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The evaluation of sustainable water resources' utilization capacity in the Huangshui Basin is essential for effective management and development in the water-scarce regions of northwest China. This research provides valuable insights into the basin's potential capacity for sustainable water resource use by developing a comprehensive evaluation index that addresses the following three critical aspects: climate factors, water resource systems, and socio-economic conditions. The evaluation is conducted using a dual method, as follows: the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model and the ELECTRE III evaluation method. The results indicate that the Huangshui Basin's water resources, as a whole, exhibit a medium sustainable utilization capacity. Climatic factors and socio-economic characteristics are the main factors affecting the sustainable utilization of water resources in the Huangshui Basin. Remarkably, both methods yield consistent results, indicating that the overall sustainable utilization capacity of the Huangshui Basin's water resources is medium. Climatic factors and socio-economic characteristics are identified as the primary aspects influencing the sustainable utilization of water resources in the basin. Based on these findings, recommendations such as enhancing the introduction of external water resources, improving water resources' management, and implementing comprehensive remediation efforts can help to elevate the level of sustainable water use. This research not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the basin's water resources' dynamics, but also serves as an important reference for informed decision making regarding sustainable utilization in the Huangshui Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater salinization is a crucial socio-economic and environmental issue that is significant for a variety of reasons, including water quality and availability, agricultural productivity, health implications, socio-political stability and environmental sustainability. Salinization degrades the quality of water, rendering it unfit for human consumption and increasing the demand for costly desalination treatments. Consequently, there is a need to find simple, sustainable, green and cost-effective methods that can be used in understanding and minimizing groundwater salinization. Therefore, this work employed the implementation of cost-effective neurocomputing approaches for modeling groundwater salinization. Before starting the modeling approach, correlation and sensitivity analyses of the independent and dependent variables were conducted. Hence, three different modeling schema groups (G1–G3) were subsequently developed based on the sensitivity analysis results. The obtained quantitative results illustrate that the G2 input grouping depicts a substantial performance compared to G1 and G3. Overall, the evidential neural network (EVNN), as a novel neurocomputing technique, demonstrates the highest performance accuracy, and has the capability of boosting the performance as against the classical robust linear regression (RLR) up to 46% and 46.4% in the calibration and validation stages, respectively. Both EVNN-G1 and EVNN-G2 present excellent performance metrics (RMSE ≈ 0, MAPE = 0, PCC = 1, R2 = 1), indicating a perfect prediction accuracy, while EVNN-G3 demonstrates a slightly lower performance than EVNN-G1 and EVNN-G2, but is still highly accurate (RMSE = 10.5351, MAPE = 0.1129, PCC = 0.9999, R2 = 0.9999). Lastly, various state-of-the-art visualizations, including a contour plot embedded with a response plot, a bump plot and a Taylor diagram, were used in illustrating the performance results of the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the extraction of cellulose from Saudi Arabia-based date palm biomass utilizing a natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) integrated with a microwave-assisted process. A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted in accordance with the ISO 14040 standard, encompassing four key stages: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis (LCI), life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and interpretation. The analysis was confined to a gate-to-gate boundary in which two impact assessment methods, namely, ReCiPe Midpoint (H) 2016 and ILCD 2011 Midpoint, were used to assess the environmental impacts. The OpenLCA software (version 2.1.1) with the European Life Cycle Database 3.2 (ELCD 3.2) was used in the study. The ReCiPe method identified impact categories such as fossil resource scarcity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, water consumption, human carcinogenic toxicity and marine ecotoxicity. Conversely, the ILCD method identified freshwater ecotoxicity, water resource depletion, mineral, fossil and resource depletion, human toxicity and cancer effects. The results indicate that freshwater ecotoxicity presents the most substantial environmental impact across both assessment methods, surpassing other categories. Fossil resource scarcity, even though originally appearing impactful, demonstrated a relatively lower normalized score compared to freshwater ecotoxicity. Terrestrial ecotoxicity and water consumption were found to be negligible in their impact. Our findings provide important insights into sustainable material science and waste management, affording potential applications for biomass utilization in the Gulf region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Algeria, prevailing climatic conditions over the past decades have had a negative impact on water resources used for irrigation. The objective of this study is to determine its effect on irrigation water requirements for citrus cultivation in the central and upper parts of the Chlef plain, a region known for its citrus production covering an area of over 64,000 hectares. Three climatological stations (Chlef, Elkhemis INRA, and Harezza Barrage) were selected for a chronology spanning 51 years (September 1968 to August 2019). In this study, we utilized the potential of agro-climatic indices such as the Thornthwaite Aridity Index (TAI), the Standardized Agricultural Precipitation Index (aSPI), the Effective Recognition Drought Index (eRDI), and wavelet analysis to characterize monthly drought at different stages of citrus development. The results show a significant increase in drought since 1980 according to the Standardized Agricultural Precipitation Index (aSPI) on scales of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The energy bands of three stations (1 year, 1–2 years, 2–3 years, and 3–4 years) for the months of January, February, March, September, October, November, and December show marked changes after the year 1994. Depending on the annual development stage, citrus water demand during the period 1968–2019 is strongly correlated with the new Effective Recognition Drought Index (eRDI) at various time scales. The determination coefficients are significant over a 5-month scale between the Effective Recognition Drought Index (eRDI) and irrigation water demand anomalies for the three stations (Chlef (0.73), Harezza Barrage (0.62), and Elkhemis INRA (0.62)). Considering these results, the aSPI and eRDI indices can easily be used to monitor and manage citrus irrigation in our region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes on the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro during the dry season under low flow conditions. Fifty-one samples covering eight different water sources (i.e., stream water from natural and anthropogenic impacted streams, domestic water, spring water, rainfall, groundwater, lake water and water from irrigation canals) were collected in a snapshot sampling campaign over 10 days in February 2023. First, physical, chemical and biological parameters were analysed and compared with Tanzanian and international drinking and irrigation water quality requirements. The samples were then ranked according to their suitability for drinking and/or irrigation using water quality indices (WQI). All drinking water quality parameters except for E. coli and turbidity were within the permissible limits. A generalised problem of faecal contamination was found in the study area, including in domestic water, highlighting the need to identify sources of contamination and remediate them before distribution. