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This document includes letters from the President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Editor's Introduction of the Earth Sciences History journal. The President discusses global representation within the society and acknowledges the efforts of the officers. The Treasurer provides a financial report, stating that the society is financially stable but may need to revisit membership rates in the future. The Secretary encourages membership renewal and spreading information about the society. The Editor introduces the current issue, which includes papers on the history of stratigraphy, geological travels, mining, and other diverse topics. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents an in-depth analysis of global research trends in Geosciences from 2014 to 2023. By integrating bibliometric analysis with expert insights from the Deeptime Digital Earth (DDE) initiative, this article identifies key emerging themes shaping the landscape of Earth Sciences. The identification process involved a meticulous analysis of over 400,000 papers from 466 Geosciences journals and approximately 5,800 papers from 93 interdisciplinary journals sourced from the Web of Science and Dimensions database. To map relationships between articles, citation networks were constructed, and spectral clustering algorithms were then employed to identify groups of related research, resulting in 407 clusters. Relevant research terms were extracted using the Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) algorithm, followed by statistical analyses on the volume of papers, average publication year, and average citation count within each cluster. Additionally, expert knowledge from DDE Scientific Committee was utilized to select top 30 trends based on their representation, relevance, and impact within Geosciences, and finalize naming of these top trends with consideration of the content and implications of the associated research. This comprehensive approach in systematically delineating and characterizing the trends in a way which is understandable to geoscientists. Thirty significant trends were identified in the field of Geosciences, spanning five domains: deep space, deep time, deep Earth, habitable Earth, and big data. These topics reflect the latest trends and advancements in Geosciences and have the potential to address real-world problems that are closely related to society, science, and technology. The analyzed data of this study only contain those were included in the Web of Science. This study will strongly support the organizations and individual scientists to understand the modern frontier of earth science, especially on solid earth. The organizations such as the surveys or natural science fund could map out areas for future exploration and analyze the hot topics reference to this study. This paper integrates bibliometric analysis with expert insights to highlight the most significant trends on earth science and reach the individual scientist and public by global voting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock discontinuity information plays a key role in engineering activities. In severely fragmented and discontinuous samples, the identification accuracy of rock discontinuities can be improved with the help of geologic knowledge with identified spatial features and geoscience interaction mechanisms. Therefore, we proposed a new method – a knowledge-based intelligent recognition method for rock discontinuities that used point cloud data – to correct inaccurate identification by considering the spatial relationships of rock discontinuities. This paper integrated the geologic knowledge bases in rock discontinuity information extraction rules and combined the generative rule inference model with the region growing method for intelligent extraction. In the case study, we developed four typical rule sets as examples based on the constructed rule system to group rock discontinuities and subsume the fractured rock discontinuities. Results show that this new method is effective in identifying and classifying rock discontinuities of complex areas with a greater reduction in manual intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses two teachers' experiences implementing a phenomenon and problem-driven curriculum for the first time in two kindergarten classes. It describes how teachers shifted their teaching to support students' collaborative sensemaking about phenomenon. It also discusses how the teachers helped students overcome anxiety about uncertainty when figuring out phenomenon and during an engineering design challenge. Throughout the paper teachers offer detailed descriptions of the adjustments they made to their instructional methods and how those changes in pedagogy impacted students during the curriculum. Impacts to students' overall sense of academic agency are also discussed. Finally, the paper addresses real-world concerns facing teachers transitioning to phenomenon and problem-driven instruction, including the amount of class time allocated to science learning and the amount of content required by the Next Generation Science Standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a collection of research papers in the fields of astrophysics and geophysics. The papers cover a wide range of topics, including big data, climate change, and remote sensing. They provide datasets and analyses related to landslides, detonation craters, coastal change, and spectroscopy. The research has potential applications in fields such as climate change and astronomy. The papers underwent peer review and are considered valuable contributions to the scientific community. The authors express their gratitude to the contributors and reviewers for their efforts. [Extracted from the article]

