Influence Of Climate Research Articles

Biogeographic patterns of daily wildfire spread and extremes across North America

IntroductionClimate change is predicted to increase the frequency of extreme single-day fire spread events, with major ecological and social implications. In contrast with well-documented spatio-temporal patterns of wildfire ignitions and perimeters, daily progression remains poorly understood across continental spatial scales, particularly for extreme single-day events (“blow ups”). Here, we characterize daily wildfire spread across North America, including occurrence of extreme single-day events, duration and seasonality of fire and extremes, and ecoregional climatic niches of fire in terms of Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) and Climatic Water Deficit (CWD) annual climate normals.MethodsRemotely sensed daily progression of 9,636 wildfires ≥400 ha was used to characterize ecoregional patterns of fire growth, extreme single-day events, duration, and seasonality. To explore occurrence, extent, and impacts of single-day extremes among ecoregions, we considered complementary ecoregional and continental extreme thresholds (Ecoregional or Continental Mean Daily Area Burned + 2SD). Ecoregional spread rates were regressed against AET and CWD to explore climatic influence on spread.ResultsWe found three-fold differences in mean Daily Area Burned among 10 North American ecoregions, ranging from 260 ha day−1 in the Marine West Coast Forests to 751 ha day−1 in Mediterranean California. Ecoregional extreme thresholds ranged from 3,829 ha day−1 to 16,626 ha day−1, relative to a continental threshold of 7,173 ha day−1. The ~3% of events classified as extreme cumulatively account for 16–55% of total area burned among ecoregions. We observed four-fold differences in mean fire duration, ranging from 2.7 days in the Great Plains to 10.5 days in Northwestern Forested Mountains. Regions with shorter fire durations also had greater daily area burned, suggesting a paradigm of fast-growing short-duration fires in some regions and slow-growing long-duration fires elsewhere. CWD had a weak positive relationship with spread rate and extreme thresholds, and there was no pattern for AET.DiscussionRegions with shorter fire durations had greater daily area burned, suggesting a paradigm of fast-growing short-duration fires in some regions and slow-growing long-duration fires elsewhere. Although climatic conditions can set the stage for ignition and influence vegetation and fuels, finer-scale mechanisms likely drive variation in daily spread. Daily fire progression offers valuable insights into the regional and seasonal distributions of extreme single-day spread events, and how these events shape net fire effects.

Characterization and Modernization of the Depositional System in Modern Ebinur Lake Basin, Northwest China

The Ebinur Lake Basin is a typical terrestrial sedimentary Basin in Northwest China that has developed a piedmont distributive fluvial system (DFS) sedimentary environment, lake sedimentary environment, and desert sedimentary environment. The Ebinur Lake receives the sediments carried by the rivers in the basin and is the regional sedimentary center. In this study, a division scheme of modern sedimentary system tracts in the Ebinur Lake Basin was proposed. According to the landform, sedimentary environment, structure, and sedimentary system types, the Ebinur Lake Basin was divided into five system tracts. The area with high altitude and steep gradients mainly develops the rapid sedimentary system DFS, and the area with the lowest altitude in the region develops the lake sedimentary system. The main action area of climate drought and wind field is the dune sedimentary area. The wind field under the influence of hydrological climate and geomorphology has an important influence on the distribution of the sedimentary system tract. The structure determines the development of different types of sedimentary systems by controlling the topographic fluctuation and sedimentary space. Hydroclimate and geomorphology affect the development of sedimentary systems by controlling the sediment source rate in the sedimentary area. Based on the analysis of the characteristics and distribution of the modern sedimentary system in the Ebinur Lake Basin, a method for determining the level of the sedimentary system of the Ebinur Lake was established together with a plane model of the sedimentary system of the Ebinur Lake, which provides a reference for the study of the sedimentary system of continental basins.