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) classified 89% of the samples as unsuitable and 11% as excellent for drinking. Irrigation water quality parameters were within the guidelines of restriction of use except for pH in 5 samples. In contrast to the DWQI, the vast majority of the water samples (88%) can be used for irrigation without restrictions according to the irrigation water quality index (IWQI). The suitability of water for irrigation was also assessed using three indices, i.e., Kelley's Index, Soluble Sodium Percentage and Magnesium Ratio, which indicated potential problems with excess of sodium (about 30% of the samples) and magnesium (about 20%). Further studies combining suitability indices, soil characteristics and crop types are recommended to assess water quality for irrigation use. Article Highlights: The southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro act as a water tower, providing drinking water and irrigation resources for surrounding communities. The drinking water quality was found to be compromised by a widespread presence of E. coli bacteria, which indicates faecal contamination. The irrigation water quality was generally good, although there were indications of sodium and magnesium excess in the central and eastern parts of the study area, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on water security in Mykolaiv, a city of 0.5 million inhabitants in southern Ukraine, in the situation of scarcity of usable water resources caused by climate change and military operations. This problem arose after the Dnipro-Mykolaiv water pipeline was destroyed in April 2022 as a result of military operations and the supply of drinking water to the city was cut off. To ensure that the city's population has constant access to sufficient water of acceptable quality, a search for alternative water sources and a climate risk assessment were carried out for the new municipal water supply system from the Southern Bug River. The possible change in flow and its intra-annual distribution under the influence of climate change was modeled using the WaterGAP2 hydrological model and climate projections under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-P8.5 scenarios. It was found that under the SSP1-2.6 scenario, the reduction in river flow will be insignificant (up to a maximum of 14% in the far future) and there will be no restrictions on the city's water supply from this section of the river in the near (2021-2050) and far (2051-2080) period. The maximum water withdrawal for municipal water supply and the minimum environmental flow will reach their maximum value only in August (56% of the projected flow), which is not critical. Under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, in the long-term perspective of 2051-2080, the largest decrease in runoff will occur from May to October, and the water withdrawal will increase to 40-79% of the projected flow. The use of the research results not only in water management, but also in municipal administration, and their dissemination in territorial communities will contribute to the successful adaptation of socioeconomic and environmental processes in the region and can bring successful benefits not only to the economy, but also to communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As drought and prolonged water stress become more prevalent in dry regions under climate change, preserving water resources becomes a focal point for maintaining forest health. Forest regeneration after forest loss or disturbance can lead to overstocked juvenile stands with high water demands and low water-use efficiency. Forest thinning is a common practice with the goal of improving tree health, carbon storage, and water use while decreasing stand demands in arid and semi-arid regions. However, little is known about the impacts of stand density on seasonal variation in depth-to-water uptake or the magnitude of the effect of growing season drought conditions on water availability. Existing reports are highly variable by climatic region, species, and thinning intensity. In this study, stable isotope ratios of deuterium (δ2 H) and oxygen (δ18 O) in water collected from various soil depths and from branches of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) under different degrees of thinning (control: 27 000 stems per hectare; moderately thinned: 4500 stems per hectare; heavily thinned: 1100 stems per hectare) over the growing season were analyzed using the MixSIAR Bayesian mixing model to calculate the relative contributions of different water sources in the Okanagan Valley in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. We found that under drought conditions the lodgepole pine trees shifted their depth-to-water uptake through the growing season (June to October) to rely more heavily on older precipitation events that percolated through the soil profile when shallow soil water became less accessible. Decreased forest density subsequent to forest thinning did not cause a significant difference in the isotopic composition of branch water but did cause changes in the timing and relative proportion of water utilized from different depths. Thinned lodgepole pine stands were able to maintain water uptake from 35 cm below the soil profile, whereas the overstocked stands relied on a larger proportion of deep soil water and groundwater towards the end of the growing season. Our results support other findings by indicating that, although lodgepole pines are drought-tolerant and have dimorphic root systems, they do not shift back from deep water sources to shallow soil water when soil water availability increases following precipitation events at the end of the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface non-isothermal fluid injection is a ubiquitous scenario in energy and water resource applications, which can lead to geochemical disequilibrium and thermally driven solubility changes and reactions. Depending on the nature of the solubility of a mineral, the thermal change can lead to either mineral dissolution or precipitation (due to undersaturation or supersaturation conditions). Here, by considering this thermo-hydro-chemical (THC) scenario and by calculating the temperature-dependent solubility using a non-isothermal solution (the so-called Lauwerier solution), thermally driven reactive transport solutions are derived for a confined aquifer. The coupled solutions, hereafter termed the "reactive Lauwerier problem", are developed for axisymmetric and Cartesian symmetries and additionally provide the porosity evolution in the aquifer. The solutions are then used to study two common cases: (I) hot CO2-rich water injection into a carbonate aquifer and (II) hot silica-rich water injection into a sandstone aquifer, leading to mineral dissolution and precipitation, respectively. We discuss the timescales of such fluid–rock interactions and the changes in hydraulic system properties. The solutions and findings contribute to the understanding and management of subsurface energy and water resources, such as aquifer thermal energy storage, aquifer storage and recovery and reinjection of used geothermal water. The solutions are also useful for developing and benchmarking complex coupled numerical codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside the concerns of waste management, plastic production represents a future problem for managing greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced recycling and bio-based production are paramount to face this challenge. The sustainability of bio-based polyethylene (bioPE) depends on the feedstock, avoiding stress on natural resources. This work discusses Brazil's potential to meet future global bioPE demand by 2050, using sugarcane as feedstock and considering environmental sustainability for production expansion. From the assessed 35.6 Mha, 3.55 Mha would be exempt from trade-offs related to land use change (dLUC), biodiversity, and water availability. The scenario with the highest circularity efficiency would require 22.2 Mha to meet the global demand, which can be accommodated in areas with positive impacts in carbon stocks, neutral impacts in water availability, and medium impacts on biodiversity. Here, we show that dropping demand is essential to avoid trade-offs and help consolidate bioPE as a sustainable alternative for future net-zero strategies. Plastic pollution can be dealt with advanced recycling and bio-based production. Best-case scenario would require 22 Mha of sugarcane areas in Brazil to meet the 2050 global biopolyethylene demand. However, this may require ecosystem trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent surge in reservoir construction has increased global surface water storage, with Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) being a significant hotspot. Such infrastructural evolution demands updates in water management strategies and hydrological models. However, information on actual reservoir storage is hard to acquire, especially for transboundary river basins. To date, no high spatio-temporal dataset on absolute storage time series is available for reservoirs in MSEA. To address this gap, we present (1) a comprehensive, open-access database of absolute storage time series (sub-monthly) for 185 reservoirs (larger than 0.1 km3) in MSEA spanning the period 1985–2023, and (2) an analysis of the reservoir storage dynamics. The MSEA-Res database includes static (Area-Elevation-Storage curves, water frequency, reservoir extent) and dynamic (area, water level, and absolute storage time series) components for each reservoir. The 185 reservoirs collectively store around 175 km³ (140 km³ – 210 km³) of water, covering an aggregated area of 8,700 km² (6,500 km² – 10,000 km²). We show that the combined average reservoir storage has increased from 70 km³ to 160 km³ (+130 %) from 2008 to 2017, primarily contributed by dams in the Irrawaddy, Red, Upper Mekong, and Lower Mekong basins. Our in-situ validation provides a good match between estimated storage and in-situ observations, with 60 % of the validation sites (12 out of 20) showing an R² > 0.65 and an average nRMSE < 15 %. The indirect validation (based on altimetry-converted storage) shows even better results, with an R² > 0.7 and an average nRMSE < 12 % for 70 % (14 out of 20) of the reservoirs. Furthermore, the analysis of the 2019–2020 drought event reveals that nearly 30–40 % of the MSEA region experienced more than five months of drought, with the most significant impact on reservoirs in Cambodia and Thailand. As a result, storage departures ranged up to -40 % in some reservoirs, highlighting significant impacts on water availability. Overall, this analysis demonstrates the potential of the inferred storage time series for assessing real-life water-related problems in Mainland Southeast Asia, with the possibility of applications in other parts of the world. The MSEA-Res database and associated Python code are publicly available on Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12787699 (Mahto et al., 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying tree growth processes helps us evaluate the success of restoration efforts in recovering ecosystem processes such as carbon accumulation. Here, we study aboveground biomass dynamics in four common‐endemic tree species from the tropical Andes (Quercus humboldtii, Retrophyllum rospigliosii, Citharexylum subflavescens, and Croton magdalenensis), established in the main water supply basins of Medellín, Colombia. We use measurements from 19 permanent plots from five censuses between 2010 and 2023 to develop biomass equations as a function of t for each species (B = f[t]) by combining tree growth models of diameter (D) as a function of time (t) and pre‐existing allometric equations of biomass (B) developed in the same site as a function of D and wood density (ρ). We found that, because of initially higher growth rates characteristic of species belonging to the fast‐growing end of the fast‐slow growth economic spectrum, C. magdalenensis and C. subflavescens were the species with higher biomass accumulation at 13 years (142 and 132 kg, respectively). However, the potential of the slow‐growing species (Q. humboldtii and R. rospigliosii) for carbon sequestration initiatives in the long term was highlighted. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the region examining the dynamics of aboveground biomass in Andean restoration programs. It combines growth models and allometric equations, which can be useful for measuring the success of the implementation of ecological restoration programs and evaluating the need to apply adaptive management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article focuses on the complex relationships between forests and water, particularly the effects of forests on streamflow during meteorological droughts. The impact of forests on water resources is a long‐standing research topic, but there are also many common beliefs that are not based on scientific evidence or only selective evidence. We critically examine the origin of some of the common public misconceptions and review the wealth of studies on how forests impact precipitation, soil water dynamics, evapotranspiration, and streamflow. Generally, reforestation increases evapotranspiration and decreases groundwater recharge and streamflow. However, some of the evaporated water will return as precipitation, potentially offsetting some of the increased evapotranspiration losses. Where reforestation leads to more extensive infiltration and recharge due to the effects of forests on the soil's hydraulic properties, it might increase streamflow during dry periods. Although these individual processes have been studied, predicting the impacts of forests on streamflow remains challenging as the effects are site‐specific and depend on many factors, such as the climate, the forest‐ and soil‐characteristics before and after reforestation, and the hydrogeological setting. However, a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the role of forests on hydrology and a better ability to predict where and when the net effects of reforestation are positive or negative is crucial for sustainable forest and water management.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Science of Water Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change is increasingly affecting the supply of resources such as water and food. From 2015 to 2018, Cape Town endured its most severe drought on record. Yet, resource management often occurs in isolation, which contrasts with the holistic perspective provided by the nexus concept that recognizes the interdependence of resource sectors. This study employs system dynamics modeling, to examine the City of Cape Town's (CoCT) water-food trade-offs and interactions using qualitative and quantitative approaches. It assesses various policies proposed by the CoCT, to improve system resilience and to boost future water supplies, examining their efficacy and potential drawbacks. These policies are tested against future scenarios including population growth and climate change predictions of different severities. Results: The simulation results show an increase in food demand, which is mainly linked to population growth and a significant decrease in water availability. Without intervention, the CoCT is expected to experience serious water shortages within the 40-year simulation period. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the CoCT's strategies will effectively secure adequate water for its expanding population. However, a major concern was found to be the proposed intensification of aquifer exploitation. The model predicts that such an approach could lead to overabstraction of some aquifers, compromising their sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influx of refugees, population growth and current agricultural practices have led to an increase in water demand in Jordan, placing pressure on existing water provision. Climate change further exacerbates declining water availability. Against this backdrop, the techno-economic feasibility of four water supply and sanitation alternatives for small and medium scale cities in Jordan were explored, using local unit costs and Al-Mafraq as a case study. City level piped network combined with household rooftop rainwater harvesting and surface runoff collection into local ponds and piped networks with treatment using the nature-based solution of root-zone for sanitation were demonstrated to provide the highest benefits in terms of cost, convenience and water conservation. Our work highlights the need to invest in long-term urban infrastructure networks to promote sustainable future growth of cities. This is vital to address severe water scarcity challenges that ultimately impact those at the urban fringes most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While leeches as intranasal foreign bodies are not frequently encountered, they can be one of the causes of epistaxis. The aim of the study is to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the possibility of patients from leech endemic regions presenting with epistaxis. Case presentation: We present a series of epistaxis cases due to intranasal leech infestation. In our series of 10 cases, there were 7 male and 3 female patients, aged between 2 and 53 years old. The duration of the complaint ranged from 1 to 5 weeks. All patients experienced with blood-stain nasal discharge or frank nasal bleeding at some point and most of them have a history of leech infestation from spring water as a local source. This article presents our approach to managing nasal leech infestation as epistaxis and outlines the precautionary measures taken for the retrieval of this living foreign body. Conclusion: Details of the history must be taken before concluding the diagnosis. Maintain a high index of suspicion of leech infestation as a hidden cause of epistaxis especially in patients coming from endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The groundwater in arid countries such as Egypt represent the main water resources in the desert regions due to the long distance between these regions (oasis) and Nile River. Contamination of these limited water resources with toxic metals threaten the health of individuals in these regions. Methods: The current study integrates isotopic tracers, hydrogeochemistry, geophysical logs, positive matrix factorization (PMF model), and Monte Carlo (MCS) simulation for pollution source apportionment and health risks associated with heavy metals in the Nubian Sandstone aquifer (NSSA). Results and Discussion: The water resource used for drinking purposes (NSSA) is pale meteoric water (non-rechargeable aquifer). Silicate weathering, old trapped sea water, reverse ion exchange evaporation, and dissolution are the dominant mechanisms controlling water chemistry. PMF model showed that the major ions and heavy metals in groundwater of the NSSA originated from four significant sources (anthropogenic activities, dissolution of minerals, ironbearing minerals, mixing with old trapped seawater, and hydrothermal water). The total risk (HI) oral values highlighted significant non-carcinogenic dangers for adults and children through the oral exposure. At the same time, dermal contact posed a no risk for adults and a high risk for children. Most samples had carcinogenic risk (CR) values higher than the allowed limits (1.0E-4) for metals like Cadmium, chromium, and lead, suggesting carcinogenic effects across all age groups. The Monte Carlo approach-based health concern evaluation model assessed the 5th % CR oral values (child) as 0.00012, 0.0036, and 0.0088 for Cd, Cr, and Pb, respectively, indicating more significant potential dangers to children. Urgent and comprehensive water treatment measures are imperative to mitigate the identified carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Clean drinking water is a necessity for maintaining public health and livelihoods. Hard water containing excessive calcium and magnesium threatens urinary health with elevated risks of kidney stones at rural villages with tap water shortages. After entitled poverty alleviation in 2019, residents of Yangxin county of Hubei Province in central China unexpected suffered shortage of tap water and additional cost of water softening. However, the impact of lack of tap water on risks of kidney stones was not yet quantified for residents at rural villages in Yangxin. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis by testing 216 water samples from 114 families at four villages and surveying urinary health and living conditions of each householder. Results: Lab tests showed that mean total hardness of well and tap water at each village was above 355 mg/L CaCO3, except tap water from the village with government support for industrial development. Mean softening depth was 309.3 mg/L at the families paying for filters or bottle water, and mean annual cost of water was 1,915 CNY (1 CNY = 0.14 USD) equivalent to 5.8% of mean annual household income. Mean tap water availability was only 34%, and the prevalence of kidney stones among the four villages was 33.9%, 25.0% higher than the rate of kidney stones in Hubei Province. About 60% of the families showed strong willingness to accept annual government compensation of 3,324 CNY for clean water supply, whereas only 2.6% of the families wanted to pay government for water treatment. Using logistic and randomforest regressionmodels, we identify factors associated with the prevalence of kidney stones as gender (males have 3.78 times the risks of females), age (2.42 times greater risks if 10 years older), body mass index (higher risks if overweight or obese), total hardness of drinking water (2.59 times for a 100 mg/L increase in total hardness), and tap water availability (2.42 times higher among those without tap water supply compared to those with constant supply). Discussion: Old and obese males are more likely to be diagnosed with kidney stones, but tap water shortages and high total hardness of drinking water increase the risks for all residents. To improve urinary health and meet support needs of residents, tap water supply of soft water is urgently needed at the rural villages in Yangxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the urgent need for soft tap water in rural villages in Yangxin, a poverty-alleviated county in central China, to reduce the risks of kidney stones. The study conducted by researchers from Hubei Normal University and the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Hubei Province examines the prevalence of kidney stones and its relationship with factors such as age, body mass index, total hardness of drinking water, and tap water availability. The research includes logistic regression models and random forest regression models to analyze the data. The findings highlight the importance of providing soft tap water to these rural communities to mitigate the risk of kidney stones. [Extracted from the article]

The availability of water and the type of interlayer anions present affect the arrangement and interlayer spacing of layered double hydroxide (LDH). A systematic study of the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the basal spacing of phosphate intercalated, magnesium aluminum LDHs (MgAl–PO4 LDH) was conducted, confirming that MgAl‐PO4 LDH exhibit distinct interlayer spacing corresponding to separate low‐ and high‐hydration states produced when exposed to low and high humidity conditions. The transition from the low‐ to high‐hydration form begins when RH exceeds 33% and is accompanied by the transition from one to two interlayers of water. An improved understanding of the effect of RH on MgAl–PO4 LDHs will enable more accurate atomistic modeling and experimental characterization of MgAl–PO4 LDHs and may lead to improvements in the tunability of MgAl‐PO4 LDHs for commercial applications such as slow‐release fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arizona has a long history of groundwater use, and there is concern about long term groundwater sustainability across the state. We explore groundwater trends across Arizona and how they vary with respect to: (1) whether groundwater pumping is regulated, and (2) relative access to local or imported surface water. Well observations from the Arizona Department of Water Resources are used to quantify water table depth trends and groundwater drilling patterns. There are more than 85,000 groundwater wells in Arizona, and new wells are routinely being drilled. The number of new shallow wells (<200 ft) has decreased over time in all parts of the state. But midrange (200–500 ft) to deep (>500 ft) wells have increased in the past 10 years in regulated and groundwater dominated areas. Most wells are small with low pumping capacities that fall below the regulatory limit; however, there are still large wells being drilled in unregulated areas. Results show statewide decreasing water storage and groundwater levels. Groundwater declines are less severe in the parts of the state that have groundwater regulation. However, looking closer at this trend, groundwater recovery is strongest in areas receiving imported Colorado River water which also implement managed groundwater recharge with the imported water. Our findings indicate that groundwater recovery is very localized and driven more by managed recharge from surface water as opposed to decreased groundwater pumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circulating Vaccine‐Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) was isolated in sewage and later in stool samples from children with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in northern Ghana. Method: A multidisciplinary and multisectoral team investigated this outbreak and reported on epidemiological and laboratory investigations. Sewage/wastewater samples were collected from the environment, while stool samples were collected from AFP/contact children under 5 years of age. The samples were processed for virus isolation, and positive isolates were sequenced. We also conducted a descriptive investigation involving a review of records, active case search, and Monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine 2 campaigns. Additionally, we interviewed caregivers about the vaccination status of their children, as well as their knowledge on polio prevention. Water quality, sanitation, hygiene practices, and health‐seeking behaviours were also assessed. Results: A total of 18 cVDPV2 were confirmed in the three regions of Ghana during the outbreak in 2019–2020. All strains were genetically linked to a Nigerian cVDPV2 strain NIE‐KWS‐KSB‐18‐006HC29 that circulated in 2018. Evaluation of the surveillance system shows that officers have good knowledge of AFP and know how to collect samples, package them, and ship them to the laboratory. Few communities had access to potable water. Open defecation was common, and the water supply, sanitation, and hygiene practices of the communities were poor. Conclusion: The cVDPV2 outbreak represents the first time cVDPV2 has circulated in the country since Ghana embarked on the polio eradication program in 1996. However, with quality mOPV2 mop‐up campaigns, a nationwide IPV catch‐up campaign coupled with enhanced surveillance measures, transmission was interrupted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of climate change on hydrological processes, particularly runoff, and how it affects managing water resources and ecosystem sustainability. It uses CMIP6 data to analyze changes in runoff patterns under different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP). This study also uses a Deep belief network (DBN) and a Modified Sparrow Search Optimizer (MSSO) to enhance the runoff forecasting capabilities of the SWAT model. DBN can learn complex patterns in the data and improve the accuracy of runoff forecasting. The meta-heuristic algorithm optimizes the models through iterative search processes and finds the optimal parameter configuration in the SWAT model. The Optimal SWAT Model accurately predicts runoff patterns, with high precision in capturing variability, a strong connection between projected and actual data, and minimal inaccuracy in its predictions, as indicated by an ENS score of 0.7152 and an R2 coefficient of determination of 0.8012. The outcomes of the forecasts illustrated that the runoff will decrease in the coming years, which could threaten the water source. Therefore, managers should manage water resources with awareness of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the opportunities and policy levers to increase the use of low-temperature geothermal resources in New Zealand for decarbonising primary industries, in particular, covered crops. Geothermal heat (geoheat) is a local, reliable, resilient and sustainable energy source. Low-temperature geothermal energy (220°C) is available in the Taupō Volcanic Zone with low awareness of the nationwide availability of lower temperature resources. Covered crop growers in New Zealand, needing to decarbonise their operations, are investigating the potential of utilising geoheat, following the example of the Netherlands. The Netherlands has strategically invested in low-temperature geothermal energy, utilising 80 °C water resources, from ∼ 2 to 3 km below the surface to heat greenhouses. Internationally, risk mitigation schemes and insurance programmes have proven pivotal policy instruments for fostering geothermal adoption. This paper discusses the opportunities that the adoption of using low-temperature geothermal provides to New Zealand drawing upon successful models from other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planning, designing, management, and operation of water systems has been one of the most important activities throughout the history of humankind. However, as a scientific and applied discipline, it evolved about 70 years ago. The International Commission on Water Resources Systems (ICWRS) has primarily focused on developing and implementing improved methods for water resources management for the benefit of society since the 1970s. This paper reviews the history of the water resources systems (WRS) discipline over these six decades after the 100th anniversary of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and aims to make a synthesis of the history of ICWRS. In the concluding section, an outlook for researchers and decision makers on the future development of WRS research is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reanalysis and satellite data indicate a decreasing precipitation area in recent decades, affecting local water resources and precipitation intensities. We have used CMIP6 simulations to test the hypothesis of a shrinking precipitation area in a warming climate. Our analyses reveal that SSP5-8.5 projections show a robust decrease in the precipitation area between 50 °S and 50 °N, and globally in 75% of the simulations. The new findings support the observed