Climatic Variations Research Articles

Residential exposure to Aspergillus spp. is associated with exacerbations in COPD.

Sensitisation to Aspergillus fumigatus is linked to worse outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however, its prevalence and clinical implications in domestic (residential) settings remains unknown. Individuals with COPD (n=43) recruited in Singapore had their residences prospectively sampled and assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing including indoor air, outdoor air, and touch surfaces (total: 126 specimens). The abundance of environmental A. fumigatus and the occurrence of A. fumigatus (Asp f) allergens in the environment were determined and immunological responses to A. fumigatus allergens determined in association with clinical outcomes including exacerbation frequency. Findings were validated in 12 individuals (31 specimens) with COPD in Vancouver, Canada, a climatically different region. 157 metagenomes from 43 homes were assessed. Eleven and nine separate Aspergillus spp. were identified in Singapore and Vancouver respectively. Despite climatic, temperature, and humidity variation, A. fumigatus was detectable in the environment from both locations. The relative abundance of environmental A. fumigatus was significantly associated with exacerbation frequency in both Singapore (r=0.27, p=0.003) and Vancouver (r=0.49, p=0.01) and individuals with higher Asp f 3 sensitisation responses lived in homes with a greater abundance of environmental Asp f 3 allergens (p=0.037). Patients exposed and sensitised to Asp f 3 allergens demonstrated a higher rate of COPD exacerbations at 1-year follow-up (p=0.021). Environmental A. fumigatus exposure in the home environment including air and surfaces with resulting sensitisation carries pathogenic potential in individuals with COPD. Targeting domestic A. fumigatus abundance may reduce COPD exacerbations.

Holocene paleoenvironment of the Nihewan Basin, China, inferred from high-resolution luminescence dating and a multiproxy analysis of gully sediments

As a pivotal region for studying early human occupation in East Asia, the Nihewan Basin has witnessed numerous studies on Paleolithic sites and associated paleoenvironmental records. However, little attention has been given to the Holocene period, despite the basin being a crossroads for the exchange of NE China Neolithic cultures. In the central part of the Nihewan Basin, we found a gully sediment section with a thickness of ∼9 m, which exhibits clear parallel bedding throughout. The section is composed of ten sediment layers (Layers 10–1 from bottom to top), from which three distinct dark-colored soil layers (Layers 8, 4 and 2) and two erosion surfaces (between Layers 10 and 9, and Layers 2 and 1) were identified. Forty-four sediment samples from the section were optically dated, and the obtained ages were refined using Bayesian statistical modeling. The age-depth relationship and sedimentary characteristics suggest that the sedimentation process of Layers 9–2 was continuous. To reconstruct the paleoenvironment, the grain-size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, and pollen content of the sediments were analyzed. The three soil layers exhibit high magnetic susceptibility values. Based on these climatic proxies, five climate stages were recognized. From ∼12.7 to ∼6.8 ka, the climate in the basin region was cold and dry. The period between ∼6.8 and ∼5.4 ka was marked by optimal climate conditions that led to soil formation. Subsequently, the climate was colder and drier during the period of ∼5.4 – ∼4.0 ka, and transitioned to warm and wet conditions again from ∼4.0 to ∼2.7 ka. Another stage of soil formation occurred between ∼2.7 and ∼1.7 ka, during which the climate was predominantly warm and humid, albeit punctuated by a brief interval of colder and drier conditions. These climate variations coincided with cultural evolution stages within the basin, highlighting a close relationship between environmental change and human adaptation.

Seasonal Climatic Variation and Flowering Intensity of Garcinia kola (Heckel) in a Humid Forest Plantation

Aim of study: The study designed to assess seasonal climatic variation and flowering intensity in G. kola in a humid forest plantation. Area of study: The study was conducted in the mono-plantation of Garcinia kola in the Swamp Forest Research station of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Onne, Rivers state, Nigeria. The plantation consists of 103 trees at 5×5m spacing. Material and methods: Climatic data were sourced from meteoblue.com. Flowering intensity was determined by the estimation of the total flower production per tree: total number of flower buds per inflorescence was determined by visual counting and then extrapolated for the total number of inflorescences per twig, total number of twigs per branch and total number of branches per tree to determine the average flowering intensity per tree. A total of 9 trees and twenty-five inflorescences per tree, were sampled. Data was analysed using covariance and analysis of variance. Main results: Rainfall, wind speed, and flowering intensity varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) between seasons; seasonal rainfall variation influence on flowering intensity varied with tree gender. Research highlights: Rainfall is the flowering cue of the plantation; we recommend that farmers target low to moderate rainfall seasons for high fruit and seed yields.