The Editors and Staff of Earth and Space Science thank the reviewers whose selfless work has significantly contributed to the publication process of papers highlighting the best research in geophysics, planetary, and space science in 2023. Peer‐reviewing is a demanding and thankless job. It is however an essential component of the scientific process, requiring the highest standards of integrity and rigor. Reviewers check data and procedures and test reproducibility of methods and results; they share their expertise to verify that the interpretations and conclusions of a paper are consistent with assumptions and existing knowledge. Without this essential work it would not be possible to trust in the scientific process. Publication of papers in a multidisciplinary journal such as Earth and Space Science, that highlights methods, instruments, data and algorithms, relies directly on the expertise of its reviewers to verify and vouch for the quality of the papers that are published. We are indebted to all our reviewers and are delighted to acknowledge them publicly in this Editorial. Plain Language Summary: The Editors and Staff of Earth and Space Science acknowledge the importance of hundreds of peer reviewers who contributed to the scientific rigor of the papers published in the journal. The Editors wish to publicly recognize the 926 reviewers who gave selflessly of their time and expertise in 2023. Key Points: The editors thank the 2023 peer reviewers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a collection of personal reflections and tributes from scientists who worked with Richard W. Eppley, a renowned scientist in the field of biological oceanography. Eppley's research focused on phytoplankton and their role in biogeochemical processes. The article highlights his contributions to the field and his impact on his students and colleagues. Eppley's career spanned many scientific cruises and he was known for his integrity and curiosity about the ocean. The article also provides a biography of Eppley, describing his personal life and interests outside of his scientific work. [Extracted from the article]

This article is an editorial that discusses the evolution of tectonic structures and mineralization in orogens and their margins. Orogens are regions with complex tectonic histories that involve plate subduction, collision, and orogenesis. These processes not only shape the topography but also influence climatic changes and the deposition of mineral resources, particularly precious metals. The article highlights the need for systematic studies of orogens and their nearby margins to improve our understanding of these regions and aid in the exploration of new mineral resources. The editorial also provides a summary of five papers published in this research topic, which cover topics such as magmatism, mineralization, and tectonic evolution in different orogens. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a summary of a special collection of papers presented at the Korea-Japan Joint Conference on the Geochemical and Cosmochemical Applications of Microanalysis. The papers discuss various advancements in microanalytical techniques for earth and planetary sciences. Topics covered include dating of Quaternary zircons, microstructural analysis of zircons, observations of Asian and Saharan dust particles, isotopic variations in planetary materials, a new compact magnetic separator, nanoscale analysis of noble gases, chemical analysis of lunar zirconolites, precision of Pb isotopic dating, determination of elemental abundances, development of a new standard material for meteorite zircons, and non-destructive isotope analysis using a negative muon beam. These developments have the potential to improve analytical data and contribute to the advancement of geochemistry and cosmochemistry. [Extracted from the article]

Virtual reality is a technological development that, among others, has revolutionized Earth sciences. Its advantages include an opportunity to examine places otherwise difficult or impossible to access and it may also become an important component of education, fostering a better understanding of processes and landforms, geohazard awareness, and an appreciation of geoheritage. This paper reports on the GeoVT project, which aims to create a platform to build and disseminate Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) focused on geomorphology, natural hazards associated with geomorphological processes, and geoheritage sites. To put the GeoVT project in context, an overview of applications of VR in geosciences is provided. This paper subsequently proceeds with a presentation of the project and the GeoVT Authoring application, which is an innovative platform designed to help teachers and students, followed by brief presentations of a number of VFTs developed within the project. They address themes such as fluvial landforms and valley development, coastal landforms, evidence of past glaciation, coastal erosion, wildfire effects, mud volcanoes, and landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (G‐Cubed) is a respected Earth science journal that publishes research papers, methods, and coding applications. In 2023, the journal received 485 manuscripts and published 244 of them. The journal credits its success to the voluntary contributions of over 764 reviewers who provided more than 937 reviews. The journal expresses gratitude to the reviewers for their time and expertise, as their efforts ensure that the published papers meet the high standards expected by the research community. The journal welcomes feedback on its peer review process and anticipates exciting advancements in the field. Additionally, the document is a list of names of individuals who have contributed to a report or study, organized alphabetically. The purpose of the document is to acknowledge the participation of these individuals, who come from diverse fields, in the research or study. [Extracted from the article]

Soil carbon sequestration is listed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as one of the key ways to achieve long-term "carbon neutrality" in the context of global warming. Soil carbon sequestration is a complex biogeochemical process that involves plants, microbes, and rock minerals at its core. Yet, its regulation mechanisms and promotion pathways remain unclear. This paper reviews recent progress in the related domestic and international research and provides an overview of the key processes and mechanisms of soil carbon sequestration. The main pathways for enhancing soil carbon sequestration (including plant inputs, mineral protection, microbial transformation, and rock weathering) are summarized. The paper also discusses and synthesizes how advanced biogeochemical methods and technologies may be employed to explore soil carbon sequestration mechanisms and potentials. The overall aim of this review is to improve our understanding of soil carbon sequestration as a nature-based solution to combatting climate change from the biogeochemistry perspective, and to highlight the role of fundamental research in Earth Sciences in helping to achieve China's carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil Moisture (SM) monitoring is crucial for various applications in agriculture, hydrology, and climate science. Remote Sensing (RS) offers a powerful tool for large-scale SM retrieval. This paper explores the advancements in RS techniques for SM estimation. We