Desert Research Articles

Adaptation of plantations to drought events in arid and semi-arid regions: Evidence from tree resilience

Increasing drought frequency and severity pose a significant risk to global forest plantations, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Developing drought-adaptive plantations is particularly important for vegetation restoration in the context of climate warming. Despite the importance of drought response and adaptation, systematic research on these aspects for major tree species remains limited. Here, we collected 467 tree ring cores from eight paired sites of Robinia pseudoacacia L. (a broad-leaved species) and Pinus tabulaeformis C. (a coniferous species) plantations across a typical semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau (LP) to discern the climate-growth patterns of both species using linear mixed models. We employed hypothesis testing to analyze the differences in tree resilience metrics, including drought resistance and recovery ability, and linear mixed models combined with partial least squares path analysis to clarify the driving factors of tree resilience between R. pseudoacacia and P. tabulaeformis. Our findings demonstrated that Palmer Drought Severity Indices is the key limiting climate factor, without spatial variation, on the growth of R. pseudoacacia and P. tabulaeformis, explaining 47.7 % and 69.8 % of the variables effect percentage, respectively. Compared to P. tabulaeformis, R. pseudoacacia is more limited by atmospheric drought stress and soil moisture, with 11.0 % and 17.9 % of the explained effect percentage, respectively. R. pseudoacacia exhibited lower drought resistance ability, evidenced by a lower resistance (the average value is 0.62) and a higher average growth reduction (0.20) than P. tabulaeformis (0.85 and 0.17, respectively). In contrast, R. pseudoacacia had higher drought recovery ability, evidenced by a higher recovery (the average value is 1.19), a shorter recovery period (1.0), and a faster average recovery rate (0.14), than P. tabulaeformis (1.07, 2.0, and 0.08, respectively). Importantly, all tree resilience metrics for both species exhibited spatial consistency across the LP. Tree characteristics had a stronger effect on drought resistance and recovery ability in R. pseudoacacia than in P. tabulaeformis. Soil properties improved R. pseudoacacia drought resistance ability and reduced its drought recovery ability, but had weaker effects on P. tabulaeformis. Additionally, tree size and age strongly influence tree resilience in R. pseudoacacia through preceding year tree growth of drought events and climate sensitivity. These findings underscore the complementary drought resilience of broad-leaved and coniferous species, emphasizing the necessity for adaptive plantations and diversified tree species plantations as a strategic response to the anticipated increase in drought frequency and severity in arid and semi-arid regions.

Examining Water Efficiency Measures for Three- to Five-Star Graded Game Lodges and for Residential Beneficiation in Hammanskraal, South Africa

Globally, water scarcity has been a concern for the tourism and hospitality sectors, which are significant water consumers. Conflict between lodges and residents can also arise from differing priorities, competition, limited access, and inadequate infrastructure. There are limited studies addressing water governance challenges and equitable water access while balancing conservation, tourism, and local needs. In the arid regions of water-scarce South Africa, particularly in areas hosting game lodges essential to tourism, effective water management is vital in societal terms. In this context, the present study aimed to address these issues by investigating water efficiency measures adopted in game lodges and exploring sustainable solutions for equitable water access for neighboring residents. Effective water governance is essential for balancing conservation efforts, fulfilling guest expectations, and meeting the needs of local communities. Through semistructured techniques, this study explored the adoption of water efficiency measures by residents in Hammanskraal and the neighboring three-to five-star graded game lodges around Dinokeng Game Reserve, South Africa. The challenges that game lodges face is outlined, such as deficient government policy enforcement and insufficient stakeholder collaboration, which hinder the mandatory adoption of water efficiency measures. This suggests the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and better coordination among stakeholders in ensuring the success of game lodges in water management. The specific strategies and technologies employed by residents and lodges to conserve water and manage their resources sustainably were identified. Findings further illuminate the intricate relationship between game lodges, residents, and water resource management, emphasizing the need for harmonious coexistence to prevent social tensions. Additionally, the study exposed gaps in policy, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure, which have led to suboptimal water governance in the Hammanskraal region. Municipal lapses and inadequate monitoring contribute to water management issues, negatively affecting residents. The key knowledge contributions highlighted by the study include the importance of engaging local communities in water governance for more effective and resilient water management practices.

