Environmental Controls Research Articles

Hygrothermal Performance of Enclosures in a Storage Room and Energy Efficiency in Environmental Control

ABSTRACT This study aims to provide energy-efficient strategies for collections care in the face of financial and environmental challenges. Focusing on paper-based enclosures in storage rooms, the research proposes strategies to enhance energy efficiency by relaxing tight environmental controls. The five-stage process began with a standard test of hygrothermal properties and buffering capacity of the enclosures. In the second stage, a computer model was developed using the first stage results. This model was used in a series of specially designed tests simulating the transient heat, air, and moisture transfer between the room and enclosure to determine an acceptable room environment in which the enclosure conditions could meet collections care standards. The modelling results were used, in the third stage, to develop an AI model that predicted the enclosure conditions using room temperature and relative humidity (RH) inputs. In the final stage, a model for energy consumption of air-conditioning system operations was developed to predict across various control accuracies. Results indicate that the tight maintenance of room RH levels can be relaxed from 47–53% to 33–65%, with a corresponding reduction in energy consumption of approximately 16–18%. This relaxation, while maintaining enclosure conditions in line with conservation standards, was demonstrated through a simulation case at the National Library of Scotland. This study underscores the broader applicability of the developed procedure, asserting its relevance for cultural institutions seeking energy-saving potential through customized enclosure models.

Turning Points in Vegetation Phenology Trends and Their Relationship to Climate in Arid Central Asia

AbstractGrassland phenology is highly sensitive to climate change. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of start (start of season (SOS)) and end (end of season (EOS)) dates of the growing season and quantify changes in their climatic controls over the arid Central Asian grassland ecosystems during 1982–2015, which may improve the model performance by considering shifts in primary drivers under ongoing climate change. Our results suggest that temperature played a positive role in advancing the SOS date, with the control of temperature on SOS getting stronger as preseason conditions become warmer but not drier. For autumn phenology, rapid increase in temperature after 1999 in combination with reductions in precipitation jointly contributed to a shift from delayed to advanced EOS. The areas that EOS regulated by either temperature or precipitation have changed between the two subperiods. Our findings suggest that the dynamic controls of temperature and precipitation on grassland phenology and the difference between spring and autumn phenology should be built into phenological models more accurately.

Changes in gross ecosystem product and its response to land use changes in forest resource dominant regions: A case study of Zixi County, Jiangxi Province, China.

Forests are one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems and play a crucial role in the construction of ecological civilization. Understanding the changes in gross ecosystem product (GEP) and its response to land use change in areas with unique advantages in forest resources is of great significance for promoting sustainable development. We examined the GEP of Zixi County of Jiangxi Province. Based on the theory and method of ecosystem value accounting, and on the basis of the general indicator system for regulating services (water source conservation, soil conservation, oxygen supply, carbon fixation, climate control, flood regulation, water purification, air cleaning, species conservation) and the general indicator system for cultural services (landscape recreation, education), we added negative oxygen ions and health care indicators and introduced forest ecosystem service correction coefficients to construct a GEP indicator system and method with unique advantages in forest resources. We evaluated the spatio-temporal variations of GEP in 2010, 2017 and 2020, and quantified the impact of land use/land cover change on GEP by means of elasticity index and value profit and loss analysis. The results showed that the GEP of Zixi County in 2010, 2017 and 2020 was 16.788 billion, 26.817 billion, and 38.407 billion yuan, respectively. Forests contri-buted the largest amount of GEP, followed by wetland, farmland, grassland, and town. During the study period, the added value of GEP mainly came from forest ecosystems. Land use change had an important impact on GEP. From 2010 to 2020, the total land use change area in the study area was 8501.88 hm2. The amplitude of land use change was grassland (-2811.17 hm2)>town (1428.06 hm2)>forest (1357.67 hm2)>wetland (1031.05 hm2)> farmland (-1005.01 hm2). The absolute changes of various land use types were mainly occurred from 2017 to 2020. The elasticity index of each indicator on forest ecosystems was significantly higher than that of other ecosystems, indicating that GEP had the highest sensitivity to changes in forest area. The results of value profit and loss analysis showed that urban development had reduced GEP to some extent, while the protection of forest and wetland had increased GEP. From 2010 to 2020, the conversion of land use types in Zixi County led to an increase of 1.865 billion yuan in GEP, indicating that land use change in Zixi County had a positive ecological impact on the whole. Our results reflect the green development effect of Zixi County after becoming a national ecological civilization construction demonstration county, which could provide decision-making support for high-quality development, high-level protection and sustainable development and utilization of land resources in the future, and provide reference for other similar areas of GEP accounting.

