Multi-temporal evaluation of soil moisture and land surface temperature dynamics using in situ and satellite observations

Soil moisture (SM) is an important component of the Earth’s surface water balance and by extension the energy balance, regulating the land surface temperature (LST) and evapotranspiration (ET). Nowadays, there are two missions dedicated to monitoring the Earth’s surface SM using L-band radiometers: ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP). LST is remotely sensed using thermal infrared (TIR) sensors on-board satellites, such as NASA’s Terra/Aqua MODIS or ESA & EUMETSAT’s MSG SEVIRI. This study provides an assessment of SM and LST dynamics at daily and seasonal scales, using 4 years (2011–2014) of in situ and satellite observations over the central part of the river Duero basin in Spain. Specifically, the agreement of instantaneous SM with a variety of LST-derived parameters is analyzed to better understand the fundamental link of the SM–LST relationship through ET and thermal inertia. Ground-based SM and LST measurements from the REMEDHUS network are compared to SMOS SM and MODIS LST spaceborne observations. ET is obtained from the HidroMORE regional hydrological model. At the daily scale, a strong anticorrelation is observed between in situ SM and maximum LST (R ˜ -0.6 to -0.8), and between SMOS SM and MODIS LST Terra/Aqua day (R ˜ - 0.7). At the seasonal scale, results show a stronger anticorrelation in autumn, spring and summer (in situ R ˜ -0.5 to -0.7; satellite R ˜ -0.4 to -0.7) indicating SM–LST coupling, than in winter (in situ R ˜ +0.3; satellite R ˜ -0.3) indicating SM–LST decoupling. These different behaviors evidence changes from water-limited to energy-limited moisture flux across seasons, which are confirmed by the observed ET evolution. In water-limited periods, SM is extracted from the soil through ET until critical SM is reached. A method to estimate the soil critical SM is proposed. For REMEDHUS, the critical SM is estimated to be ~0.12 m3/m3 , stable over the study period and consistent between in situ and satellite observations. A better understanding of the SM–LST link could not only help improving the representation of LST in current hydrological and climate prediction models, but also refining SM retrieval or microwave-optical disaggregation algorithms, related to ET and vegetation status.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Selection of the key earth observation sensors and platforms focusing on applications for Polar Regions in the scope of Copernicus system 2020-2030

An optimal payload selection conducted in the frame of the H2020 ONION project (id 687490) is presented based on the ability to cover the observation needs of the Copernicus system in the time period 2020–2030. Payload selection is constrained by the variables that can be measured, the power consumption, and weight of the instrument, and the required accuracy and spatial resolution (horizontal or vertical). It involved 20 measurements with observation gaps according to the user requirements that were detected in the top 10 use cases in the scope of Copernicus space infrastructure, 9 potential applied technologies, and 39 available commercial platforms. Additional Earth Observation (EO) infrastructures are proposed to reduce measurements gaps, based on a weighting system that assigned high relevance for measurements associated to Marine for Weather Forecast over Polar Regions. This study concludes with a rank and mapping of the potential technologies and the suitable commercial platforms to cover most of the requirements of the top ten use cases, analyzing the Marine for Weather Forecast, Sea Ice Monitoring, Fishing Pressure, and Agriculture and Forestry: Hydric stress as the priority use cases.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Profiles and opinions of disadvantaged students starting a narrative course to promote learning to learn in the context of a transnational project

