Climatic Zones Research Articles

Statistical Analysis of Atmospheric Delay Gradient and Rainfall Prediction in a Tropical Region

In recent years, precipitable water vapor has emerged as a key atmospheric parameter in weather prediction research. However, relying on only one parameter does not always accurately predict rainfall, as other atmospheric parameters also contribute to initiating rain events. In our previous study, we explored a methodology for rainfall forecasting based on the atmospheric delay gradient at an individual station in the tropical region. Commonly referred to as the atmospheric gradient, it accounts for the delay in GNSS signals due to changes in horizontal refractivity while propagating through the troposphere to the ground station. This paper discusses the spatial and temporal correlation of the gradient with precipitation occurring over a region. We have investigated different features, such as gradient magnitude, gradient convergence, and the flux of the atmospheric gradient, to propose potential nowcasting criteria for precipitation in the tropical climatic zone. The atmospheric gradient in the surrounding region orients toward the area of precipitation as the rain event approaches. This gradient gradually alters its orientation and converges toward the region of rainfall at the time of precipitation, introducing the concept of gradient convergence. This phenomenon results in an inward gradient flux at the time of the downpour, which presents a potential parameter for rainfall prediction over an area. We also proposed investigating area sizes of 4° × 4° or 8° × 8°, depending on the gradient feature, to establish a forecasting methodology for rainfall. The weather front in the tropical region begins to initiate 12 h before the actual time of occurrence and advances toward the area where it will have an impact from a more distant location. This article presents a detailed investigation of various features of the atmospheric gradient and its potential to nowcast rainfall for a region, as well as proposes the lead time for long-term weather predictions. Furthermore, a deep neural network has been employed to predict rainfall events for the next 6 h over an area in the tropical region.

Hands-On Gardening in Childcare Centers to Advance Preschool-Age Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Liking in Semi-Arid Climate Zone

Hands-on gardening is linked with healthy eating behaviors, increased outdoor activities, and overall well-being, all contributing factors to preventing obesity. Although these positive associations are widely established for adults and school-aged children, little evidence can be found on how such relationships may extend to early childhood, especially in the preschool years (3–5 years). One recent study conducted in North Carolina (NC) showed that participating in hands-on gardening significantly increased preschoolers’ accurate identification of fruits and vegetables (FV) and FV consumption compared to children who did not participate in hands-on gardening, but no association was found between participation in hands-on gardening and the children’s liking (eating preferences) of FV. FV identification and liking during the early years may lead to lifelong healthy eating behaviors and preferences, making hands-on gardening a critical health intervention in early childhood environments, especially in childcare centers where a majority of the 13 million children in the United States between the ages of 0 and 5 spend most of their waking hours. This research aimed to investigate how hands-on gardening in childcare centers may impact preschoolers’ (3–5 years old) FV knowledge (identification) and liking in a semi-arid climate zone with a high concentration of Hispanic families by conducting experimental research with eight childcare centers and one hundred forty-nine children (n = 149) in Lubbock County, located in West Texas. The findings showed changes in average liking scores are generally positive in the experimental group of children who participated in hands-on gardening (compared to the control non-gardening group), implying an improved liking. The findings indicate that the benefits of hands-on gardening in childcare centers for enhancing healthy eating preferences are evident even in a semi-arid climate zone, where high temperatures and limited rainfall present significant gardening challenges. This research underscores the importance of integrating hands-on gardening into childcare programs, highlighting its potential as an effective obesity prevention strategy not only within the US but also in other regions with similar environmental constraints.

Comparative analysis of climate-induced habitat shift of economically significant species with diverse ecological preferences in the Northwest Pacific

The Northwest Pacific Ocean is the most productive fishing ground in the Pacific Ocean, with a continuous rise in water temperature since 1990. We developed stacked species distribution models (SSDMs) to estimate the impacts of climate change on the distribution dynamics of economically significant species under three climate change scenarios for the periods 2040-2060 and 2080-2100. Overall, water temperature is the most important factor in shaping the distribution patterns of species, followed by water depth. The predictive results indicate that all the species show a northward migration in the future, and the migration distance varies greatly among species. Most pelagic species will expand their habitats under climate change, implying their stronger adaptability than benthic species. Tropical fishes are more adaptable to climate change than species in other climate zones. Though limitations existed, our study provided baseline information for designing a climate-adaptive, dynamic fishery management strategy for maintaining sustainable fisheries.

