Climatic Zones Research Articles

Examining the suitability of the local climate zones (LCZ) framework in informal urban settlements: Insights from Kabul, Afghanistan

To better investigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, a standardized framework known as Local Climate Zones (LCZ) has been developed and widely applied to numerous cities. However, cities from least-developed countries with heterogeneous typologies are underrepresented in the LCZ literature. This study assesses the applicability of the LCZ framework in the slum-dominant built-up environment of Kabul. Using a combined method involving GIS and remote sensing, we classified natural and built-type LCZs and analyzed LCZ-LST fluctuations. The analysis revealed that four new subclasses cover 23 % of the built type LCZs: LCZ 35 (mid/high-rise buildings within compact lowrise layouts) and LCZ 65 (midrise buildings among open lowrise areas) have the lowest LSTs at 34.36 °C and 34.42 °C in July, respectively. In contrast, LCZ 73 (two/three-story buildings in lightweight configurations), and LCZ 9F (sparse buildings on bare soil or sand) have higher LSTs at 37.2 °C and 38.6 °C in July, respectively. These subclasses showed distinct zone parameter thresholds compared to standard LCZs. In most built-type LCZs, Average Building Height (ABH) and Pervious Surface Fraction (PSF) negatively influenced LST, while impervious surfaces and Sky View Factor contributed to higher LST. Based on the findings, LCZ-specified strategies (Vegetation, urban form, and using high-albedo materials) for LST mitigation are proposed. Furthermore, we provide planning, design, and policy recommendations aimed at mitigating urban heat, with potential applicability to other cities facing rapid urbanization and growth of informal settlements. The findings can inform action toward urban climate change adaptation.

Groundwater table prediction and seasonal variation influenced by short rotation willow plantation on marginal riparian lands of the Prairie potholes in Canada

Shallow groundwater consumption via phreatophytic transpiration and resulting vegetation-linked groundwater table (GWT) fluctuation is a typical soil hydrological process in wetland riparian areas. However, upland and riparian land use alterations may further influence the shallow GWT fluctuation, temporally and spatially. In this multi-year field study, we investigated whether introducing short rotation willow (SRW) positively or negatively affects the shallow GWT, soil water availability, and soil health on marginal riparian lands of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). We compared the impact of SRW on these parameters to two common land uses: annual crop (AC) and pasture (PA). Depth to GWT was monitored via data loggers from 28 wells in two semi-arid PPR sites. The GWT depth varied by land use practices only in site B (p < 0.001; PA > SRW = AC) but not significantly in site A (p = 0.325), and the patterns were inconsistent between sites. In GWT depth prediction, the performance of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was better than Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models but was inconsistent alike with field observations. The GWT depth responded to seasonal precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (ET) patterns. The monthly GWT fluctuations peaked between June and August due to increased precipitation, while they were lower during May and September with reduced precipitation; however, these variations were not significant (p > 0.05). Higher precipitation and lower potential ET throughout the wet year (i.e., in 2014) significantly (p < 0.05) raised GWT (i.e., decreased depth to GWT) under all land uses, and vice versa. Our study indicated that planting SRW in marginal riparian land of the PPR would not negatively impact shallow GWT or soil water availability. Moreover, the SRW plantation could also help manage soil salinity without severely depleting the soil's nutrient pools or diminishing soil quality and health indicator parameters measured during the first rotation.

Hybrid Models in Natural Engineering Structure of the City

The article discusses the first hybrid urban planning model including different functional zones on the right bank of the Moskva River. Hybridization of indicators includes renovation of the Crimean embankment and Gorky Park into a single pedestrian zone. Integration of public, business and recreational spaces with park areas are integrated in a single route along the embankment between Gorky Park, Neskuchny Sad landscape park with the Vorobyovy Gory nature reserve. The other part of the hybrid model is formed from the Crimean embankment with Muzeon Park to the public and business space of the Red October, and in 2021, to the famous GES-2 after reconstruction. The total length of the route is currently about 10 km for walking and cycling with excellent views of water and natural areas. The article examines the properties of the first hybrid model, their impact on the sociocultural scenario of space as well as economic, aesthetic and environmental development of the central part of Moscow. However, not all properties of the new model are actively manifested and some have negative indicators, that reduces the integrated development of both the model and the objects in its structure. At the same time, at the present stage of urban development, special attention is paid to the management of urbanization and climate through technological solutions with the replacement of a sustainable natural component in the city. Design solutions of such sustainable projects can be successfully used in different climatic zones. In this context, the author raises the issue of preserving natural areas in the city and analyzes international experience in "hybridity" of properties in models. The proposed approach to climate changes and the sustainability of newly created hybrid models emphasizes objects in which green and blue technologies (for replenishing nature and using rainwater) develop and support both the object formation in the structure of hybrid models and stabilize the new natural engineering structure of the city