Tourism-generated energy use characteristics and sustainability transitions

Mountain tourism destinations are characterized as significantly impacted by their remoteness, seasonal climatic variations, and fragile ecosystems. These factors greatly influence the development, distribution, and consumption of energy sources in the tourism sector. With the increasing popularity of mountain parks and protected areas as tourism destinations, it is critical to understand the interplay between tourism development (e.g. expansion of tourism facilities), patterns of energy sources (diversity and consumption levels) in the tourism sector, and overall sustainability of resources use at the destination level. Current literature reveals a dearth of research on energy issues in mountain protected areas, which is somewhat surprising as energy and resource consumption issues are becoming more important from a climate change perspective. This paper examines contemporary energy use patterns in the Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park of Nepal. A mixed methods is applied to analyze development trends and transitions in energy use. Data were collected based on questionnaire surveys of tourism facilities, complemented by semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that energy sources used in the facilities have gone through a significant change, from a firewood-dependent tourism center to increasing use of alternative sources including liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and hydroelectricity. About one-third of the facilities did not use firewood. The heterogeneous geographic distribution of the facilities affects the spatial use of energy sources. Furthermore, we argue that the coordination efforts between the national park administration and local communities, the growth of tourism, the construction of hydropower plants, and the advancement of transportation are the leading causes of the changes in energy use patterns. Knowledge of the energy use characteristics and drivers influencing the energy transitions can inform future policies that promote a low-carbon economy in mountain destinations.

Architectural development of a land-attached carbonate platform in the African–Arabian Desert Belt: the late Pleistocene to Holocene evolution of the Al Wajh Platform, NE Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Carbonate platform architectures are indicators of environmental changes, such as sea level, climatic variations, and tectonic influence, which all control platform evolution. While analog studies on modern carbonate platforms have predominantly focused on tropical settings, limited attention has been given to arid and semiarid environments, although many ancient carbonate sequences were developed under these settings. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the Al Wajh carbonate platform lagoon in the NE Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, using geophysical and remote-sensing data to unravel its architecture and development since the last interglacial highstand (MIS 5e). We collected and analyzed sub-bottom profiles extending over 675 km and airborne lidar multibeam bathymetry data covering an area of 1700 km2. Surface sediment samples and vibracores with a maximum penetration of three meters were integrated to strengthen our interpretation. Furthermore, a recently published Red Sea sea-level curve was used to establish an age model and supplemented by available climate data to reconstruct depositional models. The Al Wajh lagoon is a “bucket” structure hosting five distinct depositional units since the late Pleistocene: U0 (pre-MIS 5e and MIS 5e), U1, U2, U3, and U4 (MIS 1), which are composed of five hydroacoustic facies, ranging from mounded to wavy laminated facies. Based on combining climate data, sea-level curves, and platform topography with our geophysical data, we conclude that the lagoon hosts carbonate, siliciclastic (fluvial and eolian), and potentially evaporitic deposits of open-marine and playa-lake origin. Intriguingly, karst architecture (i.e., sinkholes, caves, and collapsed cavities) is absent despite intermittent pluvial episodes and exposure during the late Pleistocene. Data analysis indicates that the Al Wajh lagoon architecture and development since the late Pleistocene are controlled by a combination of antecedent topography, sea-level variation, climate fluctuation, siliciclastic influx, carbonate production, and reef growth and drowning. Finally, insights from this study enhance our understanding of the architecture and sedimentary infill of ancient land-attached carbonate platforms deposited in a mature rift basin under alternating arid and pluvial climate settings.