Potential drivers of urban green space availability in Latin American cities

AbstractUrban green spaces play a critical role in regulating air temperature, reducing air pollution and enhancing people’s well being. Yet, existing data and research on potential drivers of urban green space availability in Latin America are limited. Here, focusing on 371 large cities in 11 countries in Latin America, we described the total and per capita variability of urban green space, its spatial configuration and green urban parks across the categories of cities’ natural, built and socioeconomic environments. We tested the relative importance of geographic (climate) versus city-level built environment (population, population density, street intersection density) and socioeconomic (city gross domestic product per capita, unemployment, education) drivers in explaining urban green space availability. We found a high level of heterogeneity in green space quantity across cities and across categories of cities’ environments. Relative to other city factors, climate zone had the largest influence in explaining the quantity of green space, whereas education, street intersection density and population density were the most important drivers of urban park availability. The significance of climate for green space availability, combined with the inequitable quantity of green space, indicates that cities have differing capacities to implement nature-based solutions for heat mitigation and health promotion.

A framework for assessing the current and future capability of mechanical night ventilation in the context of climate change

Night ventilation is a technique in which the indoor air and the building’s thermal mass is cooled down during nighttime to provide a heat sink available during the next day to help mitigating overheating and reducing the daytime space cooling demand. This paper proposes a framework on evaluating the use of mechanical night ventilation today and in the future. It considers analysis of the ventilative cooling system, including mechanical night ventilation, by means of key performance indicators that involve thermal comfort, energy use and resiliency criteria as suggested by IEA Annex 80. It, additionally, introduces an economic parameter in form of diurnal and nocturnal price ratio of electricity as economic trade-off between nighttime fan- and daytime fan and chiller use in terms of electricity. A historic office building in north-central Sweden is presented as a detailed case as to illustrate the use of the framework. The investigation was done using a validated model of the building in IDA-ICE building simulation program at both current climate and future climate in 2050s. It was revealed that an upgraded ventilative cooling system with three times larger capacity is required to fulfill thermal comfort. Even though mechanical night ventilation could result in the annual cooling source electricity saving intensity up to 0.9 kWh/(m²∙a) at extreme current climate (2018), it could just insignificantly reduce the total electricity use for space cooling (up to 2 %) and only at some night ventilation rates at all mentioned climates. Mechanical night ventilation, however, could be applied in an economically beneficial way if the electricity network has different nocturnal and diurnal electricity prices. A unitless index of maximum nighttime over daytime electricity price ratio was proposed representing the maximum tolerable price for nighttime electricity, given a daytime electricity price, based on night- and daytime ventilation electricity demand. For economically justified application of mechanical night ventilation, lower nighttime over daytime electricity price ratios were required for higher night ventilation rates. For the typical future climate with night ventilation rates larger than 2.6 ACH, it will be necessary to have nighttime prices that are lower than daytime if mechanical night ventilation is to be economical. The approach used in the framework can be applied to future research and practice, regardless of the case-specific parameters such as building type, climate zone, location, etc.

How do model biases affect large-scale teleconnections that control Southwest US precipitation? Part II: seasonal models

Abstract We explore the skill in predicting Southwest United States (SWUS) October to March precipitation and associated large-scale teleconnections in an ensemble of hindcasts from seasonal prediction systems. We identify key model biases that degrade the models’ capability to predict SWUS precipitation. The subtropical jet in the Pacific sector is generally too zonal and elongated. This is reflected in the models’ North Pacific ENSO teleconnections that are generally too weak with exaggerated northwest-southeast tilt, compared to observations. Also, the models are too dependent on tropical, El Niño-like, wave train anomalies for producing high seasonal SWUS precipitation, when in observations there is a larger influence of zonal Rossby wave trains such as the one observed in 2016/17. Overall, this is consistent with biases in the basic flow inducing errors in the propagation of zonal wave trains in the North Pacific, which affects SWUS precipitation downstream. Although higher skill may be gained from reducing mean flow biases in the models, a case study of the 2016/17 winter illustrates the great challenge behind skillful seasonal prediction of SWUS precipitation. Unsurprisingly, the almost record-breaking precipitation observed that year in the absence of ENSO is not predicted in the hindcasts, and model perturbation experiments suggest that even a perfect prediction of tropical sea surface temperature and tropical atmospheric variability would not have sufficed to produce a reasonable seasonal precipitation prediction. On a more positive note, our perturbation experiments suggest a potential role for Arctic variability that supports findings from prior studies and suggests re-examining high-latitude drivers of SWUS precipitation.

