bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Size classification of particulate organic carbon concentration and its link to the ecosystem based on Machine Learning techniques.
Authors: Denvil-Sommer Anna , Le Quere Corinne , Kiko Rainer , Buitenhuis Erik , Racault Marie-Fanny , Lombard Fabien
Published: March 2024

Biogeochemical ocean models are usually based on two size classes for particulate organic matter: small classes (1-100 𝜇m) and large classes (100-5000 𝜇m). Based on the measurements of particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration from UVP5 profiles and observations of environmental and ecosystem conditions we estimated an optimal number of size classes for POC that can be introduced in biogeochemical ocean models. We identified four size classes based on the correlation between POC concentration and environmental and ecosystem variables. It gives us information on the relationship between POC and surrounding temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, nitrate, phosphate and oxygen levels as well as plankton functional types (PFTs). Further, we applied Machine Learning methods to reconstruct size classes of POC concentration and identify the most important drivers for each class. We showed that the concentration of POC smaller than 0.3 mm mostly depends on environmental characteristics while concentration of POC bigger than 0.3 mm strongly depends on PFTs.  
Spatio-temporal analysis of drought using ground and remote sensing data
Authors: Alpanakis Nikolaos , Loukas Athanasios , Sidiropoulos Pantelis
Published: March 2024

The aim of this paper is the spatial and temporal analysis of droughts in a typical water limited Mediterranean basin, Pinios River Basin in Thessaly, Greece using satellite data and compare this analysis with the spatio-temporal analysis of droughts using ground station data. To achieve this, time series analysis with geoinformatics techniques and the calculation of drought indices is applied. The drought assessment methodology was developed for the determination of spatio-temporal drought analysis using ground and remote sensing data. The analysis was carried out for the common period from October 1981 to September 2002. The methodology was developed by estimating the meteorological drought indices, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for various time scales, but also comparing them with the Surface Runoff Index (hydrological drought index).  Initially, the station monthly precipitation and temperature data were spatially distributed by using an MLR interpolation method.  Thus, a canvas of 487 pixels was created for the entire basin area.  Correlation analysis was performed to validate the results of the spatial distribution of monthly precipitation and temperature.  Precipitation satellite data by Climate Hazards Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) have been used. These global precipitation data have a spatial resolution of 0.05° (5 x 5 km), from 1981.  The monthly temperature was estimated by the ERA5 reanalysis data at the same spatial resolution. The Thornthwaite method was used for the estimation of potential evapotranspiration for both ground and satellite data. The values of the drought indices (SPI and SPEI) estimated using ground and remote sensing data have been compared for the whole period of analysis (1981-2002) and the results were deemed satisfactory. The Pinios River Basin experienced severe, extreme, and persistent droughts during the period from the late 1980s to the early 1990s and in early 2000s and the results of the analysis have been compared for these specific drought events. Furthermore, the drought indices of various time scales were compared for an unregulated sub-basin of Pinios River with the SRI index and the results indicated that a meteorological drought index (SPI and/or SPEI) at 6-month time scale correlates well with the SRI. Overall, the results of the analysis showed that the satellite data could be used for the estimation of drought indices with reasonable accuracy for the analysis of droughts in areas were ground meteorological data are not available.
Keywords: Droughts; Standardized Precipitation Index, SPI; Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, SPEI; Surface Runoff Index, SRI; CHIRPS; ERA5; Pinios River Basin
Impact of Copper oxide nanoparticles on soil isolated Bacillus megaterium  
Authors: Tripathi Gyan Datta , Javed Zoya , Dashora Kavya
Published: March 2024

Bacillus megaterium is a plant growth-promoting bacteria that performs various activities like producing hydrolytic enzymes in the soil such as protease and xylanase, releasing various growth hormones and other bioactive compounds that inhibit the plant pathogenic microbes in the soil. These microorganisms are not only part of the rhizosphere but instrumental in activities such as soil conditioning and nutrient cycling. But as the modernization of agriculture practices comes up with new age agrochemicals, called nano-agrochemicals, the concerns of toxicity also increased. These nano agrochemicals (such as CuO nanoparticles) have several advantages over the traditional chemicals, however, several properties like small size, lower dissolution, and potential to alter soil properties such as pH, raise serious threats to the soil beneficial microbes. It is also estimated that the accumulation of nanoparticles in the soil may become available for microbial ecosystems and cause toxicity with unique mechanisms, eg contact mode toxicity. Copper oxide nanoparticles are integral to new-era agrochemicals like nano-pesticides, nano-fertilizers, etc. There are mixed reviews on the toxicity of CuO nanoparticles on soil owing to diverse microbiota. Our in vitro studies were focused on the analysis of the size and dose-dependent impact of nanoparticles on the plant growth-promoting species  Bacillus megaterium at cellular, morphological as well as Indole acetic acid (IAA) production potential. Our study reveals that the small dose (0.05mg/ml) of copper oxide is not harmful to the microbes because copper is one of the essential elements However at upper concentration around 0.5mg to 1 mg/ml was significantly toxic for the Bacillus megaterium. The size-dependent toxicity on IAA production was also tested with the two different sizes of the CuO nanoparticles and the results were not significantly different.   
“Identification and Characterization of Paleoalluvial Events in the  Ranrahírca Hydrographic Unit, Cordillera Blanca, Perú”
Authors: Jara Infantes W. Harrinson , Cosi Manuel Cosi , Torres Juan C. , Lehmann Benjamin , Zerathe Swann , Villafane Hilbert , Melgarejo Enver , Caballero Adriana , Cachay Sara , Mamani Leila
Published: March 2024

