Similar Climate Research Articles

Variation pattern, influential factors, and prediction models of PM2.5 concentrations in typical urban functional zones of northeast China

This study investigated the spatial and temporal variations of PM2.5 concentrations in Harbin, China, under the influence of meteorological parameters and gaseous pollutants. The complex relationship between meteorological parameters and pollutants was explored using Pearson correlation analysis and interaction effect analysis. Using the correlation analysis and interaction analysis methods, four mechanical learning models, PCC-Is-CNN, PCC-Is-LSTM, PCC-Is-CNN-LSTM and PCC-Is-BP neural network, were developed for predicting PM2.5 concentration in different time scales by combining the long-term and short-term data with the basic mechanical learning models. The results show that the PCC-Is-CNN-LSTM model has superior prediction performance, especially when integrating short-term and long-term historical data. Meanwhile, applying the model to cities in other climatic zones, the results show that the model performs well in the Dwa climatic zone, while the prediction performance is lower in the CWa climatic zone. This suggests that although the model is well adapted in regions with a similar climate to Harbin, model performance may be limited in areas with complex climatic conditions and diverse pollutant sources. This study emphasizes the importance of considering meteorological and pollutant interactions to improve the accuracy of PM2.5 predictions, providing valuable insights into air quality management in cold regions.

Design and development of geothermal-based cooling system for human comfort

In this study, a geothermal cooling system is developed to address extreme heat conditions in regions like Nawabshah, Pakistan, by utilising the earth’s stable underground temperature. This system uses ground-source cooling, powered by a 12V solar PV system or battery, as a low-energy alternative for areas with a limited electricity supply. The experiment demonstrates that a geothermal cooling system could help redress indoor temperatures by up to 16°C during peak summer, resulting in a lower grid-connected or fossil fuel-based cooling system requirement. The results obtained through this study suggest a significant reduction in indoor temperature, ultimately enhancing comfort levels and reducing the reliance on conventional cooling systems like air conditioning. Moreover, the system design is easily adaptable to other regions with similar climates, highlighting its potential for widespread use. However, pipe configuration optimisation is needed to minimise costs and maximise heat transfer rate. This research emphasises geothermal technologies' potential as a cost-effective cooling system, ultimately reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency.

Foliar application of Verticillium dahliae Aspf2‐like protein improved the heat tolerance of creeping bentgrass by regulating photosynthetic and antioxidant capabilities

AbstractContinuous high ambient temperature in hot summer months leads to a sharp decline in turf quality of cool‐season turfgrass. Verticillium dahliae Aspf2‐like protein (VDAL) is a secretory protein of V. dahliae that can improve crop yield and resistance to disease, but its role in improving heat tolerance of cool‐season turfgrass has not been reported so far. The objectives of this study were to explore the effect and mechanism of foliar application of VDAL on improving heat tolerance in cool‐season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) and to further examine the advantage of foliar spraying with VDAL in mitigating summer bentgrass decline (SBD) in the US transition zone or other regions with similar climate. The results demonstrated that the optimal dose of VDAL for improving thermotolerance of two creeping bentgrass cultivars (heat‐tolerant 13 M and heat‐sensitive Seaside II) was screened as 0.2 g L−1 based on analyses of chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency of PSII, and cell membrane stability under controlled heat stress conditions. Foliar application of the optimal dose of VDAL significantly restricted chlorophyll loss under heat stress and also alleviated heat‐induced declines in net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency. In addition, overaccumulations of superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide could be significantly alleviated by the exogenous application of VDAL through improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in two cultivars. A further 2‐year field trial showed that foliar application of VDAL improved turf quality, chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, and cell membrane stability of the two cultivars during hot summer months of 2022 and 2023. The results indicate that the appropriate dose of VDAL plays a positive role in photosynthetic performance and antioxidant capacity for thermotolerance of creeping bentgrass, and foliar application of VDAL could be considered an effective approach for alleviating SBD.

