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This article is the second part of a special issue on Rivers and Water in the South. The first part showcased research on diverse river systems in the region. Part 2 expands the scope to include the significance of water resources for society. It discusses the removal of dams and its ecological benefits, as well as concerns about water quantity and quality. The article also examines the presence of contaminants in drinking water and the challenges facing the Gulf of Mexico's water quality and fisheries due to climate change. The papers in this special issue highlight the importance of understanding and protecting water resources in the South. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "Guest Editors' Introduction to Special Issue on Water and Rivers in the South (Part 1)," explores the significance of water in the physical and cultural landscapes of the US South. The region is home to a diverse range of water forms and is a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity. However, human activities have had a significant impact on water systems, including the construction of dams, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. The article also discusses ongoing efforts to restore and mitigate these impacts through river restoration projects. This is the first part of a two-part special issue on water and rivers in the South. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Allatoona Dam in Georgia, which was completed in 1950 and serves multiple purposes including flood control, navigation, electricity generation, water supply, water quality management, fish and wildlife management, and recreation. The dam has an installed capacity of 85 MW and produces an average of 165 GWh per year. While hydropower remains the main source of renewable electricity in the Southeast, there is controversy surrounding its social and environmental impacts, including the flooding of towns, methane emissions from reservoirs, and changes to habitats downstream. However, hydropower is still seen as an important source of renewable energy in the United States, particularly for large-scale energy storage. [Extracted from the article]

The recent bushfires (2019–2020) in New South Wales (NSW) Australia were catastrophic by claiming human and animal lives, affecting ecosystems, destroying infrastructure, and more. Recent studies have investigated relationships between hydroclimatic signals and past bushfires, and very recently, a few commentary papers claimed drought and fuel moisture content as the probable causes for the widespread 2019–2020 bushfires. Therefore, in this study, a novel work of encompassing a wide range of factors attributing to the recent bushfires is presented. Empirical evidence‐based statistical methods are used to identify the hydroclimatic variables and geomorphic characteristics contributing to the 2019–2020 bushfires. The results highlight that ongoing drought, surface soil moisture (SSM), wind speed (WS10), relative humidity (RH), heat waves (HW), dead and live fuel moisture, and certain land cover types create favorable conditions for fire ignition and aid in fire propagation in different regions of the NSW state. The findings suggest that accounting for the above‐identified variables in bushfire prediction and monitoring system are crucial in avoiding such catastrophes in the future. The overarching application of this study is developing robust and more versatile fire protection planning and management. Plain Language Summary: Since the 2019–2020 Australian bushfires were catastrophic in terms of burnt area and severity, a detailed analysis of the primary causes is crucial. In this paper, several probable causes are tested statistically to establish their relationship with the burnt area. The results indicate that the ongoing drought, surface soil moisture, wind speed, relative humidity, heat waves, dead and live fuel moisture, and land cover with certain vegetation (particularly native eucalyptus and grazing land) are the primary causes of the widespread bushfire. These results are extremely critical in updating the current bushfire planning and management. Key Points: Empirical evidence‐based statistical approach is employed to assess the causes of the 2019–2020 bushfire in the NSW state of AustraliaDrought, soil moisture, wind speed, relative humidity, heat waves, fuel moisture, and certain land cover types drive bushfiresSlope did not contribute in bushfire occurrence and propagation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Antihistamines make up the first line of treatments against motion‐sickness. Still, their efficacy and specific mechanism have come into question. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of meclizine on motion‐sensitivity. Methods: This study was carried out as a triple‐blinded randomized trial involving 12 healthy subjects who were exposed to (i) vestibular (VES), (ii) visual (VIS) and (iii) visual–vestibular (VIS+VES) stimulations in the roll plane. Subjects were divided into 2 groups by stratified randomization, receiving either meclizine or a placebo. Stimulations were carried out before, and after, drug administration, presented at 2 intensity levels of 14 and 28°/s2. Eye movements were tracked, and torsional slow‐phase velocities, amplitudes and nystagmus beats were retrieved. Subjects initially graded for their motion‐sickness susceptibility. Results: Susceptibility had no effect on intervention outcome. Despite large variations, repeated ANOVAS showed that meclizine led to a relative increase in torsional velocity compared to placebo during vestibular stimulation for both intensities: 2.36 (7.65) from −0.01 (4.17) during low intensities, and 2.61 (6.67) from −3.49 (4.76) during high. The visual–vestibular stimuli yielded a decrease during low acceleration, −0.40 (3.87) from 3.75 (5.62), but increased during high, 3.88 (6.51) from −3.88 (8.55). Conclusions: Meclizine had an inhibitory effect on eye movement reflexes for low accelerations during VIS+VES trials. This indicates that meclizine may not primarily work through sensory‐specific mechanisms, but rather on a more central level. Practically, meclizine shows promise in targeting motion‐sickness evoked by everyday activities, but its use may be counterproductive in high‐acceleration environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fecal calprotectin (FC) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) are biomarkers of disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We assessed FC, CRP, Harvey–Bradshaw index (HBi), partial Mayo Clinic