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CO2 and hydrography acquired by autonomous surface vehicles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea: data correction and validation
Get PDFThe ATL2MED demonstration experiment involved two autonomous surface vehicles from Saildrone Inc. (SD) which travelled a route from the eastern tropical North Atlantic to the Adriatic Sea between October 2019 and July 2020 (see Table A6). This 9-month experiment in a transition zone between the temperate and tropical belts represents a major challenge for the SD’s operations. The sensors on board were exposed to varying degrees of degradation and biofouling depending on the geographical area and season, which led to a deterioration in the measurements. As a result, some maintenance measures were required during the mission. We address the difficulty of correcting the data during a period of COVID-19 restrictions, which significantly reduced the number of discrete samples planned for the SD salinity and dissolved oxygen validation. This article details alternative correction methods for salinity and dissolved oxygen. Due to the lack of in situ data, model products have been used to correct the salinity data acquired by the SD instruments, and then the resulting corrected salinity was validated with data from fixed ocean stations, gliders, and Argo floats. In addition, dissolved oxygen data acquired from the SD instruments after correction using air oxygen measurements were tested and found to be coherent with the variation in oxygen concentrations expected from changes in temperature and phytoplankton abundance (from chlorophyll a). The correction methods are relevant and useful in situations where validation capabilities are lacking, which was the case during the ATL2MED demonstration experiment. For future experiments, a more frequent sample collection would improve the data qualification and validation.CO2 and hydrography acquired by autonomous surface vehicles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea: data correction and validationpublishedVersio
First release of the Pelagic Size Structure database: global datasets of marine size spectra obtained from plankton imaging devices
Get PDFIn marine ecosystems, most physiological, ecological, or physical processes are size dependent. These include metabolic rates, the uptake of carbon and other nutrients, swimming and sinking velocities, and trophic interactions, which eventually determine the stocks of commercial species, as well as biogeochemical cycles and carbon sequestration. As such, broad-scale observations of plankton size distribution are important indicators of the general functioning and state of pelagic ecosystems under anthropogenic pressures. Here, we present the first global datasets of the Pelagic Size Structure database (PSSdb), generated from plankton imaging devices. This release includes the bulk particle normalized biovolume size spectrum (NBSS) and the bulk particle size distribution (PSD), along with their related parameters (slope, intercept, and R2) measured within the epipelagic layer (0–200 m) by three imaging sensors: the Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB), the Underwater Vision Profiler (UVP), and benchtop scanners. Collectively, these instruments effectively image organisms and detrital material in the 7–10 000 µm size range. A total of 92 472 IFCB samples, 3068 UVP profiles, and 2411 scans passed our quality control and were standardized to produce consistent instrument-specific size spectra averaged to 1° × 1° latitude and longitude and by year and month. Our instrument-specific datasets span most major ocean basins, except for the IFCB datasets we have ingested, which were exclusively collected in northern latitudes, and cover decadal time periods (2013–2022 for IFCB, 2008–2021 for UVP, and 1996–2022 for scanners), allowing for a further assessment of the pelagic size spectrum in space and time. The datasets that constitute PSSdb's first release are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11050013 (Dugenne et al., 2024b). In addition, future updates to these data products can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7998799.publishedVersio
Automated snow avalanche monitoring for Austria: State of the art and roadmap for future work
Get PDFAvalanches pose a significant threat to the population and infrastructure of mountainous regions. The mapping and documentation of avalanches in Austria is mostly done by experts during field observations and covers usually only specific localized areas. A comprehensive mapping of avalanches is, however, crucial for the work of local avalanche commissions as well as avalanche warning services to assess, e.g., the avalanche danger. Over the past decade, mapping avalanches from satellite imagery has proven to be a promising and rapid approach to monitor avalanche activity in specific regions. Several recent avalanche detection approaches use deep learning-based algorithms to improve detection rates compared to traditional segmentation algorithms. Building on the success of these deep learning-based approaches, we present the first steps to build a modular data pipeline to map historical avalanche cycles in Copernicus Sentinel-1 imagery of the Austrian Alps. The Sentinel-1 mission has provided free all-weather synthetic aperture radar data since 2014, which has proven suitable for avalanche mapping in a Norwegian test area. In addition, we present a roadmap