Water Abundance Research Articles

Highway tunnel crossing fault zones with water-rich highly weathered granite

This study focuses on the Tianshengqiao Tunnel on the Linshuang Expressway in Lincang City, Yunnan Province, China. By combining the transient electromagnetic method, and geological radar geophysical exploration methods, joint fissures and water abundance in the surrounding rock of the tunnel were predicted. Simultaneously, combined with engineering disasters, such as water inrush and seepage in the surrounding rock during engineering practice, a numerical calculation model for the grouting reinforcement of granite mixed-rock tunnels considering the construction process was established using finite element software. The results indicated that the joint fissures in the tunnel were well-developed and exhibited a disorderly trend, showing an open shape. Accompanied by high humidity in the excavated rock mass, the overall water outflow is mainly as strands, with a large amount of water outflow, especially at the arch crown or left arch waist. The difference in the settlement values of the surrounding rocks at different depths within the grouting circle of the tunnel was relatively small, whereas that outside the grouting circle was significant. The larger the scope of the tunnel grouting circle, the smaller the overall deformation of the surrounding rock after the closure of the tunnel support structure.

Thermal Design of the High-Resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) Instrument on the Lunar Trailblazer Mission (LTB)

The Lunar Trailblazer (LTB) Mission consists of a spacecraft that hosts two science instruments, the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) and the Lunar Thermal Mapper. Flight system delivery is scheduled for the Fall of 2022. The purpose of the mission is to understand the form, abundance and distribution of water on the Moon as well as the lunar water cycle. HVM3 is a pushbroom shortwave infrared (SWIR) Offner imaging spectrometer that is optimized for the detection of volatiles to map OH, bound H2O and water ice. It has a spatial resolution of 70 m/pixel over a 20 km swath width and a spectral resolution of 10 nm over a spectral range of 0.6 µm to 3.6 µm. The spacecraft will deploy from an ESPA Grande and enter a 100±30 km lunar polar orbit where it may operate over all beta angles. The HVM3 thermal control architecture consists of active and passive elements. It leverages the passive cryogenic cooler design developed for the Moon Minerology Mapper (M3) that underwent a similar orbit. The first stage of the passive cooler is used to reject the heat of a Lockheed Martin Micro1-2 cryocooler that is used to actively cool the focal plane array (FPA). The second stage of the passive cooler is used to passively cool the optics. An overview of the overall thermal control design approach is presented.

Comparative Evaluation of Semi-Empirical Approaches to Retrieve Satellite-Derived Chlorophyll-a Concentrations from Nearshore and Offshore Waters of a Large Lake (Lake Ontario)

Chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) is commonly used as a proxy for phytoplankton abundance in surface waters of large lakes. Mapping spatial and temporal Chl-a distributions derived from multispectral satellite data is therefore increasingly popular for monitoring trends in trophic state of these important ecosystems. We evaluated products of eleven atmospheric correction processors (LEDAPS, LaSRC, Sen2Cor, ACOLITE, ATCOR, C2RCC, DOS 1, FLAASH, iCOR, Polymer, and QUAC) and 27 reflectance indexes (including band-ratio, three-band, and four-band algorithms) recommended for Chl-a concentration retrieval. These were applied to the western basin of Lake Ontario by pairing 236 satellite scenes from Landsat 5, 7, 8, and Sentinel-2 acquired between 2000 and 2022 to 600 near-synchronous and co-located in situ-measured Chl-a concentrations. The in situ data were categorized based on location, seasonality, and Carlson’s Trophic State Index (TSI). Linear regression Chl-a models were calibrated for each processing scheme plus data category. The models were compared using a range of performance metrics. Categorization of data based on trophic state yielded improved outcomes. Furthermore, Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 data provided the best results, while Landsat 5 and 7 underperformed. A total of 28 Chl-a models were developed across the different data categorization schemes, with RMSEs ranging from 1.1 to 14.1 μg/L. ACOLITE-corrected images paired with the blue-to-green band ratio emerged as the generally best performing scheme. However, model performance was dependent on the data filtration practices and varied between satellites.

