Search Results (761)

Urban stormwater poses a threat to urban safety and development. The systematic spatial planning of low-impact development (LID) facilities is increasingly recognized as a sustainable approach to enhancing urban flood resilience. Previous studies have largely focused on empirically-based design approaches or have employed uncoupled computational methods, resulting in a lack of accuracy in flood simulation results. In this study, a novel framework was proposed. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II was employed to perform multi-objective optimization of the spatial layout of LID facilities, and a coupled model of SWMM and TELEMAC was developed to simulate surface flooding based on the optimized schemes. Under three rainfall scenarios, three schemes on the Pareto Front—representing the lowest cost, the optimal compromise and the least overflow—were selected to investigate how scheme parameters and overflow are influenced by rainfall intensity and design preferences. The results indicate that scheme parameters and node overflow show greater variation under the influence of different design preferences than under different rainfall conditions. Taking the schemes selected in this study as examples, under the lowest-cost scheme, LID coverage was less than 10%, resulting in a limited reduction in node overflow; but when ‘minimum overflow’ was set as the design preference, node overflow was virtually eliminated, with peak water levels at flood-prone locations reduced to 0.05 m, 0.08 m and 0.10 m under 50-year, 100-year and 200-year storm conditions, respectively. The framework for urban flooding simulation and flood control scheme design proposed in this study is potentially applicable to comparable settings, subject to similar data availability and physical conditions, serving as a reference for enhancing urban resilience to flooding. Full article

Given the scarcity of initiatives to charge for urban stormwater services in Brazil and the need to recognise users’ efforts in adopting technologies such as Low Impact Development (LID), a proposal was developed for a stormwater drainage fee and incentives for environmental services in a Brazilian municipality, based on flows retained by LIDs, specifically infiltration wells. To this end, simulations were carried out using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) for a 0.5 km² area in a Brazilian city that does not yet implement such charges. Based on the identification of the total flow retained by users within the watershed, the avoided cost to the drainage system was estimated. The charging model was defined using the avoided cost method associated with the Simplified Equivalent Residential Unit (SERU). In the baseline scenario that allocates the operation and maintenance cost, the estimated annual fee was USD 17.22 per household without LID and USD 14.64 per household with LID, and the SERU area was 371.11 m², used as a property-area reference; in an incentive scenario designed to reduce the user payback period to approximately 10 years, the fee for households without LID was set at USD 73.78. An economic incentive policy was identified, consisting of fee discounts upon adoption of LIDs, as well as support for their installation and maintenance. Thus, it was validated that combining a drainage fee with economic incentives is both feasible and motivating for both system users and managers. Full article

Recent efforts to address flooding have explored incorporating flow-reduction capabilities into existing infrastructure. Roadside ditches have historically been viewed as an underutilized component of flood reduction, and a two-stage design has been proposed that modifies a conventional trapezoidal ditch by incorporating bench insets along the main channel. While it is expected that this second stage becomes inundated during storm events, resulting in flow attenuation, the exact impacts of this design are unknown. This study quantified the impact of the two-stage design by modeling a roadside ditch corridor in eastern Iowa. An existing single-stage ditch was converted to a two-stage design, and a HEC-RAS model was constructed to investigate the ditch’s impacts for four design storms (1-year, 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year). In the modeled results, peak flow rates were reduced by 22%, 21%, 7.5%, and 4.3%, respectively, while water volume reductions were near 6%. Maximum velocities throughout the ditch corridor also decreased, with reductions spanning 32% (1-year)–45% (10-year). These results indicate that increased travel times and infiltration associated with the two-stage design provide hydrologic and hydraulic benefits by lessening flood and erosion risk. While further study is needed to verify this behavior through monitoring and modeling at other locations, our findings suggest that two-stage ditches can be a useful best management practice for the transportation community. Full article

