- Baumgartner, Lee, Gell, Peter, Thiem, Jason, Finlayson, Colin, Ning, Nathan
- Authors: Baumgartner, Lee , Gell, Peter , Thiem, Jason , Finlayson, Colin , Ning, Nathan
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: River Research and Applications Vol. 36, no. 4 (May 2020), p. 645-655
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Restoration programmes for degraded aquatic ecosystems frequently focus on flow restoration or reinstatement, including recovery targets for volumes of water to be used for environmental benefit. Australia's Murray-Darling Basin is an example of a major system undergoing substantial water reform to balance the needs of competing users, including the environment, within the constraints of an arid climate. This reform revolves around accounting for finite volumes of water that have been shared amongst water users. We argue that while recovering water will provide good outcomes, as a sole intervention, it is not enough to deliver the desired environmental benefits of the reform given the significantly altered state of the catchment. Here, we present 10 measures that could be used to complement planned water recovery actions. These "complementary measures" integrate recovery actions, which when strategically combined with water delivery would significantly enhance water reform efforts to generate environmental outcomes in a highly modified system.
Latrobe Valley circular industrial ecosystem
- Authors: Ghayur, Adeel
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Climate change, energy security, pollution and increasing unemployment in the face of automation are four critical challenges facing every region in the twenty-first century, including the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The Valley – location of the largest brown coal deposits and forest industry in the southern hemisphere – is undergoing unprecedented and rapid changes. Its ageing brown coal power plants are retiring and replacements are not planned, leading to job insecurity. Solutions are needed that ensure continued economic activity in the region whilst allowing for the Valley to contribute its fair share in the fight against the climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible local solution that could help tackle these issues of the Latrobe Valley in addition to plastic pollution and energy insecurity. Transitioning from linear to circular materials flow is one possible solution that favours sustainability and job security. Consequently, a multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is modelled, acting as an industrial hub in a potential Latrobe Valley circular economy. This allows for employment creation in the value-addition of its platform chemicals into carbon negative and environment-friendly products. Additionally, such a biorefinery concept has the capacity to tackle Post-combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) industry’s wastes. It is anticipated that any future utilisation of brown coal as an energy vector would entail PCC to ensure carbon neutrality. A PCC industry produces CO2 and amine wastes that require adequate disposal. The modelled biorefinery has the capacity to valorise both. The simulation and the techno-economic analysis show the modelled Carbon Negative Biorefinery consumes 656,000 metric tonnes (t) of pulp logs and 42,000 t of CO2 to produce 220,000 t of succinic acid, 115,000 t of acetic acid and 900 t of dimethyl ether, annually. Biorefinery’s CAPEX and OPEX stand at AU$ 635,000,000 and $ 180,000,000 respectively. The calculated Minimum Selling Price for succinic acid is $ 990/t, only 6.4% higher than a typical biorefinery. Subsequently, biorefinery’s capacity as an anchor tenant is also simulated via technical evaluations of four value-added products: • Poly(butylene succinate) as biodegradable polymer replacing petro-plastics – simulation results show 1 t of succinic acid produces 0.19 t of tetrahydrofuran and 0.44 t of poly(butylene succinate); • Carbon fibre for insulation products, sporting goods and foams – 1 t of lignin and 0.8 t of acetic anhydride produce 0.8 t of carbon fibre; • Succinylated lignin adhesive for replacing urea-formaldehyde in the wood industry – simulation results show the biorefinery concept having the capacity to valorise both waste amine and CO2 from a PCC plant; and • Renewable fuels like hydrogen as energy vectors – a small biorefinery can potentially provide dozens of gigawatt hours of stored power for backup and peak demands, annually. In summary, results of this research are: • A biorefinery can valorise PCC plant wastes; • Multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is economically viable; • Renewable fuels are ideally suited as energy storage vectors for a renewable energy grid both in developing and developed countries; • Bioproducts can reduce CO2 emissions thereby mitigate climate change; • Bioproducts can replace petro-products and reduce pollution; • Bioproducts can replace construction industry materials associated with CO2 emissions; • Biorefineries can help a region transition from a linear to a circular economy; and • Circular economies have the potential to generate secure jobs. In conclusion, this research identifies platform biochemicals as potential key drivers in a linear economy’s transition to a circular economy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ghayur, Adeel
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Climate change, energy security, pollution and increasing unemployment in the face of automation are four critical challenges facing every region in the twenty-first century, including the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia. The Valley – location of the largest brown coal deposits and forest industry in the southern hemisphere – is undergoing unprecedented and rapid changes. Its ageing brown coal power plants are retiring and replacements are not planned, leading to job insecurity. Solutions are needed that ensure continued economic activity in the region whilst allowing for the Valley to contribute its fair share in the fight against the climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible local solution that could help tackle these issues of the Latrobe Valley in addition to plastic pollution and energy insecurity. Transitioning from linear to circular materials flow is one possible solution that favours sustainability and job security. Consequently, a multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is modelled, acting as an industrial hub in a potential Latrobe Valley circular economy. This allows for employment creation in the value-addition of its platform chemicals into carbon negative and environment-friendly products. Additionally, such a biorefinery concept has the capacity to tackle Post-combustion CO2 Capture (PCC) industry’s wastes. It is anticipated that any future utilisation of brown coal as an energy vector would entail PCC to ensure carbon neutrality. A PCC industry produces CO2 and amine wastes that require adequate disposal. The modelled biorefinery has the capacity to valorise both. The simulation and the techno-economic analysis show the modelled Carbon Negative Biorefinery consumes 656,000 metric tonnes (t) of pulp logs and 42,000 t of CO2 to produce 220,000 t of succinic acid, 115,000 t of acetic acid and 900 t of dimethyl ether, annually. Biorefinery’s CAPEX and OPEX stand at AU$ 635,000,000 and $ 180,000,000 respectively. The calculated Minimum Selling Price for succinic acid is $ 990/t, only 6.4% higher than a typical biorefinery. Subsequently, biorefinery’s capacity as an anchor tenant is also simulated via technical evaluations of four value-added products: • Poly(butylene succinate) as biodegradable polymer replacing petro-plastics – simulation results show 1 t of succinic acid produces 0.19 t of tetrahydrofuran and 0.44 t of poly(butylene succinate); • Carbon fibre for insulation products, sporting goods and foams – 1 t of lignin and 0.8 t of acetic anhydride produce 0.8 t of carbon fibre; • Succinylated lignin adhesive for replacing urea-formaldehyde in the wood industry – simulation results show the biorefinery concept having the capacity to valorise both waste amine and CO2 from a PCC plant; and • Renewable fuels like hydrogen as energy vectors – a small biorefinery can potentially provide dozens of gigawatt hours of stored power for backup and peak demands, annually. In summary, results of this research are: • A biorefinery can valorise PCC plant wastes; • Multiproduct succinic acid biorefinery is economically viable; • Renewable fuels are ideally suited as energy storage vectors for a renewable energy grid both in developing and developed countries; • Bioproducts can reduce CO2 emissions thereby mitigate climate change; • Bioproducts can replace petro-products and reduce pollution; • Bioproducts can replace construction industry materials associated with CO2 emissions; • Biorefineries can help a region transition from a linear to a circular economy; and • Circular economies have the potential to generate secure jobs. In conclusion, this research identifies platform biochemicals as potential key drivers in a linear economy’s transition to a circular economy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A global-scale screening of non-native aquatic organisms to identify potentially invasive species under current and future climate conditions