A switch in thermal and haline contributions to stratification in the Greenland Sea during the last four decades

Stratification and its thermal and haline contributions are important ocean properties of fundamental climatic influence. Upper-ocean stratification shapes marine ecosystems by regulating nutrient availability and deep-ocean stratification is important for carbon sequestration and ventilating the ocean interior. Here, we first assess the applicability of an ocean reanalysis product in representing stratification in the Nordic Seas and East Greenland Shelf. While the reanalysis performs well in most interior basins, it exhibits significant shortcomings on the East Greenland shelf, raising concerns about the reanalysis product in these areas. We then examine the development in the thermal and haline contributions to summer upper- (100 m) and winter intermediate- (1000 m) ocean stratification in the Greenland Sea from 1980 to 2020. We find that there has been a transition in the controls of winter stratification in the upper 1000 m of the Greenland Sea. The transition was associated with a westward migration of the boundary between salinity- and temperature-stratified waters and eventual switch from haline to thermal control of winter stratification. With that follows a change in the type of forcing that can lead to convection: The Greenland Sea is now less dependent on eroding salinity gradients but rather depends on cooling to overcome stratification. There has been a similar switch in summer stratification in the upper-ocean of the Greenland Sea where surface waters shifted from variable stratification, alternating between salinity and temperature dominance, to a stable temperature-stratified regime. This switch coincided with declining sea-ice concentrations related to the disappearance of the Odden ice tongue after 1997. The high sea-ice conditions previously characteristic of the Greenland Sea are now rare suggesting the transition will persist with potential implications for marine ecology and local sea-ice formation. Our findings reveal differences in how thermal and haline stratification has developed over the last 40 years, which may help explain or predict plankton production and carbon uptake and export.

Long-term climate and hydrologic regimes shape stream invertebrate community responses to a hurricane disturbance.

Disturbances can produce a spectrum of short- and long-term ecological consequences that depend on complex interactions of the characteristics of the event, antecedent environmental conditions, and the intrinsic properties of resistance and resilience of the affected biological system. We used Hurricane Harvey's impact on coastal rivers of Texas to examine the roles of storm-related changes in hydrology and long-term precipitation regime on the response of stream invertebrate communities to hurricane disturbance. We detected declines in richness, diversity and total abundance following the storm, but responses were strongly tied to direct and indirect effects of long-term aridity and short-term changes in stream hydrology. The amount of rainfall a site received drove both flood duration and flood magnitude across sites, but lower annual rainfall amounts (i.e. aridity) increased flood magnitude and decreased flood duration. Across all sites, flood duration was positively related to the time it took for invertebrate communities to return to a long-term baseline and flood magnitude drove larger invertebrate community responses (i.e. changes in diversity and total abundance). However, invertebrate response per unit flood magnitude was lower in sub-humid sites, potentially because of differences in refuge availability or ecological-evolutionary interactions. Interestingly, sub-humid streams had temporary large peaks in invertebrate total abundance and diversity following recovery period that may be indicative of the larger organic matter pulses expected in these systems because of their comparatively well-developed riparian vegetation. Our findings show that hydrology and long-term precipitation regime predictably affected invertebrate community responses and, thus, our work underscores the important influence of local climate to ecosystem sensitivity to disturbances.

The Effect of Transformational Leadership and Organizational Climate on Employee Performance Through Organizational Commitment as an Intervening Variable

This research aims to explore the influence of transformational leadership and organizational climate on employee performance through organizational commitment. The method used is a quantitative descriptive method. The research results show that transformational leadership and organizational climate have a positive and significant influence on organizational performance, both directly and through organizational commitment. The conclusion is that the role of transformative leadership and a conducive organizational climate is important in improving employee performance through a high level of organizational commitment. Keywords: Employee Performance, Organizational Climate, Transformational Leadership, Organizational Commitment

ODESSA IN PAINTINGS, OR THE URBAN LANDSCAPE OF ODESSA

The article explores the peculiarities of the Odessa plein air painting school in the works of the prominent Odessa artist A.V. Strelbitsky. The influence of Odessa's architecture, history, and southern climate on the formation of a unique, unparalleled painting school, with a special place belonging to the urban landscape, is demonstrated. The historical aspects of the formation of the urban landscape are analyzed. The main stages of the formation of the Odessa plein air school are outlined and analyzed. The main direction of the Odessa plein air school, which consists of a consistent continuation and development of the traditions of the urban landscape of the late XIX - early XX centuries in plein air painting from the second half of the XX to the beginning of the XXI century, is indicated.

