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Simple Summary: During overwintering diapause, the gynes of paper wasps (Polistes sp.) are mainly dormant in sheltered hibernacles, protecting them against predators and adverse weather conditions but hardly against low temperatures. By measuring the temperature inside hibernacles occupied by species from both Mediterranean (Italian; P. dominula, P. gallicus) and temperate (Austrian; P. dominula) climates (mean hibernacle temperatures: 8.5 °C and 3.2 °C, respectively), we were able to calculate the energetic demand of overwintering. The cumulative energetic costs differed between the populations. Costs were lowest for the P. dominula population from the cooler Austrian winter climate and significantly higher in P. dominula and P. gallicus from the warmer Italian climate. The lower costs of the temperate species were a result of the lower winter temperature and physiological acclimation processes. Energetic calculations with an assumed temperature increase of up to 3 °C due to climate change predict a dramatic increase of up to 40% in overwintering costs in all species. Gynes of paper wasps (Polistes sp.) spend the cold season in sheltered hibernacles. These hibernacles protect against predators and adverse weather conditions but offer only limited protection against low temperatures. During overwintering diapause, wasps live on the energy they store. We investigated the hibernacles' microclimate conditions of species from the Mediterranean (Italy, P. dominula, P. gallicus) and temperate (Austria, P. dominula) climates in order to describe the environmental conditions and calculate the energetic demand of overwintering according to standard metabolic rate functions. The temperatures at the hibernacles differed significantly between the Mediterranean and temperate habitats (average in Austria: 3.2 ± 5.71 °C, in Italy: 8.5 ± 5.29 °C). In both habitats, the hibernacle temperatures showed variance, but the mean hibernacle temperature corresponded closely to the meteorological climate data. Cumulative mass-specific energetic costs over the studied period were the lowest for the temperate P. dominula population compared with both Mediterranean species. The lower costs of the temperate species were a result of the lower hibernacle temperature and acclimation to lower environmental temperatures. Model calculations with an increased mean temperature of up to 3 °C due to climate change indicate a dramatic increase of up to 40% in additional costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions stemming from the extensive use of automobiles across the globe represent a critical environmental challenge, contributing significantly to phenomena such as global warming and the deterioration of air quality. To address these challenges, there is a critical need for research and development in electric vehicles (EVs) and their associated charging infrastructure, including off-board and on-board chargers (OBCs). This paper aims to bridge the gaps in existing review literature by offering a comprehensive review of both integrated and non-integrated OBCs for EVs, based on the authors' knowledge at the time of writing. The paper begins by outlining trends in the EV market, including voltage levels, power ratings, and relevant standards. It then provides a detailed analysis of two-level and multi-level power converter topologies, covering AC-DC power factor correction (PFC) and isolated DC-DC topologies. Subsequently, it discusses single-stage and two-stage non-integrated OBC solutions. Additionally, various categories of integrated OBCs (iOBCs) are explored, accompanied by relevant examples. The paper also includes comparison tables containing technical specifications and key characteristics for reference and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global warming trend has resulted in the mass loss of most glaciers. The Urumqi Vally, located in the dry and cold zone of China, and its widely dispersed glaciers are significant to the regional ecological environment, oasis economic development, and industrial and agricultural production. This is representative of glaciers in Middle Asia and represents one of the world's longest observed time series of glaciers, beginning in 1959. The Urumqi Headwater Glacier No. 1 (UHG-1) has a dominant presence in the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). This paper supplies a comprehensive analysis of past studies and future modeling of glacier changes in the Urumqi Valley. It has received insufficient attention in the past, and the mass balance of UHG-1 was used to verify that the geodetic results and the OGGM model simulation results are convincing. The main conclusions are: The area of 48.68 ± 4.59 km2 delineated by 150 glaciers in 1958 decreased to 21.61 ± 0.27 km2 delineated by 108 glaciers in 2022, with a reduction of 0.47 ± 0.04 km2·a−1 (0.96% a−1 in 1958–2022). The glacier mass balance by geodesy is −0.69 ± 0.11 m w.e.a−1 in 2000–2022, which is just deviating from the measured result (−0.66 m w.e.a−1), but the geodetic result in this paper can be enough to reflect the glacier changes (−0.65 ± 0.11 m w.e.a−1) of the URB in 2000–2022. The future loss rate of area and volume will undergo a rapid and then decelerating process, with the fastest and slowest inflection points occurring around 2035 and 2070, respectively. High temperatures and large precipitation in summer accelerate glacier loss, and the corresponding lag period of glacier change to climate is about 2–3 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the second most predominant greenhouse gas, methane-targeted emission mitigation holds the potential to decelerate the pace of global warming. Satellite remote sensing is an important monitoring tool, and we review developments in the satellite detection of methane. This paper provides an overview of the various types of satellites, including the various instrument parameters, and describes the different types of satellite retrieval algorithms. In addition, the currently popular methane point source quantification method is presented. Based on existing research, we delineate the classification of methane remote sensing satellites into two overarching categories: area flux mappers and point source imagers. Area flux mappers primarily concentrate on the assessment of global or large-scale methane concentrations, with a further subclassification into active remote sensing satellites (e.g., MERLIN) and passive remote sensing satellites (e.g., TROPOMI, GOSAT), contingent upon the remote sensing methodology employed. Such satellites are mainly based on physical models and the carbon dioxide proxy method for the retrieval of methane. Point source imagers, in contrast, can detect methane point source plumes using their ultra-high spatial resolution. Subcategories within this classification include multispectral imagers (e.g., Sentinel-2, Landsat-8) and hyperspectral imagers (e.g., PRISMA, GF-5), contingent upon their spectral resolution disparities. Area flux mappers are mostly distinguished by their use of physical algorithms, while point source imagers are dominated by data-driven methods. Furthermore, methane plume emissions can be accurately quantified through the utilization of an integrated mass enhancement model. Finally, a prediction of the future trajectory of methane remote sensing satellites is presented, in consideration of the current landscape. This paper aims to provide basic theoretical support for subsequent scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses trending AI foundation models, especially emerging computer vision foundation models and their performance in natural landscape feature segmentation. While the term foundation model has quickly garnered interest from the geospatial domain, its definition remains vague. Hence, this paper will first introduce AI foundation models and their defining characteristics. Built upon the tremendous success achieved by Large Language Models (LLMs) as the foundation models for language tasks, this paper discusses the challenges of building foundation models for geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) vision tasks. To evaluate the performance of large AI vision models, especially Meta's Segment Anything Model (SAM), we implemented different instance segmentation pipelines that minimize the changes to SAM to leverage its power as a foundation model. A series of prompt strategies were developed to test SAM's performance regarding its theoretical upper bound of predictive accuracy, zero-shot performance, and domain adaptability through fine-tuning. The analysis used two permafrost feature datasets, ice-wedge polygons and retrogressive thaw slumps because (1) these landform features are more challenging to segment than man-made features due to their complicated formation mechanisms, diverse forms, and vague boundaries; (2) their presence and changes are important indicators for Arctic warming and climate change. The results show that although promising, SAM still has room for improvement to support AI-augmented terrain mapping. The spatial and domain generalizability of this finding is further validated using a more general dataset EuroCrops for agricultural field mapping. Finally, we discuss future research directions that strengthen SAM's applicability in challenging geospatial domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been fruitful publications on thermal comfort of urban residential buildings in China. However, there is a lack of reviews on this topic to perform a comprehensive analysis and find opportunities to meet occupants' thermal comfort needs while improving building energy efficiencies. This paper addresses this issue by presenting a systematic review on the advancements in research on thermal comfort in urban residential buildings in China. Firstly, two common thermal comfort research approaches, i.e., field studies and laboratory studies, are discussed. Secondly, eleven main thermal comfort evaluation indicators are summarized. Finally, this paper analyzes the thermal comfort survey data from different researchers, discusses the impacts of adaptive behaviors on human thermal comfort, and provides recommendations for future research on urban residential thermal comfort. It was found that people have higher and higher requirements for their indoor thermal environment as time goes by, especially in the winter; the thermoneutral temperature is higher in warmer climate regions in the summer but lower in the winter than in colder climate regions; the thermoneutral temperature tends to increase with the indoor air temperature due to an adaptation to the indoor thermal environment. The outcomes of this paper provide valuable information on thermal comfort behaviors of urban residents in different climate zones in China, which can serve as a resource for the academic community conducting future research on thermal comfort and assist policymakers in enhancing building energy efficiencies without compromising the occupants' comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global