Improvement of maize drought tolerance by foliar application of zinc selenide quantum dots

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop grown in arid and semiarid regions of the world. During the reproductive phase, it is more frequently exposed to drought stress, resulting in lower grain yield due to oxidative damage. Selenium and zinc oxide nanoparticles possess inherent antioxidant properties that can alleviate drought-induced oxidative stress by the catalytic scavenging of reactive oxygen species, thereby protecting maize photosynthesis and grain yield. However, the effect of zinc selenide quantum dots (ZnSe QDs) under drought stress was not been quantified. Hence, the aim of this study was to quantify the (i) toxicity potential of ZnSe QDs and (ii) drought mitigation potential of ZnSe QDs by assessing the transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate, oxidant production, antioxidant enzyme activity and seed yield of maize under limited soil moisture levels. Toxicity experiments were carried out with 0 mg L−1 to 500 mg L−1 of ZnSe QDs on earthworms and azolla. The results showed that up to 20 mg L−1, the growth rates of earthworms and azolla were not affected. The dry-down experiment was conducted with three treatments: foliar spray of (i) water, (ii) ZnSe QDs (20 mg L−1), and (iii) combined zinc sulfate (10 mg L−1) and sodium selenate (10 mg L−1). ZnSe or Se applications under drying soil reduced the transpiration rate compared to water spray by partially closing the stomata. ZnSe application at 20 mg L−1 at the tasselling stage significantly increased the photosynthetic rate (25%) by increasing catalase (98%) and peroxidase (85%) enzyme activity and decreased the hydrogen peroxide (23%) content compared to water spray, indicating that premature leaf senescence was delayed under rainfed conditions. ZnSe spray increased seed yield (26%) over water spray by increasing the number of seeds cob-1 (42%). The study concluded that foliar application of ZnSe (20 mg L−1) could decrease drought-induced effects in maize.

Structural insulation panel system (SIP) as an alternative for cooling energy saving, decarbonization, and energy cost reduction in hot and dry climates. A simulation-based approach

ABSTRACT During the last decades, the growing urban prospects represent a challenging condition to develop climate change adaptation solutions before the urban overheating effects and its challenges to the environment, human health, and building energy consumption, which is critical in hot arid climates with record-breaking heatwaves where society is turning to air conditioning instead of energy-efficient building envelopes. The primary aim of this study was to examine the influence of the Structural Insulation Panel (SIP) system heat transfer in energy-related aspects and contrast it with those of conventional construction systems. Therefore, a comparative study was carried out in low-income dwellings to measure the thermal transmittance of the building envelope and assess the thermal energy simulation allocated in Köppen-Geiger´s hot desert climate, characterized by typical maximum temperatures of 45°C in the summer season. The investigation ascertained the levels of energy consumption, the capacity of the air conditioning system, the associated energy costs, and the potential decrease in carbon footprint. The study shows SIP as a viable construction system alternative, the evidence shows a 20% heat gain reduction, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system capacity was reduced by 38%, and energy cost by 27%. The system also contributes to the decarbonization and carbon footprint by 20%. Likewise, to reduce the heat flow, a crucial element is evident, since transmittance in thermal bridges significantly affects the heat transfer in these low thermal conductivity systems with structural reinforcement elements.

Contamination characteristics of heavy metals and enrichment capacity of native plants in soils around typical coal mining areas in Gansu, China

