Dry Weather Research Articles

‘Dry Weather’ and the Environmental History of the Early Modern Caribbean

‘Dry Weather’ and the Environmental History of the Early Modern Caribbean

Extreme weather impact on carbon-neutral power system operation schemes: A case study of 2060 Sichuan Province

The impact of increasingly frequent and intense climate change events on power supply and consumption has become a concern for many countries. This study evaluated the impact of extreme weather on the power system economy and security by conducting an empirical case study of the Sichuan power network to address uncertainty attributed to different extreme weather events under carbon neutrality scenarios. First, our paper proposed a CNPSSO model of four seasonal typical days by jointly considering the regional hourly disparities of load curves and renewable power output curves. Then, the model creatively introduced the effects of extreme weather on the power supply and demand curves based on various scenario analyses. The most cost-effective output strategy using various generation technologies was provided based on optimization models. Finally, Sichuan Province, a hydropower-dominated province was selected as an empirical case study. The results indicate that extreme weather significantly affects the hourly operational and dispatching schemes of Sichuan's power system. Compared to the "Normal weather scenario”, hydropower's share plummets from 83.3 % to 46.1 %, while pumped storage surges 7.1 billion kWh in summer in extremely hot and dry weather. Imported electricity rises by 24.4 %, 30.5 % and 24.8 % in dry scenario, extremely hot and dry scenario, and extremely cold scenario, respectively. Furthermore, extreme weather increases carbon emissions (mainly from thermal power and imported electricity) and costs. Specifically, when juxtaposed against normal weather, extreme drought, extreme heat drought and extremely cold lead to respective increases in carbon emissions by 32.9 %, 33.5 %, and 12.3 %. Regarding the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), "Extremely dry scenario”, "Extremely hot and dry scenario”, and "Extremely cold scenario” drive up the LCOE by 7.2 %, 9.2 %, and 4.2 %, respectively.

Leveraging Social Media Data for Forest Fires Sentiment Classification: A Data-Driven Method

Background: The rise in forest fires over the last two years, which is due to rise in dry weather conditions and human activities, have greatly impacted an area of 1.6 million hectares, leading to significant ecological, economic, and health issues, hence the need to improve disaster response strategies. Previous research determined the lack of coverage regarding public response during forest fires with conventional methods such as satellite images and sensor data. However, social media platforms provide real-time information generated by users, along with location information of disaster events. Sentiment analysis helps in understanding the public reactions and responses to natural disasters, thereby increasing awareness about forest fires. Objective: The purpose of this research is to assess the efficiency of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) method in classifying sentiment for social networks in regard to forest fires. This research aims to examine the effect of TF-IDF, unigram, and the FastText features on the effectiveness of the classification of sentiment. Methods: The precision, recall, and F1 score of 2, 3, and 4 determined in the LSTM models with commonly available sentiment analysis tools, such as the Vader Sentiment Analysis and SentiWordNet was used to evaluate the performance of the model. Results: With an improvement of roughly 10%, the four layers of the LSTM model generated the best performance for the evaluation of sentiments about forest fires. The LSTM model with FastText achieved F1, recall and precision scores of 0.649, 0.641, and 0.659, which exceeds lexicon-based method including SentiWordNet and Vader. Conclusion: The experimental results showed that the LSTM model outperformed lexicon-based methods when used to analyse the tweets related to forest fire. Additional research is required to integrate rule-based models and LSTM models to develop a more robust model for dynamic data. Keywords: Forest Fire, Disaster, Long Short-Term Memory, LSTM, Vader, SentiWordnet

Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Changes in Climatic Extremes in Cold and Mountainous Environment: Insights from the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan

This study assessed the past changes in extreme precipitation and temperature events across the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. This cold and mountainous environmental region has witnessed a significant increase in climate-related disasters over the past few decades. Spatiotemporal changes in extreme temperature and precipitation events were analyzed using 24 indices developed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). For this study, in situ data of 16 national meteorological stations were obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) for the past three decades (1991–2020). The significance of the trends was assessed using the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test, and the Theil–Sen (TS) slope estimator was used to estimate the slope of the trend. The results showed that there has been a consistent decline in the total precipitation amount across the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan. The trend exhibited a decrease in the annual average precipitation at a rate of −6.56 mm/year. Simultaneously, there was an increasing trend in the annual average minimum and maximum temperatures at rates of 0.02 °C/year and 0.07 °C/year, respectively. The frequencies of consecutive wet days (CWDs) and maximum 5-day precipitation (RX5day) have decreased significantly, with decreasing rates of −0.40 days/year and −1.18 mm/year, respectively. The amount of precipitation during very wet days (R95p) and extremely wet days was decreased by −19.20 and −13.60 mm/decade, respectively. The warm spell duration (WSDI) and the frequency of warm days (TX90p) across the Himalayan Range both increased by 1.5 and 1.4 days/decade. The number of cold days (TX10p) and cold nights (TN10p) decreased by 2.9 and 3.4 days/decade. The average temperature of the hottest nights (TXn) and the diurnal temperature range (DTR) were increased by 0.10 and 0.30 °C/decade. The results indicated an increasing tendency of dry and warm weather in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, which could have adverse consequences for water resources, agriculture, and disaster management in the country. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the implementation of localized adaptation techniques in order to enhance sustainable climate resilience and effectively address the emerging climate challenges faced by these mountainous regions.

First Report of Bacterial Leaf Spot Disease on Ginger Caused by Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii in China.

In autumn 2023, an unknown leaf spot disease has occurred on ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in two fields of approximately 1800 m2 in Yongning District (22°49'N; 108°48'E), Nanning, China, with a incidence of 20-30%. The symptoms began as yellow spots on the leaves, expanding into elliptical to irregular lesions with yellow edges, the middle of the lesion turning grey-white in dry weather. Finally, multiple spots caused necrosis of the whole leaf. Twelve diseased leaves from six plants of two fields were collected, surface disinfected and ground. The ground samples were diluted and plated on nutrient agar (NA) medium at 28 °C for 48-72 h. The purified colonies appeared milky white and round, with smooth edges. Three isolates (GL1, GL2 and GL3) were selected for identification and pathogenic determination. They were gram negative, could utilize sorbitol, mannitol, inositol, raffinose, melibiose, disaccharides, and citrate; negative for methyl red, phenylalanine decarboxylase, hydrogen sulfide, urease; positive for voges-proskauer test and ornithine decarboxylase. These characteristics were consistent with Enterobacter genus (Wu et al., 2020). Genomic DNA was extracted from three isolates. The 16S rDNA region was amplified using 27F/1492R primers (Weisburg et al. 1991) and sequenced (accession no. PP837703-PP837705). Blastn analysis revealed that 16S rDNA sequences for GL1 was 99% identical (1373/1387 nt), GL2 96% (1364/1422 nt) and GL3 95% (1365/1435 nt) to Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii WCHECL1060 (NR_179166). To determine the species, the sequences of gyrB, rpoB and atpD genes were amplified using primers gyrB 01-F/gyrB 02-R, rpoB CM7/rpoB CM31b, and atpD 01-F/atpD 02-R, respectively (Lin et al. 2015; Zhu at al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2013). The GenBank accession numbers for the sequences were PP857680-PP857688. A multilocus phylogenetic tree was constructed with the concatenated sequence of 16S rDNA-gyrB-rpoB-atpD by using the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method with 1000 bootstrap replicates in MEGA6 software. The three isolates clustered with E. quasiroggenkampii. Fifteen Darou ginger variety plants at the 4-5 leaf stage were tested for pathogenicity. Two to three leaves of each ginger plant were pricked with a syringe needle of 0.36mm in diameter or not and inoculated by spraying the bacterial suspension (108 CFU/mL), sterile water was used as a control. Five plants were inoculated with each isolate and the test was repeated three times. After 3-4 days of inoculation, all wounded leaves and about 10% of the unwounded leaves showed symptoms similar to those observed in the field. Control plants did not develop symptoms. Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii isolates were re-isolated from the inoculated leaves with symptoms, and their identity was confirmed by gyrB sequencing and colony morphology, completing Koch's postulates. Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii is a pathogen of humans that can cause nosocomial infections (Wu et al., 2020). In Guangxi, E. quasiroggenkampii was identified as one of the pathogens causing mulberry wilt (Jiao, 2022). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. quasiroggenkampii causing bacterial leaf spot disease of ginger. The results of this study not only have practical significance for the control of ginger leaf spot, but also can provide excellent materials for the study of the differentiation and pathogenic mechanism of the genus Enterobacter, which has important academic value.

