Seasonal Temperature Changes Research Articles

Adapting to seasonal temperature variations: A dynamic multi-subunit strategy for sulfur autotrophic denitrification bioreactors

Elemental sulfur autotrophic denitrification (S0AD) processes are temperature-sensitive, presenting a substantial challenge for the practical implementation of S0AD bioreactors. In this study, a comprehensive methodology for designing and operating S0AD bioreactors was developed, effectively managing fluctuations in nitrogen removal efficiency caused by seasonal temperature variations. Initially, the nitrate removal rate was correlated with simulated on-site temperature and nitrate loading, revealing correlation coefficients of k1, k2, k3, and A as 5.42×10−4, −0.41, 0.04, and 0.13, respectively, to establish a mathematical model for predicting S0AD efficiency. Subsequently, by considering influence factors such as dissolved oxygen and dynamic sulfur consumption, the model was employed to accurately design a pilot-scale S0AD bioreactor for a case study. By utilizing an alternative multi-subunit operation, a stable effluent nitrate concentration of less than 8 mg-N/L was maintained throughout the year. Importantly, this approach resulted in a substantial reduction of 76.8% in excessive nitrate removal, sulfur consumption, and sulfate production. This study aims to provide an optimal design and operation strategy for the practical application of S0AD bioreactors, thereby enhancing reliability and cost-effectiveness in the face of seasonal temperature changes.

HPLC-DAD, GC–MS, UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS2, ICP-MS and FT-NIR combined with the chemometrics explain seasonal variation in Cassia senna L. leaves from the coast of Red Sea in Sudan

Crops reveal considerable capability to regulate their phytochemicals and trace element contents to seasonal changes in temperature and rainfalls. In this study, we have measured the secondary metabolites, volatiles, and trace elements of Cassia senna L leaves collected from the Red Sea State, Sudan during winter 2018, summer 2019, and autumn 2020. Chemical profiles were evaluated by High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC); Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), Fourier-transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR). 46 metabolites, 33 volatile compounds, and 13 elements were reported. The findings suggested significant seasonal variations in sennoside (A-B) compounds, which were reported to have positive health effects. In this study, aloesin was identified for the first time in senna leaves. Analysis of seasonal variations was obtained by principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant model. Additionally, chemical markers for each harvest season were reported. Overall, the number of metabolites and volatiles identified as a function of the season was autumn > summer> winter. Our results have enhanced the knowledge of the selection of harvesting time, with the best characteristics for the intended therapeutic application.

Seasonal variation of gross ecosystem productivity of periphyton in three post-mining lakes in the Czech Republic, Europe

We investigated the seasonal variation of gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) of periphyton biomass in three post-mining lakes in the Czech Republic. These lakes were established as part of recultivation efforts after coal mining activities and resulted in a unique series of anthropogenic oligotrophic lakes of gradual successional age. Periphyton is ubiquitous in aquatic habitats and performs numerous environmental functions such as nutrient cycling and self-purifying of aquatic ecosystems. Well-developed periphyton mat can be formed within a few weeks, so it can quickly become the dominant of littoral zone of newly established lakes. In studied post-mining lakes, the highly developed periphytic community covers the littoral zone of each lake to the depth of 2m (Bešta et al. 2022, Konopáčová et al. 2023) Fig. 1. We aimed to shed some new light on the processes controlling the dynamics of primary productivity in oligotrophic lakes. The accurate estimation of primary productivity is crucial for understanding the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, as primary productivity serves as the primary source of autochthonous carbon in these systems. In addition to phytoplankton, periphyton can significantly contribute to primary productivity in littoral zones, known for their high productivity and biodiversity. Conducting in situ measurements provides the most accurate means of inferring the metabolic activity of primary producers in littoral zones. We conducted detailed seasonal in-situ periphyton gross primary production (GPP) measurements in three post-mining lakes with different successional ages (Čapková et al. 2022). GPP and NPP of periphytic biomass were determined using direct in-situ measurement of O2 fluxes. O2 production and consumption were measured over 5 hours of in-situ light and dark gas-tight glass bottle incubation. Bottles were filled with the lake water from the corresponding depth, and a similar amount of periphytic biomass was enclosed Fig. 2. We used the Fibox3 fibre-optic oxygen meter coupled with a PSt3 oxygen sensor (PreSens, Regensburg, DE) to measure changes in O2 concentration. The O2 fluxes were normalized to periphytic biomass in each bottle (measured as total organic carbon). Data were corrected for O2 concentration changes in dark and light gas-tight bottles containing lake water without periphytic communities. This setup enabled us to monitor online oxygen flux, therefore, insights into metabolic activities. The primary productivity was measured in real-time, allowing us to capture the quantitative effect of various environmental drivers on periphyton productivity, i.e. phosphorus concentration and light intensity, as they are known to play significant roles in primary productivity. We showed that the primary production of periphyton mats exhibited seasonal variations, with higher productivity observed in spring compared to other seasons. This observation could be attributed to the occurrence of winter/spring upwelling events and vertical mixing, which resupply nutrients from the deeper strata. Furthermore, the physiological activity of periphyton was strongly influenced by the seasonal changes in light intensity, temperature, and nutrient concentration. We provided the first insight into the seasonal variation of primary productivity of the periphyton assemblage dominating the littoral zone of newly established post-mining lakes. We stress the importance of periphyton in aquatic ecosystems, particularly in anthropogenic oligotrophic lakes.

