Global Extent Research Articles

Global mapping of oil palm planting year from 1990 to 2021

Abstract. Oil palm is a controversial crop, primarily because it is associated with negative environmental impacts such as tropical deforestation. Mapping the crop and its characteristics, such as age, is crucial for informing public and policy discussions regarding these impacts. Oil palm has received substantial mapping efforts, but accurate and up-to-date oil palm maps of both extent and age are essential for monitoring impacts and informing concomitant debate. Here, we present a 10 m resolution global map of industrial and smallholder oil palm, developed using Sentinel-1 data for the years 2016–2021 and a deep learning model based on convolutional neural networks. In addition, we used Landsat-5, Landsat-7, and Landsat-8 to estimate the planting year from 1990 to 2021 at a 30 m spatial resolution. The planting year indicates the year of establishment of the current (as of 2021) oil palm plantation by means of either newly planted or replanted oil palm in an existing oil palm plantation. We validated the oil palm extent layer using 18 812 randomly distributed reference points. The accuracy of the planting-year layer was assessed using field data collected from 5831 industrial parcels and 1012 smallholder plantations distributed throughout the global oil palm growing area. We found oil palm plantations covering a total mapped area of 23.98 Mha, and our area estimates are 16.82 ± 0.19 Mha of industrial oil palm and 7.37 ± 0.25 Mha of smallholder oil palm worldwide. The producer's and user's accuracy are 91.0 ± 2.5 % and 91.8 ± 1.2 % for industrial plantations and 71.4 ± 0.7 % and 72.4 ± 1.8 % for smallholders; these values represent an improvement compared to a previous global oil palm dataset, particularly in terms of omission of oil palm. The overall mean error between the estimated planting year and the field data was −0.24 years, and the root-mean-square error was 2.65 years, but the agreement was lower for smallholders. Mapping the extent and planting year of smallholder plantations remains challenging, particularly for wild and sparsely planted oil palm, and future mapping efforts should focus on these specific types of plantations. The average oil palm plantation age was 14.1 years, and the area of oil palm over 20 years old was 6.28 Mha. Given that oil palm plantations are typically replanted after 25 years, our findings indicate that this area will require replanting within the coming decade, starting from 2021. Our dataset provides valuable input for optimal land use planning to meet the growing global demand for vegetable oils. The global oil palm extent layer for the year 2021 and the planting-year layer from 1990 to 2021 can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13379129 (Descals, 2024a).

Seagrass Biodiversity Under the Latest‐Generation Scenarios of Projected Climate Change

ABSTRACTAimThe potentially cascading consequences of climate changes on redistribution of habitat‐forming species, like seagrasses, remain a major research gap. Empirical demonstrations of local population changes are increasingly reported without a globally integrated predictive framework as a leading testable hypothesis. Therefore, here, we aimed to estimate changes in species richness, community composition, and areas of climatic refugia under future climate scenarios.LocationGlobal scale.Time PeriodPresent‐day conditions (from 2010 to 2020) and for three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios of future climate change (from 2090 to 2100).Major Taxa StudiesSeagrasses (plantae).MethodsWe coupled seagrass occurrences with environmental predictors (temperature, salinity, nitrate, wave energy, and ice) in stacked species distribution modelling.ResultsModels estimated a present global extent of 917,169 km2 with high species richness in Temperate Australasia, Indo‐Pacific, and Temperate North Pacific. Future projections predicted widespread spatial redistribution, with Arctic expansions, losses in lower latitudes, and deeper vertical ranges, while globally maintaining the area extent occupied worldwide by seagrass species (only 5% of change). Species richness increased poleward under more drastic scenarios (SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5), with losses in tropical zones (30oN to 30oS). Local climatic refugia are retained in all scenarios but decrease under higher emissions. Additionally, even where seagrass species remain, widespread community composition changes were predicted.Main ConclusionsOur findings serve as baselines to inform, anticipate, and mitigate cascading consequences of shifts in seagrass ecosystems that provide essential services for humanity.