Electrically Controlled Smart Window for Seasonally Adaptive Thermal Management in Buildings.

Smart windows offer a sustainable solution for energy-efficient buildings by adapting to various weather conditions. However, the challenge lies in achieving precise control over specific sunlight bands to effectively respond to complex weather changes and individual needs. Herein, a novel electrochromic smart window fabricated by integrating a self-assembled cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) layer with an electrochromic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) layer is reported, which exhibits high near-infrared transmittance, low solar reflectivity (26%), and infrared emissivity (20%) in winter, and low near-infrared transmittance, high solar reflectivity (91%), and infrared emissivity (≈94%) in summer. Interestingly, the material offers dynamic temperature control based on its photothermal properties, maintaining the internal temperature of buildings within a comfortable range of 20-25 °C from morning to night, particularly in winter with significant daily temperature fluctuations. Simulations show that the CNC-PED device demonstrates excellent energy-saving and CO2 emission reduction capacities across various global climate zones. This study presents a feasible pathway for constructing season-adaptive smart windows, making them suitable for energy-efficient buildings.

Soil available phosphorous and potassium stocks related to environmental properties, land uses and soils

Abstract Soil available phosphorus (SAP) and potassium (SAK) are indispensable for crops, and their stocks are important for food production needed for a growing global population. This study analysed 991 soil profiles across a large part of Romania covering forestland, grassland and cropland in almost all ecological regions. This study investigated SAP and SAK stocks for different soil depths and characterized their magnitude and variability within land uses under different environmental ecosystems, soil classes and soil types, for a better soil and land management under a temperate-continental climate. Cropland soils present the highest SAP and SAK stocks. Chernozems, Phaeozems and Vertosols possess the highest SAP and SAK stocks in Romania, representing the largest country's pool. Both SAP stocks and SAK stocks are significantly correlated with basic environmental properties, existing direct correlations between SAP, SAK, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks. For all land uses, SAP and SAK stocks correlated significantly and directly with each other, as well as with annual temperature, clay content, pH and sum of base cations, and inversely with altitude, slope and annual precipitation. The best predictive values using multiple regression models and basic environmental driving factors were found for forestland stocks of SAP and SAK, followed by grassland stocks, while the lowest prediction occurred for cropland stocks, probably due to the long-term additional nutrient input performed by farmers in cropland that changed the natural conditions otherwise present in grassland, and especially in forestland. Based on these results some management measures are discussed.

A multi-scale assessment of desertification severity in the Eastern Mediterranean region based on albedo-MSAVI feature space.

Resampling the same satellite image to conduct a multi-scale assessment of desertification can be accompanied by distortion of terrestrial objects and spectral information, which can lead to uncertainty in the generated information. To address this, this study assesses desertification severity in an area of arid and semi-arid climate in the Eastern Mediterranean (Jordan)that is characterised by cloudless scenesusingmulti-sensor data of the same scene at the same time. To this end, Sentinel-2 at 10 m and 60 m, Landsat-8 at 30 m and MODIS at 250 m and 500 m were collected to extract albedo and modified soil adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI), and subsequently to construct albedo-MSAVI feature space. Using the negative correlation between albedo and MSAVI, desertification degree index (DDI) was generated. The resulting multi-scale DDI maps bear a relative resemblance in terms of spatial distribution, patterns, and proportions. The DDI maps indicate that extremely serious and serious desertification are widespread, accounting for 50% of the study area, primarily in the eastern portions. However, finer DDI maps (10 m, 30 m and 60 m) are essential for detecting small-scale desertification characteristics due to their ability to capture local spatial variabilities, while coarser ones (250 m and 500 m) are better suited for capturing broad-scale desertification patterns driven by climatic factors, in which MODIS data exhibit a relatively higher positive correlation with seasonal average precipitation. Although finer DDI maps show higher accuracy compared to coarser ones, the accuracy of DDI maps of MODIS has shown an increase within a homogeneous landscape. Accordingly, synchronised multi-scale assessment of desertification severity is not only influenced by the spatial resolution but also by the landscape heterogeneity and the type of satellite sensor utilised. The multi-scale approach applied in this study can provide insights on scale-dependent desertificationthat help in devising overarching mitigation strategies.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of heat exposure impacts on maternal, fetal and neonatal health.