Study of Vertically Oriented Solar Battery by Exposure of Concentrated Solar Radiation

Solar power is one of the largest sectors of the global electric and heat power industry. In search of new energy sources, scientists and engineers around the world are increasingly turning their attention to solar batteries, which can be a suitable replacement for non-renewable energy sources. Vertically oriented solar batteries will generate electricity throughout the daylight hours, which eliminates use of additional equipment. The paper proposes a 3D model of a solar battery with a vertical orientation of its modules, as well as the calculation and evaluation of temperature characteristics and the range of efficiency variations obtained under conditions of both the diurnal and seasonal changes in ambient temperature, and the power density changes of concentrated solar radiation, the maximum values of which were chosen equal to 1; 5 and 10 kW/m2. The dependences of the maximum values of the solar battery temperature and the temperature gradient inside it, as well as the dependences of the minimum, average and maximum values of the radiative heat flux to the solar battery surface in the presence and absence of temperature stabilization of the heat sink backside versus the time of day in the middle of January and July have been plotted. As calculations have shown, at the solar radiation concentration of 10 kW/m2, the efficiency in July is increased by more than 2 times due to the use of thermoelectric converters in the battery. Moreover, according to the obtained results, when the solar modules are oriented vertically, temperature gradients and, consequently, the total efficiency of the solar battery and power generation time will be greater compared to the horizontal position of the solar modules, which will reduce operational costs.

High temperatures augment inhibition of parasites by a honey bee gut symbiont.

Temperature affects growth, metabolism, and interspecific interactions in microbial communities. Within animal hosts, gut bacterial symbionts can provide resistance to parasitic infections. Both infection and populations of symbionts can be shaped by the host body temperature. However, the effects of temperature on the antiparasitic activities of gut symbionts have seldom been explored. The Lactobacillus-rich gut microbiota of facultatively endothermic honey bees is subject to seasonal and ontogenetic changes in host temperature that could alter the effects of symbionts against parasites. We used cell cultures of a Lactobacillus symbiont and an important trypanosomatid gut parasite of honey bees to test the potential for temperature to shape parasite-symbiont interactions. We found that symbionts showed greater heat tolerance than parasites and chemically inhibited parasite growth via production of acids. Acceleration of symbiont growth and acid production at high temperatures resulted in progressively stronger antiparasitic effects across a temperature range typical of bee colonies. Consequently, the presence of symbionts reduced both the peak growth rate and heat tolerance of parasites. Substantial changes in parasite-symbiont interactions were evident over a temperature breadth that parallels changes in diverse animals exhibiting infection-related fevers and the amplitude of circadian temperature variation typical of endothermic birds and mammals, implying the frequent potential for temperature to alter symbiont-mediated resistance to parasites in endo- and ectothermic hosts. Results suggest that the endothermic behavior of honey bees could enhance the impacts of gut symbionts on parasites, implicating thermoregulation as a reinforcer of core symbioses and possibly microbiome-mediated antiparasitic defense. IMPORTANCE Two factors that shape the resistance of animals to infection are body temperature and gut microbiota. However, temperature can also alter interactions among microbes, raising the question of whether and how temperature changes the antiparasitic effects of gut microbiota. Honey bees are agriculturally important hosts of diverse parasites and infection-mitigating gut microbes. They can also socially regulate their body temperatures to an extent unusual for an insect. We show that high temperatures found in honey bee colonies augment the ability of a gut bacterial symbiont to inhibit the growth of a common bee parasite, reducing the parasite's ability to grow at high temperatures. This suggests that fluctuations in colony and body temperatures across life stages and seasons could alter the protective value of bees' gut microbiota against parasites, and that temperature-driven changes in gut microbiota could be an underappreciated mechanism by which temperature-including endothermy and fever-alters animal infection.