discuss the applications of these techniques, along with the advantages and limitations of traditional physical models and data-driven Machine Learning (ML) based approaches. The paper emphasizes the potential of combining ML and physical models to leverage the strengths of both approaches. We explore the challenges associated with this integration and future research directions to improve the accuracy, scalability, and robustness of RS-based SM retrieval. Finally, the paper also discusses a few issues such as input data selection, data availability, ML complexity, the need for public datasets for benchmarking, and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial auto-regressive (SAR) models are widely used in geosciences for data analysis; their main feature is the presence of weight (W) matrices, which define the neighboring relationships between the spatial units. The statistical properties of parameter and forecast estimates strongly depend on the structure of such matrices. The least squares (LS) method is the most flexible and can estimate systems of large dimensions; however, it is biased in the presence of multilateral (sparse) matrices. Instead, the unilateral specification of SAR models provides triangular weight matrices that allow consistent LS estimates and sequential prediction functions. These two properties are strictly related and depend on the linear and recursive nature of the system. In this paper, we show the better performance in out-of-sample forecasting of unilateral SAR (estimated with LS), compared to multilateral SAR (estimated with maximum likelihood, ML). This conclusion is supported by numerical simulations and applications to real geological data, both on regular lattices and irregularly distributed points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the functionality of Arc Hydro, one of the components within ArcGIS. The purpose of using GIS, specifically the Arc Hydro component, is to prepare geospatial data (e.g., preprocessing digital terrain models, identifying river networks and watershed areas, etc.) during the pre-modeling phase within HEC-HMS. Arc Hydro provides a set of standardized attributes and a toolset for implementing the data model. The Arc Hydro tools generate several datasets that collectively describe the drainage pattern of a catchment. These tools are installed as an Arc Hydro toolbar, which includes the Terrain Preprocessing menu. This menu provides functions dealing with DEM processing and is mostly used once to prepare spatial information for later use. Arc Hydro is not a hydrologic modelling software but an excellent free tool to facilitate hydrologic modelling of watersheds. It is a unique GIS program that maintains the connectivity of hydrologic features. Using the example of the Bioštica River Basin, this paper will demonstrate the pre-modeling steps utilizing Arc Hydro. Additionally, the results obtained during the pre-modeling phase serve as the foundation for the watershed delineation method, using the Point Delineation option (it allows interactive delineation of a watershed upstream of a user-specified point). In this way, the study defines the watershed area for the Hydrological Station HS Bioštica, Bioštica River. Compared to the manual subwatershed and stream network delineation approach, the Arc Hydro toolbar offers significant time savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth and life sciences are replete with portmanteau (blended) words and neologisms. Researchers at the interfaces between the traditional disciplines within the Earth and life sciences have coined dual titles for 'new' disciplines, such as geobiology/biogeology and ecohydrology/hydroecology. An upsurge in such coinage over the last few decades reflects a healthy willingness of many researchers to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and to include the human sphere within their domains. However, some of the titles cause confusion because their meanings are not self-evident; rather, they sometimes demand extra research to reveal their meanings, thus rendering science less 'open' at a time when Open Science is being vigorously encouraged. After discussing the question of disciplinary neologisms, the paper probes the interchangeability of 15 dual 'new' discipline titles and concludes that six are more-or-less synonymous, three are nonsynonymous, and six are indeterminate for varying reasons. We question the usefulness of some, but by no means all, disciplinary neologisms, given that their meanings are not immediately apparent. Looking beyond portmanteau titles and other neologisms, the paper discusses the rise of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, as seen in the concepts of the Critical Zone, multifunctional landscapes, and Earth System Science, the last of which supports a conceptual model of the planet as an interdependent set of spheres from global to local scales that has the advantages of combining the biotic, abiotic, and human spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper explores the evolving perspectives on forest fires, their impacts on critical infrastructure, and potential solutions to mitigate damage. Initially viewed as natural and beneficial, forest fires became a threat with changing policies in the early 1900s, exacerbated by climate change. Recent devastating wildfires highlight the need for innovative approaches to protect lives and infrastructure. The study introduces the FirePod, a novel solution that safeguards homes from forest fires. The research evaluates the applicability of FirePod compared to existing protection methods, considering advantages, disadvantages, and real-world implications. The analysis reveals that each method has unique strengths and weaknesses, making identifying a universally superior solution challenging. However, FirePod's automated deployment system and potential to address the difficulties associated with other methods position it as a promising innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of conventional water injection development difficulties and low recovery factor in low-permeability reservoirs, the method of high-pressure air drive is adopted to achieve the purpose of reservoir energy enhancement and efficiency improvement. This paper conducted an experimental study on the mechanism of low-temperature oxidation (LTO) for crude oil in the process of high-pressure air flooding, elaborated the relationship between the LTO properties of crude oil and the temperature, pressure, and water saturation of the reservoir, and analyzed the differences in LTO oxygen consumption and oil components under different