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Understanding intrusion and extrusion in nanoporous materials is a challenging multiscale problem of utmost importance for applications ranging from energy storage and dissipation to water desalination and hydrophobic gating in ion channels. Including atomistic details in simulations is required to predict the overall behavior of such systems because the statics and dynamics of these processes depend sensitively on microscopic features of the pore, such as the surface hydrophobicity, geometry, and charge distribution, and on the composition of the liquid. On the other hand, the transitions between the filled (intruded) and empty (extruded) states are rare events that often require long simulation times, which are difficult to achieve with standard atomistic simulations. In this work, we explored the intrusion and extrusion processes using a multiscale approach in which the atomistic details of the system, extracted from molecular dynamics simulations, informed a simple Langevin model of water intrusion/extrusion in the pore. We then used the Langevin simulations to compute the transition times at different pressures, validating our coarse-grained model by comparing it with nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The proposed approach reproduces experimentally relevant features such as the time and temperature dependence of the intrusion/extrusion cycles, as well as specific details about the shape of the cycle. This approach also drastically increases the timescales that can be simulated, reducing the gap between simulations and experiments and showing promise for more complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the fracture strength of endodontically treated molars filled with different composite resins with vs without fiber reinforcement. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 intact mandibular molars were selected and endodontically treated. A standardized mesio-occlusal-distal cavity was prepared with cervical margins 1 mm above the cementoenamel junction and oral and buccal walls with 1.5-mm thickness. Universal adhesive was used in all specimens in etch-and-rinse mode. Specimens were divided into four groups (n = 15 each) according to restoration technique: group CSM = adhesive overlay with hybrid ceramic; group EXP = direct restoration with short fiber-reinforced composite; group ESU = direct restoration with nanohybrid composite; and group EST = direct restoration with nanohybrid composite reinforced with horizontal bidirectional glass fibers placed over the pulpal chamber floor. After 7 days of storage in water, samples were loaded until fracture using a universal testing machine. The maximum breaking loads were recorded in Newtons, and statistical analysis was then conducted with two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. Fragments were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Results: Mean fracture resistance values were: CSM = 1,428.91 ± 316.90 N; EXP = 1,874.57 ± 299.47 N; ESU = 1,557.44 ± 355.65 N; and EST = 1,870.27 ± 145.11 N. The CSM and EXP groups showed the highest strength values when compared to the other groups. The variable fiber insertion did not significantly alter the fracture resistance. The origin of the fracture was always located on the occlusal surface, mainly in the major contact loading area. Conclusion: The use of fiber-reinforced composite showed great improvement in fracture resistance, similar to a cuspal coverage restoration. However, only short fiber-reinforced composites showed a favorable fracture pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTIn the context of ongoing global climate warming, researchers have observed an intricate relationship between the variability of Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS) on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and climate anomalies. In this study, we utilize a combination of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and precipitation data to investigate the response of TWS on the TP to extreme climate changes, with a focus on seasonal and interannual variations. Our findings reveal that the first Common Mode Component (1st CMC) extracted from GNSS coordinate time series exhibits strong interannual fluctuations. Additionally, both GNSS and GRACE-inferred TWS demonstrate noticeable anomalous changes during the 2015/2016 period. The estimated periods of the 1st CMC of GNSS and GRACE-inferred TWS are approximately 5 and 7 years, respectively. Both reach a minimum during the extreme climate event in 2015/2016. Furthermore, we investigate the spatial variation of summer precipitation before and after the extreme drought event on the TP. It reveals that the inflection point of TWS occurs approximately 1 year prior to the drought event, suggesting a consistent spatial propagation process between precipitation and TWS. This indicates that the changes of TWS during this drought event were primarily influenced by precipitation. Finally, we evaluate the response of 12 sub-basins on the TP to the drought event that occurred in 2015/2016. The regions experiencing significant abnormal fluctuations in TWS are mainly located in inner and northeastern plateau. These regions show rapid upward changes in the TWS and demonstrate a strong spatial consistency with summer precipitation.

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This study presents a comprehensive analysis of interfacial tension (IFT) between pore water and hydrogen-cushion gas mixtures in subsurface porous media, a key variable in the distribution of gas mixtures for hydrogen storage. Employing molecular dynamics simulations, we developed two IFT models at 20 MPa and 373 K: one for an H 2 –CO 2 –H 2 O system and another for an H 2 –CH 4 –H 2 O system. The models reveal that increasing cushion gas concentration reduces gas-water IFT. Notably, for H 2 –CO 2 –H 2 O mixtures, the IFT substantially decreases with CO 2 concentration up to 40%, after which the reduction rate diminishes. In H 2 –CH 4 –H 2 O mixtures, the IFT decreases linearly with CH 4 concentration. The study attributes these variations to local density distributions and molecular orientation effects. Specifically, CO 2 adsorption at the interface up to 40% concentration significantly lowers IFT, while CH 4 adsorption proportionally decreases IFT. The influence of CO 2 on water molecule orientation at the interface, in contrast to the non-effect of CH 4 , is also critical in enhancing IFT reduction. Our results also highlight the reduction of H 2 self-diffusion at the interface caused by CO 2 and CH 4 , an essential factor in optimizing subsurface hydrogen storage operations. • Cushion gas concentration impacts water/H₂ and CO₂/CH₄ IFTs under subsurface storage conditions. • Increasing CH₄ reduces water-H₂-CH₄ IFT linearly, while CO₂ shows an initial sharp decrease. • CO₂ and CH₄ differently affect IFT due to their unique adsorption at the gas-water interface. • Water-H₂-CO₂ mixtures have lower IFTs than H₂-CH₄ due to CO₂'s molecular interaction at the interface. • Higher CO₂ or CH₄ concentration lowers H₂ self-diffusion at the gas-water interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of the heterogeneity of terrestrial water storage in the main river basins of Ethiopia is poorly understood. In river basins, measurements of terrestrial water storage changes are exceedingly rare in all temporal dimensions. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variation of water storage in the main river basins of Ethiopia using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) with Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS). The results revealed significant variation in liquid water equivalents from GRACE and terrestrial water storage from GLDAS for each river basin, following a seasonal pattern. I found that GRACE and GLDAS datasets can be combined effectively to evaluate the long-term water storage in large-scale basins with limited hydrological data, and the obtained result provides a reliable outcome that will be essential for the establishment of climate change adaptation pathways in the future for essential water resource management and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing need for accessible methods to monitor soil health. Our primary objective was to evaluate an accessible, do-it-yourself method for measuring the maximum water holding capacity – we call this the funnel, filter paper, and drainage (MWHCFFPD) method. First, we compared MWHCFFPD to the water desorption method via pressure cells (WHCPC), routinely used for generating soil water retention curves, using 10 soils from a wide range of textures (4–55% clay). Second, we tested the sensitivity of the MWHCFFPD to methodological variations likely encountered by citizen scientists. The two methods were quite comparable in precision, with mean coefficient of variances of 3.5% and 4.4% for the FFPD and water desorption method, respectively. The MWHCFFPD and WHCPC methods were comparable, with MWHCFFPD best correlating to WHCPC at −2.45 kPa (R2 = 0.98). The MWHCFFPD method is somewhat sensitive to some methodological modifications, most notably variation in water source, but with standardized protocols could be scientifically robust. Overall, MWHCFFPD can be used as a simple and affordable test of sieved soil structure and organic matter, and thus has potential to expand soil health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used 2‐Dimmensionnal Ti3C2 MXene as model materials to understand how the surface groups affect their electrochemical performance. By adjusting the nature of the surface terminations (Cl‐, N/O‐, and O‐) of Ti3C2 MXene through a molten salt approach, we could change the spacing between MXene layers and the level of water confinement, resulting in significant modifications of the electrochemical