warming intensifies, reducing carbon emissions has become a global common mission. Tourism transportation is one of the important sources of carbon emissions, and reducing its carbon emissions is a key part of achieving China's carbon reduction goals. Based on the panel data of various provinces and cities in North China from 2000 to 2022, this paper calculates the carbon emissions of tourism transportation by using the carbon emission coefficients of different transportation modes in different segments. Moreover, the temporal and spatial evolution of the tourism economy is systematically analyzed. The Tapio decoupling model and LMDI addition decomposition model are used to analyze the relationship between carbon emissions and tourism economic growth and the effects of 11 influencing factors on carbon emissions. The results show that: (1) The carbon emission of tourism transportation in North China has experienced four stages: a steady growth period, a transitional adaptation period, a stable equilibrium period, and a drastic decline period. The overall carbon emission level of tourism transportation is as follows: Hebei Province > Shanxi Province > Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region > Beijing City > Tianjin City. (2) The decoupling coefficient between tourism traffic carbon emissions and economic development fluctuates but mainly shows a weak decoupling state. (3) In terms of influencing factors, passenger size and passenger density have the greatest impact on the carbon emissions of tourism transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A typical Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) generates a large region of enhanced rainfall over the equatorial Indian Ocean that moves slowly eastward into the western Pacific. Tropical cyclones often form on the poleward edges of the MJO moist-convective envelope, frequently impacting both southeast Asia and northern Australia, and on occasion Eastern Africa. This paper addresses the question of whether these MJO-induced tropical cyclones will become more numerous in the future as the oceans warm. The Lagrangian Atmosphere Model (LAM), which has been carefully tuned to simulate realistic MJO circulations, is used to study the sensitivity of MJO modulation of tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) to global warming. A control simulation for the current climate is compared with a simulation with enhanced radiative forcing consistent with that for the latter part of the 21st century under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 585. The LAM control run reproduces the observed MJO modulation of TCG, with about 70 percent more storms forming than monthly climatology predicts within the MJO's convective envelope. The LAM SSP585 run suggests that TCG enhancement within the convective envelope could reach 170 percent of the background value under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, owing to a strengthening of Kelvin and Rossby wave components of the MJO's circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the reduction in fossil fuels and growing concerns about global warming, energy has become one of the most important issues facing humanity. It is crucial to improve energy utilization efficiency and promote a low-carbon transition. In comparison with traditional heat exchangers, heat pipe heat exchangers indicate high compactness, a flexible arrangement, complete separation of hot and cold fluids, good isothermal operations, etc. As a result, heat pipe heat exchangers have attracted wide attention and application in various fields in recent years. This paper provides an overview of the application of heat pipe heat exchangers, with a focus on the application in waste heat recovery, and analyzes the opportunities and challenges of heat pipe heat exchanger applications based on existing publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Since the 1990s, the golden cuttlefish (Sepia esculenta) has become the dominant cuttlefish fisheries target in the seas around China. In this paper, we aim to determine the current resource status and spatio-seasonal variation in the population in the East China Sea region. We found more juveniles at latitudes of 27.50–28.00° N and 29.00° N and more subadult individuals at 28.50° N in autumn, exhibiting different growth rates and resource densities. In addition, we found the majority of the catches were composed of parent groups in spring, while in autumn, the majority of the catches were composed of juvenile groups. We concluded that the subadult groups might have dispersed widely for feeding and growth along the latitude of 30.00° N and to the south in summer, and the southern area of the Yangtze River extending north was the spawning ground in spring. The groups of S. esculenta preferred to stay in areas with a stable water temperature of ~20.00 °C, and many S. esculenta juveniles might have adapted to endure the negative influence of the low oxygen content in summer. The depth range of the S. esculenta population was 10.00–133.00 m from spring to autumn, but this shrank to 66.00–107.00 m in winter. The golden cuttlefish (Sepia esculenta) is an important cephalopod species with a lifespan of approximately one year. The species plays a crucial role in marine ecological support services and is commercially valuable in fisheries. In the seas around China, this species has emerged as the main target for cuttlefish fisheries, replacing Sepiella maindroni since the 1990s. Variations in oceanographic conditions associated with global warming could significantly impact the temporal-spatial distribution of the species. In this study, we performed bottom trawling surveys with four cruises during 2018–2019 in the East China Sea region to determine the current resource status and seasonal-spatial variations in S. esculenta. We found that the average individual weight (AIW) values were 4.87 and 519.00 g/ind at stations located at 30.50° N, 124.00° E and 30.50° N, 124.50° E, respectively, with the aggregation of larvae and parent groups in spring. The species was not distributed north of 32.00° N in summer. The catch per unit effort by weight (CPUEw) value decreased in the order of 2772.50→2575.20→503.29→124.36 g/h, corresponding to latitudes of 34.50° N→34.00° N→33.50° N→32.50° N 121.50° E in autumn. The most suitable fishing areas were the south of the East China Sea region in spring; the south of the East China Sea region extending to the center and outer parts of the East China Sea region in summer; the south of the Yellow Sea close to the Haizhou Bay fishing ground and the forbidden fishing line region of the Lusi and Dasha fishing grounds in autumn; and the south and center of the East China Sea region in winter. The most suitable sea bottom temperature (SBT) values from spring to winter were 14.76–20.53 °C, 19.54–22.98 °C, 11.79–17.64 °C, and 16.94–20.36 °C, respectively. The most suitable sea bottom salinity (SBS) values were 31.53–34.80‰ in spring, 32.95–34.68‰ in summer, 31.51–34.77‰ in autumn, and 33.82–34.51‰ in winter. We concluded the following: (1) the southern and northern areas of the East China Sea region are spawning and nursery grounds, respectively, in spring; (2) the central distribution is located at a latitude of 28.00° N in autumn and winter; and (3) the southern area of the Yangtze River to the north is a spawning ground in spring, and the areas located at 29.00–34.50° N, 124.00–124.50° E, and 28.00–30.50° N, 125.50–126.50° E are nursery grounds. The results of this study provide useful guidance for appropriate fisheries management, thereby avoiding a collapse in the S. esculenta population, which has been experienced in other species in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze–thaw (FT) erosion intensity may exhibit a future increasing trend with climate warming, humidification, and permafrost degradation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). The present study provides a reference for the prevention and control of FT erosion in the QTP, as well as for the protection and restoration of the regional ecological environment. FT erosion is the third major type of soil erosion after water and wind erosion. Although FT erosion is one of the major soil erosion types in cold regions, it has been studied relatively little in the past because of the complexity of several influencing factors and the involvement of shallow surface layers at certain depths. The QTP is an important ecological barrier area in China. However, this area is characterized by harsh climatic and fragile environmental conditions, as well as by frequent FT erosion events, making it necessary to conduct research on FT erosion. In this paper, a total of 11 meteorological, vegetation, topographic, geomorphological, and geological factors were selected and assigned analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-based weights to evaluate the FT erosion intensity in the QTP using a comprehensive evaluation index method. In addition, the single effects of the selected influencing factors on the FT erosion intensity were further evaluated in this study. According to the obtained results, the total FT erosion area covered 1.61 × 106 km2, accounting for 61.33% of the total area of the QTP. The moderate and strong FT erosion intensity classes covered 6.19 × 105 km2, accounting for 38.37% of the total FT erosion area in the QTP. The results revealed substantial variations in the spatial distribution of the FT erosion intensity in the QTP. Indeed, the moderate and strong erosion areas were mainly located in the high mountain areas and the hilly part of the Hoh Xil frozen soil region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the global distribution of precipitation for 2023, in terms of global totals and regional anomaly patterns, is analyzed using information from the new Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) V3.2 Monthly product, including how the precipitation amounts and patterns from 2023 fit into the longer record from 1983–2023. The tropical pattern of anomalies for 2023 is dominated by the effect of the El Nino which began during the Northern Hemisphere spring, after three plus years of La Nina conditions. The transition from La Nina conditions through 2022 shows the rapid change in many regional features from positive to negative anomalies or the reverse. Comparison of the observed regional trend maps with climate model results indicates similarity between the observations and the model results forced by observed SSTs, while the "free-running" model ensemble shows only a broad general agreement over large regions. Global total precipitation shows about a 3% range over the span of data, with El Nino and La Nina years prominent as positive and negative features, with 2023 showing a small positive global anomaly. The ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) latitude band, 0–10° N, sets a record high mean rain rate in 2023 after a steady upward trend over the decades, probably a response related to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecuador is a country with several climate zones. However, their behaviour is similar throughout the year, with no peaks of extreme temperatures in the various seasons. This paper is a first approach to study the adaptive comfort behaviour in several areas and populations of the country. Considering the ASHRAE 55-2020 model, energy simulation programmes are applied not just to the current climate scenario but also to the climate change scenarios of 2050 and 2100. The results of locations are analysed and compared to determine their performance. Thanks to their climate characteristics, adaptive comfort models could be applied as a passive strategy, using natural ventilation for building indoor comfort improvement, particularly social dwellings. According to previous studies, some prototypes have not considered the climate determinants in each region. Given the geographic situation of the study areas, the adaptive comfort model could be applied in all cases. Percentages of application of natural ventilation and heating and cooling degree hours have similar behaviours according to the climatic region, with a variation greater than 30% among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the detection data obtained by the LMI (Lightning Mapping Imager)—China's first satellite-based lightning observation payload—from 2018–2022, combined with the ERA5 (ECMWF Reanalysis v5) reanalysis data of the same period, the temporal and spatial characteristics of lightning activities over the Tibetan Plateau and its response to the atmospheric circulation background are studied in detail in this paper. Based on the LMI data, we obtained consistent and continuous long-time-series lightning observation data for the whole region of the plateau for the first time, and the results show that the lightning density in the Tibetan Plateau is much smaller than that in the central and eastern land regions of China (CELR) at the same latitude. Lightning activity was unevenly distributed over the plateau and had obvious seasonal variation characteristics. The monthly amount of lightning and its ratio in the total amount of lightning for the whole year show the characteristics of "increasing first and then decreasing". Most lightning occurs in June and July, which is about a month earlier than that in the CELR. The amount of lightning fluctuated in May and decreased rapidly after August, which is consistent with the local convective thunderstorm season. The hourly lightning frequency at different altitudes over the Tibetan Plateau is consistent with local convections and unique topography, and it is closely related to the features of the local night rain. The results also reveal comparative features between lightning and the atmospheric circulation background on the plateau, such as the wind field, CAPE (convective available potential energy), temperature, and humidity at 500 hPa. In the context of global warming, the average temperature in the central and western regions of the plateau increased in the past five years. This shows that the Tibetan Plateau, as a summer heat source, has a gradual warming trend, and the corresponding convections and lightning activities are also increasing gradually. Lightning activities can be used as an indicator of DCSs (deep convective systems). This paper gives a more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of lightning activities all over the Tibetan Plateau, especially in the western part of the plateau, which lacked ground-based lightning observation data before. In addition, it reveals the comparative features between the lightning activities and the circulation background over the plateau in the past five years, which is helpful for further understanding the contribution of lightning activities to the plateau's climate change. It can provide some reference for monitoring and researching the severe convective weather over the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought monitoring and early detection have improved greatly in recent decades through the development and refinement of numerous indices and indicators. However, a lack of guidance, based on user experience, exists as to which drought-monitoring tools are most appropriate in a given location. This review paper summarizes the results of targeted user engagement and the published literature to improve the understanding of drought across North America and to enhance the utility of drought-monitoring tools. Workshops and surveys were used to assess and make general conclusions about the perceived performance of drought indicators, indices and impact information used for monitoring drought in the five main Köppen climate types (Tropical, Temperate, Continental, Polar Tundra, Dry) found across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In Tropical, humid Temperate, and southerly Continental climates, droughts are perceived to be more short-term (less than 6 months) in duration rather than long-term (more than 6 months). In Polar Tundra climates, Dry climates, Temperate climates with dry warm seasons, and northerly Continental climates, droughts are perceived to be more long-term than short-term. In general, agricultural and hydrological droughts were considered to be the most important drought types. Drought impacts related to agriculture, water supply, ecosystem, and human health were rated to be of greatest importance. Users identified the most effective indices and indicators for monitoring drought across North America to be the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) (or another measure of precipitation anomaly), followed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (or another satellite-observed vegetation index), temperature anomalies, crop status, soil moisture, streamflow, reservoir storage, water use (demand), and reported drought impacts. Users also noted the importance of indices that measure evapotranspiration, evaporative demand, and snow water content. Drought indices and indicators were generally thought to perform equally well across seasons in Tropical and colder Continental climates, but their performance was perceived to vary seasonally in Dry, Temperate, Polar Tundra, and warmer Continental climates, with improved performance during warm and wet times of the year. The drought indices and indicators, in general, were not perceived to perform equally well across geographies. This review paper provides guidance on when (time of year) and where (climate zone) the more popular drought indices and indicators should be used. The paper concludes by noting the importance of understanding how drought, its impacts, and its indicators are changing over time as the climate warms and by recommending ways to strengthen the use of indices and indicators in drought decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing renewable energy (RE) sources can provide a realistic answer to the problem of many nations' energy needs. This paper reviews the current status of using RE to produce electricity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The primary aim of the review is to identify and analyze the solar- and wind-energy utilization, problems, and future trends in KSA while taking into account all relevant aspects, associated development hurdles, and suggested solutions. All involved parties will receive useful results and conclusions from a thorough examination and analysis of the pertinent literature that can assist them in understanding the potential of solar and wind energy, considering all the linked issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is increasing interest in the study of how the ongoing climate change is affecting insect populations. However, most research has been focused on a limited number of groups that are particularly charismatic or expected to respond more clearly to climate change. Moreover, most research has been developed in a few areas (especially northern and central European countries), while others (such as the Mediterranean basin) have been largely overlooked. Therefore, more empirical research is needed, particularly on less charismatic species, groups that are expected to react less dramatically to climatic change, and key areas that are still poorly investigated. This study investigates changes in distributional and activity patterns in a common, ecologically tolerant, forest tenebrionid beetle in a region (central Italy) within the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, an area strongly subjected to the ongoing climate change, but for which research is still limited. By analyzing changes in elevation, latitude, longitude, and seasonal activity between 1900–1980 and 1981–2022, the results provided insights into the potential effects of climate change on this species. The beetle's average values of elevation and latitude were found to have been increased in the second period. In response to rising temperatures, the species became more frequent at higher elevation and in northern places. No strong evidence was found for an earlier species seasonal activity, but this could be due to the inclusion in the analysis of likely overwintering individuals. The findings suggest that even thermally tolerant species can undergo distributional shifts in elevation and latitude, even at a relatively small scale. There is an increasing volume of literature on the impact of climate change on insects. However, there is an urgent need for more empirical research on underrepresented groups in key areas, including species for which the effects of climatic change may seem less evident. The present paper illustrates the results of a study on a common forest tenebrionid beetle, Accanthopus velikensis (Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783), at a regional scale within the Mediterranean basin. Using a large set of records from Latium (central Italy), changes in the median values of elevation, latitude, longitude, and phenology between two periods (1900–1980 vs. 1981–2022) were tested. Records of A. velikensis in the period 1981–2022 showed median values of elevation and latitude higher than those recorded in the first period. Thus, in response to rising temperatures, the species became more frequent at higher elevation and in northern places. By contrast, A. velikensis does not seem to have changed its activity pattern in response to increased temperatures, but this might be an artifact due to the inclusion of likely overwintering individuals. The results obtained for A. velikensis indicate that even thermally euryoecious species can show changes in their elevational and latitudinal distribution, and that poleward shifts can be apparent even within a small latitudinal gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has diverse effects on the planet's environment, including changes and shifts in the distribution and abundance of species. In this paper, we present a robust prediction ensemble algorithm for the current and future species distribution of Aegilops tauschii. Four modeling approaches were trained using various environmental variables (bioclimatic and soil variables) to accurately predict