ice sheet.To address this gap in understanding long-term Antarctic Ice Sheet evolution, we investigate the application of a cross-disciplinary approach that incorporates a combination of geological and biological evidence. Recent work has implied that certain biota, such as Antarctic springtails (Arthropoda: Collembola), survived consecutive glacial periods in ice-free refugia by shifting up and down nunataks or on moraines above the ice (see: Stevens and Mackintosh, 2023; https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0590). Due to these prolonged periods of isolation, springtails have now developed high levels of species endemism across Antarctica. These species are often short-range endemics, and now combined with extensive molecular data are the only terrestrial invertebrate group with unequivocal Antarctic provenance across successive glacial maxima on the continent. As a result, incorporating these growing records of Antarctic springtail distribution into chronological studies may yield a more complete understanding of ice sheet evolution through time. Here, we demonstrate the use of this combined approach across the whole of Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. 
Urban-Rural Disparity in Disaster Resilience: Harnessing Nighttime Light Data and Interpretable Machine Learning
Authors: Ma Yuetong
Published: March 2024

Nighttime Light (NTL) data, offering insights into cross-regional human activities and infrastructure changes, has gained widespread use in disaster monitoring. This study explores the application of NASA's Black Marble daily data in monitoring post-typhoon responses. In a landscape characterised by a high mix of urban built-up areas and peri-urban villages, we investigate differences in nighttime light recovery across various land-use types after disasters. Combining interpretable machine learning, we explore the reasons behind these disparities by comparing Shapley values and specific Accumulated Local Effects (ALE) between regions, evaluating high importance of individual predictive factors and identifying potential non-linear patterns and threshold effects.  Our findings reveal more instances of sustained nighttime light decline in rural areas (residential and agricultural land), while urban areas exhibit increased nighttime light during disasters. These differences primarily relate to infrastructure features, especially roads. Meteorological factors, such as precipitation probability and wind speed, impact NTL predictions in urban and rural areas. Post-disaster relief activities significantly influence NTL changes in rural settlements. Additionally, the occurrence of extreme weather increases the likelihood of cascading disasters. Our study finds that disaster impact zones in coastal areas extend deeper into the mainland, posing threats to adjacent mountainous regions and elevating the risk of secondary disasters like landslides.  In conclusion, this study provides a regional assessment of resilience differences and influencing mechanisms using nighttime light data. It offers valuable information for policymakers to identify key factors influencing typhoon disaster resilience, enabling them to mitigate systemic risks and enhance overall system resilience. The significance of this research extends to serving as a valuable reference for data-driven recovery quantification from typhoon hazards and other crises.
The effect of soil mineral composition on K availability to plants
Authors: Zaarur Shikma , Erel Ran
Published: March 2024

Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient that takes part in a wide variety of processes in the plant,from enzymatic activity to cell development and osmotic balance. Excess K has a minor effect on the plant,mostly due to imbalanced nutrition. Accurately determining K requirements for optimal growth and highfertilizer utilization efficiency is therefore challenging, and often results in excess fertilizer application. Itis customary to refer to four soil K reservoirs which vary greatly in their size and availability to the plant:(1) soil solution is the smallest and the one from which plants uptake K, (2) exchangeable - K adsorbedonto clay mineral surfaces, oxides and organic matter (1-2%), (3) interlayer - K fixed between clay mineralsheets (up to 10%), and (4) structural K – most commonly found in K-feldspar and usually consideredunavailable to the plant (90-98%). The interlayered - K is a dynamic and important pool that may supplyK for the plant in case of K deficiency, or act as a sink by fixing excess K.Fertilization recommendations often relay on soil tests that estimate the exchangeable-K pool. Thecommon paradigm is that exchangeable K represents the capacity of the soil to supply plant-available-K.In alkaline soils, however, there is a growing number of studies from both short- and long-term experiments(several growth seasons to a few decades), reporting little to no response to K fertilization, indicating thatthe soils supply greater amounts of K than indicated the exchangeable K tests. These findings evokequestions regarding the intrinsic soil K reservoirs and the extent to which the natural supply of K to thesoils from weathering or dust deposition, readily supply K to plants.In this study, we examine the affect of different K-bearing mineral phases (soil K pools) on the soil Kcycle and K availability to the plant. Our study focusses on intensively used agricultural soils in Israel thatvary in their clay compositions- illite and illite-smectite and K-feldspar. We think that illite and illite-smectite are instrumental in buffering the excess K fertilizer that we observe in short- and long-termexperimental plots. Over time, we suggest, that agriculturally driven enhanced weathering of the illite andK-feldspar releases significant amounts of K, that had been previously considered unavailable. Taking intoconsideration the abundance of these mineral phases in the regional dust, we further suggest that dustdeposition and location along the regional dust gradient play a significant role in replenishing andmaintaining soil K levels.
Exploring Rock-inhabiting Microbes in Atacama Desert's Rocks
Authors: Vitek Petr , Ascaso Carmen , Artieda Octavio , Wierzchos Jacek
Published: March 2024