Performance Evaluation of Stress Tolerant Rice Variety Swarna Shreya under Front Line Demonstration in Bolangir District, Odisha

Rice is the major crop of Odisha with a total coverage of 41 lakh ha which is about 65% of the total cultivable area of the state. Area under rice crop in Bolangir district is 218.97 thousand ha. Bolangir District is located under Western Central Table Land Agro climatic Zone characterized by hot and sub humid climate. About 168.91 thousand ha rice is under rainfed condition. Drought is a major abiotic stress that adversely affects the rice growth, mostly in the rainfed ecosystem that ultimately affects the biomass production and yield. Front line demonstrations have been conducted in NICRA adopted village- Odiapali, Block- Bolangir in the Kharif season of the year 2022 and 2023. The percentage increase in yield is 13.63 and 14.61 and net return is Rs 42,200/- and Rs 43,444/- per ha as compared to farmer’s practice variety Swarna’ performance respectively for the year 2022 and 2023.

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION OF KAZAKHSTAN'S FLORA

Kazakhstan, with its expansive and diverse climate zones, boasts a rich and varied flora, featuring around 6,000 vascular species, including approximately 10% that are endemic. Effective management and study of this diverse flora requires continuous monitoring and inventory using advanced botanical, molecular genetic and bioinformatics techniques. This research focuses on exploring the genetic diversity within Kazakhstan's flora and establishing a comprehensive information database. Under Program 0237/PTF (2015-2017), efforts began to assess the genetic diversity of endemic, rare, endangered, and economically significant plant species of Kazakhstan. As part of grant АР05131621, an open-access web resource was developed, offering botanical and genetic data on Kazakhstan's flora. This database includes detailed botanical information on around 500 species. Ongoing research into the genetic diversity of different genera such as Juniperus, Tulipa, Allium, Iris, Salsola, and etc. promises to provide valuable insights into their population structure, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation strategies. Notably, this research has also initiated the first comparative analysis of plastid genomes in Kazakhstan. This research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AP23490860, AP23483825, AP14870612, АР14869593, AP09259027, 0237/PTF-14, and АР05131621).

Heavy metal migration and lithium isotope fractionation under extreme weathering of basalt on tropical Hainan Island, China

Basalt weathering can cause heavy metal enrichment in soils, and lithium isotopes serve as an effective tracer for this weathering process. However, the relations among weathering intensity, heavy metal migration, and Li isotope fractionation remain unclear. We conducted systematic examinations of a basalt weathering profile on tropical Hainan Island in China. The characteristics of mineralogy, elemental and Li isotopic geochemistry indicate that the profile has undergone changes from initial to advanced and ultimately extreme weathering stages. The corresponding dominant minerals are primary minerals, clay minerals such as kaolin-group, and the Al–Fe–Ti (hydro)oxides. The variations of Fe-group heavy metals within the profile are very similarly to that of Fe, exhibiting a pattern of loss-gain-loss. Newly formed secondary minerals preferentially incorporate lighter 6Li, leading to a gradual increase in Li content and a decrease in δ7Li. Due to the high δ7Li value of rainwater input, the ongoing impact of secondary mineral adsorption is partially counteracted. This results in the δ7Li of laterite and topsoil being maintained within a narrow range (−3.2‰ ∼ −1.9‰), despite the broader variation observed across the entire profile (−3.2‰ ∼ +2.8‰). Comparing basalt weathering profiles in different climatic zones reveals a very complex Li isotope behavior and its controlling factors. Therefore, it is essential to carefully evaluate the influence of atmospheric input, secondary mineral adsorption, dissolution, and redeposition processes on Li isotopes. Throughout the entire profile, Cr, Ni, and Cu exhibit enrichment relative to soil background values, indicating that the weathering of tropical basalt may pose potential environmental risks for these elements.

Effects of Environmental Factors on the Diversity of Grasshopper Communities along Altitude Gradients in Xizang, China.

