We present an educational, learn-by-doing model that integrates real-world projects in geosciences, environmental management and conservation with the production and active dissemination of scientific outputs, complemented by digital communication as a largely passive outreach channel. The programme is motivated by a pronounced disconnection among young people—including those enrolled in environmental and territorial studies—and the place-based problems that surround them, a gap that jeopardizes the near-term availability of qualified environmental and land-management professionals. Our objective is to engage secondary, baccalaureate, vocational (FP), and undergraduate students as active participants in problem identification, project co-design, and execution—equipping them with the conceptual and technical tools needed to address environmental and territorial challenges in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula.

A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design without a control group was implemented across multiple educational levels. The evolution of perceptions and competences was assessed using Likert-scale questionnaires, a register of scientific outputs, and baseline Instagram analytics. A distinctive feature of the model is that students are not only active co-designers of each project but also the primary executors of fieldwork and analysis under light supervision. In addition, they regularly present in age-appropriate scientific fora (e.g., school symposia, regional conferences), which deepens their sense of ownership and strengthens the bond with both the project and the territory.

Results indicate general improvements in interest in science and the environment, data-analysis capability, understanding of the research process, and willingness to participate in scientific activities. Tangible, transferable outputs were generated (e.g., a conference poster and articles published or in preparation), and continuity of training pathways was established. The @SmarTerrae profile is consolidating as a knowledge-transfer channel during the programme’s implementation phase, complementing in-person dissemination.

How to cite: Salgado, L. and Forján, R.: SmarTerrae: Applied scientific training in geoscience from the earliest educational stages, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-44, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-44, 2026.

Translating paleoclimate evidence into actionable climate literacy requires context-specific pedagogical approaches. This study evaluates whether tangible proxy data (tree-ring records) enhances climate change comprehension compared to abstract datasets. It assesses differential educational strategies for three stakeholder groups with varying knowledge bases and decision-making responsibilities.

We conducted structured field workshops with 52 participants across three cohorts in the Ukrainian Carpathians during 2025 as part of the “Capacity Building for Research and Protection of Natural Forests in Western Ukraine” project. In collaboration with the Chernivtsi City Council’s Climate Policy Division, we designed learning objectives aligned with municipal adaptation planning needs, addressing a critical gap where protected area managers lack access to climate education. This integration of local ecological data with regional adaptation frameworks aims to enhance the effectiveness of climate adaptation efforts. University academics (n=8) and protected area rangers (n=4) attended seven-day workshops at Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and Vyzhnytskyi National Natural Park (July 2025). A separate field seminar at Tsetsyno highland employed a cascading pedagogy, where trained third-year geography students (n = 7) facilitated learning for second-year students (n = 7) and secondary pupils (grades 9-12, n = 25) in October 2025. All participants completed pre-workshop climate knowledge assessments, post-workshop evaluations, and structured feedback surveys (100% response rate).

Standardised content included physical examination of increment cores from 50- to 200-year-old beech and spruce, interpretation of ring-width chronologies showing documented climate extremes (the 1990s warming and the 2003 heatwave), soil and vegetation analysis, and regional temperature reconstruction visualisation (1750-2024). Municipal climate policy staff co-designed ranger modules emphasising management applications, including translating paleoclimate uncertainty into risk assessment and developing evidence-based adaptation strategies. Pre-assessment revealed critical baseline differences. Academics demonstrated strong theoretical knowledge (mean: 78%) but limited practical application capacity. Rangers possessed detailed, contemporary observational knowledge (mean: 65%), but lacked a historical context of climate. 93% of them could not identify whether current warming rates were unprecedented regionally. Secondary students showed the lowest baseline comprehension (mean: 41%).

Post-workshop assessments revealed differential gains among the groups. Rangers demonstrated the most significant increase in knowledge, particularly in interpreting timescales of climate variability. Academics showed modest gains, primarily in translating research for non-specialist audiences. Student moderators achieved substantial gains through the dual benefits of content mastery and pedagogical skill development. Secondary students showed significant improvements, with hands-on “tree doctor” activities generating the strongest engagement. Tangible proxy data effectively addressed the challenges of abstract temporal scales. Local site selection proved critical as participants connected evidence directly to familiar landscapes and management contexts.

Small sample sizes limit the generalizability of the findings, which represent a proof-of-concept that requires validation through larger studies and a cost-effectiveness analysis. However, the results suggest that paleoclimate proxies effectively communicate climate context to decision-makers who lack historical baselines, which is a critical gap in adaptation planning. The research-governance partnership model demonstrates how academic institutions can support the implementation of municipal climate policies through targeted capacity building, resulting in measurable outcomes in resource management and education.

How to cite: Kholiavchuk, D., Šebesta, J., Dranichenko, M., Maievskyi, V., Horiuk, A., Shestobanska, K., Kuzenko, Y., and Tokariuk, S.: Evaluating Dendroclimatology-Based Climate Education Across Stakeholder Groups in the Ukrainian Carpathians, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-712, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-712, 2026.

Communicating biodiversity loss and climate disruption to non-specialist audiences requires approaches that translate complex scientific processes into accessible and emotionally resonant forms. Speculative storytelling, including science fiction and future-oriented narratives, offers a promising strategy. By imagining plausible futures grounded in current scientific knowledge, these narratives illuminate the consequences of environmental change while encouraging reflection on societal choices, adaptive behaviours, and potential pathways forward.
Within the Science and Society spoke of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), we adopt an interdisciplinary, research-informed framework for the design of such narratives. Science communicators operate as intermediaries between researchers and creative professionals – writers, illustrators, media producers – ensuring both scientific accuracy and narrative coherence. This role includes conceptual development, the selection of scientific experts based on thematic relevance and communication skills, and continuous collaboration throughout the creative process. It also extends to the public-facing dissemination of the resulting works, enabling coherence between scientific objectives, artistic expression, and audience engagement.

A key aspect of this approach is the strategic use of distinct speculative modes to engage different audiences. Dystopian narratives explore the ecological and social implications of biodiversity loss by depicting futures in which degraded ecosystems or climate-altered conditions shape daily life, effectively highlighting risks and long-term consequences. In contrast, positive or “post-crisis” futures imagine societies that have adopted sustainable practices and redefined their relationship with natural systems, promoting a sense of agency and motivating constructive engagement.
Embedding rigorous scientific input within imaginative world-building allows speculative storytelling to convey biodiversity and climate issues in ways that extend beyond traditional educational formats. By making abstract temporal scales, uncertain projections, and complex socio-ecological dynamics more concrete, these narratives support both understanding and emotional resonance. The use of varied media – from comics to podcasts – further enables the tailoring of content to diverse publics and communication contexts.
I will discuss selected initiatives that employ speculative storytelling for biodiversity and climate communication across different media formats. These examples show how interdisciplinary, narrative-driven approaches can create science communication that is both emotionally engaging and scientifically robust, enriching public understanding of environmental change.

How to cite: Anzolini, C., De Pascale, F., and Pievani, T.: Speculative Storytelling as a Tool for Biodiversity and Climate Communication, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-800, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-800, 2026.

The project ‘Prison talks: bringing climate change conversations into the Irish prisons’ has been awarded an EGU Public Engagement Grant. This public engagement project brings talks on climate change, extreme weather events, and their impacts to inmates (people in prison) in Irish prisons, through the lens of science communication and outreach.

This project is raising awareness of climate change and its impacts among people in prison, a hard-to-reach audience with limited access to science communication and outreach activities. People in prison have an educational disadvantage, as many didn’t finish secondary school. This climate change outreach project plays a transformative role by providing values, knowledge, and skills to help individuals reach their full potential, motivate positive citizenship, develop social responsibility and personal transformation, increase well-being, and foster a sense of community and belonging, enabling them to live more successfully upon release.

People in prison completed anonymous surveys (quantitative and qualitative questions) before and after attending the climate change talks to assess their perceptions of climate change and science communication and to evaluate the project's effectiveness.

This presentation will outline the research methods, lesson plans, project’s findings and recommendations. The project ‘Prison talks: bringing climate change conversation into the Irish prisons’ highlights awareness of the importance of science communication and public engagement events among populations in prisons, which can be replicated in other countries.

How to cite: Mateus, C.: Prison talks: bringing climate change conversations into the Irish prisons, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-853, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-853, 2026.

Extreme winter windstorms are among the most expensive natural disasters in Europe and pose significant social and economic challenges.  The Netherlands frequently experiences winter storms that result in serious damage and large financial losses, especially for sectors like infrastructure and the built environment.

Climate Adaptation Services (CAS) created and manages national climate risk portals, such as the Klimaateffectatlas (www.klimaateffectatlas.nl) and the newly launched Dutch Climate Risk Portal (www.dutchclimaterisk.nl), which have helped the public in understanding vulnerabilities and risks by providing information on floods, drought, heat, and water-related hazards. However, until 2025, windstorms remained an essential missing risk, limiting urban and financial stakeholders' ability to interpret exposure and losses to these storms.

We studied winter windstorms, creating hazard maps and risk estimates. However, these scientific outputs are not directly applicable or understandable to stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and needs. Therefore, in collaboration with CAS, we co-created a map narrative and risk estimation tool, which was created through an iterative cycle of stakeholder workshops, feedback, and narrative design. The process aimed to make complex risk information accessible, usable, and intuitively understood for a wide range of users, regardless of technical background. The end result is the translation of windstorm science into practice, which is publicly available at the Klimaateffectatlas and the Dutch Climate Risk Portal, while ensuring relevance, clarity, and real-world impact for decision-makers.

How to cite: Fonseca Cerda, M. S., de Moel, H., Aerts, J., Botzen, W., Veenenbos, K., de Ruig, L., Klok, L., and Haer, T.: From Science to Practice: Co-Designing Windstorm Hazard & Risk Information for Dutch Portals, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1010, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1010, 2026.

Geodesy plays a fundamental role in observing and understanding Earth system processes, yet its societal relevance often remains under-recognized outside the specialist community. To address this gap, the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) has expanded its science communication activities during the recent years to make geodetic concepts, products, and techniques accessible to diverse audiences. This contribution presents an integrated communication strategy combining digital platforms, visual storytelling, and community-driven initiatives.

A central element is the renewed GGOS and IAG web platform https://geodesy.science, which provides an easy understandable introduction to geodesy as well as clear, non-technical explanations of observation techniques, products, and real-world applications.

Complementing this, a growing series of multilingual short films (https://www.youtube.com/@iag-ggos) communicates the importance of geodesy for monitoring climate change, natural hazards, sea-level rise, and global reference frames. These videos have reached broad international audiences and are frequently used in public outreach events such as open-day exhibitions.

The newest initiative is the Geodesy Cartoons project https://geodesy.science/cartoon , which communicates complex geodetic topics through approachable, story-driven visual narratives. The associated Geodesy Cartoon Competition actively involves the international geodetic community in co-creating educational illustrations. This participatory approach fosters shared ownership, stimulates creativity, and supports the development of communication material usable across research, teaching, and outreach.

Together, these multimedia tools illustrate how geodesy contributes to society’s daily life and decision-making. This presentation reflects on successes and challenges in designing accessible content, coordinating contributions across the global geodesy community, and evaluating engagement through online analytics and feedback. By sharing insights from these ongoing initiatives, we aim to contribute to a broader discussion on effective communication of Earth and space sciences and to strengthen connections between geodesy and the wider public.

How to cite: Sehnal, M., Sánchez, L., and Angermann, D.: Scientific Storytelling in Geodesy: Using Cartoons, Videos, and Digital Platforms to Reach New Audiences, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1385, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1385, 2026.

The INSE project (Interdisciplinary Network for Science Education, led by WasserCluster Lunz and funded by GFF NÖ) has developed a comprehensive set of innovative, classroom-ready materials designed to strengthen scientific literacy across all educational levels. Co-created by researchers from the natural, social, and educational sciences together with partner schools, the materials translate core principles of scientific inquiry into engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences. All resources are freely available online and have been successfully tested in classroom settings.

For the primary level, the module The Forest of the Future introduces humanities-based inquiry through storytelling, exploratory learning, and creative techniques. Children investigate questions about environmental futures by engaging in narrative-based research tasks, learning how observation, interpretation, and imagination contribute to knowledge creation.

At the lower secondary level, a set of interactive Nature of Science (NOS) materials helps students understand the characteristics of scientific thinking. Activities highlight scientific evidence, uncertainty, the iterative nature of research, and the diversity of scientific methods. Abstract NOS concepts become tangible through hands-on tasks, role-play activities, and small-scale investigations.

For the upper secondary level, two modules allow students to conduct their own research:
(1) a natural science module in which students design and conduct an aquatic ecology respiration experiment, learning to formulate hypotheses, plan experiments, collect data, and interpret results; and
(2) a social science module that introduces learners to empirical social research through survey projects. Both modules guide students through the full research cycle and encourage reflective, evidence-informed thinking.

Beyond these core teaching packages, the project developed additional tools that make scientific inquiry accessible across informal and formal learning contexts: The research quartet Go Science introduces children aged 8+ to the fundamental steps of scientific inquiry through a playful card game. For teenagers, the Dive into Science learning app offers an interactive experience in which learners navigate scientific decisions based on real research questions - selecting hypotheses, designing experiments, analyzing sample datasets, and receiving direct feedback. Complementing these tools, the SCIBORG science board game supports learners aged 16+ in deepening their understanding of the scientific process.

Together, the INSE materials provide a powerful set of educational tools for fostering curiosity, critical thinking, scientific literacy, and trust in research. By showing how science works in practice, they support educators in integrating authentic scientific inquiry into everyday teaching.

In this presentation, we will showcase the full range of materials, allowing participants to explore, try out, and interact with the resources directly.

How to cite: Feldbacher, E., Coulson, L., Sippl, C., Lughammer, B., Capatu, I., Jöstl, G., Eibl, D., Panzenböck, M., Rosenberger, C., Jung, A., and Weigelhofer, G.: Innovative Tools for Science Education: Classroom Materials and Games from the INSE Project, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1611, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1611, 2026.

Effective science communication is a central component of two major atmospheric initiatives in Spain: the “high-Resolution air Emissions Systems to suPport modellIng and monitoRing Efforts” (RESPIRE) and the Spanish component of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service – National Collaboration Programme (CAMS-NCP). Both efforts, led collaboratively by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), demonstrate how communication can be embedded into the design, implementation and societal uptake of advanced environmental projects.

Within RESPIRE, communication is treated as a strategic pillar supporting the development of high-resolution emissions estimates for air quality modelling and greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring in Spain. Activities range from intuitive digital interfaces and stakeholder workshops to targeted web updates, newsletters, and social media outreach. A central element is a user-centric web application that visualizes carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes. Together, these channels translate complex modelling outputs into actionable knowledge for public administrations, scientists, the private sector and citizens.

The CAMS-NCP communication strategy complements this by strengthening the visibility, understanding and uptake of CAMS products across national, regional and local levels. Building on the user network established during the first phase of the programme, Phase 2 implements a structured Communication and User Outreach Plan targeting policymakers, researchers, air quality planners, NGOs and citizens. Communication actions include regular updates to the CAMS-NCP website, coordinated press and social media campaigns, annual use case publications, and participation in national scientific and environmental events. Three annual CAMS User Forums and a final dissemination event provide spaces for technical dialogue, co-design and user feedback.

Across both initiatives, long-term communication experience reveals consistent lessons. Iterative co-creation with users increases uptake and ensures that tools respond to real needs. Trust is fostered through transparent messaging that acknowledges uncertainties while demonstrating methodological robustness. Effective communication requires not oversimplification but a strategic tailoring of information to specific decision contexts, from policy design and mitigation tracking to public awareness.

The challenges faced are also shared: conveying technically dense atmospheric information to non-experts, managing expectations about product capabilities, and maintaining visibility amid numerous parallel initiatives. Despite this, successes are significant. RESPIRE- has received international recognition from the Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS), an initiative of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), while CAMS-NCP continues to expand its user community and reinforce national alignment with European atmospheric services.

Together, RESPIRE and CAMS-NCP show how integrating communication into environmental science projects enhances societal impact. By combining advanced modelling with intentional, user-focused communication, both initiatives contribute to a more informed society and strengthen Spain’s capacity to address climate change and air quality challenges.

How to cite: Matozinhos de Faria, K., Guevara, M., Castesana, P., Camps, P., Lombardich, I., Legarreta, O., Frangeskou, A., Urquiza, D., Tena, C., Benincasa, F., Steven, E., Ramírez, S., Pérez García-Pando, C., Luna, Y., Barrera, E., Elena Garcia Rodriguez, O., and del Campo, R.: Integrating Science Communication into Spain’s Atmospheric products: Insights from RESPIRE and CAMS-NCP, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1677, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1677, 2026.

Wetlands are some of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet. There is an urgent need for large-scale wetland restoration and protection efforts that involve local community support. In our Horizon Europe project, Restore4Life (https://restore4life.eu/citizen-science/), we have developed a range of innovative offline and online educational materials to raise awareness of the vital ecosystem services that wetlands provide to humans.

Our materials are based on the 5E constructivist learning model. This inquiry-based, student-centered approach encourages active learning as students’ knowledge is built on understanding connections and processes. The five phases start with capturing students' interest and assessing prior knowledge/misconceptions (Engage), leading to investigating topics through hands-on activities and observations (Explore). In the Explain phase, students interpret their findings with the teacher's support. The last two phases focus on the application of the students’ newly acquired knowledge to deepen their understanding (Elaborate) and, finally, on the knowledge assessment by students and teachers (Evaluate). While our materials were developed for 12-14-year-olds, they can be easily adapted to younger or older kids.

Beyond these core teaching packages, the project developed additional tools, such as the “Blue-Green Space4All” game, a dynamic Wetland Fresk, available in both online and offline formats. A manual and a video provide instructions for building a simple treatment wetland, and our Wetland4Life App can be used to assess the wetland status directly in the field. All resources are freely available online (Zenodo) and have been successfully tested in classroom settings. Together, the Restore4Life materials provide a robust set of educational tools for fostering understanding of the significance of intact wetlands for human well-being.

In this presentation, we will showcase 5E teaching materials on the social, economic, and ecological benefits of intact wetlands, including supplying construction materials, providing recreational areas, and mitigating climate change and pollution. Participants can explore, test, and interact with the materials. Restore4Life is funded by the European Union.

How to cite: Weigelhofer, G., Grandjean, T., Feldbacher, E., Rosenberger, C., Miklósová, V., Mikuška, A., Čerba, D., Grabić, J., Srđević, Z., and Costea, G.: Interactive wetland education: Classroom materials following a constructivist instructional framework (Horizon Europe Restore4Life), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1870, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1870, 2026.

Some climate scientists refrain from advocacy and activism in their science communication because they fear it decreases their credibility. But whether there is indeed a relation between activism and credibility can be tested.

Here, we discuss the results of an experiment where 1,000 Dutch respondents first read a text on the impacts of the greening of gardens. Respondents are randomly assigned to either a version written in neutral tone, or a version written in an advocating tone. We then compare how the respondents perceive the credibility of the authoring scientist in these texts.

Our analyses show that the perceived credibility of the scientist who authored the text increases by advocacy overall, and that the advocating scientist is considered more credible than the neutral scientist specifically in their perceived sensitivity and care for society.

Based on these results, we conclude that advocacy can increase the climate scientist's average perceived credibility. This study may thus serve as endorsement for the many climate scientists who are willing to take a more advocacy-driven approach in their communications but are unsure of the consequences.

How to cite: van Sebille, E., Weel, C., Vliegenthart, R., and Bos, M.: A little bit of activism increases trust in climate scientists, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1949, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1949, 2026.

It has been well documented that social norms play a key role in motivating behavioral change. Although research on the effects of normative messages on pro-environmental decision-making has increased in recent years, our understanding of how these messages influence behavior remains limited (Chung & Lapinski, 2024). In particular, many pro-environmental behaviors have not yet achieved widespread adoption, and normative influences are often ineffective in such contexts. Consequently, scholars have begun to focus on dynamic norms, which refer to changing patterns of norms surrounding specific behaviors (Sparkman & Walton, 2017). When only a minority engages in a particular behavior, static norms that reflect behavior at a single point in time may inadvertently discourage action by emphasizing low participation rates. In contrast, dynamic norms, which highlight increasing popularity of a given behavior, have been shown to promote engagement (Sparkman & Walton, 2017). Accordingly, dynamic norms are considered particularly effective in contexts where pro-environmental behaviors have not yet become the majority practice. However, empirical evidence remains limited, and existing findings are inconsistent.

To advance understanding of norm framing effects (static vs. dynamic), the present study examines the underlying mechanisms through which norm framing influences behavior and investigates how these effects vary as a function of individual skepticism, specifically in the context of climate change. Environmental skepticism—defined as the tendency to doubt the seriousness, causes, or scientific evidence of environmental problems—has been identified as a key factor hindering effective environmental communication and behavior change.

An online experiment was conducted with 367 participants in South Korea. Participants first completed measures assessing climate change skepticism and were then randomly assigned to one of two norm-framing conditions (static vs. dynamic) related to pro-environmental behaviors aimed at mitigating climate change. They subsequently responded to measures of key variables.

The results indicated that the interaction between norm framing and skepticism did not significantly affect preconformity; however, it had a significant effect on reactance. Specifically, higher levels of skepticism were associated with greater reactance in response to dynamic norm messages compared to static norm messages. Moreover, this increased reactance was associated with reduced pro-environmental attitudes and behavioral intentions. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of normative influence and climate change skepticism and offers practical implications for climate communication as well as directions for future research.

References

Chung, M., & Lapinski, M. K. (2024). The effect of dynamic norms messages and group identity on pro-environmental behaviors. Communication Research, 51(4), 439–462.

Sparkman, G., & Walton, G. M. (2017). Dynamic norms promote sustainable behavior, even if it is counternormative. Psychological Science, 28(11), 1663–1674.

How to cite: Kim, J. and Shin, G.: Normative Influences and Climate Change Mitigation: How Skeptical Individuals Respond to Dynamic Norm Messages and Why, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2148, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2148, 2026.

The rapid development of Earth observation technologies presents significant opportunities to promote environmental responsibility and data literacy globally. Building on the success of the All-Ukrainian competition "Ekopohliad" ("Ecoview"), established in 2019 by the GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory of the National Centre "Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine", the initiative was expanded internationally in 2024 and 2025. The International Ecoview competition aims to engage school students (14-18 years old) from different countries in investigating real environmental and climate-related problems using open satellite data and geospatial tools. Participation requires the use of open-access remote sensing datasets and their analysis through accessible platforms, such as Copernicus Browser, Google Earth Engine, NASA Giovanni, NASA Worldview, Google Earth Pro, and QGIS.

The competition combines independent student research, mentor guidance, and evaluation by an international jury of experts in Earth observation and environmental science. Educational support includes webinars, methodological guidelines, and a video course on satellite data and GIS analysis, ensuring students develop practical research and analytical competencies. 

The first international edition in 2024 engaged 96 students from all school grades (K–12) from Ukraine and 14 other countries. In 2025, the competition was limited to participants aged 14–18 years to ensure fair competition among students of comparable age, engaging 60 students from Ukraine and 16 foreign countries, with balanced representation from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Twenty finalists presented research covering a wide range of environmental topics, including urban environments, forests, surface water, desertification, extreme events, climate change, and notably, the ecological consequences of war. The diversity of geographical contexts allowed participants to compare environmental processes across regions and to develop a broader understanding of global environmental challenges.

Preliminary outcomes indicate that the international format of Ecoview enhances students' motivation, promotes critical thinking, and improves their ability to work with primary geospatial data sources. The competition also contributes to the formation of an international youth community interested in applying remote sensing for environmental research and sustainable development. These positive results demonstrate the project's effectiveness and underscore the need for continued support and expansion of the initiative.

Future priorities include expanding participation, strengthening the educational component with updated materials, promoting interdisciplinary research, and further developing mentor and expert networks. These plans aim to inspire continued engagement and innovation in environmental education.

The experience of scaling Ecoview from a national to an international initiative demonstrates its potential as a replicable model for integrating Earth observation into school-level science education while addressing complex global environmental challenges.

How to cite: Babiichuk, S., Dovgyi, S., and Davybida, L.: Expanding remote sensing–based environmental education: the Ecoview competition from national to international level, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2340, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2340, 2026.

The water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) nexus is increasingly recognized as a promising approach to addressing ‘wicked problems’, that is, complex challenges marked by uncertainty and conflicting interests. Climate extremes are exposing vulnerabilities and trade-offs within the nexus, underscoring the need for co-designed, participatory governance approaches that move beyond sectoral silos and expert-driven decision-making. This approach emphasises social learning, knowledge co-production, and exchange as means of integrating scientific expertise, policy priorities, and local community perspectives. By fostering cross-sector collaboration, co-designed processes can generate trusted and actionable solutions that are responsive to both local and systemic challenges.

This study introduces a collaborative, multi-stakeholder framework to explore the vision of the WEFE nexus, identify key internal and external drivers of change, and co-design solutions and policy scenarios that reinforce interlinkages between nexus dimensions under climate change. Lake Como, northern Italy, serves as a case study due to competing water demands and increasing impacts of extreme weather events. Between October 2023 and February 2025, we conducted a series of dialogues with 20 key stakeholders representing each nexus dimension (e.g., lake operator, regional government, energy companies, irrigation districts, environmental platforms, municipalities). These dialogues combined semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and workshops. Content analysis and statistical methods were used to examine stakeholders’ narratives, providing insights on 1) a shared vision of the nexus dimensions, 2) assessment of two policy scenarios: hydropower maximization and risk management, 3) evaluation of proposed solutions in terms of priority, relevance, effects on nexus dimensions, facilitation instruments, and implementation barriers, and 4) governance standards in the decision-making process.

The main findings show that nexus dialogues are a central vehicle for operationalising the WEFE nexus. They enabled a deeper understanding of the local context and associated needs, grounded nexus assessments in real-world conditions, and fostered social learning through stakeholders’ engagement. Stakeholders agreed that the nexus is fragile, highlighting the need to reinforce the green energy transition, innovate in food security, and better align human pressures across sectors. The two policy scenarios were analysed with respect to the benefits and impacts of each nexus dimension. Selected solutions –such as changes in hydropower licenses, adjustments in ecological flow standards, adaptations in lake management protocols, and insurance programs to address weather extremes– were evaluated based on stakeholders’ preferences. Governance analysis revealed the multifunctional roles of specific stakeholders (e.g., lake operator, irrigation districts, environmental associations), gaps in representativeness (e.g., mountain communities, municipalities), and participants’ aims to both negotiate and influence decisions. By placing stakeholder engagement at the core of co-designed policy scenarios, this work contributes actionable knowledge for policymakers and practitioners tackling WEFE nexus challenges in climate-exposed regions worldwide.

How to cite: Ricart, S. and Castelletti, A.: Co-Designed, Stakeholder-Driven Governance for the WEFE Nexus under Climate Extremes: Lessons from Lake Como, Italy, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2541, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2541, 2026.

The Geoscience Museum of Rocca di Papa (MuGeos), Italy, promotes science communication and education on behalf of Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). The Museum is located at the centre of Alban Hills volcanic district, a dormant volcano whose last eruptive activity, an hydromagmatic phase, is dated about 20 ky ago. During the last four years the MuGeos has carried out activities dedicated to generic non expert public also joined with the municipality of Rocca di Papa, and to schools from Primary to Secondary.  All these activities belong to the so called Third Mission of INGV that consists of the diffusion of scientific knowledge. The education activity has been focused on the involvement of a significant number of schools coming from the surrounding territory but also from distant regions. The activity with students has consisted of an interactive and attractive guided tour through the knowledge of the Earth system (i.e. space weather, geomagnetism, seismology and volcanology, climate change), the Alban Hills Volcano, its origin hazard and peculiarities.  Moreover, the Museum has been involved in the Science Together Net project cofunded by the European Union through the organization of the European Researcher Night. In this context we have proposed activities involving kids, children and adults such as geotrekking on Alban hill volcano, seminars, labs of explosive and effusive volcanoes, paper volcanoes (origami) and fairy tales on geological myths, guided tours of the Museum, stars and planets observation through a telescope. The above mentioned activities have been proposed also during the Museum opening of every second Sunday of the month.  Further several activities dedicated to generic public have been promoted together with Rocca di Papa municipality in occasion of local events such as the October Chestnut Festival, the World Moon Day, the World Horse Festival, the Marconian Day Recurrence etc. During these popular events the MuGeos has been a fundamental actor in the awareness of citizens towards natural hazard and risks related to the territory.  Feedbacks of all the MuGeos activities are extremely positive; same teachers keep coming to the Museum every scholastic year, many positive public review on Google platform, satisfaction questionnaire.

How to cite: Colini, L., Misiti, V., Alberti, T., Falcone, G., Lanza, T., Megna, A., Cirella, A., Pagliuca, N., Tarchini, L., and Ranaldi, M.: The Rocca di Papa (Italy) INGV Geoscience Museum: the last four years of activities , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3476, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3476, 2026.

YouTube hosts several collections of videos that focus on topical geological topics. This presentation is concerned with viewer engagement around content on one of these. The Shear Zone channel, as of January 2026, has over 15k subscribers with over 1.25M views across its ~300 videos. Launched as a platform for sharing educational content aimed at university earth science students, over its five-year existence, films have evolved to a more documentary style and accessed increasingly by broader communities outside formal education environments. Although viewing figures, compared with some other popular YouTubers are not astronomical, some have attracted >>25k views with full views running at >18% (which is high for YouTube!). Comments are permitted, though moderated – which, along with “likes” and channel analytics – give insight on the reach, popularity, opinions and background of viewers.

To lever YouTube algorithms, content is monetised by permitting advertising at the start of each video but not with commercial breaks mid-programme, which can degrade viewer experience. Non-monetised content is marginalised by the platform. YouTube also has very strong recency bias in the content it reveals and it promotes content that attracts viewer engagement and retention. While there is long-term, recurrent viewer engagement for short-course teaching materials on The Shear Zone, views of the broader documentary style material generally die off after a few days. Very few users explore content by access channel home-pages or playlists – hence the preponderance of rather sensationalist thumbnails used by other content-creators to attract views. This presentation reports viewer engagement on a subset of content published on The Shear Zone channel.

In April-May 2024, the BBC’s broadcast the fourth series of Race Across The World, advertised as a journey through “The Ring of Fire in east and south-east Asia.  Independent of this, as the series developed, I dropped two videos each week, appropriate to that particular segment of the race, on YouTube. Meta-tagged to RATW, these covered topics as diverse as megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis, Holocene sea-level change, palaeogeographic assembly of SE Asia, volcanic eruptions and biogeography. Views ranged from around 2k to 25k, the most popular being a video on Krakatoa. Interestingly the tie-in to RATW seems to have yielded rather few views – most of the audience came from E and SE Asia!

More popular videos have attracted disproportionate comment from what politely might be called adherents to non-mainstream geoscience ideas – even when these are only tangentially associated with the video contents. Two films have attracted particular attention: The disappearing glaciers of Mont Blanc (published August 2022); and Trashing continental drift (in two parts; published September 2025). These commentaries provide useful insights on the types of evidence and information used by these communities and the challenge of communicating science when contested.

How to cite: Butler, R.: The Shear Zone Channel – reflections on sharing geological science on YouTube, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3525, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3525, 2026.

To oversimplify things slightly, there are two types of story in journalism: the short ones and the long ones. I’ve spent much of my career so far focussed on the latter, known as features, which has meant an awful lot of head-scratching about how to keep readers engaged, excited, gripped by a story that goes on for several thousand words – no simple matter in the age of AI slop and TikTok.  

