Investigation of gravity wave activity based on NDMC, NDACC and CTBTO measurements

GRIPS (Ground based Infrared P-branch Spectrometer) airglow measurements allow the derivation of kinetic temperature in the mesopause region during night with a temporal resolution of 10s to 15s. Amongst others, these time series can be used for the investigation of atmospheric dynamics like gravity wave activity. GRIPS measurements are performed in the framework of NDMC – the international Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change. The project ARISE combines NDMC, NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change) and CTBTO (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization)measurements to infer a new 3D image of atmospheric dynamics from ground to mesopause. In this context, GRIPS data of about two to three years collected at the Observatory Haute-Provence, France and Catania, Italy are utilized to derive an index for shortand long-period gravity wave activity on daily and seasonal base. This time period includes also a stratospheric warming event. Potential energy density is calculated and compared with NDACC measurements at Haute-Provence; differences are discussed. For the measurements at the Italian station, comparisons of gravity wave and volcanic activity relying on infrasound array and seismic measurements are performed. First hints for volcanic induced mesopause gravity wave activity are presented

Rethinking resilience: home gardening, food sharing and everyday resistance

Resilience and food self-provisioning (FSP), terms that until recently were deployed primarily in the study of livelihoods in the Global South, are now attracting attention from alternative food scholarship in the Global North. Drawing on a large-scale survey conducted in the Czech Republic, this article investigates FSP as a social resilience-enhancing set of practices. In addition to the traditional reading of FSP as a passive, defensive and crisis-deflecting form of resilience, this article puts forward an alternative conceptualisation of resilience as a proactive, preventative, future-oriented and transformation-enabling capacity that runs counter to the tenets of neoliberalism

Toward an improved representation of middle atmospheric dynamics thanks to the ARISE project

This paper reviews recent progress toward understanding the dynamics of the middle atmosphere in the framework of the Atmospheric Dynamics Research InfraStructure in Europe (ARISE) initiative. The middle atmosphere, integrating the stratosphere and mesosphere, is a crucial region which influences tropospheric weather and climate. Enhancing the understanding of middle atmosphere dynamics requires improved measurement of the propagation and breaking of planetary and gravity waves originating in the lowest levels of the atmosphere. Inter-comparison studies have shown large discrepancies between observations and models, especially during unresolved disturbances such as sudden stratospheric warmings for which model accuracy is poorer due to a lack of observational constraints. Correctly predicting the variability of the middle atmosphere can lead to improvements in tropospheric weather forecasts on timescales of weeks to season. The ARISE project integrates different station networks providing observations from ground to the lower thermosphere, including the infrasound system developed for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty verification, the Lidar Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change, complementary meteor radars, wind radiometers, ionospheric sounders and satellites. This paper presents several examples which show how multi-instrument observations can provide a better description of the vertical dynamics structure of the middle atmosphere, especially during large disturbances such as gravity waves activity and stratospheric warming events. The paper then demonstrates the interest of ARISE data in data assimilation for weather forecasting and re-analyzes the determination of dynamics evolution with climate change and the monitoring of atmospheric extreme events which have an atmospheric signature, such as thunderstorms or volcanic eruptions

Investigation of gravity wave activity based on NDMC, NDACC and CTBTO measurements

GRIPS (Ground based Infrared P-branch Spectrometer) airglow measurements allow the derivation of kinetic temperature in the mesopause region during night with a temporal resolution of 10s to 15s. Amongst others, these time series can be used for the investigation of atmospheric dynamics like gravity wave activity. GRIPS measurements are performed in the framework of NDMC – the international Network for the Detection of Mesospheric Change. The project ARISE combines NDMC, NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change) and CTBTO (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization)measurements to infer a new 3D image of atmospheric dynamics from ground to mesopause. In this context, GRIPS data of about two to three years collected at the Observatory Haute-Provence, France and Catania, Italy are utilized to derive an index for shortand long-period gravity wave activity on daily and seasonal base. This time period includes also a stratospheric warming event. Potential energy density is calculated and compared with NDACC measurements at Haute-Provence; differences are discussed. For the measurements at the Italian station, comparisons of gravity wave and volcanic activity relying on infrasound array and seismic measurements are performed. First hints for volcanic induced mesopause gravity wave activity are presented.PublishedVienna, Austria2A. Fisica dell'alta atmosferaope

