Mercury distribution and transport in the North Atlantic Ocean along the Geotraces-GA01 transect Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-15-2309-2018 19 April 2018 We first report the mercury distribution in the water section across the subpolar and subtropical gyres of the North Atlantic Ocean (GEOTRACES-GA01 transect). It allows the characterisation of various seawater types in terms of mercury content and the quantification of mercury transport associated with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. It shows the nutrient-like biogeochemical behaviour of mercury in this ocean. Read more
Interannual drivers of the seasonal cycle of CO2 in the Southern Ocean Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-15-2361-2018 19 April 2018 The Southern Ocean accounts for a large portion of the variability in oceanic CO2 uptake. However, the drivers of these changes are not understood due to a lack of observations. In this study, we used an ensemble of gap-filling methods to estimate surface CO2. We found that winter was a more important driver of longer-term variability driven by changes in wind stress. Summer variability of CO2 was driven primarily by increases in primary production. Read more
Brief communication: Loss of life due to Hurricane Harvey Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-18-1073-2018 19 April 2018 An analysis was made of the loss of life directly caused by Hurricane Harvey. Information was collected for 70 fatalities that occurred directly due to the event. Most of the fatalities occurred in the greater Houston area, which was most severely affected by extreme rainfall and heavy flooding. The majority of fatalities in this area were recovered outside the designated 100- and 500-year flood zones. Most fatalities occurred due to drowning (81 %), particularly in and around vehicles. Read more
Regional evapotranspiration from an image-based implementation of the Surface Temperature Initiated Closure (STIC1.2) model and its validation across an aridity gradient in the conterminous US Hydrology and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/hess-22-2311-2018 18 April 2018 We report the first ever regional-scale implementation of the Surface Temperature Initiated Closure (STIC1.2) model for mapping evapotranspiration (ET) using MODIS land surface and gridded climate datasets to overcome the existing uncertainties in aerodynamic temperature and conductance estimation in global ET models. Validation and intercomparison with SEBS and MOD16 products across an aridity gradient in the US manifested better ET mapping potential of STIC1.2 in different climates and biomes. Read more
A protocol for the intercomparison of marine fishery and ecosystem models: Fish-MIP v1.0 Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-11-1421-2018 13 April 2018 Model intercomparison studies in the climate and Earth sciences communities have been crucial for strengthening future projections. Given the speed and magnitude of anthropogenic change in the marine environment, the time is ripe for similar comparisons among models of fisheries and marine ecosystems. We describe the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project, which brings together the marine ecosystem modelling community to inform long-term projections of marine ecosystems. Read more
Intercomparison of Antarctic ice-shelf, ocean, and sea-ice interactions simulated by MetROMS-iceshelf and FESOM 1.4 Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-11-1257-2018 10 April 2018 MetROMS and FESOM are two ocean/sea-ice models which resolve Antarctic ice-shelf cavities and consider thermodynamics at the ice-shelf base. We simulate the period 1992–2016 with both models, and with two options for resolution in FESOM, and compare output from the three simulations. Ice-shelf melt rates, sub-ice-shelf circulation, continental shelf water masses, and sea-ice processes are compared and evaluated against available observations. Read more
Climate change and the global pattern of moraine-dammed glacial lake outburst floods The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-12-1195-2018 9 April 2018 Most mountain glaciers have receded throughout the last century in response to global climate change. This recession produces a range of natural hazards including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). We have produced the first global inventory of GLOFs associated with the failure of moraine dams and show, counterintuitively, that these have reduced in frequency over recent decades. In this paper we explore the reasons for this pattern. Read more
Intercomparison of middle-atmospheric wind in observations and models Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-11-1971-2018 6 April 2018 Wind information throughout the middle-atmosphere is crucial for the understanding of atmospheric dynamics but became available only recently, thanks to developments in remote sensing and modelling approaches. We present the first thorough assessment of the quality of the wind estimates by comparing co-located observations from lidar and microwave radiometry and opposing them to the major atmospheric models. Moreover we evaluated a new approach for measuring mesopause region wind by radiometry. Read more
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
