Ongoing Changes Research Articles

Future directions for deep ocean climate science and evidence-based decision making

IntroductionA defining aspect of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports (AR) is a formal uncertainty language framework that emphasizes higher certainty issues across the reports, especially in the executive summaries and short summaries for policymakers. As a result, potentially significant risks involving understudied components of the climate system are shielded from view.MethodsHere we seek to address this in the latest, sixth assessment report (AR6) for one such component—the deep ocean—by summarizing major uncertainties (based on discussions of low confidence issues or gaps) regarding its role in our changing climate system. The goal is to identify key research priorities to improve IPCC confidence levels in deep ocean systems and facilitate the dissemination of IPCC results regarding potentially high impact deep ocean processes to decision-makers. This will accelerate improvement of global climate projections and aid in informing efforts to mitigate climate change impacts. An analysis of 3,000 pages across the six selected AR6 reports revealed 219 major science gaps related to the deep ocean. These were categorized by climate stressor and nature of impacts.ResultsHalf of these are biological science gaps, primarily surrounding our understanding of changes in ocean ecosystems, fisheries, and primary productivity. The remaining science gaps are related to uncertainties in the physical (32%) and biogeochemical (15%) ocean states and processes. Model deficiencies are the leading cited cause of low certainty in the physical ocean and ice states, whereas causes of biological uncertainties are most often attributed to limited studies and observations or conflicting results.DiscussionKey areas for coordinated effort within the deep ocean observing and modeling community have emerged, which will improve confidence in the deep ocean state and its ongoing changes for the next assessment report. This list of key “known unknowns” includes meridional overturning circulation, ocean deoxygenation and acidification, primary production, food supply and the ocean carbon cycle, climate change impacts on ocean ecosystems and fisheries, and ocean-based climate interventions. From these findings, we offer recommendations for AR7 to avoid omitting low confidence-high risk changes in the climate system.

Older Age as a Predictor of Ongoing Active Changes in Follow-Up Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Children with Acute Myocarditis

Background/Objectives: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is used to diagnose and monitor the course of acute myocarditis in adults and children. This study aimed to assess the frequency of persistent inflammation at follow-up CMR and to look for predictors of ongoing active changes in CMR in children with myocarditis. Methods: This retrospective study included 31 children (median age 15 years, 68% male) with clinically and CMR-diagnosed acute myocarditis who underwent baseline and follow-up CMR at a median of 6 months. Old and new Lake Louise criteria were compared. Results: A complete resolution of changes was observed in four patients (13%) at follow-up, according to both criteria. Seven patients (23%) presented ongoing active changes, and twenty (64%) showed a persistent scar according to the old Lake Louise criteria. When the new Lake Louise criteria were used, an additional two patients (6%) were found to have persistent active changes instead of a persistent scar. Patients with persistent inflammation (nine patients, 29%) were older than those who showed recovery. None of the patients below 14 years of age presented active changes on their follow-up CMR and all the patients who showed inflammation were between 14 and 17 years old. Conclusions: Pediatric myocarditis can lead to persistent active changes in CMR beyond a 6-month follow-up in over a fifth of patients. The application of new Lake Louise criteria further increases that number compared to the old criteria. The only predictor of persistent inflammatory changes in CMR is older age.

