bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing National Copernicus services for hydrology and natural hazard monitoring at NVE using Open Source tools Apache Airflow and actinia
Authors: Blumentrath Stefan , Are Antonsen Yngve , Widforss Aron , Fossli Gjersø Niklas , Verpe Engeset Rune , Havstad Winsvold Solveig
Published: March 2024

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is tasked with management of water- and energy resources in Norway, as well as reducing the risk of damages associated with landslides and flooding. Copernicus satellite data can provide valuable insight for those tasks.The vast amount of Copernicus data however requires scalable and robust solutions for processing. Standardized and modular workflows help safeguarding maintainability and efficiency of service delivery. In order to implement operational Copernicus services at NVE, the Open Source OSGeo Community project actinia was introduced together with the Open Source Apache Airflow software as a platform for delivering operational Copernicus services at national scale.actinia (https://actinia-org.github.io/) is a REST API for scalable, distributed, and high performance processing of time series of satellite images, as well as geographical raster and vector data. It is a modular system that uses mainly GRASS GIS for computational tasks.Apache Airflow (https://airflow.apache.org/) is an orchestration solution that allows to programmatically author, schedule and monitor workflows.In the presentation, we will illustrate how Apache Airflow and actinia work together and present selected examples of current and future applications operationalized on the platform. Those applications cover currently:Avalanches
Flooding
snow cover
lake ice
More services related to NVE`s area of responsibility are being investigated, like landslides, slush flows, glacier lake outburst floods, and specific land cover changes...Finally, we discuss challenges and opportunities of using Open Source Software tools and collaborative science approaches at NVE in national, operational services.
Embla: A new optical instrument to measure auroral precipitation, neutral temperature and electric fields at high resolution
Authors: Whiter Daniel , Rae Jonathan , Samaddar Srimoyee , Krcelic Patrik , Lanchester Betty , Carlyle Ishbel , Brindley Nicholas , Thillaimaharajan Kamalam , Fear Robert
Published: March 2024

We have constructed a new high-resolution auroral imager, called Embla, to simultaneously measure energy and flux of auroral precipitation, neutral temperature, and electric fields in fine scale aurora. Embla is designed primarily for studies of auroral electrodynamics, substorm onset, and neutral heating by aurora. The instrument has recently been installed at Skibotn, Norway, very close to the EISCAT_3D radar transmitter site, and we expect the combination of radar and optical observations to enable better measurements for our science than either instrument can provide alone.Embla builds on work done using the Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) instrument, which has been stationed at the EISCAT Svalbard Radar since 2007. Embla has a spatial resolution in the E-region of ~30 m and a planned temporal resolution of at least 32 frames per second, allowing us to resolve the fine-scale structure and rapid dynamics of auroral features. It consists of 4 co-aligned imagers with identical 9 degree fields of view centred on magnetic zenith. Each imager is equipped with a different narrow passband interference filter, targetting emissions in N2 1P (2 imagers), OI 777.4 nm, and O+ 2P. The combination of N2 1P and OI 777.4 nm observations allows us to image the characteristic energy and flux of auroral electron precipitation. The O+ 2P emission has a long lifetime of 5 s, providing a means to observe ion drift perpendicular to the magnetic field and therefore a way to determine ionospheric electric fields at very high cadence in localised regions around the aurora. Finally, by combining observations from two of the imagers in separate regions of the N2 1P band we can image the neutral temperature at the altitude of the auroral emission. The simultaneous measurement of these properties of the aurora and ionosphere will allow us to investigate auroral electrodynamics in detail.
Bending-related faulting, hydration, and mantle serpentinization in the incoming Cocos Plate at Middle America Trench: Evidence from wide-angle seismic refraction data
Authors: Li Yuhan , Grevemeyer Ingo , Robinson Adam , Henstock Timothy J. , Marjanović Milena , Dannowski Anke , Hilbert Helene-Sophie , Teagle Damon A.H.
Published: March 2024

At subduction zones, the bending of incoming plates and associated extensional stresses resulted in strong fault activity in the crust and upper mantle. The severe fracturing of the subducting slab in the trench outer rise facilitates the entrain of seawater into the lithosphere, leading to the serpentinization of peridotite in the upper mantle. Therefore, subduction zones are an important setting, nurturing material exchange between the hydrosphere and the solid earth, affecting the water cycle.To investigate the behavior of the subducting plate, during the experiment conducted aboard RRS JAMES COOK in the Guatemala Basin where the Cocos plate enters the Middle America Trench, we collected a wide-angle seismic refraction profile and coincident multi-channel seismic profile. Here, we present a seismic velocity model derived from a joint refraction and reflection seismic tomography using 10,508 crustal refraction arrivals, 6,533 Moho reflection arrivals, and 7,769 upper mantle refraction arrivals recorded by 37 ocean-bottom-seismometers. The spacing of instruments is ~7.5 km on the unaltered incoming plate and decreases to half of that from the outer rise into the trench. The results show that the unaltered oceanic crust is ~5-6 km thick and features a typical two-layer oceanic structure, ranging from ~4-5 km/s at the basement top to ~7 km/s at the bottom of the crust. Closer to the trench, at ~70 km away, we observe a prominent velocity reduction with lower-crustal velocities dropping to
Assessing health risks in Croatia for cases of severe weather via UTCI and PET
Authors: Muić Ines , Odak Plenković Iris , Srnec Lidija , Horvath Kristian
Published: March 2024

