Journal Description
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of scientific studies related to the atmosphere published monthly online by MDPI. The Italian Aerosol Society (IAS) and Working Group of Air Quality in European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) are affiliated with Atmosphere and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, Astrophysics Data System, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Environmental Science (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 17.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about the Atmosphere.
- Companion journal: Meteorology.
Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
The Impact of Vertical Eddy Diffusivity Changes in the CMAQ Model on PM2.5 Concentration Variations in Northeast Asia: Focusing on the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030376 (registering DOI) - 19 Mar 2024
Abstract
The vertical eddy diffusion process plays a crucial role in PM2.5 prediction, yet accurately predicting it remains challenging. In the three-dimensional atmospheric chemistry transport model (3-D AQM) CMAQ, a parameter, Kz, is utilized, and it is known that PM2.5 prediction tendencies
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The vertical eddy diffusion process plays a crucial role in PM2.5 prediction, yet accurately predicting it remains challenging. In the three-dimensional atmospheric chemistry transport model (3-D AQM) CMAQ, a parameter, Kz, is utilized, and it is known that PM2.5 prediction tendencies vary according to the floor value of this parameter (Kzmin). This study aims to examine prediction characteristics according to Kzmin values, targeting days exceeding the Korean air quality standards, and to derive appropriate Kzmin values for predicting PM2.5 concentrations in the DJFM Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA). Kzmin values of 0.01, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0, based on the model version and land cover, were applied as single values. Initially focusing on December 4th to 12th, 2020, the prediction characteristics were examined during periods of local and inflow influence. Results showed that in both periods, as Kzmin increased, surface concentrations over land decreased while those in the upper atmosphere increased, whereas over the sea, concentrations increased in both layers due to the influence of advection and diffusion without emissions. During the inflow period, the increase in vertically diffused pollutants led to increased inflow concentrations and affected contribution assessments. Long-term evaluations from December 2020 to March 2021 indicated that the prediction performance was superior when Kzmin was set to 0.01, but it was not significant for the upwind region (China). To improve trans-boundary effects, optimal values were applied differentially by region (0.01 for Korea, 1.0 for China, and 0.01 for other regions), resulting in significantly improved prediction performance with an R of 0.78, IOA of 0.88, and NMB of 0.7%. These findings highlight the significant influence of Kzmin values on winter season PM2.5 prediction tendencies in the SMA and underscore the need for considering differential application of optimal values by region when interpreting research and making policy decisions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights into Air Pollution over East Asia)
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Lightning under Different Land Use and Cover, and the Influence of Topography in the Carajás Mineral Province, Eastern Amazon
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Ana Paula Paes dos Santos, Douglas Batista da Silva Ferreira, Wilson da Rocha Nascimento Júnior, Pedro Walfir Martins e Souza-Filho, Osmar Pinto Júnior, Francisco José Lopes de Lima, Vandoir Bourscheidt, Enrique Vieira Mattos, Claudia Priscila Wanzeler da Costa, Antônio Vasconcelos Nogueira Neto and Renata Gonçalves Tedeschi
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 375; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030375 (registering DOI) - 19 Mar 2024
Abstract
Knowledge about regions where lightning occurs is important both for understanding storm development and direction. This can assist in very short-term weather forecasts and in developing lightning warning systems, aiming to minimize exposure of people and equipment in the open sky. A survey
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Knowledge about regions where lightning occurs is important both for understanding storm development and direction. This can assist in very short-term weather forecasts and in developing lightning warning systems, aiming to minimize exposure of people and equipment in the open sky. A survey on the occurrence of lightning in different types of land use and coverage and different elevation strata in the region of the Itacaiúnas River watershed (IRW), located in the Carajás Mineral Province, in the Eastern Amazon, from 2012 to 2021 was conducted. The results showed significant differences in the occurrence of lightning in mining areas and deforested areas. When comparing the large proportion of deforested areas with the mining area, the results suggested that in IRW mining areas, the lightning incidence is expressively higher. The assessment of electrical activity at different elevations in the region suggested that the slope of the terrain and its thermodynamic effects on the formation of storms have more influence than altitude on lightning activity. The results showed the importance of adopting initiatives aimed at protecting both the local population and mining workers, as well as equipment exposed to the open sky in this region.
