Rate-induced tipping in natural and human systems Earth System Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esd-14-669-2023 28 June 2023 Complex systems can undergo abrupt changes or tipping points when external forcing crosses a critical level and are of increasing concern because of their severe impacts. However, tipping points can also occur when the external forcing changes too quickly without crossing any critical levels, which is very relevant for Earth’s systems and contemporary climate. We give an intuitive explanation of such rate-induced tipping and provide illustrative examples from natural and human systems. Read more
Contribution of solitons to enhanced rogue wave occurrence in shallow depths: a case study in the southern North Sea Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-23-2053-2023 26 June 2023 Rogue waves exceed twice the significant wave height. They occur more often than expected in the shallow waters off Norderney. When applying a nonlinear Fourier transform for the Korteweg–de Vries equation to wave data from Norderney, we found differences in the soliton spectra of time series with and without rogue waves. A strongly outstanding soliton in the spectrum indicated an enhanced probability for rogue waves. We could attribute spectral solitons to the measured rogue waves. Read more
Seasonal overturning variability in the eastern North Atlantic subpolar gyre: a Lagrangian perspective Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-19-769-2023 23 June 2023 This study uses the trajectories of water parcels traced within an ocean model simulation to identify the pathways responsible for the seasonal cycle of dense water formation (overturning) in the eastern subpolar North Atlantic. We show that overturning seasonality is due to the fastest water parcels circulating within the eastern basins in less than 8.5 months. Slower pathways set the average strength of overturning in this region since water parcels cannot escape intense wintertime cooling. Read more
Applying machine learning to improve the near-real-time products of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-16-2733-2023 21 June 2023 The algorithm that produces the near-real-time data products of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder has been updated. The new algorithm is based on machine learning techniques and yields data products with much improved accuracy. It is shown that the new algorithm outperforms the previous versions, even when it is trained on only a few years of satellite observations. This confirms the potential of applying machine learning to the near-real-time efforts of other current and future mission concepts. Read more
The 2018 west-central European drought projected in a warmer climate: how much drier can it get? Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-23-1921-2023 19 June 2023 To examine the impact of global warming on west-central European droughts, we have constructed future analogues of recent summers. Extreme droughts like 2018 further intensify, and the local temperature rise is much larger than in most summers. Years that went hardly noticed in the present-day climate may emerge as very dry and hot in a warmer world. The changes can be directly linked to real-world events, which makes the results very tangible and hence useful for climate change communication. Read more
The Volyn biota (Ukraine) – indications of 1.5 Gyr old eukaryotes in 3D preservation, a spotlight on the “boring billion” Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023 16 June 2023 This research describes the occurrence of Precambrian fossils, with exceptionally well preserved morphology in 3D. These microfossils reach a size of millimeters (possibly up to centimeters) and thus indicate the presence of multicellular eukaryotes. Many of them are filamentous, but other types were also found. These fossils lived in a depth of several hundred meters and thus provide good evidence of a continental the deep biosphere, from a time generally considered as the “boring billion”. Read more
Pace v0.2: a Python-based performance-portable atmospheric model Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-16-2719-2023 14 June 2023 It is hard for scientists to write code which is efficient on different kinds of supercomputers. Python is popular for its user-friendliness. We converted a Fortran code, simulating Earth’s atmosphere, into Python. This new code auto-converts to a faster language for processors or graphic cards. Our code runs 3.5–4 times faster on graphic cards than the original on processors in a specific supercomputer system. Read more
What distinguishes 100-year precipitation extremes over central European river catchments from more moderate extreme events? Weather and Climate Dynamics DOI 10.5194/wcd-4-427-2023 12 June 2023 In this study, we analyse the generic atmospheric processes of very extreme, 100-year precipitation events in large central European river catchments and the corresponding differences to less extreme events, based on a large time series (~1200 years) of simulated but realistic daily precipitation events from the ECMWF. Depending on the catchment, either dynamical mechanisms or thermodynamic conditions or a combination of both distinguish 100-year events from less extreme precipitation events. Read more
Response of the sea surface temperature to heatwaves during the France 2022 meteorological summer Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-19-629-2023 9 June 2023 In the summer of 2022, France experienced a series of unprecedented heatwaves. This study is the first to examine the response of sea surface temperatures to these events, using spatial operational data and attributing the observed abnormally warm SSTs to atmospheric forcings. The findings of this study underscore the critical need for an efficient and sustainable operational system to monitor alterations that threaten the oceans in the context of climate change. Read more
Paleontology-themed comics and graphic novels, their potential for scientific outreach, and the bilingual graphic novel EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands Geoscience Communication DOI 10.5194/gc-6-45-2023 5 June 2023 We give an overview of influential comics and graphic novels on paleontological themes, especially dinosaurs. We explain their different forms of representation and narration, and how they were influenced by the contemporary state of knowledge. The second part deals with the creation of the bilingual graphic novel EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands, a textless comic book, and how this book was perceived by the public. EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands">Read more
