Cap codes arising from duality

We describe a simple method to construct many different linear codes arising from caps in a projective space whose automorphism group is known in advance. This procedure begins with a fairly small point set in an appropriate finite projective space

A remark on Hamming codes

We provide an alternative description of the Hamming code with parameters $[2^{r+1}-1,2^{r+1}-r-2,3]_{2}$ in the geometric setting exhibiting the isomorphism between the finite classical groups $\mathrm{O}(2m+1,2^{n})$ and $\mathrm{Sp}(2m,2^{n})$

Elucidating factors driving post-fire vegetation recovery in the Mediterranean forests using Landsat spectral metrics

Wildfires represent one of the primary disturbance agents in the Mediterranean, significantly affecting the ecological integrity of forests. Therefore, understanding the spatial patterns of post-fire vegetation recovery is crucial to improving forest restoration planning and assessing the regeneration capacity of different forest stands that have been impacted by wildfires. In this study, we analysed post-fire vegetation recovery rates within the context of fire severity, pre-fire vegetation, and post-fire climate conditions, for different Mediterranean forest classes, namely, Mediterranean pine, holm, deciduous oak forests, sclerophyllous vegetation, and thermophilous shrublands. Basilicata, in Italy, was chosen as a study area, as it represents a wide range of forests. The Relative Recovery Indicator (RRI) was derived from Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) patterns extracted from 30-meter Landsat time series for different wildfires that occurred during the 2004–2016 within Google Earth Engine (GEE) environment. A Linear Mixed Model (LMM) was used to test the effect of the different variables on the RRI. Results showed a general decrease in recovery rate within five-years post-fire for each forest cover class, which is mainly related to pre- and post-fire conditions. Pre-fire vegetation conditions significantly influenced post-fire vegetation recovery, especially in sclerophyllous and deciduous oak forests. Post-fire climate conditions (e.g., temperature) were also important predictors of vegetation recovery explaining the variation in post-fire RRI patterns. The proposed method could provide new insights into the restoration and management of forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean

Effects of a large-scale late spring frost on a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) dominated Mediterranean mountain forest derived from the spatio-temporal variations of NDVI

Key message A remote sensing-based approach was implemented to detect the effect of a late spring frost on beech forests in the Mediterranean mountain region. The analysis of spatio-temporal variability of frost effects on normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) highlighted the distribution of the canopy damage across the forest according to geomorphic factors such as slope, aspect, and altitude

data_sheet_nole_et_al.txt

<p>Increased intensity and frequency of extreme temperatures such as late spring frosts and heat waves represent the main driver affecting forest ecosystem structure and composition in the Mediterranean region. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a late spring frost disturbance which occurred during spring 2016 in southern Italy, through the assessment of the spatial pattern of the damages on beech forest canopy at peak decrease of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the analysis of the NDVI temporal recovery after the late spring frost disturbance. The forest areas affected by frost were detected through the NDVI differencing technique based on Landsat 8 (OLI/TIRS) imagery time series. The influence of local geomorphic factors (i.e. aspect, elevation and slope) on forest NDVI patterns was assessed by means of a generalized additive model (GAM). A rather counterintuitive NDVI patterns emerged according to forest exposition, with NDVI significantly higher on the north facing areas than the southerly ones. The main canopy damages occur at about 1250 m and peaking at 1500 m asl, representing the altitudinal range affected by frost disturbance. Finally the full canopy recovery occurred within 3 months from the frost event. The analysis of seasonal Landsat 8 image time-series related to local geomorphic factors, as aspect, slope and altitude, and plant phenology on frost event date, contribute to highlight the NDVI spatio-temporal variation and canopy recovery of Mediterranean mountain beech forest</p

The role of respiration in estimation of net carbon cycle: Coupling soil carbon dynamics and canopy turnover in a novel version of 3D-CMCC forest ecosystem model

Understanding the dynamics of organic carbon mineralization is fundamental in forecasting biosphere to atmosphere net carbon ecosystem exchange (NEE). With this perspective, we developed 3D-CMCC-PSM, a new version of the hybrid process based model 3D-CMCC FEM where also heterotrophic respiration (Rh) is explicitly simulated. The aim was to quantify NEE as a forward problem, by subtracting ecosystem respiration (Reco) to gross primary productivity (GPP). To do so, we developed a simplification of the soil carbon dynamics routine proposed in the DNDC (DeNitrification-DeComposition) computer simulation model. The method calculates decomposition as a function of soil moisture, temperature, state of the organic compartments, and relative abundance of microbial pools. Given the pulse dynamics of soil respiration, we introduced modifications in some of the principal constitutive relations involved in phenology and littering sub-routines. We quantified the model structure-related uncertainty in NEE, by running our training simulations over 1000 random parameter-sets extracted from parameter distributions expected from literature. 3D-CMCC-PSM predictability was tested on independent time series for 6 Fluxnet sites. The model resulted in daily and monthly estimations highly consistent with the observed time series. It showed lower predictability in Mediterranean ecosystems, suggesting that it may need further improvements in addressing evapotranspiration and water dynamics

Updating the MEDALUS‐ESA Framework for Worldwide Land Degradation and Desertification Assessment

The Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) methodology (originally proposed in the framework of MEDALUS ‐ Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use ‐ a series of international cooperation research projects funded by the EU) is used worldwide to identify ‘sensitive areas' that are potentially threatened by land degradation and desertification. The distinctive outcome of this approach is a multidimensional index (the ESA index) composed of partial indicators of climate, soil, vegetation, and management quality that are derived from the elaboration of 15 elementary variables. In this study, we propose (i) a major update of the ESA methodology, as presented in the MEDALUS project, for global land degradation/desertification (LDD) assessment, (ii) a global map of ESAs to LDD and (iii) a global environmentally critical factors (ECF) map. The results of the updated ESA framework confirm the efficiency and applicability of the ESA methodology in different worldwide areas, allowing for the harmonization of regional/country level studies and applications, and the more efficient use of global level datasets. In this study, we provide examples for analysis of LDD patterns and processes at a global level, as well as for identification of the main risk factors over time and space. Global‐ESA and Global‐ECF maps also support regional‐scale knowledge on LDD processes and sustainable land management practices for LDD mitigation. High‐resolution illustrative maps and other information are available on a dedicated website (http://web.unibas.it/global‐esa/)

Shaping the role of 'fast' and 'slow' drivers of change in forest-shrubland socio-ecological systems

The temporal speeds and spatial scales at which ecosystem processes operate are often at odds with the scale and speed at which natural resources such as soil, water and vegetation are managed those. Scale mismatches often occur as a result of the time-lag between policy development, implementation and observable changes in natural capital in particular. In this study, we analyse some of the transformations that can occur in complex forest-shrubland socio-ecological systems undergoing biophysical and socioeconomic change. We use a Multiway Factor Analysis (MFA) applied to a representative set of variables to assess changes in components of natural, economic and social capitals over time. Our results indicate similarities among variables and spatial units (i.e. municipalities) which allows us to rank the variables used to describe the SES according to their rapidity of change. The novelty of the proposed framework lies in the fact that the assessment of rapidity-to-change, based on the MFA, takes into account the multivariate relationships among the system's variables, identifying the net rate of change for the whole system, and the relative impact that individual variables exert on the system itself. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fast and slow variables on the evolution of socio-economic systems based on simplified multivariate procedures applicable to vastly different socio-economic contexts and conditions. This study also contributes to quantitative analysis methods for long-established socio-ecological systems, which may help in designing more effective, and sustainable land management strategies in environmentally sensitive areas