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(This article belongs to the Section Biosphere/Hydrosphere/Land–Atmosphere Interactions)
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A Systematic Review of the Potential Influence of Urbanization on the Regional Thunderstorm Process and Lightning Activity
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Tao Shi, Gaopeng Lu, Xiangcheng Wen, Lei Liu and Ping Qi
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 374; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030374 - 19 Mar 2024
Abstract
In the context of global climate change, lightning disasters have emerged as a serious environmental factor that restricts the sustainable development of megacities. This paper provides a review of the research on the impact of urbanization on thunderstorm processes and lightning activity, exploring
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In the context of global climate change, lightning disasters have emerged as a serious environmental factor that restricts the sustainable development of megacities. This paper provides a review of the research on the impact of urbanization on thunderstorm processes and lightning activity, exploring various aspects, such as aerosols, urban thermal effects, urban dynamic effects, and building morphology. Despite numerous significant achievements in the study of the impact of air pollutants on lightning activity, there is no consensus on whether aerosols serve to enhance or inhibit lightning activity. The temperature difference between the urban underlying surface and the natural underlying surface could sustain and promote the occurrence and development of convective systems, thus enhancing lightning activity. In terms of urban dynamics, the barrier effect has led to the maximum center of lightning appearing at the edge of a built-up area, which might be associated with factors, such as urban heat island (UHI) intensity, wind speed, synoptic background, and city size. Additionally, the size of a city and the height of the buildings was also an influencing factor on lightning activity. In summary, scholars have made progress in understanding the characteristics and drivers of urban lightning activity in recent years, but there are still some urgent problems that need to be solved: (1) How to analyze, comprehensively, the spatiotemporal patterns of urban lightning activity under different thunderstorm intensity backgrounds? (2) How to conduct analysis to investigate the influence of alterations in the boundary layer structure, water–heat energy balance, and water vapor circulation processes on urban lightning activity in the context of urbanization? (3) How to couple numerical models of different scales to enhance the understanding of the impact of complex underlying surfaces on urban lightning activity? Future studies could investigate the relationship between urbanization and thunderstorm/lightning activity using a combination of observational data, numerical modeling, and laboratory experiments, which holds promise for providing valuable theoretical insights and technical support to enhance the prediction, nowcasting, early warning, and risk assessment of thunderstorms and lightning in urban areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Land Use and Climate Change in Urban Area: Big Data and Machine Learning)
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A Deep Learning-Based Downscaling Method Considering the Impact on Typhoons to Future Precipitation in Taiwan
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Shiu-Shin Lin, Kai-Yang Zhu and Chen-Yu Wang
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 371; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030371 - 19 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study proposes a deep neural network (DNN)-based downscaling model incorporating kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) to investigate the precipitation uncertainty influenced by typhoons in Taiwan, which has a complex island topography. The best tracking data of tropical cyclones from the Joint Typhoon
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This study proposes a deep neural network (DNN)-based downscaling model incorporating kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) to investigate the precipitation uncertainty influenced by typhoons in Taiwan, which has a complex island topography. The best tracking data of tropical cyclones from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) are utilized to calculate typhoon and non-typhoon precipitation. KPCA is applied to extract nonlinear features of the BCC-CSM1-1 (Beijing Climate Center Climate System Model version 1.1) and CanESM2 (second-generation Canadian Earth System Model) GCM models. The length of the data used in the two GCM models span from January 1950 to December 2005 (historical data) and from January 2006 to December 2099 (scenario out data). The rainfall data are collected from the weather stations in Taichung and Hualien (cities of Taiwan) operated by the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan. The period of rainfall data in Taichung and in Hualien spans from January 1950 to December 2005. The proposed model is constructed with features extracted from the GCMs and historical monthly precipitation from Taichung and Hualien. The model we have built is used to estimate monthly precipitation and uncertainty in both Taichung and Hualien for future scenarios (rcp 4.5 and 8.5) of the GCMs. The results suggest that, in Taichung and Hualien, the summer precipitation is mostly within the normal range. The rainfall in the long term (January 2071 to December 2080) for both Taichung and Hualien typically fall between 100 mm and 200 mm. In the long term, the dry season (January to April, November, and December) precipitation for Taichung and that in the wet season (May to October) for Hualien are less and more affected by typhoons, respectively. The dry season precipitation is more affected by typhoons in Taichung than Hualien. In both Taichung and Hualien, the long-term probability of rainfall exceeding the historical average in the dry season is higher than that in the wet season.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forecasting and Modeling of Tropical Cyclones and Their Induced Wind and Precipitation)
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Modulation of the Madden–Julian Oscillation Center Stagnation on Typhoon Genesis over the western North Pacific
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Chun-qiao Lin, Ling-li Fan, Xu-zhe Chen, Jia-Hao Li and Jian-jun Xu
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 373; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030373 (registering DOI) - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) modulates the generation of typhoons (TYs) in the western North Pacific (WNP). Using IBTrACS v04 tropical cyclone best path data, ERA5 reanalysis data, and the MJO index from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), this paper defines an index to describe
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Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) modulates the generation of typhoons (TYs) in the western North Pacific (WNP). Using IBTrACS v04 tropical cyclone best path data, ERA5 reanalysis data, and the MJO index from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), this paper defines an index to describe the persistent anomalies of the MJO and to examine the statistical characteristics of TYs over 44 years (1978–2021), focusing on the analysis of major differences in environmental conditions after the removal of the ENSO signal over the WNP. The results indicate that the persistent anomalous state of the MJO influences the change in large-scale environmental factors, which, in turn, affects the generation of TYs, as follows: (1) For the I high-value years, the center of the MJO stagnates in the Indian Ocean–South China Sea (SCS), the monsoon trough retreats westward, the warm pool becomes warmer, and the Walker circulation is enhanced. There is stronger upper-level divergence and low-level convergence, larger low-level relative vorticity, higher mid-level relative humidity, and smaller vertical wind shear in the SCS and the seas near the Philippines. Consequently, these conditions foster a conducive environment for TY genesis in the SCS and the seas near the Philippines. (2) For the I low-value years, the center of the MJO stagnates in the WNP–North America region, the monsoon trough extends eastward, the warm pool becomes colder, and the Walker circulation is weakened. Consequently, these conditions are more likely to facilitate TY genesis in the central–eastern WNP. The results show that persistent anomalies in MJO active centers can effectively improve the predictive ability of TY frequency.