Life cycle assessment and synergistic effects of sustainable strategies to improve environmental sustainability in arid climates

Adapting sowing date (SD) based on environmental sustainability and increasing productivity is crucial for creating flexibility in agriculture and maintaining food security. This study aimed to optimize SD and nitrogen (N) management using environmental indices in an arid climate. Yield, N use efficiency (NUE), water productivity (WP), and total environmental impact (EI) were assessed for five SDs for barley and triticale crops, along with three levels of N fertilizer application. The AquaCrop model was used for crop yield prediction, and EI was evaluated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Delayed SD led to a shorter growing period (10.6–12.8 %), decreased WP (76.4–87.5 %), and decreased yield (58.3–87.6 %) for both crops compared to conventional SD. In contrast, earlier SD resulted in an extended growing period (1.7–3.6 %), increased WP (14.8–20.4 %), and increased yield (8.3–10.2 %). NUE showed an inverse relationship with increasing fertilizer levels. The most significant EIs were due to N consumption (33.4 %), followed by diesel (28.5 %) and potassium fertilizer (13.7 %) for both crops. Early SD could reduce EI by an average of 12.5 %. Combining early SD with moderate N levels was the most sustainable approach to maximize yield, minimize water use, and reduce EI, thereby informing sustainable practices for cereal cultivation in similar climates.

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

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

Several Mechanisms Drive the Heterogeneity in Browning Across a Boreal Stream Network

AbstractOver the past few decades, many catchments in Northern hemisphere have experienced increases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, resulting in a brownish color of the water, known as aquatic browning. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain browning, but consensus regarding the relative importance of recovery from acid deposition, climate change, and land management remains elusive. To advance our understanding of browning mechanisms, we explored DOC trends across 13 nested boreal catchments, leveraging concurrent hydrological, chemical, and terrestrial ecosystem data to quantify the contributions of different drivers on observed trends. We first identified the related environmental factors, then attributed the individual trends of DOC to potential drivers across space and time. Our results showed that all catchments exhibited increased DOC trends from 2003 to 2021, but the DOC response rates differed by five‐fold. No single mechanism could fully explain the browning; instead, sulfate deposition, climate‐related factors, and site properties jointly controlled the variation in DOC trends. Specifically, the long‐term increases in DOC were primarily driven by recovery from sulfate deposition, followed by increases in terrestrial productivity, temperature, and discharge. However, catchment area and landcover type also regulated the response rate of DOC to these drivers, creating spatial heterogeneity in browning among sub‐catchments despite similar deposition and climate forcing. Interestingly, browning has weakened in the last decade as sulfate deposition has fully recovered and other current drivers are insufficient to sustain the long‐term increases. Our results highlight that multifaceted, spatially structured, and nonstationary drivers must be accounted for to predict future DOC changes.

Relating ten years of rock temperature monitoring to rockwall weathering processes in steep mountain valleys in western Norway

Most existing studies on rockwall frost regimes and frost weathering at rockwalls focus on permafrost-affected rockwalls. However, a high share of rockwall surface areas in Norway and in many other cold-climate environments is actually free of permafrost. It is therefore of interest how these permafrost-free rockwall systems will respond to future changes in air and rock temperatures. In this study, we report field measurements conducted at rockwalls beneath the current permafrost limit and investigate thermal regimes at rockwalls that include both rockwall areas with and without permafrost. We present a unique dataset of up to ten years of rockwall temperature measurements from ten temperatures sensors installed in two mountain valleys in western Norway. An analysis of the different rockwall thermal regimes with respect to rock weathering and associated rockfall supply for both, permafrost-affected and permafrost-free rockwalls is provided. The highest intensity of recent rockwall weathering including determined rockwall retreat rates and associated rockfall supply is detected for northeast-facing rockwalls followed by south-facing rockwalls in our study area. Frost cracking activity, probably in the form of segregation ice growth, seems to be an important factor particularly for the high weathering intensity on northeast-facing rockwalls whereas solar radiation-induced thermal stresses, which favour incremental subcritical crack growth, is assumed to play a relevant role in the moderate weathering intensity on south- and southwest-facing rockwalls. A mean annual and study area-wide rockwall retreat rate of 0.24 mm yr−1 is estimated for our ten-year investigation period (2010−2020) which is comparable to other published rates in similar lithologies and climates. As it can be assumed that seasonal frost regimes and permafrost will react differently to ongoing and future climate changes, more attention should be paid to analyse these two different thermal regimes with respect to possible varied implications for mechanical rockwall weathering and associated rockfall supply.

Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species

Fires affect forest dynamics in seasonally dry regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. There, fire impacts on tree growth have been widely characterized in conifers, particularly pine species, but we lack information on broadleaf tree species that sprout after fires. We investigated post-fire radial growth responses in two coexisting Mediterranean hardwood species (the evergreen Quercus ilex, the deciduous Celtis australis) using tree-ring width data. We compared growth data from burnt and unburnt stands of each species subjected to similar climatic, soil and management conditions. We also calculated climate–growth relationships to assess if burnt stands were also negatively impacted by water shortage, which could hinder growth recovery. Tree-ring data of both species allowed us to quantify post-fire growth enhancements of +39.5% and +48.9% in Q. ilex and C. australis, respectively, one year after the fire. Dry spring climate conditions reduced growth, regardless of the fire impact, but high precipitation in the previous winter enhanced growth. High June radiation was negatively related to the growth of unburnt Q. ilex and burnt C. australis stands, respectively. Post-fire growth enhancement lasted for five years after the fire and it was a transitory effect because the growth rates of burnt and unburnt stands were similar afterwards.

The influence of climate on varietal similarities across countries

AbstractIn recent decades, vignerons have focused more on the world's mainstream varieties than on differentiating their varietal mix. This has led countries to become more similar to each other in their mix of winegrape varieties and more varietally concentrated. What are the drivers of those changes? In this study, we focus on one of those drivers, that is, climate similarities. We estimate statistical models to quantify the potential influence of 16 climate variables on varietal similarities across countries, as well as on how their varietal mixes have become more or less similar since 2000. The results indicate not only that countries with more similar climates have more similar varietal mixes but also that in recent years countries with more similar climates have become even more similar in their mixes. This, however, does not necessarily mean that vignerons have been planting the varieties that are better adapted to their climates.Core Ideas Wine‐producing countries have become more similar and concentrated in their mix of winegrape varieties. This similarity extends particularly among countries sharing similar climatic conditions. In recent years, countries with similar climates have continued to converge in their winegrape varietal mixes. Nevertheless, vignerons have not necessarily been planting varieties that are better suited to their climates.

Removal of airborne particulate matter by evergreen tree species in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Urban air quality stands as a pressing concern in cities globally, with airborne particulate matter (PM) emerging as a significant threat to human health. An investigation was carried out to examine the potential of four prevalent evergreen roadside tree species grown at different locations in Dhaka to capture PM using their leaves. The distribution of PM by mass and quantity in Dhaka are presented for the first time for Bangladesh and these results will also be applicable to countries with similar climates and tree species. Separate gravimetric analyses were carried out to quantify PM in three different size ranges (0.2–2.5 μm, 2.5–10 μm, and 10–100 μm) accumulated on surfaces and trapped within waxes by using the rinse and weigh method. The method is validated for the first time through SEM-EDX analysis, which confirmed that the increase in weight from chloroform-rinsed leaves was exclusively attributable to particle deposition on the filter. The chemical composition of the deposited PM2.5 was analyzed quantitatively by determining the concentration of twenty-five trace elements employing ICP-MS. SEM-EDX analysis revealed the significance of leaf microstructural traits in effectively capturing PM. Significant variations in the deposition of PM were found among different species for two PM categories (surface PM and wax-embedded PM) and three size fractions (large, coarse, and fine) (one-way ANOVA; p < 0.05). The quantity of wax retained on the foliage of trees documented in these locations also varied (p < 0.05). Among the species studied, Ficus benghalensis demonstrated a greater ability to retain PM. Mangifera indica was identified to be the most efficient collector of wax-related PM and appears to be the ideal species for traffic-heavy areas distinguished by high concentrations of organic compounds from vehicle emissions.

Optimizing the Sweet Potato Supply Chain in Zimbabwe Using Discrete Event Simulation: A Focus on Production, Distribution, and Market Dynamics

This study leverages a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model to optimize the sweet potato supply chain in Zimbabwe, focusing on production, distribution, and market dynamics under varying climate conditions. The integration of climate data into the simulation model reveals significant insights into the resilience of different sweet potato varieties, particularly highlighting the suitability of yellow-skinned sweet potatoes for harsh climates due to their high resilience and drought resistance. However, market preferences still favor white-skinned varieties despite their vulnerability to climate extremes. The DES model identifies key bottlenecks, particularly in cultivation and transportation, that hinder supply chain efficiency. To address these challenges, the study emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions, such as improving access to irrigation, strengthening pest management, and adopting community-based resource-sharing approaches. These strategies are critical for enhancing both the resilience and efficiency of the supply chain. Additionally, the study highlights the urgent need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects of drought on agricultural productivity, especially in regions that heavily rely on crops like sweet potatoes. Overall, this research offers strategic insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to improve food security and agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe, as well as in other countries with similar climate challenges.