Digging into Detectability: Uncovering How Temperature Influences Detection Probability of the Fossorial Temblor Legless Lizard

Abstract Knowledge of species distributions is critical for conservation, but surveying for rare, understudied species presents many challenges. A two-phase occupancy study can increase knowledge gained from early occupancy studies of a species by quickly using data from the first survey period to revise the study design for a second period. The Temblor legless lizard Anniella alexanderae is a recently described fossorial species found in the southwestern San Joaquin Valley, California, and its status is currently under review by state and federal wildlife agencies. As a fossorial species that is rarely surface active, Temblor legless lizards might be unavailable for detection at certain times of year or under inhospitable conditions (e.g., hot, dry weather), indicating the importance of accounting for false-negative surveys when determining its distribution. We used a multiscale occupancy model to disentangle detection probability, availability for detection, and occupancy for Temblor legless lizards. Focusing our effort from mid-February to mid-April when temperatures are mild and soil moisture is expected to be higher near the surface, we surveyed a total of 89 sites in 2022 (n = 60) and 2023 (n = 68) and detected Temblor legless lizards at 12 sites, including 5 new localities. Detection probability was positively related to temperature during our late winter-early spring survey period, and availability for detection was consistently high with minimal fluctuation within each year. Nevertheless, repeated surveys with nondetection can increase confidence that this fossorial lizard does not occur at a site. Temblor legless lizards were more likely to occur at sites near ephemeral streams and in areas without high clay soil content, but more investigation could help to discern drivers of occurrence. Our study provides valuable information for optimizing surveys for Temblor legless lizards and suggests promising directions for future research on this species’ ecology.

Assessing human-source microbial contamination of stormwater in the U.S

Stormwater capture and use (SCU) projects have the potential to provide a significant portion of municipal water demand. However, uncertainty about the degree of microbial contamination in stormwater and the required treatment is a barrier for implementation of SCU projects. Stormwater runoff could become contaminated with human fecal matter in areas with deteriorating infrastructure where raw wastewater exfiltrates from sewer networks to stormwater collection networks, homeless encampments exist, or sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) occur. Estimation of human fecal contamination can inform selection of stormwater treatment targets. This study investigates stormwater microbial contamination originating from human fecal matter using observed detections and concentrations of human microbial source tracking (MST) markers and potentially human-infectious pathogens (PHIPs). First, a systematic review complied measurements of human MST markers in wet and dry weather stormwater flows and influent wastewater. In addition, measurements of viral pathogens (e.g., adenoviruses, norovirus GI+GII, and enteroviruses) and protozoan pathogens (e.g., Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum) in wet weather flows and influent wastewater were assessed. Human MST marker and PHIP data were statistically analyzed and applied to estimate a human fecal contamination analog (HFCA) which is an estimate of the amount of human fecal matter based on relative concentrations of microbial contaminants in stormwater compared to municipal wastewater. Human MST-based HFCAs in wet and dry weather flows ranged from <10−7.0 to 10−1.5 (median = 10−4.5) and 10−12 to 10−2.6 (median = 10−7.0), respectively. PHIP-based HFCAs in wet weather flows ranged from ∼10−8 to 10−0.14. Estimates of human MST-based HFCAs are more reliable than PHIP-based HFCAs because the current PHIP datasets are generally limited by the number of data points, percent detection, variability observed within the statistical distributions, and the geographical span of sampling locations. The use of human MST-based HFCAs is recommended to guide the selection of stormwater treatment process trains that are protective of public health based on the intended end use. Application of HFCA 10−1 (i.e., sewage dilution 10−1) remains a reasonable conservative estimate of human fecal contamination in stormwater to inform selection of pathogen log reduction targets based on the data presently available.