- Vilizzi, Lorenzo, Copp, Gordon, Hill, Jeffrey, Adamovich, Boris, Lloyd, Lance
- Authors: Vilizzi, Lorenzo , Copp, Gordon , Hill, Jeffrey , Adamovich, Boris , Lloyd, Lance
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 788, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The threat posed by invasive non-native species worldwide requires a global approach to identify which introduced species are likely to pose an elevated risk of impact to native species and ecosystems. To inform policy, stakeholders and management decisions on global threats to aquatic ecosystems, 195 assessors representing 120 risk assessment areas across all six inhabited continents screened 819 non-native species from 15 groups of aquatic organisms (freshwater, brackish, marine plants and animals) using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. This multi-lingual decision-support tool for the risk screening of aquatic organisms provides assessors with risk scores for a species under current and future climate change conditions that, following a statistically based calibration, permits the accurate classification of species into high-, medium- and low-risk categories under current and predicted climate conditions. The 1730 screenings undertaken encompassed wide geographical areas (regions, political entities, parts thereof, water bodies, river basins, lake drainage basins, and marine regions), which permitted thresholds to be identified for almost all aquatic organismal groups screened as well as for tropical, temperate and continental climate classes, and for tropical and temperate marine ecoregions. In total, 33 species were identified as posing a ‘very high risk’ of being or becoming invasive, and the scores of several of these species under current climate increased under future climate conditions, primarily due to their wide thermal tolerances. The risk thresholds determined for taxonomic groups and climate zones provide a basis against which area-specific or climate-based calibrated thresholds may be interpreted. In turn, the risk rankings help decision-makers identify which species require an immediate ‘rapid’ management action (e.g. eradication, control) to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts, which require a full risk assessment, and which are to be restricted or banned with regard to importation and/or sale as ornamental or aquarium/fishery enhancement. © 2021 The Authors. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Lance Lloyd" is provided in this record**
- Authors: Vilizzi, Lorenzo , Copp, Gordon , Hill, Jeffrey , Adamovich, Boris , Lloyd, Lance
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 788, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The threat posed by invasive non-native species worldwide requires a global approach to identify which introduced species are likely to pose an elevated risk of impact to native species and ecosystems. To inform policy, stakeholders and management decisions on global threats to aquatic ecosystems, 195 assessors representing 120 risk assessment areas across all six inhabited continents screened 819 non-native species from 15 groups of aquatic organisms (freshwater, brackish, marine plants and animals) using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. This multi-lingual decision-support tool for the risk screening of aquatic organisms provides assessors with risk scores for a species under current and future climate change conditions that, following a statistically based calibration, permits the accurate classification of species into high-, medium- and low-risk categories under current and predicted climate conditions. The 1730 screenings undertaken encompassed wide geographical areas (regions, political entities, parts thereof, water bodies, river basins, lake drainage basins, and marine regions), which permitted thresholds to be identified for almost all aquatic organismal groups screened as well as for tropical, temperate and continental climate classes, and for tropical and temperate marine ecoregions. In total, 33 species were identified as posing a ‘very high risk’ of being or becoming invasive, and the scores of several of these species under current climate increased under future climate conditions, primarily due to their wide thermal tolerances. The risk thresholds determined for taxonomic groups and climate zones provide a basis against which area-specific or climate-based calibrated thresholds may be interpreted. In turn, the risk rankings help decision-makers identify which species require an immediate ‘rapid’ management action (e.g. eradication, control) to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts, which require a full risk assessment, and which are to be restricted or banned with regard to importation and/or sale as ornamental or aquarium/fishery enhancement. © 2021 The Authors. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Lance Lloyd" is provided in this record**
Development of pedotransfer functions by machine learning for prediction of soil electrical conductivity and organic carbon content
- Benke, Kurt, Norng, Sorn, Robinson, Nathan, Chia, K., Rees, David, Hopley, J.
- Authors: Benke, Kurt , Norng, Sorn , Robinson, Nathan , Chia, K. , Rees, David , Hopley, J.
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Geoderma Vol. 366, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The pedotransfer function is a mathematical model used to convert direct soil measurements into known and unknown soil properties. It provides information for modelling and simulation in soil research, hydrology, environmental science and climate change impacts, including investigating the carbon cycle and the exchange of carbon between soils and the atmosphere to support carbon farming. In particular, the pedotransfer function can provide input parameters for landscape design, soil quality assessment and economic optimisation. The objective of the study was to investigate the feasibility of using a generalised pedotransfer function derived with a machine learning method to predict soil electrical conductivity (EC) and soil organic carbon content (OC) for different regional locations in the state of Victoria, Australia. This strategy supports a unified approach to the interpolation and population of a single regional soils database, in contrast to a range of pedotransfer functions derived from local databases with measurement sets that may have limited transferability. The pedotransfer function generation was based on a machine learning algorithm incorporating the Generalized Linear Mixed Model with interactions and nested terms, with Residual Maximum Likelihood estimation, and a predictor-frequency ranking system with step-wise reduction of predictors to evaluate the predictive errors in reduced models. The source of the data was the Victorian Soil Information System (VSIS), which is a database administered for soil information and mapping purposes. The database contains soil measurements and information from locations across Victoria and is a repository of historical data, including monitoring studies. In total, data from 93 projects were available for inputs to modelling and analysis, with 5158 samples used to derive predictors for EC and 1954 samples used to derive predictors for OC. Over 500 models were tested by systematically reducing the number of predictors from the full model. Five-fold cross-validation was used for estimation of model mean-squared prediction error (MSPE) and mean-absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results were statistically significant with only a gradual reduction in error for the top-ranked 50 models. The prediction errors (MSPE and MAPE) of the top ranked model for EC are 0.686 and 0.635, and 0.413 and 0.474 for OC respectively. The four most frequently occurring predictors both for EC and OC prediction across the full set of models were found to be soil depth, pH, particle size distribution and geomorphological mapping unit. The possible advantages and disadvantages of this approach were discussed with respect to other machine learning approaches. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
- Authors: Benke, Kurt , Norng, Sorn , Robinson, Nathan , Chia, K. , Rees, David , Hopley, J.