Future Global River Ice in CMIP6 Models under Climate Change

Abstract River ice changes due to climate change significantly impact river hydrology, economies, and societies. This study employed the CMIP6 data and a river ice model to predict global river ice changes in response to climate change. Results indicate significant declines in global river ice due to global warming. With each 1°C increase in surface air temperature (SAT) in the future, river ice extent of ice-affected rivers decrease by 2.11 percentage points, and ice duration shorten by 8.4 days. Under the shared socioeconomic pathways 2-4.5 (SSP2-4.5) scenario, the long-term mean SAT is 1.2°–2.5°C higher than in the near term. This leads to a 1.9–4.4-percentage-point decrease in global river ice extent, a 6.8–15.1-day decrease in river ice duration, and ice-free rivers increasing by up to 4.02%. The SSP5-8.5 scenario predicts a warmer long-term mean SAT, leading to greater reductions in river ice. Geographically, river ice loss is most notable in North America, Europe, Siberia, and the Tibetan Plateau (TIB), particularly in peninsular, coastal, and mountainous regions due to the combined effects of initial temperatures and temperature increases. Overall, the eastern Europe (EEU) shows the greatest loss of river ice on average. Monthly analyses show the most substantial decreases from October to June, indicating pronounced seasonal variability. This study provides valuable insights for addressing challenges related to river ice changes in high-latitude and high-elevation regions. Significance Statement River ice has a significant impact on various aspects, including hydrology, ecology, and the economy. The ongoing global warming phenomenon has resulted in a decline in river ice. This ice acts as a barrier, affecting river gas exchange and influencing the metabolism of the river, which is crucial for regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The primary objective of this research is to examine the response of river ice to future climate change. The outcomes of this study will play a role in estimating future GHG emissions and understanding river metabolism, as well as providing a valuable reference for tackling emerging challenges in resource acquisition in high-latitude and high-altitude regions.

Small topographical variations controlling trace maker community: Combining palaeo- and neoichnological data at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain

Ichnological research has generally assumed that abyssal plains are dominated by quiescent, homogenous environmental conditions. Thus, deep-sea trace fossil assemblage changes have been usually linked to significant spatial and temporal environmental variations. Here, we conducted a comparative ichnological analysis between a small abyssal hill (50 m elevation) and the surrounding abyssal plain; this modest bathymetric variation is known to generate substantial environmental heterogeneity for the benthic fauna community of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (c. 4850 m depth), Northeast Atlantic. Based on X-ray data from a 5 × 5 core grid emplaced in two box cores, we compared hill and plain bioturbational sedimentary structures, including trace fossil assemblages (e.g., ichnotaxonomy) and biodeformational structures (e.g., mixed-layer depth). We observed that topographically-enhanced near-bottom currents over the hill likely produce significant changes in depositional dynamics and sediment properties (e.g., grain size, organic matter content and degradation), and control specificities of bioturbational sedimentary structures (e.g., trace fossils, mixed layer attributes such as thickness, mottled background, discrete traces). Palaeoichnological data suggested that the abyssal plain had experienced consistent conditions during the last thousands of years while the abyssal hill recorded improving environmental conditions for the trace maker community. Our results highlight the complexity of the deep-sea environment, demonstrating that small changes in bioturbated sedimentary assemblages appear even within the same box core (m-scale), and that substantial changes can occur due to environmental heterogeneity (e.g., subtle topographic variations) at the local scale (km-scale). Considering the vast global extent of abyssal hill terrain, we suggest that their influence on the bioturbational sedimentary record may be significantly under-appreciated and require more attention in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

Intersensor Calibration of Spaceborne Passive Microwave Radiometers and Algorithm Tuning for Long-Term Sea Ice Trend Analysis Based on AMSR-E Observations

Sea ice monitoring is key to analyzing the Earth’s climate system. Long-term sea ice extent (SIE) has been continuously monitored using various spaceborne passive microwave radiometers (PMRs) since November 1978. As the lifetime of a satellite is usually approximately 5 years, bias caused by differences in PMRs should be eliminated to obtain objective SIE trends. Most sea ice products have been analyzed for long-term trends with a bias adjustment based on the coarse resolution special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) in operation for the longest period. However, since 2002, Japanese microwave radiometers of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) series, which have the highest spatial resolution in PMR, have been available. In this study, we developed standardization techniques for processing SIE including calibration of the brightness temperature (TB), tuning the sea ice concentration (SIC) algorithm, and adjusting the SIC threshold to retrieve a consistent SIE trend based on the AMSR for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E, one of the AMSR that operated from May 2002 to October 2011). Analysis results showed that the root-mean-square error between AMSR-E SICs and those of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) was 15%. In this study, SIE was defined as the sum of the areas where the AMSR-E SIC was >15%. When retrieving SIE, we adjusted the SIC threshold for each PMR to be consistent with the SIE calculated based on the 15% SIC threshold for AMSR-E. We then calculated a time-series of the SIE trends over approximately 45 years using the adjusted SIE data. Therefore, we revealed the dramatic decrease in global sea ice extent since 1978. This technique enables retrieval of more accurate long-term sea ice trends for more than half a century in the future.

