Shallow cloud variability in Houston, Texas during the ESCAPE and TRACER field experiments

Shallow convection plays an important role in Earth’s climate system by regulating the vertical transport of heat, moisture, and momentum in the lower troposphere. Aerosols, large-scale meteorology, and low-level convergence influence the spatiotemporal variability of shallow convection, and the coastal urban area of Houston, Texas is an ideal laboratory to investigate these complex interactions. Here, geostationary satellite and ground-based radar observations from June to September 2022 during the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) and Experiment of Sea Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation, and Environment (ESCAPE) field campaigns are used to characterize the spatial coverage, vertical extent and precipitation fraction of shallow convective clouds. The fused operational remote sensing datasets over a 250x250 km domain are evaluated against profiling observations. The domain-wide diurnal shallow cloud fractions are used to identify four distinct modes of shallow convection. In all clusters, the domain-wide cloud fractions are consistently higher than the domain-wide precipitation fractions, and shallow cloud fractions are higher over water than they are over land while the shallow precipitation fractions show the opposite behavior. In the two modes with minimal deep cloud activity, shallow cloud frequency is highest over ocean in the early morning, and there is a transition to higher shallow cloud frequency over land by the afternoon in one cluster or to high shallow cloud frequencies everywhere by the afternoon in the other. Lastly, we find regions with higher shallow cloud top heights and a large region along the coastline where shallow clouds are more likely to precipitate

Atmospheric horizontal gradients measured with eight co-located GNSS stations and a microwave radiometer

We have used eight co-located GNSS stations, with different antenna mounts, to estimate atmospheric signal propagation delays in the zenith directionand linear horizontal gradients. The gradients are compared with the results from a water vapour radiometer (WVR).  Water drops in the atmosphere has a negative influence on the retrieval accuracy of the WVR. Hence we see a better agreement using WVR data with a liquid water content (LWC) less than 0.05 mm compared to when LWC values of up to 0.7 mm are included. We have used two different constraints when estimating the linear gradients from the GNSS data. Using a weak constraint enhances the GNSS estimates to track large gradients of short duration at the cost of increased formal errors. To mitigate random noise in the GNSS data, we adopted a fusion approach averaging estimates from the GNSS stations. This resulted in significant improvements for the agreement with WVR data, a maximum of 17 % increase in the correlation and an 14 % reduction in the root-mean-square (rms) difference for the east gradients. The corresponding values for the north gradients are both 25 %. Overall, no large differences in terms of quality is  observed for the eight GNSS stations. However, one station shows slightly poorer agreement for  the north gradients compared to the others.  This is attributed to the station's proximity to a radio telescope, which causes data loss of observations at low elevation angles in the south-south-west direction.&nbsp

Disaster Management Following the Great Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes in 2023, Türkiye

Türkiye experienced devastating earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, making it one of the most severe tragedies of the century. This study analyzed the Turkish Government's response strategies to these earthquakes, focusing on crisis communication, response capacity, and crisis management. The study utilized qualitative methodology and purposive sampling, with the government-affiliated Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) as a sample. Starting on February 6, 2023, 25 days of official tweets and press statements from the AFAD were analyzed. AFAD's initial press statement was released 13 minutes after the quake, and the declaration of a level four disaster occurred only 86 minutes after the earthquake, demonstrating that state institutions were fully aware of the severity of the situation. The results indicate to the global community that despite extensive rescue and response capabilities in disaster management, there are still challenges to prevent loss of life. The primary focus should be on disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, prioritizing solid building construction and strict control policies. The presence of over 270 thousands volunteer rescuers is a testament to the remarkable spirit of solidarity. Furthermore, social media played a pivotal role in information management and coordination in the aftermath of the earthquakes

Fatty acid profiles unveiled: gene expression in Yanbian yellow cattle adipose tissues offers new insights into lipid metabolism