Influence of academic procrastination and school climate on mental health among nursing and Midwifery students at colleges in Kwara State, Nigeria

Influence of academic procrastination and school climate on mental health among nursing and Midwifery students at colleges in Kwara State, Nigeria

The Role of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Climate Towards Resilience at Work on Nurses

The issue of work resilience among nurses, manifested as physical and emotional exhaustion due to high job demands in healthcare environments. This study aims to examine the influence of workplace spirituality and organizational climate on resilience at work among nurses in the inpatient unit of RSUD Margono Soekarjo Purwokerto. A quantitative correlational approach was employed using a simple random sampling technique. The sample in this study comprised 165 nurses from the inpatient unit of RSUD Margono Soekarjo Purwokerto. The research instruments utilized were the Resilience At Work Scale (RAW Scale), Workplace Spirituality Scale (WSS), and Litwin and Stringer’s Organizational Climate Questionnaire (LSOCQ). The data analysis technique employed was multiple linear regression analysis. The findings indicate that both workplace spirituality and organizational climate can influence resilience at work. These two variables collectively account for 57.8% of the variance in resilience at work. Future researchers may delve more comprehensively into factors affecting nurses' work resilience and provide a stronger foundation for the development of policies and practices aimed at enhancing resilience.

Influence of climate, soil and vegetation diversity on the leaf area index as measured by canopy hemispherical photography in tropical rainforests across a wide elevational gradient

Tropical rainforests (TRFs) play an important role in regulating the global climate and conserving biodiversity. Leaf area index (LAI) determines the capacity of TRFs for radiation interception and carbon sequestration via photosynthesis while also influencing the water loss from TRF canopies via transpiration. Elevational gradients in tropical environments provide an approach to investigate the influence of environmental variations on key vegetation properties such as the LAI. In this work we determined the concurrent, interactive influences of the elevational gradients of the environment (i.e. selected climatic and soil properties) and vegetation (tree diversity and structure) in determining the variation of LAI of one-hectare permanent sampling plots (PSPs) within TRFs across a wide elevational gradient (from 117 m to 2132 m above sea level). Eight rounds of canopy hemispherical photography were carried out at three-month intervals over a 24-month period from 2019 to 2022. Canopy LAI was estimated using HemiView image processing software. Long-term mean climatic data from 1990 to 2021 were extracted for the PSPs from monthly global weather database of CRU-TS-4.06-bias corrected with WorldClim-2.1. Key soil properties were measured at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths via soil sampling. Tree diversity was determined by a complete census of all trees with equal or greater than 10 cm in diameter at breast height. Total tree biomass was estimated using allometric equations. Linear mixed model analysis of LAI showed significant (p < 0.05) variance for the random effects of elevation and elevation × time interaction. In a majority of measurement rounds, variance of LAI due to elevation was significant while at a majority of elevations, the fixed effect of measurement round on LAI was significant. Leaf area index showed significant linear reductions with elevation in all rounds, at rates ranging from 0.175 to 0.357 per 1000 m. Linear and multiple regression analyses identified increasing maximum cumulative soil water deficit, CSWDMax (an index of water deficit computed as the difference between evapotranspiration and precipitation), as the major climatic factor responsible for the reduction of LAI with elevation. Decreasing solar irradiance (SR) and increasing day-night temperature difference (DTR) with elevation also contributed to the observed LAI trend. Multiple regression analysis showed soil exchangeable potassium (KEx) and available phosphorus (PAv) influencing LAI positively while electrical conductivity (EC) and total nitrogen (NTot) influencing LAI negatively. Variation of Shannon-Wiener tree diversity index (H) and total tree biomass per hectare (TBM) contributed positively to the observed elevational variation of LAI. Factor analysis extracted two underlying factor constructs which accounted for 86 % of the combined variation in climate, soil and vegetation across the elevational gradient. Plot-wise scores of Factor 1, which had CSWDMax, SR, DTR, soil EC, NTot and H loading strongly and accounting for 70 % of the variation, showed a significant linear relationship with LAI. A cluster analysis incorporating the elevational variation of LAI, climate, soil and vegetation clearly classified the TRFs into four ranges of elevation at a linkage distance of 0.75. We conclude that LAI of TRFs in our study decreases with increasing elevation and identify increasing water deficits with elevation as the major climatic factor controlling this reduction.