reaction conditions. In addition, combined with the air flooding physical simulation experiment, the dynamic evolution law of recovery rate in the air flooding process was revealed. Findings from this inquiry indicate that an escalation in the oxidation temperature significantly amplifies the oxygen incorporation reaction within the crude oil matrix. This augmentation in oxidative conditions leads to an uptick in oxygen consumption, which subsequently precipitates a reduction in the lighter fractions of the oxidized oil while enriching its heavier components. Elevated pressures were found to enhance the propensity for the amalgamation of unstable hydrocarbons with oxygen, fostering comprehensive and heterogeneous oxidation reactions. Notably, an excessive presence of water was observed to detrimentally affect the thermal efficacy of crude oil oxidation processes. In the context of low-permeability reservoirs, air injection techniques have emerged as superior in effectuating oil displacement, although an increase in injection pressures has been associated with the phenomenon of gas channeling. Interestingly, adopting a sequential strategy of initiating water flooding before air flooding facilitated the conveyance of high-pressure air via established flushing channels, although it appeared to attenuate the intensity of crude oil oxidation, culminating in an oil recovery efficiency peaking at 51%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rock & Mineral Analysis is the property of Editorial Board of Rock & Mineral Analysis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Geostatistical prediction methods are increasingly used in earth sciences and engineering to improve upon our knowledge of attributes in space and time. During mining activities, it is very important to have an estimate of any contamination of the soil and groundwater in the area for environmental reasons and to guide the reclamation once mining operations are finished. In this paper, we present the geostatistical analysis of the water content in certain pollutants (Cd and Mn) in a group of mines in Northern Greece. The monitoring points that were studied are 62. The aim of this work is to create a contamination prediction map that better represents the values of Cd and Mn, which is challenging based on the small sample size. The correlation between Cd and Mn concentration in the groundwater is investigated during the preliminary analysis of the data. The logarithm of the data values was used, and after removing a linear trend, the variogram parameters were estimated. In order to create the necessary maps of contamination, we employed the method of ordinary Kriging (OK) and inversed the transformations using bias correction to adjust the results for the inverse transform. Cross-validation shows promising results ( ρ = 65 % for Cd and ρ = 52 % for Mn, RMSE = 25.9 ppb for Cd and RMSE = 25.1 ppm for Mn). As part of this work, the Spartan Variogram model was compared with the other models and was found to perform better for the data of Mn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a tribute to Dr. S. George Pemberton, a renowned ichnologist who passed away in 2018. It highlights his impact as a teacher, mentor, and scientist. Dr. Pemberton was known for his ability to blend scientific insights with life lessons, making him an inspirational educator. His work in ichnology, particularly in applied ichnology, has significantly influenced the fields of sedimentology, stratigraphy, and petroleum geology. He was also recognized for his teaching and mentoring abilities, receiving numerous awards and supervising many students throughout his career. Dr. Pemberton's contributions to the field of ichnology are extensive, with over 140 published works and thousands of citations. [Extracted from the article]

Rock mass is one of the most important load-bearing media in geotechnical engineering. It has been continually vulnerable to geological tectonic movements, natural calamities, and human excavation activities. Its inherent weak surfaces such as primary pores, joints, and fissures have resulted in varying damage degrees. In mining operations, the damaged rock mass has a variety of negative impacts on the stability of its overlying structures and is frequently disturbed by the load. To study the damage law of rock mass under cyclic loading, in this paper, an acoustic emission (AE) device was employed to monitor the rock under the action of two types of cyclic loads: the variable upper and lower pre-loads, and the fixed upper and lower pre-loads. The damage of the loaded rock was split into three stages in this research, based on the features of the AE signals of the rock under uniaxial load, and the damage evolution of the loaded rock was analyzed in distinct stages. The AE signals of the rock under cyclic loading were mainly emitted in the first loading stage. When the stress did not exceed the maximum stress value in the stress history of the loaded rock, few new AE event was generated in the loaded rock. After the low-frequency cyclic static load, the AE signals varied with the load-bearing stress of the rock during the whole process from initial loading to failure, which was consistent with the characteristics of the AE signals of the loaded rock. The research results can be adapted to rock mass in open-pit mines stability analysis and risk prediction while providing some references for the early warning and danger relief of rock masses in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive semidefinite kernels on spheres cross time are on demand in spatial statistics, machine learning and numerical analysis, motivated by applications in the climate, environmental and earth sciences. Most of the recent literature has focused on kernels that are isotropic on the sphere and stationary in time, but this assumption is often overly limited in quantifying spatial dependence properly. A broader class of kernels can be obtained by trading isotropy for axial symmetry, i.e., stationarity with respect to longitudes only. This paper challenges theoretical aspects by providing a spectral representation that uniquely characterizes space-time positive semidefinite kernels that are axially symmetric on the sphere and stationary in time. We also address the problem of partial Fourier inversion and show that it is feasible under mild technical conditions. The second part of the paper focuses on constructive methods to build nonseparable kernels having axial symmetry on the sphere and stationarity over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial titled "Evolution of subcontinental and oceanic