Distinct Climate Research Articles

Solar Photovoltaic Parameter Extraction for Three Different Technologies Using Particle Swarm Optimization Method

Industry and academia are becoming more interested in solar energy. The problem of providing an alternative to fossil fuels and limiting the environmental damage brought on by their emissions is what has brought about this increased focus. Solar photovoltaic is the subject of a growing number of studies. The goal of the current investigation is to investigate how various technological modules namely single junction amorphous silicon (a-Si), Hetero junction with Intrinsic Thin-layer (HIT) and multi crystalline silicon (mc-Si) are affected by seasonal spectrum variation respond to Indian climatic circumstances. Compared to many other nations, the entire Indian subcontinent has a relatively distinct climate with distinct seasonal patterns. The four seasons that are considered in this study are summer, winter, monsoon, and post monsoon. The impact of each season varies on the spectrum. Such a study will be helpful to measure the parameter connected to the spectrum and assess its impact on the effectiveness of the PV array. In order to conduct accurate performance investigations, the extraction of the right circuit model parameters is essential. The estimation of the solar PV parameter is done by using Particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm.

Adaptation strategies of leaf traits and leaf economic spectrum of two urban garden plants in China

BackgroundPrevious studies of the relationships between traits have focused on the natural growth conditions of wild plants. Urban garden plants exhibit some differences in plant traits due to environmental interference. It is unknown whether the relationships between the leaf traits of urban garden plants differ under distinct climates. In this study, we revealed the variation characteristics of the leaf functional traits of trees, shrubs, and vines in two urban locations. Two-way ANOVA was used to reveal the response of plant leaf traits to climate and life forms. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis were used to calculate the correlation coefficient between the leaf functional traits of plants at the two locations.ResultsLeaf dry matter content (LDMC) and vein density (VD) of different life forms in Mudanjiang were higher than those in Bozhou (P < 0.05), and the relative water content (RWC) in Bozhou was higher, whereas vein density (VD) of trees and shrubs in the two urban locations was significant (P < 0.05), but the vines were not significant. The photosynthetic pigments of tree and shrub species were larger in Mudanjiang, but the opposite was true for the vines. Both leaf vein density (VD) and stomatal density (SD) showed a very significant positive correlation in the two urban locations (P < 0.01), and both were significantly positively correlated with specific leaf area (SLA) (P < 0.05); and negatively correlated with leaf thickness (LT), and the relationship between pigment content were closer.ConclusionThe response to climate showed obvious differences in leaf traits of different life forms species in urban area, but the correlations between the traits showed convergence, which reflects that the adaptation strategies of garden plant leaves to different habitats are both coordinated and relatively independent.

Water Balance Trends along Climatic Variations in the Mediterranean Basin over the Past Decades

The heterogeneous ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin (MB) are becoming sensitive to water stress. To investigate the climatic stress, a water budget study was conducted over the basin using TerraClimate simulations for a long temporal range (1990–2020). According to the budget accounting, forested regions received the highest precipitation (P) on average compared to other land use types (annual mean ≈633 mm yr−1), and even then, they were in a water deficit state (−0.42 mm yr−1). Tree plantations in North Africa (Libya and Morocco) were also in a water deficit state; however, their average P was very low (≈12 mm yr−1) compared to that of northern parts of the MB, and the average Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) was ≈15 mm yr−1. Also, the water balance in other land use systems (rain-fed, irrigated croplands, and rangelands) was either negative or near zero. As a whole, the basin’s average annual P was ≈538 mm yr−1, the annual average AET was ≈415 mm yr−1, and the runoff (Q) was equivalent to 123 mm yr−1, which shows a strong influence of ET over the region. Since runoff was negligible in most dry areas, the AET’s large contribution was notable in the North African base of the Atlas Mountains including the Nile delta region. This indicates that precipitation and evaporation are the principal mechanisms of the water balance in the MB. The result shows strong climate variability over Southern Europe, Turkey, and the western Balkans in the recent years, affecting the AET and making their land use systems more vulnerable to water stress. This benchmark study signifies the consistent need for water storage in the Mediterranean vegetation systems of the basin. It also indicates two distinct climate clusters for water balance modeling.

