Article
Geography, Physical
Martin Theuerkauf, John Couwenberg
Summary: The study introduced an implementation of the extended R-value (ERV) model in the R environment for statistical computing to simplify application and testing. Simulated pollen-vegetation data sets revealed that noise in the data and dispersal model selection are critical factors in ERV application.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Hongwei Sun, Sebastian Eastham, David Keith
Summary: The Lagrangian plume model has been embedded into a global Eulerian model to establish a multiscale Plume-in-Grid (PiG) model, which allows for more accurate resolution of stratospheric emissions. The results of the PiG model show that the injected tracer is more concentrated, with lower entropy and higher product mass, providing a better simulation of plume physical processes.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yao Liu, Kiona Ogle, Jeremy W. Lichstein, Stephen T. Jackson
Summary: Quantitative understanding of vegetation dynamics over long timespans is limited. Pollen-based reconstruction provides unique opportunities to quantify plant community changes over hundreds to thousands of years. Conflicting estimates of pollen productivity and dispersal may challenge the reliability of pollen-based reconstruction. This study reveals that fixed assumptions of pollen dispersal and insufficient spatial resolution of vegetation data can lead to conflicting estimates. The findings highlight the importance of considering local and regional vegetation when estimating pollen productivity and dispersal.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Qiuyan Wang, Yuling Lu, Limin He, Xue Huang, Jiaxin Feng
Summary: A better understanding of oil droplet dispersal, oil-water interaction, and transport in the South China Sea (SCS) is needed to enhance the response to potential spill risks from subsea oil and gas development in the region. An offline oil spill prediction system was used to simulate a hypothetical spill in a deepwater condensate field. The results showed the dynamics of the plume and the transport of submerged oil droplets, providing valuable information for contingency planning in the event of an underwater oil spill.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Jodie Schlaefer, Alexandra Carter, Severine Choukroun, Robert Coles, Kay Critchell, Jonathan Lambrechts, Michael Rasheed, Samantha Tol, Alana Grech
Summary: This study presents a framework to measure the optimal number of particles required to capture variability in dispersal and connectivity of marine plants (seagrasses). It found that the optimal release particle numbers varied with seagrass habitat type, season, and physical parameters. The study also provides guidance on important factors to consider when determining the optimal number of particles required to predict dispersal and connectivity in biophysical models of marine plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wensheng Sun, Shigang Yang, Ya Yang, Qin Fang, Jianlu Zhu, Junhao Dai, Haoyang Li
Summary: This study establishes a numerical model of liquefied natural gas leakage from a tanker in a tunnel and investigates the effects of leakage direction, leakage aperture, and tunnel cross-section on concentration distribution. The results show that the leaked gas tends to accumulate in the tunnel, leading to an increase of combustible range by more than 2 times. Additionally, it is found that excessive leakage aperture causes concentration to surpass the Upper Flammable Limit, and similar trends occur when the tunnel cross-section reduces. Based on the numerical results, a calculation model of the personnel hazard range suitable for various tunnel cross-sections and leakage apertures is derived.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Mahendra Prasad, Gopika Vinod, J. Chattopadhyay
Summary: The study aims to determine the quantitative value of LERF for a site consisting of multiple nuclear power plants, and proposes a method to differentiate between the exclusion boundary of the site and that of a single nuclear power plant. Concepts of exclusion boundary length for a multiple nuclear power plant site were delineated after considering a hypothetical site with three nuclear power plant units.
PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael Pirhalla, David Heist, Steven Perry, Wei Tang, Lydia Brouwer
Summary: Following the release of a harmful substance in an urban environment, the behavior and propagation of plumes can be significantly affected by building structures and street canyons. Further research is needed to refine urban characterizations and improve dispersion models. Field, laboratory, and modeling experiments are critical for advancing current dispersion models.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Deyi Chen, Baojie Nie, Yiling Ran, Yuxuan Wang, Hongyu Li, Weiguo Gu, Dezhong Wang
Summary: Different radionuclides have distinct atmospheric dispersion characteristics, with light gas and heavy particles experiencing buoyancy and gravitational deposition phenomena, respectively. The Gaussian plume model is commonly used to describe the atmospheric dispersion behaviors of radioactive effluents, but the effects of buoyancy and gravitational deposition have not been sufficiently addressed in previous studies, especially for tritium. This study quantitatively describes the buoyancy and gravitational deposition phenomena and discusses the feasibility of developing an improved Gaussian plume model to predict near-surface concentration distribution. The results demonstrate that the improved correction method enables higher accuracy in predicting the atmospheric concentration distribution of gaseous pollutants with density variation or particles with gravitational deposition properties.
APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES
(2023)
Article
Economics
Zoya Banan, Jeremy M. Gernand
Summary: The study found that current policies in Pennsylvania are insufficient to protect people from the exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions from shale gas development, potentially leading to over 36,000 exceedances in a single year, nearly 1% of the regional population. Suggestions include revising setback policies based on the number of wells per wellpad and local conditions to further mitigate air quality impacts.