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(This article belongs to the Section Meteorology)
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Community-Centric Approaches to Coastal Hazard Assessment and Management in Southside Norfolk, Virginia, USA
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Dalya Ismael, Nicole Hutton, Mujde Erten-Unal, Carol Considine, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Christopher Davis and Yin-Hsuen Chen
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 372; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030372 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Urban communities in environmentally sensitive areas face escalating challenges due to climate change and inadequate infrastructural support, particularly in underserved regions like southside Norfolk, Virginia. This area, characterized by its vulnerability to flooding and a predominantly low-income population, lacks equitable inclusion in broader
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Urban communities in environmentally sensitive areas face escalating challenges due to climate change and inadequate infrastructural support, particularly in underserved regions like southside Norfolk, Virginia. This area, characterized by its vulnerability to flooding and a predominantly low-income population, lacks equitable inclusion in broader urban flood protection plans. This research focuses on the development of community-centered resilience strategies through active engagement and collaboration with local residents. The methodology centered around building trust and understanding within the community through a series of interactions and events. This approach facilitated a two-way exchange of information, enabling the research team to gather crucial insights on community-valued assets, prevalent flooding issues, and preferred flood mitigation solutions. The engagement revealed a significant increase in community knowledge regarding climate change, sea level rise, and stormwater management. Residents expressed a strong preference for green infrastructure solutions, including rain gardens, permeable pavements, and living shorelines, alongside concerns about pollution and the need for infrastructure redesign. The outcomes of this community engagement have initiated plans to develop tailored, nature-based flooding solutions. These results are set to inform future urban planning and policy, offering insights to the City of Norfolk and the United States Army Corps of Engineers for potential redesigns of flood intervention strategies that are more inclusive and effective. A template for participatory research to inform coastal hazard management includes cross-sector collaboration, a long-term engagement commitment, and education and surveying opportunities to align solutions to lived, local experiences. This template allows for community trust building, which is especially important in environmental justice communities. The study highlights the importance of community involvement in urban resilience planning, demonstrating that local engagement is essential in shaping community-centric solutions and equitable environmental policies.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards and Climate Change)
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Time Series Analysis of the Impact of Meteorological Conditions and Air Quality on the Number of Medical Visits for Hypertension in Haikou City, China
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Mingjie Zhang, Yajie Zhang, Jinghong Zhang and Shaowu Lin
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 370; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030370 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Meteorological conditions and air quality are important environmental factors in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as hypertension. The aim of this study was to take Haikou City, located on the tropical edge, as the research area and to analyze
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Meteorological conditions and air quality are important environmental factors in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as hypertension. The aim of this study was to take Haikou City, located on the tropical edge, as the research area and to analyze the exposure–response relationship and lag effect between its meteorological conditions, air quality, and the number of hypertensive patients. Using the data from the hypertension outpatient department of Hainan Provincial People’s Hospital from 2016 to 2018, together with meteorological data and air quality data, a distributed lag nonlinear model based on the nested generalized addition model of meteorological element base variables was established. The results showed that the impact of temperature on the risk of hypertension was mainly due to the cold effect, which was associated with high risk, with a lag of 1–10 days. When the temperature dropped to 10 °C, the cumulative effect on the risk of hypertension of relative risk (RR) reached its highest value on the day the low temperature occurred (RR was 2.30 and the 95% confidence interval was 1.723~3.061), passing the test with a significance level of 0.05. This result indicated that efforts should be made to strengthen the prevention of hypertension under low-temperature conditions and the prediction and early warning of disease risks. The impact of the air-quality effect (the environmental Air Quality Index was selected as an indicator) on the risk of hypertension was mainly characterized by a low air-quality effect, with a lag effect of 0–8 days. When the risk reached approximately 124, the RR was highest (RR was 1.63 and the 95% confidence interval was 1.104~2.408), passing the test with a significance level of 0.05. The research results can provide technical support for conducting medical meteorological forecasting, early warning, and services for hypertension. A joint work and research mechanism among multiple departments such as meteorology and medical health should be established to improve the level of medical and health care, optimize the allocation of social resources, and develop targeted prevention and control strategies to reduce the health and economic burden of hypertension.