To determine the grasshopper species composition, altitudinal distribution patterns, and their main drivers, we conducted a study in Xizang using 33 sample plots ranging from 600 to 4100 m. Grasshoppers were collected from August to October during 2020-2022 using sweep nets. A total of 1159 grasshoppers from six families, 28 genera, and 44 species were identified, with Omocestus cuonaensis and Aserratus eminifrontus as the dominant species, comprising 30.03% and 10.26% of total grasshoppers, respectively. The results showed that species richness and the Margalef richness index of grasshopper communities decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing altitude, peaking at 1100-1600 m and lowest values at 2600-3100 m. Similarly, the Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson dominance index also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with an increase in altitude, showing the highest and lowest values at 600-1100 m and 3100-3600 m, respectively. The Jaccard similarity coefficients among grasshopper communities varied from 0 to 0.40 across altitudinal gradients, indicating different degrees of dissimilarity. The results of Pearson correlation analyses showed that the Shannon-Wiener index, species richness, Margalef richness index, and Simpson dominance index of grasshopper communities were significantly negatively correlated with the temperature factors and soil pH, but they were significantly positively correlated with the moisture factors. Hierarchical partitioning identified annual mean temperature-daily difference, precipitation in the coldest season, and driest month precipitation as the primary factors explaining variance in grasshopper community diversity in Xizang. These findings provided greater insights into the mechanisms underlying insect community structure, distribution patterns, and diversity in Xizang ecosystems, including implications for the effects of global warming on insect communities.

Analysis of the Applicability of a Phase-Change Energy Storage Wall for Public Buildings in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Climate Zones

The effects of applying a phase-change energy storage wall in office buildings in hot summer and cold winter climate zones were analyzed by comparing several factors based on numerical calculations, specifically focusing on the internal and external wall temperature, delay time, attenuation multiple, and building load. It was found that the most effective phase-change temperature was 30 °C and the optimal thickness for the phase-change layer was 30 mm. The adoption of the outer phase-change wall layout improved the heat insulation performance during the summer. This effectively enhanced the energy-saving effect of the phase-change layer thickness and layout, which aligns with the influence law of phase-change wall heat transfer.

A global flash drought inventory based on soil moisture volatility

Flash droughts, characterized by rapid onset and development, present significant challenges to agriculture and climate mitigation strategies. Operational drought monitoring systems, based on precipitation, soil moisture deficits, or temperature anomalies, often fall short in timely detection of these events, underscoring the need for customized identification and monitoring indices that account for the rapidity of flash drought onset. Recognizing this need, this paper introduces a global flash drought inventory from 1990 to 2021 derived using the Soil Moisture Volatility Index (SMVI). Our work expands the application of the SMVI methodology, previously focused on the United States, to a global scale, providing a tool for understanding and predicting these rapidly developing phenomena. The dataset encompasses detailed event characteristics, including onset, duration, and severity, across diverse climate zones. By integrating atmospheric variables through their impact on soil moisture, the inventory offers a platform for analyzing the drivers and impacts of flash droughts, and serves as a large, consistent dataset for use in training and evaluating flash drought prediction models.

Machine learning models for daily net radiation prediction across different climatic zones of China

Net radiation (Rn), a critical component in land surface energy cycling, is calculated as the difference between net shortwave radiation and longwave radiation at the Earth’s surface and holds significant importance in crop models for precision agriculture management. In this study, we examined the performance of four machine learning models, including extreme learning machine (ELM), hybrid artificial neural networks with genetic algorithm models (GANN), generalized regression neural networks (GRNN), and random forests (RF), in estimating daily Rn at four representative sites across different climatic zones of China. The input variables included common meteorological factors such as minimum and maximum temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration, and shortwave solar radiation. Model performance was assessed and compared using statistical parameters such as the correlation coefficient (R2), root mean square errors (RMSE), mean absolute errors (MAE), and Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NS). The results indicated that all models slightly underestimated actual Rn, with linear regression slopes ranging from 0.810 to 0.870 across different zones. The estimated Rn was found to be comparable to observed values in terms of data distribution characteristics. Among the models, the ELM and GANN demonstrated higher consistency with observed values, exhibiting R2 values ranging from 0.838 to 0.963 and 0.836 to 0.963, respectively, across varying climatic zones. These values surpassed those of the RF (0.809–0.959) and GRNN (0.812–0.949) models. Additionally, the ELM and GANN models showed smaller simulation errors in terms of RMSE, MAE, and NS across the four climatic zones compared to the RF and GRNN models. Overall, the ELM and GANN models outperformed the RF and GRNN models. Notably, the ELM model's faster computational speed makes it a strong recommendation for Rn estimates across different climatic zones of China.