AbstractsThe Cordillera Blanca, located in Peru, is a mountain range with peaks exceeding 6000 meters, preserving tropical glaciers on its surface. Currently, due to global climate change resulting from both natural and anthropogenic causes, glaciers are rapidly losing surface area and volume. Over a period of 58 years, between 1962 and 2020, the Cordillera Blanca (CB) has lost 301.4 km2 of glacier surface, equivalent to 41.50% of the total area. This has led to an increased occurrence of ice and rock avalanches, triggering violent overflow events of glacial lakes and alluvial processes. In this context, the Hydrographic Unit (HU) Ranrahírca has recorded the occurrence of two extreme avalanche events originating from the North Peak of Nevado Huascarán, corresponding to the 1962 event in Ranrahírca and the 1970 event in Yungay.The objective is to identify, differentiate, categorize, and correlate unconsolidated deposits with different historical alluvial events (Paleoalluvions) of significant magnitude that occurred on the north peak of Nevado Huascarán, Cordillera Blanca. This involves a detailed grain size analysis of soils, with emphasis on lithology, dimensions, shape, and degree of weathering of the clasts in their composition, as well as their fine material content, aiding in temporally situating the origin event. The primary study area is the Yungay district, located at the lower part of Nevado Huascarán, where Quaternary material from various paleoalluvions has accumulated in a fan-shaped pattern in the lower part of the Ranrahírca HU. This area extends for several kilometers, currently encompassing the urban areas of Yungay and Ranrahírca.To achieve this, fieldwork was conducted in August 2023 in the Yungay and Ranrahírca areas. Seven (07) chronostratigraphic columns were surveyed, and thirteen (13) soil samples were collected from different cut sections of slopes. These efforts have allowed the differentiation of various paleoalluvionic events and, in some cases, evidence the transition between them.Keywords: Cordillera Blanca, rock-ice paleoavalanche, grain size analysis, chronostratigraphic column.
Community resilience to floods: tracking top controls of insurance adoption.
Authors: Pena Malaquias , Yin Yue , Chen Xinyi , Yang Qing , Mei Yiwen , Price James
Published: March 2024

Flood insurance penetration, the fraction of the properties in an area with a policy contract protection for potential flood damage, is a key indicator of community awareness and preparedness for risk. Factors influencing flood insurance adoption include geographic location, property attributes, availability and affordability of insurance, and homeowners’ socioeconomic attributes. The extent to which these factors control penetration can help assess the level of resilience, including financial capital a community has to be able to absorb and restore itself during and after the event, respectively. Here, we compare 37 factors in four categories: geo-hydrological, socioeconomic, claim-related, and property-specific across the continental U.S. at the county level from 2010 to 2019 to identify the top controls in the aggregated and the regionalized geographical domains. A Random Forecast model indicates that hazard proximity, property age, historical claims, and household income are the more important controls in the total aggregated domain. We then categorize the data according to geographic regions from high to low designated risk to analyze the resulting ranking structure of the top controls. We further assess the range of model error and quantify the individual predictor’s contribution. Insights are sought to improve the model for compounding extremes, especially for coastal regions.
The importance of data management principles for efficient data spaces
Authors: Bye Bente Lilja , Voidrot Marie-Francoise
Published: March 2024

The European Commission has launched the European strategy for data, introducing an exciting vision of data spaces for many domains. This data space concept and its expected benefits have been so attractive that we already observe many ongoing initiatives building data spaces with large thematic overlaps as well as data spaces at different geographic scales including addressing different periods of time.  Interoperability across data spaces in such a context is of increasing importance, and in order to prepare for the necessary interoperability also between the numerous thematic and domain-specific data spaces,  a minimum requirement to begin with is good data management. In this presentation, an overview of key data management principles such as the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) data sharing and data management principles, FAIR, CARE, and TRUST principles will be given. A comparison based on the experience from the GEO dialogue series in 2022 and 2023 and how the principles in various ways support the creation of efficient, usable data spaces will be offered. There will be a focus on interoperability throughout the preparation to the creation and management of data spaces and how this is pivotal to avoid data fragmentation and thereby contribute to efficiently implementing  parts of the European data strategy, namely the data spaces concept. 
Deformation, fluid flow and diagenesis in deformed granular rocks across scales
Authors: Rotevatn Atle , Dimmen Vilde , Heggernes Hakan , Demurtas Matteo , Fossen Haakon , Osagiede Edoseghe , Cavailhes Thibault
Published: March 2024

