Wet Climate Research Articles

Isotope and morphometrical evidence reveals the technological package associated with agriculture adoption in western Europe

This study aimed to reconstruct the environmental conditions and the crop management practices and plant characteristics when agriculture appeared in western Europe. We analyzed oak charcoal and a large number of cereal caryopsides recovered from La Draga (Girona, Spain), an early (5300 to 4800 cal. BC) agricultural site from the Iberian Peninsula. The carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) values of oak, the dominant forest species in the region, indicates prevalence of a wet climate at the site. Further, we reconstructed crop management conditions, achievable yield, and crop characteristics through the analysis of Δ13C, nitrogen isotope composition (δ15N), nitrogen content, and the reconstructed weight of wheat and barley caryopsides, following protocols developed by our team [Araus et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 3953 (2014)] and comparison of these parameters with present-day organic agriculture in the region. In parallel, a regional perspective was achieved through the study of wheat and barley grains of seventeen Neolithic sites from the western Mediterranean. The results suggest that rather than small-garden cultivation, a more extensive agriculture was practiced under good water availability and moderate manuring. Moreover, results from La Draga evidence that grain weight and spike morphology were comparable to contemporary cereals. Growing conditions and the prevalence of improved crop traits indicate that agriculture was fairly consolidated at the time it reached the western edge of Europe.

Endopedon pada Tanah yang Berkembang dari Batuan Ultrabasa di Desa Kiram Kecamatan Karang Intan Kabupaten Banjar

Endopedon identification is very necessary to determine the development, physical and chemical properties of soil. The development of endopedons originating from ultramafic rocks around Kiram Village, Karang Intan District, Banjar Regency has not been studied much, therefore it is necessary to explore more about the results of soil development. This research was a descriptive method to identify diagnostic horizons that develop in the endopedon. South Kalimantan is one of the areas where ultrabasic rocks are distributed and is an area with a wet tropical climate. The weathering force of the parent material will be faster in the wet tropics. Ultrabasic rocks in each region have different mineral and chemical compositions. Based on the research results, the Oxic horizon in Profile-1 was found at a depth of 29 cm to 76 cm from the ground surface. While in Profile-2 the Oxic horizon was found at a depth of 19 cm to 110 cm from the ground surface. The formation of the oxic horizon is due to the Latosolization process. Such as the long laterization process is supported by environmental conditions, climate, and rainfall making this laterization process will be better.

Lithium-Rich Deposits in the Liangshan Formation during the Permian in the Upper Yangtze Plate, China

With the increasing demand for lithium (Li) resources in industry, there has been new attention on clay-type lithium-rich deposits recently. In this study, a Li-rich clay deposit with a Li2O content up to 0.3% in the Liangshan Formation in the upper Yangtze, South China Block was demonstrated. We analysed the mineralogy and element geochemistry of the samples from the Liangshan Formation and its underlying and overlying layers. Kaolinite (average 53%, up to 93%) was the major mineral in the samples from the Liangshan Formation. The Li concentrations increased with increasing kaolinite compositions and Al2O3 concentrations. Furthermore, based on the geochemical indicators, it was suggested that the clay formation and Li enrichment were related to the weathering processes of the bottom impure limestone under the hot and wet climate, and the sedimentary processes in the anoxic, still, and flat land–sea interaction area in the Upper Yangtze. The Li was probably sourced from the bottom impure limestone during the weathering stage. The samples from the Liangshan Formation also showed REE enrichment from 117 to 729 μg/g.