Carbonate δ13C chemostratigraphy of the Hunjiang Group in North China and a tentative stratigraphic framework for the Meso-Neoproterozoic transition

A robust stratigraphic framework for the Meso-Neoproterozoic transition is necessary for a better understanding of evolutionary and environmental changes during this critical geological time interval. Given the limited availability of radiometric and biostratigraphic data from late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic strata, chemostratigraphic correlations have been used to build this framework. To contribute to Proterozoic chemostratigraphy, here we report new carbonate carbon isotope data from the Hunjiang Group in the Baishan area of Jilin Province in North China. The carbon isotope data (average 3.00 ‰ ± 1.15 ‰, 1 SD), together with existing detrital zircon constraints and microfossils, confirm a late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic age of the Hunjiang Group. Using the dynamic time warping algorithm, we then constructed a global chemostratigraphic framework for the Meso-Neoproterozoic transition based on δ13Ccarb data from the North China, São Francisco, and Congo cratons. This exercise confirms the generally narrow range of δ13Ccarb fluctuations in the late Mesoproterozoic but also substantiates a negative δ13Ccarb excursion of notable magnitude (∼9 ‰) and of potential global extent at ca. 1 Ga. This negative excursion, known as the Majiatun excursion, likely marks the Meso-Neoproterozoic transition and the onset of the dynamic carbon cycle in the Neoproterozoic Era.

The global extent and severity of operational interactions between conflicting pinnipeds and fisheries

Recent population recovery of many pinniped species (seals, sea lions, walrus) is a conservation success. However, pinniped population recovery combined with increasing global fisheries operations is leading to increased conflicts between pinnipeds and fisheries. This human-wildlife conflict threatens pinniped conservation outcomes and may impose damaging impacts on fisheries, but the economic consequences and extent of these impacts are poorly understood. Here, we provide a global assessment of pinniped and fisheries operational interactions. We show that a third of reported fishing days have interactions with pinnipeds and 13.8% of catch is lost. Our results also reveal high heterogeneity between studies. Small-scale fisheries are three times more likely to interact with pinnipeds and lose four times as much catch as large-scale fisheries. Finally, we develop a spatial index that can predict where conflict is most likely to occur. Our findings reveal a substantial global issue requiring appropriate management as pinniped populations continue to recover.

A new global hybrid map of annual herbaceous cropland at a 500 m resolution for the year 2019

Abstract The global spatial extent of croplands is a crucial input to global and regional agricultural monitoring and modeling systems. Although many new remotely-sensed products are now appearing due to recent advances in the spatial and temporal resolution of satellite sensors, there are still issues with these products that are related to the definition of cropland used and the accuracies of these maps, particularly when examined spatially. To address the needs of the agricultural monitoring community, here we have created a hybrid map of global cropland extent at a 500 m resolution by fusing two of the latest high resolution remotely-sensed cropland products: the European Space Agency’s WorldCereal and the cropland layer from the University of Maryland. We aggregated the two products to a common resolution of 500 m to produce percentage cropland and compared them spatially, calculating two kinds of disagreement: density disagreement, where the two maps differ by more than 80%, and absence-presence of cropland disagreement, where one map indicates the presence of cropland while the other does not. Based on these disagreements, we selected continuous areas of disagreement, referred to in the paper as hotspots of disagreement, for manual correction by experts using the Geo-Wiki land cover application. The hybrid map was then validated using a stratified random sample based on the disagreement layer, where the sample was visually interpreted by a different set of experts using Geo-Wiki. The results show that the hybrid product improves upon the overall accuracy statistics in the areas where the underlying cropland layer from the University of Maryland was improved with the WorldCereal product, but more importantly, it represents an improved spatially explicit cropland mask for early warning and food security assessment purposes.