The study of deformation, fluid flow and diagenesis within porous granular rocks includes processes spanning from the sub-millimetric pore and grain scale, to 10s to 100s km-long fault systems that delineate entire sedimentary basins and rift systems. Based on outcrop examples globally, we here show how selective, structurally controlled diagenesis is manifested across scales, discuss some of the key aspects of the governing processes involved and how such understanding may be used in attempts to subsurface predictions. Grain scale observations are focused on deformation within siliciclastic, carbonates and volcaniclastic rocks, allowing us to investigate the role of material properties in controlling how deformation is localized and accommodated. We further discuss how grain-scale deformation affects permeability, fluid flow and structurally controlled fluid-rock interaction. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we discuss the relations between deformation, fluid flow and diagenesis at the scale of basin bounding fault systems in rift basins. Finally, we address the significance of understanding structures as elements of structural networks, and how network properties may hold the potential for a more quantitative understanding of structurally controlled fluid flow.
Comparative analysis of rainfall characteristics for two distinct research plots
Authors: Komma Jürgen , Szeles Borbala , Zabret Katarina , Šraj Mojca , Parajka Juraj
Published: March 2024

In natural environments, rainfall causes soil erosion, which has a significant impact on the agricultural production and the ecological conditions of the streams. Due to different types of vegetation, their unique characteristics and seasonality, there are still a lot of open scientific questions about how rainfall interception process influences the rainfall erosivity and soil erosion. With the aim of improving knowledge about rainfall interception by different vegetation and its impact on the rainfall erosivity, an interdisciplinary and international research team (Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenian Forestry Institute and Technical University of Vienna) work together in the research project entitled “Evaluation of the impact of rainfall interception on soil erosion”. In the scope of the project, drop size distribution measurements above and below selected plants will be conducted in combination with classical measurements of rainfall partitioning. The measurements are ongoing in the small urban park in Ljubljana, Slovenia and in the experimental catchment with mainly agricultural land use in Lower Austria (The Hydrological Open Air Laboratory HOAL in Petzenkirchen). To evaluate the differences in rainfall characteristics for the two research plots, a comparative analysis on rainfall event properties such as rainfall amount, duration and intensity, size and velocity distribution of raindrops is performed. The aim of the presentation is to introduce the project and presents the first comparison of the rainfall characteristics at research plots in Austria and Slovenia.Acknowledgments: This contribution is part of the ongoing research project entitled “Evaluation of the impact of rainfall interception on soil erosion” supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (project J2-4489) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) I 6254-N.
Revolutionizing Flood Forecasting with a Generalized Deep Learning Model
Authors: Hofmann Julian , Holt Adrian
Published: March 2024

The domain of spatial flood prediction is dominated by hydrodynamic models, which, while robust and adaptable, are often constrained by computational requirements and slow processing times. To address these limitations, the integration of Deep Learning (DL) models has emerged as a promising solution, offering the potential for rapid prediction capabilities, while maintaining a high output quality. However, a critical challenge with DL models lies in their requirement for retraining for each new domain area, based on the outputs of hydrodynamic simulations generated for that specific region. This need for domain-specific retraining hampers the scalability and quick deployment of DL models in diverse settings. Our research focuses on bridging this gap by developing a fully generalized DL model for flood prediction.FloodWaive's approach pivots on creating a DL model that can predict flood events rapidly and accurately across various regions without requiring retraining for each new domain area. The model is trained on a rich dataset derived from numerous hydrodynamic simulations, encompassing a wide spectrum of topographical conditions. This training is designed to enable the model to generalize its predictive capabilities across different domains and weather patterns, thus overcoming the traditional limitation of DL models in this field.Initial findings from the development phase are promising, showcasing the model's capability to process complex data and provide quick, accurate flood predictions. The success of this fully generalized DL modeling approach could revolutionize applications of flood predictions such as flood forecasting and risk analysis. Regarding the later, real-time evaluation of flood protection measures could become a reality. This would empower urban planners, emergency response teams, and environmental agencies with the ability to make informed decisions quickly, potentially saving lives and reducing economic losses.While this project is still in its developmental stages, the preliminary results point towards a significant leap in flood forecasting technology. The ultimate goal is to offer a universally deployable, real-time flood prediction tool, significantly enhancing our ability to mitigate the impact of floods worldwide.  
Long-term dynamics of crop water consumption in the irrigated lands of the Amu Darya basin 
Authors: Peña-Guerrero Mayra Daniela , Umirbekov Atabek , Tarasova Larisa , Rufin Philippe , Senay Gabriel , Müller Daniel
Published: March 2024

