A climate-conditioned catastrophe risk model for UK flooding Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-23-891-2023 5 April 2023 We present and validate a model that simulates current and future flood risk for the UK at high resolution (~ 20-25 m). We show that UK flood losses were ~ 6 % greater in the climate of 2020 compared to recent historical values. The UK can keep any future increase to ~ 8 % if all countries implement their COP26 pledges and net-zero ambitions in full. However, if only the COP26 pledges are fulfilled, then UK flood losses increase by ~ 23 %, and potentially by ~ 37 % in a worst-case scenario. Read more
Performance of the flood warning system in Germany in July 2021 – insights from affected residents Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-23-973-2023 3 April 2023 In July 2021 intense rainfall caused devastating floods in western Europe with 184 fatalities in the German federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (NW) and Rhineland-Palatinate (RP), calling their warning system into question. An online survey revealed that 35 % of respondents from NW and 29 % from RP did not receive any warning. Many of those who were warned did not expect severe flooding, nor did they know how to react. The study provides entry points for improving Germany’s warning system. Read more
Reconciling the paradox of soil organic carbon erosion by water Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-20-635-2023 31 March 2023 The direction and magnitude of the net erosion-induced land–atmosphere C exchange have been the topic of a big scientific debate for more than a decade now. Many have assumed that erosion leads to a loss of soil carbon to the atmosphere, whereas others have shown that erosion ultimately leads to a carbon sink. Here, we show that the soil carbon erosion source–sink paradox is reconciled when the broad range of temporal and spatial scales at which the underlying processes operate are considered. Read more
A range of outcomes: the combined effects of internal variability and anthropogenic forcing on regional climate trends over Europe Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics DOI 10.5194/npg-30-63-2023 29 March 2023 Past and future climate change at regional scales is a result of both human influences and natural (internal) variability. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in climate modeling and physical understanding that has led to new insights into their respective roles, illustrated with original results for the European climate. Our findings highlight the confounding role of internal variability in attribution, climate model evaluation, and accuracy of future projections. Read more
Nitrous oxide (N2O) synthesis by the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-20-687-2023 27 March 2023 We show, for the first time, that pure cultures of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa can synthesize the potent greenhouse gas N2O using nitrite as substrate. Our findings have broad environmental implications because M. aeruginosa is globally found in freshwater ecosystems and is often the dominant species found in algae blooms. Further research is now needed to determine the occurrence and significance of N2O emissions from ecosystems rich with M. aeruginosa. Read more
The dispersal of fluvially discharged and marine, shelf-produced particulate organic matter in the northern Gulf of Mexico Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-20-663-2023 24 March 2023 Terrestrial organic matter (TerrOM) is transported to the ocean by rivers, where its burial can potentially form a long-term carbon sink. This burial is dependent on the type and characteristics of the TerrOM. We used bulk sediment properties, biomarkers, and palynology to identify the dispersal patterns of plant-derived, soil–microbial, and marine OM in the northern Gulf of Mexico and show that plant-derived OM is transported further into the coastal zone than soil and marine-produced TerrOM. Read more
Semantics about soil organic carbon storage: DATA4C+, a comprehensive thesaurus and classification of management practices in agriculture and forestry SOIL DOI 10.5194/soil-9-89-2023 22 March 2023 This paper presents a first comprehensive thesaurus for management practices driving soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. So far, a comprehensive thesaurus of management practices in agriculture and forestry has been lacking. It will help to merge datasets, a promising way to evaluate the impacts of management practices in agriculture and forestry on SOC. Identifying the drivers of SOC stock changes is of utmost importance to contribute to global challenges (climate change, food security). Read more
A multi-disciplinary analysis of the exceptional flood event of July 2021 in central Europe – Part 1: Event description and analysis Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-23-525-2023 20 March 2023 The flood event in July 2021 was one of the most severe disasters in Europe in the last half century. The objective of this two-part study is a multi-disciplinary assessment that examines the complex process interactions in different compartments, from meteorology to hydrological conditions to hydro-morphological processes to impacts on assets and environment. In addition, we address the question of what measures are possible to generate added value to early response management. Read more
The influence of elevated CO2 and soil depth on rhizosphere activity and nutrient availability in a mature Eucalyptus woodland Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-20-505-2023 17 March 2023 Elevated CO2 in the atmosphere increases forest biomass productivity when growth is not limited by soil nutrients. This study explores how mature trees stimulate soil availability of nitrogen and phosphorus with free-air carbon dioxide enrichment after 5 years of fumigation. We found that both nutrient availability and processes feeding available pools increased in the rhizosphere, and phosphorus increased at depth. This appears to not be by decomposition but by faster recycling of nutrients. Read more
Review article: Potential of nature-based solutions to mitigate hydro-meteorological risks in sub-Saharan Africa Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-23-481-2023 17 March 2023 In sub-Saharan Africa, there is reported uptake of at least one nature-based solution (NBS) in 71 % of urban areas in the region for mitigating hydro-meteorological risks. These NBSs are implemented where risks exist but not where they are most severe. With these NBSs providing multiple ecosystem services and four out of every five NBSs creating livelihood opportunities, NBSs can help address major development challenges in the region, such as water and food insecurity and unemployment. Read more
