bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developments and Challenges in Operating a Hydrometeorological Research Observatory in the Western Sudanian Savanna - Ten Years of WASCAL Observatory Experience
Authors: Bliefernicht Jan , Guug Samuel , Steinbrecher Rainer , Neidl Frank , Spangenberg Ines , Amekudzi Leonard K. , Quansah Emmanuel , Davies Patrick , Bogena Heye , Baatz Roland , Gessner Ursula , Jagdhuber Thomas , Oussou Francis , Salack Seyni , Diallo Belko , Ogunjobi Kehinde O. , Sy Souleymane , Sawadogo Windmanagda , Huber Garcia Verena , Kunstmann Harald
Published: March 2024

West Africa is a data-poor region, and long-term hydrometeorological field experiments are very limited but are essential for a better understanding of climate change and land use change impacts in this vulnerable region. This study provides a detailed overview of WASCAL hydrometeorological observatory, which was established in 2013 in the Sudan savanna of Burkina Faso and Ghana. This region is characterized by strong land use changes due to a rapid increase of agricultural land. The observatory is therefore designed to study the effects of land use changes on land-atmosphere exchange processes and other terrestrial land surface processes and characteristics. It consists of a network of state-of-the-art hydro-meteorological measurement equipment (e.g., automatic weather stations, agrometeorological stations) complemented by innovative devices such as cosmic ray neutron sensors for improved soil moisture monitoring. A unique component of the observatory is a micrometeorological experiment using eddy covariance towers implemented at five contrasting land use sites to study the impacts of land use change on water, energy, and greenhouse gas fluxes. The datasets of the WASCAL observatory are needed as key information for the development and evaluation of land surface models, hydrological models, and improved regional climate models and other environmental modelling approaches and products. In this presentation, we provide a detailed overview of the current development of the WASCAL observatory. In addition, selected results from the inter-twined field, remote sensing, and RCM modeling studies are presented.
Satellite-derived sea ice motion data: daily-maps (DM) and swath-to-swath (S2S)
Authors: Tian Tian , Fraser Alexander , Heil Petra , Lavergne Thomas , Wang Xuanji , Liu Yinghui , Hoffman Jay
Published: March 2024

Remotely sensed ice motion is a crucial component in sea, lake, or river ice research. Over the past few decades, the ice movement has been detected and retrieved predominantly through the application of the Maximum Cross-Correlation (MCC) technique by analyzing the overlapped consecutive satellite images.Traditionally, ice motion products have been derived from daily averaged satellite imagery, commonly referred to as 'daily-map' (DM) ice motion. This DM ice motion product has gained widespread usage in sea ice studies due to its inherent timescale and extensive coverage.Recently, a new approach known as the swath-to-swath (S2S) method has emerged, deriving ice motion from individual satellite swath pairs. The S2S ice motion product has proven valuable in sea ice kinematics research, revealing a robust relationship between ice kinematics and thickness, characterized by its diverse timescale. Consequently, these two types of satellite-derived ice motion products contribute distinct perspectives to ice kinematics research.The latest generation of NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), specifically the GOES-R Series, offers sea/lake/river ice observations at a relatively high resolution. A recent development involves the MCC approach generating a new DM ice motion product with a 2 km resolution using GOES-R reflectance imagery (0.5 km resolution). This ice motion dataset holds potential for final users engaged in analyzing small-scale sea/lake/river ice status and its changes.
Erasmus+ project and Geoparks for dissemination of Geology
Authors: Aragón Ana Rosa
Published: March 2024

An Erasmus+ project is a great opportunity to promote Science and Interculturality in schools. That kind of project connects interdisciplinary learning with a strong emotional context of friendship across the borders. Particullarly, I’ve already run two successful e-Twinning projects in the past (“Our S-COOLest world-2012” and “Knitting our Common European Future with Threads of our National Culture-2015”). Students and teachers keep  unforgetable feelings and learning experiences from those projects.The Middle School IES Nuñez de Arce in Valladolid (Spain) has received funds from the Erasmus+ programme. Taking advantage of that chance, the Biology and Geology department is really interested in disseminating Geology and having geoparks as our main focus.Objectives of our Erasmus+ partnership:Stimulating scientific experiences and promoting passion for Geology and Earth Sciences
Appreciating our geological heritage (Geoparks are devoted to global understanding and sustainability)
Transnational exchanges and visits in different geological and cultural environments
To deep the understanding of climate change, both in the Earth history and in last decades, natural and human-induced climate change)
Students will develop various competences (autonomy, organization, cultural awareness, communication strategies, foreign languages)
Teaching innovation and developing good practices at school
Our school and the closest Geopark to us:IES Nuñez de Arce (Valladolid, Spain) has about 1,000 middle-class students without any behavioral problems and education-concerned.
The students involved in the project would be 15 to17 year-old.
Las Loras Geopark is a bit more than one-hour far from our school.
Las Loras Geopark covers an area of 95,076 ha. and its nature, biological diversity and art are outstanding.
Some of the most relevant geological features of the area include limestone moors, fluvial canyons, karst and structural reliefs, Mesozoic  sedimentary palaeoenvironments, statigraphic sequences of the western edge of the Vascocantábrica basin, alpine folds, faults, diapiric structures, oil fields and active geological processes.
The project outlines:Short international exchanges (1 week) between students (about 20 students aged 15–17 each country), 2 participant schools at a time.
Working on the project within international teams (PBL).
Several educational programmes have been developed by the Geopark over the years to support school teachers on site.
Not only teachers of languages are concerned in Erasmus+ projects: if you’re a teacher of Science, don’t hesitate to involve in an Erasmus+ team.
Deformation structures in the evaporitic melange. Case study from the Altaussee salt mine
Authors: Adamuszek Marta , Olkowicz Marcin , Dabrowski Marcin , Fiałkiewicz Mariusz , Grochmal Bartłomiej , Leitner Thomas , Fernandez Oscar
Published: March 2024