for setting up a segmentation algorithm, in which a general U-Net approach will serve as a baseline and will be compared with the mapping results of additional algorithms initially applied to autonomous driving. We propose to train the U-Net using labeled training dataset of avalanche outlines from Switzerland, Norway and Greenland. Due to the lack of training and validation data from Austria, we plan to compile the first avalanche archive for Austria. Meteorological variables, e.g., precipitation or wind, are highly important for the release of avalanches. In a completely new approach, we will therefore consider weather station data or outputs of numerical weather models in the learning-based algorithm to improve the detection performance. The mapping results in Austria will be complemented with pointwise field measurements of the MOLISENS platform and the RIEGL VZ-6000 terrestrial laser scanner.publishedVersio
Projected Changes in Mountain Precipitation Under CO2-Induced Warmer Climate
Get PDFMountains play a vital role in shaping regional and global climate, altering atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns. To this end, identifying projected changes in mountain precipitation is significantly challenging due to topographic complexity. This study explains how mountain precipitation could respond to rising greenhouse gases. Using a series of century-long fully coupled high-resolution simulations conducted with the Community Earth System Model, we aim to disentangle future changes in mountain precipitation in response to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) perturbations. Our research findings indicate that the warming observed in global mountains is more pronounced when compared to the mean warming rates experienced globally and in the ocean under elevated CO2. We identify five low-latitude mountain ranges with elevation-dependent precipitation response, including New Guinea, East Africa, Eastern Himalayas, Central America, and Central Andes. Those mountains are expected to have a mixture of increasing and decreasing precipitation in response to CO2-induced warming, especially over the summit and steep topography. To elucidate the mechanisms controlling future changes in mountain precipitation, we propose “Orographic moisture omega feedback” in which an increase in low-level relative humidity enhances local precipitation by strengthening the upward motion through moist processes for the wetting response and vice versa for the drying response. The effects of Mountain precipitation changes can be extended to hydrology and could lead to significant consequences for human societies and ecosystems.publishedVersio
Microbe-mineral interactions in the Plastisphere: Coastal biogeochemistry and consequences for degradation of plastics
Get PDFMicrobe-mineral interactions, such as mineral substrate utilization and aggregate formation, have played a key role in the cycling of elements through Earth evolution. In water, soils, and sediment biogeochemistry modulates microbial community composition and mineral formation over spatial and temporal scales. Plastic is a new material that is now widespread in the environment. Both microbial and mineral associations with plastic comprise the Plastisphere, which influences the fate of plastic. This study focuses on how the biogeochemical environment defines microbial and mineral association with polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) over a 12-month period in a temperate coastal harbor. The coastal harbor environment was separated into 3 conceptual compartments defined by physical and biogeochemical conditions, that allow transfer of electrons between species e.g., light penetration and redox setting. Microbe and mineral association were investigated in the water column, top sediment, and bottom sediment by applying a range of modern analytical techniques to identify changes in the chemical structures of plastics, microbial community development, metal, salt and mineral formation. The epiplastic microbial community was distinct to that of the surrounding environment across changing redox conditions. The type and oxidation state of metallic minerals formed on plastics or entrapped in the biofilm matrix related to the dominant abiotic and biotic processes across redox conditions. FTIR spectroscopy indicated the occurrence of PE and PS oxidation in the various biogeochemical environments. Combined, these findings demonstrate that redox conditions and surrounding biogeochemistry mediate the composition of mineralogical and biological loading of PE and PS in coastal marine environments. This suggests that the biogeochemical setting in which the plastics are stored constrains the development of plastic interfacial biogeochemistry and the potential for plastic degradation and transport over time.publishedVersio
Integration of omics analyses into GMO risk assessment in Europe: a case study from soybean field trials
