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To fill gaps in knowledge and refine global understanding of the location and magnitude of methane emissions across sectors, integration and use of data from a range of sources is needed. As countries and industry establish ambitious mitigation targets, accurate and measurement-based emission estimates are critical to accelerate emission reductions and assess progress by tracking changes in emissions over time.The International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) was launched in 2021 at the G20 summit and is hosted by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). IMEO is providing reliable, public, policy-relevant data to facilitate actions to reduce methane emissions.IMEO is collecting and integrating diverse methane emissions data streams, including satellite remote sensing data, science studies, inventories, and measurement-based industry reporting to establish a global, centralized public record of empirically verified methane emissions.In this work, we will summarize (i) IMEO’s current efforts to integrate spatio-temporally dynamic methane emissions data (ii) details of the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) -a recently-launched system for satellite-based detection, attribution, and monitoring of methane sources to notify emitters and assist mitigation efforts, (iii) insights from measurement campaigns across the world, and (iv) activities for the direct engagement with relevant stakeholders to accelerate mitigation of methane emissions.

Natural and man-made disasters are a justified concern causing life-threats damages, affects existing budgets or disrupts national economic and social development plans. In this paper, a digital terrain model (DTM) and a geographic information system (GIS) are used to identify areas with a high risk of avalanches in the Râmeț mountain area of Alba County. Avalanches are the result of a complex interaction between terrain, weather conditions and snow cover characteristics. The most important factor among those listed is the terrain, being the only constant parameter over time. Therefore, the present study focused in particular on the determination of topographic parameters and the realization of a digital terrain model with a resolution of 0.5 m, which allows the small-scale identification of slope angle variations, which are of great interest for avalanche study. This digital terrain model was generated after processing LiDAR data obtained from a scanning campaign for the analyzed area with the Riegl LMS Q680i LiDAR system, located aboard the Hawker Beechcraft King Air C90 GTx aircraft from INCAS. The result of the analysis consisted in mapping the risk of avalanches in the Râmeț mountain area in Alba County.

Ambitious methane (CH4) emissions mitigation represents one of the most effective opportunities to slow the rate of global warming over the next decades. The oil and gas (O&G) sector is a significant source of methane emissions, with technically feasible and cost-effective emission mitigation options. Romania, a key O&G producer within the EU, with one of the highest reported annual CH4 emissions from the energy sector (Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data - Comparison by Category, 2022), can play an important role towards the EU’s emission reduction targets. In this study, we quantify CH4 emissions from onshore oil production sites in Romania at source and facility level using a combination of ground-based measurement techniques. Measured emissions were characterised by heavily skewed distributions, with 10 % of the sites accounting for more than 70 % of total emissions. Integrating the results from all site-level quantifications with different approaches, we derive a central estimate of 5.4 kg h–1 site-1 of CH4 (3.6–8.4, 95 % confidence interval) for oil production sites. This estimate represents one of the highest when compared to measurement-based estimates of similar facilities from other production regions. Based on our results, we estimate a total of 120 ktons CH4 yr–1 (range: 79–180 ktons yr–1) from oil wells in our studied areas in Romania. This is approximately 2.5 times higher than the total reported emissions from the Romanian oil production sector for 2020. Based on the source level characterization, up to three quarters of the detected emissions from oil production sites are related to operational venting. Our results suggest that O&G production infrastructure in Romania holds a massive mitigation potential, specifically by implementing measures to capture the gas and minimize operational venting and leaks.

