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Sinking seaweed

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 924-927, August 2024.

Synthetic biology startups face a ‘reckoning’

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 918-919, August 2024.

News at a glance

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 916-917, August 2024.

How the Three Sisters shrug off pests

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 920-921, August 2024.

A sustainability science prize—reserved, so far, for men

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 919-920, August 2024.

Protect the safety of researchers

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 915-915, August 2024.

AAAS Pacific Division says farewell after a century

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 944-945, August 2024.

Underappreciated government research support in patents

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 936-938, August 2024.

In Science Journals

Science - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:58
Science, Volume 385, Issue 6712, Page 946-948, August 2024.

Parametric Study of the Harmonic Structure of Lower Hybrid Waves Driven by Energetic Ions

JGR:Space physics - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 05:06
Abstract

The harmonic structure of lower hybrid waves (LHWs) driven by energetic ions can be generated through non-linear wave-wave coupling. We investigate the parameter dependence of the excitation and time evolution of this structure, using one-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. Focusing on two parameters, ωpe/Ωe ${\omega }_{pe}/{{\Omega }}_{e}$ (ratio of the electron plasma to electron gyro frequencies) and u⊥/vA<1 ${u}_{\perp }/{v}_{A}< 1$ (ratio of energetic-ion to Alfvén velocities), we analyze the fluctuation spectra in the wavenumber-frequency plane and demonstrate that the harmonic structure can be excited across wide parameter ranges of 0.25≤ωpe/Ωe≤4 $0.25\le {\omega }_{pe}/{{\Omega }}_{e}\le 4$ and u⊥/vA<1 ${u}_{\perp }/{v}_{A}< 1$, indicating a weak parameter dependence. However, the excitation region and time evolution of the harmonic structure can be significantly affected by these parameters. We find that conditions of low ωpe/Ωe ${\omega }_{pe}/{{\Omega }}_{e}$ and intermediate u⊥/vA ${u}_{\perp }/{v}_{A}$ are preferable for the excitation and survival of the harmonic structure. Previous observations have reported the harmonic structure of LHWs in the polar region at 4,000 km altitude and in the plasma sheet at XGSM ∼ ${\sim} $ 17 RE ${R}_{\mathrm{E}}$. Nevertheless, this study predicts that the harmonic structure can also be excited in other regions of the magnetosphere where energetic ions are present.

Future Climate Change in the Thermosphere Under Varying Solar Activity Conditions

JGR:Space physics - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 04:55
Abstract

Increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere are increasing radiative cooling in the upper atmosphere, leading to thermospheric contraction and decreased neutral mass densities at fixed altitudes. Previous studies of the historic neutral density trend have shown a dependence upon solar activity, with larger F10.7 values resulting in lower neutral density reductions. To investigate the impact on the future thermosphere, the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with ionosphere and thermosphere extension has been used to simulate the thermosphere under increasing carbon dioxide concentrations and varying solar activity conditions. These neutral density reductions have then been mapped onto the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The neutral density reductions can also be used as a scaling factor, allowing commonly used empirical models to account for CO2 trends. Under the “best case” SSP1-2.6 scenario, neutral densities reductions at 400 km altitude peak (when CO2 = 474 ppm) at a reduction of 13%–30% (under high and low solar activity respectively) compared to the year 2000. Higher CO2 concentrations lead to greater density reductions, with the largest modeled concentration of 890 ppm resulting in a 50%–77% reduction at 400 km, under high and low solar activity respectively.

Concurrent Observation of High‐Frequency EMIC Waves and Low‐Harmonic MS Waves Within a Magnetic Dip in the Inner Magnetosphere

JGR:Space physics - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 04:49
Abstract

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and fast magnetosonic (MS) waves were previously reported to be simultaneously generated by ring current protons (10s keV) within the magnetic dip. In this work, we present a distinct physical scenario of concurrent high-frequency EMIC (HFEMIC) and MS waves within a magnetic dip where low-energy (10s–100s eV) and hot (10s keV) protons facilitate the local growth of HFEMIC and MS waves, respectively. Moreover, the low-energy protons exhibit remarkable perpendicular flux enhancements, which are well modulated by MS waves as evidenced by their significant correlation coefficient (∼0.78). Consequently, the concurrent two wave modes should arise from the complicated coupling between HFEMIC and MS waves, marking a departure from previous studies. Our observations demonstrate that the magnetic dip can provide favorable conditions for such intricate coupling processes, offering novel insights into its impact on magnetospheric dynamics.

