Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammadali Faraji, Andrea Borsato, Silvia Frisia, John C. Hellstrom, Andrew Lorrey, Adam Hartland, Alan Greig, David P. Mattey
Summary: This study successfully constrained the chronology of a Cook Islands stalagmite using synchrotron mu XRF and optical imaging techniques, revealing the relationship between trace elements like Mg, Sr, Ba and Na with hydroclimate environment through principal component analysis. A calendar-year master chronology was generated based on trace element annual banding, with a dating uncertainty maximum of +/- 15 years over 336 years of history.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Geography, Physical
James U. L. Baldini, Franziska A. Lechleitner, Sebastian F. M. Breitenbach, Jeroen van Hunen, Lisa M. Baldini, Peter M. Wynn, Robert A. Jamieson, Harriet E. Ridley, Alexander J. Baker, Izabela W. Walczak, Jens Fohlmeister
Summary: Stalagmites are a valuable resource for reconstructing climatological palaeoseasonality, preserving different types of seasonality and environmental conditions. Replication of records is useful but should be done with stalagmites affected by the same processes in the same proportion. The study introduces a new drip classification scheme, common microanalytical techniques, and a new modelling technique for extracting meteoric precipitation and temperature palaeoseasonality from stalagmite data.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
O. Kost, J. Sliwinski, N. Gies, M. Lueder, H. Stoll
Summary: Trace elements and calcite fabrics in stalagmites are indicators of past environmental conditions. This study examines the distribution of water, organic components, and trace elements in relation to calcite fabrics, and explores the influence of fluid inclusions on the trace element content. The findings provide new evidence of the impact of fluid inclusions on stalagmite geochemistry and demonstrate the utility of non-destructive imaging techniques in interpreting proxy signals.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Barbara E. Wortham, Isabel P. Montanez, Kimberly Bowman, Daphne Kuta, Nora Soto Contreras, Eleana Brummage, Allison Pang, John Tinsley, Greg Roemer-Baer
Summary: By monitoring and analyzing the chemical variations in drip water and calcite deposits in caves in California, the impact of local and regional precipitation and temperature changes on the site can be better understood. Despite significant variability in surface conditions, the cave environment remains constant. Drip water compositions within the cave respond to seasonal changes, while trace element concentrations can serve as indicators of seasonal weather changes.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Pedro Mondaca, Patricio Valenzuela, Nicole Roldan, Waldo Quiroz, Monika Valdenegro, Juan L. Celis-Diez
Summary: This study assesses the impact of different soil amendments on arsenic accumulation in lettuce and compares them in terms of food security and investment efficiency. The results show that phosphate amendments can reduce arsenic levels in lettuce, while calcium peroxide is only effective in sandy soils. Lettuces grown on amended soils showed a 30% reduction in arsenic intake compared to unamended soils, without any negative side effects.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Andrea Spolaor, Beatrice Moroni, Bartlomiej Luks, Adam Nawrot, Marco Roman, Catherine Larose, Lukasz Stachnik, Federica Bruschi, Krystyna Koziol, Filip Pawlak, Clara Turetta, Elena Barbaro, Jean-Charles Gallet, David Cappelletti
Summary: A comprehensive evaluation of the water soluble trace element composition in Hansbreen glacier in Spitsbergen revealed that the chemical signature of the glacier is mainly influenced by summertime deposition of trace elements from local sources.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Marieke M. M. van Katwijk, Brigitta I. I. van Tussenbroek
Summary: Most plant species have either annual or perennial life cycles, but there are facultative annual species that can be either annual or perennial depending on their environment. While facultative annual species are rare in terrestrial plants, they are more common in marine angiosperms, particularly seagrasses. Six of the 63 seagrass species are facultative annual, producing significantly more seeds than their perennial counterparts. These facultative annual species can transition to an annual life cycle when exposed to specific environmental factors such as desiccation, anoxia, shading, or heat stress. A large-scale coastal protection experiment demonstrated that the facultative annual seagrass population could shift to a perennial life cycle within 5 years depending on the environmental conditions.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Pablo Aparicio-Ruiz, Elena Barbadilla-Martin, Jose Guadix, Julio Nevado
Summary: Understanding the factors that influence indoor thermal comfort is crucial for improving the energy efficiency and performance of buildings. This study identifies eight key variables and proposes an effective methodology to analyze their relevance. The results show that random forest is the most successful technique, offering superior performance in terms of accuracy and other metrics.