Surface temperature modulations induced by Rossby Wave Breaking over Indian region

Abstract Upper-level Rossby Wave Breaking (RWB) significantly affects surface weather patterns in the subtropical Indian region through influencing wind circulation often resulting in extremes in rainfall and surface temperatures. While the impact of RWB on rainfall is relatively well understood, its role in modulating surface temperatures within the Indian subcontinent is less explored. This study examines the link between pre-monsoon (March to May) RWB events and the occurrence of extreme surface temperatures and heatwaves by considering long-term data of 43 years between 1979 and 2021. We identify 139 RWB events using a potential vorticity (PV) contour searching algorithm over the Indian sub-continent. Our analysis reveals a significant amplification in temperature both to the west and east of the breaking PV streamers. These temperature anomalies, which last for 3–4 days during the breaking events, strongly correlate with the maximum day of breaking. Further, regression analyses explain the reasons behind the temperature enhancement mainly on the western and eastern flank of RWB. It indicates a positive association between upper-level PV anomalies and anticyclonic circulations at 250 hPa, along with subsidence at 500 hPa, leading to drier conditions in the western and eastern regions of the PV streamers. Additionally, the decomposition of temperature anomalies during RWB events reveals that surface warming is primarily driven by diabatic heating on both sides of the centroid, with stronger adiabatic heating in regions of upper-level anticyclonic circulation and significant temperature advection predominantly on the western side of the centroid, resulting in dry weather and the poleward movement of warm air toward the ridges near the PV streamers.

Drought vulnerability assessment and its impact on crop production and livelihood of people: An empirical analysis of Barind Tract

North-Western section of Bangladesh is experiencing a protracted decrease in precipitation, irregular rainfall, and the depletion of ground water, which results in water scarcity and extreme dry weather that impedes the production of agricultural commodities and threatens the people's way of life. Analyzing the precipitation deficit and ground water deficit, along with vegetation cover, temperature condition, and the condition of the vegetation is a crucial component of drought vulnerability assessment. Rajshahi Zilla, a region of Bangladesh located in the middle of the Barind tract, is experiencing a severe water shortage. The irregular rainfall, decrease in rainfall, prolonged absence of rainfall and ground water depletion results in drought. This study aims to access the vulnerability of drought by analyzing precipitation rates, ground water depletion levels, temperature condition, vegetation condition and the vegetative droughts to find out the severe condition of droughts and the severe effects of this in the livelihoods of the farmers and their crop production practices. In this case the study focuses on determining NDVI, NDWI, NDMI, VCI, TCI, and VHI. The VHI results show a significant increase in extreme drought conditions from 2013 (4 %) to 2021 (7 %). By conducting a few questionnaire surveys and Focus Group Discussion the present situation of crop production and the livelihoods of people has been analyzed. Almost 18.3 % of farmers have made a permanent move away from agriculture, and 80 % of permanently relocated farmers report an improvement in their quality of life. Nearly 60 % of farmers believe that the construction of deep ditches has enhanced their crop yield. Once again, more than 20 % are in the same predicament as previously, with over 19 % reporting that deep irrigation has lowered agricultural yield. Comprehending the potential consequences of drought will enable planners and decision-makers to implement mitigation measures aimed at improving the communities' ability to manage drought risk. After analyzing data, it has been found that Rajshahi is facing a critical drought problem, which has led to water scarcity, severely affecting agricultural production and livelihoods.