Global leaf sulfur stoichiometry and the relationships with nitrogen and phosphorus: phylogeny, growth form and environmental controls.

Sulfur (S) is an essential bioelement with vital roles in serving regulatory and catalytic functions and tightly coupled with N and P in plants. However, globally stoichiometric patterns of leaf S and its relationships to leaf N and P are less well studied. We compiled 31 939 records of leaf-based data for 2600 plant species across 6652 sites worldwide. All plant species were divided into different phylogenetic taxa and growth forms. Standard major axis analysis was employed to fit the bivariate element relationships. A phylogenetic linear mixed-effect model and a multiple-regression model were used to partition the variations of bioelements into phylogeny and environments, and then to estimate the importance of environmental variables. Global geometric mean leaf S, N and P concentrations were 1.44, 15.70 and 1.27 mg g-1, respectively, with significant differences among plant groups. Leaf S-N-P positively correlated with each other, ignoring plant groups. The scaling exponents of LN-LS, LP-LS and LN-LP were 0.64, 0.76 and 0.79, respectively, for all species, but differed among plant groups. Both phylogeny and environments regulated the bioelements. The variability, rather than mean temperature, controlled the bioelements. Phylogeny explained more for the concentrations of all the three bioelements than environments, of which S was the one most affected by phylogenetic taxa.

Climate‐controlled conservation: Remaking ‘the botanical metropolis of the world’

AbstractThis paper examines the understudied relationship between nature conservation and climate control in botanic gardens. Drawing on research conducted at Kew Gardens in West London, we analyse how the relations between climate control, techniques that allow the creation of particular microclimatic conditions in volumetric enclosures, and ex‐situ—out of nature—botanical management have changed over time. The paper shows how climate‐controlled conservation works through three spatial‐technological modes—acclimatisation, climate simulation, and climate security—that reconfigure in‐situ and ex‐situ relations. These modes increasingly transcend local environmental conditions, creating the possibility of conservation without natural climate. The paper extends existing geographies of climate control by focusing on the role of technology in permitting plant life to be moved between different geographical contexts, in enabling ex‐situ and in‐situ natures to become increasingly entwined, and in constructing enclosed conditions decoupled from local climate. Secure climate‐controlled conservation now strategically transforms ex‐situ botanic gardens into the actual sites, and in some cases the last remaining sites, of these natures.

Soil chemistry effect on GDGT abundances and their proxies in soils of the Okavango Delta

Branched and isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs, and isoGDGTs) are two families of membrane lipids commonly used to reconstruct paleo-environmental parameters. Their use as a quantitative proxy for past temperatures has been hindered by the discovery of other environmental controls on their distribution in soils, such as changes in bacterial community composition, chemistry and aridity. To test for the impact of aridity-driven soil chemistry changes, GDGT concentrations and derived proxies were measured in 43 soils along a chemical gradient in the Okavango Delta. All brGDGT concentrations increase with decreasing pH. Alkalinity-promoted (6-methyl and cyclopentane-containing) brGDGTs show a secondary concentration increase in arid soils, characterized by a high pH>8 and cation exchange capacity (CEC>30 cmolc kg−1). The concentration of 5-methyl brGDGTs increases faster that of 6-methyl brGDGTs in arid compared with non-arid soils. Although limited variability in temperature is present (∼2 °C), significant variation in MBT′5ME values is observed (0.63–0.96) likely driven by the variation in CEC. IsoGDGTs are present in lower concentrations than brGDGTs, and Ri/b values, a potential proxy for paleohydrological reconstruction, correlating with soil water content (r = 0.45, p < 0.01). TEX86 values (0.57–0.97) correlate with pH across the aridity transect. In this region, where accurate proxies and quantitative paleostudies are scarce, the impact of aridity-driven chemistry changes on GDGT-proxies is shown, i.e., MBT′5ME is overall controlled by CEC, but correlates negatively with pH in non-arid soils and with IR6ME in arid alkaline soils. Furthermore, we propose GDGT-based proxies for concentration in exchangeable calcium, past hydrological changes and soil pH.

