Going beyond the flood insurance rate map: insights from flood hazard map co-production Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-18-1097-2018 6 April 2018 In this study, engineers and social scientists explore opportunities for improving the utility of flood hazard maps through focus groups with end users. Focus groups revealed that end users preferred legends that describe flood intensity both quantitatively and with qualitative reference points, as well as flood scenario descriptions that describe the magnitude (rather than frequency) of the flood. Illustrations of pluvial flooding, or flooding caused directly by rainfall, were highly desired. Read more
Investigation of a low-cost magneto-inductive magnetometer for space science applications Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems DOI 10.5194/gi-7-129-2018 28 March 2018 The presence of magnetic fields in space dominate the way planets interact with different types of plasmas. Thus, measuring them is extremely important when studying space. We present an instrument capable of measuring magnetic fields at a fraction of the cost, power and size of traditional magnetometers. With this technology, a science-grade magnetometer for small satellites can be achieved, enabling the study of the space environment with large clusters of sensors in future missions. Read more
A 305-year continuous monthly rainfall series for the island of Ireland (1711–2016) Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-14-413-2018 27 March 2018 This work reconstructs a continuous 305-year rainfall record for Ireland. The series reveals remarkable variability in decadal rainfall – far in excess of the typical period of digitised data. Notably, the series sheds light on exceptionally wet winters in the 1730s and wet summers in the 1750s. The derived record, one of the longest continuous series in Europe, offers a firm basis for benchmarking other long-term records and reconstructions of past climate both locally and across Europe. Read more
On the retrieval of sea ice thickness and snow depth using concurrent laser altimetry and L-band remote sensing data The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-12-993-2018 22 March 2018 This work proposes a new data synergy method for the retrieval of sea ice thickness and snow depth by using colocating L-band passive remote sensing and active laser altimetry. Physical models are adopted for the retrieval, including L-band radiation model and buoyancy relationship. Covariability of snow depth and total freeboard is further utilized to mitigate resolution differences and improve retrievability. The method can be applied to future campaigns including ICESat-2 and WCOM. Read more
Colluvial deposits as a possible weathering reservoir in uplifting mountains Earth Surface Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esurf-6-217-2018 21 March 2018 The role of mountain uplift and associated silicate weathering in the global climate over geological times is controversial. Previous soil column models suggest that weathering falls at a high denudation rate. We present the results of a 3-D model that couples erosion and weathering, a CO2consumer during mountain uplift. Our model suggests that the weathering of temporarily stocked colluvium may contribute significantly to the mountain weathering outflux at high denudation rates. Read more
Active heat pulse sensing of 3-D-flow fields in streambeds Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-1917-2018 20 March 2018 This study used a portable 56-sensor, 3-D temperature array with three heat pulse sources to measure the flow direction and magnitude below the water–sediment interface. Breakthrough curves from each of the sensors were analyzed using a heat transport equation. The use of short-duration heat pulses provided a rapid, accurate assessment technique for determining dynamic and multi-directional flow patterns in the hyporheic zone and is a basis for improved understanding of biogeochemical processes. Read more
Decoupling of dissolved organic matter patterns between stream and riparian groundwater in a headwater forested catchment Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-1897-2018 19 March 2018 Streams are important sources of carbon to the atmosphere, though knowing whether they merely outgas terrestrially derived carbon dioxide or mineralize terrestrial inputs of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is still a big challenge in ecology. Our study highlights that stream DOM is not merely a reflection of riparian groundwater entering the stream and that headwater streams have the capacity to internally produce, transform, and consume DOM. Read more
Ideas and perspectives: hydrothermally driven redistribution and sequestration of early Archaean biomass – the “hydrothermal pump hypothesis” Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-15-1535-2018 15 March 2018 The origin of organic matter in the oldest rocks on Earth is commonly ambiguous (biotic vs. abiotic). This problem culminates in the case of hydrothermal chert veins that contain abundant organic matter. Here we demonstrate a microbial origin of kerogen embedded in a 3.5 Gyr old hydrothermal chert vein. We explain this finding with the large-scale redistribution of biomass by hydrothermal fluids, emphasizing the interplay between biological and abiological processes on the early Earth. Read more
A systemic approach for modeling soil functions SOIL DOI 10.5194/soil-4-83-2018 15 March 2018 This paper deals with the importance of soil for our terrestrial environment and the need to predict the impact of soil management on the multitude of functions that soil provides. We suggest to consider soil as a self-organized complex system and provide a concept of how this could be achieved. This includes how soil research, currently fragmented into a number of more or less disjunct disciplines, may be integrated to substantially contribute to a science-based evaluation of soil functions. Read more
Thermodynamics of saline and fresh water mixing in estuaries Earth System Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esd-9-241-2018 13 March 2018 This paper presents a new equation for the dispersion of salinity in alluvial estuaries based on the maximum power concept. The new equation is physically based and replaces previous empirical equations. It is very useful for application in practice because in contrast to previous methods it no longer requires a calibration parameter, turning the method into a predictive method. The paper presents successful applications in more than 23 estuaries in different parts of the world. Read more