Article
Thermodynamics
N. Simoes, M. Manaia, I Simoes
Summary: Solar and Trombe walls can significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings in warm/hot climates if properly tailored shading devices and ventilation schedules are implemented. Night ventilation strategy is crucial for reducing cooling needs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bin Liang, Guilin Han, Jie Zeng, Rui Qu, Man Liu, Jinke Liu, Ye Zhao
Summary: This study investigates the behavior of zinc isotopes in laterites and the impact on zinc cycling in (sub-) tropical regions. The research findings suggest that laterites may control the zinc isotopic composition in rivers, and shrub-covered soils exhibit stronger leaching and require more fertilization for micronutrient supply in plant growth.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Y. Elaouzy, A. El Fadar
Summary: Bioclimatic design strategies are an effective approach for improving thermal comfort, saving energy, and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. This study investigates the impact of five bioclimatic design strategies on energy demands of an office building in the Mediterranean region, and evaluates their economic and environmental benefits. The results provide insights on the most effective strategies for different climate types, as well as the potential economic savings and CO2 emissions reduction.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Studies
Aayush Srivastava, Tim Kinnaird, Christopher Sevara, Justin Allen Holcomb, Sam Turner
Summary: Agricultural terraces are effective in increasing the crop area for farmers in hilly landscapes, mitigating soil erosion risks, and promoting crop productivity. The construction and use of terraces in the Mediterranean have had significant socio-economic, ecological, and environmental implications for past societies. The chronology of terrace construction, use, and abandonment in different regions remains uncertain, and more robust chronological data are needed to assess the resilience of terrace agriculture in the face of economic or ecological instability and inform future agricultural and environmental challenges.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
J. T. Sliwinski, O. Kost, L. Endres, M. Iglesias, N. Haghipour, S. Gonzalez-Lemos, H. M. Stoll
Summary: Fluorescent laminations in stalagmites from Asturias, Spain are annual and coincide with peaks in yttrium and troughs in strontium concentrations, which are reliable seasonality markers. Strontium concentrations are positively correlated with stalagmite growth rate and controlled by solution supersaturation, influenced by seasonal variations in cave ventilation. Yttrium concentrations are controlled by drip water flux, surface retention time, and dilation within the matrix. The persistent anti-correlation between strontium and yttrium can be explained as an interplay between their individual controls.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kathia Broce, Ana C. Ruiz-Fernandez, Alejandrina Batista, Ana Karen Franco-Abrego, Joan A. Sanchez-Cabeza, Libia H. Perez-Bernal, Gisselle E. Guerra-Chanis
Summary: Trace elements are pollutants that can be dispersed in the environment, causing adverse effects to ecosystems and human health. They can accumulate in higher trophic levels, including humans, and may pose a risk even at natural concentrations. Periodic monitoring of marine environments is recommended to minimize human health risks and mitigate detrimental effects to biota.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luke Bridgestock, Gideon M. Henderson, Phil Holdship, Aung Myo Khaing, Tin Tin Naing, Tin Aung Myint, Wint Wint Htun, Win Khant, Win Myo Thu, Mo Aung Nay Chi, J. Jotautas Baronas, Edward Tipper, Hazel Chapman, Mike Bickle
Summary: The Irrawaddy and Salween rivers play a crucial role in supplying dissolved and particulate material to the ocean globally, as well as being vital for water sources and food production in Myanmar. Their chemistry is poorly known, but they contribute significantly to global biogeochemical cycles, with dissolved riverine fluxes for studied elements ranging from 1 to 17% globally. The dataset presented provides a useful baseline for assessing future perturbations driven by climate change or Myanmar's mining industry, with exceptions noted in certain elements suggesting anthropogenic impacts.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Karin Ching, Andy Baker, Ryoji Tanaka, Tingwen Zhao, Zhen Su, Rodney S. Ruoff, Chuan Zhao, Xianjue Chen