Modelling the Influence of Climate and Vector Control Interventions on Arbovirus Transmission.

Most mathematical models that assess the vectorial capacity of disease-transmitting insects typically focus on the influence of climatic factors to predict variations across different times and locations, or examine the impact of vector control interventions to forecast their potential effectiveness. We combine features of existing models to develop a novel model for vectorial capacity that considers both climate and vector control. This model considers how vector control tools affect vectors at each stage of their feeding cycle, and incorporates host availability and preference. Applying this model to arboviruses of veterinary importance in Europe, we show that African horse sickness virus (AHSV) has a higher peak predicted vectorial capacity than bluetongue virus (BTV), Schmallenberg virus (SBV), and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). However, AHSV has a shorter average infectious period due to high mortality; therefore, the overall basic reproduction number of AHSV is similar to BTV. A comparable relationship exists between SBV and EHDV, with both viruses showing similar basic reproduction numbers. Focusing on AHSV transmission in the UK, insecticide-treated stable netting is shown to significantly reduce vectorial capacity of Culicoides, even at low coverage levels. However, untreated stable netting is likely to have limited impact. Overall, this model can be used to consider both climate and vector control interventions either currently utilised or for potential use in an outbreak, and could help guide policy makers seeking to mitigate the impact of climate change on disease control.

Editorial to the Special Collection “Controls and Biasing Factors in Sediment Generation, Routing, and Provenance: Models, Methods, and Case Studies”

AbstractClastic sediment composition constitutes a key archive of Earth history, controlled by allogenic and autogenic processes that impact weathering, erosion, sediment transfer, and deposition. Deciphering those processes can provide valuable insights into ancient and modern tectonic, geomorphic, climatic, and anthropogenic controls that shape sediment routing systems over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. However, in order to clearly identify the controls on sediment composition, it is necessary to exclude sources of bias that may mask or diminish the original provenance signal. Such biases may be natural, including mineral fertility, sediment recycling, and grain size, or analytical. This special collection arises from the fifth meeting of the working group on sediment generation held at the University Milano‐Bicocca in Milan, Italy, from 28 to 30 June 2022. The collation includes studies that investigate biasing factors affecting all steps of the sediment cascade and all stages of sample collection, preparation, and analysis, as well as case studies that aim to disentangle original provenance signals from geological, environmental, or analytical noise.

Hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics on the southern and northern slopes of the Himalayas: spatio-temporal controls and source apportionment

Water-soluble ions, inorganic nitrogen, and stable isotopes in precipitation were assessed from the southern (Koshi Tappu and Khandbari) and northern slopes (Lhasa and SET) of the Himalayas to understand the sources, chemistry of regional precipitation, and climatic processes. Water soluble ions showed distinct seasonal variation, with higher concentrations in the non-monsoon. The concentration of ionic species was highest in Koshi Tappu, followed by Lhasa, SET, and Khandbari. The sources were from the terrigenous (Ca2+, HCO3−), marine (Na+ and Cl−), anthropogenic (SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+), terrigenous and marine (Mg2+), and biomass-burning (K+). The southern slope, relative to the northern, was more prone to anthropogenic emissions with higher deposition. Among all sites, inorganic nitrogen deposition at Koshi Tappu was higher than the threshold value (10 kg ha−1 y−1). The isotopic composition during the study period was higher in non-monsoon, started declining from June, and depleted in July and August compared to other months, i.e., the monsoon mature phase, along the south-to-north transect. The diminished value of stable isotopes in precipitation with increasing altitude underlines the evidence of the orographic effect in isotopic composition. Our study delineated that the higher/lower d-excess value increased with altitude on the southern/northern slope of the Himalayas. The backward trajectory analysis and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's Final (NCEP FNL) datasets identified that most of the trajectories arrived from warm and humid low-latitude regions during monsoon and westerlies in non-monsoon. Thus, the chemical characteristics and stable isotopic composition of precipitation differed on the southern and northern slopes of the Himalayas by orographic effect and various sources. This study provides new insights into the atmospheric environment and climatic control of stable isotopes in the Himalayan Tibetan Plateau and facilitates monitoring of transboundary air pollution.