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(This article belongs to the Section Biometeorology)
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Comparison of RegCM4.7.1 Simulation with the Station Observation Data of Georgia, 1985–2008
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Mariam Elizbarashvili, Avtandil Amiranashvili, Elizbar Elizbarashvili, George Mikuchadze, Tamar Khuntselia and Nino Chikhradze
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 369; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030369 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
The global climate change, driven by natural processes and increasing human activities, is especially significant for Georgia. The region is experiencing increases in temperature, desertification, redistribution of precipitation, and a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Georgia’s complex topography
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The global climate change, driven by natural processes and increasing human activities, is especially significant for Georgia. The region is experiencing increases in temperature, desertification, redistribution of precipitation, and a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Georgia’s complex topography and its proximity to the Black and Caspian seas make it essential to employ high-resolution regional climate models to evaluate future climate change risks. In this study, we examine the results of a high-resolution simulation of mean and extreme precipitation and temperature using the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics Regional Climate Model version 4.7.1 for the period 1985–2008, providing an initial evaluation of the model’s performance for the territory of Georgia. The model domain (1524 km; 2388 km) encompasses the entirety of Georgia’s territory and surrounding regions. The simulation, conducted at a 12 km horizontal grid spacing using ERA5 data as boundary conditions, indicates that the least discrepancy between observed and modeled average annual temperatures and precipitation, falling within a −1 to 1 °C and −200 to 200 mm range, respectively, was observed at most stations of eastern Georgia. The largest disparities between the model and observed average annual precipitation totals were noted along the Black Sea coast, in the Kolkheti Lowland, and in some high mountain stations in western Georgia. The most significant differences in average annual temperatures between the model and observations were observed in Ambrolauri, Mt. Sabueti, and Dedoplistskaro. For Georgia territory, such a long run with such a high resolution using ERA5 as boundary conditions was conducted for the first time. Overall, the modeling results are quite satisfactory, providing a solid basis for the successful utilization of the regional climate model RegCM4.7.1 with the selected parameterization for modeling monthly mean and extreme temperatures and precipitation in Georgia.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Temperature and Precipitation and Relationship to Atmospheric Circulation)
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The Application of Aluminium Powder as an Accumulation Medium of Mercury from Air
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Innocentia M. Modise, Nikolai Panichev and Khakhathi L. Mandiwana
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 368; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030368 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
A gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) sampler was developed for the assessment of mercury (Hg) pollution from the air and utilised aluminium (Al) powder as the accumulation medium. The Hg sampler is presented as an alternative cost-effective sorbent that can be used
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A gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) sampler was developed for the assessment of mercury (Hg) pollution from the air and utilised aluminium (Al) powder as the accumulation medium. The Hg sampler is presented as an alternative cost-effective sorbent that can be used for the assessment of Hg pollution in atmospheric air in areas where natural bio-indicators such as lichens and moss do not grow, including the urban environments. The chemical treatment of Al materials was necessary to weaken the aluminium oxide (Al2O3) layer to increase the adsorption capability of Al material. Treated Al samples were exposed to Hg vapours for one hour to two weeks in a Hg atmosphere chamber. Other Al powder samples were exposed to the ambient air at areas of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality for six to ten months. The analysis of samples by an RA-915+ Zeeman mercury analyser showed that the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the determination of Hg in Al powder with a mass of 100 mg were found to be 0.31 ng g−1 and 1.0 ng g−1, respectively. The content of Hg that accumulated on Al powder was linear from 0.1 to 25 ng g−1, thus enabling the measurement of Hg accumulation from air at the global average concentration level. Mercury from air that accumulated on Al powder in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality ranged between 70 ng g−1 and 155 ng g−1.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Accessing and Analyzing Air Quality and Atmospheric Environment)
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The Variation in Atmospheric Turbidity over a Tropical Site in Nigeria and Its Relation to Climate Drivers
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Olanrewaju Olukemi SoneyeArogundade and Bernhard Rappenglück
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 367; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030367 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Atmospheric turbidity exhibits substantial spatial–temporal variability due to factors such as aerosol emissions, seasonal changes, meteorology, and air mass transport. Investigating atmospheric turbidity is crucial for climatology, meteorology, and atmospheric pollution. This study investigates the variation in atmospheric turbidity over a tropical location
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Atmospheric turbidity exhibits substantial spatial–temporal variability due to factors such as aerosol emissions, seasonal changes, meteorology, and air mass transport. Investigating atmospheric turbidity is crucial for climatology, meteorology, and atmospheric pollution. This study investigates the variation in atmospheric turbidity over a tropical location in Nigeria, utilizing the Ångström exponent (α), the turbidity coefficient (β), the Linke turbidity factor (TL), the Ångström turbidity coefficient (βEST), the Unsworth–Monteith turbidity coefficient (KAUM), and the Schüepp turbidity coefficient (SCH). These parameters were estimated from a six-month uninterrupted aerosol optical depth dataset (January–June 2016) and a one-year dataset (January–December 2016) of solar radiation and meteorological data. An inverse correlation (R = −0.77) was obtained between α and β, which indicates different turbidity regimes based on particle size. TL and βEST exhibit pronounced seasonality, with higher turbidity during the dry season (TL = 9.62 and βEST = 0.60) compared to the rainy season (TL = 0.48 and βEST = 0.20) from May to October. Backward trajectories and wind patterns reveal that high-turbidity months align with north-easterly air flows from the Sahara Desert, transporting dust aerosols, while low-turbidity months coincide with humid maritime air masses originating from the Gulf of Guinea. Meteorological drivers like relative humidity and water vapor pressure are linked to turbidity levels, with an inverse exponential relationship observed between normalized turbidity coefficients and normalized water vapor pressure. This analysis provides insights into how air mass origin, wind patterns, and local climate factors impact atmospheric haze, particle characteristics, and solar attenuation variability in a tropical location across seasons. The findings can contribute to environmental studies and assist in modelling interactions between climate, weather, and atmospheric optical properties in the region.
