Increased occurrence of high impact compound events under climate change

While compound weather and climate events (CEs) can lead to significant socioeconomic consequences, their response to climate change is mostly unexplored. We report the first multi-model assessment of future changes in return periods for the co-occurrence of heatwaves and drought, and extreme winds and precipitation based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and three emission scenarios. Extreme winds and precipitation CEs occur more frequently in many regions, particularly under higher emissions. Heatwaves and drought occur more frequently everywhere under all emission scenarios examined. For each CMIP6 model, we derive a skill score for simulating CEs. Models with higher skill in simulating historical CEs project smaller increases in the number of heatwaves and drought in Eurasia, but larger numbers of strong winds and heavy precipitation CEs everywhere for all emission scenarios. This result is partly masked if the whole CMIP6 ensemble is used, pointing to the considerable value in further improvements in climate models.

Analyze the Outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan City Based on Large-Scale Events and Extreme Weather

This article analyzes the impact of large-scale mass activities and extreme weather on the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, confirming that the South China Seafood Market is indeed the origin of the Wuhan epidemic, and found that the probability of respiratory transmission is low in open space, while food transmission is possible. At the same time, it was found that the outbreaks of SARS in Beijing in 2003 and COVID-19 in Wuhan in 2019 were both related to extreme weather. By investigating genomics and epidemiological data, it was determined that the first COVID-19 case in Wuhan was in November, and the beginning of the epidemic was in late November. Comparing the climate of November, December and January in Wuhan from 2011 to 2020, it is found that there are a lot of extreme weather events in Wuhan from the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020, including strong winds, heavy rains, large cooling after continuous high temperature, and continuous low temperature and rainy after large cooling, the temperature suddenly rises and then drops rapidly, the wind continues to weaken for many days and then suddenly increases, and long rainy days, etc.

Rockfall and Rainfall Correlation in the Anaga Nature Reserve in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Rockfalls are frequent and damaging phenomena that occur on steep or vertical slopes, in coastal areas, mountains and along coastal cliff. Water, in different forms, is the most common triggered factor of rockfalls. Consequently, we can consider that precipitation is the most influential factor for slope instabilities and it influences almost all other water parameters. Besides, the specific geology of the Anaga nature reserve in the volcanic island of Tenerife, together with its steep landscape, contributes to the instability of the slopes and frequent rockfalls. Recently, due to climate change and global warming, the annual precipitation/rainfall has declined but the number of heavy storms, associated with intense rainfall and strong winds, events that exceed precipitation thresholds in a brief period has increased which triggers slope movements. This paper describes the analysis of information on rainfall-induced rockfalls in Anaga, Tenerife (Canary Islands), to forecast rock failures of social significance and to improve the capability to respond and emergency decision making. To define reliable thresholds for a certain area, we analized information during the period 2010–2016, reconstructed the rockfall events, and statistically analyzed the historical rainfall conditions that led to landslides. The summary graph correlating precipitation to the probability of occurrence of an event was plotted. Statistical and probability graphs were made with the direct relationship between the number of rockfall events and total rainfall in that period by examining the maximum daily precipitation, not only on the day of the event but up to 3 days before. Hence, the results of this study would serve as a guide for the possible forecasting of rainfall-induced rockfalls, especially for road maintenance services, so that they can be on alert or mobilize the necessary resources in advance depending on the intensity of the expected rainfall.

Doppler Weather Radar analysis of short term cyclonic storm

On the east coast of India, during South-West monsoon period severe cyclonic storms are very rare and if they are short term cyclones then their prediction becomes very difficult due to rapid change in the intensity of the system. Though synoptic observations failed and satellite observations also cannot give decisive picture about such systems, in that case timely warning can not be issued by the weather agencies. Such a system was formed on 19 September, 2006 at about 250 km South-East of Kolkata (India). Very heavy rainfall associated with the system caused several human casualties and extensive damage to the property. According to news agencies, more than 100 people died and a million people became homeless due to heavy rainfall and strong winds associated with the cyclone during 19 September -21, 2006. At 0600 UTC, Doppler Weather radar (DWR) at Kolkata observed initial signatures of the system like a depression. Subsequently at 0900 UTC the observations indicated that the intensification of the system has taken place to a higher stage of deep depression and at about 1200 UTC clear spiral bands with a circular eye recorded by DWR confirmed for a fully developed severe cyclonic storm. The system weakened in to a deep depression at 1630 UTC after the landfall but again became a cyclonic storm at 2100 UTC of 19 September, 2006. Present study establishes that DWR is very useful for prediction of this short term cyclonic storm, its direction of movement and heavy rainfall associated. The maximum radial winds of the magnitude 32 m/s (64 knots/115 km/h) were also recorded by DWR at an altitude of 2.5 km in the eye wall region of the system. The high wind speed and the well defined structure of the cyclone observed by DWR confirmed that the system was a Severe Cyclonic Storm of T number 3.5. Records are available with surface observatories in the region for strong winds of the order of 110 km/h. This study also revealed that an early warning for strong winds and heavy rainfall could have been issued for development of such a short duration tropical cyclone using DWR data well in advance.