We investigated the salt deposits found within the Altaussee salt mine, which represent the Permian to Triassic evaporitic Haselgebirge Formation situated in the Northern Calcerous Alps (Austria). The extensive deformation of the evaporite sequence spanning from the Middle Triassic to Neogene periods led to the formation of a tectonic mélange. The sediments commonly comprise fragments of anhydrite, polyhalite, sandstone and limestone embedded in the halite-rich matrix. The dimensions of these blocks can exceed 10 meters in diameter, while the bulk volume of halite content in these layers is ranging from approximately 30 to 65 volume percent.Our investigation focuses on the internal structure within the evaporite sequence. In particular, we examine various outcrops in caverns, galleries, and corridors that illustrate the role of block shape and size on the deformation pattern. Particularly noteworthy are findings from a large, well-exposed salt cavern ceiling covering approximately 4000 square meters. Utilizing tailored photogrammetric approach, image post processing techniques and using lidar data as reference, we generated detailed ortophoto map of 1000 square meters of cavern ceiling with resolution of 1 mm/pixel. This reveals intricate patterns around rigid blocks and their interactions at different scales. Fine layering within the rock salt allowed to illustrate spectacular structures that developed around the rigid blocks and also interaction between the blocks. Significantly, observations of layer deflection beneath blocks hint at potential block-sinking dynamics, offering valuable insights into the complex geological processes at play.
Investigation of carbon sequestration and mercury contamination in the Northeastern US salt marshes and the potential impact of anthropogenic activities
Authors: Zhang Hejia , Zhang Mingyu , shrestha Bibek , Tsao Shou-En , Vaughn Derrick , Liu Maodian , Raymond Peter
Published: March 2024

Wetlands are recognized as critical sinks of carbon among terrestrial ecosystems. The demand for atmospheric carbon mitigation, exacerbated by climate change, underscores the importance of wetland carbon sequestration. Meanwhile, due to the strong affinity of mercury (Hg) with organic matter, Hg in the atmosphere can also be scavenged and buried in wetlands. However, increased anthropogenic activities, such as urbanization, disrupt sediment dynamics in coastal wetlands, affecting their capacity to sequester carbon and Hg. To explore the urbanization impacts, One-meter sediment cores were collected from five salt marshes in Connecticut and Massachusetts, USA. Sediment samples were collected every 2 cm, and then processed through freeze-drying, sieving, acidification, and weighing. Subsequent laboratory analyses include total organic carbon (TOC), stable carbon isotope (δ13C), carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and mercury (Hg) concentrations throughout the core. The TOC source (terrestrial vs. marine) was determined using an isotopic mixing model with Monte Carlo simulation. The data indicate a temporal decrease in terrestrial TOC and an uptick in marine-derived TOC. Within the terrestrial fraction, local vegetation is the primary contributor. This shift in TOC source, driven by reduced terrestrial contributions, suggests wetland degradation and a potential decline in carbon sequestration due to urbanization. Furthermore, Hg analysis reveals a negative correlation with TOC in disturbed salt marshes, highlighting Hg dilution by marsh-derived organic matter and the effects of anthropogenic point source releases of Hg. Notably, two sites uniquely showed extremely high Hg concentrations and decoupling between Hg and TOC, tracing back to localized Hg releases from industrial activities in Danbury, Connecticut, during the 19th century. This study demonstrates the temporal shifts in sources of TOC, a decline in carbon sequestration, and historical Hg contamination across Northeast US salt marshes, underscoring anthropogenic impacts on these ecosystems. Future work will incorporate Lead-210 and radiocarbon dating of sediment cores to better understand the temporal variation of carbon sequestration. 
Precipitation variability in CMIP6 climate models across the North Atlantic–European region
Authors: Plavcova Eva , Lhotka Ondrej , Beranová Romana , Huth Radan
Published: March 2024