Assessment of wastewater ecotoxicity in a large hybrid sewer system in Lodz (Poland)

ABSTRACT Municipal wastewater may contain toxic substances that have a negative impact on biological treatment processes and receiving waters. This paper presents the wastewater toxicity test results from the Lodz hybrid sewage system. Wastewater is discharged to surface waters through a treatment plant, but also during wet weather, partially without treatment by combined sewer overflows. The research was carried out using the ToxTrakTM method with the use of the microbial community of activated sludge from the wastewater treatment plant in Lodz. The median toxicity, expressed as the degree of inhibition, ranged from 16.0% to 30.7%, but sometimes exceeded 50%. Higher toxicity was observed in wet weather than in dry weather. Seasonal variability was found but typical daily variability was not observed. In the case of sewage samples with the degree of inhibition above 40%, a significant correlation was found with chromium concentration and non-ionic surfactants (Pearson’s coefficient correlation above 0.7).

The Impact of Crop Year and Crop Density on the Production of Sunflower in Site-Specific Precision Farming in Hungary

Sunflower is considered a plant with extraordinary adaptability. However, the conditions of growing sunflower function as a limiting factor in its production. The hybrids used in production tolerate weather variability to a different level and utilise the nutrient and water resources of the soil, while the yield is also affected by the number of plants per hectare. In this study, the authors attempted to observe the environmental effects influencing sunflower cultivation, the heterogeneous productivity zones of the given production site and the correlation of the number of seeding plants used under various farm practices. The average rainfall of 2021 and the dry weather of 2022 created suitable conditions for examining the yearly weather effect. In the selected experimental areas, three distinguishable zones were defined in terms of productivity. In each productivity zone, three crop density steps were used in four replicates. Based on the performed comparative tests, the rainy year of 2021 resulted higher yield than the drier year of 2022 in the average- and high productivity zones, while in the low-productivity zone, higher yields were harvested under the drier conditions of 2022 than in the rainy year of 2021. In 2021, with the improvement in productivity, the obtained yield was also higher. However, in 2022, this clarity could not be demonstrated. In the zones with low productivity, identical yield results were observed in both weather conditions. Based on the examination of the obtained results, it was shown that the effect of weather conditions and the given number of plants have a smaller influence on the yield results of low-productivity zones, while these factors have a greater influence on the yields of high-productivity zones.

Ecotoxicological assessment of sanitary sewer overflows and rainfall dynamics offers insights into conditions for potential adverse ecological outcomes

Sewer overflows are an environmental concern due to their potential to introduce contaminants that can adversely affect downstream aquatic ecosystems. As these overflows can occur during rainfall events, the influence of rainwater ingress from inflow and infiltration on raw untreated wastewater (influent) within the sewer is a critical factor influencing the dilution and toxicity of the contaminants. The Vineyard sewer carrier in the greater city of Sydney, Australia, was selected for an ecotoxicological investigation of a sanitary (separate from stormwater) sewerage system and a wet-weather overflow (WWO). Three influent samples were collected representing dry-weather (DW), intermediate wet-weather (IWW) and wet-weather (WW). In addition, a receiving water sample was also collected downstream in Vineyard Creek (WW-DS) coinciding with a WWO.We employed direct toxicity assessment (DTA) and toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) approaches to gain comprehensive insights into the nature and magnitude of the impact on influent from rainwater ingress into the sewer. Three standard ecotoxicological model species, a microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, the water flea, Ceriodaphnia dubia and the midge larva, Chironomus tepperi were used for both acute and chronic tests. The study revealed variable toxicity responses, with the sample of influent collected in wet-weather displaying lower toxicity compared to the dry-weather sample of influent. Ammonia, and metals, were identified in dry weather as contributors to the observed toxicity, however, this risk was alleviated through rainwater ingress in wet-weather with further dilution within the receiving water. Based on toxicity data, dilutions of influent to minimise effects on C. vulgaris and C. dubia ranged from 1 in 12 in DW to 1 in 2.8 in WW, and further diminished in the receiving water to 1 in 1.8. The successful application of ecotoxicological approaches enabled the assessment of cumulative effects of contaminants in influent, offering valuable insights into the sanitary sewer system under rainwater ingress.