Exploitation of mineral resources is a vital backbone of a country’s socio-economic development. However, the coal exploration would cause ecological and environmental problems such as pollutions of water, soils and atmosphere. Especially, the pollution of heavy metals of soil has become increasingly severity. Plant enrichment and tolerance to heavy metals are crucial for the phytoremediation of coal gangue mountain. In phytoremediation, phytostabilization which can reduce the metal contamination of soil by uptake and burn-off of heavy metals with highly accumulating plants, is one of the most effective techniques of eco-remediation treatment. In present work, heavy metals contamination of soil and plants in the Yaojie mining which located in arid and semi-arid area of northwest China were investigated through field investigation. To identify the suitable plants for the remediation and ecological reclamation of heavy metal contaminated soil in typical mining area, the contamination characteristics of heavy metals in the above-ground parts of 27 native plants and their surrounding non-rhizosphere soils were analyzed. After eliminated by wet digestion and high-pressure closed digestion, the mass fractions of Zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) were determined with inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer, and the contents of Hydrargyrum (Hg) and Arsenic (As) were analyzed with atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer. The Nemerow pollution index showed that in the surrounding soil, the pollution index of heavy metal was 6.32, which reached the extreme severe pollution level. Among the 6 heavy metals, the most severe contamination being Hg (Pi = 8.50) and had particularly strong Coefficient of variation (CV = 105.8%), which is more likely to be caused by anthropogenic activities. In the aboveground parts of 27 plants, except for Zn, other metals exceeded the standard level, and the exceedance rates in descending order were As, Hg, Cr, Cd, and Cu. The most severe exceedance of As was found in C. virgata, which was as high as 19.20, and the average exceedance rate of As in all plants was 2.79. Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) was utilized as an indicator of the enrichments of various metals in 27 plants. The maximum value of BCF for As and Hg in C. virgata were 1.52 and 2.50, Cr and Cu in X. sibiricum were 0.72 and 2.32, Cd and Zn in S. glauca were 3.33 and 1.82. As revealed, except Cr, all the BCF of other metals are greater than 1, indicating that the three plants exhibited a strong accumulation capacity of heavy metal and are potential candidate pioneer species for the removal of heavy metals from the contaminated soil in the Yaojie mining area. This study provides a basis for plant selection for ecological restoration of contaminated soils in arid and semi-arid regions.

Diminished water yield coefficient of glacial catchments in Northwest China

Study region19 glacial catchments located in Northwest China. Study focusThe water yield coefficient (denoted as WYc) of glacier catchments in Northwest China has changed over the past six decades, closely linked to shifts in land cover dynamics. However, quantifying the impacts of climate and land cover changes on glacier catchments remains challenging due to the complexity of glacier hydrological processes and the scarcity of long-term glacier runoff data. In this study, the Budyko equation was coupled with a glacier runoff model to enable quantitative analysis of the factors driving changes in water yield (WY). Path analysis was then employed to assess the direct and indirect effects of climate and landscape changes on the WYc. New hydrological insight for the regionThe results indicated that 14 out of 19 catchments experienced a decline in WYc, particularly in those with greater glacier coverage. Glacier retreat and increased vegetation greenness adversely affected WYc by increasing the catchment parameter, with effects of −26.42 % and −25.21 %, respectively. Although overall WY in the catchments has increased—driven primarily by increased precipitation and glacier storage loss, with contribution rates of 100.66 % and 25.05 %, respectively—the diminished WYc is expected to decelerate the rate of WY increase. This trend poses significant challenges for water resource management in arid and water-scarce regions.

Characteristics of Atmospheric Circulation Patterns and the Associated Diurnal Variation Characteristics of Precipitation in Summer over the Complex Terrain in Northern Xinjiang, Northwest China

Statistical characteristics of atmospheric circulation patterns (ACPs) and associated diurnal variation characteristics (DVCs) of precipitation in summer (June–August) from 2015 to 2019 over the complex terrain in northern Xinjiang (NX), northwestern arid region of China, were investigated based on NCEP FNL reanalysis data and Weather Research and Forecasting model simulation data from Nanjing University (WRF-NJU). The results show that six different ACPs (Type 1–6) were identified based on the Simulated ANealing and Diversified RAndomization (SANDRA), exhibiting significant differences in major-influencing synoptic systems and basic meteorological environments. Types 5, 3, and 2 were the most prevalent three patterns, accounting for 21.6%, 19.7%, and 17.7%, respectively. Type 5 mainly occurred in June and July, while Types 3 and 2 mainly occurred in August and July, respectively. From the perspective of DVCs, Type 1 reached its peak at midnight, while Type 5 was most frequent in the afternoon and morning. The overall DVCs of hourly precipitation intensity and frequency demonstrated a unimodal structure, with a peak occurring at around 16 Local Solar Time (LST). Basic meteorological elements in various terrain regions exhibit significant diurnal variation, with marked differences between mountainous and basin areas under different ACPs. In Types 3 and 6, meteorological elements significantly influence precipitation enhancement by promoting the convergence and uplift of low-level wind fields and maintaining high relative humidity (RH). The Altay Mountains region and Western Mountainous regions experience dominant westerly winds under these conditions, while the Junggar Basin and Ili River Valley regions benefit from counterclockwise water vapor transport associated with the Iranian Subtropical High in Type 6, which increases RH. Collectively, these factors facilitate the formation and development of precipitation.