Climatic effects on primary and secondary growth of Pinus oocarpa trees in southern Mexico

We analyzed the influence of the local climate and three large-scale climatic phenomena on primary (crown) and secondary (radial) growth of 35 Pinus oocarpa trees in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in southeastern Mexico. Whereas local satellite data of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was employed to analyze primary growth, annual tree-ring widths were measured and averaged across trees to quantify secondary growth for the site. For primary growth, a monthly time series of 26 years (1982–2008) resulted for the site. For secondary growth, the annual time series of tree-ring widths was for 45 years (1965–2008). The NDVI positively correlated with precipitation for March to May (r = 0.56), and tree-ring widths for January to June (r = 0.63). Maximum temperature correlated negatively with the NDVI for June to July (r =−0.55) and tree ring widths for June (r = −0.55). The results from correlation analysis and spatial correlation maps highlight the negative influence of the Pacific Ocean and the positive influence of the Atlantic Ocean on both types of growth, by causing large-scale climatic phenomena that affect the regional climate. The NDVI and radial growth positively correlated from April to July (r = 0.44), when both growth types resume concurrently, suggesting that carbohydrates produced in the crown lead to increased radial growth at the beginning of the growing season. Our study highlights the differential effects of large-scale climate phenomena on primary and secondary tree growth in a widespread tropical pine species in Mexico.

Unveiling the Dynamics of Cryptosporidium in Urban Surface Water: A Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment and Insights into Climatic and Seasonal Influences

In response to global urbanization and economic development, urban surface water pollution has become a universal challenge and particularly affects densely populated megacities, and Dhaka is no exception. The discharge of 98% of untreated domestic sewage and massive volumes of industrial wastewater from over 7000 industries escalate surface water crises. This study investigates microbial and fecal contamination with particular emphasis on Cryptosporidium in surface water, known for causing waterborne diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis. Findings reveal high Cryptosporidium oocyst concentrations and fecal contamination in various water bodies in Dhaka City. Among the investigated water bodies, the Buriganga River exhibits the highest Cryptosporidium oocyst concentration (46%), while the Balu River, Turag River, Shitalakkhya River, Dhanmondi Lake, Gulshan Lake, Banani Lake, Ramna Lake, and Crescent Lake also present high levels of oocyst concentrations ranging from 21–40%. This study also calculated infection risks and found that the infection risk of swimming is highest during the wet season and is (3.9 ± 2.2 (95% CI: 3.0–5.0)) × 10−2 per swimming event, whereas it is approximately (2.4 ± 1.9 (95% CI: 1.6–3.3)) × 10−2 during the dry season. Annual diving risks are approximately (1.2 ± 0.6 (95% CI: 0.9–1.4)) × 10−2, indicating considerably high risks. Most of the sampling sites generally show significantly higher risks than other study areas like the Mymensingh and Kushtia Districts. In light of these results, we strongly recommend immediate measures to address water quality issues and mitigate the risks associated with Cryptosporidium contamination in Dhaka’s surface water.