Long-term changes in climate variability are an important aspect of the climate change with various impacts on society and environment. In contrast to numerous studies which evaluated projected changes in mean values and extremes of precipitation amount, intensity and/or frequency, studies on changes in precipitation variability have been relatively scarce. To understand whether and how the precipitation variability will change in the future, projections of climate models are utilized. However, accurate simulation of this precipitation characteristic by current climate models is pivotal.In our study we analyze outputs from 13 CMIP6 GCMs across the North Atlantic–European region focusing on winter and summer seasons separately. We classify days with a total precipitation amount exceeding 1 mm as wet days, while the remaining days are considered as dry days. Precipitation probability denote the mean probability of a wet day, and precipitation variability is represented by the tendency to cluster wet/dry days into sequences. To quantify this, we use the persistence parameter defined as the 1-lag autocorrelation of a discrete two-state Markov chain.Firstly, we evaluate whether precipitation variability is simulated correctly over the historical period (1980–2010) by comparing model outputs against the ERA5 reanalysis. Subsequently, we analyse projected changes in the future period (2070–2100) using simulations forced by two Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP585 and SSP245). This allows for a comparison of possible future climate changes under different climate policies.We identify biases common to all models, notably an overestimated precipitation probability across much of Europe in winter, while its underestimation in summer, and a general tendency of models toward higher autocorrelation of wet/dry days. Projected changes in precipitation characteristics are more pronounced for the more pessimistic SSP585 scenario. We find that the changes in precipitation variability are independent on the changes in precipitation probability. Our findings also indicate that the model biases and simulated changes in precipitation probability and variability can be linked to the biases and changes in synoptic-scale atmospheric circulation.   
Depth and time constraints on monzogranite emplacement and cooling in the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea: implications for the exhumation history of the Zuccale Fault (Island of Elba, Italy)
Authors: Papeschi Samuele , Moser Amy , Bonini Marco , Del Ventisette Chiara , Lanari Riccardo , Lupi Matteo , Montanari Domenico
Published: March 2024

Plutons in the Northern Apennines are generally thought to have been emplaced under low-angle normal faults (LANFs). However, the limited knowledge of their emplacement depth hinders a full understanding of their exhumation history and the tectonic setting in which they emplaced remains heavily debated. Indeed, granites in the Tuscan Archipelago are loosely constrained to P < 2 kbar, roughly corresponding to a maximum emplacement depth of 7-8 km. When considering that faults interpreted as LANFs in the area only show limited total displacements of a few km, the lack of constraints on the minimum depth of emplacement make it impossible to reconstruct the exhumation history of plutons in the area based on geochronology and low-temperature thermochronology only. Here we present the first precise constraints on the depth of magma emplacement on the Island of Elba, in the hinterland zone of the Northern Apennines. We investigated a spotted schist from the Terranera area of Eastern Elba, located in the footwall of the Zuccale Fault. The schist displays the garnet + cordierite metamorphic assemblage, which is very uncommon in the low-pressure Elban aureoles. We performed a detailed microstructural and petrographic study coupled with the analysis of mineral and bulk-rock chemistry through the Electron Microprobe and X-ray Fluorescence.We modelled the sample with the phase equilibrium modelling approach using the PerpleX software, constraining the co-stability of garnet and cordierite to the narrow P interval of 0.3 – 1.2 kbar, corresponding to 1.1 – 4.4 km depth. Considering the limited horizontal throw of the Zuccale Fault, of just ~6 km and its current subhorizontal attitude, it is unrealistic that this fault contributed significantly to the exhumation of igneous rocks in eastern Elba. Rather, the estimated pressure is consistent with the thickness of the Northern Apennines orogenic nappe pile exposed on the island. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the need to obtain precise P constraints also from the Zuccale Fault footwall and we discuss P constraints derived from metamorphic assemblages therein.We also provide the first U/Pb monazite ages of the young aureole which constrain peak metamorphic temperature to 6.7 ± 0.2 Ma. Considering the published radiometric constraints from the area, we suggest that Eastern Elba experienced a long-lived pluton-related thermal anomaly that persisted for ~0.8 – 1.2 Ma before cooling down to ‘normal’ upper crustal conditions, similar to the nearby, younger Larderello geothermal field.This work was carried out as part of the MIGRATE project, funded by the SNFS.
Measurement of Physicochemical Properties of Black Carbon and Brown Carbon and the Impacts of Canada Record-Breaking Wildfires in Summer 2023 
Authors: Li Houjie , Ariya Parisa
Published: March 2024

Wildfires have become more prevalent in recent years because of climate change. Meanwhile wildfires, as a major type of biomass burning, could emit a large amount of black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) to the atmosphere. Since BC and BrC play important roles in climate change, air pollution and human health issues, it is necessary to research their physicochemical properties to evaluate their impacts on urban areas. Here we present BC mass concentration and absorption coefficients measured by aethalometer (AE43), combing with the chemical constitutions acquired by GC-MS, during the record-breaking 2023 wildfire season in Canada. The back-trajectory analysis indicated that the smoke mainly came from north Quebec where the wildfires took place. We demonstrated how BC and BrC emitted by wildfires could affect urban regions after long-range transport.
Climate Change in the Mediterranean: Assessing Changes in Different Circulations and the Impacts on the Mediterranean Hydroclimate
Authors: Tootoonchi Roshanak , Bordoni Simona , D'Agostino Roberta
Published: March 2024