Effects of Short‐Term Climate Variations on Young Water Fraction in a Small Pre‐Alpine Catchment

AbstractContinuous and extended observations of hydrometeorological parameters, alongside the analysis of the isotopic composition across diverse waters within catchments, can significantly enhance our understanding of the potential ramifications of climate change on the hydrological response. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of hydrometeorological and isotopic data was conducted over 10 hydrological years (October 2012–September 2022) within a small, forested catchment in the Italian pre‐Alps, aiming to investigate the impacts of short‐term climatic changes on the isotopic composition of waters and the young water fraction (Fyw). The results showed that the catchment experienced climate conditions with rapid warming and drying trends. Significant isotopic enrichments were observed in all sampled water sources, driven primarily by air temperature. Fyw was estimated to be 0.64 ± 0.06, 0.45 ± 0.07, and 0.16 ± 0.03 for stream water, soil water, and shallow groundwater based on the whole‐period sinusoidal fittings, respectively. Comparative analyses comprising different approaches for the estimation of Fyw showed that time‐windows scenarios and detrending corrections yielded smaller Fyw than approaches based on the whole‐period fitting and discharge‐sensitivity modeling. Such differences can be attributed to an uneven temporal distribution of stream water isotopic data, the difficulties in capturing high flows in a humid catchment characterized by a fast runoff response during rainfall‐runoff events, and the presence of isotopic trends. Our findings underscore the imperative of integrating interannual isotopic trends and adopting appropriate sampling strategy and methodological approaches to ensure a robust Fyw estimation.

Exploring the dynamics and future projections of land use land cover changes by exploiting geospatial techniques; A case study of the Kabul River Basin

Global land cover change has caused significant environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. It affects ecosystem functions, livelihoods, and climate variation and has drawn substantial attention in recent decades. In the Kabul River Basin (KRB), there are limited studies on the historical Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) pattern, transition, intensity and future perspective. Therefore, this study aims to investigate long-term LULC changes and major drivers of LULC in the KRB over the past thirty years (1990–2020) and then to project the future LULC pattern for the years 2030, 2040 and 2050. Landsat Imageries of (1990–2020) were used as input data by utilizing the Random Forest Classifier algorithm (RF) in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) to classify the LULC. The LULC was then projected for the future, using the Cellular Automata Markov Chain Model (CA-MCM). The results demonstrated drastic LULC changes, controlled primarily by urbanization and agriculture expansion, which expanded from 467 Km2 (0.7 %) to 2312 km2 (3.4 %) and 6528 km2 (9.6 %) to 10812 (15.9 %), between 1990 and 2020. In contrast, bare land decreased from 70606 km2 (82.1 %) to 48212 km2 (70.9 %) between 1990 and 2020. In addition, the study depicts that the expansion in built-up and vegetation areas in the KRB during the study period were at the utilization of bare land. Future LULC predictions indicated that between 2020 and 2050, bare land would trend downward from 48212 km2 (70.9 %) to 46172 km2 (67.9 %), while vegetation and built-up areas would trend upward from 2312 km2 (3.4 %) to 3640 km2 (5.3 %), 10812 km2 (15.9 %) to 11622 km2 (17.1 %), and water bodies and snowcover would slightly vary from 1.2 % to 0.9 % and 7.9 %–9.0 %. In addition, the results of LULC dynamics reveal a significant strong positive correlation between population and built, as well as population and vegetation. Conversely, there is a strong negative correlation between population and bare land. Our results provide precise insights on LULC patterns and trends in the KRB, which could be employed to design a sustainable framework for land use and ecosystem protection.

Urban estuary serves as a critical nexus for the land-sea transfer of the terrestrial pathogen Toxoplasma gondii

Terrestrial runoff is a key pathway for the transmission of the terrestrial pathogen Toxoplasma gondii from land to sea, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Understanding the mechanisms by which T. gondii is transported from terrestrial to marine environment is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies for toxoplasmosis in marine organisms. This study investigates the transport of T. gondii through terrestrial runoff in the Sow River, a representative watershed in Weihai, China. Surface water, bottom water, and sediment samples were collected and analyzed for T. gondii DNA using PCR methods. Out of 1776 samples, the prevalence of T. gondii was found to be 8.61 % in surface water, 9.80 % in bottom water, and 16.61 % in sediment, with sediment identified as a significant reservoir. Additionally, estuarine zones showed a higher prevalence of T. gondii (16.80 %) compared to riverine areas (9.00 %). The study further revealed that seasonal climate variations, such as temperature and precipitation, had no significant impact on the distribution of T. gondii. However, there was significant spatial variability, with estuarine conditions facilitating increased pathogen transmission. These findings highlight the importance of estuaries and sediments as key conduits for T. gondii entry in marine food webs. The results provide a theoretical basis for designing infection prevention and control strategies aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Lake Van and Lake Erçek over the last millennium using varved sediments (Eastern Türkiye)

