Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Droughts in Semi-Arid Regions by Using Meteorological Drought Indices

Six meteorological drought indices including percent of normal (PN), standardized precipitation index (SPI), China-Z index (CZI), modified CZI (MCZI), Z-Score (Z), the aridity index of E. de Martonne (I) are compared and evaluated for assessing spatio-temporal dynamics of droughts in six climatic regions in Iran. Results indicated that by consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned drought predictors in Iran, the Z-Score, CZI and MCZI could be used as a good meteorological drought predictor. Depending on the month, the length of drought and climatic conditions of the region, they are an alternative to the SPI that has limitations both because of only a few available long term data series in Iran and its complex structure

Langzeit-Monitoring der Auswirkungen einer Umstellung auf den biologischen Landbau (MBUIL V), Abschlussbericht

Auf einem Ackerbaubetrieb im Marchfeld in Niederösterreich wird seit dem Jahr 2003 eine umfassende Langzeituntersuchung zur Dokumentation und Entwicklung des biologischen Landbaus und agrarökologischer Begleitmaßnahmen durchgeführt (www.mubil.boku.ac.at). In der Projektphase MUBIL V wurden im Jahr 2014 spezifische Themen aus dem Gesamtmonitoring ausgewählt und fortgeführt. Die Untersuchungen fanden auf Betriebs-, Schlag- und Parzellenebene statt. Die Ziele des Projektes waren: (a) Wissenschaftlich abgesicherte Erkenntnisse über das Ausmaß und die Geschwindigkeit von Veränderungen der pflanzenbaulichen Entwicklung mit der längerfristigen biologischen Bewirtschaftung zu erhalten. (b) Erkenntnisse über die Auswirkungen unterschiedliche Düngungssysteme viehloser und viehhaltender biologischer Bewirtschaftung mithilfe pflanzenbaulicher Untersuchungen über vergleichende Versuchsanstellungen zu erlangen. (c) Erkenntnisse über die Wirkungen von Blühstreifen mit unterschiedlichen Ansaatmischungen und Pflegemaßnahmen auf die Wildbienen zu dokumentieren

Seasonal forecasting of green water components and crop yields of winter wheat in Serbia and Austria

A probabilistic crop forecast based on ensembles of crop model output (CMO) estimates offers a myriad of possible realizations and probabilistic forecasts of green water components (precipitation and evapotranspiration), crop yields and green water footprints (GWFs) on monthly or seasonal scales. The present paper presents part of the results of an ongoing study related to the application of ensemble forecasting concepts for agricultural production. The methodology used to produce the ensemble CMO using the ensemble seasonal weather forecasts as the crop model input meteorological data without the perturbation of initial soil or crop conditions is presented and tested for accuracy, as are its results. The selected case study is for winter wheat growth in Austria and Serbia during the 2006–2014 period modelled with the SIRIUS crop model. The historical seasonal forecasts for a 6-month period (1 March-31 August) were collected for the period 2006–2014 and were assimilated from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast and the Meteorological Archival and Retrieval System. The seasonal ensemble forecasting results obtained for winter wheat phenology dynamics, yield and GWF showed a narrow range of estimates. These results indicate that the use of seasonal weather forecasting in agriculture and its applications for probabilistic crop forecasting can optimize field operations (e.g., soil cultivation, plant protection, fertilizing, irrigation) and takes advantage of the predictions of crop development and yield a few weeks or months in advance

Variability in the water footprint of arable crop production across European regions

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Forecasting model to predict the first occurrence of Scaphoideus titanus nymphal stages in selected locations in Austria

Scaphoideus titanus Ball, 1932 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the main vector of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp), causing the economically important grapevine yellows disease flavescence dorée in Europe. Effective management of this disease relies on vector control and the uprooting of infected grapevines. By controlling the S. titanus third nymphal stage (N3), the spread of FDp can be prevented. In Austria, yearly monitoring of S. titanus nymphs in different wine-growing regions is necessary to determine the best time for control. The recent phenology changes of S. titanus make monitoring scheduling more difficult and propose the use of an accurate forecasting model. The present study aimed to test existing forecasting models for their accuracy and applicability to predict the first seasonal occurrence of the first nymphal stage (N1) of S. titanus and to develop new prediction models for N1 and N3 in Austria for the first time. Monitoring data from 2013 to 2020 from six different wine-growing areas in Austria were analysed. The existing forecasting models examined in this study predicted the first seasonal occurrence of N1 on average 3.3 days too early or 5.8 days too late, whereas the newly developed multiple linear regression model (MLR) for N1 predicted the first seasonal occurrence on average 3.4 days too early. The newly developed model for N3 predicted the first occurrence on average 6.6 days too early. To continuously improve the multiple linear regression models additional datasets, in particular from years with extreme weather events, should be included in the analysis

Integration of Thermal Energy Storage and Photovoltaic Systems by Using Domestic Electric Water Heaters: A Case Study of Austria and Hungary

Lately, the prices of photovoltaic (PV) technology, including modules and inverters, have significantly dropped, making it more economically feasible to use PV power for heating water in homes. Although thermal energy storage (TES) has the potential to balance energy supply and demand, it remains largely underexplored. TES solutions may have a key role in dealing with the adverse effects of the dynamically growing share of electricity generated by photovoltaic (PV) systems on electricity networks. This research explored the potential of implementing a novel technological approach in conjunction with PV usage in Austria and Hungary, aiming to encourage the adoption of economical energy storage solutions and lessen energy dependence. This study aimed to investigate the joint use of TES and PV systems in Austria and Hungary, specifically using a 3.5 kW quasi-sine inverter and an electric water heating appliance for households with a capacity of 200 liters, as examples. According to the results of the research, the tested 200-liter domestic electric water heating system can store an average of more than 16 kWh of heat energy per day during the summer months, with a maximum water temperature increase (ΔT) of up to 53 °C during this period. The research is innovative and practical, as it explores the application of this solution to assess the seasonal energy-saving potential of this method of sensible heat storage in the contexts of Austria and Hungary