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Topic Review
Pharmaceuticals in Water
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment presents a challenge to modern science. The most significant impact this can induce is the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which can lead to a global health emergency. It is important to note that the impact of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is not limited to antibiotic resistance. Pharmaceuticals can also affect the behaviour and reproductive systems of aquatic organisms, with cascading effects on entire ecosystems.
  • 249
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment
The Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) is a research program of the World Climate Research Programme intended to observe, comprehend and model the Earth's water cycle. The experiment also observes how much energy the Earth receives, studies how much of that energy reaches surfaces of the Earth and how that energy is transformed. Sunlight's energy evaporates water to produce clouds and rain, and dries out land masses after rain. Rain that falls on land becomes the water budget which can be used by people for agricultural and other processes. GEWEX is a collaboration of researchers worldwide to find better ways of studying the water cycle and how it transforms energy through the atmosphere. If the Earth's climates were identical from year to year, then people could predict when, where and what crops to plant. However, instability created by solar variation, weather trends, and chaotic events create weather that is unpredictable on seasonal scales. Through weather patterns such as droughts and higher rainfall these cycles impact ecosystems and human activities. GEWEX is designed to collect a much greater amount of data, and see if better models of that data can forecast weather and climate change into the future. GEWEX is organized into several structures. As GEWEX was conceived projects were organized by participating factions, this task is now done by the International GEWEX Project Office (IGPO). IGPO oversees major initiatives and coordinates between national projects in an effort to bring about communication of researchers. IGPO claims to support communication exchange between 2000 scientist and is the instrument for publication of major reports. The Scientific Steering Group organizes the projects and assigns them to panels, which oversee progress and provide critique. The Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observations Project (CEOP) the 'Hydrology Project' is a major instrument in GEWEX. This panel includes geographic study areas such as the Climate Prediction Program for the Americas operated by NOAA, but also examines several types of climate zones (e.g. high altitude and semi-arid). Another panel, the GEWEX Radiation Panel oversees the coordinated use of satellites and ground-based observation to better estimate energy and water fluxes. One recent result GEWEX's Radiation panel has assessed data on rainfall for the last 25 years and determined that global rainfall is 2.61 mm/day with a small statistical variation. While the study period is short, after 25 years of measurement regional trends are beginning to appear. The GEWEX Modeling and Prediction Panel takes current models and analyzes the models when climate forcing phenomena occur (global warming as an example of a 'climate forcing' event). GEWEX is now the core project of WCRP.
  • 243
  • 28 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Dynamic Groundwater Contamination Vulnerability Assessment Techniques
Assuring the quantity and quality of groundwater resources is essential for the well-being of human and ecological health, society, and the economy. For the last few decades, groundwater vulnerability modeling techniques have become essential for groundwater protection and management. Groundwater contamination is highly dynamic due to its dependency on recharge, which is a function of time-dependent parameters such as precipitation and evapotranspiration. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the time-series analysis in the “approximation” process to model the dynamic vulnerability of groundwater contamination. 
  • 241
  • 20 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Higher Education Institutes on Community-Level Climate Action Plans
To drive a radical change toward a zero-carbon transition at the city scale, massive decarbonization is required at the institutional level (academic/non-academic campus) of a city. Among all the nongovernmental actors, it is always expected that Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) would take the lead in promoting a resilient and sustainable future for the cities through their education, research, and innovation. HEIs’ multidimensional activity resembles the “small scale model of a city” interacting with different subsystems like education, administration, transport, housing, health, etc. 
  • 236
  • 26 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Ecosystem-Services Provided by Microbiota in Vineyards and Wines
The progression in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies is helping to facilitate the identification of microbial dynamics during winemaking. These advancements have aided winemakers in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the role of microbiota in the fermentation process, which, in turn, is ultimately responsible for the delivery of provisioning (wine features and its production), regulating (such as carbon storage by vineyards, regulation of soil quality, and biocontrol of pests and diseases) or cultural (such as aesthetic values of vineyard landscapes, scholarly enjoyment of wine, and a sense of belonging in wine-growing regions) ecosystem services. Ecosystem services can be defined as the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems and their component species sustain and enable human life. The main classifications group them into three broad categories: provisioning, regulating, and cultural.