Porewater microbiomes in buried wetland soils: Synergic effects of water chemistry and redox gradients associated with hydrological processes

Abstract Interstitial water or pore water occupies the space between soil particles and provides “hotspots” and “fluvial networks” for microbial activities in floodplain soil. However, to date, we know very little about the microorganisms living in pore water and how they respond to environmental changes. This study aimed to understand microbial distribution and assemblage in riparian pore waters, and how they respond to water chemistry and redox gradients associated with hydrological processes. We analysed the annual changes of porewater microbial communities from the east and west banks of the White Clay Creek, a site at the Christina River Basin – Critical Zone Observatory, Pennsylvania, USA. Microbial abundances were quantified by epifluorescence microscopy and detailed community structures were characterised by high‐throughput sequencing. Water chemistry and redox gradients were also monitored and recorded, and their interactions with porewater microbiomes were analysed using correlations and multivariate analyses. Abundance of microbial cells increased during summer and late autumn. Wetland porewater microbiomes mainly contained Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae and Proteobacteria, and microbiome structures were easily distinguishable from those in the underlying hyporheic gravel layer. Seasonal dynamics of bacterial community structure in the east and west wetlands were distinct, responding to floodplain topography and associated hydrological/geochemical processes. Iron (Fe)‐cycling bacteria (mainly Gallionellaceae and Rhodoferax spp.) dominated the porewater microbiome, and their relative abundance was significantly higher in the east than the west wetland. Furthermore, Fe‐oxidising bacteria (Gallionellaceae) were negatively correlated with Fe‐reducing bacteria (Rhodoferax spp.) at the east wetland. Microbial abundances (cell density) in pore waters showed similar seasonal patterns across stream banks, but microbial community structure did not. Microbiome assembly in pore water is correlated with water chemistry and redox gradients primarily associated with local hydrological processes. As a consequence of their significance for carbon (C) mineralisation and Fe reduction at terrestrial–aquatic interfaces, microbiomes in riparian pore waters and associated microbial activity play an essential role in C and mineral dynamics. These findings will inform future studies of the response of freshwater ecosystems to hydrological dynamics influenced by global climate change.

Passive eDNA sampling facilitates biodiversity monitoring and rare species detection

Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has revolutionized biomonitoring, but challenges remain regarding water sample processing. The passive eDNA sampler (PEDS) represents a viable alternative to active, water filtration-based eDNA enrichment methods, but the effectiveness of PEDS for surveying biodiverse and complex natural water bodies is unknown. Here, we collected eDNA using filtration and glass fiber filter-based PEDS (submerged in water for 1 d) from 27 sites along the final reach of the Yangtze River and the coast of the Yellow Sea, followed by eDNA metabarcoding analysis of fish biodiversity and quantitative PCR (qPCR) for a critically endangered aquatic mammal, the Yangtze finless porpoise. We ultimately detected 98 fish species via eDNA metabarcoding. Both eDNA sampling methods captured comparable local species richness and revealed largely similar spatial variation in fish assemblages and community partitions between the river and sea sites. Notably, the Yangtze finless porpoise was detected only in the metabarcoding of eDNA collected by PEDS at five sites. Also, species-specific qPCR revealed that the PEDS captured porpoise eDNA at more sites (7 vs. 2), in greater quantities, and with a higher detection probability (0.803 vs. 0.407) than did filtration. Our results demonstrate the capacity of PEDS for surveying fish biodiversity, and support that continuous eDNA collection by PEDS can be more effective than instantaneous water sampling at capturing low abundance and ephemeral species in natural waters. Thus, the PEDS approach can facilitate more efficient and convenient eDNA-based biodiversity surveillance and rare species detection.

Application of Free Ball Check Valve Mixed Grouting Device

In recent years, due to the uneven water abundance of the aquifer and the complexity of the underground seepage field, the grouting reconstruction project of coal mining enterprises is more difficult. The previous method is to install a high-pressure ball valve before the grouting pipe connected to the grouting pump is connected to the mixing device, which can be manually adjusted when the number of grouting pumps needs to be changed. However, under certain pressure, the ordinary high-pressure ball valve often fails due to the influence of high-pressure mixed slurry, cement solidification and wear, and the number of grouting pumps cannot be increased or decreased in real time. In order to solve the problem that the mixing device of traditional grouting system is easy to fail by using ordinary high-pressure ball valve, the mixing device of free ball check valve was developed and applied in the process of treating the Ordovician limestone aquifer area on the floor of No.9 coal seam in Xipang Well. The practical results show that the pipeline can be automatically closed when a single grouting pump stops grouting, and there is no need to flush the grouting pipeline with a large amount of water, which can improve the grouting efficiency and quality, and the influence time of single hole section is reduced from 8.25h to 0.34h. The process performance can meet the requirements of efficient grouting.