Changes in the hydroclimate of the Mediterranean region by the end of the 21st century are studied using phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) projections. More specifically, we examine how changes in the different terms of the atmospheric moisture budget in this region, namely the moisture flux convergence due to the zonally averaged flow, and stationary and transient eddies, contribute to changes in the climatological net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation, P – E), in the annual, seasonal, and zonal mean over land and sea.According to the ensemble-mean of ten CMIP6 models, the climatological annual mean P – E is projected to decrease drastically by the end of the 21st century over northern Mediterranean land regions as well as the sea. The drying is predominantly due to increased total stationary-eddy moisture flux divergence, which arises from increased divergence of the zonally averaged moisture by the zonally-anomalous circulation. For both land and sea, the annual mean pure stationary eddy term is projected to bring wetter conditions within the Mediterranean, except for northwestern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. This wettening tendency is, however, not large enough to offset the drying caused by the zonally-anomalous circulation.By the end of the 21st century, the annual mean transient eddies are projected to cause increased drying over the northern Mediterranean land regions and the western Mediterranean Sea, and increased moistening over the eastern Mediterranean. The drying due to the annually and zonally averaged circulation, associated with the descending branch of the Hadley cell, is very small, and appears to be a weaker signal with respect to the others.While increased moisture divergence due to transient eddies during winter is a contributing factor to the Mediterranean drying, it is not the main cause of year-round drying by the end of the 21st century. In fact, there are slight increases of moisture convergence over Portugal, Spain, and northern Turkey. Rather, it is the increase in the divergent stationary eddies during summer and winter that drives the aridification phenomenon in the Mediterranean. Recent studies using CMIP5 models have reported similar results (Seager et al. 2014; Seager et al. 2019), pointing to the robustness of the projected signal. References: Seager, R., Liu, H., Henderson, N., Simpson, I., Kelley, C., Shaw, T., Kushnir, Y., & Ting, M. (2014). Causes of increasing aridification of the mediterranean region in response to rising greenhouse gases. Journal of Climate, 27(12), 4655–4676. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00446.1
Seager, R., Osborn, T. J., Kushnir, Y., Simpson, I. R., Nakamura, J., & Liu, H. (2019). Climate Variability and Change of Mediterranean-Type Climates. Journal of Climate, 32(10), 2887–2915. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-180472.1
Gully incision development on scoria cones: different behaviors in three volcanic fields reflect environmental conditions.
Authors: Zarazúa-Carbajal Maria Cristina , Valentine Greg A. , De la Cruz-Reyna Servando
Published: March 2024

A consequence of alluvial processes acting on scoria cones is the development of a drainage network composed of radially distributed rills and gullies parallel to the volcanic edifice's downslope direction. This work focuses on the quantification of the degree of development of the drainage network by applying the Average Erosion Index method to scoria cones from the arid to semi-arid Lunar Crater volcanic field and comparing with previously obtained results from two tropical volcanic fields (Sierra Chichinautzin volcanic field and Paricutin-Tancitaro region, both in central Mexico). The results show that the method helps to determine geomorphic age relations when calibrated separately for each field. Furthermore, the differences in the resultant rates at which AEI varies as a function of time obtained for the three studied fields indicate that the method provides a tool to quantify the effects of different alluvial rates at volcanic fields across various environments.
High-resolution Spatial Mapping of Runoff Prediction for Micro-scale Surface Rainwater Harvesting
Authors: Ryu Dongryeol , Kommula Sri Priyanka , Lohani Bharat , Winter Stephan
Published: March 2024

Spatially distributed runoff information is one of the most critical inputs to determining suitable locations of rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures. The majority of hydrological assessments for siting RWH structures rely on empirical formula, such as the Soil Conservation Service – Curve Number method that combines soil type, land covers, land use practices, surface conditions, and antecedent moisture conditions with a weak basis on hydrological processes. In addition, runoff generation by topography is considered separately through the computation of flow accumulation.  As a result, the current practice of determining suitable RWH locations is done using arbitrary scores rather than the actual spatiotemporal estimate of runoff.The present study employs a topography-based hydrological model, TOPMODEL, to explicitly generate runoff for an experimental catchment of 1800 ha located in Haryana, India. The catchment has been subdivided into 102 sub-catchments where sub-catchment-scale runoff was calculated using daily forcing data of 40 years (1980 - 2020) with other static inputs such as soil and topography data.  For topography input, a 1-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) collected by a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) was used. The input variables of the model were calibrated using ground-based discharge values.The daily sub-catchment-scale runoff from TOPMODEL was aggregated to monthly, seasonal, and annual time scales to produce more detailed picture of water availability for harvest over wet and dry seasons. Finally, the runoff was converted to grid-based values using the flow accumulation scheme widely used on GIS tools. The final grid-based map at 1-m resolution contains the runoff information across the entire catchment at monthly, seasonal and annual time scales. The improved spatio-temporal representation of runoff using TOPMODEL in combination with flow accumulation scheme offers enhanced assistance to designing RWH structures tailored by the actual water volume available at candidate locations and its seasonal and interannual variability.
Impact of Biomass Water Equivalent on Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensor Estimates 
Authors: Al-Mashharawi Samir K. , El Hajj Marcel M. , McCabe Matthew F. , Steele-Dunne Susan C.
Published: March 2024

