A Numerical Study Investigating Sensitivity of Radar Wave Propagation to the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer Environment

Radar is a remote sensor that is useful in scientific and military applications. The environment affects the accuracy of radar measurements as well as the predictability of a radar system’s performance. Because of the complexity of the dynamic processes occurring in the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL), which includes the lowermost troposphere and ocean surface, the impact of the environment on radar is intricate and difficult to assess. To better understand the relative importance of various aspects of the MABL environment on radar wave propagation, this study evaluates the sensitivity of radar wave propagation to the MABL environment using a global sensitivity analysis (SA) method, the extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (EFAST), and the Variable Terrain Radio Parabolic Equation (VTRPE) simulation, which calculates propagation power of radar waves in a wide variety of marine atmospheric conditions. A total of 16 environmental parameters are examined, 8 parameterizing the rough ocean surface, and 8 parameterizing the atmospheric vertical refractivity profiles. Radar frequencies of 3, 9, and 15 GHz are each simulated with horizontal (HH) and vertical (VV) polarization, resulting in sensitivity calculations for 6 different cases. The study is conducted for a domain of 1 km in altitude and 60 km in range using a low grazing angle generic air/sea surveillance radar. The relative importance of the different parameters varied much more with frequency than polarization. The EFAST method takes into account parameter interactions, which are found to be significant and can be essential to correctly interpret the significance of a parameter. Results show that the atmospheric mixed layer parameters are most important, particularly the height of the mixed layer. Overall, swell period is the most significant ocean surface parameter. However, sea directionality is also important at 3 GHz, and sea surface roughness and salinity are important at 9 and 15 GHz, respectively. Sensitivities to ocean surface parameters, except those related to directionality, become more prominent as radar frequency increases, and some sensitivity differences with respect to polarization occur regarding sea surface characteristics. Due to spatial variability of sensitivity throughout the domain, regional analysis is performed, using short (0-10 km), mid (10-30 km), and long (30-60 km) range, and low (0-200 m), mid (200-600 m), and high (600-1000 m) altitude divisions (9 regions). The most sensitive parameter in each low altitude region, from short to long range, is evaporation duct height and mixed layer height (mid and long range). The mixed layer height is the most sensitive parameter in all mid-altitude regions. At high altitude, the most sensitive parameter varies with frequency, except at short range where it is the mixed layer refractivity gradient (i.e., M-gradient). At mid-range, the most sensitive parameters are the inversion layer strength, mixed layer M-gradient, and mixed layer height for 3, 9, and 15 GHz respectively. At long range, the inversion strength is the most sensitive parameter at 3 GHz, while at 9 and 15 GHz it is the wind speed. These regional sensitivity results, along with those for the whole domain, can be used to determine which environmental parameters need to be specified with high accuracy when accounting for their effects on propagation for various radar systems and applications. This sensitivity information can also be used to help guide field measurements for simulation validation studies as it indicates what aspects of the environment need to be focused on for such experimental campaigns. Furthermore, these results provide guidance on prioritization of environmental characterization in numerical weather prediction (NWP) and inversion studies (e.g., refractivity from clutter (RFC) studies), which are the two most common numerical methods currently used to address environmental effects on propagation. Additionally, the methodology presented in this study can be used and applied to similar problems that seek to understand the sensitivity to environmental effects on other remote sensors, such as infrared (IR), optical, and acoustic sensors

Wild food plants of popular use in Sicily

In the present work the authors report the result of their food ethnobotanical researches, which have been carried out in Sicily during the last thirty years. Data concerning 188 wild species used in the traditional Sicilian cuisine are reported. The authors underline those species that are partially or completely unknown for their culinary use and they illustrate other species that local inhabitants suggested in the prevention or treatment of symptomatologies caused by a refined diet, poor in vegetables. These data want to contribute to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on uses and recipes concerning wild food botanicals, and to encourage further studies for those species that have not yet been sufficiently researched in their food chemical and nutritional profile. These studies may also suggest new applications for a few botanicals in medico-nutritional fields. The work includes also a short review of the seaweeds and mushrooms traditionally gathered and consumed in Sicily