Characteristics of anthropogenic heat with different modeling ideas and its driving effect on urban heat islands in seven typical Chinese cities

Anthropogenic heat (AH), an essential urban heat source, is often overlooked or simplified in research on the multiple temporal and spatial driving mechanisms of the urban heat island (UHI), and case studies investigating the impacts of different AH connotations are scarce. This study estimated the AH in seven typical Chinese cities based on a remote sensing surface energy balance model (AHseb) and an energy consumption inventory-machine learning model (AHinv). The intensity of the surface UHI was extracted using land surface temperatures, and then the linear mixed-effects model and geographic detectors were used to analyze the driving effect of AH on the UHI. Despite the similar shapes of the spatial profile curves, the AH derived from the two models differed in both temporal and spatial characteristics, which was more typical in winter and in urban centers, and AHinv had a more notable central spread feature than AHseb. The AH driving effects on UHI were notably influenced by spatial and temporal heterogeneity, particularly in regions with distinct background climates. However, after controlling for the random effects of the background climate, AH still exhibited a considerable enhancing effect on the UHI. AHseb outperformed AHinv in terms of linear positive correlation and interpretation rate for UHI. Meanwhile, interactions with other potential factors enhanced AH driving effects. Consequently, UHI mitigation must be tailored to the local context by integrating multiple drivers, and for the heating effects of AH, it is necessary to develop specific mitigation measures by limiting the conversion of AHinv to AHseb in addition to reducing the heat production. The findings offer guidance for analyzing and optimizing urban thermal climates with a focus on AH or energy consumption control.

Chemical weathering intensity controls the accumulation of nickel in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated in basalt-derived paddy fields

Globally, a high concentration of nickel (Ni) in agricultural soil is closely related to basalt weathering. Rice grains readily accumulate Ni, however, the evolution of Ni distribution and mobility in paddy fields with basalt weathering remain unclear. This study investigated the distribution, geochemical fraction, and mobilization of Ni in basalt bedrock-paddy soil-rice plant continuums under contrasting climates through a combination of field surveys, chemical extractions, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses. Results show that the soils developed in tropical climates were more enriched in Ni than those in temperate climates. The concentration of Ni in rice grains from the studied temperate regions (3.71 ± 2.01 mg/kg) was higher than that in the tropical regions (0.57 ± 0.37 mg/kg). The concentration of Ni bound to Fe (hydro)oxides in paddy soils from temperate regions was five times higher than that in tropical regions. In contrast, the concentration of Ni found in phyllosilicate clays (mainly smectite/illite) in paddy soils from the temperate regions was only ∼1/4 of that of clay (mainly kaolinite) in the tropical paddy soils, and the ratio of Ni concentration in phyllosilicate clays to highly reactive Fe (hydro)oxides in paddy topsoil in temperate regions was one order of magnitude less than that in tropical regions, which contributes to the low bioavailability of Ni in tropical paddy soils. Furthermore, the accumulation of Ni in rice grains was insensitive to soil pH in tropical regions but showed significant negative correlations with the degree of chemical weathering (chemical index of alteration and index of laterisation) in temperate and tropical regions. These observations support the hypothesis that chemical weathering and the dissolution–recrystallization of Fe (hydro)oxides induced by frequent redox fluctuations in paddy soils cause Ni repartition between Fe (hydro)oxides and phyllosilicate minerals, which influence Ni geochemical cycling and bioavailability, and fundamentally regulate Ni accumulation in rice. This study elucidates the mechanism and controlling factors underlying Ni partition in the basalt-paddy soil-rice plant continuum under distinct climates, providing new insights into the understanding of geochemical behavior and environmental fate of Ni.

Efficiency of Bacillus subtilis UFMT-PANT001 as a plant growth-promoting inoculant in soybean in the field