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Geoderma Vol. 366, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The pedotransfer function is a mathematical model used to convert direct soil measurements into known and unknown soil properties. It provides information for modelling and simulation in soil research, hydrology, environmental science and climate change impacts, including investigating the carbon cycle and the exchange of carbon between soils and the atmosphere to support carbon farming. In particular, the pedotransfer function can provide input parameters for landscape design, soil quality assessment and economic optimisation. The objective of the study was to investigate the feasibility of using a generalised pedotransfer function derived with a machine learning method to predict soil electrical conductivity (EC) and soil organic carbon content (OC) for different regional locations in the state of Victoria, Australia. This strategy supports a unified approach to the interpolation and population of a single regional soils database, in contrast to a range of pedotransfer functions derived from local databases with measurement sets that may have limited transferability. The pedotransfer function generation was based on a machine learning algorithm incorporating the Generalized Linear Mixed Model with interactions and nested terms, with Residual Maximum Likelihood estimation, and a predictor-frequency ranking system with step-wise reduction of predictors to evaluate the predictive errors in reduced models. The source of the data was the Victorian Soil Information System (VSIS), which is a database administered for soil information and mapping purposes. The database contains soil measurements and information from locations across Victoria and is a repository of historical data, including monitoring studies. In total, data from 93 projects were available for inputs to modelling and analysis, with 5158 samples used to derive predictors for EC and 1954 samples used to derive predictors for OC. Over 500 models were tested by systematically reducing the number of predictors from the full model. Five-fold cross-validation was used for estimation of model mean-squared prediction error (MSPE) and mean-absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results were statistically significant with only a gradual reduction in error for the top-ranked 50 models. The prediction errors (MSPE and MAPE) of the top ranked model for EC are 0.686 and 0.635, and 0.413 and 0.474 for OC respectively. The four most frequently occurring predictors both for EC and OC prediction across the full set of models were found to be soil depth, pH, particle size distribution and geomorphological mapping unit. The possible advantages and disadvantages of this approach were discussed with respect to other machine learning approaches. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
The impacts of climate change on trade and foreign direct investment flows
- Authors: Barua, Suborna
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: A growing body of climate economics research suggests that climate change affects production, prices, distribution structures, investments and national income. Studies further describe international trade and climate related investments as key activities in climate impact mitigation and adaptation. However, despite its increasing relevance, the empirical link between climate change and international trade and investment remains largely unexplored. This thesis investigates the climate change impacts on trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows using static and dynamic panel estimations covering 102 countries. The modelling uses temperature and precipitation variability to separately evaluate changes in international trade from 1962 to 2014, and in FDI inflows from 1995 to 2014. The trade impacts estimations consider exports of total merchandise, agriculture and six agricultural sectors; while controlling for income, comparative advantage, productivity, domestic and trade policies, and climate zones. The FDI impacts modelling evaluates total and sectoral inflows, while controlling for income, market size, infrastructure, openness, financial development, the global financial crisis and climate zones. Results show that climate change significantly affects both exports and FDI inflows. In particular, temperature affects merchandise exports, negatively at the global and developing country level, and positively in high-income countries. Agricultural exports are negatively affected by temperature. At the sectoral level, oil-seeds and dairy are mostly affected. Precipitation effects are limited and mostly negative for agriculture. The FDI world aggregate flows respond mostly positively to both temperature and precipitation, and static estimations indicate a FDI positive response in developing countries. Furthermore, FDI sectoral estimations indicate a differentiated response. Findings could inform the formulation of trade and investment policies, at the national and global level, in consideration to the differential impacts of climate change across sectors, regions and economic status. Furthermore, these estimates could be used in projections considering climate change as a determinant of trade and investment flows.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Barua, Suborna
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: A growing body of climate economics research suggests that climate change affects production, prices, distribution structures, investments and national income. Studies further describe international trade and climate related investments as key activities in climate impact mitigation and adaptation. However, despite its increasing relevance, the empirical link between climate change and international trade and investment remains largely unexplored. This thesis investigates the climate change impacts on trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows using static and dynamic panel estimations covering 102 countries. The modelling uses temperature and precipitation variability to separately evaluate changes in international trade from 1962 to 2014, and in FDI inflows from 1995 to 2014. The trade impacts estimations consider exports of total merchandise, agriculture and six agricultural sectors; while controlling for income, comparative advantage, productivity, domestic and trade policies, and climate zones. The FDI impacts modelling evaluates total and sectoral inflows, while controlling for income, market size, infrastructure, openness, financial development, the global financial crisis and climate zones. Results show that climate change significantly affects both exports and FDI inflows. In particular, temperature affects merchandise exports, negatively at the global and developing country level, and positively in high-income countries. Agricultural exports are negatively affected by temperature. At the sectoral level, oil-seeds and dairy are mostly affected. Precipitation effects are limited and mostly negative for agriculture. The FDI world aggregate flows respond mostly positively to both temperature and precipitation, and static estimations indicate a FDI positive response in developing countries. Furthermore, FDI sectoral estimations indicate a differentiated response. Findings could inform the formulation of trade and investment policies, at the national and global level, in consideration to the differential impacts of climate change across sectors, regions and economic status. Furthermore, these estimates could be used in projections considering climate change as a determinant of trade and investment flows.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Toukhsati, Samia
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Animals and Human Society Chapter 21 p. 499-518
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Extinctions refer to the death of a single or multiple species (or taxon) and are common in the history of life on this planet. Using the fossil record, it has been estimated that 99.9% of the species that existed on earth is now extinct. Extinctions occur when a species fails to meet or adapt to changing environmental forces (such as global warming or cooling, habitat loss, destruction, or fragmentation) or when species origination is low, creating ecological niches for new, better adapted, species. This process of “background” extinction and new species evolution is natural, occurs continuously, and describes the way life diversified and radiated on this planet. However, when extinctions involve vast numbers of species and appear to occur around the same time in many different regions, as may be the case in modern times, they are termed “mass extinctions”; these are much less common, but greatly reduce species diversity. There is much debate and little consensus as to the cause and timescale of mass extinctions, generally referred to as the “Big Five” extinction events, which mark the point of transition to new geological epochs. This chapter will focus on the modern-day Holocene–Anthropocene extinction, which attributes the possible loss of up to 58,000 species per year to human activities.