Greenhouses in subtropical and tropical regions must be designed as agricultural engineering systems adapted to local climates, rather than simply replicating the “insulation” models of temperate areas. Under extreme climatic conditions such as persistent high temperatures, intense solar radiation, high humidity, heavy rainfall, and frequent extreme winds, greenhouses transform from enclosed insulation layers into selective climate filters, mitigating crop stress while maintaining close contact with the outdoor environment. This paper summarizes how these climate drivers are reshaping the use, structure, and control concepts of greenhouses, emphasizing that the performance of warm-zone greenhouses depends primarily on heat dissipation, humidity management, and biohazard control, rather than heating and insulation. In this review, we analyze the climatic boundary conditions that define warm-climate conservation cultivation, including long-term overheating risk, high UV radiation, vapor pressure deficit, and suppressed condensation tendency, as well as storm-induced uplift and dynamic loads. These constraints necessitate unique structural forms: tall, lightweight, well-ventilated building types with large roof and side openings, roof geometries that facilitate rainwater runoff, sophisticated drainage systems, and corrosion-resistant materials suitable for humid and coastal environments. Because insect netting significantly reduces ventilation, pest control and temperature regulation become co-design issues, requiring oversized vents, optimized airflow paths, and hybrid roof–mesh structures. Ventilation is considered the primary climate-control mechanism, supplemented by passive cooling measures such as shading and radiation/optical management (e.g., diffuse films and near-infrared-selective films). Active evaporative cooling is considered a conditional measure due to humidity limitations and disease risks. This paper also integrates the impacts on specific crops (fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, and orchids). It highlights emerging trends: typhoon-resistant and adaptive geometries, computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based design, and sensor-rich IoT/digital twin control frameworks. These principles collectively establish a coherent design framework for achieving resilient, resource-efficient greenhouse production in warm climates. Full article

Waterlogging simulation is an important non-structural measure for flood-risk management; however, the heterogeneity of urban surfaces complicates reliable simulation. Urban drainage inlets and buildings strongly influence runoff routing, yet the effects of alternative modeling treatments remain uncertain. This study evaluated the impact of three inlet treatments and three building treatments on urban waterlogging simulation under different storms. Results show that (1) under rainfall pattern 1, the grate inlet produced 4–5.8% higher peak drainage discharge than curb-opening treatments, and point-scale water-level differences reached 0.49 m at hydraulically sensitive locations. Compared with the roof-to-drainage method, the roof-to-surface discharge method increased flood volume, flooded area, and average water depth by 43.5%, 21.3%, and 15.6%, respectively. (2) The effects of the two representation types responded differently to rainfall characteristics. Drainage inlet rankings were strongly rainfall-dependent: under rainfall pattern 2 at a 100-year return period, the hierarchy reversed, with the depressed curb-opening inlet slightly outperforming the grate inlet by 0.6%. By contrast, the building treatment methods (BTMs) ranking remained consistent across all rainfall scenarios, with the roof-to-surface discharge method producing the largest flood volume and extent regardless of rainfall pattern or return period. Overall, this study identifies urban drainage inlet and building representations as important sources of structural uncertainty, providing practical guidance for urban flood modeling and drainage planning. Full article

Every spring, the dust weather in the northwest and northern regions of China comes into a frequent period, which seriously affects people’s lives and capacity for production. When the direct radiative effect of dust aerosol changes the energy distribution of the Earth-atmosphere system, the temperature field and boundary layer in the dust-affected area respond quickly. Therefore, it is of great scientific significance to study the direct radiative effect of dust aerosol on the temperature field and boundary layer. In this case study of a typical dust storm event during 5–8 May 2021, we use ground-based observations, satellite data, reanalysis products, and numerical model simulations to quantitatively evaluate the influence of the direct radiative effect of dust aerosols on the daytime and nighttime temperature field. We also focus on the impact of dust weather on the boundary layer and the interaction mechanisms among dust aerosols, the temperature field, and the boundary layer. The results showed the following: (1) Dust aerosols tend to make atmospheric stratification more stable during the day and less stable at night. Dust aerosols decreased the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) by 109 m in the daytime, but increased it by 215 m at night. (2) The most significant daytime cooling effect is −0.26 °C at an altitude of 0–1 km, while the most significant nighttime warming effect is 0.07 °C at an altitude of 2–3 km. (3) In this event, warm advection was present prior to dust arrival. When dust weather occurs at night, the warming effect of dust aerosol is superimposed on the influence of warm advection, resulting in a temperature increase range near the surface caused by dust aerosol up to 1.55 °C. This results in enhanced thermal instability in the middle and lower layers, further sustaining the development of the ongoing dust weather. Full article