Clean and Green Urban Water Bodies Benefit Nocturnal Flying Insects and Their Predators, Insectivorous Bats

Nocturnal arthropods form the prey base for many predators and are an integral part of complex food webs. However, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms influencing invertebrates at urban water bodies and the potential flow-on effects to their predators. This study aims to: (i) understand the importance of standing water bodies for nocturnal flying insect orders, including the landscape- and local-scale factors driving these patterns; and (ii) quantify the relationship between insects and insectivorous bats. We investigated nocturnal flying insects and insectivorous bats simultaneously at water bodies (n = 58) and non-water body sites (n = 35) using light traps and acoustic recorders in Melbourne, Australia. At the landscape scale, we found that the presence of water and high levels of surrounding greenness were important predictors for some insect orders. At the water body scale, low levels of sediment pollutants, increased riparian tree cover and water body size supported higher insect order richness and a greater abundance of Coleopterans and Trichopterans, respectively. Most bat species had a positive response to a high abundance of Lepidopterans, confirming the importance of this order in the diet of insectivorous bats. Fostering communities of nocturnal insects in urban environments can provide opportunities for enhancing the prey base of urban nocturnal insectivores.DFG, 414044773, Open Access Publizieren 2019 - 2020 / Technische Universität Berli

Bats in a Farming Landscape Benefit from Linear Remnants and Unimproved Pastures

Schemes designed to make farming landscapes less hostile to wildlife have been questioned because target taxa do not always respond in the expected manner. Microbats are often overlooked in this process, yet persist in agricultural landscapes and exert top-down control of crop pests. We investigated the relationship between microbats and measures commonly incorporated into agri-environment schemes, to derive management recommendations for their ongoing conservation. We used acoustic detectors to quantify bat species richness, activity, and feeding in 32 linear remnants and adjacent fields across an agricultural region of New South Wales, Australia. Nocturnal arthropods were simultaneously trapped using black-light traps. We recorded 91,969 bat calls, 17,277 of which could be attributed to one of the 13 taxa recorded, and 491 calls contained feeding buzzes. The linear remnants supported higher bat activity than the fields, but species richness and feeding activity did not significantly differ. We trapped a mean 87.6 g (±17.6 g SE) of arthropods per night, but found no differences in biomass between land uses. Wider linear remnants with intact native vegetation supported more bat species, as did those adjacent to unsealed, as opposed to sealed roads. Fields of unimproved native pastures, with more retained scattered trees and associated hollows and logs, supported the greatest bat species richness and activity. We conclude that the juxtaposition of linear remnants of intact vegetation and scattered trees in fields, coupled with less-intensive land uses such as unimproved pastures will benefit bat communities in agricultural landscapes, and should be incorporated into agri-environment schemes. In contrast, sealed roads may act as a deterrent. The "wildlife friendly farming" vs "land sparing" debate has so far primarily focussed on birds, but here we have found evidence that the integration of both approaches could particularly benefit bats.Financial support was provided by a “Science Grant” from The Paddy Pallin Foundation in partnership with the Royal Zoological Society of NSW (http://www.paddypallinfoundation.org.au/index.php/current/sciencegrants), a WildCountry Science Council student top-up (http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/wildcountry/wild-country-science-council-members), the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education Australian Postgraduate Award to PL (http://www.innovation.gov.au/research/researchblockgrants/pages/australianpostgraduateawards.aspx), and a CSIRO student top-up scholarship to PL (http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Careers/Work-experience-and-scholarships/Postgraduate-scholarships/Flagship-Postgrad-Scholarships.aspx). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Performance of Pheromone-Baited Traps to Monitor the Seasonal Abundance of Tortrix Moths in Chestnut Groves.