As our climate is changing due to global warming, severe weather is expected to increase in frequency and it's intensity. Out of many examples of severe weather, we are focusing on cold and heat waves which greatly affect people causing increased mortality and morbidity. Also, some of the most important climate modifiers in Croatia are the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, the Dinarides orography, and the Pannonian plain. Because of this, the strongest winds in the Adriatic coast of Croatia are jugo and bora which can sometimes reach gale strength. They are associated with different weather conditions and can also have an impact on morbidity. For example, people describe a favorable impact on health and mood during most cases of moderate bora and unfavorable during moderate jugo episodes. In this work, we are exploring the potential of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and Potential Equivalent Temperature (PET) as severe weather-related health risk indicators in Croatia. The UTCI and PET are bioclimate indices that use human heat balance models to represent the thermal stress and comfort that is induced in the human body by meteorological conditions. For a couple of continental, maritime, and mountain stations in Croatia UTCI and PET are calculated from measurements. The exception is the mean radiant temperature which is estimated from the Rayman model based again on the measurements of global radiation, air temperature, and relative humidity. The distribution of all-cause death counts at different UTCI and PET values is investigated to determine a more appropriate measure of health risk.The UTCI and PET are calculated for the domain over Croatia for the selected cases of a heat wave, a cold wave, and strong wind episodes. The meteorological data used for the calculation of UTCI and PET are hourly NWP model ALADIN-HR output values of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and mean radiant temperature. The UTCI and PET are compared and show good agreement. Results for the cases of strong wind show UTCI sensitivity to the wind but depend on the air temperature primarily.
Global Performance Assessment of 20+ Precipitation Products Using Radar Data and Gauge Observations
Authors: Wang Xuetong , Beck Hylke , Alharbi Raied
Published: March 2024

Accurate precipitation (P) estimates are crucial for a wide range of applications, including water resource management, disaster risk reduction, agricultural planning, and infrastructure development. Over the past few decades, numerous gridded P products have been developed, with varying temporal and spatial resolutions, derived from diverse data sources, and employing different methodologies and algorithms. However, these products frequently exhibit significant uncertainties, errors, and biases, underscoring the importance of selecting the most suitable product for each application. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of over 20 freely available global gridded P products. We used the European RADar CLIMatology (EURADCLIM) gauge-radar dataset, the US Stage-IV gauge-radar product, and observations from approximately 20,000 global stations as ground truth. Our assessment included several new products, such as PDIR-Now and GPM+SM2RAIN, as well as an experimental Random Forest (RF) model, a potential new version of the Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) product. For the assessment, we employed a broad range of performance metrics sensitive to various aspects of P time series, including the versatile Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) and its components (correlation, bias, and variability), as well as the Critical Success Index (CSI), wet day bias, peak bias, and trend error. Additionally, we assessed the relative performance in different physiographic regions, seasons, and P regimes, and among various product types (satellite, (re)analysis, gauge, and combinations thereof). The RF model showed the best overall performance, achieving a mean CSI of 0.42. In comparison, the current MSWEP version, CHIRP, ERA5, GSMaP and IMERG achieved mean CSI values of 0.40, 0.21, 0.36, 0.32, and 0.32, respectively. Our study highlights the stark differences in performance among various state-of-the-art P products and provides a baseline for the development of new machine learning-based P products.
Reconstructing daily and seasonal surface water dynamics in Lake Chad with Global WaterPack Time Series 
Authors: Fokeng Meli Reeves , Bachofer Felix , Sogno Patrick , Klein Igor , Üreyen Soner , Künzer Claudia
Published: March 2024

