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We propose the concept of knowledge in the dark – or short: dark knowledge – and outline how it can help clarify why in our current era of Big Data, the knowledge (i.e. evidence-based understanding) of people does not seem to be substantially increasing despite a rapid increase in produced data and information. Key reasons underlying dark knowledge are: (1) the production of biased, erroneous or fabricated data and information and (2) the inaccessibility of data and information, both for example due to sociopolitical or financial interests; (3) the incomprehensibility of data and information, for instance due to specialized jargon and complex disciplinary knowledge; and (4) the loss of previous knowledge due to, for example, the extinction of scientific disciplines. OECD data show that only a fraction of the global investments into research and development are done with the principal intention to increase public knowledge. Most investments are by the industry, steadily increasing with time, whereas governmental investments have been decreasing in relative GDP terms. This pattern suggests an increasing privatization of knowledge. But also in the academic realm, where increasing public knowledge is a primary aim, several factors lead to dark knowledge. We highlight four of these factors – loss of academic freedom, research biases, lack of reproducibility and the Scientific tower of Babel – and offer ways forward to tackle them, for example establishing an international court of arbitration for research and developing advanced tools for research synthesis.

[Our study present a hydraulic failure model that accounts for the styles of intra‐MTC deformation process. The genetic links identified between MTC and spatially‐focused fluid flow indicate that, as well as disturbing the deep seafloor, MTC may also create important deep‐sea biodiversity hotspots. , Abstract Lateral spread and submarine creep are processes that occur near the headwalls of both terrestrial landslides and submarine mass‐transport complexes (MTCs). Both submarine creep and spread deposits may contain giant (km‐scale) coherent blocks, but their transport processes remain poorly constrained. Here we use seismic reflection data to determine the geometry, scale, and origin of a Late Miocene mass‐transport complex (MTC) located in the Kangaroo Syncline, offshore NW Australia. We show that this large remobilised mass of carbonate ooze is ca. 170–300 m thick and covers an area of at least 1,050 km2. The deposit is defined internally by two distinct seismic facies: (a) large, upward‐tapering blocks (210–300 m thick, 170–210 m wide and 800–1,200 m long) with negligible internal deformation, which decrease in height and spacing along the transport direction (identical, but in situ, seismic facies forms undeformed slope material immediately updip of the deposit headwall); and (b) troughs (160–260 m thick, 190–230 m wide and 800–1,200 m long) comprising moderately deformed strata, which contain ‘v’‐shaped, pipe‐like structures that extend upwards from the inferred basal shear surface to the top surface. The lack of deformation within the blocks, and their correlation to adjacent in situ deposits, suggests they underwent limited transport (ca. 50 m–70 m). The relatively high degree of deformation within the intervening troughs is attributed to the vertical expulsion of fluids and sediment during hydraulic failure of the sediment mass. We present a hydraulic failure model that invokes evacuation of the lower slope by a precursor MTC and which formed the space to trigger the lateral spread. Our study also provides new insights into the genesis and rheology of subaqueous lateral spreads. The genetic links identified between mass wasting and spatially focused fluid flow, as well as disturbing the deep seafloor, indicate that submarine landslides may also create important deep‐sea biodiversity hotspots.]

Drastic measures such as lockdown taken by countries worldwide to contain spread of COVID-19 have influenced air pollution dynamics substantially, at a planetary scale. Several media reported the lockdown induced air pollution reduction based on quickly assembled satellite observations. However, a global-scale analysis of such reduction in air pollution backed by quality data collected from ground stations across the world and the effects of lockdown to it are missing. Here, we investigate changes in concentrations of six air pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, and NO2 in 40 cities between February, March 2019 and 2020. The mean monthly concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in February and March of 2020 were found consistently lower than in 2019 in most of the cities. After lockdown, declines of anthropogenic pollutants such as NO2, CO, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were seen in 19, 9, 8 and 7 cities respectively. Improvement in air quality following lockdown was observed in the worlds most polluted cities including Bangalore, Beijing, Bangkok, Delhi, and Nanjing, as well as the worlds major trade centers including New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Sydney, and Tokyo. More visible reduction of air pollution remains to be seen if the lockdown is prolonged. Nevertheless, such reductions are expected to be temporary because the levels are likely to go up again once the situation gets back to normal.