Response of glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible biotypes of annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) to increased carbon dioxide and variable soil moisture
- Mobli, Ahmadreza, Florentine, Singarayer, Jha, Prashant, Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Authors: Mobli, Ahmadreza , Florentine, Singarayer , Jha, Prashant , Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Weed Science Vol. 68, no. 6 (2020), p. 575-581
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The growth response of annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.) to anticipated future climate conditions is currently unknown, and thus two parallel studies were conducted dealing with glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotypes of S. oleraceus. The glyphosate efficacy study was conducted using different doses of glyphosate (0 [control], 180, 360, 720 [recommended dose], and 1,440 g ae ha-1) at two different moisture levels (well-watered and water-stressed conditions). In the second study, the growth and seed production of these biotypes were studied under different atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations (450 and 750 ppm) and under well-watered (100% field capacity) and water-stressed (50% field capacity) conditions. Results showed that the GR biotype survived (>68%) at 1,440 g ha-1, but for the GS biotype, no plant survived, and both biotypes were slightly (<10%) affected by moisture regimes. In the elevated CO2 condition, the GS biotype plants were >38% taller and produced >44%, >18%, and >21% more leaves, buds, and seeds, respectively, compared with the ambient CO2 concentration under both moisture regimes. The biomass also increased by 27% in comparison with the ambient CO2 concentration. For the GR biotype, plants at the elevated CO2 level, while they also grew 38% taller in comparison with the ambient CO2 concentration, the numbers of leaves, buds, and seeds and biomass were not affected by this increase in CO2. Results showed that there were minimal changes in response to glyphosate for GR and GS biotypes of S. oleraceus with or without moisture stress. Our study suggests that future climate change with elevated CO2 levels can affect the response of S. oleraceus to glyphosate, and such knowledge will be helpful for weed management in the future. © 2020 Weed Science Society of America.
- Authors: Mobli, Ahmadreza , Florentine, Singarayer , Jha, Prashant , Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Weed Science Vol. 68, no. 6 (2020), p. 575-581
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The growth response of annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.) to anticipated future climate conditions is currently unknown, and thus two parallel studies were conducted dealing with glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotypes of S. oleraceus. The glyphosate efficacy study was conducted using different doses of glyphosate (0 [control], 180, 360, 720 [recommended dose], and 1,440 g ae ha-1) at two different moisture levels (well-watered and water-stressed conditions). In the second study, the growth and seed production of these biotypes were studied under different atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations (450 and 750 ppm) and under well-watered (100% field capacity) and water-stressed (50% field capacity) conditions. Results showed that the GR biotype survived (>68%) at 1,440 g ha-1, but for the GS biotype, no plant survived, and both biotypes were slightly (<10%) affected by moisture regimes. In the elevated CO2 condition, the GS biotype plants were >38% taller and produced >44%, >18%, and >21% more leaves, buds, and seeds, respectively, compared with the ambient CO2 concentration under both moisture regimes. The biomass also increased by 27% in comparison with the ambient CO2 concentration. For the GR biotype, plants at the elevated CO2 level, while they also grew 38% taller in comparison with the ambient CO2 concentration, the numbers of leaves, buds, and seeds and biomass were not affected by this increase in CO2. Results showed that there were minimal changes in response to glyphosate for GR and GS biotypes of S. oleraceus with or without moisture stress. Our study suggests that future climate change with elevated CO2 levels can affect the response of S. oleraceus to glyphosate, and such knowledge will be helpful for weed management in the future. © 2020 Weed Science Society of America.
- Haeffner, Melissa, Hames, Fern, Barbour, Margaret, Reeves, Jessica, Platell, Ghislaine, Grover, Samantha
- Authors: Haeffner, Melissa , Hames, Fern , Barbour, Margaret , Reeves, Jessica , Platell, Ghislaine , Grover, Samantha
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: One Earth Vol. 5, no. 2 (2022), p. 157-167
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Wicked problems such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic require authentically transdisciplinary approaches to achieving effective collaboration. There exist several research approaches for identifying the components and interactions of complex problems; however, collaborative autoethnography provides an empirical way to collect and analyze self-reflection that leads to transformative change. Here, we present a case study of collaborative autoethnography, applied as a tool to transform research practice among a group of natural and social scientists, by constructively revealing and resolving deep, often unseen, disciplinary divides. We ask, “How can natural and social scientists genuinely accept, respect, and share one another's approaches to work on the wicked problems that need to be solved?” This study demonstrates how disciplinary divisions can be successfully bridged by open-minded and committed collaborators who are prepared to recognize the academic bias they bring to their research and use this as a platform of strength. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.
Global environmental changes impact soil hydraulic functions through biophysical feedbacks
- Robinson, David, Hopmans, Jan, Filipovic, Vilim, van der Ploeg, Martine, Lebron, Inma, Jones, Scott, Reinsch, Sabine, Jarvis, Nick, Tuller, Markus
- Authors: Robinson, David , Hopmans, Jan , Filipovic, Vilim , van der Ploeg, Martine , Lebron, Inma , Jones, Scott , Reinsch, Sabine , Jarvis, Nick , Tuller, Markus
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Global Change Biology Vol. 25, no. 6 (2019), p. 1895-1904
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Although only representing 0.05% of global freshwater, or 0.001% of all global water, soil water supports all terrestrial biological life. Soil moisture behaviour in most models is constrained by hydraulic parameters that do not change. Here we argue that biological feedbacks from plants, macro-fauna and the microbiome influence soil structure, and thus the soil hydraulic parameters and the soil water content signals we observe. Incorporating biological feedbacks into soil hydrological models is therefore important for understanding environmental change and its impacts on ecosystems. We anticipate that environmental change will accelerate and modify soil hydraulic function. Increasingly, we understand the vital role that soil moisture exerts on the carbon cycle and other environmental threats such as heatwaves, droughts and floods, wildfires, regional precipitation patterns, disease regulation and infrastructure stability, in addition to agricultural production. Biological feedbacks may result in changes to soil hydraulic function that could be irreversible, resulting in alternative stable states (ASS) of soil moisture. To explore this, we need models that consider all the major feedbacks between soil properties and soil-plant-faunal-microbial-atmospheric processes, which is something we currently do not have. Therefore, a new direction is required to incorporate a dynamic description of soil structure and hydraulic property evolution into soil-plant-atmosphere, or land surface, models that consider feedbacks from land use and climate drivers of change, so as to better model ecosystem dynamics.
