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No full textChris Preston and Oli Pescott present the latest set of notable records
Pulse irrigation strategies for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems as efficient alternatives to traditional surface irrigation systems in clay soils
No full textTo maximize yield and water productivity and improve potato quality, four frequencies of pulse irrigation using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems were applied as alternatives to conventional methods of single-dose surface irrigation. Two field trials were conducted in 2022 and 2023 on clay soils in Egypt. Compared with other irrigation systems, sprinkler irrigation significantly improved potato productivity when using a pulse irrigation strategy. The best application of sprinkler irrigation was six pulses per day. Pulse irrigation produced the highest potato yield values (ranging from 44.4 to 45.6 t ha−1) in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively. The irrigation system of pulse sprinkler also produced the best three potato quality parameters (total carbohydrates, specific density and dry matter). The results confirmed that sprinkler irrigation has the following positive effects: (1) lowering soil moisture and salinity stress in the root zone and improving the distribution efficiency of soil moisture and (2) reducing the severity of the ambient high air temperature effect on the plants. Both benefits of improving water and nutrient availability and improving ambient temperature would lead to improving the processes of photosynthesis, dry matter and yield
Assessment of coastal inundation triggered by multiple drivers in Ca Mau Peninsula, Vietnam
Get PDFThe Ca Mau Peninsula (CMP) plays a critical role in the agricultural and aquaculture productivity of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), central to regional food security as well as the population's economic and social welfare. Unfortunately, the region faces persistent flood risks from seasonal Mekong flows and high tides. Climate change is expected to worsen these threats through sea level rise, extreme rainfall, and more frequent storm surges, while, human-induced factors such as land subsidence and riverbed lowering can further complicate the situation. Quantification of potential hazards associated with these drivers is therefore essential for shaping the future sustainability for the region and its ability to adapt to both current and forthcoming changes. In this study, we assess the impact of compounding hazards by developing regional inundation maps and analysing flood dynamics in the CMP using a large-scale hydrodynamic model encompassing the entire VMD. The model was enhanced with updated bathymetric data for major river channels, along with synchronized information on the dyke across the VMD from the 2018–2019 period, resulting in a substantial performance improvement. It was then applied across multiple future scenarios based on both individual drivers and their combinations, representing a wide but plausible range of anthropogenic and climate changes. Our findings show that upstream high flows, riverbed lowering, and occurrences of storm surges affecting the mainstream Mekong River have limited impact on regional inundation dynamics. However, land subsidence, rising sea levels, and their combined effects emerge as the primary drivers behind the escalation in both extent and intensity of the regional inundations in the future. These results, hence, are expected to serve as vital groundwork for strategic development and investment as well as for emergency decision-making and flood management planning, providing essential insights for shaping development policies and devising investment strategies related to infrastructure systems in this rapidly developing area
Zooplankton and micronekton active flux around the Iberian Peninsula
Get PDFThe biological carbon pump comprises a set of processes that transfer organic carbon from the ocean surface to its depths, playing a vital role in the global carbon cycle. Estimating the amount of carbon transported by this pump remains challenging due to the complex, variable nature of its pathways and the limited availability of comprehensive measurements. While the contribution of zooplankton to active flux has been examined, with studies reporting 10-30% of total particle export, the role of micronekton in this process is still poorly understood. Furthermore, the relative capacity of both communities to export carbon remains largely unclear. Here, we report total (zooplankton plus micronekton) active and passive fluxes from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean around the Iberian Peninsula, to explore how total active flux is influenced by environmental conditions. Water column physical properties differed between the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean zones, with chlorophyll a values two-fold higher in the upwelling off Portugal. Particulate organic carbon fluxes from sediment traps ranged from 4.24 ± 0.2 to 7.94 ± 3.9 mg C·m -2 ·d -1 . Active flux was dominated by zooplankton in the Mediterranean Sea (77.2 ± 21.2 vs. 14.8 ± 3.4 mg C·m -2 ·d -1 in the Atlantic), whereas micronekton contributed more in the Atlantic Ocean (15.1 ± 9.4 vs. 7.9 ± 6.8 mg C·m -2 ·d -1 ). This pattern shows that active flux far exceeded passive flux in all regions, with pelagic decapods playing a particularly important role in the northern Atlantic. Our results highlight the ecological significance of both zooplankton and micronekton in driving carbon flux, underlining the need to understand their relative contributions across contrasting environments to better explain the functioning of the biological carbon pump
Temporal increases in mercury concentrations are associated with increased risk of death by infectious disease in harbour porpoises (Phocoena Phocoena)
Get PDFTrace elements, particularly heavy metals like mercury, pose significant risks to marine ecosystems due to their toxic and bioaccumulative properties. Concentrations in some marine species show concerning temporal increases, yet spatiotemporal trends in UK marine mammals have not been comprehensively assessed for nearly two decades. Marine mammals serve as sentinel species for ocean health due to their long lifespan and high trophic level, making them vulnerable to bioaccumulative pollutants. Monitoring trace elements, in highly exposed populations, is critical for assessing trends and indices of health, like infectious disease. Using liver tissue samples of 738 UK-stranded harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) collected between 1990 and 2021, we found mercury and selenium concentrations have increased, in contrast to declines in cadmium and lead. Spatial analyses revealed that mercury concentrations are highest at lower latitudes, while cadmium increases northward. Levels of zinc, mercury, selenium, and cadmium are significantly associated with infectious disease mortality risk. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring trace elements in sentinel species to inform conservation efforts and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution mitigation policies such as the Minamata Convention. Increasing mercury levels, despite emission reductions, underscores the urgent need for improved measures to protect marine biodiversity and ecosystem health
Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for the United Kingdom
Get PDFIn the reporting period 2022–2025, there has been a
sustained resurgence of interest in all aspects of
geothermal energy in the United Kingdom (UK),
including in the provision of decarbonised heat.
