There is as yet scanty published information on climate trends at a local scale within the central Mediterranean region. This is the most updated study that focuses on detailed understanding of air ...temperature shifts based on standard observations gathered from the Maltese islands. This analysis leads to a number of conclusions, most significant being (1) that the rate of change in the mean temperature is +1.1 °C between 1951 and 2010, (2) a warming trend of +1.2 and +1.1 °C exists in the maximum and minimum temperature, respectively, over the same period, (3) that the strongest anomalous warming has occurred during the last 30 years, particularly during the months of June, August and October, and (4) the local temperature trend is in the same category of air temperature trends detected in the nearby Island of Sicily (Catania, Italy), Perpignan (France) and Dar el-Beida (Algeria). Local data also show differences in the temperature trends, especially pronounced between the two 30-year periods of 1951–1980 and 1981–2010. This study provides an understanding of temperature shifts at recommended small spatio-temporal scales.
•Results show a definitive climatic shift in a number of weather parameters and related indices over the Maltese islands.•An association between the climatic trends and perceived beliefs in ...agricultural practices, yields and readiness to adapt.•Four typologies identified for crop/fruit cultivation farmers (Innovator, Conservative, Disengaged and Skeptical).•Barriers preventing take up of adaptation measures included lack of accurate knowledge about climate change impacts.•Results can be used to tailor an effective and segmented outreach approach that can target the identified farmer typologies.
In this study we report the results obtained from an island-wide survey aimed at researching an under-emphasized key feature of climate change adaptation—namely willingness to adapt on the basis of the perceptions and beliefs held by the Gozitan livestock and crop farmers. Some of the main objectives of this study included the: (1) determination of whether the current perception is in line with the observed climatic changes at the local scale, and (2) identification of the typology of these farmers, together with those factors that affect both skepticism and acceptance of climate change. This study provided an important first step in the objective validation of local farmers' perceptions of climate change, as well as in the development of a comprehensive understanding of their attitude, beliefs, willingness and capacity to adjust their practices in response to climate change. The results pointed to several important conclusions that can be used to inform research, outreach strategies and policy formulation, targeting the Gozitan farming sector to adapt to climate change without delay. The forgoing analysis showed a dire need for more information both on impacts and risks, as well as on ways how to introduce new farming techniques and practices.
•A first in large-scale, site-specific current and future soil erosion rate for the Ramla watershed in Gozo, Malta.•A total of 173 ha of the Ramla watershed estimated to experience low soil ...erosivity.•A total of 3.2 ha of the Ramla watershed is under an estimated high erosivity threat.•Potentially high-risk areas are clearly located in ecologically sensitive locations.•Slight decrease in soil loss estimated due to projected increased aridity in the future.
The aim of the study was to estimate the current and future annual soil erosion rate in the Ramla watershed situated in Gozo, Malta. The RUSLE-GIS was applied using innovative approaches, such as the inclusion of the highest possible DEM data as well as reflecting climatic changes to the R Factor based on the latest climate projections for Gozo derived from a total of eight CMIP6 climate change models. A climate change impact analysis was carried to estimate the likely future risk of soil erosion in this local watershed for the first time. The estimated annual soil loss, as a percentage of the total area of study varies from low (85.1%), to moderate (13.3%) and high (1.6%). Within a climate change context, a reduction in the annual soil erosion rate has been estimated for the period 2080–2100, ranging from −5 ton ha−1 yr−1 under SSP126 to −6 ton ha−1 hr-1 under SSP585. The estimated decrease of annual soil loss within the high soil erosion risk category is attributed to an increased aridity of the local climate as projected by eight CMIP6 climate models. Specific hydrological sub-watersheds were identified within the study area that warrant urgent considerations. The outcomes of this study are based on the inclusion of micro-topographical information derived from high resolution 1 m LiDAR DEM. This modelling work is seen as the first study which can be used to provide some objective guidance on the minimization of potential soil losses within the Ramla watershed. Our estimated soil loss and its spatial distribution can assist in a fuller management plan for the sustainability of this watershed. These results should not be interpreted in absolute terms but as an understanding of the underlying controlling processes, the relative spatial and temporal variations, and of possible future scenarios.
