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This paper examines how Holocaust poets use the image of earth to convey a shattered world. Earth features as world or planet, but also as ground and soil, and in both meanings is participant in and witness to genocide. Moreover, earth becomes a figure for understanding the natural world and its relation to human horror. Valuable observations are made about how, in the Holocaust setting, humans experienced their environment and how they represent it poetically. Though the ecocritical view often calls for moving away from the anthropocentric standpoint, the poets examined ultimately insist on the centrality of the human victim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions among tectonics, climate, and lithology shape the Earth's surface. In regions dominated by tectonic quiescence and climate stability, the role of rock strength related to lithology, and its role in landscape evolution, can be most clearly perceived. We leverage these qualities in a unique field site by integrating topographic data, erosion rates, and a large suite of rock strength measurements to quantify the relationship between bedrock strength and erosion rates along a 200-km section of the southeast coast of Brazil where climatic and tectonic variability are minimal. Our findings reveal a 20-fold erosion rate variation best explained by differences in rock strength. We also demonstrate that incorporating lithological strength variability into the analysis of landscape incision substantially improves accuracy, with outcomes that better reproduce natural settings. Our results underscore the crucial role of rock strength in landscape evolution and emphasize the need for field studies to account for lithological variability and thus accurately interpret landscape dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Memory of the World: Deep Time, Animality, and Eschatology" by Ted Toadvine, published in 2024, challenges the notion that humans lack experience or consciousness of deep time. Toadvine explores the intertwining of human and nonhuman experiences, delving into diverse temporalities and the memory of the world. The book navigates through various artistic, philosophical, and scientific perspectives, discussing topics such as deep time, apocalyptic narratives, and the relationship between nature and culture. Toadvine's work offers a complex and nuanced examination of experiences that resist easy communication and comprehension, inviting readers to consider the immemorial past and the intertwined nature of existence." [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the intertwined relationship between modern scientific advancement and its potential to shape the future of Earth's ecological and societal well-being. While scientific innovations have brought about unprecedented developments, they also present new challenges, particularly regarding sustainability and ecological balance. By tracing humanity's historical relationship with nature and the rise of specialized sciences, the article reflects on the dual nature of technological progress. It calls for a balanced approach, one that prioritizes wisdom alongside knowledge to avoid irreversible harm to the planet. Through philosophical reflections, the article emphasizes the need for responsible innovation, urging researchers to consider the long-term consequences of their work for Earth's future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay I outline core themes in the political geology of twentieth-century volcano science. The essay explores volcano science at the intersection of cross-disciplinary preoccupations with the role of the earth sciences in shaping the social and environmental crises of the present and how to find a way out of them. The essay then turns to volcanology in Indonesia at the turn of the twentieth century to destabilize persistent narratives in the historiography of volcano science that center European and North American actors. I show how starting an account of twentieth-century volcano science from the slopes of Indonesia's volcanoes reveals the roles of Indonesian intellectuals and knowledge traditions in shaping volcano science and, more broadly, modern theories of the earth, its evolution, and structure. The aim and provocation of starting from Indonesia are to open new epistemic pluralisms in the earth sciences, in particular around conceptualizations of the relationship between geological matter and society, history and ancestrality, and the politics of the earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization, one of the most important steps of change that shaped the evolution of the earth in the last quarter of the last century, has made the world better known, traceable and comparable from different perspectives for humanity. This convergence, which is built on faster and easier access and interaction, has brought with it an intense competition that is constantly expanding in scope. At the point reached today, one of the main sources of the efforts to ensure competitive advantage and profitability, which can have different material and immaterial foci, is to create a difference that will ensure being noticed and preferred among similar ones. One of the most concrete steps in today's effort to be recognized and make a difference is to raise the goods and/or services offered to a certain level of quality and to ensure the continuity of this quality. This process, which requires a systematic and multifunctional functioning, will mean being recognized, approved and accepted as competent and is the main effort of almost all institutions and organizations today. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the accreditation process and the role of academic libraries in this process in the context of quality service, which has started to take place more and more on the agenda of higher education institutions in terms of being recognized and making a difference in Turkey as in the whole world. In this study, a conceptually based view of the accreditation process of higher education institutions from the perspective of libraries was utilized in the descriptive method. The scope of the study consists of the intersections of the concepts and processes of quality and accreditation with the libraries of higher education institutions and the conceptual dimension of their contribution to the process. The study, which aims to illustrate the place and importance of quality and accreditation processes in higher education institutions through their relationship with libraries, differs from its counterparts in the national literature in this respect. With the prediction that quality and accreditation processes will continue to be on the priority agenda of higher education institutions in Turkey in the near future, it is evaluated that the study will enable both the place and importance of academic libraries in the accreditation process to be seen more clearly and the depth of the contribution of these libraries to the process to be questioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advances in geodesy that are continually occurring allow the science of investigating the Earth's shape and size to be applied to the observation of its geodynamics as well. Space geodesy and remote sensing methods enable the desired phenomenon to be observed with high precision and at different scales, where the phenomenon can be global or local in nature. By tracking changes in the position of unique points on the Earth's surface using space geodesy methods (GNSS – Global Navigation Satellite System, VLBI – Very-long Baseline Interferometry, SLR – Satellite Laser Ranging, DORIS – Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite), it is possible to indirectly track the movement of the Earth system and describe changes, anomalies and their evolution over time. The main objective of the article is to define and describe the tectonic plates' movement based on the selected approach and analysis, compare the results with conventional tectonic boundaries definition and support the anomalous outcomes for discrete locations by ongoing tectonic phenomena over the time period under study. By implementing space geodesy data into deformation analyses, the aim is to demonstrate the geodynamic contribution of space geodesy in studying and monitoring the geodynamics of the Earth system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicate weathering acts as a significant carbon sink and sustains ecosystems by supplying essential elements, thus shaping Earth's habitability. However, our understanding the evolution of silicate weathering rates remains incomplete, with most knowledge focusing on rate decreases at solution‐silicate interfaces, while reactivity at fungi‐weathered silicate interfaces is poorly understood. This study shows that the fungus Talaromyces flavus significantly enhances the dissolution of olivine and lizardite covered by Si‐rich layers up to 3.6 μm thick by one to two orders of magnitude compared to abiotic conditions. Initially, fungal hyphae create dissolution channels ∼10–65 nm deep, promoting element release from altered layers and underlying pristine minerals while oxidizing structural