Biomass water equivalent represents the cumulative vegetation water content and biological hydrogen contained within plant tissue and can provide valuable insights into ecosystem-scale water dynamics. Several studies conducted in crop and forest fields have reported that variation in biomass water equivalent can decrease the accuracy of soil moisture estimates when using the Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS): a novel approach for real-time soil moisture monitoring. Indeed, with an increasing biomass water equivalent, more neutrons at epithermal and thermal energy levels are held by the hydrogen atoms in the vegetation, leading to an overestimation of soil moisture. In this study, we explore the impact of such variations in biomass water equivalent on the estimated soil moisture from CRNS sensors installed in two distinct orchard plantations. The first plantation is an olive orchard located in northern Saudi Arabia (desert climate), while the second is a cherry orchard located in southeastern France (Mediterranean climate). Utilizing a site-specific calibration value (N0), soil moisture was derived from neutron counts, and compared to reference in-situ soil moisture. The estimated and reference soil moisture difference was analyzed as a function of biomass water equivalent variations. As biomass water equivalent measurements were not possible to obtain at equivalent CRNS acquisition rates, the vapor pressure deficit (VPD), a meteorological variable, in plants, it is used to describe the difference in water vapor pressure between the inside of a leaf and the surrounding air, was used as a proxy. An optimization procedure was performed to update N0 (N0.opt) in such a way that the difference between estimated and reference soil moisture is minimized. Variations in N0,opt are subsequently correlated with VPD to confirm the link between neutron count variations and seasonal changes in biomass water equivalent. Results showed that without considering the effects of biomass water equivalent on neutron counts, the estimated soil moisture overestimates the reference soil moisture when the VPD is low (no stress conditions) and matches the reference soil moisture when the VPD is high (water stress conditions). Moreover, the results showed that the change in N0 (1 - N0.opt / N0) correlated well with VPD (R2 = 0.7). An improved understanding of the potential effects of biomass water equivalent on CRNS signals is required for understanding water dynamics in trees and providing insights for optimizing irrigation.
Exploring Continental Convection-Permitting Model Simulations for South America: Cross-correlation Dynamics between precipitation and temperature time series at São Paulo
Authors: Chun Kwok Pan , Octavianti Thanti , Tyralis Hristos , Papacharalampous Georgia , da Rocha Rosmeri Porfirio , Toker Emir , Ezber Yasemin , Danaila Luminita , Halladay Kate , Kahana Ron
Published: March 2024

Increasing spatial resolution to kilometre scales allows the deactivation of deep convection parameterisation schemes. As a result of various global initiatives for the next generation of climate studies, continental convection-permitting model (CPM) simulations are now accessible. Nonstationary local extremes, like heatwaves and intense precipitation, are probabilistically linked to regional circulation through scaling relationships. However, these relationships have not been extensively explored in the new simulations available in the early 2020s. Hourly time series data were extracted from the UK Climate Science for Service Partnership (CSSP) and the US South America Affinity Group (SAAG) CPM simulations to compare extreme characteristics of precipitation and temperature for 39 stations in a region of São Paulo, Brazil. Compared to reanalysis and satellite data, which exhibit lower variance in hourly time series, these two sets of CPM simulations have precipitation that is more similar to station observations than the ERA5 data and the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for the Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) data.The cross-correlation structures of the time series are investigated to quantify temporal dependence and reveal patterns between temperature and precipitation at an hourly timescale. Within a higher-dimensional probability space for joint risk, the cross-correlation structures between temperature and precipitation at different lags demonstrate the "memory" of these variables, indicating the influence of past values on future behaviour across multiple time points. Their forecasting power for these two variable based on each other is also explored to offer insights into the physical processes within the evolving simulated dynamic system.Overall, the results underscore the added value of convection-permitting models in providing more realistic simulations of local dynamics of extremes. The identified cross-correlation structures from the CPMs are valuable for exploring opportunities to design AI engines based on weather generator algorithms that use stochastic differential equations. Using CPM simulations, these weather generators can be employed to develop AI approaches for rapid decision support tools aimed at stakeholders facing extreme weather events related to compound risks of temperature and precipitation.
Identification of extreme climatic events using SMOS
Authors: Ojha Nitu , Kerr Yann , Mialon Arnaud
Published: March 2024