Global prevalence of non-partner sexual violence against women.

Sexual violence against women is a human rights violation and public health concern, with serious implications for women's physical and mental health. Reducing non-partner sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault and other forms of non-contact sexual abuse, is one of the main indicators of the sustainable development goals. World Health Organization estimates, based on available prevalence data from 137 countries between 2000 and 2018, showed that, globally, 6% of women aged 15-49years reported experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime from someone other than an intimate partner, with prevalence rates varying across regions. However, the reporting, measurement and documentation of the global extent of non-partner sexual violence against women is methodologically challenging, resulting in a gross underestimation of its magnitude and impact. To prevent and respond to this issue, policy-makers must consider interventions on education, access to relevant health-care services, public awareness, and effective and comprehensive legislation. To better estimate the prevalence of both sexual violence overall and non-partner sexual violence, it is essential to continue to strengthen the measurement of non-partner sexual violence, including the types of acts asked about and the mode of interviewing. Further research is needed to understand the cumulative impact of different forms of sexual violence on the lives of women and girls, including sexual violence during childhood and its associated risk with further exposure. Funding is required for more research and implementation of interventions to prevent and reduce all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence.

Skin tears in older patients in intensive care units: A multicentre point prevalence study.

With the ageing of the global population, it is predicted that the population of older adult patients in hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) will increase. Because of health conditions, care practices and ageing-related skin changes, older adult ICU patients are prone to skin integrity problems, including skin tears (STs). To determine the prevalence of STs and associated factors in older patients hospitalized in ICUs. The study is a regional, multicentre, point prevalence study conducted in five centres in the five largest cities in terms of population in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye. Data were collected simultaneously in each centre on the same day. The list of patients hospitalized in the ICUs on the day of data collection was drawn up, and 200 patients who were 65 years of age or older, were hospitalized in ICUs and agreed to participate in the research were included. The researchers formed an "ST chart" to record patient demographic characteristics, clinical variables and skin assessment. STs were detected in 14.5% of patients in ICUs, with 72.5% of them having stage 1 ST. A significant relationship was found between individuals' average body mass index (BMI) (p = .043), age (p = .014), length of stay in the ICU (p = .004) and having ST. There was also a statistically significant relationship between skin temperature (p = .002), skin turgor (p = .001) and ST. More STs were observed in patients with cold skin and low turgor. The prevalence of ST was higher in individuals with a history of ST. Additionally, there was a statistically significant relationship between consciousness (p = .014), incontinence (p = .006), the Braden score (p = .004), the Itaki fall risk score (p = .006) and ST. In this multicentre point prevalence study, the prevalence of ST in older patients in ICUs was 14.5%, and many factors associated with ST have been identified. Given the insufficient information and attention to STs in older adults, the study emphasizes the importance of addressing STs. The impact of STs includes increased treatment costs, length of stay and risk of complications. Therefore, understanding the global extent of STs in ICUs and developing effective interventions for prevention and management are crucial.

Oceanic anoxic event 3 in Arctic Canada—Arc volcanism and ocean fertilization drove anoxia

The global extent of the Late Cretaceous oceanic anoxic event 3 (OAE 3) remains uncertain. It is not considered to have extended into the Boreal Realm. To test this, we examined Late Cretaceous organic- and metal-rich black mudstones of the Smoking Hills Formation in Arctic Canada. New high-precision U-Pb zircon ages indicate that deposition of the Smoking Hills Formation (88.535−78.230 Ma) was temporally coincident with OAE 3, indicating a much broader global expression of this event than previously thought. OAE 3 was likely manifest throughout the proto−Arctic Ocean (now Arctic Canada). Abundant bentonite layers and cryptotephra within the Smoking Hills Formation have rare earth element (REE) patterns that are consistent with ashfall derived from Cretaceous arc volcanism. Anomalously high organic matter content in the Smoking Hills Formation, as compared to underlying and overlying units, suggests that ocean fertilization led to enhanced productivity and metal drawdown. A peak in arc volcanism may have been a key driver of the OAE 3 event. We also explored the potential use of cadmium as a geochemical marker of volcanism and show that high volcanogenic metal loading could affect the use of Cd and other proxies for marine productivity (e.g., Zn, Cu).