performance in acidic electrolyte. Using a combination of techniques including in‐operando X‐ray diffraction and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) techniques, we found that the presence of confined water results in a drastic transition from an almost electrochemically inactive behavior for Cl‐terminated Ti3C2 to an ideally fast pseudocapacitive signature for N,O‐terminated Ti3C2 MXene. This experimental work not only demonstrates the strong connection between surface terminations and confined water but also reveals the importance of confined water on the charge storage mechanism and the reaction kinetics in MXene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates crop farmers' perception on climate change effects on water resources and factors that influence their perceptions of it in Vietnam. A sample of 253 was randomly selected from a total population of 685 crop farmers and a structured questionnaire was created to gather data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The research results showed that climate change effects on water resources varied by landform. A majority of farmers perceived that: shifts in rainfall amount and variability affect the operation of runoff water and groundwater recharge; shifts in temperature level and variability considerably influence evapotranspiration; and changes in runoff amount and runoff variability greatly influence soil water storage and groundwater. Mixed cropping systems, use of soil conservation, extension contacts, farming practices, non-agricultural activities, credit programme participation, information and communication technology (ICT) owned, and education level are the important determinants of farmers' perceptions on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North China (NC) is experiencing significant groundwater depletion. We used GRACE and GRACE-FO RL06 Level-2 data with Mascon data from April 2002 to July 2022. We fused these two types of data through the generalized three-cornered hat method and further combined them with hydrological models, precipitation, in situ groundwater-level, and groundwater extraction (GWE) data to determine and verify temporal and spatial variations in groundwater storage (GWS) in NC. We quantitatively assessed groundwater sustainability by constructing a groundwater index in NC. We further explored the dynamic cyclic process of groundwater change and quantified the impact of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP) on GWS change in NC. The overall GWS shows a decreasing trend. The GRACE/GRACE-FO-derived GWS change results are consistent with those shown by the in situ groundwater-level data from the monitoring well. Groundwater in NC is in various states of unsustainability throughout the period 2002 to 2022. The SNWTP affected the water use structure to some extent in NC. This study elucidates the latest spatial–temporal variations in GWS, especially in the groundwater sustainability assessment and quantitative description of the effects of the SNWTP on changes in GWS in NC. The results may provide a reference for groundwater resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey butter is the result of the rational use of the whey component, which is cream whey. It is an alternative to milk cream butter. The aim of the presented study was to analyze the effect of storage conditions on water thermodynamics and cholesterol oxidation products as reliable markers of quality and safety. After 4 mo of storage, the water loss (at 3°C and 13°C) and water activity in whey butter (only at 13°C) were reduced. Three-factorial ANOVA showed that the value of water activity was independent of the type of butter in interaction with the storage temperature. The duration of the translational movement of water molecules from the inside of whey butter was definitely longer than in butter and shortened with storage time. This was in contrast to butter. For whey butter stored at 13°C, the kinetics of the movement of water molecules was at the highest speed. In the case of whey butter and butter, the higher storage temperature almost doubled the gloss. Increasing the temperature to 13°C resulted in different yellowness index, chroma, and browning index between whey butter and butter. There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of fatty acids and triacylglycerols in whey butter and milk cream butter during storage. In whey butter, compared with butter, the cholesterol content was higher, but the amount of cholesterol oxidation products was smaller. However, in whey butter, these amounts increased significantly. The presence of epoxides and their transformation products (i.e., triol cholesterol) was found in storage whey butter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential soil functions such as plant productivity, C storage, nutrient cycling and the storage and purification of water all depend on soil biological processes. Given this insight, it is remarkable that in modeling of these soil functions, the various biological actors usually do not play an explicit role. In this review and perspective paper we analyze the state of the art in modeling these soil functions and how biological processes could more adequately be accounted for. We do this for six different biologically driven processes clusters that are key for understanding soil functions, namely i) turnover of soil organic matter, ii) N cycling, iii) P dynamics, iv) biodegradation of contaminants v) plant disease control and vi) soil structure formation. A major conclusion is that the development of models to predict changes in soil functions at the scale of soil profiles (i.e. pedons) should be better rooted in the underlying biological processes that are known to a large extent. This is prerequisite to arrive at the predictive models that we urgently need under current conditions of Global Change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an acceleration of groundwater loss in the Great Basin (GB) of the western U.S. as determined from total water storage (TWS) measurements from the GRACE/FO satellite missions. From 2002 to 2023, there was a loss of TWS in the GB of ∼68.7 km3 which is more than six times the current volume of the Lake Mead Reservoir. In this arid/semi‐arid region, groundwater is the primary factor contributing to the decade‐scale decline in TWS. Stronger declining trends are found in the western versus the eastern GB. Snow loading is the major cause of seasonal fluctuations of TWS in the GB. Despite annual replenishment of groundwater by snow, the downward trend persists even in notable snow years. Likely causes include declining snow mass, upstream water diversions and increased evaporation/sublimation due to increasing temperatures. Dire consequences for humans and wildlife are associated with this large loss of groundwater. Plain Language Summary: The 21st Century megadrought in the southwestern U.S. caused a dramatic acceleration of groundwater loss in the Great Basin (GB) of the western U.S. as determined from changes in the Earth's gravity measured by the GRACE satellites. Groundwater is a major component of total water storage (TWS) in the GB, but snowfall and snowmelt are the major causes of seasonal fluctuations of TWS. As a snowpack accumulates or melts, water is redistributed causing a rapid regional change in gravity that can be measured from space. From 2002 to 2023, there is a substantial loss of groundwater in the GB of ∼68.7 km3 which is more than six times the current volume of water in the Lake Mead Reservoir in Arizona/Nevada. Stronger declining trends of groundwater loss are found in the western part of the GB while weaker declining trends are found in the eastern part. Despite annual replenishment by snowfall, even in notable snow years like 2010–2011, 2016–2017, 2018–2019, and 2022–2023, the downward trend of groundwater depletion persists. Likely causes for this decline include declining snow mass, upstream water diversions and increased evaporation/sublimation due to increasing air and surface temperatures. Groundwater depletion is associated with dire consequences for humans and wildlife. Key Points: Snow accumulation in the Great Basin (GB) triggers an increase in total water storage (TWS) while snow ablation triggers a drop in TWSThere is an 68.7 km3 loss of groundwater in the GB from 2002 to 2023 which is more than six times greater than the current volume of Lake MeadThe 2002–2023 TWS decline in the GB is more pronounced in the western GB than in the eastern GB [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasomatized mantle xenoliths containing hydrous minerals, such as amphiboles, serpentine, and phlogopite, likely represent the potential mineralogical compositions of the metasomatized upper mantle, where low seismic velocities are commonly observed. This study presents the first experimentally determined single‐crystal elasticity model of an Fe‐free near Ca, Mg‐endmember amphibole tremolite at high pressure and/or temperature conditions (maximum pressure 7.3(1) GPa, maximum temperature 700 K) using Brillouin spectroscopy. We found that sound velocities of amphiboles strongly depend on the Fe content. We then calculated the sound velocities of 441 hydrous‐mineral‐bearing mantle xenoliths collected around the globe, and quantitatively evaluated the roles that amphiboles, phlogopite and serpentine played in producing the low velocity anomalies in the metasomatized upper mantle. Plain Language Summary: Amphiboles are the most widely distributed hydrous minerals resulting from metasomatism in the upper most mantle. We measured sound velocities of tremolite (Ca, Mg endmember of the amphibole series) at high pressures and high temperatures by Brillouin spectroscopy. Based on global hydrous‐mineral‐bearing mantle xenoliths record, we quantitively evaluated the contributions of amphiboles, serpentine, and phlogopite to low velocity anomalies and water storage in the upper most mantle. We found the existence of hydrous minerals (amphiboles, serpentine, and phlogopite) remains a viable explanation for the low velocity anomalies in the upper most mantle (e.g., mid‐lithosphere discontinuity). Compared to serpentine and phlogopite, although the amount of velocity reduction caused by amphibolization is moderate, the formation of amphiboles does not require K, Al, Si‐rich environments like phlogopite, or exceedingly water‐rich environments like serpentine. Key Points: The single‐crystal elasticity of tremolite is determined by Brillouin spectroscopy up to 7.3 GPa and 700 KSound velocities of uppermost mantle amphiboles mainly depend on Fe contentHydrous minerals (amphiboles, serpentine, phlogopite) are plausible causes of the low velocity anomalies in the uppermost mantle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the dentin shear bond strength (SBS) of an etch-and-rinse (ER) or a self-etch (SE) adhesive incorporated with multifunctional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (MA-POSS-8). An ER adhesive (Solobond Plus, VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) and a universal adhesive applied in SE mode (Scotchbond Universal, 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA) were infiltrated with MA-POSS-8 (Hybrid Plastics Inc., Hattiesburg, MS, USA) at 5 wt.