Article
Environmental Sciences
Xunming Wang, Xiaobin Li, Diwen Cai, Junpeng Lou, Danfeng Li, Fa Liu
Summary: This study revealed the presence of aeolian and salinization desertification in China's PDR, with varying degrees of salinization risk in different regions. Annual precipitation was identified as the key factor in salinization control. The results highlighted the potentially significant role of wind processes in salt transports and their effects on salinization, providing important insights for desertification combating strategies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lynn M. Carter, Martha S. Gilmore, Richard C. Ghail, Paul K. Byrne, Suzanne E. Smrekar, Terra M. Ganey, Noam Izenberg
Summary: The sedimentary cycle plays a key role in the evolution of planets. Although early interpretations suggested that Venus lacks sedimentary rocks, recent studies have shown that sediments are indeed present on Venus, with impact craters being a major source. Other processes such as volcanism and wind erosion also contribute to the formation and transport of sediments. Understanding the sedimentary cycle on Venus is crucial for future missions and for unraveling the planet's geological and climatic history.
SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chenyuan Dang, Jiawen Wang, Yifan He, Shanqing Yang, Ying Chen, Tang Liu, Jie Fu, Qian Chen, Jinren Ni
Summary: This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of planktonic and sedimentary bacterial communities in the Danjiangkou reservoir, the source water reservoir of the world's largest water diversion project. The study found that both environmental heterogeneity and seasonal dynamics significantly influenced the bacterial communities. Rare bacteria played a key role in determining community succession and mediating biogeochemical cycles in the reservoir. The study fills a knowledge gap regarding bacterial community dynamics in source water reservoirs and highlights the importance of rare bacteria in large reservoir ecosystems.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jingran Zhang, Qian Liu, Linhai Yang, Hongyi Cheng, Yun Cai, Hao Long
Summary: This study used optically stimulated luminescence dating technique to investigate aeolian sediments in the southern bank of Qinghai Lake, providing a high-resolution chronology and grain-size distribution of Holocene aeolian activities in the region. The results suggest that the aeolian activities in the Qinghai Lake basin were influenced by both regional climatic conditions and fluctuations in the lake level of Qinghai Lake.
Article
Geography, Physical
Eugene J. Farrell, Irene Delgado Fernandez, Thomas Smyth, Bailiang Li, Christy Swann
Summary: Coastal dunes are dynamic landforms that evolve in response to various factors. Special issues collating research on coastal dunes can help identify new research directions and methods. This editorial summarizes the contributions to a special issue on coastal dunes, highlighting the research themes and future avenues. The contributions demonstrate the growing interest in coastal dunes and the diverse scales and topics covered in aeolian research.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Ye Zhou, Xiaoping Yang, Deguo Zhang, Lydia Lattin Mackenzie, Bo Chen
Summary: This study investigated the sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of different sediments in the Taklamakan Desert and found that the degree of chemical weathering varied with the intensity of desertification. Analysis of vegetation and wind data from 2000 to 2018 indicated a weakening of desertification processes, leading to changes in sediment composition. Additionally, the study confirmed the influence of high-altitude westerlies on clay-sized components and their potential impact on the loess located in the region.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Federico Bianchi, Victoria A. Sinclair, Diego Aliaga, Qiaozhi Zha, Wiebke Scholz, Cheng Wu, Liine Heikkinen, Rob Modini, Eva Partoll, Fernando Velarde, Isabel Moreno, Yvette Gramlich, Wei Huang, Alkuin Maximilian Koenig, Markus Leiminger, Joonas Enroth, Otso Perakyla, Angela Marinoni, Chen Xuemeng, Luis Blacutt, Ricardo Forno, Rene Gutierrez, Patrick Ginot, Gaelle Uzu, Maria Cristina Facchini, Stefania Gilardoni, Martin Gysel-Beer, Runlong Cai, Tuukka Petaja, Matteo Rinaldi, Harald Saathoff, Karine Sellegri, Douglas Worsnop, Paulo Artaxo, Armin Hansel, Markku Kulmala, Alfred Wiedensohler, Paolo Laj, Radovan Krejci, Samara Carbone, Marcos Andrade, Claudia Mohr
Summary: This paper presents an introduction to the Southern Hemisphere High Altitude Experiment on Particle Nucleation and Growth (SALTENA). The research highlights from the campaign include the characterization of chemical species, the process of new particle formation, and the identification of long-range-transported compounds. The results underscore the importance of comprehensive observations in high-altitude locations in the undersampled Southern Hemisphere.
BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sarah A. R. Payne, Gregory S. Okin, Abinash Bhattachan, Michael R. Fischella
Summary: In drylands, wind erosion and vegetation interaction form an important feedback that encourages grass-to-shrub state transitions. Wind can also act as a forcing, directly reducing grass cover. This study examines the responses of a grass-shrub community after two extreme wind events, and finds that extreme events lead to increased root exposure and reduced greenness, particularly in areas with low grass cover. The difference between extreme wind events and common winds allows extreme winds to behave as endogenous forcings while common winds participate in an endogenous stabilizing feedback.
Article
Environmental Studies
Gulnura Issanova, Azamat Kaldybayev, Yongxiao Ge, Jilili Abuduwaili, Long Ma
Summary: This study used meteorological observations and cartographic materials to identify the dominant sources of dust storms and aeolian processes in the Southern Balkash deserts in Kazakhstan. The results showed that the deserts were mainly covered by transverse parabolic sands, dome dunes, and transverse dome dunes, where aeolian processes occurred significantly. The Moiynkum, Bestas, Saryesikatyrau, and Taukum deserts had the highest frequency of dust storms, occurring on average 17 to 43 days per year. The occurrence of dust storms has been decreasing since the 1990s, except for 2008-2009.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abel Sanromualdo-Collado, Levi Garcia-Romero, Carolina Pena-Alonso, Antonio I. Hernandez-Cordero, Nicolas Ferrer-Valero, Luis Hernandez-Calvento
Summary: The study suggests that management decisions can have significant impacts on the environment, and the effects of decisions made in the 1970s and 1980s are still present today. Additionally, it reinforces the idea that management decisions based on scientific research can lead to more environmentally sustainable actions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pierre Ramond, Raffaele Siano, Marc Sourisseau, Ramiro Logares
Summary: Based on our study of marine microbiomes, we found that the composition and evolution of the rare microbial community remains unclear. Our findings suggest a close relationship between rare and abundant microbes, and highlight the potential importance of rare microbes in microbiomes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Na Zhou, Qing Li, Chun-Lai Zhang, Huang Chi-Hua, Yanbing Wu, Bingqi Zhu, Songbo Cen, Xiaoqi Huang
Summary: Typical aeolian landforms have developed in China's Yarlung Zangbo River valley on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Understanding the grain size characteristics of these dunefields is crucial for revealing the region's aeolian dynamics. Different dunefields exhibit distinct patterns of grain size distribution influenced by local airflow and wind dynamics, with Maquan valley showing interactions between local sands and airflow, Shannan valley controlled by valley winds, and Mainling valley influenced by sand entrainment and saltation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Beatriz Fatima Alves de Oliveira, Marcus J. Bottino, Paulo Nobre, Carlos A. Nobre
Summary: The complete savannization of the Amazon Basin would exacerbate the impact of climate change on local heat exposure, increasing the risk to human health according to climate model projections. Deforestation and land use change can influence local temperature and climate. The study found that by 2100, more than 11 million people will be exposed to extreme heat stress as a result of the savannization of the Amazon Basin, particularly in Northern Brazil and among the most socially vulnerable populations.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Candice C. Bedford, Steven G. Banham, John C. Bridges, Olivier Forni, Agnes Cousin, Donald Bowden, Stuart M. R. Turner, Roger C. Wiens, Patrick J. Gasda, Jens Frydenvang, Olivier Gasnault, Kristin Rammelkamp, Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Rebecca Smith, Cherie Achilles, Erwin Dehouck, Alexander B. Bryk, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Horton Newsom
Summary: Aeolian processes have shaped the geological record in Gale crater on Mars and provide insights into the role of liquid water in Mars' history. Analysis of sandstone data from the Greenheugh pediment by the NASA Curiosity rover suggests that the sandstone deposits were primarily sourced from olivine-rich units and were cemented by surface water runoff. Groundwater availability at the Greenheugh pediment was lower compared to other locations, as indicated by a lack of groundwater alteration features.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yang Zhao, Qizhi Zhou, Guanglei Gao, Guodong Ding, Ying Zhang, Jinxing Zhou
