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Making better sense of the mosaic of environmental measurement networks: a system-of-systems approach and quantitative assessment

Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
DOI 10.5194/gi-6-453-2017
6 November 2017

The term system-of-systems with respect to observational capabilities is frequently used, but what does it mean and how can it be assessed? Here, we define one possible interpretation of a system-of-systems architecture that is based upon demonstrable aspects of observing capabilities. We develop a set of assessment strands and then apply these to a set of atmospheric observational networks to decide which observations may be suitable for characterising satellite platforms in future work.

Methanesulfonic acid (MSA) migration in polar ice: data synthesis and theory

We combine a synthesis of 22 ice core records and a model of soluble impurity transport to investigate the enigmatic, post-depositional migration of methanesulfonic acid in polar ice. Our findings suggest that migration may be universal across coastal regions of Greenland and Antarctica, though it is mitigated at sites with higher accumulation and (or) lower impurity content. Records exhibiting severe migration may still be useful for inferring decadal and lower-frequency climate variability.

Global consequences of afforestation and bioenergy cultivation on ecosystem service indicators

Many climate change mitigation scenarios require negative emissions from land management. However, environmental side effects are often not considered. Here, we use projections of future land use from two land-use models as input to a vegetation model. We show that carbon removal via bioenergy production or forest maintenance and expansion affect a range of ecosystem functions. Largest impacts are found for crop production, nitrogen losses, and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds.

Is there 1.5-million-year-old ice near Dome C, Antarctica?

The oldest dated deep ice core drilled in Antarctica has been retrieved at EPICA Dome C (EDC), reaching ~ 800 000 years. Obtaining an older palaeoclimatic record from Antarctica is one of the greatest challenges of the ice core community. Here, we estimate the age of basal ice in the Dome C area. We find that old ice (> 1.5 Myr) likely exists in two regions a few tens of kilometres away from EDC:Little Dome C PatchandNorth Patch.

The Palaeoclimate and Terrestrial Exoplanet Radiative Transfer Model Intercomparison Project (PALAEOTRIP): experimental design and protocols

We provide the experimental designs and protocols for a community experiment to compare radiative transfer codes used for past climate on Earth, and for exoplanets.

Impact of agricultural emission reductions on fine-particulate matter and public health

This study shows that agricultural emissions are important for air quality and their reduction can effectively reduce the concentration of fine particles and their associated premature mortality. Therefore, emission control policies, especially in North America and Europe, should also involve strong ammonia emission decreases to optimally reduce fine-particle concentration.

Vertical segregation among pathways mediating nitrogen loss (N2 and N2O production) across the oxygen gradient in a coastal upwelling ecosystem

This investigation characterizes the variability of pathways involved in N loss in the water column over the continental shelf off central Chile during the development of the upwelling season. Our results highlight the links between several pathways involved in N removal, and considering the extreme variation in oxygen observed could help to understand the ecological and biogeochemical implications due to global warming when intensification and/or expansion of the oceanic OMZs are projected.

Expansion of oil palm and other cash crops causes an increase of the land surface temperature in the Jambi province in Indonesia

From the analysis of MODIS and Landsat satellite data of the Jambi province in Indonesia, this first study on the effects of oil palm expansion on the surface temperature in Indonesia shows shows a local and regional warming effect caused by the expansion of oil palm plantations and other cash or tree crops between 2000 and 2015. The observed warming effects may affect ecosystem services, reduce water availabilty in the dry period and increase the vulnerability to fires in the province.

The CAMELS data set: catchment attributes and meteorology for large-sample studies

We introduce a data set describing the landscape of 671 catchments in the contiguous USA: we synthesized various data sources to characterize the topography, climate, streamflow, land cover, soil, and geology of each catchment. This extends the daily time series of meteorological forcing and discharge provided by an earlier study. The diversity of these catchments will help to improve our understanding and modeling of how the interplay between catchment attributes shapes hydrological processes.

Revisiting the synoptic-scale predictability of severe European winter storms using ECMWF ensemble reforecasts

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
DOI 10.5194/nhess-17-1795-2017
19 October 2017

The predictability of 25 historical winter storms over Europe is revisited by taking advantage of a homogeneous dataset of retrospective forecasts for the 1995–2015 period. The forecasts well predict the storms up to 2–4 days ahead only but also show clear potential for the early warning of storms up to 10 days ahead. However, the predictability of individual storms exhibits large variability and physical characteristics are identified for outliers with a poor predictability.

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