Fe(II). Over time, hyphae penetrate these altered layers, exposing and etching the underlying minerals. Our data suggest that fungal etching and penetration degrade the altered layers, leading to increased interdiffusion of weathering agents and released cations, thereby continuously driving silicate weathering. Plain Language Summary: Altered surface layers formed during silicate weathering significantly inhibit the exchange of matter and energy at the fluid‐mineral interface, thereby limiting the weathering process. Fungi, with their vast biomass and widespread distribution on the Earth's surface, are considered important weathering agents. Through experimental investigation of fungal weathering of silicates with altered layers, our analyses and observations of bulk solutions and hypha‐mineral interfaces indicate that fungi can significantly promote the weathering of these silicates. The underlying mechanism could be that fungal hyphae degrade the altered layers through etching and penetration, facilitating the interdiffusion of fungally produced reactive species and released cations cross the altered layers, thereby continuously promoting the weathering of silicate minerals. Key Points: An enhancement of up to two orders of magnitude was observed in fungal weathering of aged silicates compared to abiotic conditionsFungal hyphae enhance the weathering of weathered silicate minerals by penetrating the altered surface layers and etching the fresh mineralFungi can facilitate the interdiffusion of matter and energy across altered layers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from observed variations of the length of day in the past 2.5 billion years, we calculate the corresponding gravity variation and evaluate the possible effects that such variation would have induced on the lithosphere and on mantle convection. The lithospheric stress induced by the observed gravity increase at the equator in 500 Ma is of the same order as the one associated with a convective cell. We model a gravity increase that would result in 1.3 × 10−2 µGal or 1.3 × 10−10 m s−2 over 10 years, a value that is not far from the detection thresholds of modern gravimeters. Gravity increase also affects mantle dynamics by improving convection efficiency. Our models demonstrate that gravity variations contribute to this phenomenon through faster and wider mixing. The results support a view where a convective system being subject to gravity changes responds through non-linear adjustments of its effective mixing at all scales. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how gravitational fluctuations may shape the behavior of Earth's dynamic systems over geological timescales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, Carlos Walter Porto-Gonçalves's geographies will be explored as bridges connecting ancestral knowledge across groups, peoples, social classes, ethnicities, and nationalities. Seven paths will be traversed through these geographies, including: thinking as feeling and thinking the territory; life as a criterion of truth; the diversity of forces in shaping the earth; the incompleteness of beings and the pursuit of good living; the epistemological diversity of the world and engagement with social conflict; the geographicity of history and the decolonization of knowledge; and generosity and optimism as epistemic attitudes. Through these bridges, Carlos Walter's work becomes ancestral territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth's topography represents the cumulative effects of tectonics and surface processes modulated by climate and lithology. These factors shape landscapes through time. River profiles can be inverted to estimate the rock uplift histories or lithology‐specific erodibilities. However, river systems are dynamic and evolve in response to spatial and temporal internal dynamics, such as river capture events. Here, we present a modeling framework to infer denudation rates from the inversion of river profiles and thermo‐ and geochronology data. We achieve this by coupling a landscape evolution model and an efficient inverse modeling scheme to infer poorly resolved erosional and tectonic parameters. An application of the approach is presented for the Neckar catchment, southwest Germany, characterized by stark lateral variation in bedrock erodibility and rock uplift, and that have demonstrably undergone multiple river capture events. Different end‐member scenarios are explored in the simulations. First, we test uniform and spatial variability in rock uplift rate and bedrock erodibility, and second, temporal variations in rock uplift rate and base level. Finally, we simulate river capture events by adding upstream sections (drainage area) at specific times and locations within the fluvial network. We find that spatial variation in rock uplift rate is necessary to reproduce the Neckar's river profile while honoring analytical observations. Simulations integrating river captures allow improved river profile predictions of specific tributaries of the Neckar catchment, leading to potentially more realistic erodibility and rock uplift history estimates. The time and location of the capture events determined from the modeling agree with previous estimations from geological evidence. Plain Language Summary: The shape of Earth's surface results from both crustal motions caused by tectonic forces and downcutting by erosion. In particular, geomorphologists use river channels to estimate the history of erosion across a landscape, often using tools known as thermochronology and cosmogenic nuclides. However, river systems can be affected by drastic events, such as river captures, that can lead to major changes in their profiles. Furthermore, tectonic forces can vary in space and time. Here, we developed and applied a computer model to simulate how uplift and rock erodibility variability can control where and when erosion occurs. We applied this method to the Neckar basin located in southwest Germany and found that the model can predict the location and time of river captures within the river network. We also found that spatial variability in uplift and specific river capture events can explain the river elevations and observed thermochronology and cosmogenic nuclide data of the Neckar basin. Key Points: We perform inverse modeling using river profile, cosmogenic nuclide and thermochronological data to estimate denudation rate parametersSpatial variation in rock uplift improves the model predictions and is consistent with the tectonic evolution of southern GermanyThe model estimates river capture events at a specific time and location along the Neckar basin, which improves the modeled river profiles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise knowledge of geocenter motion, i.e., the relative motion between the Earth's center of mass (CM) and the center of figure of the Earth's surface (CF), is crucial to high-stakes geodetic applications such as sea-level rise monitoring with satellite altimetry or the establishment of regional and global mass budgets with satellite gravimetry. The computation of the latest release of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, ITRF2020, involved the estimation of a field of seasonal motions for a global network of geodetic stations, expressed with respect to CM, as sensed by satellite laser ranging, from which the translational part represents seasonal geocenter motion. This paper presents two different methods to isolate seasonal geocenter motion from the field of ITRF2020 seasonal station motions, among which a new method based on a direct weighted average of seasonal station motions, with station-specific weights chosen so as to provide a better approximation of CF than the standard network shift approach. The ITRF2020 annual geocenter motion model thus obtained is then compared with other recent geodetic and geophysical estimates. Although different sub-groups of estimates with relatively good internal consistency may be identified, the overall scatter of recent geodetic estimates remains at the level of several mm, i.e., close to the amplitude of annual geocenter motion itself. Efforts toward reconciling seasonal geocenter motion estimates therefore still appear necessary. Meanwhile, it would seem safe to assume that seasonal geocenter motion models, in particular those currently used in satellite altimetry and satellite gravimetry, are still uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A debris flow barrier is a structure used to prevent erosion caused by debris flow, and is typically installed in countries with mountainous areas, such as Korea. However, owing to earth pressure, several debris flow barriers become damaged. Geofoam is a reinforcement material widely used in the design of debris flow barriers, not only in dams/retaining walls but also in bridges and landscaping. The purpose of this study was to examine the lateral earth pressure reduction effect of geofoam on debris flow barriers, and to find an optimized geofoam shape that satisfies specific conditions. In this study, the debris flow barrier, backfill, geofoam, and foundation were modeled using ABAQUS, a two-dimensional finite element method program. Models A-C were simulated and compared