relationship, although to a lesser extent than earlier found in reanalysis and satellite data. We find a poleward shift of precipitation, increasing the daily precipitation area in the Arctic from 18% to 28%. At lower latitudes the precipitation area is reduced due to a decreasing occurrence of precipitation. These changes are related to the expansion of low relative humidity zones in the lower-to-mid troposphere, specifically at the poleward edges of the subtropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater resource management and development should be done sustainably, which calls for accurate assessment based on new methods and scientific principles. There is an increasing demand for potable water supplies, to meet the woefully inadequate domestic water needs in the Batcham municipality (west of Cameroun). The dearth of knowledge on sustainable management of water resources is to blame for this predicament. As integrated methodologies are not used in groundwater exploration programs, the current problem has gotten worse. Innovative scientific principles of groundwater resource exploration are required to effectively counteract the non-rationalization of water and the problem of unacceptable failure rates in drilled water borehole development. This will improve the appropriate and sustainable use of these resources. Therefore, the goal of this research is to map groundwater potential zones by utilizing readily available datasets and remote sensing (RS), GIS, Frequency Ratios (FR), and multi-criteria analysis (AHP) techniques. The database used is made up of geological data, hydroclimatic data, well data, and satellite images. Each of the methods used is based on the study of the relationships between the factors controlling the groundwater potential. Among these factors, ten (10) were retained based on previous work; these are slope, elevation, land use, land cover, lineament density, drainage density, topographic wetness index, curvature, geology, rainfall, and the static water level. The AHP allowed, according to the user's expertise, to assign weights to each factor controlling the water potential. The FR made it possible to study the relationships linking each variable with high flow rates. The thematic layers obtained were integrated into a GIS environment to generate the groundwater potential map. Four classes of groundwater potential have been identified: bad, moderate, good, and excellent. The bad classes represent 8.32% and 11.21%; moderate 36.57% and 28.70%; good 43.55% and 38.93%; and excellent 11.56% and 21.16%, for the AHP and FR models, respectively. The overlying of wells with high flow rates on areas of excellent groundwater potential shows perfect concordance, which validated the final map. Likewise, the resulting map was validated by sensitivity curve analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve from which result accuracy was obtained is 70.63% and 80.28% for the AHP method and FR method, respectively. Finally, the FR model outperformed the AHP model in terms of performance and it is possible to use these dependable models to describe groundwater potential zones in the other regions of Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of studying HfOx films formed from tetrakis(dimethylamino)hafnium with different times of water supply pulses. The stoichiometry of the samples obtained is estimated by spectral ellipsometry and Auger electron spectroscopy. It is shown that an increase in the water supply duration promotes an increase in the x value in the HfOx layer. When the time of water supply pulses varies from 10 ms to 1000 ms, x values ranging from 1.76 to 1.84 are obtained. A method based on the refractive index is proposed to estimate the stoichiometry of HfOx layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrological models are vital for water management to determine in-stream flow, irrigational water, domestic water supply, and biodiversity conservation. This study formulates a hydrological model with a novel approach for streamflow and sediment load in the QGIS-supported Soil and Water Assessment Tool for the Halda River catchment, a unique ecological habitat for natural carp spawning and freshwater sources. The daily simulation uses an innovative stage-discharge relationship technique from available 15-day interval flow data. The model evaluation parameters R2 values 0.80 and 0.62, and NS values 0.81 and 0.61 for calibration and validation of streamflow suggested excellent agreement in the seasonal cycle and most of the monsoon peak flow. The streamflow/precipitation ratio indicates a significant influence of groundwater through infiltration. The baseflow shows a decreasing trend. The sediment load based on suspended sediment concentration at a downstream location is 1,625 tons/day. On the contrary, the model prediction is 30 times lower. The scattered sediment load data support the model estimate by considering relatively lower intervention or land use change in its upstream. This model provides a baseline for daily flow and sediment load for scenario modeling (e.g., climate change, land use change) for environmental flow estimation of the fish habitat, freshwater supply, irrigation, and salinity intrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed-species forests are, for multiple reasons, promising options for forest management in Central Europe. However, the extent to which interspecific competition affects tree hydrological processes is not clear. High-resolution dendrometers capture subdaily variations in stem diameter; they can simultaneously monitor stem growth (irreversible changes in diameter) and water status (reversible changes) of individual trees. Using the information on water status, we aimed to assess potential effects of tree species mixture, expressed as local neighborhood identity, on night-time rehydration and water stress. We deployed 112 sensors in pure and mixed forest stands of European beech, Norway spruce and Douglas fir on four sites in the northwestern Germany, measuring stem diameter in 10-min intervals for a period of four years (2019–2022). In a mixture distribution model, we used environmental variables, namely soil matric potential, atmospheric vapor pressure deficit, temperature, precipitation and neighborhood identity to explain night-time rehydration, measured as the daily minimum tree water deficit (TWDmin). TWDmin was used as a daily indicator of water stress and the daily occurrence of sufficient water supply, allowing for stem growth (potential growth). We found that species and neighborhood identity affected night-time rehydration, but the impacts varied depending on soil water availability. While there was no effect at high water availability, increasing drought revealed species-specific patterns. Beech improved night-time rehydration in mixture with Douglas fir, but not in mixture with spruce. Douglas fir, however, only improved rehydration at a smaller share of beech in the neighborhood, while beech dominance tended to reverse this effect. Spruce was adversely affected when mixed with beech. At species level and under dry conditions, we found that night-time rehydration was reduced in all species, but beech had a greater capacity to rehydrate under high to moderate soil water availability than the conifers, even under high atmospheric water demand. Our study gives new insights into neighborhood effects on tree water status and highlights the importance of species-specific characteristics for tree-water relations in mixed-species forests. It shows that drought stress of European beech can be reduced by admixing Douglas fir, which may point towards a strategy to adapt beech stands to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge) is an economically important tree species in northern China, mainly distributed in arid and semi-arid areas where water resources are scarce. Drought affects its yield and the expansion of its suitable growth area. It was found that the wax content in yellowhorn leaves varied significantly among different germplasms, which had a strong correlation with the drought resistance of yellowhorn. In this study, XsMYB30 was isolated from 'Zhongshi 4' of yellowhorn, a new highly waxy variety. DAP-Seq technology revealed that the pathways associated with fatty acids were significantly enriched in the target genes of XsMYB30. Moreover, the results of electrophoretic mobility shift assay, yeast one hybrid assay and dual-luciferase assay demonstrated that XsMYB30 could directly and specifically bind with the promoters of genes involved in wax biosynthesis (XsFAR4 , XsCER1 and XsKCS1), lipid transfer (XsLTPG1 and XsLTP1) and fatty acid synthesis (XsKASIII), thus enhancing their expression. In addition, the overexpression of XsMYB30 in poplar promoted the expression levels of these target genes and increased the wax deposition on poplar leaves leading to a notable improvement in the plant's ability to withstand drought. These findings indicate that XsMYB30 is an important regulatory factor in cuticular wax biosynthesis and the drought resistance of yellowhorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is the most widely cultivated and economically relevant crop in the world, but its productivity is menaced by aridification in some wine-growing regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. The impacts of climate on vines depend on regional conditions, cultivar, and vine age, among other factors. Hence, a better understanding of vine radial-growth responses to climate in different regions is sorely needed. First, we related climate data and drought severity with a long-term series of vine leaf unfolding from NE Spain to test if climate warming is advancing the onset of the growing season. Second, we used growth rings to estimate age and quantify climate-growth relationships of vines using dendrochronology. Three