  • 234
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Utilization Methods for Lignocellulosic Biomass
Utilization of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) for bioenergy production has been widely investigated in the previous decades, as it provides an excellent environmentally friendly alternative to non-renewable energy sources. There are numerous procedures to convert plant-based biomass into usable feedstock or valuable energy carriers, such as C5 and C6 sugars, organic acids, or more commonly, bioethanol and biogas. 
  • 230
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Current Trends in the Development of Fungal-Containing Consortia
There is growing interest in the creation of artificial microbial consortia, especially in the field of developing and applying various bioremediation processes. Heavy metals, dyes, synthetic polymers (microplastics), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pharmaceutical agents are among the pollutants that have been mainly targeted by bioremediation based on various consortia containing fungi and yeasts. Such consortia can be designed both for the treatment of soil and water. 
  • 228
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Recovery of Phosphorus and Metals from Waste Ashes
Sewage sludge ash (SSA) is a rich source of P, while municipal solid waste incineration fly or bottom ashes (MSWI-FA, MWSI-BA) are rich in metals, especially Zn, Pb, and Cu.
  • 218
  • 24 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Mechanisms of Epigenetic Regulation Response to Plant Stress
Plant stress is a significant challenge that affects the development, growth, and productivity of plants and causes an adverse environmental condition that disrupts normal physiological processes and hampers plant survival. Epigenetic regulation is a crucial mechanism for plants to respond and adapt to stress.
  • 214
  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Roles, Formation Processes and Investigation Methods of Rhizosheath
The rhizosheath, defined as the complex of root hair, exudates and soil that strongly adheres to plant roots, is a promising root adaptive trait in facing conditions of water and nutrient deficits, as well as acidic soil. Several beneficial ecological functions are attributed to the rhizosheath, such as enhancing water and nutrient uptake; protecting from dehydration, heat and acid stresses; and stimulating microbial activities. It has been described in several Angiosperm species, including crops grown in severe habitats. 
  • 211
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Optimization Examples for Water Allocation, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Costs
The field of Water Resources Management (WRM) is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, realizing its direct connections with energy, food, and social and economic sciences, among others. Computationally, this leads to more complex models, wherein the achievement of multiple goals is sought. Optimization processes have found various applications in such complex WRM problems. This entry considers the main factors involved in modern WRM, and puts them in a single optimization problem, including water allocation from different sources to different uses and non-renewable and renewable energy supplies, with their associated carbon emissions and costs. The entry explores the problem mathematically by presenting different optimization approaches, such as linear, fuzzy, dynamic, goal, and non-linear programming models. Furthermore, codes for each model are provided in Python, an open-source language. This entry has an educational character, and the examples presented are easily reproducible, so this is expected to be a useful resource for students, modelers, researchers, and water managers.
  • 205
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Engineered Nano-ZnO in the Biological Nitrogen Removal Process
Engineered nano-ZnO is extensively utilized in both production and daily life, leading to its inevitable entry into the wastewater treatment system through various pathways. Nitrogen removal microorganisms in wastewater treatment systems are highly susceptible to environmental impacts. The antibacterial properties of nano-ZnO can impede the biological nitrogen removal (BNR) process and adversely affect the nitrogen removal performance. A comprehensive understanding of the inhibitory effect and mechanism of nano-ZnO on the BNR process is crucial in devising appropriate countermeasures to ensure optimal nitrogen removal performance. 