% or 10 wt.%. Pure adhesives served as controls. Bovine dentin specimens were conditioned with one of the adhesives prior to the application of a nano-hybrid composite (Venus Diamond A3, Kulzer, Hanau, Germany). SBS and failure modes were determined after water storage for 24 h, 6 months, 12 months, or 24 months (each subgroup n = 20). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVAs, Weibull statistics, and χ2 tests (p < 0.05). SBSs for the control groups after 24 h were 17.4 ± 4.9 MPa for the ER adhesive and 19.1 ± 5.2 MPa for the universal adhesive. After 24 months, the SBS of the ER adhesive was significantly higher for 5 wt.% MA-POSS-8 (17.9 ± 5.1 MPa) than for the control group (14.6 ± 3.6 MPa) and 10 wt.% MA-POSS-8 (12.8 ± 4.1 MPa), and more cohesive failures were observed. The SBS of the universal adhesive increased during aging, irrespective of the MA-POSS-8 concentration. 5 wt.% MA-POSS-8 improves the SBS of the ER adhesive and does not impair the SBS of the SE adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP), which hosts the most extensive marine glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), exhibits enhanced sensitivity to climatic fluctuations. Under global warming, persistent glacier mass depletion within the SETP poses a risk to water resource security and sustainability in adjacent nations and regions. This study deployed a high-precision ICESat-2 satellite altimetry technique to evaluate SETP glacier thickness changes from 2018 to 2022. Our results show that the average change rate in glacier thickness in the SETP is −0.91 ± 0.18 m/yr, and the corresponding glacier mass change is −7.61 ± 1.52 Gt/yr. In the SETP, the glacier mass loss obtained via ICESat-2 data is larger than the mass change in total land water storage observed by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment follow-on satellite (GRACE-FO), −5.13 ± 2.55 Gt/yr, which underscores the changes occurring in other land water components, including snow (−0.44 ± 0.09 Gt/yr), lakes (−0.06 ± 0.02 Gt/yr), soil moisture (1.88 ± 1.83 Gt/yr), and groundwater (1.45 ± 0.70 Gt/yr), with a closure error of −0.35 Gt/yr. This demonstrates that this dramatic glacier mass loss is the main reason for the decrease in total land water storage in the SETP. Generally, there are decreasing trends in solid water storage (glacier and snow) against stable or increasing trends in liquid water storage (lakes, soil moisture, and groundwater) in the SETP. This persistent decrease in solid water is linked to the enhanced melting induced by rising temperatures. Given the decreasing trend in summer precipitation, the surge in liquid water in the SETP should be principally ascribed to the increased melting of solid water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuarine reservoirs are critical for freshwater supply and security, especially for regions facing water scarcity challenges due to climate change and population growth. Conventional methods for assessing drought severity or monitoring reservoir water level and storage are often limited by data availability, accessibility and quality. We present an approach for monitoring estuarine reservoir water levels, storage and extreme drought via satellite remote sensing and waterline detection. Based on the CoastSat algorithm, Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 images from 2013 to 2022 were adopted to extract the waterline of Qingcaosha Reservoir, the largest estuarine reservoir in the world and a key source of freshwater for Shanghai, China. This study confirmed the accuracy of the satellite-extracted results through two main methods: (1) calculating the angle of the central shoal slope in the reservoir using the extracted waterline data and measured water levels and (2) inverting the time series of water levels for comparison with measured data. The correlation coefficient of the estimated water level reached ~0.86, and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the estimated shoal slope was ~0.2°, indicating that the approach had high accuracy and reliability. We analyzed the temporal and spatial patterns of waterline changes and identified two dates (21 February 2014 and 15 October 2022) when the reservoir reached the lowest water levels, coinciding with periods of severe saltwater intrusions in the estuary. The extreme drought occurrences in the Qingcaosha Reservoir were firstly documented through the utilization of remote sensing data. The results also indicate a strong resilience of the Qingcaosha Reservoir and demonstrate that the feasibility and utility of using satellite remote sensing and waterline detection for estuarine reservoir storage can provide timely and accurate information for water resource assessment, management and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and propagation of precipitation-based meteorological drought to terrestrial water storage (TWS)-derived hydrological drought is of the utmost importance. This study aims to disentangle the frequency–time relationship between precipitation-derived meteorological and TWS-based hydrological drought from June 2002 to June 2017 based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Terrestrial Water Storage Index (STI) by employing wavelet coherence rather than a traditional correlation coefficient. The possible influencing factors on drought propagation in 28 regions across the world are examined. The results show that the number of drought months detected by the STI is higher than that detected by the SPI worldwide, especially for slight and moderate drought. Generally, TWS-derived hydrological drought is triggered by and occurs later than precipitation-based meteorological drought. The propagation characteristics between meteorological and hydrological droughts vary by region across the globe. Apparent intra-annual and interannual scales are detected by wavelet analysis in most regions, but not in the polar climate region. Drought propagation differs in phase lags in different regions. The phase lag between hydrological and meteorological drought ranges from 0.5 to 4 months on the intra-annual scale and from 1 to 16 months on the interannual scale. Drought propagation is influenced by multiple factors, among which the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, and potential evapotranspiration are the most influential when considering one, two, or three factors, respectively. The findings of this study improve scientific understanding of drought propagation mechanisms over a global scale and provide support for water management in different subregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A participatory citizen approach was established to monitor microbial water quality in household self-supply in Bekasi, Indonesia, and evaluated using a conceptual framework for context analysis, process evaluation and impact assessment (CPI). Households tested their self-supplied water for Escherichia coli presence every two weeks for six months, accompanied by pre- and post-monitoring surveys. The approach provided reliable water quality results, and increased awareness of water quality; however, nearly half of the households dropped out of the monitoring and increased awareness did not translate into actions that improved water quality within the study period. Contamination rates ranged from 11% to 70% at source and from 15% to 44% at point-of-use. Household-led testing could fulfil an important monitoring role in self-supply contexts, however it may have little impact on the drinking water safety unless accompanied by support to improve source protection and strengthen household water treatment and storage practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, surface water, groundwater, soil moisture, snow storage, canopy water, and wet biomass constituents make up water storage, which plays a significant role in the hydrological water balance. Evaluating the variations in water storage anomalies associated with climate forcing and human activities over river basins is crucial for assessing water scarcity and predicting potential pressures on water resources in the future. In this study, we assessed the impacts of climatic and anthropogenic drivers on the change in water storage in the river basins of Ethiopia by using the independent component analysis to examine Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment with the Global Land Data Assimilate System-based water storage and comparing the independent