We, the Executive Editors at Geoscience Communication, sincerely hope that this message finds you and your loved ones in good health. We are in the midst of yet another global health crisis, the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This affects all of us, and we truly hope that you are remaining safe and taking all necessary precautions. We all are facing difficult times ahead, and we hope that we can all together find the strength and courage within to do our best.

A new approach in landfill liner design which combines hydraulic containment of leachate with contaminant attenuation to improve the performance of these environmental control systems at landfills is described. The idea is to re-use readily available industrial waste residues (construction and biomass waste) as additives for natural clay liners, wherein the additives have specific properties which enhance the attenuation of contaminants by the mixture. The aim is to (1) evaluate the contaminant attenuation capacity of these mixtures, (2) develop design guidelines to construct liners for waste containment systems and similar applications, and (3) interpret their performance using numerical modelling. This is evaluated in permeation studies using a geotechnical centrifuge, which enables the performance of liner compositions to be tested for representive time-scales (100 years), pressures and temperatures at realistic experimental time-scales of days-weeks in the laboratory. The permeation experiments include liner compositions flushed with leachate to deduce contaminant transport and attenuation mechanisms, followed by rainwater to assess the potential for release of attenuated contaminants. This experimental methodology is illustrated with depth profiles from permeation studies conducted on different clay-additive compositions. The concept will be applicable for liner design at other waste disposal facilities and is a timely improvement which addresses the problem of managing large quantities of industrial residues. Instead of disposal these can be recycled as an additive in host clay to construct these liners, thus conserving natural resources (clay) and reducing construction costs. It also provides an effective and more environmentally sustainable basis to reduce risks from leachate leakage.

Computer models are essential tools in the earth system sciences. They underpin our search for understanding of earth system functioning and support decision- and policy-making across spatial and temporal scales. To understand the implications of uncertainty and environmental variability on the identification of such earth system models and their predictions, we can rely on increasingly powerful Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) methods. Previous reviews have characterised the variability of GSA methods available and their usability for different tasks. In our paper we rather focus on reviewing what has been learned so far by applying GSA to models across the earth system sciences, independently of the specific algorithm that was applied. We identify and discuss 10 key findings with general applicability and relevance for the earth sciences. We further provide an A-B-C-D of best practise in applying GSA methods, which we have derived from analysing why some GSA applications provided more insight than others.

isbn: 978-989-97395-1-2; International audience; Research work analyzes current situation and development of tourism in the region of Baltic Sea. Specific case study of this paper is Pärnu Bay, Estonia. This region is known for unique environmental settings: mild maritime climate, broad beaches, coniferous pine forests on the coastal zone and high esthetic value of the surrounding landscapes. However, after the end of USSR, Estonia survived a difficult period of restructuring of economic and social system. This affected touristic cluster, rapidly developing in new directions. Soviet touristic areas became abandoned and reconstructed , new hotels are being actively created, intensive privatization of recreation houses is actively ongoing. Main problem in the touristic cluster in Estonia consists in its specific location on the Baltic Sea with cold climate in summer period. It causes low popularity among tourists, comparing to Mediterranean. Another problem consists in ongoing development of the country, reflected in low investments into tourism, comparing to other European countries. Therefore, the main perspective for the tourism development in Estonia includes active redirection towards eco-style sustainable tourism: camping, biking, sea side recreation, construction of summer cottages for vacations, organized tours to Natural Parks. This paper, supported by fieldwork, has analytical character reviewing current Estonian tourism dynamics. Sociopolitical effects on current tourism directions are discussed, while modern touristic system in Estonia compared to Soviet. The overview of the recreation resort places was performed in Häädemeeste municipality, Pärnu district, and resulted in series of thematic author photos. The research was performed at the University of Tartu.