Bacteria of the genus Bacillus can be considered plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria because they have the ability to colonize the rhizosphere and promote plant growth. This study aimed to demonstrate the efficiency of Bacillus subtilis UFMT-Pant001 in liquid formulation as an inoculant in promoting soybean plant growth and field yield. Four field experiments were conducted in the municipalities of Gurupi (Tocantins state), Campo Verde and Alta Floresta (Mato Grosso State), which had some distinct soil and climate characteristics, in the 2016/2017 harvest. In all experiments, for the treatments with B. subtilis UFMT-Pant001, the selected product with plant growth-promoting potential was used in liquid formulation, at a minimum concentration of 1 x 109 CFU mL-1. The inoculation of B. subtilis UFMT-Pant001 increased the biomass and yield of the different soybean cultivars under field conditions in Gurupi, Campo Verde and Alta Floresta in the 2016/16/2017 harvest. Considering the different field experiments with the doses tested, there were positive results starting at dose of 200 mL per 50 kg of seed. Thus, a dose of 200 to 300 mL of the B. subtilis UFMT-Pant001 inoculant at a concentration of 1 x 109 CFU mL-1 is recommended. The B. subtilis strain UFMT-Pant001 should be recommended as an inoculant to promote plant growth in soybean at a dose of 200 to 300 mL and a minimum concentration of 1 x 109 CFU mL-1 per 50 kg of seed.

TRANSLATE: standardized climate projections for Ireland

The TRANSLATE project was established in 2021 by Met Éireann, the Irish national meteorological service, to provide standardized future climate projections for Ireland. This paper outlines the principles and main methods that were used to generate the first set of such projections and presents selected results to the end of the 21st century. Two separate ensembles of dynamically downscaled CMIP5 projections were analyzed. These produce very consistent results, increasing confidence in both, and in the methods used. Future projected fields show plenty of detail (depending on local geography), but the change maps relative to the base period are much smoother, reflecting the global climate change signal. Future forcing uncertainty is represented by 3 different emission scenarios, while model response uncertainty is represented by sub-ensembles corresponding to different climate sensitivities. The resulting matrix of distinct climate ensembles is complemented by ensembles of temperature threshold-based projections, drawn from the same underlying simulations.

Lightning Development over the Distinct Climate Regions of Uttarakhand, India

Objectives: Lightning activity and its connections with meteorology and aerosol loading over Uttarakhand, with varying topography and climates, is studied using ISS Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) aboard international space station (ISS) data during the period 2018–2021. Methods: To understand the variation of lightning activity with meteorology and aerosol loading the correlation of lightning activity with different meteorological parameters such as surface temperature, convective available potential energy (CAPE), aerosol optical depth (AOD), and convective precipitation is studied. Findings: Very poor correlation is observed between lightning flash counts with the meteorological parameters. Annual variation of lightning activity over Uttarakhand shows maximum during the monsoon season (June–September) with a peak during the pre–monsoon season (March–May) month April. The high frequency of western disturbances defined as warm low-pressure systems associated with moisture originated over Mediterranean Sea travelling from west to east across the northern states are responsible for peak lightning activity during pre–monsoon month April and maximum lightning activity in the monsoon season is attributed to the monsoon convection. Novelty: The study made the spatio – temporal variation of lightning over Uttarakhand and also reveals the connection between lightning and different meteorological parameters in different climatic conditions of Uttarakhand which is first defining the importance of large-scale meteorological processes in the development of lightning in Uttarakhand. Keywords: Lightning; Meteorological Parameters; Aerosol optical depth and Convective Available Potential energy (CAPE)

Combining green roofs and rainwater harvesting systems in university buildings under different climate conditions

Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHS) are an alternative solution with the potential to increase water supply security and reduce the pressure on water resources and urban stormwater drainage systems. Likewise, Green Roofs are a nature-based solution with several ecosystem services able to improve well-being in densely urbanized areas. Despite these benefits, the combination of both solutions is still a knowledge gap to be explored. To address this issue, the paper explores the potential of integrating traditional rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) with extensive green roofs (EGR), while simultaneously evaluating the performance of traditional RWHS in buildings with high and variable water consumption patterns across different climatic conditions. The analyses were carried out assuming two university buildings hypothetically located in three distinct climates (Aw - Tropical Savanna, Cfa - Humid Subtropical, and Csa - Hot-summer Mediterranean). The results show that the relationship between available water and demand is the key factor that defines if the system is most suitable for saving water, reducing stormwater runoff rates, or dual-purpose (when there is a balance between non-potable water supply and capture of stormwater). Combined systems were most effective when there is a balanced rainfall distribution over the year, as in humid subtropical regions. Under these conditions, a combined system designed for dual purposes could potentially have a green roof coverage of up to 70% of the total catchment area. Conversely, climates that have well-defined rainy and dry seasons such as Aw and Csa, may limit the effectiveness of a combined system (RWHS+EGR), being not able to supply water demands during certain periods of the year. However, if the primary objective is effective stormwater management, a combined system should be strongly considered. Because green roofs provide other ecosystem benefits that can contribute to enhancing urban resilience in the face of climate change.