Comprehensive performance evaluation of HVAC systems integrated with direct air capture of CO2 in various climate zones

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a rapidly evolving technology that extracts CO2 directly from ambient air. This study presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of integrating DAC in HVAC systems, which can reduce indoor CO2 concentration and improve energy efficiency of HVAC systems. The DAC equipment is modeled in Modelica based on isotherm and thermodynamic equations, and pressure drop curves of the CO2 sorbent described in literature. The model is validated with data from the literature, and then integrated into a typical HVAC system available in Modelica Buildings library. The HVAC system is a Variable Air Volume (VAV) with reheater system for a one-floor office building with standard ASHRAE 2006 control sequences. Demand control ventilation strategies are designed to reduce the outdoor air flowrates when indoor CO2 concentrations are lower than the threshold, which is to maximize the benefits of integrating DAC. Four cases are proposed to assess the impacts of integrating DAC and DCV in HVAC systems in 8 different ASHRAE climate zones in the USA. The results show that by integrating DAC unit into the HVAC system, the average indoor CO2 concentration can be significantly reduced by over 45 % against the baseline without a DAC unit. By integrating DCV, 0.39–21.66 % of annual energy savings and 226–9539 kg carbon emissions reduction are observed across different climate zones. The highest energy savings are found to be achieved with cold climatic conditions while the lowest energy savings occur with favorable weather.

Global and regional hydrological impacts of global forest expansion

Abstract. Large-scale reforestation, afforestation, and forest restoration schemes have gained global support as climate change mitigation strategies due to their significant carbon dioxide removal (CDR) potential. However, there has been limited research into the unintended consequences of forestation from a biophysical perspective. In the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2), we apply a global forestation scenario, within a Paris Agreement-compatible warming scenario, to investigate the land surface and hydroclimate response. Compared to a control scenario where land use is fixed to present-day levels, the forestation scenario is up to 2 °C cooler at low latitudes by 2100, driven by a 10 % increase in evaporative cooling in forested areas. However, afforested areas where grassland or shrubland are replaced lead to a doubling of plant water demand in some tropical regions, causing significant decreases in soil moisture (∼ 5 % globally, 5 %–10 % regionally) and water availability (∼ 10 % globally, 10 %–15 % regionally) in regions with increased forest cover. While there are some increases in low cloud and seasonal precipitation over the expanded tropical forests, with enhanced negative cloud radiative forcing, the impacts on large-scale precipitation and atmospheric circulation are limited. This contrasts with the precipitation response to simulated large-scale deforestation found in previous studies. The forestation scenario demonstrates local cooling benefits without major disruption to global hydrodynamics beyond those already projected to result from climate change, in addition to the cooling associated with CDR. However, the water demands of extensive forestation, especially afforestation, have implications for its viability, given the uncertainty in future precipitation changes.

Pristine NASICON Electrolyte: A High Ionic Conductivity and Enhanced Dendrite Resistance Through Zirconia (ZrO2) Impurity-free Solid-Electrolyte Design.

Sodium batteries are considered a promising candidate for large-scale grid storage at tropical climate zone, and solid-state sodium metal batteries have a strong proposition as high energy density battery. The main challenge is to develop ultra-pure solid-state ceramic electrolyte and compatible metal interface. Here, a scalable and energy-efficient synthesis strategy of sodium (Na) Super Ionic CONductor, Na1+xZr2SixP3-xO12(x = 2, NZSP) solid electrolyte, has been introduced with the complete removal of unreacted zirconium oxide (ZrO2) impurities. Additionally, the reaction mechanism for the formation of pure phase NZSP is reported for the first time. The NZSP prepared by utilizing the Zr precursor, i.e., tetragonal zirconium oxide (t-ZrO2) derived from the Zr(OH)4 gets quickly and completely consumed in the synthesis process leaving no unreacted monoclinic ZrO2 impurities. The synthesis process only needs a minimum stay of 4 h, which is three times less than the conventional synthesis method. The elimination of ZrO2 impurities results in a 2.5-fold reduction in grain boundary resistivity, showcasing a total ionic conductivity of 1.75 mS cm-1 at room temperature and a relative density of 98%. The prepared electrolyte demonstrates remarkable resistance to dendrite formation, as evidenced by a high critical current density value of 1.4mA cm-2.

