Thermodynamic concepts used in physical oceanography Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-22-923-2026 20 March 2026 Marine science has adopted the Conservative Temperature and Absolute Salinity variables of TEOS-10 (the International Thermodynamic Equation Of Seawater - 2010), and here we review the thermodynamic theory behind this change of practice. Ocean heat content and the poleward oceanic heat flux are accurately evaluated using Conservative Temperature. Absolute Salinity incorporates the variable composition of seawater, and ocean models now need to incorporate this feature. The available methods for evaluating approximately neutral surfaces are also discussed. Read more
Mapping the fertosphere's phosphorus availability distribution in a field trial using a novel diffusive gradients in thin-films (fDGT) technique SOIL DOI 10.5194/soil-12-253-2026 17 March 2026 The first report of the field deployment of a new soil sampling device to investigate phosphorus (P) fertiliser strategies. The approach was combined with X-ray fluorescence microscopy to produce 2D spatially-resolved P availability maps to visualise distinct differences between new and conventional P fertilisers. This technique shows great potential for optimising P application and material sciences development; potentially leading to improved productivity and more sustainable P fertiliser use. Read more
The impact of Aeolus observations on wind and rainfall predictions Weather and Climate Dynamics DOI 10.5194/wcd-7-489-2026 12 March 2026 This study shows that Aeolus satellite wind lidar observations significantly improve wind forecasts and that these improvements lead to more accurate rainfall predictions, particularly at longer lead times and during winter seasons in the extratropics. The benefits are likely due to better representation of large-scale atmospheric features such as jet streams and Rossby waves, highlighting Aeolus's value for numerical weather prediction. Read more
Numerical experiments of cloud seeding for mitigating localization of heavy rainfall: a case study of Mesoscale Convective System in Japan Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-26-1287-2026 11 March 2026 Can disasters caused by extreme rainfall be mitigated through human intervention? Using numerical simulations reproducing a devastating rainfall event, we show that injecting large amounts of ice nuclei into convective clouds can trigger an “overseeding” effect that suppresses raindrop growth. This process disperses intense rainfall downstream and reduces peak 3-hour rainfall by up to 32 %, highlighting the potential of cloud seeding as a new strategy for mitigating heavy rainfall disasters. Read more
The role of cyclonic eddies in the detachment and separation of Loop Current eddies Ocean Science DOI 10.5194/os-22-821-2026 10 March 2026 We analyze 29 years of satellite altimetry to investigate the detachment of Loop Current Eddies in the Gulf of Mexico. Over half of the Loop Current eddies reattach within a month, while 42 % separate and drift westward. Detachment requires the Loop Current to reach the Mississippi Fan and is strongly influenced by cyclonic eddies, whose configuration determines whether an eddy separates or reattaches to the Loop Current. Read more
Feldspar alteration by disequilibrium CO2-H2O fluids in reservoir sandstones: implications for CCS Solid Earth DOI 10.5194/se-17-407-2026 9 March 2026 Contrary to current CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) models, reaction experiments conducted at subsurface stress and temperature conditions reveal that feldspars, common, reactive grains in sandstone reservoirs, can undergo significant chemical and mechanical changes when exposed to CO₂ enriched water. These chemo-mechanical processes, including grain fracturing, dissolution, and clay precipitation, can modify fluid pathways and rock strength, potentially reducing reservoir productivity and increasing leakage risk. Read more
Wine must yields as indicators of May to July climate in Central Europe, 1416–1988 Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-22-541-2026 9 March 2026 Narrative historical records of wine production in Central Europe date back to 1200. A study of taxes paid to authorities in the French-Luxembourg Moselle region, Germany, and the Swiss Plateau over the last few centuries shows that wine yields provide indirect indications of summer temperatures when the impact of heavy frosts is taken into account. This enables climate reconstructions based on tree rings to be refined and confirmed. Occasionally, poor harvests gave rise to witch hunts. Read more
Mitigating Mazuku hazards: implementation and effectiveness of local dry-gas degassing measures in the Goma area (Virunga Volcanic Province) Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-26-1141-2026 6 March 2026 This paper studies how households in Goma (Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo) respond to mazuku – invisible, odourless carbon dioxide gas that accumulates in depressions. Surveys and interviews show that resource-intensive measures are adopted only by those who can afford them, while awareness measures are valued by all. The findings highlight that involving communities in designing risk mitigation that match their economic realities is essential. Read more
Where curling stones collide with rock mechanics: cyclical damage accumulation and fatigue in granitoids Solid Earth DOI 10.5194/se-17-429-2026 5 March 2026 Curling stones often collide with each other during a game. Over time, these collisions cause damage in the striking bands on the sides of the stones. We determined experimentally how hard these stones collide into one another. We then looked at old curling stones to understand how damage builds up in these rocks. We found that early, fast impacts produce fractures until the striking band is saturated in fractures. Repeated impacts after this stage make fractures grow. Read more
Evaluation of nine gridded daily weather reconstructions for the European heatwave summer of 1807 Climate of the Past DOI 10.5194/cp-22-517-2026 5 March 2026 We test nine reconstructions of Europe’s hot summer of 1807, using weather records, reanalyses, machine-learning (ML), and data assimilation. Most approaches match observed temperature and pressure well. Approaches based on physics of atmospheric flow capture weather patterns well, while ML approaches better reflect station records. Ingestion of accurate records from new regions improves the reconstructions markedly. In all, the approaches provide new insights to pre-industrial extreme weather. Read more
