Urbanization suitability maps: a dynamic spatial decision support system for sustainable land use Earth System Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esd-3-157-2012 20 November 2012 Recent developments in land consumption assessment identify the need to implement integrated evaluation approaches, with particular attention to the development of multidimensional tools for guiding and managing sustainable land use. Land use policy decisions are implemented mostly through spatial planning and its related zoning. We propose a novel methodological approach to identify a decision-making process for land use allocation. Read more
Sea-spray geoengineering in the HadGEM2-ES earth-system model: radiative impact and climate response Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-12-10887-2012 16 November 2012 The radiative impact and climate effects of geoengineering using sea-spray aerosols have been investigated in the HadGEM2-ES Earth system model using a fully prognostic treatment of the sea-spray aerosols and also including their direct radiative effect. Read more
Development of a new data-processing method for SKYNET sky radiometer observations Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-5-2723-2012 15 November 2012 In this study, we propose a new data processing method to improve single scattering albedo retrievals for the SKYNET sky radiometer network, which is one of the growing number of networks of sun-sky photometers, such as NASA AERONET and others. Read more
Technology and human purpose: the problem of solids transport on the Earth’s surface Earth System Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esd-3-149-2012 14 November 2012 Invoking purpose as a mechanism in solids advection is an example of the need to import anthropic principles and concepts into the language and methodology of modern Earth system dynamics. Read more
Future air quality in Europe: a multi-model assessment of projected exposure to ozone Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-12-10613-2012 13 November 2012 In order to explore future air quality in Europe at the 2030 horizon, two emission scenarios developed in the framework of the Global Energy Assessment including varying assumptions on climate and energy access policies are investigated with an ensemble of six regional and global atmospheric chemistry transport models. Read more
First middle-atmospheric zonal wind profile measurements with a new ground-based microwave Doppler-spectro-radiometer Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-5-2647-2012 7 November 2012 We report on the wind radiometer WIRA, a new ground-based microwave Doppler-spectro-radiometer specifically designed for the measurement of middle-atmospheric horizontal wind by observing ozone emission spectra at 142.17504 GHz. Read more
Multi-generation gas-phase oxidation, equilibrium partitioning, and the formation and evolution of secondary organic aerosol Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-12-9505-2012 22 October 2012 A new model of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation is developed that explicitly takes into account multi-generational oxidation as well as fragmentation of gas-phase compounds, and assumes equilibrium gas-particle partitioning. Read more
Transition in the fractal geometry of Arctic melt ponds The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-6-1157-2012 19 October 2012 By analyzing data from hundreds of thousands of melt ponds, we find an unexpected separation of scales, where pond fractal dimension D transitions from 1 to 2 around a critical length scale of 100 m2 in area. The results impact sea ice albedo, the transmitted radiation fields under melting sea ice, the heat balance of sea ice and the upper ocean, and biological productivity such as under ice phytoplankton blooms. Read more
Combined wind measurements by two different lidar instruments in the Arctic middle atmosphere Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-5-2433-2012 19 October 2012 The comparison of winds derived by RMR and sodium lidar is excellent for long integration times of 10 h as well as shorter ones of 1 h. Combination of data from both lidars allows identifying wavy structures between 30 and 110 km altitude, whose amplitudes increase with height. Read more
Assessment of remotely sensed drought features in vulnerable agriculture Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-12-3139-2012 19 October 2012 In this paper, the remotely sensed Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) is employed for the quantification of drought. RDI enables the assessment of hydro-meteorological drought, since it uses hydrometeorological parameters, such as precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. Read more
