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Summary and synthesis of Changing Cold Regions Network (CCRN) research in the interior of western Canada – Part 1: Projected climate and meteorology

This article examines future atmospheric-related phenomena across the interior of western Canada associated with abusiness-as-usualclimate scenario. Changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation and extent of warming vary with season, and these generally lead to increases, especially after mid-century, in factors associated with winter snowstorms, freezing rain, drought, forest fires, as well as atmospheric forcing of spring floods, although not necessarily summer convection.

A low-cost device for measuring local magnetic anomalies in volcanic terrain

Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
DOI 10.5194/gi-8-217-2019
22 August 2019

Our knowledge of the Earth’s magnetic field arises from magnetic signals stored in lavas. In rugged volcanic terrain, however, the magnetization of the underlying flows may influence the magnetic field as recorded by newly formed flows on top. To measure these local magnetic anomalies, we developed a low-cost field magnetometer with superior accuracy and user-friendliness. The first measurements on Mt. Etna show local magnetic variations that are much larger than expected.

Fault-controlled dolomitization in the Montagna dei Fiori Anticline (Central Apennines, Italy): record of a dominantly pre-orogenic fluid migration

The dolomitized intervals of the Lower Jurassic deposits exposed in the Montagna dei Fiori Anticline (Central Apennines, Italy) have been investigated. Accordingly, two fault-related dolomitization events were recognised and interpreted as having occurred before and during the Apenninic orogeny. The analyses suggest significant involvement of evaporitic fluids in both events, most likely derived from the underlying Upper Triassic Burano Formation in the detachment level.

Load-resistance analysis: an alternative approach to tsunami damage assessment applied to the 2011 Great East Japan tsunami

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
DOI 10.5194/nhess-19-1807-2019
20 August 2019

It is known that fragility functions reflect localities (building design standards and topography) and flow velocity is more important, as damage might occur before flow depth reaches its maximum value. This research demonstrates that it is possible to accurately predict building damage by considering related forces with high accuracy, including resistant force, based on building design standards. This method will be useful for damage assessment in areas that have no experience of tsunamis.

Seismic risk: the biases of earthquake media coverage

Exploring a corpus of 320 888 news articles published by 32 worldwide newspapers in 2015, this paper shows the following: news covers a very small proportion of the total number of earthquakes occurring in a year; the duration of coverage is very short, which does not allow for proper coverage of long-term issues; and there is a typical framing of the news about earthquakes that introduces major biases in representation, impeding proper appropriation of the seismic risk by the public.

Unravelling the spatial diversity of Indian precipitation teleconnections via a non-linear multi-scale approach

We examined the spatial diversity of Indian rainfall teleconnection at different timescales, first by identifying homogeneous communities and later by computing non-linear linkages between the identified communities (spatial regions) and dominant climatic patterns, represented by climatic indices such as El Nino–Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, North Atlantic Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation and Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation.

Modelling ice sheet evolution and atmospheric CO2 during the Late Pliocene

The Late Pliocene, 3.65–2.75 million years ago, is the most recent period in Earth’s history that was warmer than the present. This makes it interesting for climatological research, because it provides a possible analogue for the near future. We used a coupled ice-sheet–climate model to simulate the behaviour of these systems during this period. We show that the warmest moment saw a sea-level rise of 8–14 m, with a CO₂ concentration of 320–400 ppmv.

Multiresolution wavelet analysis applied to GRACE range-rate residuals

Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
DOI 10.5194/gi-8-197-2019
15 August 2019

In this paper, we present an approach to represent underlying errors in measurements and physical models in the temporal gravity field determination using GRACE observations. This study provides an opportunity to improve the error model and the accuracy of the GRACE parameter estimation, as well as its successor GRACE Follow-On.

Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?

Atmospheric methane has risen rapidly since 2008 and has become more depleted in ¹³C, in contrast to the trend towards more ¹³C enrichment in the late 20th century. Many have used this isotopic evidence to infer an increased biogenic source. Here I analyze the ¹³C trend with the consideration that methane from shale gas is somewhat depleted in ¹³C compared to other fossil fuels. I conclude that shale gas may be responsible for a third of the global increase from all sources.

High-resolution underwater laser spectrometer sensing provides new insights into methane distribution at an Arctic seepage site

Methane seepage from the seafloor west of Svalbard was investigated with a fast-response membrane inlet laser spectrometer. The acquired data were in good agreement with traditional sparse discrete water sampling, subsequent gas chromatography, and with a new 2-D model based on echo-sounder data. However, the acquired high-resolution data revealed unprecedented details of the methane distribution, which highlights the need for high-resolution measurements for future climate studies.

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