Thermal comfort and passive survivability in earthen buildings

Earthen building materials have been regaining popularity due to their environmental, economic, and health advantages. Furthermore, given projected thermal survivability in the face of climate change, passive strategies that minimize use of fossil fuels for operational space conditioning are becoming increasingly necessary. Using the lens of passive survivability, this research investigates the abilities of four earthen wall assemblies (cob, light straw clay, unstabilized rammed earth, insulated unstabilized rammed earth) and three conventional assemblies (concrete masonry unit (CMU), insulated CMU, insulated wood frame) to provide adaptive thermal comfort in six distinct climates, with and without passive heating and cooling systems. Residential dwellings were evaluated through simulation with heat and moisture transport algorithms, showing that passive conditioning is especially beneficial with earth assemblies, bringing 25–70% of uncomfortable annual hours into the adaptive comfort zone, alongside strikingly lower diurnal temperature swings in all examined climates, and in all seasons, than conventional walls. Further investigation into the heat and moisture fluxes reveals that the thermal stability of the earth dwellings is provided in part by moisture sorption and evaporation. Together, for the first time, these results show that the thermal performance of earth assemblies can, with well-designed passive heating and cooling strategies, equal or outperform conventional assemblies in a range of U.S. climates, supporting their expanded inclusion in U.S. building codes. This research provides a novel contribution to the thermal performance optimization of earth construction, critically linking thermal and hygroscopic performance with passive design strategies such as shading, natural ventilation, and movable insulation.

Evaluation of flexibility provided by cascading hydroelectric assets for variable renewable energy integration

The integration of a significant VRE capacity into Canada's electricity system is a crucial step toward decarbonization. Cascading hydro assets have been found to bolster the generation fleet with the flexibility necessary to mitigate VRE uncertainty and variability. The integration of British Columbia's cascading hydro-dominated system, known for its high flexibility, with Alberta's considerable wind and solar potential can create a hybrid hydro-VRE system with sufficient flexibility for aggressive VRE integration in Alberta. A flexibility metric is introduced into a unit commitment model to quantitatively assess network flexibility while accounting for pertinent operational and technical constraints to examine this proposition. This study also analyzes changes to the effectiveness of cascading hydro assets for network flexibility and VRE integration under distinct climate change scenarios. Results indicate that the integration of the British Columbian and Albertan networks improves the flexibility index approximately two-fold, allowing a 13% increase in VRE penetration in Alberta. However, the study also highlights the significant impact climate change may have on cascading hydro operation and associated network flexibility, which could potentially challenge the capacity of these assets to provide the flexibility required for VRE integration.

Modelling prolonged stratification and hypoxia in dryland river waterholes during drought conditions

ABSTRACT Dryland river waterholes provide critical habitat and serve as refugia for aquatic animals during droughts, but the quality of these waterholes can often be severely compromised by hypoxic conditions that can lead to mass fish kills and loss of biodiversity. To assist river management, we developed a waterhole-scale ecohydrology model representing thermal stratification and dissolved oxygen regimes during prolonged drought periods in northern Murray-Darling Basin dryland rivers in Queensland, Australia. Model development focused around 6 typical waterholes in these rivers that were shallow (<5 m deep), highly turbid, and stratified with low dissolved oxygen. The model simulations utilised regional climate corrected for local factors such as diurnal vegetation shading and wind sheltering and successfully reproduced the prolonged stratification and hypoxia measured during drought conditions. The simulations highlight the distinct local climate each waterhole experiences due to the combined effects of river morphology and canopy cover that provide various degrees of solar shading and wind sheltering. The model can serve as a tool to inform water management decisions and climate adaptation strategies. Example scenarios demonstrate that (1) even where the canopy shading effect was small (5% at one site), further loss of riparian vegetation could increase temperature by 2–4 °C in warmer months with prolonged stratification; and (2) under an example RCP 8.5 climate change scenario, water temperature is likely to increase 2–10 °C, and oxygen saturation will decrease by 10% to 20% in the middle layers for most of the no-flow period by 2080–2099.

