Search Results (1,149)

Under the intensifying water shortages in the vegetation season, early identification of Ips typographus L. damage is crucial for preventing wide outbreaks, which undermine the economic potential of commercial stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) across Europe. For this purpose, remote sensing based on satellite images is considered one of the most efficient methods, particularly in homogenous and wide forested landscapes. However, under highly heterogeneous seminatural managed forest landscapes in lowland Central and Northern Europe, as illustrated by the eastern Baltic region and Latvia in particular, the efficiency of such an approach can lack the desired accuracy. Hence, the identification of smaller damage patches by I. typographus, which can act as a source of wider outbreaks, can be overlooked, and situational awareness can be further aggravated by infrastructure artefacts. In this study, the accuracy of satellite imaging for the identification of I. typographus damage was evaluated, focusing on the occurrence of false positives and particularly false negatives obtained from the comparison with UAV imaging. Across the studied landscapes, correct or partially correct identification of damage patches larger than 30 m² occurred in 73% of cases. Still, the satellite image analysis of the highly heterogeneous landscape resulted in quite a common occurrence of false negatives (up to one-third of cases), which were related to stand and patch properties. The high rate of false negatives, however, is crucial for the prevention of outbreaks, as the sources of outbreaks can be underestimated, burdening prompt and hence effective implication of countermeasures. Accordingly, elaborating an analysis of satellite images by incorporating stand inventory data could improve the efficiency of early detection systems, especially when coupled with UAV reconnaissance of heterogeneous landscapes, as in the eastern Baltic region. Full article

Residential space heating in Northern Europe requires long-duration thermal storage to align summer solar gains with winter heating demand. This study investigates a compact sand-based seasonal thermal energy storage integrated with flat-plate solar collectors for an A+ class single-family house in Kaunas, Lithuania. An iterative co-design couples collector sizing with the seasonal charging target and a 3D COMSOL Multiphysics model of a 300 m³ sand-filled, phenolic foam-insulated system, with a 1D conjugate model of a copper pipe heat-exchanger network. The system was charged from March to September and discharged from October to February under measured-weather boundary conditions across three consecutive annual cycles. During the first year, the storage supplied the entire winter heating demand, though 35.2% of the input energy was lost through conduction, resulting in an end-of-cycle average sand temperature slightly below the initial state. In subsequent years, both the peak sand temperature and the residual end-of-cycle temperature increased by 3.7 °C and 3.2 °C, respectively, by the third year, indicating cumulative thermal recovery and improved retention. Meanwhile, the peak conductive losses rate decreased by 98 W, and cumulative annual losses decreased by 781.4 kWh in the third year, with an average annual reduction of 4.15%. These results highlight the progressive self-conditioning of the surrounding soil and demonstrate that a low-cost, sand-based storage system can sustain a complete seasonal heating supply with declining losses, offering a robust and scalable approach for residential building heating applications. Full article

Our work develops the structural mathematical framework of the REGENerative Agriculture (REGENA) Production Function, contributing to the limited global literature of regenerative farming production functions with consistency to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics and the underlying biophysical processes for ecosystem services’ generation. The accurate structural economic modeling of regenerative farming practices comprises a first vital step for the shift of global agriculture from conventional farming—utilizing petrochemical fertilizers, pesticides and intensive tillage—to regenerative farming—utilizing local agro-ecological capital forms, such as micro-organisms, organic biomasses, no-tillage and resistant varieties. In this context, we empirically test the REGENA structural change patterns with data from eight experimental plots in six Mediterranean countries in Southern Europe and Northern Africa for three crop compositions: (a) with exclusively conventional practices, (b) with exclusively regenerative practices and (c) with mixed conventional and regenerative practices. Finally, we discuss in detail the scientific, institutional, economic and financial engineering challenges for the market uptake of regenerative farming and the contribution of REGENA for the achievement of this goal. In addition, as regenerative farming is knowledge-intensive, we review the vital aspect of Open Innovation (OI) and protected Intellectual Property (IP) business models as essential parts of regenerative farming knowledge-sharing clusters and trading alliances. Full article