High-altitude preandean zone of the Atacama Desert is bare land formed mainly by volcanic rocks. Gypcrete (gypsum) outcrops of hydrothermal origin occur among volcanic deposits. Microbial life in this material was studied here in order to monitor biomolecular composition of endolithic phototrophic microbes harboring the interior parts of gypcretes. Particularly, distribution of photoprotective and photosynthetic pigments related to the microbial colonization was examined using Raman spectroscopy and imaging as a principal method. It allowed a deeper insight into the adaptation strategies of algae and cyanobacteria in such polyextreme environment. Algal cells attributed to the Trebouxiae family varying in color from green to orange were examined and the spectral differences are described. Along with pigments, carotenoids, chlorophyll, also lipids were detected at cellular level. Raman imaging approach allowed to detect carotenoid signal not only within the layer colonized by algae, but also deeper in the gypsum matrix. It is interpreted to be a result of the pigment migration after cell disruption.Halite pinnacles on the other hand are the geological phenomenons formed within the basins of salt pans (salars) of the Atacama Desert. It is a kind of substrate that may harbor endoevaporitic microbial colonies. Crosscut of a halite pinnacles were examined. Raman spectroscopic imaging was employed as a principal method, combined with advanced fluorescence microscopy. Large field images were examined to monitor the spatial changes in biomolecular response, especially in pigment composition.
Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Marine Environment: An Integrated Effects Assessment Approach (CONTRAST)
Authors: Brooks Steven , Martins Samantha , De Witte Bavo , Bellas Juan , Hylland Ketil , Mauffret Aourell , Sturve Joachim , Temperley Ed , Barber Jon , Lipizer Marina , Tsabaris Christos , Yakushev Evgeniy , Lillicrap Adam
Published: March 2024

The Horizon Europe project, CONTRAST, will develop an integrated assessment and effect-based monitoring framework (IAF) to measure the impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the marine environment, which will contribute to the assessment of Good Environmental/ Ecological Status for application in EU policy (MSFD/WFD). The IAF will involve chemical measurements together with biological effects endpoints optimised to detect the presence and effect of CECs in the marine environment. Chemical prioritisation schemes will identify the CECs that pose the greatest threat to marine life and select which CECs to target in the laboratory experiments, where the effects on organisms and biodiversity will be assessed. In silico, in vitro and in vivo bioassays will be used to determine the mechanisms of toxicity of selected CECs. Providing information on how CECs interact with organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations and which biological effects tools should be used in the IAF to cover the range of toxicity mechanisms that CECs produce. A series of European-wide case studies will be used to test the suitability of the IAF to measure the effects of chemicals including CECs on indicator species and biodiversity and to model fate of CECs in marine environment. The knowledge gained from field testing and laboratory studies will form the basis for guidance documents and policy briefs on best practices for performing an IAF on CECs in the marine environment and help to provide the necessary protection of marine ecosystems.
Reconstructing historical flash flood events in South-Eastern Spain: An integrated approach with multiproxy records and hydrological modeling
Authors: Carvalho Filipe , Schulte Lothar , Sánchez-García Carlos , Gómez-Bolea Antonio , Peña Juan Carlos
Published: March 2024