Using ocean ambient sound to sense arrival time fluctuations due to temperature

Ambient noise interferometry is a technique that uses coherent ambient sound measured at two separate locations to estimate the Green’s function between the sensors. Specifically, if the ambient sound is diffuse, the cross-correlation between sensors converges to the Green’s function between the sensors. In this talk, we apply the technique of ambient noise interferometry to two Ocean Observatories Initiative hydrophones that are separated by 3.2km and bottom mounted at a depth of 1500 m. It has previously been shown that these hydrophones can passively estimate several multi-path propagation peaks reliably throughout the 8 years that they have been recording ambient sound. We present an algorithm that estimates the arrival time of these peaks using the empirical Green’s function and compare these estimated arrivals to simulated acoustic arrivals. We demonstrate that the arrival times estimated with ambient sound show good agreement with the simulated results and have clear annual fluctuations due to seasonal temperature changes in the water column. We will discuss the future possibilities of extending this work for inversion based oceanographic measurements. [work supported by ONR.]

Operation Parameters Variation of Air Source Heat Pump According to the Outdoor Temperature

Air source heat pumps (ASHP), known as energy efficient systems, emerge as environmentally friendly and economical solutions for building heating. Unfortunately, the operating parameters of ASHPs and accordingly their performance are directly affected by the daily and seasonal temperature changes of the outside air. In this study, change in operation parameters of a selected ASHP with 3.4kW nominal heating capacity is investigated with a calculation method based on the logarithmic mean temperature difference, between -10°C to 18°C outdoor temperature range with 2°C steps, at constant compressor power. The study is verified with published COP data of the manufacturer. Results are shared with graphs that give the variation of refrigerant evaporation and condensation temperature and pressure, COP, and condenser heating load according to outdoor air temperature. A raise from -10°C to 18°C in outdoor temperature, increases the COP value from 3.38 to 5.49. Detection of the increase in evaporation pressure in parallel with the outdoor temperature may allow easy control of the refrigerant charge level with a manometer. This study can be a useful guide for researchers who aim to determine the outdoor temperature dependent operating parameters of an ASHP and for technical personnel who need this information in fields.

Study of Urban Heat Island Effect in Hangzhou Metropolitan Area Based on SW-TES Algorithm and Image Dichotomous Model

In recent years, with economic development, urbanization has been accelerating. In the past 100 years, the global average temperature has increased by 0.5°C, and according to the predictions of most global climate models, the temperature will continue to increase by 1.5°C to 3.0°C in the next 100 years. Under the influence of global warming, the urban heat island effect problem is becoming more and more serious, bringing much harm. Studying the thermal effect and its influencing factors is of great significance for sustainable urban development. In this study, the seasonal and interannual surface temperature changes of the study area are inverted based on the SW-TES algorithm, and the LST inversion of the algorithm is simply verified. At the same time, a cell dichotomous model was established to explore the influencing factors of the urban heat island effect and the influence of different land use types and normalized vegetation indices in the Hangzhou metropolitan area was analyzed. The results showed that the overall heating trend of the study area showed a heating trend, the expansion rate of regional construction land was relatively fast, and the scale of urban land was increasing. Based on the results of surface temperature changes of areas with different land types, we obtained the temperature trends of each land type [from 2005 to 2018] and found that there was a negative correlation between surface temperature and normalized vegetation index. This study provides a theoretical basis to evaluate the urban heat island effect and analyze factors that impact it and would promote sustainable urban development.