Objectives. The objectives of this study were twofold: to analyze the composition and content of fatty acids in various adipose tissues (including kidney, abdominal, subcutaneous, and omental) of Yanbian yellow cattle and to observe the morphology of adipocytes within these tissues and to assess the level of expression of specific genes – kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), apolipoprotein L domain containing 1 (APOLD1), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4), fatty-acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5), and sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP2) – in different adipose tissues (kidney, abdominal, posterior belly, ribeye, prothorax, striploin, upper brain, and neck) of Yanbian yellow cattle. Method. Castrated Yanbian yellow cattle, 24 months old, with identical genetic backgrounds and raised under the same breeding management conditions, were selected. The fatty acid composition and content were assessed using gas chromatography, while the size and diameter of adipocytes were analyzed via paraffin sectioning. The level of expression was determined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results. In total, 16 distinct fatty acids were identified in abdominal adipose tissue. Additionally, henicosanoic acid (C21:0) and behenic acid (C22:0) were detected exclusively in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Caprylic acid (C8:0) was found in both kidney and omental adipose tissues. The size of individual adipocytes in kidney adipose tissue was notably larger compared to the adipocytes in the other three regions (p&lt;0.05). Regarding gene expression, APOLD1 exhibits its highest expression in striploin adipose tissues (p&lt;0.05), while SCD1 shows its peak expression in prothorax adipose tissues (p&lt;0.05). Moreover, both FABP5 and SCP2 demonstrate their highest level of expression in prothorax adipose tissue (p&lt;0.05). Furthermore, the level of expression of KDR and SFRP4 across these seven adipose tissue regions exhibits significant differences (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion. In conclusion, Yanbian yellow cattle exhibit variations in both the composition and content of fatty acids across different adipose tissue depots, including the kidney, abdominal, subcutaneous, and omental regions. Moreover, adipocytes display distinct morphological differences across these tissue types. Furthermore, the level of expression of KDR, APOLD1, SCD1, SFRP4, FABP5, and SCP2 varies significantly among adipose tissues located in the kidney, abdominal, posterior belly, ribeye, prothorax, striploin, upper brain, and neck regions.</p

A description of Model Intercomparison Processes and Techniques for Ocean Forecasting

The availability of numerical simulations for ocean past estimates or future forecast worldwide at multiple scales is opening new challenges in assessing their realism and predictive capacity through an intercomparison exercise. This requires a huge effort in designing and implementing a proper assessment of models&rsquo; performances, as already demonstrated by the atmospheric community that was pioneering in that sense. Historically, the ocean community launched only in the recent period dedicated actions aimed at identifying robust patterns in eddy-permitting simulations: it required definition of modelling configurations, execution of dedicated experiments that deal also with the storing of the outputs and the implementation of evaluation frameworks. Starting from this baseline, numerous initiatives like CLIVAR for climate research and GODAE for operational systems have raised and are actively promoting best practices through specific intercomparison tasks, aimed at demonstrating the efficient use of the Global Ocean Observing System and the operational capabilities, sharing expertise and increase the scientific quality of the numerical systems. Examples, like the ORA-IP, or the Class 4 near real time GODAE intercomparison are introduced and commented, discussing also on the ways forward on making this kind of analysis more systematic for addressing monitoring of ocean state in operations

A global–land snow scheme (GLASS) v1.0 for the GFDL Earth System Model: formulation and evaluation at instrumented sites

Snowpacks modulate water storage over extended land regions and at the same time play a central role in the surface albedo feedback, impacting the climate system energy balance. Despite the complexity of snow processes and their importance for both land hydrology and global climate, several state-of-the-art land surface models and Earth System Models still employ relatively simple descriptions of the snowpack dynamics. In this study we present a newly-developed snow scheme tailored to the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) land model version 4.1. This new snowpack model, named GLASS (Global LAnd–Snow Scheme), includes a refined and dynamical vertical-layering snow structure that allows us to track the temporal evolution of snow grain properties in each snow layer, while at the same time limiting the model computational expense, as is necessary for a model suited to global-scale climate simulations. In GLASS, the evolution of snow grain size and shape is explicitly resolved, with implications for predicted bulk snow properties, as they directly impact snow depth, snow thermal conductivity, and optical properties. Here we describe the physical processes in GLASS and their implementation, as well as the interactions with other surface processes and the land–atmosphere coupling in the GFDL Earth System Model. The performance of GLASS is tested over 10 experimental sites, where in situ observations allow for a comprehensive model evaluation. We find that when compared to the current GFDL snow model, GLASS improves predictions of seasonal snow water equivalent, primarily as a consequence of improved snow albedo. The simulated soil temperature under the snowpack also improves by about 1.5 K on average across the sites, while a negative bias of about 1 K in snow surface temperature is observed.</p