Summary: The study utilizes wind data standardization, CFD simulation, and fingerprinting technology to investigate aeolian sediment transport processes. It reveals that mountain passes in the west of the lake act as wind outlets, while river valleys and faulted valleys serve as ventilation tunnels in the sedimentary area.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gregory S. Okin
Summary: The purpose of this study was to calculate the probability of precipitation influencing high wind events that could lead to dust emissions. The results suggest that the regional climate plays a more significant role than soil texture in determining this probability. More than 30%-40% of the global drylands have a higher probability of precipitation affecting dust emissions, indicating that rain-derived soil moisture should not be ignored in models worldwide.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Azam Abolhasani, Gholamreza Zehtabian, Hassan Khosravi, Omid Rahmati, Esmail Heydari Alamdarloo, Paolo D'Odorico
Summary: This research aimed to develop a new conceptual framework to predict land degradation (LD) susceptibility based on net primary production (NPP) and machine learning approaches. The study successfully predicted the occurrence sites of LD in the Qazvin Plain, Iran by considering the trends of NPP changes and other geo-environmental factors.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Livia Ricciardi, Paolo D'Odorico, Nikolas Galli, Davide Danilo Chiarelli, Maria Cristina Rulli
Summary: The study focuses on the hydrological constraints and impacts of afforestation in tropical biomes, and finds that planting trees may lead to water scarcity, especially in dryland regions of Africa and Oceania. It also suggests that the combination of tree restoration and irrigation expansion could exacerbate water scarcity.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nikolas Galli, Jampel Dell'Angelo, Ilenia Epifani, Davide Danilo Chiarelli, Maria Cristina Rulli
Summary: This article examines the role of water resources in conflict and how water availability and demand influence the likelihood of violent conflict, focusing on the Lake Chad Basin. The study combines hydrological and biophysical factors with socio-political processes to explore the potential for conflict. The findings highlight the complex interdependencies between water scarcity and violence, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the socio-hydrological complexities.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah Hartman, Michelle Farfan, Jaime Hoogesteger, Paolo D'Odorico
Summary: Agricultural transformations have played a significant role in the global supply of capital-intensive greenhouse-grown crops, particularly in the berry production sector in Mexico. This study utilizes satellite imagery and a machine learning algorithm to investigate the expansion of greenhouses in the major berry-growing region of Michoacan. The findings reveal a substantial growth in greenhouse cultivation of berries, with a significant integration of smallholder ejidal lands into the capital-intensive market-oriented industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Areidy Beltran-Pena, Paolo D'Odorico
Summary: Africa faces challenges in food security, with irrigation expansion increasing agricultural productivity but not sufficient to meet future food demand. Under climate change, Africa's food production may not be enough to feed its growing population, leading to reliance on imports and uncertainty from global food price volatility.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chengyi Tu, Paolo D'Odorico, Zhe Li, Samir Suweis
Summary: Self-governing institutions and shared goals promote cooperation and sustainable governance of common-pool resources, as demonstrated by experiments using an online game platform. The findings suggest that users who share common objectives are more likely to engage in collective action and achieve long-term resource sustainability. This study highlights the importance of cooperation and self-organization in addressing environmental challenges.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sarah A. R. Payne, Gregory S. Okin, Abinash Bhattachan, Michael R. Fischella
Summary: In drylands, wind erosion and vegetation interaction form an important feedback that encourages grass-to-shrub state transitions. Wind can also act as a forcing, directly reducing grass cover. This study examines the responses of a grass-shrub community after two extreme wind events, and finds that extreme events lead to increased root exposure and reduced greenness, particularly in areas with low grass cover. The difference between extreme wind events and common winds allows extreme winds to behave as endogenous forcings while common winds participate in an endogenous stabilizing feedback.