Linking Historical and Projected Trends in Extreme Precipitation with Cumulative Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Extreme weather events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in response to higher global temperatures, augmenting societal exposure to these events. While the magnitude of projected changes in extremes varies considerably among future emission scenarios, a large part of this uncertainty is driven by the choice of scenario, rather than by the climate response to a particular emission scenario. A growing body of research has identified robust linear relationships between climate changes and cumulative carbon emissions; for global average temperature change, this relationship is known as the transient climate response to cumulative carbon emissions (TCRE). Extensions of the TCRE framework to other variables, such as regional and seasonal temperature and precipitation changes, have also shown to be effective, raising the possibility that changes in weather extremes could be linked to cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Here, we estimate changes in historical and projected trends in one-day (Rx1day) and five-day maximum precipitation (Rx5day) events as a function of cumulative carbon emissions across a range of future emission scenarios and global climate models. Our results show that median Rx1day and Rx5day generally increases linearly with increasing cumulative emissions, consistent with studies that have previously employed the TCRE framework to estimate changes in precipitation extremes, as well as other climate indicators. Overall, we show that a linear response to cumulative CO2 emissions is a good approximation for both historical and future trends in precipitation extremes.

Living Material with Temperature-Dependent Light Absorption.

Engineered living materials (ELMs) exhibit desirable characteristics of the living component, including growth and repair, and responsiveness to external stimuli. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a promising constituent of ELMs because they are very tractable to genetic engineering, produce heterologous proteins readily, and grow exponentially. However, seasonal variation in ambient temperature presents a challenge in deploying ELMs outside of a laboratory environment because E. coli growth rate is impaired both below and above 37 °C. Here, a genetic circuit is developed that controls the expression of a light-absorptive chromophore in response to changes in temperature. It is demonstrated that at temperatures below 36 °C, the engineered E. coli increase in pigmentation, causing an increase in sample temperature and growth rate above non-pigmented counterparts in a model planar ELM. On the other hand, at above 36 °C, they decrease in pigmentation, protecting the growth compared to bacteria with temperature-independent high pigmentation. Integrating the temperature-responsive circuit into an ELM has the potential to improve living material performance by optimizing growth and protein production in the face of seasonal temperature changes.

Validated simulation of thermal performance of phase change material infused recycled brick aggregate in 3D printed concrete

Passive design solutions are important in reducing the amount of heating and cooling energy required to maintain thermal comfort inside a building, without adding to the problem of climate change. Phase change materials (PCMs) are a thermal energy storage passive design solution, with the ability to change phase and store heat at chosen temperatures. PCMs can be added to concrete to create PCM-concrete, a composite material with sensible and latent heat storage ability. The purpose of this research is to create an accurate 2D model which can be used to determine the heat transfer through 3D printed concrete (3DPC) building façades containing PCM. Two building façade wall sections are simulated in ABAQUS and validated by thermal tests – a reference 3DPC façade section, in which 64% of the natural aggregate is replaced with recycled brick aggregate (RBA-3DPC), and a PCM-3DPC façade section, containing the same replacement level of RBA but with PCM vacuum impregnated into the RBA. With the validated model, computational simulations of the thermal performance of the PCM-3DPC façade section with varying PCM melting temperatures and different façade surface colours are tested. Subsequently, a PCM-3DPC façade section with 100% replacement of natural aggregate with RBA, infused with PCM of two melting temperatures (such as 18 °C for activation in winter and 28 °C for activation in summer) is proposed for climates with large seasonal temperature changes. In addition, contrary to most studies, an iterative approach was used for modelling cavity convection and internal ambient temperature, and this approach is found to be necessary, so as not to over constrain the model with set façade and internal temperatures.