Quality assessment of oral antimalarial and antiretroviral medicines used by public health systems in Sahel countries

Malaria and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections are among the top 10 causes of death in low income countries. Furthermore, many medicines used in these treatment areas are substandard, which contributes to the high death rate. Using a monitoring system to identify substandard and falsified medicines, the study aims to evaluate the quality of antimalarial and antiretroviral medicines in Sahel countries, assessing site conditions, compliance of medicines with pharmacopoeia tests, formulation equivalence with a reference medicine, and the influence of climate on quality attributes. Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography methods for eight active pharmaceutical ingredients were validated following the International Conference for Harmonization guideline for its detection and quantification. Quality control consists of visual inspections to detect any misinformation or imperfections and pharmacopeial testing to determine the quality of pharmaceutical products. Medicines which complied with uniformity dosage units and dissolution tests were stored under accelerated conditions for 6 months. Artemether/Lumefantrine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir formulations failed uniformity dosage units and disintegration tests respectively, detecting a total of 28.6% substandard medicines. After 6 months stored under accelerated conditions (40 °C // 75% relative humidity) simulating climatic conditions in Sahel countries, some medicines failed pharmacopeia tests. It demonstrated the influence of these two factors in their quality attributes. This study emphasizes the need of certified quality control laboratories as well as the need for regulatory systems to maintain standards in pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution in these countries, especially when medicines are transported to rural areas where these climatic conditions are harsher.

RENDIMIENTO Y CALIDAD FÍSICA DEL GRANO DE CAFÉ (Coffea arabica L.) VARIEDAD COSTA RICA 95

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Coffee is the second most consumed drink in the world, only after water. Quality characteristics are the most recurrent demands of consumers, which are of multifactorial origin and among which is agronomic management where soil nutrition or foliar nutrition of the plant is considered. &lt;strong&gt;Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; To evaluate the yield and physical quality of the bean and cup of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) variety Costa Rica 95 by applying foliar fertilizer. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology: &lt;/strong&gt;The evaluation was carried out in the La Laja community, municipality of Tlaltetela, Veracruz between 2018 and 2019. The age of the plantation used was four years and established with chalahuite shade (&lt;em&gt;Inga spuria&lt;/em&gt; Humb. &amp;amp; Bonpl. ex Willd). The design used was a complete randomized block with two treatments (commercial control and treatment with foliar fertilization), with three repetitions each; the experimental unit consisted of a 300 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; plot and five coffee harvests were carried out, which were according to the number of flowerings during the 2018-2019 cycle. The physical evaluation was carried out according to the Official Mexican Standard NMX-F-162-SCFI-2008 and the NOM SCAA (2013). &lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The highest cherry yield and brix degrees were observed in the fertilized treatment with 12,897.8 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; and 20.06, respectively; in floats (waste) and snail (malformation), the highest weights were observed in the control treatment with 1,696.11 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; and 21.4 grams, respectively. The total sum of the sensory analysis was 81.3 and 85.2 for the treatments: control and fertilized, respectively. Higher numbers of grains were observed in sieves 19, 18 and 17 that are classified for the international scale. &lt;strong&gt;Implications: &lt;/strong&gt;There is a positive effect of foliar fertilizer on the yield of cherry coffee and cup quality of Costa Rica coffee 95 and opens a range of possibilities to carry out a greater number of fertilization tests in the field, being able to compare an additional factor such as, for example, the climate (rain, drought, cold, heat, etc.). These studies should be carried out in the same area in which this experiment was carried out to compare whether the response shown is due solely to foliar fertilizer or there is an influence of climate, as well as management. It must be considered that the quality of coffee is multifactorial; in addition to environmental and genetic factors, there is management (nutrition, phytosanitary protection, pruning), harvest, among others. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Foliar fertilization considerably improved the variables of interest evaluated in Costa Rica 95 coffee through the application of foliar fertilization, in addition to the fact that no primary or secondary defects were significantly present.&lt;/p&gt;