Flash floods in Mediterranean catchments are a significant threat. Over the last decades, research in this area has normally focus on recent events, largely due to the absence of long-range instrumental data. However, alternative sources like historical records and natural archives can offer valuable insights and improve our knowledge of past events. In this study, we conduct a reconstruction of major flash flood events over the past century that have impacted several catchments in the South-Eastern Spain, specifically in the Almanzora, Antas and Aguas catchments.Our study adopts a multidisciplinary approach for the reconstruction of flash floods. We integrate a variety of instrumental gauge data, historic water level indicators on buildings and bridges, and descriptions of inundated areas and flood heights from historical documents. Additionally, we incorporate biomarkers indicative of flood levels, identified through lichenometric analysis of rock surfaces affected by water flow. This combination of diverse proxy records enables us to estimate the peak flow heights at several crucial locations within the study area. For the reconstruction of the maximum flood discharge, we perform a one-dimensional hydrological model across all study sites and in select smaller areas requiring a detailed understanding of the hydraulic behavior, we apply two-dimensional models.The findings of this study reveal that, despite the region's characteristic low annual precipitation (less than 300 mm), it is occasionally subjected to extreme rainfall events leading to significantly high peak discharges. Typically, these meteorological episodes are associated with atmospheric circulation patterns involving blocking systems along the Mediterranean coast. Hydraulic modeling has identified peak discharges exceeding 5000 m3 s-1 during a major flash flood event in October 1973. This event stands as the most devastating in the past century, resulting in loss of human lives and extensive damage to numerous settlements in all the studied catchments. While other notable flash flood events occurred in 1924 and 2012, they were of lesser magnitude compared to the 1973 flood. Post the 1973 disaster, various hydraulic modifications to the river system were implemented. These included for instance a channelization of significant portions of the Almanzora's main channel and some tributaries, as well as the construction of a large dam. These interventions have contributed to a reduced flood risk in certain areas of the catchment, particularly in the lower sections near the Mediterranean Sea outlet. Nevertheless, recent land use changes such as extensive agriculture and tourism could contribute to changes in flow regime and increased flood vulnerability.
Discovering Dominant Controls on Southern Ocean Dynamics Under Climate Change: New Knowledge Through Physics-Guided Machine Learning 
Authors: Sonnewald Maike , Yik William , Clare Mariana CA , Lguensat Redouane
Published: March 2024

The Southern Ocean closes the global overturning circulation and is key to the regulation of carbon, heat, biological production, and sea level. However, the dynamics of the general circulation and its leading order controls remain poorly understood, in part because of the challenge of characterizing and tracking changes in ocean physics in complex models. This gap in understanding is especially problematic in the face of climate change. Here, we wish to understand changes in the dynamics of the Southern Ocean under climate change, specifically how bathymetric controls on the general circulation could impact the location of major currents and impact upwelling. We use a suite of CMIP models for our analysis. A physics-informed equation discovery framework guided by machine learning is used to partition and interpret dynamics is used to understand spatial structures, and a supervised learning framework that quantifies its uncertainty and provides explanations of its predictions is leveraged to track change. The method, called Tracking global Heating with Ocean Regimes (THOR). A region undergoing a profound shift is where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current intersects with bathymetry, for example, the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. We see major changes in areas associated with upwelling between the CMIP models, suggesting the changes in wind stress allow the control bathymetry has in the historical scenario to change. For example, we find that as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current shifts north under intensifying wind stress, when meeting the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. We note associated change in the regions where gyre circulation favors upwelling, with spatial distributions varying between models. Our efforts go towards a better understanding of what dynamics are driving changes, and could allow reduction of bias between models and decrease uncertainties in future projections.
Challenging governments’ response to the climate crisis: the role of science in climate litigation
Authors: Williamson April
Published: March 2024

The Climate Litigation Network supports national organisations that are taking litigation action against their governments in respect of the adequacy and implementation of national climate policies and targets. This presentation will provide an overview of the role in science in climate cases that challenge governments’ overall emissions reductions (“framework cases”) – of which there are more than 100 globally. Drawing from a litigator’s perspective, it will address common legal questions (i.e., harm, causation, foreseeability and remedies) that arise in such cases, and provide examples of how science has been used in case studies. Across framework cases, scientific evidence has been critical to success. For example, many cases, including those based on human rights or tort law, require claimants to show how they have been impacted or have suffered harm. In this regard, supporting studies range widely, depending on the facts of the case. These could include studies concerning extreme weather events, flooding, landslides, impacts on crop production and availability to water, and impacts on health or culture. To establish legal liability, claimants typically must show that the government’s actions can be causally linked to the harm, and that the harm was foreseeable. In this regard, attribution science and climate science generally can play a role in evidencing why government action (or lack of action) is contributing to climate change impacts. In terms of remedies, several cases have sought to push governments to adopt emissions reduction targets that reflect their “fair share” of the remaining global carbon budget. Numerous fair share methodologies have been developed by academics, many of which seek to reflect obligations and principles set out in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and international environmental law. In some cases, there may also be questions concerning loss and damage, which could require detailed analyses of how much damage has been incurred, or could be incurred in future, due to the impacts of climate change.Drawing on case studies from specific cases, this presentation will highlight the current deployment of science in climate cases against governments and explore new frontiers.
Kinematics and scaling of granular flows within a centrifugal acceleration field
Authors: Leonardi Alessandro , Cabrera Miguel Angel
Published: March 2024