Influence of temperature on the heterogeneous reaction of toluene to N-containing organic compounds using in situ DRIFTS

Heterogeneous reactions of toluene/NO2 with and without O3 on α-Fe2O3 particles was studied as a function of temperature by using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometry (DRIFTS). The results show that the formation of R-ONO2 group is identified on the α-Fe2O3 particles surface, indicating the formation of benzyl nitrate in the presence of toluene/NO2 with or without O3 at different temperatures from 253 K to 298 K. From the analysis of the spectral changes, the reaction kinetics, such as reaction rate and uptake coefficient are sensitive to temperature. During the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO2, the formation rate of organic nitrate increases from (2.38 ± 0.07) × 1017 ions g−1 s−1 to (5.95 ± 0.09) × 1017 ions g−1 s−1 when the temperature decreases from 278 K to 253 K. When the trace gases were toluene/NO2/O3, the reaction rate increases about 3 folds with the increasing of temperature from 253 K to 298 K. In the absence of ozone, nitrification from heterogeneous reaction is exothermic process. However, the addition of ozone dominates the whole reaction process, resulting the different change trends of formation rate at similar range of temperatures. Furthermore, reactive uptake coefficient increases from (6.73 ± 0.02) × 10−7 to (1.64 ± 0.05) × 10−6 with decreasing temperature from 278 K to 253 K during the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO2 on α-Fe2O3 particles. The values of activation energy for the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO2 and toluene/NO2/O3 are determined to be −8.60 ± 0.91 kJ mol−1 and 15.14 ± 2.51 kJ mol−1, respectively. It implies that the heat change is an important factor in affecting the heterogeneous reaction under the seasonal temperature changes.

Seasonal distribution of solitary and colonial benthic ascidians (Chordata) with ecological gradients in and around Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

AbstractAscidians are rapidly emerging biofouling organisms that generally occur on the natural and artificial substratum of the marine environment. However, very few studies have been reported on their species diversity and distribution patterns. This present investigation focuses on the seasonal impact on ascidians diversity. The distributions of ascidians were recorded by the collection of samples in six sampling stations from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A total of 43 species of ascidians (32 colonial, 11 solitary) were recorded and most of the species are under the Didemnidae family. Various diversity indexes were utilized to examine the diversity, richness and evenness of species and to look at the assorted variety among tests and their likeness regarding species composition. The greatest (3.227) individuals were observed during summer season in Pigeon Island and the lowest (2.063) number of species were recorded during the monsoon season in Haddowharf harbour. The Margalef richness (d) fluctuated between in the range of 2.033 and 5.53 during the monsoon in Haddowharf harbour and Carbyns Cove beach in summer seasons. The Pielou's evenness record (J′) changed from 0.7409 to 0.9713. Diversity indexes were recorded as followed the order of 0.9642, 0.9552, 0.9482 and 0.9292 at Carbyns Cove shoreline, Burmanella, Pigeon Island and Campbell Bay individually during summer season. Present findings in the cluster examination uncovered that the species at various stations have framed four gatherings. Most elevated species rates were spread in summer. Field observation shows that species distribution is able to tolerate temperature ranges of 26.9–30.3°C and salinity of 32.1–34.64 ppt. Occasional examples of space occupation by colonial ascidians corresponded with seasonal changes in seawater temperature and salinity.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Free Triiodothyronine (FT3) Levels in Humans Depending on Seasonal Air Temperature Changes: Is the Variation in FT3 Levels Related to Nonshivering Thermogenesis?

Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in regulating normal development, growth, and metabolic function. However, the controversy surrounding seasonal changes in free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels remains unresolved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of variations in FT3 levels in relation to seasonal air temperatures in the context of current knowledge about its role in nonshivering thermogenesis. Ten eligible articles with a total of 336,755 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The studies were categorized into two groups based on the air temperature: "Cold winter", where the winter temperature fell below 0 °C, and "Warm winter", where the winter temperature was above 0 °C. The analysis revealed that in cold regions, FT3 levels decreased in winter compared to summer (I2 = 57%, p < 0.001), whereas in warm regions, FT3 levels increased during winter (I2 = 28%, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that seasonal variations in FT3 levels are likely to be influenced by the winter temperature. Considering the important role of the FT3 in the nonshivering thermogenesis process, we assume that this observed pattern is probably related to the differences in use of thyroid hormones in the brown adipose tissue during adaptive thermogenesis, which may depend on intensity of cold exposure.

Regulation of plant epigenetic memory in response to cold and heat stress: towards climate resilient agriculture.

Plants have evolved to adapt and grow in hot and cold climatic conditions. Some also adapt to daily and seasonal temperature changes. Epigenetic modifications play an important role in regulating plant tolerance under such conditions. DNA methylation and post-translational modifications of histone proteins influence gene expression during plant developmental stages and under stress conditions, including cold and heat stress. While short-term modifications are common, some modifications may persist and result in stress memory that can be inherited by subsequent generations. Understanding the mechanisms of epigenomes responding to stress and the factors that trigger stress memory is crucial for developing climate-resilient agriculture, but such an integrated view is currently limited. This review focuses on the plant epigenetic stress memory during cold and heat stress. It also discusses the potential of machine learning to modify stress memory through epigenetics to develop climate-resilient crops.

Cladophora as ecological engineer: A new test from the largest lake of Qinghai-Tibet plateau with filamentous algal blooms

Filamentous algae blooms (FABs) have been increasing globally in recent years, and their presence can have both harmful and beneficial effects on aquatic ecosystems. As one of the most common FABs, Cladophora blooms have been reported in the lakes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the past few years. However, there have been few studies focused on how FABs impact other aquatic organisms, especially in alpine lakes since these are at the forefront of responding to global climate change. In this study, the phytoplankton communities in different regions of Qinghai Lake were profiled in different seasons using meta-barcode sequencing. The phytoplankton assemblages in areas with Cladophora blooms were compared to those without Cladophora. The phytoplankton community structure correlated with physicochemical properties including water temperature, electrical conductivity, nitrate, and the presence or absence of Cladophora blooms. The relative abundance of Bacillariophytes was found to be higher in zones with Cladophora blooms than in other regions. Significant seasonal changes in phytoplankton biomass and β diversity were observed in zones with Cladophora blooms. Growth and microbial degradation of Cladophora can change the pH, dissolved oxygen, secchi depth, and nitrate. Together with seasonal temperature and electrical conductivity changes, Cladophora growth can significantly impact the phytoplankton biomass, community dissimilarity and assembly process. These results showed that Cladophora plays a key role in littoral aquatic ecosystem ecology.

Live load and long-term response of steel bridges with high skew

High skew in bridges alters live load distribution and creates performance issues such as deck cracking, superstructure in-plane (horizontal) displacements and bearing distress. In-plane superstructure displacements, also called racking, are particularly important as they cause misalignments of superstructure and approach slabs, stress bearings and expansion joints. This study had two objectives: to evaluate live load distribution in skewed bridges and to understand how skew influences in-plane superstructure displacements. The effect of bridge design details on live load distribution and in-plane superstructure displacements was assessed through parametric studies on highly skewed bridges.A three-span, steel girder-concrete deck bridge with a 47-degree skew was load tested. Load test results were employed to validate finite element analyses that were used to understand the impact of varying skew angle, bridge features and bearing fixity on live load distribution and in-plane superstructure displacements. The ability of the American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials Load and Resistance Factor Design Bridge Design Specifications (AASHTO LRFD BDS) to accurately capture live load distribution for steel girder bridges was evaluated.Field test results, consisting of girder bending and vertical shear strains measured through strain gages strategically located on one of the exterior spans, and parametric studies showed that AASHTO LRFD BDS predicted shear and moment distribution very conservatively and closely, respectively. Seasonal temperature changes were sufficient to create in-plane (horizontal) superstructure displacements. These displacements caused the superstructure to rotate towards obtuse and acute corners for negative and positive temperature changes, respectively. Larger skew angles led to greater transverse (i.e., perpendicular to bridge longitudinal axis) displacements at girder bearings. Longitudinal (i.e., parallel to bridge longitudinal axis) displacements were consistently smaller than transverse displacements and were not affected by skew. Mixed bearing fixity arrangements, with both fixed and expansion bearings over the same pier, limited superstructure transverse in-plane displacements.