A comparison of country-scale subsoil predictions between a numeric and a taxonomic soil classification system

Traditional soil classification systems are designed to communicate information; however, surveyor biases and tacit knowledge can lead to subjective soil class designations. Consequently, different soil scientists may classify the same soil differently. This becomes a critical issue when mapping soil classes, as there could be multiple interpretations for the same observation. To address this problem, numerical soil classification systems have been developed. However, little is known about how well they compare to taxonomic systems when spatially predicted on a national scale. This study aimed to compare a previously developed, unsupervised numeric classification system and South Africa's taxonomic soil classification system in terms of their spatial predictions across the country. The taxonomic system of South Africa has 19 defined subsoil horizons, which were aggregated into eight horizons and compared to a nine horizon numeric classification as well as South Africa's profile (soil form) classification comprising 73 different soil groupings, which was used as a control. The comparison was conducted from predictions through gradient tree boosting in Google Earth Engine at a 30 m resolution. The numerical system (kappa = 0.30, accuracy = 0.57) exhibited poor spatial predictions, with a kappa 22 % lower and accuracy 2 % lower than the control (kappa = 0.52, accuracy = 59 %). On the other hand, the taxonomic system performed well, with a kappa of 0.57 and an accuracy of 67 %, exhibiting a 5 % increase in kappa and an 8 % increase in accuracy compared to the control. It was hypothesized that the overpredictions of the predominant horizon contributed to the numeric system's poor performance. Nevertheless, both systems showed the highest maximum entropy in arid regions of the Karoo and savannah biomes, albeit in spatially distinct ecoregions. It was thought that the divergence in the two systems' maximum entropy was due to their association with precipitation differences (amount and seasonality) as well as vegetation type and cover (woodlands vs. shrublands). To map the country in more detail, further soil sampling should be conducted in arid regions and optimisation of the predictive algorithm for each soil category should be performed.

The influence of SC-CO2 on the shales’ fracture behavior described by using ultra-fast time resolution method and the damage fracture constitutive model: A case study of the Cretaceous Qingshankou formation in Gulong Depression, Songliao Basin, NE China

Supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2), as an innovative non-aqueous fracturing fluid, has gained extensive application in arid regions. However, its influence on the fracture propagation behavior of shale in very short timescales remains poorly understood. Therefore, a series of three-point bending tests were conducted on shale samples with 0°-90° bedding inclinations. To describe the influence of water-heat-SC-CO2 treatment, a damage fracture constitutive model based on a normal distribution was developed. The theoretical fitting curves of this constitutive model agree well with the experimental results. The whole crack propagation processes were captured using the ultra-fast time resolution method, achieving a time resolution of fast to 15 ps. Identical three-point bending tests were repeated after subjecting the shale samples to water-heat-SC-CO2 treatment for 48 h. The experimental results reveal that after the water-heat-SC-CO2 treatment, there were significant changes in the key mechanical parameters of shale samples. Moreover, the influence of water-heat-SC-CO2 was observed to increase progressively with the bedding inclinations. And by combining the image captured by the ultra-fast time resolution method with this constitutive model, the fracture behavior change of the shale sample after water-heat-SC-CO2 treatment predominantly is affected by the weak planes of shale, with negligible influence on the matrix.