Spatially refined salinity hazard analysis in gypsum‐affected irrigated soils

AbstractThe global extent of salt‐affected agricultural land, 20% of which is deemed gypsiferous, results in billions of dollars of annual economic loss, a serious problem deserving of attention. However, the analysis of gypsiferous saline soils, such as in the irrigated Lower Arkansas River Valley (LARV) of Colorado, can result in an inflated estimation of soil salinity when using the traditional soil saturated paste extract electrical conductivity (ECe), leading to inaccurate crop yield loss predictions and misguided decisions for remediation. Sparingly soluble gypsum (CaSO4 2H2O) in these soils dissolves more readily during laboratory preparation of saturated paste extracts because of excess soil water dilution coupled with sample disturbance. We present a pragmatic linear‐regression approach to correct for this phenomenon, calibrated using two adapted methods for correcting ECe on an individual sample basis. The novel approach used electrical conductivity of pore water samples from saline fields to evaluate the accuracy of the correction methods. The approach was applied on soil samples from two surface‐irrigated, saline fields in the LARV, which were mapped using electromagnetic induction data and analysis of covariance linear regression, calibrated for ECe and ECe corrected for excess gypsum dissoultion (ECeg). Average ECeg values are as much as 26% lower than uncorrected ECe in gypsum‐biased portions of the fields. Estimation of corn salinity hazard in these gypsum‐affected areas using ECeg in lieu of ECe in a traditional yield response function generated mean relative yield values that are higher by up to 13 percentage points. We discuss lessons learned and suggest enhancements to the techniques.

The new framework of innovation biosphere for analysing innovation policies facing COVID-19 grand challenge

BackgroundFacing global grand challenges such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) require the participation of various actors in different sectors and systematically directing their innovative efforts. Considering the complexity, non-linear dynamics, and global extent of the COVID-19 challenge, developing and applying a multi-level, resilient, and systematic innovative framework is vital. Therefore, this study aims to apply the “innovation biosphere” framework inspired by ecological studies for examining and analysing the management dimensions of COVID-19.MethodsIn this research, based on a deductive-inductive approach, the case study methodology is used. In accordance with this strategy, the innovation biosphere metaphor is considered as the basic framework (deductive approach) and subsequently the grand challenge of COVID-19 (inductive approach) is analysed at three levels: micro, meso and macro.ResultsThe research findings verify the correspondence between what happened in the management of COVID-19 and the proposed framework of innovation biosphere. In other words, the findings of the research show that the effect of global cooperation, role-playing and co-evolution of different actors and subsystems in facing the grand challenge of COVID-19 under an ecosystemic and eco-innovation approach has been evident. These events subsequently led to the cessation of the pandemic after about four years.ConclusionsThe main policy implications include the role of self-organization, the capability of global value networks, mission orientation, and co-evolution between actors as the contributions of innovation biosphere framework for managing grand health challenges, and global cohesion, oligopoly market, supporting local innovations, the critical role of basic research, and deregulation as the contributions of the COVID-19 case study for enhancing the innovation biosphere metaphor.

Extreme Planktic Foraminiferal Dwarfism Across the ETM2 in the Tethys Realm in Response to Warming

AbstractPronounced warming negatively impacts ecosystem resilience in modern oceans. To offer a long‐term geological perspective of the calcareous plankton response to global warming, we present an integrated record, from two Tethyan sections (northeastern Italy), of the planktic foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil response to the Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 hyperthermal (ETM2, ∼54 Ma). Our study reveals pronounced changes in assemblage composition and a striking dwarfing of planktic foraminiferal tests of up to 40% during the event, impacting both surface and deeper dwellers. The increased abundance of small placoliths among calcareous nannofossils is interpreted as community size reduction. Literature and our foraminiferal size data from Sites 1263 and 1209 (Atlantic and Pacific Oceans) highlights that the pronounced dwarfism is restricted to the Tethyan area. The ETM2 is characterized by warm sea surface temperatures as indicated by our δ18O data, but this warming is of global extent and cannot explain the unique dwarfism. Excluding evolutionary modifications, other potential drivers of dwarfism (eutrophication, deoxygenation, metabolic adaptation) cannot explain the exceptional dwarfism by themselves. The smallest sizes are in close temporal association with peaks in volcanic derived Hg/Th‐Hg/Rb recorded just before and at the ETM2 which could not have been brought into our sections through weathering. In contrast, size reductions are absent below and above the ETM2 at Hg peaks where δ18O data do not show warm conditions. We speculate that the local input of toxic metals from submarine volcanic emissions could have acted synergistically to warming, causing the unique dwarfism.