Climate Change has severe and wide-ranging health impacts, especially for vulnerable groups. Despite growing evidence of heat-associated adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes, there remains a lack of synthesis quantifying associations and identifying specific risk periods. We systematically reviewed the literature on heat impacts on maternal, fetal, and neonatal health, and quantified impacts through meta-analyses. We found 198 studies across66 countries, predominantly high income (63.3%) and temperature climate zones (40.1%), and 23 outcomes. Results showed increased odds of preterm birth of 1.04 (95%CI = 1.03, 1.06; n = 12) per 1°C increase in heat exposure and 1.26 (95%CI = 1.08, 1.47; n = 10) during heatwaves. Similarly high heat exposure increased the risk for stillbirths (OR = 1.13 (95%CI=0.95, 1.34; n = 9)), congenital anomalies (OR=1.48 (95%CI = 1.16, 1.88; n = 6)), and gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.28 (95%CI = 1.05, 1.74; n = 4)). The odds of any obstetric complication increased by 1.25 (95%CI = 1.09, 1.42; n = 11) during heatwaves. Patterns in susceptibility windows varied by condition. The findings were limited by heterogeneity in exposure metrics and study designs. The systematic review demonstrated that escalating heat exposure poses a major threat to maternal and neonatal health, highlighting research priorities, guiding the selection and monitoring of heat-health indicators, and emphasising the need to prioritise maternal and neonatal health in national climate-health programmes.

The Brazilian case as a beacon to increase crop production in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Maize is one of the major agricultural commodities in the world, and a source of food in Africa, representing more than 40 million ha currently harvested on the continent. Despite sub-Saharan Africa's dependence on grain, the maize actual yield (Ya) of the crop is low when compared to its potential yield. In Brazil, the yield-gap between Ya and water-limited yield (Yw) is approximately 50% of Yw. The objective of this study was to carry out a case study, using upland maize as a reference to identify a set of agricultural areas with similar soil and climate in Brazil and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The climatic similarity between Brazil and SSA countries was verified, seeking homogeneous climatic zones that occur in both regions. The Ya was determined including the data of at least the last three years of cultivation and were taken from the database of the national institutes of agricultural statistics. The climatic data showed that the SSA had well-distributed rainfall throughout the crop season, being higher than in Brazil, as well as the average air temperature. The average Yw was 11.3 and 7.4 Mg/ha for Brazil and SSA, respectively. Maize Ya in SSA was 1.4 Mg/ha, while in Brazil Ya was 5.2 Mg/ha. Ya represented approximately 9% of Yw in the SSA. The low Ya shows the large yield-gap found in SSA. With this, it is evident that the technologies used and the crop management are largely responsible for the yield differences between Brazil and SSA.

Integrating experiments and monitoring reveals extreme sensitivity of invasive winter annuals to precipitation.

In arid and semiarid systems of western North America, the most damaging invasive plants are winter annuals. These plants are destroying wildlife habitat, reducing livestock production, and increasing wildfires. Monitoring these plants for lasting population changes is challenging because their abundances vary widely from year to year. Some of this variation is due to weather, and quantifying effects of weather is important for distinguishing transcient from lasting population changes and understanding effects of climate change. Fall and spring weather affect germination and seed production of the current generation of plants and, therefore, impact population sizes of subsequent generations of plants. Extensive data are required to estimate effects of fall and spring weather on multiple generations of plants. We used Bayesian statistics to integrate experimental and long-term (31 years) monitoring data and quantify invasive annual grass [downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) and Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus Thunb.)]responses to weather. Bromes ranged from nearly absent to comprising half of total biomass depending on three previous years of weather. Brome biomass increased with precipitation one, two, and three falls prior to measurement. Fall precipitation is projected to increase, and a mere 6.5 mm increase, which is just 2% of mean annual precipitation, would increase brome biomass 40% (28%, 54%) (mean [95% CI]) according to our model. Increased fall precipitation could favor many invasive winter annual grasses and forbs. Dry spring conditions reduced brome biomass the current year but increased brome biomass one and likely two (p = 0.08) years later, perhaps because dry conditions weakened perennial competitors. This finding casts doubt on several one-year precipitation experiments that concluded drier spring weather would reduce brome abundances. Integrating short-term experiments and long-term monitoring is useful for estimating invasive plant responses to the weather and characterizing their responses to climate change. Our research provides predictions of brome abundances that could improve monitoring efforts by helping land managers interpret population dynamics in the context of seasonal precipitation patterns.