How do heat waves affect the relationship between built environment patches of different compactness and land surface temperature?

The compactness of the urban built environment significantly affects land surface temperature (LST), especially during heat waves (HW). However, the mechanisms by which the configuration of key building patches in built environments of varying compactness drives LST are unclear. This study proposes a new research framework combining local climate zones (LCZ), spatial pattern type (SPT) and landscape index (LI) to reveal the impacts of key building patches on LST. Taking Shenyang as an example, we utilized the geographically weighted regression (GWR) method to reveal the non-stationary relationship between building patches with different compactness and LST during heat and non-heat waves, and an optimal parameters-based geographical detectors model (OPGDM) to explore the mechanisms by which the configuration of key building patches drives LST. The results show that HW enhances the spatially non-stationary effects of different types of building patches on LST. The configuration of key building patches in the open built environment drives LST more strongly than those in the compact built environment. The relationship between LIs and LST in key building patches exhibits diverse characteristics during heat and non-heat waves, so differentiated configuration optimization strategies are required for built environments of different compactness. The interactions of patch configurations also require emphasis, especially the patch complexity. The research findings help to formulate urban planning strategies from a climate adaptation and mitigation perspective to cope with the increasing frequency of extreme heat events.

The impact of green roofs’ composition on its overall life cycle

Green roof systems have been developed to improve the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability. Selecting the appropriate version of the green roof composition plays an important role in the life cycle assessment of a green roof. In this study, 10 compositions of an intensive green roof for moderate zone and 4 green roof compositions for different climatic conditions were designed and comprehensively assessed in terms of their environmental and economic impacts within the “Cradle-to-Cradle” system boundary. The assessment was carried out over a 50-year period for a moderate climate zone. The results showed that asphalt strips and concrete slab produced the highest total emissions. It was found that most greenhouse gases emissions were released in the operational energy consumption phase and in the production phase. The energy consumption phase (48.78%) for automatic irrigation and maintenance caused the highest Global Warming Potential (GWP) value (758.39 kg CO2e) in the worst variant, which also caused the highest life cycle cost (878.47€). On the contrary, in the best variant, planting more vegetation and lower maintenance and irrigation requirements led to a reduction in GWP (445.0 kg CO2e), but in terms of cost (506.6€) this composition didn't represent the best variant. The Global Warming Potential Biogenic (GWP-bio) compared to the Global Warming Potential Total (GWP-total) represents a proportion ranging from 0.8% to 78% depending on the proposed vegetation. Overall higher biogenic carbon values (up to 1525 kg CO2e) were observed for the proposed tall vegetation of Magnolia, Red Mulberry, Hawthorne, Cherry, and Crab-apple Tree. Based on the results of the multicriteria analysis, which included core environmental & economic parameters, biogenic carbon emission levels, the outcome of this paper proposed optimal green roof composition. Optimal intensive green roof composition was subjected to a sensitivity analysis to determine the impact of changing climatic conditions on CO2 emissions and life cycle costs. The results of the sensitivity analysis show that the optimal variant of the green roof can be implemented in the cold and subtropical zone with regard to CO2 emissions, but not with regard to life cycle costs.

Pure and mixed Scots pine forests showed divergent responses to climate variation and increased intrinsic water use efficiency across a European-wide climate gradient

AbstractThe present study examined Pinus sylvestris L. growth responses to climatic variations and its relationship with intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) across a water availability gradient and also in pure P. sylvestris and P. sylvestris-Quercus species mixed forests. Study sites were selected in the Mediterranean, temperate, and temperate continental climates in Spain, Italy, and Poland, respectively. A combined tree-ring dendrochronological and stable carbon isotope analysis was used to assess the relationship between tree growth and climate variation. Results showed that P. sylvestris growth is critically affected by summer water availability, regardless of study site and species mixing. Warming temperatures during the early growing season benefit tree growth in Mediterranean and temperate continental climates, while no significant effect was observed in the temperate climatic conditions. At the Mediterranean site, trees in mixed stands showed enhanced growth during wet years when moisture is not limiting. At the temperate continental site, trees in the mixed stand grew at a lower rate than those in pure stands, which suggests that intense interspecific competition for water could overwhelm the benefits of species mixing. Also, we found a divergent growth-iWUE relationship of non-significant and significantly positive and significantly negative correlations at the Polish, Italian, and Spanish sites, respectively. Overall, the negative growth-iWUE relationship at the drier Mediterranean site signifies the risk of tree growth decline, particularly in drier climate conditions. Despite that, elevated iWUE levels would benefit tree radial growth when water is not limited and the admixing tree species have compatible light and water use strategies.