Impacts of groundwater flow on borehole heat exchangers: Lessons learned from Estonia

The production of geothermal energy relies on subsurface properties. In low-enthalpy geothermal regimes, thermal energy extracted with a borehole heat exchanger (BHE) is the subsurface heat conducted from the rock and grout to the BHE fluid. Estonian geology provides a good opportunity to investigate how groundwater flow impacts BHE heat production. The hundreds of metres thick sedimentary rock sequence holds four main aquifers. We modelled single BHEs with lengths of 400 m, 500 m and 1000 m and a BHE field of ten 400-m wells at three sites across Estonia. Then, we parametrized different hydraulic conditions to compare how the groundwater flow velocity impacts the thermal energy yield of the systems.Our results indicate that if groundwater flow increases above 0.03 m/day, it increases the total energy yield from 3 % to 20 %. Thermogeological parameters, such as subsurface temperature and thermal conductivity, affect the thermal energy yield of the wells more than the modelled groundwater flow. Our study provides an estimate of the thermal energy yield from different BHE types and the detailed sensitivity analysis. We conclude that geothermal energy is a significant renewable energy resource for Estonia and areas with similar geology and climate.

Powering sustainability: A techno-economic analysis of photovoltaic systems in dairy farming

ABSTRACT Dairy farming plays an indispensable role in the socio-economic growth of rural India. But, the modernization and sustainable growth of dairy farming relies critically upon the availability of reliable and affordable renewable electric energy. However, lack of access to electricity is a major challenge that needs to be addressed to encourage sustainable dairy farming. In this direction, the deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in dairy farms has enormous potential to combat the existing critical challenges of fossil fuels and rural energy crises. This investigation assesses the techno-economic viability of PV systems through detailed mathematical modeling and electrical load estimation using the MATLAB simulation environment. The study determines the availability of maximum of solar radiations at each instant, and optimizes the inclined surface to extract maximum solar power. The outcomes of the study reveal that deploying an off-grid PV system consisting of 20 PV modules of 335 Wp, 24 batteries of each 150 Ah, and a 10 kVA inverter meets the average electric load of 9.5 MWh/year for twenty-five years with one-day autonomy. The economic analysis comprised the life-cycle cost (LCC), annualized life-cycle cost (ALCC), and costs of electricity (COE) of the study under reference as US$13050, US$323.1, and US$ 0.02596/kWh, respectively. The study results in saving of 0.285 MT CO2 emissions for the total life span. The resulted stand-alone PV system is both economically and technically viable. The present results reinforce the dispersal of green energy measures for their implementation in rural dairy farms having similar climate conditions in the Indian context.

Proposing design strategies for contemporary courtyards based on thermal comfort in cold and semi-arid climate zones

The relationship between urban geometry and microclimate is crucial in urban planning and climatology, significantly affecting outdoor comfort and energy consumption. Compact, dense buildings provide shading in summer, while openness is preferred in winter to maximize sunlight access. Courtyards, as climate-responsive structures, can create localized microclimates tailored to specific climatic conditions. Various components, including geometry, openness, orientation, wall materials, and green cover, influence the microclimate within a courtyard. While previous studies have primarily focused on hot and arid climates, there is a notable research gap concerning the thermal behavior of courtyards in cold and semi-arid regions. This study seeks to fill this gap by evaluating the impact of different courtyard geometries on outdoor thermal comfort specifically in semi-dry and cold climates by exploring optimal configurations for orientation, form, height-to-width ratios, and plan aspect ratios, the research offers strategies that improve both summer and winter microclimates. The study examined the combined effects of geometry and orientation on shading and wind speed in courtyards, modeling their influence on microclimates during warm summers and cold winters using ENVI-met software. Thermal performance indices, specifically PET and UTCI, were employed to assess the courtyards in Tehran. The findings reveal that a height-to-width ratio of 3:1 significantly improves thermal comfort, resulting in a UTCI difference of 19 °C. Furthermore, the model with a 2:1 plan aspect ratio exhibited a UTCI that was 6.7 °C lower than that of the 3:1 ratio. These findings provide valuable insights for designing contemporary courtyards that optimize thermal comfort in similar climates.