the species distribution for future scenarios. The results showed that GBM and RF demonstrated the most accurate predictions with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve (AUC) of 0.80 and 0.83, respectively. The results of variable importance depicted that the temperature seasonality (bio4) was the most important and effective factor in determining the habitat suitability of Ae. tauschii, followed closely by the precipitation seasonality (bioclimate 15) and the mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10). Then, the distribution maps of Ae. tauschii were produced under climate change scenarios for 2050 and 2070. The results showed that Ae. tauschii will lose some of its suitable habitats under climate change and that this loss will be more severe in the east part of the study area. The results of the present study have important implications for ecological conservation as they can assist in identifying critical habitats and inform conservation planning efforts. Our model provides a valuable tool for understanding the potential future distribution of Ae. tauschii and highlights the need for continuous monitoring and protection of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous warming of the global climate, expanding the use of renewable energy has become one of the main social responsibilities. However, as the number of installed wind turbines and their physical dimensions continue to increase, the issue of generated noise has become increasingly significant in influencing the acceptance and endorsement of wind power projects by neighboring communities. In this paper, we investigated the noise generated by two wind turbine units with rated powers of 1.5 MW and 4.5 MW and analyzed the variations in low-frequency noise during their operation and shutdown periods. This research shows that the power of a single unit has a significant impact on the low-frequency noise emitted into the environment. Compared with 1.5 MW wind turbines, 4.5 MW wind turbines generate more low-frequency noise when operating at the same wind speed. Further analysis of the narrowband frequency spectra and one-third octave spectra of the measured noise indicates that the low-frequency noise from the 4.5 MW wind turbine increases significantly in the range of approximately 80 Hz to 300 Hz, with more pronounced variations below 250 Hz corresponding to changes in wind speed. However, the overall variations in low-frequency noise with wind speed are not as notable as those observed for the 1.5 MW wind turbine. Due to the relatively weak attenuation of low-frequency noise in the atmosphere, the higher low-frequency content of large wind turbines may cause more distress to residents near wind farms. The result of this study emphasizes that in the planning and design of wind power projects, in addition to considering the efficiency of single-unit power generation and the contribution of renewable energy, it is also necessary to pay full attention to noise emission issues to ensure that the project is widely supported and accepted in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of the global warming process, the clean energy crisis is becoming serious; conventional energy is unlikely to solve the current crisis, so people pay attention to new energy. As wave energy is widely distributed, renewable, and clean, hundreds of wave energy converters emerge. In order to understand the research progress of wave energy converters better, this paper divides wave energy converters into overtopping type, oscillating water column type, and oscillating body type according to the working principle and divides the oscillating body type into oscillating float type and oscillating pendulum type by different ways of energy capture. Based on the classification, various types of engineering cases, physical tests and digital simulation, and other academic research results are summarized, especially the generation power and energy conversion efficiency of various devices, and some shortcomings and suggestions are put forward, hoping to provide help for readers to study wave energy generation converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is causing poleward expansion of species ranges. Temperate seas, in particular, are undergoing a process known as 'tropicalisation', i.e., the combination of sea-water warming and establishment of southern species. The Ligurian Sea is one of the coldest sectors of the Mediterranean and has thus been characterized by a dearth of warm-temperate species and a comparative abundance of cold-temperate species. This paper uses a time series of sea surface temperature (SST) and new records of thermophilic fish species to reconsider the biogeography of the Ligurian Sea. SST has risen by about 0.7 °C on average between 1948 and 2023, but two phases may be distinguished: a cool one (ended in the mid-1980s) and a warm one (still ongoing); the latter phase shows alternating periods of rapid warming and comparatively stationary temperature. The arrival of thermophilic species coincided with the periods of rapid warming; some of these species were established in the subsequent stationary periods. Heatwaves and climate-related diseases associated with the periods of rapid warming have caused mass mortalities of autochthonous species. Our knowledge on the biogeography of the Ligurian Sea was established during the cool phase; the present situation, however, calls for re-defining the chorological spectrum of the Ligurian Sea biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As buildings are one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, they have a key potential for energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality improvement. Therefore, the development of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs) is strategic to respond to these challenges and to design and retrofit sustainable highly performing buildings. Actually, the nZEB target can also be reached with highly insulated wooden technologies. However, they must be critically revised and adapted when taking into account the warm climate peculiarities. The paper contributes to this attempt by dealing with the implementation of a methodology specifically focused on the long-term assessment of the real building envelope performance. The methodology is applied to a recently built wooden nZEB detached single-story dwelling constructed in 2017 in central Italy. One year monitoring data were collected about the envelope in-field dynamic performance and the indoor microclimate and well-being conditions. The theoretical design-stage data and the monitored data were compared. The positive aspects as well as the critical issues of nZEB target in the Mediterranean climate context and the performance gap were underlined. Accordingly, the main aspects to be considered in the design of nZEBs envelope were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between climate warming and alien fish invasions could have severe consequences in inland waters, which represent isolated environments with high biodiversity richness. Due to the current climatic trend, increasing water temperatures and salinization, shorter ice cover period, and altered flow regimes are predicted for these environments. The aim of this review is to offer a comprehensive analysis at a global scale of the recent studies available in the literature, focused on the responses of invasive freshwater fish to the effects of climate change in both lotic and lentic environments. To achieve this purpose, we selected 34 relevant papers, using the Scopus and Google Scholar database. New alien species establishment, distribution range expansion of species already introduced, and exacerbating impacts on freshwater ecosystems and the native fish communities they host were included in the topics covered by the analyzed papers. Despite the uncertainties related to the unpredictability with which the effects of global warming will occur, the findings of the selected studies served as a support to evaluate conservation and management implications, with particular reference to possible mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of global warming has become a major global concern, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to mitigate its effects. Photovoltaic power generation is clean, low-carbon energy. Photovoltaic products can convert solar energy into electricity, reducing CO2 emissions to an extent. This paper introduces the life cycle evaluation theory to assess the carbon emissions of photovoltaic curtain walls. PVsyst software allows for the simulation and calculation of power generation under different influencing factors, which provides valuable information about the carbon reduction potential of photovoltaic curtain walls. The evaluation of carbon emissions and their influencing factors using grey correlation analysis further enhances the understanding of the benefits and limitations of photovoltaic curtain walls. According to the results of grey correlation analysis, this paper concludes that the degree of various influencing factors on carbon emission of a photovoltaic curtain wall under different scenarios in descending order is as follows: orientation, location, inclination, shadow occlusion, and seasonal changes. The research findings of this paper provide a theoretical reference for the future development and application of photovoltaic curtain walls. By demonstrating the carbon reduction potential of this technology, this study contributes to promoting the adoption of photovoltaic curtain walls as a sustainable solution to mitigate the effects of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refrigerant substitution is an urgent need in the context of reducing carbon emissions and slowing global warming. CO2 is now being proposed as a promising solution based on its excellent properties and system performance, especially in low-temperature environments. This paper presents an overview of recent advances in system configuration and operation characteristics to improve the performance of transcritical CO2 heat pump and refrigeration systems. The paper first introduces the basic research background, system cycle, and thermodynamic characteristics. Secondly, CO2 cycle improvements with single modifications and modification combinations are reviewed. Then, some important operation characteristics and control methods are discussed. Additionally, the paper provides a detailed description of the development of transcritical CO2 heat pump and refrigeration systems in the vehicle field. At the end of this review, conclusions and opportunities for future work in this field are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide geological disasters, occurring globally, often result in significant loss of life and extensive economic damage. In recent years, the severity of these disasters has increased, likely due to the frequent occurrence of extreme rainstorms associated with global warming. This escalating trend emphasizes the urgent need for a simple and efficient method to identify hidden dangers