Gen Z and Generative AI: Shaping the Future of Learning and Creativity

Thus, the appearance of the Generative Artificial Intelligence opened up a great turn in many areas, including education and creative industries. This paper seeks to understand the deep impact that Generative AI is going to have on learning and creating processes for the social context of Generation Z (Gen Z) students – born in digital culture. The work looks into the possibilities and challenges that Gen Z in collaboration with Generative AI leads to the future of learning and creativity. This paper is relevant as it offers some understanding of the ongoing changes in the education and creativity together with the escalating growth in technology. The nature of the association between the members of Generation Z and the Generative AI needs to be known by the educational stakeholders, policymakers, and business executives to leverage value from the existing and upcoming technologies together with dealing with possible negative impacts. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and uses of Generative AI, and its effects on the learning and creativity of Gen Z, in addition to identifying the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and risks/partities’ concerns that are commensurate with the integration of this technology in teaching/learning and creative processes. To achieve the objectives of the study the following research methodology was used: The research used both a literature review and documentary research. The materials used included academic publications, Industry reports, books and other credible internet sources on Generative AI and its impact on the education and creativity of the Gen Z. The document analysis included policy papers, educational technology reports, case studies and white papers from academic and professional bodies as well as other industries that involve Generative AI. Several insights show that using Generative AI can positively impact learners’ experiences, engagement, and creativity. However, there was some controversy about the excessive usage of AI and claimed that because of it people may get worse at critical thinking. The following were noted to be major concerns; Ethical Issues: they included issues to do with bias in the algorithms as well as the right to privacy of data. Thus, the findings of this research point to a three-way settlement with respect to the use of Generative AI in education and creative industries. It underlines the guideline of how human creativity and critical thinking ought to be sustained, while using AI tools. Proposals include, the need to teach critical thinking alongside AI use, fostering ethical AI consciousness, surged AI education, appropriate non-ethnical AI data set, strong AI policies and pro positive AI inspires and creative constructive use. The research implications for future studies include studying the changes in the achievement of learning outcomes over a period of time, wherein Generative AI has been incorporated and understanding how this technology influences different learning styles and needs, the issues of ethical and privacy concern, the requirement of professional development to educators in relation to Generative AI and finally, the comparison information and communication technology for learning between different cultures. Related to that, further studies on the effectiveness of AI in approaches like collaborative learning, its potential on preparing learners for employment, and on the psychology of students would be helpful in informing the future advancement of Generative AI in school and particular creative areas.

Update on the herpetofauna of Syros (Cyclades, Greece) and current land-use and climate change threats

The current knowledge on the herpetofauna of Syros is updated, whereby no publications on it have been made since 1975. I provide the results from a field trip in 2024 that focused on the hygrophilous species. The Balkan Water Frog and the Balkan Terrapin, mentioned for Syros in the 19th century, meanwhile have become extinct. The Green Toad is threatened with extinction, the status of the Grass Snake is unclear. The Green Toad has benefited previously from anthropogenic spawning grounds in the form of open cisterns, which have fallen into disuse and thus are no longer available to the amphibians. The ongoing climate change in the Aegean region is reflected in drier winters, which dry out water bodies. The situation for the wetlands and their fauna and flora on Syros is alarming.

Reef Adapt: A tool to inform climate-smart marine restoration and management decisions.

A critical component of ecosystem restoration projects involves using genetic data to select source material that will enhance success under current and future climates. However, the complexity and expense of applying genetic data is a barrier to its use outside of specialised scientific contexts. To help overcome this barrier, we developed Reef Adapt ( www.reefadapt.org ), an innovative, globally applicable and expandable web platform that incorporates genetic, biophysical and environmental prediction data into marine restoration and assisted gene flow planning. The Reef Adapt tool provides maps that identify areas with populations suited to user-specified restoration/recipient sites under current and future climate scenarios. We demonstrate its versatility and practicality with four case studies of ecologically and evolutionarily diverse taxa: the habitat-forming corals Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora kenti, and macroalgae Phyllospora comosa and Ecklonia radiata. Reef Adapt is a management-ready tool to aid restoration and conservation efforts amidst ongoing habitat degradation and climate change.