Threshold Changes in Winter Temperature and Precipitation Drive Threshold Responses Across Nine Global Climate Zones and Associated Biomes

Globally, winter temperatures are rising, and snowpack is shrinking or disappearing entirely. Despite previous research and published literature reviews, it remains unknown whether biomes across the globe will cross important thresholds in winter temperature and precipitation that will lead to significant ecological changes. Here, we combine the widely used Köppen–Geiger climate classification system with worst-case-scenario projected changes in global monthly temperature and precipitation to illustrate how multiple climatic zones across Earth may experience shifting winter conditions by the end of this century. We then examine how these shifts may affect ecosystems within corresponding biomes. Our analysis demonstrates potential widespread losses of extreme cold (<−20°C) in Arctic, boreal, and cool temperate regions. We also show the possible disappearance of freezing temperatures (<0°C) and large decreases in snowfall in warm temperate and dryland areas. We identify important and potentially irreversible ecological changes associated with crossing these winter climate thresholds.

Analyzing Monterrey blue/green infrastructure for the mitigation of heat islands using Earth Observation and WUDAPT method

Abstract. The Metropolitan Area of Monterrey has grown excessively along with its population in recent decades, resulting in an urban area with problems of distribution of spaces and services. In addition to this, factors such as pollution resulting from industrial activities and the reduction of green areas are related to the increase in temperatures in the area and the creation of urban heat islands, which are mitigated by the cooling action provided by the green/blue infrastructure of urban rivers. Because the rivers in the study area do not have a continuous channel throughout the year and the water supply problems that have recently worsened due to the drought in the north of the country, the riparian vegetation of its 3 rivers (Pesqueria, Santa Catarina and La Silla) plays a crucial role in reducing temperatures by acting as a natural heat sink, so its conservation and restoration is essential. In this research, the influence of rapid urbanization on the deterioration of rivers during 2003, 2013 and 2021 was evaluated using Google Earth Engine and the WUDAPT scheme for local climatic zones, finding that there is a correspondence between local climatic zones and fluctuations in temperature. The results obtained over a period of approximately two decades indicate that natural climate zones register lower temperatures compared to impervious surfaces, and that there is also considerable variation between areas with dense green/blue infrastructure and natural covers with little or no vegetation, since the latter have temperatures similar to those of the built classes.

Soil-forming factors controlling Technosol formation in historical mining and metallurgical sites in the high-alpine environment of the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland

The Tatra Mountains are a unique Central European alpine ecosystem where the non-anthropogenic soil cover and soil-forming processes are well recognized. However, the Technosols in the area’s high-mountain environment have not been studied in detail to date. Therefore the aim of this study was to identify the most important soil-forming factors controlling the properties of Technosols developed in historical mining and metallurgical sites in the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland active from the 15th Century until the end of the 19th. The present paper is one of the first attempts to study the genetic aspects of high-mountain Technosols in the temperate climatic zone. The study involved determining soil morphology and classification, soil properties, magnetic susceptibility, mineral composition, optical microscopic observations and total concentration of major elements. The studied Technosols were poorly developed soils with simple soil morphology (mainly A horizon in the topsoil and C horizons in the subsoil). There was a high content of rock fragments. The research has shown that the properties of Technosols in the Tatra Mountains were primarily determined by past human activities like mining and metallurgy as well as the type of anthropogenic parent material, which included mining wastes and metallurgical slags and determined soil properties together with mineral and chemical composition. Soil formation was significantly influenced by vegetation which was conditioned by the relief and climatic conditions dependent on altitudinal zonation. Vegetation and plant-derived soil organic matter shaped topsoil properties. The lengthy soil-forming process acting since a few centuries in some Technosols led to the formation of Bw horizons.