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(This article belongs to the Section Aerosols)
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Investigating Nonlinear Dynamics in Atmospheric Aerosols during the Transition from Laminar to Turbulent Flow
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Marius Mihai Cazacu, Alin Iulian Roșu, Razvan Vasile Ababei, Adrian Roșu, Decebal Vasincu, Dragoș Constantin Nica, Oana Rusu, Andreea Bianca Bruma and Maricel Agop
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 366; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030366 - 17 Mar 2024
Abstract
This paper investigates the nonlinear dynamics of atmospheric aerosols during the transition from laminar to turbulent flows using the framework of Scale Relativity Theory. It is proposed that the transition from multifractal to non-multifractal scales (in the dynamics of the atmospheric aerosols) can
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This paper investigates the nonlinear dynamics of atmospheric aerosols during the transition from laminar to turbulent flows using the framework of Scale Relativity Theory. It is proposed that the transition from multifractal to non-multifractal scales (in the dynamics of the atmospheric aerosols) can be assimilated to the transition between laminar and turbulent states. These transitions are determined by the multifractal diffusion and deposition processes. The methodology used involves the application of the principle of scale covariance, which states that the laws of atmospheric physics remain invariant with respect to spatial and temporal transformations as well as scale transformations. Based on this principle, several conservation laws are constructed. In such context, the conservation law of the density of states associated with the multifractal-non-multifractal scale transition in a one-dimensional case is then considered. The model describes the non-linear behaviour of atmospheric aerosols undergoing diffusion and deposition processes. The theoretical approach was correlated using experimental data from a ceilometer and radar reflectivity factor data.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Numerical Simulation of Aerosol Microphysical Processes)
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Culturable Microorganisms of Aerosols Sampled during Aircraft Sounding of the Atmosphere over the Russian Arctic Seas
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Irina S. Andreeva, Aleksandr S. Safatov, Larisa I. Puchkova, Nadezhda A. Solovyanova, Olesya V. Okhlopkova, Maksim E. Rebus, Galina A. Buryak, Boris D. Belan and Denis V. Simonenkov
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 365; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030365 - 17 Mar 2024
Abstract
Atmospheric sounding using the Tu-134 Optik aircraft-laboratory was conducted in September 2020 over the seas of the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean, namely the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi and Bering seas. Unique samples of atmospheric aerosols at altitudes from 200
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Atmospheric sounding using the Tu-134 Optik aircraft-laboratory was conducted in September 2020 over the seas of the Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean, namely the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, Chukchi and Bering seas. Unique samples of atmospheric aerosols at altitudes from 200 and up to 10,000 m were taken, including samples for the identification of cultivated microorganisms and their genetic analysis. Data on the concentration and diversity of bacteria and fungi isolated from 24 samples of atmospheric aerosols are presented; the main phenotypic and genomic characteristics were obtained for 152 bacterial cultures; and taxonomic belonging was determined. The concentration of cultured microorganisms detected in aerosols of different locations was similar, averaging 5.5 × 103 CFU/m3. No dependence of the number of isolated microorganisms on the height and location of aerosol sampling was observed. The presence of pathogenic and condto shitionally pathogenic bacteria, including those referred to in the genera Staphylococcus, Kocuria, Rothia, Comamonas, Brevundimonas, Acinetobacter, and others, as well as fungi represented by the widely spread genera Aureobasidium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, capable of causing infectious and allergic diseases were present in most analyzed samples. Obtained data reveal the necessity of systematic studies of atmospheric microbiota composition to combat emerging population diseases.