Propagation Dynamics from Meteorological to Agricultural Drought in Northwestern China: Key Influencing Factors

Meteorological and agricultural droughts are inherently correlated, whereas the propagation mechanism between them remains unclear in Northwestern China. Investigating the linkages between these drought types and identifying the potential influencing factors is crucial for effective water resource management and drought mitigation. This study adopted the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI) to characterize the meteorological and agricultural droughts from 1960 to 2018. The propagation time between these droughts was detected using the Pearson correlation analysis, and the cross-wavelet transform and wavelet cross-correlation were utilized to describe their linkages across the time–frequency scales. The grey relational analysis was applied to explore the potential factors influencing the propagation time. The results revealed that the agricultural drought typically lagged behind the meteorological drought by an average of 6 months in Northwestern China, with distinct seasonal and regional characteristics. The shortest propagation time occurred in the summer (3 months), followed by the autumn (4 months), and the propagation time was longer in the winter (8 months) and spring (9 months). Additionally, the average propagation time was longer in the plateau climate zone (8 months) than in the southeastern climate zone (6 months) and the westerly climate zone (4 months). There was a multi-timescale response between the meteorological and agricultural droughts, with a relatively stable and significant positive correlation over long timescales, whereas the correlation was less clear over short timescales. The key factors influencing the propagation time were soil moisture, elevation, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration. Furthermore, the wavelet cross-correlation between agricultural and meteorological droughts was relatively high, with a lag of 0 to 3 months; as the timescale increased, the fluctuation period of their cross-correlation also increased.

Proposal for zero energy housing designs in Jordan

BackgroundAchieving zero-energy targets in residential buildings is challenging due to improper energy design and the selection of energy-related systems. Moreover, the absence of benchmarks for zero-energy residential buildings, along with the scarcity of studies tailored to diverse climates and building characteristics, highlights the urgent need for further research. This study aimed to address these gaps by designing zero-energy buildings to suit diverse climate zones in Jordan, acting as benchmarks to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use in the residential sector.MethodsEnergy simulation tools were employed to design and verify zero-energy systems. The energy use intensity (EUI) results from the IDA ICE tool were compared with the reported targets and OpenStudio tool outcomes, ensuring that deviations among the proposed designs within the same climate zone consistently remained within acceptable limits, averaging 2, 1, and 1 kWh/m2 year in 1B (very hot dry), 2B (hot dry), and 3B (warm dry), respectively. Additionally, an economic evaluation was conducted by comparing the cost estimates of a Jordanian code-compliant house and the most acceptable proposed zero-energy design.ResultsThe proposed designs exhibited average EUI values of 64.4, 64, and 60 kWh/m2 in diverse climate zones. Outperforming typical Jordanian houses by 56%, 55%, and 60% in 1B, 2B, and 3B, respectively, these designs surpassed national and international benchmarks by at least 35%. Notably, the proposed zero-energy designs achieved substantial cost savings of 1938 USD, equivalent to 11 USD per square meter, throughout the construction phase.ConclusionsConsidering Jordan’s ambitious energy strategy for 2030 and the significant energy consumption in the residential sector, the proposed zero-energy building designs play a crucial role in advancing the national transition towards zero-energy buildings. This study provides valuable insights by presenting precise designs, benchmarks, and a comprehensive guide tailored to Jordan’s distinctive building and climate characteristics with potential applications beyond its immediate context.