Article
Mechanics
Xin-wei Ye, Xiao-jing Niu, Jian Jiang
Summary: Due to density stratification of sea water, pollutants such as dispersed oil droplets, gas bubbles, and dissolved components can remain at specific depths. A double-plume Lagrangian particle tracking model is improved and used to predict underwater pollutants in an oil blowout. The model considers the properties and dissolution processes of crude oil components, focusing on their behavior and stratification differences in the plume. It is applied to simulate the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, showing enrichment layers of oil and gas at different depths and concentration differences between components, corresponding to in-situ observations of petroleum pollutants.
JOURNAL OF HYDRODYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Qian Sun, Fengbo Yang, Xingyun Yu, Xiaoyi Wang, Jiping Xu, Ning Cao, Huiyan Zhang, Li Wang, Jiabin Yu
Summary: This paper discusses the application of water quality sensor networks in monitoring water environment, early warning, and prevention of water pollution. By establishing water area characteristic model and Gaussian plume model, the key monitoring areas and their impact range are determined. With the deployment of sensors using particle swarm optimization, better monitoring of key areas and maximum coverage of other regions are achieved.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhixuan Cao, Marcus Bursik, Qingyuan Yang, Abani Patra
Summary: The study introduces the use of a three-dimensional volcanic plume model to represent the ash cloud source, improving predictive skill. Application of the model to the Pinatubo eruption reveals the significant impact of initial particle distribution on long-range ash cloud transport. Comparison with satellite data shows that the 3D model-based distribution of ash particles produces improved VATD simulations.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zhiyu Xia, Zhengyi Xu, Dan Li, Jianming Wei
Summary: This study proposes a novel method, Outlier Mutation Optimization (OMO) algorithm, for tracking the source of chemical gas leakage. The OMO algorithm demonstrates high calculation accuracy and efficiency, making it a practical and effective solution for chemical industrial parks in responding to gas leakage accidents.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christian Lejon, Daniel Vagberg, Fredrik Schonfeldt, Birgitta Liljedahl, Leif Persson, Jan Burman, Daniel Elfverson, Joakim Eriksson Rydman, Jan Sjostrom, Oscar Bjornham
Summary: This article provides insights into the health risks of smoke from lithium-ion battery fires, specifically examining a large-scale event in Morris, IL, USA. The findings support the need for precautions in handling lithium-ion batteries, especially in situations involving large quantities.
AIR QUALITY ATMOSPHERE AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Larissa Schneider, Niamh Shulmeister, Michela Mariani, Kristen K. Beck, Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Atun Zawadzki, Krystyna M. Saunders, Marco A. Aquino-Lopez, Simon G. Haberle
Summary: Mining has been a significant economic contributor to Australia since the late 17th century, with little consideration for long-term environmental consequences. A study in western Tasmania revealed metal pollution legacy from British colonialism, where large-scale open-cut operations in the 1930s led to severe environmental damage.
ANTHROPOCENE REVIEW
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Michela Mariani, Simon E. Connor, Martin Theuerkauf, Annika Herbert, Petr Kunes, David Bowman, Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Lesley Head, A. Peter Kershaw, Simon G. Haberle, Janelle Stevenson, Matthew Adeleye, Haidee Cadd, Feli Hopf, Christy Briles
Summary: Recent catastrophic fires in Australia and North America have raised questions about the impact of Indigenous burning practices on fuel accumulation and structure. In order to coexist with fire sustainably, understanding the ancient relationship between humans and flammable landscapes is important. Using novel palaeoecological modeling and charcoal compilations, this study reassessed evidence of changes in land cover and fire activity in southeast Australia before and after colonization. The findings suggest that the forests and woodlands in the region had fewer shrubs and more grass before colonization, and changes in vegetation and fuel structures varied across different vegetation types. The disruption of Indigenous vegetation management caused by European settlement, combined with climate change impacts, likely contributed to the widespread wildfires.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Nick Schafstall, Niina Kuosmanen, Petr Kunes, Helena Svitavska Svobodova, Marek Svitok, Richard C. Chiverrell, Karen Halsall, Peter Fleischer, Milos Knizek, Jennifer L. Clear
Summary: Temperate mountain forests have experienced an increase in bark beetle outbreaks in recent decades, with a notable peak post-2004. Fossil records in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia, suggest a long-term pattern of bark beetle activity, with significant correlations between bark beetles and macroscopic charcoal densities in the sediment. The influence of anthropogenic activity on the intensifying bark beetle outbreaks highlights the importance of understanding past disturbances for predicting future ecological stability.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Grant D. Linley, Chris J. Jolly, Tim S. Doherty, William L. Geary, Dolors Armenteras, Claire M. Belcher, Rebecca Bliege Bird, Andrea Duane, Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Melisa A. Giorgis, Angie Haslem, Gavin M. Jones, Luke T. Kelly, Calvin K. F. Lee, Rachael H. Nolan, Catherine L. Parr, Juli G. Pausas, Jodi N. Price, Adrian Regos, Euan G. Ritchie, Julien Ruffault, Grant J. Williamson, Qianhan Wu, Dale G. Nimmo