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(This article belongs to the Section Aerosols)
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Estimation and Analysis of Glacier Mass Balance in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau Using TanDEM-X Bi-Static InSAR during 2000–2014
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Yafei Sun, Liming Jiang, Ning Gao, Songfeng Gao and Junjie Li
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 364; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030364 - 17 Mar 2024
Abstract
In recent decades, glaciers in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) have been rapidly melting and showing a large scale of glacier mass loss. Due to the lack of large-scale, high-resolution, and high-precision observations, knowledge on the spatial distribution of the glacier mass balance
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In recent decades, glaciers in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) have been rapidly melting and showing a large scale of glacier mass loss. Due to the lack of large-scale, high-resolution, and high-precision observations, knowledge on the spatial distribution of the glacier mass balance and the response to climate change is limited in this region. We propose a TanDEM-X bi-static InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) algorithm with a non-local mean filter method and difference strategy, to improve the precision of glacier surface elevation change detection. Moreover, we improved the glacier mass balance estimation algorithm with a correction method for multi-source system errors and an uncertainty evaluation method based on error propagation theory to reduce the uncertainty of estimations. We used 13 pairs of TanDEM-X bi-static InSAR images to obtain the glacier mass balance data for the entire SETP. The total area of glaciers monitored was 5821 km2 and the total number of glaciers monitored was 2321; the glacier surface elevation change rate was −0.505 ± 0.005 m/yr, and the glacier mass balance estimation was −454.5 ± 13.1 mm w.eq. during 2000–2014. Additionally, we analyzed the spatial distribution of the glacier mass balance within the SETP using the sub-watershed analysis method. The results showed that the mass loss rate had a decreasing trend from the southeast to the northwest. Furthermore, the temperature change and the glacier mass loss rate showed a positive correlation from the southeast to the northwest in this region. This study greatly advances our understanding of the regularities of glacier dynamics in this region, and can provide scientific support for major national goals such as the rational utilization of surrounding water resources and construction of important transportation projects.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Global Glacier Mass Balance Changes and Their Impacts)
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Associations between Climate Variability and Livestock Production in Botswana: A Vector Autoregression with Exogenous Variables (VARX) Analysis
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Given Matopote and Niraj Prakash Joshi
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 363; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030363 - 16 Mar 2024
Abstract
The changing climate has a serious bearing on agriculture, particularly livestock production in Botswana. Therefore, studying the relationship between climate and livestock, which at present is largely missing, is necessary for the proper formulation of government policy and interventions. This is critical in
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The changing climate has a serious bearing on agriculture, particularly livestock production in Botswana. Therefore, studying the relationship between climate and livestock, which at present is largely missing, is necessary for the proper formulation of government policy and interventions. This is critical in promoting the adoption of relevant mitigation strategies by farmers, thereby increasing resilience. The aim of this research is to establish associations between climate variability and livestock production in Botswana at the national level. The paper employs time series data from 1970 to 2020 and the Vector Autoregression with Exogenous Variables (VARX) model for statistical analysis. The trend shows that both cattle and goat populations are decreasing. The VARX model results reveal that cattle and goat populations are negatively associated with increasing maximum temperatures. Cattle respond negatively to increased minimum temperatures as well, while goats tend to respond positively, implying that livestock species react differently to climatic conditions due to their distinct features. The results of the roots of the companion matrix for cattle and goat production meet the stability condition as all the eigenvalues lie inside the unit circle. The study recommends further intervention by the government to deal with increasing temperatures, thereby addressing the dwindling populations of goats and cattle, which have significant contributions to the household economies of smallholders and the national economy, respectively.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Weather Conditions on Agriculture)
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Visualizing Changes in Global Glacier Surface Mass Balances before and after 1990
by
Roger J. Braithwaite and Philip D. Hughes
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 362; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030362 - 16 Mar 2024
Abstract
Recent satellite measurements of glacier mass balances show mountain glaciers all over the world had generally negative mass balances in the first decades of the 21st century. Mean summer temperatures all over the world rose from the 1961–1990 period to the 1991–2020 period,