at backfill lengths of 10, 20, and 40 m. The debris flow barrier model was used at a mountain slope of 25°. To determine the geofoam shape and analyze the stability coefficients for sliding and overturning, ten diverse scenarios were considered. According to the results, Scenario 10, with a reversed triangle shape of geofoam, was the most effective in all cases, which reduces the earth pressure significantly. In the case of Model C, a reversed triangle geofoam reinforcement reduces the lateral earth pressure on the backside of the structure by an average of 34.43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the external and internal geodynamical processes shaping the Earth is challenging. Physical, chemical, and biological processes form the ground surface over time. Erosion, weathering, transporting, and sedimentation are the natural processes that shape landscapes. However, the continuous interactions of external geodynamic drivers, such as water, wind, and biota, play vital roles in shaping the Earth's surface. These complex and interconnected processes impact the landscape and environment, making it essential to comprehend them to predict evolution, variability, and changes. This Topical Collection (TC) is a comprehensive set of over 54 articles (to date, it has over 16,500 accesses and 119 citations) focused on Earth's processes and environment in a changing world. It was grounded in paying tribute to the legacy of the outstanding Spanish geomorphologist, geographer, and honorific Professor Augusto Pérez-Alberti, whose thoughtful contributions have significantly advanced the understanding of earth processes, particularly glacial and periglacial processes, sedimentary dynamics, hydromorphology, and coastal geomorphology. Understanding the geodynamics of the processes that shape Earth systems is critical to protecting and preserving ecosystems, landscapes, natural resources, and communities' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periods of large igneous province (LIP) magmatism have shaped Earth’s biological and climatic history, causing major climatic shifts and biological reorganizations. The vegetation response to LIP-induced perturbations may affect the efficiency of the carbon-climate regulation system and the post-LIP climate evolution. Using an eco-evolutionary vegetation model, we demonstrate here that the vegetation’s climate adaptation capacity, through biological evolution and geographic dispersal, is a major determinant of the severity and longevity of LIP-induced hyperthermals and can promote the emergence of a new climatic steady state. Proxy-based temperature reconstructions of the Permian-Triassic, Triassic-Jurassic, and Paleocene-Eocene hyperthermals match the modeled trajectories of bioclimatic disturbance and recovery. We conclude that biological vegetation dynamics shape the multimillion-year Earth system response to sudden carbon degassing and global warming episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol–cloud interactions play a crucial role in shaping Earth's climate and hydrological cycle. Observing these interactions with high precision and accuracy is of the utmost importance for improving climate models and predicting Earth's climate. Over the past few decades, lidar techniques have emerged as powerful tools for investigating aerosol–cloud interactions due to their ability to provide detailed vertical profiles of aerosol particles and clouds with high spatial and temporal resolutions. This review paper provides an overview of recent advancements in the study of ACI using lidar techniques. The paper begins with a description of the different cloud microphysical processes that are affected by the presence of aerosol, and with an outline of lidar remote sensing application in characterizing aerosol particles and clouds. The subsequent sections delve into the key findings and insights gained from lidar-based studies of aerosol–cloud interactions. This includes investigations into the role of aerosol particles in cloud formation, evolution, and microphysical properties. Finally, the review concludes with an outlook on future research. By reporting the latest findings and methodologies, this review aims to provide valuable insights for researchers engaged in climate science and atmospheric research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barchans are eolian dunes of crescent shape found on Earth, Mars and other celestial bodies. Among the different types of barchan‐barchan interaction, there is one, known as chasing, in which the dunes remain close but without touching each other. In this paper, we investigate the origins of this barchan‐barchan dune repulsion by carrying out grain‐scale numerical computations in which a pair of granular heaps is deformed by the fluid flow into barchan dunes that interact with each other. In our simulations, data such as position, velocity and resultant force are computed for each individual particle at each time step, allowing us to measure details of both the fluid and grains that explain the repulsion. We show the trajectories of grains, time‐average resultant forces, and mass balances for each dune, and that the downstream barchan shrinks faster than the upstream one, keeping, thus, a relatively high velocity although in the wake of the upstream barchan. In its turn, this fast shrinkage is caused by the flow disturbance, which induces higher erosion on the downstream barchan and its circumvention by grains leaving the upstream dune. Our results help explaining the mechanisms behind the distribution of barchans in dune fields found on Earth and Mars. Plain Language Summary: Barchans are crescent‐shaped wind‐formed dunes that grow when the wind is roughly unidirectional and the amount of sand is limited (typically, over a non‐erodible ground). They are found in dune fields on Earth and Mars, where barchan dunes interact with each other, forming different field patterns. One first question that arises is why, in some cases, two nearby barchans do not touch each other. Is there a repulsion mechanism? In this paper, we investigate the barchan‐barchan dune repulsion by carrying out numerical computations of the motion of the fluid and each grain forming a pair of barchans. The outputs are detailed measurements of both fluid and grains, such as trajectories, forces, and mass balances, and they show that the downstream barchan shrinks faster than the upstream one. The results also show that the faster shrinkage is due to the fluid flow disturbance caused by the upstream barchan: the fluid impacts the downstream dune, increasing its erosion at the same time that it entrains further downstream part of grains coming from the upstream dune. As a result, the downstream barchan moves at the same pace or faster than the upstream dune, though receiving grains from the latter (which only loses grains). Key Points: We investigate numerically both the fluid flow and motion of grains for understanding the mechanisms behind barchan‐barchan dune repulsionWe measure the flow rate of grains and show that there is, indeed, greater erosion on the downstream barchanThe disturbed flow impacting the downstream barchan induces higher erosion (of its grains) and low accumulation (of upstream grains) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of phosphorous (P) via chemical weathering is a vital process that regulates the global cycling of numerous key elements and shapes the size of the Earth's biosphere. It has long been postulated that global climate should theoretically play a prominent role in governing P weathering rates. Yet, there is currently a lack of direct evidence for this relationship based on empirical data at the global scale. Here, using a compilation of temperature and P content data of global surface soils (0 to 30 cm), we demonstrate that P release does enhance at high mean annual surface temperatures. We propose that this amplification of nutrient supply with warming is a critical component of Earth's natural thermostat, and that this relationship likely caused expanded oceanic anoxia during past climate warming events. The potential acceleration of phosphorus loss from soils due to anthropogenic climate warming may pose threats to agricultural production, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and alter marine redox landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often noted that the Earth is slightly oblate rather than spherical, but the calculation of the Earth's eccentricity can be challenging. Here, we calculate it by minimizing the sum of the Earth's gravitational potential energy and its centrifugal potential energy. The Earth's gravitational potential energy can be derived with the help of the Green's function of the Laplace operator in oblate spheroidal coordinates. Under the assumption of a homogeneous planet, we obtain an analytic relationship for the Earth's eccentricity that was first derived by Maclaurin in 1742 and is about 13 percent larger than the observed value. Better agreement with observation is obtained by assuming that the Earth's core is about twice the density of the mantle, which reduces the Earth's moment of inertia. This exercise can provide practice in analyzing gravitational