component analysis with hydro-meteorological data and statistical data related to human activities. It is of great significance for helping people better understand the evaluation of terrestrial water storage anomalies under the combined influence of climatic change and anthropogenic activities and providing information for better protection and utilization of water resources at river basin level. It is crucial to take effective measures to protect these precious land and water resources and prevent their further deterioration. The estimated result will be essential for sustainable water management and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical karst habitats are characterized by limited and patchy soil, large rocky outcrops and porous substrates, resulting in high habitat heterogeneity and soil moisture fluctuations. Xylem hydraulic efficiency and safety can determine the drought adaptation and spatial distribution of woody plants growing in karst environments. In this study, we measured sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (K s), vulnerability to embolism, wood density, saturated water content, and vessel and pit anatomical characteristics in the branch stems of 12 evergreen tree species in a tropical karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern China. We aimed to characterize the effects of structural characteristics on hydraulic efficiency and safety. Our results showed that there was no significant correlation between K s and hydraulic safety across the tropical karst woody species. K s was correlated with hydraulic vessel diameter (r  = 0.80, P  < 0.05) and vessel density (r  = −0.60, P  < 0.05), while the stem water potential at 50 and 88% loss of hydraulic conductivity (P 50 and P 88) were both significantly correlated with wood density (P  < 0.05) and saturated water content (P  = 0.052 and P  < 0.05, respectively). High stem water storage capacity was associated with low cavitation resistance possibly because of its buffering the moisture fluctuations in karst environments. However, both K s and P 50 /P 88 were decoupled from the anatomical traits of pit and pit membranes. This may explain the lack of tradeoff between hydraulic safety and efficiency in tropical karst evergreen tree species. Our results suggest that diverse hydraulic trait combination may facilitate species coexistence in karst environments with high spatial heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mediterranean countries characterized by increasingly extended hot and dry periods, olive trees are often conventionally practiced in low fertility and rainfed soils. This study investigated over a 15-month period how conventional tillage, combined with or without incorporated solid digestate, and no tillage affected selected soil properties, photosynthetic activity and productivity of mature olive trees growing in highly clayey acid soil with an unbalanced nutrient content and Mn excess. Neither in soil nor in drupes were Mn, Fe, Cu and Al contents affected by the managements. However, in soil, exchangeable Mn that was always larger than 200 mg kg−1 threshold and unbalanced Ca, Mg, and K contents were evidenced in all treatments. Non-tilled soil showed the highest (p < 0.05) stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate, and the highest (p < 0.05) fruits and oil yields. Instead, conventional tillage negatively (p < 0.05) affected plant physiology and productivity, likely due to the tilled increase in aeration, enhancing soil water loss and organic C mineralization. Conversely, digestate addition increased TOC, TN and EC. Stomatal conductance, the photosynthetic rate and plant yield significantly recovered (albeit not to no-tillage values) in tillage combined with incorporated digestate, suggesting that digestate-derived organic matter created soil conditions less constraining to plant growth and productivity than the conventional tillage did. Dealing with soil properties and climatic conditions is the key for adopting the best management practice for preserving plant productivity and soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geodetic methods can monitor changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) across large regions in near real‐time. Here, we investigate the effect of assumed Earth structure on TWS estimates derived from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) displacement time series. Through a series of synthetic tests, we systematically explore how the spatial wavelength of water load affects the error of TWS estimates. Large loads (e.g., >1,000 km) are well recovered regardless of the assumed Earth model. For small loads (e.g., <10 km), however, errors can exceed 75% when an incorrect model for the Earth is chosen. As a case study, we consider the sensitivity of seasonal TWS estimates within mountainous watersheds of the western U.S., finding estimates that differ by over 13% for a collection of common global and regional structural models. Errors in the recovered water load generally scale with the total weight of the load; thus, long‐term changes in storage can produce significant uplift (subsidence), enhancing errors. We demonstrate that regions experiencing systematic and large‐scale variations in water storage, such as the Greenland ice sheet, exhibit significant differences in predicted displacement (over 20 mm) depending on the choice of Earth model. Since the discrepancies exceed GNSS observational precision, an appropriate Earth model must be adopted when inverting GNSS observations for mass changes in these regions. Furthermore, regions with large‐scale mass changes that can be quantified using independent data (e.g., altimetry, gravity) present opportunities to use geodetic observations to refine structural properties of seismologically derived models for the Earth's interior structure. Plain Language Summary: In many regions of the Earth, water resources used for agriculture, domestic, and industrial purposes rely on stream flow and groundwater sourced from the melting of winter snowpack in adjacent mountains. Modern shifts in climate have resulted in increasingly variable precipitation patterns and temperatures during winter months. Coupled with a rising global population, there has been a growing need for accurate estimates of freshwater stored above and beneath the land surface. A relatively new interdisciplinary approach called hydrogeodesy allows for freshwater resources to be monitored by using satellite‐ and ground‐based sensors to accurately measure changes in the shape and gravitational field of the Earth produced by the redistribution of water between hydrologic reservoirs. As this approach becomes increasingly utilized to inform decision‐makers, however, we require a deeper understanding of the assumptions and uncertainties of the models used to translate between geodetic measurements and estimates of water storage. Here, we consider the impact of assumptions about the Earth's interior structure on the error of geodetic water storage estimates. We present a set of case studies that display the varied influence of assumed Earth structure on water storage estimates depending on the spatial scale and amplitude of water storage variations. Key Points: Estimates of water storage made at fine spatial scales are highly sensitive to the Earth model used to invert geodetic measurementsSensitivities to Earth structure produce uncertainties in estimates of water storage that scale with the total weight of the water loadPredictions of uplift produced by melting of the Earth's ice sheets over the past two decades can differ by over 20 mm between Earth models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study vertical ground displacement time series from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations to measure deformation associated with hydrological drought in the Po river basin. Focusing on interannual trend changes, rather than seasonal (annual) components, we found a clear spatially correlated deformation signal that is temporally (anti)correlated with changes in the Po river level and the SPEI‐12 drought index, with stations moving upward during periods of river/index level decrease and vice versa. In the 2021–2022 time span, which culminated in the most severe drought of the last two centuries, we estimate the amount and spatial distribution of water loss in the basin and its surroundings. Excluding the seasonal signals, between January 2021 and August 2022, the GNSS stations underwent uplift, up to 7 mm, which corresponds to ∼70 Gtons of water loss. Compared to Global Land Data Assimilation System and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment estimates, GNSS results show a similar temporal evolution of water content but a more heterogeneous distribution of values. We show that continuous GNSS networks provide an effective way to monitor multiannual trend changes in water storage even in small water basins and serve as a reliable indicator of drought severity. Plain Language Summary: This study looks at the way the ground moves up and down in the Po river basin, in northern Italy, using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations. We measure how much water was lost during a big drought in the area, which occurred from January 2021 to August 2022. During this time interval, the GNSS stations show that the ground mostly moved upwards, which means that water was being lost. Besides the annual water storage variations, we estimate that about 70 billion tons was lost during that time, in agreement with other ways of measuring terrestrial water variations. This study shows that GNSS stations can be an alternative way to measure how much water is being lost during drought in small areas and common vertical displacement signals are a good approximation of drought indexes. Key Points: Non‐seasonal vertical ground displacements are