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Reconciling Earth’s growing energy imbalance with ocean warming
Get PDFRising greenhouse gas concentrations and declining global aerosol emissions are causing energy to accumulate in Earth's climate system at an increasing rate. Incomplete understanding of increases in Earth's energy imbalance and ocean warming reduces the capability to accurately prepare for near term climate change and associated impacts. Here, satellite based observations of Earth's energy budget and ocean surface temperature are combined with the ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis over 1985-2024 to improve physical understanding of changes in Earth's net energy imbalance and resulting ocean surface warming. A doubling of Earth's energy imbalance from 0.6±0.2 Wm−2 in 2001-2014 to 1.2±0.2 Wm−2 in 2015-2023 is primarily explained by increases in absorbed sunlight related to cloud-radiative effects over the oceans. Observed increases in absorbed sunlight are not fully captured by ERA5 and determined by widespread decreases in reflected sunlight by cloud over the global ocean. Strongly contributing to reduced reflection of sunlight are the Californian and Namibian stratocumulus cloud regimes, but also recent Antarctic sea ice decline in the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea. An observed increase in near-global ocean annual warming by 0.1 oC/yr for each 1 Wm−2 increase in Earth's energy imbalance is identified over an interannual time-scale (2000-2023). This is understood in terms of a simple ocean mixed layer energy budget only when assuming no concurrent response in heat flux below the mixed layer. Based on this
simple energy balance approach and observational evidence, the large observed near-global ocean surface warming of 0.27oC from 2022 to 2023 is found to be physically consistent with the large energy imbalance of 1.85±0.2 Wm−2 from August 2022 to
July 2023 but only if (1) a reduced depth of the mixed layer is experiencing the heating or (2) there is a reversal in the direction of heat flux beneath the mixed layer associated with the transition from La Nina to El Nino conditions. This new interpretation of
the drivers of Earth's energy budget changes and their links to ocean warming can improve confidence in near term warming and climate projections
Shuffling the deck? Multiple transitions and the new spatiality of places and workspaces in the polycrisis post-COVID economy
Get PDFThis research engages in a critical discussion of regional policies in the context of fundamental shifts in the spatial relationships between places and workplaces following the COVID-19 crisis. Focusing on the case of major advanced economies to illustrate its arguments, the analysis starts from a review of the heterogeneous dynamics defined by multiple regional transitions in a context of polycrisis. Then, it assesses opportunities and challenges for tackling regional imbalances and re-building resiliently and sustainably by combining insights on the shifting nature in the spatiality of workplaces with a holistic perspective on cross-domain policy intervention(s) bridging regional industrial, skills, and social policies
Design and assessment of protein-fortified recipes for community-dwelling older adults to prevent the onset of undernutrition
No full textIntroduction: Public health guidelines recommend food fortification (adding ingredients of nutritional importance
into commonly consumed foods) to help older adults achieve sufficient protein intake. Despite the nutritional
benefits of food fortification, there is a significant gap between nutritional research and sensory acceptance,
which can limit older adults’ compliance to fortified foods. The present study aimed at developing and testing the
feasibility and liking of using “Do it yourself” protein-fortified recipes that could be easily prepared at home in
France, Norway and the UK.
Materials and methods: A market review was conducted to identify available high-protein ingredients (n = 140).
After screening for sensory, nutritional, food technology, and regulatory characteristics, two high-protein ingredients were selected: milk protein powder (isolate) and organic soya mince (extruded). In parallel, common
food matrices that could serve as relevant candidates for fortification were identified through 4-day food diaries
collected with 65 respondents in France, Norway, and the UK. Eight dishes were selected for recipe fortification
and paired with high-protein ingredients (+ 6 to 11 g of protein per portion, mean = 8.1, SD = 2.3). Then, these
fortified recipes were assessed for ease-of-use and acceptability in a home-use trial with healthy older adults in
the three countries (> 70 years; n = 158). Participants made the recipes themselves at home using their own
cooking equipment.