Soil organic carbon (SOC) restoration in degraded drylands is increasingly promoted for climate mitigation and hydrological co-benefits, yet the scale at which these benefits remain detectable remains uncertain. We therefore evaluate SOC recovery and its hydrological effects across three scales—local, basin, and Earth-system—for a 220,966 ha rangeland restoration pilot in Öndörshireet soum, Central Mongolia, using a cold-calibrated RothC model, Monte Carlo uncertainty propagation, machine-learning-assisted measurement support, and basin-scale mass-balance accounting. Baseline SOC averaged 28.27 tC ha⁻¹, and 20-year RothC simulations projected SOC gains of 0.9–6.4 tC ha⁻¹ across rotational, fenced, and seeded–fenced strata. Monte Carlo emission-reduction rates were 0.33–2.19 tCO₂e ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and the conservative VM0042 deduction chain yielded approximately 10,900–12,200 verified carbon units per year. At the local scale, translating SOC gains into plant-available water capacity produced a small but positive hydrological response—reduced flash runoff, lower flood exceedance and storm runoff, higher baseflow contribution, and lower streamflow flashiness—expressed through flow stabilization rather than increased annual water volume. Across the three scales evaluated here, SOC recovery yields a small increase in plant-available water capacity (≈0.09 mm) locally, associated with reduced flash runoff and greater flow stability; at the basin scale, the signal is three to four orders of magnitude below interannual discharge variability; and at the Earth-system scale, no measurable freshwater or global cooling effect is supported. National-scale estimates indicate substantial credible mitigation potential but negligible Arctic freshwater impacts. By separating local mechanisms from basin- and Earth-system detectability, this framework distinguishes credible local co-benefits from Earth-system over-attribution in dryland carbon projects. Full article

Mediterranean coastal regions are increasingly affected by hydrometeorological hazards associated with high-impact weather events, including cyclones. Between 18 and 21 January 2026, the intense extratropical cyclone Harry affected Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria, producing severe weather conditions including heavy precipitation, strong winds, and extreme wave activity. This study investigates both the meteo-marine characteristics of the event and its associated damage in Calabria, where the cyclone triggered multiple hazards (wave storms, landslides, flooding, and strong winds). Meteo-marine forcing was characterized using integrated rainfall data, wave parameters, and wind data. In situ observations, radar-derived precipitation estimates, satellite measurements, and model-based reanalysis products were combined to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the event. A georeferenced database of 195 damage records was compiled and classified according to the EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC), allowing spatial analyses within a GIS framework. Although the cyclone produced exceptional rainfall totals, locally exceeding 580 mm in 90 h, the distribution of impacts reveals the predominance of coastal processes. Wave storm-related damage accounted for 68% of all recorded impacts, mainly affecting transportation and communication infrastructures, tourism facilities, and population. The prevalence of coastal damage appears to be linked not only to the intensity of marine forcing but also to its persistence which locally exceeded the maximum climatological persistence, suggesting that event duration plays a critical role in determining impact severity. Geomorphological analyses indicate that short-term coastal vulnerability is influenced not only by long-term shoreline evolution but also by local topographic characteristics and exposure to marine forcing. These findings contribute to improving risk assessment and mitigation strategies for Mediterranean coastal regions under a changing climate. Full article

Reliable power systems are essential to modern life, as severe storms continue to disrupt grid stability and cause widespread outages. Predicting storm outages enables utilities and emergency managers to pre-stage resources and improve resilience. However, the several days of forecast lead time typically needed for preparedness significantly affect the accuracy of outage predictions. This study investigates the impact of forecast lead time on the error propagation of a Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM)-based outage prediction model (OPM) driven by Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model forecasts and analysis predictions. We evaluate three error-analysis scenarios: FFAP (forecast vs. analysis-based outage predictions), FFAO (forecast vs. actual outages), and LFAO (leave-one-storm-out forecast vs. actual outages). Model performance is compared using Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Centered Root-Mean-Square Error (CRMSE) across short (12 h–1 d), medium (2–3 d), and long (4–5 d) forecast lead-time categories, with the long category representing the upper end of the medium-range forecast window relevant to operational preparedness. The results show that forecast lead time substantially affects outage prediction accuracy, but the magnitude depends on the evaluation setup. In the controlled FFAP scenario, CRMSE increased by approximately 110% as lead time increased, from 259 to 543 outages, isolating the effect of weather forecast degradation. In the more operational LFAO scenario, CRMSE was already high at short lead times, increasing from 847 to 920 outages, indicating that model generalization error dominates once storms are unseen. Across scenarios, LFAO errors were 51% higher than FFAO errors at short lead times, highlighting the importance of testing outage models under unseen-event conditions. These results quantify how forecast degradation and model generalization jointly shape the reliability of outage prediction and provide practical guidance for lead-time-aware storm preparedness. Full article