related to landslide geological disasters. Areas experiencing seasonal heavy rainfall are particularly susceptible to such disasters, posing a serious threat to the lives and property of local residents. In response to the challenging characteristics of landslide geological hazards, such as their strong concealment and the high vegetation coverage in the Liupan Mountain area of the Loess Plateau, this study focuses on the integrated remote sensing identification and research of hidden landslide dangers in Longde County. The methodology combines differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar technology (D-InSAR) and high-resolution optical remote sensing. Surface deformation information of Longde County was obtained by analyzing 85 Sentinel-1A data from 2019 to mid-2020 using Stacking-InSAR, in conjunction with high-resolution optical remote sensing image data from GF-2 in 2019. Furthermore, the study conducted integrated remote sensing identification and field verification of landslide hazards throughout the entire county. This involved interpreting the shape and deformation marks of landslide hazards, identifying the disaster-bearing bodies, and expertly interpreting the environmental factors contributing to the hazards. As a result, 47 suspected landslide hazards and 21 field investigation points were identified, with 16 hazards verified with an accuracy of 76.19%. This outcome directly confirms the applicability and accuracy of the integrated remote sensing identification technology in the study area. The research results presented in this paper provide an effective scientific and theoretical basis for the monitoring and treatment of landslide geological disasters in the future stages. They also play a pivotal role in the prevention of such disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing concerns about global warming and its impact on the environment reinforce the need for new materials and technologies. Additive manufacturing has become more relevant due to its potential to build sustainable and more energy-efficient constructions. However, the materials employed within the technology are not yet fully sustainable. Researchers employing clay as the main binder have found that, besides protecting the environment, it benefits passive control of indoor temperature and relative humidity and contributes to comfort. The mortar design as well as the necessary technological adaptations for the 3D printing of earth mortars are addressed. From a material perspective, this paper reviewed and analyzed the recent developments in additive manufacturing of clay-based mortars, highlighting the main gaps and providing recommendations for future developments in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effects of climate change on the wind energy input (WEI) to the surface waves (SWs) in the northern Indian Ocean (NIO), a region with great potential for green renewable energy from waves and wind. We used the newly developed Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) model data to predict the spatiotemporal variations of the WEI to the SW. We found that, under the global warming scenario, the WEI to the SWs decreased significantly in most of the NIO, and it will drop by 18% to 27% in the central and southern regions by the end of the 21st century under the SSP5–8.5 scenario. However, the WEI to the SWs increased in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, northwestern Arabian Sea, and northern Bay of Bengal, with the largest increase in the Persian Gulf region (up to 27%). We also examined the interannual and interdecadal variability characteristics of the WEI to the SW after the accumulation of the whole study region and found that it showed a long-term increasing trend only under the SSP1–2.6 scenario, while it showed a significant decreasing trend under the SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5 scenarios. Furthermore, we show that the WEI to the SWs in the Indian Ocean mainly occurs in summer, followed by winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global temperatures are continuing to rise as atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations increase, and climate warming has become a major challenge to global sustainable development. The Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument is a Fourier transform spectrometer with 0.625 cm−1 spectral resolution covering a 15 μm CO2-absorbing band, providing a way of monitoring CO2 with on a large scale twice a day. This paper proposes a method to predict the concentration of column-averaged CO2 (XCO2) from thermal infrared satellite data using ensemble learning to avoid the iterative computations of radiative transfer models, which are necessary for optimization estimation (OE). The training data set is constructed with CrIS satellite data, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) meteorological parameters, and ground-based observations. The training set was processed using two methods: correlation significance analysis (abbreviated as CSA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Extreme Gradient Boosters (XGBoost), Extreme Random Trees (ERT), and Gradient Boost Regression Tree (GBRT) are used for training and learning to develop the new retrieval model. The results showed that the R2 of XCO2 prediction built from the PCA dataset was bigger than that from the CSA dataset. These three learning models were verified by validation sets, and the ERT model showed the best agreement between model predictions and the truth (R2 = 0.9006, RMSE = 0.7994 ppmv, MAE = 0.5804 ppmv). The ERT model was finally selected to estimate the concentrations of XCO2. The deviation of XCO2 predictions of 12 TCCON sites in 2019 was within ±1 ppm. The monthly averages of XCO2 concentrations in close agreement with TCCON ground observations were grouped into four regions: Asia (R2 = 0.9671, RMSE = 0.7072 ppmv), Europe (R2 = 0.9703, RMSE = 0.8733 ppmv), North America (R2 = 0.9800, RMSE = 0.6187 ppmv), and Oceania (R2 = 0.9558, RMSE = 0.4614 ppmv). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an aerosol–climate coupled model, this paper has investigated the changes in distributions of anthropogenic and natural particles due to 4 × CO2-induced global warming, under the low emission scenario of Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 (RCP4.5). Special attention is paid to the seasonal variations of aerosol size modes. With rising CO2 levels, surface warming, and changes in atmospheric circulations and hydrologic cycles are found during both summer (JJA) and winter (DJF). For anthropogenic particles, changes in fine anthropogenic particulate matter (PM2.5, particles with diameters smaller than 2.5 μm) decrease over high-latitude regions and increase over the tropics in both DJF and JJA. Global mean column concentrations of PM2.5 decrease by approximately 0.19 mg m−2, and concentrations of coarse anthropogenic particles (CPM, particles with diameters larger than 2.5 μm) increase by 0.005 mg m−2 in JJA. Changes in anthropogenic particles in DJF are similar to those in JJA, but the magnitudes of maximum regional changes are much smaller than those in JJA. The coarse anthropogenic particles (CPM, particles with diameters larger than 2.5 μm) increase over northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula during JJA, whereas changes in anthropogenic CPM during DJF are minimal. During both JJA and DJF, changes in anthropogenic CPM are about two orders of magnitude smaller than those of anthropogenic PM2.5. Enhanced wet deposition by large-scale precipitation under rising CO2-induced surface warming is the critical factor affecting changes in anthropogenic particles. For natural particles, the distribution of change in the natural PM2.5 burden is similar to that of natural CPM, but much larger than natural CPM during each season. Both natural PM2.5 and CPM burdens increase over northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula during JJA, but decrease over most of the continental regions during DJF. Changes in surface wind speed, divergence/convergence of surface wind, and precipitation are primary reasons for the variation of natural particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The taiga tick is a common tick species in northern Europe. These blood-sucking parasites transmit dangerous human pathogens, including the causal agents of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis. Knowledge of their ecology is essential for the development of scientifically robust recommendations about the best ways of protecting humans from tick attacks. In our work, we described the seasonal course of activity of the adult taiga ticks. We found that potential risks to humans in the study area were greatest in the second half of May and early June, when the ticks were particularly numerous and active. By mid-summer, the activity of the ticks had decreased to a minimum. Our results, derived from thirty years of monitoring studies, show that the taiga ticks have become much more numerous in the north of their range and that they now become active earlier. These changes in the activity of the ticks may be associated with climate warming. The taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus (Schulze, 1930) (Acari, Ixodidae) is the main vector of the tick-borne encephalitis virus and one of the most widespread species of ixodid ticks in the Palaearctic. In this paper, we present long-term data on the seasonal activity of adult ticks in the north-west of their distribution. The seasonal activity of Ixodes persulcatus was studied from 1982 to 1990 and from 2012 to 2023 in the middle taiga subzone of Karelia (N62.0697, E33.961). In the study area, adult ticks I. persulcatus demonstrate a pronounced spring–summer activity with a unimodal curve of abundance change. A comparison of the monitoring data from the 1980s and the 2010s showed a significant increase in the abundance of I. persulcatus in the study area. A tendency towards an earlier start of the tick activity, as compared to the 1980s, is now being observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ongoing climate change is causing temperatures to rise in both summer and winter, allowing insect pests to invade new areas and potentially causing economic and human health problems. Low winter temperatures are thought to be one of the main barriers to the colonization of higher latitudes. Climate models predict that winter temperatures will increase more than summer temperatures in temperate regions, which may allow insects from warmer regions to colonize the colder, higher latitudes in the future. Understanding how climate change will affect insect distributions is critical for many areas of human activity. This paper presents a method to assess the potential of insects to colonize colder regions under a warming winter scenario. The method is based on exposing insects to laboratory simulations of a warming winter climate. The applicability of the method is tested using the example of a Mediterranean pest, Sesamia nonagrioides, whose ability to colonize