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Recent satellite measurements of glacier mass balances show mountain glaciers all over the world had generally negative mass balances in the first decades of the 21st century. Mean summer temperatures all over the world rose from the 1961–1990 period to the 1991–2020 period, implying increasingly negative mass balances. We studied archived annual balances for 38 northern hemisphere glaciers to assess changes within the 1961–2020 period. We used a modified double-mass curve to visualize mass balance changes occurring around 1990. Mean balances in 1961–1990 were already small negative for many of the studied glaciers and became even more negative in 1991–2020 for glaciers in the Alps, at high latitudes and in western North America. The largest mass balance changes were for some glaciers in the Alps. We are unable to explain the lack of change in mean balance for one glacier in High Mountain Asia. We found complex changes for eight glaciers in Scandinavia, even including one glacier with a positive balance. We explain these changes by visualizing the deviations in winter and summer balances from their respective 1961–1990 mean values. High winter balances in the 1990s for Scandinavia partly obscured the emerging trend of increasingly negative summer balances, which we expect to continue in the future.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Global Glacier Mass Balance Changes and Their Impacts)
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Assessment of Water Resources under Climate Change in Western Hindukush Region: A Case Study of the Upper Kabul River Basin
by
Tooryalay Ayoubi, Christian Reinhardt-Imjela and Achim Schulte
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 361; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030361 - 16 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study aims to estimate the surface runoff and examine the impact of climate change on water resources in the Upper Kabul River Basin (UKRB). A hydrological model was developed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) from 2009 to 2019. The
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This study aims to estimate the surface runoff and examine the impact of climate change on water resources in the Upper Kabul River Basin (UKRB). A hydrological model was developed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) from 2009 to 2019. The monthly calibration was conducted on streamflow in six stations for the period from 2010 to 2016, and the results were validated from 2017 to 2018 based on available observed data. The hydrological sensitivity parameters were further prioritized using SWAT-CUP. The uncertainty of the model was analyzed by the 95% Prediction Uncertainty (95PPU). Future projections were analyzed for the 2040s (2030–2049) and 2090s (2080–2099) compared to the baseline period (1986–2005) under two representation concentration pathways (RCP4.5, RCP8.5). Four Regional Climate Models (RCMs) were bias-corrected using the linear scaling bias correction method. The modeling results exhibited a very reasonable fit between the estimated and observed runoff in different stations, with NS values ranging from 0.54 to 0.91 in the calibration period. The future mean annual surface runoff exhibited an increase in the 2040s and 2090s compared to the baseline under both RCPs of 4.5 and 8.5 due to an increase in annual precipitation. The annual precipitation is projected to increase by 5% in the 2040s, 1% in the 2090s under RCP4.5, and by 9% in the 2040s and 2% in the 2090s under RCP8.5. The future temperature is also projected to increase and consequently lead to earlier snowmelt, resulting in a shift in the seasonal runoff peak to earlier months in the UKRB. However, the shifts in the timing of runoff could lead to significant impacts on water availability and exacerbate the water stress in this region, decreasing in summer runoff and increasing in the winter and spring runoffs. The future annual evapotranspiration is projected to increase under both scenarios; however, decreases in annual snowfall, snowmelt, sublimation, and groundwater recharge are predicted in the UKRB.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources)
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Carbon Fluxes from Soils of “Ladoga” Carbon Monitoring Site Leningrad Region, Russia
by
Evgeny Abakumov, Maria Makarova, Nina Paramonova, Viktor Ivakhov, Timur Nizamutdinov and Vyacheslav Polyakov
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030360 - 15 Mar 2024
Abstract
For the first time, data on the emission of climate-active gases from soils of different types of use of the south taiga sub-zone were obtained. Soils of the boreal belt are key elements of the global carbon cycle. They determine the sink and
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For the first time, data on the emission of climate-active gases from soils of different types of use of the south taiga sub-zone were obtained. Soils of the boreal belt are key elements of the global carbon cycle. They determine the sink and emission of climate-active gases. Soils near large cities are a major carbon sink, in the face of climate change, soils from sinks can become a source of carbon and contribute significantly to climate change on the planet. Studies of FCO2 and FCH4 fluxes were carried out on the territory of the monitoring site “Ladoga” located in the southern taiga subzone in soils of land not used in agriculture, former agriculture lands, and wetlands. During the chamber measurements, a portable gas analyzer GLA131-GGA (ABB, Canada) was used. The chamber was placed on the soil, after which the concentration of CO2, CH4 and H2O in the mobile chamber was recorded. As a result of the study it was found that the lowest emission of carbon dioxide is characteristic of soils developing on the soils of wetland and is 0.64 gCO2/(m2*year). Which is associated with a high degree of hydrophobicity of the territory and changes in the redox regime. The highest emission of carbon dioxide is registered in soils on the land not used in agriculture and is 4.16 gCO2/(m2*year). This is due to the formation of predominantly labile forms of carbon in the soil, which can be relatively rapidly involved in the carbon cycle and affect the active emission of carbon from the soil. According to the data obtained on FCH4 emission from soils, it was found that soils of land not used in agriculture and former agriculture lands were net sinks, while soils of wetlands were characterized by CH4 source, the emission was from 0.05 to 0.83 gCH4/(m2*year). The results obtained indicate spatial heterogeneity and changes in the carbon cycle within the monitoring site “Ladoga”, which are due to the change of plant communities and habitat type. Monitoring the release of important greenhouse gases in close proximity to major urban areas is an important task in the face of predicted climate change and increasing rates of urbanization.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Carbon Emissions)