Evaluating the Long-Term Effects of Recycled Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Health, Crop Yield, and Ecological Sustainability in Arid Regions

Evaluating the Long-Term Effects of Recycled Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Health, Crop Yield, and Ecological Sustainability in Arid Regions

Estimating groundwater recharge across Africa during 2003–2023 using GRACE-derived groundwater storage changes

Study Region:Africa, with its diverse climatic zones from the humid Congo Basin to the arid Sahara Desert, where groundwater is influenced by climate variability, land use, and human activities. Study Focus:The main objective is to estimate groundwater recharge across Africa from 2003 to 2023 using a novel approach that uses GRACE-derived groundwater storage changes. New Hydrological Insights for the Region:This study provides new insights into the spatial patterns and temporal variability of groundwater recharge across Africa, highlighting the influence of climate variability on the continent’s groundwater resources. Key findings include distinct regional differences in recharge, with higher values in humid regions like the Congo Basin and lower values in arid regions like the Sahara Desert. Substantial interannual variability in recharge is largely driven by year-to-year variations in precipitation and modulated by major modes of climate variability, especially the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. The sensitivity of groundwater recharge to hydroclimatic extremes, with droughts causing significant declines and wet periods leading to above-average replenishment. Regions with low recharge rates or high variability, such as Northern Africa, are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts and unsustainable groundwater abstraction. The findings emphasize the need for sustainable groundwater management strategies that consider the spatial and temporal variability of recharge, as well as the potential impacts of climate change on groundwater resources.

Backward induction-based multi-layer approach for watershed flood management in arid regions

Managing floods in interconnected nonurban and urban areas of arid regions prone to flash floods requires a more dynamic and integrated approach than traditional linear methods. In this regard, this study proposes a novel multi-stage decision-making framework which reshapes the traditional cascade approach to flood management by addressing the interdependencies between upstream and downstream regions. The proposed cyclic decision-making process involves five main steps: First, the Hydraulic and Hydrological (H/H) conditions in urban and nonurban areas were modeled using the SWMM. Then, a multi-stage optimization framework was constructed, in the first step of which the detention dams' location and dimensions were optimized in the nonurban area. Next, to link the first and second stages of the optimization, COPRAS method was employed for selecting the critical upstream management strategies. These strategies were determined as the input for the flood network optimization in the second stage. Finally, the Backward Induction Game Theory (BIGT) method was employed to find the best management strategy, under which not only the upstream conditions were considered in downstream flood protection but also stakeholders' conflicts were totally resolved by choosing the Nash Equilibrium. Our findings revealed that the implementation of the selected scenario could reduce flood peaks at the entrance of urban areas by 60.7 % and enhance shock absorption by 81.8 %. In fact, we guarantee that it is possible to propose a scenario encompassing drainage and detention dams' characteristics that, in addition to resolving stakeholders' conflicts of interest, can reduce the risk of flooding in complex watersheds. Moreover, the framework transforms the sequential, one-way cascade decision-making process into a continuous cycle, where upstream and downstream's H/H conditions and stakeholders' preferences are evaluated in coordination to achieve an agreement. Also, this framework helps decision-makers access the most sustainable solutions considering hydrological and socio-economic points of view.

Untangling the coupling effect of water quality and quantity on lake algal blooms in Lake Hulun from a dual perspective of remote sensing and sediment cores

Algal blooms and sediment diatoms are crucial indicators of lake water ecology, influenced by water quantity and quality. However, the coupled effects of water quality and quantity changes on algal blooms are still unclear, especially for lakes in cold and arid regions. This study assessed the long-term variations in algal blooms in Hulun Lake using a novel approach combining remote sensing and sediment core samples for diatom analysis. Two mutation points from the structural change test were identified in approximately 2000 and 2010 for algal bloom area (MBE) and sediment diatom richness, indicating asynchronous algal blooms. A structural equation model (SEM) demonstrated that water level (WL) changes were the dominant influencing factor, co-driving the variations in algal blooms and sediment diatoms in conjunction with total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results revealed nonlinear relationships between the lake WL, TN, Chla, and COD. The water level of 543 m emerged as a critical threshold affecting the relationship between water quality and quantity. Distinct differences in this relationship were observed when water levels were above or below this threshold. These variations became particularly pronounced during periods of high and low water levels. The results provide novel insights into the dynamics of algal blooms and can further support lake ecosystem conservation and management.