The Lake Chad is an endorheic lake in Sahelian Africa, with an extension to hyper arid areas. The lake basin is not exempt from global environmental changes which significantly affect fresh water resources across the globe. Despite a plethora of research on lake Chad, the daily and seasonal surface water dynamics is not clearly understood. This study probes to reconstruct the daily and seasonal surface water dynamics, change points and trends in lake Chad with a novel global daily surface water time series dataset (2003 – 2022). The key methods involved time series decomposition and filtering, trends analysis with Mann Kendall Tau and Sen’s Slope, and change point detection of abrupt shifts in daily and seasonal surface water time series. The results showed that lake Chad water depicts marked seasonal patterns. The maximum water area in all the pools is registered between the months of December – January and the inter-seasonal surface water area varies between ~1500 km2 to ~3800 - 4000 km2. On daily time scale, the southern pool shows high water area above 2400 km2 at the start and end of each year with the exception of drought years (2006 – 2017). For wet years (2004, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), surface water area between day 1 to around day 66, and 301 to 365/6 ranges between 2200km2 to about 2400km2. With the exception of extreme dry years, the water area between the rest of 67 – 300 days of the year is between 1600km2 – 2000km2. In contrast, the northern pool’s maximum water area ranges between 1600km2 to ~1700km2. With the exception of 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020 and 2021, the northern pool only fluctuates between ≤ 200km2 to ~800km2, which only stays for few days of the year. While surface water area coverage is quasi-stable across all seasons in the southern pool, the northern pool only has minimal water coverage from April to October yearly. Mean annual water coverage in lake Chad varied from 2953km2 to 3114km2 between 2004 and 2021 respectively. Meanwhile between 2005 – 2012 and 2016 – 2019, surface water area is below 2500km2. While the southern pool remains somewhat stable, the northern pool shows recovery and dwindling phases. Within the monitoring period, two abrupt changes were identified on the cycle of lake Chad, a decreasing trend between 2003 – 2012 (2275km2) and an increasing trend from 2013 to 2022 (2745km2), p = 0.000. In conclusion, the study found that lake Chad is slowly recovering as revealed by statistical trend analysis (Tau = 0.157, Sen’s slope = 0.0782 and p = 0.012), with an annual average increase of 28.543km2.
Decoding the climatic signal recorded in speleothems from La Cova del Drac in Mallorca
Authors: Torner Judit , Cacho Isabel , Fornós Joan , Català Albert , Cisneros Mercè , Bladé Ileana , Moreno Ana , Stoll Heather
Published: March 2024

Cova del Drac, situated on Mallorca Island, is one of the most frequented caves in Europe. During the late 19th century, pioneering explorers developed initial naturalistic expeditions and topographic studies. Nevertheless, it was not until the period between 1922 and 1935 that adaptation work was developed, leading to the establishment of permanent pathways, including the installation of the first lighting system. The two speleothems presented in this study were growing beyond these anthropogenic structures allowing a geochronological control into their initial growth.The examination of confocal laser scanning microscopy images of these two speleothems revealed distinct fluorescence banding, pointing to seasonal growth patterns. Additionally, high-resolution trace element profiles, acquired using LA-ICP-MS, reveal geochemical cycles reflecting the impact of seasonal cave ventilation on the trace element signatures within the speleothems. Through the combination of annual fluorescence layer counting, analysis of trace element cycles, and the adjustment with the 14C bomb peak as a tie point, well-resolved age models spanning certainly the past century have been achieved.This study establishes a robust framework by correlating the speleothem geochemistry results with cave monitoring and meteorological data. This exercise discerns the influence of the cave atmosphere seasonality from the hydrological and regional climatic signal across longer time scales. Consequently, this study validates the geochemical signal recorded in Mallorca cave speleothems as a reliable indicator of climatic variability in the western Mediterranean region.
SoilPulse – Towards FAIR soil process data!
Authors: Lenz Jonas , Devátý Jan , Jackisch Conrad
Published: March 2024

Soil processes are known to stretch over many scales – some processes, like erosion, are of particular interest due to their quick and complex characteristics with high impact. The analysis of soil erosion processes is challenging through heterogeneous field situations, involved spatio-temporal scales and by a reconfiguration of the system itself. Various experimental procedures and analytical methods were developed, which can analyze erosion processes. But because the procedures are driven by specific model assumptions which in effect also relate to a plethora of central state variables and parameters, the data of different groups are rarely compatible. Interoperability is hindered further through inhomogeneous data structures and a lack of metadata.Within the NFDI4Earth pilot SoilPulse (soilpulse.github.io) we are developing an interactive metadata generator which shall assist researchers to make their soil process related data sets reusable by humans and machines. Instead of forcing the user to adhere to a defined metadata standard, the tool semi-automatically and interactively builds a translation procedure i) to map various existing data structures to a common scheme and ii) to feedback valuable but missing information to be provided by the researcher. While treating a dataset the researcher is aided by visualizations of the data in relation to other datasets which are already made machine readable through SoilPulse, allowing to easily discover non-plausible data and errors within the dataset. Once treated the dataset can be queried along with other datasets through a common interface and can be linked to erosion models through an API. The PICO presentation demonstrates the functionality of the SoilPulse metadata generator prototype and invites attendees to apply it themselves on their data sets. As SoilPulse is in active development we highly appreciate comments, hints and impulses to further improve the tool!
Collaborative planning of nature-based solutions for climate resilience at landscape scale: exploring the potential of geodesign
Authors: Jajeh Sana , Anderson Carl C. , Albert Christian
Published: March 2024