Wildfire-vegetation-climate-human interactions in the central Taiwan region during 17.3–2.0 cal kyr BP, inferred from sediments of Toushe Basin

Wildfire-vegetation-climate-human interactions in the central Taiwan region during 17.3–2.0 cal kyr BP, inferred from sediments of Toushe Basin

Geochemical characteristics of the upper carboniferous source rocks in a terrestrial-marine transitional environment from the shuangjingzi area, Junggar Basin: Insights into palaeoenvironment, palaeoclimate, and palaeovegetation

Geochemical characteristics of the upper carboniferous source rocks in a terrestrial-marine transitional environment from the shuangjingzi area, Junggar Basin: Insights into palaeoenvironment, palaeoclimate, and palaeovegetation

Changes in urban heat island intensity during heatwaves in China

With rising occurrence of heatwaves and ongoing urban expansion, urban residents are facing severer heat-related stress under the combined effects of urban heat island (UHI) and heatwaves. Controversial results, however, have been reported regarding whether the UHI is exacerbated during heatwaves. In this study, we used fused ground and satellite daily maximum air temperature data to evaluate the variation of UHI intensities under heatwaves across 225 major cities in mainland China during 2003–2020. Overall, urban areas showed an enhanced UHI intensity of up to 0.94 °C during heatwaves, nearly double compared to normal periods. The interaction between UHIs and heatwaves was sensitive to local background precipitation. Under the similar urbanization and vegetation greenness, the amplified warming in urban areas during heatwaves was more pronounced in wet climates. In megapolitan regions characterized by continuous urban development, the UHI intensified much stronger during heatwaves due to the heat accumulation within urbanized areas and the advection of heat from neighboring cities. Our results contribute to understanding the interactions between UHIs and heatwaves which may strongly increase heat risk in cities. Further work on the variations of this interaction under future warming and consequent impacts on human health and energy use is needed.

Increases and decreases in soil moisture in water‐limited plant communities cause asymmetrical responses in biomass but not in diversity

AbstractAimsChanges in precipitation patterns, such as the predicted increases in the frequency of climatic extremes, are likely to alter plant communities, but whether responses to drought or to wetter conditions respectively cause consistent, opposite responses is debated. Here, we assessed the response in biomass production and species diversity of water‐limited plant communities to the direction (increase or decrease) and magnitude (micro‐ and macro‐climatic effects) of changes in soil moisture.LocationWe reciprocally translocated soils containing seed banks from two climates (semi‐arid and mediterranean) at a micro‐climatic (opposite slopes) and a macro‐climatic scale (between climates) in Chile.ResultsBiomass production for the soils that were translocated from wetter to drier climates was unrelated to the available soil moisture. The lowest biomass was produced in the wettest climate on the wet slope. Biomass production increased after a translocation to the drier climate (representing the largest change in climate). Nonetheless, the highest overall biomass for the wet to dry translocation was produced on the mediterranean dry slope with intermediate soil moisture. However, on the same mediterranean dry slope, biomass was almost zero for soil translocated the other way round (from drier to wetter). Diversity after 24 months was unaffected by micro‐climatic change, but soils transplanted toward the drier climate yielded a plant community with increased diversity.ConclusionOur results showed direction and magnitude of climate change but also the response factor that is studied matters to detect direction‐dependent responses; i.e., species richness had a linear and reversible response. However, the response of biomass depended on the origin of the transplanted material (soil and plant community), indicating history dependence (hysteresis). This emphasizes that responses to unidirectional climate manipulation experiments may not be able to capture the entire nature of the response of plant communities to climate change.

ENHANCING DAYLIGHT IN DEEP-PLAN OFFICES FOR NIGERIA'S TROPICAL CLIMATE: A LIGHT PIPE APPROACH

This research addresses the challenge of maximising daylight provision in deep-plan office buildings in Nigeria's tropical wet and dry climate. It investigates the effectiveness of horizontal light pipes at 5m, 10m, and 15m, employing a mixed-method approach that combines case studies and computer simulations. The study utilises Climate Studio for Rhinoceros 3D as the simulation tool to assess light distribution uniformity and illuminance levels in deep-plan offices. Statistical analysis includes applying ANOVA tests to ascertain the significance of differences between various light pipe configurations. Findings reveal that the 10m light pipe configuration consistently outperforms the 5m and 15m options, providing superior uniformity of light distribution and higher illuminance levels, thereby maximising daylight provision. The study recommends the 10m light pipe configuration as optimal for maximising daylight provision in deep-plan office buildings within Nigeria's tropical wet and dry climate.