Detailed lithological and geochemical studies of the bottom sediments were conducted based on the original sampling of brackish adjacent lakes: Lake Van and Lake Erçek in Eastern Anatolia, Türkiye. Seasonal variations in the accumulation of weather-driven element content were determined using high-resolution Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (SR-XRF) analysis of the annual layers in the solid prepare. The results were utilized to approximate the regional paleo-temperature of both lakes and the water level of Lake Van. Visual counting of the varve as well as annual oscillation of measured geochemical series was employed to create a time scale. The element content series were synchronized with recent changes in external climatic environments and lake water level fluctuations. Subsequently, the geochemical series were transformed into climate units, using calibration on synchronous meteorological data. Finally, the original quantitative reconstruction of the regional climate variations was performed over the last millennium period with annual time resolution; for Lake Erçek (840 years ago) and Lake Van (1300 years ago). It was revealed that the sediments of these adjacent lakes (Lake Van and Lake Erçek), located 30 km apart from each other, provided synchronous responses to regional environmental changes, which confirmed the reliability of the reconstructions.

Deep learning-aided temporal downscaling of GRACE-derived terrestrial water storage anomalies across the Contiguous United States

The Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE-FollowOn (GRACE(−FO)) satellites have been monitoring Earth’s changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) or surficial mass changes at monthly sampling and a spatial scale longer than ∼330 km (half wavelength) over the past two decades. At monthly sampling or revisit time, the use of satellite gravimetry is difficult to effectively monitor abrupt extreme weather events which are high-frequency, including the climate-induced hurricanes/cyclones, flash floods and droughts. The majority of the contemporary studies have focused on satellite gravimetry spatial downscaling, and not on reducing the temporal resolution of Earth’s mass change. Here, we developed a Deep Learning (DL) algorithm to downscale monthly GRACE/ GRACE(−FO) Mass Concentration (Mascon) TWS anomaly (TWSA) solutions to daily sampling over the Contiguous United States (CONUS), with the aim of monitoring rapidly evolving natural hazard episodes. The simulative performance of the DL algorithm is validated by comparing the modeling to an independent observation and the land hydrology model (LHM) predicted TWSA. To confirm that our daily and monthly simulations captured the climatic variations, we first compared our simulations with El Niño/La Niña Southern Oscillation (ENSO) circulation system index, which has a dominant climatological and socioeconomic impact across CONUS, and results reveal high correlations which are statistically significant. Next, we assessed the feasibilities to detect long- and short-term variations in the TWSA signals triggered by hydrological extremes, including the 2011 and 2019 Missouri River Floods, the August 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Harvey landfalls in Texas, the 2012–2017 drought in California, and the flash drought in the Northern Great Plains in 2017. Additional validation results using independent in situ observations reveal that our DL-aided gravimetry downscaled daily simulations are capable of elucidating hazards and water cycle evolutions at high temporal resolution.

Variability of seasonal temperature from 1990 to 2020 within Oum Er Rbia hydraulic basin (Morocco): Study of trends and anomalies

Abstract The fifth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that global temperatures have increased during the 20th century. In Morocco, numerous studies have unveiled that the nation has been contending with the effects of global warming for several decades, attributed to its geographical location. The studies have mainly focused on the evolution of rainfall and the recurrence of droughts. Nevertheless, temperature variations remain less addressed, especially at large spatial scales. This paper aims to study the seasonal temperature variability in the large hydraulic basin of Oum Er Rbia, focusing on its anomalies and trends as well as identifying their impacts on the basin’s territory. Indeed, the large basin of Oum Er Rbia occupies more than 48,.000 km2 and is characterized by an arid to semi-arid climate. Its water resources are important and play an essential role in the country’s socio-economic development. This basin is well-known for its agricultural activity. Although its water and economic potential are significant, the great basin is considered vulnerable to climatic variations, which strongly condition its development. Considering the significance of temperature trends within the framework of global warming, this current study delves into the topic of seasonal temperature variability within the expansive hydraulic basin of Oum Er Rbia. Based on statistical analysis using the temperature anomaly index and the Mann-Kendall trend test, this study reveals that strong interannual variability marked the evolution of seasonal temperatures during the period of 1990-2020, with a remarkable upward trend during the autumn and spring. When the temperature increase, the temperature increases in turn: thus, the negative impacts affect both water resources and the agriculture sector, which suffers from the combined effect of increased evapotranspiration and reduction of irrigation water.