Central Europe is assessed. The results indicate that S. nonagrioides could survive Central European winters even under the current state of warming or under a warmer climate predicted for the near future. The presented method may be particularly useful in pest management to estimate overwinter survival and distribution of pests due to climate change. Ongoing climate change and anthropogenic pressure are having a profound influence on insects, causing species diversity to decline and populations to shrink. Insect pests invade new areas and cause economic and human health problems. Low temperatures in winter are thought to be one of the main barriers to the successful colonization of higher latitudes. Climate models predict that winter temperatures will increase more than summer temperatures in temperate and polar regions, potentially allowing species from warmer climates to colonize higher latitudes. Understanding how climate change will affect the distribution of insects is critical to many areas of human activity. One possible but seldom used way to predict likely range shifts of insects due to climate change is through simulation experiments. Here, I present and test a method to assess the potential of insect species from warmer regions to survive winters in colder regions under a warming winter scenario. The method is based on laboratory simulations of warming winters. The applicability of the method is demonstrated using the example of a Mediterranean pest, Sesamia nonagrioides, whose ability to survive Central European winters under a warming winter scenario is assessed. The method presented here is relatively simple, with potentially high accuracy of estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier is steadily increasing. In this study, multiple scenarios of liquid hydrogen exports from Africa to Germany are analyzed by life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the global warming potential (GWP) of 1 kg hydrogen. The investigation is driven by the promise that hydrogen can be sustainably and economically produced by photovoltaic (PV)-powered electrolysis in Africa, benefiting from the geographical location near the equator and, consequently, higher solar irradiation levels. Given the absence of a pipeline network, shipping hydrogen emerges as the most efficient short-term transportation option to Germany. In this paper, supply locations—Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria—are evaluated by means of an LCA and compared to hydrogen supply from Germany. Results show that emissions from hydrogen production and transportation by ship from Morocco range from 3.32 to 3.41 kgCO2-eq/kgH2. From Senegal, the range is 3.88 to 3.99 kgCO2eq/kgH2, and from Nigeria, it falls between 4.38 and 4.27 kgCO2-eq/kgH2. These emission levels are influenced by factors such as the GWP of PV electricity, the efficiency of the electrolyzer, and the transportation distance. Interestingly, the analysis reveals that PV-powered electrolysis of hydrogen in Germany, including 300 km distribution, causes, in most scenarios, a lower GWP in the range of 3.48 to 3.61 kgCO2-eq/kgH2 than hydrogen from the analyzed African regions. Opting for grid electricity instead of PV (with a value of 0.420 kgCO2-eq/kWh) for hydrogen production in Germany yields a GWP ranging from 24.35 to 25.42 kgCO2-eq/kgH2. Hence, we can conclude that in any event, PV-powered hydrogen electrolysis has a low environmental impact not only within Africa but also in Germany. However, it is crucial to carefully consider the balance of the GWP of production versus transportation given the distance between a hydrogen production site and the location of consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-documented decrease in the annual minimum Arctic sea ice extent over the past few decades is an alarming indicator of current climate change. However, much less is known about the thickness of the Arctic sea ice. Developing accurate forecasting models is critical to better predict its changes and monitor the impacts of global warming on the total Arctic sea ice volume (SIV). Significant improvements in forecasting performance are possible with the advances in signal processing and deep learning. Accordingly, here, we set out to utilize the recent advances in machine learning to develop non-physics-based techniques for forecasting the sea ice volume with low computational costs. In particular, this paper aims to provide a step-wise decision process required to develop a more accurate forecasting model over short- and mid-term horizons. This work integrates variational mode decomposition (VMD) and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) for multi-input multi-output pan-Arctic SIV forecasting. Different experiments are conducted to identify the impact of several aspects, including multivariate inputs, signal decomposition, and deep learning, on forecasting performance. The empirical results indicate that (i) the proposed hybrid model is consistently effective in time-series processing and forecasting, with average improvements of up to 60% compared with the case of no decomposition and over 40% compared with other deep learning models in both forecasting horizons and seasons; (ii) the optimization of the VMD level is essential for optimal performance; and (iii) the use of the proposed technique with a divide-and-conquer strategy demonstrates superior forecasting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) 15 MW Reference Wind Turbine (RWT), on floating platforms, deployed in commercial-scale arrays at multiple locations around Scotland in the ScotWind leasing round. Site-specific energy production and vessel operations are provided by a dedicated offshore wind farm operations and maintenance (O&M) model, COMPASS, allowing service operation vessel (SOV) O&M impacts to be assessed with increased confidence. For climate change, the median global warming impact varied from 17.4 to 26.3 gCO2eq/kWh across the four sites within a 95% confidence interval using an uncertainty assessment of both foreground and background data. As is common with other offshore renewable energy systems, materials and manufacture account for 71% to 79% of global warming impact, while O&M comprise between 9% and 16% of the global warming impacts. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) export cables, floating platforms, and composite blades are significant contributors to the environmental impacts of these arrays (by mass and material choice), while the contributions from ballast, vessel transportation emissions, and power-train components are lower. The results suggest that material efficiencies, circularity, and decarbonizing material supply inventories should be a priority for the Scottish floating wind sector, followed by minimizing vessel operations and the decarbonization of vessel propulsion, while avoiding burden shifting to other impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High outdoor temperatures and thermal gains due to solar radiation, which penetrates the interior of buildings as the climate warms up, pose a major challenge to maintaining thermal comfort in passive sports facilities. Superbly insulated and airtight envelopes, specific microclimatic requirements and very high user activity can easily lead to overheating and thermal imbalance during summer. This paper focuses on the influence of the varying thermal capacity of external walls and night-time cooling on thermal comfort in a passive sports hall building. Based on experimental studies of the thermal conditions in the building, a model of it was created in Design Builder. Through simulation, the program initially analysed the thermal conditions that arise under different envelope assemblies. Two different ways of cooling the building at night were then analysed: mechanical and natural. The results presented showed that in a well-insulated sports hall with a large volume, the type of wall material alone had only a limited influence on thermal comfort in summer. In contrast, night-time cooling in integration with the accumulation of cold in the building's structural components had a significant impact on protection against overheating during the summer. The type of envelope material is even more important when night-time air exchange is high. Intensive natural ventilation is associated with the highest number of hours in the comfort range—28.1–32.4% more hours in relation to the variant without night ventilation. The use of mechanical ventilation, operating at night at maximum capacity, will result in an increase in the number of hours with air temperatures in the −0.5 < PMV < +0.5 range by only 14.1–21.3%. The high thermal mass of the envelope, combined with adequate ventilation, reduces the occurrence of very high indoor air temperatures, thus alleviating the nuisance of overheating. The maximum internal air temperature during the day is lower by 2.4–3.3 K, compared to the case when no night ventilation is used. Mechanical ventilation operating at its maximum capacity can reduce the maximum internal temperature by 1.2–1.6 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a known greenhouse gas and one of the largest contributors to global warming in the Earth's atmosphere. The remote detection and measurement of CO2 from industrial emissions are not routinely carried out and are typically calculated from the fuel combusted or measured directly within ducted vents. However, these methods are not applicable for the quantification of fugitive emissions of CO2. This work presents the results of remote measurement of CO2 emissions using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique at a wavelength of ~2 µm. The results from the DIAL measurements compare well with simultaneous in-stack measurements, these datasets were plotted against each other and can be described by a linear regression of y (t/h) = 1.04 x − 0.02, suggesting any bias in the DIAL data is likely small. Moreover, using the definition outlined in EN 15267-3 a lower detection limit of 0.12 t/h was estimated for the 2 µm wavelength DIAL data, this is three orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding CO2 detection limit measured by NPL in the 1.5 µm wavelength region. Thus, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of high-resolution, ground-based DIAL measurements for quantifying industrial CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the effects of removing underfloor insulation and increasing the thermal capacity of building walls are currently found almost exclusively in existing vernacular architecture and rammed-earth buildings, mostly in countries with warm climates. This paper proposes the combined use of these two measures to reduce the risk of overheating in a detached single-family house in a temperate climate during the summer. Experimental studies conducted during the largest heat wave on record in the summer of 2019 showed that peak daytime temperatures decreased by 5.2 °C to 7.1 °C, and peak nighttime temperatures decreased by 4.7 °C to 6.8 °C. Simulation studies taking into account occupant heat showed that the proposed passive methods could, under the IPCC 8.5 scenario, eliminate the need for mechanical cooling in a detached single-family house in the temperate climate of Central and Eastern Europe by 2100. The actual heating energy consumption for the building with an uninsulated floor and increased wall heat capacity was 5.5 kWh/m2 higher than for the reference building, indicating that it can be a near-zero energy building. The proposed concept is in line with the new approach to the energy design of buildings, which should not be limited to reducing thermal energy demand, but should also respond to the needs arising from global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explored how urbanization (urban heat island effect and air pollution) affects urban tree growth. The radial growth and xylem anatomical characteristics of trees in urban and rural areas of Harbin were compared by means of tree-ring anatomy. Results showed that there were significant differences in the growth of both broadleaf trees and conifers between urban and rural areas. Urbanization may have the effect of slowing down tree growth, and conifers may be more sensitive to urbanization. Warming and drying climate in Harbin may be an important factor affecting tree growth. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the future evaluation of the effect of urbanization on tree growth and ecological benefits, as well as the selection of tree species in urban forests. In the context of the intensification of global urbanization, how urbanization (urban heat island effect and air pollution) affects urban tree growth is not fully understood. In this paper, the radial growth and xylem anatomical characteristics of three different tree species (Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) in urban and rural areas of Harbin were compared by means of tree-ring anatomy. The results showed that there were significant differences in the growth of both broadleaf trees and conifers between urban and rural areas. The vessel number, cumulative area of vessels, and theoretical hydraulic conductivity of all tree species in rural areas were higher than those in urban areas, indicating that urbanization may have the effect of slowing down growth. However, broadleaf trees in urban areas had higher vessel density and a greater percentage of a conductive area within xylem and theoretical xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity. The thickness of cell walls and cell wall reinforcement index of P. sylvestris var. mongolica were strongly reduced by air pollution, implying that it may be more sensitive to urbanization. Compared to Q. mongolica, F. mandshurica showed less sensitivity to urbanization. Warming and drying climate in Harbin may be an important factor affecting tree growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glacial lakes in the Southeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (SEQTP) have undergone dramatic expansion in the context of global warming, leading to several glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) disasters. However, there is a gap and incompleteness in glacial lake inventories across this area due to the heavy cloud cover. In this study, an updated and comprehensive glacial lake inventory was produced by object-based image analysis (OBIA) and manual vectorization based on the Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 MSI images acquired in 2022. Detailed steps regarding the OBIA were provided, and the feature set of Sentinel-1 SAR images suitable for extracting glacial lakes was also determined in this paper. We found that the mean combination of ascending-orbit and descending-orbit images is appropriate for mapping glacial lakes. VV-polarized backscattering coefficients from ascending-orbit achieved a better performance for delineating glacial lakes within the study area. Moreover, the distribution of glacial lakes was characterized in terms of four aspects: size, type, elevation, and space. There were 3731 glacial lakes with a total area of 1664.22 ± 0.06 km2 in the study area; most of them were less than 0.07 km2. Ice-contacted lakes were primarily located in the Palongzangbo basin (13.24 ± 0.08 km2). Nyang Qu basin had the most abundant glacial lake resources (2456 and 93.32 ± 0.18 km2). A comparison with previously published glacial lake datasets demonstrated that our dataset is more complete. This inventory is useful for evaluating water resources, studying glacier–glacial lake interactions, and assessing GLOFs' susceptibility in the SEQTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change indices (CCI) profoundly contribute to understanding the climate and its change. They are used to present climate change in an easy-to-understand and tangible way, thus, facilitating climate communication. Most of these indices are calculated by daily data but there are also many valuable data sets that consist solely of a monthly temporal frequency. In this paper, we present a method that enables the estimation of specific CCIs from monthly instead of daily data, allowing the expression and examination of data sets consisting solely of monthly parameters through climate change indices. Therefore, we used the ERA5 Land data supplemented by a CMIP6 ssp5-8.5 climate projection to train multiple regression models with different regression functions and selected the best fitting for every grid point. Using a climate projection as a supplement in training the regression functions accounts for climate change and empowers the method's application in future climate periods. The method includes a simple bias adjustment (delta change). Its output is regridded to ERA5 Land's 0. 1 ∘ grid, adapting it to the local environment and offering better application in areas with complex terrain using coarse data. Furthermore, the presented method and its regression coefficients can be created from any data set, allowing an even higher spatial resolution than ERA5 Land's. While the method performs best for the temperature-related indices in warm temperate climates, it works uniformly well for the precipitation-related index maximum consecutive dry days on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past four decades, people around the globe have experienced unprecedented escalations in the frequency, intensity, magnitude, and location of anomalous hydrometeorological (hydromet) hazards attributed in large measure to the direct and indirect effects of global climate-change-related variability and extremes. The WMO, impelled by an unabated warming of the global climate system and its related extremely anomalous hydromet impacts, chose in March 2022 "Early Warning, Early Action" (EWEA) as the theme for its World Meteorology Day. The theme was praised in a press release by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for the development of a new EWEA initiative to ensure that "every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within five years". By mid-2022, several meetings and workshops had already been held by the WMO to forge the new initiative on its road to the UN Climate Conference of Parties (COP27) in November in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. COP27 provided a suitably prominent venue for launching the new USD 3.1 billion, 5-year EWEA initiative; there, Secretary-General Guterres formally tasked the WMO, in partnership with the UNDRR, to lead it. But COP27 proved to be interesting as well as illuminating in other, less publicized ways having to do with EWEA. There, what had been the working title of the new initiative was officially changed to EW4A, "Early Warning for All". Despite the seemingly perfunctory nature of this change, the reality is that it will almost certainly have outsized impacts on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints (SWOC) met specifically in planning and implementing the new initiative's "early action" strategies and tactics. It is particularly important to bear in mind that, as things now stand, various unanticipated challenges having to do with the lack of organizational experience and capacity with regard to "early action" are likely to arise with the WMO-led implementation of the new initiative. Considering the new EW4A acronym as if it was a commercial brand can, like this, be instructive in thinking about how the seemingly perfunctory name change—from EWEA to EW4A—will impact the initiative's implementation of "early action". Doing so can be instructive because, just as the logos of companies like Apple, Nike, or Starbucks eventually became the face of their respective products, so too have branded acronyms like NASA, IOC, WHO, and INTERPOL become the face of their governmental institutions' or global initiatives' respective commissions and commitments. It follows then that if "consumer" interest is to be taken seriously and is (hopefully) long-lasting, then the branding of a new product or initiative must be undertaken with great consideration before a final identifier—be it a logo, a catchphrase, or an acronym—is selected. The question in the case of the new WMO-led initiative, then, is the following: Was this issue seriously taken into consideration before EWEA was so abruptly replaced by EW4A at COP27 in Egypt in November 2022? This pointed question is especially meant to highlight how the continued use of the original EWEA acronym by way of developing regional EWEA centers under the "Early Warning for All" umbrella has the possibility of turning regional potential energy into kinetic energy which will be essential if the theoretical gains of future "early warning" (EW) forecasting science are to be effectively translated into "early action" (EA) strategies and tactics that actually, finally, protect people and property across the entirety of the earth from the impending severe impacts of our changing climate future. Thus does this paper raise valid concerns about the balance between support and funding for EW and EA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources are being expanded globally in response to global warming. Solar power generation is closely related to solar radiation and typically experiences significant fluctuations in solar radiation hours during periods of high solar radiation, leading to substantial inaccuracies in power generation predictions. In this paper, we suggest a solar power generation prediction method aimed at minimizing prediction errors during solar time. The proposed method comprises two stages. The first stage is the construction of the Solar Base Model by extracting characteristics from input variables. In the second stage, the prediction error period is detected using the Solar Change Point, which measures the difference between the predicted output from the Solar Base Model and the actual power generation. Subsequently, the probability of a weather forecast state change within the error occurrence period is calculated, and this information is used to update the power generation forecast value. The performance evaluation was restricted to July and August. The average improvement rate