systems in spheroidal coordinates; the problem may also be relevant for other gravitating and rotating bodies, such as stars and galaxies. Editor's note: This short paper presents a new derivation of the Earth's eccentricity using the minimization of the Earth's total energy that includes both the gravitational and the centrifugal energies. It employs the Green's function of the Laplace operator, a mathematical tool that is commonly used, for instance in electrostatics. Appropriate for advanced undergraduate mechanics courses or for illustrating the utility of Green's functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape of the Earth is a fundamental concept that students need to learn in astronomy education. This paper reports the findings of a study that confirms the effectiveness of an intervention involving the construction of a model of the Earth prior to the introduction of the globe as a codified artefact. The educational intervention had been preceded by the EARTH2 test, which was used to check how well students participating in the study mastered the concept of the Earth's shape. The study included forty-seven primary school students (grades I and II). Effectiveness was measured by comparing the answers chosen by Polish children in a test as mental models. The study confirmed (A) that the intervention was effective: 49% of progressive changes, 30% of regressive changes, and 21% of changes within the same mental model were observed; (B) that there was an increase in the children's interest in space, revealed by an increased number of questions going far beyond the school astronomy curriculum; and (C) that students' concerns about the dangers of space were revealed. Key findings include the following: (a) Educational effectiveness regarding the concept of the shape of the Earth is achieved in activities that involve building a spherical Earth model before introducing a globe as a ready-made model. (b) The topics addressed in astronomy classes must be far broader than what the current curricula provide. They should take into account current issues reported by the media and deal with astronomical discoveries and space technology. (c) When organising activities, children's concerns about the dangers of space should be borne in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion is an important process that shapes the earth's surface. Given the complexity of the process, efforts to understand it are essential. Over the last 50 years, numerous models of soil particle erosion by surface runoff emerged, some of which share similar forms and parameters. The differences lie in the coefficient values of the parameters, attributed to the characteristics of the soil material such as texture, structure, and organic matter content. However, these erosion models tend to underpredict in the case of new volcanic deposit erosion. The erosion model for unconsolidated tephra, proposed by Yunita, was developed through laboratory experiments using volcanic material from Merapi Volcano, Indonesia. Nevertheless, the model has not been implemented for other cases. Therefore, this study aims to verify the erosion model for volcanic material in other cases, explore the possibility of broader implementation, identify the factors that influence its accuracy, and determine the model’s limitations. To verify the model’s potential for broader application, we applied it to micro-scale catchments in St. Hellens (USA), Sakurajima (Japan), and a laboratory scale plot in Merapi (Indonesia). The verification yielded satisfactory results for all three cases, especially for new tephra deposits. In the case of St. Helens, the extrapolation of model coefficients was proven to still be applicable even for thicker tephra layers. However, the erosion prediction was overestimated for tephra layer deposits older than 1 year, as the erosion rate decreases over time due to the compaction and stabilization of the tephra layer. In the Sakurajima, the model was also suitable for predicting long-term erosion amounts (daily and monthly). Meanwhile, in Merapi, the model provided accurate predictions for slopes of 20º and 25º but was less accurate for 30º slopes, where the measured erosion was due to both erosion and slope failure. These verification results demonstrate the potential of applying the empirical erosion model to micro catchments with relatively homogenous slopes and tephra properties. The sensitivity test revealed that slope, runoff, rainfall intensity, and volcanic ash thickness are strongly influence the erosion rate. This study also simplified the volcanic ash erosion model as a function of slope (S0), runoff (q), and rainfall (i) by assuming the value of (1-τc/τ0) is equal to 1. Further study using GIS tools is required for its application on several catchments with heterogeneous characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shorelines of Titan's hydrocarbon seas trace flooded erosional landforms such as river valleys; however, it is unclear whether coastal erosion has subsequently altered these shorelines. Spacecraft observations and theoretical models suggest that wind may cause waves to form on Titan's seas, potentially driving coastal erosion, but the observational evidence of waves is indirect, and the processes affecting shoreline evolution on Titan remain unknown. No widely accepted framework exists for using shoreline morphology to quantitatively discern coastal erosion mechanisms, even on Earth, where the dominant mechanisms are known. We combine landscape evolution models with measurements of shoreline shape on Earth to characterize how different coastal erosion mechanisms affect shoreline morphology. Applying this framework to Titan, we find that the shorelines of Titan's seas are most consistent with flooded landscapes that subsequently have been eroded by waves, rather than a uniform erosional process or no coastal erosion, particularly if wave growth saturates at fetch lengths of tens of kilometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of mine rock bodies, ionic rare earth ore bodies exhibit varying pore structures at different depths. This research focuses on an ionic rare earth mine in Fujian Province, where in situ ore samples rather than remodeled soil samples were studied. Samples from the fully weathered layer at depths of 1 m, 12 m, and 21 m, both before and after leaching, were collected for onsite analysis. Microscopic pore characteristics were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, and digital image processing was utilized to study the evolution of the pore scale, distribution, and shape in rare earth ore samples at various depths pre- and post-leaching. The results indicate an increase in the ore body's porosity with the depth of the ore samples both before and after leaching. The variation in pore scale is predominantly dictated by the ratio of macropore and large pores. Pre-leaching, the middle ore sample showcased the highest uniformity, with the upper part being the most irregular. Post-leaching, the highest uniformity was observed in the lower ore samples, with the upper part remaining irregular. Pre-leaching, as depth increased, the pore distribution in ore samples became more dispersed, with decreasing orderliness. Post-leaching, the orderliness was most improved in upper ore samples, while middle ore samples became the least orderly. Additionally, before leaching, pore-shape roughness increased with depth; after leaching, the pore shape became more rounded as depth increased, simplifying the pore-shape structure of the ore samples both before and after leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an in-depth analysis of global research trends in Geosciences from 2014 to 2023. By integrating bibliometric analysis with expert insights from the Deeptime Digital Earth (DDE) initiative, this article identifies key emerging themes shaping the landscape of Earth Sciences. The identification process involved a meticulous analysis of over 400,000 papers from 466 Geosciences journals and approximately 5,800 papers from 93 interdisciplinary journals sourced from the Web of Science and Dimensions database. To map relationships between articles, citation networks were constructed, and spectral clustering algorithms were then employed to identify groups of related research, resulting in 407 clusters. Relevant research terms were extracted using the Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) algorithm, followed by statistical analyses on the volume of papers, average publication year, and average citation count within each cluster. Additionally, expert knowledge from DDE Scientific Committee was utilized to select top 30 trends based on their representation, relevance, and impact within Geosciences, and finalize naming of these top trends with consideration of the content and implications of the associated research. This comprehensive approach in systematically delineating and characterizing the trends in a way which is understandable to geoscientists. Thirty significant trends were identified in the field of Geosciences, spanning five domains: deep space, deep time, deep Earth, habitable Earth, and big data. These topics reflect the latest trends and advancements in Geosciences