Opinion: The germicidal effect of ambient air (open-air factor) revisited Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-21-13011-2021 18 October 2021 The term open-air factor was coined in the 1960s, establishing that rural air had powerful germicidal properties possibly resulting from immediate products of the reaction of ozone with alkenes, unsaturated compounds ubiquitously present in natural and polluted environments. We have re-evaluated those early experiments, applying the recently substantially improved knowledge, and put them into the context of the lifetime of aerosol-borne pathogens that are so important in the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more
The prediction of floods in Venice: methods, models and uncertainty (review article) Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-21-2679-2021 15 October 2021 The city of Venice relies crucially on a good storm surge forecast to protect its population and cultural heritage. In this paper, we provide a state-of-the-art review of storm surge forecasting, starting from examples in Europe and focusing on the Adriatic Sea and the Lagoon of Venice. We discuss the physics of storm surge, as well as the particular aspects of Venice and new techniques in storm surge modeling. We also give recommendations on what a future forecasting system should look like. Read more
Extreme floods of Venice: characteristics, dynamics, past and future evolution (review article) Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-21-2705-2021 13 October 2021 In this review we describe the factors leading to the extreme water heights producing the floods of Venice. We discuss the different contributions, their relative importance, and the resulting compound events. We highlight the role of relative sea level rise and the observed past and very likely future increase in extreme water heights, showing that they might be up to 160 % higher at the end of the 21st century than presently. Read more
Venice flooding and sea level: past evolution, present issues, and future projections (introduction to the special issue) Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-21-2633-2021 11 October 2021 Venice is an iconic place, and a paradigm of huge historical and cultural value is at risk. The threat posed by floods has dramatically increased in recent decades and is expected to continue to grow – and even accelerate – through this century. There is a need to better understand the future evolution of the relative sea level and its extremes and to develop adaptive planning strategies appropriate for present uncertainty, which might not be substantially reduced in the near future. Read more
Sea-level rise in Venice: historic and future trends (review article) Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-21-2643-2021 8 October 2021 Relative sea level in Venice rose by about 2.5 mm/year in the past 150 years due to the combined effect of subsidence and mean sea-level rise. We estimate the likely range of mean sea-level rise in Venice by 2100 due to climate changes to be between about 10 and 110 cm, with an improbable yet possible high-end scenario of about 170 cm. Projections of subsidence are not available, but historical evidence demonstrates that they can increase the hazard posed by climatically induced sea-level rise. Read more
Opinion: Papers that shaped tropospheric chemistry Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-21-12909-2021 6 October 2021 Which published papers have transformed our understanding of the chemical processes in the troposphere and shaped the field of atmospheric chemistry? We explore how these papers have shaped the development of the field of atmospheric chemistry and identify the major landmarks in the field of atmospheric chemistry through the lens of those papers’ impact on science, legislation and environmental events. Read more
Rainbow color map distorts and misleads research in hydrology – guidance for better visualizations and science communication Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-25-4549-2021 4 October 2021 We found with a scientific paper survey (~ 1000 papers) that 45 % of the papers used rainbow color maps or red–green visualizations. Those rainbow visualizations, although attracting the media’s attention, will not be accessible for up to 10 % of people due to color vision deficiency. The rainbow color map distorts and misleads scientific communication. The study gives guidance on how to avoid, improve and trust color and how the flaws of the rainbow color map should be communicated in science. Read more
Milankovitch, the father of paleoclimate modeling Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-17-1727-2021 1 October 2021 The history of the long-term variations in the astronomical elements used in paleoclimate research shows that, contrary to what might be thought, Milutin Milankovitch is not the father of the astronomical theory but he is definitely the father of paleoclimate modeling. He did not calculate these long-term variations himself but used them extensively for calculating the “secular march” of incoming solar radiation. He advanced our understanding of Quaternary climate variations by two important and original contributions fully described in his Canon of insolation. These are the definition and use of caloric seasons and the concept of the “mathematical climate”. How his mathematical model allowed him to give the caloric summer and winter insolation a climatological meaning is illustrated. Read more
Rapid measurement of RH-dependent aerosol hygroscopic growth using a humidity-controlled fast integrated mobility spectrometer (HFIMS) Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-14-5625-2021 27 September 2021 In this study, we present a newly developed instrument, the humidity-controlled fast integrated mobility spectrometer (HFIMS), for fast measurements of aerosol hygroscopic growth. The HFIMS can measure the distributions of particle hygroscopic growth factors at six diameters from 35 to 265 nm under five RH levels from 20 to 85 % within 25 min. The HFIMS significantly advances our capability of characterizing the hygroscopic growth of atmospheric aerosols over a wide range of relative humidities. HFIMS)">Read more
Dynamics of salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta: results of field observations and integrated coastal–inland modelling Earth Surface Dynamics DOI 10.5194/esurf-9-953-2021 24 September 2021 Increased salt intrusion jeopardizes freshwater supply to the Mekong Delta, and the current trends are often inaccurately associated with sea level rise. Using observations and models, we show that salinity is highly sensitive to ocean surge, tides, water demand, and upstream discharge. We show that anthropogenic riverbed incision has significantly amplified salt intrusion, exemplifying the importance of preserving sediment budget and riverbed levels to protect deltas against salt intrusion. Read more