Response of grassland greenhouse gas emissions to different human disturbances – A global Meta-analysis

Human disturbances have increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from grassland, worsening global warming. However, the response of grassland GHG (CO2, N2O, and CH4) to human disturbances across various climatic zones requires further elucidation, as does the intricate relationship between GHG emissions and temperature and precipitation. A Meta-analysis of the effects of human disturbances on GHG in grassland over the past 40 years revealed that grazing, fertilization, mowing, and burning significantly influenced the total emissions of N2O, CH4, CO2, and GHG from grassland. However, the light and moderate grazing exerted no substantial impact on CO2 emission flux. In frigid zone grassland, the N2O emission flux was most significantly affected by grazing, the CH4 emission flux affected by fertilization was higher than grazing, and the CO2 emission flux was more sensitive to heavy grazing than severe fertilization. In temperate grassland and savanna, GHG emission flux was most sensitive to fertilization, with CO2 emission flux in savanna being particularly responsive to burning. The effect of increased temperature and precipitation on CO2e in fertilized grassland was approximately double that of grazed grassland and quadruple that of mowed grassland. This study emphasizes the increased effect of human disturbances on GHG emissions in the grassland, especially with the most significant impact of fertilization disturbances on GHG emissions in most grassland areas. Lowering the level of fertilization during grassland management could serve as a crucial step in mitigating GHG emissions from grassland. In summary, rigorous control of disturbance intensity represented an effective strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, albeit potentially impacting grassland productivity. Future endeavors should focus on determining the optimal disturbance intensity to strike a balance amidst these complex effects.

The impact of temperature on non-typhoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter infections: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence

As temperatures rise, the transmission and incidence of enteric infections such as those caused by Salmonella and Campylobacter increase. This study aimed to review and synthesise the available evidence on the effects of exposure to ambient temperatures on non-typhoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter infections. A systematic search was conducted for peer-reviewed epidemiological studies published between January 1990 and March 2024, in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Original observational studies using ecological time-series, case-crossover or case-series study designs reporting the association between ambient temperature and non-typhoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter infections in the general population were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to pool the relative risks (RRs) per 1°C temperature increase, and further meta regression, and subgroup analyses by climate zone, temperature metrics, temporal resolution, lag period, and continent were conducted. The Navigation Guide systematic review methodology framework was used to assess the quality and strength of evidence. The study protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Out of 3472 results, 44 studies were included in this systematic review encompassing over one million cases each of Salmonella and Campylobacter infections. Geographically, the 44 studies covered 27 countries across five continents and most of the studies were from high income countries. The meta-analysis incorporated 23 Salmonella studies (65 effect estimates) and 15 Campylobacter studies (24 effect estimates). For each 1°C rise in temperature, the risk of non-typhoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter infections increased by 5% (RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.06), and 5% (RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.07%), respectively, with varying risks across different climate zones. The overall evidence was evaluated as being of "high" quality, and the strength of the evidence was determined to be "sufficient" for both infections. These findings emphasise the relationship between temperature and the incidence of Salmonella and Campylobacter infections. It is crucial to exercise caution when generalising these findings, given the limited number of studies conducted in low and middle-income countries. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate the importance of implementing focused interventions and adaptive measures, such as the establishment of localised early warning systems and preventive strategies that account for climatic fluctuations. Furthermore, our research emphasises the ongoing need for surveillance and research efforts to monitor and understand the changing dynamics of temperature-related enteric infections in the context of climate change. Australian Research Council Discovery Projects grant (ARC DP200102571) Program.