sites from different designations of origin and vine varieties were studied: Logroño in northern Spain (La Rioja, Tempranillo), San Martín del Río in northeast Spain (Calatayud, Garnacha) and Anzi in southern Italy (Aglianico, Aleatico). Vine leaf unfolding occurred earlier as winter-spring conditions were warmer and drier. Vine ages ranged between 16 (Logroño, Anzi) and 56 years (S. Martín del Río), and growth rates declined in the two youngest grapevines. Ring widths varied between 1.19 (S. Martín del Río) and 1.80 mm (Logroño), with Anzi showing intermediate values (1.37 mm). February precipitation enhanced vine growth in San Martín del Río (r = 0.64) and Anzi (r = 0.49), whereas the correlation with soil moisture peaked in March in San Martín del Río (r = 0.83). Vine growth rates positively responded to September minimum temperatures in San Martín del Río (r = 0.51) and Logroño (r = 0.50). Garnacha cultivar in San Martín del Río showed the highest responsiveness to water availability. Therefore, similar old grapevines from continental, seasonally dry areas could be the most negatively affected by future warmer and drier climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the biological and physicochemical parameters of the Oda River, including the detection of heavy metals. To achieve this purpose, a quantitative experimental research design was employed. Twenty-four water samples were taken along the Oda River from Obeng ne Obeng, Abuakwaa, and Odaso communities. The samples were analysed in a laboratory, and the results were compared to the irrigation water quality standards from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The study found that the concentration of turbidity and total suspended solids exceeded the recommended standards of FAO, while the river’s pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids concentrations were within permissible boundaries. Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and fluoride were present at concentrations lower than the recommended guidelines, whereas copper and cyanide were not discovered. However, iron concentrations exceeded the FAO guidelines. Escherichia coli concentrations in the Obeng ne Obeng were lower than the FAO irrigation standards but were higher in the Abuakwaa and Odaso. The Pearson correlation coefficient highlighted significant correlations between the physicochemical parameters. This paper concludes that unregulated mining activities may endanger vital water resources for irrigation, public health, food safety, ecosystems, and livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we use water quality tests, epidemiological data, and ethnographic interviews gathered in Kathmandu in 2017 to provide an interdisciplinary analysis of water insecurity, illness, and targeted responses. Our findings fit the pattern of the past 20 years: the concentration of coliform bacteria across water sources remains unsafe. Our epidemiological data documents high rates of water-borne infectious diseases consistent with fecal contamination of water sources. Our ethnographic interviews suggest that social marginalization, poverty, and dislocation are major drivers in the incidence of illness. Evaluating some of the collective responses to water insecurity and contamination, we argue that effectively addressing water pollution, scarcity, and health outcomes in Kathmandu requires redirecting the focus of programs and the primary methods of implementation. Instead of large-scale top-down infrastructural interventions such as the Melamchi Water Supply Project, programs should target women’s leadership in and subsidize funding for small-scale, community-managed interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water insecurity is a global concern likely to be compounded by increases in population and climate change. Existing water insecurity measurement methods capture multidimensional deprivation only at regional or sub-regional levels. Such estimates do not capture heterogeneous household experiences of water supply, proximity to water sources and affordability, which can vary substantially from regional averages. Accurate measurement requires a method that captures the incidence and intensity of a household's simultaneous deprivation in dimensions of water accessibility, affordability, sufficiency and safety. We propose such a method and assess related inequalities using an approach analogous to the Alkire–Foster methodology for multidimensional poverty. Using household-level data from the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2015/16, we find that 63% of the Kenyan population experience multiple deprivation in water access. The dimensions of water affordability and sufficiency contribute most to multidimensional water insecurity, highlighting the need to ensure an adequate supply of affordable water. Disparities by household place of residence, dwelling type, and socio-economic status are evident. The estimates of multidimensional water insecurity are robust to different deprivation and poverty cutoffs. Our analysis is an invitation to rethink water insecurity metrics, allowing water deprivation to be measured more frequently and with greater precision to understand its impact clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes of developmental stability, canalization, and phenotypic plasticity have ecological and evolutionary significance, and been studied extensively, but mostly separately and thus the relationships between them are not straightforward. Our objective was to better integrate these processes in the context of temporally heterogeneous environments. We did this by investigating the effects of early experience with temporal heterogeneity in water availability on associations between developmental stability, canalization, and phenotypic plasticity. We subjected eight plant species to a first round of alternating inundation and drought vs. constantly moderate water treatments (heterogeneous experience) and a second round of water conditions (to test plasticity). We measured fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in leaf size, intra‐ and inter‐individual variation (CVintra and CVinter), and plasticity (PI) in traits and analyzed correlations between these variables across all species. Results showed little correlations between FA, CVintra and PI, several positive correlations between FA and CVinter in more stressful conditions, especially in as well as positive correlations between CVinter and PI initially and negative correlations between them later. These suggested the complexity of these relationships, which can depend on whether plasticity occurs. Greater inter‐individual variation will more likely cooperate with plasticity before or during plastic response, whereas higher canalization may reflect phenotypic convergence. Both higher FA and CVintra can reflect faster growth, while CVintra may also reflect plant growth stage, and the two mechanisms should cooperate in response to environmental challenges. The complexity of these relationships suggests plants deal with environmental variation in elaborate and integrative ways which can be affected by many factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation resilience holds significant importance for stabilizing ecosystem service functions in a changing climate. While global land surface vegetation resilience changes have been extensively studied, the impact of urbanization on the resilience of suburban woodlands remains inadequately understood. In this study, we utilized two critical slowing down (CSD) indicators, namely lag‐one autocorrelation (LOA) and variance (VA), to assess the vegetation resilience, its long‐term trends, and influencing factors in suburban woodlands across 1356 cities worldwide. The recovery rates estimated by LOA (rr1$$ {r}_{r_1} $$) and VA (rr2$$ {r}_{r_2} $$) showed close alignment in suburban woodlands with low suburban forest coverage (SFC) areas (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.95). However, a notable divergence was observed in areas with high SFC (r = 0.73). Suburban woodlands with high SFC typically exhibited lower recovery rate estimates, thus indicating greater vegetation resilience compared to areas with lower SFC. From 1986 to 2022, the recovery rates of suburban woodland areas in over 83% of the cities demonstrated a significant upward trend, with an average of 3.23 × 10−3 year−1 for both rr1$$ {r}_{r_1} $$ and rr2$$ {r}_{r_2} $$, signifying a widespread decline in vegetation resilience. The accelerating pace of urbanization led to higher rising rates of rr1$$ {r}_{r_1} $$ and rr2$$ {r}_{r_2} $$ during 2010–2022 (5.11 × 10−3 year−1) compared to 1986–1999 (0.49 × 10−3 year−1). The notable decrease in resilience of forestland was primarily attributed to reduced precipitation in urban suburbs, which can be explained by urbanization‐induced heat island and building barrier effects, causing a shift of precipitation center from urban suburbs to central cities. In summary, this study revealed that urbanization diminishes the vegetation resilience of urban suburban woodlands by altering urban precipitation patterns. These findings underscore the necessity of augmenting water availability in urban suburbs to restore resilience in these woodlands, thereby enhancing their ecosystem service value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, land, and other environmental conditions restrict marginal land (ML) conversion into newly cultivated land. Accurately evaluating ML's development and utilization potential (DUP) can provide critical support for increasing new cultivated land and ensuring food security. This study focuses on Northwest China, using spatial identification of different types of ML based on remote sensing images, and constructs a county-level DUP evaluation model through contiguous characteristics and