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Evaluating the PurpleAir monitor as an aerosol light scattering instrument

We show that the low-cost PurpleAir sensor can be characterized as a cell-reciprocal nephelometer. At two very different locations (Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii and the Table Mountain rural site in Colorado), the PurpleAir measurements are highly correlated with the submicrometer aerosol scattering coefficient measured by a research-grade integrating nephelometer. These results imply that, with care, PurpleAir data may be used to evaluate climate and air quality models.

Late Neogene evolution of modern deep-dwelling plankton

Deep-living organisms are a major yet poorly known component of ocean biomass. Here we reconstruct the evolution of deep-living zooplankton and phytoplankton. Deep-dwelling zooplankton and phytoplankton did not occur 15 Myr ago, when the ocean was several degrees warmer than today. Deep-dwelling species first evolve around 7.5 Myr ago, following global climate cooling. Their evolution was driven by colder ocean temperatures allowing more food, oxygen, and light at depth.

How many modes are needed to predict climate bifurcations? Lessons from an experiment

Present climate models discuss climate change but show no sign of bifurcation in the future. Is this because there is none or because they are in essence too simplified to be able to capture them? To get elements of an answer, we ran a laboratory experiment and discovered that the answer is not so simple.

Vegetation change across the Drake Passage region linked to late Eocene cooling and glacial disturbance after the Eocene–Oligocene transition

New pollen and spore data from the Antarctic Peninsula region reveal temperate rainforests that changed and adapted in response to Eocene climatic cooling, roughly 35.5 Myr ago, and glacially related disturbance in the early Oligocene, approximately 33.5 Myr ago. The timing of these events indicates that the opening of ocean gateways alone did not trigger Antarctic glaciation, although ocean gateways may have played a role in climate cooling.

Representativeness assessment of the pan-Arctic eddy covariance site network and optimized future enhancements

Thawing of Arctic permafrost soils could trigger the release of vast amounts of carbon to the atmosphere, thus enhancing climate change. Our study investigated how well the current network of eddy covariance sites to monitor greenhouse gas exchange at local scales captures pan-Arctic flux patterns. We identified large coverage gaps, e.g., in Siberia, but also demonstrated that a targeted addition of relatively few sites can significantly improve network performance.

The Whole Antarctic Ocean Model (WAOM v1.0): development and evaluation

Here we present an improved model of the Antarctic continental shelf ocean and demonstrate that it is capable of reproducing present-day conditions. The improvements are fundamental and regard the inclusion of tides and ocean eddies. We conclude that the model is well suited to gain new insights into processes that are important for Antarctic ice sheet retreat and global ocean changes. The model will ultimately help to improve projections of sea level rise and climate change.

WAOM v1.0): development and evaluation">Read more

Rhizodeposition efficiency of pearl millet genotypes assessed on a short growing period by carbon isotopes (δ13C and F14C)

SOIL
DOI 10.5194/soil-8-49-2022
13 April 2022

Unravelling relationships between plant rhizosheath, root exudation and soil C dynamic may bring interesting perspectives in breeding for sustainable agriculture. Using four pearl millet lines with contrasting rhizosheaths, we found that δ13C and F14C of root-adhering soil differed from those of bulk and control soil, indicating C exudation in the rhizosphere. This C exudation varied according to the genotype, and conceptual modelling performed with data showed a genotypic effect on the RPE.

Impact of increased resolution on long-standing biases in HighResMIP-PRIMAVERA climate models

Climate models do not fully reproduce observations: they show differences (biases) in regional temperature, precipitation, or cloud cover. Reducing model biases is important to increase our confidence in their ability to reproduce present and future climate changes. Model realism is set by its resolution: the finer it is, the more physical processes and interactions it can resolve. We here show that increasing resolution of up to ~ 25 km can help reduce model biases but not remove them entirely.

PRIMAVERA climate models">Read more

Improved representation of agricultural land use and crop management for large-scale hydrological impact simulation in Africa using SWAT+

We present an approach on how to incorporate crop phenology in a regional hydrological model using decision tables and global datasets of rain-fed and irrigated cropland with the associated cropping calendar and management practices. Results indicate improved temporal patterns of leaf area index (LAI) and evapotranspiration (ET) simulations in comparison with remote sensing data. In addition, the improvement of the cropping season also helps to improve soil erosion estimates in cultivated areas.

SWAT+">Read more

Arctic sea level variability from high-resolution model simulations and implications for the Arctic observing system

This study explores the Arctic sea level variability depending on different timescales and the relation to temperature, salinity and mass changes, identifying key parameters and regions that need to be observed co-ordinately. The decadal sea level variability reflects salinity changes. But it can only reflect salinity change at periods of greater than 1 year, highlighting the requirement for enhancing in situ hydrographic observations and complicated interpolation methods.

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