Get PDFIn Europe, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are subject to an authorization process including a mandatory risk assessment. According to the respective guidance by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), one of the pillars of this GMO risk assessment is a comparative analysis of the compositional and agronomic characteristics. This targeted approach has been criticized for its limitations, as it only considers pre-determined compounds, being insufficient to assess a comprehensive range of relevant compounds, including toxins and anti-nutrients, on a case-specific basis. Strategies based on advanced untargeted omics technologies have been proposed as a potential broader approach to be implemented into the initial step of the risk assessment framework. Here, we provide an example of a step-by-step omics analysis based on systems biology approach to fit into the context of European GMO regulation. We have performed field trial experiments with genetically modified (GM) Intacta™ Roundup Ready™ 2 Pro soybean containing both cry1Ac and cp4epsps transgenic inserts and analyzed its proteomic profile against the non-GM counterpart and reference varieties. Based on EFSA’s comparative endpoint-by-endpoint approach, the proteomics analysis revealed six proteins from the GMO outside the 99% tolerance intervals of reference varieties (RVs) in the equivalence test. Interestingly, from the near-isogenic (non-GM) comparator we found as many as ten proteins to be outside of the said RVs’ equivalence limits. According to EFSA’s statistical guidelines, differences found in metabolite abundance between a GMO and its non-GM comparator would not be considered biologically relevant as all compounds of concern remained within the equivalence limits of commercial RVs. By assessing the proteomic and metabolomic data through our proposed systems biology approach, we found 70 proteins, and the metabolite xylobiose as differentially expressed between the GMO and its non-GM comparator. Biological relevance of such results was revealed through a functional biological network analysis, where we found alterations in several metabolic pathways related to protein synthesis and protein processing. Moreover, the allergenicity analysis identified 43 proteins with allergenic potential being differentially expressed in the GM soybean variety. Our results demonstrate that implementation of advanced untargeted omics technologies in the risk assessment of GMOs will enable early and holistic assessment of possible adverse effects. The proposed approach can provide a better understanding of the specific unintended effects of the genetic modification on the plant’s metabolism, the involved biological networks, and their interactions, and allows to formulate and investigate dedicated risk hypotheses in the first place. We draw conclusions on a detailed comparison with the comparative assessment according to EFSA and provide scientific arguments and examples on how the current comparative approach is not fit for purpose.publishedVersio
Helhetlig tiltaksplan og klimasårbarhetsanalyse for Sokndalsvassdraget
Get PDFI et tverrfaglig samarbeid som inkluderer ferskvanns- og restaureringsbiologi, klimaforskning, hydrologi og hydraulikk vises at vassdragsmiljøet i Sokndalsvassdraget er påvirket av en rekke fysiske inngrep og forurensing. Etter at forsuring er håndtert ved kalking vurderes finsedimentutslipp fra Sandbekkområdet som hovedpåvirkning. Utslippene har ført til svært lite skjul i elvebunn med reduserte forhold for elvemusling og svært lave fisketettheter. Flomdemping med flomtunell vil medføre virkning på miljøforhold som har blitt undervurdert i tidligere studier. Det er særlig plantevekst og sedimenteringsforhold som vil endres ved flomdemping, men også elvemorfologi vil kunne påvirkes. Miljørisikoen økes betydelig fordi det finnes allerede en storskala og langvarig finsedimentforurensing i vassdraget. Problemvekst av vannplanter og opphoping av sediment vil ved siden av miljøeffekter påvirke landbruk, ev. vannbruk, friluftsliv og kunne føre til lokal oversvømmelsesfare (krypsivproblematikk). Hydraulisk modellering viste at en flomtunell fra Lono i kombinasjon med elverestaurering og sikringstiltak vil kunne være et alternativ som gir lavere kostnader og mindre miljørisiko. Omfang av miljøpåvirkning vil avhenge hvilken type flomdemping som velges, beliggenhet av flomtunell og ved hvilken vannføring flomdemping begynnes. Miljørisiko vil være størst for flomtunnel ved Prestbro, vedvarende finsedimentustlipp og hyppig flomdemping fra 20-års flom og mindre. Det viktigste tiltaket for å avbøte negativ miljøpåvirkning av flomdemping er å stoppe ytterligere finsedimentutslipp fra Sandbekkområdet og skånsom rensing av elvebunn som er påvirket av finsediment derfra. Dette vil kunne flerdoble fisketetthetene som er svært lave i dag. Deretter vil prioritering av miljøtiltak være avhengig av valgt scenario og omfang av flomdemping. Demping av mindre flommer (Q50) samt stopp av finsedimentustlipp og rensing av elvebunn fra Sandbekk og nedover vil kunne sikre miljøforhold og fiskeproduksjon samt bedre habitatet for elvemusling i forhold til 2020. Et worst case scenario for miljøet vil være at finsedimentpåvirkningen fra Sandbekk fortsetter og det samtidig innføres en sterk flomdemping der også mindre flommer under Q20 dempes fra Prestbro. I så fall må det regnes med en sterkt redusert miljøtilstand med fare for at elvemusling forsvinner og laks- og ørretproduksjon reduseres sterkt. I tillegg må det regnes med problemvekst av planter inkludert krypsiv og opphoping av sedimenter med medfølgende konsekvenser for miljø, landbruk, friluftsliv og lokal oversvømmelsesfare nedenfor Prestbro.Helhetlig tiltaksplan og klimasårbarhetsanalyse for SokndalsvassdragetpublishedVersio
The emergence of the Gulf Stream and interior western boundary as key regions to constrain the future North Atlantic carbon uptake