The frame for this paper is a European funded project which aims to prevent university drop-out of students who need support to fulfill their educational potential because of disadvantages caused by personal, social, cultural or economic circumstances. The project promotes acquisition of the key competence of Learning to Learn at the university level by developing and implementing a training course focused on narrative tools. This narrative methodology is aimed at sustaining the development of a reflexive competence, based on the process of mentalisation of learning experience on the part of individuals. The project target group consists in nontraditional students, enrolled in the second year of a university degree, who have passed less than 50% exams and can be considered as disadvantaged students. This paper focuses specifically in analyzing some of the characteristics and profiles of the nontraditional students participating in the first cycle of the training course (n= 30). We present the results of the analysis of both the entry form (necessary to apply for the course) and the form to evaluate the initial situation of the students about reflective/mentalisation competence. Results show that the attending students feel frustrated because they think they lack of the capabilities to success in the university. Their critics to the university as an institution are addressed to the lack of attention it pays to meet their special needs. As a consequence, their ways of dealing with the difficulties they encounter are, somehow, “defensive”: put more effort or sacrifice and become resigned. However, reading beneath their answers, we are inclined to think that they show certain agentivity in order to overcome their difficulties. Their positive attitudes towards the course is a sign that they have not so far given up, and that they are searching for new ways to develop a positive academic career avoiding future drop-outUnión Europea Erasmus Multilateral Projects, nº 517750-LLP-1-IT-ERASMUS-ESI

Diseño y validación de un cuestionario socio-emocional para jóvenes futbolistas de élite. Desing and validation of a socio-emotional questionnaire for yourh footbal players

Validación de un cuestionario socio-emocional en fútbo

Chemical composition of Medieval stained glasses from the Cathedral of León (Spain)

A selection of glass samples from the stained glass windows of León Cathedral (Spain) dating from Medieval and Renaissance times has been chemically characterized. The techniques used for this characterization were X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma. X-ray fluorescence and flame photometry. The analyses indicate that the samples are potash-lime glass, with the Medieval glass having a low alumina concentration. This fact has given rise to its deterioration throughout history due to environmental conditions

Impact of day/night time land surface temperature in soil moisture disaggregation algorithms

Since its launch in 2009, the ESA’s SMOS mission is providing global soil moisture (SM) maps at ~40 km, using the first L-band microwave radiometer on space. Its spatial resolution meets the needs of global applications, but prevents the use of the data in regional or local applications, which require higher spatial resolutions (~1-10 km). SM disaggregation algorithms based generally on the land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation indices have been developed to bridge this gap. This study analyzes the SM-LST relationship at a variety of LST acquisition times and its influence on SM disaggregation algorithms. Two years of in situ and satellite data over the central part of the river Duero basin and the Iberian Peninsula are used. In situ results show a strong anticorrelation of SM to daily maximum LST (R˜-0.5 to -0.8). This is confirmed with SMOS SM and MODIS LST Terra/Aqua at day time-overpasses (R˜-0.4 to -0.7). Better statistics are obtained when using MODIS LST day (R˜0.55 to 0.85; ubRMSD˜0.04 to 0.06 m3 /m3 ) than LST night (R˜0.45 to 0.80; ubRMSD˜0.04 to 0.07 m3 /m3 ) in the SM disaggregation. An averaged ensemble of day and night MODIS LST Terra/Aqua disaggregated SM estimates also leads to robust statistics (R˜0.55 to 0.85; ubRMSD˜0.04 to 0.07 m3 /m3 ) with a coverage improvement of ~10-20 %.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Assessment of the delivery of citronella oil from microcapsules supported on wool fabrics

Essential oils are complex, volatile liquid mixtures that can be extracted from various parts of plants. Their main characteristics are strong fragrance and biological properties. Studying the characteristics of oils along with the possibility of an interaction with textiles creates new possible uses of this material. However, when oil is applied to a textile substrate, it is necessary to develop an oil release model, while most of the works only explore the application procedure and the fixed oil durability against washes. Thus, this work reports the mechanism and kinetics of controlled release of microencapsulated citronella oil from wool. The microencapsulation was done by complex coacervation with gelatin and gum Arabic biopolymers as shell materials. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to confirm the encapsulation. The microcapsules were then supported by foulard in wool, fixed on fabrics and evaluated by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The controlled release of citronella from the microcapsules deposited on the fabric was studied in vitro. The microcapsules formed had a multi-core structure, and when applied to wool they showed diffusion by a Fickian mechanism in the first release stage and on the second stage changed to non-Fickian kinetics. The controlled release indicates that the textile structure influences the release model due to an interaction between fabric and waterPostprint (author's final draft