Soil moisture (SM) is a crucial parameter in the hydrological cycle. SM wet and dry trends help to identify extreme weather events, with a rapid increase in SM suggesting heavy rainfall or flood events and a significant or prolonged decrease in SM representing drought events. SMOS and SMAP remote sensing satellites provide surface SM data globally. The surface SM is highly variable in terms of space and time. In contrast, root zone soil moisture (RZSM) is stable and retains long-term information, making it a better indicator of prolonged drought/wet conditions. In this context, SMOS RZSM is computed from the SMOS surface SM using a simple physical model to integrate surface SM information to a root zone. The study benefits from the availability of long-term series data of the SMOS RZSM on a global scale from 2010 to 2023 (approximately 14 years). Then, the SM index is developed using long-time series data of the SMOS RZSM for a better understanding of the distribution of wet and dry SM and its link to extreme events. The study primarily focuses on Australia and Europe. The results show that the developed SMOS SM index captures heavy rainfall/flood and drought conditions. The analysis determines the occurrence of floods due to La Niña and El Niño effects over Australia and the existence of drought in Europe due to the North Atlantic oscillation. This study can help to understand the interconnected factors that influence extreme climatic conditions, ranging from natural climatic phenomena to human-induced activities.
Groundwater Recharge in Pecan Orchards Under Different Irrigation Systems to Reduce the Impacts of Climate Change in the Southwest USA
Authors: Preciado Jorge , Fernald Alexander , Heerema Richard
Published: March 2024

Water balance is important to provide information and to conserve water. The flow of water in the system can be used to help and manage water supply, changes in management can increase water productivity in arid regions. For this study, soil water content was measured from one soil column within the orchards using time-domain reflectometry probes installed at different depths in the root zone of pecan fields. This data was analyzed to compare the irrigation systems. Water that passes the root zone was considered deep percolation. This research compared the amount of water stored on each field and water consumed by the trees for the last four irrigation seasons 2020 - 2023. Quantifying water from irrigation was essential to know how much water would recharge the Mesilla basin. Percolation was higher in the flood section, with 52 % of the total water applied, while in the drip, percolation was less than 5% of the total water applied moving down in the field for the 2021 growing season. In addition, there were differences in crop yield between the irrigation systems. This study estimated recharge and modeled water flow through the soil in drip and flood-irrigated pecan orchards to understand better surface water and groundwater interactions for improved river basin water management strategies and quantifies water stored in the ground lost through evapotranspiration. In addition, this project evaluates which irrigation scenario could best grow sustainable pecans in arid regions, reducing water use while maintaining crop production. It presents a balance of the two irrigation systems to understand the implications of climate change on the water cycle and achieve sustainability in the crops grown in the area.
OpenAQ: Harmonizing Billions of Air Quality Measurements into an Open and FAIR Database
Authors: Hagerbaumer Chris , Rosales Colleen Marciel Fontelera , Biggs Russ , Fosse Gabe
Published: March 2024

OpenAQ is the largest open-source, open-access repository of air quality data in the world, integrating and hosting over 50 billion measurements from air monitors and sensors at more than 59,000 ground-level locations across 153 countries. The OpenAQ platform supports data on a variety of pollutants in different temporal frequencies. The platform is a one-stop solution for accessing air quality data in a consistent and harmonized format, thereby facilitating findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability. OpenAQ utilizes modern cloud computing architectures and open-source data tools to maintain a highly scalable data pipeline, which can be resource- and computationally intensive, thus requiring thoughtful and efficient data management and engineering practices. Being an open-source platform that is grounded in community, OpenAQ strives to be transparent, responsible, user-focused, sustainable and technologically-driven.OpenAQ supports innovation and collaboration in the air quality space by: Ingesting and sharing data on an open, low-bandwidth platform to ensure data is broadly accessible
Providing tools  to help  interpret the data and create visualizations for users with varied technical skills
Providing a user guide and trainings on how to use the OpenAQ platform for community-level pilot purposes and beyond
Catalyzing specific analyses through intentional outreach to a broad community of data stakeholders
OpenAQ has been widely used for research, informing nearly 300 scientific and data-oriented publications/proceedings. OpenAQ trainings and workshops around the world have resulted in community statements demanding increased coverage and frequency of air quality monitoring, the donation of air quality monitoring equipment to local communities, and adoption of APIs to make open-source city data available. As one example, our work with the Clean Air Catalyst supports pilots to clean the air in Jakarta (Indonesia), Indore (India) and Nairobi (Kenya). As another example, our Community Ambassador program trains emerging air quality leaders in low- and middle-income countries to utilize open data to spur community action to fight air pollution. Our poster describes how OpenAQ ingests and harmonizes heterogeneous air quality data at scale and how we conduct outreach to increase impactful usage of the hosted data.
Impact of the Laurentide Ice Sheet instabilities on the mid-latitude North Atlantic and subtropical gyre during the last five glacial cycles
Authors: Rashid Harunur , Zeng Min , Menke Mary
Published: March 2024