On the Realism of Tropical Cyclone Intensification in Global Storm‐Resolving Climate Models

GRL - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 04:39
Abstract

The physical processes governing a tropical cyclone's lifecycle are largely understood, but key processes occur at scales below those resolved by global climate models. Increased resolution may help simulate realistic tropical cyclone intensification. We examined fully coupled, global storm-resolving models run at resolutions in the range 28–2.8 km in the atmosphere and 28–5 km in the ocean. Simulated tropical cyclone activity, peak intensity, intensification rate, and horizontal wind structure are all more realistic at a resolution of ∼5 km compared with coarser resolutions. Rapid intensification, which is absent at typical climate model resolutions, is also captured, and exhibits sensitivity to how, and if, deep convection is parameterized. Additionally, the observed decrease in inner-core horizontal size with increasing intensification rate is captured at storm-resolving resolution. These findings highlight the importance of global storm-resolving models for quantifying risk and understanding the role of intense tropical cyclones in the climate system.

Non‐Synchronization of the Decadal Transition in Winter Near‐Surface Wind Speed Across Northern and Southern China

GRL - Thu, 08/29/2024 - 04:25
Abstract

Decadal variations in near-surface wind speed (NSWS) and their causes are poorly understood. We found that the decadal transition of winter NSWS in northern China (NC) was 10 years earlier than in southern China (SC), which could be linked to the changes in intensities of the eastward wave-activity flux and Siberian High (SH) induced by the Warm Arctic-Cold Eurasia (WACE) dipole pattern. From 1973 to 1990, the WACE pattern from positive to negative phases confined the eastward wave trains to high latitudes with a decreasing SH, inducing an NSWS reduction. From 1991 to 2000, the WACE strengthened from negative to positive phases, causing a decadal transition in NSWS first in NC. After 2000, accompanied by the strengthening of the positive WACE, the eastward wave trains propagated downstream to lower latitudes, the SH and the meridional pressure gradient enhanced. Therefore, the transition of decadal NSWS occurred in SC until 2000.

Impact of Heatwaves and Declining NOx on Nocturnal Monoterpene Oxidation in the Urban Southeastern United States

JGR–Atmospheres - Wed, 08/28/2024 - 20:03
Abstract

Nighttime oxidation of monoterpenes (MT) via the nitrate radical (NO3) and ozone (O3) contributes to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). This study uses observations in Atlanta, Georgia from 2011 to 2022 to quantify trends in nighttime production of NO3 (PNO3) and O3 concentrations and compare to model outputs from the EPA's Air QUAlity TimE Series Project (EQUATES). We present urban-suburban gradients in nighttime NO3 and O3 concentrations and quantify their fractional importance (F) for MT oxidation. Both observations and EQUATES show a decline in PNO3, with modeled PNO3 declining faster than observations. Despite decreasing PNO3, we find that NO3 continues to dominate nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) MT oxidation (FNO3 = 60%) in 2017, 2021, and 2022, which is consistent with EQUATES (FNO3 = 80%) from 2013 to 2019. This contrasts an anticipated decline in FNO3 based on prior observations in the nighttime residual layer, where O3 is the dominant oxidant. Using two case studies of heatwaves in summer 2022, we show that extreme heat events can increase NO3 concentrations and FNO3, leading to short MT lifetimes (<1 hr) and high gas-phase organic nitrate production. Regardless of the presence of heatwaves, our findings suggest sustained organic nitrate aerosol formation in the urban SE US under declining NOx emissions, and highlight the need for improved representation of extreme heat events in chemistry-transport models and additional observations along urban to rural gradients.

Constraining Present‐Day Anthropogenic Total Iron Emissions Using Model and Observations

JGR–Atmospheres - Wed, 08/28/2024 - 18:23
Abstract

Iron emissions from human activities, such as oil combustion and smelting, affect the Earth's climate and marine ecosystems. These emissions are difficult to quantify accurately due to a lack of observations, particularly in remote ocean regions. In this study, we used long-term, near-source observations in areas with a dominance of anthropogenic iron emissions in various parts of the world to better estimate the total amount of anthropogenic iron emissions. We also used a statistical source apportionment method to identify the anthropogenic components and their sub-sources from bulk aerosol observations in the United States. We find that the estimates of anthropogenic iron emissions are within a factor of 3 in most regions compared to previous inventory estimates. Under- or overestimation varied by region and depended on the number of sites, interannual variability, and the statistical filter choice. Smelting-related iron emissions are overestimated by a factor of 1.5 in East Asia compared to previous estimates. More long-term iron observations and the consideration of the influence of dust and wildfires could help reduce the uncertainty in anthropogenic iron emissions estimates.