restrictive factors to determine new cultivated-land potential, water demand, and liftable grain production. The results show that the DUP of ML in Northwest China is 12.59 million ha, with low-efficiency cultivated land (LCL) and two types of restoration land (TTRL) accounting for 3.29% and 5.95%, and other marginal land (OML) making up 90.76%. The total water demand for ML development and utilization is 69.87 billion cubic meters, which can increase grain production by 62.31 million tons. The coordinated development of water, land, and food promotes an increase in grain production, with water resources being the main restrictive factor. This model effectively evaluates DUP and provides a scientific basis for promoting the rational use of water and land resources. Further research should set up more detailed water resource utilization strategies and scenarios as well as find more development and utilization techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As water scarcity intensifies due to climate change, improving the efficiency of agricultural water use has become increasingly critical. Current irrigation systems often experience significant water losses, especially in paddy fields in South Korea that largely rely on open-channel water supply networks. However, previous studies have simulated irrigation improvement strategies by aggregating multiple paddy fields into larger unites rather than modeling them individually, which limits the accurate representation of field conditions. To address this limitation, we applied a granular simulation approach, collecting detailed input data through field surveys. Using this granular model, the study evaluated strategies to enhance irrigation efficiency in paddy fields serviced by the Baekma Agricultural Reservoir in South Korea. We assessed four scenarios: the current open-channel system, conversion of open channels to closed conduits, installation of farm ponds, and a combination of closed conduits and farm ponds. These scenarios were simulated using the Strom Water Management Model (SWMM), meticulously configured to represent individual paddy fields and channel networks. The results show that converting open channels to closed conduits increased irrigation efficiency by 5.4% compared to the current open-channel system. Combining closed conduits with farm ponds achieved the highest efficiency, although the independent effect of farm ponds was minimal. These findings suggested that converting open-channels to closed conduits was a highly effective solution for reducing water losses, while farm ponds played a limited role. This study provides valuable insights into the development of precise irrigation strategies, offering a detailed assessment of real-world conditions in paddy fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xerophytic vegetation re-regulates and allocates water resources through canopy interception, root water uptake and transpiration, and changes the water budget among precipitation, runoff, interception and infiltration, thus having a significant impact on the processes of the hydrological cycle. In this study, we investigated the effect of xerophytic shrub-Salix on soil water redistribution and water budget through an in situ monitoring experiment combined with two-dimensional vegetation water consumption modeling. The results showed that, due to the interception effect of root water uptake, it was difficult for precipitation infiltration to recharge deep soil water and groundwater. The measured data of soil moisture content, hydraulic head and precipitation were used to verify and calibrate the performance of the soil water flow model in the vadose zone by HYDRUS-2D. The effect of roots system on soil water was simulated, and the appropriate spacing of Salix replanting was estimated. Combined with the relationship between the transverse roots system and the crown width obtained by the investigation, it was determined that the spacing between the Salix should be greater than five times the crown width, so that the balance between the water consumption of Salix and the water supply of deep soil by precipitation could be considered. The results of this study are important for estimating groundwater recharge in arid areas and provide practical vegetation replanting options for similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated whether Latter-day Saints have more favorable perceptions and practices of food and water emergency preparedness than other households. Individuals across 46 states in the USA completed an online survey in 2014 (n = 572). Results indicated that Latter-day Saints, compared to Non-Latter-day Saints, were more likely to have a disaster supplies kit, to have long-term food storage, to have preserved food by canning/bottling, and to perceive neighborhood/community connectedness. Latter-day Saints had significantly lower odds of having less than one month of food storage available compared to Non-Latter-day Saints. Our findings suggest Latter-day Saints may be better prepared to handle a disaster than Non-Latter-day Saints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qanat (also known as kariz) is one of the significant water resources in many arid and semiarid regions. The present research aims to use machine learning techniques for Qanat discharge (QD) prediction and find a practical model that predicts QD well. Gene expression programming (GEP), artificial neural network (ANN), group method of data handling (GMDH), least-square support vector machine (LSSVM) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), are employed to predict one-, two-, and five-months time-step ahead QD in an unconfined aquifer. QD for one, two, and three lag-times (QDt−1, QDt−2, QDt−3), QD for adjacent Qanat, the main meteorological components (Tt, ETt, Pt) and GWL for one, two, and three lag-times are utilized as input dataset to accomplish accurate QD prediction. The GMDH model, according to its best results, had promising accuracy in predicting multi-step ahead monthly QD, followed by the LSSVM, ANFIS, ANN and GEP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land users' motives for participating in conservation and restoration activities are influenced by the local and broader scale contexts and are often determined by their perceptions of the current situation. Therefore, understanding land users' views is essential for gaining insights into the opportunities and constraints for ecosystem restoration. In this study, we sought to understand land users' perceptions of alien wattle (Acacia spp.) clearing activities and explore opportunities and challenges to wattle management as perceived by two groups of land users, i.e., communal land users and commercial livestock farmers, in the upper Umzimvubu catchment, South Africa. The results show marked differences in the key barriers and motives for participation by the two groups. Improvement in water flow was the most cited positive change from wattle clearing mentioned by commercial (75%) and communal (71%) farmers. Most commercial farmers (75%) cited improved grazing as one of the clearing benefits compared to only 39% of communal land users. Employment opportunity was a key motive mentioned by communal land users (25%). In contrast, most commercial farmers mentioned securing good grazing (50%) and water supply (33%) as important motives for removing wattle. Most commercial farmers mentioned high costs (35%) incurred when controlling wattle as the main barrier, whereas communal land users mentioned their old age (20%) and thus physical inability as the main barrier preventing them from maintaining cleared areas. These findings highlight the need to consider a mix of incentives that may effectively engage different land users in invasive alien plant clearing in different contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Untargeted genetic approaches can be used to explore the high metabolic versatility of cyanobacteria. In this context, a comprehensive metagenomic shotgun analysis was performed on a population of Dolichospermum lemmermannii collected during a surface bloom in Lake Garda in the summer of 2020. Using a phylogenomic approach, the almost complete metagenome-assembled genome obtained from the analysis allowed to clarify the taxonomic position of the species within the genus Dolichospermum and contributed to frame the taxonomy of this genus within the ADA group (Anabaena / Dolichospermum / Aphanizomenon). In addition to common functional traits represented in the central metabolism of photosynthetic cyanobacteria, the genome annotation uncovered some distinctive and adaptive traits that helped define the factors that promote and maintain bloom-forming heterocytous nitrogen-fixing Nostocales in oligotrophic lakes. In addition, genetic clusters were identified that potentially encode several secondary metabolites that were previously unknown in the populations evolving in the southern Alpine Lake district. These included geosmin, anabaenopetins, and other bioactive compounds. The results expanded the knowledge of the distinctive competitive traits that drive algal blooms and provided guidance for more targeted analyses of cyanobacterial metabolites with implications for human health and water resource use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exchange of energy and water fluxes between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere is crucial to a series of processes that impact human life. Noteworthy examples are agriculture yields, water availability, intensity and extent of droughts and the ability of ecosystems to provide services to society. The relevance of these processes has motivated the Satellite Application Facility on Land Surface Analysis (LSA SAF) programme to set up an operational framework to estimate—among other variables—evapotranspiration (ET) and surface