in predicted power generation was 24.5%. Using the proposed model, updates to weather forecast status information were implemented, leading to enhanced accuracy in predicting solar power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of intensified human activities and global climate warming, the frequency and intensity of flood disasters have increased, causing many casualties and economic losses every year. Given the difficulty of mountain shadow removal from large-scale watershed flood monitoring based on Sentinel-1 SAR images and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform, this paper first adopted the Support Vector Machine (SVM) to extract the water body information during flooding. Then, a function model was proposed based on the mountain shadow samples to remove the mountain shadows from the flood maps. Finally, this paper analyzed the flood disasters in the middle and lower basin of the Yangtze River (MLB) in 2020. The main results showed that: (1) compared with the other two methods, the SVM model had the highest accuracy. The accuracy and kappa coefficients of the trained SVM model in the testing dataset were 97.77% and 0.9521, respectively. (2) The function model proposed based on the samples achieved the best effect compared with other shadow removal methods with a shadow recognition rate of 75.46%, and it alleviated the interference of mountain shadows for flood monitoring in a large basin. (3) The flood inundated area was 8526 km2, among which, cropland was severely affected (6160 km2). This study could provide effective suggestions for relevant stakeholders in policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the second-largest contributor to historical global warming, methane emissions must be controlled to slow down temperature increase and achieve climate benefits. Due to a lack of knowledge about the specific sources and processes, a quantitative approach will lead to inaccurate estimation. In this paper, a typical local distribution company with more than 100 years of operation history was chosen. Detailed procedures of pipeline constructions and accidents were investigated, and critical steps leading to methane emissions were clarified. Then emission quantification methodologies for all processes were proposed, including a new pipeline connection, new regulator connection, emergency repair and third-party damages. As a basis for emission estimation, the distribution of parameters, such as diameter, length and pressure, was counted. Then the emission rates of all projects were calculated, and emission factors were established. The average emission rates of the new pipeline connection, new regulator connection, emergency repair, third-party damage (medium pressure) and third-party damage (low pressure) were 234 kg, 147 kg, 217 kg, 17,282 kg and 62 kg, respectively. In addition, the total methane emission in China from these sources was estimated to be about 5 × 104 t, which is large enough to attract attention. The work in this paper aims to establish a reasonable framework to evaluate venting methane emissions from the distribution process of natural gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, global warming has become increasingly severe, and the ecological and environmental problems facing mankind have become increasingly serious. As the main areas of transportation activities, cities are also the main places of carbon emissions. As a necessary condition for human's daily-life travel, it is particularly important to calculate the carbon emissions from urban transportation. Due to the different characteristics of economy and population in different regions of a city, the carbon emissions of urban buses show different characteristics in terms of temporal and spatial distribution. The developments of science and technology promote the application of big data analysis to specific practical life, enabling people to research and solve problems from a new perspective. This paper uses the GPS data of urban buses in Sanya City, China, to identify operation conditions from urban buses, and calculates the distance and time under different conditions. Based on the measured data of carbon emissions, this paper visualizes the distribution characteristics of carbon emissions by density analysis; explains the time distribution characteristics by the visual analysis of carbon emissions in different time periods, working days and rest days, and different energy types; and illustrates the spatial distribution characteristics by the spatial distributions of carbon emissions from Sanya's buses on working days and rest days, as well as in different routes, providing reference for a low-carbon development of urban green transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon emissions and improving revenue in the face of global warming and economic challenges is a growing concern for airlines. This paper addresses the inefficiencies and high costs associated with current aero-engine on-wing washing strategies. To tackle this issue, we propose a reinforcement learning framework consisting of a Similar Sequence Method and a Taylor DQN model. The Similar Sequence Method, comprising a sample library, DTW algorithm, and boundary adjustment, predicts washed aero-engine data for the Taylor DQN model. Leveraging the proposed Taylor neural networks, our model outputs Q-values to make informed washing decisions using data from the Similar Sequence Method. Through simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the use of environmentally friendly alternatives, C6F6 and C4H2F6, as perfluorocarbon (PFC) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) precursors, respectively, for SiO2 plasma etching, instead of conventional precursors C4F8 and CHF3. The study employs scanning electron microscopy for etch profile analysis and quadrupole mass spectrometry for plasma diagnosis. Ion bombardment energy at the etching conditions is determined through self-bias voltage measurements, while densities of radical species are obtained using quadrupole mass spectroscopy. The obtained results compare the etch performance, including etch rate and selectivity, between C4F8 and C6F6, as well as between CHF3 and C4H2F6. Furthermore, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are evaluated using a million metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, indicating significantly lower emissions when replacing conventional precursors with the proposed alternatives. The results suggest that a significant GHG emissions reduction can be achieved from the investigated alternatives without a deterioration in SiO2 etching characteristics. This research contributes to the development of alternative precursors for reducing global warming impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's largest high-latitude permafrost distribution zone is in Northeast China. With the intensification of global warming and engineering construction, the carbon stored in permafrost will gradually thaw and be released in the form of methane gas. However, research on the changes in methane concentration and emission sources in this area is still unclear. In this paper, the AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) data carried by the Aqua satellite were used to analyze the distribution and change trends in the overall methane concentration in the near-surface troposphere in Northeast China from 2003 to 2022. These data, combined with national meteorological and on-site monitoring data, were used to study the methane emission characteristics and sources in the permafrost area in Northeast China. The results show that the methane concentration in the near-surface troposphere of Northeast China is mainly concentrated in the permafrost area of the Da and Xiao Xing'an Mountains. From 2003 to 2022, the methane concentration in the near-surface troposphere of the permafrost area in Northeast China showed a rapid growth trend, with an average linear trend growth rate of 4.787 ppbv/a. In addition, the methane concentration in the near-surface troposphere of the permafrost area shows a significant bimodal seasonal variation pattern. The first peak appears in summer (June–August), with its maximum value appearing in August, and the second peak appears in winter (December–February), with its maximum value appearing in December. Combined with ground surface methane concentration monitoring, it was found that the maximum annual ground surface methane concentration in degraded permafrost areas occurred in spring, causing the maximum average growth rate in methane concentration, also in spring, in the near-surface troposphere of permafrost areas in Northeast China (with an average value of 6.05 ppbv/a). The growth rate of methane concentration in the southern permafrost degradation zone is higher than that in the northern permafrost stable zone. In addition, with the degradation of permafrost, the geological methane stored deep underground (methane hydrate, coal seam, etc., mainly derived from the accumulation of ancient microbial origin) in the frozen layer will become an important source of near-surface troposphere methane in the permafrost degradation area. Due to the influence of high-permeability channels after permafrost degradation, the release rate of methane gas in spring is faster than predicted, and the growth rate of methane concentration in the near-surface troposphere of permafrost areas can be increased by more than twice. These conclusions can provide a data supplement for the study of the carbon cycle in permafrost areas in Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most serious threats to humankind today are environmental and ecological problems. The global warming in particular is generally perceived as a serious threat to the survival of humanity and this sense of urgency has given us a chance to consider our place in the ecosystem and question our anthropocentrism. Various faiths acknowledge human obligations to protect the environment and preserve biodiversity. In the Korean context, while the eco-friendly worldviews of Buddhism are well-known, very little is known about other Korean religions' views on the environment. This paper examines whether representative new religions of Korea, namely Donghak and Won Buddhism, can contribute as "religious mechanisms" in alleviating ecological problems. The paper particularly focuses on the former's doctrine of samgyeong or "the Threefold Respect" and the latter's philosophy of saeun or "the Fourfold Grace," examining their relevance for religious governance. The paper argues that these two doctrines are permeated with an ecological view implying the need for all living things, including humans, animals and plants as well as the natural environment, to coexist. The paper also argues that these two religions, complete with guidelines for actions or practices, provide a path for building the possibility of religious governance through religious awakening of believers, mutual respect and mutual trust, and mutual communication and reflective cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]