Dynamic monitoring and restorability evaluation of alpine wetland in the eastern edge of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Accurate monitoring of alpine wetland areas and scientific evaluation of alpine wetland restorability play important roles in revealing the changing mechanism of the ecological environment. However, because of the complexity and lack of spatial data, few studies on evaluation index system of restorability of alpine wetland considered wild animal habitat, such as habitat suitability index of black necked crane. Based on Landsat images of seven periods from 1990 to 2020, this study adopts the methods of spectral mixture analysis and change vector analysis to quantitatively demonstrate the variations and distribution patterns of alpine wetland ecosystem in the eastern edge of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The study focuses on determining the abundance of water, vegetation and soil, which the interannual variations represent as the shapes of ‘√’, mirror ‘N’ and normal ‘N’, respectively. In terms of natural ecological condition and human activity interference, we construct a comprehensive evaluation model of restorability of alpine wetland, separate the restorability district and construct the Bayesian network model to discuss the causal relationship between the restorability value and evaluation factor. Results show that the regions of alpine wetland in the study area changed most drastically from 1995 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2005. In addition, the total areas classified as suitable, relatively suitable and suitable for restoration account for 63.69 % of the study area, with a large potential for wetland restorability. Moreover, the prioritisation scheme of wetland restoration action includes the valley swamps of Heihe River in the middle, followed by the flat wetlands and grasslands in the south and lastly by uneven wetlands in the north.

Predicting sandstone water abundance using seismic dispersion attribute inversion: A case study of Yuwang coal mine, China

AbstractPredicting the water abundance of coal‐bearing strata is crucial for ensuring mining safety. However, owing to the dispersion and attenuation characteristics caused by pore fluid flow, it is difficult to estimate the water abundance of coal seam roof aquifers using seismic data. To overcome this challenge, we provide the relationship between the frequency‐dependent seismic wave velocity and water saturation based on the Chapman fracture model and the mixing fluid model. We propose a seismic dispersion attribute technique that can use dispersion information as an indicator of water abundance. Numerical experiment results show that the water saturation of the sandstone aquifer is positively correlated with the dispersion attribute. The results of low‐frequency rock physical experiments are roughly consistent with those predicted by the model for the given parameters. Using seismic dispersion attribute inversion and the frequency slice wavelet transform method, we predicted the water abundance of sandstone in the coal seam roof of the Yuwang coal mine in Yunnan Province, China. The predicted sandstone water abundance was compatible with the actual water‐rich scenario observed in well logs and downhole drilling in the study area. Therefore, the method proposed herein has the potential to quantitatively determine the water abundances of sandstone aquifers in coal seam roofs.

Constraints on atmospheric water abundance and cloud deck pressure in the warm Neptune GJ 3470 b via CARMENES transmission spectroscopy

ABSTRACT Observations of cooler atmospheres of super-Earths and Neptune sized objects often show flat transmission spectra. The most likely cause of this trend is the presence of aerosols (i.e. clouds and hazes) in the atmospheres of such objects. High-resolution spectroscopy provides an opportunity to test this hypothesis by targeting molecular species whose spectral line cores extend above the level of such opaque decks. In this work, we analyse high-resolution infrared observations of the warm Neptune GJ 3470 b taken over two transits using CARMENES (R ∼ 80 000) and look for signatures of H2O (previously detected using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3 + Spitzer observations) in these transits with a custom pipeline fully accounting for the effects of data cleaning on any potential exoplanet signal. We find that our data are potentially able to weakly detect (∼3σ) an injected signal equivalent to the best-fitting model from previous HST WFC3 + Spitzer observations. However, we do not make a significant detection using the actual observations. Using a Bayesian framework to simultaneously constrain the H2O volume mixing ratio (VMR) and the cloud top pressure level, we select a family of models compatible with the non-detection. These are either very high VMR cloud-free models, solar-abundance models with a high cloud deck, or sub-solar abundance models with a moderate cloud deck. This is a broader range compared to published results from low-resolution spectroscopy, but is also compatible with them at a 1σ level.