Orijinal

Climate plays a crucial role in shaping our physical environment, influenced significantly by geographical location and topographical factors. Key elements such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and winds define a region's climate. Human activities, such as agriculture, urbanization, deforestation, and industrialization, actively modify local climates. In geographical studies, the climatic water balance, including parameters like Potential Evapotranspiration (PET), Actual Evapotranspiration (AET), Water Surplus, and deficits, holds particular importance. These metrics help assess moisture availability, essential for determining irrigation schedules and understanding soil moisture levels critical for plant growth. Jaunpur, situated in a subtropical interior with a monsoon climate, experiences distinct seasonal weather variations. Analyzing these climatic factors and moisture adequacy aids in identifying suitable crops and optimal irrigation practices, crucial for agricultural planning and maintaining plant health.

Late Holocene vegetation dynamics: degree and regional patterns of the Dark Ages woodland regeneration (ad 300–700) in the Netherlands

During the Dark Ages, which include the Late Roman period (ad 270–450) and the Early Middle Ages (ad 450–1050), large-scale vegetation development in northwest Europe was characterised by widespread regeneration of woodlands. This regeneration phase represents a break from the extensive reduction in woodland from human activities in late Holocene vegetation history. In the Netherlands, possible causes for this reversal can be found in a decreased human impact on the landscape, a colder and possibly wetter climate, and geomorphological changes. This paper presents a synthesis from 38 pollen records from a range of sites across the Netherlands, from which regional differences in the degree of woodland regeneration and vegetation composition before and during the Dark Ages have been identified. Both original data as well as vegetation abundance modelled by REVEALS were used to assess the regrowth of the woodland cover. The observed trends were considered in terms of the landscape setting and population estimates in order to disentangle the relative importance of these forcing factors. The results indicate that landscape and human impact were the most important factors determining the vegetation structure and changes to it. The pollen data show that in the Netherlands, the clearance of woodland in the Roman period followed by its regrowth afterwards were greatest in the river area. This can be linked to a high population density there during the Roman period followed by a strong decrease of population in the Dark Ages and to increased flooding.

Occurrence of Early Cretaceous Shimakuroxylon wood in southeastern China, and its palaeobiogeographic significance

The Mesozoic gymnosperm genus Shimakuroxylon Philippe, Boura, Oh et Pons is a peculiar petrified wood taxon which was exclusively recorded from the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous interval in eastern Asia. To date, ten occurrences of this genus were documented in Japan, Indochina and Tibet (southwestern China). However, little is known about the record of Shimakuroxylon in eastern China. Here, we describe a new fossil wood specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Laocun Formation in Longyou County of Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, southeastern China. This fossil specimen exhibits typical Shimakuroxylon anatomy with japonicum-type (shimakurean) radial tracheid pitting and araucarioid cross-field pitting, representing a new record of Shimakuroxylon in eastern Asia. This new finding contributes to our understanding of the fossil wood diversity of the Early Cretaceous xyloflora in southern China, and provides additional data that furthers our knowledge of the palaeobiogeographical distribution of Shimakuroxylon. Shimakuroxylon is commonly suggested as an indicator of warm and wet climates based on its palaeobiogeographical distribution pattern. However, evidence from plant megafossils and sporopollen suggests the local climate of the study area was warm and arid to semiarid during the Early Cretaceous. It is tentatively suggested that the wood plant might have lived in a warm and humid basin margin with relatively sufficient water supply, though the general environmental background might have been arid to semiarid.