Currently, the main area of exploitation are shallow
geothermal resources using GSHP (Ground Source
Heat Pump) systems. There has been increased activity
in pre-feasibility and exploration stages of medium to
deep geothermal resources, however exploitation
continues to be slow.
Sales of shallow geothermal via GSHPs have remained
stable or decreased for small-scale residential and
commercial schemes (< 50 kWth) due to the end of the
Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. Only 3% of grants
in the replacement domestic Boiler Upgrade Scheme
were for GSHPs. Through the Public Sector
Decarbonisation Scheme and Heat Network Funds and
the predecessors, the number of larger-scale GSHP
projects operational has increased.
The most significant developments in deep geothermal
have been the construction of the power plant at the
United Downs Deep Geothermal Project and
production of deep geothermal heat at the Eden
Geothermal Project, both in Cornwall. Both deep
geothermal projects have encountered permeable
structures at depth in radiogenic granites. Coproduction
of lithium from geothermal brines in these
settings is changing the economics of these deep
geothermal power or heat projects. A project in
Cornwall and another in Weardale gained planning
permission for lithium extraction plants, with utilisation
of the heat a later consideration.
The UK has an increasing number of geothermal
research and demonstration sites spanning shallow
aquifers, mine water energy and repurposing of
hydrocarbon wells. A number of geothermal groups
and associations cover different geothermal
technologies and sectors, with a corresponding number
of conferences, webinars, research grants and
publications
Exposure and adverse effects of pesticides on honeybees
No full textSynthetic pesticides, including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, are an integral component of conventional agricultural systems, as well as representing important veterinary medicines and having widespread applications in domestic and commercial situations. Their use poses a hazard to non-target species that are unintentionally exposed through both normal current use as well as where these chemicals have persisted in the wider environment following regulatory withdrawal. Understanding what these risks are under real world conditions is a critical component of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) ‘H4: Exposure and adverse effects of chemicals on wildlife indicator’ .
Insects visiting flowers, including those of crops, provide pollination services with an estimated value of £0.5 billion to the UK economy. While the community of insect pollinators is diverse, honeybees represent the only managed species foraging in the wider environment. With over 248,000 hives in the UK, they not only represent a species of high social and economic importance but can act as a bio-monitor of environmental risks as they are exposed to pesticides when they forage over distances of 1-2 km from their hives. Such exposure may come as they forage on crops, amenity land and domestic gardens. Working with the UK National Honey Monitoring Scheme this report describes an ongoing indicator for honeybee exposure and subsequent risks across England resulting from environmental use of pesticides from 2019 to 2023
Estimates of Atlantic meridional heat transport from spatiotemporal fusion of Argo, altimetry, and gravimetry data
No full textUnderstanding how changes in Atlantic meridional heat transport (MHT) and the Earth's climate relate to one another is crucial to our ability to predict the future climate response to anthropogenic forcing. Attaining this understanding requires continuous and accurate records of MHT across the whole Atlantic. While such records can be obtained through direct ocean observing systems, these systems are expensive to install and maintain, and thus, in practice, records of MHT derived in this way are restricted to a few latitudes. An alternative approach, based on hydrographic and satellite components of the global ocean observing system, consists of inferring heat transport convergence as a residual from the difference between ocean heat content (OHC) changes and surface heat flux. In its simplest form, this approach derives the OHC from hydrographic observations alone; however, these observations are spatially sparse and unevenly distributed, which can introduce significant errors and biases into the MHT estimates. Here, we combine data from hydrography, satellite altimetry, and satellite gravimetry through joint spatiotemporal modelling to generate probabilistic estimates of MHT for the period 2004–2020 at 3-month resolution across 12 latitudinal sections of the Atlantic Ocean between 65° N and 35° S. Our approach leverages the higher spatial sampling of the satellite observations to compensate for the sparseness and irregular distribution of the hydrographic data, leading to significantly improved estimates of MHT compared to those derived from hydrographic data alone. The fusion of the various datasets is done using rigorous Bayesian statistical methods that account for the spatial resolution mismatch between datasets and ensure an adequate representation and propagation of uncertainty. Our estimates of MHT at 26° N agree remarkably well with estimates based on direct ocean observations from the RAPID array, both in magnitude and phase of the variability, with a correlation of 0.68 for quarterly (3-monthly) time series and 0.81 after applying a yearly running mean. For the period 2004–2017, the correlation increases to 0.78 and 0.92, respectively. The time-mean MHT at 26° N is also captured by our approach, with a value of 1.14 PW [1.01, 1.27] (5 %–95 % credible interval). Estimates of MHT at other latitudes are also consistent with what we expect based on earlier estimates as well as on our current understanding of MHT in the Atlantic Ocean