Isotope-based source assessment of water flowing from storm sewer systems to a receiving river during dry weather periods

Urban stormwater management systems, particularly storm sewers, are critical for managing runoff in urban areas. These systems are designed to function during wet weather events; however, field-based observations of these systems suggest that they may also be active flow pathways in dry weather conditions, ultimately contributing to streamflow. Unlike dry weather flow in wastewater systems, storm sewer dry weather flow has not been thoroughly explored. This research used stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen in water to examine the sources of dry weather flow from storm sewers in a highly urban catchment. A stable isotope mixing model was applied at the outfalls of two stormwater catchments and the receiving Black Creek, located in Toronto, Canada. Findings suggest that during dry periods, storm sewers receive non-stormwater inputs from tap water, wastewater, and groundwater, along with some precipitation, and that these sources may constitute up to 19 % of Black Creek's flow at the watershed scale. Seasonal patterns in flow and water sources were observed for the Black Creek and outfalls. At one outfall, dry weather flow was predominantly from the water distribution system (i.e., tap water and/or wastewater) throughout spring, summer, and fall. In contrast, at the second outfall, groundwater dominated in spring and summer, and groundwater and water distribution were equally proportioned in fall. Black Creek baseflow comprises a dynamic mix of water sources that at times are similar to the sources observed at the stormwater outfalls. Considering these findings, future work should incorporate strategic sampling of additional outfalls, and multiple years of data collection to explore inter-annual variability in these processes and focus on replicating a similar study in other urban watersheds with different climates and/or water infrastructure design. The study findings highlight that our understanding of dry weather flow from storm sewers is relatively limited, emphasizing the need for further exploration of this phenomenon to inform urban hydrological modelling, water quality studies, and urban water management.

Assessment of Air Pollution Levels from a Building Construction Site on Lagos Island

The introduction highlights the challenges of air pollution from construction activities on a site in Lagos Island, Nigeria, emphasizing the need for comprehensive studies to assess air pollution levels and evaluate its implications for public health and environmental quality. The methodology outlines the monthly data collection process, using the Earth Sense Zephyr (equipped with electrochemical detectors for gases) to measure CO, NO, NO₂, O₃, and Optical light scattering for particles) to measure PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀, and the ARA n-FRM Sampler for additional data collection on PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀. The study found that CO, NO, and NO₂ levels were influenced by construction activities, vehicle emissions and industrial sources, with notable peaks in CO and NO concentrations during specific months. Ozone levels remained consistently low, likely due to the "titration effect," while particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) showed significant seasonal variation, peaking during the dry season due to construction dust and dry weather conditions. The findings underscore the need for stringent regulatory measures and effective dust control practices, particularly during periods of increased construction activity and dry weather, to mitigate air pollution and protect public health. In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of air pollution from a typical construction site in Lagos Island, emphasizing the urgency of sustainable interventions to safeguard public health and environmental integrity. The study proposes enhanced monitoring and surveillance, stringent regulatory measures, promotion of sustainable construction practices, and public awareness and education, to address the challenges associated with construction-related air pollution on Lagos Island.