Study of a New Photocatalytic Film Process Combined with a Constructed Wetland and an Analysis of Reoxygenation Pathways in a Water Body

Pollution in water environments hinders both social progress and economic development. Wastewater treatment and the sustainable use of water resources are important factors in solving this problem. In a previous study, the authors proposed a process that used photocatalytic film as a back-end treatment in a composite iron–carbon constructed wetland (WIC&PF) to restore a mildly eutrophic water body. This method has strong reoxygenation effects, and can efficiently remove pollutants; these are qualities that have not been mentioned in previous studies regarding constructed wetlands. In this study, the authors further investigated the effectiveness of this process by using a photocatalytic film as a front-end treatment for a composite iron–carbon constructed wetland (PF&WIC) to restore a mildly eutrophic water body. The results showed NH4+-N, TN, TP, COD, and chlorophyll a removal rates using PF&WIC of 79.1 ± 6.6%, 76.8 ± 6.5%, 77.0 ± 5.4%, 77.3 ± 7.2%, and 91.7 ± 5.6%, respectively. The DO concentration of the water body increased compared with that of the effluent. The bacterial species and their abundance in the lake water also changed significantly, and photosynthetic autotrophic bacteria (Cyanobium PCC-6307) became the most dominant bacteria, and this played an important role in reoxygenating the water body. In comparing these results to those of our previous study, the removal of pollutants with PF&WIC was close to that with WIC&PF, but the reoxygenation effect of PF&WIC on the water body was significantly worse than that of WIC&PF; thus, WIC&PF is the more reasonable choice for treating eutrophic water bodies.

A comparative study on the efficacy of over-the-counter wax solvents versus distilled water for managing ear cerumen

Abstract Background: Ear wax, or cerumen, is a naturally occurring hydrophobic waxy substance frequently encountered in otorhinolaryngology practices. Despite the abundance of water- and oil-based ceruminolytic agents available nowadays, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the preferred agent type, composition, or ideal treatment duration. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to assess the efficacy of using distilled water as a wax-softening agent for ear wax removal and determine its advantages compared to over-the-counter (OTC) ceruminolytics. Materials and Methods: This double-masked, randomized prospective cohort study enrolled 236 patients seeking treatment for ear wax-related concerns at the Ear, Nose, Throat outpatient department. The cohort exclusively consisted of cases involving right ear wax, which were then randomly allocated into two groups: group A received distilled water ear drops, whereas group B received OTC ceruminolytic ear drops containing a combination of paradichlorobenzene with turpentine oil, benzocaine, and chlorbutol. Evaluation of patients took place pre- and post-intervention, focusing on three key parameters: the total duration required for ear suctioning, any additional instrumentation employed, and the occurrence of pre-procedure and post-procedure complications. Results: Out of the total 118 participants in the study, they were randomly distributed with 67 males and 51 females in group A and 63 males and 55 females in group B. During the pre-intervention complication assessment, nine subjects in group A reported ear blockage, whereas four subjects in group B did so. Additionally, two subjects in group A complained of pain, whereas none in group B did. Furthermore, five subjects in group A developed otitis externa, compared with three in group B. The average time required for ear suctioning to visualize the tympanic membrane was 9.24 ± 2.50 min in group A and 9.68 ± 2.18 min in group B. During the intervention, nine subjects in group A experienced pain during wax removal, whereas only six patients in Group B reported pain. After the interventions, five patients in group A complained of increased ear pain compared with seven in group B. Mild post-interventional pain was managed with an as-needed dosage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Statistically significant differences were observed in the study parameters between the subjects of the two groups. Conclusion: This study confirms that distilled water can serve as a viable method for dispersing wax, proving its efficacy comparable with commercially available OTC ceruminolytics.

Microplastics plastisphere is an important eco-site for nitrous oxide emission in lakes: A case study of various lakes in Wuhan, China

This study used correlation analyses to examine the microbial mechanisms linking microplastics and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes in 18 typical lakes in Wuhan city. The microplastic abundances were 502 ± 212 items/m3 in the surface water and 305 ± 216 items/kg in dry sediments. The microplastics were predominantly black and fiber shaped in both surface water and sediments. The N2O flux was positively correlated with total phosphorus (p < 0.01), suspended particles (p < 0.01), total nitrogen (p < 0.05), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (p < 0.01) in surface water. nirK/nosZ I was negatively correlated with the N2O flux and positively correlated with dissolved N2O concentration in surface water (p < 0.05). The microplastic abundance in surface water was positively correlated with nosZ II in water (p < 0.01) and nirK/nosZ I in sediment (p < 0.001). The microplastics in sediments were negatively correlated with nirK/nosZ I in water (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with nirS in sediment (p < 0.05). The predominant plastisphere denitrifiers in this study were nirS-type in sediments and nirK-type in surface water. The predominant denitrifier in surface water was Flavobacterium, where it had far higher relative abundances compared to sediments. The co-occurrence network between nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and water quality indexes implied that denitrifiers competed strongly in sediments, while they cooperated in surface water. Looking at the whole microbial community, the competitive and cooperative relationships were more complex in the sediment samples. The N2O flux was positively correlated with the plastic degradation function in sediment (p < 0.05), implying the plastisphere was a significant contributor. Microplastics in lakes, i.e., the plastisphere, may be a novel microbial colonization site that could be vital to ecosystem N2O emissions.