Malaria epidemiology in Kobeni department, southeastern Mauritania from 2015 to 2017

Background Plasmodium falciparum malaria is endemic in the southern sahelian zone of Mauritania where intense internal and trans-border human and livestock movement occurs. The risk of importation and spread of drug-resistant parasites need to be regularly assessed in this region. The objective of the study was to assess the recent malaria situation near the Mauritania-Mali border. Methods Between February 2015 and December 2017, patients with fever or history of fever during the previous 48 h, presenting at the health centre of Kobeni city, were screened for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and microscopic examination of blood smears. The diagnosis was later confirmed by PCR. Cohen's kappa statistics was used to estimate the degree of agreement between diagnostic methods. Fisher's exact test was used to compare proportions. The odds ratio was calculated to measure the association between the use of bed nets and malaria infection. Results A total of 2326 febrile patients (mean age, 20.2 years) were screened for malaria. The presence of malaria parasites was detected by RDT and microscopy in 53.0% and 49.3% of febrile patients, respectively, and was confirmed by PCR in 59.7% (45 missing data). Of 1361 PCR-positive samples, 1205 (88.5%) were P. falciparum, 47 (3.5%) P. vivax, and 99 (7.3%) P. falciparum-P. vivax mixed infection. Malaria transmission occurred mostly during and shortly after the rainy season. The annual rainfall was relatively low in 2016 (267 mm) and 2017 (274 mm), compared to 2015 (448 mm), and coincided with a decline in malaria prevalence in 2016-2017. Although 71.8% of febrile patients reported to possess at least one bed net in the household in our questionnaire, its reported use was not protective against malaria infection (odds ratio: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.91-1.32). Conclusions Our study confirmed that P. falciparum is the dominant species in the sahelian zone and that malaria transmission is seasonal and associated with rainfall in this zone. The application of the current national policy based on rapid and reliable malaria diagnosis, case management with artemisinin-based combination therapy, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, distribution and use of long-lasting insecticide impregnated bed nets, and the planned introduction of seasonal malaria chemoprevention for all children under 6 years old is expected to sustainably reduce malaria transmission in this zone

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in Grande Comore Island

Background Despite several control interventions resulting in a considerable decrease in malaria prevalence in the Union of the Comoros, the disease remains a public health problem with high transmission in Grande Comore compared to neighbouring islands. In this country, only a few studies investigating the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum have been performed so far. For this reason, this study aims to examine the genetic diversity of P. falciparum by studying samples collected in Grande Comore in 2012 and 2013, using merozoite surface protein 1 (msp1), merozoite surface protein 2 (msp2) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers. Methods A total of 162 positive rapid diagnostic test (RDT) samples from Grande Comore were used to extract parasite DNA. Allelic families K1, Mad20 and RO33 of the msp1 gene as well as allelic families IC3D7 and FC37 of the msp2 gene were determined by using nested PCR. Additionally, 50 out of 151 samples were genotyped to study 24 SNPs by using high resolution melting (HRM).ResultsTwo allelic families were predominant, the K1 family of msp1 gene (55%) and the FC27 family of msp2 gene (47.4%). Among 50 samples genotyped for 24 SNPs, 42 (84%) yielded interpretable results. Out of these isolates, 36 (85%) were genetically unique and 6 (15%) grouped into two clusters. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum calculated from msp1 and msp2 genes and SNPs was 0.82 and 0.61, respectively. Conclusion In summary, a large genetic diversity of P. falciparum was observed in Grande Comore. This may favour persistence of malaria and might be one of the reasons for the high malaria transmission compared to neighbouring islands. Further surveillance of P. falciparum isolates, mainly through environmental management and vector control, is warranted until complete elimination is attained