Impact of Enso on Indian Monsoon and Food Production

El Nino is a big ocean-atmosphere climate interaction It happens when Sea Temperatures (SST) warm up in central and eastern parts of the Equatorial Pacific. Whereas La Nina is the opposite event of it, when ocean SST cools down in those same areas. Together, El Nino and La Nina are known as the El Nino Southern Oscillation Index (O). Usually, El Nino brings warm and dry weather to southern &amp; eastern inland regions of India, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and the central Pacific islands. The variations of Indian summer monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) are linked to changes in sea surface temperatures over the equatorial Pacific &amp; Indian Oceans. ENSO events really affect summer rainfall in India and major droughts have faced during El Nino events. When El Nino kicks in, it often leads to weak monsoons &amp; higher temperatures in India. This raises the chances of droughts, which could upset crop production &amp; water supply in India. The lack of rain because of El Nino causes crop production to drop, especially short-duration Kharif crops. This situation can lead to higher inflation rates &amp; slower GDP growth, since agriculture is such a huge part of India’s economy. Therefore, this paper provide information about how El Nino affects climate throughout various regions of India, especially regarding monsoons and growing food.

Influence of Hemp Residues on Soil Chemical Parameters and Spring Wheat Productivity

The utilization of hemp residues, obtained after the harvest of hemp flowers, is a potential soil amendment in crop cultivation that might enhance soil health, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. However, more research is required to choose the best agricultural practice for optimizing hemp residue degradations. This study aimed to determine the integrated effects of hemp residues in different soil tillage systems on spring wheat yield. The results of the two-year experiment show that under favorable climatic conditions and soil moisture contents, the highest spring wheat grain yield (6.0 t ha−1) is achieved in plots where hemp residues are plowed in autumn. Similar results are obtained in dry weather conditions, but the yield is lower by more than half—2.3 t ha−1. The influence of residues increases the C content in the soil. The findings advance our understanding of integrated agricultural practices through the utilization of hemp residues for promoting resilient and sustainable crop production systems.

Flight behaviour of Red Kites within their breeding area in relation to local weather variables: Conclusions with regard to wind turbine collision mitigation

Abstract Birds and bats are prone to collisions with wind turbines. To reduce the number of bat collisions, weather variables are commonly used to shut down wind turbines when a certain constellation of weather variables occurs. Such a general approach might also be interesting to mitigate raptor collisions. Studies on the relationship between flight behaviour and weather variables are needed. To investigate the flight behaviour of raptors within their breeding area in relation to local weather variables, we used high resolution data of flight tracks of Red Kites collected on a wind energy test site (Germany). Birds were tracked with a laser range finder (LRF) or with Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitters. Weather variables were continuously registered on site. We used generalised linear mixed models to analyse the influence of weather variables and of the measurement method on different flight parameters. Furthermore, we investigated the probability of flying within a virtual rotor height range defined by three hub heights (84, 94 and 140 m; diameter: 112 m). The median flight altitude measured by LRF (52.5 m, 95% CI: 44.9–61.0, N = 2511) was on average 25 m higher than the corrected one resulting from GPS (27.8 m, 95% CI: 24.7–31.2, N = 6792). Flight speed also differed between methods (GPS: 29.2 km/h, 95% CI: 28.2–30.3 km/h; LRF: 25.1 km/h, 95% CI: 24.0–26.3 km/h). The effects of the weather variables were weak. Birds tended to fly less and lower during wet (humid, rainy or foggy) than dry weather, and lower during strong than weak winds. Probabilities of flying within a height range of virtual rotors increased with decreasing hub height, and hence ground clearance. Synthesis and applications: Flight behaviour was highly variable. Flights occurred during all weather conditions at different altitudes throughout the day over the entire season. Further research into the relationship between flight behaviour, weather variables, collisions and other factors is needed as a basis for developing shutdown regimes generally suitable for raptors. The mean flight altitude and speed differed between the measurement methods. Any values resulting from studies should be interpreted in the context of the method.

