How to evaluate pesticide persistence and degradation across an agricultural catchment to improve strategies for preserving aquatic ecosystems? By using a tracing method based on stable isotope signatures of pesticides at the catchment scale, degradation of the herbicide S-metolachlor could be distinguished from other dissipation processes. A limited number of isotopic measurements can provide critical insights for designing efficient strategies to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Permeability is a crucial hydraulic parameter extensively utilized in groundwater research. Until now, permeability has only been determined using borehole experiments. However, conventional approaches possess numerous limitations and still cannot estimate permeability at large depths. This research uses geophysical methods for the first time to assess 2D and 3D permeability across extensive areas at significant depths in extremely heterogeneous hard rock.

In this research, we developed an AI-driven framework that rapidly predicts floods in coastal areas, considering various shoreline protection strategies and a different sea-level rise scenarios. By combining data from two coastal cities, our lightweight model delivers near real-time flood projections under various adaptation strategies. This approach can guide policymakers in designing effective defenses, ultimately promoting safer coastal communities and infrastructure.

This technical note evaluates the efficacy of the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) algorithm to represent concentration-discharge hysteresis patterns in watersheds. Through a proof-of-concept with sediment hysteresis, we show that the SOM algorithm accurately characterizes loop shape and can also be used to reveal the controls of hysteresis patterns in watersheds. We developed a Python package along with this technical note to support broader adoption of the SOM algorithm for hysteresis workflows.

We captured an extreme drought and subsequent wet period, showing microbiomes track time-varying dissolved carbon metabolism and modulate carbon dioxide flux. Particularly, the drought boosts heterotrophs, accelerating dissolved organic carbon respiration and carbon dioxide emission. The biological carbon pump induces priming: rapid labile dissolved organic carbon loss but recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon accumulation, causing pulsed carbon dioxide after photosynthetic peaks.

Flooding in coastal areas often occurs when several mechanisms act together, causing compound flooding. Researchers increasingly use hybrid models that combine numerical models with statistical tools to study these events. Yet, the term “hybrid model” has been used inconsistently. This paper provides a clear definition and classification system, along with examples and technical challenges.

Understanding what lies beneath the ground is often difficult due to limited drilling data. Our research combines geostatistical method with large-scale geophysical surveys to create more realistic underground maps. We developed a method that merges both data sources to better predict underground layers, helping improve decisions in groundwater management and future geological studies.