Rural European landscapes are increasingly faced with the interlinked and cascading hazards of flooding and drought, exacerbated by both unsustainable land use practices and climate change. Sponge measures are particularly promising for addressing such multi-hazard risk from a participatory and social-ecological perspective. Sponge measures are nature-based solutions (NbS) that preserve, restore, enhance or create ecosystems to increase landscape and soil water retention while providing co-benefits for people and nature through biodiversity and ecosystem services. As NbS, they interact in complex ways with the socio-ecological systems (e.g. watershed boundaries) in which they are implemented. Thus, participatory processes are needed to ensure a systemic and interdisciplinary understanding of impacts while capturing diverse stakeholder values and interests. NbS design and planning often lacks 1) a shared understanding of the spatially-explicit impacts of NbS on the social-ecological system among stakeholders; 2) consideration of a broad spectrum of impacts as (co-)benefits and trade-offs; and 3) consideration of scales beyond the immediate measure and within diverging future scenarios.As a promising approach to address these shortcomings, we propose the use of geodesign - an iterative framework for multidisciplinary, stakeholder-driven, and context-sensitive spatial decisions based on the integration of stakeholder inputs, geospatial data, and technology to generate real-time feedbacks and inform smart decision-making. This process also can support participation through fostering shared understandings and reconciling stakeholder conflicts. Despite promising applications in urban and landscape planning, knowledge is lacking on how and with what impacts geodesign can be applied to facilitate the planning of sponge measures at landscape scale. The aim of our research is to assess the utility of geodesign in the context of adaptive sponge measures by combining a systematic literature review with practical application of geodesign in two European catchments faced with increasing risk of hydrometeriological extremes. The review will quantify the adoption and past effectiveness of geodesign practices in similar landscape planning contexts. Based on these insights, a geodesign approach will be developed and implemented within the EU SpongeScapes project (spongescapes.eu) in selected case studies to generate future scenarios to increase landscape resilience against climate change. We present the research plan, including initial hypotheses and preliminary findings as conducted within the context of ongoing PhD research. With the increasing implementation of NbS in Europe in response to unfolding climate change and its consequences, our research will provide insights into the potential benefits and limitations of geodesign to improve their co-design, support policy creation, and inform decision-making.
Identifying archetypes of climate vulnerability: A mixed-methods approach for heat and flood related risk in Austria 
Authors: Beier Julia , Preinfalk Eva , Hanger-Kopp Susanne
Published: March 2024

Climate change interacts with a multitude of socioeconomic characteristics (i.e. income, age, employment), determining individual risk and coping capacities. However, existing impact assessments of climate risk commonly focus on aggregate levels, leaving blind spots with respect to within-country distributional effects. Adhering to the concept of intersectionality, this study examines differential vulnerabilities and factors determining heterogeneities on a household level in the context of heat and flood related risks in Austria. 

We extend upon previous research by identifying differential vulnerabilities and the patterns determining heterogeneities among agents. To this end, we develop a mixed-methods approach, bringing together two ends of the spectrum: the generic representation of a single representative household and highly context specific individual risk determinants. Building on stakeholder involvement at different governance levels, qualitative insights from workshops and interviews are developed into narratives and storylines. These are vital for identifying key drivers of vulnerability and later integrated and combined with multivariate statistical analysis. Using the K-modes clustering algorithm, we combine geocoded socioeconomic data (e.g. age, sector and type of employment and income) with climate impact data (flood inundation level for different return periods, kysely days) on a 1kmx1km scale. Such development of archetypes aligns quantitative clusters with qualitative narratives, fostering mutual validation and a profound understanding of differential climate risk. Thus, the iterative exchange between quantitative and qualitative methods constitutes the backbone of this study. 

Through this approach, we identify reoccurring indicator combinations to disentangle the socioeconomic drivers of differential vulnerabilities and coping capacities in the context of flood- and heat-related climate risk. This sheds light on the within-country distributional implications of climate change, characterizing archetypical patterns of vulnerability and the constraints underlying adaptive capacities. Our findings contribute towards a more nuanced representation of society in climate impact assessments and enhance the understanding of the individual constraints limiting adaptive capacities, informing the development of targeted and just adaptation. 
Sea surface temperature variations in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (ODP Site 1240) over the last 160 kyr from three lipid paleothermometers (UK'37, TEXH86 and LDI)
Authors: Calvo Eva , Quirós-Collazos Lucía , Rodrigo Marta , Schouten Stefan , Sinninghe-Damsté Jaap , Pena Leopoldo , Cacho Isabel , Pelejero Carles
Published: March 2024