Physical modelling of debris flow has been instrumental for decades in enhancing our understanding of these processes. The geotechnical centrifuge plays a crucial role in this regard, enabling the creation of scaled models with stress fields closely resembling real-world scenarios. Despite its potential, the utilization of the geotechnical centrifuge is limited due to various challenges. Firstly, the technological complexity of designing and conducting experiments involving runout within the confined space of a centrifuge box poses a significant obstacle. Moreover, the interpretation of experimental results is hindered by the presence of apparent Coriolis acceleration, particularly for all kinematic processes. The Coriolis acceleration can potentially disrupt traditional scaling laws used for kinematic processes and lead to instability in simulated flows. Investigating this issue requires testing the same configuration on centrifuges of different radii, which is a formidable task.In light of these challenges, this study proposes employing high-fidelity numerical simulations to examine the behaviour of an idealized granular flow in a centrifugal acceleration field. These simulations, based on the discrete element method, replicate an acceleration field analogous to that found within a geotechnical centrifuge. Unlike experimental setups, simulations are not constrained by technological limitations, allowing for the exploration of fully realized, steady-state flows under various conditions. The findings from the simulations indicate that traditional scaling can still be applicable, provided a sufficiently large centrifuge is utilized. However, in certain configurations, the Coriolis acceleration may induce instability, causing the flow to dilute, lose coherence, and disperse.
Back Propagation (BP) Neural Network for a Short-term Forecasting Tool in Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent
Authors: Zhang Wenchuang , Clifford Eoghan , Ryan Páraic
Published: March 2024

Influent flow volumes play a crucial role in the management and operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In regions like Europe, characterized by abundant rainfall and aging wastewater systems, it is common to discharge stormwater into the sewerage system, i.e.  the use of combined sewer systems in urban areas, employing a single pipe for transporting both rainfall and wastewater. Consequently, large amounts of rainfall can cause WWTP to become overloaded, which can lead to wastewater overflows i.e. discharge of untreated wastewater into receiving water bodies. This can have a significant impact on the surrounding environment, damaging ecological systems hindering the use of public amenities such as beaches. Recently researchers have used machining learning methods to predict WWTP influent volumes to help manage these issues. There are however a number of outstanding challenges such as a lack of parameter selection processes, high likelihood of incorporating noise information with the intervention of more input data and the existence of model uncertainty.  This study aims to use Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) combined with a sensitivity analysis to help address these existing shortcomings, and provide a short-term forecasting tool which seeks to provide WWTP managers and operators ban eastly warning of potential overflow events. Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) has also been applied herein to provide probabilistic estimates of predictions. This provides information on the level of confidence associated with the predicted values by assessing the uncertainty of the model.In this research, the input variables from five aspects have been considered: i) an energy-water balance model; ii) infiltration; iii) the effect of seasonal variation; iv) the influence of changes in tidal and river level; v) lag effects. Different combinations of input variables were used using recorded weather data and wastewater influent data for a WWTP in Ireland. In Group 1, daily precipitation, previous daily precipitation, max air temperature, soil moisture deficit, groundwater level and seasonal index have been used to predict WWTP influent, with a resulting   value of 0.68. Group 2 considers daily precipitation, previous daily precipitation, soil moisture deficit, tidal level and river level, with an  of 0.79. Then we added previous daily influent into group 1 and 2, respectively, having the same result, with the value of  equalling to 0.88. These results provide new insights for timely warning of influent variations and potential overflow, improve the practicality of machine learning in WWTP.
Dynamics of Microbial Communities and Greenhouse Gas Flux Responses to Short-Term Flooding in Riparian Forest Soil
Authors: Reiss Kristel , Mander Ülo , Öpik Maarja , Kanger Kärt , Schindler Thomas , Soosaar Kaido , Espenberg Mikk
Published: March 2024