Behavioural responses of a trans-hemispheric migrant to climate oscillation.

Large-scale climatic fluctuations, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, can have dramatic effects on ocean ecosystem productivity. Many mobile species breeding in temperate or higher latitudes escape the extremes of seasonal climate variation through long-distance, even trans-global migration, but how they deal with, or are affected by, such longer phased climate fluctuations is less understood. To investigate how a long-lived migratory species might respond to such periodic environmental change we collected and analysed a 13 year biologging dataset for a trans-equatorial migrant, the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus). Our primary finding was that in El Niño years, non-breeding birds were at more northerly (lower) latitudes than in La Niña years, a response attributable to individual flexibility in migratory destinations. Daily time spent foraging varied in concert with this latitudinal shift, with birds foraging less in El Niño years. Secondarily, we found that in subsequent breeding, a hemisphere away, El Niño years saw a reduction in foraging time and chick provisioning rates: effects that could not be attributed to conditions at their breeding grounds in the North Atlantic. Thus, in a highly migratory animal, individuals may adjust to fluctuating non-breeding conditions but still experience cascading carry over effects on subsequent behaviour.

Spatial Nonstationarity in Phenological Responses of Nearctic Birds to Climate Variability.

Climate change is shifting the phenology of migratory animals earlier; yet an understanding of how climate change leads to variable shifts across populations, species and communities remains hampered by limited spatial and taxonomic sampling. In this study, we used a hierarchical Bayesian model to analyse 88,965 site-specific arrival dates from 222 bird species over 21 years to investigate the role of temperature, snowpack, precipitation, the El-Niño/Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation on the spring arrival timing of Nearctic birds. Interannual variation in bird arrival on breeding grounds was most strongly explained by temperature and snowpack, and less strongly by precipitation and climate oscillations. Sensitivity of arrival timing to climatic variation exhibited spatial nonstationarity, being highly variable within and across species. A high degree of heterogeneity in phenological sensitivity suggests diverging responses to ongoing climatic changes at the population, species and community scale, with potentially negative demographic and ecological consequences.

Climatic variation and risk assessment in a highly seasonal mammal

Abstract Climate change and its resulting effects on seasonality are known to alter a variety of animal behaviors including those related to foraging, phenology, and migration. While many studies focus on the impacts of phenological changes on physiology or fitness enhancing behaviors, fewer have investigated the relationship between variation in weather and phenology on risk assessment. Fleeing from predators is an economic decision that incurs costs and benefits. As environmental conditions change, animals may face additional stressors that affect their decision to flee and influence their ability to effectively assess risk. Flight initiation distance (FID)–the distance at which animals move away from threats–is often used to study risk assessment. FID varies due to both internal and external biotic and physical factors as well as anthropogenic activities. We asked whether variation in weather and phenology is associated with risk-taking in a population of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer). As the air temperature increased marmots tolerated closer approaches, suggesting that they either perceived less risk or that their response to a threat was thermally compromised. The effect of temperature was relatively small and was largely dependent upon having a larger range in the full data set that permitted us to detect it. We found no effects of either the date that snow disappeared or July precipitation on marmot FID. As global temperatures continue to rise, rainfall varies more and drought becomes more common, understanding climate-related changes in how animals assess risk should be used to inform population viability models.

Climate change impacts on the hydrological behaviour of watershed in northeastern Tunisia (Oued El Abid watershed)