Implementation of HER2 Testing in Endometrial Cancer, a Summary of Real-World Initial Experience in a Large Tertiary Cancer Center.

HER2-targeted therapies have transformed the management of advanced or recurrent serous endometrial cancer (EC), leading to an increased clinical demand for HER2 testing. Despite its adoption in select academic centers, the global extent of such tumor testing is unclear. In this study, we report on the initial two-year experience of HER2 testing at a major academic center with a reference gynecologic oncology service and biomarker reference laboratory. All patients who underwent HER2 testing based on physician discretion, reflex HER2 testing, and reference laboratory requests were included. From February 2021 to October 2023, HER2 testing was performed on 192 tumor tissue samples from 180 EC patients. Serous carcinoma constituted 52% of samples, reflecting diagnostic challenges and limited therapeutic options for advanced EC. HER2 positivity was found in 28% of all cases and 30% of p53-aberrant cases. An immunohistochemistry (IHC) score of 3+ was found in 15% of samples, while IHC 2+ was found in 45% (13% IHC 2+/ISH+ and 32% IHC 2+/ISH-). The newly identified 'HER2-low' category comprised 46% of the samples. Heterogeneity was noted in 42% of HER2-positive cases, with complex patterns in 3%. NGS and HER2 IHC-FISH showed a 24% discordance, attributed to intratumoral heterogeneity, tumor cellularity, a small number of amplified cells, and the HER2/CEP17 ratio near the cut-off. This study offers real-world insights into HER2 testing in EC, highlighting the challenges and underscoring the need for standardized guidelines in specimen handling, proficiency testing, and scoring criteria to enhance patient management and therapeutic decision-making.

The Formalism of Chemical Thermodynamics Applied to an Oscillatory Multistep Chemical System

The thermodynamic optimization of a process focuses on consumption, production, and efficient use of energy. The unsteady-state nature of batch reactor processing requires describing the set of processes’ dynamic behavior for energy optimization. This work aims to apply the formalism of chemical thermodynamics to a multistep chemical system in a batch reactor, aiming for a dynamic description of its evolution to the equilibrium state. As the system of study, we selected a mathematical model called the Oregonator, derived from the mechanism of the oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. In the methodology, we used the reaction quotient to evaluate the Gibbs function, the thermodynamic affinity, and the entropy generation as a function of the reaction extent. The results show that the overall reaction fulfills the thermodynamic fundamentals of chemical equilibrium, despite having a non-stoichiometric coefficient. However, the multistep coupled reaction system does not allow verifying compliance with the thermodynamic foundations of chemical equilibrium. We conclude that it is necessary to improve thermodynamic formalism to describe multistep chemical processes as a function of a global reaction extent variable. In this scenario, the entropy production rate emerges as a promising quantity.

A scientometric analysis of bibliotherapy: mapping the research landscape

PurposeBibliotherapy, a therapeutic approach that uses books and reading materials to promote psychological well-being and personal growth, has become more prevalent in recent years. This scientometric study aims to provide a comprehensive view of the bibliotherapy research landscape by highlighting its evolution, trends, and noteworthy contributions using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer.Design/methodology/approachThe academic literature on bibliotherapy is evaluated in-depth in this study utilizing scientometric techniques, including citation and co-citation analysis. A thorough search of the Scopus database revealed 1,703 papers between 1942 and 2023 that dealt with bibliotherapy. For data analysis, the renowned applications Biblioshiny and VOSViewer are employed.FindingsThe study reveals that the output of publications has fluctuated, reflecting scholarly interest in this discipline. The distribution of research across various countries, organizations and academic subjects is investigated further to highlight the diverse and global extent of bibliotherapy research. By analyzing co-citation networks and locating pertinent publications and authors, this scientometric method analyzes the intellectual structure of bibliotherapy research.Research limitations/implicationsBibliometric analysis enriches the theoretical understanding of bibliotherapy by unveiling the networks, influential works and existing gaps in the literature, thus guiding a more informed and collaborative approach to future research and practice in the domain.Practical implicationsEmploying bibliometric analysis in bibliotherapy can refine practices and training programs, ensuring they are evidence-based and practical, enhancing the quality of therapeutic services provided to individuals.Originality/valueIt is a valuable resource for academics, practitioners and policymakers interested in the field since it offers a thorough and current assessment of the bibliotherapy research landscape. The findings of this study have the potential to steer future research, guide the development of bibliotherapeutic interventions supported by evidence and enhance the use of bibliotherapy as a therapeutic modality.