Summary: This study conducted a structured review of the term "megafire" in peer-reviewed scientific literature to address the ambiguity surrounding its meaning. The researchers found considerable variability in the criteria used to define megafire, with the most common threshold being fires larger than 10,000 ha. They also proposed a definition for megafire as fires exceeding 10,000 ha, as well as introducing the terms "gigafire" (> 100,000 ha) and "terafire" (> 1,000,000 ha) for even larger scale fires.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Brittany E. Pugh, Megan Colley, Stephen J. Dugdale, Patrick Edwards, Rebecca Flitcroft, Andres Holz, Matthew Johnson, Michela Mariani, Mickey Means-Brous, Kate Meyer, Kevan B. Moffett, Lisa Renan, Franziska Schrodt, Colin Thorne, Samuel Valman, Upekala Wijayratne, Richard Field
Summary: Historically, wildfires have significantly impacted landscape-scale disturbances and enhanced biodiversity through generating temporally and spatially heterogeneous mosaics of wildfire severity and post-burn recovery. However, river management practices have often disconnected rivers from their floodplains, reducing biodiversity and increasing the likelihood of deep, uniform burns. By focusing on floodplain re-wetting and restoration, river management can reduce wildfire intensity and enhance biodiversity, contributing to climate-change resilience.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vojtech Abraham, Petr Kunes, Ondrej Vild, Eva Jamrichova, Zuzana Pleskova, Barbora Werchan, Helena Svitavska-Svobodova, Jan Rolecek
Summary: This study explored the relationship between pollen records and plant diversity, finding a significant positive correlation between pollen richness and plant diversity. It validates the use of pollen as a tool for reconstructing plant diversity in the past.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Zsuzsa Lisztes-Szabo, Albert Toth, Botond Buro, Adam Braun, Attila Csik, Anna F. Filep, Petr Kunes, Mihaly Braun
Summary: The analysis of phytoliths has untapped potential in paleoenvironmental reconstruction studies, providing new findings in research on environmental change. In this study, blocky-type phytoliths were found in fossil spruce needles in sediment sections of a lake in Czech Republic. Despite differences in their age, the subfossil phytoliths maintained their globe-like ultrastructure, suggesting their stability and potential use in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
Article
Ecology
Marion Lestienne, Eva Jamrichova, Niina Kuosmanen, Andrei-Cosmin Diaconu, Nick Schafstall, Viktor Golias, Gunther Kletetschka, Vaclav Sulc, Petr Kunes
Summary: This study aims to understand the colonization process of European beech forests in the inner Eastern Carpathians and how changes in fire regime and human activities have affected their biodiversity. The research findings indicate that the expansion of beech forests is closely related to fire frequency and human activities, while climate also plays an important role in vegetation changes.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Ticha, Daniel Vondrak, Alice Moravcova, Richard Chiverrell, Petr Kunes
Summary: Water brownification has been a long-standing issue in freshwater ecosystems in the northern hemisphere. By studying a small forest mountain lake in Czechia, we found that climate-related soil saturation and peatland development have been driving surface water brownification for thousands of years. The analysis of sediment cores revealed three threshold shifts in water brownification processes at approximately 10.7, 5.5, and 4.2 thousand years before present.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Anna Walentowitz, Bernd Lenzner, Franz Essl, Nichola Strandberg, Alvaro Castilla-Beltran, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Svante Bjorck, Simon Connor, Simon G. Haberle, Karl Ljung, Matiu Prebble, Janet M. Wilmshurst, Cynthia A. Froyd, Erik J. de Boer, Lea de Nascimento, Mary E. Edwards, Janelle Stevenson, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Sandra Nogue
Summary: Human-mediated changes in island vegetation are largely caused by the introduction and establishment of non-native species. However, data on past changes in non-native plant species abundance are scarce. Using fossil pollen data and botanical status information, we studied the changes in non-native plant abundance on 29 islands over the past 5000 years. Our findings reveal a proportional increase in non-native plant pollen in the last 1000 years and highlight the importance of considering the longer and more dynamic history of non-native plant introductions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Tomas Radomersky, Premysl Bobek, Matej Man, Helena Svitavska Svobodova, Petr Kunes
Summary: Rhododendron tomentosum is a vascular plant common in northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, and it is considered a glacial relict in central Europe. The research shows that this species is strongly associated with a specific type of habitat and has adapted to environmental changes throughout the Holocene. By combining habitat suitability maps with palaeoecological data, the potential distribution and past population dynamics of R. tomentosum can be identified with greater precision.