Ecological restoration is crucial in mitigating carbon loss caused by permafrost thawing on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Climate change leads to permafrost thawing, accelerating carbon emissions increases, challenges the goal of climate change mitigation. However, it remains unknown whether implementing ecological restoration projects in Alpine areas can offset the adverse effects of permafrost thawing locally. Here we took the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau as an example to explore this issue based on the improved Biome-BGCMuSo model. We found future climate change-induced permafrost thawing will decrease carbon sink. Projects’ carbon sink enhancement could fully counteract the permafrost thawing-induced carbon loss. Additionally, future warmer and wetter climates will enlarge the suitable area for restoration. If these areas are taken into account, carbon sink attributable to Projects will further increase. These results indicate that ERPs have the potential to combat future permafrost thawing-induced carbon loss, and their contribution will be further amplified by future climate change.

Iron Composition of a Typical Loess-Paleosol Sequence in Northeast China

Iron isotope compositions, along with the partial extraction of iron in its various forms, can be utilized to investigate the complex interplay of iron migration and transformation with respect to iron isotope patterns. This study investigated the iron composition of a typical loess-paleosol sequence in Northeast China and aimed to understand the influence of iron migration and transformation of the typical loess-paleosol sequence on iron isotopes and environmental and climatic changes that occurred in the region over time by analyzing the distribution and characteristics of iron compositions in sedimentary layers. Samples were collected from Chaoyang in Northeast China, and the iron isotopic composition was analyzed using the multi-receiver inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The findings revealed depth-dependent variations in the content of different iron forms, reflecting paleoclimatic shifts primarily through pedogenic transformation processes. Notably, iron migration within the section was observed to be limited. The variations in the reddening index and magnetic susceptibility of the loess-paleosol were primarily influenced by the presence of free iron (Fed), exhibiting a range of colors from yellow to red-yellow and red. The δ56Fe values for loess and paleosols ranged from 0.097 ± 0.035‰ to 0.167 ± 0.010‰, with an average of 0.133 ± 0.024‰ and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.66% at the stratum scale. These values indicated a systematic enrichment of heavy iron isotopes and a significant negative correlation with the slightly fluctuating total iron content. Specifically, our analysis highlighted distinct differences in δ56Fe values between paleosol (0.126 ± 0.024‰) and loess (0.146 ± 0.021‰). The δ56Fe in Fed was negative, averaging −0.101 ± 0.022‰, while the δ56Fe in silicate-bound iron was positive, averaging 0.156 ± 0.032‰. Intense pedogenesis, driven by warm and wet climates, facilitated iron transformations and migrations, resulting in the accumulation of light iron isotopes in the paleosols. These transformations and migrations were predominantly observed in microdomains characterized by iron depletions and concentrations, as reflected in the profile morphologies. However, the limited iron transformations and migrations did not result in significant Fe redistribution within the soil section, as evidenced by the limited variations in δ56Fe with soil depth at the stratum scale. Sampling from the stratum or pedogenic horizon could potentially create the illusion of the minimal fractionation of iron isotopes within the sequence. Therefore, a detailed examination of the iron isotope composition in the micro-domains of the loess-paleosol sequence is crucial to elucidate the fractionation processes and mechanisms of iron isotopes during the formation of these sequences.

Topographic and climatic effects on Pinus halepensis s.l. growth at its drought tolerance margins under climatic change