Editorial Material
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Fabio Florindo, Valerio Acocella, Ann Marie Carlton, Paolo D'Odorico, Qingyun Duan, Andrew Gettelman, Jasper Halekas, Ruth Harris, Gesine Mollenhauer, Alan Robock, Claudine Stirling, Yusuke Yokoyama
Summary: Reviews of Geophysics is an AGU journal that publishes comprehensive review articles across various disciplines within the Earth and Space Sciences. It is a highly ranked journal in the fields of Geochemistry and Geophysics, with a high Journal Impact Factor (JIF). The journal's review papers provide crucial context for current work, establishing a framework for comprehensive understanding of research progress and interconnections between different communities.
REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chong Seok Choi, Jordan Macknick, Yudi Li, Dellena Bloom, James McCall, Sujith Ravi
Summary: Co-locating solar photovoltaics with vegetation could provide sustainable solutions for food and energy demands. This study monitored the various benefits of maintaining vegetation at a utility-scale solar facility, including soil moisture distribution, temperature regulation, and nutrient content. The findings suggest that agrivoltaics can mitigate climate change, revitalize agricultural soils, generate income, and support pollinator habitats. However, the cooling effects of vegetation on electricity generation depend on site-specific factors. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for site preservation and developing climate resilient agrivoltaic systems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Furong Niu, Nathan A. Pierce, Gregory S. Okin, Steven R. Archer, Michael R. Fischella, Shereen Nadoum
Summary: Shrub encroachment is a common ecological state transition in global drylands with negative impacts on grasslands and their services. While changes in climate and disturbances are often attributed to this transition, the potential role of aeolian processes, such as sandblasting, has been overlooked. This study found that grasses are more susceptible to sandblasting than shrubs, which could contribute to the dominance of shrubs in wind-erodible grasslands.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danny M. Leung, Jasper F. Kok, Longlei Li, Gregory S. Okin, Catherine Prigent, Martina Klose, Carlos Perez Garcia-Pando, Laurent Menut, Natalie M. Mahowald, David M. Lawrence, Marcelo Chamecki
Summary: Desert dust is a major component of the atmosphere's aerosol burden and has significant impacts on the Earth system. However, current global climate models and land-surface models struggle to accurately represent dust emission processes due to inadequate representations of soil particle sizes, surface roughness elements, and boundary-layer characteristics. In this study, we address these issues by developing improved descriptions of these factors and propose a methodology to rescale lower-resolution dust emission simulations. Our revised dust emission parameterization shows substantial improvement in simulating dust emissions in both models.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sinafekesh Girma Wolde, Paolo D'Odorico, Maria Cristina Rulli
Summary: Technical Summary
Intra-African environmental migration is a bleak reality, with warming trends, aridification, and extreme climate events driving millions of people to move within sub-Saharan Africa. This meta-analysis examines 87 case studies to investigate the relationship between environmental changes and migration in the region. The study uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the data and offers insights into the complex web of environmental drivers and the role of non-environmental factors in vulnerability and resilience to environmental change.
GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sandra L. LeGrand, Theodore W. Letcher, Gregory S. Okin, Nicholas P. Webb, Alex R. Gallagher, Saroj Dhital, Taylor S. Hodgdon, Nancy P. Ziegler, Michelle L. Michaels
Summary: Roughness features such as rocks, vegetation, and furrows significantly impact sediment transport in aeolian environments. Existing models often simplify the sheltering effects of these features, leading to inaccuracies in simulated particle mobilization. In this study, we propose a novel albedo-based sheltering parameterization to improve dust transport modeling in vegetated drylands.
GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ukkyo Jeong, Si-Chee Tsay, N. Christina Hsu, David M. Giles, John W. Cooper, Jaehwa Lee, Robert J. Swap, Brent N. Holben, James J. Butler, Sheng-Hsiang Wang, Somporn Chantara, Hyunkee Hong, Donghee Kim, Jhoon Kim
Summary: The simultaneous retrieval of trace gases and aerosols using a ground-based spectroradiometer provides valuable information on the physicochemical processes and properties of atmospheric components. This method allows for higher temporal resolutions and reliable data for various applications.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