Grapevine and maize: Two guard cell shaped strategies to cope with repeated drought stress

Adaptation of crops to recurrent drought stress is crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity and achieving food security under changing climate. Guard cells, pivotal regulators of plant water usage and assimilation, are central to this adaptation process. However, the metabolic dynamics of guard cells under drought stress remain poorly understood, particularly in grapevine, a prominent crop grown in arid regions, and maize, a staple crop with substantial water requirements. In this study, differences in guard cells metabolism during drought stress of grapevine and maize were investigated by performing physiological and metabolomic analyses. Metabolomic analysis highlighted differential responses in amino acids and sugars, with grapevine guard cells displaying greater stability in amino acid and sugar signatures, while maize showed marked increases in sugar levels. These findings suggest two distinct adaptive strategies, a vigorous acclimation of guard cells, as observed in maize, and an attenuated acclimation of guard cells, shown in grapevine. Understanding these metabolic adjustments is helpful for enhancing drought resilience in agricultural systems.

Water collection through a directional leaf vein pattern by fast laser marker ablation of stainless-steel

Inspired by the natural water harvesting mechanisms of desert beetles, cactus thorns, and leaf veins, we designed a heterogeneous wettability surface with superhydrophilic pattern integrating leaf vein as the directional water transport main channel, attached capillary triangles as auxiliary channel plus a deep rough desorption channel on an overall superhydrophobic surface for an efficient water collection. A superhydrophilic surface was initially fabricated on the stainless steel disc by laser marker ablation allowing 1 μL droplet to spread completely to 0° within 0.12 seconds, followed by fluorine-containing coating transforming superhydrophilic surface to superhydrophobic one. Directional water transport patterns were then etched on the superhydrophobic surfaces by the secondary laser marker. The surface energy gradient and Laplace pressure induced by the pattern facilitated directional fast transport and efficient desorption of droplets, thus improving water collection efficiency. The enhancement mechanism of the water harvesting behavior for such surfaces was analyzed, with one focus on enhancing collection in hydrophobic regions with capillaries to reduce bouncing off loss and the other on improving balanced cycling of the collection process. At a fog flow rate of 1500ml/h and 20cm away from the fog outlet, the directional leaf vein-patterned 19.625cm2 sized surface demonstrated a fog water collection rate (WCR) of 5.6 Kg·m-2·h-1 and first drop collection at the 49th s, an impressively short time rarely reported. Compared to the superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic samples, and the reference, WCR increased by 180%, 62%, and 59%, respectively, and the first droplet collection time decreased by 73%, 46%, and 62%, respectively. This efficient water collection method has huge potential in arid regions.

Influence of geometric and operational variables on indirect evaporative cooling using cyclone as heat exchanger

With the increasing environmental impacts of human activities and the demand for new air cooling alternatives, indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) emerges as a sustainable alternative. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding examining cyclone configurations in this context. Despite being good separator devices, cyclones can be used as heat exchangers, enhancing convective heat transfer through turbulence. This opens the possibility of developing improved and economically accessible geometries of IEC systems, especially beneficial for hot and arid regions, and communities with limited resources. This study aimed to investigate the performance of 25 geometric configurations of cyclones used as indirect evaporative heat exchangers. The researchers employed an experimental approach by subjecting cyclones covered with a wet cotton fabric to IEC tests under various geometric and operating conditions, followed by statistical analyses to identify relationships between the variables. The results showed significant thermal variation in the cyclones, with a considerable impact on all variables, particularly the cyclone’s total length, relative humidity, air temperature, and flow rate. The thermal efficiency of the cyclones varied widely, with total length and flow rate being the most significant factors. Additionally, an analysis of the Euler values revealed the importance of the cyclone geometry in selecting the one that reduces energy costs. Among the cyclones tested, the configuration with the optimal geometric design (Cyclone 8) achieved the highest thermal performance and lowest Euler number. The findings of this study could help developing more efficient and sustainable IEC systems, helping to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts.