used to measure interannual terrestrial water storage variationsInterannual changes of vertical displacements are a reliable near real‐time indicator of drought severityThe inversion of Global Navigation Satellite System displacements shows that about 70 billion tons of water is lost during the 2021–2022 drought in the Po river basin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove swamp rice production (MSRP) refers to rice cultivation in former mangrove soils that have been anthropogenically modified for food production. The method utilizes the largest possible storage of fresh water to desalinate the soils and make them productive. However, temporal variability in rainfall patterns causes loss of efficiency in production, impacting crop growth and reducing productivity. To improve MSRP, it is necessary to identify the primary constraints associated with salinity, enhancing and maximizing freshwater storage efficiency and water productivity. This study provides a general description of the MSRP system in both the northern and southern regions of Guinea-Bissau, aiming at the identification of the main water management limitations. The description involves the use of typologies and the identification of zones with specific characteristics within the paddies. Furthermore, this review includes an analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of soils in relation to salinity issues, descriptions of agronomic management, rice varieties, and the significance of managing dikes and bunds to improve mangrove swamp rice water management. This study shows how the MSRPS is characterized by dynamism and complexity, involving a wide range of constraints associated with salinity features, cultural influences, and microclimatic conditions that are subject to temporal variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation activities are important for sustaining food production and account for 70 % of total global water withdrawals. In addition, due to increased evapotranspiration (ET) and changes in the leaf area index (LAI), these activities have an impact on hydrology and climate. In this paper, we present a new irrigation scheme within the land surface model ORCHIDEE (ORganising Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic EcosystEms)). It restrains actual irrigation according to available freshwater by including a simple environmental limit and using allocation rules that depend on local infrastructure. We perform a simple sensitivity analysis and parameter tuning to set the parameter values and match the observed irrigation amounts against reported values, assuming uniform parameter values over land. Our scheme matches irrigation withdrawals amounts at global scale, but we identify some areas in India, China, and the USA (some of the most intensively irrigated regions worldwide), where irrigation is underestimated. In all irrigated areas, the scheme reduces the negative bias of ET. It also exacerbates the positive bias of the leaf area index (LAI), except for the very intensively irrigated areas, where irrigation reduces a negative LAI bias. The increase in the ET decreases river discharge values, in some cases significantly, although this does not necessarily lead to a better representation of discharge dynamics. Irrigation, however, does not have a large impact on the simulated total water storage anomalies (TWSAs) and its trends. This may be partly explained by the absence of nonrenewable groundwater use, and its inclusion could increase irrigation estimates in arid and semiarid regions by increasing the supply. Correlation of irrigation biases with landscape descriptors suggests that the inclusion of irrigated rice and dam management could improve the irrigation estimates as well. Regardless of this complexity, our results show that the new irrigation scheme helps simulate acceptable land surface conditions and fluxes in irrigated areas, which is important to explore the joint evolution of climate, water resources, and irrigation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying actual evapotranspiration (ETa) changes and the drivers is important for both water and energy cycles. However, these issues are commonly limited by insufficient ETa observations. In view of this, we use GLEAM, GLASS, a complementary-relationship-based dataset, CRA-40, MERRA2, JRA-55, ERA5-Land, and NCEP/DOE to investigate ETa variability in China for 1982–2017. According to the average of these eight datasets, ETa increases significantly in most parts of China (p < 0.05). Then, an extended Budyko framework is used for attribution analysis of ETa trends. In addition to precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and the landscape parameter n, the framework incorporates terrestrial water storage and external water supply. The results indicate that potential evapotranspiration positively contributes to ETa in most areas of China. The positive contribution of precipitation is mainly observed in the eastern part of northwest China and the central and eastern parts of the Tibetan Plateau. Terrestrial water storage has a positive contribution in northwest and North China. External water supply has a large contribution in northeast China, northwest China, the western Tibetan Plateau, and the Yangtze River basin, and it is closely related to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Moreover, most of the regions with high contribution of external water supply are in mountainous areas due to the regulation of topographic slope. Taking the landscape parameter n = 3.0 as a reference, the uncertainty of the extended Budyko framework is between − 30% and 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Aquifer, a vital transboundary aquifer in the Lower Mekong Region of Southeast Asia, faces escalating challenges due to excessive groundwater extraction for agriculture and domestic purposes. In response, this study utilizes the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite estimates, combined with land-surface-model and remote-sensing datasets to estimate groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) across the aquifer where traditional monitoring is limited. The study further evaluates the consistency of GRACE-derived data in comparison to both localized in situ measurements and a global-scale hydrological model. Additionally, the spatio-temporal trends in groundwater depletion over a 14-year span (2003–2016) were mapped. The results reveal a good agreement between GRACE-derived GWSA, PC-Raster Global Water Balance (PCR-GLOBWB) model outputs, and observed in situ measurements, thereby underscoring the pivotal role of satellite observations in comprehensively assessing groundwater resources within the aquifer. The findings expose a concerning downward trend, with groundwater storage declining at a rate of ~0.68 cm/year, resulting in a total volume loss of 18.28 km3 over the 14-year span. Notably, the depletion rate is higher in the coastal regions of the Mekong Delta and certain areas within the Tonle Sap Basin. Discrepancies between GRACE and observed GWSA are attributed to multiple factors, including the absence of local signals, intricate hydrogeological dynamics, limitations in specific yield and storage estimations, and the uneven distribution of monitoring wells in the region. This research emphasizes the potential of GRACE estimates to supplement in situ observations on a regional scale, establishing a critical foundation for transboundary groundwater management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar walls provide transformative solutions by harnessing solar energy to generate electricity, improve thermal comfort, and reduce energy consumption and emissions, contributing to zero-energy buildings and mitigating climate change. In hot and humid regions, solar walls can reduce indoor temperatures by 30% to 50%, significantly improving energy efficiency. Optimizing the performance of solar walls includes factors such as glazing, shading, solar orientation, ventilation, and catalytic techniques, allowing them to be adapted to different climates. Innovative solar wall variants that include photovoltaic panels, water storage, and phase-change materials offer multifunctionality and sustainability in building design and are in line with global energy efficiency and environmentally conscious goals. In addition, innovative solar wall variants that combine photovoltaic panels, water storage, and phase-change materials promise even more sustainability in building design. These multifunctional solar wall systems can efficiently heat, cool, and generate energy, further reducing a building's environmental impact. Solar walls have the potential to significantly reduce heating energy consumption; align with global goals for energy-efficient, environmentally conscious, and climate-responsive building design; and offer dynamic and adaptable solutions for sustainable architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work investigated the manufacture of elements such as water tanks from recycled concrete for applications where industries require water heating. This proposal leverages precast rejects for recycled concrete and incorporates colouring pigments. It is expected to contribute to the circularity of construction materials (due to the total replacement of natural aggregates by recycled aggregates) as well as to energy and emissions savings, which are attributed to improved thermal performance driven by the thermal behaviour that the coloration pigment gives to the manufactured concrete elements. To assess the efficacy of the proposed solution, on the one hand, mechanical tests were carried out in tensile, compression and modulus of elasticity, which showed a suitable concrete dosage for HA-30 structural concrete. Simultaneously, in search for a material that would increase the internal temperature of the tanks, thermal