In this lecture, I’ll spill the beans on how we do things at New Scientist magazine, where I have worked for just over 10 years, with special reference to an idea known as “sleepy cat” from the mind of my brilliant former colleague Graham Lawton. I’ll also show how I used some of the tricks of creating compelling narratives in one of the stories in my book, The Meteorite Hunters – namely the tale of Jon Larsen, the Norwegian jazz guitarist who hunts cosmic dust on urban rooftops. 

Whether you want to better understand how journalists think, yearn to improve your own writing, or just enjoy thinking about how stories work, there should be something of interest here for you.

How to cite: Howgego, J.: Sleepy cat and the cosmic dust: Lessons for non-fiction writing from 10 years as a magazine editor , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3534, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3534, 2026.

Skeptical Science is a highly-visited website featuring 250 rebuttals of misinformation about climate change and climate solutions. Many of the rebuttals are written at multiple levels—basic, intermediate, and advanced—in order to reach as wide an audience as possible. Results from a survey we've been running on our website since November 2021 indicate that there is some room for improvements in order to make the rebuttals more robust. It is therefore rather good timing that we've been working on a complete overhaul of our website which should increase the effectiveness of rebuttals in reducing acceptance in climate myths and increasing acceptance of climate facts. A key goal of misinformation interventions is to increase reader discernment, the difference between belief in facts and belief in myths. While there was overall an increase in discernment, with the decrease in agreement with myths greater than the decrease in agreement with facts, the result that belief in climate facts decreased for at least some rebuttals is unwelcome and counter to the goal of Skeptical Science. In this presentation, we'll give a sneak peek at how the new website will look like. One important new feature will be the inclusion - where applicable - of the fallacies employed by a climate myth, so that a rebuttal on the new website will then include all three elements of a successful debunking: fact, myth and fallacy. In my presentation, I'll also highlight some of the other updated or new features this website relaunch will include.

How to cite: Winkler, B. and Cook, J.: Relaunching the Skeptical Science website to include prebunking tools, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4107, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4107, 2026.

ECMWF develops and maintains operational forecasting systems, which include the physics-based Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) and the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting Systems (AIFS Single and AIFS Ensemble). These models are upgraded periodically, delivering significant scientific and technical improvements, however these changes pose challenges for users who need to understand the implications to their workflows and applications and make required modifications.

Outreach activities combine structured documentation, targeted email notifications of key upgrade milestones, and LinkedIn and the ECMWF forum posts to reach wider audiences and gather feedback. These channels are complemented by series of webinars and presentations at the annual Using ECMWF's Forecasts (UEF) meeting, where technical and scientific upgrades are presented and discussed with users.

This presentation will describe ECMWF’s outreach activities around IFS and AIFS model upgrades, which are designed to support a diverse user community, including researchers, operational forecasters and developers of AI driven applications, among others. Lessons learned and key challenges will be presented, these include addressing the needs and expectations of diverse audiences with different levels of expertise, synchronising communication with operational timelines and maintaining consistent narratives across platforms, ensuring that key information is accessible without overwhelming users.

How to cite: Vuckovic, M., Hemingway, B., Suttie, M., and Bennett, V.: Keeping users in the loop: Outreach activities for ECMWF IFS and AIFS forecast model updates, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5228, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5228, 2026.

ECMWF’s Partnerships and Engagement section supports the effective use of ECMWF, Copernicus and Destination Earth services, datasets and infrastructure through partnerships and many targeted outreach and engagement activities. This work serves a diverse user community, including the National Meteorological Services (NMS) of ECMWF Member and Co-operating States (MS and CS), EU Member States, EU institutions and agencies, and WMO and other UN bodies, as well as a growing community of researchers, private companies, weather enthusiasts and other users.

This poster presents selected examples of outreach and engagement activities and shows how different approaches are combined to respond to evolving user needs and to build sustained dialogue with user communities. Liaison visits to ECMWF MS and CS NMSs support long-term collaboration and enable direct discussions on ECMWF activities including operational needs of forecasters. Further engagement is delivered through the Copernicus CAMS and C3S National Collaboration Programmes, which aim to strengthen the links with National Partner institutions and increase the uptake of Copernicus services at country level. In addition, the first two Copernicus Thematic Hub pilots, which focus on health and energy, are demonstrating the value of targeted outreach and support across these sectors.

Training activities are a key part of ECMWF's outreach and cover topics ranging from Numerical Weather Prediction and machine learning to software development and high-performance computing. Experience shows that combining clear explanations with practical examples is important for supporting users with different backgrounds and levels of experience, especially in an increasingly open science environment.

ECMWF Outreach also includes activities around ECMWF’s forecast model upgrades, such as updates to the Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) and the Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS) in the medium, sub-seasonal and seasonal forecast ranges. These activities focus on communicating and explaining scientific and technical developments in the models and how they may effect user workflows, new forecast products, and how the updated models perform based on evaluation results.

Code for Earth programme offers hands-on, challenge-based opportunities for participants to develop innovative applications using ECMWF, Copernicus and Destination Earth data and software. The AI Weather Quest is a real-time international competition in which participants submit AI-based sub-seasonal forecasts in an operational-like setting, with results evaluated through transparent and openly documented methods.

How to cite: Hemingway, B., Vuckovic, M., Ananasso, C., Stewart, C., Ioannu, J., Trakas, A., Loegl, O., and Vermoote, S.: User outreach and engagement at ECMWF: Examples of partnerships, outreach and innovation support, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5425, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5425, 2026.

The Arctic has long captured the imagination through its remoteness, wildlife, striking landscapes, and rich cultural histories. At the same time, Arctic environments are undergoing rapid and profound changes, with many landscapes expected to be transformed beyond contemporary recognition by the end of this century. Communicating these changes to non-specialist audiences presents a significant challenge: they unfold across vast spatial and temporal scales, are studied through multiple disciplinary lenses, and resist simple or singular narratives. From ancient glaciers to pioneering lichen, no single process exists in isolation. Rather, Arctic change emerges through the interaction of glaciological, geological, botanical, fluvial, and meteorological processes. Understanding and communicating this complexity requires approaches that can hold multiple perspectives together while making these remote landscapes emotionally accessible and relevant to the audience.

We present ‘Arctic Flowers’, a science communication graphic novel which explores changing Arctic landscapes through the lived experiences of scientists working in the Tarfala Valley of northern Sweden. As most of Sweden’s glaciers face complete disappearance before the year 2100, this story captures a pivotal moment in the region’s history. Rather than adopting a purely catastrophic narrative, ‘Arctic Flowers’ foregrounds nuance, emotional connection, and scientific practice through non-fiction visual storytelling. The narrative follows researchers at Tarfala Research Station as they document retreating glaciers and the parallel emergence of Arctic flora. A central narrative thread connects contemporary research to a rediscovered herbarium created in the 1960s by botanist Adélaïde Stork, allowing readers to grasp climate change through intergenerational scientific observation and long-term data.

Graphic novels offer a powerful medium for science communication, particularly for topics that span multiple spatial and temporal scales. Through the juxtaposition of panels, text, and imagery, multiple concepts can be laid out on the page together, encouraging reflection and synthesis from the audience. Shifts in perspective, scale, and framing are used to emphasize grandeur at multiple scales, from larger-than-life structures such as mountains, glaciers, and research station operations to small, attentive details—the textures of plants and rocks, or the correct way to hold an ice axe. By blending scientific data, historical context, personal experience, and observation of the landscape, the project aims to spark curiosity and invite readers to ask questions about the changing Arctic. This mirrors the inquisitive and exploratory approach practiced by scientists within the story, drawing on first-hand accounts and interviews with generations of researchers at Tarfala Research Station – their experience spanning six decades. We reflect on lessons learned from developing this work as a long-form science communication effort, including how narrative and character-driven inquiry can foster emotional engagement, encourage dialogue, and make Earth science accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.

How to cite: Jones, D., Kirchner, N., and Dahlkvist, J.: Graphic novel communicates changes in Arctic landscapes, fostering wonder and curiosity, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5542, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5542, 2026.

Most science communication today is short and fast — but at the Institute of Natural Sciences we also try something different. Together with colleagues, Siska Van Parys works on long-form stories that highlight the institute’s core research areas — palaeontology, geology, archaeology, taxonomy, evolution — and the collections that support them. They create overview articles on the website, mini-documentaries about expeditions and fieldwork, and stories that put the spotlight on the people behind the research. 

Siska will share some of the projects she’s been involved in, what they hope to achieve with them, and why slow science communication has become part of the approach of the Institute of Natural Sciences.

The main examples will revolve around two geology projects: ROBOMINERS and LEAP. These scientific projects, carried out by the geologists of the Institute of Natural Sciences (Giorgia Stasi, Christian Burlet, Sophie Verheyden), were followed and documented by Siska and her colleagues. The results are two mini-documentaries and long-reads. 

How to cite: Van Parys, S., Pardon, S., and Verbeke, R.: Slow Science Communication, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6304, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6304, 2026.

Over the past decade, we have carried out sustained outreach activity on social media aimed at presenting seismic data to students and the general public. The primary goal has been not only to increase the visibility of Earth sciences, but also to highlight the fundamental role of data acquisition in subsequent scientific tasks, such as numerical modeling and tectonic interpretation. A significant part of this effort has focused on visualizing seismic waves generated by local, regional, and teleseismic earthquakes, often using data recorded by the GEO3BCN Educational Seismic Network deployed in northeastern Spain. These activities are particularly valuable in regions characterized by low to moderate seismicity, where public familiarity with earthquakes is generally limited.

Beyond earthquake-related content, we have also shared posts illustrating ground vibrations generated by non-tectonic natural processes and anthropogenic sources. Topics related to environmental seismology often attract strong public interest, as it is not widely known that natural phenomena such as tides, ocean waves, rainfall, wind, and thunder can be monitored using seismic data. Similarly, vibrations induced by human activity -from student movement between classrooms to crowd dynamics during music concerts or football matches- tend to generate considerable attention, sometimes even reaching mass media coverage. We leverage this curiosity as an opportunity to bring seismology, and Earth sciences more broadly, closer to society.

This work has benefited from partial support of the EPYSIM Project, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ref.: PID2022-136981NB-I00).

How to cite: Diaz, J.: A long-term review of outreach activity on social media related to seismic data , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6484, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6484, 2026.

Effective Disaster Risk Management (DRM) education requires geoscientific knowledge to be grounded in local contexts and translated into practical skills for those involved in risk prevention and emergency response. Altra Quota is a monitoring initiative in the Western Italian Alps that integrates real-time environmental monitoring, field-based research, and dissemination activities. It operates through close collaboration with local administrations and stakeholders exposed to hydro-meteorological, hydrogeological and cryospheric hazards.

A core aim of the project is to support capacity building in DRM through risk communication and the dissemination of monitoring results. Data from hydrological, meteorological and geomorphological monitoring networks are actively employed in hands-on activities for students, practitioners and decision-makers, enabling participants to interpret real-world observations, understand early warning systems and explore decision-making under uncertainty. Through field-based training, laboratory activities and dissemination initiatives, the project bridges theoretical geoscientific concepts with operational DRM practices. These activities empower local communities to better understand risks and interpret information from monitoring and warning systems, which is crucial for effective prevention and rapid response to emergencies.

A key component of the project is the long-term monitoring of the Ciardoney Glacier, conducted in collaboration with the Italian Meteorological Society. The glacier’s retreat and the resulting hydrological stress offer a powerful case study to analyze and communicate the impacts of climate change on alpine water resources and downstream risks. By combining observations from ground stations, satellite data, and model simulations, the researchers from Altra Quota can offer engaging experiences that effectively contextualize hazards.

Ultimately, by linking scientific research, education, and community engagement, Altra Quota represents a model for DRM education that improves risk awareness, strengthens the dialogue between science and society, and supports informed decision-making under changing climatic conditions.

How to cite: Giordano, V., Alfano, M. E., Cafiero, L., Chiesa Turiano, N., Leone, M., Marini, F., and Vacca, A. V.: Altra Quota: a field-based monitoring and education initiative for Disaster Risk Management in the Western Italian Alps, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7163, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7163, 2026.

Belgium's compact territory contains an exceptionally rich geological record. Through repeated collisions and tectonic upheavals during our long journey from the southern hemisphere, layers from nearly every period of the past half billion years are exposed at the surface. The Planet Belgium project explores this remarkable geological heritage through a multimedia approach combining five immersive podcast episodes, five longread articles in popular science media, and five educational posters. Longreads are in Dutch, French and English.

In each episode and article, we venture into the field with Belgian experts and citizen scientists. Step by step, we reconstruct the sequential building of Belgium's subsurface through deep time. The project aims to convey a sense of wonder about geology and encourage audiences to see "boring" stones with new eyes.

Featured geological elements include Belgian whetstones and cobblestones, the famous red and black Belgian marble, bluestone, coal - our former "black gold" - and chalk, among others. The spectacular fossil collections at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels, including the world-famous Bernissart Iguanodons, tell the evolutionary history of life on Earth from the Cambrian up until the last Ice Age, bringing these ancient worlds to life for modern audiences.

This presentation (oral or in a poster session) will discuss the strategies employed to make deep time accessible and engaging across multiple formats (podcast, ‘scrollitelling’, posters, teaser videos), the challenges of translating expert knowledge for public audiences, and the role of aesthetic design in science communication. I will share lessons learned and evaluate the project's success.

The first episode is published here: https://www.naturalsciences.be/r/planetbelgium
Three episodes will be online at the time of the conference. 

How to cite: Verbeke, R. and Piessens, K.: Planet Belgium: narrating the geological odyssey of a country through multimedia storytelling, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7191, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7191, 2026.

The energy transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy systems is a crucial global aspect requiring sustainable and urgent solutions directed toward the use of renewable resources, such as geothermal energy. The general public still has little knowledge of geothermal energy, despite its advantages: misconceptions about safety, environmental impacts, and technological feasibility continue to hinder its wider adoption. To overcome these challenges, timely, transparent, and easily accessible public engagement strategies are required. In this scenario, translating complex geoscientific phenomena into stories that the general public can understand is key and demands effective science communication. An efficient way to promote interest and understanding is to combine scientific content with visual storytelling and illustration.
This poster outlines the creation of “The Magical Heat of the Earth”, an illustrated book for primary school students designed to convey the concept of geothermal energy and its application as an energy resource. The book was authored, designed, and illustrated at INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Italy) through ongoing collaboration between the geoscientist and the designer/illustrator. This analysis emphasises the creative and methodological processes involved in the product’s creation rather than focusing on the final outcome alone. The creative process is described as progressing from the initial scientific concept and narrative framework to visual research, character design, storyboard development, and final layout design, illustration, and typesetting. Significant focus is placed on the interaction between the scientist and the designer/illustrator, and on the balance achieved between scientific and artistic precision throughout the process. The case study indicates that using handcrafted, research-based illustrations remains an effective method for conveying scientific concepts, particularly to children. The authors reflect on simplification, the use of rhyming texts and visual metaphors, and emotional engagement as significant methods for educating individuals about science, particularly in fostering interest in geothermal energy and Earth sciences overall.

How to cite: Florindo, F. and Procesi, M.: From Geoscience to Visual Storytelling: an Illustrated Children’s Book to Communicate Geothermal Energy, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7204, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7204, 2026.

One of the core missions of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) is to promote awareness of geophysics and natural hazards through education and outreach. Central to this mission is the Laboratorio Grafica e Immagini, INGV’s primary hub for visual communication. Over the past five years, the laboratory has taken on an increasingly strategic role in bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding.

This work presents a selection of educational materials—including books, scientific games, infographics, illustrated brochures, and interactive exhibits—designed to explain seismic, volcanic, and environmental phenomena to diverse audiences, ranging from school groups to the general public. Each product is developed in close collaboration with scientists to ensure accuracy, while leveraging visual storytelling techniques to enhance clarity and engagement.

Our work demonstrates that graphic design is not merely a supporting function, but a vital component of scientific communication—particularly in educational contexts, where visual language significantly improves learning and retention. We also reflect on key challenges, such as simplifying content without compromising accuracy, and designing for inclusivity. This contribution underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists and designers in achieving effective and impactful outreach.

How to cite: D'Addezio, G., Riposati, D., Di Laura, F., Battelli, P., Florindo, F., and Nardi, G.: Visualizing Science: The Role of Graphic Design in Educational and Outreach Activities at INGV, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7398, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7398, 2026.

Scientific ocean drilling offers a unique window into Earth processes that cannot be accessed through surface observations alone, but its remote offshore setting and technical complexity pose challenges for public communication. International drilling programs such as the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³) are also inherently multinational and multilingual, yet these collaborative dimensions are not always reflected in expedition outreach materials.

This presentation introduces Chikyu Chronicles, a two-volume comics-based outreach project developed for IODP Expeditions 405 and 502E in the Japan Trench. The project uses illustrated sequential narratives to communicate shipboard science, engineering workflows, and everyday expedition life to middle-grade audiences while remaining grounded in real people, roles, and practices. Rather than emphasizing scientific results, the comics focus on portraying scientific ocean drilling as a collaborative activity shaped by operational constraints and teamwork. Each volume combines comics with book back matter designed to extend engagement beyond the narrative. Photographic sections document shipboard spaces, tools, and activities, allowing readers to connect simplified illustrations they have encountered in the book to physical environments and scale. Activity-based back matter invites participation through creative and interpretive exercises, including making science comics and identifying plate boundary patterns using multiple geophysical and geological datasets. Together, these elements form a hybrid communication model that supports place-making and causal reasoning.

Production of Chikyu Chronicles was embedded within the expedition environment and extended after sailing through distributed collaboration. Expedition participants contributed through interviews, reference materials, scientific review, editorial feedback, and translation assistance, ensuring linguistic accuracy and contextual fidelity without separating communication from scientific practice. Reported outcomes so far are qualitative and formative, drawing on informal feedback and basic reach metrics from real-time dissemination during Expedition 405, with structured audience evaluation currently underway. The project illustrates how comics-based outreach can align communication practices with the collaborative realities of international geoscience research.

How to cite: Schuba, C. N., Satolli, S., Nakano, N., Brunet, M., Bellanova, P., and Jurado, M. J. and the Expedition 405 and 502E Scientists: Using sequential art to communicate scientific ocean drilling, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7827, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7827, 2026.

The “2024 Collectors Tour” was a field-based science communication initiative that employed narrative structure, place-based explanation, and methodological transparency to bring Critical Zone science alive for a non-specialist audience.  The Collectors Tour consists of a 21-episode video series produced during an 18-day, 4,500-km field campaign to empty mineral dust collectors deployed across Utah, Nevada, and Idaho in the southwestern United States.  This work was part of the DUST^2 project, funded by the US National Science Foundation to investigate the role of mineral dust erosion, transport, and deposition in the geoecological functioning of Earth surface environments (i.e. the “Critical Zone).  Each video of the Collectors Tour was anchored to the location where a specific dust collector is deployed, and used that location to introduce concepts related to mineral dust, soil formation, snow hydrology, climate variability, ecosystem function, and human influence.  In this way, the Collectors Tour embedded scientific explanation directly within active fieldwork, inviting viewers to observe how geoscience knowledge is generated in real settings.  The strategy of multiple sequential videos, produced and distributed in rapid succession, emphasized authenticity, continuity across episodes, and visual engagement with landscapes, transforming the routine annual campaign to service the dust collectors into a coherent outreach narrative.  The Collectors Tour also reflected lessons learned from long-term communication efforts, including the value of consistency, the power of storytelling grounded in genuine field practice, and the importance of acknowledging collaboration, logistics, and uncertainty.  To date the videos have received more than 2600 total views, making this a broadly successful and lasting science outreach success.​  As a case study, the Collectors Tour offers a replicable model for integrating science communication into ongoing field research and contributes to broader discussions on effective strategies for communicating science to diverse audiences. 

How to cite: Munroe, J. and Cassel, A.: The 2024 Collectors Tour: A Case Study in Field-Based Geoscience Communication, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7980, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7980, 2026.

Pollution of English waterways by untreated sewage discharged through Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) has become one of the most high-profile environmental issues in the UK. It is now a major political topic, featuring prominently in election campaigns, parliamentary inquiries, and resulting in new legislation. To better communicate this environmental issue and empower the public to take action against it, we created www.SewageMap.co.uk a user-friendly, real-time visualisation of sewage spills across England. SewageMap uniquely combines live CSO data with a hydrological model to identify rivers downstream of recent spills, making it particularly valuable for recreational water users such as swimmers, kayakers, and rowers. The platform is recommended by organisations representing these groups and is widely used by citizen scientists and campaigners.

To make the experience engaging and relatable, SewageMap makes prodigious use of playful design elements, including the ‘poop’ and other emojis to highlight the ‘gross’ nature of sewage pollution. Behind the scenes, SewageMap is powered by 'POOPy' (Pollution Discharge Monitoring in Object-Oriented Python), an open-source toolkit that standardises diverse CSO datasets and enables historical spill analysis. Data generated by POOPy has supported river protection groups and informed local planning meetings; we believe that data from SewageMap has even featured in parliamentary debates.

The website was developed with both desktop and mobile users in mind, validated by the fact that ~80% of users access SewageMap via mobile or tablet devices. This ensures accessibility for the majority of users and highlights that this should be a consideration for other web visualisations. Furthermore, SewageMap can be embedded within external pages, which has enabled major news organisations to integrate the map into articles, significantly amplifying its reach.

The impact of this tool has been substantial, and greater than expected when the project was started informally. The site has received over 300,000 visitors in the past 12 months, financial support from major NGOs such as RiverAction, and resulted in new collaborations across academic and non-academic sectors. Overall, these projects have emphasised, to us, how engaging design, accessibility & proactive engagement with a user-base can result in significant impact stemming from a relatively ‘simple’ scientific principle.

How to cite: Lipp, A. and Dawe, J.: www.SewageMap.co.uk and POOPy: Open-source tools for understanding and communicating the impacts of sewage pollution on waterways in real-time, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7995, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7995, 2026.

The informative publication “Segnali dal Clima in FVG” (Signals from the climate in FVG) provides a local and regional perspective on climate change, specifically tailored for the citizens of Friuli Venezia Giulia region (northeastern Italy). Structured around three core themes - Changes, Impacts and Actions - the publication serves as a bridge between the scientific community and the general public.

VISION AND COLLABORATION

This initiative stems from the Clima FVG Working Group*, a collaborative network of the region’s leading scientific and research institutions. The group operates on the principle that technological and scientific progress must be accompanied by public awareness and education to effectively tackle climate challenges. By translating complex data and information into an engaging, accessible format, the publication bridges the gap between expert research and citizen understanding.

CONTENT AND EDITORIAL APPROACH

Designed as an annual popular science magazine, the publication explores a wide array of climate-related themes, including the cryosphere, marine and lagoon ecosystems, forestry, wildlife and terrestrial ecosystems, agriculture, human health and urban settlements, as well as the psychological and social dimensions of climate change. Each issue explores a diverse range of topics, while remaining anchored to some core principles and maintaining key defining features:

• Local-to-Global Connection: by recalling recent local weather events and by linking regional climate trends to the global climate change, the publication makes a far-reaching issue feel immediate and relevant to the local community;
• Accessible Storytelling: by providing mini-glossaries, clear explanations, infographics and practical examples, the editorial project enables non-expert readers to understand complex topics without oversimplifying them;
• Empowerment over Anxiety: by highlighting actionable mitigation and adaptation strategies at both individual and collective levels, the magazine frames climate issues through a constructive lens, aiming to reduce climate-related anxiety and to inspire climate action.

PRODUCTION AND STRATEGIC VALUE

Coordinated by ARPA FVG, the magazine is produced entirely "in-house" through the voluntary contributions of the experts, without dedicated external funding. While the publication is freely available online, limited print editions are produced for policymakers and institutional use.

Beyond its educational role, “Segnali dal Clima in FVG” serves as a vital networking tool. The collaborative drafting process fosters interdisciplinary relationships among experts and generates a localized knowledge base that is instrumental in shaping regional climate policy and resilience strategies.

AVAILABILITY

Segnali dal clima in FVG is available at https://www.arpa.fvg.it/temi/temi/meteo-e-clima/sezioni-principali/cambiamenti-climatici/segnali-dal-clima-in-fvg/

The complete PDF version can be browsed online or downloaded. Additionally, individual thematic sections from each edition and summary materials are available for download. The magazine is also being distributed to schools across Friuli Venezia Giulia through the regional environmental education network.

*THE CLIMA FVG WORKING GROUP

The Clima FVG Working Group brings together the premier scientific and research institutions working on climate change in Friuli Venezia Giulia region: the Universities of Trieste and Udine, CNR-ISMAR, CNR-ISP, ICTP, OGS. The group was formally established in 2022 by the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and is coordinated by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency – ARPA FVG.

How to cite: Flapp, F., Stel, F., Caprotti, E., Tudorov, N., Stefanelli, S., Bacaro, G., Colucci, R. R., Consorti, L., Giorgi, F., Peressotti, A., Raicich, F., and Solidoro, C.: “Signals from the climate in FVG”: a magazine enhancing climate awareness and bridging the gap between science and society at the regional level, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8024, 2026.

Eddy-covariance (EC) flux towers have collected decades of data on carbon, water, and energy exchanges, helping us understand how ecosystems respond to climate change. However, a gap persists between EC research outputs and how this knowledge reaches societal groups. The Meet the Fluxers podcast addresses this gap by connecting flux scientists with stakeholders and communities in shared ecosystems, making flux science accessible to the general public in a broader, more applied context.

While flux measurements are technically complex, and communication among relevant groups can be fragmented, many researchers are already overcoming these challenges through collaborative practice. The podcast gives voice to these researchers who are co-creating fluxscience with land managers, policymakers, and local communities, building trusted relationships that make science more relevant and actionable. By showing these real examples, the podcast educates listeners, clarifies limitations and demonstrates how collaborative engagement transforms both research and practice, particularly in under-monitored regions and rapidly changing ecosystems facing budgetary pressures.

To better understand the impact of science podcasts, Spotify analytics and transcript extraction were used to analyze audiences across four podcasts (Meet the Fluxers, Unbiased Science, Naturally Florida, and On the Trail of Science). The audiences primarily consist of millennials and are more frequently female, with listening geographies expanding beyond host locations. Engagement is non-linear, reflecting episodic releases. Transcript analysis shows listener interest is influenced by theme, place, narrative, and personal experience. These findings suggest that long-form audio formats can broaden access through repeated, place-based engagement. In addition to improved data products, relational communication formats are essential for maintaining relevance amid rapid environmental change and political uncertainty.

How to cite: Bataille, L., Richardson, J. L., Bassiouni, M., Carnevale, S. A., Milligan, L. B., Steier, J., Breithaupt, J., Wala, Z., Saville, Q. A., Reich, E., Shortt, R., Roman, T. D., Aguilos, M., and Lee, S.-C.: Beyond Data: Connecting People to Sustain the Relevance of Flux Science - Insights from the Meet the Fluxers podcast, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8179, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8179, 2026.

GeoHikes is a place-based geoscience communication initiative designed to connect non-specialist audiences with geoscience through short outdoor experiences supported by accessible digital resources. Developed through partnerships between academics, professional geoscientists, educators, and community organisations, GeoHikes combine self-guided walks with mobile-friendly virtual field trips that highlight geoscience in familiar landscapes, including urban settings and recreational trails. These virtual field trips can be viewed on http://geoscienceinfo.com

Over the past decade, the programme has expanded to nearly 60 virtual field trips across Ontario, reaching diverse audiences through in-person engagement, online platforms, and public events. We reflect on the key challenges and successes of sustaining and scaling a long-term geoscience communication effort, including co-creation with communities, balancing scientific rigour with accessibility, and fostering emotional connection through place and narrative. We discuss lessons learned and identify transferable approaches for effective, community-centred geoscience communication.

How to cite: Peace, A. L., Dick, D., Eyles, C., Papangelakis, E., Maloney, K., Schwarz, D., Kradjian, B., Klassen, V., and Pearson, B.: GeoHikes: Lessons from a long-term, place-based geoscience communication initiative in Ontario, Canada, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8270, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8270, 2026.

Democracies face a dual challenge. On the one hand, democratic institutions are increasingly under pressure from authoritarian, right-wing populist, and extremist actors. On the other hand, socio-ecological transformation in response to climate change requires decisive action, social solidarity, and trust in democratic institutions. These processes are intertwined: ecological crises - particularly extreme weather events - may foster democratic resilience but can also intensify authoritarian backlash, thereby undermining transformation efforts. Given that the entire science enterprise has come under attack, the question is what role should or could academics play to fight the backlash and to resist the onslaught on intellectualism and facts?

As a follow-up from last year’s short course on academic activism, here I am presenting results of a perspective piece that is analysing the current political status quo in the US based on state-of-art of behavioural and social science research. We shed light on the academic response to Trumpism and how the authoritarian onslaught has affected climate science. We provide recommendations as to how one can deal with bad-faith actors and how one can identify them to begin with? How do we change our way to communicate and rise to the challenge? How do we regain ground, get organised and bring about the necessary discomfort? In order to understand the dynamics, we dissect critical factors such as emotions, biases, neurological and psychological disorders. We discuss social shifts from a current and historical perspective. We shed light on the role of the media (legacy as well as social media). And ultimately, we offer solutions for how to communicate more effective and goal-oriented. In a climate as well as societal context.

How to cite: Haustein, K.: Science communication and academic activism in times of rising authoritarianism and Trumpism., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8368, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8368, 2026.

Scientific thinking requires the critical analysis of information, while science itself thrives on the diversity of ideas. Yet, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects have historically struggled to be inclusive and accessible to students from underrepresented communities - meaning we often miss a diversity of voices. Furthermore, STEM subjects have often been rigid in their teaching structure, creating barriers to education for students with more specific (or unrecognised) learning needs.

To address this, our science outreach course Think Like A Scientist was designed to improve critical thinking and encourage independent thought by applying adaptive education practices to create inclusive and accessible classroom environments. The program started in 2017 and has been applied in several different settings (e.g., schools and adult learning centres), but has mainly featured in prisons around the world (including England, Canada, Australia, and Spain).

Our students in prison often have a complex relationship with learning – such as low confidence in themselves or the education system (which is also a common trait amongst STEM university students from diverse communities). In addition, a classroom can present numerous other barriers for prison students (e.g., sensory, communication, information processing, and regulation) which particularly impacts neurodivergent learners (e.g., autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, etc.). In our teaching in prison, we have been conscious of creating different educational access points that are not solely reliant on rigid teaching structures.

In this Katia and Maurice Krafft Award talk, I will outline the choices we have made in prison education to increase educational engagement - and how these choices can map onto other avenues of science communication to widen STEM participation. I’ll also share the impact of such practices on our students and how placing learners at the centre of education can be transformative.  

Fundamentally, as a society we need an informed population of any background who can think critically, especially in today’s world of fake news. In our sessions, we replicate this through learning from each other to Think Like A Scientist.

How to cite: Heron, P. and the Think Like A Scientist team: What we’ve learned from teaching people in prison to Think Like a Scientist , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8373, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8373, 2026.

Communication and education in the geosciences are key elements for increasing awareness of natural hazards, fostering an integrated understanding of the Earth system, and improving natural resource management. Despite this, several studies highlight a persistent misalignment between the societal importance of geology and the way this discipline is commonly perceived by the public.

This study aims to explore how geological topics are received and interpreted by different audiences, representing an important step for the design of effective educational and outreach actions. The contribution presents preliminary results from a survey conducted within a broader PhD research project, focused on geoscience communication and outreach.