HTAP3 Fires: Towards a multi-model, multi-pollutant study of fire impacts

Geoscientific Model Development - Wed, 08/28/2024 - 18:02
HTAP3 Fires: Towards a multi-model, multi-pollutant study of fire impacts
Cynthia H. Whaley, Tim Butler, Jose A. Adame, Rupal Ambulkar, Stephen R. Arnold, Rebecca R. Buchholz, Benjamin Gaubert, Douglas S. Hamilton, Min Huang, Hayley Hung, Johannes W. Kaiser, Jacek W. Kaminski, Christophe Knote, Gerbrand Koren, Jean-Luc Kouassi, Meiyun Lin, Tianjia Liu, Jianmin Ma, Kasemsan Manomaiphiboon, Elisa Bergas Masso, Jessica L. McCarty, Mariano Mertens, Mark Parrington, Helene Peiro, Pallavi Saxena, Saurabh Sonwani, Vanisa Surapipith, Damaris Tan, Wenfu Tang, Veerachai Tanpipat, Kostas Tsigaridis, Christine Wiedinmyer, Oliver Wild, Yuanyu Xie, and Paquita Zuidema
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https//doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-126,2024
Preprint under review for GMD (discussion: open, 0 comments)
The multi-model experiment design of the HTAP3 Fires project takes a multi-pollutant approach to improving our understanding of transboundary transport of wildland fire and agricultural burning emissions and their impacts. The experiments are designed with the goal of answering science policy questions related to fires. The options for the multi-model approach, including inputs, outputs, and model set up are discussed, and the official recommendations for the project are presented.

Development of an under-ice river discharge forecasting system in Delft-Flood Early Warning System (Delft-FEWS) for the Chaudière River based on a coupled hydrological-hydrodynamic modelling approach

Geoscientific Model Development - Wed, 08/28/2024 - 18:02
Development of an under-ice river discharge forecasting system in Delft-Flood Early Warning System (Delft-FEWS) for the Chaudière River based on a coupled hydrological-hydrodynamic modelling approach
Kh Rahat Usman, Rodolfo Alvarado Montero, Tadros Ghobrial, François Anctil, and Arnejan van Loenen
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https//doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-116,2024
Preprint under review for GMD (discussion: open, 0 comments)
Rivers in cold climate regions such as Canada undergo freeze up during winters which makes the estimation forecasting of under-ice discharge very challenging and uncertain since there is no reliable method other than direct measurements. The current study explored the potential of deploying a coupled modelling framework for the estimation and forecasting of this parameter. The framework showed promising potential in addressing the challenge of estimating and forecasting the under-ice discharge.

Are 2D shallow-water solvers fast enough for early flood warning? A comparative assessment on the 2021 Ahr valley flood event

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences - Wed, 08/28/2024 - 15:13
Are 2D shallow-water solvers fast enough for early flood warning? A comparative assessment on the 2021 Ahr valley flood event
Shahin Khosh Bin Ghomash, Heiko Apel, and Daniel Caviedes-Voullième
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 2857–2874, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-2857-2024, 2024
Early warning is essential to minimise the impact of flash floods. We explore the use of highly detailed flood models to simulate the 2021 flood event in the lower Ahr valley (Germany). Using very high-resolution models resolving individual streets and buildings, we produce detailed, quantitative, and actionable information for early flood warning systems. Using state-of-the-art computational technology, these models can guarantee very fast forecasts which allow for sufficient time to respond.

Autocorrelation—A Simple Diagnostic for Tropical Precipitation Variability in Global Kilometer‐Scale Climate Models

GRL - Wed, 08/28/2024 - 13:59
Abstract

We propose the lag-1 autocorrelation of daily precipitation as a simple diagnostic of tropical precipitation variability in climate models. This metric generally has a relatively uniform distribution of positive values across the tropics. However, selected land regions are characterized by exceptionally low autocorrelation values. Low values correspond to the dominance of high frequency variance in precipitation, and specifically of high frequency convectively coupled equatorial waves. Consistent with previous work, we show that CMIP6 climate models overestimate the autocorrelation. Global kilometer-scale models capture the observed autocorrelation when deep convection is explicitly simulated. When a deep convection parameterization is used, though, the autocorrelation increases over land and ocean, suggesting that land surface-atmosphere interactions are not responsible for the changes in autocorrelation. Furthermore, the metric also tracks the accuracy of the representation of the relative importance of high frequency and low frequency convectively coupled equatorial waves in the models.

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