Organizational climate profiles: Identifying meaningful combinations of climate level and strength.

According to situation strength theory, organizational climate should have a stronger effect on group behavior when members' perceptions of the climate are both unambiguous (i.e., very high or very low) and shared than when they are more ambiguous and less shared. In the organizational climate literature, this proposition is typically examined by testing the interaction between climate level (i.e., mean) and strength (i.e., variability); surprisingly, the preponderance of empirical research testing this interaction does not support this theoretical expectation. This may be because the traditional variable-centered approach fails to consider the possibility of overlooked subpopulations consisting of unique combinations of climate level and strength, creating distinct climate profiles. To address this issue, we use a group-centered conceptualization and analyses (i.e., latent profile analysis) to examine the extent to which 302 workgroups (Sample 1) and 107 organizations (Sample 2) evidence statistically and practically meaningful climate profiles. Results revealed four to six distinct climate profiles across multiple climate types were differentially associated with theoretically relevant outcomes, including objective financial measures. Consistent with situation strength theory, groups with strong and favorable profiles tended to have more positive outcomes, whereas groups with weaker, less favorable profiles tended to have less positive outcomes. In contrast, the traditional variable-centered approach was generally unsupportive of an interaction between climate level and strength. Overall, these findings provide evidence that the group-centered approach is a more sensitive statistical modeling technique for testing a fundamental tenet of situation strength theory in the context of organizational climate research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Fingerprint of Climate Change on Southern Ocean Carbon Storage

AbstractThe Southern Ocean plays a critical role in the uptake, transport, and storage of carbon by the global oceans. It is the ocean's largest sink of CO2, yet it is also among the regions with the lowest storage of anthropogenic carbon. This behavior results from a unique combination of high winds driving the upwelling of deep waters and the subduction and northward transport of surface carbon. Here we isolate the direct effect of increasing anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere from the indirect effect of climate variability and climate change on the reorganization of carbon in the Southern Ocean interior using a combination of modeling and observations. We show that the effect of climate variability and climate change on the storage of carbon in the Southern Ocean is nearly as large as the effect of anthropogenic CO2 during the period 1998–2018 compared with the climatology around the year 1995. We identify a distinct climate fingerprint in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), with elevated DIC concentration in the ocean at 300–600 m that reinforces the anthropogenic CO2 signal, and reduced DIC concentration in the ocean around 2,000 m that offsets the anthropogenic CO2 signal. The fingerprint is strongest at lower latitudes (30°–55°S). This fingerprint could serve to monitor the highly uncertain evolution of carbon within this critical ocean basin, and better identify its drivers.

Essential oil composition and antimicrobial potential of aromatic plants grown in the mid-hill conditions of the Western Himalayas

Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts obtained from plants, rich in bioactive constituents with antimicrobial properties, but the distinctive climate of the Western Himalayan region influences the same. Aromatic and medicinal plants, viz., Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare, Cymbopogon winterianus, Pelargonium graveolens, and Nepeta cataria were grown in the foothills of the Western Himalayan condition and evaluated for essential oil content, composition, and their effect on some of the most common pathogenic microorganisms. The essential oil content (%) was 0.77, 0.45, 1.37, 0.15 and 0.17% in O. majorana, O. vulgare, C. winterianus, P. graveolens, and N. cataria, respectively. The major essential oil constituents of the isolated oils were terpinen-4-ol, thymol, citronellal, citronellol, and nepetalactone, contributing 41.24%, 31.81%, 43.13%, 43.35% and 91.43% in O. majorana, O. vulgare, C. winterianus, P. graveolens, and N. cataria, respectively. Well-diffusion assay revealed that the essential oil of O. majorana and O. vulgare was active against both the tested Gram-positive, viz., Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121, Micrococcus luteus MTCC 2470, and Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96; and Gram-negative, viz., Escherichia coli MTCC 43, Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC 109, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 2453 bacteria, while the essential oil of C. winterianus, P. graveolens, and N. cataria showed activity against only some Gram-positive bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration (v/v) values indicated the highest efficacy of O. majorana essential oil against B. subtilis (0.5%), M. luteus (1%), and S. aureus (1%), while O. vulgare was most efficient to E. coli (2%) and K. pneumoniae (2%). C. winterianus essential oil did not inhibit any bacterial strains. M. luteus was susceptible to the essential oil of P. graveolens (1%) and N. cataria (0.5%) at low concentrations. Present findings showed the association between the chemical constituents’ profile of isolated essential oils from the Himalayan region and their antimicrobial activity, indicating their perspective to be utilized as antibacterial means.