This study investigates how economic development interacts with sustainability performance in the European Union, focusing on the structural and technological factors that shape progress in the green transition. Using Eurostat data for 27 EU member states over the period 2015–2023, the analysis employs panel econometric models (Pooled Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects) to explore how circular economy performance, innovation capacity, human capital, and renewable energy use influence environmental and economic outcomes across member states. The results show that R&D intensity and skilled human resources are key drivers of sustainability. Higher levels of circular material use and resource productivity contribute to long-term competitiveness. In contrast, uneven progress in renewable energy deployment points to persistent regional disparities and possible structural constraints that limit convergence. Northern and Western Europe record the strongest advances in innovation and environmental efficiency, whereas Southern and Eastern regions remain affected by industrial legacies and lower absorptive capacity. The findings highlight that, in the short term, renewable energy expansion may involve adjustment costs and potential trade-offs with economic competitiveness in less technologically developed economies. This study provides new comparative evidence on the differentiated pathways of the green transition across the EU. Policy implications suggest the need to reinforce R&D investment, expand circular manufacturing, and support an inclusive technological transition consistent with the European Green Deal and the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Full article

Generally, all European countries have reported a decreasing number of field birds. The cause of this trend is the intensification of agriculture, including inconsiderate landscape and drainage measures. Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus L.) can be protected using targeted agri-environmental climatic measures (AECMs). The goal of our research was to verify whether the vegetation composition on arable land areas intended to protect field birds creates space for the promotion of other organisms. Understanding the significance of AECMs in supporting biodiversity on arable land will help guide the development of ecosystems in agricultural landscapes. The research was conducted in two regions of the Czech Republic (CR): Southern Bohemia (six sites) and Eastern Bohemia (six sites), and 76 plant taxa were identified in areas of arable land intended for the protection of Northern Lapwing. The vegetation of arable land managed to protect the Northern Lapwing was statistically shown to exhibit a plant species richness approximately four times greater than crop land. Measures focused on the protection of one species create a living space that can be used by other species. AECMs can be used to maintain or increase biodiversity and heterogeneity in agricultural landscapes. Our findings emphasize the need for a holistic approach to conservation in agricultural settings, where the protection of one focal species can lead to cascading benefits for the entire ecosystem. This research provides valuable insights into how AECMs can be a pivotal tool in mitigating the detrimental impacts of agricultural intensification on field birds and broader biodiversity in Europe. Full article

Heavy precipitation, and its dependence on atmospheric circulation, is one of the most important weather features in Central Europe. The Polish–Czech Sudetes Mountains and their northern foreland are one of the regions where such precipitation, under certain circulation conditions, often results in floods. The main goal of this paper is to examine multiannual changes in seasonal heavy precipitation between 1961–2020 and to assess their relationship with atmospheric circulation. The data were derived from the Polish and Czech meteorological stations, representing various altitudes and geographical regions. For the purposes of the study, several indices were used, including 1-, 3-, and 5-day maximum precipitation, as well as two indices based on the 90th and 95th percentile thresholds. In the analysis concerning atmospheric circulation, the Lityński classification was considered. The results show that the changes in heavy precipitation usually do not indicate homogeneous directions and are strongly affected by applied indices, seasons, and various geographic factors. Those include the northern/southern slope exposition, which significantly determines heavy precipitation under circulation conditions typical for individual seasons. This particularly concerns heavy precipitation for the north and northeast types, which contribute to higher rates of the considered index, especially in the northern part of the mountains. Full article

Climate change is widely recognized as a significant contributor to both wildfire initiation and spread, conditions such as high temperatures and prolonged droughts facilitating the rapid ignition and propagation of fires. As a result, extreme weather events can trigger fires through lightning strikes with increases in frequency and severity. Despite this, we argue that it is important to distinguish and clarify the concepts of fire occurrence and fire spread, as these phenomena are not directly synonymous in the field of fire ecology. This review examined the published literature to determine if climate factors contribute to fire occurrence and/or spread, and evaluated how well the concepts are used when drawing connections between fire occurrence and fire spread related to climate variables. Using the PRISMA bibliographic analysis methodology, 70 scientific articles were analyzed, including reviews and research papers in the last 5 years. According to the analysis, most publications dealing with fire occurrence, fire spread, and climate change come from the northern hemisphere, specifically from the United States, China, Europe, and Oceania with South America appearing to be significantly underrepresented (less than 10% of published articles). Additionally, despite climatic variables being the most prevalent factors in predictive models, only 38% of the studies analyzed simultaneously integrated climatic, topographic, vegetational, and anthropogenic factors when assessing wildfires. Furthermore, of the 47 studies that explicitly addressed occurrence and spread, 66 percent used the term “occurrence” in line with its definition cited by the authors, that is, referring specifically to ignition. In contrast, 27 percent employed the term in a broader sense that did not explicitly denote the moment a fire starts, often incorporating aspects such as the predisposition of fuels to burn. The remaining 73 percent focused exclusively on “spread.” Hence, caution is advised when making generalizations as climate impact on wildfires can be overestimated in predictive models when conceptual ambiguity is present. Our results showed that, although climate change can amplify conditions for fire spread and contribute to the occurrence of fire, anthropogenic factors remain the most significant factor related to the onset of fires on a global scale, above climatic factors. Full article