Assessing the time variability of GIEMS-2 satellite-derived surface water extent over 30 years

Inland waters, especially wetlands, play a crucial role in biodiversity, water resources and climate, and contribute significantly to global methane emissions. This study investigates the seasonal and inter-annual variability of the 0.25° × 0.25° surface water extent (SWE) from the Global Inundation Extent from Multi-Satellites (GIEMS-2) extended to a 30-year time series (1992–2020). Comparison with MODIS-derived SWE, CYGNSS-derived SWE and the Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (GLWD) shows consistent spatial patterns globally and over 10 different basins, although there are discrepancies in extent, partly due to different resolutions of the initial satellite observations. Strong cross-correlation (>0.8) in seasonal variability is observed when comparing GIEMS-2 with MODIS, CYGNSS and river discharge in most of the basins studied. Encouraging similarities were found in the inter-annual variability in most basins (cross-correlation >0.6) between GIEMS-2 and MODIS over 20 years, and between GIEMS-2 and river discharge over long time series, including over the Amazon and the Congo basins. These results highlight the reliability of GIEMS-2 in detecting changes in SWE in different environments, especially under dense vegetation, making it a valuable resource for calibrating hydrological models and studying global methane emissions.

Global area boom for greenhouse cultivation revealed by satellite mapping.

Greenhouse cultivation has been expanding rapidly in recent years, yet little knowledge exists on its global extent and expansion. Using commercial and freely available satellite data combined with artificial intelligence techniques, we present a global assessment of greenhouse cultivation coverage and map 1.3 million hectares of greenhouse infrastructures in 2019, a much larger extent than previously estimated. Our analysis includes both large (61%) and small-scale (39%) greenhouse infrastructures. Examining the temporal development of the 65 largest clusters (>1,500 ha), we show a recent upsurge in greenhouse cultivation in the Global South since the 2000s, including a dramatic increase in China, accounting for 60% of the global coverage. We emphasize the potential of greenhouse infrastructures to enhance food security but raise awareness of the uncertain environmental and social implications that may arise from this expansion. We further highlight the gap in spatio-temporal datasets for supporting future research agendas on this critical topic.

The distribution of global tidal marshes from Earth observation data

AbstractAimTidal marsh ecosystems are heavily impacted by human activities, highlighting a pressing need to address gaps in our knowledge of their distribution. To better understand the global distribution and changes in tidal marsh extent, and identify opportunities for their conservation and restoration, it is critical to develop a spatial knowledge base of their global occurrence. Here, we develop a globally consistent tidal marsh distribution map for the year 2020 at 10‐m resolution.LocationGlobal.Time period2020.Major taxa studiedTidal marshes.MethodsTo map the location of the world's tidal marshes at 10‐m resolution, we applied a random forest classification model to Earth observation data from the year 2020. We trained the classification model with a reference dataset developed to support distribution mapping of coastal ecosystems, and predicted the spatial distribution of tidal marshes between 60° N and 60° S. We validated the tidal marsh map using standard accuracy assessment methods, with our final map having an overall accuracy score of 0.85.ResultsWe estimate the global extent of tidal marshes in 2020 to be 52,880 km2 (95% CI: 32,030 to 59,780 km2) distributed across 120 countries and territories. Tidal marsh distribution is centred in temperate and Arctic regions, with nearly half of the global extent of tidal marshes occurring in the temperate Northern Atlantic (45%) region. At the national scale, over a third of the global extent (18,510 km2; CI: 11,200–20,900) occurs within the USA.Main conclusionsOur analysis provides the most detailed spatial data on global tidal marsh distribution to date and shows that tidal marshes occur in more countries and across a greater proportion of the world's coastline than previous mapping studies. Our map fills a major knowledge gap regarding the distribution of the world's coastal ecosystems and provides the baseline needed for measuring changes in tidal marsh extent and estimating their value in terms of ecosystem services.