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A Comprehensive Review of Assessing Storm Surge Disasters: From Traditional Statistical Methods to Artificial Intelligence-Based Techniques
by
Yuxuan Zhang and Tianyu Zhang
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 359; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030359 - 15 Mar 2024
Abstract
In the context of global climate change and rising sea levels, the adverse impacts of storm surges on the environment, economy, and society of affected areas are becoming increasingly significant. However, due to differences in geography, climate, and other conditions among the affected
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In the context of global climate change and rising sea levels, the adverse impacts of storm surges on the environment, economy, and society of affected areas are becoming increasingly significant. However, due to differences in geography, climate, and other conditions among the affected areas, a single method for assessing the risk of storm surge disasters cannot be fully applicable to all regions. To address this issue, an increasing number of new methods and models are being applied in the field of storm surge disaster risk assessment. This paper introduces representative traditional statistical methods, numerical simulation methods, and artificial intelligence-based techniques in this field. It compares these assessment methods in terms of accuracy, interpretability, and implementation difficulty. The paper emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate assessment methods based on specific conditions and scientifically combining various methods in practice to improve the accuracy and reliability of storm surge disaster risk assessments.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Hazards and Climate Change)
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Variations in Maximum and Minimum Temperature in Mount Qomolangma during 1971–2020
by
Shunjiu Wang
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 358; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030358 - 15 Mar 2024
Abstract
Based on the daily maximum and minimum temperature observational data during 1971–2020, the variabilities of the maximum and minimum temperature of Mount Qomolangma are analyzed. The daily maximum temperature is 25.8 °C and the daily minimum temperature is −31.4 °C during the study
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Based on the daily maximum and minimum temperature observational data during 1971–2020, the variabilities of the maximum and minimum temperature of Mount Qomolangma are analyzed. The daily maximum temperature is 25.8 °C and the daily minimum temperature is −31.4 °C during the study period in Mount Qomolangma. Overall, there has been an upward trend with decadal laps for both maximum and minimum temperature. On monthly, seasonal, and annual scales, neither maximum temperature nor minimum temperature time series exhibit an increasing trend from 1971 to 2020. The increasing trends in monthly minimum temperature are even more pronounced than those in maximum temperature. Abrupt changes are noted in both monthly, seasonal, and annual maximum and minimum temperature time series. Specifically, an abrupt change in annual maximum temperature occurred in the 1980s, while an abrupt change in annual minimum temperature occurred in the 1990s. Differences between the north and south slope of Mount Qomolangma are evident, with temperature fluctuations of the north slope being more extreme than those of south slope. The seasonal and annual maximum temperature of the north slope is higher than that of the south slope, except for winter, and the seasonal and annual minimum temperatures of the north slope are all lower than those of the south slope. The tendences of maximum and minimum temperatures in the north slope are more dominant than those in the south slope. The findings are beneficial for understanding the characteristics of local climate change on the Tibetan plateau and to underscore the significant role of Mount Qomolangma in the context of global warming.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Dynamics and Variability Over the Tibetan Plateau)
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Trend Projections of Potential Evapotranspiration in Yangtze River Delta and the Uncertainty
by
Lu Ding, Yi Yu and Shaobo Zhang
Atmosphere 2024, 15(3), 357; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/atmos15030357 - 15 Mar 2024
Abstract
Global warming may increase potential evapotranspiration (ETp), reducing the water resources in Yangzi River Delta. Therefore, it is important to investigate the trend of ETp there under the background of climate change. To this purpose, the systematic biases in temperature outputs of 24
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Global warming may increase potential evapotranspiration (ETp), reducing the water resources in Yangzi River Delta. Therefore, it is important to investigate the trend of ETp there under the background of climate change. To this purpose, the systematic biases in temperature outputs of 24 global climate models (GCMs) under 3 shared socioeconomic pathways—representative concentration pathways (SSPs) emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5)—are first corrected by using 8 bias correction methods. Then, the trend of ETp in Yangtze River Delta is projected by using 4 ETp calculation formulas (Blaney–Criddle, Hargreaves–Samani, Makkink, and Priestley–Taylor). The uncertainty of the projections is estimated and decomposed by using multi-way analysis of variance frameworks. The influence of uncertainty on the projected change signal is quantified by using the signal-to-noise ratio. The results show that all emission scenarios indicate robust increments of ETp. Specifically, relative to 1971~2000, ETp will increase by 0.14~0.17 mm d−1 (5.7~6.8%) during 2021~2050 and by 0.21~0.41 mm d−1 (8.5~16.7%) during 2061~2090, respectively. During 2021~2050, the uncertainty of ETp projections is dominantly contributed by the main effects of GCM (63%) and the ETp calculation formula (24%). During 2061~2090, it is mainly contributed by the main effect of GCM (36%), followed by the main effects of the emission scenario (34%) and the ETp calculation formula (18%). The ETp projections are generally reliable and robust during the two projection periods.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Water Cycle and Climate Change (2nd Edition))
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