This study aims to complete our research on Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) from the Călimani Mountains, Romania, with an elemental analysis and to explore its antibacterial and antifungal potential. Thus, we analyzed twenty-three metals (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Al, Ag, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Ni, Tl, V, Mo, Pd, Pt, Sb, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg) in dried U. barbata lichen (dUB) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For the second study, we performed dried lichen extraction with five different solvents (ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water), obtaining five U. barbata dry extracts (UBDE). Then, using an adapted disc diffusion method (DDM), we examined their antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial species—four Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)—and two fungi species (Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis). Usnic acid (UA) was used as a positive control. The ICP-MS data showed a considerable Ca content (979.766 µg/g), followed by, in decreasing order, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, and Zn. Other elements had low levels: Ba, Cu, Pb, and Cr (3.782–1.002 µg/g); insignificant amounts (Enterococcus casseliflavus showing the highest level (IZs = 20–22 mm). The most susceptible Gram-negative bacterium was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IZs = 16–20 mm); the others were insensitive to all U. barbata dry extracts (IZs = 0 mm). The inhibitory activity of UBDE and UA on Candida albicans was slightly higher than on Candida parapsilosis.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer a viewpoint on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people’s engagement with an online alcohol service in the UK. This paper examines whether self-reported mental health concerns increased during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times. Design/methodology/approach A comparison was made between service data captured in one contract area – West Sussex, England – pre-pandemic (April 2019 to March 2020) and during pandemic (April 2020 to March 2021). Findings Self-reported mental health treatment needs increased during the pandemic period (71.2% of presentations compared to 50% pre-pandemic) via the online coaching service. Male referrals increased by 74% during the pandemic period compared to the previous year. Female referrals decreased by 4% in the same time period. Feelings of shame and guilt as well as loss of a confidential space to engage in online interventions were common concerns reported by service users. Research limitations/implications Research limitations include the relatively small sample size, the sample comprised of self-referred treatment seeking clients, and there was no control group. All data collected is self-report therefore subjective and not necessarily meeting diagnostic criteria. Practical implications Of note was the impact of the pandemic on women and their reduced access to the online service during the pandemic. Commissioners and services must adapt their service design and delivery alongside the new “normal” way of living and working. Routine screening of mental health and alcohol use are recommended. Originality/value This paper offers insight from an established online/digital service and the impact of the pandemic on people’s engagement with the service.

The aim of this paper is to analyze different aspects of microphysical properties of mixed phase clouds, considering also the processes that are contributing to their formation. ATMOSLAB airborne laboratory, equipped with CAPS – Cloud, Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer sensors system was exploited to perform three flight research missions focused on cloud microphysics. For this purpose, there was analyzed the variation of 4 major parameters with high influence the cold clouds lifecycle (temperature, pressure, number concentration, effective diameter and 2D images of droplets and ice crystals) and was highlighted the occurrence of nucleation, accretion and droplet coalescence in cirrus and cirrostratus clouds.

Since the creation of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the EU has aimed to create a ring of stability outside its borders, in its eastern and southern neighbourhoods. In this challenging landscape, going from east to south, one of the few European successes in terms of neighbourhood policy has been Morocco, country which became a privileged partner of the EU. The paper assesses Morocco's successful cooperation with the EU, which cannot be separated from the developments regarding Western Sahara. The paper argues, by using a neo-realist approach, that the EUMoroccan success story can be explained through the lens of history and the mutual search for security enhancement. Even though the Moroccan case study presents specific characteristics, a security centred approach could benefit the EU in relation to other neighbour countries.

Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) is a medicinal representative of the lichens from the Usnea genus (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes), containing bioactive secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is a comparative analysis between two separated parts of the thallus layers: medulla–cortex (mcUB) and central cord (ccUB) and the whole dried U. barbata thallus (dUB). These three samples were examined regarding color differences. The U. barbata thallus morphology was examined through fluorescent microscopy (FM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mineral content was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) preliminarily established the differences in the metabolite content. Finally, extracts in different solvents (ethanol and acetone) were obtained from all studied samples, and their total phenolic content (TPC) and free radical scavenging activity (antiradical activity, AA) were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The ICP-MS results showed that from 23 elements analyzed, 18 minerals were quantified in mcUB, 13 in dUB, and only 12 in ccUB. The ccUB fraction recorded the lowest mineral content, color intensity (chroma), luminosity (L*), and TPC value, followed in increasing order by dUB and mcUB. FT-IR spectra displayed different peaks in ccUB and dUB samples compared to mcUB. The mcUB fraction also showed the highest TPC, significantly correlated with AA. However, dUB had the highest antiradical activity, followed by mcUB and ccUB, with noticeable differences in the acetone extract. The final correlation between all variable data obtained indicates that 99.31% of the total variance was associated with all minerals, total phenolics, and color parameters and was also related to the antiradical activity. These obtained results complete our previous studies on autochthonous U. barbata. Moreover, being a source of bioactive metabolites, extracting them from the mcUB fraction could increase this process’s yield and selectivity.