Urban form features determine spatio-temporal variation of ambient temperature: A comparative study of three European cities

Driven by ongoing urbanization and accelerated global warming, urban heat stress develops into a major threat for a large part of the world population. While the literature is clear about the relevance of urban form in modifying urban heat, the spatially explicit context of heat modifications by the built environment is insufficiently explored across cities.Here we develop a consistent methodology based on a machine learning model to determine the predictive features of urban form that shape urban ambient temperature (AT) under different urban and climate conditions. For this, we combine urban climate data at 100 m resolution from the UrbClim model with urban form features computed from different open datasets. We exemplify our innovation by evaluating summer daytime and nighttime temperature variation within three European cities that are representative of distinct geographies and climates: Berlin, Zürich, and Sevilla. Mean AT at dense urban spots was higher by 3 °C (on average) during summer compared to sub-urban sites across all cities. We find that urban form features explain around 2/3 of within-city temperature variations. Vegetation cover and water bodies are most significant in explaining spatial temperature patterns during the daytime, while the impervious land cover is most critical at nighttime. Cooling effect of water areas can accumulate to −1.5 °C, while heating effects of roads can induce +0.5 °C during daytime. The magnitude of effects varies across cities, primarily based on the climate type, altitude, and dominant land-cover. However, further testing should be conducted to develop a better understanding of impact variations. The findings of this research will provide urban planners and policymakers with crucial insights towards heat mitigation and sustainable urban developments through region-tailored modifications and replacement of land-cover.

Climate, soil mineralogy and mycorrhizal fungi influence soil organic matter fractions in eastern US temperate forests

Abstract Identifying the primary controls of particulate (POM) and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) content in soils is critical for determining future stocks of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) across the globe. However, drivers of these soil organic matter fractions are likely to vary among ecosystems in response to climate, soil type and the composition of local biological communities. We tested how soil factors, climate and plant–fungal associations influenced the distribution and concentrations of C and N in MAOM and POM in seven temperate forests in the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) across the eastern United States. Samples of upper mineral horizon soil within each forest were collected in plots representing a gradient of dominant tree–mycorrhizal association, allowing us to test how plant and microbial communities influenced POM and MAOM across sites differing in climate and soil conditions. We found that concentrations of C and N in soil organic matter were primarily driven by soil mineralogy, but the relative abundance of MAOM versus POM C was strongly linked to plot‐level mycorrhizal dominance. Furthermore, the effect of dominant tree mycorrhizal type on the distribution of N among POM and MAOM fractions was sensitive to local climate: in cooler sites, an increasing proportion of ectomycorrhizal‐associated trees was associated with lower proportions of N in MAOM, but in warmer sites, we found the reverse. As an indicator of soil carbon age, we measured radiocarbon in the MAOM fraction but found that within and across sites, Δ14C was unrelated to mycorrhizal dominance, climate, or soil factors, suggesting that additional site‐specific factors may be primary determinants of long‐term SOM persistence. Synthesis. Our results indicate that while soil mineralogy primarily controls SOM C and N concentrations, the distribution of SOM among density fractions depends on the composition of vegetation and microbial communities, with these effects varying across sites with distinct climates. We also suggest that within biomes, the age of mineral‐associated soil carbon is not clearly linked to the factors that control concentrations of MAOM C and N.