Two paper-based questionnaires, each consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions with four options and a single allowed answer, were developed and administered to a sample of approximately 220 children and 250 adults (including parents and teachers). Participants were involved in educational and outreach activities organized by the Department of Earth Sciences (DST) of Sapienza University of Rome. The survey was conducted in Rome and Central Italy. The adult questionnaire investigated themes related to geological awareness, Earth system processes, natural hazards, climate change, lifestyles, and the use of natural resources. The children’s questionnaire, stratified by school grade, focused on basic geological concepts, including rocks, fossils, minerals, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Preliminary results, based on an ongoing dataset, are presented separately for the two target groups. Among adults, responses indicate a tendency to interpret geoscientific topics primarily through interpretative frames, related to natural hazard mitigation and sustainability. These perspectives appear to reflect widely shared societal narratives, rather than an integrated understanding of geological processes operating across different spatial and temporal scales. Children’s responses, while often grounded in intuitive or narrative reasoning, show an overall solid understanding of some key concepts, particularly when supported by direct and hands-on experiences. In both samples, understanding of geological topics appears heterogeneous, context-dependent, and influenced by school-based learning and media exposure.

These initial findings highlight the importance of developing educational and outreach strategies that take existing interpretative frames into account and promote integrated, experiential, and territorially contextualized activities. Data collection is ongoing and will be extended to additional contexts and methodological approaches, supporting the progressive refinement of outreach and educational actions within the PhD project.

How to cite: Morgissi, L. and Lustrino, M.: Geoscience awareness in educational and outreach contexts: a preliminary analysis, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9110, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9110, 2026.

Europe's climate is warming faster than any other region of the world. This accelerated  warming has severe consequences for water resources and water extremes. Heatwaves occur more frequently and intensively, and extreme events such  as droughts and heavy rainfall are increasing considerably. For Europe, we expect that an atmospheric temperature increase of 2°C would double economic losses from flooding while economic losses from droughts might  triple. Whereas regions in southern Europe and the Mediterranean already experience frequent droughts, wetter regions such as Germany will experience particularly dramatic changes in hydro-climatic conditions.

Within Germany, challenges for managing water during dry periods are particularly evident in the state of Brandenburg in Eastern Germany. Low annual precipitation and sandy soils with low water storage capacity characterize this region, which is considered both “water-rich and water-poor” for good reasons. Increasing impacts of anthropogenic climate change will likely lead to changing rainfall and evaporation patterns, with consequences for water supply to soils, rivers and groundwater aquifers. We can expect more stress for aquatic ecosystems due to changing river flows, while changing soil moisture and groundwater levels will negatively impact agriculture, forests and terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, in the coming decades, large areas of southern Brandenburg will have to compensate for a massive water deficit caused by decades of groundwater pumping in the context of lignite mining.

The Potsdam WaterHub was established as a cross-institutional platform to support and connect water researchers in Potsdam. Potsdam provides an ideal starting point for such an initiative, given its high density of internationally recognized research institutions and long-standing expertise across the water sciences. We will present our strategy to foster interdisciplinary exchange, collaborative research, involvement in BSc/MSc training and innovation to advance understanding of complex water systems and risks. In addition, the WaterHub actively engages with the public, media, policy-makers, and stakeholders from industry and practice, contributing scientific knowledge and dialogue towards sustainable water management and adaptation strategies in a changing world.

How to cite: Mey, J., Bookhagen, B., Haerter, J., Feulner, G., and Wagener, T.: The Potsdam WaterHub - Research, Networking, Training and Outreach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9213, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9213, 2026.

Volcanic landscapes attract millions of visitors annually, drawn by their unique geodiversity. However, these environments present a dichotomy: they are significant economic resources, but they also pose potential hazards for both residents and tourists. Effective risk mitigation also requires preparedness, integrating hazard awareness directly into the visitor experience. A key challenge lies in designing communication strategies that maintain scientific rigor and inform about active processes without generating unnecessary alarmism. 

This issue is particularly pertinent in Tenerife, which is currently under a volcanic unrest, and hosts 21 volcanic geosites listed in the Spanish National Inventory of Geosites (IELIG, open access https://info.igme.es/ielig/), 12 of which are located within active volcanic areas. Despite these numbers, the representation of volcanic risk in public outreach materials at these sites remains largely unassessed. Consequently, both residents and the over 7 million annual tourists may lack essential knowledge regarding the island’s eruptive potential, associated hazards, and the critical role of scientific monitoring in ensuring their safety.

This study evaluates eight key geosites in Tenerife, selected within the framework of the “Canary Islands: Destination of Volcanoes” project for their relevance to active volcanism. We conducted an evaluation of available outreach materials (including in-situ signage, printed brochures, and official web portals) based on three core criteria: i) the scientific accuracy and currency of the data presented; ii) the thematic scope (e.g., geological formation, environmental values, active volcanic processes, etc); and iii) the presence of specific information regarding volcanic hazards and risk management (preparedness, monitoring, and emergency protocols).

Beyond assessment, we aim to bridge the identified gaps by integrating risk communication strategies directly into the project’s outreach materials. This entails updating existing materials and embedding volcanic hazard modules into the project's newly developed materials and training courses for nature guides. By ensuring a balanced narrative that educates without inciting alarm, we propose a model of resilient geotourism where risk preparedness is intrinsic to the visitor experience, thereby enhancing general knowledge of active volcanic processes among both residents and tourists.

Sub-Project 1 ‘Canary Islands, destiny of Volcanoes’ (led by IGME-CSIC) is funded by PROMOTUR SA through Next Generation EU funds, PRTR. 2024krQ00nnn, carried out within the framework of the agreement between Promotur Turismo Canarias, S.A. and the CSIC, Univ. of La Laguna, Fundación Canaria General of the Univ. of La Laguna, and Univ. of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

How to cite: Dorado, O., Siqueira, T., Vegas, J., Galindo, I., Sanz-Mangas, D., Sáez-Gabarrón, L., Marrero, R., Burgos, V., Domínguez-Cerdeña, I., López Díaz, R., and Romero, C.: From Landscape to Geohazard: Assessing volcanic hazard communication in Tenerife geosites., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9675, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9675, 2026.

How to cite: Munerol, F., Polo, L., cremonese, E., Leone, M., Blandini, G., Galvagno, M., Guarnieri, C., Koliopoulos, S., Lodigiani, M., Nicora, M., Benati, A., Sapone, F., Pogliotti, P., Filippa, G., Grosso, F., Favre, S., Avanzi, F., and Andreaggi, M.: The “Next-Gen COP” as a tool for communicating climate change and catalyze solutions from high school students, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10122, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10122, 2026.

The Italian Citizen Science Observatory, established in 2016, seeks to encourage public involvement in science by turning citizens into active contributors to scientific research. Its objective is to implement Citizen Science to strengthen collaboration between researchers and civil society, building an increasingly close relationship between science and the wider community. The Observatory focuses on monitoring and safeguarding the health of freshwater ecosystems—such as rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands—on which everyone relies, as well as the surrounding riparian areas. One of the pillars of the Observatory's mission is education, with a strong focus on schools as key environments for the development of scientific literacy, environmental awareness, and active citizenship. Schools are recognized not only as places of learning, but also as catalysts for cultural change, capable of amplifying Citizen Science practices within families and local communities. Through practical monitoring and inquiry-based learning activities, students become active observers of their local freshwater ecosystems and ambassadors for sustainable behavior.

The Observatory actively promotes peer education approaches, encouraging the exchange of knowledge between students, teachers, citizens, and researchers. This horizontal learning model improves engagement, empowers young people as science communicators, and strengthens intergenerational dialogue on environmental protection.

A recent accomplishment of the Observatory is the development of the RiVE (Riparian Vegetation) methodology as a Citizen Science tool for monitoring riparian zones. RiVE assesses riparian zone ecological health by the engagement of local communities in tracking plant diversity and ecosystem functions. This approach highlights the importance of these biodiversity-rich corridors for river health and management, often contrasting with fixed-width buffer approaches. The Observatory serves as the first Italian hub of the Earthwatch FreshWater Watch program, defining and sharing best practices for data collection and creating new tools whenever required. It also runs pilot initiatives in protected areas and works more broadly with local environmental bodies and associations.

We here present the activities undertaken at the Observatory, from building Citizen Science initiatives and communities to training both citizens, schoolteachers, school children and students, policy makers and researchers, encouraging the active engagement of all society actors in scientific endeavours and aquatic ecosystems management and protection.

At EGU we hope to spark new collaboration opportunities and expand the Observatory network to foster the co-creation and management of Citizen Science projects across Europe and beyond.

https://www.osservatoriocitizenscience.org/home/

How to cite: Galgani, L., Gumiero, B., Di Grazia, F., Cossu, M., and Loiselle, S. A.: The Italian Citizen Science Observatory: a growing association open to collaboration to foster public participation and education in water research Europe-wide, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10123, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10123, 2026.

Scientific conversations that once took place on Twitter have scattered to other platforms, such as LinkedIn and Bluesky. Like Twitter, these services operate as walled gardens, limiting access for unregistered users. Furthermore, identity verification and public recognition have become paid services that lack reliability and oversight.

Thanks to a W3C-standardized protocol called ActivityPub, the same one behind Mastodon, open and distributed social feeds, where users from different servers can read and interact, are already available. Using open protocols is the best way to enable scientific communication that both peers and the general public can trust.

The Open Science Network (https://openscience.network/) is designing and deploying a software for federated scientific communication. The app uses Bonfire's open-source framework and the ActivityPub protocol as a backbone. The goal is to create federated digital spaces in which researchers and institutions have complete control over their data, including their conversations and networks. Universities can host their own instances while being interconnected with a global network of scientific communities. Discussions can become citable, FAIR objects with DOIs. Publications are enriched with metadata and collaborative tools.

The Open Science Network is co-designed with researchers, scientific communities, and open science advocates who understand that scientific communication tools shape science itself. Platforms that prioritize engagement over accuracy cannot facilitate reliable scientific communication. The software provides ORCID authentication and Zenodo repository archiving for social posts. Planned features include custom peer review, multiple trust signal workflows, semantic data linking, a framework for experimenting with new forms of scientific communication, proper and verified attribution, federated groups, knowledge management and curation tools, long-term preservation, and space for inventing features not included in this list.

How to cite: Saturno, J., Minutillo, I., de Borniol, M., Boudes, P., Fressengeas, N., and Hahn, U.: Open Science Network: Distributed social infrastructure for open scientific discussion, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10224, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10224, 2026.

Science communication is often framed as a unidirectional transfer of knowledge from scientists to society. For early career researchers (ECRs), however, it also plays a crucial role in building community, fostering belonging, and co-creating knowledge across disciplines, cultures, and career stages. The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) offers a case study on how science communication can function as a long-term, community-driven ecosystem rather than a series of one-off outreach activities.

APECS is a global, ECR-led organization supporting early career researchers working in polar and cryosphere science, founded in 2007 following the momentum and international collaboration fostered by the Fourth International Polar Year (IPY-4). Although not always labelled explicitly as “science communication”, many of APECS’ core activities involve communicating science and co-creation of scientific knowledge within ECR communities and beyond. The activities include engagement with policymakers, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, local communities, educators, and the wider public. Through programmes, workshops, leadership development, and community-led initiatives, APECS supports ECRs in developing skills in outreach, public engagement, inclusive communication, and collaborative knowledge production, contributing to long-term capacity building within polar and cryosphere research communities.

This contribution reflects on APECS’ science communication practices through three key questions. First, how can science communication spark joy and foster emotional connection? APECS emphasizes storytelling, peer mentoring, and shared experiences, from informal networking spaces to collaborative events, that humanize polar science by helping ECRs connect emotionally with their research and with peers. These approaches are particularly important in polar research, where geographic isolation, logistical barriers, and short-term contracts can limit a sense of community.

Second, how can co-creation be meaningfully embedded within scientific communities? APECS operates through bottom-up leadership, with initiatives proposed, led, and shaped by ECRs themselves. This structure enables co-creation across disciplines, cultures, and regions, and fosters dialogue between natural scientists, social scientists, and knowledge holders from diverse backgrounds.

Finally, how can the impacts of science communication be assessed over time? Rather than focusing solely on short-term metrics, APECS reflects on longer-term indicators such as sustained engagement, leadership development, capacity building, career trajectories, and continued participation in interdisciplinary and societal dialogues, dimensions that are often overlooked in traditional evaluations of science communication.

By reflecting on both successes and challenges, this contribution highlights lessons learned from long-term ECR engagement and offers insights for designing inclusive, community-based science communication initiatives that strengthen both scientific practice and its relationship with society.

How to cite: Vural, D., Guzzi, A., Deyko, A., Kad, P., Dupont, S., Guimaro, H., and Kopf, S. M. K. H.: From Network to Ecosystem: Reflecting on Early Career–Led Science Communication through APECS, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10625, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10625, 2026.

Short videos, which provide concise, clearly articulated, and engaging content on a wide variety of topics are among the most prominent formats on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok. The short video format is particularly well suited to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and research findings to non-specialist audiences, offering researchers a valuable means of broad societal engagement.

The University of Helsinki Faculty of Science trains and motivates researchers to adopt and apply the short-video format for science communication by offering the How to Make a Science Video course, jointly by the journalism program at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. The course, offered annually, is led by experienced science video producers and journalism professionals. Participants work in mixed teams comprising researchers at different career stages from master’s students to professors—together with journalism students from Haaga-Helia. The course covers, among other topics:

• Developing an initial idea into an engaging video
• Popularizing scientific concepts
• Creating effective educational videos
• Writing persuasive scripts
• Speaking and performing on camera
• Shooting and editing high-quality videos using only a smartphone
• Selecting appropriate channels and strategies for publication

Each team produces a science video of up to two minutes duration, which is published at the conclusion of the course on the YouTube channels of both institutions.

As part of the course in 2024, we set out to make an educational video about ancient volcanism in southern Finland.  Around 1.9 billion years ago, there was a volcanic island arc in southern Finland and outcrops of these rocks can be found in, for example, the Helsinki region. We filmed in some of these locations, interviewed a local expert and author of a book on this topic, and included an animation made by a close collaborator on how the volcanic rocks formed in our 2-minute video. Our final Youtube video and the process of making it are here used as an example of all the methods and skills we learned on the How to make a science viodeo course.

How to cite: Säilä-Corfe, L., Sartell, A., and Siltanen, S.: Communicating geoscience on social media: Harnessing the short video format, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10850, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10850, 2026.

Climate change is placing increasing pressure on global food systems that are vital to human survival. Understanding the interconnections between food (including seeds), agriculture, and climate is crucial for building resilient and sustainable futures. However, science communicators often struggle to translate complex food–climate concepts for non-specialist audiences. Effective engagement thus requires messages that are accurate, relatable, and connected to daily life.

Drawing on collaborative outreach programmes and public lecture series on food and climate, this contribution illustrates how interactive formats, such as climate-friendly cooking workshops, field visits, and seed-focused learning, to deepen understanding, stimulate curiosity, and foster critical thinking. These initiatives bridge disciplinary silos while engaging diverse audiences, including students, educators, and members of the public. Through enhanced dialogue, reflection, and experimentation, they demonstrate how science communication empowers individuals to make informed food choices, advancing both science literacy and community action towards sustainable food systems.

How to cite: Mok, H.: Communicating Food and Climate: The Role of Science Communication for Engagement  , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11213, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11213, 2026.

Effective science communication is essential for building trust between researchers and society, particularly in regions where environmental change is rapid and directly affects local communities. In Greenland, the National Research Strategy emphasises inclusive, community-centred research and the active involvement of Greenlanders in scientific processes. Within this context, the Kalaallit Nunaat Caves and Climate Outreach Project (KINDLE) was developed as a science communication initiative linked to the Greenland Caves Project, which investigates palaeoclimate, cave systems, and geological processes in northern Greenland.

KINDLE was designed to explore ways of strengthening connections between research and society by working with Greenlandic communities to share scientific work in accessible formats, support locally grounded engagement with cave environments, and encourage long-term participation in cave exploration and research. The project employed a range of communication approaches in multiple languages, including an interactive exhibition, micro-documentaries, hands-on workshops for children, public presentations with open Q&A sessions, and practical caving skills workshops for adults. These activities were hosted during a one-month residency at the ILLU Science & Art Hub in Ilulissat, part of the Climate Narratives initiative, which promotes climate communication through diverse forms of storytelling.

Based on the experiences from the residency, we reflect on lessons that may be informative for other Earth science contexts, including the value of storytelling that emphasizes how science is done over specific results, the importance of local partnerships and trusted venues, and the need to approach science communication as an evolving, collaborative practice. The project illustrates how science communication can move beyond dissemination toward participation, with the long-term aim of enabling local communities to engage with, contribute to, and potentially lead future research and exploration initiatives.

How to cite: Anders (neè Friedrich), L. K., Moseley, G. E., Petersen, O., Kaspersen, K., and Nisancioglu, K. H.: Science communication in Greenland: Experiences from the Kalaallit Nunaat Caves and Climate Outreach Project (KINDLE), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11214, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11214, 2026.

Geological maps are fundamental tools in geoscientific research and play a critical role in land-use planning, risk assessment and resource management. However, their complexity, interdisciplinary nature and dense data content often make them difficult to interpret for non-specialist audiences. Consequently, their potential as tools for science communication remains largely untapped.

To foster greater public involvement in Earth sciences and to increase awareness of the influence of geology on everyday life, and drawing inspiration from the 2022 educational geological map of the Paris region produced by the French Geological Survey (BRGM) in the series of geological maps for educational purposes (https://www.brgm.fr/en/news/news/three-new-geological-maps-educational-purposes), we developed a prototype simplified geological map derived from the Geological Map of Sheet 374 – Rome (CARG Project, Geological Survey of Italy).

The simplified geological map of Rome is designed to reach a broad and diverse audience, from young students to tourists, citizens, policymakers and stakeholders, encompassing a wide range of ages, languages, educational backgrounds and abilities. To achieve this, the product combines scientific accuracy with visual engagement, presenting content in at least two languages (Italian and English), with simple explanations for beginners and additional information for those wishing to explore the topic in more depth.

Special attention was given to the design: map colours were chosen to be colour-blind friendly, and a freely available font was adopted to mitigate common symptoms of dyslexia (https://opendyslexic.org/). Efforts are ongoing to develop a version accessible to visually impaired users.

The prototype is flexible and replicable, capable of being adapted to other regions and geological contexts. It integrates a simplified geological map, a geological cross-section, a geological timescale and an intuitive, visually appealing, legend, providing a clear representation of the relationships among geological structures, georesources and geo-hazards in a highly urbanized environment.

This project represents a science communication experiment aimed at translating authoritative, technically oriented geological maps into simplified, visually engaging products that maintain scientific rigor while enhancing accessibility, understanding and public engagement with Earth sciences.

How to cite: Radeff, G., Falcetti, S., Maceroni, D., Petricca, P., Simonetti, M., Urbani, S., and D'Ambrogi, C.: Geology for All: Engaging the Public with a Simplified and Accessible Geological  Map of Rome, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11554, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11554, 2026.

Science communication is not only about conveying scientific findings, but also about fostering dialogue, understanding, and engagement among non-specialist audiences. In the context of climate change, narratives emphasizing catastrophic outcomes and individual responsibility can unintentionally foster fear, anxiety, and disengagement, particularly among younger audiences. Such fear-based communication may contribute to forms of inactivism, in which concern does not translate into action but instead leads to emotional paralysis. Communicating “efficiently” therefore means avoiding both denialism and doomism, as well as individualism, while preserving scientific accuracy and urgency.

In recent years, public trust in science has been questioned in many countries, influenced by political polarization, the spread of misinformation, skepticism toward scientific credibility, and contested roles of scientists in public decision-making.  In this context, scientists have a social responsibility not only to convey accurate information but also to frame the scientific message in ways that empower understanding and collective responses.

In this contribution, we reflect on climate communication strategies that move beyond frontal, passive teaching toward active and participatory engagement. Relying on outreach activities in secondary schools, we present results from questionnaires delivered before and after climate science lessons, with a specific focus on changes in students’ emotional responses and perceptions. The findings indicate that participatory approaches, such as interactive discussions, problem-solving simulations, and solution-oriented framing, can reduce anxiety and inactivism, while strengthening understanding, motivation to take action, and trust in scientific knowledge.

We argue that communicating climate change without catastrophism but emphasizing achievable pathways for action is not a dilution of problem urgency, but a necessary step toward enabling rational and hopeful societal responses to global challenges, particularly among younger generations, and in times of converging crises.

How to cite: Galvagno, M., Guarnieri, C., Koliopoulos, S., Pogliotti, P., Filippa, G., Grosso, F., Lozito, N., Munerol, F., Favre, S., Cremonese, E., Benati, A., Gottardelli, S., Sapone, F., and Avanzi, F.: Engaging young audiences in climate change: moving beyond fear through active science communication, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12132, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12132, 2026.

Small sensor technologies are rapidly expanding access to atmospheric observations, offering new opportunities to complement regulatory air-quality monitoring and to address persistent data gaps. However, the benefits of these technologies are unevenly distributed, and their effective use is constrained by variability in data quality, limited transparency in data processing, and unequal access to technical capacity and guidance. These challenges are particularly acute in low- and middle-income regions, where monitoring infrastructure and institutional resources remain limited.

The “Allin-Wayra: Small Sensors for Atmospheric Science“ (https://igacproject.org/activities/allin-wayra-small-sensors-atmospheric-science) initiative was established within the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Project to build a global, inclusive community of practice around responsible sensor use, with a strong focus on equity, capacity building, and transparency. Core activities include community workshops, an international webinar series, conference sessions,  the co-development of open-access repositories and guidance resources, and targeted efforts to improve accessibility and dissemination. 

This presentation reflects on early lessons learned from launching and coordinating a distributed global community, highlighting strategies for inclusive engagement, cross-regional and cross-disciplinary co-creation and mechanisms to sustain participation beyond individual projects, while gaining insights from other sensor communities of practice. We discuss practical challenges in balancing scientific rigor with accessibility, fostering trust in emerging technologies, whilst encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration (policy, business, non-profit and scientists). By sharing these experiences, we aim to identify how community-driven governance can co-create more equitable and impactful environmental research practice and decision-making.

How to cite: Diez, S., Cowell, N., Ezani, E., Chacón-Mateos, M., Boso, À., Hizon, J. R., and Fosu-Amankwah, K.: Allin-Wayra: advancing equitable and transparent use of small sensors through a global community of practice, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12150, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12150, 2026.

Effective communication of extreme weather events (EWEs) requires understanding how audiences access, evaluate, and respond to information, which is critical for improving science communication strategies on climate-related risks. To examine these processes among young adults, we conducted a structured survey administered to undergraduate students at two Spanish universities (Rey Juan Carlos University and Autonomous University of Madrid). The survey, disseminated online during regular teaching periods, used voluntary participation and collected 746 responses across diverse academic programmes. It comprised multiple-choice and Likert-scale items covering interest in specific EWEs (e.g., intense rainfall, heatwaves, floods), primary modes of information access (intentional search, incidental exposure, or balanced patterns), verification behaviours, perceived prevalence of fake news in both searched and unsolicited content, trust in ten different media channels, and self-assessed ability to detect misinformation. Differences were assessed using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis.

Age-tercile analysis using quantile cuts (18; 18–20; >20) shows stable but informative gradients. Verification frequency (1–5) rises slightly with age (2.99 → 2.96 → 3.05), while event-specific interest (1–4) remains high and broadly flat (3.13 → 3.11 → 3.16). Trust in social platforms increases marginally (1.92 → 2.07 → 2.08), whereas trust in traditional outlets and science-oriented sources stays comparatively stable (traditional 3.28–3.37–3.35; science 4.04–4.09–4.08). Self-reported ability to detect misinformation (1–7) shows a small step-down across terciles (4.79 → 4.71 → 4.66). For access patterns, the share of balanced access (search + incidental) is higher from the middle tercile onward (52.9% → 61.4% → 58.6%), with a corresponding reduction in purely incidental exposure (43.6% → 36.0% → 38.7%), while intentional search only remains low (3.6% → 2.6% → 2.7%). Consistently across terciles, students perceive more fake news in incidental flows than in self-searched content (+1.11, +1.00, +1.18).

Comparing academic disciplines (science vs. communication) reveals clear structural contrasts. Students in scientific programs report higher general interest in EWEs (3.56 vs 3.24) and slightly greater event-specific interest (3.17 vs 3.09), alongside marginally lower verification frequency (2.98 vs 3.03). Self-reported ability to detect misinformation also trends higher in science (≈4.80 vs 4.62). Trust architectures differ markedly: communication students show stronger confidence in traditional media (3.57 vs 3.15), while science lean toward science-oriented sources (4.11 vs 4.00). Trust in social platforms remains low across both groups, though slightly higher in communication (2.05 vs 1.99). These patterns underscore the need for differentiated strategies: technical and data-rich content for science students, and journalistic narrative formats for communication, complemented by platform-specific adaptations to maintain credibility and engagement.

These findings suggest practical actions to improve communication: ensure multi-platform dissemination with consistent core messages; highlight transparent sourcing and authoritative voices; adapt formats by age (visual checklists for younger students, data-rich dashboards for older ones); and tailor content to disciplinary expectations (technical and quantitative for science, journalistic narrative for communication). Aligning formats and channels with audience information habits can enhance comprehension, reduce misinformation, and support informed decision-making during EWEs.

How to cite: Izquierdo, T., Catalina-García, B., Sánchez-García, C., García-Galera, M. C., and Abad, M.: Access, verification, and trust in extreme weather events communication: age and discipline matter, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12383, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12383, 2026.

Communicating scientific advances and their impacts on society in an accessible manner is an inherent requirement of those engaged with science. Sensitising the public on climate change topics typically relies on rational discourse and the sharing of factual details. However, our first response to novelty, especially in stressful environments is usually emotional and with increasing political polarization, the individual’s priming, environment and beliefs heighten this response to the point of confrontation, avoidance and even denial. One way to potentially mitigate existing negative emotional biases is to approach the topic using a positive emotional experience that is widely shared regardless of identity, such as consuming food and drink.

Our project supported by an EGU public engagement grant consisted of small tasting events using locally produced and relevant food and drink items, which could be used as an example of how climate change is or will affect their production and consumption. Events can take on different formats depending on the situation and available resources, as well as allowing a wide range of consumables that can be adapted to the local community and values. Here we provide a brief overview of our activities and outline some implementation aids to support other groups or individuals interested in organizing their own events.

How to cite: Valach, A., Jurt, C., and Boillat, S.: Community outreach using positive sensory experiences: A taste of climate change, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12641, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12641, 2026.

Climate change poses a scientifically highly complex issue due to being a process of global change with considerably different outcomes for different regions, underpinned by scientific uncertainty. The inherent nature of the ongoing climate change is dynamic and oftentimes non-linear, bearing the risk of increasing the likelihood (and exacerbating the intensity) of extreme weather events. Hence, the issue not only asks for climate research to be translated prior to being addressed towards audiences with few or no prior scientifical knowledge of the field, but for the climate knowledge also to be communicated in a precise, reliable and continuously updated – while comprehensible – manner.

ClimXtreme is a nationwide interdisciplinary project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and focusing on the improvement of the scientific understanding of extreme weather events in a changing climate as well as the transdisciplinary interaction with practice stakeholders.

As part of the research network of ClimXtreme II (2023-2026), the German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst, DWD) has designed and launched a communication tool in form of a knowledge base. Its aim is to compile, synthesise and communicate the research goals and results of the 25 subprojects from various disciplines towards different target groups (general public, practitioners, administrations, politics and the private sector). Thus, the knowledge base seeks to facilitate the dialogue between climate research and society and provide a tool for scientifically informed decision-making processes.

Furthermore, one main focus is illustrating the transdisciplinary interactions which have already been established within the project. In this regard, the platform serves as an example case for inter- and transdisciplinary demand-oriented communication and is hereby tackling challenges in climate change communication.

How to cite: Fischer-Frenzel, P., Wagner-Jacht, M., Grieger, J., Lorenz, P., and Kreienkamp, F.: Climate change communication from an inter- and transdisciplinary perspective – an example from ClimXtreme, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12649, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12649, 2026.

Indoor air quality is key due to the amount of time people spend indoors (approximately 80–90 % of their lives). However, understanding how time and activity dependent sources, as well as built environment characteristics, influence pollutant emissions and distributions remains very limited. Addressing these challenges, InAPI — an Indoor Air Pollution Inventory tool — has been developed using data synthesised from a comprehensive review of UK indoor air pollution research (Mazzeo et al., 2025; doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-783). For the development of the InAPI tool, we have categorised existing literature by pollutant types, indoor environments, and activities, identifying significant knowledge gaps and offering an open-access database of typical pollutant concentrations and emission rates (Mazzeo et al., 2025; doi.org/10.1039/D4EA00121D). InAPI leverages this database to enable users to visualise indoor pollutant levels and emission characteristics across varied indoor settings. InAPI consolidates this evidence into a practical and easy-to-use tool which facilitates standardisation of IAQ measurement protocols and the creation of activity-based indoor emission inventories. By providing a robust platform for understanding indoor air pollutant dynamics, InAPI represents a significant step forward in advancing IAQ research given the transferability of the approach, supporting efforts to mitigate indoor air pollution with potential to inform policy initiatives. A key challenge to overcome is how to make this tool attractive and usable for non-experts and to ensure that the information is presented in a way that it can and will be used by policy makers and practitioners.

How to cite: Pfrang, C., Mazzeo, A., and Nazar, Z.: Developing an Indoor Air Pollution Inventory Tool to Visualise Activity-based Indoor Concentrations of Pollutants and Their Emission Rates for the Wider Community., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12812, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12812, 2026.

Air pollution poses a major public health risk, contributing to approximately 4.7 million premature deaths each year, the majority of which occur in low and middle-income countries. Effective public communication of air quality data is essential to drive policy action and address health inequalities, yet translating complex environmental data into an accessible format is always challenging.

This contribution presents findings from the Air Quality Stripes project (https://airqualitystripes.info/, Pringle KJ. et al, Geoscience Communication, 2025), which aims to raise public awareness and understanding of outdoor air pollution by visualising historical changes in fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) in major global cities from 1850 to 2022*  in a clear and engaging manner. Inspired by the widely recognised Warming Stripes (https://showyourstripes.info/) images, the Air Quality Stripes project combined data from satellite observations and model simulations to create a continuous historical PM₂.₅ dataset, which was then displayed as a series of vertical stripes. 

The resulting visualisations reveal divergent pollution trends: there have been substantial improvements in air quality in many cities in Europe and North America, contrasted by persistently high or worsening pollution in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. 

The project received significant public and media attention, including coverage in major national newspapers and broadcast media, demonstrating a strong appetite for accessible representations of air pollution data. They have also been used by a major philanthropic funder which funds observational networks to highlight gaps in global air quality data, especially in developing nations. In addition, major advocacy groups such as the C40 cities program are also using the images in their visualisation toolkit as part of their campaign for transparent air quality data to improve public health and policy.

What lessons have been learned?

Beyond describing the Air Quality Stripes visualisations, this contribution reflects on broader lessons for environmental data communication, drawing on audience engagement, media uptake, and practitioner feedback including:

• Collaboration with visual experts. The colour palette was developed with a design expert, drawing on imagery of air pollution to create a tangible link between colour and pollution.
• Informal feedback and review. Iterative feedback from colleagues, friends, and family helped improve the images; for example, early versions showed concentrations only, and feedback led us to add indicative labels (e.g. “good”, “poor”) to provide health-related context.
• City-specific focus. We chose to present images from individual cities as regional averaging would blur historical trends, but this city focus was popular with viewers as it allowed the viewer to connect with the information on a more tangible and often personal level.
• Selected annotations. Narrative annotations on a subset of images made the data more relatable, providing context and highlighting significant points. They also helped viewers better understand the overall structure of the images.