(1) Background: Pammene fasciana (L.), Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller), and C. splendana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) are considered key moth pests of chestnut in Europe. (2) Methods: Investigations were performed in 2018–2019 in northern Italy. Sticky traps and commercially available pheromones were used for monitoring; moreover, two experimental pheromone blends were tested. All specimens were identified according to male genitalia and molecular analyses. Newly formed chestnut husks and fruits were randomly collected to evaluate the presence of larvae and/or feeding damage, by comparing it to trap catches. (3) Results: P. fasciana was present in all the sites, whereas Cydia species were recorded in three sites of six, with differences in abundance related to pheromone blends studied. Several non-target species, such as Oegoconia novimundi (Busck) and Cydia ilipulana (Walsingham), were present. Data about the seasonal flight activity are provided. (4) Conclusions: This research contributes to ascertaining the presence and abundance of tortrix moths in Italian chestnut groves, and the presence of non-target species highlights the risk of overestimating catches. Fruit damage recorded did not always reflect catches made by pheromone traps, suggesting that monitoring may underestimate the real size of moths’ populations. All of the data acquired are important for planning specific control measures

Comparative analysis of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Italy and Tunisia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Italy and Tunisia (Africa for the Romans), facing each other on the opposite sides of the Mediterranean Sea, have been historically linked since the ancient times. Over the centuries both countries were mutually dominated so the vestiges and traces of a mutual influence are still present. The aim of the present study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the medicinal species present in the respective Floras in order to explore potential analogies and differences in popular phytotherapy that have come out from those reciprocal exchanges having taken place over the centuries</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The comparative analysis based on the respective floras of both countries takes into consideration the bulk of medicinal species mutually present in Italy and Tunisia, but it focuses on the species growing in areas which are similar in climate. The medicinal uses of these species are considered in accordance with the ethnobotanical literature.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A list of 153 medicinal species belonging to 60 families, present in both floras and used in traditional medicine, was drawn. A considerable convergence in therapeutic uses of many species emerged from these data.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This comparative analysis strengthens the firm belief that ethno-botanical findings represent not only an important shared heritage, developed over the centuries, but also a considerable mass of data that should be exploited in order to provide new and useful knowledge.</p

Optimizacion del diseino de una red de distribucion de agua potable

En el presente reporte se present an los resultados obtenidos por el grupo de trabajo que estudio el problema de disenar de manera optima, una red de distribucion de agua potable. Esencialmente se discuten dos clases de estrategias. En primer lugar, aquellas cuya finalidad es reducir significativamente los recursos computacionales requeridos por los algoritmos im- plementados por el IMTA. Estos algoritmos son de caracter heuristico y generan una solucion factible que no es optima. En ciertos casos se sabe que las soluciones obtenidas por dichos algoritmos estan relativamente lejos del optima y no son aceptables desde el punto de vista del disenador. La segunda clase de estrategias propuestas, esta destinada precisamente a aliviar este problema. Se sugieren tecnicas originadas en optimizacion continua yen flujo en redes

A Geological Itinerary Through the Southern Apennine Thrust-Belt (Basilicata—Southern Italy)

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Managing uncertainty in movement knowledge for environmental decisions.

Species' movements affect their response to environmental change but movement knowledge is often highly uncertain. We now have well-established methods to integrate movement knowledge into conservation practice but still lack a framework to deal with uncertainty in movement knowledge for environmental decisions. We provide a framework that distinguishes two dimensions of species' movement that are heavily influenced by uncertainty: knowledge about movement and relevance of movement to environmental decisions. Management decisions can be informed by their position in this knowledge-relevance space. We then outline a framework to support decisions around (1) increasing understanding of the relevance of movement knowledge, (2) increasing robustness of decisions to uncertainties and (3) improving knowledge on species' movement. Our decision-support framework provides guidance for managing movement-related uncertainty in systematic conservation planning, agri-environment schemes, habitat restoration and international biodiversity policy. It caters to different resource levels (time and funding) so that species' movement knowledge can be more effectively integrated into environmental decisions