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Topic Review
Methods for Monitoring and Studying Forest Vulnerability
Forests around the world are facing climate change. Increased drought stress and severe heat waves have negatively impacted on forest health, making them more vulnerable and prone to dieback and mortality phenomena. Although the term vulnerability is used to indicate an increased susceptibility of forests to climate change with a worsening of their vigour status that can compromise their ability to respond to further climate extreme events, there are still uncertainties on how to evaluate it. Indeed, evaluation of forest vulnerability is complex both because of some critical issues in the estimation methods used and because of the multiple factors influencing the response of forests to ongoing climate change. A way to assess the vulnerability to environmental stresses is by combining remote sensing and dendroecological data.
  • 254
  • 06 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Rise in Mid-Tropospheric Temperature Trend over the Tibet
The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region (HKH), situated at high altitudes (~5 km above sea level), and the adjoining Indo-Gangetic plains (IG plains, ~0–250 m above sea level) are notably responsive to climatic shifts due to their geographic location and intricate topography. Ongoing research reveals that climate change's consequences and linked alterations in water resources—comprising glacial/snow meltwater and rainfall—hold diverse impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, industries, and inhabitants within this area. This investigation delved into a 45-year span of data (1978–2022) derived from Microwave Sounding Unit/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU/AMSU) instruments provided by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS Version 4.0). The goal was to scrutinize changes in mid-tropospheric temperature (TMT, 3–7 km altitude) and lower tropospheric temperature (TLT, 0–3 km altitude) concerning annual/monthly trends and anomalies. A noteworthy rise in mid-tropospheric temperatures (0–3 km altitude) across the HKH region, with increases of 1.49 °K in Tibet, 1.30 °K in the western Himalayas, and 1.35 °K in the eastern Himalayas over the 45-year timeframe. By contrast with an earlier 30-year period study (1979–2008), the present study observed a substantial percentage change of TMT trends for the high-altitude areas, including Tibet, the western Himalayas, and the eastern Himalayas—approximately 310%, 80%, and 170%, respectively. Conversely, the neighboring plains (western and eastern IG plains) exhibited negligible or considerably lower percent alterations (0% and 40%, respectively) over the past 14 years.
  • 252
  • 21 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Green Materials in Sustainable Urban Planning
Urban green planning is crucial in promoting sustainable urban ecosystems through the mindful use of vegetation, but few approaches are currently able to account for the ecosystem services provided by urban green planning in ex ante planning applications. Indeed, by estimating the functions exerted by different vegetation elements in urban ecosystems through a purposely developed set of equations, the procedure allows for the optimization of the development of urban plans by maximizing the contribution of vegetation to ecosystem dynamics. Specifically, the proposed methodology is articulated in two phases, i.e., the functional role of vegetation is firstly modeled through simple geometric features and specific ecological traits accounting for plant interactions with the environment, and then the selected vegetation traits are used in guiding the choice of the species. The approach has been exemplified through case studies, thereby highlighting its ability to guide planning decisions based on the type, abundance, and spatial organization of vegetation to promote the sustainability of urban development.
  • 252
  • 06 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Emerging Group
Increasing awareness of the problems caused by synthetic agrochemicals, such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, makes it crucial to discover substitute approaches that can guarantee competitive plant production and protect the environment while maintaining the natural balance in agroecosystems. One of the leading alternatives is utilizing rhizobacterial strains named plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).
  • 252
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Environmental Sorption of Additives from Microplastics
Although the impacts of plastic pollution have long been recognized, the presence, pervasiveness, and ecotoxicological consequences of microplastic—i.e., plastic particles < 5 mm—contamination have only been explored over the last decade. Far less focus has been attributed to the role of these materials and, particularly, microplastics, as vectors for a multitude of chemicals, including those (un)intentionally added to plastic products, but also organic pollutants already present in the environment. 
  • 251
  • 17 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Bioenergy and Biopesticides Production in Serbia
The critical role of energy in contemporary life and the environmental challenges associated with its production imply the need for research and exploration of its novel resources, including biomass as a source of bioenergy. Along with the energy-related degradation of the environment, serious environmental issues arise from the use of pesticides in food production and plant breeding. This prompts the utilization of biomass in the production of biopesticides, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides.
  • 251
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Knife Handle Working Face
With the rapid development of the social economy, the demand for coal is also increasing. Due to large-scale mining in shallow areas, coal resources are being increasingly depleted. Coal mines are gradually being mined in deep areas. Due to the complexity of coal seam conditions and variability, in order to reduce the loss of coal resources and the amount of moving, and to ensure the efficient mining of mines, the knife handle-type working face came into being. The complex overlying rock structure after the mining of the knife handle-type working face has brought great difficulties to the control of the surrounding rock of the working face.
  • 250
  • 08 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Urban Trees in Mitigating Climate Impacts
Urban tree cadastres, essential for climate adaptation and urban planning, face challenges in maintaining accuracy and completeness. Existing urban vegetation has a large cooling potential. However, it is important to note that all tree species emit varying concentrations of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) (e.g. isoprene and terpenes), which can act as precursors for the formation of ground-level ozone.
  • 250
  • 16 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Shipowners’ Choices of Alternative Marine Fuels
It is interesting to find that alternative fuels (e.g., liquefied natural gas) are the most attractive choice for gas ships and ro-ro carriers; others prefer to use conventional fuels. Furthermore, shipowners’ choices of new fuels significantly correlate with their nationality is revealed. While it is well-established that economic factors influence shipowners’ choices for new ship fuel solutions, the impacts of bunker costs, freight rates, and CO2 emission allowance prices remain relatively limited. It is evident that the policies of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce carbon emissions have increased the demand for building new energy ships. 
  • 249
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Microbial Biocontrol Agents in Fight against Alder Diseases
Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) is a tree species native to Ireland and Europe with high economic and ecological importance. The presence of Alder has many benefits including the ability to adapt to multiple climate types, as well as aiding in ecosystem restoration due to its colonization capabilities within disturbed soils. However, Alder is susceptible to infection of the root rot pathogen Phytophthora alni, amongst other pathogens associated with this tree species. P. alni has become an issue within the forestry sector as it continues to spread across Europe, infecting Alder plantations, thus affecting their growth and survival and altering ecosystem dynamics. Beneficial microbiota and biocontrol agents play a crucial role in maintaining the health and resilience of plants. Studies have shown that beneficial microbes promote plant growth as well as aid in the protection against pathogens and abiotic stress. 
  • 247
  • 18 Sep 2023
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