Atelectasias durante anestesia: fisiopatología y tratamiento

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O colapso pulmonar intra-operatório é uma complicação de elevada incidência em pacientes submetidos à intervenção cirúrgica sob anestesia geral com relaxamento/paralisia da musculatura. Essa complicação está associada à piora das trocas gasosas no intra-operatório e, em alguns casos, necessidade de suporte respiratório prolongado no período pós-operatório. Os objetivos deste estudo foram revisar os aspectos fisiopatológicos da formação de atelectasias durante anestesia geral e as possíveis manobras terapêuticas para prevenir e tratar essa complicação. CONTEÚDO: Nesta revisão, os conceitos sobre a incidência de atelectasias intra-operatórias, os fatores relacionados com o seu desenvolvimento, tanto mecânicos quanto associados ao ajuste do respirador durante procedimento cirúrgico, os aspectos do diagnóstico e as estratégias de prevenção e tratamento foram abordados de maneira sistemática. CONCLUSÕES: A compreensão dos mecanismos relacionados com o desenvolvimento do colapso pulmonar durante o período intra-operatório, assim como o seu tratamento, pode contribuir para a redução da incidência de complicações pulmonares pós-operatórias, o tempo de recuperação e os custos hospitalares.BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The incidence of intraoperative pulmonary collapse is elevated in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation/paralysis. This complication is associated with worsening intraoperative gas exchange and, in some cases, the need for prolonged postoperative respiratory support. The objective of this report was to review the pathophysiological aspects of atelectasis during general anesthesia and possible therapeutic maneuvers that could prevent and treat this complication. CONTENTS: This review discusses the concepts about the incidence of intraoperative atelectasis, factors that influence their development, both mechanical and those related to mechanical ventilator settings during the surgery, diagnostic criteria, and strategies to prevent and treat this complication. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of the mechanisms related with the development of intraoperative pulmonary collapse, as well as its treatment, can contribute to reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, the length of recovery and hospital costs.JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El colapso pulmonar intraoperatorio es una complicación de elevada incidencia en pacientes sometidos a la intervención quirúrgica bajo anestesia general con relajamiento/parálisis de la musculatura. Esta complicación está asociada al empeoramiento de los cambios de gas en el intraoperatorio y en algunos casos, necesidad de soporte respiratorio prolongado en el período postoperatorio. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron los de revisar los aspectos fisiopatológicos de la formación de atelectasias durante anestesia general y las posibles maniobras terapéuticas para prevenir y tratar esa complicación. CONTENIDO: En esta revisión, los conceptos sobre la incidencia de atelectasias intraoperatorias, los factores relacionados a su desarrollo, tanto mecánicos como los relacionados al ajuste del respirador durante el procedimiento quirúrgico, los aspectos del diagnóstico y las estrategias de prevención y tratamiento fueron abordados de manera sistemática. CONCLUSIONES: La comprensión de los mecanismos relacionados al desarrollo del colapso pulmonar durante el período intraoperatorio, como también su tratamiento, pueden contribuir para la reducción de la incidencia de complicaciones pulmonares postoperatorias, el tiempo de recuperación y los costes de las internaciones en los hospitales

Surface moisture and temperature trends anticipate drought conditions linked to wildfire activity in the Iberian Peninsula

In this study, drought conditions involving risk of fires are detected applying SMOS-derived soil moisture data and land surface temperature models. Moisture-temperature (SM-LST) patterns studied between 2010 and 2014 were linked to main fire regimes in the Iberian Peninsula. Most wildfires burned in warm and dry soils, but the analysis of pre-fire conditions differed among seasons. Absolute values of SM-LST were useful to detect prone- to-fire conditions during summer and early autumn. Complementarily, SM-LST anomalies were related to droughts and high fire activity in October 2011 and February-March 2012. These episodes were coincident with abnormally anticyclonic atmospheric conditions. Results show that combined trends of new soil moisture space-borne data and temperature models could enhance fire risk assessment capabilities. This contribution should be helpful to face the expected increase of wildfire activity derived from climate change.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version