Quantifying dust aerosol radiative impacts on crop growth in arid regions is challenging due to sparse ground observation networks for photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Conventional meteorological stations only provide regional-averaged solar radiation and fail to capture fine spatial heterogeneity and instantaneous attenuation caused by dust storms. To address this gap, this study developed a coupled framework integrating WRF-Chem, LibRadtran, multi-source remote sensing, and interpretable machine learning. We combined field sampling data, remote sensing products, and atmospheric simulations to explore how dust aerosol direct radiative forcing alters cotton gross primary productivity (GPP) and yield across the Weigan River Basin, Xinjiang, China. Results revealed significant PAR reduction induced by dust in 87% of cotton fields (p < 0.05). Dust presented a dual effect: it reduced photosynthetic productivity via radiation attenuation, while alleviating heat stress above 35 °C. SHAP analysis demonstrated that cotton GPP and yield declined nonlinearly when daily PAR loss exceeded 20 W·m⁻², with the flowering-to-boll stage (July–August) identified as the most sensitive phenological window. This study verifies the necessity of combining atmospheric models and remote sensing for fine-scale assessment of dust radiative effects in data-scarce regions. The identified threshold provides practical references for targeted field management in arid cotton areas. Full article

This paper addresses the geomorphic response of an engineered Chicago beach to a >1.5 m rise in Lake Michigan’s base water level, from 2013 to 2020. Topographic monitoring data acquired since 2012 and subsurface geophysical data collected in 2022 are integrated to explore the roles of lakefront infrastructure and beach topographic development on sedimentary dynamics, beach morphologic development, and stratigraphic architecture. While conceptual models of coastal geomorphology infer upward and landward beach-profile translation with lake-level rise, a high degree of along-shore variance occurs within pocket beaches. This stems from infrastructure-related modifications of storm hydrodynamics and scour patterns, close to shore, and backshore terrain physiography. The studied beach evolved contrary to how regional littoral drift patterns would have suggested, with erosion most severe along the embayment’s downdrift end, a product of infrastructure-induced scour and the reduced capacity for sediment retention through overwash accretion. Documented geomorphic patterns with lake-level rise are manifested in subsurface imaging data from the lake-level highstand, accordingly, providing a guide to more regional paleo-reconstruction. Great Lakes urban pocket beaches buffer shoreline infrastructure, offer recreational terrains, and support dune ecosystems of value to migrating shorebirds. Understanding their geomorphology benefits coastal managers looking to mitigate impacts of future climate and lake-level change. Full article

Supportive therapy with haemoadsorption is gaining popularity in critically ill patients, with the aim of reducing overinflammation triggered by the cytokine storm. The haemoadsorbers used are not specific for cytokines and also bind antibiotics. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a simple analytical method for the simultaneous determination of selected antibiotics and to develop an in vitro model for the quantification of their binding to the CytoSorb^® haemoadsorber under conditions simulating sepsis. Imipenem (IMI), amoxicillin (AMO), cefepime (CEF), meropenem (MERO), vancomycin (VAN) and piperacillin (PIP) were measured in bovine plasma via precipitation with acetonitrile and liquid–liquid extraction with dichloromethane. The aqueous phase was collected and analysed using a C18 HPLC system under gradient conditions, with modulation of organic solvent content and mobile phase pH, and detection performed using a UV/Vis detector. The method was linear (r² > 0.982) across investigated analytical ranges (1.0–100.0 µg/mL for AMO and VAN, 1.0–75.0 µg/mL for CEF, MERO and PIP and 2.5–100.0 µg/mL for IMI). Intra- and inter-day precision did not exceed 14% and accuracy ranged from 85.8% to 108.5%. Using the in vitro model, we showed that CytoSorb^® significantly removed VAN and PIP, but not MERO. Further clinical studies are needed to establish the clinical significance of these findings and their impact on antibiotic exposure. Full article