Get PDFIn recent years, the growing number of available climate models and future scenarios has led to emergent constraints becoming a popular tool to constrain uncertain future projections. However, when emergent constraints are applied over large areas, it is unclear (i) if the well-performing models simulate the correct dynamics within the considered area, (ii) which key dynamical features the emerging constraint is stemming from, and (iii) if the observational uncertainty is low enough to allow for a considerable reduction in the projection uncertainties. We therefore propose to regionally optimize emergent relationships with the twofold goal to (a) identify key model dynamics associated with the emergent constraint and model inconsistencies around them and (b) provide key areas where a narrow observational uncertainty is crucial for constraining future projections. Here, we consider two previously established emergent constraints of the future carbon uptake in the North Atlantic (Goris et al., 2018). For the regional optimization, we use a genetic algorithm and pre-define a suite of shapes and size ranges for the desired regions. Independent of pre-defined shape and size range, the genetic algorithm persistently identifies the Gulf Stream region centred around 30∘ N as optimal as well as the region associated with broad interior southward volume transport centred around 26∘ N. Close to and within our optimal regions, observational data of volume transport are available from the RAPID array with relative low observational uncertainty. Yet, our regionally optimized emergent constraints show that additional measures of specific biogeochemical variables along the array will fundamentally improve our estimates of the future carbon uptake in the North Atlantic. Moreover, our regionally optimized emergent constraints demonstrate that models that perform well for the upper-ocean volume transport and related key biogeochemical properties do not necessarily reproduce the interior-ocean volume transport well, leading to inconsistent gradients of key biogeochemical properties. This hampers the applicability of emergent constraints over large areas and highlights the need to additionally evaluate spatial model features.publishedVersio
Primary care doctors in acute call-outs to severe trauma incidents in Norway–associations with factors related to patients and doctors
Get PDFObjective Severe trauma patients need immediate prehospital intervention and transfer to a specialised trauma hospital. In Norway, primary care doctors (PCDs) are an integrated part of the prehospital trauma care. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which PCDs were involved in prehospital care of severe trauma patients and how factors related to patients and doctors were associated with call-outs to these incidents. Design This was a registry-based study in Norway on severe trauma patients with acute hospital admission during the period 2012–2018. Setting Data was obtained from three Norwegian official registries. Subjects By linking the registries, we studied the actions taken by the PCDs, whether they called out to severe trauma incidents. Main outcome measures In multivariable regression models, we investigated whether factors related to the PCDs (age, sex, specialisation in general practice (GP)) and patients (age, sex, duration of hospital stay, type of injury) were associated with call-outs. Results Out of 4342 severe trauma incidents, PCDs had documented involvement in 1683 (39%) and called out to 644 (15%). Increased proportions of PCD call-outs to severe trauma incidents were significantly associated with lower age of PCD, being a GP specialist, lower patient age, being a male patient, increased length of hospital stay and injuries to the head and the neck. Conclusions PCDs called out to a relatively low proportion of severe trauma patients. Several factors related to patients and doctors were associated with call-outs to severe trauma incidents in Norway.publishedVersio
In the green? Perceptions of hydrogen production methods among the Norwegian public
Get PDFThis article presents findings from a representative survey, fielded through the Norwegian Citizen Panel, examining public perceptions of hydrogen fuel and its different production methods. Although several countries, including Norway, have strategies to increase the production of hydrogen fuel, our results indicate that hydrogen as an energy carrier, and its different production methods, are still unknown to a large part of the public. A common misunderstanding seems to be confusing ‘hydrogen fuel’ in general with environmentally friendly ‘green hydrogen’. Results from a survey experiment (N = 1906) show that production method is important for public acceptance. On a five-point acceptance scale, respondents score on average 3.9 for ‘green’ hydrogen, which is produced from renewable energy sources. The level of acceptance is significantly lower for ‘blue’ (3.2) and ‘grey’ (2.3) hydrogen when respondents are informed that these are produced from coal, oil, or natural gas. Public support for hydrogen fuel in general, as well as the different production methods, is also related to their level of worry about climate change, gender, and political affiliation. Widespread misunderstandings regarding ‘green’ hydrogen production could potentially fuel public resistance as new ‘blue’ or ‘grey’ projects develop. Our results indicate a need for clearer communication from the government and developers regarding production methods to avoid distrust and potential public backfire.publishedVersio