The project of Magdalena Gutiérrez: the poetics of living in the Atacama Desert. The four modes of climate management

This study addresses the issue of living in fragile ecological environments, such as oases in deserts. Currently, the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama is experiencing a decrease in its agricultural area due to urbanization and tourism, affecting the sustainability of traditional farming practices and putting at risk the ecological and cultural balance of this Atacamenian locale. The article presents sustainable design strategies for contemporary living in fragile environments, examining thermal qualities and climate control strategies applied to the “Workshop House” or Casa Taller of Magdalena Gutiérrez. Using the principles of Lisa Heschong and Eva Horn, the review also includes Reyner Banham's climate management modes. The methodology combines architectural and ethnographic analysis, structured in three stages: selection of works, construction of the conceptual framework, and analysis and systematization. Models, photographs, maps, and diagrams were used to contrast theories and thermal and cultural qualities with evidence from the work. Classification criteria included evaluating characteristics such as the degree of privacy of areas and rooms, ventilation, lighting, thermal insulation, and heating methods, with a binary rating employed for systematic evaluation. The results highlighted that Casa Taller manifests poetic living in the exteriority of the Atacama Desert, suggesting a vocation for community activities. The lighting qualities revealed a strategic design that maximizes controlled daylight, utilizing openings and skylights. It was concluded that the Casa Taller represents an expression of "Revisited Critical Regionalism." The "site-form" relationship is fundamental in this approach, balancing local techniques with cultural and natural surroundings. This work offers a sustainable model for living in fragile environments, where architectural design is appropriately integrated with the place’s climatic and cultural conditions.

IOT Based Air Conditioner Monitoring System

In the context of rising urbanization, the surge in air conditioner usage has become a significant contributor to energy consumption. To address this, our research introduces an innovative Air Conditioner Monitoring System (ACMS) designed to optimize energy usage, enhance system efficiency, and ensure optimal indoor conditions. The proposed system employs cutting-edge sensors to monitor crucial parameters, including current, voltage, power consumption, and room temperature in real-time. By integrating these metrics into a unified framework, the ACMS facilitates proactive management and enables users to make informed decisions for energy conservation. The collected data is processed through advanced algorithms to predict potential faults or inefficiencies, allowing for preemptive maintenance and reducing downtime. Furthermore, the system supports remote monitoring and control, providing users with the flexibility to manage air conditioning settings from any location. Practical implementation and performance evaluations demonstrate the system's effectiveness in improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and enhancing overall sustainability. This research contributes to the development of intelligent solutions for air conditioning systems, addressing the growing need for energy conservation in the face of expanding urbanization. The modularity of the proposed system allows for seamless customization and integration of additional features, paving the way for future advancements in intelligent climate control systems.

