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
Drivers of long-term grassland CO2 fluxes: effects of management and meteorological conditions during regrowth periods Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-23-1625-2026 2 March 2026 Analyzing 20 years (2005–2024) of CO2 flux, meteorological, and agricultural management data from an intensively managed grassland in Switzerland using machine learning, we identified drivers of ecosystem productivity (gross primary production (GPP)), respiration (ecosystem respiration (Reco)) and their changes over time. Moreover, we showed how agricultural management interacted and could partly offset negative impacts of extreme events on GPP. Our findings offer observational evidence to inform climate adaptation strategies in grasslands. Read more
Lessons learned in institutional preparedness and response during the 2022 European drought Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-26-955-2026 27 February 2026 This research by the Drought in the Anthropocene (DitA) network highlights the crucial role of forecasting systems and Drought Management Plans in European drought risk management. Based on a survey of water managers during the 2022 European drought, it underscores the impact of preparedness on response and the evolution of drought management strategies across the continent, showing how organisations with preparedness measures in place responded faster and more effectively. Read more