Results: Feedback from participants indicated that they found the recipes easy to follow and to prepare themselves. The fortified recipes were liked (mean liking from 5.3 to 5.9 on a 7-point scale) and perceived as being
easy to chew, moisten (humidify in mouth) and swallow. More than 50% of the participants were willing to make
the recipes again in the future and liked the fortified version equally or more to their usual recipes.
Discussion: Making the recipes by themselves at home removed participants’ barriers to using high-protein ingredients. Furthermore, participants modified dishes to their liking by adjusting seasoning and texture to their
preference underling the flexibility of the fortification strategy
Strengthening the reporting of diet item details in feeding studies measuring the dietary metabolome: the DID-METAB core outcome set statement
Get PDFThree decades of woodland cover change in Hwedza, Zimbabwe reveals similar trajectories of woodland loss in communal and resettlement areas
Get PDFZimbabwe has pledged to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, which if accomplished may enhance the delivery of ecosystem services. Uncertainty over the extent of woodland cover change and the impact of land redistribution could impede progress. Through comparative analysis of communal and resettlement areas we investigated the patterns, causes and implications of land-cover change in Hwedza, Zimbabwe between 1990 and 2020. Land-cover classification of remotely sensed data reveals that Hwedza has transitioned from a trajectory of net woodland loss to net woodland gain. There is no evidence that resettlement increased deforestation compared to communal areas. Changes in off-farm income, smallholder tobacco farming, and reduced profitability of staple crops were perceived by interviewees to be important factors affecting woodland change. Due to the importance of woodland services such as fuelwood, our findings highlight the need to address the societal implications of policies aiming to reduce deforestation
Self-compassion and positive solitude experiences enhance well-being for informal caregivers of older adults, and middle and older adults
Get PDFSelf-compassion has been found useful in supporting resilience and well-being when tested in
general populations and can be especially useful during periods that are prone to rumination
and isolation. Little is known about the nature and importance of self-compassion in informal
caregivers of older adults. Yet informal caregivers often experience such psychological
burdens when providing care for their loved one. Many are themselves older adults, and their
time away from others’ expectations – in solitude – is a potential resource for self-care. The
work developed within this thesis aimed to build an understanding of self-compassion as a
resource for caregivers (the first two empirical papers, Chapters 2 and 3), and during solitude
moments in middle and older adults (the final empirical chapter, Chapter 4). Chapter 2
explores the definition and meaning of self-compassion for caregivers through interviews,
providing a foundation for later research in this population. For these caregivers, the concept
of self-compassion involved identifying one’s own needs and prioritising them. Self-compassion was accessed through a mindset in which challenges were viewed with clarity
and acceptance, and boundaries were maintained through protecting a separate identity.
Feeling connected with other people was important to protect from ‘aloneness’. However,
barriers to self-compassion were experienced when compromises were necessary to fulfil
recipients’ needs and where demands on caregivers’ resources were particularly high. This
research highlighted that ‘self-care’ and ‘self-kindness’ were central to self-compassion. In
Chapter 3, the utility of self-compassionate writing for caregivers was tested, with caregivers
writing about difficult caregiving experiences with self-kindness, common humanity, and
mindfulness (the three self-compassion components). Studies 2 and 3 showed self-kindness
was particularly important for well-being in caregivers, and in Study 4 common humanity
and self-kindness were most strongly linked with beneficial mood outcomes (higher serenity,
less guilt, and less sadness).
Findings from this research, and from the literature, showed that caregivers of older
adults were often middle and older adults themselves, caring for a spouse or an older parent.