Effect of Salinity on the Growth and Biochemical Profile of Hedypnois cretica and Plantago coronopus Plants in Relation to the Cropping System and Growth Environment

The aim of the present work is to study the impact of salinity (i.e., 2 dS/m without addition of NaCl (control); 5 dS/m (EC-5); and 10 dS/m (EC-10) with the addition of 30 and 80 mM NaCl, respectively) on yield, organoleptic quality and the content of antioxidant compounds in Plantago coronopus and Hedypnois cretica plants in relation to different cropping systems and environmental conditions during growth (i.e., pots or floating hydroponics systems in the greenhouse and pots in the field (GPs, GH and FPs, respectively)). Almost all the growth parameters of the H. cretica plants in the greenhouse were impaired by both moderate (EC-5) and high (EC-10) salinity levels, especially in the floating hydroponics system, where, compared to EC-2, a reduction was observed of 33% in EC-5 and 76% in EC-10 in leaf area and of 24% and 75%, respectively, in fresh weight. On the contrary, the growth of the P. coronopus plants was negatively affected by salinity only in the GP system. However, salinity had no effect on most growth characteristics of both species grown in the field, suggesting a strong environmental effect on the impact of salinity in the tested species. On the other hand, the content of pigments, proline and total phenolics in the P. coronopus leaves, as well as their antioxidant capacity, were not affected by salinity in most cases, whereas in H. cretica the salinity effect was significant even at moderate levels (EC-5) in relation to the cropping system and growth environment. Moreover, both salinity levels reduced the nitrate content of P. coronopus plants in all cases (up to 61% in GP plants at EC-10) and of H. cretica GH plants (up to 67% in EC-10). Finally, regardless of the salinity level, the field-grown plants of both species showed a considerably higher content of total phenolics (by 59% in H. cretica and 58% in P. coronopus) and antioxidant activity (by 63% in H. cretica and 53% in P. coronopus, FRAP values), compared to the greenhouse ones. In conclusion, our results indicate that the tested combinations of cropping systems and growth environments could be used as an eco-friendly and sustainable agronomic tool to mitigate the negative effects of salinity and to regulate the organoleptic and biochemical properties of the tested species, allowing small-scale farmers in the affected areas to cope with the ongoing climate change and the environmental pressures they currently face through the exploitation of alternative/underexploited species of high added value.

Mitigating Effect of the Sea on Temperatures Along Mediterranean Coastal Areas: The Case of the Vine Territory of the Matera DOP in Basilicata (Italy)

This study aims to assess temperature variations caused by ongoing climate change in the Basilicata region, southern Italy—Ionian side of the Gulf of Taranto—on the territory of the Matera DOP vineyard. In particular, it aims to assess the influence of the sea on temperature trends, and particularly to its “mitigating effect” in the context of ongoing climate change. Temperature trends were analyzed using ERA5-Land data from 1981 to 2022 and data from weather stations of the Lucanian Agency for Development and Innovation in Agriculture from 2000 to 2023. Temperature trends were studied considering both the period of the vegetative-productive season of the vineyards and the whole year. The results of this study show that, for the historical period analyzed, the Matera DOP area showed a significant upward trend in temperatures, particularly in the inland areas. This increase, especially for minimum temperatures, is more evident at higher elevations than at lower elevations near the sea. Indeed, coastal areas benefit from the thermoregulatory effect of the Ionian Sea, which moderates temperature increases at lower elevations. It follows that the Matera DOP wine-growing areas, and particularly those furthest from the coastal strip, will have to adapt to harsh climatic conditions that will certainly affect the quality and typicality of the wines.

Dynamics of Sandy Shorelines and Their Response to Wave Climate Change in the East of Hainan Island, China