Prokaryotic metabolic response to water-soluble polymers enhances oxygen drawdown in freshwater systems: A polyethylene glycol case study
No full textWater-soluble polymers (WSPs), such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), are emerging contaminants with widespread industrial and commercial applications. Despite their extensive use, the environmental fate and impact of WSPs in freshwater ecosystems remain largely unexamined. We hypothesize that PEG exposure will increase microbial oxygen consumption rates, thereby exacerbating deoxygenation. Short-term incubation experiments were conducted on water samples collected from the River Test, Romsey, UK, to assess PEG’s effect on microbial: oxygen consumption, leucine uptake and assimilation efficiency, to indicate rates of prokaryotic respiration and production, and eco-physiological status. A range of PEG molecular weights (100–1000 g/mol) and concentrations (50–1600 mg/L) were used. Our results demonstrate that PEG enhances microbial respiration, with an increase in oxygen consumption across all tested molecular weights and concentrations. Even at the lowest concentration (50 mg/L), PEG exposure resulted in a 40–80 % increase in oxygen consumption compared to controls. Leucine assimilation efficiency also increased, suggesting that PEG serves as a bioavailable carbon source, thereby promoting microbial growth and enhancing eco-physiological status. However, the relationship between PEG molecular weight, concentration, and oxygen consumption was non-linear, likely influenced by factors such as aggregation effects, microbial enzymatic selectivity, and threshold-driven metabolic responses. These findings suggest that WSPs may play an underappreciated role in altering oxygen dynamics in freshwater systems, with potential implications for eutrophication, aquatic ecosystem functioning and enhanced carbon dioxide production. Given the increasing global production and environmental presence of WSPs, further research is needed to assess their potential long-term environmental impacts to inform disposal strategies
Outreach and knowledge mobilization for the effective use of adoptive strategies for land-lake based resilience
No full textEffective land–lake management for resilience requires an integration of knowledge mobilization, capacity building, and collaborative partnerships that bridge science, policy, and community practice. This study aims to enhance understanding of land–lake socio-ecological linkages and to strengthen how geochemical evidence and participatory knowledge are translated into action among diverse actors. The paper draws on outcomes from a series of multi-stakeholder workshops implemented under the Royal Society International Collaboration Grant, “Dynamics of Environmental Geochemistry and Health in a Lake-Wide Basin,” held at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Kisumu, Kenya, between 2023 and 2024. The workshops brought together government agencies, researchers, extension officers, private sector representatives, and community groups from across the Lake Victoria Basin. Collectively, participants identified critical knowledge and capacity gaps limiting the application of geochemical data to inform management and policy. Through participatory discussions, the workshops emphasized the need to integrate sediment fingerprinting, nutrient mapping, and catchment monitoring into county-level planning. Key themes included hotspot identification, restoration, and evidence-based decision-making to reduce land-to-lake sediment transfers that degrade both terrestrial and aquatic productivity. Participants co-developed pathways for climate-smart and regenerative agri-industries, policy briefs, and communication tools tailored for multiple audiences, including low-literacy and disability-inclusive formats. The process also led to the proposal of a multi-agency coordination committee to oversee ongoing collaboration, data sharing, and monitoring of land–lake activities within the Winam Gulf basin. Anchored in social–ecological resilience and adaptive knowledge mobilization frameworks, the study demonstrates that sustained interaction between scientific diagnostics and community engagement can foster adaptive learning and institutional linkages essential for resilience. The findings underscore the importance of early stakeholder inclusion, transparent data exchange, and participatory governance as foundations for sustainable land–lake management and long-term ecosystem health in the Lake Victoria Basin
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