Understanding the impact of freshwater discharge from the late Pleistocene Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) to the North Atlantic has been considered pivotal due to its direct regulating influence on the climate of the surrounding continents. Numerous studies using indirect paleo-proxies for iceberg discharge and fine-grained sediment supply have reconstructed the instabilities of the LIS. This study employs direct proxies for iceberg discharge and fine-grained sediment supply using the ice-rafted detritus (IRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scan combined with published X-ray diffraction (XRD) data from the same samples of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1313 (41°N; 32.57°W). Prominent Heinrich IRD events (H-events) of the last glacial cycle were accompanied by Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca peaks, consistent with the dolomite and calcite peaks, suggesting their Ordovician and Silurian carbonate rocks source that floor the Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait. However, despite the lack of an IRD/g peak, Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca peaks in H-event 3 suggest the arrival of fine-grained sediments in the southern edge of the IRD belt, most likely by sediment plume. In contrast to the last glacial cycle, IRD/g and Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca peaks, often assigned as Heinrich-like events, were only identified during the cold marine isotope stage (MIS) 6, 8, 10, and 12. The IRD/g, Ti/Ca, and Fe/Ca peaks, in addition to the dolomite and calcite peaks during the MIS 7, suggest a fundamentally different configuration of the LIS compared to the other warm MISs of the last 500 ka. Our data suggest that the LIS-sourced icebergs impacted the northern edge of the subtropical gyre (STG) by directly injecting meltwater and modifying the upper water masses, which most likely resulted in the southward movements of the Polar and Arctic fronts. These frontal movements were accompanied by frequent encroachment of the subpolar to transitional water masses to the STG. The polar water-dwelling planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina pachyderma coupled to the IRD/g or Fe/Ca and Ti/Ca peaks support this hypothesis. The new sedimentological and micropaleontological data suggest that the instability and configuration of the LIS were not uniform during all the warm MISs of the last 500 ka.
OH Radical Detection Using Broadband Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) in an Open-Path Configuration
Authors: Flowerday Callum , Thalman Ryan , Asplund Matthew , Hansen Jaron
Published: March 2024

Hydroxyl radical (OH) is a pivotal oxidant in the atmosphere, exerting significant influence on atmospheric chemistry and participating in diverse environmental processes. However, accurately measuring OH in the atmosphere is challenging due to its short half-life and low ambient concentrations. Various methods, such as laser-induced fluorescence coupled with fluorescence assay by gas expansion (LIF-FAGE), differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), and ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), have been employed for OH quantification, each with its associated complexities and limitations.This study introduces a novel measurement approach utilizing broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (BBCEAS) for detecting OH under ambient atmospheric conditions. The BBCEAS instrument, known for its portability and resilience to interferants owing to its spectroscopic nature, emerges as a practical solution for field measurements. The instrument's characterization involved detecting OH in an open flame, and subsequent enhancements were implemented to render it field-ready, enabling it to compete with established methods like LIF-FAGE, CIMS, and DOAS.The application of BBCEAS in OH detection represents a valuable tool for atmospheric researchers, offering a balance between portability and sensitivity. This study highlights the potential of BBCEAS as a reliable method for field measurements of OH concentrations, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of atmospheric processes and chemical reactions.
Observing the Ammonia Daily Cycle over Agricultural Areas in Asia Using Combined Satellite Measurements
Authors: Iorga Adriana , Harrison Jeremy , Moore David
Published: March 2024

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most important nitrogen gas species and pollutants in the lower troposphere because of the wide usage of nitrogen-based fertilisers in agriculture. Most of the ammonia present in the atmosphere originates from anthropogenic sources, agriculture being the dominant one [1]. Ammonia enters the atmosphere through volatilisation from agricultural soils where fertilisers and/or manure have been spread [2]. Ammonia is a highly unstable gas, reacting chemically with acids to form fine particulate matter (PM2.5), therefore playing an important role in secondary aerosol formation [3]. Wet and dry deposition of ammonia on soils and water bodies is detrimental to ecosystem biodiversity as it leads to acidification of the environment [4]. Therefore, observations of ammonia are essential for establishing air quality and environmental regulations for agricultural practices.The remote sensing of ammonia presents numerous challenges because ammonia concentrations rapidly change over time and space due to the short life-time of the gas, which ranges from a few hours up to a day [5]. Studying the ammonia diurnal cycle provides valuable information on its sources, surface exchange, deposition and transport processes, and the impact on these by weather and surface conditions; all these are crucial for improving atmospheric models.The ammonia daily cycle over the Indo-Gangetic Plain in India has been studied using combined satellite observations from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instruments during different months in 2022. By studying the evolution of the ammonia total column concentrations at different satellite overpass times over several days, changes in the ammonia daily cycle can be observed between different seasons. The study makes use of optimal estimation-based retrieval methods developed at the University of Leicester. References:[1] Clarisse L. et al (2009), Nature Geoscience, 479-483[2] Van Damme M. et al (2021), Environ. Res. Lett., 16 055017[3] Erisman, J. W. et al (2007), Environ. Pollut., 150, 140– 149[4] Krupa S. V. et al (2003), Environ. Pollut., 124, 179-221 [5] Dammers E. et al (2019), Atmos. Chem. Phys., 12261–12293
Neotectonic stress characterization of New Zealand along the Australia–Pacific plate boundary 
Authors: Rajabi Mojtaba , Ziegler Moritz , Heidbach Oliver , Ziebarth Malte
Published: March 2024