The Pacific Ocean equatorial upwelling region is of great interest to understand climate dynamics within the context of current global change. It plays a key role in global biogeochemical cycles, especially in the carbon cycle, as it stands for being one of the areas with largest CO2 fluxes from the ocean to the atmosphere. Moreover, tropical regions play a key role in regulating global climate, since they control the transfer of thermal energy from low to high latitudes. In this context, and with the aim of reconstructing paleoclimate conditions at glacial-interglacial time scales in this region, we analysed selected molecular biomarkers in the marine sediment core ODP 1240, at the easternmost region of the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (EEP), covering the last 160 kyr. We focused on long-chain alkenones, glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) and long-chain alkyl diols (LCDs). Upon quantification of these lipids, we calculated the UK'37, TEXH86 and LDI indices, and discussed their suitability as paleotemperature proxies to reconstruct sea surface conditions in the study region. We found that UK'37 and TEXH86 derived-temperatures track the warming and cooling trends typical of glacial-interglacial variations. However, while they provide similar temperatures during the last two interglacial maxima, they disagree during glacial periods, when the TEXH86-based estimations display significantly cooler temperatures. The LDI-derived record also shows similar temperatures to those from the UK'37 and TEXH86during the more recent interglacial but, for the last glacial-interglacial period, LDI-derived temperatures remain colder than those of the UK’37 and even colder than those of the TEXH86 at some periods. Multiple factors could be behind this variability and disagreement between the three paleothermometers: depth dwelling, production or exportation of the different biological producers of each lipid, seasonality, diagenetic processes and changes in biogeochemistry conditions of the studied marine region, amongst others. In this presentation, the factors that we believe are most important in the study region will be presented and discussed, to improve our understanding of the biological dynamics of the precursors of each proxy and of their reconstructed marine temperatures in the EEP.
Geochemical characterization of bricks and terracottas used in historical monuments in Ferrara (Italy): Reference to raw materials and production technique
Authors: Marrocchino Elena , Vaccaro Carmela
Published: March 2024

Materials research applied to archaeological ceramic artefacts has garnered widespread interest among scientists, architects, engineers, and archaeologists focused on safeguarding architectural heritage. These ancient structures within historic city centers encapsulate the distinctive history and visual essence of each city across different eras. Assessing both old and new materials following damage to these historical edifices becomes crucial for predicting their behaviour during restoration. This endeavour not only aims to analyze and preserve these artifacts but also aims to explore the knowledge and craftsmanship involved in their creation and use. Characterizing building materials primarily targets preservation and restoration goals, encompassing the origins of historical raw materials, understanding archaeological artifact changes, determining original firing methods, and reconstructing manufacturing technologies. Bricks and ceramics, resembling fired artificial rocks, retain geological imprints from their claystone origins, impacted by local geological settings influencing material availability and building techniques. Take, for instance, Ferrara, a Medieval city in Northeast Italy, strategically positioned between the Adriatic Sea and the Po alluvial plain. Its prosperity during the Renaissance under the Estense family was bolstered by extensive modifications to the city, predominantly utilizing locally abundant silico-clastic sediments for construction.The focus of this research on historical bricks and terracotta decorations from prominent Medieval and Renaissance buildings in Ferrara is to understand the composition of these ancient materials to aid in planning effective restoration treatments, identifying causes of decay, selecting suitable replacement materials, and avoiding incorrect restoration choices. Analyzing the chemical and geological attributes of these materials provides valuable insights into their manufacturing techniques and origins. Moreover, by comparing obtained data with regional sediment records, it has been possible to ascertain the nature and sources of the original raw materials.
The Madrid-CIEMAT GHG Station:  the first monitoring site for surveilling the influence of urban activities on GHG background levels in Spain
Authors: Pujadas Manuel , Dominguez Aida , Benitez Luis
Published: March 2024

The imperative reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, coupled with the implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies against climate change, stand as paramount objectives for developed societies and particularly for the big urban areas within the European Union.Conducting a comprehensive quantitative analysis of urban GHG emissions beyond the official inventories remains as challenging issue. The absence of exhaustive, quantitative, contrasted and methodologically consistent GHG emission data from some urban activities and zones prevent a reliable documentation of actual emissions, avoiding the scientific understanding of their consequences at urban level and, eventually, the definition and application of effective mitigation policies..Madrid City and its metropolitan area is the biggest and most densely populated zone in Spain. It is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula enough far from other cities and it should play a pivotal role as a reference site for meticulous greenhouse gas monitoring in urban areas. To achieve this objective, a GHG monitoring station was launched in CIEMAT facilities in May 2023 equipped with a Picarro G2301 cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS), enabling real-time monitoring of CO2, CH4 and H2O with a 1-second time resolution. The ICOS protocol for its installation was strictly followed. This GHG station is located at the CIEMAT campus in Madrid  (coordinates: 40.456582, -3.725690) away from direct pollutant sources and very close to the Madrid-CIEMAT ACTRIS atmospheric monitoring station equipped with advanced instrumentation for aerosol monitoring, gaseous pollutants and meteorology.During the initial phase of operation of this station, significant variations in GHG concentrations have been documented, as expected, including clear cyclical changes (daily, weekly and monthly). These evolutions are associated to local and regional air mases flows and further detailed investigation will provide valuable information about the contribution of urban GHG sources and the role of natural areas. Ongoing database in the coming months will reveal important details for understanding the evolution of these concentration levels, providing essential information for comparative assessments with other urban centers, and to quantify the contribution of primary urban sources to background concentrations.Another objective for the middle term is to integrate Madrid-CIEMAT GHG station as an active part of ICOS Cities network.
La Palma (Canary Islands) eruption 2021: Forecast and hindcast of eruption duration
Authors: Charco Maria , González Pablo J. , Pallero José L.G. , García-Cañada Laura , Del Fresno Carmen
Published: March 2024