energy fluxes (SEF) on the basis of observations by the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite. The LSA SAF programme has recently launched the reprocessing of the ET and SEF datasets on the basis of the most recent version of the algorithm and homogenous forcing datasets. This article features the resulting ET/SEF dataset, a Data Record that encompasses the period from the start of the operational life of the MSG satellite (2004) till 2020 and covers the field of view of the MSG satellite (i.e. Europe, Africa and Eastern South America). Details on the algorithm and the datasets driving the ET/SEF estimates are also provided as well as a quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers convey a broad range of materials, such as sediment, nutrients, and contaminants. Much of this transport can occur during or immediately after an episodic, pulsed event like a flood or an oil spill. Understanding the flow processes that influence the motion of these substances is important for managing water resources and conserving aquatic ecosystems. This study introduces a new remote sensing framework for characterizing dynamic phenomena at the scale of a channel cross-section: Hyperspectral Image Transects during Transient Events in Rivers (HITTER). We present a workflow that uses repeated hyperspectral scan lines acquired from a hovering uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to quantify how a water attribute of interest varies laterally across the river and evolves over time. Data from a tracer experiment on the Missouri River are used to illustrate the components of the end-to-end processing chain we used to quantify the passage of a visible dye. The framework is intended to be flexible and could be applied in a number of different contexts. The results of this initial proof-of-concept investigation suggest that HITTER could potentially provide insight regarding the dispersion of a range of materials in rivers, which would facilitate ecological and geomorphic studies and help inform management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With few measurement sites and a great need to validate satellite data to characterize the exchange of energy and carbon fluxes in tropical forest areas, quantified by the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) and associated with phenological measurements, there is an increasing need for studies aimed at characterizing the Amazonian environment in its biosphere–atmosphere interaction, considering the accelerated deforestation in recent years. Using data from a flux measurement tower in the Caxiuanã-PA forest (2005–2008), climatic data, CO2 exchange estimated by eddy covariance, as well as Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) data and satellite vegetation indices (from MODIS), this work aimed to describe the site's energy, climatic and carbon cycle flux patterns, correlating its gross primary productivity with satellite vegetation indices. The results found were: (1) marked seasonality of climatic variables and energy flows, with evapotranspiration and air temperature on the site following the annual march of solar radiation and precipitation; (2) energy fluxes in phase and dependent on available energy; (3) the site as a carbon sink (−569.7 ± 444.9 gC m−2 year−1), with intensity varying according to the site's annual water availability; (4) low correlation between productivity data and vegetation indices, corroborating data in the literature on these variables in this type of ecosystem. The results show the importance of preserving this type of environment for the mitigation of global warming and the need to improve satellite estimates for this region. NDVI and EVI patterns follow radiative availability, as does LAI, but without direct capture related to GPP data, which correlates better with satellite data only in the months with the highest LAI. The results show the significant difference at a point measurement to a satellite interpolation, presenting how important preserving any type of environment is, even related to its size, for the global climate balance, and also the need to improve satellite estimates for smaller areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts have a significant impact on surface water resources, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Computational and data handling limitations have constrained previous time-series analyses. However, advances in cloud computing services and remote sensing technology allow for a more detailed examination. This study integrates multi-source satellite-derived data with a cloud computing platform to assess the impact of long-term drought on surface water and water balance in Iran from 2000 to 2021. Given the varying effects of drought on highlands and lowlands, the analysis was conducted at three levels: the entire country, the highlands, and the lowlands. The results of this study reveal imbalances between water balance from 2000 to 2021, with notable disparities observed during 2000–2007, 2009–2014, and 2016–2019. The results also show varying drought trends (e.g., −1.22 in 2000 and −0.73 in 2021), with severe conditions captured in 2008 (SPI: −1.92). Additionally, our analysis illustrated that lowlands were more impacted by droughts compared to highlands. Long-term drought and permanent surface water had correlation values of 0.33 across the country, 0.33 in the highlands, and 0.31 in the lowlands. For seasonal surface water, coefficients were 0.18 for the entire country, 0.16 for the highlands, and 0.18 for the lowlands. Overall, long-term drought had minimal effect on reducing surface water. These findings show that drought is only part of the explanation for the decrease in surface water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diel vertical variations of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration are thought of primarily as an external manifestation of regulating phytoplankton's biomass, which is essential for dynamically estimating the biogeochemical cycle in inland waters. However, information on these variations is limited due to insufficient measurements. Undersampled observations lead to delayed responses in phytoplankton assessment, impacting accurate evaluations of carbon export and water quality in dynamic inland waters. Here, we report the first lidar-observed diel vertical variations of inland Chl-a concentration. Strong agreement with r2 of 0.83 and a root mean square relative difference (RMSRD) of 9.0% between the lidar-retrieved and in situ measured Chl-a concentration verified the feasibility of the Mie–fluorescence–Raman lidar (MFRL). An experiment conducted at a fixed observatory demonstrated the lidar-observed diel Chl-a concentration variations. The results showed that diel variations of Chl-a and the formation of subsurface phytoplankton layers were driven by light availability and variations in water temperature. Furthermore, the facilitation from solar radiation-regulated water temperature on the phytoplankton growth rate was revealed by the high correlation between water temperature and Chl-a concentration anomalies. Lidar technology is expected to provide new insights into continuous three-dimension observations and be of great importance in dynamic inland water ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater is practiced worldwide as a measure to address water supply uncertainty. This paper focuses on a scenario in which an aquifer is open to multiple users and examines the impact of such an open-access environment on the stabilization function of conjunctive management. We construct a non-cooperative stochastic dynamic game model where multiple users utilize groundwater intake from a common aquifer as a complement to fluctuating surface water. We also propose a simpler baseline applicable to dynamic environments to compute the benefits of the stabilization function when users are unable to adjust groundwater intake to surface water uncertainties. We then apply the model to the real-world case of the water supply environment of the Cao'e River in China. Simulation results show that open access leads to diminishing stabilization values as higher pumping costs due to declining stocks lead to a weakening of users' incentive to utilize groundwater flexibly. Furthermore, the stabilization function itself is destabilized as the number of users increases. This is because greater groundwater intake and a decline in stocks amplify variations in pumping costs caused by different patterns of surface-water fluctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban pluvial floods can be produced or exacerbated by an insufficient density of inlets or by their poor hydraulic efficiency. Therefore, proper consideration of the hydraulic performance of inlets is essential to guarantee the correct functioning of urban drainage systems during heavy storm events. Recent advances in computational analysis in the field of hydrodynamics modelling allow the use of the well-known concept of dual drainage for design and planning purposes by simulating flow transfers between the surface layer (streets) and underground layers (sewers) through a proper hydraulic characterisation of inlet efficiency. Powerful commercial software packages allow simulations of flow transfer and use different approaches and formulas. Many of these approaches include the possibility of treating a sewer inlet as an orifice. In this context, this paper presents a methodology to obtain orifice discharge coefficients for three inlets previously tested at the hydraulics laboratory of the Technical University of Catalonia. Discharge coefficients of 0.18–0.58 were obtained for Froude numbers of 1.12–4.40, quite far from the usual recommended values. The proposed procedure can also be applied to non-tested grates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]