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Uneven global retreat of persistent mountain snow cover alongside mountain warming from ERA5-land
Full text linkThe warming of mountains has become evident in recent years, with a mean global warming rate of 1.19 °C from 1979 to 2022. However, unveiling the global divergent decline of persistent mountain snow cover in the face of climate shifts remains unexplored. However, the global decline of persistent mountain snow cover due to climate change is not well understood. This study uses reanalysis and satellite data to examine changes in snow cover lasting over six months across our global mountain regions. We reveal a significant global mean decline of 7.79% in persistent snow cover over the past 44 years. The regional snow cover trends exhibit a heterogeneous and non-linear response to its regional warming rate. Our findings highlight the interplay between global warming and snow cover, emphasizing the need for sustainable development strategies to address the potential impacts of diminishing mountain snow.publishedVersio
Potensial for naturbaserte løsninger ved flomrisikohåndtering i Vossovassdraget
Full text linkKlimaendringer vil føre til større flomskaderisiko i Norge og med dette et behov for klimatilpasning og bedre flomrisikohåndtering. Dette gjelder også i Vossovassdraget der flommer i 2014 og 2022 har ført til store skader. Samtidig skal miljøtilstand og verneformål sikres og videreutvikles. Målet med denne studien var å vise hvordan både flomrisikohåndtering og miljømål vil kunne oppnås ved inkludering av naturbaserte løsninger. Til dette ble kunnskapsgrunnlaget supplert med en kartlegging av elvetypologi og sedimentregime. Deretter ble fem løsningsscenarier utviklet. Disse ble vurdert i henhold til potensialet for flomrisikohåndtering og miljøeffekter. Det konkluderes med at følgende tiltaksscenarier har potensial til en tilstrekkelig flomrisikohåndtering (200-års flom + klimapåslag) og samtidig til å opprettholde eller forbedre miljøtilstand, dersom de brukes i kombinasjon: 1. Arealplanlegging og arealbruk med hensyn til resterende flomsoner og klimaendringer vil kunneopprettholde dagens flomkapasitet og redusere skadepotensialet i fremtiden. 2. Flomdemping i eksisterende innsjøer og magasiner, særlig i Strandaelvi og Teigdalselvi. 3. Utvidelse av utløpet av Vangsvatnet med tappeluke og utvidelse i juvet nedenfor samt miljøtiltak. 4. Sedimentforvaltning med sikring av avløpskapasitet og miljøtilstand. 5. Lokale sikringstiltak kombinert med naturbaserte løsninger og mobile komponenter. 6. Flytting av særlig utsatt bebyggelse og tilpassing av arealbruk. Sistnevnte (6) vil redusere behovet for andre sikringstiltak og beredskap, forbedre sikkerhet for liv og helse, vil kunne redusere kostnader og muliggjøre mer miljøtiltak. Med et slikt grunnlag og de forslåtte miljøhensyn, vil verneverdier kunne ivaretas og de vassdragsspesifikke miljømålene oppnås. De viktigste miljøtiltakene er hensyn til flomrisiko og miljø i arealplanlegging og arealbruk, bruk av naturbaserte løsninger samt avbøtende miljøtiltak der det trengs tekniske løsninger.Potensial for naturbaserte løsninger ved flomrisikohåndtering i VossovassdragetpublishedVersio
Climate tipping point interactions and cascades: A review
Full text linkClimate tipping elements are large-scale subsystems of the Earth that may transgress critical thresholds (tipping points) under ongoing global warming, with substantial impacts on the biosphere and human societies. Frequently studied examples of such tipping elements include the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), permafrost, monsoon systems, and the Amazon rainforest. While recent scientific efforts have improved our knowledge about individual tipping elements, the interactions between them are less well understood. Also, the potential of individual tipping events to induce additional tipping elsewhere or stabilize other tipping elements is largely unknown. Here, we map out the current state of the literature on the interactions between climate tipping elements and review the influences between them. To do so, we gathered evidence from model simulations, observations, and conceptual understanding, as well as examples of paleoclimate reconstructions where multi-component or spatially propagating transitions were potentially at play. While uncertainties are large, we find indications that many of the interactions between tipping elements are destabilizing. Therefore, we conclude that tipping elements should not only be studied in isolation, but also more emphasis has to be put on potential interactions. This means that tipping cascades cannot be ruled out on centennial to millennial timescales at global warming levels between 1.5 and 2.0 ∘C or on shorter timescales if global warming surpassed 2.0 ∘C. At these higher levels of global warming, tipping cascades may then include fast tipping elements such as the AMOC or the Amazon rainforest. To address crucial knowledge gaps in tipping element interactions, we propose four strategies combining observation-based approaches, Earth system modeling expertise, computational advances, and expert knowledge.publishedVersio
Diversity and phylogeny of demosponge fauna in the abyssal nodule fields of the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean
Full text linkMore than 7000 demosponge species have been described to date globally but <2% are known from the abyssal plains, which occupy some 50% of the Earth's surface. The demosponge fauna in the abyssal nodule fields at Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean, a region being explored for potential deep-sea mining, is a case in point. A total of 21 species belonging to 13 genera in nine families and seven orders were identified from the eastern region of the CCZ, of which most are new to science. They are small in size (<5 mm), with simple skeletons and poor spicule diversity. All ordinal representatives of Demospongiae were utilized to determine taxonomic position of the highly homoplasious tiny demosponges in our molecular phylogenetic analyses. Our results indicated Plenaster craigi, the most common and abundant species in the eastern CCZ, represents a new family, and possibly in a new order. Interestingly, P. craigi and members of the families Polymastiidae and Hamacanthidae, all filter-feeding demosponge species, are far more abundant in nodule fields than the carnivorous sponges (Cladorhizidae) which were widely known to be the most dominant demosponge group in the abyssal depths. Lastly, it is highly likely that such tiny demosponges are present in other habitats. They might have been overlooked and/or ignored by sponge researchers in the past due to their tiny size and nondescript habitus. These demosponges could be distinct new species, not juveniles or indeterminates and warrant full taxonomic treatment.publishedVersio
Vestvågøy kommune – plan for forvaltningsrevisjon og eierskapskontroll 2024–2027 Beslutningsgrunnlag
Full text linkDenne rapporten utgjør beslutningsgrunnlag for Vestvågøy kommunes plan for forvaltningsrevisjon og eierskap for perioden 2024–2027. Rapporten er basert på en overordnet analyse av kommunens virksomhet og eierskap i selskaper. Analysen er gjennomført ved hjelp av en triangulering av ulike metoder og kilder, inkludert kvantitative registerdata (fra SSBs KOSTRA database), og kvalitativ dokumentanalyse. Beslutningsgrunnlaget munner ut i en prioritert liste over anbefalte forvaltningsrevisjoner og eierskapskontroller i kommende periode.Vestvågøy kommune – plan for forvaltningsrevisjon og eierskapskontroll 2024–2027 BeslutningsgrunnlagpublishedVersio
Beyond the regional average: Drivers of geographical rainfall variability during East Africa's short rains
No full textThe East African “short rains” from October–December (OND) are crucial for the region's cultural and agricultural landscape. Traditional climate studies have often treated these rains as a single mode, representing the average rainfall across the region. This approach, however, fails to capture the complex geographical variations in seasonal rainfall. In our study, we analyse 4200 reforecasts from a seasonal prediction system spanning 1981–2022, identifying distinct clusters that represent different geographical patterns of the short rains. We explore the influence of tropical sea-surface temperature patterns, upper-level tropospheric flow, and low-level moisture fluxes on these clusters. A key revelation of our research is the limited predictability of certain geographical rainfall structures based on large-scale climatic drivers. This finding highlights a gap in current forecasting methodologies, emphasising the necessity for further research to understand and predict these intricate patterns. Our study illuminates the complexities of regional rainfall variability in East Africa, underlining the importance of continued investigation to improve climate resilience strategies in the region.publishedVersio
An overview of the key topics related to the study of tire particles and their chemical leachates: From problems to solutions
Full text linkThe environmental contamination and biological impacts of tire particles and their associated chemicals is of great concern. Variously termed as tire wear particles (TWP), tire and road wear particles (TRWP), and end-of-life tires (ELTs) to differentiate between possible compositions and sources in the environment, these rubber particles are a major source of plastic pollution. The array of added chemicals that leach into the environment presents an additional environmental, toxicological and regulatory challenge. In this review, we define several topic areas that are relevant to the study of tire particles, outlining the current state and ongoing challenges. Emissions estimates needed to establish environmental loads are based on dated, summarized datasets rather than measured data, but determining the environmental presence of tire particles is hampered by a lack of standardised sampling methods. Several techniques for the analysis of tire rubber and associated chemicals are available, but the variability in tires model composition makes the selection of analytical markers challenging, as does a lack of commercial standards. Toxicologically, there remains a need to delineate particle and leachate effects and, in addition, to investigate emerging chemicals of concern and their transformation products. Such knowledge is required to feed into regulatory processes which currently regulate tire constituents separately rather than as the whole tire. Technological solutions to capture or replace tire rubber are progressing, often outside of academia, and it is important that the scientific community collaborate with those attempting to reduce the environmental impact of tires, including the tire industry.publishedVersio