The growing interest in the impact of short-term floods on various ecosystems is driven by climate change and the increasing occurrence of extreme rainfall events. The control of nutrient quantity and distribution relies on complicated biogeochemical processes. Yet, our understanding of the microbial processes governing carbon and nitrogen cycling needs improvement, hindering our ability to estimate the effects of climate change on forests.This study aimed to evaluate the influence of short-term flooding on bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities and microbial processes with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in riparian alder forests. Topsoil peat samples were collected from riparian alder forests and analyzed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and sequencing techniques were employed to assess processes and communities, while physicochemical parameters and in-situ GHG emissions were concurrently measured.Floods exert a substantial influence on the intricate biogeochemical cycles within soil ecosystems. The flooding event led to a change in bacterial 16S rRNA abundances and a noticeable expansion in the size of Bryobacter and Candidatus Solibacter communities associated with the breakdown of organic carbon. Several aerobic genera like Arthrobacter, Ferruginibacter, Lacunisphaera, and Novosphingobium, which were identifiable before short-term flooding, became undetectable. Many of these organisms were known for their role in breaking down carbon compounds, highlighting the transformative impact of short-term flooding on the composition and functions of soil microbial communities and GHG emissions.In the examined sites, a diverse array of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal genera were identified, including Acaulospora, Archaeospora, Claroideoglomus, Diversispora, and Paraglomus. One pivotal aspect of these fungal communities is their role in establishing arbuscular mycorrhiza, a beneficial symbiotic association between plant roots and fungi. AM fungi contribute significantly to enhancing plant nutrition, stress resistance, and shaping soil structure and fertility.Nitrifiers, particularly those associated with archaeal amoA, experienced notable shifts. Denitrifiers, identified through the nosZII gene, were also significantly impacted. Moreover, microorganisms engaged in the n-damo process displayed alterations. The flooding event was observed to augment the community size of denitrifying and nitrogen-fixing genera such as Rhodanobacter, Pseudolabrys, and RB41. In contrast, a decrease was noted in the abundance of nitrifiers, exemplified by the decline of Nitrospira. Furthermore, several associations were observed between marker genes of the nitrogen cycle and N2O emissions.
Remote sensing of peatland degradation – a review on gaps and hotspots of research across the northern hemisphere
Authors: de Waard Farina , Barthelmes Alexandra , Joosten Hans , Connolly John , van der Linden Sebastian
Published: March 2024

While mapping peatlands worldwide remains an important task, capturing their status using earth observation technologies has received less attention. Approximately 500,000 km² of degraded peatland worldwide contribute an excessive 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most human use of peatlands remains unsustainable and can disrupt the balance of peat, water, and vegetation that maintain a stable or even growing peatland. With growing threats like the climate crisis and a need for safe water supplies and other ecosystem services, the restoration of degraded areas becomes ever more eminent. Standardized degradation classifications and land cover mapping techniques that address the severe outcomes of degraded peatlands are important tools but lacking.The temperate and boreal zones of Northern America, Europe and Asia host a large proportion of the worlds’ peatland area. While temperate regions are often densely populated, causing high pressures on peatlands, the far north is facing increasing challenges such as permafrost melt, intensification of fire, mining, and wood harvesting. Based on a Web of Science literature search, this review identified and analyzed articles with a focus on peatland degradation research using remote sensing. 115 articles with study areas across the northern hemisphere were identified. Using a new approach to cluster this research based on a three-dimensional cube, each study’s degradation foci were evaluated along three directions of peatland degradation that build the three directions of the cube: peat, hydrology, and vegetation.Five clusters of different weights emerge from this concept, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional research. Vegetation-focused research dominates, while there are only few holistic approaches (12 of 115) that address peatland degradation along all three dimensions. Almost 80% of all research papers between 1981 and 2023 were published on eight hotspot regions across the northern hemisphere. While there is a general increase in article numbers over the last years, publications from other countries decrease. Restoring peatland ecosystem functions after degradation presents a significant challenge. With this review, we aim to highlight cold- and hotspots of research with regard to geography, research topics and used remote sensing tools to help improving peatland degradation research using remote sensing.
Representing multicompartment stream transport utilising exposure time
Authors: McCallum James L. , Ginn Tim , Hoehne Anja
Published: March 2024

The fate of compounds in natural streams is heavily dependent on their exposure to different biogeochemical conditions during transport. Classifying biogeochemical conditions and the fate of contaminants in stream sediment studies allows for controls to be determined at point scale; however, the total contribution of exchange with sediments containing specific conditions at the reach scale remains challenging as the magnitude of exchange can be highly heterogeneous, and the overall contribution of the time spent in specific biogeochemical conditions   relative to the total transport time is unknown. To overcome the issues of upscaling point studies we present an exposure time-based modelling approach following Ginn (1999).  The approach allows for exposure velocities to control how the solute is tracked in the system; a velocity of one suggests that the exposure time to a certain biogeochemical condition increases at a rate of 1/time. The transport characteristics of the system are then identified by applying exposure velocities of zero or 1 to obtain the distribution of times spent in individual components of the stream-sediment system. These can be aggregated through convolution to give the total residence time, or individual components may be first modified to represent sorption and removed prior to aggregation after Höhne et al. (2021). We present a model that contains three zones – stream, benthic (shallow sediment) and hyporheic (deep sediment) zones under steady flow conditions and interpret a multi-tracer study from the Erpe River to demonstrate the utility of the model. The presented approach offers insights into the contribution of key individual components to stream transport, greatly improving our understanding of the controls on stream transport and contaminant removal.ReferencesGinn, Timothy R. 1999. ‘On the Distribution of Multicomponent Mixtures over Generalized Exposure Time in Subsurface Flow and Reactive Transport: Foundations, and Formulations for Groundwater Age, Chemical Heterogeneity, and Biodegradation’. Water Resources Research 35 (5): 1395–1407. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999WR900013.Höhne, Anja, Jörg Lewandowski, Jonas L. Schaper, and James L. McCallum. 2021. ‘Determining Hyporheic Removal Rates of Trace Organic Compounds Using Non-Parametric Conservative Transport with Multiple Sorption Models’. Water Research 206 (November). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117750.
Integrating land-atmosphere interactions in the water footprint indicator  
Authors: De Petrillo Elena , Erlandsson Lan Wang , Tuninetti Marta , Ridolfi Luca , Laio Francesco
Published: March 2024