Photosynthetic activity and water use efficiency of Salvia verbenaca L. under elevated CO2 and water‐deficit conditions
- Javaid, Muhammad Mansoor, Florentine, Singarayer, Ashraf, Muhammad, Mahmood, Athar, Sattar, Abdul, Wasaya, Allah, Li, Feng‐Min
- Authors: Javaid, Muhammad Mansoor , Florentine, Singarayer , Ashraf, Muhammad , Mahmood, Athar , Sattar, Abdul , Wasaya, Allah , Li, Feng‐Min
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of agronomy and crop science Vol. 208, no. 4 (2022), p. 536-551
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Investigating the combined effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water‐deficit on weed plants is crucial to gaining a thorough understanding of plant performance and modifying agricultural processes under changing climate conditions. This study examined the effect of elevated CO2 concentration and water‐deficit conditions on leaf gas exchange, water use efficiency, carboxylation efficiency and the photosystem II (PSII) activity of two Salvia verbenaca L., varieties. These varieties were grown under two CO2 concentrations (ambient conditions of 400 ppm and elevated conditions of 700 ppm) and two water regimes (well‐watered [100% field capacity] and water‐deficit conditions [60% field capacity]) in laboratory growth chambers. For 12 days, at 2‐day intervals, (i) leaf gas exchange parameters (photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate (E) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci)), (ii) water use efficiency (WUE), (iii) intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE), (iv) instantaneous carboxylation efficiency and (v) PSII activity (fluorescence, quantum yield of PSII, photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching and photosynthetic electron transport) were measured. Water‐deficit conditions had negative effects on studied parameters of both varieties, whereas elevated CO2 concentration had positive effects on the gas exchange, water use efficiency and PSII activity of both. Salvia verbenaca varieties grown under water‐deficit conditions from Day 0 to Day 5 showed a partial recovery in most of the parameters when the resumption of the well‐watered regime was reinstituted on Day 6. Salvia verbenaca varieties grown under water‐deficit conditions were re‐watered on day 6 and indicated a partial recovery in all the parameters. A comparison of the two varieties showed that var. vernalis recorded higher values of gas exchange, quantum yield of PSII and photochemical efficiency of PSII than var. verbenaca, but the water use efficiency of var. verbenaca was higher than that of var. vernalis. These differences serve to illustrate the complexity of such studies and suggest that a detailed understanding of the nature of weed infestations is essential if optimum management control is to be practiced. Elevated CO2 concentration mitigated the adverse effects of water‐deficit conditions and thereby enhanced the adaptive mechanism of this weed by improving its water use efficiency. It is thus likely that S. verbenaca has the potential to take advantage of climate change by increasing its relative competitiveness with other plants in drought‐prone areas, suggesting that it could significantly expand its invasive range under such conditions.
- Authors: Javaid, Muhammad Mansoor , Florentine, Singarayer , Ashraf, Muhammad , Mahmood, Athar , Sattar, Abdul , Wasaya, Allah , Li, Feng‐Min
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of agronomy and crop science Vol. 208, no. 4 (2022), p. 536-551
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Investigating the combined effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water‐deficit on weed plants is crucial to gaining a thorough understanding of plant performance and modifying agricultural processes under changing climate conditions. This study examined the effect of elevated CO2 concentration and water‐deficit conditions on leaf gas exchange, water use efficiency, carboxylation efficiency and the photosystem II (PSII) activity of two Salvia verbenaca L., varieties. These varieties were grown under two CO2 concentrations (ambient conditions of 400 ppm and elevated conditions of 700 ppm) and two water regimes (well‐watered [100% field capacity] and water‐deficit conditions [60% field capacity]) in laboratory growth chambers. For 12 days, at 2‐day intervals, (i) leaf gas exchange parameters (photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate (E) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci)), (ii) water use efficiency (WUE), (iii) intrinsic water use efficiency (IWUE), (iv) instantaneous carboxylation efficiency and (v) PSII activity (fluorescence, quantum yield of PSII, photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching and photosynthetic electron transport) were measured. Water‐deficit conditions had negative effects on studied parameters of both varieties, whereas elevated CO2 concentration had positive effects on the gas exchange, water use efficiency and PSII activity of both. Salvia verbenaca varieties grown under water‐deficit conditions from Day 0 to Day 5 showed a partial recovery in most of the parameters when the resumption of the well‐watered regime was reinstituted on Day 6. Salvia verbenaca varieties grown under water‐deficit conditions were re‐watered on day 6 and indicated a partial recovery in all the parameters. A comparison of the two varieties showed that var. vernalis recorded higher values of gas exchange, quantum yield of PSII and photochemical efficiency of PSII than var. verbenaca, but the water use efficiency of var. verbenaca was higher than that of var. vernalis. These differences serve to illustrate the complexity of such studies and suggest that a detailed understanding of the nature of weed infestations is essential if optimum management control is to be practiced. Elevated CO2 concentration mitigated the adverse effects of water‐deficit conditions and thereby enhanced the adaptive mechanism of this weed by improving its water use efficiency. It is thus likely that S. verbenaca has the potential to take advantage of climate change by increasing its relative competitiveness with other plants in drought‐prone areas, suggesting that it could significantly expand its invasive range under such conditions.
Climate‐driven divergent long‐term trends of forest beetles in Japan
- Evans, Maldwyn, Barton, Philip, Niwa, Shigeru, Soga, Masashi, Seibold, Sebastian, Tsuchiya, Kazuaki, Hisano, Masumi
- Authors: Evans, Maldwyn , Barton, Philip , Niwa, Shigeru , Soga, Masashi , Seibold, Sebastian , Tsuchiya, Kazuaki , Hisano, Masumi
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecology letters Vol. 25, no. 9 (2022), p. 2009-2021
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Concerning declines in insect populations have been reported from Europe and the United States, yet there are gaps in our knowledge of the drivers of insect trends and their distribution across the world. We report on our analysis of a spatially extensive, 14‐year study of ground‐dwelling beetles in four natural forest biomes spanning Japan's entire latitudinal range (3000 km). Beetle species richness, abundance and biomass declined in evergreen coniferous forests but increased in broadleaf‐coniferous mixed forests. Further, beetles in evergreen coniferous forests responded negatively to increased temperature and precipitation anomalies, which have both risen over the study's timespan. These significant changes parallel reports of climate‐driven changes in forest tree species, providing further evidence that climate change is altering forest ecosystems fundamentally. Given the enormous biodiversity and ecosystem services that forests support globally, the implications for biodiversity change resulting from climate change could be profound. With recent concerns about catastrophic insect declines in the US and Europe, research that provides evidence for insect trends in other regions and in forest ecosystems is crucial. We report on data of forest beetles collected over a 14‐year period in forest plots across the whole latitudinal range of Japan (3000 km). Using these data, we show declines in evergreen coniferous forests accompanied with community changes in other forest biomes.