Short-term wind measurements at a candidate wind turbine installation site strive to capture a fingerprint of candidate site wind conditions. Coupling this fingerprint with a historical data set from ...a nearby reference station enables the projection of the candidate site’s longer-term wind characteristics. This paper focuses on the historic wind datasets compiled by the Meteorological Office of Malta International Airport, Luqa. As the only station having in excess of 20 years of wind speed and direction data, this database is significant and useful as a long-term reference station. The position of the Maltese island makes this station a useful node for weather-related data and for validation of computational tools in the central Mediterranean region. The focus of this paper is primarily on a period when the station and measurement equipment went through an upgrade and relocation. A downward shift of 0.75 ms–1 in the wind speed was identified. The analyses presented in this paper identify and test hypotheses for this shift including aspects such as the station’s relocation, the use of new sensors, using a different monitoring structure type and other factors.
This study implements the assimilation of sea surface temperature (SST) data acquired by passive microwave remote sensing to a high-resolution, primitive-equation ocean model. The aim was to improve ...a forecasting tool capable of predicting the surface ocean processes linked to the air-sea interactions at sub-mesoscale level using one-way coupled, atmosphere-ocean modelling. An assimilation scheme based on a Newtonian relaxation scheme was fine-tuned to improve the forecasting skill of the ocean model. The ocean model was driven by predicted, synchronous air-sea fluxes derived by an overlying atmosphere model, remotely sensed SST and lateral boundary conditions derived from its previous run. The estimation of the model forecasting error was based on statistical and spatial comparison with remotely sensed observations. The optimal nudging coefficient was found to be 5 × 10
−4
for 12 hours, giving a mean bias of −0.07°C. Forecast validation was done against calibrated AVHRR scenes using a new approach to calibrate region-specific scenes based on the split-window technique. This work demonstrates the benefit of using passive microwave remote sensing to improve high-resolution ocean forecasting systems. It also shows the high complementarity of infrared and passive microwave satellite sensors to provide information on the surface thermodynamics of the Ionian Sea.
GSC 05586-00371 is a fast-rotating (Prot ≈ 0.44 days) eclipsing binary. Our study showed that this star system is an overcontact eclipsing binary star that belongs to the W UMa class with ...characteristics of RS CVn type stars. We studied this binary system by photometric means through the V and I bandpass where data by the ASAS-SN survey have also been utilized. our photometry yielded a more precise orbital period that was obtained on its discovery. ASAS-SN data over a 6-year period revealed a long-term photometric wave that is attributed to star spot activity. We monitored the binary system over a 73-hour monitoring period to detect any possible flares from the system, where two consecutive events were monitored from one of our observing stations. Through the use of the Wilson-Devinney program as applied by Binary Maker 3.0, we have obtained a model for this binary system that reveals the presence of star spots on both components. Our results show that the star spot activity is rather dynamic where their influence on the system’s light output changed on seasonal timescales.
We present our follow-up observations with GRANDMA of transient sources revealed by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Over a period of six months, all ZTF triggers were examined in real time by a ...dedicated science module implemented in the Fink broker, which will be used for the data processing of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. In this article, we present three selection methods to identify kilonova candidates. Out of more than 35 million candidates, a hundred sources have passed our selection criteria. Six were then followed-up by GRANDMA (by both professional and amateur astronomers). The majority were finally classified either as asteroids or as supernovae events. We mobilized 37 telescopes, bringing together a large sample of images, taken under various conditions and quality. To complement the orphan kilonova candidates (those without associated gamma-ray bursts, which were all), we included three additional supernovae alerts to conduct further observations of during summer 2021. We demonstrate the importance of the amateur astronomer community that contributed images for scientific analyzes of new sources discovered in a magnitude range r'=17-19 mag. We based our rapid kilonova classification on the decay rate of the optical source that should exceed 0.3 mag/day. GRANDMA's follow-up determined the fading rate within 1.5+/-1.2 days post-discovery, without waiting for further observations from ZTF. No confirmed kilonovae were discovered during our observing campaign. This work will be continued in the coming months in the view of preparing for kilonova searches in the next gravitational-wave observing run O4.