lithospheric mantle" discusses the significance of studying the history of the lithospheric mantle beneath continents and ocean floors to gain insights into plate tectonics. The editorial highlights the use of petrology, geochemistry, and geophysics to investigate the composition, attributes, and structure of the lithospheric mantle. It also mentions a compilation of six papers included in the Research Topic, which analyze various types of rocks and investigate the internal structure and dynamics of the lithospheric mantle using seismic wave analysis. The document specifically focuses on the analysis of seismic anisotropy in the Tibetan plateau, revealing crust-mantle coupling deformation in the northeastern Tibet and crust-mantle decoupling deformation in the southeastern Tibet. The authors emphasize the importance of these findings in understanding the structure and evolution of the lithosphere. It is important to note that the claims expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their affiliated organizations or the publisher. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the history of stratigraphy, geological and mining travels, and their significance within the Italian context of Earth sciences. The article highlights six papers presented at the STRATI 2019 conference in Milan, which aim to investigate and compare the development of stratigraphy with other research fields in geology and mining. The papers cover various topics, including the meaning of stratigraphic studies in Italian mountain areas, the role of mining and visual culture in Earth sciences, and the results of fieldwork undertaken by Italian geologists during extra-European travels. The article emphasizes the importance of these papers in reassessing the research on the history of stratigraphy and promoting interdisciplinary approaches within the historiography of Earth sciences. [Extracted from the article]

Difficulty in using observations to isolate the impacts of aerosols from meteorology on deep convection often stems from the inability to resolve the spatiotemporal variations in the environment serving as the storm's inflow region. During the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Tracking Aerosol Convection interactions Experiment (TRACER) in June-September 2022, a Texas A&M University (TAMU) team conducted a mobile field campaign to characterize the meteorological and aerosol variability in air masses that serve as inflow to convection across the ubiquitous mesoscale boundaries associated with the sea and bay breezes in the Houston, Texas, region. These boundaries propagate inland over the fixed DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites. However, convection occurs on either or both the continental or maritime sides or along the boundary. The maritime and continental air masses serving as convection inflow may be quite distinct, with different meteorological and aerosol characteristics that fixed- site measurements cannot simultaneously sample. Thus, a primary objective of TAMU TRACER was to provide mobile measurements similar to those at the fixed sites, but in the opposite air mass across these moving mesoscale boundaries. TAMU TRACER collected radiosonde, lidar, aerosol, cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and ice nucleating particle (INP) measurements on 29 enhanced operations days covering a variety of maritime, continental, outflow, and prefrontal air masses. This paper summarizes the TAMU TRACER deployment and measurement strategy, instruments, and available datasets and provides sample cases highlighting differences between these mobile measurements and those made at the ARM sites. We also highlight the exceptional TAMU TRACER undergraduate student participation in high-impact learning activities through forecasting and field deployment opportunities. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The environment influencing storms often varies across scales that are not always adequately captured by measurements collected at fixed locations. This paper describes our strategy for collecting mobile measurements of the aerosols and meteorology that influenced convection initiated by the sea breeze across the Houston, Texas, region. We show several examples of the local variations in aerosols and meteorology influencing storms that were captured by our mobile platform that were different from those sampled at fixed observation sites. We also highlight potential future studies and science questions that could be addressed using our dataset. KEYWORDS: Deep convection; Sea breezes; Aerosols; Cloud microphysics; Soundings; Aerosol-cloud interaction, 1. Motivation and goals Deep convective systems play a significant role in a number of critical components of the climate system through their large contribution to the hydrological cycle, feedback [...]

This document is a closure to a previous paper titled "Modeling Lifetime Performance of Monopile Foundations for Offshore Wind Applications." The closure addresses questions about the hyperplastic accelerated ratcheting model (HARM) discussed in the original paper. The authors explain that while the stress state in the model is defined by the total values of strain, plastic strain, and plastic ratcheting strain, the elastic response may depend on the plastic strain state and variation in the plastic hardening stiffness. They also discuss the advantages of the hyperplastic approach and the challenges of using three-dimensional finite-element analysis. The closure concludes with comments on gapping in pile-soil analysis and the "acceleration method." [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana is the property of Sociedad Geologica Mexicana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The karst that is dominated by medium-weathered limestone and caves with various spatial features is widely distributed in the northern Fujian Province. This paper discusses the load-bearing behaviors of post-grouting tubular piles in karst region of north Fujian Province with reference to the prestressed tubular piles adopted in the residential buildings of Haixi Comprehensive Trade City Phase II Project in Sanming City. The load-settlement curve, pile side friction resistance, and pile end resistance of tubular piles are analyzed by finite element numerical simulations and field static load tests. The load-bearing behaviors of prestressed tubular piles under karst geological conditions with two different spatial features are comparatively investigated, and the effectiveness of tubular pile reinforcement is verified by field settlement observation. The results reveal that