Impacts of Climate Change on Energy-Saving Sensitivity of Residential Building Envelope Design Parameters in Three Hot-Dry Cities

Warming climatic conditions are projected to intensify extreme heat events, especially in hot climates, affecting the energy-saving effectiveness of various building envelope design parameters. However, limited studies exist on the energy-saving sensitivity of building envelope design parameters for residential buildings in hot and dry climates under future climate change. This study aims to fill this gap by examining typical residential buildings in three cities in Iraq, classified as hot desert, hot semiarid, and Mediterranean. First, the most common type of residential building was selected as a case study, and its energy modelling was validated using measured energy bills. Second, future climatic weather files were constructed using the latest general circulation models to assess their impacts on building energy consumption. Third, the energy-saving sensitivity of applicable building envelope design parameters under different future climatic conditions was obtained through local and global sensitivity analysis methods. The results of global sensitivity analysis indicate that the solar heat gain coefficient of windows, the specific heat of exterior walls, and the projection of side fins are the most important factors, with standardized regression coefficients (SRC) ranging from -0.92 to 0.62. Notably, the SRC of windows' solar heat gain coefficient is expected to increase under future climate scenarios. In contrast, the significance of the specific heat of exterior walls depends on local climates. Although this study only included envelope design parameters and excluded economic analysis, it provides insights for policymakers and architects to prioritize building envelope design strategies that enhance the climate resilience of residential buildings.

The Association Between Knowledge, Perception, and Attitudes Towards Vitamin D and Hypovitaminosis D: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted Among Saudi Women.

Background Saudi Arabia, although it is a sunny country, has a very high rate of vitamin D deficiency, especially among females more than males. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with hypovitaminosis D among these women in order to develop effective strategies for the prevention and management of this serious health issue. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 Saudi females in Jeddah. Participants completed an online questionnaire over six weeks, covering demographics, vitamin D knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of supplementation and fortified foods. The questionnaire was translated into Arabic version and then underwent a validation process using a back-translation method. Results The study showed that Saudi females in Jeddah had satisfactory knowledge about vitamin D, as indicated by a significantly high knowledge score. This knowledge was greater in middle-aged women (p-value 0.0369) and people with a middle income (p-value 0.0137), and it was fully independent of education level. In addition, individuals showed positive perceptions regarding vitamin D supplements and fortified foods. However, there were negative attitudestoward sun exposure, vitamin D food consumption, and getting vitamin D levels evaluated. Conclusion Our study found that Saudi females in Jeddah had satisfactory vitamin D knowledge, especially middle-aged women. However, there were negative attitudes toward sun exposure, vitamin D food consumption, and getting vitamin D levels evaluated. To address these concerns, healthcare professionals can play a crucial role by educating patients on the importance of vitamin D testing, dispelling myths about sun exposure, and emphasizing the benefits of vitamin D-rich diets.

Characterizing variability in geochemistry and mineralogy of western US dust sources

Dust events originate from multiple sources in arid and semi-arid regions, making it difficult to quantify source contributions. Dust geochemical/mineralogical composition, if the sources are sufficiently distinct, can be used to quantify the contributions from different sources. To test the viability of using geochemical and mineralogical measurements to separate dust-emitting sites, we used dust samples collected between 2018 and 2020 from ten National Wind Erosion Research Network (NWERN) sites that are representative of western United States (US) dust sources. Dust composition varied seasonally at many of the sites, but within-site variability was smaller than across-site variability, indicating that the geochemical signatures are robust over time. It was not possible to separate all the sites using commonly applied principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis because of overlap in dust geochemistry. However, a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) successfully separated all sites based on their geochemistry, suggesting that LDA may prove useful for separating dust sources that cannot be separated using PCA or other methods. Further, an LDA based on mineralogical data separated most sites using only a limited number of mineral phases that were readily explained by the local geologic setting. Taken together, the geochemical and mineralogical measurements generated distinct signatures of dust emissions across NWERN sites. If expanded to include a broader range of sites across the western US, a library of geochemical and mineralogical data may serve as a basis to track and quantify dust contributions from these sources.

Research Review on the Improvement and Utilization Technologies of Saline-Alkali Soils

Saline-alkali soil refers to land where excessive soluble salts in the soil lead to increased soil osmotic pressure, affecting the normal growth of plants and crop yields. Saline-alkali soils are widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions globally, posing severe challenges to agricultural production, ecological environment, and regional economic development. Therefore, the improvement and utilization of saline-alkali soils have become a hot issue of global concern. In recent years, scholars both domestically and internationally have made significant progress in saline-alkali soil improvement technologies, cultivation of salt-tolerant crops, and ecological restoration of saline-alkali soils. This paper reviews relevant literature, analyzing the current research status, existing problems, and future development directions of saline-alkali soil improvement and utilization technologies.