tests were carried out in a controlled laboratory environment on samples with different percentages of pigment, and an optimum concentration of 1% was obtained. It was also found that the thermal conductivity remained almost unaffected. Finally, two water tank prototypes were manufactured and tested under real environmental conditions: one with the optimised pigment concentration solution and other (the reference tank) without pigment. The results revealed that the colourised tank with the optimal concentration resulted in an average water temperature increase of 2 °C with respect to the reference tank. Finally, the economic and environmental benefits of this temperature increase were studied for industrial processes requiring water heating with a potential saving of 8625 kWh per month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of groundwater exchange between neighboring regions is a critical topic in water resource management and can usually be achieved through a combination of field investigations and the use of groundwater flow models. In this study, we employed the water balance and Darcy's law methods, utilizing downscaled Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE-Follow On (GRACE-FO) data to assess groundwater exchange patterns in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region of China. Additionally, we determined the contributions of human activities and climate factors to the observed variations via residual analysis. The results revealed a consistent decrease in groundwater storage in the study area since 2008, especially in the spring and summer months. The groundwater exchange rates calculated by 1° and 0.05° groundwater storage anomalies (GWSAs) were basically consistent, and the downscaled GWSAs could better reflect the small-scale groundwater exchange characteristics. The groundwater exchange rate showed a decreasing trend from the Piedmont plain to the coastal areas. A notable trend of declining groundwater exchange between the Taihang Mountains and Piedmont plains was observed, and the downward trend gradually intensified from north to south between 2003 and 2007. After 2008, there was an increasing trend, and coastal areas exhibited the smallest amount of groundwater exchange. Human activities emerged as the predominant factor accounting for more than 90.9% of the overall reduction in groundwater storage, while climate change imposed a minimal influence on groundwater storage variations. The insights obtained in this study hold significant implications for groundwater resource planning and management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive tillage reduces soil water storage and increases surface runoff. Cover crops can modify the effect of tillage on soil water dynamics, but limited information is available for the Mississippi River Alluvial Basin. This study was conducted to determine whether soil–water dynamics could be manipulated through conservation production systems affecting surface residue management. Effects of tillage (conventional tillage [CT] vs. no‐tillage [NT]) and cover cropping (no cover crop and Austrian pea [Pisum sativum L.] cover crop [CC]) on soil water balance during the CC season in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crops were modeled using the root zone water quality model for a site near Stoneville, MS, on "Commerce" silty‐loam soil. Capacitance sensors measured soil volumetric water content to 120 cm during CC growth in 2019 and 2020. Field calibration of sensors reduced root mean square error from 0.05 to 0.03 m3 m−3. Pooled across years, NT increased volumetric water content in the 0–40 and 40–120 soil layers by 8.5% and 6.8%, respectively, compared to CT. Regardless of the CC treatment and cropping system, NT reduced surface runoff by 24.5% over its conventional counterpart, while soil water storage increased from 2.35 to 5.23 cm within the 1.2‐m profile, resulting in a 17% increase in consumptive use of water (evapotranspiration). CC treatments did not impact soil water storage and consumptive water use. The results demonstrate that NT systems can affect water dynamics by increasing infiltration and soil water storage in the humid subtropical region of the United States. Core Ideas: No‐tillage reduced surface runoff and increased soil water storage in alluvial soil.Cover crop reduced runoff from no‐till plots but not from conventional tillage.Cover crop produced substantial biomass with minimal risk of depleting soil water.No‐tillage with cover cropping would improve soil water storage in the Mississippi River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specialty crop industry requires copious amounts of water to meet production needs; however, current substrates are highly porous to mitigate risks and are subsequently inefficient with regard to water use. Therefore, more sustainable soilless substrates are needed to ensure the future success/profitability of the horticultural industry, especially as finite fresh water sources become limiting. Substrate stratification (i.e., vertically layering unique substrates atop one another) provides opportunities to augment an existing system by maintaining substrate porosity, while strategically redistributing the air‐ and water‐filled pores, retaining more water when applied, and controlling vertical water distribution. The aim of this research was to further understand the complex stratified systems of hydraulics. Herein, the hydraulic properties of individual substrate components were measured and modeled using HYDRUS 1 d. Furthermore, matric tensions and volumetric water content (VWC) were measured continuously under two different irrigation schedules (single [1×] and cyclic applications [3×]) for 15 days with a fully established Dianthus barbatus 'Amazon Neon Purple' crop. The results showed that screened bark particles have more pore homogeneity assessed by steep declines in VWC with small changes in water potential. Moreover, HYDRUS 1 d modeling demonstrated that stratified substrates have more uniform hydraulic gradients (difference in moisture content from the top to the bottom of the substrate profile; 21%) present in the container profile when compared to non‐stratified systems (45%). Non‐stratified upper layers experienced greater diurnal tension fluctuations under single irrigation than in cyclic applications. Stratifying substrates resulted in a significant reduction in these fluctuations in the top layer when compared to non‐stratified systems. Additionally, when both substrate (stratifying) and irrigation (cyclic) management strategies are implemented, tension fluctuations can be even further reduced, and hydraulic gradients become more uniform due to improved moisture infiltration and distribution. Core Ideas: Screening bark into different size fractions results in more pore size homogeneity.Stratified systems result in decreased air:water extremes across the vertical profile than traditional systems.Water potential remained more constant in the upper profile of a stratified system.Applying irrigation multiple times per day decreased the intensity of volumetric water fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global mean sea level rise has been reconstructed using tide gauges. However, long-term sea level rise along the China coast is unclear. To address this issue, a data assimilation approach is developed to reconstruct sea level rise along the China coast from 1950 to 2020 using a global distribution of tide gauges (TGs). This approach combines climate models and sea level fingerprints. The climate models provide stereodynamic sea level changes. The sea level fingerprints include increases in ocean mass due to global ice melting and changes in water storage on land. The reconstructed global mean sea level rise agrees well with previous studies. We quantify sea level rise at 20 TGs along the China coast. The results suggest that sea level rise along the China coast (1.95±0.33 mm yr−1) is greater than the global mean (1.71±0.17 mm yr−1). We also find that China's coastal sea level rise is more than three times the global mean after 1980, increasing from 0.84±0.28 mm yr−1 for 1950–1980 to 3.12±0.21 mm yr−1 for 1980–2020. This finding implies a significant sea level acceleration along the China coast. Our results advance the understanding of long-term sea level changes along the China coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the topography, climate, ecology, hydrology, and human environment vary greatly from southeast to northwest, and a typical natural and social environmental transition zone (i.e., comprehensive transition zone) exists near the "Hu Huanyong line," which is a famous demographic dividing line in China, known as the Hu zone. Dry and wet climate changes in the Hu zone can have a significant impact on terrestrial ecosystems and hydrological conditions, ultimately affecting human–land relations. However, there is still a lack of clear understanding of environmental changes in the context of climate change in the Hu zone. Here, a quantitative analysis of climate change and its impacts on terrestrial hydrology and ecosystems from 1951 to 2020 is presented. The results showed that there exists a significant drying trend in the Hu zone and a dramatic decrease in terrestrial water storage (TWS), indicating that the environment has become worse. Conversely, from the perspective of significant greening, the environment has improved. This contradiction is mainly due to climate change dominating the depletion of TWS, while the increase in vegetation greenness is more driven by human activities including agricultural management and ecological restoration, offsetting to some extent the negative impact of water scarcity on vegetation growth. Significance Statement: The Hu zone is a transition zone between southeast and northwest China, which is a sensitive area under