Highlight articles

Towards an objective assessment of climate multi-model ensembles – a casestudy: the Senegalo-Mauritanian upwelling region

The most robust representation of climate is usually obtained by averaging a large number of simulations, thereby cancelling individual model errors. Here, we work towards an objective way of selecting the least biased models over a certain region, based on physical parameters. This statistical method based on a neural classifier and multi-correspondence analysis is illustrated here for the Senegalo-Mauritanian region, but it could potentially be developed for any other region or process.

Is there warming in the pipeline? A multi-model analysis of the Zero Emissions Commitment from CO2

The Zero Emissions Commitment (ZEC) is the change in global temperature expected to occur following the complete cessation of CO ₂ emissions. Here we use 18 climate models to assess the value of ZEC. For our experiment we find that ZEC 50 years after emissions cease is between −0.36 to +0.29 °C. The most likely value of ZEC is assessed to be close to zero. However, substantial continued warming for decades or centuries following cessation of CO ₂ emission cannot be ruled out.

RainNet v1.0: a convolutional neural network for radar-based precipitation nowcasting

In this study, we present RainNet, a deep convolutional neural network for radar-based precipitation nowcasting, which was trained to predict continuous precipitation intensities at a lead time of 5 min. RainNet significantly outperformed the benchmark models at all lead times up to 60 min. Yet, an undesirable property of RainNet predictions is the level of spatial smoothing. Obviously, RainNet learned an optimal level of smoothing to produce a nowcast at 5 min lead time.

Summarizing the state of the terrestrial biosphere in few dimensions

To closely monitor the state of our planet, we require systems that can monitor
the observation of many different properties at the same time. We create
indicators that resemble the behavior of many different simultaneous
observations. We apply the method to create indicators representing the
Earth’s biosphere. The indicators show a productivity gradient and a water
gradient. The resulting indicators can detect a large number of changes and
extremes in the Earth system.

Authigenic formation of Ca–Mg carbonates in the shallow alkaline LakeNeusiedl, Austria

Dolomite (CaMg(CO ₃ ) ₂ ) is supersaturated in many aquatic settings (e.g., seawater) on modern Earth but does not precipitate directly from the fluid, a fact known as the dolomite problem. The widely acknowledged concept of dolomite precipitation involves microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and anoxic conditions as important drivers. In contrast, results from Lake Neusiedl support an alternative concept of Ca–Mg carbonate precipitation under aerobic and alkaline conditions.

Ramped thermal analysis for isolating biologically meaningful soil organic matter fractions with distinct residence times

SOIL
DOI 10.5194/soil-6-131-2020
16 April 2020

Soils contain one of the largest and most dynamic pools of carbon on Earth, yet scientists still struggle to understand the reactivity and fate of soil organic matter upon disturbance. In this study, we found that with increasing thermal stability, the turnover time of organic matter increased from decades to centuries with a concurrent shift in chemical composition. In this proof-of-concept study, we found that ramped thermal analyses can provide new insights for understanding soil carbon.

Scaling carbon fluxes from eddy covariance sites to globe: synthesis andevaluation of the FLUXCOM approach

We test the approach of producing global gridded carbon fluxes based on combining machine learning with local measurements, remote sensing and climate data. We show that we can reproduce seasonal variations in carbon assimilated by plants via photosynthesis and in ecosystem net carbon balance. The ecosystem’s mean carbon balance and carbon flux trends require cautious interpretation. The analysis paves the way for future improvements of the data-driven assessment of carbon fluxes.

Time-lapse monitoring of root water uptake using electrical resistivitytomography and mise-à-la-masse: a vineyard infiltration experiment

SOIL
DOI 10.5194/soil-6-95-2020
17 March 2020

The use of non-invasive geophysical imaging of root system processes is of increasing interest to study soil–plant interactions. The experiment focused on the behaviour of grapevine plants during a controlled infiltration experiment. The combination of the mise-à-la-masse (MALM) method, a variation of the classical electrical tomography map (ERT), for which the current is transmitted directly into the stem, holds the promise of being able to image root distribution.

TRAPPIST-1 Habitable Atmosphere Intercomparison (THAI):motivations and protocol version 1.0

Atmospheric characterization of rocky exoplanets orbiting within the habitable zone of nearby M dwarf stars is around the corner with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), expected to be launch in 2021.
Global climate models (GCMs) are powerful tools to model exoplanet atmospheres and to predict their habitability. However, intrinsic differences between the models can lead to various predictions. This paper presents an experiment protocol to evaluate these differences.

No nitrogen fixation in the Bay of Bengal?

Biogeosciences
DOI 10.5194/bg-17-851-2020
27 February 2020

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are ocean areas severely depleted in oxygen as a result of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Biologically, organic material is produced in the sea surface and exported to deeper waters, where it respires. In the Bay of Bengal (BoB), an OMZ is present, but there are traces of oxygen left. Our study now suggests that this is because one key process, nitrogen fixation, is absent in the BoB, thus preventing primary production and consecutive respiration.

BG Biogeosciences Highlight articles

Highlight articles

Towards an objective assessment of climate multi-model ensembles – a casestudy: the Senegalo-Mauritanian upwelling region

Is there warming in the pipeline? A multi-model analysis of the Zero Emissions Commitment from CO2

RainNet v1.0: a convolutional neural network for radar-based precipitation nowcasting

Summarizing the state of the terrestrial biosphere in few dimensions

Authigenic formation of Ca–Mg carbonates in the shallow alkaline LakeNeusiedl, Austria

Ramped thermal analysis for isolating biologically meaningful soil organic matter fractions with distinct residence times

Scaling carbon fluxes from eddy covariance sites to globe: synthesis andevaluation of the FLUXCOM approach

Time-lapse monitoring of root water uptake using electrical resistivitytomography and mise-à-la-masse: a vineyard infiltration experiment

TRAPPIST-1 Habitable Atmosphere Intercomparison (THAI):motivations and protocol version 1.0

No nitrogen fixation in the Bay of Bengal?

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