Green water (i.e., precipitation water that infiltrates into the soil and becomes available for plants’ root uptake) is the pillar for food production and biosphere sustainment. However, food production can also compromise the resilience of green water and thus, its potential to sustain the land-water-food-human system.Despite a large number of scholars having quantified the spatio-temporal evolution of the green water, so far the critical role of local green water resilience to sustain the ecosystem has not been quantified adequately. This means that green water overexploitation due to local factors (which is other than measuring a high green WF) went undetected, whereas omitting moisture recycling implies that the land-use-induced gains and losses of moisture supply to downwind rainfall are ignored that is significant, as around 60-70% of mean global evapotranspiration returns as precipitation over land. Indeed, due to land cover changes in a precipitationshed (i.e., the area supplying evaporation to a downwind location’s rainfall ), gains and losses in precipitation may occur in the evaporationshed (i.e, the downwind region where evaporation from upwind areas precipitates as rainfall).The aim of this study is  to redefine the green water footprint, which can be used for assessing the resilience and sustainability of green water use for food production addressing feedbacks between upwind land cover changes and downwind changes in precipitation, which can subsequently lead to changes in actual crop evapotranspiration, yields and the relative associated irrigation water demand.Therefore, we define green water use as a function of the change in evapotranspiration patterns in downwind areas in the emblematic case of deforestation in upwind areas.By coupling the STEAM water balance model with atmospheric moisture tracking model, we simulate the impact of land cover changes on downwind precipitation. These simulated changes in downwind precipitation allow then the evaluation on crop evapotranspiration in the agricultural hubs in the affected downwind areas, by means of the crop-hydrological model WaterCrop.Our results shed light on the feedback between perturbation on potential vegetation evapotranspiration, downwind precipitation, actual crop evapotranspiration, crop yield and associated irrigation water demand changes in the downwind regions to better frame the sustainability and resilience of land-water-human systems for food production in the context of land-atmosphere interactions.
Grid-search method for STA/LTA parameters tuning: an application to Stromboli Explosion Quakes 
Authors: Di Benedetto Andrea , Figlioli Anna , D’Alessandro Antonino , Lo Bosco Giosue’
Published: March 2024

The collection of a significant catalog of seismo-volcanic data involves the selection of relevant parts of raw signals, that can be automatized by using the Short-term over Long-term Average (STA/LTA) method. Since it is parametric, the common approach to the choice is the adoption of literature-suggested parameters. To overcome these limitations, we propose a methodology for the automatic selection of STA/LTA parameters able to optimize the extraction of local events from a seismo-volcanic raw signal. The parameters are found by a grid search over an index named Quality-Numerosity Index (QNI) that measures the accordance in the automatic cuts and the consequent quantity of triggered seismo-volcanic events with the ones suggested by a human expert. The method was applied in the volcano domain, for the specific application of Explosion Quake signals extraction in Stromboli Volcano. Experiments have been conducted selecting a subset of the dataset as training where to search for the best parameters, which were subsequently adopted in a test set. The results demonstrate that the selected parameters significantly improve the quality of the extraction when compared to those extracted by adopting the parameters indicated in the literature.
Analysis of the Return Periods of Tropical Cyclone Rainfall events across temporal and spatial scales in the state of Florida (USA)
Authors: Salinas Jose , Sojitra Rahul , Jankowfsky Sonja
Published: March 2024