Lessons from the Air Quality Stripes project apply broadly to science communication, highlighting the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, iterative engagement with non-experts, and careful use of colour, context, and narrative. These insights extend beyond the project to inform environmental data visualisation and public communication more widely.

How to cite: McQuaid, J., Pringle, K., Reddington, C., Turnock, S., Rigby, R., Shayakhmetova, M., Illingworth, M., Barclay, D., Chue Hong, N., Hawkins, E., Hamilton, D., and Brain, E.: Visualising historical changes in air pollution with the Air Quality Stripes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12903, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12903, 2026.

From professional radiosonde data to information from a backyard rain gauge, observation is key to understanding extreme weather and our local environment. Resilient Earth, Resilient Communities, a traveling exhibit collaboratively designed by the Center of Excellence for Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development (EdEC) at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s Center for Science Education (UCAR SciEd), explores how we use this foundational concept of observation to gather information on extreme weather patterns and subsequent impacts on local environments in order to build more resilient communities. Since 2019, the exhibit has traveled to 19 locations across the United States, including public libraries, cultural centers, and universities. With each host, we co-design one exhibit display of content to contextualize the exhibit within specific extreme weather events experienced by the host community and adaptation strategies being employed by community members. In 2025, the exhibit team collaborated with hosts across Alaska to bring the exhibit to five different locations. Additionally, we partnered with a private company to bring a smaller version of the exhibit to passengers on an expedition cruise ship traveling throughout coastal Alaska. In this presentation, we address our co-design process for collaborating with and engaging communities and the private sector. We will also discuss results from a recent evaluation of the effectiveness of the exhibit in sparking dialog and creating emotional connections to the content, as well as provide actionable insights to designing a traveling exhibit.

How to cite: Zietlow, D. W., Haacker, R., Hatheway, B., Montaño, P., McCauley-Hartner, A., Portier, E., Smelter, J., Snode-Brenneman, E., and Stevermer, A.: Sharing science on the road: Bringing a traveling exhibit on extreme weather and community resilience to Alaska through community and private sector partnerships, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13519, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13519, 2026.

Rainfall is a familiar phenomenon for most people and is often perceived as a constraint. Yet, it usually receives little attention, as daily activities take priority. As rainfall and hydrology scientists, we seek to engage the general public and improve understanding in a field that is often affected by misinformation. More broadly, our goal is to stimulate curiosity and awareness of the surrounding geophysical environment.

To contribute to this effort, we designed and implemented a series of multisensory experiences centered on rainfall, guided by three main objectives: (i) to actively engage people with geoscience topics by encouraging them to observe their environment; (ii) to offer a simple and enjoyable moment that allows them to focus on geophysical phenomena; and (iii) to provide new knowledge about rainfall. Regarding this last objective, sensory involvement is a powerful tool for enhancing learning and memory.

We proposed three simple experiences that require no material other than rainfall itself and an open mind, and that conveys clear take-home messages. The three experiences are: feeling raindrops and their sizes on the hand or face while walking; listening to rain falling on different surfaces (such as a tent, umbrella, or metal sheet); and observing rainfall near a lamppost at night. The first highlights the variability of drop sizes, the second illustrates the temporal variability of rainfall, and the third reveals the combined temporal variability of rainfall and wind. Participants are invited to read short instructions before, and to fill out an open-ended form to report their sensations and observations.

The feedback collected for more than 60 experiences carried out in more than 5 different countries will be presented. Disparities of feeling between the three experiences will be presented.

How to cite: Gires, A. and Dallan, E.: Enhancing awareness of the geophysical environment through a multisensory rainfall experience, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14749, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14749, 2026.

The presentation will introduce a brochure (see reference below) that was prepared by the Earth Science Panel of the European Space Science Committee, which describes twelve groundbreaking science examples enabled by Earth observation satellites, representing the four main thematic domains of Earth sciences, namely: atmosphere, polar regions, ocean, and land. The different examples highlight the value across the Earth sciences of Earth Observation satellite missions, how they have resulted in transformative scientific breakthroughs, and their value to society and human endeavour.

Taking note that ESA is already very active in the communications of EO results, https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth, the aim it to produce a simple and easy to understand document that can convincingly demonstrate the huge science and societal benefits brought by ESA EO satellites. The document provides 12 examples clearly identifying the discoveries enabled by EO satellites.  Most examples are based on ESA missions (ERS-1, ERS-2, ENVISAT, Earth Explorers) and European Commission Copernicus programme (Sentinels), but other sources of data from European national missions and NASA are used.

The approach for the preparation of this document was driven by an ambition to translate the details and results of landmark scientific breakthroughs to a policy-oriented audience through the employment of concise, clear, and approachable language. To further aid in understanding, the text was accompanied by impactful and sharp graphics generated in collaboration between the scientists, communication experts, and professional graphic designers.

The presentation will describe how the document was conceived, the selection process to arrive at the 12 examples, and the satellite data used. Special attention will be also given on the process to convert scientific results published from highly ranked journals to easily understandable text and graphics which make the core of the document. Lessons learned on the process will be reported and some of the examples of the brochure will be detailed in the presentation.

This new perspective could act as a template for future promotion of space agency scientific excellence and value.

Reference:

Borgeaud, M., Bamber, J., Cazenave, A., Hegglin, M., Kerr, Y., Marcos, M., Massari, C., Tamminen, J., Rapley, C., L’Haridon, J. and Allison, C., Earth Observation Groundbreaking Science Discoveries, ESA publication, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5270/ESSC-ESA-EO-Groundbreaking-Science-2025, available for download at https://www.essc.esf.org/2025/01/21/news-eo-brochure/.

How to cite: Borgeaud, M., Bamber, J., Cazenave, A., Kerr, Y., Hegglin, M., Marcos, M., Massari, C., Tamminen, J., Rapley, C., L'Haridon, J., and Allison, C.: Groundbreaking Science Discoveries and Successes enabled by ESA Earth Observation Satellites, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14937, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14937, 2026.

Since 2015, the Integrated GroundWater Modeling Center has engaged diverse audiences in water and climate science through community education and outreach programs including STEM fairs, university courses, teacher workshops, and week-long camps for high school students. Across these varied contexts, science communication has served as a consistent throughline, informing both how participants learn scientific content and how they share it with others.

Over this period of engagement, participant groups took part in parallel learning of hydrology-focused scientific content and science communication principles, applying both to the creation of communication products, and synthesizing new knowledge and tools to engage effectively with peers and public audiences. Participants across this collection of programs created a wide range of science communication products, including hands-on activities, videos, games, audio products, and digital tools. Together, these methods and outcomes supported participants in communicating complex water and climate topics in accessible and meaningful ways.

This presentation will highlight educational approaches refined over a decade of programming, reaching over 10,000 in-person participants and a similarly sized audience through digital tools and lessons. Evaluation metrics collected across program iterations indicate consistent gains in self-reported knowledge and suggest positive participant experiences. It will also share core elements of the instructional framework and key lessons learned from a decade of communication and outreach, including observed impacts and practical insights for designing hands-on science communication experiences. By providing structured opportunities to both learn and practice science communication, these programs support participants in understanding how scientific knowledge is developed and communicated, with the broader goal of building trust in scientists and the scientific process.

How to cite: Gallagher, L., Pinchinat, J., Soriano, M., and Maxwell, R.: Learning, creating, and sharing: A science communication framework for water and climate education, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15455, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15455, 2026.

Recent advancements in AI technology have paved the way for the creation of sophisticated, educational avatars. These avatars are human-like in their interactions; they can listen to spoken input, generate appropriate responses, and communicate their answers through synthetic speech.  While AI-generated avatars are becoming more common for a variety of purposes in commercial sectors, they are rarely used in scientific fields. 

This technology represents a unique opportunity to reduce some of the roadblocks which can prevent students from pursing climate science as a career.  1) Many students, especially those from smaller communities, have never personally met a scientist, 2) they do not perceive climate science as a viable career path, and 3) students may not have been exposed to scientists who come from similar cultural backgrounds as themselves.  This project helps to address these challenges by bringing climate scientists directly into schools and communities, allowing students to have one-on-one conversations with scientists who can answer their questions and talk about science-related careers. AI avatars also enable students to engage with climate scientists who reflect their own appearances and cultural backgrounds, fostering a sense of relatability and inclusion.

Our team is creating AI-driven Virtual Climate Scientists who are trained to interact in real-time with both students and the general public.  These AI avatars are able to answer questions about their careers, current research in their field, and educational pathways that an interested student could consider. Each AI avatar represents a different field of climate science, and each has a different personal background, representing a wide range of cultures, educational backgrounds, life experiences, and personal stories.

We will present the current status of the project development, initial testing results from the beta-versions of the avatars, and lessons learned in the creation of each individual Virtual Climate Scientist.

How to cite: Brevik, C., Jayasekera, T., and Merriman, T.: Creating AI-driven Virtual Climate Scientists to introduce both students and the general public to climate science careers, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15954, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15954, 2026.

In many parts of the world, fire is a key and natural disturbance on the landscape. However, they can have devastating environmental and economic consequences when they burn into urban interfaces, and when they burn at intensities and frequencies outside the adaptive capacity of native flora and fauna. In the modern era, vestiges of colonial fire management paradigms based on emergency response and fire suppression, and now coupled with the effects of climate change, have resulted in fires burning at unprecedented frequencies, sizes, and intensities, damaging ecosystems, livelihoods, and human populations. These effects highlight the need for a new fire management paradigm - one that integrates not just response and suppression, but also relevant sociocultural and environmental aspects.

Here, I present a range of outreach activities I have delivered across a range of audiences at science festivals in Europe and the UK, informed in part by findings from a survey carried out through the FIRE-ADAPT consortium, an EU funded project studying Integrated Fire Management (IFM). In the survey, participants were asked what they considered the most important actions for effective fire management. The most prevalent response was Public Outreach and Participation, highlighting the importance of targeting educational outreach, science communication, and public engagement in the development of fire management policy. The outreach activities I present here address two of the key messages respondents highlighted: 1) that fire is a natural, inevitable, and important part of fire-adapted landscapes, and 2) humans are a part of that landscape, and dispelling the nature-culture divide is essential for taking ownership of their participation in landscape management. I will discuss my motivations for engaging in these outreach activities, and how I see the key messages fit into broader fire management policies.

How to cite: Hsu, A.: Spreading like a Wildfire: The Importance of Education and Outreach in Fire Management, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16109, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16109, 2026.

In Saitama Museum of Rivers, workshops and exhibitions on soil have been organized for more than 10 years and we will share the experience in this presentation.

To recognize and stimulate curiosity towards soil, touching or observing soil and making participants feel the soil is effective. Long-run workshops carried out for the museum visitors who are not familiar with soil are, 1. making shining soil balls with clayey soil, 2. dying cloths with fluvial and volcanic soil, 3. stepping on soil of fluvial (paddy) and volcanic (upland farm) soil, 4. painting with soil of different color, 5. observing soil animals and others. All workshops include touching and/or observing soil. Main participant is primary school students and below with their parents. Questionnaire was taken for 2 hours workshops 1 and 2, and both showed high level of satisfaction. Free statement of the questionnaire were as follows, “Surprised that fine soil becomes so hard (1)”, “Could understand well about soil (1, 2)”, “Feels good with shiny surface (1)”, “Very much absorbed in the work (1, 2)”, “Surprised with the color difference of the two soils (2)”, “It was fun to knead the soil (2)”. From these answers, it can be said that participants enjoyed working on soil while learning about soil. It seems good that participants could bring what they made back home, too. From the experience of different workshops, it is important to talk casually about soil during the workshop (while participants are working on the today’s menu) not only to the young participants, but to their parents. Not the formal, lecture type but casual and relaxed talk stimulates curiosity to soil, which may lead to next question. As for exhibition, Soil Monolith Exhibition (2012), What is Soil (touring exhibition, 2015), Soil Watching (2023) were organized. “What is Soil” toured 13 different places, 7 of which content was fully exhibited and others partly, and number of total visitors was 50,757. Age of visitors is wide, and it was tried that contents would not be too technical yet keeping necessary information. Effort was made on hands-on and real material (e.g. monoliths) exhibits. From the questionnaire, visitors were satisfied because “could get to know about soil which is close to us but not familiar with”, “could actually see the real soil and touch the exhibits”, and not satisfied because “too technical and too many letters” (free statements). Contribution of soil monoliths to raise interest toward soil seemed high. Guide tours were arranged several times and they were popular, so face to face guide tour has great demand. Overall, satisfaction level was high and effective on people to get to know soil, with a room for better achievement.

How to cite: Mori, K. and Kosaki, T.: Appealing to the senses, long-run workshops and exhibitions on soil for museum visitors, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16330, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16330, 2026.

The aim of the study was to identify cross-cascading impacts of climate change as perceived by the general public, in order to further develop strategies for education and awareness. The study employed an open-ended survey conducted in the city of Bucharest, located in southern Romania. Respondents were asked to provide examples of climate change impacts across different categories (environment, society, and economics).

The respondents identified a wide variety of environmental consequences, the most frequently mentioned being the increased frequency and/or magnitude of meteorological, climatic, and hydrological hazards. Drought ranked highest, being identified by 48% of all respondents. Public health emerged as the most important societal concern related to climate change (mentioned by 39% of respondents), with particular emphasis on the fatal effects of heat waves (designated by 10% of respondents). From an economic perspective, losses in agriculture were considered the most significant consequence of climate change by 59% of respondents.

In addition to these general findings, several specific perceptions emerged. 17% of respondents considered rising prices to be a consequence of climate change; in the context of water scarcity, they anticipated higher costs for irrigation, hydropower generation, fluvial transportation, and new methods to reduce water pollution, ultimately leading to higher prices of final products. This was followed by concerns regarding a decline in living standards. Furthermore, 20% of respondents indicated that industry and services are changing their structure in response to green requirements, while outdoor labor conditions are increasingly influenced by extreme weather, leading to labor market changes aimed at adapting to these new conditions.

The responses demonstrated a good understanding of the natural phenomena and processes occurring in southern Romania in recent years. They also revealed concerns regarding the future evolution of the economy. Overall, respondents showed a clear awareness of the cross-cascading impacts of climate change. However, climate change cannot be dissociated from other factors influencing social life and economic development; therefore, respondents’ perceptions are likely shaped by a multitude of contributing elements.

In a proactive approach, new curricula and academic study programs should be developed to address extreme weather, water scarcity, and the evolving labor market in southern Romania, in order to support career integration and ensure a sense of financial security.

How to cite: Ioana-Toroimac, G., Constantin (Oprea), D. M., Tișcovschi, A. A., and Niculescu, A. R.: Public perceptions of cross-cascading climate change impacts: evidence from Bucharest, Romania, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16408, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16408, 2026.

The integration of meteorological information into public media is vital to promote public awareness and engagement. This study investigates the audience performance of the Hungarian Public Media (MTVA- Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund) weather reports and news broadcasts during 2023 and 2024. As extreme weather events and climate-retated issues increasingly shape daily life, the need for reliable and timely meteorological information has become more pronounced. This research examines how M1 channel’s weather reports influence viewer engagement, particularly in relation to broader television consumption habits and major socio-political events.  Using Nielsen Audience Measurement data, we analysed 13,758 weather reports, representing an average of 18-20 broadcasts per day. In the two-year period, these programmes accounted for 656 hours of airtime. The broadcasts reached more than 5.1 million viewers, covering 60.5% of the television audience aged four and above, with viewers watching an average of 78 weather reports annually.

Viewing patterns show clear peaks during early morning, midday, and evening news periods, closely linked to daily routines. Demographic analysis revealed that urban residents, particularly in Budapest, exhibit higher engagement rates compared to rural areas, reflecting global trends observed in studies such as those by the Pew Research Center and Nielsen. Additionally, older audiences (aged 60 and above) demonstrated the most consistent viewership, while the younger population (18-29 years of age) showed a preference for digital platforms over traditional television.

Using detailed audience data, the study explores how weather forecasts attract and retain viewers, highlighting factors such as broadcast timing, content organisation, and the placement of meteorological updates into news program.

Overall, the findings confirm that television remains a relevant and effective channel for meteorological communication, particularly among older and urban audiences. At the same time, the results emphasise the importance of strategically incorporating digital media in order to reach younger viewers more effectively. These insights contribute to ongoing discussions about optimising weather communication in the digital era and offer practical implications for public service broadcasters internationally.

How to cite: Molnár, C., Ilyés-Vincze, C., Leelőssy, Á., and Soósné Dezső, Z.: Analysis of Weather Broadcasting in Public Media: A Case Study of MTVA News and Weather Reports, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17919, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17919, 2026.

Flood hydrology sits at the interface of science, public protection, infrastructure planning, and regulation. It is a broad and interdisciplinary field; in a recent UK survey of users of hydrology only 45 % self-identified as a hydrologist. To ensure society is prepared for increasing hydrological risks, effective communication within this diverse community is essential. Without clear pathways for translation pathway between policy priorities, emerging research and operational needs, critical planning and policy decisions risk being made on outdated assumptions. However, operational decisions are not always able to draw upon the latest research into process understanding or modelling approaches due to multiple barriers. These barriers include uneven access to data and tools, capacity constraints, differences in incentives across sectors and the limited time for relationship building and knowledge translation across different expertise. 

Here, we present insights from around 60 participants at a “science into practice” workshop hosted at the British Hydrological Society Symposium (University of Oxford, September 2024). The workshop was designed as a sector-spanning exercise between researchers, consultants, regulators, and practioners working on flood hydrology across the UK. Across sectors, participants converged on six priority themes: (1) working together, (2) funding and responsibilities, (3) skills and training, (4) data, (5) methods, and (6) accreditation and usability. We reflect on how these themes provided insights into the challenges and opportunities for science communication, knowledge translation and collaboration, and why such activities are often undervalued despite their critical role for improving flood-risk decisions. We conclude with practical recommendations for improving “science into practice” pathways in flood hydrology with more inclusive cross-sector communication aligned with the goals of the co-developed 25-year UK Flood Hydrology Roadmap. These lessons learned are transferable to other areas of environmental risk where effective communication and collaboration are crucial for delivering societal and environmental benefits.  

How to cite: Speight, L., Ford, E., Asadullah, A., Slater, L., Brown, S., Harfoot, H., Sheppard, O., Skinner, C., Waller, C., and Willis, T.: Communication within the UK flood hydrology community: bridging the gaps between science and practice , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18054, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18054, 2026.

In most mid- and high-latitude regions, a decrease in the frequency of very low temperatures and an increase in the frequency of high temperatures have been observed as a consequence of ongoing global warming. Tropical days, defined as days with a maximum air temperature of at least 30°C, represent a key climatic indicator for assessing the impact of heat excess on the urban environment. The increasing frequency of these days in recent decades, amplified by the urban heat island effect, accentuates the thermal discomfort and the vulnerability of urban population.

The perception of risk associated with the increasing frequency of tropical days is influenced by the mode of institutional communication and by the availability of clear and credible early warning systems. The aim of this study is to quantify the level of information and awareness among the population of the Bucharest metropolitan area, the capital of Romania, regarding how the human body perceives and reacts to high air temperatures. Cities of Bucharest’s size can modify the air temperature, increasing it by approximately 5–6°C above the temperature of the surrounding area. The analysis was based on a questionnaire containing semi-open questions with multiple response options, applied individually and directly, to a sample of 267 participants. 44% of respondents reported feeling vulnerable to daily air temperature equal to or exceeding 30°C, 40% answered sometimes, in certain situations, and the rest that they are not vulnerable to such air temperature. Respondents associate, in decreasing order of the number of answers, excess heat with dehydration, fatigue and insomnia, irritability, respiratory problems, and muscle cramps and aches. As measures to improve living conditions during periods with tropical days, participants consider the need for more urban green spaces, greater environmental responsibility at both individual and collective levels (through systematic ecological and climate education), and the establishment of additional hydration and first aid points.

Integrating public perception into urban planning and public health policies is essential for reducing the risk associated with tropical days in cities and adapting to climate change, because thermal stress is not an isolated phenomenon but one that disproportionately affects the elderly, children, individuals with chronic illnesses, and low-income communities.

How to cite: Constantin (Oprea), D. M., Ioana-Toroimac, G., Grigore, E., Tișcovschi, A. A., Ilea, R. G., and Nițu, M. A.: Perception of risk associated with tropical days in urban environments and implications for public health: A case study of Bucharest, Romania, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20402, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20402, 2026.

The inclusion of young people in climate change and palaeoclimate research has never been more important. There is a general uncertainty for our long-term future that is felt more within the young people within society, with climate anxiety a source of concern. Communication around climate change and palaeoclimate research to the general public is often in the form of education and traditional public engagements, such as social media, blogs and the press. 

Through work with Citizens UK, a diverse people-powered alliance of civil society institutions, we are working with a group of young people (aged 14-18) from a mixture of schools and city centre youth clubs based in deprived areas to create YouCAP, a youth climate advisory panel in the city of Birmingham. This work is linked to a larger NERC-funded project (C-FORCE) that is focusing on climate change in the past. We are training young people in broad-based community organising techniques, empowering them to speak to those in positions of power, like local councillors and leaders, and to conduct a local listening campaign about policy related to climate change. The first cohort of YouCAP participants found a general apathy for climate change issues in their communities, with many people naming personal issues such as the cost of living crisis or housing problems as higher priorities. The young people went on to create a podcast exchanging perspectives with those in power, with guests including a local councillor involved in city wide sustainability efforts, a scientist from the C-FORCE project, and a PhD student researching critical metals for the energy transition. Already YouCAP played a critical role in making climate change a national priority for Citizens UK and  leveraged the podcast recording with the local councillor to extract a promise of organising a youth climate assembly about local climate policy in the near future.

This work is ongoing, with continuous recruitment of new members of YouCAP, as well as the development of relationships with other key partners. Our final aim is to enact change at a local level with the work we have been doing with the young people through discussions around climate-related policies with local government leaders. By conducting this community engagement within the larger sphere of an international multi-disciplinary science project, a greater understanding of how the project outputs are absorbed by communities will be gained and trusting relationships will be formed with local communities, which is needed to convey the issues surrounding climate change to the public.

How to cite: Hanson, E., Stevenson, C., members, Y., Campbell, R., Haque Saeed, S., and Greene, S.: Community organising and engaging young people with climate change research and policies, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21016, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21016, 2026.

Clearly, communication, dissemination and outreach play an increasingly important role in the social impact of research. Beyond performing solid and high-quality scientific knowledge, research centres are expected and required to ensure that the results obtained are accessible, useful, meaningful, and relevant to a wide range of publics and audiences.

This talk aims to showcase the communication, dissemination, and outreach activities implemented by the Earth Sciences Department at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BS-CNS). The actions carried out in the field of communication and dissemination of Earth Sciences will be presented, and the lessons learnt and the challenges ahead for fostering the exchange of knowledge among various stakeholders, including (multidisciplinary) research teams, communication and dissemination professionals, and stakeholders, will be discussed.

The coordination of communication, dissemination and knowledge exchange activities within the framework of various research projects, which often pursue different objectives and have varying paces, will also be explained, as well as the role of teams dedicated to knowledge integration in building a bridge for dialogue with the user communities of the results obtained. The talk will explore how participatory approaches, co-creation processes, and different adaptive communication formats can contribute to reinforcing relevance, fostering mutual learning, and improving trust between researchers and stakeholders.

While sharing transferable lessons and questions that are still open, this overview aims to encourage ongoing discussions and debates about how research institutions, in our particular case in the scientific field of Earth Sciences, should move from simple ad hoc dissemination activities to more strategic, integrated, and impact-oriented communication and engagement practices in society.

How to cite: Rodríguez Gasén, R. and Arista-Romero, M.: From Knowledge Production to Societal Relevance in Earth Sciences, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21176, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21176, 2026.

Young people show a growing willingness to contribute to climate change mitigation, yet empirical evidence consistently highlights the persistence of misconceptions, fragmented knowledge, and difficulties in translating intentions into effective action. This lack of orientation is not surprising given the complexity of the socio‑ecological processes at stake. It is therefore crucial to develop educational tools to support individuals in critically engaging with these challenges, developing the ability to make informed decisions and take effective action. Supporting orientation toward agency in such contexts requires educational strategies capable of making systemic dynamics visible, explorable, and grounded in real-world data. This contribution is developed within the ENCOMPASS project, a multidisciplinary research initiative integrating perspectives from philosophy, economics, and science education to investigate agency in the context of climate change. ENCOMPASS conceptualises agency through three complementary and integrated lenses: epistemic-driven, ethical-refelctive and systemic-pragmatic. For this contribution, we focus on the systemic–pragmatic dimension of agency, which expands the space of action by linking individual decision-making to system-level dynamics and collective consequences.

It is specifically focused on food practices, i.e., day-to-day ‘simple’ decisions that offer significant individual climate-change mitigation opportunities. In particular, we study two key behaviours: reducing meat consumption and reducing food waste, analysing perceptions, barriers, and drivers of adoption.

The research follows two phases: (i) an exploratory qualitative analysis with students from two Italian upper‑secondary schools through focus groups, which generated concept maps used to identify the most crucial issues and thus relevant variables; (ii) the design and administration of a structured survey to a representative sample of the Italian population (N=1400).

The survey investigated individual food-related choices and behaviours in real contexts with a strong focus on the motivations and the characteristics of the context in which they were taken. Moreover, through the use of validated scales we evaluate perceptions, concerns, values, knowledge, social and moral norms of respondents. These dimensions allow for a detailed analysis of how beliefs, cognitive factors, social influences, and socio-demographic characteristics affect individual adoption of more climate-friendly and sustainable food-practices. The outputs of the analysis of this data collection are used as the empirical base to calibrate a system-dynamics simulation-model identifying potential dynamics of behaviour adoption among individuals. This modelling can generate interactive scenarios showing the (aggregated) effects of changes to individual behaviours, which could potentially contribute to strengthen youth orientation toward sustainable food-choices.

The model enables the exploration of feedback mechanisms and scenario-based outcomes, illustrating how individual decisions may aggregate and evolve within a complex system over time. We argue that empirically grounded SD simulations can function as powerful educational tools, supporting learners in critically engaging with complex socio-ecological processes, exploring “what-if” scenarios, and understanding the systemic implications of everyday decisions. By bridging individual action, empirical data, and system-level modelling, this work contributes to expanding the space of climate agency in education and beyond.

The proposed modelling approach allows agency to be examined through the dynamic relations between individual decisions and system-level outcomes, offering a concrete way to analyse how possibilities for action are shaped, enabled, and constrained within complex socio-ecological systems.

How to cite: Ricci, E. C., Tasquier, G., Pongiglione, F., and Morandi, S.: Expanding the Space of Climate Agency: From Individual Decisions to System Dynamics, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21456, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21456, 2026.

Environmental observatories provide powerful real-world contexts for advancing climate change education and fostering engagement with Earth system science. The Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO), located in southwestern Greece, integrates long-term environmental monitoring with interdisciplinary research, generating high-resolution datasets on atmospheric conditions, ecosystem dynamics, soil and hydrological processes, and biodiversity change in a Mediterranean climate hotspot. By linking empirical observations to education and outreach activities, NEO supports learning experiences that connect scientific evidence to place-based climate impacts and societal challenges.

This contribution presents how NEO observational data are embedded in participatory education initiatives to enhance climate literacy, critical thinking, and data competencies across diverse learner groups. Drawing on examples from international field courses, summer schools, living lab activities, and community workshops, we show how students and stakeholders engage directly with real environmental datasets to interpret trends, explore uncertainty, and understand feedbacks between climate, ecosystems, and land management. Particular attention is given to how data-driven learning influences climate perceptions, supports interdisciplinary understanding, and encourages informed dialogue between scientists and society.

Our experience demonstrates that combining long-term environmental observations with experiential and participatory educational approaches strengthens climate change education, promotes trust in scientific evidence, and supports the development of actionable knowledge for climate adaptation and sustainability.

How to cite: Maneas, G., Pantazis, C., and Hättestrand, M.: Using Environmental Observatory Data from the Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO) to Advance Climate Change Education in the Mediterranean, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21462, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21462, 2026.

The communication of paleontological heritage to non-specialist audiences presents unique challenges: fossils are fragmentary, ancient environments are invisible, and the scientific reasoning connecting evidence to reconstruction is often opaque. This contribution examines how generative artificial intelligence and three-dimensional digital technologies are transforming science communication practice in paleontology while proposing an epistemological framework to ensure scientific integrity in public engagement.

We present a four-paradigm classification distinguishing: (1) Empirical methods (photogrammetry, structured-light scanning, LiDAR) that produce metrically accurate digital surrogates of physical specimens; (2) Neural Scene Representation (Neural Radiance Fields, 3D Gaussian Splatting) that reconstruct scenes from sparse image sets through learned interpolation; (3) Generative AI (diffusion models, large language models, image-to-video synthesis) that create novel content based on pattern recognition rather than direct observation; and (4) Hybrid approaches that combine two or more methodologies. This framework addresses a fundamental question for science communicators: whether a given digital output constitutes a record, a representation, or a hypothesis—a distinction critical for maintaining public trust.

We demonstrate applications ranging from constraint-based paleoartistic reconstruction to AI-generated video synthesis for museum exhibitions and educational programs using real-world workflows created at Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos, Portugal, as part of the PaNReD (ALG-07-527-FSE-000044) and SciTour (ALG-01-0145-FEDER-072585) projects. A key case study involves the digital reconstruction workflow for Cariocecus bocagei, a new hadrosauroid from the Lower Cretaceous of Portugal, illustrating the complete pipeline from photogrammetric capture of fossil specimens through AI-assisted life reconstruction and video generation. This process illustrates how empirical 3D models function as anatomical constraints for generative AI, guaranteeing that paleoart remains connected to physical evidence while simultaneously achieving the visual impact required for effective public engagement. We critically examine the phenomenon of “hallucinated heritage”—the risk that visually convincing AI outputs may inadvertently disseminate subtle biases or fabrications to public audiences who lack the expertise to distinguish evidence-based reconstruction from algorithmic speculation.

The most challenging obstacle we have faced is the preservation of the distinction between what is known from fossil evidence and what is inferred or imagined, especially when AI-generated imagery attains a photorealistic quality that may imply false certainty. Our approach addresses this through explicit labeling of epistemological status, transparent documentation of AI prompts and constraints, and educational materials that use the reconstruction process itself as a teaching tool about scientific reasoning.

We argue that these technologies do not diminish the role of the scientist-communicator but rather transform it from “guardian of the rock” to “authenticator of reality.” The emotional connection fostered by immersive 3D environments and lifelike paleoart reconstructions can enhance public engagement with deep time, provided that communication strategies explicitly address the epistemological status of digital outputs. This session contribution shares lessons learned from five years of integrating digital technologies into science centre programming, offering a framework for practitioners seeking to harness AI's communicative power while preserving scientific integrity.

How to cite: Azevedo Rodrigues, L.: Generative AI and 3D Digital Technologies for Paleontological Heritage Communication: An Epistemological Framework and Practical Applications, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21526, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21526, 2026.