After 50 years of quiescence, the most voluminous eruption since historical records started at La Palma took place (September 19 – December 13, 2021, 85 days and 9 hours of duration). The observed deformation field during the eruption was consistent with a deflating reservoir located at Moho depth beneath Cumbre Vieja volcano. This reservoir has been previously studied and determined that magmas can stagnant and reside there over a wide range of time-scales varying from days-weeks to a few centuries. During the eruption, applying some basic principles we made a forecast of the eruption duration. Under the assumption of mass conservation in a close-system, the pressure drop, responsible for the observed deflation signal, controls eruption duration. On day 38th of the eruption and despite its simplicity, one of our models with a pressure drop equal to 1% of the initial reservoir overpressure provided an estimated duration of 86 ± 7 days. Therefore, less than halfway along the actual duration of the La Palma eruption, the proposed model was able to estimate a possible tight duration. This duration was consistent with historical records of eruption durations in La Palma ranging from 24 to 84 days. The lack of a priori bounds on the pressure drop necessary to cease the eruption made the forecast too uncertain to have operational impact. In hindsight, we empirically show that the pressure drop in the reservoir was actually limited by mass conservation. We conclude that the magma dynamics of the Moho reservoir was the dominant control on the eruptive volume evolution. This study demonstrates that near real-time forecasts of eruption durations will be possible in future similar eruptions at La Palma. Our study opens the possibility to explore the applicability of this method to other volcanoes.
Seismic Mirror-like Surfaces in bituminous dolostones (Central Apennines, Italy)
Authors: Chinello Miriana , Schito Andrea , Bowden Stephen A. , Tesei Telemaco , Spagnuolo Elena , Aretusini Stefano , Di Toro Giulio
Published: March 2024

Mirror-like Surfaces (MSs) are ultra-polished fault surfaces that reflect visible light, thanks to their nanometer-scale surface roughness. They are often found in seismogenic fault zones cutting limestones and dolostones. Both natural and experimentally-produced fault-related MSs have been described in spatial association with ultrafine matrix (grain size
Foraminiferal biomineralization: mechanisms, calcite chemistry and evolution
Authors: de Nooijer Lennart , Pacho Sampedro Laura , Francois Daniel , Karancz Szabina , Reichart Gert-Jan
Published: March 2024

Many foraminifera form shells made of calcium carbonate. The elemental and isotopic composition of these shells varies greatly from inorganically precipitated calcites, suggesting a strong biological control on the process of CaCO3 precipitation. Moreover, this composition differs, sometimes greatly, between species, which may indicate that the controls on calcite chemistry is not fixed among all species. For paleoceanographic application, a better grip on this inter-species variability in calcite chemistry is necessary. Here we present the latest insights in environmental controls on element incorporation, biomineralization mechanisms and evolutionary patterns in biomineralization. An integrated understanding of foraminiferal calcification will also allow predicting their response to changes in marine inorganic carbon chemistry (e.g. ocean acidification), which in turn, is necessary to assess the contribution of changes in foraminiferal calcification rates to (surface) marine inorganic carbon cycling.
Crustal structure of the Dinarides: new insights from the receiver functions and ambient noise tomography 
Authors: Stipčević Josip , Belinić Topić Tena , Rondenay Stéphane , Kolínský Petr
Published: March 2024

The Dinarides, located at the eastern edge of the Adriatic Sea, are the focus of ongoing geophysical research due to their complex tectonic characteristics and distinctive structural transition zones. Prior investigations have identified a two-layered crust with variable thickness, featuring a transitional zone between Dinaric and Pannonian crust. Recent studies have introduced the concept of a deep-seated Dinaric crustal root, marked by a discernible transition to shallower crust along the northern edge.This study includes two complementary research approaches to advance our understanding of the Dinarides' crustal structure: receiver function analysis and ambient noise tomography. The P receiver function method was applied to 123 seismic stations across the broader Dinaric area, involving 1234 teleseismic earthquakes recorded from 2016 to 2023. Results are presented through cross-sectional CCP stacking images, offering a comprehensive visualization of the converted Ps phase crucial for mapping significant crustal discontinuities. Additionally, seven years of continuous data, recorded from 2016 to the end of 2022 at 121 seismic stations, were utilized to calculate phase velocities of surface waves. Eikonal tomography was applied to both Rayleigh and Love waves, with local dispersion curves independently inverted for each surface wave type. The outcomes provide distributions of vertically and horizontally polarized shear-wave velocities, presented as maps at various depths and cross-sectional profiles, contributing to an in-depth exploration of shear-wave velocities across the entire region.The results reveal intriguing insights: a pronounced high-velocity anomaly beneath the Dinarides at shallower depths, a significant low-velocity anomaly in the mid-crust beneath the Dinarides for vertically polarized shear waves, and a distinct, localized thick low-velocity anomaly beneath the NW Dinarides for horizontally polarized shear waves. These findings collectively suggest complex variations in crustal thickness and seismic properties, particularly thickening crust toward the Southern and Inner Dinarides.
Revitalizing underground mines: unlocking the potential of thermal energy storage (MineATES)
Authors: Arab Alireza , Binder Martin , Engelmann Christian , Scheytt Traugott
Published: March 2024