Extreme rainfall events have distinct spatio-temporal characteristics that are usually determined by climatic conditions and dominant weather types at the site of interest. When trying to simulate synthetic rainfall events, this spatio-temporal structure needs to be reproduced in order to achieve suitable design attributes (e.g. design of a drainage network, or flood protection at different spatial scales).The study are of this analysis is the state of Florida, in the USA. Tropical Cyclone induced rainfall extremes tend to be more catastrophic in this region, therefore we focused only on historical TC events from the last 20 years. We analysed the rainfall Return Period composition at different temporal and spatial scales for observed gridded precipitation, and explored the consequences that these spatio-temporal characteristics have for design rainfall applications.
New directions for urban climate science
Authors: Mills Gerald , Erell Evyatar
Published: March 2024

The study of urban climates is at a critical juncture in its development as its subject matter is viewed as increasing relevant to a number of intersecting concerns across a hierarchy of scales. These concerns include global climate change and its drivers and consequences, which are focused on cities where most reside. Addressing these concerns requires an integrated science of cities, which does not yet exist. Our current urban climate knowledge framework developed as a series of specialist endeavours concentrating on aspects of the outdoor and of the indoor environments. As a result, much of the training, methodologies, technical language and data that are associated with these specialist fields are distinct and not easily transferable. In the climate field, there is a clear division between the outdoor and indoor climates and addressing each independently makes it difficult to find solutions to urban challenges, such as achieving zero Carbon cities. Moreover, the lack of a common framework causes confusion when articulating findings. As examples, the urban canopy layer (UCL) in urban climatology commonly refers to the outdoor space below roof level and is bounded by the ground, the walls of adjacent buildings and the interface at roof level; the walls are also part of the indoor canopy, which is bounded by the walls and the roof. Clearly these spaces are strongly connected by exchanges of energy and mass and by the movement of people across the wall interface, yet these receive little attention. In this presentation we will discuss the emergence of indoor and outdoor climate sciences and the potential for integration within an urban climate science.
Cellulosic Factory Side Streams and Deposits as Organic Soil Improvement Resources in an Outlined Bioprocess Scheme - BIORESQUE Project of the EU CircInWater Program
Authors: Hakalehto Elias , Jääskeläinen Ari , Hakalehto Jukka-Pekka , Kivelä Jukka
Published: March 2024

The biorefinery and blue bioeconomy project (BioResque) for treating both fresh and environmentally sedimented industrial cellulosic side streams was started in December 2023. It is a continuation for our earlier work for circulating all forest industry process residues into green chemicals, energy gases and organic soil improvement. In this effort microbial communities are instigated for process improvement and ecosystem engineering goals. For the fertilization uses zero fibres and other organic residues and biomasses could be microbiologically upgraded by a standardizable process. The resulting materials could be applied for establishing and complementing fertile soils, which is the main goal of sustainable soil managements.
Unraveling the Potential of Controlled Drainage: Enhancing Freshwater Availability and Combating Salinization in Dutch Polders
Authors: Riakhi Fatima-Ezzahra , van Breukelen Boris M. , Abraham Edo , Bakker Mark
Published: March 2024

Over the last two decades, coastal aquifers have faced intensified saltwater intrusion due to sea level rise and land subsidence. In the Netherlands' low-lying coastal zones, models predict a doubling in salt loads by 2100, with serious implications for freshwater availability for agriculture, consumption, and industry. The impact of climate change on precipitation and evapotranspiration further complicates this issue, potentially reducing rainwater infiltration and increasing the ascent of saline groundwater, jeopardizing crop development.
This study focuses on the Dutch polders, where agricultural lands are defended by dikes and managed with subsurface drainage systems that cover a significant portion of the area. Such systems, while essential for streamlining drainage, may also facilitate the upward movement of saline water, thus salinizing the freshwater lens.  This study addresses the urgent need for water conservation strategies in the face of climate change, urbanization, and increased groundwater extraction. We propose a climate-adaptive water management framework that emphasizes the sequential retention, storage, and discharge of water. Central to this framework is the implementation of controlled drainage systems, designed to minimize water loss and mitigate peak discharge flows, thereby conserving water during dry spells and preventing flooding during excessive rainfall.
Our research aims to explore the role of drainage networks in mitigating aquifer salinization and improving freshwater management in these polders. By employing density-dependent numerical modeling that integrates unsaturated and saturated zones, we investigate the potential of controlled drainage strategies under varied hydrogeological conditions and design parameters. These include soil characteristics and meteorological scenarios spanning dry to wet years, as well as the design of drainage systems, such as the depth and spacing of drains.
The findings aim to elucidate the dynamics of the freshwater lens, including the mixing processes, salinity thresholds at the root zone, and overall groundwater quality. Ultimately, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive framework for determining when and how controlled drainage can maximize freshwater availability and support sustainable agricultural practices in coastal regions vulnerable to saltwater intrusion.
Nanoscale insights: unraveling fungal-induced precipitation of CaCO3 polymorphs for self-healing concrete
Authors: Tuyishime Jean Rene Marius , Hammer Edith , Pla i Ferriol Martí , Thånell Karina , Alwmark Carl , Zou Hanbang
Published: March 2024