The outreach strategies of research projects often focus on ambitious objectives such as improving the knowledge base for stakeholders, promoting uptake of informed strategies and societal transitions, increasing awareness of research, etc. However, objectives like these take for granted that target audiences are engaged in science and trustful of expertise when we know that there is a growing population throughout society who are neither. The growing mistrust of science and experts is, at least in part, a failure of the science community to reach and engage with a significant sector of society.  In an attempt to address this deficiency in our own work, the ICELINK project aims to tailor key messages to identified target audiences that acknowledge these differing levels of engagement and trust.  While recognizing target audiences, including local stakeholders, policymakers, and the general public, we also recognize that within these audiences we will find individuals and groups who are:

• highly engaged (e.g., those who would, for example, eagerly attend a public science event);
• marginally engaged (e.g., those who would attend a public science event if it were convenient or brought to them, but might not actively seek one out); and
• unengaged (e.g., those who would not attend a public science event without some external motivator).

While scientists tend to excel at engaging with members of the public who are highly and marginally engaged in science, those in the third category are at high risk of being overlooked. With this in mind, in addition to sharing ICELINK’s science objectives, results, and outputs in innovative and creative ways, we also intend to help rebuild trust in science by sharing messages of greater relevance to less engaged audiences. For example, when communicating about climate change, we aim to use more positive messaging of hope and empowerment through personal action, an approach that is thought to increase an audience’s receptiveness compared to focusing solely on the consequences of climate change and inaction. We can also help make scientists (and experts generally) more relatable through personal perspective storytelling, and we will use “lightening experiences” (a.k.a. the “wow factor”) to help audiences appreciate difficult-to-grasp concepts (like vast spatial and temporal scales) and to remind people about the power and possibilities of science.

Scientists need to be better at reaching more diverse members of the general public. When planning our outreach strategies, if we can adjust our pathways to engagement, messaging, and expectations to be relevant to the full engagement/trust spectrum, perhaps we can have more of an impact on all audiences.

How to cite: James, T. D., Aðalgeirsdóttir, G., Hvidberg, C. S., and Cook, E. and the ICELINK Team: Acknowledging different levels of audience engagement in science in research outreach strategies, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21602, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21602, 2026.

Social media has become a key bridge between the scientific community and the broader public. Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in Latin America have increasingly embraced digital platforms to engage non-specialist audiences with geosciences content, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. One such initiative is Divulgación Terróloga, a non-profit, self-funded science communication project launched on June 11, 2019, by Mexican ECRs. The project aims to communicate Earth system processes clearly and accurately in Spanish through Facebook and Instagram. Our content covers all Earth spheres topics and features regular posts that promote the visibility of geosciences and the scientific work of mainly ECRs. The section "Miércoles de Jóvenes Investigadores" (Young Researchers Wednesday) highlights the research of students and early-career scientists, while the section "Geocientíficos en Acción" (Geoscientists in Action) focuses on geoscientists working beyond academia. We also conduct interviews with established researchers to highlight diverse career paths. In this presentation, we share the scope, challenges, and impacts of running Divulgación Terróloga. By April 23, 2025, we have published ~360 posts, reached ~2200 people per post on average, and grown a following of over 5300, with our most popular post reaching nearly 60,000 views. The audience is gender-balanced (49% women, 51% men) and spans Latin America, the U.S., and Europe. Our posts have been translated automatically into English, French, and German. This talk aims to highlight the power of social media in promoting geosciences education, increasing the visibility of ECRs, and building international scientific networks and bridges with society through outreach.

How to cite: Martinez-Abarca, R.: A guide to outreach geosciences on social media: the case of Divulgación Terróloga, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21614, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21614, 2026.

Climate change is an ongoing environmental and societal challenge. Communicating its ramifications and related uncertainties clearly to stakeholders and the public is an imperative task for time-critical decision-making. Public communication about climate change often includes maps, aimed at facilitating the understanding of complex scientific findings and making these more accessible to non-specialist audiences. This is especially important when difficult concepts such as inherent uncertainties related to climate predictions are involved.

While climate change communication may appear abstract and distant to non-experts, climate change discourse often involves strong emotional responses from the public. Engaging visual storytelling with climate change maps may be a useful strategy to reduce the psychological distance of the public. However, elicited emotions may influence how people perceive the presented information and thus their willingness to trust the maps.

We aimed to investigate the effect of emotional narratives on map readers’ trust in visualized (un)certainty information in static climate change forecast maps. We applied a 3x2 mixed factorial, map-based study design, including electrodermal activity measurements and eye-tracking. We designed three versions of climate change prediction map stimuli, inspired by the Swiss Climate Scenarios CH2018. Uncertainty was operationalized as a within-subjects independent variable such that participants viewed 18 map stimuli in total, showing different climate variables in randomized order, equally distributed across three conditions: (1) without uncertainty information, (2) uncertainty visualized as black gridded dots, or (3) uncertainty visualized as black randomly distributed dots. Following prior research, we used the term ‘certainty’ in our map stimuli, as it is better understood by the audience than ‘uncertainty’. We used narrative instructions as the between-subjects independent variable, with participants randomly assigned and matched across groups to one of the two conditions: (1) emotion or (2) control. In the emotion condition, each map stimulus was accompanied by an emotion-inducing verbal narrative and a human cartoon character. In the control condition, participants viewed the same map stimuli accompanied only by a factual verbal narrative.

We recruited 61 participants (30 females, 31 males, average age = 30 years) from the Department of Geography at the University of Zurich to participate in the study. After viewing each map stimulus, participants were asked (without any time restriction) to select one of the six predefined locations shown in the maps that they predicted to be most/least affected by climate change. Finally, they indicated their trust in each stimulus type using a standardized questionnaire.

Preliminary results suggest no significant differences in participants’ overall average trust ratings across the two narrative conditions. However, participants significantly trust climate change prediction maps more when certainty information is also included, regardless of the narrative condition they were assigned to. Conversely, we found no significant difference in trust ratings between the map stimuli that contain certainty information visualized as gridded or randomly distributed dots.

These novel empirical findings stress the need to visually communicate (un)certainty information to support people’s trust in climate science and climate change forecast maps. The use of cartoon characters to emotionally engage the public in climate change communication remains to be further empirically investigated.

How to cite: Bazzurri, S. F., Kapaj, A., and Fabrikant, S. I.: Effects of emotional narratives and uncertainty visualization on non-experts’ trust in climate change forecast maps, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2979, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2979, 2026.

Informing robust decisions on flood risk and water resource management necessitates, among other factors, clearer communication of hydrological model uncertainty to non-specialist audiences. In this presentation, we demonstrate that simplified toy models, which abstract away systemic complexity, can serve as an accessible and effective tool for this purpose. As a specific case study, we illustrate how the choice of calibration scoring function shapes model behavior and associated uncertainty estimates. This foundational approach helps build the core intuition needed to effectively engage with more complex, real-world systems. Overall, we present a practical framework that supports experts articulate, and non-experts comprehend, the essential "why" and "how" of uncertainty in hydrological predictions.

Acknowledgements: This work was funded by the Research Center on Climate Change Impacts - University of Padova, Rovigo Campus - supported by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova e Rovigo.

How to cite: Papacharalampous, G., Marra, F., Dallan, E., and Borga, M.: Communicating hydrological model calibration with toy examples, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5507, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5507, 2026.

It is well known that scientific data have uncertainties and that it is crucial to take these uncertainties into account in any decision making process. Nevertheless, despite data producer’s best efforts to provide complete and rigorous uncertainty estimates alongside their data, users commonly struggle to make sense of uncertainty information. This is because uncertainties are usually expressed as the statistical spread in the observations (for example, as random error standard deviation), which does not relate to the intended use of the data.

Put simply, data and their uncertainty are usually expressed as something like “x plus/minus y”, which does not answer the really important question: How much can I trust “x”, or any use of or decision based upon “x”? Consequently, uncertainties are often either ignored altogether and the data taken at face value, or interpreted by experts (or non-experts) heuristically to arrive at rather subjective, qualitative judgements of the confidence they can have in the data.

In line with existing practices (e.g., the communication of uncertianties in the IPCC reports), we conjecture that the key to enabling users to make sense of uncertainties is to represent them as the confidence one can have in whatever event one is interested in, given the available data and their uncertainty.

To that end, we propose a novel, generic framework that transforms common uncertaintiy representations (i.e., estimates of stochastic data properties, such as “the state of this variable is “x plus/minus y”) into more meaningful, actionable information that actually relate to their intended use, (i.e., statements such as “the data and their uncertainties suggest that we can be “z” % confident that…”). This is done by first formulating a meaningful question that links the available data to some events of interest, and then deriving quantiative estimates for the confidence in the occurrence of these events using Bayes theorem.

We demonstrate this framework using two case examples: (i) using satellte soil moisture retrievals and their uncertainty to derive how confident one can be in the presence and severity of a drought; and (ii) how ocean temperature analyses and their uncertainty can be used to determine how confident one can be that prevailing conditions are likely to cause coral bleaching. 

How to cite: Gruber, A., Bulgin, C., Dorigo, W., Emburry, O., Formanek, M., Merchant, C., Mittaz, J., Muñoz-Sabater, J., Pöppl, F., Povey, A., and Wagner, W.: Making Sense of Uncertainties: Ask the Right Question, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7755, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7755, 2026.

Uncertainty is an inherent part of geoscience research and arises at multiple stages of the scientific process, from data collection and modelling to analysis and interpretation. In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to uncertainty quantification and assessment, alongside increasing recognition of the importance of uncertainty communication. These aspects are closely linked, as robust characterization of uncertainty provides an essential basis for transparent communication within the scientific community and beyond it.

Communicating uncertainty not only plays a key role in improving the understanding of how scientific knowledge is produced, but can also help to foster trust by increasing transparency and contextualizing results. Nevertheless, reluctance to explicitly assess and communicate uncertainty persists, particularly when addressing non-expert audiences. This challenge is especially relevant in the context of natural hazard risk assessment and management: Here, adequate communication of uncertainties can add particularly valuable information for decision-making, risk governance, and a better understanding of the risks at hand among public audiences.

This contribution presents an exploratory, database-driven overview of the scientific literature on uncertainty communication in geoscience, with a particular focus on natural hazards. Using structured queries in the Web of Science database, we examine publication trends over time, disciplinary distributions, thematic emphases, and possible blind spots. Keyword combinations range from general terms such as “uncertainty communication” and “multi-hazard communication” to more specific queries combining uncertainty, communication, and individual natural hazards (e.g., floods, earthquakes, droughts).

Preliminary results indicate that uncertainty communication spans a broad range of scientific categories, while the level of attention varies substantially across hazard types, with flood-related studies being more prominent than others. Initial findings also suggest that multi-hazard uncertainty communication remains comparatively underrepresented, despite the increasing emphasis on multi-hazard and multi-risk assessments in recent research and policy frameworks. The growing volume of publications further highlights the need for systematic approaches to literature mapping, as well as the potential role of data-driven and AI-assisted tools in supporting such analyses.

This research was partially funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) of the European Commission (EC) through the VOLCAN project (ref. 101193100) and by the 2024 Research Prize of the Dr. K. H. Eberle Foundation to Mohadjer, Pelzer and Dietrich.

How to cite: Schneider-Pérez, I., López-Saavedra, M., Martí, J., Castellà, J., Mohadjer, S., Pelzer, M., and Dietrich, P.: An overview of the scientific literature on uncertainty communication in geoscience , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11747, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11747, 2026.

Heatwaves are among the most impactful climate extremes in Europe, driving acute health risks and socio-economic disruption. They are a challenge for early warning and public understanding due to uncertainties in event onset, severity, and human response. Building on the interdisciplinary Strengthening the Research Capacities for Extreme Weather Events in Romania (SCEWERO) project funded by the European Union, this study investigates how scientific evidence, perception data, and communication strategies interact within Romania’s heatwave Early Warning System operated by Meteo-Romania. We analyse both empirical perception data — collected through structured surveys and focus groups to quantify how different communities interpret heat warnings, risk levels, and confidence intervals — and observational heatwave metrics to map divergences between communicated risk and public understanding. This research highlights specific sources of uncertainty faced by forecasters (e.g., variable heat exposure, model forecast spreads), and documents how these uncertainties are interpreted or misinterpreted by non-expert audiences. By tracing how uncertainty in forecast signals propagates through institutional warning messages and into public perception, we identify communication gaps that can lead to maladaptive responses or reduced trust in warnings during heat events. Framing uncertainty, contextualised risk information, and tailored communication strategies improve both public comprehension and behavioural intent during heatwave alerts. We propose evidence-based recommendations for operational Early Warning Systems that move beyond fixed deterministic thresholds, instead incorporating probabilistic messaging where appropriate and grounding risk communication in locally derived perception data. This work illustrates how harmonising scientific uncertainty communication with Early Warning practices can strengthen societal resilience to heatwaves, offering a transferable framework for climate risk communication in other European regions.

How to cite: Santin, S., Croitoru, A.-E., Petrovici, N., Pop, C., Petre, M.-J., Scoccimarro, E., and Xoplaki, E.: Heatwaves and Early Warning Systems: Perception Data and the Role of Science Communication – A Case Study from Romania, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11821, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11821, 2026.

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is a way to use the groundwater to heat and cool buildings, with very low CO₂ emissions. It classifies as a shallow geothermal technology, and it is gaining popularity worldwide because of its sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. While its potential has been extensively proven in traditional homogenous, productive sandy groundwater layers, investing in more complex subsurface settings has greater financial risk. This is related to uncertainty about the (hydraulic) project feasibility and (thermal) efficiency of the system. Basically, we cannot directly look underground, so it is uncertain to what extent our subsurface model correctly represents reality. Even though this subsurface uncertainty leads to a great globally untapped potential for thermal energy storage, it is often neglected in feasibility studies. To move new ATES developments forward in complex subsurface settings, we present an uncertainty-driven sound scientific method to make investment decisions. Uncertainty in subsurface models is recognized by using a stochastic approach. The model predictions are then processed with clustering and global sensitivity analysis. This allowed to define criteria on critical subsurface properties that guarantee project (in)feasibility. For edge-cases, uncertainty is quantified to determine the probability of project feasibility from a risk-taking or risk-averse decision-maker perspective. Additionally, this approach quantified the potential of changing operational parameters (flow rate, well spacing, design injection temperature) to enhance project feasibility. All results are summarized in an easy-to-interpret decision tree that guides go/no-go decisions for new ATES projects. Importantly, the decision-tree can be followed prior to carrying out costly field tests. To illustrate, the uncertainty-driven decision tree approach is applied to a low-transmissivity aquifer for ATES, which represents a subsurface setting at the limit of ATES suitability. In conclusion, our approach effectively handles uncertainty while also focusing on improving clear communication to investors about the probability of project feasibility. As such, it could be an example study on how to handle model uncertainty for predictions of aquifer thermal energy storage systems in the future.

How to cite: Tas, L., Caers, J., and Hermans, T.: An Uncertainty-Driven Decision Tree Approach Guiding Feasibility Decisions of Shallow Geothermal Systems in Complex Subsurface Settings, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14276, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14276, 2026.

Flood risk uncertainty is a growing problem in New Zealand and the rest of the world. Decision-makers are facing increasing uncertainty in planning for future events. Growing population centres, increased cost of living and the resulting increased exposure to these natural hazards are just some of factors they need to consider in planning and mitigating future events. Climate change predictions represent a large part of the uncertainty present in these future flood risk assessments. Variables such as rainfall intensity and duration are likely to change significantly with increased temperatures which would result in potentially larger and more frequent flood events. To better understand how these different uncertainties could influence decision-making, a series of flood model and risk assessment output representations containing uncertainty were generated from a Monte Carlo framework. These representations were tested using an online survey and focus groups across regional councils, national response agencies and private companies that work with flood information. The results showed that traditional flood outputs such as depth and extent were still rated more useful than uncertain outputs such as confidence and exceedance probabilities. Larger AEPs (annual exceedance probabilities) such as 0.5% and 0.1% were seen as useful for long-term development planning but lower AEPs such as 1% and 5% were better suited for mitigation and emergency response plans. Across all the uncertainty outputs, respondents stressed the need for additional contextual information such as socio-economic overlays, area specific information such as land use and building types that would work in tandem with rebuild cost estimates and building damage data. From this feedback, a series of recommendations for presenting flood uncertainty information to decision-makers were created.

How to cite: Ash, C., Wilson, M., Hultquist, C., and White, I.: Communicating Flood Risk Uncertainty for Decision-Making in Aotearoa-New Zealand, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15153, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15153, 2026.

Uncertainty is a defining feature of the nature of science; besides driving curiosity in research, its acknowledgement and reporting are expected to ensure transparency and credibility. However, when science is communicated to a non-expert audience, uncertainty often gets oversimplified or omitted. This practice can lead to misconceptions about science (e.g., science leads to absolute knowledge) or erode confidence when uncertainties inevitably surface. In this session, we will explore how uncertainty is framed within the Nature of Science framework of science education, and which educational strategies might be of interest for science communication. Drawing on examples from communicating planetary science, we will discuss approaches that can make uncertainty relatable and constructive, helping audiences appreciate science as a dynamic, evidence-based process rather than a collection of fixed facts.

How to cite: Stepanovic, J., Claes, S., and Sermeus, J.: Communicating the Uncertain Nature of Science Through the Lens of Science Education, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17550, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17550, 2026.

Climate information is increasingly being produced and shared as governments, businesses and individuals need to adapt to the changing climate. Yet, communicating uncertain climate change information to non-experts remains a challenge. The information that is currently made available to non-climate science specialists is too complex for them to understand and use. A key challenge in climate science is that estimating future change comes with uncertainties which are highly technical to non-climate specialists. Nevertheless, it is paramount that when climate information is shared and used, the limitations and uncertainties attached are well understood. This is particularly important amongst audiences that lack technical familiarity with climate science. Additionally, scientists and climate service providers do not have a common approach to represent the range of future change. Some scientists place an emphasis on probabilistic projections, meanwhile others focus on the full range of plausible futures.

There has been a limited effort to assess whether the audience understands what the producer of the climate information intended. Testing or evaluating different methods and visualisations of communicating future climate information, and its related uncertainties, can provide insight into what is most effective. Isolating what is (mis)understood can shed light on how to effectively communicate future climate information. This study investigates the interpretation of different presentations of future climate information using a survey and discussion with 45 participants working within weather and disaster agencies in Madagascar. Icon arrays, climate risk narratives, key statements and verbal probability language was tested to provide insight into how practitioners understand different ways of communicating future climate information. Both probabilistic and plausible framings of uncertainty are considered to explore how participants interpret each.

The percentage of participants that selected the correct answers across comprehension questions ranged from 24-82%. For the interpretation of verbal and numeric probabilities which was communicated as “virtually certain [99-100%]”, the correct numerical probability was selected by 24% of participants, highlighting the systematic misinterpretation of verbal and numerical probabilities. The climate risk narrative provided 3 plausible narratives, however, over a third of participants incorrectly believed there were 3 narratives to allow decision makers to select a narrative that is sector relevant. Some reasons for misinterpretation were provided by the participants such as confusing legends and icons, using their prior knowledge instead of the information document or experiencing cognitive dissonance. Meanwhile some expressed difficulty understanding due to lots of information while others requested additional insights, demonstrating the need for flexibility in design.

This study has highlighted new ways of communicating climate risk as well as ineffective current practises.  Recommendations suggest that climate scientists and climate communicators should; include an explicit explanation of why there are multiple climate risk narratives; reconsider the use of numeric and verbal probability expression given they are commonly misinterpreted and consider that an individuals’ prior knowledge influences their interpretation of new information. 

How to cite: Craig, A., James, R., Kennedy-Asser, A., Stephens, E., Vincent, K., Jones, R., Taylor, A., Jack, C., McClure, A., and Shaw, C.: Communicating uncertain future climate risk: Lessons learned from adaptation and disaster risk practitioners in Madagascar, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20429, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20429, 2026.

Since the robust performance of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks was established, their physics-awareness and interpretability have become central topics in hydrology. Seminal works (e.g., Lees et al. (2022)) have argued that LSTM internal states spontaneously capture hydrological concepts, and suggested that cell states can represent soil moisture dynamics despite not being explicitly trained on such data. Conversely, more recent studies (e.g., Fuente et al. (2024)) demonstrated that mathematical equifinality causes non-unique LSTM representations with different initialisations.

In this work, we report an arguably more systematic "bug" in the software environment that causes instability in internal states. We initially aimed to investigate how internal states behave differently when trained with or without historical observation data. We encountered this issue while reassembling a computational stack and attempting to replicate the initial results, as the original Docker environment was not preserved. While random seeds have been indicated to lead to different internal state trajectories, we found the computational backend (e.g., changing CUDA versions, PyTorch releases, or dependent libraries) also produces them. These are the findings:

• In gauged catchments: Discharge predictions remained stable (in one catchment, NSE was 0.88 ± 0.01) across computational environments, yet the internal temporal variations (e.g., silhouette, mean, and std of cell states) fluctuated noticeably.
• In pseudo-ungauged scenarios: The prediction performance itself became more reliant on the computational environment (in the same catchment, NSE dropped to 0.31 ± 0.15), yet the internal temporal variations of the cell states fluctuated only as much as they did during the gauged scenario.

These findings suggests that instability in the computational environment poses not only a risk of altering interpretability in training (by altering internal states) but also casts doubt on reliability in extrapolation (by altering outputs).

It is worth mentioning that we confirmed this is not a replicability issue; completely identical cell states and predictions are produced when the computational environment, seeds, and training data are held constant. We argue that such stability must be established as a standard benchmark before assigning physical meaning to deep learning internals.

How to cite: Nagumo, R., Woods, R., and Rico-Ramirez, M.: The Unreliable Narrator: LSTM Internal States Fluctuate with Software Environments Despite Robust Predictions, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1897, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1897, 2026.

Moments or periods of struggle not only propel scientists forward, but sharing these experiences can also provide valuable lessons for others. Indeed, the current bias towards only publishing ‘positive’ results arguably impedes scientific progress as mistakes that are not learnt from are simply repeated. Here we present a new article type in EGU journals covering LESSONS learnt to help overcome this publishing bias. LESSONS articles describe the Limitations, Errors, Surprises, Shortcomings, and Opportunities for New Science emerging from the scientific process, including non-confirmatory and null results. Unforeseen complications in investigations, plausible methods that failed, and technical issues are also in scope. LESSONS thus fit the content of the BUGS session and can provide an outlet for articles based on session contributions. Importantly, a LESSONS Report will offer a substantial, valuable insight. LESSONS Reports are typically short (1,000-2,000 words) to help lower the barrier to journal publication, whilst LESSONS Posts (not peer-reviewed, but with a DOI on EGUsphere) can be as short as 500 words to allow early-stage reporting. LESSONS aim to destigmatise limitations, errors, surprises and shortcomings and to add these to the published literature as opportunities for new science – we invite you to share your LESSONS learnt.

Finally, a big thank you from this paper’s ‘core’ writing team to the wider group who have helped shape the LESSONS idea since EGU GA in 2025, including PubCom and in particular its Chair Barbara Ervens.

How to cite: Hillier, J., Proske, U., Gaillard, S., Blume, T., and Queiroz Alves, E.: New EGU Manuscript Types: Limitations, Errors, Surprises, and Shortcomings as Opportunities for New Science (LESSONS), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2771, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2771, 2026.

Photocatalysis is frequently presented in the literature as a straightforward route toward efficient degradation of pollutants, provided that the “right” material is selected. Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are often highlighted as promising photocatalysts due to their tunable composition and reported activity in dye degradation. Motivated by these claims, this study evaluated LDH as mineral analogs for photocatalytic water treatment, ultimately uncovering a series of unexpected limitations, methodological pitfalls, and productive surprises.

In the first stage, Zn/Cr, Co/Cr, Cu/Cr, and Ni/Cr LDHs were synthesized and tested for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (0.02 mM) and Acid Blue Dye 129 (0.3 mM). Contrary to expectations,¹ photocatalytic performance was consistently low. After one hour of irradiation, concentration losses attributable to photocatalysis did not exceed 15%, while most dye removal resulted from adsorption. Despite extensive efforts to optimize synthesis protocols, catalyst composition, and experimental conditions, this discrepancy with previously published studies could not be resolved.

To overcome limitations related to particle dispersion, surface accessibility, and charge-carrier separation, a second strategy was pursued by incorporating clay minerals as supports.² Zn/Cr LDH, identified as the most active composition in preliminary tests, was coprecipitated with kaolinite, halloysite, and montmorillonite. Experiments with methylene blue (0.1 mM) and Acid Blue 129 (0.3 mM) demonstrated enhanced adsorption capacities. However, photocatalytic degradation efficiencies remained poor, typically below 10% after one hour, indicating that apparent performance gains were largely adsorption-driven rather than photochemical.

This failure proved to be a turning point. Instead of abandoning LDH entirely, they were combined with graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) to form a heterostructure.³ This approach resulted in a dramatic improvement: after optimization of the synthesis protocol, 99.5% of 1 ppm estrone was degraded within one hour.⁴ Further modifications were explored by introducing Cu, Fe, and Ag into the LDH/GCN system. While Cu and Fe suppressed photocatalytic activity, silver, at an optimized loading, reduced estrone concentrations below the detection limit within 40 minutes.⁵

This contribution presents a full experimental arc - from promising hypotheses that failed, through misleading adsorption-driven “successes,” to an ultimately effective but non-intuitive solution - highlighting the value of negative results and surprises as drivers of scientific progress.

This research was funded by the AGH University of Krakow, grant number 16.16.140.315.

Literature:

1            N. Baliarsingh, K. M. Parida and G. C. Pradhan, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2014, 53, 3834–3841.

2            A. Í. S. Morais, W. V. Oliveira, V. V. De Oliveira, L. M. C. Honorio, F. P. Araujo, R. D. S. Bezerra, P. B. A. Fechine, B. C. Viana, M. B. Furtini,
              E. C. Silva-Filho and J. A. Osajima, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2019, 7, 103431.

3            B. Song, Z. Zeng, G. Zeng, J. Gong, R. Xiao, S. Ye, M. Chen, C. Lai, P. Xu and X. Tang, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2019, 272, 101999.

4            A. Jędras, J. Matusik, E. Dhanaraman, Y.-P. Fu and G. Cempura, Langmuir, 2024, 40, 18163–18175.

5            A. Jędras, J. Matusik, J. Kuncewicz and K. Sobańska, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2025, 15, 6792–6804.

How to cite: Jędras, A. and Matusik, J.: False Starts and Silver Linings: A Photocatalytic Journey with Layered Double Hydroxides, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3077, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3077, 2026.

BUGS can arise in individual research projects, but also at the level of communities of researchers, leading to shifts in the scientific consensus.  These community-level BUGS typically arise from observations that are surprising to (or previously overlooked by) substantial fractions of the research community.  In this presentation, we summarize several community-level BUGS in our field: specifically, key surprises that have transformed the hydrological community's understanding of hillslope and catchment processes in recent decades.  

Here are some examples.  (1) Students used to learn (and some still do today) that storm runoff is dominated by overland flow.  But stable isotope tracers have convincingly shown instead that even during storm peaks, streamflow is composed mostly of water that has been stored in the landscape for weeks, months, or years.  (2) Maps, and most hydrological theories, have typically depicted streams as fixed features of the landscape.  But field mapping studies have shown that stream networks are surprisingly dynamic, with up to 80% of stream channels going dry sometime during the year.  (3) Textbooks have traditionally represented catchment storage as a well-mixed box.  But tracer time series show fractal scaling that cannot be generated by well-mixed boxes, forcing a re-think of our conceptualization of subsurface storage and mixing.  (4) Waters stored in aquifers, and the waters that drain from them, have traditionally been assumed to share the same age.  But tracers show that waters draining from aquifers are often much younger than the groundwaters that are left behind, and this was subsequently shown to be an inevitable result of aquifer heterogeneity. 

Several examples like these, and their implications, will be briefly discussed, with an eye to the question: how can we maximize the chances for future instructive surprises?

How to cite: Kirchner, J., Benettin, P., and van Meerveld, I.: Instructive surprises in the hydrological functioning of landscapes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4074, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4074, 2026.

Coming from geosciences, we hopefully know what we want to do. Coming from numerics, however, we often know quite well what we are able to do and look for a way to sell it to the community. A few years ago, deep-learning techniques brought new life into the glaciology community. These approaches  allowed for simulations of glacier dynamics at an unprecedented computational performance and motivated several researchers to tackle the numerous open questions about past and present glacier dynamics, particularly in alpine regions. From another point of view, however, it was also tempting to demonstrate that the human brain is still more powerful than artificial intelligence by developing a new classical numerical scheme that can compete with deep-learning techniques concerning its efficiency.

Starting point was, of course, the simplest approximation to the full 3-D Stokes equations, the so-called shallow ice approximation (SIA). Progress was fast and the numerical performance was even better than expected. The new numerical scheme enabled simulations with spatial resolutions of 25 m on a desktop PC, while previous schemes did not reach simulations below a few hundred meters.

However, the enthusiasm pushed the known limitations of the SIA a bit out of sight. Physically, the approximation is quite bad on rugged terrain, particularly in narrow valleys. So the previous computational limitations have been replaced by physical limitations since high resolutions are particularly useful for rugged topographies. In other words, a shabby house has a really good roof now.

What are the options in such a situation?

• Accept that there is no free lunch and avoid contact to the glacialogy community in the future.
• Continue the endless discussion about the reviewers' opinion that a spatial resolution of 1 km is better than 25 m.
• Find a real-world data set that matches the results of the model and helps to talk the problems away.
• Keep the roof and build a new house beneath. Practically, this would be developing a new approximation to the full 3-D Stokes equations that is compatible to the numerical scheme and reaches an accuracy similar to those of the existing approximations.
• Take the roof and put it on one of the existing solid houses. Practically, this would be an extension of the numerical scheme towards more complicated systems of differential equations. Unfortunately, efficient numerical schemes are typically very specific. So the roof will not fit easily and it might leak.

The story is open-ended, but there will be at least a preliminary answer in the presentation.

How to cite: Hergarten, S.: How useful is a new roof on a shabby house? An example from glacier modeling, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4196, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4196, 2026.

“Show your working!” – is the universal phrase drilled into science and maths students to show a clear demonstration of the steps and thought processes used to reach a solution (and to be awarded full marks on the exam). 

Beyond the classroom, “show your working” becomes the methods section on every scientific paper, and is critical for the transparency and replicability of the study. However, what happens if parts of the method are considered assumed knowledge, or cut in the interests of a word count? 

An inability to fully replicate the results of a study became the unexpected glitch at the start of my PhD. Eager to familiarise myself with global climate model datasets, I set out to replicate the results of a widely cited paper which calculates the equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) across 27 climate models. The ECS is the theoretical global mean temperature response to a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ relative to preindustrial levels. A commonly used method to calculate the ECS is to apply an ordinary least squares regression to global annual mean temperature and radiative flux anomalies. 

Despite the simplicity of a linear regression between two variables, we obtained ECS estimates for some climate models that differed from those reported in the original study, even though we followed the described methodology. However, the methodology provided only limited detail on how the raw climate model output – available at regional and monthly scales – was processed to obtain global annual mean anomalies. Differences in these intermediate processing steps can, in turn, lead to differences in ECS estimates.

Limited reporting of data-processing steps is common in the ECS literature. Whether these steps are considered assumed knowledge or deemed too simple to warrant explicit description, we demonstrate that, for some models, they can materially affect the resulting ECS estimate. While the primary aim of our study is to recommend a standardised data-processing pathway for ECS calculations, a secondary aim is to highlight the lack of transparency in key methodological details across the literature. A central takeaway is the importance of clearly documenting all processing steps – effectively, to “show your working” – and to emphasise the critical role of a detailed methods section.

How to cite: Zehrung, A., King, A., Nicholls, Z., Zelinka, M., and Meinshausen, M.: The importance of describing simple methods in climate sensitivity literature, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4587, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4587, 2026.