Under global warming, drought will reduce productivity of Pinus halepensis s.l. (subspecies halepensis and brutia) and cause a retreat from its rear edge distribution (latitudinal/elevational) in the Mediterranean. To test whether topography can influence this scenario, we studied for approximately 40 years the growth of six natural pine stands in water-limited habitats on the islands of Zakinthos and Samos (eastern Mediterranean Greece), and determined the critical moisture sources that drove pine growth. Dominant pines were selected with no permanent water sources under contrasting moisture conditions created by topography (“wet”-gulley/valley vs. “dry”-upslope habitats). The responses of P. halepensis s.l. to drought under a moderate and a worst case scenario were tested, projected under global warming (approx. − 25% and 40% in annual precipitation compared to 1961–1990 average). Our results show that “wet” habitat pines had higher productivity under normal to wet climate. However, the more precipitation declined, “wet” habitat tree growth was reduced at a significantly faster rate, but also showed a faster recovery, once rainfall returned. Thus, Pinus halepensis s.l. populations in gullies/valleys, may be more drought resilient and less likely to retreat towards higher elevation/latitudes under global warming, compared to pines on dry upslope sites. Under moderate drought, both ecosystems relied on deeper moisture pools supplied by rainfall of the previous 3–6 years (including the year of growth). However, valley/gully habitat pines on significantly deeper soils (and probably on deeper heavily weathered bedrock), appeared to utilize surface moisture from winter/spring rainfall more efficiently for survival and recovery. Thus, deep soils may provide the key “buffer” for pine survival in such ecosystems that could act as potential refugia for P. halepensis s.l. under climate change.

BIOSTRATIGRAPHY STUDY OF UQUO WELL 12, OML 13, OF UQUO FIELD, NIGER DELTA

Palynological analysis was carried out on twenty ditch cutting samples which were gotten from Uquo well 12 located at Uquo, Akwa Ibom state. The depth ranged from 1720ft to 2860ft. The aim of the study was to determine the age, depositional environment and paleoecology penetrated by the well. The palynological analysis yielded sufficient palynomorph (pollen, spores, Acritach). The most occurred palynomorphs recovered were Smooth monolete spore, Verrucatosporite tenellis, Foraminiferal test lining, Polypodiaceiosporites sp. The dominance of mangrove pollens; Zonocostites ramonae and Psilatricolporites crassus, this indicates that the sediments were likely deposited in a mangrove environment under a wet climate during the Pliocene. The age range penetrated by the well is late Miocene to Early Pliocene because of the co-occurrence of the index species of Cyperaceopollis spore, Nympheapollis lotus and Stereisporites spore seen at 1900ft and 2440ft. Since the study area is foreshore environment and the characteristics are: moderately low to moderately high coastal brackish water swamp community elements, moderately high hinterland fresh water swamp/forest elements, absence of sporadic of marine element therefore samples here has relatively few content

The effect of mineral fertilizer rates on amaranth grain quality in the wet climate of Western Ukraine

The effect of mineral fertilizer rates on amaranth grain quality in the wet climate of Western Ukraine

The Implementation of the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) Eradication Program

Billions of people living in wet tropical climates are at risk of suffering from Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. In 2019, until mid-December throughout Indonesia, there were 71,668 people with dengue fever, and 641 of them died. Indragiri Hulu Regency is an area with a wet tropical climate and it becomes an endemic area Rengat District. This study aims to analyze of the implementation of the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever eradication program. The type of research is analytical qualitative with case study design. The research informant technique used purposive sampling with 11 people. From the results of research and observations, it is shown that human resources are limited in facilities, not enough infrastructure is available, funds are still limited, from fogging carried out when cases occur, Eradication of Mosquito Nests. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is still not actively carried out by the community, abate powder is not evenly distributed to the community, Counseling that is still interested in carrying out Eradication of Mosquito Nests for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. Minimally carried out and public awareness about the condition of the environment around the community which is still not clean, causing the development of dengue mosquito larvae. It can be concluded that the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever eradication program at the Sipayung Health Center still needs to be improved. It is expected to make program innovations to increase public interest in carrying out Eradication of Mosquito Nests for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever.

Aridity shifts in the MENA region under the Paris Agreement climate change scenarios

Aridity shifts in the MENA region under the Paris Agreement climate change scenarios

A Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study on sheep owners regarding fasciolosis in northwest of Tunisia

A Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study on sheep owners regarding fasciolosis in northwest of Tunisia

Hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of water sources for biological activity across a massive evaporite basin on the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for aquatic environments on early Mars

Hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of water sources for biological activity across a massive evaporite basin on the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for aquatic environments on early Mars