Composite microbialites: Thrombolite, dendrolite, and stromatolite associations in a modern environment, Pozo Bravo lake, Salar de Antofalla, Catamarca Puna, Argentina

ABSTRACT Pozo Bravo is a high-altitude Andean lake that harbors modern microbialites thriving in hypersaline conditions in the Salar de Antofalla, one of the driest sites on Earth and located in the Puna region of Catamarca, northwest Argentine. Due to the lake physiography, microbialites are restricted to a narrow belt following Pozo Bravo lake variations. Microbialites exhibit a wide range of external morphologies including domal, discoidal, tabular, and horseshoe-like bioherms which vary considerably in size, as well as large biostromal terraces. As documented by other studies on modern microbialites, external morphology appears to be mainly the product of the environmental setting. In Pozo Bravo lake, high evaporation rates and hypersalinity (driven by high temperature and strong winds), water-level fluctuations, and lake-bottom topography are major controlling factors. The distinctive feature of Pozo Bravo microbialites is their internal structure, showing a gradual transition from a thrombolitic core to dendrolitic structures and to a sharply overlying stromatolitic layer within a single microbialite. We suggest that these various microbialite textures represent a gradual change within an environmental gradient based on lake-level variations, and the influence of these environmental factors on biological activity, mainly by cyanobacteria and diatoms. The study of this site is particularly relevant given that it represents an active system where progressive changes in microbialite type (from thrombolites to dendrolites and stromatolites) are recorded, providing an excellent natural laboratory to study these textural changes from a mechanistic perspective, and it may provide insights for better understanding of the microbialite geological record. In addition, given that these systems are threatened by human activities (mining of lithium-rich brines), its study and preservation are necessary.

Readiness of the Haji Abdoel Madjid Regional General Hospital Batanghari Jambi to Deal Disaster

Disasters are events caused by events or a series of events caused by natural or non-natural. During the period from January to May 2021, there were 1,185 disasters that occurred in Indonesia such as floods, tornadoes, landslides, forest and land fires, earthquakes, tidal waves and droughts. This study aimed to analyse the preparedness of the Haji Abdoel Madjid Batang Hari Regional General Hospital (RSUD HAMBA) Jambi (facing disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic). The research method uses a mix method approach, using the Hospital Safety Index (HSI) forms. The HAMBA Hospital included earthquakes, strong winds, fires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The struktural safety assessment got an index score of 0.69, non-struktural safety was 0.67, and emergency and disaster management safety got an index score of o.63. Overall, HAMBA Hospital received a safety index of 0.67 which was included in the "A" classification which indicates that HAMBA Hospital is ready to face the COVID-19 disaster and pandemic. HAMBA Hospital is expected to strengthen emergency and disaster management, renovation and addition of rooms and facilities must follow applicable hospital building safety standards.

Coaction of Wind and Rain Effects on Large-Span Hyperbolic Roofs

Rainfall is often accompanied by strong winds. The large-span roof structure has a low height, its surrounding turbulence is high, and the wind speed changes greatly. The effects of coaction of wind and rain on the roofs cannot be ignored. Wind-driven rain (WDR) is an oblique movement phenomenon of raindrops generated by wind flow. Four types of hyperbolic roofs, that is, square, rectangular, circular, and elliptical, are selected as the objective to study the wind-driven rain by CFD simulation. Effects of wind direction, wind speed, and rainfall intensity on the WDR are analyzed. Pressure distribution of four types of hyperbolic roofs under coaction of wind and rain is obtained. The results are compared with those from the wind action only. The roofs are partitioned to obtain the coaction of wind and rain pressure of the four large-span hyperbolic roofs with different shapes under the most unfavorable working conditions. The results show that the average pressure coefficient of the roof surface increases with the increase of wind speed and rainfall intensity. The reference value of the average pressure coefficient of wind-driven rain on the surface of the roof is given, which provides a reference basis for the design of wind-driven rain on similar hyperbolic roofs.

Perception of Environmental Impacts of Wind Farms in Agricultural Areas of Northeast Brazil

In recent years, wind power in Brazil has emerged as an alternative to diversify the country′s energy mix and minimize the emission of pollutants derived from fossil fuels. The state of Rio Grande do Norte, in the Brazilian Northeast, has considerable potential for the generation of wind energy due to the occurrence of strong winds in many areas along the coast and in the interior of the state, in places with higher altitudes. However, wind energy, despite being considered clean and renewable, can cause environmental impacts in those places. Thus, the present study analyzed the perception of environmental impacts caused by the installation of wind farms in the agricultural areas of Northeast Brazil. The study was carried out in the municipality of Serra do Mel, in the western region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, based on a survey of local farmers. The study concluded that farmers live without major problems and without apparent conflicts with wind farms but have little knowledge about the environmental impacts. In the perception of most farmers, there are few negative environmental impacts, and those that exist are barely noticed or still do not cause damage to most farmers in the region.

Quality and Yield of Lettuce in an Open-Air Rooftop Hydroponic System

In this study, the yield and growth performance of lettuce in an open-air rooftop hydroponic system were investigated. Lettuce was grown in a closed recirculating nutrient film technique (NFT) unit using a standard nutrient solution (NS). Yield, fresh weight, and nutrient content in the leaf tissue of the harvested lettuce were measured. The results were compared with the results obtained in indoor hydroponic lettuce growth with artificial lightning. Despite strong winds during the growth period, 25% of the total lettuce heads weighed twice the marketable weight; however, 25% of the total lettuce heads were below the marketable weight. A more efficient nutrient uptake was indicated by the lettuces in the rooftop system compared with the uptake in the indoor system. Foliar analysis revealed a higher content of all nutrients in the leaves of rooftop hydroponic lettuce compared with indoor hydroponic lettuce. This study suggests that hydroponic rooftop-grown lettuce can be competitive with their indoor counterparts if the rooftop hydroponic system is protected from extreme weather conditions.