Autonomous adaptation to climate-driven change in marine biodiversity in a global marine hotspot
- Pecl, Gretta, Ogier, Emily, Jennings, Sarah, van Putten, Ingrid, Crawford, Christine, Fogarty, Hannah, Frusher, Stewart, Hobday, Alistair, Keane, John, Lee, Emma, MacLeod, Catriona, Mundy, Craig, Stuart-Smith, Jemima, Tracey, Sean
- Authors: Pecl, Gretta , Ogier, Emily , Jennings, Sarah , van Putten, Ingrid , Crawford, Christine , Fogarty, Hannah , Frusher, Stewart , Hobday, Alistair , Keane, John , Lee, Emma , MacLeod, Catriona , Mundy, Craig , Stuart-Smith, Jemima , Tracey, Sean
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ambio Vol. 48, no. 12 (2019), p. 1498-1515
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: While governments and natural resource managers grapple with how to respond to climatic changes, many marine-dependent individuals, organisations and user-groups in fast-changing regions of the world are already adjusting their behaviour to accommodate these. However, we have little information on the nature of these autonomous adaptations that are being initiated by resource user-groups. The east coast of Tasmania, Australia, is one of the world’s fastest warming marine regions with extensive climate-driven changes in biodiversity already observed. We present and compare examples of autonomous adaptations from marine users of the region to provide insights into factors that may have constrained or facilitated the available range of autonomous adaptation options and discuss potential interactions with governmental planned adaptations. We aim to support effective adaptation by identifying the suite of changes that marine users are making largely without government or management intervention, i.e. autonomous adaptations, to better understand these and their potential interactions with formal adaptation strategies. © 2019, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- Authors: Pecl, Gretta , Ogier, Emily , Jennings, Sarah , van Putten, Ingrid , Crawford, Christine , Fogarty, Hannah , Frusher, Stewart , Hobday, Alistair , Keane, John , Lee, Emma , MacLeod, Catriona , Mundy, Craig , Stuart-Smith, Jemima , Tracey, Sean
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ambio Vol. 48, no. 12 (2019), p. 1498-1515
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: While governments and natural resource managers grapple with how to respond to climatic changes, many marine-dependent individuals, organisations and user-groups in fast-changing regions of the world are already adjusting their behaviour to accommodate these. However, we have little information on the nature of these autonomous adaptations that are being initiated by resource user-groups. The east coast of Tasmania, Australia, is one of the world’s fastest warming marine regions with extensive climate-driven changes in biodiversity already observed. We present and compare examples of autonomous adaptations from marine users of the region to provide insights into factors that may have constrained or facilitated the available range of autonomous adaptation options and discuss potential interactions with governmental planned adaptations. We aim to support effective adaptation by identifying the suite of changes that marine users are making largely without government or management intervention, i.e. autonomous adaptations, to better understand these and their potential interactions with formal adaptation strategies. © 2019, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Determinants of the intention to adopt digital-only banks in Malaysia: The extension of environmental concern
- Saif, Mashaal A. M., Hussin, Nazimah, Husin, Maizaitulaidawati Md, Alwadain, Ayed, Chakraborty, Ayon
- Authors: Saif, Mashaal A. M. , Hussin, Nazimah , Husin, Maizaitulaidawati Md , Alwadain, Ayed , Chakraborty, Ayon
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 14, no. 17 (2022), p. 11043
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Digital-only banks have not achieved adoption expectations despite being one of the latest innovations in fintech. Several digital-only banks in the United States and Japan have gone bankrupt, and others continue to operate at a loss. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct this study in Malaysia to understand customers’ behavior, particularly regarding the adoption of digital-only banks. With climate change, environmental-friendly behavior, which has been ignored in digital-only bank literature, is becoming increasingly pertinent. This study addresses the lack of an integrated model that investigates the effect of external factors (i.e., critical mass, number of services, and environmental concerns), customer self-determination factors (i.e., trust), and mental perceptions of technology adoption (i.e., convenience, economic efficiency, functional and security risks, as well as perceived value) on the intention to adopt digital-only banks. Data were collected through an online survey targeting Klang Valley residents in the prime age range of 25–54 years old using stratified random sampling. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling by performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and SEM path analysis in AMOS.v26 software. The results show that convenience, economic efficiency, number of services, trust, perceived value, and environmental concern all have positive significant relationships with the intention to adopt digital-only banks. Further, environmental concern is the strongest indicator of behavioral intention. In contrast, functional and security risks have a negative but non-significant relationship with the intention to adopt digital-only banks. Finally, critical mass has a positive but non-significant effect on the behavioral intention. This study is among the first to examine the influence of environmental concern on behavioral intentions in a digital-only banking context. It also contributes to an expanding body of research investigating environmental sustainability by presenting empirical results in the context of digital-only banks.
- Authors: Saif, Mashaal A. M. , Hussin, Nazimah , Husin, Maizaitulaidawati Md , Alwadain, Ayed , Chakraborty, Ayon
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 14, no. 17 (2022), p. 11043
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Digital-only banks have not achieved adoption expectations despite being one of the latest innovations in fintech. Several digital-only banks in the United States and Japan have gone bankrupt, and others continue to operate at a loss. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct this study in Malaysia to understand customers’ behavior, particularly regarding the adoption of digital-only banks. With climate change, environmental-friendly behavior, which has been ignored in digital-only bank literature, is becoming increasingly pertinent. This study addresses the lack of an integrated model that investigates the effect of external factors (i.e., critical mass, number of services, and environmental concerns), customer self-determination factors (i.e., trust), and mental perceptions of technology adoption (i.e., convenience, economic efficiency, functional and security risks, as well as perceived value) on the intention to adopt digital-only banks. Data were collected through an online survey targeting Klang Valley residents in the prime age range of 25–54 years old using stratified random sampling. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling by performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and SEM path analysis in AMOS.v26 software. The results show that convenience, economic efficiency, number of services, trust, perceived value, and environmental concern all have positive significant relationships with the intention to adopt digital-only banks. Further, environmental concern is the strongest indicator of behavioral intention. In contrast, functional and security risks have a negative but non-significant relationship with the intention to adopt digital-only banks. Finally, critical mass has a positive but non-significant effect on the behavioral intention. This study is among the first to examine the influence of environmental concern on behavioral intentions in a digital-only banking context. It also contributes to an expanding body of research investigating environmental sustainability by presenting empirical results in the context of digital-only banks.