Observation of seasonal variations of the flux of high-energy atmospheric neutrinos with IceCube

Atmospheric muon neutrinos are produced by meson decays in cosmic-ray-induced air showers. The flux depends on meteorological quantities such as the air temperature, which affects the density of air. Competition between decay and re-interaction of those mesons in the first particle production generations gives rise to a higher neutrino flux when the air density in the stratosphere is lower, corresponding to a higher temperature. A measurement of a temperature dependence of the atmospheric nu _{mu } flux provides a novel method for constraining hadronic interaction models of air showers. It is particularly sensitive to the production of kaons. Studying this temperature dependence for the first time requires a large sample of high-energy neutrinos as well as a detailed understanding of atmospheric properties. We report the significant (> 10 ; sigma ) observation of a correlation between the rate of more than 260,000 neutrinos, detected by IceCube between 2012 and 2018, and atmospheric temperatures of the stratosphere, measured by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA’s AQUA satellite. For the observed 10% seasonal change of effective atmospheric temperature we measure a 3.5(3)% change in the muon neutrino flux. This observed correlation deviates by about 2-3 standard deviations from the expected correlation of 4.3% as obtained from theoretical predictions under the assumption of various hadronic interaction models.

An Experimental Study on the Component Analysis and Variation in Concentration of Tire and Road Wear Particles Collected from the Roadside

Tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) are generated unintentionally while driving vehicles. The generated TRWPs move to various environments by environmental and mechanical action, and they are present in fresh water, river, and ocean and may cause problems to the environment and human health. In Korea, the number of registered cars is increasing year by year, so the problem of TRWPs will become serious. In this study, we study the concentrations of TRWPs generated from the roadsides by temperature difference, in order to reduce the generation of TRWPs. Dust samples were collected from roadsides during summer and winter to measure the amount of TRWPs generated on roadsides according to seasonal temperature changes. Dust particles of 75–150 µm size, which corresponds to the TRWP size, were separated from the dust samples using sieves. Additionally, only TRWPs were separated using a solution of dibromomethane and Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene. TRWPs accounted for &lt;2% in the dust collected from roadsides, and their amount increased by approximately 7.6–24.2% in summer more than in winter. Thermogravimetric analysis results confirmed that the tire components and road components and minerals accounted for 30% and 70% in TRWPs regardless of the season, respectively.

Influences of seasonal changes of the ground temperature on the performance of ground heat exchangers embedded in diaphragm walls: A cold climate case from North China

Compared with ground heat exchangers (GHEs) in typical vertical boreholes with depth of 100–120 m, GHEs embedded in the diaphragm wall of buildings are more easily affected by periodic changes of the shallow ground temperature. Here we numerically solve the heat transfer model of the diaphragm wall with GHEs considering actual ground temperature boundary conditions in cold climate region, North China, and investigate the influences of seasonal variations of the ground temperature on heat transfer performance of GHEs. Results show that due to the above seasonal effect, the heat exchange performance of GHEs may decrease to different extent especially in relatively shallow diaphragm walls, thereby causing non-negligible design deviations. Under the present geometric and climate conditions, as the depth of GHEs increases, the maximum thermal influence distance from the diaphragm wall tends to increase during the cooling season and decrease during the heating season, respectively. The optimal spacing between GHE groups ranges from 0.5 to 0.9 m, and though a high construction cost, a smaller spacing is more favorable for improving the overall energy efficiency. The present work is expected to provide useful references for optimal design and performance prediction of GHEs embedded in diaphragm walls with similar climate conditions.