The most water-stressed basins accommodate almost one third of the global irrigated agriculture. Future food production in these basins is threatened not only by excessive water consumption but also by climate change impacts that endanger irrigation water availability and increase water requirements of crops through increasing evapotranspiration (ET). Endorheic river basins in Central Asia are particularly susceptible to climate change. Large-scale irrigation projects during the Soviet period, mainly for water- intensive cotton cultivation, already contributed to the rapid desiccation and salinization of the Aral Sea, formerly the world’s fourth-largest inland water body. Changes in cropping practices after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 included planning less water intensive winter wheat along with an increase in cropping frequency, however the impacts of these changes in land use and of climate change on water consumption remain unknown. Here, we estimated the spatial and temporal dynamics of crop ET and its driving factors across the Amu Darya basin, from 1987 to 2019 using hydrometeorological data, Landsat imagery, yearly maps of cropping practices, and ET estimations derived from the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model. The results show an overall increase of 20% in crop water consumption despite the decrease in water intensive cropping. Downstream countries Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have the highest contribution to water consumption. Although changes in cropping practices contributed positively to water demand, annual ET increased in the last 30 years in accordance with the exacerbating temperature rise. Our study provides the first long-term and high-resolution analysis of crop water consumption in the Amu Darya Basin which can support water managers and policy makers towards improved water management decision and planning in a changing climate. 
What are the top priorities for (co-) creating hydrological forecast systems that add value across spatial scales and time horizons? Outcomes from the 2023 HEPEX workshop
Authors: Bennett James , Pechlivanidis Ilias , Du Yiheng , Boucher Marie-Amélie , Wetterhall Fredrik
Published: March 2024

Creating forecast systems that add value across spatial scales and time horizons is crucial for a variety of fields, from meteorology and climate science to business and public policy. The priorities for developing such systems may vary depending on the specific domain and objectives. The international community of practice of the Hydrological Ensemble Prediction Experiment (HEPEX) has been seeking to advance the science and practice of hydrological ensemble prediction and its use in impact- and risk-based decision-making. Over the years, HEPEX has been promoting knowledge utilising cutting-edge techniques and data to innovate hydrological forecasting methods, products and systems, and improve services for users in the water-related sectors. During the 2023 HEPEX workshop in Norrköping, Sweden, (https://hepex.org.au/hepex-workshop-2023-forecasting-across-spatial-scales-and-time-horizons/), the community proposed and elaborated on the key priorities for (co-)creating hydrological forecast systems that are broadly applicable and can add value for local/regional decision-making. The notes from five breakout groups (about 10 participants in each group) were collected and analysed, while the proposed efforts and ways forward were classified and prioritised. Here, we present the outcomes from these breakout discussions, while we support the identified priorities providing backgrounds on the science needed, the HEPEX contribution towards these priorities, and the path forward for contributing to the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
Fluid Transport Properties Heterogeneity Evolution During Fault Growth: Coupling Realistic Fluid Flow Simulations with Triaxial Experimental Data and Pore Pressure Heterogeneity Measurements
Authors: Farsi Ado , Aben Frans , Brantut Nicolas
Published: March 2024

Tectonic formation, fault activity, and earthquakes are influenced by the concentration of fluid within the Earth's crust. In this work, we aim to unravel the spatial and temporal evolution of fluid transport properties during fault growth to gain insights into the dynamics of fluid flow and its impact on fault development. This is done by taking advantage of a rich data set of measurements of stress, deformation, fluid flux, local pore pressure and acoustic emission locations, coupled with three-dimensional numerical simulations.We induced quasi-static failure in an initially intact sample of Westerly granite under triaxial conditions. Fault growth was monitored using acoustic emission locations. Deformation was periodically halted to conduct flow-through tests, during which pore pressure heterogeneity and flow rate were measured. The exact geometry of the tested sample was then numerically reconstructed, and three-dimensional finite element simulations of Darcy flow were employed to estimate the heterogenous fluid flow properties for all the stages of the experiment by least-square minimisation within an adjoint framework. For each stage of the test the following two models of permeability heterogeneity were considered: i) different local permeability values are inverted for a regular grid in the fault zone and for the remaining volume of the sample; ii) empirical coefficients are inverted to link the change in permeability within the sample to the acoustic emission event density.We were able to identify the stages during the faulting process where the permeability undergoes the most significant changes: in the initial stages following peak stress, the permeability of the fault zone increases, reaching up to approximately 150 times the permeability of the bulk. The subsequent significant increase (up to approximately 400 times the permeability of the bulk) occurs when the equivalent fault slip ranges between 0.6 and 0.7 millimetres. No substantial increase is observed for the remaining stages of the faulting process. We were also able to determine the extent of permeability heterogeneity along the shear fault zone, revealing variations of up to 8 times between different zones within the fault volumes. These variations are dependent on the specific stage of the faulting process.
Navigating global challenges: development and application of a coupled groundwater and crop growth model
Authors: de Graaf Inge
Published: March 2024