Long-term investigation of the irrigation intervals and supplementary irrigation strategies effects on winter wheat in the U.S. Central High Plains based on a combination of crop modeling and field studies

Implementing optimized irrigation strategies to achieve acceptable wheat yield while conserving groundwater resources is critical for extensively irrigated regions. Field experiments regarding winter wheat irrigation management were conducted for two growing seasons (2013–2014 and 2014–2015) to calibrate and validate the AquaCrop model. To determine proper parameterization of the AquaCrop model for various data availability conditions, the model performance was tested for calibration based on three different datasets, including a) calibration based on a full irrigation condition (CA 1), b) calibration based on a dryland condition (CA 2), and c) calibration based on diverse irrigation conditions, which included full irrigation, different deficit irrigation levels, and dryland (CA 3). The CA 3 calibration scenario resulted in the model's highest accuracy in simulating biomass, grain yield, total soil water, and seasonal evapotranspiration during the calibration and validation process. However, the model performance was also convenient when calibration based on full irrigation conditions was pursued. The calibrated and validated AquaCrop model based on the CA3 was used to analyze long-term (36-year) irrigation management scenarios for identifying the optimized water-conservative winter wheat irrigation strategies. The long-term analysis emphasized that increasing irrigation intervals from 7 to 15 or 20 days could reduce groundwater withdrawal by 52–64 % while expecting a 14–19 % reduction in grain yield. By implementing one 25 mm irrigation after planting and two 25 mm depth irrigation events at jointing or leaf growth stages, 91 % of Kansas's average winter wheat yield (2.88 tons/ha) could be achieved. During wet years, the 1.2 ton/ha reduction in biomass and 0.27–0.62 ton/ha reduction in grain yield is expected irrespective of irrigation management strategies. Considerable uncertainty was detected in grain yield production during dry years under dryland (rainfed) conditions. The maximum winter wheat production could be achieved under normal years, establishing a balance between precipitation and heat units. Our agro-hydrological analysis revealed that the highest irrigation water use efficiency could be attained by the application of two 25 mm irrigation events at jointing or flag leaf growth stages during normal years, the application of two irrigation events during jointing or heading during wet years, and two 25 mm irrigations at heading or flowering during dry years. The results of this research could be used as a baseline for producers of the U.S. Central High Plains and semi-arid regions with similar climate characteristics to cope with water scarcity in winter wheat production.

Groundwater Level Prediction Using Machine Learning and Geostatistical Interpolation Models

Given the vulnerability of surface water to the direct impacts of climate change, the accurate prediction of groundwater levels has become increasingly important, particularly for dry regions, offering significant resource management benefits. This study presents the first statewide groundwater level anomaly (GWLA) prediction for Arizona across its two distinct aquifer types—unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers and rock aquifers. Machine learning (ML) models were combined with empirical Bayesian kriging (EBK) geostatistical interpolation models to predict monthly GWLAs between January 2010 and December 2019. Model evaluations were based on the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) metrics. With average NSE/R2 values of 0.62/0.63 and 0.72/0.76 during the validation and test phases, respectively, our multi-model approach demonstrated satisfactory performance, and the predictive accuracy was much higher for the unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers. By employing a remote sensing-based approach, our proposed model design can be replicated for similar climates globally, and hydrologically data-sparse and remote areas of the world are not left out.

Responses of diazotrophic network structure and community diversity to alfalfa-maize intercropping are soil property-dependent.

Intercropping and soil properties both affect soil diazotrophic communities. However, the specific effects that alfalfa-maize intercropping has on diazotrophic networks and community diversity under different soil properties remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the soil diazotrophic communities of two crop systems, alfalfa monoculture (AA) and alfalfa-maize intercropping (A/M), in two sites with similar climates but different soil properties (poor vs. average). The diazotrophic network complexity and community diversity were higher at the site with poor soil than at the site with average soil (p < 0.05). Community structure also varied significantly between the sites with poor and average soil (p < 0.05). This divergence was mainly due to the differences in soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon contents between the two sites. At the site with poor soil, the A/M system had lower diazotrophic diversity, lower network complexity and greater competition between diazotrophs than the AA system (p < 0.05) because intercropping intensified the soil phosphorus limitation under poor soil conditions. However, in the average soil, it was the A/M system that had an altered diazotrophic structure, with an increased abundance of 11 bacterial genera and a decreased abundance of three bacterial genera (p < 0.05). Our results indicated that the effects of alfalfa-maize intercropping on diazotrophic communities were soil property-dependent.