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) has gained prominence as a viable solution for storing surplus heat and cold underground. While traditional TES systems primarily rely on natural aquifers, an emerging approach known as ”Mine Thermal Energy Storage“ (MTES) has garnered attention for repurposing former underground mines.Despite the promise of TES in both Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) and MTES, several operational challenges persist, including clogging, scaling, corrosion, and energy loss across system boundaries. These challenges impact not only the geological matrix but also the integrity of technical infrastructure components such as pipes and heat exchangers.The “MineATES” research and development project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), investigates the feasibility and limitations of employing water-filled cavities in underground mines for TES. The study primarily focuses on the ”Reiche Zeche“ silver mine, designated as a teaching and research site at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Freiberg, Germany. An in-situ “real-laboratory” is established there with the purpose of simulating the periodically varying heat exchange between mine water - here stored in an experimental basin and slowly flowed through with acid precipitation water (pH ~ 2 - 3) - and the surrounding Freiberg Gneiss rock. Comprehensive monitoring of hydrochemical parameters and molecular biological analyses complement multiple heating and cooling cycles within the mine.Furthermore, laboratory-scale column flow experiments and batch reactor tests mimic TES cycles, heating columns up to 60 ⁰C and cooling them down to 10 ⁰C (Figure 1). Comparative investigations include rock materials and mine waters from two other mines in Saxony, namely a former tin ore mine in Ehrenfriedersdorf and a former hard coal mine in Lugau/Oelsnitz.The overarching goal of all experiments is to ascertain the nature, extent, and location of potential chemical alterations during TES operations.Figure 1-  Overview of column experiments
Analysis of climate variability and teleconnection patterns in Sierra de Guadarrama (Iberian Peninsula) using 120-year observed and reconstructed time series
Authors: Durán Luis , González-Cervera Álvaro , Rodríguez-Fonseca Belén
Published: March 2024

Mountains play a crucial role in the climate system at various temporal and spatial scales. Additionally, they serve as vital sources of resources, such as fresh water, and host a diverse range of biodiversity. This influence on development and natural ecosystems is particularly significant in semi-arid regions like the Sierra de Guadarrama. This mountain range is located in the Iberian Peninsula and has been the subject of official meteorological observations since the mid-20th century. Nevertheless, there is a gap in the knowledge of the rainfall and temperature variability and its drivers in this important region. TROPA-UCM group has been intensively observing and studying this range since 1998 and recently, a methodology has been developed to extend the observations from 1900 to present using data from the ERA20C and in-situ observations. This has enabled longer time series and a deeper analysis of large-scale teleconnection patterns and climate variability, unlike ever before. The analysis includes trends in temperature, snow precipitation, and snowpack duration. Variations in precipitation and temperature have been identified, providing valuable information for estimating potential changes in seasonal runoff and rainfall intensity. This information can be of great use to organizations responsible for the management of this area, for developing adaptation strategies for new scenarios and to improve seasonal to decadal predictions.  
Satellite-based surface temperatures of the Arctic ocean and sea ice, 1982–2021. 
Authors: Nielsen-Englyst Pia , Høyer Jacob , Kolbe Wiebke , Karagali Ioanna
Published: March 2024

The Arctic is warming faster than any other region. Despite much attention there has actually been limited consensus on the magnitude of Arctic amplification over time. Within the framework of the Copernicus Marine Monitoring Service Sea Ice Thematic Assembly Center, the first gap-free (L4) of combined sea surface temperature (SST) and sea ice surface temperature (IST) climate data record of the Arctic (>58°N) has been developed for the period 1982-2021. The data set has been generated using optimal interpolation to combine multiple infrared satellite observations to daily, gap-free fields with a spatial resolution of 0.05 degrees. The combination of SST and IST provides a consistent climate indicator which can be used to monitor day-to-day variations as well as climate trends in the Arctic Ocean. Validation against in situ measurements from drifting buoys, moored buoys and Argo floats shows mean differences of 0.01 °C, 0.04 °C and 0.04 °C and standard deviations of 0.54 °C, 0.56 °C and 0.51 °C, respectively for the open ocean. Over sea ice, validation shows a mean difference of 1.52 °C and standard deviation of 3.12 °C, for skin surface temperatures. For air temperatures from the North Pole (NP) ice drifting stations as well as ECMWF distributed buoys and CRREL buoys, validation shows mean differences of −2.35 °C, −3.21 °C and –2.87 °C and standard deviations of 3.12 °C, 3.34 °C and 3.36 °C, respectively. Analysis of the CDR show sea and sea-ice surface temperature of the Arctic has risen with about 4.5 °C over the period 1982–2021, with a peak warming of around 10 °C in the northeastern Barents Sea. The L4 ISTs have been converted to near surface air temperatures (T2m) and initial results indicate that it is possible to derive reliable T2m over sea ice based on the satellite-observed L4 ISTs. The satellite-derived L4 T2m product provides an important supplement to the sparse in situ air temperature network in the Arctic and to the existing model-based air temperatures. It has a large potential to be used for assimilation, global surface temperature reconstructions or for evaluation of global reanalyses and climate models. 
A high-resolution global SWATplus water quality model: Harmonizing local and global perspectives
Authors: Nkwasa Albert , Chawanda Celray James , van Griensven Ann
Published: March 2024