and have the potential to address real-world problems that are closely related to society, science, and technology. The analyzed data of this study only contain those were included in the Web of Science. This study will strongly support the organizations and individual scientists to understand the modern frontier of earth science, especially on solid earth. The organizations such as the surveys or natural science fund could map out areas for future exploration and analyze the hot topics reference to this study. This paper integrates bibliometric analysis with expert insights to highlight the most significant trends on earth science and reach the individual scientist and public by global voting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several proposals regarding the origin of the universe and the inhabited earth, the most prominent being Biblical creationism and naturalistic evolutionism. Biblical creationism proposes that the reality around us was created supernaturally by a personal and transcendent Being, who first shaped an earth that was disordered and then filled it with all kinds of life; At the end of the process, he created the human being to represent him visibly in the government or administration of other things. On the other hand, naturalistic evolutionism proposes that the reality that surrounds us is the product of a process in which, without any type of supernatural intervention, natural laws, acting on matter over time and at random, gave rise in a way gradually to the universe, to the inhabited earth and to organisms. Which of the two fits more with the evidence and the reality that surrounds us? Although it is true that trying to explain the origin of both have limitations, the reality is that Biblical creationism is not only more consistent with the evidence, but also with social reality. Furthermore, it is easier to explain how the creationist model harmonizes with the apparent difficulties or contradictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-induced global changes, including anthropogenic climate change, biotic globalization, trophic downgrading and pervasive land-use intensification, are transforming Earth's biosphere, placing biodiversity and ecosystems at the forefront of unprecedented challenges. The Anthropocene, characterized by the importance of Homo sapiens in shaping the Earth system, necessitates a re-evaluation of our understanding and stewardship of ecosystems. This theme issue delves into the multifaceted challenges posed by the ongoing ecological planetary transformation and explores potential solutions across four key subthemes. Firstly, it investigates the functioning and stewardship of emerging novel ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need to comprehend the dynamics of ecosystems under uncharted conditions. The second subtheme focuses on biodiversity projections under global change, recognizing the necessity of predicting ecological shifts in the Anthropocene. Importantly, the inherent uncertainties and the complexity of ecological responses to environmental stressors pose challenges for societal responses and for accurate projections of ecological change. The RAD framework (resist-accept-direct) is highlighted as a flexible yet nuanced decision-making tool that recognizes the need for adaptive approaches, providing insights for directing and adapting to Anthropocene dynamics while minimizing negative impacts. The imperative to extend our temporal perspective beyond 2100 is emphasized, given the irreversible changes already set in motion. Advancing methods to study ecosystem dynamics under rising biosphere novelty is the subject of the third subtheme. The fourth subtheme emphasizes the importance of integrating human perspectives into understanding, forecasting and managing novel ecosystems. Cultural diversity and biological diversity are intertwined, and the evolving relationship between humans and ecosystems offers lessons for future stewardship. Achieving planetary stewardship in the Anthropocene demands collaboration across scales and integration of ecological and societal perspectives, scalable approaches fit to changing, novel ecological conditions, as well as cultural innovation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean–atmosphere interactions largely control the variabilities of the climate system on Earth. However, how much atmospheric internal signals contribute to climate variabilities remains uncertain over many parts of the globe. Here, we develop an interactive ensemble coupled model (called Hydra‐SINTEX) to investigate the influences of atmospheric internal variations (AIVs) on the mean‐states and variability of the climate system. The results show that, while climatological mean‐states are little affected, the AIVs can largely influence climate variabilities over the globe. We pay particular attention to two regions, that is, the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, which is the key area of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the subtropical North Pacific. We found that sea surface temperature (SST) variabilities in these two regions are much reduced without the AIVs but with distinct mechanisms. Without the AIVs, the intensity of the IOD is largely reduced in association with weakened air–sea coupling in the tropics. This indicates the importance of atmospheric noise forcing on the development of the IOD. In contrast, the reduction of SST variability in the subtropical North Pacific is caused by the absence of the AIVs that are generated by both mid‐latitude atmospheric processes and weakened remote influence of the tropical SST in accordance with the reduced SST signals there. Plain Language Summary: Ocean–atmosphere interactions are pivotal in shaping Earth's climate system. However, how much atmospheric internal variations (AIVs) contribute to climate variabilities remains uncertain in many places over the globe. Here, we have devised an interactive ensemble coupled model (called Hydra‐SINTEX), allowing us to explore the impacts of the AIVs on the mean‐states and variabilities of the climate system. The results reveal that, while climatological mean‐states remain little affected, the AIVs significantly influence global climate variabilities. We focus on two specific regions: the tropical eastern Indian Ocean, a critical area for the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the subtropical North Pacific. We have observed that SST variabilities in these regions are notably reduced in the absence of the AIVs through distinct mechanisms. In the case of the IOD, the absence of the AIVs leads to a considerable decrease in its intensity. This underscores the significance of atmospheric noise forcing in influencing the development of the IOD. Conversely, the reduction of SST variability in the subtropical North Pacific can be attributed to the absence of the AIVs generated by mid‐latitude atmospheric processes and the diminished influence of tropical SST signals. Key Points: A developed interactive ensemble model is to investigate the impacts of atmospheric internal variations (AIVs) on climate variabilitiesThe results suggest that the AIVs largely impact sea surface temperature (SST) variability but with distinct regional featuresWithout the AIVs, variabilities of the SST in the tropics and extra‐tropics are much reduced [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative roles of protoplanetary differentiation versus late accretion in establishing Earth's life-essential volatile element inventory are being hotly debated. To address this issue, we employ first-principles calculations to investigate nitrogen (N) isotope fractionation during Earth's accretion and differentiation. We find that segregation of an iron core would enrich heavy N isotopes in the residual silicate, while evaporation within a H2-dominated nebular gas produces an enrichment of light N isotope in the planetesimals. The combined effect of early planetesimal evaporation followed by core formation enriches the bulk silicate Earth in light N isotopes. If Earth is comprised primarily of enstatite-chondrite-like material, as indicated by other isotope systems, then late accretion of carbonaceous-chondrite-like material must contribute ~ 30–100% of the N budget in present-day bulk silicate Earth. However, mass balance using N isotope constraints shows that the late veneer contributes only a limited amount of other volatile elements (e.g., H, S, and C) to Earth. The late veneer impacts Earth's nitrogen budget while exhibiting limited effects on other volatile elements, according to first-principles calculations of N-isotope fractionation during Earth's accretion and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen in marine sediments regulates many key biogeochemical processes, playing a crucial role in shaping Earth's climate and benthic ecosystems. In this context, branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), essential biomarkers in paleoenvironmental research, exhibit an as-yet-unresolved association with sediment oxygen conditions. Here, we investigated brGDGTs in sediments from three deep-sea regions (4045 to 10,100 m water depth) dominated by three respective trench systems and