climate change as well as key region for coordinated development. The purpose of this study is to reveal the long-term climate change in the Hu zone and its impacts on hydrology and ecology. Our results indicate a significant drying trend in this zone over the last 70 years, which led to a substantial reduction in water storage. However, the vegetation coverage increased due to human activities. This study provides guidance for agricultural structure adjustment and ecological protection in transition zones. Future research should focus more on the assessment and risk management of dry/wet changes in climate transition areas around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coping with water stress depends on maintaining cellular function and hydraulic conductance. Yet measurements of vulnerability to drought and salinity do not often focus on capacitance in branch organs that buffer hydraulic function during water stress. The relationships between branch water relations, stem hydraulic vulnerability and stem anatomy were investigated in two co‐occurring mangroves Aegiceras corniculatum and Rhizophora stylosa growing at low and high salinity. The dynamics of branch water release acted to conserve water content in the stem at the expense of the foliage during extended drying. Hydraulic redistribution from the foliage to the stem increased stem relative water content by up to 21%. The water potentials at which 12% and 50% loss of stem hydraulic conductivity occurred decreased by ~1.7 MPa in both species between low and high salinity sites. These coordinated tissue adjustments increased hydraulic safety despite declining turgor safety margins at higher salinity sites. Our results highlight the complex interplay of plasticity in organ‐level water relations with hydraulic vulnerability in the maintenance of stem hydraulic function in mangroves distributed along salinity gradients. These results emphasise the importance of combining water relations and hydraulic vulnerability parameters to understand vulnerability to water stress across the whole plant. Summary Statement: Plasticity in hydraulic vulnerability maintained hydraulic safety margins at high salinity, while the redistribution of water from foliage to stems during extended drying buffered stem hydraulic function in the mangroves Aegiceras corniculatum and Rhizophora stylosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor mixing of old and new water in municipal water storage vessels is a well-documented basis for potentially harmful water quality degradation in drinking water distribution systems. This numerical study investigates the effects of inflow and operational variables on mixing in the jet-driven filling process, with a particular focus on the transition from inadequate to sufficient mixing levels. An isothermal unsteady reynolds-averaged-navier-stokes volume-of-fluid (RANS-VOF) simulation is used to model the variable-volume filling process, accounting for the moving free surface following a draw-down in the stored water volume. A low diffusivity tracer is used to mark the old-water volume, and a coefficient of variation (CoV) quantifying the departure from a uniform tracer distribution is used to monitor the time-dependent mixing. The results indicate that adequate mixing does not necessarily follow refills from common draw-down levels. Three distinct mixing regimes are identified by unique CoV transients. Introducing consideration of the mean-flow kinetic energy, the observed mixing behaviors are readily explained by the jet inlet power and the distribution of the mean-flow kinetic energy in the tank. Extending the simulations to periods after cessation of the inflow and to partial refills, the role of residual mean-flow kinetic energy is further highlighted, especially its limited vertical reach. For cases in which a sufficiently mixed condition is achieved, the time-to-mix results are well described by a mixing-time correlation closely matching previously published results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Asia, Latin America, and Africa, approximately 1.3 billion people intermittently receive water for domestic use through piped networks, known as intermittent water supply (IWS). IWS poses high operation costs and Non-Revenue Water (NRW) to water utilities, coping costs for water storage and treatment facilities to consumers, inequitable water supply, and health problems. Water scarcity is one of the main causes of water supply intermittency. This study presents a heuristic approach for sectorizing and optimum operation of IWS systems under water scarcity conditions. The methodology employs a two-step strategy: the first is a heuristic method for dividing the network into sectors based on connectivity, direct access to the source, and minimizing cut size between sectors. The second is the application of the evolutionary multiobjective optimization method, a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), for the optimum operation of IWS systems considering three objectives: the operational cost, level of equity, and level of pressure among consumers. Design variables for the optimization problem include the status of bridge pipes between sectors and the triggers on/off for the tank levels. A benchmark network was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The results of the application of optimization for the optimal operation of nonsectorized and sectorized networks highlight the potential of improving both equity and pressure uniformity of the IWS system. Sectorization and optimal operation of IWS systems appear to have significant effects on improving pressure uniformity in different parts of the sector, improving equity among consumers and saving energy throughout the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal communities around the world are increasingly exposed to extreme events that have been exacerbated by rising sea levels. Sustainable adaptation strategies to cope with the associated threats require comprehensive understanding of past and possible future changes. Yet, many coastlines lack accurate long-term sea level observations. Here, we introduce a novel probabilistic near-global reconstruction of relative sea-level changes and their causes over the period 1900 to 2021. The reconstruction is based on tide gauge records and incorporates prior knowledge about physical processes from ancillary observations and geophysical model outputs. We demonstrate good agreement between the reconstruction and satellite altimetry and tide gauges (if local vertical land motion is considered). Validation against steric height estimates based on independent temperature and salinity observations over their overlapping periods shows moderate to good agreement in terms of variability, though with larger trends in three out of six regions. The linear long-term trend of the resulting global mean sea level (GMSL) record is 1.5±0.19 mmyr-1 since 1900, a value consistent with central estimates from the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Multidecadal trends in GMSL have varied with enhanced rates in the 1930s, near-zero rates in the 1960s, and a persistent acceleration (0.08±0.04 mmyr-2) thereafter. As a result, most recent rates have exceeded 4 mmyr-1. Largest regional rates (>10 mmyr-1) over the same period have been detected in coastal areas near western boundary currents and the larger tropical Indo-Pacific region. Barystatic mass changes due to ice-melt and terrestrial water storage variations have dominated the sea-level acceleration at global scales, but sterodynamic processes are the most crucial factor locally, particularly at low latitudes and away from major melt sources. These results demonstrate that the new reconstruction provides valuable insights into historical sea-level change and its contributing causes complementing observational records in areas where they are sparse or absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During a crisis situation, water supply systems stop functioning properly. It is necessary to obtain water from sources other than basic ones (reserve water intakes, water storage tanks, bottled water). Methods: We aim to determine the water demand in a crisis situation based on current European guidelines and determine the time to cover the demand for water from water storage tanks during a crisis situation. Results: An installation for drawing water from a water storage tank, which includes water disinfection using a UV lamp, is necessary. Continuity of operation is guaranteed by the use of a photovoltaic installation independent of the power grid. The amount of water stored in water storage tanks is enough to meet the basic needs of the population for up to several weeks. Conclusions: The use of a UV lamp with an independent backup power supply allows maintaining the microbiological purity of water during a long-term crisis situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a high-fidelity simulation model for heating systems is crucial for practical guidance, as it serves predictive and evaluative purposes, offering accurate references for the operational management of actual engineering projects, thereby minimizing resource and cost wastage. This study, utilizing the Transient System Simulation Program (TRNSYS) software and focusing on an electric boiler water storage heating system in an elementary school, has developed a high-fidelity simulation model. Multiple TRNSYS (Types) modules were independently programmed, and the model's stability and precision were verified through error analysis. The model is capable of dynamically simulating the changes in supply and return water temperatures on both the storage and usage sides of the system under varying external environmental conditions and hydraulic states, achieving synchronous computation of the thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the