It was further highlighted that their solitude was a vulnerable time for rumination and
isolation when individuals are in difficult circumstances, but also potentially as a time for
great self-care with the right mindset. The final empirical chapter spanning Studies 5 and 6
highlighted that, of three self-compassion constructs (self-kindness, common humanity, and
mindfulness), self-kindness was a particularly robust correlate of better mood (higher
serenity; less sadness; Study 5). Findings from research with a young adult sample (Study 5)
helped shape a targeted intervention for older adults in Study 6. Middle and older adult
participants therefore engaged in planned solitude experiences targeted towards self-kindness, specifically (Study 6). Those who completed self-kindness activities in planned
solitude experienced greater serenity and vitality. In all, self-kindness appeared to be an
important facilitator for increasing self-compassion in young, middle, and older adults, and
was also important for caregiving populations
Review of transmission planning and scaling of renewable energy in energy communities
No full textThis study explores renewable energy scaling in energy communities and transmission expansion planning (TEP). The increasing share of renewables creates challenges in transmitting wind and solar power from remote areas to cities. These challenges necessitate the modernization of conventional transmission systems. Energy communities, which focus on decentralized production and consumption, have the potential to mitigate these challenges by optimizing local energy flows. The primary objective of this study is to identify optimal strategies for the integration of renewable energy in energy communities and to assess the expansion of transmission infra- structure required to support this integration. A systematic literature review was conducted, encompassing arti- cles published between 2009 and 2024 in this study. The review was based on searches across leading academic databases, including SCOPUS, ELSEVIER Science Direct, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. A total of 1509 stud- ies were initially identified, of which 266 articles were selected for detailed analysis. The findings indicate that energy communities play a pivotal role in facilitating the integration of renewable energy and enhancing grid re- silience. However, the results also highlight that the efficiency of this integration can be significantly improved through advanced planning methodologies and supportive regulatory frameworks. While energy communities reduce the need for long-distance transmission through local generation, the expansion of transmission infra- structure remains essential during periods of high demand or low local generation. These results provide valu- able insights into the development of future energy infrastructure policies and underscore the need for a more flexible and decentralized approach to transmission network expansion
Air pollution modulates trends and variability of the global methane budget
Get PDFAir pollution affects climate through various complex interactions. It perturbs the Earth’s radiative energy balance and alters the atmospheric oxidation capacity, which
determines the lifetimes of short-lived climate forcers, such as methane1. A key mechanism in this dynamic is the impact of air pollutants on the hydroxyl radical (OH),
the most important oxidant in the troposphere, which accounts for approximately 90% of the methane chemical sink2. However, a comprehensive quantification of the interactions between air pollutants, OH and methane over decadal timescales remains incomplete. Here we develop an integrated observation-driven and model-driven approach to quantify how variations in key air pollutants influence the
methane chemical sink and alter the methane budget. Our results indicate that, from 2005 to 2021, enhanced tropospheric ozone, increased water vapour and decreased
carbon monoxide levels collectively contributed to a 1.3–2.0 Tg year−1 increase per year in the global methane sink, thereby buffering atmospheric methane growth rates. This increase in the methane sink was primarily concentrated in tropical regions and exhibited a north–south asymmetry. Periods of high methane growth were typically linked to abrupt OH level declines driven by fluctuations in air pollutants, especially during extreme events such as mega wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study suggests a trade-off between O3 pollution control and methane removal
mediated by OH and highlights the risk of increasing carbon monoxide emissions from widespread wildfires
A new approach to identifying safety measures across transfers of care for people who use insulin for Type 2 diabetes
Get PDFAims When people who use insulin for Type 2 diabetes have a hospital admission and discharge, they are at risk of harm from incorrect, delayed, or missed insulin doses. Leading indicators can highlight potential areas of risk, providing opportunities to improve safety. Modelling the complex transfer of care pathway can provide insight into where leading indicators could be targeted to support improved outcomes. Methods Multiple qualitative methods were used, and a framework approach was applied to identify activities (termed functions) involved in managing insulin during the transfer of care, and how factors involving people, equipment and environments (local, organisational and external) impacted these. The Functional Resilience Analysis Method was used to map the transfer of care pathway, and key areas of variability were identified. These areas of variability and two example functions were validated and discussed with key/representative stakeholders in an online seminar.ResultsA total of 59 functions were mapped, and 21 were identified as key functions for potential new measures. These 21 functions were validated at a seminar, and two example functions, empowering people with diabetes who use insulin to manage their diabetes and arranging self‐administration of insulin in hospital, were discussed in detail. A selection of potential measures was identified. Conclusions Many potential areas for new leading indicators were identified, and examples of potential measures were described. A coproduction approach is required to expand, define and validate these. Such measures provide an opportunity for proactively improving insulin safety during care transfers