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid profile, and meat quality of male goat kids supplemented by alternative feed resources: bitter vetch and sorghum grains

Bitter vetch and sorghum grains are alternative local feed resources that are underutilized in the southern Mediterranean area. This study aimed to assess the effects of incorporating these grains into the diet of local goat breeds on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Twenty-four goat kids were divided into three groups. The control group received a conventional diet consisting of oat hay, barley, and fava beans. In the first group, fava beans were replaced with bitter vetch, and in the second group, barley was replaced with sorghum. At the end of the trial, the animals were slaughtered and carcass characteristics and meat fatty acid profiles of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were determined. Alternative grain incorporation had no significant effect on the growth parameters. Still, it significantly affected carcass characteristics, especially in the sorghum group compared to the control group, where mesenteric fat was lower (266 vs. 437 g). The back color was lighter (L*=55.1 vs. 59.1) and less yellow (a*=-1.29 vs. 2.22). The diet also influenced the meat's chemical composition, with less protein and ash in the chevrons of animals receiving bitter vetch and sorghum grains, respectively. Regarding the fatty acid (FA) profile, sorghum grains had decreased C18:2 n-6 and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), whereas bitter vetch grains had increased C18:3 n-3, elongase activity, and nutritive value index (NVI). The control group exhibited intermediate results for C15:0, C16:0, C16:1, C20:3 n-3, n-3, health promoting index (HPI), and thrombogenic index (TI). No significant effects were reported for saturated FA (SFA) and monounsaturated FA (MUFA). Bitter vetch and sorghum grains can be safely incorporated into fattening diets of goat kids.</p

Population exposure to outdoor NO2, black carbon, particle mass, and number concentrations over Paris with multi-scale modelling down to the street scale

This study focuses on mapping the concentrations of pollutants of health interest (NO2, black carbon (BC), PM2.5, number of particles (PN)) down to the street scale to represent as accurately as possible the population exposure. Simulations are performed over the Greater Paris area with the WRF-CHIMERE/MUNICH/SSH-aerosol chain, using either the top-down inventory EMEP or the bottom-up inventory Airparif with correction of the traffic flow. The concentrations of the pollutants are higher in streets than in the regional-scale urban background, due to the strong influence of road-traffic emissions locally. Model-to-data comparisons were performed at urban background and traffic stations, and evaluated using two performance criteria from the literature. For BC, harmonized equivalent BC (eBC) concentrations were estimated from concomitant mea-surements of eBC and elemental carbon. Using the bottom-up inventory with corrected road-traffic flow, the strictest criteria are met for NO2, eBC, PM2.5, and PN. Using the EMEP top-down inventory, the strictest criteria are also met for NO2, eBC and PM2.5, but errors tend to be larger than with the bottom-up inventory for NO2, eBC and PN. Using the top-down inventory, the concentrations tend to be lower along the streets than those simulated using the bottom-up inventory, especially for NO2 con-centrations, resulting in less urban heterogeneities. The impact of the size-distribution of non-exhaust emissions was analyzed at both regional and local scales, and it is higher in heavy-traffic streets. To assess exposure, a french database detailing the number of inhabitants in each building was used. The population-weighted concentration (PWC) was calculated by weighting populations by the outdoor concentrations to which they are exposed at the precise location of their home. An exposure scaling factor (ESF) was determined for each pollutant to estimate the ratio needed to correct urban background concentrations in order to assess exposure. The average ESF in Paris and Paris Ring Road is higher than 1 for NO2, eBC, PM2.5, PN, because the concentrations simulated at the local scale in streets are higher than those modelled at the regional scale. It indicates that the Parisian population exposure is under-estimated using regional-scale concentrations. Although this underestimation is low for PM2.5, with an ESF of 1.04, it is very high for NO2 (1.26), eBC (between 1.22 and 1.24), and PN (1.12). This shows that urban heterogeneities are important to be considered in order to represent the population exposure to NO2, eBC, and PN, but less so for PM2.5