Summary: Pressure-driven liquid-phase isotope separation using graphene oxide and UV-reduced graphene oxide membranes can enrich D and O-18 in natural water. Adsorption separation was found to be the dominant mechanism, with increased graphene oxide loading leading to improved enrichment of D and O-18. UV-rG-O membranes showed the best performance in enriching D and O-18 in a single-stage experiment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zoe A. Thomas, Scott Mooney, Haidee Cadd, Andy Baker, Chris Turney, Larissa Schneider, Alan Hogg, Simon Haberle, Ken Green, Laura S. Weyrich, Vilma Perez, Nicole E. Moore, Atun Zawadzki, Sarah J. Kelloway, Stuart J. Khan
Summary: The study reveals a warming trend in the Australian alpine region over the past 3500 years, with a pronounced climate anomaly between 1000 and 1600 cal yrs. BP. Vegetation shifts occurred during this warm period, characterized by a decline in alpine species and an increase in open woodland taxa, along with an increase in regional fire activity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Alan D. Griffiths, Pauline C. Treble, Pandora Hope, Irina Rudeva
Summary: This study investigates the factors driving variability in rainfall stable water isotopes in coastal southwestern Western Australia. It finds that rainfall intensity is the most important factor for determining δO-18 on all time scales, while humidity plays a role in explaining daily variability of d. Additionally, the study finds that changes in rainfall intensity can explain a portion of the long-term variability in rainfall δO-18.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Fabio Oriani, Pauline C. Treble, Andy Baker, Gregoire Mariethoz
Summary: This study presents a novel image analysis approach, WlCount, for detecting and counting laminae in geoscientific imagery. The method combines Dynamic Time Warping and Wavelet analysis techniques, and enables automatic counting through user-extracted signal frequencies. Experimental results demonstrate that WlCount provides comparable detection and counting results to manual counting.
COMPUTERS & GEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Liza K. McDonough, Pauline C. Treble, Andy Baker, Andrea Borsato, Silvia Frisia, Gurinder Nagra, Katie Coleborn, Michael K. Gagan, Jian-xin Zhao, David Paterson
Summary: This study compares fire-sensitive geochemical signals in a stalagmite from Yonderup Cave, Western Australia, with documented wildfire events. The results reveal distinct peaks in phosphorus and metal concentrations in response to known fire events, suggesting the presence of ash. The findings also indicate variations in geochemical signals before and after European colonization, likely linked to changes in land management, fire frequency, and fire intensity.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Correction
Environmental Sciences
Zoe A. Thomas, Scott Mooney, Haidee Cadd, Andy Baker, Chris Turney, Larissa Schneider, Alan Hogg, Simon Haberle, Ken Green, Laura S. Weyrich, Vilma Perez, Nicole E. Moore, Atun Zawadzki, Sarah J. Kelloway, Stuart J. Khan
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nick Scroxton, Michael K. Gagan, Linda K. Ayliffe, Wahyoe S. Hantoro, John C. Hellstrom, Hai Cheng, R. Lawrence Edwards, Jian-xin Zhao, Bambang W. Suwargadi, Hamdi Rifai
Summary: The antiphase behavior of monsoon systems in alternate hemispheres has been well established, but there is still a lack of continuous, high-resolution, and precisely dated record for the millennial-scale variability of the Indonesian-Australian monsoon. This study extends the Liang Luar speleothem δO-18 record, providing insights into the changes in monsoon intensity and its antiphase relationship with the northern hemisphere summer monsoon.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Micheline Campbell, Liza McDonough, Pauline C. Treble, Andy Baker, Nevena Kosarac, Katie Coleborn, Peter M. Wynn, Axel K. Schmitt
Summary: Wildfires impact 40% of the earth's terrestrial biome, but our understanding of past fire activity is limited. Speleothems have recently been shown to record past fire events and can extend our knowledge of fire history. This review provides an overview of fire regimes, paleofire proxies, and the physical basis of speleothem fire records, as well as case studies from Australia.
REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stacey C. Priestley, Pauline C. Treble, Alan D. Griffiths, Andy Baker, Nerilie J. Abram, Karina T. Meredith
Summary: Billions of people worldwide rely on groundwater, but the impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge are not well understood. A study in southwest Australia found that a sustained decrease in rainfall has led to a disconnect between shallow karst aquifers and rainfall recharge, implying that groundwater recharge may no longer be reliable in this region. This situation is unprecedented in the last 800 years.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geology
Miaofa Li, Binggui Cai, Slobodan B. Markovic, Luo Wang, Qingzhen Hao, Andy Baker, Milivoj B. Gavrilov, Liyuan Jiang, Fang Wang, Xuefeng Wang, Lisheng Wang, Zhibang Ma, Jule Xiao, Zhengtang Guo
Summary: The North Atlantic jet stream has a significant impact on the climate of the North Atlantic-European region, particularly in winter. Recent observations have shown that the winter jet stream has strengthened over the past 140 years, and this trend has deviated from natural variability. Researchers have discovered that the appearance of the North Atlantic warming hole, caused by anthropogenic forcing, is the most likely explanation for this anomalous trend. Continued global warming may further strengthen the jet stream in the future.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hege Kilhavn, Isabelle Couchoud, Russell N. Drysdale, Carlos Rossi, John Hellstrom, Fabien Arnaud, Henri Wong
Summary: The 8.2 ka event is considered as the most significant climate anomaly of the Holocene. Through analyzing the speleothem record from El Soplao Cave in northern Spain, it is found that the event is synchronized with other archives in southwestern Europe. The event was triggered by a meltwater release to the North Atlantic and had impacts on the climate and circulation at that time.
CLIMATE OF THE PAST
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rieneke Weij, Jon D. Woodhead, J. M. Kale Sniderman, John C. Hellstrom, Elizabeth Reed, Steven Bourne, Russell N. Drysdale, Timothy J. Pollard
Summary: This study investigates the Naracoorte Cave Complex in Australia using dating techniques and analyses of charcoal and pollen. The results show that the caves began forming 1.34 million years ago and opened to the atmosphere 600,000 years ago, providing an upper limit on the accumulation of fossils.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Columbu, Christoph Spoetl, Jens Fohlmeister, Hsun-Ming Hu, Veronica Chiarini, John Hellstrom, Hai Cheng, Chuan-Chou Shen, Jo De Waele
Summary: This study suggests that rainfall variability in the central Mediterranean during the last deglaciation was closely linked to temperatures at high northern latitudes and influenced by strengthened westerly winds. The findings highlight the importance of high-latitude climate changes in causing rainfall variation in the Mediterranean region.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pauline C. Treble, Andy Baker, Nerilie J. Abram, John C. Hellstrom, Jagoda Crawford, Michael K. Gagan, Andrea Borsato, Alan D. Griffiths, Petra Bajo, Monika Markowska, Stacey C. Priestley, Stuart Hankin, David Paterson
Summary: Karst hydrology has a significant impact on the oxygen isotopic compositions of cave speleothems, and global analysis suggests that inconsistencies in speleothem-based reconstructions of past hydroclimates are common worldwide. The influence of fractures on flowpaths is identified as the primary driver of within-cave speleothem and dripwater oxygen isotopic variability.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)