The β3-AR agonist BRL37344 ameliorates the main symptoms of X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in the mouse model of the disease.

X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (X-NDI) is a rare congenital disease caused by inactivating mutations of the vasopressin type-2 receptor (AVPR2), characterized by impaired renal concentrating ability, dramatic polyuria, polydipsia and risk of dehydration. The disease, which still lacks a cure, could benefit from the pharmacologic stimulation of other GPCRs, activating the cAMP-intracellular pathway in the kidney cells expressing the AVPR2. On the basis of our previous studies, we here hypothesized that the β3-adrenergic receptor could be such an ideal candidate. We evaluated the effect of continuous 24 h stimulation of the β3-AR with the agonist BRL37344 and assessed the effects on urine output, urine osmolarity, water intake and the abundance and activation of the key renal water and electrolyte transporters, in the mouse model of X-NDI. Here we demonstrate that the β3-AR agonism exhibits a potent antidiuretic effect. The strong improvement in symptoms of X-NDI produced by a single i.p. injection of BRL37344 (1 mg/kg) was limited to 3 h but repeated administrations in the 24 h, mimicking the effect of a slow-release preparation, promoted a sustained antidiuretic effect, reducing the 24 h urine output by 27%, increasing urine osmolarity by 25% and reducing the water intake by 20%. At the molecular level, we show that BRL37344 acted by increasing the phosphorylation of NKCC2, NCC and AQP2 in the renal cell membrane, thereby increasing electrolytes and water reabsorption in the kidney tubule of X-NDI mice. Taken together, these data suggest that human β3-AR agonists might represent an effective possible treatment strategy for X-NDI.

Emerging global reservoirs in the new millennium: Abundance, hotspots, and total water storage

Emerging global reservoirs in the new millennium: Abundance, hotspots, and total water storage

Water and Chlorine in the Martian Subsurface Along the 27 km Traverse of NASA's Curiosity Rover According to DAN Measurements: 2. Results for Distinct Geological Regions

AbstractThis paper is Part II of a double‐paper series that presents the abundance of water and chlorine along with other neutron‐absorbing elements in the shallow subsurface of Gale crater based on measurements by the Dynamic Albedo of Neutron (DAN) instrument onboard NASA's Curiosity rover. Initial results were represented as pixels on map data products from both DAN active and passive measurements made along the 27‐km traverse of the rover, corresponding to the mission period from landing on the martian surface in August 2012 through December 2021. In Part II, the contents of water and chlorine along with other neutron absorbers are studied separately for distinct geological regions along the traverse. Mean values and sample variances of these values are presented for each region. Water‐equivalent hydrogen (WEH) measurements show variability within the Jura member of the Murray formation and increase within the Carolyn Shoemaker formation. A large fraction of stratigraphic units (e.g., Bradbury, Sheepbed, Pahrump Hills and others) have mean WEH values between 2 and 3 wt.%, while units in the second part of the traverse (Jura, Knockfarrill Hill, Glasgow, Pontours) have mean values of WEH above 3 wt.%. The mean absorption‐equivalent chlorine value has no large variations for all tested geologic units; it is equal to around 1% for all of them.

Microplastics, their abundance, and distribution in water and sediments in North Chennai, India: An assessment of pollution risk and human health impacts

Plastic particles, measuring <5 mm in size, mainly originate from larger plastic debris undergoing degradation, fragmenting into even smaller fragments. The goal was to analyze the spatial diversity and polymer composition of microplastics (MPs) in North Chennai, South India, aiming to evaluate their prevalence and features like composition, dimensions, color, and shape. In 60 sediment samples, a combined count of 1589 particles were detected, averaging 26 particles per 5 g−1 of dry sediment. The water samples from the North Chennai vicinity encompassed a sum of 1588 particles across 71 samples, with an average of 22 items/L. The majority of MPs ranged in size from 1 mm to 500 μm. The ATR-FTIR results identified the predominant types of MPs as polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene in sediment and water. The spatial variation analysis revealed high MPs concentration in landfill sites, areas with dense populations, and popular tourist destinations. The pollution load index in water demonstrated that MPs had contaminated all stations. Upon evaluating the polymeric and pollution risks, it was evident that they ranged from 5.13 to 430.15 and 2.83 to 15,963.2, which is relatively low to exceedingly high levels. As the quantity of MPs and hazardous polymers increased, the level of pollution and corresponding risks also escalated significantly. The existence of MPs in lake water, as opposed to open well water, could potentially pose a cancer risk for both children and adults who consume it. Detecting MPs in water samples highlights the significance of implementing precautionary actions to alleviate the potential health hazards they create.