Conservation, agriculture, sustainable, development and strong communities
- Authors: Martin, Jennifer
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Strategies for the promotion of conservation agriculture in Central Asia, Proceedings of the International Conference, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 5–7 September 2018 p. 278-287
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- Description: Four decades have passed since the introduction of Conservation Agriculture research and development. We also mark forty years since the introduction of the Declaration of Alma-Ata at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, 6–12 September 1978. Furthermore, of significance to the future development of sustainable agriculture practices and healthy communities, is the introduction of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in January 2016. These follow on from the Millennium Development goals that will guide the United Nations Development Program policy and development unti l 2030. An Australian case study on Conservation Agriculture is presented examining the relationship between Conservation Agriculture, health and wellbeing and sustainable development. It is argued that an ecosystems approach is useful for strategic sustainable development to understand the connectedness and inter-relationship between climate change agricultural practices, sense of place, identity, health and wellbeing. Community development processes can assist to build strong communities through collaboration between farmers, farmer organizations, local experts, and national and regional public and private institutions.
- Authors: Martin, Jennifer
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Strategies for the promotion of conservation agriculture in Central Asia, Proceedings of the International Conference, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 5–7 September 2018 p. 278-287
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Four decades have passed since the introduction of Conservation Agriculture research and development. We also mark forty years since the introduction of the Declaration of Alma-Ata at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, 6–12 September 1978. Furthermore, of significance to the future development of sustainable agriculture practices and healthy communities, is the introduction of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in January 2016. These follow on from the Millennium Development goals that will guide the United Nations Development Program policy and development unti l 2030. An Australian case study on Conservation Agriculture is presented examining the relationship between Conservation Agriculture, health and wellbeing and sustainable development. It is argued that an ecosystems approach is useful for strategic sustainable development to understand the connectedness and inter-relationship between climate change agricultural practices, sense of place, identity, health and wellbeing. Community development processes can assist to build strong communities through collaboration between farmers, farmer organizations, local experts, and national and regional public and private institutions.
Photosynthetic responses of Invasive Acacia mangium and co-existing native heath forest species to elevated temperature and CO2 concentrations
- Ibrahim, Mohamad, Sukri, Rahayu, Tennakoon, Kushan, Le, Quang-Vuong, Metali, Faizah
- Authors: Ibrahim, Mohamad , Sukri, Rahayu , Tennakoon, Kushan , Le, Quang-Vuong , Metali, Faizah
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sustainable Forestry Vol. 40, no. 6 (2021), p. 573-593
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The impacts of climate change, in particular via elevated temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations, cause differential photosynthetic responses between native and invasive alien plants, often resulting in varying magnitudes of plant growth and productivity. This study investigated variations in photosynthetic responses of an invasive alien Acacia species and two successional groups of tropical heath forest species: early secondary (Buchanania arborescens and Dillenia suffruticosa) and secondary (Calophyllum inophyllum and Ploiarium alternifolium) groups at elevated temperature (25 to 30°C) and CO2 levels (400 to 700 ppm). Invasive A.mangium appears better adapted to higher temperature and CO2. High temperature improved CO2 assimilation of A.mangium compared to heath species, which was attributed to increased transpiration rate and stomatal conductance but decreased water-use efficiency. Photosynthetic responses showed no differences in early secondary species at elevated temperature and CO2 but invasive A.mangium and P.alternifolium were stimulated by elevated CO2. The greater maximum net photosynthesis of A.mangium coincided with lower light compensation point and electron transport rate for RuBP regeneration, to a certain extent. Findings provide insights into possible underlying ecophysiological mechanisms contributing to the invasion success of Acacias in degraded tropical heath forests in response to future climate change. © 2020 Taylor & Francis.
- Authors: Ibrahim, Mohamad , Sukri, Rahayu , Tennakoon, Kushan , Le, Quang-Vuong , Metali, Faizah
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sustainable Forestry Vol. 40, no. 6 (2021), p. 573-593
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The impacts of climate change, in particular via elevated temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations, cause differential photosynthetic responses between native and invasive alien plants, often resulting in varying magnitudes of plant growth and productivity. This study investigated variations in photosynthetic responses of an invasive alien Acacia species and two successional groups of tropical heath forest species: early secondary (Buchanania arborescens and Dillenia suffruticosa) and secondary (Calophyllum inophyllum and Ploiarium alternifolium) groups at elevated temperature (25 to 30°C) and CO2 levels (400 to 700 ppm). Invasive A.mangium appears better adapted to higher temperature and CO2. High temperature improved CO2 assimilation of A.mangium compared to heath species, which was attributed to increased transpiration rate and stomatal conductance but decreased water-use efficiency. Photosynthetic responses showed no differences in early secondary species at elevated temperature and CO2 but invasive A.mangium and P.alternifolium were stimulated by elevated CO2. The greater maximum net photosynthesis of A.mangium coincided with lower light compensation point and electron transport rate for RuBP regeneration, to a certain extent. Findings provide insights into possible underlying ecophysiological mechanisms contributing to the invasion success of Acacias in degraded tropical heath forests in response to future climate change. © 2020 Taylor & Francis.