Indian metropolitan cities such as Mumbai grapple with rapid urbanisation, extreme urban density, high built-up areas, loss of green cover, and shrinking open spaces, resulting in increased impermeable surfaces, urban heat island effects, and frequent flooding occurrences. Modern stormwater management has increasingly been characterised by integrated grey-green approaches; however, cities in the Global North benefit from established policies, technical expertise, and financial resources that enable the systematic and large-scale integration of Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) through district-wide geospatial assessment frameworks, unlike many cities in the Global South. Despite growing interest in nature-based stormwater solutions, there remains a dearth of geospatial empirical research from India examining the placement, distribution, performance, and functionality of BGI integrated with existing stormwater management systems in cities such as Mumbai. Furthermore, hydrological modelling using tools such as the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) for the design, planning, and implementation of BGI in Indian cities remains largely unexplored. This study explores the role of BGI strategies in improving urban stormwater management within high-density Indian cities under a 25-year return period extreme rainfall scenario. Using an integrated approach that combines QGIS-based spatial analysis with EPA-SWMM hydrologic-hydraulic modelling, the research examines runoff behaviour, identifies flooding hotspots, and evaluates the effectiveness of Low Impact Development (LID)-based BGI measures such as permeable pavements, infiltration trenches, and green roofs applied at the ward level in Mumbai’s F/North and G/North Wards. Detailed land use classification, spatial mapping, and rainfall simulation corresponding specifically to a 25-year return period rainfall event was used to assess pre- and post-intervention conditions. The findings indicate that the applied BGI measures led to a 12.6% reduction in peak runoff (137.6 m³/s to 120.2 m³/s) and a 5.5% decrease in total runoff volume (783,510 m³ to 740,410 m³). More importantly, the peak flooding flow rate decreased by 45% (94.1 m³/s to 51.7 m³/s), demonstrating that BGI measures can efficiently reduce peak flooding flows by extending runoff hydrographs during extreme rainfall events. These findings are specifically applicable to the simulated 25-year return period extreme rainfall scenario and may vary under different rainfall intensities or return periods. Less extreme events could potentially experience even greater relative reductions or prevent flooding altogether, while also easing downstream hydraulic loads. Overall, strategically placed BGI interventions can significantly reduce surface runoff and peak flow, thereby enhancing stormwater resilience within spatially constrained urban environments. This study provides a replicable, data-driven framework for catchment-scale stormwater planning in dense Indian cities under extreme rainfall conditions, offering practical insights into methods, local contextual considerations, and spatial planning strategies for policymakers and urban planners seeking to retrofit and adapt existing infrastructure under increasing hydrologic stress and climate variability. Full article

Disturbance events and subsequent management practices significantly shape the ecological legacies of affected sites. This study evaluated the impacts of a 2022 derecho and the subsequent forest management on forest structure and arthropod diversity by comparing affected forests at Fogwell Forest Nature Preserve and Fox Island County Park with control forests at Blue Cast Springs and Hammer Wald Nature Preserves. Arthropod communities were sampled using pitfall traps, while forest structure was assessed through detailed surveys of understory, midstory, and overstory vegetation. Results indicated a decrease in overall arthropod diversity across all sites since 2016, variably attributed to forest maturation, climatic variability, and the 2022 disturbance, with some taxa showing declines, such as Formicidae and Curculionidae. Fogwell exhibited a significant decline in arthropod diversity, likely linked to the derecho, while Fox Island’s diversity aligned more closely with undisturbed control sites. Notable midstory reductions were observed across sites over time, especially at Fox Island, due to harvest and storm impacts. Meanwhile, overstory diversity varied between properties. Regression modeling revealed that forest management practices at Fox Island may have mitigated the disturbance’s effects, aiding arthropod recovery. All in all, these findings highlight the importance of forest management strategies in influencing biodiversity and ecological recovery post-disturbance. Full article

In the context of global climate warming, sea surface temperature (SST) rise and sea level (SL) rise are projected to amplify typhoon-related marine dynamic disaster risks. These are idealized sensitivity experiments designed to isolate the individual effects of SST warming and SL rise, not full climate projections. This study investigates Super Typhoon Doksuri (2023) using the WRF-SWAN-ROMS coupled model, with sensitivity experiments designed for SST (+0.8 °C, +2.0 °C, +3.5 °C) and SL rise (+0.4 m, +0.6 m, +0.8 m) scenarios referenced to IPCC AR6 projections. Results indicate that SST rise enhances typhoon intensity by approximately 16% at +3.5 °C, elevates mean wave height by 25.0%, and increases extreme significant wave height by 24.0%, with the extreme wave height sensitivity approximately 2.75 times that of the mean. Storm surge exhibits a nonlinear response, with the extreme surge sensitivity approximately 13.2 times that of the mean. SL rise has relatively minor effects on open sea areas but affects coastal regions notably, expanding the inundation area by approximately 47% under the 0.8 m scenario. The Taiwan Strait channeling effect amplifies wave heights and surges on the right side of the track. Comparative analysis suggests that SST indirectly amplifies disasters by enhancing typhoon intensity, while SL rise directly constrains nearshore dynamics through static water level elevation. These findings offer process-based insights into the contrasting physical mechanisms through which SST rise and SL rise affect coastal hazards in semi-enclosed regions and may inform future ensemble-based climate impact assessments. Full article