integrated the results with in situ oxygen microprofile data. Our results demonstrate robust correlations between diffusive oxygen uptake (DOU) obtained from microprofiles and brGDGT methylation and isomerization degrees, indicating their primary production within sediments and their strong linkage with microbial diagenetic activity. We establish a quantitative relationship between the Isomerization and Methylation index of Branched Tetraethers (IMBT) and DOU, suggesting its potential validity across deep-sea environments. Increased brGDGT methylation and isomerization likely enhance the fitness of source organisms in deep-sea habitats. Our study positions brGDGTs as a promising tool for quantifying benthic DOU in deep-sea settings, where DOU is a key metric for assessing sedimentary organic carbon degradation and microbial activity. Xiao et al. uncover a strong linkage between marine bacterial tetraether lipids and benthic oxygen uptake in deepsea trench regions, indicating their potential for assessing microbial diagenetic activity and organic carbon degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geobacter sulfurreducens profoundly shapes Earth's biogeochemistry by discharging respiratory electrons to minerals and other microbes through filaments of a two-decades-long debated identity. Cryogenic electron microscopy has revealed filaments of redox-active cytochromes, but the same filaments have exhibited hallmarks of organic metal-like conductivity under cytochrome denaturing/inhibiting conditions. Prior structure-based calculations and kinetic analyses on multi-heme proteins are synthesized herein to propose that a minimum of ~7 cytochrome 'nanowires' can carry the respiratory flux of a Geobacter cell, which is known to express somewhat more (=20) filaments to increase the likelihood of productive contacts. By contrast, prior electrical and spectroscopic structural characterizations are argued to be physiologically irrelevant or physically implausible for the known cytochrome filaments because of experimental artifacts and sample impurities. This perspective clarifies our mechanistic understanding of physiological metalmicrobe interactions and advances synthetic biology efforts to optimize those interactions for bioremediation and energy or chemical production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Moon‐based sensor can observe the Earth as a single point and achieve disk‐integrated measurements of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), which significantly differs from low orbital, geostationary, and Sun–Earth L1 point platforms. In this study, a scheme of determining the disk‐integrated Earth's OLR based on a Moon‐based platform is proposed. The observational solid angle was theoretically derived based on the Earth's ellipsoid model and the disk‐integrated observational anisotropic factor was estimated to eliminate the effects of the Earth's radiant anisotropy. The simulated disk‐integrated Earth's OLR obtained from a Moon‐based platform varies periodically, due to changes in the observation geometry and Earth's scene distribution within the observed Earth's disk. Clouds, meteorological parameters, and the land cover distribution notably affect the disk‐integrated Earth's OLR. By analyzing the disk‐integrated Earth's OLR from a Moon‐based platform, significant variabilities were investigated. Additionally, the Earth's shape and radiant anisotropy that affecting the disk‐integrated Earth's OLR were estimated. In conclusion, a more realistic Earth's shape, the latest version of the angular distribution model (ADM), and accurate land cover and meteorological datasets are needed when determining the disk‐integrated Earth's OLR. It is expected the unique variability captured by this platform and its ability to complement traditional satellite data make it a valuable tool for studying Earth's radiation budget and energy cycle, and contributing to diagnostic of the climate General Circulation Models (GCM) performance. Plain Language Summary: Observing large‐scale geoscience phenomena poses a significant challenge, necessitating observations that guarantee spatial continuity and temporal consistency. Equipping sensors on the lunar surface can observe the whole Earth's disk, which is a feasible way to complement the existing satellites. Determining the disk‐integrated Earth's OLR from a Moon‐based platform helps in exploring its potential for detecting geoscience phenomena at different scales. Our study finds that the Moon‐based disk‐integrated Earth's OLR would provide full coverage of the whole Earth's phase angle during one sidereal month. The day‐night and land‐ocean effects on the Moon‐based disk‐integrated OLR during one sidereal month would provide substantial variability to compare to similarly sampled GCM output comparison that is not available from conventional satellite data. Such these unique variabilities in the Moon‐based disk‐integrated Earth's OLR make the Moon a valuable Earth observation platform for studying Earth's radiation budget and energy cycle, and evaluating the performance of GCMs. Key Points: Disk‐integrated Earth's outgoing longwave radiation are estimated considering Earth's shape and radiant anisotropyOverall understanding of the variability on Moon‐based disk‐integrated Earth's outgoing longwave radiationDiscussing the characteristics of Moon‐based disk‐integrated Earth's outgoing longwave radiation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the life and achievements of Antonio de Ulloa, a Spanish sailor and scientist from the 18th century. Born in Seville in 1716, Ulloa excelled in mathematics and participated in a scientific expedition to Quito, Ecuador, to measure a meridian arc and determine the exact shape of the Earth. During the expedition, Ulloa and his companion Jorge Juan mapped the coasts and islands of the Pacific and explored the region. Upon his return to Europe, Ulloa was captured by the English, but managed to recover his scientific documentation and was recognized by the Royal Society in London. Upon returning to Spain, Ulloa promoted scientific research and participated in the creation of important scientific institutions. [Extracted from the article]

Plasmaspheric hiss waves are important to shape the Earth's electron radiation belt. These waves are commonly envisioned to have a long lifetime which allows them to permeate the global plasmasphere from a spatially restricted source. However, this hypothesis has not been experimentally confirmed yet, because of the challenging observational requirements in terms of location and timing. With wave and particle measurements from five magnetospheric satellites and detailed modeling, we present the first report of long lifetime (∼42 s) hiss rays in the substorm‐disturbed plasmasphere. The low‐frequency hiss waves are found to originate from the middle piece of the plasmaspheric plume, bounce between two hemispheres, and eventually drift into the plasmaspheric core. These hiss rays can travel through ∼3 hr magnetic local time and ∼4 magnetic shell. Such a long‐time and large‐scale permeation of hiss rays could benefit from the ducting process by plasmaspheric field‐aligned density irregularities. Plain Language Summary: Earth's plasmasphere is populated by a type of whistler‐mode wave named plasmaspheric hiss which is able to shape the electron radiation belt. Hiss waves were commonly envisioned to have a long lifetime which allows them to permeate the global plasmasphere from a spatially restricted source. Although there have been numerous studies on the source of plasmaspheric hiss waves, the hypothesis regarding their long lifetime remains not experimentally confirmed yet because of the challenging observational requirements in terms of location and timing. On the basis of wave and particle measurements from five magnetospheric satellites covering the entire plasmasphere and detailed modeling, we show that the hiss rays can survive at least 42 s in the plasmasphere disturbed by substorms. Within the survival period, these hiss rays migrated from the middle piece of the plasmaspheric plume to the plasmaspheric core, whose path lengths reached 25 Earth radii. Such a long‐time and large‐scale permeation of hiss rays from the plasmaspheric plume to the plasmaspheric core could benefit from the ducting process by plasmaspheric field‐aligned density irregularities. Key Points: Low‐frequency hiss waves were excited by energetic electrons inside the dayside plasmaspheric plume following substormsLow‐frequency hiss rays survived at least 42 s, allowing themselves to migrate from the plasmaspheric plume to the plasmaspheric corePlasmaspheric density ducts facilitated the permeation of hiss rays from the plasmaspheric plume to the plasmaspheric core [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GRACE and GRACE Follow-On (FO) missions provide time-variable gravity field models of unprecedented quality that allow for the hydrological, oceanic, and ice mass change studies on a global scale. However, the very low-degree coefficients derived from GRACE and GRACE-FO are of inferior quality due to thermal effects acting on satellites and malfunctioning of the onboard accelerometers. Therefore, C20 and C30 