Causal factors and time in formation of areas of endemism for land planarians in the Atlantic Forest

AbstractHere, we discovered areas of endemism (AoE) for land planarians (Geoplaninae) and tested the influence of the past climate in the formation of AoEs in the southeastern AF in Brazil.LocationSoutheastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil.Materials and MethodsWe used 1888 records of 371 species in Endemicity Analysis and Geographic Interpolation of Endemism to uncover AoEs. We also carried out a species distribution modelling (SDM) of three genera to see the suitability regions where they were distributed during Mid‐Pliocene, Last Interglacial Maximum, Last Glacial Maximum and present time. Finally, we inferred a molecular phylogeny of Geoplaninae aiming to estimate divergence times of the taxa to test the relative influence of more recent climatic fluctuations in the speciations.ResultsWe delimited 15 robust AoEs. SDM corroborates past climate altered some genera distribution. However, results of the phylogenetic analysis resulted in time estimation older than Pleistocene climatic fluctuations for more recent speciations. These endemic patterns could be explained through processes of reduction and expansion of suitability areas but in older times as generally reported in the literature. Geological events that formed mountains, sedimentary basins and major rivers are integrated with climate to explain high endemism and diversification.Main ConclusionsPlanarians have shown to be an optimal model for fine‐scale studies of AoE and diversification in AF. Pleistocene climatic fluctuations seem to have not been responsible for their diversification, but older climatic changes with geological events seem to have influenced their speciations and the present‐day high levels of endemism. In the future, robust phylogenies with more comprehensive sampling integrated with palaeoecological models will help to understand the diversification of the AF.

Re-evaluating soil moisture-based drought criteria for rainfed crops in peninsular India

Background: Peninsular India, being completely under the influence of monsoonal climate, suffers crop yield variability due to rainfall distribution-induced soil moisture constraints. Timely and appropriate assessment of this rainfall and soil moisture-induced crop yield variability serves as a key for exemplary relief assistance. Per cent available soil moisture (PASM) is one among several drought declaration indices followed by stakeholders in India for declaration of drought, needs re-evaluation as the existing criteria in unable to capture the yield loss due to ineffective classification of PASM categories. This study attempts to revise the agricultural drought classes by PASM based on relationships established between yield of major rainfed crops of the study region and PASM.Methods: Analysis of yield variability due to PASM was carried out based on long term observations in experiments conducted at five dry farming locations (Akola, Parbhani, Kovilpatti, Ananthapuramu and Bengaluru) of peninsular India. The average yield for each category of PASM was calculated and tabulated for regression analysis. The PASM versus yield in each group was correlated and regression equations were developed if significant positive correlations were established.Results: The range of available soil moisture to obtain at least 50 percent of optimum yield in cereals (maize: 26 and finger millet: 52.9 PASM), pulses (pigeon pea: 37.2 PASM), oilseeds (soybean: 26.8 to 30.5, groundnut: 53.8 to 61.7 PASM) and commercial crops (cotton: 26.3 PASM) was 26–61 percent.Conclusion: The revised PASM-based drought classes (0–50 severe; 51–75 mild and 76–100 no drought) would help in drought declaration and precise identification of drought-hit areas for meaningful relief assistance. However, there is further investigation is needed to include a soil component for further fine-tuning of the criteria.