heating system. The comparison and analysis of the temperature measurements at various system points against actual collected data revealed an average relative error of less than 5% across these measurements, indicating the simulation model's high accuracy and operational stability. It accurately and reliably reflects the thermal dynamics of the heating system, providing a reliable reference for practical application. This model is applicable for guiding the operational management of actual engineering projects and offers a scientific basis for subsequent system design and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts of LULC changes on the hydrological components of a watershed using multivariate statistics, and hydrological modeling approaches. The study analyzed the LULC distributions, and changes corresponding to the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. The SWAT model was then applied to assess the hydrological impacts of these changes in the studied watershed. Finally, changes in LULC types were correlated with the water balance components using a Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) method. The result showed a continuous expansion of barren, built-up, and cropland areas, while forests, shrubs, and grassland decreased by about 67.12, 41, and 36.88%, respectively. The modeling result showed that surface runoff, water yield, and evapotranspiration decreased by 16.1, 2.9, and 9.3%, respectively. In contrast, base flow, soil water storage, and lateral flow of the watershed increased by up to 19.1%, 55.9%, and 150.4%, respectively, due to LULC changes. The PLSR model identified the cropland, forest, and shrub LULC types as the major factors affecting the water resource components. The study results provide useful information for policymakers and planners in the implementation of sustainable water resource planning and management in the context of environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of the seesaw system in mitigating the seismic response of elevated steel tanks for water storage. This is accomplished by conducting a number of non-linear time-history (NLTH) analyses to a specific in terms of shape and water storage capacity elevated steel tank. To conduct the NLTH analyses: (i) the two (horizontal) or the three (two horizontal and one vertical) translational components of the seismic motions are utilized; (ii) two different water heights are considered, representing the cases of a partially-filled and an almost filled tank; (iii) the tank is assumed founded either on a rigid or on a flexible ground, permitting, thus, an assessment of the influence of soil-structure interaction (SSI). The NLTH analyses are performed first for the tank without the seesaw system and then with it. The response metrics to be compared are the drift and residual drift ratio of the tank, the axial and shear stresses exerted to the shell of tank, the maximum forces developed to the members of the seesaw system as well as the formation of plastic hinges to the steel framing system that supports the tank. Interpretation of the results provided by the aforementioned response metrics leads to the conclusion that the effectiveness of the seesaw system to elevated steel tanks of the type studied herein is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key features of the interaction between peridotites of the continental lithospheric mantle and reduced hydrocarbon-rich fluids have been studied in experiments conducted at 5.5 GPa and 1200 °C. Under this interaction, the original harzburgite undergoes recrystallization while the composition of the fluid changes from CH4-H2O to H2O-rich with a small amount of CO2. The oxygen fugacity in the experiments varied from the iron-wustite (IW) to enstatite-magnesite-olivine-graphite/diamond (EMOG) buffers. Olivines recrystallized in the interaction between harzburgite and a fluid generated by the decomposition of stearic acid contain inclusions composed of graphite and methane with traces of ethane and hydrogen. The water content of such olivines slightly exceeds that of the original harzburgite. Redox metasomatism, which involves the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the fluid by reaction with magnesite-bearing peridotite, leads to the appearance of additional OH absorption bands in the infrared spectra of olivines. The water content of olivine in this case increases by approximately two times, reaching 160–180 wt. ppm. When hydrocarbons are oxidized by interaction with hematite-bearing peridotite, olivine captures Ca-Mg-Fe carbonates, which are products of carbonate melt quenching. This oxidative metasomatism is characterized by the appearance of specific OH absorption bands and a significant increase in the total water content in olivine of up to 500–600 wt. ppm. These findings contribute to the development of criteria for reconstructing metasomatic transformations in mantle rocks based on the infrared spectra and water content of olivines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate internal tooth–filling interfaces of composite fillings made using universal adhesives using micro-computed tomography (µCT). Sixty class V cavities were randomly assigned into six groups: Peak Universal etch and rinse (PER), Peak Universal self-etch (PSE), Adhese Universal etch and rinse (AER), and Adhese Universal self-etch (ASE). Two further adhesives considered gold standards were used as control groups: OptiBond FL (OER) for the etch and rinse technique and Clearfil SE for the self-etch technique (CSE). All teeth were subjected to thermomechanical loading and four-year water storage. Next, they were analyzed using µCT to investigate the internal tooth–filling interfaces. The proportions between the gap volume (GV) at the tooth–filling interface and the volume of applied composite filling (FV), between the gap and cavity volumes (CV), and between the gap volumes at the tooth–filling interface of the external (EGV) and internal (IGV) parts were calculated. Adhese Universal achieved the significantly lowest gap-to-filling- and gap-to-cavity-volume ratios for both types of etching techniques comparing to those of the Peak Universal and control groups. Significant differences between the gaps in external and internal parts of the tooth–filling interface were only noted in the control groups. Internal gap formation and development at the tooth–filling interface depend on the material as well as the type of its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote-sensing hydrological data provided by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE/GRACE Follow-On) and reanalyzed ERA5-Land data allow for construction of a holistic picture of freshwater availability and successive wet/dry periods in the Middle East, a region with ground-data scarcity. The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive spatiotemporal and sustainability analysis of long-term (21 years, 2002–2022) GRACE-derived groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) at 0.25° resolution over the Middle East. The time series of GWSA in each pixel is calculated after subtracting the soil-moisture anomaly, snow-water equivalent anomaly, and surface-water anomaly (all obtained from the ERA5-Land dataset) from the GRACE-based total water storage anomaly (TWSA) values. The Thiel-Sen slope method was used to detect the spatiotemporal patterns of GWSA over the region. An analytical groundwater sustainability index was developed based on three indicators—reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability—for the study area, on the basin scale. The statistical analyses revealed an average decline of –5.93 mm/year (–37.29 km3/year) for groundwater storage over the Middle East during the study period. The results suggest that most of the basins in the Middle East (59.14%) are operating extremely and severely unsustainably, while 34.41 and 6.45% of basins are slightly unsustainable and moderately sustainable, respectively. The results of this study uncover a holistic picture of groundwater variations and their sustainability over the Middle East, which can help to mitigate drought risks in the region, characterized by few publicly available ground-data sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater storage (GWS) decline, as well as total water storage (TWS) decline, in the (semi)arid Ordos Basin (China) poses great challenges to the water supply and ecological environment. In this study, the major factors causing the rapid loss of water storage during 2003–2020 are first investigated using correlation analysis, where the storage estimates are derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites. The major hydroclimatic drivers of monthly water storage changes are then explored among precipitation (P), evapotranspiration (ET), and runoff (RO) using an interpretable deep learning (IDL) method. The relative contribution of each driver is quantified by leveraging the interpretability nature of IDL. Results show that the GWS depletion (–0.82 cm/year) primarily accounts for the TWS loss (–0.73 cm/year) in the Ordos Basin under increased precipitation. The decreased TWS and GWS are both closely related to the increased vegetation density and coal production, indicating that they are the major drivers of the long-term water loss. At the monthly scale, the IDL method reveals that P and ET contribute over 75% to the changes of both TWS and GWS in most regions. The response lag of TWS to P and ET is generally 1–3 months. In contrast, GWS shows a more complicated response to P and ET with a longer lag range of 1–11 months in different regions due to the complicated Ordos Basin aquifer systems. These findings achieve a better understanding of hydrologic cycles and better guide sustainable water resources management in the Ordos Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]