the finite element numerical model can effectively simulate the tubular pile-soil interaction. The use of pile end post-grouting of prestressed tubular piles in the karst region can significantly increase their load-bearing capacities. The top settlements of grouted tubular piles under the maximum test load can be reduced by 16.8%-22.3% compared with these of ungrouted test piles, and the theoretical simulated ultimate load-bearing capacity can be increased by 27.3%. The adoption of pile end post-grouting technique can reduce the pile end displacement of tubular piles and improve the proportion of pile end resistance. Plastic-hard plastic breccia silty clay can be used as a bearing stratum for post-grouting to achieve excellent grouting performance. The bead-shaped karst caves are more unfavorable to the exertion of load-bearing capacity of the tubular piles than the karst caves filled with plastic-hard plastic breccia silty clay to which the piles have direct access. The field monitored average settlements of the 19# and 17# buildings under karst geological conditions with two different spatial features are -12.88 mm and -8.98 mm, respectively, both of which do not exceed the warning value, indicating that it is feasible for the project to adopt the pile end post-grouting technique of the tubular piles. The achievements of this study help to further reveal the load-bearing mechanism of this type of pile, which can provide a basis for its engineering design and construction optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granite structure has the characteristics of discrete distribution and random distribution of minerals, which is particularly critical to the stability of surrounding rock of underground caverns, and the research process is extremely complicated. In this paper, the granite of Dagangshan tunnel in rock sections of class ? was taken as the research object, and the mineral composition and proportion, the macro and micro characteristics of granite was analyzed by XRD analysis, SEM and laboratory compressive test; Dagangshan tunnel's section model with surrounding rock of class ? was established using the particle flow program PFC and the numerical simulation was done, thus the influence of micro composition and proportion on surrounding rock masses' stability with the tunnel excavation was analyzed. Results show that: The content of illite and albite is the most, and illite is the weak mineral of the granite. For the granite of Dagangshan tunnel with rock masses of class ?, the rock failure is mainly caused by shear force and secondary by tensile force. Fracture is mainly concentrated in the enrichment area of "weakened minerals," where as the breakthrough point and expands to other parts, and further connects. The "enhanced minerals" are basically stable because of their high hardness and strong link between each other. After tunnel excavation, cracks of tunnel's side walls and the arch foots are more serious, so the supporting measures of these parts should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a practical approach to reflecting the properties of the formation, the slowness of near-wellbore formation is of great significance to geophysical exploration, which can be used to evaluate rock brittleness, wellbore stability, fracturing effect, and invasion depth. Although traditional slowness imaging methods perform well in areas where the thickness of the heterogeneous formation is greater than the length of the receiver array of the logging instrument, they may fail when encountering thin beds. The thin beds' axial thickness, radial invasion depth, and radial slowness are challenging to identify, resulting in obtaining an average slowness value without longitudinal resolution. This paper proposes a thin beds slowness imaging inversion method that can effectively invert the axial thickness, radial invasion thicknesses, and radial slowness variations of thin beds with higher axial resolution compared to traditional methods. The new method adaptively extracts slowness sequences with different radial depths by combining receivers with different source distances. It obtains their corresponding radial thicknesses through ray theory, which does not depend on the arrival times of the first wave. This method is sensitive to thin beds, and the axis thickness of thin beds can be estimated by the change of radial slowness sequence and the combined source distance length. Combining the results at different depths allows a slowness image of the thin beds near-wellbore to be directly obtained. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method are verified by synthetic data and field data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve performance across a wide range of Earth system prediction tasks. As with any application of AI, it is important for AI to be developed in an ethical and responsible manner to minimize bias and other effects. In this work, we extend our previous work demonstrating how AI can go wrong with weather and climate applications by presenting a categorization of bias for AI in the Earth sciences. This categorization can assist AI developers to identify potential biases that can affect their model throughout the AI development life cycle. We highlight examples from a variety of Earth system prediction tasks of each category of bias. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: As artificial intelligence (AI) grows in popularity, its methods are being applied to a wide range of Earth system prediction tasks. Although AI can facilitate more accurate prediction at many tasks, it is not without potential pitfalls, especially if the developers are not as familiar with its potential drawbacks. In this paper, we provide a classification system for the types of bias that one is likely to see in applying AI to Earth sciences. Our classification system will assist current and future AI developers to recognize where their AI system or data are biased so they can take steps to alleviate this bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the outcomes of a four-year faculty learning community (FLC) that aimed to transform departmental ethics curriculum by supporting Earth Sciences faculty members as they ethically inquired into their teaching of ethics and refined existing courses in alignment with an Integrated Community-Engaged Learning and Ethical Reflection (ICELER) framework. We present ethnographic case studies that unpack processes through which three faculty members transformed undergraduate courses. We assembled case studies by triangulating interview data, course artifacts, and faculty reflections. We