Assessing the energy performance certification effectiveness for the Spanish building stock in response to recent climate change data

This comprehensive study analyses the energy demand for heating and cooling in the building stock across different climatic zones in Spain, incorporating the effects of weather evolution over the past 30 years (from 1992 to 2022). In evaluating 7200 cases across four climatic years and six climatic zones which include six Spanish cities, the analysis examines the construction characteristics of the building stock. The focus is on the thermal envelop properties under two scenarios: the current state and a renovated state that complies with the new Spanish building code (in agreement with the EPBD EU-Directive EU/2024/1275).The study’s findings reveal potentially significant changes in energy demand due to climate. The heating demand decreases significantly due to increasing temperatures ranging from 17% in Madrid up to 37% in Almería. This effect is contrasted by a substantial increase in cooling demand, which has surged 223% in Barcelona, a surge closely linked to higher summer temperatures.The paper concludes that the current energy certification scheme fails to provide a real overview of the energy performance and needs of buildings in Spain. In particular, it underestimates actual sensible cooling demand by 56% in Barcelona and 41% in Almería. Additionally, the failure of existing building regulations to address the issue of indoor overheating is proven.

Rain event detection and magnitude estimation during Indian summer monsoon: Comprehensive assessment of gridded precipitation datasets across hydroclimatically diverse regions

Accurate precipitation estimates are quintessential for hydrologic modeling and climate studies. Different gridded precipitation products are available in any region, and selecting the best one is essential for hydroclimatic modeling and analysis. In the current study, observation- (APHRODITE), reanalysis- (IMDAA, ERA5-Land, PGF), satellite-based (IMERG, CHIRPS, PERSIANN-CDR), and hybrid (MSWEP) gridded precipitation products with different spatial and temporal resolutions are evaluated using several continuous, categorical, graphical, and interval-based performance measures towards detecting Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) events and estimating their magnitudes for the subcontinent of India, considering IMD gauge-based gridded as reference product. We confine our analysis to the monsoon season (i.e., June to September), the principal rainy season in the Indian sub-continent. The dearth of data and limited rain gauge-based observations from non-uniform sparse monitoring networks across India necessitated grid-to-grid comparative evaluations instead of point-to-grid assessments. We propose a new ranking framework to determine the suitability of precipitation datasets for twenty-seven hydroclimatic regions comprising homogeneous rainfall zones, Köppen-Geiger climate zones, and major river basins. Results from the comprehensive evaluation suggest that (1) APHRODITE, MSWEP, and ERA5-Land best approximate precipitation event occurrences across India, (2) MSWEP and ERA5-Land are most suitable (highest rank) alternatives at the regional level, while APHRODITE is found to be next suitable dataset owing to its persistent dry bias, (3) performances of CHIRPS and IMERG have reasonably lower rank score across India, (4) close agreement of examined datasets is noted over semi-arid and sub-humid regions (e.g., peninsular and central India), whereas ERA5-Land, IMDAA, and APHRODITE fail to detect and reproduce the intensity of the events along the west coast and northeastern India, (5) PGF and PERSIANN-CDR are the least situated datasets. Moreover, the present study provides a unique and innovative perspective to characterise the precipitation over a vast topographic, ecologic, and climatic gradient region like India.

Resilience and Resistance of Vegetation in Response to Droughts in a Subtropical Humid Region Dominated by Karst

The resilience and resistance of vegetation are important indicators of the vegetation’s response to droughts. Owing to the uniqueness of the environment in humid karst areas, results from studies on other climatic zones may not necessarily present the status of vegetation resilience and resistance in humid karst areas. Herein, We calculated vegetation resilience and resistance by autoregressive modeling using Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Total Water Storage Anomaly (TWSA), temperature (TA), precipitation (PRE) data, An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was then conducted to compare the differences in resilience and resistance of different vegetation types in the study area, as well as the differences in resilience and resistance of vegetation in different sub-geomorphic zones. Finally, natural factors affecting vegetation resilience and resistance were quantified using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrate the following points. First, vegetation resilience, total-water-storage anomaly resistance, and vegetation resistance against precipitation anomalies were lower in karst areas of the study area than in non-karst areas of the study area (except for vegetation resistance against temperature anomalies). Second, vegetation resilience was the lowest in some sub-geomorphic zones within karst areas, and it was still comparable to that in semiarid areas. Third, precipitation and temperature were important factors that affected the resilience and resistance of vegetation in karst areas, and the geochemical indicators (CaO, MgO, and SiO2) of soil parent material were major factors that affected the resistance and resilience of vegetation in non-karst areas. In summary, this study was undertaken to reveal the natural characteristics of vegetation resilience and resistance in humid karst regions. Our findings complement and expand the existing body of knowledge on vegetation resilience and resistance in other ecologically fragile zones limited by moisture.