Beach erosion and shoreline dynamics are strongly affected by alterations in nearshore wave intensity and energy, especially in the context of global climate change. However, existing works do not thoroughly study the evolution of the sandy coasts of eastern Hainan Island, China, nor their responses to wave climate change driven by climate variability. This study focuses on the open sandy coast and assesses shoreline evolutionary dynamics in response to wave climate variability over a 30-year period from 1994 to 2023, using an open-source software toolkit that semi-automatically identify the shorelines (CoastSat v2.4) and reanalysis wave datasets (ERA5). The shorelines of the study area were extracted from CoastSat, and then tidal correction and outlier correction were performed for clearer shorelines. Combining the shoreline changes and wave conditions derived from ERA5, the dynamics of the shorelines and their response to wave climate change were further studied. The findings reveal that the average long-term shoreline change rate along the eastern coast of Hainan Island is 0.03 m/year, with 44.8% of transects experiencing erosion and 55.2% showing long-term accretion. And distinct evolutionary patterns emerge across different sections. Interannual variability is marked by alternating erosion and siltation cycles, while most sections of the coast experiences clear seasonal fluctuations, with accretion typically occurring during summer and erosion occurring in winter. El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles drive changes in parameters including significant wave height, mean wave period, wave energy flux, and mean wave direction, leading to long-term changes in wave climate. The multi-scale behavior of the sandy shoreline responds distinctly to the ongoing changes in wave climate triggered by ENSO viability, with El Niño events typically resulting in accretion and La Niña periods causing erosion. Notably, mean wave direction is the metric most closely linked to changes in the shoreline among all the others. In conclusion, the interplay of escalating anthropogenic activities, natural processes, and climate change contributes to the long-term evolution of sandy shorelines. We believe this study can offer a scientific reference for erosion prevention and management strategies of sandy beaches, based on the analysis presented above.

A data-driven framework for the definition of heat in CV research for better comprehension of climate changes on human health

Abstract Background Recent literature has identified numerous combinations of meteorological indicators, methods and comparison thresholds to define heat in order to analyse its impact on adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. In fact, despite increasing attention to the issue due to ongoing climate change, there is no standardised definition of heat nor guidelines for its establishment, and in studies often little attention is given to the selected definition, despite its impact on the results. Purpose To fill this gap, our aim was to propose a data-driven framework for selecting the temperature threshold for defining heat in the context of studies on adverse CV outcomes, combining the most common approaches identified in the literature. Methods The following five-step framework is proposed: 1) Selection of temperature lags based on the contour plot obtained by the distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM); 2) Estimation of the relative risk (RR) of having a CV emergency in heat versus non-heat days by Poisson regression considering the 90th-99th percentile (%ile) of the temperature distribution for each lag; 3) Selection of the final lag based on the curvatures of the 10 included %iles; 4) Calculation of the % change in RR from %ile i to %ile i+1; 5) Selection of the heat threshold, defined as the %ile from which all the next %iles are associated with a higher % change, or, if not existing, the %ile preceding the one with the highest % change. We tested this framework, for each year, on retrospective CV emergencies in May-September 2017-2022 in Milan, Italy, using the apparent temperature data, accounting for air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. Results The contour plot of the DLNM, controlled for air pollution, seasonality and long-term trend, showed that lags 0 and 1 were characterised by an increased RR for a CV emergency. The RR estimated for each %ile for each considered lag (i.e., heat on day i, heat on day i or on day i-1, and heat on day i and on day i-1), produced a similar curvature, so first lag option was arbitrarily selected. For Milan, the 95th %ile was the point from which all the subsequent %iles were associated to progressively higher % changes, resulting in a RR of having a CV emergency compared to non-heat days equal to 1.113 (95% CI: 1.087-1.139). The mean daily apparent temperature values associated to such %ile, varying from 27.7 °C to 29.9 °C depending on the year, should then be considered as the heat threshold in the examined context. Conclusion We proposed a flexible data-driven framework for the definition of heat that could easily be extended to similar scenarios. Although the framework still requires some arbitrary choices to be made, and the need of validation on other real-world data, it could provide a valuable guideline for relevant research, and could contribute to the standardization of heat definition for CV health research aiming at a better comprehension of climate changes on human health.

