Assessment of climate information needs in the Argentinean Agro-business sector

The present investigation aims at identifying the needs of the Argentinean agro-business sector for climate research and information. Our approach is focused on any type of climate information from past observations to seasonal prediction and climate change projections. We tried, in particular, to evaluate the possible existence of specific research themes that would be of major interest for these agriculture end-users. We interviewed representatives of seventeen companies from three major agrobusiness sectors: (1) regional/national entities such as agricultural associations, cooperatives and commercial trade boards; (2) insurance companies in the Argentinean agro-insurance market; and (3) large national and international companies representing cereal producers, agro-chemistry and agro-seeds. While all the interviewees recognized the strong influence of climate on their activities, they all pointed out that, at the time of making decision, they considered the political and economic risks rather than the climate one. In many aspects, climate is often considered as a fatality against which it is difficult to be protected. An interesting result is the confidence of the private sectors in the climate information provided by public sources (INTA, SMN, Universities) although they contract private consultants for frequent reports and tendencies. Finally, we explain how such sectors could make a better use of climate information (seasonal prediction, climate change scenarios) that could be integrated in their business projections. In particular, the development of new financial contracts (climate derivatives) open in countries with a relatively poor insurance history new ways to protect the different agricultural sectors, from the producer to large companies.     

North Atlantic control on precipitation pattern in the eastern Mediterranean/Black Sea region during the last glacial

Based on proxy records from western Black Sea cores, we provide a comprehensive study of climate change during the last glacial maximum and late-glacial period in the Black Sea region. For the first time we present a record of relative changes in precipitation for NW Anatolia based on variations in the terrigenous supply expressed as detrital carbonate concentration. The good correspondence between reconstructed rainfall intensity in NW Anatolia and past western Mediterranean sea surface temperatures (SSTs) implies that during the glacial period the precipitation variability was controlled, like today, by Mediterranean cyclonic disturbances. Periods of reduced precipitation correlate well with low SSTs in the Mediterranean related to Heinrich events H1 and H2. Stable oxygen isotopes and lithological and mineralogical data point to a significant modification in the dominant freshwater/sediment source concomitant to the meltwater inflow after 16.4 cal ka BP. This change implies intensification of the northern sediment source and, with other records from the Mediterranean region, consistently suggests a reorganization of the atmospheric circulation pattern affecting the hydrology of the European continent. The early deglacial northward retreat of both atmospheric and oceanic polar fronts was responsible for the warming in the Mediterranean region, leading simultaneously to more humid conditions in central and northern Europe.     

The concentrations of radioactive and trace elements in the granulites from the south-east margin of the Bohemian Massif (Czechoslovakia)

Summary The distribution of radioactive elements(Th, U, K) and trace elements(Rb, Sr, Ba, Pb, Zr, Ti, Cu, Cr, Ni, V) of acid granulites from the south-east margin of the Bohemian Massif (SW Moravia) was under study. The investigated rocks are characterized by a great variability ofTh/U ratios andTh andU contents; a linear relationship between theTh andU values was observed. A close relation between theU and biotite contents with a statistically significant linear correlation coefficient of +0.85 was found. In agreement with geological and petrological investigations, the concentrations of radioactive elements correspond to the contents observed in the rocks with metamorphic intensity between the amphibolite and granulite facies. The investigated rocks have extremely lowSr concentrations distinguishing them from other acid granulites of the world.Rb contents are rather variable reaching, however, the highest values among the acid granulites of various granulite areas.     

Carbon Stores, Sinks, and Sources in Forests of Northwestern Russia: Can We Reconcile Forest Inventories with Remote Sensing Results?

Forest inventories and remote sensing are the two principal data sources used to estimate carbon (C) stocks and fluxes for large forest regions. National governments have historically relied on forest inventories for assessments but developments in remote sensing technology provide additional opportunities for operational C monitoring. The estimate of total C stock in live forest biomass modeled from Landsat imagery for the St. Petersburg region was consistent with estimates derived from forest inventory data for the early 1990s (272 and 269 TgC, respectively). The estimates of mean C sink in live forest biomass also agreed well (0.36 and 0.34 Mg C ha^–1 yr^–1). Virtually all forest lands were accumulating C in live biomass, however when the net change in total ecosystem C stock was considered, 19% of the forest area were a net source of C. The average net C sink in total ecosystem biomass is quite weak (0.08 MgC ha^–1 yr^–1 and could be reversed by minor increases in harvest rates or a small decline in biomass growth rates.     