In alcoholic solutions (tinctures), the tricyclic triterpenoid alcohol, ambrein, which is usually the main ingredient of the natural product ambergris, undergoes photo-oxidation to a number of odorous products. Such tinctures are valuable in perfumery. Similar reactions are thought to occur in the marine environment, when flotsam and jetsam ambergris are exposed to sunlight. However, previous simulations of this process used artificial photosensitisers and did not include dark controls. We therefore conducted experiments in which ambrein in seawater (~1666 mg L-1) containing a photosensitiser, forms of which are found naturally in ambergris (5, 10, 15, 20-tetraphenyl-21H, 23H-porphine copper (II); 1% of ambrein w/w), was exposed to simulated natural sunlight for experimental periods of up to 6 h (approximately equivalent to 48 h natural exposure, Florida midday, mid-summer sunlight). Dark controls were treated in the same manner, without exposure to light. After 6 h exposure to light, total reaction products detectable by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of solvent extracts, comprised about 1% by mass of the initial ambrein. However, unaccounted-for mass losses of ambrein were much greater than this (~50%), even in the dark, suggesting major losses of volatile products and/or non-recovery of some oxidation products by extraction. Photo-oxidation products included ambroxan, γ-dihydroionone, a tricyclic enol ether and possibly a related lactone. All of these have been reported previously in photoexposures of ambrein made under, arguably, less environmentally-realistic conditions. The latter products were not observed in dark controls however, suggesting they were only products of photo-oxidation.

Achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and related sustainability initiatives will require halving of greenhouse gas emissions each decade from now on through to 2050, when net zero emissions should be achieved. To reach such significant reductions requires a rapid and strategic scaling of existing and emerging technologies and practices, coupled with economic and social transformation and novel governance solutions. A new “Powers of 10” (P10) logarithmic optimization framework offers a social perspective and practical tool for climate action by complementing technology, business, finance and policy paradigms and existing governance frameworks. P10 identifies optimal population cohorts for climate action between a single individual and the globally projected ~10 billion persons by 2050. Applying a robust dataset of climate solutions from Project Drawdown’s Plausible scenario, we find prioritizing community to urban-focused climate action can help maximize top-down and bottom-up efforts, and support policies and practices for rapid sustainability transformation.

As global warming increases temperatures worldwide, cities are experiencing even greater temperatures due to the urban heat island effect, which is the trapping of heat in “gray” urban infrastructure. Cities are combatting this with green infrastructure (GI) initiatives, such as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) GI initiative in New York City. However, these programs are often implemented based on convenience for local governments, rather than the heat vulnerability of different areas. This study evaluated the DEP GI program by creating a heat vulnerability index (HVI) that incorporates risk factors for New York City’s 188 Census neighborhoods, a much more accurate model than that of existing case studies, which use United Hospital Fund neighborhoods. Additionally, the number of current GI sites in each neighborhood was counted to extrapolate a control HVI. By comparing the created and control HVI values for each neighborhood, the effectiveness of the program and the number of GI sites needed in each neighborhood were found. Only 11% of neighborhoods had an acceptable number of GI sites and 75% of neighborhoods were significantly in need of GI. A multicriteria decision analysis was then performed by using the number of additional sites needed in each neighborhood and geographical features to propose locations for new sites. GI was discovered to be needed most in the Eastern Bronx and Southern Brooklyn and least in Central Queens and Lower Manhattan.

It has been started on December 31, 2019 with a pneumonic case reported in Hubei, China and now it has taken the shape of a global pandemic COVID-19. The cause behind this pandemic is a deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which belongs to a family of viruses that has a history of outbreaks in 2003 with SARS-CoV and in 2012 with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome MERS-CoV. The potential modes of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 have been identified as direct contact respiratory droplets, and aerosols. Now the studies are coming from different parts of the world identifying the traces of SARS-CoV-2 in water bodies. Some studies are also predicting the spread of COVID-19 through water. It could a big matter of concern to the countries with approaching south-west monsoon. Thus a mitigation strategy must be made to combat COVID-19 in such countries.