Climate change significantly impacts watershed hydrology, altering water supplies, natural disasters, and eco-hydrologic processes. These effects vary geographically, with some regions facing severe droughts while others experience increased precipitation and flooding. Climate change influences atmospheric evaporation demand, precipitation patterns, vegetation composition, streamflow characteristics, and groundwater dynamics. The temperature increases and rainfall changes in some watersheds can lead to increased potential evapotranspiration and decreased streamflow and soil water. Flood frequency analyses indicate an overall increasing trend in the latter half of the 21st century. The Oued El Abid catchment area, as like all catchments in northern Tunisia, is likely to be subject to major climatic and hydrological variations as a result of climate change. Advanced hydrological modelling using the HBV-Light model was set up to simulate current conditions and future scenarios based on Afric-Cordex climate models. The model demonstrates robust performance, achieving Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of 0.71 in calibration (1972-1992), and 0.66 in validation from 1993-2001. This climate change has a direct effect on the hydrological projections, which reveal significant changes, with annual flow reductions ranging from 35% to 43%, with more severe impacts under the RCP8.5 scenario for 2069-2099. Spring and summer seasons are particularly vulnerable, showing flow decreases of up to 68% and over 40%, respectively, extreme monthly variability is projected, reaching 88% reduction in July under RCP8.5. This research provides important results for water resource managers, highlighting the necessity of long-term planning and sustainable water management practices in the face of climate change.

Climate and topography control variation in the tropical dry forest-rainforest ecotone.

Ecotones are the transition zones between ecosystems and can exhibit steep gradients in ecosystem properties controlling flows of energy and organisms between them. Ecotones are understood to be sensitive to climate and environmental changes, but the potential for spatiotemporal dynamics of ecotones to act as indicators of such changes is limited by methodological and logistical constraints. Here, we use a novel combination of satellite remote sensing and analyses of spatial synchrony to identify the tropical dry forest-rainforest ecotone in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We further examine how climate and topography influence the spatiotemporal dynamics of the ecotone, showing that ecotone is most prevalent at mid-elevations where the topography leads to moisture accumulation and that climatic moisture availability influences up and downslope interannual variation in ecotone location. We found some evidence for long-term (22 year) trends toward upslope or downslope ecotone shifts, but stronger evidence that regional climate mediates topographic controls on ecotone properties. Our findings suggest the ecotone boundary on the dry forest side may be less resilient to future precipitation reductions and that if drought frequency increases, ecotone reductions are more likely to occur along the dry forest boundary.

Climatic Variations Influenced Distribution and Productivity of Different Agroforestry Systems in Rajasthan, India

Farmers of Rajasthan conserve and promote scattered trees and shrubs growing on farmlands to dealwith climatic adversities. These woody perennials sustain livelihoods by providing economic, social, and environmental benefits. Tree-based farming systems were surveyed in all 10 agroclimatic zones (ACZs) of Rajasthan for screening best models and suggests for further improvement. Trees were assessed for density, and growth parameters in 0.5 ha plots, whereas agricultural crops yields were estimated in1 m2 plots laid at 1 m from tree trunk, canopy edge and 5 m away from trees canopy (control). There were 107 tree-crop combinations involving 14 trees and 21 crop species. P. cineraria-based systems were dominant in the arid western, whereas A. nilotica dominated in semi-arid to dry sub-humidregions. Average tree density was 11.7 trees ha-1 ranging from 3.3 tree ha-1 in ACZ-IIIb to 23.6 tree ha-1 in ACZ-IIa. Senegalia senegal showed highest (27.6 tree ha−1) density. Height and canopy diameter were 11.73 m and 10.35 m respectively, in irrigated ACZ- IIIb and decreased to 6.53 m and 5.02 m in ACZ-IIb, respectively. Both height and density decreased with the decrease in rainfall from south-east to north-west. D. sissoo and T. grandis were taller, S. oleoides was thicker and Z. mauritiana was shorter and thinner than other species. Grain yields varied from 0.66 in ACZ-Ia to 1.85 Mg ha-1 in ACZ-IIIa, but exhibited low yield as compared to control. Crop yield reduced by 22.9-47.3% between ACZs, 20.3-56.5% between agroforestry systems, and 15.9-79.8% between intercrops highlighting the interactive effects of these components. S. senegal, T. undulata, P. cineraria, Z. mauritiana, S. oleoides, V. tortilis and P. juliflora based systems showed 29.1-54.9% low, whereas V. nilotica, D. sissoo, A. indica, T. grandis and V. leucophloea based systems showed 4.5-51.7% high yield over the state average. The yield of groundnut (IIIa), cotton (IVa), barley (IIIa), jowar (IVa), maize (IVa), paddy (V), pearl millet (IIIa) and wheat (V) with A. nilotica was above state average

Long-Term Changes in Deep Ocean Currents between Ulleung Island and Dok Island in the East Sea from 1996 to 2023