Distributed wide-field electromagnetic method for coal mining goaf detection in a complex urban environment: A case study in Jinan, China

Urban expansion has resulted in many proposed projects located over coal mining zones, which has highlighted the importance of detecting the spatial scope and water abundance of goafs before the commencement of construction work. Although electromagnetic (EM) methods have proven effective for goaf detection, their applications in intensely noisy and urbanized environments remain limited. To address this challenge, we evaluate an investigation of a coal mining goaf in Jinan, China, using the distributed wide-field EM (DWFEM) method. A third-order [Formula: see text] sequence pseudorandom signal with 39 survey frequencies is transmitted to achieve long-time data acquisition at each station. Unlike the controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics method, the DWFEM records only the electric field [Formula: see text] component. The synthetic model tests and field data demonstrate the consistency of the [Formula: see text] apparent resistivity and the Cagniard resistivity in the far field. The long-time acquisition and 1C recording greatly improve data quality and exploration efficiency. We also use an all-angle resistivity calculation formula and an electrode layout method parallel to the wire source to obtain electrical connections in different directions. The DWFEM inversion results are obtained using the 1D Gauss-Newton iterative method under a plane-wave assumption. By interpolating the data from different measurement stations, we image resistivity depth profiles and obtain 3D subsurface electrical data for the subsurface from 0 to 1000 m. We interpret the obtained profiles with geologic and mining information, revealing two significant water-enriched goaf areas. Validation is performed using seismic data and drill cores. The results significantly enhance our understanding of the characteristics of the coal mine under our project and highlight the applicability of the DWFEM for detecting goafs in complex urban environments.

Super-adiabatic temperature gradient at Jupiter's equatorial zone and implications for the water abundance

The temperature structure of a giant planet was traditionally thought to be an adiabat assuming convective mixing homogenizes entropy. The only in-situ measurement made by the Galileo Probe detected a near-adiabatic temperature structure within one of Jupiter's 5μm hot spots with small but definite local departures from adiabaticity. We analyze Juno's microwave observations near Jupiter's equator (0– 5 oN) and find that the equatorial temperature structure is best characterized by a stable super-adiabatic temperature profile rather than an adiabatic one. Water is the only substance with sufficient abundance to alter the atmosphere's mean molecular weight and prevent dynamic instability if a super-adiabatic temperature gradient exists. Thus, from the super-adiabaticity, our results indicate a water concentration (or the oxygen to hydrogen ratio) of about 4.9 times solar with a possible range of 1.5– 8.3 times solar in Jupiter's equatorial region.

The role of technology in the water–energy–food nexus. A case study: Kerinthos, North Euboea, Greece

The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is a basic element of prosperity, yet it is not equally distributed on the land. Human progress has optimized the function of the WEF nexus to bridge the inequality gap. In order to understand this progress, this study compares the preindustrial and modern agricultural practices in an area in Greece. Interviews were conducted with an elderly man who lived in the 1950s, and the process was quantified in units of WEF. The same procedure was also carried out with modern farmers for modern agricultural practices. In comparing the past and present agricultural processes, it is observed that today, a farmer can feed approximately 100 times more people. This feat has been achieved as modern practices push the land with energy sources in multiple ways (fuels and fertilizers). However, energy indices such as energy ratio, net energy gain, specific energy, and energy productivity do not seem to be improved. Furthermore, farmers prefer to pump underground water for irrigation, instead of utilizing the nearby river, as was done in the past when the river provided both energy to the watermill and an abundance of water for irrigation. In addition, as the price of wheat is dependent on the stock market, even in 2023, there are risks to food security, the cultivation of wheat was not economically efficient for farmers in this area in 2023.

Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environment: A Review of Abundance, Distribution, and Composition in the Egyptian Coastal Waters

Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environment: A Review of Abundance, Distribution, and Composition in the Egyptian Coastal Waters