Observation of atmospheric constituents and processes is not easy. As atmospheric chemists, we use sensitive equipment, for example mass spectrometers, that we often set up in a (remote) location or on a moving platform for a few-weeks campaign to make in-situ observations. All this with the goal of explaining more and more atmospheric processes, and to verify and improve atmospheric models. However, glitches can happen anywhere in an experiment, be it in the experimental design, setup, or instrumental performance. Thus, complete data coverage during such a campaign is not always a given, resulting in gaps in (published) datasets. And the issue with air is that you can never go back and measure the exact same air again. Here, I would like to share some stories behind such gaps, and what we learned from them. This presentation aims to encourage early career researchers who might be struggling with feelings of failure when bugs, blunders and glitches happen in their experiments - you are not alone! I will share what we learned from these setbacks and how each of them improved our experimental approaches.

How to cite: Pfannerstill, E. Y.: Why are there gaps in your measurements? Sharing the stories behind the missing datapoints, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5494, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5494, 2026.

Over a 24-year research period, three successive experimental investigations led to three publications, each of which falsified the author’s preceding hypothesis and proposed a revised conceptual framework. Despite an initial confidence in having identified definitive solutions, subsequent experimental evidence consistently demonstrated the limitations and inaccuracies of earlier interpretations. This iterative process ultimately revealed that samples, in particular geological reference materials, sharing identical petrographic or mineralogical descriptions are not necessarily chemically equivalent and can exhibit markedly different behaviors during chemical digestion procedures. These findings underscore the critical importance of continuous hypothesis testing, self-falsification, and experimental verification in scientific research, particularly when working with reference materials assumed to be identical. I will be presenting data on the analysis of platinum group elements (PGE) and osmium isotopes in geological reference materials (chromitites, ultramafic rocks and basalts), which demonstrates the need for challenging matrices for method validation. 

How to cite: Meisel, T. C.: Self-falsification as a driver of scientific progress: Insights from long-term experimental research, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5771, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5771, 2026.

In atmospheric sciences, a central tool to test hypotheses are numerical models, which aim to represent (part of) our environment. One such model is the weather and climate model ICON [1], which solves the Navier-Stokes equation for capturing the dynamics and parameterizes subgrid-scale processes, such as radiation, cloud microphysics, and aerosol processes. Specifically, for the latter exists the so-called Hamburg Aerosol Module (HAM [2]), which is coupled to ICON [3] and predicts the evolution of aerosol populations using two moments (mass mixing ratio and number concentration). The high complexity of aerosols is reflected in the number of aerosol species (total of 5), number of modes (total of 4), and their mixing state and solubility. The module calculates aerosol composition and number concentration, their optical properties, their sources and sinks, and their interactions with clouds via microphysical processes. Aerosol emissions are sector-specific and based on global emission inventories or dynamically computed.

Within our work, we stumbled upon an interesting pattern occurrence in our simulations upon changing/turning off single emission sectors. If we, e.g., removed black carbon from aircraft emissions, the strongest changes emerged over the African continent, which is not the region where we were expecting to see the strongest response. Further investigations revealed that this pattern emerges independently of the emission sector as well as species, confirming our suspicion that we are facing a bug within HAM. Here, we want to present how we approached the challenge of identifying and tackling a bug within a complex module with several thousand lines of code.

[1] G. Zängl, D. Reinert, P. Ripodas, and M. Baldauf, “The ICON (ICOsahedral Non-hydrostatic) modelling framework of DWD and MPI-M: Description of the non-hydrostatic dynamical core,” Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, vol. 141, no. 687, pp. 563–579, 2015, ISSN: 1477-870X. DOI: 10.1002/qj.2378

[2] P. Stier, J. Feichter, S. Kinne, S. Kloster, E. Vignati, J. Wilson, L. Ganzeveld, I. Tegen, M. Werner, Y. Balkanski, M. Schulz, O. Boucher, A. Minikin, and A. Petzold, “The aerosol-climate model ECHAM5-HAM,” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2005. DOI: 10.5194/acp-5-1125-2005

[3] M. Salzmann, S. Ferrachat, C. Tully, S. M¨ unch, D. Watson-Parris, D. Neubauer, C. Siegenthaler-Le Drian, S. Rast, B. Heinold, T. Crueger, R. Brokopf, J. Mülmenstädt, J. Quaas, H. Wan, K. Zhang, U. Lohmann, P. Stier, and I. Tegen, “The Global Atmosphere-aerosol Model ICON-A-HAM2.3–Initial Model Evaluation and Effects of Radiation Balance Tuning on Aerosol Optical Thickness,” Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, vol. 14, no. 4,e2021MS002699, 2022, ISSN: 1942-2466. DOI: 10.1029/2021MS002699

How to cite: Omanovic, N., Ferrachat, S., and Lohmann, U.: Back to square one (again and again): Finding a bug in a complex global atmospheric model  , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6794, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6794, 2026.

In situ cloud measurements are essential for understanding atmospheric processes and establishing a reliable ground truth. Obtaining these data is rarely straightforward. Challenges range from accessing clouds in the first place to ensuring that the instrument or environment does not bias the sample. This contribution explores several blunders and unexpected glitches encountered over fifteen years of field campaigns.

I will share stories of mountain top observations where blowing snow was measured instead of cloud ice crystals and the ambitious but failed attempt to use motorized paragliders for sampling. I also reflect on winter campaigns where the primary obstacles were flooding and mud rather than cold and snow. While these experiences were often frustrating, they frequently yielded useful data or led to new insights. One such example is the realization that drone icing is not just a crash risk but can also serve as a method for measuring liquid water content. By highlighting these setbacks and the successful data that emerged despite them, I aim to foster a discussion on the value of trial and error and persistence in atmospheric physics.

How to cite: Henneberger, J.: How Not to Measure a Cloud: Lessons from Fifteen Years of Fieldwork Failures, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8228, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8228, 2026.

Forests are powerful climate regulators: Their CO₂ uptake provides a global biogeochemical cooling effect, and in the tropics, this cooling is further strengthened by evapotranspiration. Given that temperature-related mortality is a relevant global health burden, which is expected to increase under climate change, we set out to test what we thought was a promising hypothesis: Can forests reduce human temperature-related mortality from climate change? 

To test this, we used simulated temperature changes to reforestation from six different Earth System Models (ESMs) under a future high-emission scenario, and paired them with age-specific population data and three methodologically different temperature-mortality frameworks (Cromar et al. 2022, Lee et al. 2019, and Carleton et al. 2022). We expected to find a plausible range of temperature-related mortality outcomes attributable to global future forests conservation efforts.

Instead, our idea ran head-first into a messy reality. Firstly, rather than showing a clear consensus, the ESMs produced a wide range of temperature responses to reforestation, varying both in magnitude and sign. This is likely due to the albedo effect, varying climatological tree cover and land use processes implemented by the models, in addition to internal variability which we could not reduce due to the existence of only one ensemble member per model. Consequently, the models disagreed in many regions on whether global forest conservation and reforestation would increase or decrease temperature by the end of the century.

The uncertainties deepened when we incorporated the mortality data. Mortality estimates varied by up to a factor of 10 depending on the ESM and mortality framework used. Therefore, in the end, the models could not even agree on whether forests increased or decreased temperature-related mortality. We found ourselves with a pipeline that amplified uncertainties of both the ESM and mortality datasets.

For now, the question remains wide open: Do trees save us from temperature-related deaths in a warming world, and if so, by how much?

* The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

How to cite: Hohmuth, N., Fahrenbach (presenting), N. L. S., Zou (presenting), Y., Reek, J., Specker, F., Crowther, T., and Zohner, C. M.: Do trees save lives under climate change? It’s complicated , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8359, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8359, 2026.

Hydrological modelling has long been shaped by a steady drive toward ever more sophisticated models. In the era of machine learning, this race has turned into a relentless pursuit of complexity: deeper networks and ever more elaborate architectures that often feel outdated by the time the ink on the paper is dry. Motivated by a genuine belief in methodological progress, I, like many others, spent considerable effort exploring this direction, driven by the assumption that finding the “right” architecture or model would inevitably lead to better performance. This talk is a reflection on that journey; you could say my own Leidensweg. Over several years, together with excellent collaborators, I explored a wide range of state-of-the-art deep-learning approaches for rainfall–runoff modelling and other hydrological modelling challenges. Yet, regardless of the architecture or training strategy, I repeatedly encountered the same performance ceiling. In parallel, the literature appeared to tell a different story, with “new” models regularly claiming improvements over established baselines. A closer inspection, however, revealed that rigorous and standardized benchmarking is far from common practice in hydrology, making it difficult to disentangle genuine progress from artefacts of experimental design. What initially felt like a failure to improve my models turned out to be a confrontation with reality. The limiting factor was not the architecture, but the problem itself. We have reached a point where predictive skill is increasingly bounded by the information content of our benchmark datasets and maybe more importantly by the way we frame our modelling challenges, rather than by model design. Like many others, I have come to believe that if we want to move beyond the current performance plateau, the next breakthroughs are unlikely to come from ever more complex models alone. Instead, as a community, we need well-designed model challenges, better benchmarks, and datasets that meaningfully expand the information available to our models to make model comparisons more informative.

How to cite: Loritz, R., Dolich, A., and Heudorfer, B.: The empty mine: Why better tools do not help you find new diamonds, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10401, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10401, 2026.

Examining catchment response to precipitation at event scale is useful for understanding how various hydrological systems store and release water. Many of such event scale characteristics, for example event runoff coefficient and event time scale are also important engineering metrics used for design. However, deriving these characteristics requires identification of discrete precipitation-streamflow events from continuous hydrometeorological time series.

Event identification is not at all a trivial task. It becomes even more challenging when working with very large datasets that encompass a wide range of spatial and temporal dynamics. Approaches range from visual expert judgement to baseflow-separation-based methods and objective methods based on the coupled dynamics of precipitation and streamflow. Here, we would like to present our experience in the quest to devise the “ideal” method for large datasets – and trust us, we tried, a lot. We demonstrate that expert-based methods can be seriously flawed simply by changing a few meta parameters, such as the length of displayed periods, baseflow-separation-based methods deliver completely opposite results when different underlying separation methods are selected, and objective methods suddenly fail when dynamics with different temporal scales are simultaneously present.

Ultimately, we realized that finding a one-size-fits-all method was not possible and that compromises had to be made to select sufficiently representative events across large datasets. Therefore, we advocate for pragmatic case-specific evaluation criteria and for transparency in event identification to make study results reproducible and fit for purpose, if not perfect.

How to cite: Tarasova, L. and Astagneau, P.: How NOT to identify streamflow events?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13630, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13630, 2026.

A defining attribute of global-storm resolving models is that modelling is replaced by simulation.  In addition to overloading the word “model”  this avails the developer of a much larger variety of tests, and brings about a richer interplay with their intuition.  This has proven helpful in identifying and correcting many mistakes in global-storm resolving models that traditional climate models find difficult to identify, and usually compensate by “tuning.”  It also means that storm-resolving models are built and tested in a fundamentally different way than are traditional climate models. In this talk I will review the development of ICON as a global storm resolving model to illustrate how this feature, of trying to simulate rather than model the climate system, has helped identify a large number of long-standing bugs in code bases inherited from traditional models; how this can support open development; and how sometimes these advantages also prove to be buggy.

How to cite: Stevens, B., Giorgetta, M., and Segura, H.: Buggy benefits of more fundamental climate models, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14148, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14148, 2026.

Hydrological and water systems modelling has long been driven by the search for better models. We do so by searching for models or at least parameter combinations that provide the best fit to given observations. We ourselves have contributed to this effort by developing new methods and by publishing diverse case studies. However, we repeatedly find that searching for and finding an optimal model is highly fraught in the presence of unclear signal-to-noise ratios in our observations, of incomplete models and of highly imbalanced databases. We present examples of our own work through which we have realized that achieving optimality was possible but futile unless we give equal consideration to issues of consistency, robustness and problem framing. We argue here that the strong focus on optimality continues to be a hindrance for advancing hydrologic science and for transferring research achievements into practice – probably more so than in other areas of the geosciences.

How to cite: Wagener, T. and Pianosi, F.: The dangerous temptation of optimality in hydrological and water resources modelling, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14374, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14374, 2026.

Among soil physical analyses, determination of the soil particle-size distribution (PSD) is arguably the most fundamental. The standard methodology combines sieve analysis for sand fractions with sedimentation-based techniques for silt and clay. Established sedimentation methods include the pipette and hydrometer techniques. More recently, the Integral Suspension Pressure (ISP) method has become available, which derives PSD by inverse modeling of the temporal evolution of suspension pressure measured at a fixed depth in a sedimentation cylinder. Since ISP is based on the same physical principles as the pipette and hydrometer methods, their results should, in principle, agree.

The ISP methodology has been implemented in the commercial instrument PARIO (METER Group, Munich). While elegant, the method relies on pressure change measurements with a resolution of 0.1 Pa (equivalent to 0.01 mm of water column). Consequently, the PARIO manual strongly advises avoiding any mechanical disturbance such as thumping, bumping, clapping, vibration, or other shock events. This warning is essentially precautionary, because to date no systematic experimental investigation of such disturbances has been reported.

To explore this issue, we prepared a single 30 g soil sample following standard PSD procedures and subjected it to 26 PARIO repeated measurement runs over a period of five months, each run lasting 12 h. Between runs, the suspension was remixed but otherwise not altered. The first ten runs (over ten days) were conducted without intentional disturbance to establish baseline repeatability. This was followed by eight runs with deliberately imposed and timed disturbances that generated single or repeated vibrations (“rocking and shocking”). After approximately two and five months, we conducted additional sets of five and three undisturbed runs, respectively.

We report how these mechanical disturbances, along with temperature variations during measurement and the time elapsed since sample pre-treatment, affected the derived PSD. The results provide a first quantitative assessment of how fragile—or robust—the ISP method and PARIO system really are when reality refuses to sit perfectly still.

How to cite: Nemes, A. and Durner, W.: Rocking and Shocking the PARIOTM: How Sensitive Is ISP-Based Particle-Size Analysis to Mechanical Disturbance?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14763, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14763, 2026.

Predicting soil hydraulic behavior is necessary for the modeling of catchments and agricultural planning, particularly for a country like Norway where only 3% of land is suitable for farming. Soil texture is an important and easily accessible parameter for the prediction of soil hydraulic behavior. However, some Norwegian farmland soils, which formed as glacio-marine sediments and are characterized by a medium texture, have shown the hydraulic behavior of heavy textured soils. Coined by the theory behind well-established sedimentation-enhancing technology used in waste water treatment, we hypothesized that sedimentation under marine conditions may result in specific particle sorting and as a result specific pore system characteristics. To test this, we designed four custom-built devices to produce artificially re-sedimented columns of soil material to help characterize the influence of sedimentation conditions. We successfully produced column samples of the same homogeneous mixture of fine-sand, silt, and clay particles obtained by physically crushing and sieving (< 200 µm) subsoil material collected at the Skuterud catchment in South-East Norway, differing only in sedimentation conditions (deionized water vs 35 g per liter NaCl solution). Then, the inability of standard laboratory methods to measure the saturated hydraulic conductivity of such fine material, led us to “MacGyver” (design and custom-build) two alternative methodologies to measure that property, i.e. i) by adapting a pressure plate extractor for a constant head measurement and ii) by building a 10 m tall pipe-system in a common open area of the office, in order to increase the hydraulic head on the samples. There was a learning curve with both of those methods, but we have found that the salt-water re-sedimented columns were about five times more permeable than the freshwater ones, which was the complete opposite of our expectations. However, an unexpected blunder in the conservation of our samples suggests that our hypothesis should be further explored rather than dismissed. These contributions hint about the mechanisms that may underlie the anomalous hydraulic behaviour of certain Norwegian soils and raise new questions on the formation of marine clays, improving knowledge available for land managers and modellers.

How to cite: Nemes, A., Bazzocchi, P., Weiland, S., and van der Ploeg, M.: Some Norwegian soils behave differently: is it an inheritance from marine sedimentation?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14852, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14852, 2026.

“It is in the tentative stage that the affections enter with their blinding influence. Love was long since represented as blind…The moment one has offered an original explanation for a phenomenon which seems satisfactory, that moment affection for his intellectual child springs into existence…To guard against this, the method of multiple working hypotheses is urged. … The effort is to bring up into view every rational explanation of new phenomena, and to develop every tenable hypothesis respecting their cause and history. The investigator thus becomes the parent of a family of hypothesis: and, by his parental relation to all, he is forbidden to fasten his affections unduly upon any one” (Chamberlin, 1890).

The MADE (macro-dispersion) natural-gradient tracer field experiments were conducted more than 35 years ago. It aimed to determine field-scale dispersion parameters based on detailed hydraulic conductivity measurements to support transport simulation. A decade of field experiments produced a 30-year paper trail of modelling studies with no clear resolution of a successful simulation approach for practical use in transport problems.  As a result, accurately simulating contaminant transport in the subsurface remains a formidable challenge in hydrogeology.

What went awry, and why do we often miss the mark?

Herweijer et al. (2026) conducted a ‘back to basics’ review of the original MADE reports and concluded that there are significant inconvenient and unexplored issues that influenced the migration of the tracer plume and or biased observations. These issues include unreliable measurement of hydraulic conductivity, biased tracer concentrations, and underestimation of sedimentological heterogeneity and non-stationarity of the flow field. Many studies simulating the tracer plumes appeared to have ignored, sidestepped, or been unaware of these issues, raising doubts about the validity of the results.

Our analysis shows that there is a persistent drive among researchers to conceptually oversimplify natural complexity to enable testing of single-method modelling, mostly driven by parametric stochastic approaches. Researchers tend to be anchored to a specialised, numerically driven methodology and have difficulty in unearthing highly relevant information from ‘unknown known’ data or applying approaches outside their own specialised scientific sub-discipline. Another important aspect of these ‘unkowns knowns’ is the tendency to accept published data verbatim. Too often, there is no rigorous investigation of the original measurement methods and reporting, and, if need be, additional testing to examine the root cause of data issues.

Following the good old advice of Chamberlin (1890), we used a knowledge framework to systematically assess knowns, unknowns, and associated confidence levels, yielding a set of multi-conceptual models. Based on identified 'unknowns', these multi-models can be tested against reliable 'knowns' such as piezometric data and mass balance calculations.  

Chamberlin, T.C., 1890, The method of multiple working hypotheses. Science 15(366): 92-96. doi:10.1126/science.ns-15.366.92.

Herweijer J.C., S. C Young, P. Hayes, and O. Batelaan, 2026, A multi-conceptual model approach to untangling the MADE experiment, Accepted for Publication in Groundwater.

How to cite: Batelaan, O., Herweijer, J., Young, S., and Hayes, P.: The unknown knowns – the inconvenient knowledge in hydrogeology we do not like to use, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16619, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16619, 2026.

Free-slip boundary conditions are routinely used in 3D geodynamic modelling because they reduce computational cost, avoid artificial shear zones at domain edges, and simplify the implementation of large-scale kinematic forcing. However, despite their apparent neutrality, our experiments show that free-slip boundaries systematically generate first-order artefacts that propagate deep into the model interior and can severely distort the interpretation of continental rifting simulations.

Here we present a set of 3D visco-plastic models inspired by the South China Sea (SCS) that were originally designed to study the effect of steady-state thermal inheritance and pluton-controlled crustal weakening. Unexpectedly, in all simulations except those with a very particular inverted rheological profile (POLC), the free-slip boundary on the “Vietnam side” of the domain generated a persistent secondary propagator, producing unrealistic amounts of lithospheric thinning in the southwest corner. This artefact appeared irrespective of crustal rheology, seeding strategy, or the presence of thermal heterogeneities.

We identify three systematic behaviours induced by free-slip boundaries in 3D:
(1) forced rift nucleation at boundary-adjacent thermal gradients,
(2) artificial propagator formation that competes with the intended first-order rifting, and
(3) rotation or shearing of micro-blocks not predicted by tectonic reconstructions.

These artefacts originate from the inability of free-slip boundaries to transmit shear traction, which artificially channels deformation parallel to the boundary when lateral thermal or mechanical contrasts exist. In 3D, unlike in 2D, the combination of oblique extension and boundary-parallel velocity freedom leads to emergent pseudo-transform behaviour that is entirely numerical.

Our results highlight a key negative outcome: free-slip boundaries cannot be assumed neutral in 3D rift models, especially when studying localisation, obliquity, multi-propagator dynamics, or the competition between structural and thermal inheritance. We argue that many published 3D rift models may unknowingly include such artefacts.

How to cite: Le Pourhiet, L.: The Hidden Propagator: How Free-Slip Boundaries Corrupt 3D Simulations, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17373, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17373, 2026.

How to cite: Williamson, E., Pritchard, M., Iwi, A., Pepler, S., and Parton, G.: Data Disaster to Data Resilience: Lessons from CEDA’s Data Recovery , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18600, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18600, 2026.

Aerosol-cloud interactions remain one of the largest uncertainties in global climate modelling. This uncertainty arises because of the dependence of aerosol-cloud interactions on many tightly coupled atmospheric processes; the non-linear response of clouds to aerosol perturbations across different regimes; and the challenge of extracting robust signals from noisy meteorological observations. The problem is particularly acute in the Arctic, where sparse observational coverage limits model constraints, pristine conditions can lead to unexpected behaviour, and key processes remain poorly understood.

A common way to tackle the challenge of uncertainties arising from aerosol-cloud interactions in climate simulations is to conduct sensitivity experiments using cloud and aerosol microphysics schemes based on different assumptions and parameterisations. By comparing these experiments, key results can be constrained by sampling the range of unavoidable structural uncertainties in the models. Here, we apply this approach to a case study of an extreme, polluted warm air mass in the Arctic that was measured during the MOSAiC Arctic expedition in 2020. We simulated the event in the WRF-Chem-Polar regional climate model both with and without the anthropogenic aerosols from the strong pollution event to study the response of clouds and surface radiative balance. To understand the sensitivity of our results to the choice of model configuration, we tested two distinct, widely-used cloud microphysics schemes.

Initial results showed that the two schemes simulated opposite cloud responses: one predicted a surface cooling from the pollution that was reasonably in line with our expectations of the event, while the other predicted the opposite behaviour in the cloud response and an associated surface warming. These opposing effects seemed to suggest that structural uncertainties in the two schemes relating to clean, Arctic conditions was so strong that it even obscured our ability to understand the overall sign of the surface radiative response to the pollution.

However, since significant model development was required to couple these two cloud microphysics schemes to the aerosol fields in our model, there was another explanation that we couldn’t rule out: a bug in the scheme that was producing the more unexpected results. In this talk, we will explore the challenges of simulating the Arctic climate with a state-of-the-art chemistry-climate model and highlight how examples like this underscore the value of our recent efforts to align our collaborative model development with software engineering principles and Open Science best practices.

How to cite: Lapere, R., Price, R., Marelle, L., Bastien, L., and Thomas, J.: Opposite cloud responses to extreme Arctic pollution: sensitivity to cloud microphysics, or a bug?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19755, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19755, 2026.

All statistical tools come with assumptions. Yet many scientists treat statistics like a collection of black-box methods without learning the assumptions. Here I illustrate this problem using dozens of studies that claim to show that solar variability is a dominant driver of climate. I find that linear regression approaches are widely misused among these studies. In particular, they often violate the assumption of ‘no autocorrelation’ of the time series used, though it is common for studies to violate several or all of the assumptions of linear regression. The misuse of statistical tools has been a common problem across all fields of science for decades. This presentation serves as an important cautionary tale for the Earth Sciences and highlights the need for better statistical education and for statistical software that automatically checks input data for assumptions.

How to cite: Steiger, N.: Pervasive violation of statistical assumptions in studies linking solar variability to climate, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19776, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19776, 2026.

A key reason for the widespread use of peat-based growth media in horticulture is their reliable nutrient availability when supplemented with fertilisers. However, due to environmental concerns over continued peat-extraction and use, peat-alternatives (e.g., coir, wood fibre, composted bark, biochar) are increasingly being used commercially. These alternative media often blend multiple materials, making it crucial to understand elemental composition and nutrient interactions between components. This study evaluates whether benchtop Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) can provide a rapid method for determining the elemental composition of peat-alternative components.

Representative growing media components (peat, coir, wood fibre, composted bark, biochar, horticultural lime, perlite, slow-release fertilisers, and trace-element fertiliser) were blended in different ratios to generate industry-representative mixes. Individual components and prepared mixes were dried and milled to ≤80 μm. An industry-representative mix (QC-50: 50% peat, 30% wood fibre, 10% composted bark, 10% coir, with fertiliser and lime additions) and 100% peat were analysed by EDXRF (Rigaku NEX-CG) for P, K, Mg, Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Mo, and compared against ICP-OES reference measurements. The instrument’s fundamental parameters (FP) method using a plant-based organic materials library showed large discrepancies relative to ICP-OES (relative differences: 268–390 084%) for most elements in both QC-50 and peat, with the exception of Ca in QC-50 (11%). These results confirm that the FP approach combined with loose-powder preparation is unsuitable for accurate elemental analysis of organic growing media.

An empirical calibration was subsequently developed using 18 matrix-matched standards (CRMs, in-house growing media and individual component standards). Matrix matching is challenging because mixes are mostly organic by volume, yet variable inorganic amendments (e.g., lime, fertilisers, and sometimes perlite) can strongly influence XRF absorption/enhancement effects. Calibration performance was optimised iteratively using QC-50 as the validation sample, until relative differences were <15% for all elements. When applied to 100% peat, agreement with ICP-OES results improved substantially for some macro-elements (e.g. Mg 10%, Ca 1%, S 19%) but remained poor for most trace elements (28–96%), demonstrating limited transferability of this calibration method across different elements and matrices tested.

Overall, these results demonstrate that loose powder preparation does not provide sufficiently robust accuracy for EDXRF analysis of organic growing media even with meticulous empirical matrix-matched calibration. We are therefore developing a pressed pellet method using a low-cost wax binder to improve sample homogeneity (packing density) and calibration transferability. Twenty unknown mixes will be analysed using both loose powder and pressed-pellet calibrations, and agreement with reference data (ICP-OES) will confirm method validation, supporting the development of EDXRF as a novel approach for growing media analysis.

How to cite: De Silva, T., Tupaz, C., Croffie, M., Daly, K., Gaffney, M., Stock, M., and Corbett, E.: Developing Matrix-Matched Empirical Calibrations for EDXRF Analysis of Peat-Alternative Growth Media, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20122, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20122, 2026.

In catchment hydrology, long-term data collection often starts as part of a (doctoral) research project. In some cases, the data collection continues on a limited budget, often using the field protocol and data management plan designed for the initial short-term project. Challenges and issues with the continued data collection are likely to arise, especially when there are multiple changes in the people involved. It is especially difficult for researchers who were not directly involved in the fieldwork to understand the data and must therefore rely on field notes and archived data. They then often encounter issues related to inconsistent metadata, such as inconsistent date-time formats and inconsistent or missing units, missing calibration files, and unclear file and processing script organization.

While the specific issues may sound very case-dependent, based on our own and other’s experiences from various research projects, it appears that many issues recur more frequently than one might expect (or be willing to admit). In this presentation, we will share our experiences with bringing spatially distributed groundwater level data collected in Sweden and Switzerland from the field to ready-to-use files. Additionally, we provide recommendations for overcoming the challenges during field data collection, data organization, documentation, and data processing using scripts. These include having a clear, detailed protocol for in the fieldwork and the data processing steps, and ensuring it is followed. Although protocols are often used, they are frequently not detailed enough or are not used as designed. The protocols might also not take into account the further use of the data, such as for hydrological modelling, beyond field collection. 

How to cite: Bremer, K., Staudinger, M., Seibert, J., and van Meerveld, I.: From Field to File: challenges and recommendations for handling hydrological data, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20375, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20375, 2026.

In 2014 we developed the Wageningen Lowland Runoff Simulator (WALRUS), a conceptual rainfall-runoff model for catchments with shallow groundwater. Water managers and consultants were involved in model development. In addition, they sponsored the steps necessary for application: making an R package, user manual and tutorial, publishing these on GitHub and organising user days. WALRUS is now used operationally by several Dutch water authorities and for scientific studies in the Netherlands and abroad. When developing the model, we made certain design choices. Now, after twelve years of application in water management, science and education, we re-evaluate the consequences of those choices.

The lessons can be divided into things we learned about the model’s functioning and things we learned from how people use the model. Concerning the model’s functioning, we found that keeping the model representation close to reality has advantages and disadvantages. It makes it easy to understand what happens and why, but it also causes unrealistic expectations. Certain physically based relations hampered model performance because they contained thresholds, and deriving parameter values from field observations resulted in uncertainty and discussions about spatial representativeness.

Concerning the practical use, we found that the easy-to-use, open source R package with manual was indispensable for new users. Nearly all users preferred default options over the implemented user-defined functions to allow tailor-made solutions. Parameter calibration was more difficult than expected because the feedbacks necessary to simulate the hydrological processes in lowlands increase the risk of equifinality. In addition, lack of suitable discharge data for calibration prompted the request for default parameter values. Finally, the model was subject to unintended model use, sometimes violating basic assumptions and sometimes showing unique opportunities we had not thought of ourselves.

C.C. Brauer, A.J. Teuling, P.J.J.F. Torfs, R. Uijlenhoet (2014): The Wageningen Lowland Runoff Simulator (WALRUS): a lumped rainfall-runoff model for catchments with shallow groundwater, Geosci. Model Dev., 7, 2313-2332, doi:10.5194/gmd-7-2313-2014

How to cite: Brauer, C.: Re-evaluating the WALRUS rainfall-runoff model design after twelve years of application, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21915, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21915, 2026.

To extract, or 'retrieve' atmospheric properties from the observed radiance spectra from a planetary atmosphere requires software that can generate the expected radiances from a guessed atmospheric model, compare the radiances with those measured, determine how the model should be updated to reduce any discrepancy between the modelled and observed radiances, and then iterate these steps until these differences are minimised. One such retrieval model is NEMESIS (Nonlinear optimal Estimator for MultivariatE Spectral analySIS), which was initially developed by myself and my colleagues in the 1990s, and which has since been continually updated and enhanced. NEMESIS has now been used in more than 300 papers retrieving atmospheric properties from observed thermal and solar-reflected radiance spectra from all the planetary atmospheres in our solar system and also some beyond. NEMESIS uses the Optimal Estimation framework for atmospheric retrievals and is written in FORTRAN. Recently, more Bayesian frameworks have become computationally possible and favoured, especially for exoplanetary retrievals where prior constraints are almost entirely absent. Hence, NEMESIS has recently been updated to Python (ArchNEMESIS), and combined with PyMultiNest to allow nested sampling retrievals that can better explore the degeneracy between different atmospheric properties. I will review how NEMESIS retrievals have improved our understanding of planetary atmospheres over the last 30 years and how the development of ArchNEMESIS has breathed new life into the NEMESIS/ArchNEMESIS project. 

How to cite: Irwin, P.: A voyage of discovery: Exploring the atmospheres of solar system planets and exoplanets with NEMESIS, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2813, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2813, 2026.

How to cite: Hay, H.: Neighbouring moons, partial melt, and oceans: Tides of rocky and icy outer solar system satellites , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7478, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7478, 2026.