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of long-term deep ocean currents between Ulleung Island and Dok Island in the East Sea, based on data observed from the East Sea Current Measurement 1 (EC1) mooring station spanning from 1996 to 2023. The deep current at the Ulleung Interplain Gap, a trough situated between Ulleung Island and Dok Island, originates from the Japan Basin, a region where deep water formation occurs within the East Sea. The southward flow and velocity of this deep water are reflective of both regional and global climate dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing environmental impact, both locally in Korea and globally. Significant trends and anomalies were identified in the zonal and meridional velocities within the 1,800 and 2,500-meter depth range. Data from 2012 to 2014 required corrections due to unit inconsistencies, which, after adjustment, revealed a deceleration of the southward bottom current, with speeds decreasing from 1.49 cm s<sup>-1</sup> in November 1996 to 1.14 cm s<sup>-1</sup> in April 2023. These changes may be linked to global climate variations and bottom water formation in the Japan Basin, influencing regional circulation patterns. The findings highlight the importance of sustained ocean monitoring and enhanced data management to ensure the accuracy and utility of long-term oceanographic datasets.

Socio-Economic Implications of Snow Cover Area in the Upper Indus Basin

The Indus River, one of the principal waterways in Asia, specifically the Indian Subcontinent, originates from the Himalayan Region and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Understanding snow cover dynamics is one of the most vital components for effective hydrological resource management and assessing the impacts of local, regional, and global climatic variations. Variations in the radiation of snow microstructures and snowpacks have profound socio-economic and environmental consequences, affecting agricultural productivity, reservoir supply for factories, environmental sustainability, governance of land resources, and overall community resilience. Fluctuations in snowmelt patterns can lead to water shortages or surplus, influencing food security and economic stability in a country largely dependent on agriculture. Utilizing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data, this study assesses the implications of Snow Cover Area (SCA) on water security and livelihood of agricultural-related sectors. A comparative analysis of snow cover reveals a shifting trend in the accumulation period, with notable anomalies affecting the agricultural output, which affects the household income related to the agricultural sector. This research underscores the necessity of adapting water management strategies to align with evolving snow cover dynamics to mitigate potential socio-economic risks.

Mio-pliocene evolution of deep-water channels on the northeastern Bengal fan: Records of signals of Himalaya uplift and South Asian Monsoon from source areas

Submarine channels, acting as major conduits for delivering terrestrial sediments into the deep sea, are sensitive to source-region uplift and climate variations. Using new 3D seismic data, previously published paleoenvironmental data, and IODP/ODP data, we characterize stratigraphic time changes in deep-water channels on the northeastern Bengal Fan and suggest that their long-term evolution relates to contemporaneous changes of Himalaya uplift and South Asian Monsoon. Our results show that around the boundary between the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, the sedimentary characteristics of deep-water channels were changing at about the same time as decreased rates of Himalaya uplift and changes in the monsoonal climate. It is strongly suggested that environmental signals could successfully propagate from the Himalaya to the deep sea and play a dominant control on the long-term evolution of deep-water channels. During the late Miocene, orogen-wide and substantial Himalaya uplift and humid monsoonal climates (dominance of summer monsoon) generated a sediment supply with high fluxes, which allowed coarser-grained sediments to reach further into the basin and thus caused the formation of larger-scale, non-leveed erosional channels that have avulsion and confluence phenomena. After the Miocene, local and limited Himalaya uplift and arid monsoonal climates (dominance of winter monsoon) led to a sediment supply with low fluxes, during which only finer-grained sediments reached deep water and gave rise to smaller-scale, leveed aggradational channels that mainly have splay deposits. Between the late-Miocene and post-Miocene periods, detrital zircon U-Pb ages of Bengal Fan samples from IODP cores reflect a sediment provenance change from the mixing of Brahmaputra and Ganges Rivers to the end-member of Brahmaputra River, broadly coeval with the variations of Himalaya uplift and South Asian Monsoon. Moreover, Bengal Fan cores record a Mio-Pliocene decrease in sedimentation rates and maximum grain sizes and an increase in mudstone contents, consistent with the variations of sediment yield in the source catchments. Observations and interpretations from the current study, therefore, contribute to a better understanding of how the long-term evolution of submarine channels respond to tectonic and climatic perturbations in source areas and may help recognizing similar process-response relationships in other areas.