examine how faculty (1) built awareness around teaching ethics, (2) took responsibility for and made judgments about teaching ethics, (3) experimented by designing and implementing ICELER-inspired courses, and (4) interrogated the outcomes of their ethics teaching, utilizing findings to enhance awareness and revise courses. The paper closes by introducing a model detailing how instructors inquire into ethics teaching and how model components might inspire future educational practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science discusses the impacts, dynamics, and system responses of highly intervened estuaries. Estuaries are globally degraded and threatened environments due to human-engineered interventions, land use changes, and pollution. The article emphasizes the need to understand the interactions between different impacts and their effects in order to manage and restore highly intervened estuaries. It also presents original research papers on various aspects of estuarine systems, including morphological and hydrodynamic responses, changes in natural functions, physicochemical degradation, and strategies for restoration and recovery. Additionally, the article titled "Anthropocene" explores the concept of the Anthropocene epoch, which refers to the current geological era characterized by significant human impact on the Earth's ecosystems. The authors discuss the origins and implications of the term, as well as the controversies surrounding its definition and recognition within the scientific community. They also examine the various ways in which human activities have shaped the planet, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Anthropocene concept and its relevance to understanding the relationship between humans and the environment. [Extracted from the article]

The Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS) officially became the 33rd European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) on 25 April 2023 with the support of 17 founding member and observer countries. As a pan-European legal organization, ACTRIS ERIC will coordinate the provision of data and data products on short-lived atmospheric constituents and clouds relevant to climate and air pollution over the next 15-20 years. ACTRIS was designed more than a decade ago, and its development was funded at national and European levels. It was included in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap in 2016 and, subsequently, in the national infrastructure roadmaps of European countries. It became a landmark of the ESFRI roadmap in 2021. The purpose of this paper is to describe the mission of ACTRIS, its added value to the community of atmospheric scientists, providing services to academia as well as the public and private sectors, and to summarize its main achievements. The present publication serves as a reference document for ACTRIS, its users, and the scientific community as a whole. It provides the reader with relevant information and an overview on ACTRIS governance and services, as well as a summary of the main scientific achievements of the last 20 years. The paper concludes with an outlook on the upcoming challenges for ACTRIS and the strategy for its future evolution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS) is the new European Research Infrastructure Consortium for short-lived atmospheric constituents and clouds, supporting fundamental research and excellence in Earth system observation. The primary objective of ACTRIS is to produce high-quality integrated datasets in the field of atmospheric sciences and to provide services, including access to instrumented platforms, tailored for scientific and technological use. Established with a long-term perspective, with financial commitments from 17 European countries and the European Commission, ACTRIS services are open to the global community of scientists involved in atmospheric research and beyond. It is expected that ACTRIS will have a strong impact enhancing excellence in Earth system observation and research, providing information and knowledge for the development of sustainable solutions to societal needs. KEYWORDS: Atmosphere; Europe; Aerosols/particulates; Clouds; Trace gases, 1. Introduction Short-lived atmospheric constituents (SLACs) and clouds play a key role in regulating Earth's climate and impacting the quality of air and its effects on human and ecosystem health. [...]

Between 2014 and 2018, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study to plan for the next generation of operational environmental satellites. The study generated some important questions that could be addressed by observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). This paper describes a series of OSSEs in which benefits to numerical weather prediction from existing observing systems are combined with enhancements from potential future capabilities. Assessments include the relative value of the quantity of different types of thermodynamic soundings for global numerical weather applications. We compare the relative impact of several sounding configuration scenarios for infrared (IR), microwave (MW), and radio occultation (RO) observing capabilities. The main results are 1) increasing the revisit rate for satellite radiance soundings produces the largest benefits but at a significant cost by requiring an increase in the number of polar-orbiting satellites from 2 to 12; 2) a large positive impact is found when the number of RO soundings per day is increased well beyond current values and other observations are held at current levels of performance; 3) RO can be used as a mitigation strategy for lower MW/IR sounding revisit rates, particularly in the tropics; and 4) smaller benefits result from increasing the horizontal resolution along the track of the satellites of MW/IR satellite radiances. Furthermore, disaggregating IR and MW instruments into six evenly distributed sun-synchronous orbits is slightly more beneficial than when the same instruments are combined and collocated on three separate orbits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The results of this paper are significant because they inform decision-makers about the future configuration of the NOAA's environmental satellite constellation, which serves millions of diverse users. KEYWORDS: Remote sensing; Satellite observations; Sensitivity studies; Data assimilation; Numerical weather prediction/ forecasting, 1. Introduction As planning for future satellite systems takes a long time, in 2014, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) began evaluating existing and new opportunities for the design [...]