Streamflow Variation under Climate Conditions Based on a Soil and Water Assessment Tool Model: A Case Study of the Bailong River Basin

We coupled the global climate models (GCMs) from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and Future Land Use Simulation model (FLUS) to evaluate land use change in the Bailong River Basin (BRB) under three shared socioeconomic pathway and representative concentration pathway scenarios (SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP5–8.5). Additionally, we used calibrated soil and water assessment tools (SWATs) to evaluate the streamflow in the BRB from 2008 to 2100 under the combined influence of climate and land use changes. The results indicate that (1) under the SSP126-EP scenario, forests have been well preserved, and there has been an increase in the combined area of forests and water bodies. The SSP245-ND scenario has a similar reduction pattern in agricultural land as SSP126-EP, with relatively good grassland preservation and a moderate expansion rate in built-up land. In contrast, the SSP585-EG scenario features a rapid expansion of built-up land, converting a significant amount of farmland and grassland into built-up land. (2) From 2021 to 2100, the annual average flow increases under all three scenarios, and the streamflow change is most significant under SSP5–8.5. (3) Compared to the baseline period, the monthly runoff increases, with the most significant increase occurring during the summer months (June to August). This study offers a thorough assessment of potential future changes in streamflow. Its findings are expected to be applied in the future to improve the management of water resources at a local level.

Influence of climate and land use on watershed anthropogenic phosphorus inputs and riverine phosphorus export dynamics: A global analysis

Many studies have found predictive relationships between riverine phosphorus (P) export and net anthropogenic P inputs (NAPI) at the watershed scale, but the global or regional extent of these relationships has not been empirically quantified. Herein, we present a data-driven global assessment of the response of riverine total P (TP) fluxes to NAPI based on 358 watersheds. NAPI exhibited high spatial heterogeneity (2–12,085 kg P km−2 yr−1) and was well correlated with riverine TP fluxes. Riverine TP export fractions of NAPI were primarily regulated by NAPI components, hydroclimate factors, and land-use as determined through a random-forest meta-analysis. In watersheds dominated by disturbed land-use (e.g., agricultural and developed lands), runoff emerged as pivotal climate-related factors influencing riverine export fractions of NAPI. In watersheds dominated by natural land-use, runoff, precipitation and temperature were identified as the most critical factors. We developed a mixed-effects meta-regression model (R2 = 0.63–0.70, RMSE = 19–78 %, n = 87–202) to examine the quantitative relationship between riverine TP fluxes and NAPI, which avoids subjectivity in selecting influencing factors and regression forms. The model estimated that legacy P contributed 14–17 % of annual riverine TP fluxes in Chinese watersheds, 25 % in North American watersheds and 11–27 % in European watersheds. Annual NAPI contributions to annual riverine TP flux were 83–86 % in China, 75 % in North America and 73–89 % in Europe. The model forecasted 52–67 %, 69–71 % and 74–77 % reductions in riverine TP fluxes across Chinese, North American, and European watersheds by 2050 under five shared socio-economic pathway scenarios compared to 2010 baseline conditions, respectively. This study provides a straightforward and reliable method for quantifying anthropogenic P input and riverine P export dynamics within an acceptable error range. It provides guidance for developing phosphorus pollution control strategies to counter potential increases in phosphorus inputs due to expected changes in climate and land use.

Divergent biophysical responses of western United States forests to wildfire driven by eco-climatic gradients

Abstract. Understanding vegetation recovery after fire is critical for predicting vegetation-mediated ecological dynamics in future climates. However, information characterizing vegetation recovery patterns after fire and their determinants over large geographical extents is limited. This study uses Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) leaf area index (LAI) and albedo to characterize patterns of post-fire biophysical dynamics across the western United States (US) and further examines the influence of topo-climatic variables on the recovery of LAI and albedo at two different time horizons, 10 and 20 years post-fire, using a random forest model. Recovery patterns were derived for all wildfires that occurred between 1986 and 2017 across seven forest types and 21 level III ecoregions of the western US. We found differences in the characteristic trajectories of post-fire vegetation recovery across forest types and eco-climatic settings. In some forest types, LAI had recovered to only 60 %–70 % of the pre-fire levels by 25 years after the fire, while it recovered to 120 %–150 % of the pre-fire levels in other forest types, with higher absolute post-fire changes observed in forest types and ecoregions that had a higher initial pre-fire LAI. Our random forest results showed very little influence of fire severity on the recovery of both summer LAI and albedo at both post-fire time horizons. Post-fire vegetation recovery was most strongly controlled by elevation, with faster rates of recovery at lower elevations. Similarly, annual precipitation and average summer temperature had significant impacts on the post-fire recovery of vegetation. Full recovery was seldom observed when annual precipitation was less than 500 mm and average summer temperature was above the optimal range, i.e., 15–20 °C. Climate influences, particularly annual precipitation, were a major driver of post-fire summer albedo change through its impact on ecological succession. This study provides quantitative measures of primary controls that could be used to improve the modeling of ecosystem dynamics post-fire.