From nutrients to fish: Impacts of mesoscale processes in a global CESM-FEISTY eddying ocean model framework

The ocean sustains ecosystems that are essential for human livelihood and habitability of the planet. The ocean holds an enormous amount of carbon, and serves as a critical source of nutrition for human societies worldwide. Climate variability and change impact marine biogeochemistry and ecosystems. Thus, having state-of-the-art simulations of the ocean, which include marine biogeochemistry and ecosystems, is critical for understanding the role of climate variability and change on the ocean biosphere. Here we present a novel global eddy-resolving (0.1° horizontal resolution) simulation of the ocean and sea ice, including ocean biogeochemistry, performed with the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The simulation is forced by the atmospheric dataset based on the Japanese Reanalysis (JRA-55) product over the 1958–2021 period. We present a novel configuration of the CESM marine ecosystem model in this simulation which includes two zooplankton classes: microzooplankton and mesozooplankton. This novel planktonic food web structure facilitates “offline” coupling with the Fisheries Size and Functional Type (FEISTY) model. FEISTY is a size- and trait-based model of fish functional types contributing to fisheries. We present an evaluation of the ocean biogeochemistry, marine ecosystem (including fish types), and sea ice in this high resolution simulation compared to available observations and a corresponding low resolution (nominal 1°) simulation. Our analysis offers insights into environmental controls on trophodynamics within the ocean. We find that this high resolution simulation provides a realistic reconstruction of nutrients, oxygen, sea ice, plankton and fish distributions over the global ocean. On global and large regional scales the high resolution simulation is comparable to the standard 1° simulation, but on smaller scales, explicitly resolving the mesoscale dynamics is shown to be important for accurately capturing trophodynamic structuring, especially in coastal ecosystems. We show that fine-scale ocean features leave imprints on ocean ecosystems, from plankton to fish, from the tropics to polar regions. This simulation also offers insights on ocean acidification over the past 64 years, as well as how large-scale climate variations may impact upper trophic levels. The data generated by the simulations are publicly available and will be a fruitful community resource for a large variety of oceanographic science questions.

Development and experimental assessment of a multi-annual energy monitoring tool to support energy intelligence and management in telecommunication industry

Carbon-footprint reduction of key industrial buildings is addressed, by proposing methodologies for continuously monitoring telecommunication (TLC) central offices (COs). Main aim is classifying sites according to their efficiency and reliability, via the diagnosis of anomalous electricity consumptions. Such a goal is achieved through the definition of new key performance indicators (KPIs) based on TLC and cooling energy demand, improving the outcomes of pre-existing methods. While the reliability index and index of cluster reliability are specifically proposed to evaluate and physically assess the impact of climate control (CLC, i.e., the parasitic quota) electricity consumption with respect to the TLC one, the here introduced coefficient of variation of telecommunication energy allows for a more solid evaluation of energy measurements reliability. Another target of this study is to extend the afore-mentioned KPIs-based analysis to multi-annual periods of monitoring, thus allowing successfully meeting the currently in-force ISO 50001 standard. Specific central offices were then selected and analyzed to verify the results physical meaning. The method was proven effective in classifying central offices belonging to climate-homogenous fleets, according to the reliability level estimated over a triannual timeframe. Positive impacts in terms of attainable energy saving through improved thermal management, as well as methodology extendibility to other industrial sectors are finally presented and discussed.

Fungal Biodeterioration Risk in Monastic Libraries without Climate Control.

Fungi have always posed an unquestionable threat to heritage collections worldwide. Now, in a future of climate change, biological risk factors may have to be considered even more than before. Models and simulations to assess possible impacts a changing outdoor climate will have on indoor environments and, in turn, on biodeterioration are still underdeveloped and require a more substantial data basis. This study aimed at filling some of these knowledge gaps through a broad-based approach combining microclimatic and microbiological monitoring in four historic libraries in Austria with an uncontrolled indoor climate: Altenburg Abbey, Melk Abbey, Klosterneuburg Monastery and the Capuchin Monastery in Vienna. Data were generated from thermohygrometric sensors, cultivation-dependent air- and surface sampling and further surface dust sampling for cultivation-independent analyses. Results gave insights on the status quo of microbiological loads in the libraries and outdoor-indoor relationships. Influences of the geographic location and room-use on corresponding indoor fungal profiles were identified. Lower fungal diversities were found at the most rural site with the strongest climatic fluctuations and extreme values than in the most urban, sheltered library with a very stable climate. Further, the humidity-stabilizing potential of large collections of hygroscopic materials, such as books, was also examined. Implications for a sustainable approach to prevent future biodeterioration are discussed, supporting the long-term preservation of these valuable historic collections.