Clouds have an important impact on Earth’s energetic balance, so measuring accurately the microphysical parameters and using them in research has become one important step in atmospheric studies. Regarding the fact that light scattering probes convert the flow rate to concentration, any wrong assumption or measurement of the flow rate can lead to incorrect results. Applying numerical simulation to an airborne cloud microphysics measurements instrument can provide information that can be measured in any point of the sampling volume, and further used in determination of microphysics parameters, providing more accurate data. Taking this into consideration, in this paper are presented the results of numerical simulation applied to Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer and the comparison with results reported in literature.

When validating atmospheric satellite observations, several error sources must be taken into account: the uncertainties of the satellite products, the uncertainties of the reference measurements, and the representativity of the latter with respect to the investigated satellite pixels. Compared to static ground-based reference measurements, airborne observations reduce the spatial component of the representativity error. Recent airborne campaigns indicate a remaining low-bias for TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 VCDs above polluted areas. This bias has been attributed in particular to wrong assumptions on the NO2 profiles in the satellite products. In the context of the RAMOS and SVANTE projects, we started regular continuous mapping of the NO2 tropospheric VCDs above Bucharest and Berlin, respectively. Both activities make use of compact whiskbroom imagers, namely SWING. In Bucharest, we also measure the profiles of NO2 and of aerosols from the aircraft and perform car-based DOAS measurements of tropospheric NO2 underneath the aircraft. We study the error budgets of the validation of the TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 VCD product in these two situations. We quantify the added values of the ancillary observations in Bucharest and assess the temporal component of the representativity error. Given the time duration of a scientific flight, several configurations are possible for our whiskbroom observations, and it may be useful to undersample satellite pixels to cover a large area. This work is therefore also useful to optimize the flight patterns and information content of future validation flights.

Sentinel-5 precursor (S-5p), launched on 13 October 2017, is the first mission of the Copernicus Programme dedicated to the monitoring of air quality, climate, ozone and UV radiation. The S-5p characteristics, such as the fine spatial resolution, introduce many new opportunities and challenges, requiring to carefully assess the quality and validity of the generated data products by comparison with independent measurements and analyses.While routine validation is performed within the ESA Mission Performance Center (MPC) based on a limited number of Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRM), additional validation activities including aerial and ground-based campaigns are conducted in research mode as part of the S-5p Validation Team (S5PVT). A series of decentralized campaign activities take place since 2021, which have been identified to address key priorities for S5-p validation as well as key S5-p products (see s5pcampaigns.aeronomie.be for an overview of all campaigns).Here, we will focus on recurrent observations with the airborne hyperspectral imager SWING, developed by BIRA-IASB. A SWING instrument is regularly installed in the Cessna T207A from FUB, while another SWING instrument is permanently installed in a BN-2 from INCAS, alongside other instruments such as in-situ samplers. Recurrent validation activities are performed over the cities of Berlin, Germany and Bucharest, Romania to map the horizontal distribution of tropospheric NO2 and its urban/industrial sources, in close coincidence with the overpass of the TROPOMI sensor. During each flight, approximately 5 to 15 TROPOMI pixels can be fully covered by airborne measurements. The recurrent nature of this type of campaigns, meaning that a flight can take place whenever weather conditions and air traffic control allow, will result in a large statistical set of reference data covering variable meteorological and geo-physical conditions (including autumn and winter conditions), as well as different satellite overpass configurations.In this context, a general airborne data format, following the Climate and Forecast (CF) conventions, has been developed, as well as harmonized tools for the airborne L2 data processing and the TROPOPMI validation in order to obtain consistent results. First results of the assessment of the TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 level2 product based on observations from recurrent airborne campaigns will be discussed. The developed validation strategies and developed tools are suitable for other airborne imagers than SWING and will be suitable as well for validation of future atmospheric missions such as Sentinel-5 and Sentinel-4.