Bears exhibit marked evolution for Pleistocene Europe. Both lineages are thought to have arisen from etruscan bear U. etruscus in the Early Pleistocene, however their high degree of polymorphism has ...prevented the establishment of an accepted evolutionary scenario. Isotopic analysis and tooth morphology of fossil brown bear U. arctos suggests that it was an omnivorous opportunist. The deningeri bear U. deningeri represents the spelaean bear of the Middle Pleistocene, sharing certain morphological affinities with brown bear U. arctos (frontal bulge and face; occlusal surface of jugular teeth). Within U. deningeri, several subspecies have been distinguished as evolutionary stages leading to the speciation of the cave bear U. spelaeus, the typical spelaean bear of the Late Pleistocene, which dominates cave fossil deposits. The speloïd lineage might serve as a good chronological marker for Pleistocene stratigraphic levels. There are several morphologically distinct lineages within U. spelaeus “sensu lato”, of controversial taxonomic status. Herbivorous feeding habits for U. spelaeus “s.l.” have been inferred from morphology (tooth, skull, jaw), demographics, and stable isotope analysis. This dietary difference between brown bears and cave bears shows that ecological competition was probably limited between both types. Paleo-genetic studies suggest that cave bears gradually lowered their reproductive rate (between 52,800 and 27,800 y BP) which led to their extinction at the onset of the last glacial maximum. Climatic changes are the main suggested causes responsible for the extinction of U. spelaeus. Les ours présentent une évolution marquée pour l’Europe du Pléistocène. On pense que les deux lignées sont issues de l’ours étrusque U. etruscus au Pléistocène inférieur, mais leur degré élevé de polymorphisme a empêché l’établissement d’un scénario évolutif accepté. L’analyse isotopique et la morphologie des dents de l’ours brun fossile U. arctos suggèrent qu’il s’agissait d’un omnivore opportuniste. L’ours de Deninger U.deningeri représente l’ours spéléen du Pléistocène moyen, partageant certaines affinités morphologiques avec l’ours brun U. arctos (renflement frontal et face; surface occlusale des dents jugales). Au sein d’Ursus deningeri, plusieurs sous-espèces ont été distinguées comme des stades évolutifs conduisant à la spéciation de l’ours des cavernes U. spelaeus, l’ours spéléen typique du Pléistocène supérieur, qui domine les dépôts fossiles des cavernes. La lignée spéloïde pourrait servir de bon marqueur chronologique pour les niveaux stratigraphiques du Pléistocène. Il existe plusieurs lignées morphologiquement distinctes au sein de U. spelaeus «sensu lato», de statut taxonomique controversé. Des habitudes alimentaires herbivores de l’U. spelaeus «s.l.» ont été déduits par la morphologie (dent, crâne, mâchoire), la démographie et l’analyse des isotopes stables. cette différence alimentaire entre les ours bruns et les ours des cavernes montre que la concurrence écologique était probablement limitée entre les deux types. Des études paléogénétiques suggèrent que les ours des cavernes ont progressivement abaissé leur taux de reproduction (entre 52800 et 27800 ans BP), ce qui a conduit à leur extinction au début du dernier maximum glaciaire. Il est suggéré que les changements climatiques sont les causes principales de l’extinction de l’U. spelaeus.
The urban environment is characterised by many pressures caused by population growth, transport (and its related emissions), and the damage to green areas. Yet, there is a variety of ecosystem ...services available in urban areas, which may be deployed to ameliorate the current problems and foster their sustainability. This paper reviews the role of ecosystem services as tools for sustainability, based on an urban setting. It also describes a series of multi-country case studies, where an assessment of their functions using a set of benefits valuation approaches such as health benefits, economic benefits, social benefits and benefits to climate resilience, are provided, along with an appraisal of their role in up-keeping the overall quality of the urban environment in the studied areas. Policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the role of ecosystem services, and fostering sustainability in the sampled sites -and beyond-are provided.