Thermal Forcing Versus Chilling? Misspecification of Temperature Controls in Spring Phenology Models

ABSTRACTBackgroundClimate‐change‐induced shifts in the timing of leaf emergence during spring have been widely documented and have important ecological consequences. However, mechanistic knowledge regarding what controls the timing of spring leaf emergence is incomplete. Field‐based studies under natural conditions suggest that climate‐warming‐induced decreases in cold temperature accumulation (chilling) have expanded the dormancy duration or reduced the sensitivity of plants to warming temperatures (thermal forcing) during spring, thereby slowing the rate at which the timing of leaf emergence is shifting earlier in response to ongoing climate change. However, recent studies have argued that the apparent reductions in temperature sensitivity may arise from artefacts in the way that temperature sensitivity is calculated, while other studies based on statistical and mechanistic models specifically designed to quantify the role of chilling have shown conflicting results.MethodsWe analysed four commonly used combinations of phenology and temperature datasets obtained from remote sensing and ground observations to elucidate whether current model‐based approaches robustly quantify how chilling, in concert with thermal forcing, controls the timing of leaf emergence during spring under current climate conditions.ResultsWe show that widely used modeling approaches that are calibrated using field‐based observations misspecify the role of chilling under current climate conditions as a result of statistical artefacts inherent to the way that chilling is parameterised. Our results highlight the limitations of existing modelling approaches and observational data in quantifying how chilling affects the timing of spring leaf emergence and suggest that decreasing chilling arising from climate warming may not constrain near‐future shifts towards earlier leaf emergence in extra‐tropical ecosystems worldwide.

Climatic sensitivity and the growth prospects of Silver fir and European larch in the Carpathians in the light of observed climate changes

One consequence of climate change is the rapid extinction of spruce monocultures in the Carpathians. Therefore, the need has arisen to replace spruce with other highly productive species that ensure the stability and biodiversity of mountain forests, such as the Abies alba and Larix decidua. These co-occurring conifers show different successional and phenological characteristics: L. decidua is a light-demanding species that dominates in the early successional stages, while A. alba is a shade-tolerant tree. This study attempts to identify climatic factors that determine the tree-ring width of fir and larch in order to assess the growth prospects of these species in the context of the ongoing climate change. As a measure of the vitality of trees, tree-ring widths of 42 sub-populations of fir and 36 of larch from the area of the Western Carpathians were used. Regional growth patterns for each species were used to estimate the relationship between temperature/precipitation and radial growth. Linear correlation analyses and nonlinear Random Forest models were used. Fir growth was significantly positively influenced by the high temperature of January–March and July and the high precipitation of February and July of the year of tree-ring formation. Larch growth was positively affected by the high temperature of May and the low precipitation of April and September of the year of tracheid formation. Unlike larch, fir growth increased if May and June of the preceding year were warm. The dominant climatic factor influencing fir growth was February temperature, whereas for larch growth, it was the May temperature of the year of tree-ring formation. Most of the recently observed changes in climatic factors that are important for the growth of both species are favorable. Thus, increasing their share in the Carpathian forests seems fully justified, as this will contribute to the stability, productivity, and biodiversity of the region’s forests.

Editorial of Special Issue “Nutrition and Critical Illness”

Managing nutrition therapy in critically ill patients is complex due to the ongoing inflammation, catabolic stress, and changing metabolic demands that occur throughout an illness [...]

A review of climate change impacts on migration patterns of marine vertebrates in Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems

Climate change is impacting marine ecosystems throughout the circumpolar Arctic, altering seasonal habitats and the food bases for fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals. Arctic and Subarctic regions provide resources for resident species and for species that migrate to the north from more southerly regions. Changes in northerly latitudes thus impact endemic as well as non-endemic animals. Herein, we review what is known about climate-driven changes in the migration patterns of Arctic and Subarctic marine vertebrates, including: 1) Arctic residents with seasonal movements – those fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals that complete their entire life cycle within the Arctic but exhibit seasonal movements; 2) Breeding migrants – many seabirds enter the Arctic to breed and subsequently migrate south in the fall; and 3) Summer visitors for feeding – certain species of boreal fishes, seabirds and marine mammals arrive during the northern summer to feed on abundant prey though they breed elsewhere. Migratory movements are often driven by the timing and extent of sea ice, which defines suitable habitat for some animals and limits access to open water and prey for others. Longer open-water seasons, warmer ocean temperatures, and stronger winds have resulted in earlier production blooms in spring and often, extended open-ocean plankton blooms into late summer, resulting in altered prey types and distributions. A common thread among taxa is that shifts in distribution and timing of migrating animals indicate they are traveling farther north, or shifting longitudinally, and migrations are occurring over longer seasonal time frames. Species performing multiple lifetime migrations or long-distance migrants may need to adjust migration timing or routing iteratively to match changes in marine productivity. Altered animal distributions or phenology, and reduced sea ice, affects access to animals that are critical nutritional, economical, and cultural components of Indigenous people’s lives in the Arctic. Ongoing changes challenge the resilience and adaptability of Arctic people and ecosystems, and will require adaptive research and management approaches.