Usnea genus (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes) is a potent phytomedicine, due to phenolic secondary metabolites, with various pharmacological effects. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and rheological properties of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) extract in canola oil (UBO) compared to cold-pressed canola seed oil (CNO), as a green solvent used for lichen extraction, which has phytoconstituents. The antiradical activity (AA) of UBO and CNO was investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Their cytotoxicity was examined in vivo through a brine shrimp lethality (BSL) test after Artemia salina (A. salina) larvae exposure for 6 h to previously emulsified UBO and CNO. The rheological properties of both oil samples (flow behavior, thixotropy, and temperature-dependent viscosity variation) were comparatively analyzed. The obtained results showed that UBO (IC50 = 0.942 ± 0.004 mg/mL) had a higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than CNO (IC50 = 1.361 ± 0.008 mg/mL). Both UBO and CNO emulsions induced different and progressive morphological changes to A. salina larvae, incompatible with their survival; UBO cytotoxicity was higher than that of CNO. Finally, in the temperature range of 32–37 °C, the UBO and CNO viscosity and viscoelastic behavior indicated a clear weakening of the intermolecular bond when temperature increases, leading to a more liquid state, appropriate for possible pharmaceutical formulations. All quantified parameters were highly intercorrelated. Moreover, their significant correlation with trace/heavy minerals and phenolic compounds can be observed. All data obtained also suggest a possible synergism between lichen secondary metabolites, minerals, and canola oil phytoconstituents.

Methane (CH4) emissions to the atmosphere from the oil and gas sector in Romania remain highly uncertain despite their relevance for the European Union’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Measurements of CH4 isotopic composition can be used for source attribution, which is important in top-down studies of emissions from extended areas. We performed isotope measurements of CH4 in atmospheric air samples collected from an aircraft (24 locations) and ground vehicles (83 locations), around oil and gas production sites in Romania, with focus on the Romanian Plain. Ethane to methane ratios were derived at 412 locations of the same fossil fuel activity clusters. The resulting isotopic signals (δ13C and δ2H in CH4) covered a wide range of values, indicating mainly thermogenic gas sources (associated with oil production) in the Romanian Plain, mostly in Prahova county (δ13C from –67.8 ± 1.2 to –22.4 ± 0.04 ‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belmnite; δ2H from –255 ± 12 to –138 ± 11 ‰ Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) but also the presence of some natural gas reservoirs of microbial origin in Dolj, Ialomiţa, Prahova, and likely Teleorman counties. The classification based on ethane data was generally in agreement with the one based on CH4 isotopic composition and confirmed the interpretation of the gas origin. In several cases, CH4 enhancements sampled from the aircraft could directly be linked to the underlying production clusters using wind data. The combination of δ13C and δ2H signals in these samples confirms that the oil and gas production sector is the main source of CH4 emissions in the target areas. We found that average CH4 isotopic signatures in Romania are significantly lower than commonly used values for the global fossil fuel emissions. Our results emphasize the importance of regional variations in CH4 isotopes, with implications for global inversion modeling studies.

This study aims to complete our research on Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) from the Călimani Mountains, Romania, with an elemental analysis and to explore its antibacterial and antifungal potential. Thus, we analyzed twenty-three metals (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Al, Ag, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Ni, Tl, V, Mo, Pd, Pt, Sb, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg) in dried U. barbata lichen (dUB) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For the second study, we performed dried lichen extraction with five different solvents (ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water), obtaining five U. barbata dry extracts (UBDE). Then, using an adapted disc diffusion method (DDM), we examined their antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial species—four Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)—and two fungi species (Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis). Usnic acid (UA) was used as a positive control. The ICP-MS data showed a considerable Ca content (979.766 µg/g), followed by, in decreasing order, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, and Zn. Other elements had low levels: Ba, Cu, Pb, and Cr (3.782–1.002 µg/g); insignificant amounts (