Impact of Deep Water Formation on Antarctic Circumpolar Transport During Gateway Opening
Full text linkAmbiguity over the Eocene opening times of the Tasman Gateway and Drake Passage makes it difficult to determine the initiation time of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. If the Tasman Gateway opened later than Drake Passage, then Australia may have prevented the proto-ACC from forming. Recent modeling results have shown that only a relatively weak circumpolar transport results under Eocene surface forcing. This leads to warm and buoyant coastal water around Antarctica, which may impede the formation of deep waters and convective processes. This suggests that a change in deep water formation might be required to increase the density contrast across the Southern Ocean and increase circumpolar transport. Here we use a simple reduced gravity model with two basins, to represent the Atlantic and the Pacific. This fixes the density difference between surface and deep water and allows us to isolate the impact of deep water formation on circumpolar transport. With no obstacle on the southern boundary the circumpolar current increases its transport from 82.3 to 270.0 Sv with deep water formation. Placing an Antipodean landmass on the southern boundary reduces this transport as the landmass increases in size. However, circumpolar flow north of this landmass remains a possibility even without deep water formation. Weak circumpolar transport continues until the basin is completely blocked by the Antipodes. When the Antipodes is instead allowed to split from the southern boundary, circumpolar transport recovers to its unobstructed value. Flow rapidly switches to south of the Antipodes when the gateway is narrow.publishedVersio
Spatio-temporal visual learning for home-based monitoring
Full text linkThis paper introduces a novel concept for Home-based Monitoring (HM) that enables robust analysis and understanding of activities towards improved caring and safety. Spatio-Temporal Visual Learning for HM (STVL-HM) is a novel method that learns from sensor data that is jointly represented in space and time in order to robustify the HM process. We propose a hybrid model based on a Convolution Neural Network (CNN) and Transformers. The CNN first learns the visual spatial features from various sensor data. The learned visual features are then fed into the transformer, which captures temporal information by observing the sensor status at various timestamps. STVL-HM has been tested using Kinetics-400, the real use case of human activity recognition scenario for HM data. The results reveal the clear superiority of the STVL-HM compared to the recent baseline HM solutions.publishedVersio
Antibiotic resistance monitoring in wastewater in the Nordic countries: A systematic review
Full text linkThe Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) have effectively kept lower antibiotic-resistant bacterial (ARB) pathogen rates than many other countries. However, in recent years, these five countries have encountered a rise in ARB cases and challenges in treating infections due to the growing prevalence of ARB pathogens. Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is a valuable supplement to clinical methods for ARB surveillance, but there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of WBS application for ARB in the Nordic countries. This review aims to compile the latest state-of-the-art developments in WBS for ARB monitoring in the Nordic countries and compare them with clinical surveillance practices. After reviewing 1480 papers from the primary search, 54 were found relevant, and 15 additional WBS-related papers were included. Among 69 studies analyzed, 42 dedicated clinical epidemiology, while 27 focused on wastewater monitoring. The PRISMA review of the literature revealed that Nordic countries focus on four major WBS objectives of ARB: assessing ARB in the human population, identifying ARB evading wastewater treatment, quantifying removal rates, and evaluating potential ARB evolution during the treatment process. In both clinical and wastewater contexts, the most studied targets were pathogens producing carbapenemase and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), primarily Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. However, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have received more attention in clinical epidemiology than in wastewater studies, probably due to their lower detection rates in wastewater. Clinical surveillance has mostly used culturing, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and genotyping, but WBS employed PCR-based and metagenomics alongside culture-based techniques. Imported cases resulting from international travel and hospitalization abroad appear to have frequently contributed to the rise in ARB pathogen cases in these countries. The many similarities between the Nordic countries (e.g., knowledge exchange practices, antibiotic usage patterns, and the current ARB landscape) could facilitate collaborative efforts in developing and implementing WBS for ARB in population-level screening.publishedVersio