Climate influence on the optimal stand-alone microgrid system with hybrid storage – A comparative study

In the efforts to combat global warming, diversified social, political and technical strategies have been proposed and partially carried out. The vision to have a 100% renewable energy-based electricity system has been one of the long-term strategies in Germany. It is well known that renewable energy can only be utilized to the full extent when its down-side characteristics of intermittency and variability can be compensated by a practical storage system. Due to its long-term storage capacity in comparison to the battery storage, in recent years, hydrogen storage system has been undergoing a technological development and deployment boom, especially for the microgrid systems. This research evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of a 100% hybrid renewable energy-based system with different scenarios of energy storage systems for an off-grid microgrid system in two distinct climate regions within Germany, namely Hamburg and Munich. The “HOMER Pro” software was used to analyse the economic and environmental impact amongst the case studies. The aim of this theoretical study is to answer the questions: 1) Under different climate conditions which type of energy storage (i.e. battery, hydrogen tank, and hybrid battery-hydrogen tank) can offer the overall flexibility and economic advantages? 2) For a specific climate condition, how is the hybrid storage system deployed to achieve the optimum cost-effective scenario? 3) How would climate uncertainties affect the future energy plan for different climate zones?

Testing erosional and kinematic drivers of exhumation in the central Himalaya

This study investigates the influence of fault geometry, kinematics, and displacement on the exhumation history of the central Himalaya using geologic mapping constraints, a new interpreted cross-section, and a suite of 176 thermochronometer ages through the Marsyangdi valley in central Nepal. Guided by the cross-section, we integrate a forward model of fold-thrust belt evolution with a 2D thermokinematic model. Model-predicted and measured thermochronometer ages were compared to evaluate the sensitivity of thermochronometer ages to the geometry and location of structures, and their rates of deformation. Results indicate 84% of the measured data can be reproduced with a largely in-sequence system of faulting where displacement occurs on the Main Central thrust (MCT) from 23-16 Ma, the Ramgarh-Munsiari thrust (RMT) from 16-7.5 Ma, the Trishuli thrust (TT) from 7.5-6 Ma and the Main Boundary thrust (MBT) from 6-3 Ma. Our cross-section solution shows the development of a duplex that initiates at 4 Ma with the TT and MBT as the roof thrust. The duplex is translated over the Main Himalayan thrust (MHT) ramp, concurrent with forward propagation of faulting in the synorogenic Siwaliks from 3 Ma to present. Notably, the 2-0.5 Ma apatite fission-track ages between the MCT and Tethyan strata 45 km north of the MCT are not reproduced by the wide range of in-sequence deformation scenarios we explored. Instead, these data are consistent with simulations that include significant displacement on two out-of-sequence (OOS) faults in the last ∼1 Ma: 10 km of OOS faulting near the MCT followed by 5 km of displacement on a fault 15 km south of the MCT. Modeled OOS thrusting both builds significant topography in the hinterland and flexurally suppresses topography in the foreland. Consequently, our preferred kinematic solution has ∼10 km of final fault motion in the Siwaliks to rebuild topography at the MBT and the active MFT from ∼0.5 Ma to the present.Modeled exhumation rates are highly variable through time, and are highest during translation of rocks over high (∼10 km) ramps and during significant changes in architecture, such as duplex formation and OOS faulting. Notably high exhumation rates include 10.5 mm/yr during the first 4 Myr of MCT motion, 4-6 mm/yr at ∼7 Ma, due to the translation over an ∼10 km high TT ramp, and 7-12 mm/yr from 4 Ma to present driven by the development of the duplex and its translation over the MHT ramp, followed by OOS thrusting. The high (7-12 mm/yr) exhumation rates documented here from 4 Ma, correlate with a time of distinct climate change, including strengthening of the monsoon, and northern hemisphere glaciation, lending support to potential climate-tectonic feedbacks.

European Winter Climate Response to Projected Arctic Sea‐Ice Loss Strongly Shaped by Change in the North Atlantic Jet

AbstractPrevious studies have found inconsistent responses of the North Atlantic jet to Arctic sea‐ice loss. The response of wintertime atmospheric circulation and surface climate over the North Atlantic‐European region to future Arctic sea‐ice loss under 2°C global warming is analyzed, using model output from the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project. The models agree that the North Atlantic jet shifts slightly southward in response to sea‐ice loss, but they disagree on the sign of the jet speed response. The jet response induces a dipole anomaly of precipitation and storm track activity over the North Atlantic‐European region. The changes in jet latitude and speed induce distinct regional surface climate responses, and together they strongly shape the North Atlantic‐European response to future Arctic sea‐ice loss. Constraining the North Atlantic jet response is important for reducing uncertainty in the North Atlantic‐European precipitation response to future Arctic sea‐ice loss.