The influence of dissipating solar diurnal tides in driving the mean zonal wind in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere (UMLT) is investigated using the zonal and meridional winds observed by the Michelson Interferometer for Global High-Resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) instrument onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite over the region of interest having a latitudinal and longitudinal extent of 5° N - 15°N and 67.5°E - 90°E, respectively, for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. The mean zonal wind exhibits consistent seasonal variation with large westward winds at 91-103 km during January-March and September-December, however with varying intensity (20-40 m/s) in all the three years. The diurnal tidal amplitude in meridional wind (DTV) also displays similar seasonal variation with maximum amplitudes reaching ~80–100 m/s. The seasonal variation of westward acceleration due to diurnal tide momentum deposition is found to be maximum during January-March (18-43 m/s/day) and September-December (40-55 m/s/day) and reveals similar seasonal variation and intensity of the mean westward winds. This clearly indicates that the potential role of diurnal tide in driving the mean zonal flow.  The westward acceleration induced by the vertical gradient of meridional flux of zonal momentum (F_meridional) due to diurnal tide exceeds the convergence of vertical flux of zonal momentum (F_zonal) due to diurnal tide during January-March, while the westward acceleration induced by both F_zonal and F_meridional are larger and comparable during September-December.

How to cite: Basu, S. and Sundararajan, Dr. S.: Influence of diurnal tide on the low-latitude UMLT mean zonal wind: Evidence from momentum flux estimation using ICON-MIGHTI winds, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2435, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2435, 2026.

We performed a one-year long simulation using the upper-atmosphere configuration of the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic model (UA-ICON). The simulation has a horizontal resolution of 20 km and 180 vertical levels between the ground and 150 km. At 110 km height and every hour we extracted the gravity wave vectors and amplitudes with the small-volume few-wave decomposition method S3D, which is part of the software package JUWAVE. We focus on low-latitudes, i.e. +/- 40 degrees. The model simulates clear signatures of gravity wave activity above convective hotspots over summer continents. Ray tracing shows that the largest perturbations in the thermosphere are likely primary waves from developing convection. These signatures are most prominent in waves with short horizontal scales and long vertical wavelengths. In turn, horizontally short waves with smaller vertical wavelengths cannot be traced down to the lower stratosphere. For horizontally long waves, we find a clear diurnal/longitudinal pattern in the gravity wave activity, which results from interactions with tides. The study has broad implications of how whole-atmosphere high-resolution models may help forecast thermospheric density and ionospheric perturbations, both from the numerical weather prediction perspective, as well as empirically based on known patterns of lower-atmospheric variability.

How to cite: Stephan, C.: Tracing low-latitude thermospheric gravity waves in a whole-atmosphere simulation to their sources, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2620, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2620, 2026.

Prior studies identified a fine structure in the middle latitude ionosphere known as the strip-like plasma density bulge. These bulges emerge during geomagnetic storms, exhibiting a broad longitudinal span of over 150° and a narrow latitudinal extent of 1°~5°. The observations from the DMSP and ICON satellites reveal stronger equatorward ion drifts and neutral winds on the poleward side of bulges compared to the equatorward side. Using the Sami2 is Another Model of the Ionosphere (SAMI2), the bulge feature was reproduced for the storm of 4~6 November 2021 by amplifying the default meridional winds. Numerical simulations indicate that global wind disturbances establish a sharp meridional wind gradient within the lower mid-latitude region. This gradient, in turn, drives a divergence in ion transport parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field lines, which ultimately results in the localized accumulation of plasma. The phenomenon is most pronounced in the vicinity of ±30° quasi-dipole latitude. This region is characterized by a magnetic inclination angle of approximately 45°, a configuration where the meridional wind component acts most efficiently to elevate ions vertically.

How to cite: Du, W., Zhong, J., and Wan, X.: Storm-Time Strip-Like Plasma Density Bulges at Middle Latitudes Shaped by Meridional Wind Gradients, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3064, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3064, 2026.

In Fujisawa et al. (2022) [1], we previously produced an objective analysis of the Venusian atmosphere by assimilating horizontal winds derived from cloud tracking of the UVI camera onboard the Venus orbiter Akatsuki. To produce objective analysis, we used the Venus atmospheric data assimilation system ALEDAS-V (Sugimoto et al., 2017) [2], which is based on the Venus general circulation model AFES-Venus (Sugimoto et al., 2014) [3]. This dataset appropriately corrects both the phase bias of thermal tides and the super-rotation speed in AFES-Venus to be closer to those observed in the real Venusian atmosphere. The dataset was produced by assimilating observations from September to December 2018, a period that includes an intensive observation period of Akatsuki.

Akatsuki has accumulated observational data over a long period from 2015 to 2024, and it has been revealed that the super-rotation speed exhibits both faster and slower periods (Horinouchi et al., 2024) [4]. In this study, we selected five epochs during the Akatsuki observation period that exhibit characteristic super-rotation speeds and performed data assimilation for each epoch. As a result, we confirmed that distinct super-rotation speeds corresponding to each epoch, including their meridional asymmetry, are reproduced. In the presentation, we will show the relationship between the reproduced super-rotation speeds and the structure of the atmospheric circulation.

• [1] Fujisawa, Y., et al. (2022) Sci. Rep. 12, 14577.
• [2] Sugimoto, N., et al. (2017) Sci. Rep. 7(1), 9321.
• [3] Sugimoto, N., et al. (2014) J. Geophys. Res. Planets 119, 1950–1968.
• [4] Horinouchi, T., et al. (2024) J. Geophys. Res. Planets 129, e2023JE008221.

How to cite: Fujisawa, Y., Sugimoto, N., Komori, N., Murakami, S., Ando, H., Takagi, M., Imamura, T., Horinouchi, T., Hashimoto, G. L., Ishiwatari, M., Enomoto, T., Miyoshi, T., Kashimura, H., and Hayashi, Y.-Y.: Reproduction of Long-Term Variability of Super-Rotation Using Akatsuki Horizontal Wind Data Assimilation, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3726, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3726, 2026.

Jupiter’s magnetosphere features internal mass loading from its innermost moon Io. The neutral gases from Io’s escaping atmosphere are ionized to become the plasma torus, which mainly consists of sulfur and oxygen ions. Under centrifugal force, plasma in the torus is transported outward and forms a thin plasma disk near the equator, while the transport mechanism and timescale remain unclear. Since 2016, the plasma disk between 10 and 50 RJ has been continuously observed by the Juno mission. Using multi-year thermal plasma measurements from the JADE ion detector, we perform an analysis that reveals significant temporal variation of plasma disk from a long-term perspective. For different Juno orbits, the plasma disk observations are categorized as either enhanced or depleted based on plasma density. Extreme cases indicate vastly different states of the plasma disk, with variations exceeding one order of magnitude. Further analysis of multiple plasma disk crossings by Juno reveals correlations between density enhancements and fluctuations in plasma density and magnetic field profiles, which are typical features of flux tube interchange. This suggests that flux tube interchange is triggered by an increase in the plasma source and is considered the primary mechanism for outward plasma transport. Finally, Juno’s in-situ measurements also show a correlation with remotely sensed Io’s torus ribbon brightness from the ground-based IoIO observatory, lagged by about 30 to 50 days. This suggests that the temporal variation of the plasma disk is modulated by changes in Io’s torus and that the average plasma transport time from the torus to the plasma disk is around 40 days. 

How to cite: Bagenal, F. and Wang, J.-Z.: Temporal Variations of Jupiter’s Plasma Disk Observed by Juno , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4537, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4537, 2026.

Jupiter’s moon Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System, powered by intense internal heating due to tidal dissipation. Although tidal friction is widely accepted as the main energy source, how this heat is distributed within Io and how it shapes the moon’s internal structure remain open questions. In this study, we use Io’s tidal response, quantified through the degree-2 Love number (k₂)_, to constrain its interior, using recent estimates derived from Juno observations (Park et al., 2025).

We model Io with a three-layer structure consisting of a fluid core, a viscoelastic mantle, and a crust, using an adapted version of the California Planetary Geophysics Code (CPGC). Tidal dissipation is self-consistently coupled to mantle rheology through an Andrade model, with viscosity and shear modulus updated as functions of the local melt fraction. We explore two end-member scenarios that differ in the treatment of the Andrade parameter β: in the first, β is held constant, representing a uniform dissipation regime dominated by deep-mantle heating; in the second, β varies with depth, allowing dissipation to be preferentially localized in the upper mantle. In both scenarios, viscosity and shear modulus evolve with melt fraction.

Our results identify several partially molten mantle configurations whose real part of k₂ is consistent with Juno constraints. In all acceptable models, melt fractions remain below the threshold required to form a global magma layer. To test the physical viability of these states, we compare thermodynamic melt production with the capacity for melt migration. We find that melt transport is efficient enough to prevent long-term melt accumulation, favoring a stable, partially molten “magma sponge” rather than a global magma ocean. These results provide new constraints on Io’s thermal state and are consistent with independent estimates of its global volcanic output.

How to cite: Paris, M., Mura, A., Zambon, F., Genova, A., Tosi, F., Piccioni, G., Consorzi, A., Mitri, G., Sordini, R., Noschese, R., Cicchetti, A., Plainaki, C., Bolton, S., and Sindoni, G.: Juno Constraints on Io’s Interior: Tidal Response and Melt Stability, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5870, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5870, 2026.

Terrestrial exploration with the help of rovers typically employs traditional stereo cameras, relying on binocular optical designs with large, bulky, and often moving parts. The stereo camera design concept presented in this study was developed and built using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, allowing for rapid-prototyping, cost-effective testing, and performance evaluation under simulated mission conditions. An innovative use of four-mirror optical configuration and a monochrome CMOS sensor introduces a novel approach to achieve high resolution stereo imaging, while maintaining low power consumption and space requirements suitable for compact lander missions. By utilizing a single-detector stereo vision, the camera system can effectively create 3D reconstructions of observed objects with a spatial resolution of 54 μm per pixel, and depth resolution of <1 mm per pixel with the stereo baseline length of 116 mm, an instantaneous field of view of 601 μrad per pixel. The optical performance was validated with experiments such as the resolution and shape measurement test. The scientific applicability was demonstrated by extracting the static angle of repose of regolith simulants EAC-1A and NU-LHT-2M, as well as the relative surface albedo through a photometric stereo method, providing deeper understanding into the physical and optical properties of lunar regolith analogues. The presented camera design offers a balance between performance with compactness, addressing challenges faced by conventional stereo cameras such as baseline constraints, environmental exposure, and computational efficiency. Further design limitations and stereo matching inaccuracies were identified during testing and characterisation. The stereo camera developed in this study demonstrates capabilities for high-resolution, in-situ lunar surface analysis based on regolith characterization and contributes to an in-depth understanding of lunar regolith properties by close-range scientific analysis of its geo-mechanical behaviour.

How to cite: Chauhan, S. C., Jaumann, R., Grott, M., and Althaus, C.: Prototype Design for a Lunar Lander High Resolution Stereo Camera, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7948, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7948, 2026.

Auroras are the result of charged particles interacting with a planetary atmosphere, driving several processes involving the excitation and ionization of molecules and atoms, leading to spectacular emissions. This study investigates Martian auroral emissions using observations from the Emirates Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) onboard the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) Hope Probe. The analysis focuses on the oxygen emission lines at 130.4 nm and 135.6 nm, which are key diagnostics of electron precipitation. EMUS emission images are processed to compute brightness maps and intensity ratios, identify energetic regions using thresholding techniques, and generate histograms that characterize the spatial distribution and statistical properties of auroral energy across different regions of Mars.

In addition, data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, particularly magnetic field measurements from the MAG instrument, are used to correlate auroral observations with the Martian crustal magnetic field. By combining EMM ultraviolet observations with MAVEN magnetic field measurements, the study explores the relationship between auroral morphology, energy deposition, and underlying magnetic field topology.The goal is to assess how magnetic field geometry influences the localization and structure of auroral emissions and to better constrain the coupling between the solar wind, the Martian magnetosphere, and the upper atmosphere.

The combined analysis demonstates the potential of how combined EMM and MAVEN observations improves our understaing of of auroral processes on Mars and their implications for planetary atmosphere studies and space weather interactions.

How to cite: Alblooki, S. and Atri, D.: Exploring Martian Auroras Using EMM/EMUS and MAVEN/MAG: Insights into Ultraviolet Emissions and Crustal Magnetic Field Interactions, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8953, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8953, 2026.

Viscosity is a fundamental physical parameter governing the generation, transport, and eruption of geological melts, dictating magma ascent rates, eruption styles, and the kinetics of physicochemical processes. On Earth, melts viscosities have been widely measured from various rock samples through high T-P (temperature & pressure) experiments, and a continuous viscosity-temperature-pressure (V-T-P) dependence can be obtained by different melt viscosity models. However, due to significant compositional differences, particularly in iron and titanium oxides between lunar and terrestrial basalts, no existing model can be simply used to predict magma viscosity on the Moon.

In this study, we have collected and trained on a comprehensive dataset of 28898 hand-curated melt measurements (compositions, pressure, temperatures and viscosity), including typical lunar melt types of ferrobasaltic melts, Apollo 15C green glass, Apollo 17 orange glass, Apollo 14 black glass, as well as synthetic high-titanium mare basalts and KREEP basalts. We have employed Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) to construct a deep learning model and established a relationship between lunar melt viscosity and its temperature, pressure, and composition (V-T-P-C). Unlike traditional Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs), KANs utilize learnable spline functions rather than fixed activation functions. This architecture offers superior interpretability and generalization capabilities, making it particularly suitable for predicting viscosity under complex thermodynamic conditions.

The predicted rheological behavior of KREEP lunar silicate melts (Apollo samples) from KANs are well consistent with experimental measurements. Taking into account the compositions of basalts obtained from Chang’e 5 and 6 sampling, model suggests that the viscosity values ( Pa·s ) of young basalts (~2.0 Ga for Chang’e 5 and ~2.8 Ga for Chang’e 6) are ~2.5 orders of magnitude lower than that of relatively older Apollo-type basalts (>3.0 Ga) under the same T-P conditions.

How to cite: Chen, Y. and Huang, Q.: Investigating Lunar Melt Viscosity via Deep Learning: A Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) Approach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9039, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9039, 2026.

This contribution presents a petrographic, microstructural, and micro-analytical approach developed for the comprehensive study of ordinary chondrites, as part of a master’s thesis aimed at defining an analytical protocol for the petrological and minerochemical characterization of extraterrestrial materials. The ultimate goal is the establishment of a dedicated laboratory for the petrological study of meteorites, exploiting available instrumentation and acquired micro-analytical expertise to achieve both a complete classification of chondrites and a deeper understanding of the processes governing their genesis and evolution.

The study was carried out in collaboration with the Italian Museum of Planetary Sciences, where an internship allowed the examination of a reference collection of classified meteorite thin sections commonly used for educational purposes. Subsequently, three ordinary unclassified chondrites, provided by the “Museo del Cielo e della Terra” (San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna, Italy) and by a private collection, were investigated.

The analytical workflow includes: (i) macroscopic measurements and photographic documentation; (ii) petrographic analysis by transmitted and reflected light optical microscopy for microstructural and mineralogical characterization; (iii) SEM-EDS X-ray compositional mapping on the whole petrographic thin section as well as on selected chondrules and microstructural sites; (iv) SEM-EDS quantitative microanalyses of mineral phases; and (v) micro-Raman spectroscopy.

Preliminary results indicate that, from a chemical perspective, two of the unclassified samples can be assigned to the H group and one to the L group of ordinary chondrites. Petrographic observations classify the investigated meteorites as petrologic types 4 to 6. The most common chondrule textures observed include porphyritic and barred olivine, porphyritic olivine–pyroxene, granular olivine–pyroxene, radial pyroxene, and complex chondrules.

SEM-EDS compositional maps of entire thin sections and selected microstructural domains enable visualization of textural relationships, estimation of modal mineral abundances relative to metallic phases, and the development of a comparative framework among ordinary chondrites. Mineral chemistry data are compared with literature values to refine classification criteria. Micro-Raman spectroscopy is performed on opaque phases or on selected minerals for the correct identification of the polymorphic phase which constrains proper ranges of P-T conditions. Moreover, micro-Raman analyses are employed to characterize solid and fluid/melt inclusions within primary minerals, assess surface alteration features, and investigate dust extracted from fractures, providing insights into secondary processes related to atmospheric entry and post-impact evolution.

How to cite: Borghetti, S., Di Martino, M., Ferrando, S., Faggi, D., Ghignone, S., Morelli, M., Serra, R., and Vaggelli, G.: A Petrographic and Micro-Analytical Framework for the Study and Classification of Meteorites, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11477, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11477, 2026.

The recent Martian exploration mission has provided substantial evidence for the presence of hydrous sulphate minerals, especially in the Gale Crater and Meridiani Planum. These findings are crucial for understanding the past climate, water activity, and geological history of early Mars. Studying the sulphate formation process, particularly jarosite, has become increasingly important. In this context, terrestrial analog sites with similar mineral deposits can serve as effective models for exploring and analyzing sulphate deposits in detail. The Matanomadh and Harudi formations of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, were chosen as Martian analog sites because they expose well-preserved, clay-rich jarosite layers that may help better understand paleo-environmental conditions during Martian alteration. Here, jarosite is found alongside grey carbonaceous shale, weathered basalt, and gypsum, typically appearing as lenses of variable width, interconnected veins, or veinlets. Pure jarosite samples were collected after detailed field studies from the Matanomadh and Harudi formations of Kachchh. Powdered samples were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Elemental Analyzer-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA-IRMS) for sulfur isotope analysis. All XRD patterns were analyzed with the FullProf program using Rietveld refinement, employing the R-3m space group. The average a- and c-cell dimensions for jarosite were calculated as a = 7.3028 Å and c = 16.6376 Å. The XRD diffractogram displays a distinct peak at (006) at 2θ = 32.29°. FE-SEM images show that jarosite crystals have well-formed pseudohexagonal shapes with defined faces and edges. HR-TEM analysis indicates the dominance of sodium (Na), and elemental mapping confirms homogeneous grains. XPS analysis of jarosite revealed prominent peaks for Fe2p_3/2 and S2p at approximately 713.4 eV and 169.9 eV, respectively. S2p peaks were also observed in the host shale rock. δ³⁴S values for jarosite (-8.4 to -16‰) are close to values typical of supergene or steam-heated hydrous sulphates derived from pyrite or H₂S oxidation. The cell dimensions obtained from XRD data agree with literature values, confirming the mineral as Natrojarosite. The peak position of the (006) reflection in natrojarosite differs from that of jarosite. In this sample group, iron (Fe) exists in the +3 oxidation state, as confirmed by XPS. Based on the presence of sulfur (S -1) peaks in the associated shale, it is inferred that shale may serve as a sulfur source for natrojarosite formation in the current study area under acidic, oxidizing conditions.

How to cite: Saha, N. and Majumdar, A. S.: Integrated Micro to Nano-Scale Characterization of Hydrous Sulphate Mineral-Jarosite in Kachchh, Gujarat, India: Implication for Mars, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12992, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12992, 2026.

We report on observations of negative carbon and oxygen pickup ions (PUIs) originating from dust orbiting Jupiter. The PUIs are observed at altitudes of a few thousand kilometers (~4,800 – 10,200 km) above the 1-bar level of Jupiter’s atmosphere and up to ~11,000 – 15,000 km from the equatorial plane, thus providing constraints on the location of the dust population and its composition. The Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment – Electron sensors on Juno detect these PUIs because of the combination of a fast-moving spacecraft and the large Keplerian orbital speed of the dust near Jupiter. We demonstrate that this scenario is consistent with the observations. We find a PUI C/O ratio of 10 ± 5 and a PUI energy release of ~11 ± 9 eV. Electron stimulated desorption is a likely process forcreating these PUIs. The dust is well inside the halo population and likely carbonaceous.

How to cite: Allegrini, F., Szalay, J., McComas, D., Ebert, R., Bolton, S., Clark, G., Connerney, J., Kurth, W., Louarn, P., Mauk, B., Pontoni, A., Saur, J., Valek, P., Wang, J.-Z., and Wilson, R.: Detection of negative carbon and oxygen pickup ions from dust orbiting Jupiter, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14123, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14123, 2026.

The radical terraforming of Mars was proposed in 2025 (LPSC2025, 1558.pdf) envisions bringing volatiles with a total mass of approximately 10¹⁹ kg from the Kuiper Belt to Mars. This would amount to approximately 1000 asteroids. Upon reaching Mars, these bodies will have velocities ranging from a few to a dozen or so km/s relative to the planet. The impact sites and their parameters will be controlled to some extent. This would be a unique opportunity to use these bodies to modify the surface of Mars. The goal of radical terraforming is also to create open water reservoirs and rivers. The planet's current topography makes these plans very difficult. Large elevation differences would lead to rapid concentration of water in a few low-lying areas. We show examples of possible stable zones that would provide habitable conditions for ecosystems from Earth. Another possibility of using impacts is the targeted transformation of minerals. Asteroids themselves contain not only water and volatile substances but also other compounds. Placing them in appropriate places can make the economy easier for future residents.

How to cite: Czechowski, L.: Radical Terraforming of Mars and Planetary Engineering, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14494, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14494, 2026.

In this project, we are exploring a few aspects of low frequency and wavenumber magnetic field energy spectra in the context of space physics, following observations of 1/f behavior (e.g. [1]-[4]). The origin of this phenomena is still debated;  however studies have suggested that these processes could be generated from scale-invariant processes in the corona or further within the dynamo of the Sun. One of the paradigms that has been discussed ([5],[6]) for achieving scale invariant structure is the merger of two dimensional or quasi-two dimensional magnetic flux tubes or flux ropes. This may be particularly relevant in the corona. To further explore this connection, it becomes necessary to understand the distributions of size and magnetic flux content, as well as the morphology of magnetic structures/”islands” in two dimensional turbulence representations. These features of the magnetic field will be explored using methods described herein [7]. These will be implemented using magnetic fields obtained from synthetic construction and 2D simulation. 

[1]Burlaga, L. F., & Ness, N. F. 1998, JGR, 103, 29 719

[2]Matthaeus, W. H., & Goldstein, M. L. 1986, PhRvL, 57, 495

[3]Wang, J., Matthaeus, W. H., Chhiber, R., et al. 2024, SoPh, 299, 169

[4]Pradata, R. A., Roy, S., Matthaeus, W. H., et al. 2025, ApJL, 984, L23

[5]Matthaeus, W. H., & Goldstein, M. L. 1982, JGR, 87, 6011

[6]Mullan, D.J.: 1990, Astron. Astrophys. 232, 520.

[7]Servidio, S., Matthaeus, W., Shay, M., et al. 2010, Physics of Plasmas, 17

How to cite: Pradata, R., Khan, M. B., Pecora, F., Matthaeus, W., Roy, S., and Adhikari, S.: Exploring Magnetic Island Morphology through 2D MHD and Synthetic Fields, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14898, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14898, 2026.

The Juno spacecraft made close flybys of Io on Dec. 2023 (PJ57) and Feb 2024 (PJ58) above respectively the northern/southern hemisphere with an altitude at closest approach (CA) of ~1,500 km.

On PJ57, Juno went through the Alfven wing and both the Juno/Waves and Radio-occultation measurements showed a surprising large electron density n_el ~ 28,000 near closest approach. On PJ58, Juno flew slightly behind the Alfven wing and the instruments measured a plasma density consistent with the background plasma torus density.

We run numerical simulations of the plasma/atmosphere interaction along teh PJ57 and PJ58 flyby to constrain IO’s polar atmosphere. Our numerical simulations are based on (1) A prescribed atmospheric composition and distribution of S, O, SO₂ and SO; (2) A MHD code to calculate the plasma flow into Io’s atmosphere; (3) A multi-species physical chemistry code to compute the change of the plasma properties (ion densities, composition and temperature) during the plasma/atmosphere interaction (4) a formulation of the ionization by the field-aligned electron beams used for auroral electrons on Earth.

We compute the multi-charged ion composition of the plasma along each flyby and compare to the Juno/JADE measurements to infer the atmosphere composition (O, S, SO2, SO) and density at polar latitudes. 

How to cite: Dols, V. and Bagenal, F.: The Juno PJ57 and PJ58 flybys of Io: Multi-species physical chemistry simulations , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14914, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14914, 2026.

Participatory science, also called citizen science, connects scientists with the public to enable discovery by engaging broad audiences across the world. In aurora science, direct collaborations, crowdsourced efforts, and community engagement bridge aurora chasers with scientists to do research. These efforts have been fueled by recent large geomagnetic storms, evolving consumer camera technologies, social media, and dedicated citizen science projects. In this presentation, we highlight recent, cutting-edge participatory science efforts with a primary focus on the Aurorasaurus project and how it can be used to study major storm-time auroral activity.

Aurorasaurus is an award-winning citizen science platform that has been operating for over a decade. Aurora observers submit visibility reports and photos, which are filtered and cleaned to generate science-quality datasets. We highlight Aurorasaurus data from recent major geomagnetic storms in 2024 and 2025, emphasizing how rapid, widespread reporting during extreme events enables mapping of storm-time auroral extent and tracking changes in the auroral oval boundary at low latitudes. During the May 10-11, 2024 geomagnetic storm, Aurorasaurus compiled more than 5,000 vetted reports from 50+ countries, allowing for unique data-model comparisons and tracking of the extent of auroral visibility.

We also address the efficacy of using citizen science photos for research. We discuss how submitted images not only provide additional perspectives and validation of reported auroral forms, but can also constitute unique scientific datasets beyond the capabilities of traditional instrument networks. For example, modern consumer cameras can capture high spatial resolution views of fine-scale auroral structure, and photos from multiple observers can be combined to enable stereoscopic and tomographic reconstructions of auroral morphology and its evolution.

Finally, we briefly note complementary campaign-style participatory science efforts, including the AurorEye project’s low-cost deployable all-sky timelapse units, the SolarMaX mission in coordination with SpaceX’s Fram2 launch, and collaborations between aurora chasers and the SuperDARN team to supplement radar measurements with optical aurora data. With the ongoing solar maximum, it is important to harness the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the aurora and space weather. Participatory science efforts build important relationships between public communities and scientists and unlock unique research benefits.

How to cite: Ledvina, V., MacDonald, E., Edson, L., and Natsheh, F.: Cutting-Edge Projects in Aurora Participatory Science, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16003, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16003, 2026.

The integration of gravity and topography data is a primary approach for investigating the crustal properties of terrestrial planets. While previous studies have extensively employed admittance analysis and gravity field models to estimate parameters like effective elastic thickness () and load density—particularly for Martian volcanic provinces—these methods often fail to resolve the detailed 3D distribution of subsurface structures.

Three-dimensional gravity inversion offers a powerful alternative for characterizing volcanic plumbing systems. However, existing applications often neglect the significant gravitational contribution of the crust-mantle interface (Moho relief) to Bouguer anomalies. Furthermore, as the spatial scale of investigation increases, the curvature of the planetary surface must be rigorously accounted for to avoid modeling errors.

To address these challenges, this study proposes an advanced 3D gravity inversion framework. We integrate the high-resolution MRO120F gravity model with recent crustal thickness models to isolate "residual" Bouguer anomalies that specifically reflect intra-crustal density variations. By incorporating spherical coordinate corrections and stripping the gravitational effects of the Moho, we reconstruct the 3D subsurface geological structure of a representative Martian volcanic region. Our results demonstrate that this refined inversion strategy significantly improves the resolution of magmatic features, providing new insights into the magmatic origins and evolutionary mechanisms of planetary volcanoes. In the future, we plan to apply this method to the geological structure analysis of the Tianwen landing area, providing a reference for subsequent Mars research plans. In the future, we plan to apply this method to the geological structure analysis of the Tianwen landing area, providing a reference for subsequent Mars research plans.

How to cite: He, Z., Cai, H., Huang, Q., and Hu, X.: A Gravity Inversion Strategy for Accurate Resolution of Intra-Crustal Structures Accounting for Moho Relief, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19711, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19711, 2026.

Organic compounds are a ubiquitous component of cosmic dust and provide insight into the origin of planetary systems, the availability of carbon for life in the solar system and beyond, and the distribution of potential biosignatures in the universe. Compositional and dynamical analysis of such dust grains can shed insight into their origin. The Destiny Dust Analyzer (DDA) onboard JAXA’s interplanetary space mission DESTINY+ will detect and analyse the composition of (sub-)micron sized dust ejecta during flybys of asteroids Apophis and Phaethon [1,2]. DDA will characterise both interplanetary and interstellar dust grains during the mission’s lifetime [3]. DDA is an impact ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer, whereby dust particles incident onto the instrument’s target at hypervelocity (≥ 2 km s^-1) vaporise and partially fragment into various constituent ions and neutrals. Here, we investigate the capability of DDA to detect a mixture of complex organic compounds in single cosmic dust particles. An organic cosmic dust analogue is prepared by coating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, perylene (C₂₀H₁₂), microparticles with an ultrathin overlayer of a conductive polymer, polypyrrole H(C₄H₂NH)_nH, to enable acceleration up to hypervelocities with a high-voltage van de Graaff instrument. Time-of-flight mass spectra obtained at impact speeds ~3-20 km/s are recorded in this calibration campaign. The characteristic parent molecular ion for perylene, [C₂₀H₁₂ (+H)]⁺, is observed at m/z 251 ± 1 in mass spectra arising from impacts between 3 and 8 km s^-1. However, between 8 and 18 km s^-1, no such parent ion is observed. Instead, impact ionisation mass spectra exhibit a characteristic series of homologous [C_nH_m]⁺ fragments originating from both polypyrrole and perylene, alongside some non-sequential ions which may be diagnostic for distinguishing between different organic components in cosmic dust. The contributions of each species to fragmentation patterns in the mass spectra is coupled with the impact velocity. Our results are in agreement with Mikula et al. (2024), who investigated impact ionisation of polypyyrole-coated anthracene particles for the Interstellar Dust EXperiment (IDEX) onboard NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), and observed a similar relationship between fragmentation pattern and velocity [4].

Additional experiments with a range of PAHs, heterocycles, and lower mass organics at various velocities, will yield further insight into the detection and characterisation of heterogeneous dust likely to be encountered by DDA. Similarly, theoretical chemical calculations could assist in deciphering the contribution of different species to mass spectral features via the analysis of dissociation thermodynamics and kinetics.

[1] Ozaki et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.03.029

[2] Simolka et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0199

[3] Krüger et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2024.106010

[4] Mikula et al. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.3c00353

How to cite: Khawaja, N., Srama, R., Chan, D. H. H., Simolka, J., Armes, S. P., Mikula, R., Hirai, T., Li, Y., Strack, H., O'Sullivan, T. R., Bera, P. P., Mocker, A., Trieloff, M., Postberg, F., Hillier, J. K., Kempf, S., Sternovsky, Z., Yabuta, H., and Krüger, H.: Deciphering mixtures of complex organic compounds in cosmic dust particles using JAXA's Destiny+ Dust Analyzer, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21015, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21015, 2026.

How to cite: Encrenaz, T., Greathouse, T., Marcq, E., Shao, W., Lefèvre, F., Giles, R., Lefèvre, M., Widemann, T., Bézard, B., and Sagawa, H.: Simultaneous mapping of CO, SO2 and HDO on the night side of Venus , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22816, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22816, 2026.