Groundwater is the largest accessible freshwater resource on earth and is critical for people and the environment. In many regions around the world, sectoral water demands exceed the availability of surface water and groundwater is being pumped. Irrigation stands out as the largest groundwater user worldwide, with ca. 40% of current irrigated agriculture relying on groundwater. In many heavily irrigated regions, groundwater abstractions surpass replenishment, resulting in often severely declining groundwater levels. This leads to groundwater depletion, reduced streamflow, drying of wells and springs, land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, and deteriorating surface water quality due to reduced pollutant dilution.In the coming decades, global food demands will increase, driven by a growing world population and socio-economic development. A major challenge lies ahead in how to sustainably ensure sufficient regionally and globally available food. It is inevitable that agriculture will increasingly rely on groundwater to support the required increase in crop production, but the extent to which this groundwater can be extracted sustainably from a quantity and quality perspective is still largely unknown.In this talk, the latest advances in our model development will be presented, focussing specifically on linking groundwater dynamics, surface water interactions, and crop production at both global and regional scales. A specific focus lies on connecting global and regional scales and approaches to better understand the impacts and trade-offs related to global change. In addition, attention will be given to the development of regionally relevant adaptation strategies for sustainable groundwater use worldwide. 
Preventing Salt Precipitation in Soils through Density-Driven Salt Instabilities
Authors: Kiemle Stefanie , Schollenberger Theresa , Heck Katharina , Helmig Rainer , Bringedal Carina , van Duijn Hans
Published: March 2024

Soil salinization causes severe problems in agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, as it leads to soil degradation and reduces plant growth. During evaporation from a saline-water-saturated soil, salt accumulates near the top of the soil. Depending on the conditions, the increasing salt concentration will either lead to precipitation once the solubility limit is reached or due to the increase in the liquid density a gravitationally unstable situation is given, where instabilities in the form of fingers will develop. Hence, salt can be transported downwards. The development of these instabilities and the potential salt precipitation have been analyzed using numerical simulations on the REV-scale. The simulations were performed by using the numerical simulator DuMuX.  We analyzed the relevant processes to identify the influence of different parameters like soil-hydraulic properties, evaporation rate, or salt properties on precipitation. In Bringedal et. al., 2022, the appearance of instabilities during evaporation from a one-phase system was investigated using a linear stability analysis and numerical simulations on the REV-scale. The linear stability set criteria for the onset of instabilities for a large range of parameters, whereas the numerical simulations provide information about the development of the instabilities after onset. By combining both methods, we can predict the occurrence of instabilities and their effect on the salt concentration near the top boundary. This analysis has been extended to two-phase systems to analyze the impact of phase saturation on the development of salt instabilities. In future work,  we plan to improve the REV-scale models with the help of the pore-network model. This will be done by identifying relevant parameters for salinization processes on the pore scale and using suitable upscaling methods for the use on the REV-scale.
Determining the soil water balance at a large-scale lysimetric facility with 60 years of uninterrupted data comprising a grassland basin, oak/beech and a pine basin
Authors: Gaj Marcel , Costabel Stephan , Erlach Michèle , Frank Julia , Tarasyuk Viktoriya , Peth Stephan , Schimetzek Vera
Published: March 2024

The research facility St. Arnold presented here consists of three individual lysimeters with an area of 400m² and 3.5m depth each. They are similar in soil types but differ in vegetation cover. This unique setup allows the direct comparison of the water balance of grassland, oak/beech forest and pine forest under the same climatic and topographic boundary conditions. The later site were cut after a significant storm occurred in 2007. Since a pioneer forest developed. The data collection of precipitation, groundwater recharge, temperature, humidity and sunshine duration started in 1964. In addition, stem diameter at certain trees has been determined once a year.  All data until 1997 were collected manually. After that automated collection of hydro climatic data were established and transmitted directly into the database of LANUV. From the data, evaporation rates were calculated with Penman-Montheith. More recently in October 2023 undisturbed soil cores where collected and analyses for their saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. In addition, the investigation of the water balance has been done with HYDRUS 3D.The data shows significant trends. Further, it can be observed how storm damage and/ or clear-cut of forested areas impact the soil water balance.  The long-term average of the period 1965 to 2007 showed, the grassland basin turns more than half of its annual incoming precipitation into leachate and only 36% into evaporation while the deciduous forest exhibits a ratio of 36% leachate and 56% for evapotranspiration. The evergreen coniferous forest shows the highest evaporation rate 65% and the lowest leachate rate with 26%. (Harsch et al., 2009)An upgrade of the entire facility with state of the art measurements devices is in progress. This will initiated with a geophysical survey in the beginning of 2024 along with the installation of soil moisture and tensiometer sensors. Depending on funding permanent and long term geophysical measurements and stable isotope analysis will be conducted all data will be available open source. We welcome collaborators for joint research at the facility. Harsch, N., Brandenburg, M., & Klemm, O. (2009). Large-scale lysimeter site St. Arnold, Germany: analysis of 40 years of precipitation, leachate and evapotranspiration. Hydrology and earth system sciences, 13(3), 305-317.
Methanotrophy Potential in Tropical Peatland under Different Land Use in Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Yeong Claudia Jenai , Lindang Herman Umbau , Ho Adrian , Lau Sharon Yu Ling , Lihan Samuel , Horn Marcus Andreas , Melling Lulie
Published: March 2024