The contemporary approach to assessing the housing conditions of households requires taking into account not only the physical characteristics of dwellings but also the quality of their surroundings. From a sustainability perspective, the quality of the external residential environment constitutes a key dimension of sustainable living conditions, closely linked to environmental well-being, spatial equity, and the objectives of sustainable urban and territorial development in the European Union (EU). Despite the growing awareness of the importance of the living environment for residents’ well-being, this issue remains insufficiently represented in analyses addressing the territorial variations in household housing conditions in the EU countries. The scientific literature reveals a lack of comprehensive comparative studies that would link subjective assessments of external residential environmental quality with the level of urbanisation, enabling a more complete evaluation of the living environment and its spatial variability. The aim of the study was therefore to assess the perceived external residential environmental quality of households in EU countries, taking into account the level of urbanisation—differences between urban, town, and rural areas. The study aimed to test the hypothesis that “The external residential environmental quality in EU countries significantly varies depending on the level of urbanisation and regional affiliation, with the highest quality observed in rural areas, particularly in Western European countries.” The study was conducted based on data from the Eurostat database, which were processed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and taxonomic methods. The results of the study confirmed that the external residential environmental quality of households in EU countries significantly differs depending on the level of urbanisation and regional affiliation. The highest level of residential environment quality for households is observed in rural areas of Northern and Eastern European countries. The greatest challenges occur in large cities, particularly in Western Europe, indicating the need to intensify efforts to improve the quality of the living environment in these areas. Full article

Roots infected by the forest pathogen Heterobasidion parviporum that remain in the soil after tree harvesting may serve as a source of inoculum for root infection of new generations of trees, thereby perpetuating outbreaks over time. As drained peat soils are evolutionary novel yet common habitat for commercial Picea abies stands in Northern Europe, the experiment was conducted to assess the mid-term viability of H. parviporum mycelium in root deadwood. Persistence of viable mycelia of H. parviporum in relation to root fragment volume and exposure period was assessed over the seven-year period. Additionally, the potential of transmission of the pathogen from root fragments to conifer seedlings was assessed. The likelihood of finding viable H. parviporum inoculum in Norway spruce root fragments depended on the size of fragments, indicating a higher likelihood in larger fragments, and on the time since burial, showing a substantial reduction in viable inoculum after seven years. We also documented the low infection rate from the root fragments to nearby Picea abies seedlings. The obtained results indicate the necessity for the removal of larger root fragments during soil preparation in commercial Norway spruce stands on drained peat soils to reduce infection potential. Full article

The Hermies-Ruyaulcourt site (Pas-de-Calais), investigated within the “Canal Seine-Nord Europe” project, provides an exceptional record of pedosedimentary dynamics throughout the last interglacial-glacial cycle (Eemian–Weichselian). Eight stratigraphic trenches, correlated along 350 m, reveal several pedosedimentary units strongly influenced by local topography. This study combines sedimentological and micromorphological analyses with optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. For OSL ages, a correction of the water content calculation protocol was developed, accounting for long-term moisture variations during burial. Nine OSL ages from humic horizons of the Early Glacial (MIS 5d-5a) and colluvial deposits of the Lower Pleniglacial (MIS 4) represent the first robust chronological dataset for these periods in northern France. Their internal consistency and agreement with existing thermoluminescence ages on burnt flints support their reliability. Moreover, geomorphological analysis highlights intense erosional phases which are interpreted as rapid permafrost destabilisation events linked to the melting of large ice-wedge networks around 60–55 ka and 30 ka (thermokarst erosion gullies). These investigations thus enable the chronology of the loess–palaeosols and the link with associated climatic events to be refined. This leads to a spatio-temporal model describing the evolution of Last Glacial environments in Western Europe, providing a robust reference for studying the Neanderthal occupation of the area. Full article

This research compares the Mediterranean and Japanese diets and considers diet as associated with anti-ageing as well as leading a long and healthy life. Since Mediterranean countries, including Italy and Greece, have one-third the mortality ratio with respect to cardiovascular diseases compared to America and northern Europe, the Mediterranean diet is regarded as healthy. Here, the research shows the reasons why Mediterranean and Japanese diets have these properties. Both the Mediterranean and Japanese diets are typically low in fat, sugar, and calories, and are characterised by a high intake of vegetables, legumes, fish, and cereals. Differences include a greater consumption of polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil, dairy products, and a lower amount of meat consumption in the Mediterranean diet, as well as less use of fat; there is an abundant consumption of fermented foods and seaweed in the Japanese diet. Japan’s globally leading long life expectancy is partly attributed to the cultural concept of “ME-BYO,” which emphasises recognising and managing non-disease conditions before they develop into clinical illness. This tendency may be one of the reasons for the long lifespan of Japanese people. Full article