This study aims to complete our research on Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) from the Călimani Mountains, Romania, with an elemental analysis and to explore its antibacterial and antifungal potential. Thus, we analyzed twenty-three metals (Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Al, Ag, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Ni, Tl, V, Mo, Pd, Pt, Sb, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg) in dried U. barbata lichen (dUB) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For the second study, we performed dried lichen extraction with five different solvents (ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water), obtaining five U. barbata dry extracts (UBDE). Then, using an adapted disc diffusion method (DDM), we examined their antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial species—four Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa)—and two fungi species (Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis). Usnic acid (UA) was used as a positive control. The ICP-MS data showed a considerable Ca content (979.766 µg/g), followed by, in decreasing order, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, and Zn. Other elements had low levels: Ba, Cu, Pb, and Cr (3.782–1.002 µg/g); insignificant amounts (

The agronomic benefits of biochar (BC) prepared by slow pyrolysis of vine pruning residues, which are produced in large quantities in Romania, were evaluated. Three soil types, i.e., slightly alkaline fluvisol (S1), slightly acidic chernozem (S2), and strongly acidic luvisol (S3), with mean values of pH of 7.99, 6.26, and 5.40, were amended with BC at a volumetric ratio between BC and soil of 20/80. A greenhouse experiment was performed for 109 days to assess the effects of BC amendment on bell pepper growth. The following treatments were applied: foliar fertilizer, BC, BC + foliar fertilizer (using two concentrations of foliar fertilizer solution), and a control. Strongly alkaline BC (pH of 9.89 ± 0.01) had a significant positive effect on the growth performance of bell pepper plants sown in the strongly acidic soil S3. The mean values of height, collar diameter, number of leaves, and root volume of plants grown in BC-amended soil S3 without foliar treatment were significantly higher (13–72% and 14–33%, respectively) than those of plants grown in non-amended soil S3 without and with foliar treatment. This beneficial effect of BC on bell pepper plant growth was due to the changes in the soil properties. BC significantly increased (up to eight times) electrical conductivity, pH, soluble phosphorus, potassium, and ammonium nitrogen concentrations of soil S3, and decreased its bulk density by 51%, resulting in improved water/nutrient uptake and plant growth performance. BC had no favourable effect on the growth parameters of bell pepper plants sown in slightly alkaline soil S1, and slightly acidic soil S2.

Lichens represent an important resource for common traditional medicines due to their numerous metabolites that can exert diverse pharmacological activities including anticancer effects. To find new anticancer compounds with fewer side effects and low tumor resistance, a bioprospective study of Usnea barbata (L.) F.H. Wigg. (U. barbata), a lichen from the Călimani Mountains (Suceava county, Romania) was performed. The aim of this research was to investigate the anticancer potential, morphologic changes, wound healing property, clonogenesis, and oxidative stress biomarker status of four extracts of U. barbata in different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate), and also of usnic acid (UA) as a positive control on the CAL-27 (ATCC® CRL-2095™) oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) cell line and V79 (ATCC® CCL-93™) lung fibroblasts as normal cells. Using the MTT assay and according to IC50 values, it was found that the most potent anticancer property was displayed by acetone and ethyl acetate extracts. All U. barbata extracts determined morphological modifications (losing adhesion capacity, membrane shrinkage, formation of abnormal cellular wrinkles, and vacuolization) with higher intensity in tumor cells than in normal ones. The most intense anti-migration effect was established in the acetone extract treatment. The clonogenic assay showed that some U. barbata extracts decreased the ability of cancer cells to form colonies compared to untreated cells, suggesting a potential anti-tumorigenic property of the tested extracts. Therefore, all the U. barbata extracts manifest anticancer activity of different intensity, based, at least partially, on an imbalance in antioxidant defense mechanisms, causing oxidative stress.