Tropical peatlands hold immense global significance, serving as critical ecosystems that provide a wide range of services including carbon storage. The conversion of a large fraction of tropical peatlands into primarily agricultural lands in Malaysia has raised concern over the dynamics of carbon cycle including methane (CH4) in tropical peat soil. As CH4 is a potent greenhouse gas mainly produced under anoxic conditions, it is widely assumed that the waterlogged nature of peatlands emit a significant amount of CH4, though CH4 emission in tropical peatlands are comparatively lower than boreal peatlands. Methane oxidation (methanotrophy) by methanotrophic bacteria is the only known biological oxidation of CH4. However, there is a limited understanding of the methanotrophy in tropical peat soil of different land use. This study aims to study the methanotrophy potential in both tropical peat swamp forest and oil palm plantations. Soil sampling was carried out in July 2023 (dry season) from peat swamp forest of Maludam National Park and an oil palm plantation (OPP), encompassing both matured and young OPP. All sites are historically from Mixed Peat Swamp (MPS) forest type. Peat sample was collected from the topsoil (0-10 cm depth). Methanotrophy potential was assessed by incubation in 100 mL vial bottle supplemented with 2-3% v/v CH4. Soil pH, moisture content, total C and N, and electrical conductivity were determined. The total N differs significantly (p
Assessment of future climate risk and vulnerability of local communities in High Mountain Asia
Authors: Vijayan Nair Anju , Dobariya Rahim , Gurung Deo Raj , Nikolopoulos Efthymios
Published: March 2024

Higher altitude regions like High Mountain Asia (HMA) are particularly affected by future climate change where the increasing temperature coupled with inconsistent precipitation results in rapid glacier melting during summers and less regeneration of glaciers in winters affecting the livelihoods of billions of people. Access to information on future climate change and related hazards is essential to significantly reduce the impacts on socio-economic systems in HMA. In this study, we focus on identifying the areas in northwest HMA where climate extremes are projected to increase in magnitude and/or frequency. For this, statistically downscaled climate projections (at 5km resolution) derived from a 30-member ensemble of GFDL SPEAR CMIP6 are used to evaluate the projected trends in precipitation and temperature (for years 2015 to 2100) over Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and northern Pakistan under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Analysis of changes in precipitation and temperature with respect to the historic climate (1990 to 2014) is done to evaluate the vulnerability to climate hazards including droughts and heatwaves. Analysis of the changes in future climate revealed a rapid increase in the occurrence of droughts and heatwaves towards the end of the century, affecting several communities in the region. Following the methodology developed by the Implementation Platform of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change (MIP4Adapt), the climate risk and vulnerability of local communities in the region is quantified. The results of this study provide critical information to stakeholders and the local communities to proactively prepare for the anticipated climate risks in the future and to adopt appropriate mitigation measures.
A tool for governance informed deliberation in Greater Geneva region:impossibility of current circular economy food metabolism
Authors: Folz Alexander , Lehmann Anthony , Giampietro Mario
Published: March 2024

