EU and Singapore Finalizes Digital Trade Agreement – Geospatial World
EU and Singapore Finalizes Digital Trade Agreement Geospatial World
Month: July 2024
Evaluating changes in flood frequency due to climate change in the Western Cape, South Africa
Abstract
This study assesses the impact of climate change on flood frequency across seven sites in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The calibrated Water Resources Simulation Model (WRSM)/Pitman hydrological model was run using precipitation inputs from two representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) using a combination of eight global circulatory models (GCM) for the two periods (2030–2060 and 2070–2100). GCMs were statistically downscaled using the delta change (DC), linear scaling (LS) and quantile delta mapping (QDM) approaches. Average daily discharge was estimated from each downscaled daily precipitation dataset using the Pitman/WRSM model with the Fuller and Sangal estimation methods used to calculate daily instantaneous peak flows. Flood frequency curves (FFC) were generated using the annual maximum series (AMS) for the GCM ensemble mean and individual GCMs for the return periods between 2 and 100 years. FFCs generated based on LS and QDM downscaling methods were aligned for the GCM ensemble mean in terms of the direction of FFCs. Further analysis was conducted using outputs based on the QDM approach, given its suitability in projecting peak flows. Under this method, both Fuller and Sangal FFCs exhibited a decreasing trend across the Jonkershoek and Little Berg River sites; however, estimated quantiles for low-probability events were higher under the Fuller method. This study noted the variation in FFCs from individual GCMs compared to the FFC representing the GCM ensemble mean. Further research on climate change flood frequency analysis (FFA) in South Africa should incorporate other advanced downscaling and instantaneous peak flow estimation (IPF) methods.
Response of hypoxia to future climate change is sensitive to methodological assumptions
Abstract
Climate-induced changes in hypoxia are among the most serious threats facing estuaries, which are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Future projections of estuarine hypoxia typically involve long-term multi-decadal continuous simulations or more computationally efficient time slice and delta methods that are restricted to short historical and future periods. We make a first comparison of these three methods by applying a linked terrestrial–estuarine model to the Chesapeake Bay, a large coastal-plain estuary in the eastern United States. Results show that the time slice approach accurately captures the behavior of the continuous approach, indicating a minimal impact of model memory. However, increases in mean annual hypoxic volume by the mid-twenty-first century simulated by the delta approach (+ 19%) are approximately twice as large as the time slice and continuous experiments (+ 9% and + 11%, respectively), indicating an important impact of changes in climate variability. Our findings suggest that system memory and projected changes in climate variability, as well as simulation length and natural variability of system hypoxia, should be considered when deciding to apply the more computationally efficient delta and time slice methods.
High resolution regional climate simulation over CORDEX East Asia phase II domain using the COAWST Ocean-atmosphere coupled model
Abstract
This study reveals the simulation results of a regional ocean-atmosphere coupled model (Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave Sediment Transport Modeling System, COAWST) for the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) East Asia Phase II, which covers a period of 21 years (1989–2009) at a horizontal resolution of 25 km. The coupled simulation (CPL) and the uncoupled atmospheric simulation (UNCPL) are compared with observations to assess their capability of capturing the climatology characteristics over East Asia. The simulated sea surface temperature (SST) in CPL is generally overestimated (underestimated) in summer (winter) over most CORDEX-EA-II regions. Both CPL and UNCPL can capture the spatial patterns of seasonal air temperature over East Asia well. However, they both simulate cold biases of the winter temperature over most regions of China. CPL can reduce the cold biases over certain regions, which may be related to the increased cloud cover reflecting more longwave radiation to the ground. Additionally, CPL improves the simulation results of summer precipitation, diminishing the dry biases over northern Bay of Bengal and South China Sea. This improvement may be related to the better description of moisture transportation and precipitable water. Furthermore, The CPL experiment can better simulate the inter-annual variability of summer precipitation and the relationship between SST and precipitation, especially over the South China Sea and Philippines Sea. CPL also captures the northward propagation and amplitude of boreal summer intra-seasonal oscillation precipitation anomalies more accurately. These findings highlight the importance of ocean-atmosphere coupling processes to simulate multiscale climate changes in the CORDEX-EA-II regions.
Analysis of spatial variability of smog episodes over National Capital Delhi during (2013–2017)
Abstract
Air pollution is a pressing issue in Delhi, with smog occurrences causing reduced visibility and various respiratory problems. A series of severe SMOG (smoke + fog) episodes between 2013 and 2017 with reduced visibility and exceptionally high PM2.5 concentrations have been reported in Delhi especially around Diwali festival (October–November). The Smog of 2016 is referred as Great Smog of Delhi. This study examined remote sensing data from 2013 to 2017 to investigate smog episodes in Delhi during pre-Diwali, post-Diwali, and Diwali. Satellite-derived parameters viz absorbing aerosol index (AAI), aerosol optical depth (AOD), and ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) along with air pollution data and climatic parameters were used to analyze smog episodes. The results showed that during smog episodes, AOD, AAI and PM2.5 concentrations exceeded permissible limits significantly at all stations across Delhi during the Diwali festival. The ground-based observations at different locations across Delhi and satellite data-derived datasets confirmed the severity of smog episodes. The findings indicate that burning of fire crackers coupled with agriculture stubble burning and subsequent transport of the smoke from North Western states through the Capital had a greater impact on deteriorating air quality in Delhi than local pollution, especially during unfavorable weather conditions associated with high humidity and weaker winds. The outcomes highlight the significance of remotely sensed information in identifying smog episodes and their severity in Delhi. It also underlines the necessity for efficient interventions to control air pollution, particularly amid festivals like Diwali.
Counterspeech as a form of political participation: an analysis from Hannah Arendt’s perspective
Abstract
Hate speech psychologically harms its targeted people. It sometimes leads to hate crimes, which threatens social stability and harmony. Counterspeech is a communicative activity refuting hate speech. Scholars disagree on whether counterspeech-making behavior belongs to political participation, and their disagreements influence empirical studies on political participation. This paper uses Hannah Arendt’s conception of politics to investigate the nature of counterspeech-making behavior. It argues that this behavior is a form of political participation because it contains intrinsic political values and politics-oriented instrumental goals. The analysis broadens our knowledge of political participation and deepens our understanding of hate speech and counterspeech.
Willingness to Reduce Animal Product Consumption: Exploring the Role of Environmental, Animal, and Health Motivations, Selfishness, and Animal-oriented Empathy
Abstract
Increasing the willingness to reduce animal product consumption has the potential to contribute to ameliorating the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, as well as foster healthier diets and improve the lives of farmed and wild animals. Reduction of animal product consumption is a prosocial behaviour (PSB), and factors that are considered to influence it are empathy and selfishness. In this research, animal-oriented empathy examined empathy specifically for animals. Animal oriented empathy and three types of selfishness: adaptive, egoistic, and pathological were measured to determine if they could predict willingness to reduce animal product consumption. PSB is also influenced by motivations and motivations can lead to willingness. The three most common motivations to reduce animal product consumption: animal welfare, the environment, and health were examined to determine whether they predict willingness. A sample of 492 Australian adults completed questionnaires via the Zoho survey platform, and the data underwent a hierarchical regression. Higher pathological selfishness predicted a greater willingness to reduce animal product consumption, as did environmental and animal welfare motivations. However, higher health motivation predicted a lower willingness to reduce animal product consumption. Interpretation of the perplexing results in relation to pathological selfishness suggested further research. The practical value of utilising environmental and animal motivations to increase willingness to reduce animal products whilst bringing attention to the health issues was also discussed.