Influence of Bacterial Fertilizers on the Structure of the Rhizospheric Fungal Community of Cereals South of Western Siberia

The general lack of knowledge on the conditions of Western Siberia (Omsk region) and the taxonomic diversity of zonal soils determines the relevance of these studies. The research was carried out in order to study the effect of complex biologics on the taxonomic diversity of the fungal component of the microbiome of the rhizosphere of cereals and the phytosanitary condition of crops in the southern forest-steppe (meadow-chernozem soil) and subtaiga (gray forest soil) zones of the Omsk Irtysh region (Western Siberia). This work was carried out in 2022–2023, using laboratory studies in combination with field experiments and metagenomic and statistical analyses. The objects of research were varieties of cereals and grain forage crops of Omsk selection: soil microorganisms. The scheme of the experiment involved the study of the following options: varieties of cereals (factor A): spring soft wheat—Omsk 42, Omsk 44, Tarskaya 12; durum wheat—Omsk coral; barley—Omsk 101; oats—Siberian hercules; bacterial preparation for seed inoculation (factor B) without the drug—Mizorin and Flavobacterin. The sampling of the plant rhizosphere for metagenomic analysis was carried out during the earing phase (July). For the first time, the taxonomic composition of the fungal community was determined based on the analysis of amplicon libraries of fragments of ribosomal operons of ITS2 fungi during colonization of crop roots by nitrogen-fixing bacteria in various soil and climatic zones of the Omsk region. The fungal component of the microbiome was analyzed in two zones of the Omsk region (southern forest-steppe and subtaiga). The five dominant phyla of soil fungi were located in the following decreasing series: Ascomycota (about 70%) &gt; Mortierellomycota (about 7%) &gt; Basidiomycota (about 5%) &gt; Mucoromycota (3%) &gt; Chytridiomycota (1%). The five main genera of fungi inhabiting the rhizosphere of cereals are located in a decreasing row: Giberella (6.9%) &gt; Mortierella (6.6%) &gt; Chaetomium (4.8%) &gt; Cladosporium (3.8%) &gt; Rhizopus (3.3%). The predominantly positive effect of biologics of associative nitrogen fixation on the fungal community of the soil (rhizosphere) of experimental sites located in different soil and climatic zones has been established. During seed bacterization, the growth of saprotrophic fungal genera was noted in relation to the control variants Pseudogymnoascus, Chloridium, Clonostachys, Trihoderma, etc., and the fungicidal properties of bacterial strains introduced into the soil were actively manifested relative to phytopathogenic fungi of the genera Alternaria, Blumeria, Fusarium, etc. According to the results of determining the number of infectious structures of Rhizoctonia solani, it was found that the population of the soil with viable cells of this pathogen was 1–3 pcs/g (below the threshold of harmfulness, PV 20 pcs/g of soil), which indicates a favorable phytosanitary situation with respect to the pathogen. The fungicidal effect of the applied bacterial fertilizers on Rhizoctonia solani could not be detected. The number of Bipolaris sorokiniana varied depending on the drug used. In the conditions of the southern forest-steppe zone of the Omsk region (meadow-chernozem soil), the greatest fungicidal effect was noted in Flavobacterin application variants on wheat of the Omsk 42 variety, durum wheat of the Omsk coral variety, and barley; the decrease in conidia relative to the control was 73, 35, and 29%, respectively. In the subtaiga zone of the Omsk Irtysh region (gray forest soil), as in the southern forest-steppe zone, pre-sowing bacterization of seeds with Flavobacterin led to a decrease in Bipolaris sorokiniana in the rhizosphere of wheat of the Omsk 42 variety by 18%, and oats by 27%, to control. The use of the drug Mizorin in some variants of the experiment led to an insignificant decrease in the harmful fungus or had no effect at all.

Optimisation of Nearly Zero Energy Building Envelope for Passive Thermal Comfort in Southern Europe

The pursuit of sustainable and energy-efficient construction is vital to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions. The application of the concept of nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) is now a reality for new buildings in the European Union, helping to achieve those goals. However, there is significant complexity in achieving acceptable thermal comfort levels in warmer climates such as the one in Southern Europe. This study carried out a multi-objective optimisation of the nZEB envelope using current construction solutions and nZEB regulations currently in force in different climate zones in this region, aiming to reduce thermal discomfort according to EN 16798-1. The results indicate that passive measures induced by regulatory requirements can significantly reduce discomfort at an affordable cost. However, great caution must be taken in relation to regulatory requirements, mainly for the cooling season, aiming to avoid summer overheating of dwellings and guaranteeing that nZEB’s buildings are sustainable and comfortable in the Mediterranean climate regions. In addition, designers should be aware that increasing the insulation layer beyond regulatory requirements does not necessarily imply an increase in passive thermal comfort. Often, this implies, in addition to an increase in construction costs, an increase in discomfort, particularly during the cooling season.