Given current world population, persistence of global diet, and considerable environmental damage relatedthereto, food consumption is a major source of concern for environmental sustainability. In relation to theseissues, Greater Geneva agglomeration outlined several legitimate, albeit potentially contrasting set of objectivesfor 2050 in its 2022 political commitment for a sustainable transition: preserving and regenerating localbiodiversity, reducing environmental pressures generated by society, while ensuring good health, equity andinclusion of all its inhabitants, and contributing to the improvement of world population’s well-being. Toarbitrate between these conflicting pledges requires the use of an accounting system able to integrate themsimultaneously. For this purpose, MuSIASEM accounting approach (Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societaland Ecosystem Metabolism) is applied to the Greater Geneva region and Geneva Canton: it relates informationpertaining to (i) the diet, (ii) the techno-economic performance of the agricultural sector, (iii) environmentalpressures generated by agriculture, (iv) the level of dependence on imports. MuSIASEM allowed to characterizethe region’s food metabolism for a current Swiss diet and a more plant-based diet: with a current Swiss diet,were Greater Geneva region to internalize all food consumption, it would require considerable increases in theshare of agricultural land and agricultural workers in society. Shifting from an animal to a more plant-based dietwould significantly reduce environmental and social pressures. In addition, viewing Greater Geneva region asreference political boundary for assessing food security would render the former more environmentally feasible:thereby making an extension of Geneva Canton’s biodiversity strategy 2030 to Greater Geneva – of protecting30% of territory for ecological infrastructure – in turn more plausible. This study showed the potential ofMuSIASEM approach in characterizing a region’s food metabolism, yet it could be applied in other domains toassess a society’s water, energy or human activity metabolism.
Changes in Permafrost under Climate Change and Their Impacts on Eco-hydrological Processes: A Case Study of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Pan Xiaoduo , Li Hu , Nie Xiaowei
Published: March 2024

Permafrost, a crucial component of the cryosphere, is mainly distributed in the high latitude and high altitude regions of the northern hemisphere, and is extremely sensitive to climate change. With global warming, permafrost is undergoing significant degradation worldwide, leading to substantial impacts on regional hydrological cycles, carbon cycles, ecological environments, and engineering construction. In our study, the Stefan’s solution and downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) datasets are employed to simulate the soil freeze depth, and the frost number model is utilized to calculate the frost number (F) based on the air freezing/thawing index derived from the downscaled CMIP6 datasets. A novel method was introduced to determine the optimal frost number threshold (Ft) to simulate the distribution of permafrost. The simulated permafrost distribution maps are compared with the existing permafrost distribution map to identify the optimal Ft with the Kappa coefficient as a measure of classification accuracy. Taking the Tibetan Plateau (TP) as a case study, the depth and distribution of permafrost were simulated under different Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP) scenarios on the TP. The changes in permafrost depth and distribution on the TP under different climate change scenarios and their impacts on eco-hydrological processes were analyzed. It is projected that the depth and area of permafrost will significantly decrease. Especially under the SSP585 scenario, by the end of the 21st century, the permafrost of the TP will be almost completely degraded, and the regional mean SFD of the TP is projected to decrease by more than 50 cm compared to the current depth. The rapid decrease in the depth and area of permafrost on the TP may lead to a decrease in soil moisture and have adverse impacts on vegetation growth. This study provides valuable insights for understanding the changes in permafrost and their impacts on eco-hydrological processes.
Observations of Greenland Ice Sheet mass loss over the past 2ka
Authors: Andresen Camilla S. , Hesselbjerg Christensen Jens , Lauritzen Mikkel , Brinkmann Inda , Schøtt Hvidberg Christine , van der Laan Larissa , Nisancioglu Kerim , Gomez Natalya , Grotheer Hendrik
Published: March 2024

This study aims to contribute data, that will improve understanding on the role of Greenland ice sheet melt in modulating midlatitude climate.A great hamper to our understanding of the influence from Greenland ice sheet melt on European climate variability comes from the lack of high-resolution observations of dynamic mass loss from the from Greenland Ice Sheet extending beyond the instrumental time scale. Building on a large repository of sediment cores taken from fjords by some of Greenland’s largest marine terminating glaciers, we aim to reconstruct multi-decadal to centennial scale changes in the iceberg production (solid ice mass loss) over the past 2ka. The IRD proxy method has conventionally been used in deep sea cores to elucidate major instability events of glacial ice sheets but has shown potential as a glacier proxy through the correspondence of the 20th century IRD records with historical and instrumental records of glacier margin positions of Sermeq Kujalleqand Upernavik Glacier in West Greenland, and Helheimand Kangerlussuaq Glaciers in Southeast Greenland.Here we show reconstructions of dynamic mass loss from from Sermeq Kujalleqand Helheim Glacier over the past 2ka. The data indicate marked melt variability at the multidecadal to centennial time scales from West Greenland during the Roman Warm Period, whereas SE Greenland Glaciers may have been buffered by sea ice at this time.
Impact of using a 3.5 μm film to analyze the chemical composition of crystal samples with a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence equipment
Authors: Dias Filipa , Ribeiro Ricardo , Lima Alexandre , Gonçalves Filipe , Roda-Robles Encarnación , Martins Tânia
Published: March 2024