Surface water pollution has emerged as one of the predominant environmental challenges of this century, as human activities and climate change considerably alter the natural quality of freshwater ecosystems. However, gauging the true extent of how polluted or impacted freshwaters are remains challenging globally simply due to limited spatial and temporal water quality observations. To address this gap, we present a high-resolution global water quality model utilizing the Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT+). Our objectives are twofold: (1) to offer locally relevant water quality estimates on a global scale and (2) to understand how human activities and climate change are influencing the water quality of rivers on the globally. In this study, we examine future spatial patterns and temporal trends in river nutrients (Total Nitrogen – TN and Total Phosphorus – TP) and sediment load concentrations until 2100, considering changing climate and socioeconomic conditions. Additionally, we attribute the primary contributing drivers to nutrient water pollution, shedding light on the key factors shaping the future of global water quality.
Examining aboveground biomass and tree cover change in the region of Cantabria, Spain using multiple satellite sensors and machine learning tools in ArcGIS Pro. 
Authors: Graham Lain , Alouta Rami , Tanh Lisa , Xu Hong
Published: March 2024

This talk will discuss techniques used to map aboveground biomass in the region of Cantabria, Spain, and examine tree cover change over time. Using the biomass workflow outlined by Esri's Hong Xu we leverage machine learning tools in ArcGIS Pro, altimeter sensor data, optical satellite imagery, and DEM data to gain foundational insights into land cover and forest density. By combining trajectory point data from GEDI, which contains aboveground biomass information, with surface reflectance bands from Landsat collection 2, and DEM data we examine forest density, and coverage in the Cantabria region. These results are compared to data analyzed from previous decades using deep learning techniques to assess forest change in the region. Using ArcGIS Pro and AWS we can integrate remote sensing datasets from multiple satellite sensors and utilize machine learning tools to train and run a regression model providing us with an estimation of the above-ground biomass for the region of Cantabria, Spain in the form of a raster layer. This data can then be used in conjunction with results from tree cover analysis over time using deep learning and displayed in an interactive web application. This multifaceted analysis can provide researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders with key insights into progress and prioritization and aid in addressing local challenges related to forest health. 
Exploring temporal and spatial dynamics of fresh submarine groundwater discharge: amphibious electrical resistivity tomography in the land-ocean transition zone
Authors: Tur Piedra Jose , Diego-Feliu Marc , Ledo Juanjo , Queralt Pilar , Marcuello Alex , Rodellas Valentí , Folch Albert
Published: March 2024

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a complex hydrological process influenced by multiple mechanisms with various spatiotemporal scales. Quantifying SGD is complex because it depends on various driving forces (e.g., waves, tides, hydraulic gradient) and on the underlying geological context that modulate the occurrence and magnitude of SGD. This poses challenges to the accurate quantification of SGD, especially in heterogeneous nearshore environments. However, there is still limited understanding on SGD spatiotemporal patters hindering the accurate assessment of SGD implications for the coastal ocean.The aim of this study is to use amphibious electrical resistivity tomography (AERT), which combines terrestrial and marine instruments, to assess spatiotemporal patterns of FSGD (Fresh Submarine Groundwater Discharge) in the land-sea interface. This cost-effective method enables prospecting SGD dynamics at the land-sea transition zone based on the resistivity variations in the subsurface induced by salinity changes. The resistivity study was conducted regularly to assess hourly spatiotemporal variations in two aquifers near Barcelona, Spain, with different geological contexts, including detrital and karst formations. The resistivity data in both study sites have been validated with in situ pore water sampling for physicochemical parameters, with a good agreement between resistivity and subsurface salinity. The time-lapse results indicate that even in micro-tidal environments such as the Mediterranean Sea, SGD patterns are highly dynamic, with the karst environment exhibiting a more significant proportion of freshwater in the marine sediments and faster changes than the alluvial context. This methodology proves effective for the spatial and temporal assessment of FSGD. These findings offer a valuable approach for monitoring subsurface salinity changes in coastal aquifers and enhance our understanding of small-scale and short-term SGD variations, which is fundamental to deriving reliable SGD and nutrient flux estimates. 