Geosciences modelling and 3D geovisualization is growing and evolving rapidly. Driven by commercial urgency and an increase in data from sensor-based sources, there is an abundance of opportunities to analyze geosciences data in 3D and 4D. Geosciences modelling is developing in GIS based systems, 3D modelling through both game engines and custom programs, and the use of extended reality to further interact with data. The key limitations that are currently prevalent in 3D geovisualization in the geosciences are GIS representations having difficulty displaying 3D data and undergoing translations to pseudo-3D, thus losing fidelity, financial and personnel capital, processing issues with the terabytes worth of data and limited computing, digital occlusion and spatial interpretation challenges with users, and matching and alignment of 3D points. The future of 3D geovisualization lies in its accelerated growth, data management solutions, further interactivity in applications, and more information regarding the benefits and best practices in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro‐continuum models are versatile and powerful approaches for simulating coupled processes in two‐scale porous systems. Initially oriented for modeling static single‐phase flow in microtomography images with sub‐voxel porosity, the concept has been extended over the years to multi‐phase flow, reactive transport, and poromechanics. This paper introduces an integrated micro‐continuum framework to model coupled processes in porous media. It reviews state‐of‐the‐art models and discusses applications in geosciences including Digital Rock Physics with sub‐voxel porosity, moving fluid‐solid interface at the pore‐scale due to geochemical reactions, fracture‐matrix interactions, and solid deformation. Finally, the paper discusses future developments in micro‐continuum models. Key Points: Micro‐continuum models are hybrid‐scale approaches for solving flow and transport in porous mediaState of the art micro‐continuum models handle full Temperature‐Hydrodynamics‐Mechanics‐Chemistry coupling in unsaturated environmentsApplications include Digital Rock Physics with sub‐voxel porosity, pore‐scale reactive transport, and poromechanics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources / Kuangchan Zonghe Liyong is the property of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a hot topic in Earth sciences, the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau has accumulated a large amount of sedimentary‐related data. We constructed a dataset of detrital components for Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau from 63 peer‐reviewed publications. The dataset thus comprises 1813 Late Proterozoic to Pleistocene sandstones from 84 stratigraphic units. For each sample, we present details on reference, detrital composition, GPS, geographic location, depositional age, tectonic setting and depositional environment. It becomes a high‐quality dataset after the information on each sandstone sample was standardized and reviewed by sedimentary experts. The dataset can be used for regional geoscience studies, exploring the general laws of the source‐to‐sink process. The dataset may also be useful in the field of utilities, such as assisting in finding suitable building stones, helping oil and gas and mineral exploration, and so forth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mid-century net zero target creates a challenge for reducing the emissions of emissions-intensive, trade-exposed sectors with high cost mitigation options. These sectors include aluminium, cement, chemicals, iron and steel, lime, pulp and paper and petroleum refining. Available studies agree that decarbonization of these sectors is possible by mid-century if more ambitious policies are implemented soon. Existing carbon pricing policies have had limited impact on the emissions of these sectors because their marginal abatement costs almost always exceed the tax rate or allowance price. But emissions trading systems with free allowance allocations to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed sectors have minimized the adverse economic impacts and associated leakage. Internationally coordinated policies are unlikely, so implementing more ambitious policies creates a risk of leakage. This paper presents policy packages a country can implement to accelerate emission reduction by these sectors with minimal risk of leakage. To comply with international trade law the policy packages differ for producers whose goods compete with imports in the domestic market and producers whose goods are exported. Carbon pricing is a critical component of each package due its ability to minimize the risk of adverse economic impacts on domestic industry, support innovation and generate revenue. The revenue can be used to assist groups adversely impacted by the domestic price and production changes due to carbon pricing and to build public support for the policies.

Despite their widespread application in planetary and earth sciences in the past two decades, thallium isotopic compositions have been determined via MC-ICP-MS with instrumental mass bias corrected by employing a combination of lead doping and standard-sample bracketing. Residual Pb, either from the sample matrix or contamination, may significantly distort the isotope ratio of Pb for mass bias correction, thereby affecting the accuracy of Tl isotope measurement. In this study, we employed 186W/184W (NIST SRM 3163 W) instead of 208Pb/206Pb (NIST SRM 981 Pb) to correct instrumental mass bias during the measurement of Tl isotopic compositions through MC-ICP-MS. The plot of ln(186W/184W) vs. ln(205Tl/203Tl) shows a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.993) in the repeated analyses of NIST SRM 997 Tl using W. Two pure Tl standards, Fluka Tl and GSB Tl, produced 3205TlNIST 997 values of -1.9 ± 0.7 (2SD, n = 97) and 0.8 ± 0.7 (2SD, n = 31), respectively. The 3205TlNIST 997 of five geological reference materials (SCo-1, GSS-6, GSP-2, NOD-P-1, and NOD-A-1) are also reported here, and the external reproducibility of these results is better than 0.08& (2SD). 3205TlNIST997 values are in good agreement with previously published values determined using Pb doping to correct mass bias, demonstrating that W can serve as a calibrator and facilitate high-precision 3205TlNIST 997 measurement of geological materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U-Pb geochronology by isotope dilution– thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) has the potential to be the most precise and accurate of the deep time chronometers, especially when applied to high-U minerals such as zircon. Continued analytical improvements have made this technique capable of regularly achieving better than 0.1% precision and accuracy of dates from commonly occurring high-U minerals across a wide range of geological ages and settings. To help maximize the long-term utility of published results, we present and discuss some recommendations for reporting ID-TIMS U-Pb geochronological data and associated metadata in accordance with accepted principles of data management. Further, given that the accuracy of reported ages typically depends on the interpretation applied to a set of individual dates, we discuss strategies for data interpretation. We anticipate that this paper will serve as an instructive guide for geologists who are publishing ID-TIMS U-Pb data, for laboratories generating the data, the wider geoscience community who use such data, and also editors of journals who wish to be informed about community standards. Combined, our recommendations should increase the utility, veracity, versatility, and “half-life” of ID-TIMS U-Pb geochronological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]