The interplay of lithology, tectonics and climate in the morphology of Corsica

The morphology of the landscape on the island of Corsica in the western Mediterranean Sea is transient with a clear topographic asymmetry. The geology of the island can be divided into two units – Hercynian Corsica and Alpine Corsica – with contrasting lithology, climate and structural controls between them. We used topographic analysis to assess the influence of each of these factors on landscape form. Disequilibrium in the landscape is illustrated by analysing χ and Gilbert metrics, which indicate active migration of the drainage divide, along with a new metric that quantifies tributary heights above the main stem channel. The climate in the region has fluctuated dramatically from the Messinian salinity crisis through to Quaternary glaciation. However, analysis of the size and distribution of knickpoints across the island does not reflect specific base-level changes. Instead, the basement structures control valley orientation and the conditioning of the landscape by glaciation exerts strong controls on drainage evolution.

Surface DBD in moist air for nitrogen fixation: a comparative study of pulsed versus amplitude-modulated AC powered discharge

Surface DBD (SDBD) discharge maintained in moist air in the immediate vicinity of the water surface is an effective source of reactive species for the production of plasma-activated water (PAW). In this work, we investigated the water activation process for two different DBD energization methods; i.e. using periodic HV pulses with nanosecond risetimes and amplitude-modulated HV AC. We combined UV–vis–NIR ICCD spectroscopy with electrical characteristics to determine the basic characteristics of SDBD microfilaments. Formation of N2O5/NO2/N2O/H2O2/NO2 −/NO3 − species was followed and the production yields of species generated in PAW (H2O2/NO2 −/NO3 −) were determined in a flow-through reactor under well-defined and stable discharge conditions. Both energization methods reached comparable energy efficiencies of nitrogen fixation in the range of 1–6 g kWh−1 with minimal concentrations of H2O2 (10 s μM). However, the AC-powered SDBD produced mainly NO3 − with minimal NO2 − (1/10 of NO3 −), while in the case of pulsed SDBD the better-balanced NO2 −/NO3 − ratio was achieved.

Pengaruh Store Atmosphere dan Harga terhadap Revisit Intention Konsumen pada Kawisari Coffee dan Eatery Jakarta

Food and beverages are a component of the tourism industry that draws people to a location. Price and the atmosphere of the store, in addition to taste and product quality, can influence a customer's decision to shop. Kawisari Coffee &amp; Eatery is a food and beverage retailer based in Jakarta. Many people who went to Kawisari Coffee &amp; Eatery Jakarta had bad experiences because the hot environment made them feel uncomfortable and the prices weren't what they expected. Their decision to return may be influenced by this. The motivation behind this examination is to figure out how clients' expectations to get back to Kawisari Espresso and Restaurant Jakarta are impacted by the shop environment and costs. This study used quantitative descriptive methods. The sample for this study consists of customers who have made purchases at Kawisari Coffee &amp; Eatery Jakarta. To gather information, polls were disseminated to 100 respondents utilizing the purposive inspecting methodology. SPSS Experiences 25 was used to play out different straight backslide examination on the data. With a normal t worth of 4.473 which is more unmistakable than the t table of 1.661 and a significance level of 0.000 which is more noticeable than 0.05, this investigation shows that (1) shop air basically influences plan to get back to. (2) Cost influences mean to get back to, with a basic worth of 0.317 more conspicuous than 0.05 and a normal t worth of 1.005 t table of 1.661. (3) The goal is to return to the combination of store climate and cost impacts, with an expected f-count value of 10.419 higher than the f-table value of 3.09 and an importance level of 0.000 higher than 0.05. The ideas that can be given for Kawisari Espresso and Restaurant Jakarta are to expand the quantity of climate control systems to keep clients from feeling overheated and focusing entirely on reasonable and cutthroat costs for clients to increment client encounters and animate client interests to visit once more.