coefficients describing the Earth's oblateness and the pear shape of the Earth, respectively, are being replaced by values derived from satellite laser ranging (SLR) in the standard GRACE solutions. This study assesses the impact of the replacement of low-degree gravity field coefficients in GRACE/GRACE-FO solutions by SLR data on the trend and seasonal signals of ice mass changes in Greenland and Antarctica. We found that the replacement of the low-degree gravity field coefficients changes the estimates of trends by 4, 8, and 22 Gt/year in Greenland, West, and East Antarctica, respectively, depending on the source of SLR coefficients and period for which the coefficients are replaced. In SLR and GRACE solutions, all coefficients of the same order and the same parity of degrees are strongly correlated. Therefore, replacing only two selected coefficients may lead to a biased solution. Thus, we propose to combine GRACE with SLR solutions up to a degree and order 10 × 10 to properly consider the sensitivity of each of the techniques to gravity field coefficients, instead of replacing two coefficients from SLR in GRACE solutions. The combined solution reduces the residual trend of post-glacial rebound from 1.2 to 0.9 Gt/year and from − 57.8 to − 57.0 Gt/year in Scandinavia and South Canada, respectively, when compared to GRACE/GRACE-FO solutions with the replacement of coefficients. The SLR-GRACE combination reduces the noise in the GRACE/GRACE-FO solutions by 8%, from 38 to 35 Gt, in the Fennoscandia region. In the periods when GRACE is at the end of its mission and observations are disrupted, the weights adjust the contribution from SLR and GRACE based on relative ratio of variances from each techniques. Thus, the combined solutions are more consistent with independent geophysical models of glacial isostatic adjustment, and the combinations are affected by smaller noise than the standard GRACE solutions and properly account for different sensitivities of SLR and GRACE techniques to low-degree time-variable gravity field coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Review of Science Mathematics & ICT Education is the property of Library & Information Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many elementary science teachers have faced some challenges in implementing meaningful and equitable modeling practices in online science instruction that is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Integrating technology tools into modeling practices in project-based learning environments can support meaningful and equitable modeling practices by promoting the development of student agency, the use of diverse modalities, and collaboration. Through an example lesson on the changing shape of earth features, we illustrate how a teacher can help students with varying levels of language learn about earth's systems by collaboratively developing an explanatory model of vegetation and soil interaction to represent their ideas. We conclude by discussing in what ways this lesson supports meaningful and equitable participation in modeling practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Digital Surface Model (DSM) is a crucial spatial geographic information data used to describe the shape of the earth's surface in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). DSM is the core data used in terrain analysis in GIS. A regular grid DSM is generally generated by interpolating a large number of discrete point clouds. This paper proposes a method of using a hierarchical weighted strategy to fit a regular grid DSM with discrete points. This method uses a pyramid hierarchical strategy to refine the target regular grid from one grid with finer parameters of 3*3, until the nth level (the interval of the grid is equal to the expected interval), and then gradually places the discrete point cloud into the corresponding grid by weighted averaging, and uses the result of this level as the initial value of the next level. This algorithm can avoid the problem of low efficiency in retrieving a large number of discrete point clouds, and the indirect interpolation method not considering the contribution of distant neighboring point clouds. The operation of point cloud data is a stream operation, which does not require consideration of the topological information of point clouds, and has simple operation and no additional memory consumption. It is especially suitable for the production of regular grid DSM with massive point clouds. To verify the effectiveness of this method, the article selected six typical terrain data such as high mountains, mountains, hills, plains, urban areas, and lakes for experiments. The results show that compared with the construct-TIN method for producing DSM, this method has very good processing accuracy and processing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An algorithm and a program for transformation of gravity anomalies for large territories are presented. They use a spherical shape of the Earth and the geodetic coordinates of measuring points. The calculations employ the "quasi-ellipsoidal" model of V.V. Kavraisky, which allows the transition from the geodetic to the spherical coordinate system with increased accuracy. The algorithm is based on a sourcewise approximation of the field values located at the nodes of a regular grid with the latitude-dependent depths of the equivalent sources. To determine the source masses, the system of linear algebraic equations is solved by the steepest descent gradient method with an accelerated calculation of the step. The results of transformation of the gravitational field in the Bouguer reduction for the Kuril Island arc, the adjacent water and land areas located within 40°–54° N, 142°–162° E and having a total area of about 2.4 mln km2, are presented. A slight difference between the results of recalculating the gravity anomalies into the upper half-space using the "spherical" and "quasi-ellipsoidal" models of the Earth is experimentally established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siliceous marine ecosystems play a critical role in shaping the Earth's climate system by influencing rates of organic carbon burial and marine authigenic clay formation (i.e., reverse weathering). The ecological demise of silicifying organisms associated with the Permian‐Triassic mass extinction is postulated to have elevated marine authigenic clay formation rates, resulting in a prolonged greenhouse climate during the Early Triassic. Yet, our understanding of the response of siliceous marine organisms during this critical interval is poor. Whilst radiolarians experienced the strongest diversity loss in their evolutionary history and perhaps also the greatest population decline of silica‐secreting organisms during this event, only a small number of Griesbachian (post‐extinction) localities that record siliceous organisms are known. Here, we report newly discovered latest Changhsingian to early Griesbachian (Clarkina meishanensis ‐ Hindeodus parvus Zone) radiolarians and siliceous sponge spicules from Svalbard. This fauna documents the survival of a low‐diversity radiolarian assemblage alongside stem‐group hexactinellid sponges making this the first described account of post‐extinction silica‐secreting organisms from the Permian/Triassic boundary in a shallow marine shelf environment and a mid‐northern paleolatitudinal setting. Our findings indicate that latitudinal diversity gradients for silica‐secreting organisms following the mass extinction were significantly altered, and that silica productivity was restricted to high latitude and deep water thermal refugia. This result has potential to further shape our understanding of changes in marine dissolved silica levels and in turn rates of reverse weathering, with implications for our understanding of carbon cycle dynamics during this interval. Key Points: First occurrence of siliceous sponges and radiolarians (biogenic silica) from a mid‐northern paleolatitude following the mass extinctionEvidence that extinction survivors show poleward range shifts in response to thermal stressBiosiliceous productivity persisted during the Early Triassic chert gap impeding the existence of Precambrian‐like marine conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jorge Juan Santacilia was a Spanish sailor, engineer, and scientist born in 1713 in Novelda, Alicante. He participated in a Franco-Spanish scientific expedition to measure the shape of the Earth, demonstrating that it was flattened at the poles. During his mission, he also mapped the coasts and islands of the Pacific and studied the customs of the peoples of the Viceroyalty of Peru. Additionally, he was sent to England on an industrial espionage mission to study British shipbuilding techniques. He died in 1773 in Madrid. [Extracted from the article]