Reconstruction of tropical cyclone and depression proxies for the South Pacific since the 1850s
- Yeasmin, Alea, Chand, Savin, Sultanova, Nargiz
- Authors: Yeasmin, Alea , Chand, Savin , Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Weather and Climate Extremes Vol. 39, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Southwest Pacific nations are highly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events, particularly those associated with synoptic-scale systems such as tropical cyclones (TCs) and depressions (TDs). This study utilises the Okubo–Weiss–Zeta parameter (OWZP) method to reconstruct historical records of both TCs and TDs for the South Pacific basin using state-of-the-art NOAA-CIRES Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) product. Extensive statistical assessments of these reconstructions are carried out using observational records for the satellite period (i.e., 1979–2014) as ‘ground-truths’. Results show that 20CR-derived TCs and TDs resemble several key characteristics of the observational records, including spatial distribution of genesis locations and track shapes. This gives us confidence that the 20CR-derived long-term records of TCs and TDs can serve as an effective tool for examining historical changes in various characteristics of TCs and TDs, particularly in the context of anthropogenic climate change. © 2022
- Authors: Yeasmin, Alea , Chand, Savin , Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Weather and Climate Extremes Vol. 39, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Southwest Pacific nations are highly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events, particularly those associated with synoptic-scale systems such as tropical cyclones (TCs) and depressions (TDs). This study utilises the Okubo–Weiss–Zeta parameter (OWZP) method to reconstruct historical records of both TCs and TDs for the South Pacific basin using state-of-the-art NOAA-CIRES Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) product. Extensive statistical assessments of these reconstructions are carried out using observational records for the satellite period (i.e., 1979–2014) as ‘ground-truths’. Results show that 20CR-derived TCs and TDs resemble several key characteristics of the observational records, including spatial distribution of genesis locations and track shapes. This gives us confidence that the 20CR-derived long-term records of TCs and TDs can serve as an effective tool for examining historical changes in various characteristics of TCs and TDs, particularly in the context of anthropogenic climate change. © 2022
Comparing catastrophes : the influence of impacts and timelines on prioritising crises
- Authors: Gell, Peter
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: AIP Conference Proceedings Vol. 2683, no. 1 (2023), p. 030001
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Across time society has been confronted with a wide range of crises that have required measured responses. The COVID-19 pandemic was widely forecast, but governmental preparation was lacking. Even when it was spreading, its risks to society were downplayed in some quarters. The climate change crisis has also been widely forecast, and preparation has been slow, with vested interests also denying the science or downplaying the risk. The pandemic is an acute crisis with rapid onset and highly visible impacts on human life and wellbeing. Through vaccine technology, however, there is a short term and likely effective management measure available. Climate change is a diffuse crisis with long lead times. In contrast to Covid, it has momentum and, once thresholds are exceeded, measures to reverse the change will have limited effectiveness. While the implications of carbonising our atmosphere were known over 50 years ago, the socio-economic response is only now taking hold. The slow nature of this crisis has subdued the political response, and the Earth is now committed to considerable impacts, even if we collectively act decisively now. The gradual nature of this crisis, its opaque direct impacts on humanity, and the scale of its complexity render it a ‘wicked’ problem that will persist through this century and beyond. Scenarios of impact across multiple quarters assure us that the costs of unabated climate change will result in a global scale crisis, played out in many individual locations for many decades. Aware of this, society is already investing in adapting to the changes that are foreseen while also beginning the process of mitigating carbon emissions to limit the scale of the challenge. In some places, this may mean preparing economies for drier climates, while in others, it may mean a managed retreat from the present coastline. Providing refuge from heatwaves will be a widespread adaptation measure. For nature, its capacity to adapt will be strengthened if the pressure from humans is also mitigated.
- Humphries, Talia, Dowling, Kim, Turville, Christopher, Sinclair, Steve, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Humphries, Talia , Dowling, Kim , Turville, Christopher , Sinclair, Steve , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Weed Research Vol. 60, no. 6 (2020), p. 392-405
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) is a highly invasive perennial C3 weed from South America. It grows in most soil conditions, can resist fire and frost, and is unpalatable to grazing animals. Each plant can produce up to 140,000 seeds annually, and together, these characteristics make it a damaging landscape weed. It has diminished the agricultural carrying capacity of pastures in south-eastern Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and emerging populations have now been identified in Europe and the United States, and bioclimatic models suggest its distribution could significantly expand within these regions in the near future. Research into control methods for this weed has been explored, and these include herbicides applied alone and in combination, the establishment of plant competition, the introduction of seed mitigation fencing, grazing management and exclusion zones, specific biological management and alteration of soil composition. Currently, the most effective and widely used control method is the residual herbicide flupropanate (2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanoic acid). This review will investigate the ecology, distribution, current control techniques and past research on this species, and make recommendations for future research and management. © 2020 European Weed Research Society
- Fest, Benedikt, Hinko-Najera, Nina, von Fischer, Joseph, Livesley, Stephen, Arndt, Stefan
- Authors: Fest, Benedikt , Hinko-Najera, Nina , von Fischer, Joseph , Livesley, Stephen , Arndt, Stefan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecosystems Vol. 20, no. 2 (2017), p. 368-379
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Soils in temperate forests ecosystems are the greatest terrestrial CH4 sink globally. Global and regional circulation models predict decreased average rainfall, increased extreme rainfall events and increased temperatures for many temperate ecosystems. However, most studies of soil CH4 uptake have only considered extended periods of drought rather than an overall decrease in rainfall amount. We measured soil CH4 uptake from March 2010 to March 2012 after installing passive rainfall reduction systems to intercept approximately 40% of throughfall in a temperate broadleaf evergreen eucalypt forest in south-eastern Australia. Throughfall reduction caused an average reduction of 15.1 ± 6.4% (SE) in soil volumetric water content, a reduction of 19.8 ± 6.9% in soil water-filled pore space (%WFPS) and a 20.1 ± 6.8% increase in soil air-filled porosity. In response to these changes, soil CH4 uptake increased by 54.7 ± 19.3%. The increase in soil CH4 uptake could be explained by increased diffusivity in drier soils, whilst the activity of methanotrophs remained relatively unchanged. It is likely that soil CH4 uptake will increase if rainfall reduces in temperate broadleaf evergreen forests of Australia as a consequence of climate change. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.
Factors affecting the global distribution of Hydrilla verticillata (L. fil.) Royle : a review
- Patrick, Anton, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Patrick, Anton , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Weed Research Vol. 61, no. 4 (2021), p. 253-271
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submerged freshwater flowering plant within the monotypic genus. Over the geological periods, fossils of this family and genus have shown distinct diversifications between warm and cool fluctuations with more adaptations occurring in warmer periods and suppressions during severely cold paleoclimate changes. Recently, H. verticillata has shown a wide range of adaptive plasticity, allowing successful proliferation into non-native regions, whilst also undergoing unexplained disappearance from its native localities, and this phenomenon has stimulated this inquiry. Against this somewhat complex background, particular interest for this investigation has been focussed on an understanding of which aspects of climate change have contributed towards global adaptations and distribution patterns of H. verticillata. Whilst it is recognised that some of these changes are natural, other aggravating impacts are due to anthropogenic influences. Identifying the appropriate combinations of these climatic factors (temperature, rainfall, photoperiod), in concert with environmental (water level, CO2, salinity, eutrophication), geographical (altitude, latitude) and other factors (UV-B) are necessary precursors for instituting appropriate management strategies. In this respect, control measures are needed in non-native regions and restoration of this plant in native habitats are essential for its ecologically balanced global distribution. © 2021 European Weed Research Society