Building on Successful Mechanical and Passive Environmental Controls for Preventive Conservation Through Data Analysis at National Museum Cardiff, Wales

ABSTRACT Amgueddfa Cymru’s National Museum Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales, houses fine arts, natural science, and archaeological collections in a Grade I-listed historic building. With over 50 individual air handling units in addition to the original building-wide ventilation system, critical examination of how to create sustainable spaces and reduce energy consumption has been a goal of the museum for two decades. This paper will present the evolution of two techniques, and discuss their successes and limitations. The first – system shutdowns – has been successful, and has been taken further by switching some spaces entirely to passive control by blocking ductwork; preventing inappropriate conditions from entering the room via HVAC has led to an improvement in these specific cases. The second technique of seasonal set points required regular manual programming of the set points and was not responsive to short-term varying conditions, often resulting in high RH; a set of four basic guidelines was then developed to change the HVAC programming to better address this risk throughout the year. The impact of both techniques was analyzed using the widely available Microsoft Power BI™ program, whose focus on data visualization makes generating and modifying graphs easier than in Microsoft Excel. Following some of the tenets of sustainable environmental management including the value of a cross-disciplinary team, commitment to an ongoing process, and thorough data analysis, this work has allowed for preservation and energy efficiency beyond initial gains.

Differences of soil carbon pools and crop growth across different typical agricultural fields in China: The role of geochemistry and climate change

Carbon storage and the aboveground biomass of farmland provide practical significance for understanding global changes and ensuring food production and quality. Based on soil carbon storage, aboveground biomass, climate, geochemistry, and other data from 19 farmland ecological stations in China, we analysed the distribution characteristics of farmland carbon storage in topsoil and aboveground biomass. We notably revealed the response direction and degree of climate and geochemical factors to farmland carbon storage in topsoil and aboveground biomass. The results indicated that the average carbon stocks of farmland in different regions ranged from 0.28 to 7.91 kg m−2, the average fresh weight of the aboveground biomass (FAB) ranged from 1370.64 to 5997.28 g m−2, and the average dry weight of the aboveground biomass (DAB) ranged from 119.95 to 852.35 g m−2. The least angle regression (LARS) and the best subsection selection regression (BSS) showed that evapotranspiration and extreme low temperatures were significant climatic factors affecting carbon sequestration and aboveground biomass on long-time scales. The linear mixed-effects model (LMM) further showed that AN and AP had significant long-term effects on carbon sequestration and aboveground biomass (p < 0.05), with AN having the highest contribution to SOC%, FAB, and DAB. The structural equation model (SEM) showed that carbon sequestration and aboveground biomass in agricultural fields were significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05). Moreover, the climate had a less direct contribution to carbon sequestration and above-ground biomass compared to geochemistry (PCc < 0.1<PCG), and its effect was more indirect. When the geochemical variables were removed, the correlation between climate and carbon and aboveground biomass variables decreased significantly. We conclude that it is possible that extremes climate and geochemistry control carbon sequestration and above-ground biomass in long-term cropland through interactions in the context of global change, which provides new insights into the evolution of soil organic carbon in long-term cropland and the scientific formulation of policies to increase food production and preserve quality.

Green Bonds as A New Investment Tool For Sustainable Development In India

The present paper conceptualizes the meaning, need and importance of green bonds as an initiative towards investment tool and sustainable development in India. A green bond is a type of investment that provides financial support for particular projects related to sustainability issue of climate change and control. Indian Companies have incorporated investment in green bonds as a part of climate finance strategy. The ICMA issued principles of green bonds investment and voluntary process guidelines for issuing green bonds in 2021. The four principles are: use of proceeds, process for project evaluation and selection, management of proceeds and reporting. The SEBI has issued several rules for green bonds securities in India including disclosure requirements, monitoring and third-party review. The private bank of India i.e. Yes bank was the first issuer of green bonds in India in the year 2015. Indian green bond issuance has grasped a total of $21 billion as on February 2023. The scenario of green bond market in India for the year 2021 shows that the Utilities sector has more share of green bonds followed by corporates, Renewable Energy sector and Financials. The least share is with local government in India.