The Cape Horn Current (CHC) is one of the components of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system that enables it to fulfill its crucial role as a conduit between ocean basins. Despite this, to‐date there have been very few measurements of CHC strength and none continuous in time or space. Here, we use a combination of ocean models, one free‐running and one data‐assimilating, and satellite altimetry (1993–2021) to estimate the time‐dependent strength of the CHC at 10 transects along its length. We find the time‐mean CHC transport increases from 0.4 ± 0.5 Sv near 49°S to 5.3 ± 2.2 Sv at Cape Horn, with peak‐to‐peak interannual fluctuations of 0.8–3.4 Sv. Although, theoretically, increased run‐off from a wasting Patagonian Ice‐field would strengthen its flow, the CHC appears quite stable over the last 29 years, with little evidence of a coherent, long‐term increase or decrease in the strength of the current. Plain Language Summary: By connecting the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system plays a crucial role in shaping Earth's climate. One component of this current system is the Cape Horn Current (CHC) which flows south about 150 km off the coast of Chile, before entering the South Atlantic through Drake Passage. The CHC is especially important as it carries relatively freshwater, nutrients, marine larvae, and pollutants from the South Pacific and into the South Atlantic, home to globally‐important fisheries and sensitive ecosystems. However, we still do not have a continuous record of the CHC strength and how it may be changing as Earth warms. In this study, we develop a method that uses numerical models of the ocean together with satellite observations of sea level to estimate the strength of the CHC over the last 29 years. We find the CHC increases in strength from 400 thousand m3 s−1 in its early stages to more than 5 million m3 s−1 as it rounds Cape Horn. From 1993 to 2021, the CHC appears quite stable, with little evidence of a long‐term increase or decrease in the strength of the current. Key Points: The Cape Horn Current (CHC) contributes to the overall Antarctic Circumpolar Current system's role as a conduit between ocean basinsObservationally‐based timeseries of CHC strength along its length are provided for the first timeCHC strength ranges from 0.4 Sv at 49°S to 5.3 Sv at Cape Horn and is stable over recent decades [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the links and potential feedbacks between tectonics and climate requires understanding the processes and variables controlling erosion. At the orogen scale, tectonics and climate are thought to be linked through the influence of mountain elevation on orographic precipitation and glaciation; the only documented erosional processes capable of balancing rapid rock‐uplift rates are glacial erosion or coupled river incision and landsliding. Our 20 new 10Be derived catchment‐averaged denudation rates from the Western Southern Alps of New Zealand generally range between 0.6 and 9 mm/yr, within the same order of magnitude as fault‐throw rates, exhumation rates, and erosion rates estimated from suspended sediment yields and landslide inventories. Combining our data with previously published 10Be denudation rates, we find that the proportion of catchment area in the 1,500–2,000 m elevation window is the variable that best explains denudation rate variability and the disparity between rock‐uplift rates and denudation rates. This correlation indicates that enhanced erosion likely occurs at 1,500–2,000 m above sea level, where periglacial and paraglacial processes have been proposed to be most active. We find that these temperature‐controlled erosional processes, which are also elevation‐dependent, can play a greater role in modulating erosion during interglacials than precipitation or glaciation. Our data suggest that temperature‐controlled peri‐ and paraglacial erosion could be efficient enough to balance some of the fastest rock‐uplift rates on Earth. Hence, temperature‐controlled erosion could contribute to limiting orogen elevations and modulating the erosion rates dictated by rock‐uplift, playing an essential role in linking tectonics and climate. Plain Language Summary: The shape and evolution of the Earth Surface depend on how the tectonic forces that build up mountains interact with the processes that wear them down through erosion. These erosional processes are often regulated by climate; for example, erosion is commonly more efficient where there are glaciers or in the wetter side of mountain ranges. We present 20 new 10Be concentrations, which are commonly used as a proxy for how fast drainage basins erode, from the Western Southern Alps of New Zealand, one of the fastest‐eroding places on Earth. We find that the rate at which these drainage basins erode is best predicted by the proportion of their drainage area that falls within the 1,500–2,000 m above sea‐level elevation window. This elevation range had previously been suggested to be where rocks are damaged and eroded through freeze‐thaw cycles. It is also the elevation window from which glaciers are currently retreating or have recently retreated, which can intensify erosion. Both freeze‐thaw cycles and glacier retreat depend on elevation and are related to temperature; therefore, we infer that temperature‐controlled erosional processes have likely dominated erosion for the last decades to hundreds of years. Key Points: Twenty new 10Be denudation rates of Western Southern Alps catchments are in the range 0.6–9 mm/yr, and likely >9 mm/yr for two glaciated catchmentsThe proportion of catchment area at 1,500–2,000 masl is the variable that best correlates with observed denudation‐rate variabilityElevation sensitivity of denudation is most likely due to peri‐ and paraglacial processes that modulate the tectonic control on erosion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branching river networks are prominent features of the Earth's surface, but the mechanisms that create branching river networks patterns remain elusive. Recent studies have suggested that climate, tectonics, and lithology may control both longitudinal profiles of channel incision and the planform geometry of stream networks. Here we show, by analyzing almost 1 million river junctions and over 4.2 million groundwater wells across the contiguous United States, that stream network branching angles vary systematically with the degree to which streams lose water to, or gain water from, nearby groundwater aquifers. Streams whose surfaces lie above nearby groundwater levels, and thus are likely to be losing flow to underlying aquifers, tend to have narrower branching angles than streams that lie below nearby groundwater levels, and thus are likely to gain flow from groundwater. This systematic relationship persists across several stream orders, and across a wide range in channel gradients. Plain Language Summary: River networks are a striking reflection of the processes that shape Earth's surface, but it is still unclear what mechanisms created these distinctive geometric signatures. Branching angles of river networks tend to be narrower in regions with dry climate and wider in regions with humid climates, but the mechanisms behind this relationship remain unclear. By combining new continental data sets of groundwater well levels, river water levels, and river junction angle across the United States, we reveal the first continental‐scale observational evidence on the potential contribution of groundwater to shaping river network branching angles, and thus to the development of large‐scale drainage patterns. Key Points: Stream network branching angles vary systematically with the degree to which streams lose water to, or gain water from, nearby aquifersStream branching angles correlate more strongly with streams' losing/gaining status than with other controls on stream network geometryThese continental‐scale observations highlight the potential contribution of groundwater to the development of drainage patterns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal rainy phase observed in many places across Earth is shaping the climate and is being changed by global climate trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of DEPARCH Journal of Design Planning & Aesthetics Research is the property of DEPARCH Journal of Design Planning & Aesthetics Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The preservation of microbial diversity is an issue not properly addressed, considering their role in shaping Earth into a habitable planet and their contribution to human well-being. The disturbance of their natural habitats triggers responses, which are reflected in the modification of microecosystem composition and metabolic activities. This is also the case with food-related microecosystems; changes in the growing environment, recorded as agricultural practices and manufacturing or storage conditions, result in similar alterations in the residing microcommunity. In fact, the principle aim of food microbiology is to favor the growth of health-promoting microorganisms and restrict the development of the ones that may negatively affect the quality of food or even cause infection or intoxication. Therefore, the current perspective is one-sided, disregarding issues of general interest, such as the preservation of actual biodiversity. The aim of the present article is to present the current food microbiology perspective, which is based on the different roles of food-related microbiota and highlight the need to move from an anthropocentric to a microbe-centric perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]