For the first time, the same fish species is recorded from Triassic rocks at both ends of the Tethys, namely, Thoracopterus wushaensis Tintori et al., 2012. First described from the southwestern China Xingyi Fauna (late Ladinian, Middle Triassic), it is now also known from a coeval site in the Dolomites in northern Italy. T. wushaensis is considered a flying fish, owing to its elongated pectoral and pelvic fins, tail with a ventral lobe much larger than the dorsal one, and peculiar enlarged neural spines in the caudal region. Taxonomical problems among Peltopleuriformes are also discussed on the basis of an improved comparison between eastern and western Tethys fish assemblages. This finding bolsters the marine vertebrate similarity between China and Europe during the Middle Triassic. Furthermore, because T. wushaensis from the Pelsa/Vazzoler is part of a very rich assemblage yielding several fishes, and also dozens of invertebrate taxa, it also supports the hypothesis of a global bioevent among marine fauna during the late Ladinian, well before the San Cassiano Fauna or the Carnian Pluvial Episode. Full article

Trichinella spp. are zoonotic nematodes with a global distribution, primarily maintained through wildlife reservoirs which complicates eradication efforts. In Europe, four species—T. spiralis, T. britovi, T. nativa, and T. pseudospiralis—circulate in wild carnivores and omnivores, with T. britovi and T. spiralis being the most prevalent in wild and domestic hosts. This study aimed to assess the presence and species distribution of Trichinella spp. in wild mammals. This study presents the results of five years of wildlife surveillance carried out within the long-standing monitoring program implemented in the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy, which has been in place since 2006. Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 104,338 wild mammals, including red foxes, wolves, and wild boar, were tested using the magnetic stirrer digestion method in accordance with EU regulations. A total of 12 animals (0.011%) were found to be infected with Trichinella larvae. Molecular identification of positive samples, performed at the European Union Reference Laboratory for Parasites, showed the presence of T. britovi in 11 animals, while one isolate remained unidentified. T. britovi was detected primarily in wolves and red foxes. No infections were identified in wild boar during the study period. Overall, the low prevalence observed confirms that Trichinella spp. infections in wildlife in Emilia-Romagna are sporadic but persistently present. Only T. britovi was detected, supporting its role as the predominant species in this area. These findings highlight the importance of long-term surveillance for early detection and risk assessment within a One Health framework. Full article

This article deals with the experimental validation of an interpretation on the notable archaeological evidence patterns of early historical iron smelting in northern Central Europe. In this region, the inner Barbaricum, there was minimal evidence of iron smelting at the onset of the Roman Period. This shifts suddenly in the initial half of the first century AD: Numerous “centres of iron smelting” are identifiable in this region throughout this period. Numerous discoveries of iron smelting, known as “bloomery smelting furnaces”, are conspicuously clustered. It was formerly believed that the shafts of bloomery furnaces needed to be dismantled post-smelting to retrieve the produced iron. At the site “Sehnde 9” in Lower Saxony, Germany, it has been experimentally verified on several experimental furnace runs that the shafts can be reused, and these experimental results are consistent with the archaeological evidence from the site in question. The comparison with other Central European sites from the same period further substantiates that a reuse of bloomery furnace shafts was not an isolated phenomenon. This strategy markedly enhances the efficiency of iron production over time. Consequently, the designation of a novel furnace type “Sehnde” is suggested. Full article

This article reports results of the geoarchaeological investigation of an early historical bloomery iron smelting site in northern Central Europe. Based on earlier field archaeological and experimental archaeological findings, which date back to an excavation in Sehnde (Hanover Region, Lower Saxony, Germany) in 2017, further experimental archaeological iron smelting experiments (furnace runs) have now provided information about the raw materials used in Sehnde during the Early Roman Imperial Period in Germania Magna (Inner Barbaricum) and the smelting process itself. The results of the present study suggest that no bog iron ore (BIOre) was smelted. Rather, manganese-rich carbonatic clay ironstone concretions (OCISCs) that had been oxidized by weathering and that were very rich in iron were apparently used as ores. Our study provides insights into metallurgical operations in the southern North German Plain during the Early Roman Imperial Period using a sampling and experimental archaeological test design created specifically for the local conditions. Full article