The Superego of the City: Integrating Psychoanalytic Theory with Sustainable Urbanization in the Age of Industry 4.0

This article introduces the concept of the "superego of the city" by drawing on Freudian psychoanalytic theory to explore the ethical and moral dimensions of contemporary urbanization. As cities undergo rapid transformation driven by metropolization, digitalization, and environmental challenges, traditional urban analysis frameworks have become increasingly inadequate. The "superego of the city" provides a theoretical framework for understanding how urban spaces preserve cultural identity, foster social cohesion, and promote environmental sustainability amid these ongoing changes. By applying this concept to smart city initiatives—specifically in the realm of healthcare waste management—this study demonstrates how the integration of Circular Economy (CE) principles with Industry 4.0 technologies can align technological advancements with the ethical imperatives embodied in the city's collective consciousness.

The Cartel Mystique: Race and the Social Construction of the Cannabis Grower

Racialization of the drug trade has been an ongoing feature of drug‐related moral panics for over a century. In the latter part of the twentieth century, public anxieties about ongoing economic changes made immigrants and Mexican drug cartels convenient scapegoats in the context of moral panics about cannabis and cannabis growers. In this research, I focus on the social construction of cannabis growers in the Emerald Triangle of Northern California, with a particular focus on the cartel grower construct. Through a content analysis of news media coverage, government and law enforcement reports, and field notes from personal communications with law enforcement officers and government officials, I identify racialized constructions of growers in the region. I also explore the relationships between local narratives and the broader cannabis discourse. In this “post‐prohibition” moment, this discourse impacts U.S. cannabis policy conversations and fuels anti‐immigrant rhetoric.

Public attitudes towards immigrants: A curious case of Croatia

AbstractThe Croatian population has been subjected to violent ethnic conflicts during the war in the 1990s and has more recently experienced large‐scale irregular and refugee migrations, as well as a notable increase in regular labour migration. Using data from the most recent wave of the European Social Survey, we have conducted an analysis of Croatian attitudes towards immigrants. Our study found that, despite Croatia's history of ethnic conflict and ongoing changes in its migration system, the Croatian population still exhibits relatively low levels of negative attitudes towards immigrants compared to other Eastern European countries. With regards to individual determinants of attitudes, one of the biggest surprizes is that political party preferences play a minor role in explaining attitudes towards immigrants. We discuss our findings and conclude that there is an urgent need for better theoretical and empirical framework for understanding illiberal tendencies in Eastern European societies, particularly within the current context of rapidly worsening security situation in Europe.

Critical Importance of Tree and Non‐Tree Vegetation for African Precipitation

AbstractVegetation is a major contributor of terrestrial evaporation and influences subsequent precipitation over land. Studies suggest that forests are crucial for moisture recycling, although the specific contribution of different vegetation to precipitation remains unclear. Using a moisture recycling approach, we investigate the contribution of transpiration from trees and non‐tree vegetation to precipitation over Africa. We use precipitation source regions from simulated atmospheric moisture trajectories, constrained by observation‐based evaporation and precipitation products, and fractional vegetation cover data. Our findings show that trees provide a higher flux to precipitation (∼777 mm year−1) than non‐tree vegetation (∼342 mm year−1). However, considering the smaller spatial extent of trees compared to non‐tree vegetation, precipitation in most watersheds effectively depends more on the latter. Overall, non‐tree vegetation appears equally important as trees in terms of volumetric contributions to precipitation, and deserves attention in further research, considering ongoing land use changes that affect the continental water cycle.