The complex interplay between the Pacific and Australian plates in New Zealand offers a unique opportunity to investigate the present-day stress field in a tectonically active area. This study examines the present-day stress pattern of New Zealand through the analysis and compilation of data from 289 boreholes, 4291 earthquake focal mechanism solutions, and 72 neotectonic geological structures. Utilizing the Moho depth of New Zealand, we developed both crustal and mantle stress maps. Stress data above the Moho depth is categorized as the crustal stress map, while data below the Moho is classified as the mantle stress map.The crustal stress map reveals a consistent ESE-WNW orientation of the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) across much of the South Island, presenting a high angle to the strike of major active strike-slip faults. In the North Island, the crustal SHmax pattern is variable, highlighting the predominant role of the Pacific Plate subduction beneath the Australian Plate along the Hikurangi Margin. Within the Hikurangi Subduction Zone, both the crustal and mantle SHmax orientations are variable. However, the Taupo Rift Zone exhibits completely different stress pattern in mantle and crust, highlighting the Moho as a strong decoupling horizon in this region.An examination of neotectonic stress regimes, derived from the neotectonic fault database, in comparison with the present-day stress regime from our stress database across 28 tectonic domains in New Zealand indicates a correlation between observed faults, faulting styles, and the stress field. Nevertheless, discrepancies emerge in certain domains, where the acting stress field diverges from the one expected according to the observed faults, suggesting non-optimal fault orientations.
Ray tracing for Jupiter’s icy moon ionospheric occultation of Jovian auroral radio sources
Authors: Yasuda Rikuto , Kimura Tomoki , Cecconi Baptiste , Misawa Hiroaki , Tsuchiya Fuminori , Kasaba Yasumasa , Satoh Shinnosuke , Sakai Shotaro , Louis Corentin
Published: March 2024

The ionospheres of Jupiter’s icy moons have been observed by in situ plasma measurements and radio occultation. However, their spatial structures have not yet been fully characterized. To address this issue, we developed a new ray tracing method for modeling the radio occultation of the ionospheres using Jovian auroral radio sources. Applying our method to radio observations with the Galileo spacecraft, we derived the electron density of the ionosphere of Ganymede and Callisto. For Ganymede’s ionosphere, we found that the maximum electron density on the surface was 150 cm-3 in the open magnetic field line regions and 12.5 cm-3 in the closed magnetic field line region during the Galileo Ganymede 01 flyby. The difference in the electron density distribution was correlated with the accessibility of Jovian magnetospheric plasma to the atmosphere and surface of the moons. These results indicated that electron impact ionization of the Ganymede exosphere and sputtering of the surface water ice were effective for the producing Ganymede’s ionosphere. For Callisto’s ionosphere, we found that the densities were 350 cm-3 and 12.5 cm-3 on the night-side hemisphere during Callisto 09 and 30 flybys, respectively. These results combined with previous observations indicated that atmospheric production through sublimation controlled the ionospheric density of Callisto. This method is also applicable to upcoming Jovian radio observation data from the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer, JUICE. 
Controls of sulfur authigenesis in lacustrine sediments of the (pre-)Anthropocene: Sulfur and oxygen isotopes can tell
Authors: Böttcher Michael E. , Roeser Patricia , Kallmeyer Jens , Winde Vera , Leis Albrecht , Harum Tillman , Noffke Anna , Schmiedinger Iris , Schwalb Antje , Wessels Martin , Wolf Thomas
Published: March 2024

Benthic sulfur cycling in fresh-water lakes is typically characterized by low concentrations of dissolved sulfate in the overlying water column. This electron acceptor is the major driver for the anaerobic mineralization of organic matter in brackish-marine systems. Post-glacial development in marginal seas like the Baltic or Black Sea are often characterized by a transition from fresh to brackish water conditions, and initial sulfur isotope signatures of lacustrine sediments are often found to be superimposed by later diagenesis. To better understand the link between sulfate sources and the developing sedimentary sulfur isotope signatures in lake systems, Lake Constance’s main inflows, vertical water column profiles and sediment samples were geochemically and isotopically (S-34, O-18) characterized.We found that dissolved sulfate concentrations and stable isotope signatures for the two major riverine contributors, Alpenrhein and Bregenzer Aach, differed substantially in their isotopic composition. The Alpenrhein dominates sulfate contribution into the lake system and its contribution could be traced throughout the lake with some indication for potential minor sulfur cycling within the water column. Wells demonstrated that the Bregenzer Aach lost water to an underground passage towards Lake Constance. Water-rock interactions also provided minor amounts of sulfate to the migrating groundwater.The top 10 cm of surface sediments, representing the Anthropocene, indicated fast gross and net dissimilatory sulfate reduction and the formation of iron sulfides that are isotopically close to water column sulfate, but they were found to be depleted in the heavier isotope at greater depth, indicating lower ratios of net sulfate reduction versus sulfate replenishing rates in the past.