Scoring (pMCS) and a cytokine panel during infliximab induction to predict therapy outcome. Methods: FC, CRP and clinical indices were evaluated in 123 (76 CD, 47 UC) patients before infliximab induction and after 12 weeks. Responders were monitored 48 weeks for an 'incident' (dosage increase, shortened dosage interval, surgery). Cutoff values for FC and CRP were obtained using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC). Disease progression was analyzed with Kaplan–Meier survivals, log-rank test and logistic regression for combined biomarkers. Cytokines were analyzed with Luminex multiplexing system. Results: Following infliximab, FC and CRP declined (p <.0001) along with HBi for CD and pMCS for UC. Simultaneously, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased, while IL-10 increased. Optimal FC ROC cutoff was 221 µg/g (sensitivity 66%, specificity 67%, AUC 0.71) and CRP ROC cutoff 2.1 mg/L (sensitivity 54%, specificity 60%, AUC 0.58). In CD, FC > 221 µg/g (p <.0001), but not CRP > 2.1 mg/L predicted an 'incident'. However, combined FC and CRP also predicted an 'incident' (p <.042). In UC, both FC > 221 µg/g (p <.0005) and CRP > 2.1 mg/L (p =.0334) predicted 'incident', as did combined biomarkers (p <.005). Conclusions: Clinical disease activity is reduced by treatment with infliximab. In CD, persistently high FC, but not CRP, predict a treatment 'incident', whereas in UC both high FC and high CRP predict 'incident'. Combined FC and CRP values also predict an 'incident'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydroclimatology of the southeastern USA (AL, GA, NC, SC, and TN) is analyzed from a holistic perspective, including multiple climate drivers. Monthly precipitation modeled by the PRISM group and runoff data (1952–2011) from 18 basins are analyzed using a single-field based principal component’s analysis. Results indicate that the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and El Niño-Southern Oscillation are the main atmospheric drivers of hydroclimate variability in the region, sometimes operating at several months’ lag. Their influence is the strongest in the fall through spring, which corresponds with the dry season in the southern parts of the study area thereby increasing pressure on already limited water resources. The Arctic Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, and Pacific-North American patterns vary on shorter-term bases, and also show a significant, but temporally more sporadic influence. Insight is also brought to the ongoing discussion, confirming the disassociation of the Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillation. Findings can be used in water resources forecasting, giving an indication of expected water volumes several months ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 50% of Sweden's electricity is produced by hydropower. This makes energy production in the country vulnerable to factors affecting water availability. Research has shown a positive correlation between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and hydropower production in Norway and northern Sweden during winter months. The correlation is, however, weaker in southern Sweden, which indicates that there might be other low-frequency atmospheric drivers (teleconnections) affecting this area. The aim of this paper is to analyze the natural climate forcing that affects hydropower production in southern Sweden on a seasonal basis. This knowledge may be of key importance in improving long-term (seasonal to yearly) water management and planning for electricity production in southern Sweden. The Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated between the principal component time series of electricity production (1999-2010) from 17 hydropower stations in 5 different rivers located in southern Sweden and 5 different teleconnection indices: the NAO, East Atlantic (EA), East Atlantic/Western Russia (EA/WR), Scandinavia (SCA), and Polar/Eurasia (POL). Results show that the impact of teleconnections on hydropower electricity production varies with season. In winter, the NAO shows the strongest positive relation with hydropower electricity production, explaining 24% of the variability in production, while the SCA has an almost as strong (15%) opposite effect. During spring and summer, the EA/WR alone shows a significant negative relation, explaining respectively 9 and 13% of the variance in production. No significant correlation appeared during the fall season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following rapid population growth and urbanization in Florida, there is an increased demand for energy. The state currently gets more than 50% of its electricity from burning imported natural gas. As the future of fossil fuels is uncertain and their impact on climate has proven negative, one could expect great potential and interest in further developing the solar industry, which utilizes the most prominent of renewable energy sources in Florida. Solar energy production is dependent on the supply of clear skies and plentiful insolation. This paper seeks to explain variations in the number of clear sunny days by identifying the months with clearest (cloudiest) sky conditions during the years 1950-2009 in relation to some of the most dominant low frequency climate patterns of variability in the Northern Hemisphere. The hypergeometric distribution is used to test for significant association between the phases of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation, Pacific- North American, and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) and cloud cover in Florida. We find that ENSO and AMO significantly impact the occurrence of clear/ cloudy skies with the warm phase of ENSO associated with cloudier conditions across much of the state and the warm phase of AMO bringing clearer conditions to northern stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the Court of Justice's ruling in the DEB case from December 2010. It looks at the principle of effective judicial protection and its impact on national rules on legal aid for legal persons. In the light of the ruling, the article also discusses the possible effect of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on the principle of effective judicial protection and its codification into Article 47 of the Charter; are there several different principles of effectiveness of rights and has the effective judicial protection gained momentum with the Lisbon Treaty? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coasts worldwide are facing enormous challenges relating to extreme water levels, inundation and coastal erosion. These challenges need to be addressed with consideration given to the need for infrastructure such as for ports and other socio-economic developments, especially for coastal tourism. Choosing the optimal decision support tools (DSTs) for coastal vulnerability and resilience assessment is a major challenge for decision-makers and coastal planners. The robustness and flexibility of coastal decision-making can be improved by using effective DSTs, particularly for the management of coastal hazards. This study provides an overview of the construction and use of decision support systems (DSSs) as combinations of DSTs, such as the commonly used multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods and an artificial neural network (ANN), integrated with a geographical information system (GIS). The experience of many researchers is that the combination of MCDA techniques based on fuzzy logic, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted linear combination (WLC), with GIS, and possibly also incorporating ANN, provides decision-makers with a comprehensive tool for efficiently calculating decision support indices (DSIs). Hybrid tools are becoming more popular and relevant among experts due to their multiple functionalities that facilitate decision-making. An integration of DSTs in a DSS and further development of DSIs provides a path for the integration of quantitative and qualitative parameters into the decision-making process, and providing materials to be used in consultation processes. An integrated DSS is more likely to produce high-quality results for decision-makers, handle the uncertainty of analysis, and extend the long-term applicability of tools employed by coastal managers. [Display omitted] • A thorough overview of decision support tools (DSTs) to manage coastal hazards. • Performance of various DSTs and decision support systems analyzed and compared. • The combined use of several DSTs and indices recommended for coastal management. • Multi-criteria analysis, GIS, and ANN is an effective combination for coastal problems. • Steps for an integrated decision support system for coastal management described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction: Engström, J., et al. Drought Vulnerability in the United States: An Integrated Assessment. [Extracted from the article]

Droughts are among the costliest natural hazards in the U.S. and globally. The severity of the hazard is closely related to a region's ability to cope and recover from the event, an ability that depends on the region's sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Here, the vulnerability to drought of each state within the contiguous U.S. is assessed as a function of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, using socio-economic, climatic, and environmental indicators. The division of vulnerability into three sub-indices allows for an assessment of the driver(s) of vulnerability of a state and as such provides a foundation for drought mitigation and planning efforts. In addition, a probabilistic approach is used to investigate the sensitivity of vulnerability to the weighting scheme of indicators. The resulting geographic distribution of relative vulnerability of the states is partially a reflection of their heterogeneous climates but also highlights the importance of sustainable adaptation of the local economy to water availability in order to reduce sensitivity and to limit the impact of drought. As such, the study at hand offers insights to local and regional planners on how to effectively distribute funds and plan accordingly in order to reduce state-level drought vulnerability today and in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After being repeatedly struck by droughts in the last few decades, water managers and stakeholders in the Southeast U.S. dread the future extremes that climate change might cause. In this study, the length of future dry periods is assessed using a sub-ensemble of downscaled CMIP5 climate models, which are proven to perform well in precipitation estimations. The length of a dry spell with a twenty-year return period is estimated for the cold and warm seasons for two time periods; 2020–2059 and 2060–2099, and considering two emission scenarios: RCP 4.5 and 8.5. The estimates are then compared with historical dry spells and differences in length and geospatial distribution analyzed. Based on the findings of this paper, little change can be expected in dry spell length during the warm season. Greater changes are to be expected in the cold season in the southern half of Florida, where dry spells are expected to be up to twenty days shorter, while dry spells in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee are predicted to be up to twenty days longer. The changes predicted by the models are positively associated with emission trajectory and future time period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Many rivers and streams experience pronounced ice dynamics caused by the formation of anchor and frazil ice, leading to flooding and disturbance of riparian and aquatic communities. However, the effects of dynamic ice conditions on riverine biota are little known. 2. We studied the formation of anchor ice in natural streams over 2 years and assessed the effects of anchor ice on riparian vegetation by comparing sites with frequent or abundant and little or no anchor ice formation. We also studied the direct impact of ice on riparian plants by experimentally creating ice in the riparian zone over three winters and by exposing plants of different life forms to −18 °C cold ice in the laboratory. 3. Riparian species richness per 1-m plot was higher at sites affected by anchor ice than at sites where anchor ice was absent or rare, whereas dominance was lower, suggesting that disturbance by ice enhances species richness. Species composition was more homogenous among plots at anchor ice sites. By experimentally creating riparian ice, we corroborated the comparative results, with species richness increasing in ice-treated plots compared to controls, irrespective of whether the sites showed natural anchor ice. 4. Because of human alterations of running waters, the natural effects of river ice on stream hydrology, geomorphology and ecology are little known. Global warming in northern streams is expected to lead to more dynamic ice conditions, offering new challenges for aquatic organisms and river management. Our results should stimulate new research, contributing to a better understanding of ecosystem function during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]