The impact of a metacognition-based course on school students’ metacognitive skills and biology comprehension

The fast-paced and intricate nature of the current society, coupled with the ongoing changes in educational requirements, calls for the cultivation of higher-order thinking skills. To that end, adopting metacognitive strategies could be instrumental. This paper aimed to evaluate the effects of a 10-week-long metacognition-based biology course on school students’ metacognition and biology comprehension. Employing a mixed-methods quasi-experimental design, the study involved 120 eighth-graders from two public schools. One group was exposed to metacognitive questioning, while the other one continued with regular classroom activities. The results showed that participants who received metacognition-guided instruction achieved higher scores on the biology test and reported improved metacognition as compared to those who followed the standard curriculum. These outcomes were consistent across genders and regardless of whether a student reported a deep or surface learning approach. Qualitative analysis extracted themes of collaboration and understanding among the students. They appreciated the specificity of tasks, which deepened their comprehension, and valued collaborative learning facilitated by metacognitive prompts. These prompts not only enhanced their understanding but also contributed to fostering a positive classroom environment. This research underscores the effectiveness of metacognitive support in enhancing biology education. It advocates for the integration of metacognitive strategies into classroom practices, emphasizing the positive impact they can have on students’ learning experiences and outcomes.

Bracing urban governance against climate crises: How to integrate high reliability into strategic decision‐making?

AbstractTurning cities socio‐ecologically resilient is one of the pressing challenges in the face of ongoing climate change and accompanying extreme weather events. Despite concentrated efforts within specific urban domains, there exists a necessity for a coordinating mechanism that can concurrently monitor signals of slowly maturing long‐term crises, such as global warming and swiftly intervene to mitigate urgent threats, such as catastrophic floods. This article explores the potential of high reliability principles to inform such a governance mechanism through a novel policy operations room (POR) framework, conceptualizing urban strategic goals as critical infrastructure. We analyze the conditions for integrating elements from top‐down crisis management with bottom‐up participatory scenario exercises and policy simulations in urban governance. Based on pre‐ and post‐POR interviews and meeting transcripts in three Finnish cities we examine the regulative, normative, and cognitive aspects of integration. The analysis indicates that the implementation of a high reliability framework in urban settings can provide valuable support for addressing challenges induced by climate change.

What they live for: Adaptive strategies of Virginia’s small-scale commercial fishermen in a changing industry

Small-scale commercial fishing communities around the world are facing a number of social, ecological, and economic challenges that are likely to persist or increase in prevalence with ongoing environmental changes and competing uses of marine resources. This research uses semi-structured interviews to assess the impacts of varying economic, ecological and social changes on individual decision-making and resilience in Virginia’s small-scale commercial fishing industry. Similar to nationwide trends, Virginia’s small-scale commercial fishing industry has shifted in response to changes in management, species abundance, and participation with impacts on social identities and cultural norms, job satisfaction, resource dependence, and the future of the commercial fishing industry. As a means of coping with the inherent volatility of commercial fishing, fishermen have implemented adaptation strategies, including diversification within and outside of commercial fishing, that enable continued participation in the commercial fishing industry. Interviews reveal that Virginia’s small-scale commercial fisheries are deeply embedded within the social identities of fishermen and fishing communities in the state. Therefore, it is valuable to managers and researchers to consider the economic and societal consequences associated with declines in small-scale commercial fisheries and more importantly, to understand why these declines are occurring. Managers can expand on these results to create workforce development strategies that ensure the long-term sustainability of Virginia’s commercial fishing industry and preserve the commercial fishing livelihood for the future.