Geomorphic Effects of the Extreme Rainfall Event of 20–21 July, 2004 in the Latnjavagge Catchment, Northern Swedish Lapland

Mass transfers triggered by a rare rainfall event on 20–21 July, 2004, with 58.4 mm of rain within 24 h and 71.7 mm of rain within 48 h in the Latnjavagge catchment (9 km² , 950–1440 m a.s.l.; 68°20'N, 18°30'E) in the higher Abisko mountain region (Swedish Lapland), are quantified and analysed in direct comparison with mean annual mass transfers in this drainage basin. In years without rare rainfall events the Latnjavagge catchment is characterized by restricted sediment availability resulting in low mechanical denudation and mass transfers. During the rare rainfall event of 20–21 July, 2004, major stability thresholds on the slope systems (triggering debris flows and slides) and in the channel systems (break‐up of channel debris pavements and step–pool systems) in the Latnjavagge catchment were passed and mass transfers by debris flows, slides and fluvial debris transport in creeks and channels were several times higher than the mean annual mass transfers in Latnjavagge. In the calculation of longer‐term mass transfers and sediment budgets, rare events like the 20–21 July, 2004 rainfall event have to be considered as essential components. A reliable estimation of the recurrence intervals of such rare events is especially problematic. The general problem of defining an adequate length of process monitoring programmes is pointed out.     

The Retreat of Tien Shan Glaciers (Kyrgyzstan) Since the Little Ice Age Estimated from Aerial Photographs, Lichenometric and Historical Data

The retreat of 293 glaciers in the Tien Shan Mountains (Kyrgyz Republic) from their maximum extent during the Little Ice Age (LIA) is estimated using aerial photographs from 1980 to 1985 and maps at a scale of 1:25000, constructed during period 1956–1990. Two indices of changes are used: the linear distance from the glacier terminus to its Little Ice Age moraine and the difference in absolute elevation of the terminus and the moraine. Historical information about the front positions of glaciers in the 1880s to the 1930s was used as an indirect control of remote sensing data. The age of moraines in key regions was estimated by lichenometry. On average, Tien Shan glaciers have retreated by 989 ± 540 m since the LIA maximum. Their front elevations (dh) rose by 151 ± 105 m. These changes are similar to changes observed in the Alps and western Norway, Pamir‐Alay and Koryak plateau, but greater than in east Siberia over the same interval. Differences between four regions in Tien Shan (northern, western, inner, central) are generally small, though in the northern Tien Shan the glacier retreat and frontal rise are more prominent (1065 ± 479 m and 215 ± 140 m, respectively).     

Comments about the drag laws used in hail growth simulations

The values of the drag coefficient (C_D), experimentally obtained by different authors for graupels and hailstones, are carefully analyzed, in order to investigate how the numerical simulations of hail trajectories, which markedly depend on the C_D values assigned to the growing particle, can be improved. It is found that new measurements of C_D should be performed in the whole range of the Reynolds number (Re) of the cloud ice particles. These measurements should be carried out applying the same criterion to define the characteristic variables (particle cross section and dimensions) used to calculate C_D and Re. Furthermore, it is found that the C_D fitting curves should be expressed as a function not only of Re but also of other parameters which represent the particle surface roughness and the departure from the spherical form. Based on this finding, a plausible definition of these variables and the way to introduce them in a hail trajectory calculation are proposed.     

Haute cuisine versus healthy nutrition: cultural gradients in Europe and the geography of baby food

The article deals with the problem, how the geography of baby food in Europe may be explained by cultural patterns, differences in healthcare systems and standards of living. A survey, conducted in 12 European countries, revealed differences and similarities in gastronomic preferences and healthcare attitudes. National food markets and dietary targets reflect the pressure of internationalization on cultural traditions. Special attention is paid to the adaptation strategies of multinationals, operating in different cultural environments. The requirements to the qualities of baby food (the emphasis on being healthy or rather tasty, the choice of producers, etc.) reflect the whole variety of lifestyles in European countries, their economic opportunities, stability of cultural traditions, innovative potential.     

Composition,properties and radiocarbon age of humus in paleosols

The paper presents methods for the study of the organic matter content (OM) of Pleistocene and Holocene paleosols. Paleosols of various age from the Russian Plain and Western Siberia were studied for their humus composition and physico-chemical properties. The permanent features of humus in paleosols useful for paleogeographical reconstruction and geoecological monitoring are separated from those criteria which are typical of the natural evolution of OM on the geological timescale.