Routine methods of concrete production contribute 9% to anthropogenic CO2 emissions and demands 2-3% energy, along with 9% water consumption. Despite these environmental costs, concrete structures frequently undergo deterioration due to unavoidable physical, chemical, and biochemical stressors, resulting in cracks that permit gas diffusion, water, and pollutants penetration, ultimately compromising its integrity and internal steel reinforcement. Microbially induced CaCO3 precipitation has emerged as a sustainable way of concrete protection and self-healing. However, the detailed mechanisms and formation of various CaCO3 polymorphs remain inadequately explored.In this ongoing study, samples were prepared by inoculating a growth medium, containing urea and nutrients, with different fungi under diverse growth conditions. High-resolution Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) in the Ca 2p energy range (340−360 eV) were employed to investigate the fungal-induced formation and chemical speciation of CaCO3 at the cellular base or interface between hypha and the surrounding ions. To discriminate potential absorption saturation effects, only spectra (NEXAFS) extracted from thin regions (≈ 30 nm) of the entire sample thickness were considered for spectral analysis. Furthermore, SEM with EDS was used to reveal morphology and elemental distribution, and composition in studied sample thin sections.The preliminary results suggest that the samples spectra resembled those of pure calcite and aragonite, according to reference spectra. These are the most stable CaCO3 biomaterials. Notably, the intensity of weak peaks preceding each main resonance peak of the Ca L3 and Ca L2 edges were relatively smaller for aragonite-dominated spots than in calcite-dominated spots. As revealed by the spectral analysis, some fungi showed the ability to form CaCO3, predominantly in the form of either calcite or aragonite. Other fungal strains demonstrated a more heterogeneous precipitation behavior by forming both phases, albeit in distinct nano spots within the same sample. Furthermore, a few fungal species exhibited the ability to precipitate other crystalline Ca minerals, most likely CaPO4, as shown by SEM/EDS analyses.In conclusion, the results of this ongoing investigation provided not only valuable insight on distinctive fungal behaviors in the biomineralization process, but also revealed spatial nanoscale heterogeneity in CaCO3 speciation under the same fungal conditions.
Signatures of Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity at EGU General Assemblies
Authors: Stadmark Johanna , Montanari Alberto , Slomp Caroline
Published: March 2024

The EGU recognises the importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion as a crucial foundation for scientific research to address fundamental scientific questions and societally relevant environmental challenges. The increasing diversity of our membership in all its facets fosters collaborative research and discovery that benefits humanity and our planet.Since its founding, the EGU has worked to ensure equitable treatment for everyone in the community with the goal of increasing diversity. In autumn 2018, the EGU Council established a working group whose aim is to promote and support equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the Earth, planetary, and space sciences, with a focus on EGU activities. Less than three years later, the EDI group was upgraded into a committee and has delivered numerous actions.The most recent achievements of EDI@EGU are the Champion(s) for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award that is bestowed to recognize excellent contributions to put into exemplary practice the principles of EDI. Furthermore, the EDI Committee is currently working on a new travel support scheme to promote diversity at the EGU General assemblies.The above actions resulted in a more diverse attendance at EGU General Assemblies along the years. The total number of presenters has increased over the time period 2015-2023, and this increase was observed throughout all career stages. The proportion of women presenters has increased from 2015 to 2023. A similar trend was observed for the convenors, an increase in total numbers over the years and a higher proportion of women in 2023 than in 2015.In the hybrid meeting in 2023 both early career scientists and more senior scientists to a higher extent participated physically in the meeting than online. While there were no differences in how women and men participated (online or physically), there are differences connected to the country affiliations. More than half of participants from countries in most of western Europe attended in Vienna, while participants from North America and Asia attended online.Since EGU General Assembly is the largest geosciences conference in Europe understanding the demographic evolution and their participation to EGU activities, including the GA, of various groups is an important tool for EGU governing body to draw targeted actions to ensure that the current procedures are fair and that all in the community are being and feeling included. We therefore aim to analyse the changes in demographics with regards to gender, career stage as well as to geographical distribution of the presenters and convenors also in coming years to better understand the potential impacts of meetings organized online or physically, or as a combination of both these modes.