Autochthonous grape varieties in the Lower Don Region

This article describes modifi cation changes in the phenotypic traits of grape varieties, including the number of normally developed shoots and infl orescences, the average bunch weight, and grape yield under the infl uence of unstable weather conditions. The research was carried out in the moderate continental climate of the Lower Don region in the period from 2013 to 2022. The average annual air temperature ranged from +10.2 to +11.6 °C, with the climatic norm being +10.4 °C. In the period of active vegetation (May–September), the temperature ranged from +21.2 to +22.7 °C, with the norm being 18.1 °C. The maximum temperature ranged from +37.2 to +40.0 °C, with the norm being +40.0 °C. In winter, during the plant dormancy period (December–February), the average air temperature varied from 0.6 to minus 2.6 °С, with the norm being about minus 2.4 °С. The annual precipitation varied from 292 to 693 mm, with the norm being 548 mm. During the vegetation period of grapes, atmospheric precipitation by the years of observation varied from 99 to 359 mm, with the norm being 177 mm. The aim was to establish the limits of modifi cation variability of phenotypic traits under the infl uence of the unstable moderate continental climate of the Lower Don Region. The research objects were autochthonous grape varieties, including ‘Varyushkin’, ‘Krasnostop’ ‘Zolotovsky’, ‘Kumshatsky Belyi’, ‘Plechistik’, ‘Sibirkovy’, and ‘Tsimlyansky Chernyi’. The reaction norm and modifi cation changes of the phenotypic traits of grape plants under the infl uence of natural conditions in their habitats were studied. The autochthonous grape varieties in contrasting weather conditions exhibited individual and varietal specifi city in terms of reaction norm and adaptability. According to the variability of phenotypic traits and adaptive potential, the varieties were ranked in the following descending order: ‘Plechistik’, ‘Krasnostop Zolotovsky’, ‘Varyushkin’, ‘Kumshatsky Belyi’, ‘Sibirkovy’, and ‘Tsimlyansky Chernyi’. The genotypes ‘Plechistik’, ‘Krasnostop Zolotovsky’, ‘Varyushkin’, and ‘Kumshatsky Belyi’ with their high adaptive potential for formation of stable vine plantations are recommended for developing stable grape plantations in the conditions of the Lower Don region.

The impact of knowledge sharing on employee engagement through the mediating role of competency development and moderating role of social climate

PurposeThis study aims to test the relationship between knowledge sharing and employee engagement. In particular, the mediating and moderating roles of competency development and social climate, respectively, are also the focus of this research.Design/methodology/approachOf self-completed questionnaires collected from luxury hotels in India, 507 are usable for data analysis. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the proposed hypotheses.FindingsThe structural equation modeling–based results illustrate a positive significant association between knowledge sharing and employee engagement. Also, there is a significant support to establish the mediating effect of competency development and the moderating effect of social climate on this relationship. The expansion of competencies of employees achieved through knowledge sharing leads to higher engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThis work is carried out in Indian hospitality sector and may not be generalizable to other cultural settings.Practical implicationsThis study’s results add to the knowledge sharing scholarship by envisaging a possible association with an employee attitudinal outcome, i.e. employee engagement.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to unravel the social processes through which knowledge sharing enhances competency development, and subsequently employee engagement, mainly through the influence of social climate.