Anticipating the potential distribution of Fasciola spp. in Gilan province of Iran: Insights from MaxEnt and climate change scenarios

Fasciolosis, a parasitic disease affecting humans and animals, is uniquely influenced by climatic and environmental factors. Gilan province in northern Iran is recognized as a high-endemic area for this parasite. This study aims to assess the prevalence of fasciolosis in Gilan province during the current period and forecast the distribution pattern of the parasite in future periods by analyzing climatic variables and identifying the most critical factors impacting Fasciola. To evaluate the present status of fasciolosis in Gilan, we collected 189 sheep fecal samples from different parts of the province and quantified eggs per gram of feces in each sample. Meteorological and environmental data were obtained and clipped to the study area. A total of 19 presence points were used to model the habitat suitability of Fasciola spp. through the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm, with jackknife analysis to determine variable importance. To project the potential distribution of Fasciola spp. in Gilan province under future scenarios, we employed MaxEnt using current (1970–2000) and projected climatic data based on three representative concentration pathway scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5) to predict habitat suitability in 2030, 2050, and 2070.The results of this study indicate the proportion of Fasciola spp. infection was highest in Talesh (46.37 %) and Langarud (45.7 %), while Rudsar (0 %) and Shaft (16.25 %) exhibited the lowest infection rates in Gilan province. MaxEnt modeling highlighted the significance of bioclimatic variables, particularly those associated with vegetation and temperature, such as temperature seasonality (Bio4) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The ecological niche modeling illustrated that the highest potential distribution for Fasciola in Gilan province is concentrated in the north-western and central regions, exhibiting an 80–100 % potential. However, projections for the future indicate a decrease to less than 20 % suitability for most of the province under all three scenarios until 2070. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between climatic variables and Fasciola distribution, enabling better preparedness and control strategies for this trematode in Gilan province and other regions with similar climates.

No such thing as waste in primary food sector.

The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to double its use of recycled material by 2030. We argue that waste-centric approach to resources may have adverse consequences to this ambition. The aim of the work was to find out the factors limiting or promoting the use of waste from primary food sector in countries with the same cultural background and similar climate in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. Biomass from the primary food production sector is of good quality and excellent to use, but its use may be limited if given waste status. From numerous management decision trigger clusters, which may affect valorisation of the biomass, we focus on technology and policy. Our semi-structured interviews addressed the analysis and management of waste or by-products and explored the end-of-waste and alternative mechanisms that allowed the biomass to be valorised. However, the interviews revealed that none of the companies regard anything becoming waste, but as raw material or production left-over. Any obstacles hypothesised turned out not to be acknowledged by companies at all. This appears to be a very good example of the use of resources, but the approach is haphazard and may conflict with official understanding and waste reporting requirements. Definition of waste is the same in the EU, and arbitrary treatment can be misleading. There is a need for better management of the material flow to ensure effective biomass circulation avoiding its becoming waste. We recommend that this be addressed by introducing environmental, social, governance and a self-control system.

A Comparative Study of Energy Performance Certificates across Europe

Using a sample of buildings across chosen European countries, this study compares different EPC frameworks in terms of their published methodologies and generated outputs. The work demonstrates that, despite all emanating from a common central point of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, EPC frameworks across Europe exhibit clear differences in their methodologies, use of inputs/outputs, assessment processes, and assessor protocols. A process is proposed for comparing EPCs of a building when utilising EPC frameworks from different countries, whilst noting that direct comparisons of fundamentally different processes can be challenging and itself requires a designed methodology. When applying this process, EPC ratings can appear similar (when comparing EPCs designed for similar climate zones) in many buildings, but this can underestimate the differences in generating those EPC ratings in the first place. As further innovations are designed for EPCs at the EU level, this study demonstrates why incorporating a bottom-up understanding of country-specific EPCs will be necessary for successful implementation.