Impact of soil map specifications for European climate simulations

Soil physical characteristics can influence terrestrial hydrology and the energy balance and may thus affect land-atmosphere exchanges. However, only few studies have investigated the importance of soil textures for climate. In this study, we examine the impact of soil texture specification in a regional climate model. We perform climate simulations over Europe using soil maps derived from two different sources: the soil map of the world from the Food and Agricultural Organization and the European Soil Database from the European Commission Joint Research Center. These simulations highlight the importance of the specified soil texture in summer, with differences of up to 2°C in mean 2-m temperature and 20% in precipitation resulting from changes in the partitioning of energy at the land surface into sensible and latent heat flux. Furthermore, we perform additional simulations where individual soil parameters are perturbed in order to understand their role for summer climate. These simulations highlight the importance of the vertical profile of soil moisture for evapotranspiration. Parameters affecting the latter are hydraulic diffusivity parameters, field capacity and plant wilting point. Our study highlights the importance of soil properties for climate simulations. Given the uncertainty associated with the geographical distribution of soil texture and the resulting differences between maps from different sources, efforts to improve existing databases are needed. In addition, climate models would benefit from tackling unresolved issues in land-surface modeling related to the high spatial variability in soil parameters, both horizontally and vertically, and to limitations of the concept of soil textural clas

Impact of soil map specifications for European climate simulations

Soil physical characteristics can influence terrestrial hydrology and the energy balance and may thus affect land–atmosphere exchanges. However, only few studies have investigated the importance of soil textures for climate. In this study, we examine the impact of soil texture specification in a regional climate model. We perform climate simulations over Europe using soil maps derived from two different sources: the soil map of the world from the Food and Agricultural Organization and the European Soil Database from the European Commission Joint Research Center. These simulations highlight the importance of the specified soil texture in summer, with differences of up to 2 °C in mean 2-m temperature and 20 % in precipitation resulting from changes in the partitioning of energy at the land surface into sensible and latent heat flux. Furthermore, we perform additional simulations where individual soil parameters are perturbed in order to understand their role for summer climate. These simulations highlight the importance of the vertical profile of soil moisture for evapotranspiration. Parameters affecting the latter are hydraulic diffusivity parameters, field capacity and plant wilting point. Our study highlights the importance of soil properties for climate simulations. Given the uncertainty associated with the geographical distribution of soil texture and the resulting differences between maps from different sources, efforts to improve existing databases are needed. In addition, climate models would benefit from tackling unresolved issues in land-surface modeling related to the high spatial variability in soil parameters, both horizontally and vertically, and to limitations of the concept of soil textural class

Impact of soil map specifications for European climate simulations

ISSN:0930-7575ISSN:1432-089

Intralymphatic immunotherapy for cat allergy induces tolerance after only 3 injections

Background: Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy frequently causes allergic side effects and requires 30 to 80 injections over 3 to 5 years. Objective: We sought to improve immunotherapy by using intralymphatic allergen administration (intralymphatic immunotherapy [ILIT]) and by targeting allergen to the MHC class II pathway. Methods: Recombinant major cat dander allergen Fel d 1 was fused to a translocation sequence (TAT) and to part of the human invariant chain, generating a modular antigen transporter (MAT) vaccine (MAT–Fel d 1). In a randomized double-blind trial ILIT with MAT–Fel d 1 in alum was compared with ILIT with placebo (saline in alum) in allergic patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00718679). Results: ILIT with MAT–Fel d 1 elicited no adverse events. After 3 placebo injections within 2 months, nasal tolerance increased less than 3-fold, whereas 3 intralymphatic injections with MAT–Fel d 1 increased nasal tolerance 74-fold (P < .001 vs placebo). ILIT with MAT–Fel d 1 stimulated regulatory T-cell responses (P = .026 vs placebo) and increased cat dander–specific IgG4 levels by 5.66-fold (P = .003). The IgG4 response positively correlated with IL-10 production (P < .001). Conclusion: In a first-in-human clinical study ILIT with MAT–Fel d 1 was safe and induced allergen tolerance after 3 injections