  • 204
  • 05 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Farmers in Adopting Climate Adaptation Measures in Itay
Concerns raised about climate risks on agriculture indicate that adaptation of the agricultural sector to climate change is necessary to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change. Despite many opportunities to implement climate adaptation measures at farm level, there are several obstacles to their adoption. Farmers’ decision to implement adaptation measures lies in the difficulty of accessing knowledge about adaptation practices and in the lack of resources for upfront investments required by adaptation.
  • 201
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Mercury Interactions with Natural Phytoplankton
The biogeochemical cycling of mercury in aquatic environments is a complex process driven by various factors, such as ambient temperature, seasonal variations, methylating bacteria activity, dissolved oxygen levels, and Hg interaction with dissolved organic matter (DOM). As a consequence, part of the Hg contamination from anthropogenic activity that was buried in sediments is reinserted into water columns mainly in highly toxic organic Hg forms (methylmercury, dimethylmercury, etc.). This is especially prominent in the coastal shallow waters of industrial regions worldwide. 
  • 197
  • 25 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Climatic Threats and Adaptation of Marine Biodiversity
Oceans play a vital role in socioeconomic and environmental development by supporting activities such as tourism, recreation, and food provision while providing important ecosystem services. However, concerns have been raised about the threat that climate change poses to the functions of oceans.
  • 193
  • 23 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Damaged Sandstone Used in the Cathedral of Huesca
In order to manage problems arising from rainwater/rock interaction in Miocene sandstones (calcareous litharenites) widely used in various monuments of the Ebro Valley (NE of Spain), a survey has been conducted with particular application to the building and architectural decorative materials of the Cathedral of Huesca.
  • 192
  • 23 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Using Storytelling as a Means Of Teaching
Storytelling was an important part of my culture and an intrinsic part of people’s way of life. As I grew up and went to school, storytelling was one the ways of learning and conveying important information about the culture, world views, morals, expectations, norms and values. 
  • 186
  • 03 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Ecotoxicological Impact of Bioplastics Biodegradation
The emergence of bioplastics presents a promising solution to the environmental impact of the plastics industry. Bioplastics are engineered to degrade in aquatic or soil environments. However, not all bioplastics are completely biodegradable, and some, like petrochemical-based plastics, may contribute to plastic pollution. The biodegradability of bioplastics is significantly different in different environmental conditions such as soil, marine, and composting environments. At the same time, bioplastics produced from natural resources contain a mixture of known and unknown materials and show 32% cytotoxicity, 42% oxidative stress, 67% baseline toxicity, and 23% antiandrogenicity in bioassays. The extensive biodegradation of bioplastics in soil can also change the soil nutrients, leading to eutrophication or stunted plant growth. However, many concerns have arisen, according to which bioplastics may not be an alternative option for global plastic pollution in the long run, and limited studies focus on this scenario. 
  • 185
  • 22 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Resilient Renewable Energy: Strategies During Supply Chain Disruptions
Maintaining progress on greenhouse gas reduction goals is crucial even during supply chain disruptions, as these disruptions can significantly impact the availability of critical components and materials, thereby affecting project timelines and financial performance. Strategies to comply with these goals include prioritizing investments in research and development (R&D) to enhance resilience and efficiency, fostering long-term partnerships with suppliers to ensure priority access to necessary resources, and expanding the development of bioenergy companies that rely on locally or regionally sourced organic materials, among other measures​.
  • 178
  • 26 Jun 2024
Topic Review
Effects of Climate Change on Northeastern American Forests
Forests and forestry-related industries and ecosystem services play a critical role in the daily life of all societies, including in cultural, ecological, social, economic, and environmental aspects. Globally, there are about 4.1 billion hectares of forestland. In the United States, there are about 304 million hectares of forestland, covering about 34% of the total land area, and the forest product industry produces over USD 200 billion worth of forestry products annually. Evidence suggests these precious resources may be negatively impacted by climate change via direct and indirect processes, including wildfires, insect/pest pressure, drought, extreme storm events, increased air temperature, solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit, and other factors and variables that can be detrimental.
  • 177
  • 19 Jan 2024
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