Soil water consumption along the profile in response to soil water content variations in a black locust plantation with a rainfall exclusion in Loess Plateau

Soil drying is frequently observed in mature forests in water-limited regions, and poses a threat to sustainable development of the ecosystems. Herein, we assessed the effects of rainfall reduction on the water-use characteristics of a black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) plantation in a sub-humid region of the Loess Plateau, China. Paired plots were established in the plantation, including a treatment with 30 % throughfall exclusion and a control. We comparatively investigated the dynamics of soil water content (SWC) throughout the profile in the two plots after four years of the treatment and determined the contribution of soil water storage (SWS) in each soil layer to water consumption according to the SWS budget. While SWC across the profile in the control plot showed general responses to replenishment and consumption under rainy and dry weather conditions, respectively, the treatment plot had smaller replenishment and consumption in deep layers, causing an aggravated deficiency in SWS and the formation of a temporary dried soil layer (DSL) at a depth of 55–100 cm. The cumulative decrement in SWS during each dry event (consecutive rainless days of ≥ 5-day duration) in the control plot was significantly correlated with SWC at 100–160 cm, suggesting a substantial contribution of water consumption from this layer. However, the treatment plot showed a major contribution to water consumption from the 0–100 cm soil layer during dry events. The vertical distribution of the root system supports these findings, which differed from our hypothesis that deep soil water would be used in response to reduced rainfall input. The distribution of fine root density in the treatment plot was relatively shallower (0–22 and 0–73.1 cm accounting for 50 % and 90 % of fine roots, respectively) than in the control plot (0–31.2 and 0–103.5 cm for corresponding values). These findings indicate that soil water deficiency resulted in the formation of DSL, which hindered water consumption and root development deeper in the soil profile. The severity and recovery of the DSL may be jointly determined by the vertical distribution of SWS and transpiration demand of the plantation. These findings provide insights for water resource management and sustainable development of the plantations in this region.

DESCRIPTION OF CLIMATIC PHENOMENA IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE XVII–XVIII CENTURIES IN THE MOGILEV CHRONICLE OF T.R. SURTA AND TRUBNITSKY

The article discusses the features of the description of climatic phenomena in the Mogilev chronicle of T.R. Surta and Trubnitsky. The chronicle is a valuable historical source for reconstructing the climate of the second half of the XVII – XVIII centuries. It mentions, first of all, climatic disasters, which are reflected in records of abnormally cold winters and unstable weather in the spring and summer seasons. The chronicle pays great attention to the facts of famine, rising prices for bread and other food products, which was the result of low yields, caused by unfavorable climatic conditions. The authors of the Mogilev Chronicle also described cases of locust invasions, which have been observed again on Belarusian lands since the end of the XVII century and are a clear indicator of dry and warm weather.

Accumulation of airborne microplastics on leaves of different tree species in the urban environment

Microplastics (MPs) are omnipresent in the environment and they are linked to ecosystem and human health problems. The atmospheric transport of MPs and the role of tree leaves in MP atmospheric deposition has not been adequately studied. MP concentrations on the leaves of different tree species in urban regions of the Netherlands and Portugal, along with related MP deposition, were investigated in this study. We collected leaves from cedar, eucalyptus, oak, pine and willow trees, together with monthly deposition of particles under the trees and in the open space in Coimbra (Portugal). In Wageningen (the Netherlands), we collected leaves from a fir and a holly tree at different heights above the ground and with dry and wet weather conditions. MPs were extracted through density separation and quantified under a microscope. Polymer types were identified using μ-FTIR. The results showed a higher number of MP particles on the needle-shaped leaves from fir (2.52 ± 2.14 particles·cm−2) and pine (0.5 ± 0.13 particles·cm−2) and significantly lower numbers of MPs per cm2 of leaf area on the bigger leaves from eucalyptus (0.038 ± 0.003 particles·cm−2) and cedar (0.037 ± 0.002 particles·cm−2). All tree leaves seemed to filter airborne MPs, especially the smallest particles. A non-significantly higher number of particles on leaves was detected on lower tree branches and after dry periods. The deposition of MPs under trees was generally higher than in the open space. Our results indicated that part of the MPs retained by the tree leaves floats down to lower branches and to the soil surface. We also saw that different tree species had different capacities to retain particles on their leaves over time. To control the transport of MPs through the atmosphere, it is essential to consider the role of different vegetation types in filtering small particles, especially in cities.