Some potassium-feldspar crystals from lithium-rich aplite-pegmatites from Northern Portugal have been analyzed with a handheld X-Ray-Fluorescence (XRF) equipment. This study compares the impact of analyzing the samples with an XRF film versus analyzing them without it. The film used was a Hitachi Poly-S High Performance XRF Sample Film of 3.5 μm, commonly used for analyzing samples in cups and powders. Although Hitachi alerts for the unsuitability of the film for analyzing light elements, this study helps understand the extent of error that this film can cause when analyzing this type of sample. 15 cleaned potassium feldspar crystals with a size between 1-3 cm have been analyzed with a Bruker S1 TITAN 600 containing an X-ray tube with a 2 W and 5-100 μA Rh anode. The Geomining factory calibration was used for the sample analysis.The results show that the potassium-feldspars analyzed with the film had their major elements drop by 20-40% for silica (SiO2), 30-50% for aluminum (Al2O3) and 10-20% for potassium (K2O). As for the trace elements, calcium (Ca) dropped by 20-30%, phosphorous (P) by 20-40% and rubidium (Rb) and iron (Fe) have small errors that can vary from plus 0-10% to minus 0-10%. Knowing the film impact will hopefully be of assistance for the correct interpretation of portable XRF results during field campaigns for mineral exploration.This study was financially supported by FCT, I.P., in the framework of the ICT (UIDB/04683/2020 and UIDP/04683/2020), by the PhD project (2020.05534.BD) and by national funds from MCTES, through FCT, co-financed by ESF through POCH and NORTE 2020. This work is also supported by the Greenpeg project, reference 869274, funded by the Horizon 2020 framework program of the European Union.
Analysis of DInSAR measurements in volcanic framework through an integrated multiscale approach: the Yellowstone caldera case-study.
Authors: Barone Andrea , Fedi Maurizio , Pepe Antonio , Tizzani Pietro , Castaldo Raffaele
Published: March 2024

The topic of this contribution is the use of the integrated multiscale approach to model the deformation field in volcanic framework retrieved through Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technique. Specifically, the proposed approach is based on the properties of the harmonic elastic fields satisfying the homogeneity laws and involves multi-scale procedures, such as the Multiridge and ScalFun methods, and boundary analysis techniques, such as the Total Horizontal Derivative (THD). These methodologies allow an unambiguous estimate of the geometrical parameters of the deformation sources, which are the depth, the horizontal position, its shape and horizontal extent, and have turned out to be valid tools for studying simple field sources.We now show the application of the integrated multiscale approach to model sources with any geometry, also irregular. To do this, we perform several synthetic data tests based on simulated deformation field through COMSOL Multiphysics software package; the results show that we are able to estimate geometrical parameters of geometrically irregular bodies without using any reference model. Finally, we propose an application to real ground deformation dataset, that is the case of the 2004 – 2010 uplift episode occurred at Yellowstone caldera resurgent domes area. We conclude by highlighting the advantages of the proposed methodology and the future developments (in progress) arising from the harmonic properties of elastic deformation fields.
Citizen science project in the M’zab valley oases (Algeria): Making groundwater management visible to young generations through the participatory visual approach
Authors: Hamamouche Meriem Farah , Saidani Mohamed Amine , Fantini Emanuele
Published: March 2024

The skills, knowledge, values and rules of common resources management, like surface and groundwater in the M’zab valley (Algeria), are transmitted for centuries from one generation to another orally and on the field through observation and participation in the agricultural and water distribution tasks from a very young age. However, the continuity of intergenerational transfer of traditional knowledge faces challenges. Alterations of the water cycle related to climate change, mainly resulted in water scarcity, and technological transformations like the introduction of mechanised individual pumps, have disrupted the traditional collective organisation and challenged the intergenerational transmission of water management knowledge that prevailed in traditional systems. This has caused a loss of interest among the younger generation in their traditional knowledge around the governance of water resources. The participatory visual approach can facilitate community involvement in different citizen science projects. Our work explored how this approach can be used to address traditional knowledge holders’ concern about how to involve the younger generation in the groundwater management. We propose integrating different forms of knowledge- the research and video made by professional researchers, as well as the videos by four local scouts belonging to the M'zab oasis community.The experience of participatory video enabled the four scouts to achieve three main things. Firstly, their involvement in concrete and practical projects enabled them to seek out information from knowledge holders from different backgrounds, deepen their own knowledge about the community-managed groundwater recharge and use system groundwater recharge and use system, acquire new skills (i.e. audio-visual and editing), express their perception and vision. Secondly, the four scouts used participatory video combining images and narrative to creatively and engagingly denounce two major environmental problems. Finally, the scouts used the potential of video to launch a call to action, building on the power of images and the emotions that those images can elicit.Moreover, the interaction between research and artistic methods enables knowledge to be co-produced in a more dynamic and creative way. It also enables to overcome academia's bias against non-academic data. In our case study, the co-production of knowledge is crucial to raise awareness among young people. We believe that connecting different knowledge systems, traditional and scientific expertise, and emotions, can contribute to more sustainable governance of common resources like groundwater, by remembering the past, documenting the present and imagining the future.