Multi-ring impact basins represent some of the oldest and most degraded large-scale structures on terrestrial planetary bodies, making their identification and characterization particularly challenging. Only a few well-preserved examples are known, such as the Orientale basin on the Moon, commonly regarded as the archetype of multi-ring basins. On Mercury, several multi-ring basins were initially proposed based on Mariner 10 imagery (Spudis & Guest, 1988); however, most of these candidates were not confirmed by subsequent analyses using MESSENGER data (e.g., Fassett et al., 2012; Orgel et al., 2020), highlighting the difficulty of recognizing ancient, highly modified basin architectures. Here we present a semi-automatic workflow aimed at the systematic characterization of multi-ring basins on Mercury. The workflow combines manual structural mapping with quantitative, data-driven analyses and consists of four main steps: (1) construction of a structural map of tectonic features; (2) determination of the basin center using concentric deviation analysis (Karagoz et al., 2024); (3) estimation of the multi-ring geometry through a newly developed tool that analyzes the radial distribution of mapped structures using one-dimensional kernel density estimation (KDE). In this step, dominant concentric rings are identified as statistically robust density maxima obtained with a Gaussian kernel and an objectively defined Silverman bandwidth, while ring uncertainty is quantified through the interquartile range (IQR) of associated structures; and (4) comparison of the inferred ring geometry with the basin’s median radial topographic profile, derived from 360 azimuthally distributed radial profiles, to assess geometric and morphological consistency. We apply this workflow to two basins of different confidence levels. For the Orientale basin on the Moon, the method identifies three concentric rings corresponding to the Inner Rook Ring, Outer Rook Ring, and Cordillera Ring, consistent with previous studies (Spudis et al., 2013). For the Andal–Coleridge basin on Mercury, a probable multi-ring basin, the workflow retrieves a four-ring geometry that broadly coincides with rings II–V proposed by Spudis & Guest (1988). These results demonstrate that the combined use of structural mapping, KDE-based ring detection, and radial profile analysis provides a robust and reproducible framework for investigating degraded multi-ring basins. Future work will apply this workflow to additional candidate basins on Mercury to reassess their multi-ring nature and improve constraints on the planet’s early impact and tectonic history.

Acknowledgements: We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) under ASI-INAF agreement 2024-18-HH.0.

How to cite: Sepe, A., Ferranti, L., Galluzzi, V., Schmidt, G. W., and Palumbo, P.: A data-driven approach to multi-ring basin identification on Mercury, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-23072, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-23072, 2026.

How to cite: Liu, W.: An important medium for ion energization and non-thermal ions' energy release in the near-Sun solar wind: ion-scale waves , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-266, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-266, 2026.

The plasma wave instruments on both Voyager spacecraft have observed electron plasma oscillations in the very local interstellar medium (VLISM).  The generally accepted explanation of these events is that the electron foreshock of shocks in the VLISM comprise electron beams in the range of 10 to 100 eV that are unstable to Langmuir waves, or electron plasma oscillations.  Further, at least some of these events have been tied to solar transients departing the Sun more than a year earlier that evolve as they propagate outward.  These disturbances are led by shocks and the impulse of these on the heliospause results in some of the shock impulse continuing into the VLISM.  Previously, Voyager 1 had detected the most distant evidence of these transients at about 145 AU.  In August 2025 Voyager 2 detected electron plasma oscillations near 140 AU. A simple model of the propagation of this disturbance suggests a transient from the Sun in 2022 as its source, near the beginning of the current solar maximum.  New Horizons observed a series of shocks in 2022 – 2023 at heliocentric distances near 55 AU that could be related to the Voyager 2 event. Given these events occur early in solar cycle 25, it is possible additional shocks will be detected by Voyager and enable us to extend the distance over which these disturbances can travel in the VLISM.

We further relate some of the transients observed by the Voyager plasma wave instruments to global models of the VLISM density and magnetic field (Fraternale et al., 2026).  For example, these models show the increased density and magnetic field associated with the so-called pf2 (pressure front 2) described by Burlaga et al. (2021).  We can now show that the 2-3 kHz radio emissions observed by the Voyagers in the early 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s are related to density structures just beyond the heliopause presumed to be associated with global merged interaction regions stemming from very active solar conditions.

How to cite: Kurth, W., Jaynes, A., Fraternale, F., Kim, T., and Pogorelov, N.: Effects of solar transients observed in the VLISM , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4233, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4233, 2026.

Interpreting the response of the magnetosphere to solar wind driving is being historically limited by the sparse measurements of upstream conditions. Recent investigations, using multiple upstream monitors, revealed that properties of the solar wind are often non uniform on spatial scales comparable to the size of the Earth’s magnetosphere. This aspect remarks the limitation of the common assumption of the impact of a uniform solar wind front based on single probe observations. Here, we perform a critical investigation of a case study in which a particular solar wind mesoscale structure, in the form of a periodic density structure (PDS), shows coherence on a limited extent of the Earth’s upstream region. First, we examine the possible reasons behind discrepancies in the measurements among different solar wind monitors. Then, we discuss the response of the magnetosphere in terms of Ultra-Low-Frequency (ULF) waves based on properties of the solar wind driver including the periodicities of the PDSs, the extent of their spatial coherence, and the associated interplanetary magnetic field properties.

How to cite: Di Matteo, S., Recchiuti, D., and Villante, U.: Magnetosphere response to a spatially non-uniform solar wind stream, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15149, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15149, 2026.

MEGA-H is a multi-detector, wide-field telescope system that produces ultra-high-resolution, seamless images.  The optical path employs pickoff mirrors that partition the image field onto three individual detectors.  The detectors can be located conveniently apart from each other while preserving the whole FOV and producing a recombined image without any gaps. This architecture enables a scientist to choose the best detector for the task, which may have the good detection properties but insufficient number of pixels, and combine multiple detectors to achieve the desired pixel count. This camera system will initially be mounted behind a wide FOV white light imager and be capable of both wide FOV (10 degrees on diagonal) and high instantaneous field of view (iFOV) (<1.5”) to observe the Sun’s corona.

We describe our progress in assembling and testing the instrument, which is built around COTS telescope optics and camera heads.  Alignment features facilitate fine positioning of the two pickoff mirrors and three camera heads.  Stray light control features prevent ‘sneak path’ rays from falling on the wrong detector. The instrument is designed to work in an airborne environment.  A thermal control subsystem incorporates four thermal zones, to maintain tight focus and alignment under dynamic environmental conditions, while a focus mechanism compensates for large changes in temperature.  The data path is sized to store full-resolution data from three 127 Mpixel cameras, at a rate of 10 GB/s. A real time viewer produces fused images from the three cameras for monitoring of the image acquisition process. 

MEGA-H is sponsored by HESTO,  NASA’s Heliophysics Science and Technology Office.

How to cite: Eskin, J., Caspi, A., DeForest, C., Oakley, P., Brown, B., Finch, T., Frye, J., Lage, J., Sharma, J., Speck, R., Spuhler, P., and Turner, R.: Status of MEGA-H: An Ultra-Wide-Field Camera for Heliophysics Applications, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15364, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15364, 2026.

Understanding star and planet formation in extreme environments is crucial for uncovering the origins of our solar system. While most knowledge comes from nearby, isolated regions such as Taurus and Lupus, over half of all stars and planetary systems form in environments exposed to strong far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation emitted by massive OB stars, with energies below the Lyman limit (E <13.6 eV).

NGC 6357—a young (~1–1.6 Myr), massive star-forming complex located 1690 pc away and hosting over 20 O-type stars—provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of FUV radiation on protoplanetary disks. This is the focus of the XUE (eXtreme UV Environments) collaboration.

Here, we present results from XUE2, a disk in the Pismis 24 cluster, based on spectra from JWST/MIRI and VLT/FORS2, complemented by photometric data. We first characterize the central star through spectrophotometric fitting, a fundamental step since protoplanetary disks are shaped by their host stars.

To evaluate the potential for rocky planet formation, we conduct a molecular and mineralogical analysis of the disk. We identify CO and CO₂ and report a tentative detection of CH₃⁺, key molecules for organic chemistry. Additionally, we identify predominantly amorphous silicates, as well as crystalline species such as enstatite and forsterite—molecules and minerals also observed in disks exposed to lower irradiation levels.

These findings offer new insights into the composition of inner disk regions under strong FUV irradiation, helping to constrain the formation conditions of rocky planets in massive clusters—an essential contribution to understanding the origins of the diverse exoplanets observed today.

How to cite: Lemus Nemocon, M. A., Ramírez-Tannus, M. C., and Higuera Garzón, M. A.: Molecular and Crystalline Structures in a Highly Irradiated Protoplanetary Disk in NGC 6357, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21494, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21494, 2026.

Mercury’s thermochemical history has been characterized by global contraction in response to planetary cooling. Such contraction has been recorded in the form of tectonic landforms. However, estimates substantially vary between < 2 km (Watters et al., 2021) and up to 8 km (Byrne et al., 2014), depending on whether small-scale ridges are considered to contribute to global contraction. A recent study by Broquet and Andrews-Hanna (2025) revisited Mercury’s tectonic record and found global contraction values of 8.3 ± 4.3 km, with a conservative range of 6.3 ± 3.2 km when considering only primary tectonic landforms.

Here, we model Mercury’s thermal evolution and global contraction using 3D geodynamic simulations. Our geodynamic models build upon that of Fleury et al. (2024) and use the mantle convection code GAIA (Hüttig et al., 2013), which solves the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy from 4.5 Ga to present day under the assumption of homogeneous mantle composition, Newtonian rheology, and negligible inertia. Our models employ surface temperature variations caused by the combined effects of the 3:2 spin-orbit resonance and the low obliquity of Mercury, as well as crustal thickness variations derived from gravity and topography data (Fleury et al., 2024). For the first time, we account for a laterally variable crustal thermal conductivity considering crustal porosity variations (Broquet et al., 2024). The effects of melt extraction on the regional contraction are also investigated. While previous models (Peterson et al., 2021; Tosi et al., 2025) have considered only fully extrusive scenarios, where the entire amount of melt produced in the interior is instantaneously extracted at the surface, we test both intrusive and extrusive cases as well as different intrusive to extrusive ratios and depths for placing the magmatic intrusions. Predicted present-day global and laterally varying contraction are compared to tectonic strain from Broquet and Andrews-Hanna (2025). 

Our models typically predict 5–10 km of global contraction today. The average thickness of the crust is found to have no substantial effect on global contraction estimates. When considering porosity and its effect on thermal conductivity, we find that regions covered by a thick, porous crust are warmer during the early evolution and experience a more pronounced cooling later on, which leads to substantially larger contractional strain compared to the rest of the planet. Assuming different megaregolith thicknesses, as well as a linear or exponential decrease of conductivity with increasing porosity (Henke et al., 2016), affects global contraction values by up to ± 10%. Similarly, magmatic intrusions, typically located at the crust-mantle boundary, provide a local heat source that keeps the lithosphere warm over prolonged time periods, thus affecting the record of planetary contraction on a regional scale. These analyses show that planetary contraction is far from isotropic, which has implications for our understanding of Mercury’s tectonic record. More detailed comparisons of our planetary contraction estimates with that inferred from shortening landforms will provide important insights into the interior processes and cooling history of Mercury.

How to cite: Büttner, T., Broquet, A., Plesa, A.-C., and Santangelo, S.: The cooling history and global contraction of Mercury, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-551, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-551, 2026.

Given its unusually high bulk density, Mercury represents a world unique among other terrestrial planets in the solar system. While the general aspects of its interior, such as the core size, are relatively well constrained by the measurements of the planet mass, radius, and moments of inertia, details of its mantle viscosity and thermal profile are still relatively unknown. Recent estimates of Mercury‘s tidal Love number k₂, along with a surprisingly low moment of inertia factor (MoIF) obtained from the MESSENGER gravity data [1] indicate a weak mantle with a CMB viscosity potentially as low as 10¹³ Pa s [2, 3]. Alternative estimates of Mercury‘s MoIF based on laser altimetry (e.g., [4]) would allow a higher CMB viscosity [2] but were reported by [3] as only marginally consistent with the newest value of k₂ from [1].

In this work, I construct interior models of Mercury constrained by a set of geodetic observables including the mean density, polar MoIF, relative moment of inertia of the mantle, and the tidal Love numbers k₂ and h₂. The acceptable interiors are seeked by means of Bayesian inversion. The core is modelled as an Fe-Si-C-S alloy [5] and the mantle is either considered homogeneous (Case A) or endowed with two possible bulk chemical compositions (Case B), derived from the composition of surface lavas [6, 7]. The density and elastic properties of the mantle in Case B are calculated with the thermodynamic software Perple_X [8]. At the CMB, I prescribe a distinct layer, which might either correspond to crystallised Fe-S at the top of the core or to a denser material at the base of the mantle (see also [9]). For the constraining MoIF, I choose the laser altimetry-derived value [4] in one set of samples and the gravity-derived value [1] in the second set of samples.

The presence of a distinct CMB layer with homogeneous fitted properties (density, viscosity) alleviates the need for a weak mantle. While the CMB layer’s viscosity tends to values below 10¹⁸ Pa s, the posterior probability distribution of the lower-mantle viscosity peaks above 10²⁰ Pa s. Moreover, the models from Case B tend to prefer higher values of MoIF~0.34 and cannot be easily reconciled with the lower gravity-derived estimate. In the inversion with laser altimetry-derived MoIF, the CMB layer is predicted to have thickness between 40-160 km and a wide range of possible densities. Outer radius of the liquid part of the core peaks around 1990 km and the temperature above the CMB layer is typically below 1600 K. Silicon content in the outer core peaks around 7 wt%, while sulfur and carbon represent a minor component (2-3 wt%).

[1] Genova et al. (2019), doi:10.1029/2018GL081135.

[2] Steinbrügge et al (2021), doi:10.1029/2020GL089895.

[3] Goossens et al. (2022), doi:10.3847/PSJ/ac4bb8.

[4] Bertone et al. (2021), doi:10.1029/2020JE006683.

[5] Knibbe et al. (2021), doi:10.1029/2020JE006651.

[6] Namur et al. (2016), doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2016.01.030.

[7] Nittler et al. (2018), doi:10.1017/9781316650684.003.

[8] Connolly (2009), doi:10.1029/2009GC002540.

[9] Hauck et al. (2013), doi:10.1002/jgre.20091.

How to cite: Walterova, M.: The interior structure of Mercury constrained by geodetic data, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3557, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3557, 2026.

The magnetosphere of Mercury is highly dynamic, a consequence of its small size, weak intrinsic magnetic field, and proximity to the Sun. One intriguing phenomenon is the presence of magnetic field fluctuations around 1 Hz. Here, we present a comprehensive statistical survey of these waves using the full span of the MESSENGER magnetometer measurements from 2011 to 2015. We find that ~1 Hz waves are observed during 10-20 % of the time that the spacecraft spent on closed field lines in Mercury’s magnetosphere, as determined from the KT17 magnetic field model. Wave occurrence is increased under magnetospheric conditions that favour an expanded closed field line region. We present the first global characterisation of the ~1 Hz waves at Mercury and demonstrate their dependence on both external drivers, such as upstream IMF conditions, and internal magnetospheric activity, such as the occurrence of identified dipolarization events. These results are discussed in the context of the BepiColombo mission, which will provide new opportunities to identify the nature of these waves and to assess their role in Mercury’s highly dynamic plasma environment.

How to cite: Persson, M., Dimmock, A. P., Dewey, R. M., Wahlund, J.-E., Morooka, M., Yordanova, E., Eriksson, A. I., Hadid, L. Z., Aizawa, S., Khotyaintsev, Y. V., Edberg, N. J. T., and André, M.: Magnetospheric Conditions Controlling ~1 Hz Waves at Mercury, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3788, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3788, 2026.

The Mercury shock-upstream region is the ideal, natural laboratory for studying the beam instabilities in-situ in collisionless space plasma, since (1) a smaller Parker spiral angle of about 20 degree (the mean magnetic field is nearly parallel or anti-parallel to the flow direction) is conveniently suited to testing for the beam instabilities against one-dimensional instability study using the analytic and numerical methods, and (2) the magnetic field data are accessible not only by the earlier MESSENGER mission but also by the upcoming BepiColombo MPO-MAG and MGF instruments. Here we develop the polynomial dispersion solver to theoretically and systematically derive the wave and instability properties for the ion-beam plasmas. It is found that the beam instability undergoes a smooth transition from the right-hand resonant instability into the non-resonant firehose-type instability at higher beam velocities. The right-hand resonant instability represents the coupling between the beam-resonant mode and the whistler mode, and is commonly found in the Earth shock-upstream region. The non-resonant instability, in contrast to the right-hand resonant case, represents primarily the coupling between the whistler and ion-cyclotron modes in backward direction to the bam and is mediated by the high-speed beam. The non-resonant instability may be regarded as a kinetic extension of the magnetohydrodynamic firehose instability for a higher pressure in the mean magnetic field direction. Our picture of the beam instabilities serves as a useful diagnostic tool of the beam plasma using the magnetic field data, e.g., reading the beam density from the frequency-broadening in the wave spectrum, and giving a constraint between the flow speed and the beam velocity from the spacecraft-frame of wave frequency. Moreover, the Mercury shock-upstream region exhibits the double beam instability driven by the shock-reflected ions and the pick-up ions hit by the solar wind, which is unique in the solar system plasmas. The double beam scenario raises the fundamental question as to the nonlinear wave evolution in the plasma such as the evolution through the double parametric decay or that through the forced wave-wave coupling.

How to cite: Narita, Y., Motschmann, U., Schmid, D., Heyner, D., Comisel, H., Matsukiyo, S., and Hada, T.: Magnetic diagnosis of ion-beam instabilities in the Mercury shock-upstream region, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5014, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5014, 2026.

The MESSENGER magnetometer data for the years 2012 through 2015 are used to study the presence of mirror modes in Mercury's environment. Using magnetic field only detection of these structures, 10715 intervals of 20 s and longer are found in the solar wind, and in the magnetosheath and magnetosphere of Mercury. The distribution of mirror modes around the planet is similar to that found at Venus and Mars, however, the occurrence rate of 1.0E-4 per second is up to 2 orders of magnitude smaller than at the other two planets. The mirror modes are more prone to be excited near Mercury's aphelion. A comparison shows that mirror modes and magnetic holes have a similar behaviour around Mercury, and that about 40% of the mirror modes can also be identified as magnetic holes. Ion cyclotron waves show a lesser dependence on the true anomaly angle.

How to cite: Volwerk, M., Karlsson, T., Goetz, C., Heyner, D., Plaschke, F., Schmid, D., Simon Wedlund, C., Nakamura, R., Califano, F., Hamrin, M., Pucci, F., Settino, A., and Rojas-Castillo, D.: Mercury's Mirror Modes?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5030, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5030, 2026.

The development of hollows on Mercury—small depressions with spectrally bright interiors and halos—may have resulted from the selective loss of volatile components in these regions. Proposed mechanisms driving elemental or molecular volatility include intense solar radiation, micrometeoroid impacts, and repeated thermal cycling, which leave behind a refractory layer with distinct spectral properties. We investigate solar wind ions as a potential darkening agent and demonstrate that Mercury-relevant sulfides preserve their high reflectivity.

Experimental ion-irradiation studies on sulfides such as NiS, CuS, CoS, FeS, and MoS have shown that metallic surface layers can form through cation segregation and preferential sulfur depletion [1–5]. Laboratory work has further revealed iron enrichment at the surface, accompanied by visible darkening, in troilite (FeS) and more recently in pentlandite [(Fe,Ni)₉S₈] subjected to ion and laser irradiation [e.g., 6, 7]. Unlike lunar, meteoritic, and asteroidal materials, which contain significant iron and nickel sulfide minerals, Mercury’s surface appears depleted in iron. Instead, sulfides are expected to be dominated by Mn, Ti, Cr, Mg, and Ca cations, based on correlations with sulfur detected by MESSENGER’s spectrometer suite [8–10].

We have previously shown that the sulfides: niningerite (MgS) and oldhamite (CaS), two phases proposed as likely hollow-forming material based on visible-to-near-infrared (VNIR) spectral analysis [11], are radiation-hard [12]. These sulfides thereby resist the formation of a metallic top layer, observed in ion-irradiated Fe-sulfides, when exposed to solar wind-speed protons and helium ions.

Subsequent spectral analysis of the irradiated CaS and MgS showed brightening in parts of the visible range (0.4-0.7 µm) of the VNIR (Fig. 1) and an overall brightening in the mid-infrared (MIR) range observed by BepiColombo (7-14 µm, Fig. 2). The sample labeled as oxidized was exposed to air for months after the experiments, which led to an overall darkening in both VNIR and MIR, erasing the effect of irradiation. On Mercury, there is no immediate oxidation of the top layer; instead, re-deposition of thermal and ion desorbed material introduces surface contaminants, which over geological timespans could form a layer. The radiation-hard nature of sulfides could thereby act as a cleaning mechanism, where contaminants are removed continuously under solar wind exposure without damaging the bulk, preserving the reflectivity of the sample. This process provides a new framework for understanding the formation of bright hollow materials, highlighting the importance of non-transition-metal sulfides in Mercury’s surface evolution.

How to cite: Jäggi, N., Barraud, O., and Dukes, C.: Self-cleaning Sulfides as Mercury Hollow Bright Material, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5210, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5210, 2026.

Mercury hosts a small global magnetic field, approximately 1% of Earth’s magnetic field strength, capable of standing off the solar wind, resulting in a magnetosphere that is qualitatively similar in structure to Earth’s. However, due to its closer proximity to the Sun, Mercury’s magnetosphere experiences much stronger solar wind pressure than that at Earth, resulting in dynamic magnetospheric processes that occur on much shorter timescales. These extreme conditions can result in processes such as particle energization, transport and precipitation onto the planetary surface, which are strongly influenced by the external solar wind conditions. Here, we present observations of energetic protons (> ~ 1 MeV) and electrons (> ~ 70 keV) from the Solar Intensity X-Ray and Particle Spectrometer (SIXS) onboard the BepiColombo spacecraft during its sixth and final Mercury flyby on 8 January 2025. Similar to the spacecraft’s fourth Mercury flyby in 2024, a solar energetic particle event occurred a few days before closest approach, resulting in elevated fluxes of energetic particles both outside and within the Hermean magnetosphere. Furthermore, the KTH22 Mercury magnetic field model was used to help interpret these energetic particle observations and to evaluate whether features in the data were consistent with the aforementioned magnetospheric processes.

How to cite: Edwards, L., Grande, M., Lawrence, D., Vainio, R., Aizawa, S., Hadid, L., Raines, J., Lehtolainen, A., Esko, E., and Kilpua, E.: Energetic Particle Observations with SIXS During BepiColombo’s Sixth Mercury Flyby, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7327, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7327, 2026.

Mercury’s small magnetosphere and strong solar wind driving results in short-lived, highly dynamic substorms where large amounts of magnetic flux is processed in the magnetotail through nightside reconnection. This processing is realized through the rapid formation of planetward and tailward-moving flux ropes and dipolarization fronts, which lead to plasma heating and flux transport in the low-altitude plasma sheet. The MESSENGER spacecraft observed dipolarization fronts and flux ropes during its orbital campaign from 2011-2015, but open questions about their dynamics, relationship to each other, and role in broader magnetospheric processes persist. To contextualize these observations, we present coupled fluid-kinetic simulations of Mercury's magnetosphere using the MHD-AEPIC code, implemented through the Space Weather Modeling Framework. This model utilizes a Hall-MHD solver for the global magnetosphere coupled to an embedded particle-in-cell code, which simulates the magnetotail dynamics. By tracking the 3D, time-resolved propagation of dipolarization fronts, we find that only ~60 of events originate directly through single x-line reconnection, while the remainder originate from flux ropes that undergo secondary reconnection closer to the planet to create DF-like signatures. We present case studies of both event types, finding that the secondary reconnection process leads to localized heating of the electron fluid along the reconnecting flux tube to temperatures of >4 keV. We compare these characteristics to dipolarization fronts detected by MESSENGER, finding that this model may help account for some of the observed magnetic signatures, associated electron injections, and dawn-dusk distribution asymmetries. Future observations by BepiColombo will be important for further characterizing the frequency and impact of this process within Mercury's magnetotail.

How to cite: Cushen, A., Jia, X., Slavin, J., Sun, W., Toth, G., and Chen, Y.: Do Mercury's Dipolarization Fronts Originate From Flux Ropes? MHD-AEPIC Simulations and Observations of Mercury's Magnetosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8562, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8562, 2026.

Planetary magnetospheres are elaborate systems of internal and external factors, ranging from the internal planetary magnetic moment and currents in the magnetospheric boundaries to exosper-ionosphere-surface interaction, and variation in solar wind properties.
In general, these flows and fields are usually interacting non-linearly.
However, there are regions in the magnetosphere where properties may be understood in terms of a linear superposition.
Here, we investigate the far downtail regions of the nightside magnetotail, where two key factors are the compressed but decreasing planetary magnetic field and the surrounding interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).

Thus, we conduct 12 global model runs of Mercury's magnetosphere with 6 IMF directions in Cardinal and Parker Spiral directions each.
We then superimpose 3 Cardinal IMF runs to emulate linear combined Parker Spiral (LC) IMF cases and compare these to the real Parker Spiral IMF case runs along the downtail passages of the MPO and Mio spacecraft of the BepiColombo mission.
It is found that most LC cases share a surprising level of similarity with the real IMF cases for features such as the general tail twist, suggesting that some physical processes within the magnetotail may be described as linear, despite the overall interaction is non-linear.
Finally, we further investigate approaches to the definition of a threshold of linearity.

How to cite: Exner, W. and Romanelli, N.: On the Linearity of Mercury's Nightside Magnetosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11061, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11061, 2026.

Magnetic field data from the MESSENGER mission have revealed the presence of crustal magnetization on Mercury, at least some of which is thought to have been acquired in an ancient field. Magnetic fields over craters are particularly interesting because they can elucidate the magnetic history of the planet (i.e., of its dynamo). If the magnetization is remanent, crater signatures, together with information on the relative age of the craters, can be used to constrain the history of the dynamo. At Mercury, craters with an enhanced interior magnetization compared with their surroundings can provide a record of an ancient global field that was stronger than the present-day field.

We show that the crater record at Mercury provides only limited information about the relative timing of magnetization acquisition. For Mercury, magnetic field signatures at craters have previously been examined for only the largest impact basins. Here, we use a crustal magnetization model and examine 202 craters over Mercury’s Northern Hemisphere with diameters 70 km < D < 400 km and center locations between 40° and 75° N, to investigate the presence (or absence) of clear magnetic signatures associated with them. The craters considered have a range of degradation states and hence relative ages: we investigate whether there are correlations between crater magnetic signatures and their degradation class. Although some individual craters suggest the existence of an ancient, stronger field, the results do not provide a clear picture of temporal evolution in strength of the dynamo field.

We also analyze craters in the two main geographical units in the Northern Hemisphere separately, the Inter-Crater Plains (ICP) and the Smooth Plains (SP), characterized by a different iron content. Overall, we find that 59/202 craters have an enhanced interior magnetization. We find that craters in the SP are more likely to have an enhanced magnetization. An alternative explanation to a strong ancient dynamo for strong magnetizations is local enhancements in iron content of the crust, of either endogenic or exogenic (impact-delivered) origin. Accordingly, we use impact scaling relationships to calculate magnetizations that can be acquired in the present-day field by impact-delivered iron.

We find that the magnetization at 66% of the enhanced craters can be explained by a local increase in crustal iron content delivered by a fully iron impactor. Furthermore 39% of enhanced craters do not require an iron-rich impactor: their magnetization can be explained by extra iron delivered by an impactor with 50% iron by mass. 

These results suggest that most of the enhanced magnetization can be acquired in the present-day field, and the overall low iron content of Mercury’s crust makes the effects of impact-delivered iron magnetically detectable especially in the SP.

How to cite: Cicchetti, F. and Johnson, C. L.: Magnetization signatures of craters on Mercury and the contribution of impact-delivered iron., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14037, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14037, 2026.

Mercury’s exosphere has been extensively investigated through ground-based observations. Since 2007, the THEMIS solar telescope was used to conduct a long-term monitoring campaign of the sodium (Na) exosphere, enabling detailed studies of its morphology and variability at different timescales driven by interactions between Mercury’s surface, intrinsic magnetic field, neutral and ionized environment, and the solar wind and radiation. They allowed to investigate the contribution of the different source processes as well as the statistical frequency of the different morphological patterns, and the rapid change from one to another at the sudden change of interplanetary magnetic field conditions.

In 2022, 2023, and 2024, we carried out targeted observations of Mercury’s sodium exosphere in the days surrounding three of the six flybys performed by the ESA–JAXA BepiColombo spacecraft around the planet. The objective was to provide a global view of the exospheric morphology and dynamics during the spacecraft’s close-approach phase, when also several in-situ instruments were simultaneously operating. These measurements offered crucial information on the planetary environment, including magnetic fields, as well as ion, electron, and neutral populations across a wide range of energies, and radiation.

We present and compare the three exospheric configurations observed in the days around these three flybys, highlighting their morphological and dynamical similarities and differences.

How to cite: Mangano, V., Leblanc, F., Del Moro, D., Milillo, A., Moroni, M., Gelly, B., Douet, R., Laforge, D., and Zender, J.: The Exosphere of Mercury during BepiColombo's Flybys 2, 3, and 4, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14265, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14265, 2026.

The chemical and physical properties of Mercury's metallic core are fundamental to understanding the thermal and magnetic history of the planet. For instance, the sustainability of the dynamo depends on the core chemistry, the growth of the inner core, and the physical properties of the liquid outer core. Here, we report results from high-pressure, high-temperature experiments on analogs of Mercury's deep interior. The composition of the outer core was investigated by focusing on chemical transport between core and mantle analogs, specifically, reduced silicates and metals containing varying amounts of Fe, Si, Ni, C, and S (Pommier, GRL, 2025). These experiments employed samples with a layered structure in a multi-anvil press at 5 GPa and up to 1973 K, and were monitored using impedance spectroscopy. Electrical results and chemical (electron microscopy) analyses of the retrieved metal+silicate couples support an outer core that incorporates significant amounts of alloying agents (>20 at.% Si, Ni, C, S). Electrical measurements were then performed on relevant Fe-Ni-Si-C/S liquids at 5 GPa and up to 2123 K. The electrical resistivity values were used to estimate the thermal conductivity of the outer core, ranging from 17 to 31 W.m^-1.K^-1. These low values in comparison with the thermal conductivities of Fe-Si liquids could increase the power available to the dynamo during core cooling. More recently, chemical constraints determined from the preceding experiments were used to synthesize new core analogs. These materials are used in phase equilibria experiments to probe partitioning of light elements between the outer and inner core, performed in the multi-anvil press at 5–15 GPa and up to 1973 K. Taken together, these results provide new constraints on the compositional and density differences between the outer and inner core, as well as the power available to the dynamo. The connection of the findings with various scenarios for planetary cooling will be discussed.

How to cite: Pommier, A., Yin, Y., and Fei, Y.:  Constraints on Mercury's Si, C, S-bearing Core from Impedance Spectroscopy and Partitioning Experiments at High Pressure , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15342, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15342, 2026.

Without continuous diffusion from the Hermean subsurface to the planetary epiregolith, Mercury’s Na exosphere cannot be sustained [1-4]. Meteoritic impacts and solar wind sputtering excavate Na from regolith minerals and replenish the supply, redepositing it across the planetary surface. These excavated, adsorbed Na atoms may be subsequently re-ejected into the exosphere by lower energy (< 10 eV) release processes such as thermal desorption and photodesorption. However, this “surface reservoir” appears unsustainable, with theoretical sublimation fluxes via thermal desorption surpassing the expected available atomic concentrations on Mercury’s sunlit hemisphere [3, 5-6]. With no additional source of Na diffusing from the subsurface, exospheric Na would be depleted, inconsistent with current observation [e.g., 7-8]. Therefore, sustained diffusion of Na from the subsurface is necessary to maintain the observed exospheric abundances, and the rate at which this subsurface Na migrates to the surface is critically important.

We have measured the rate of Na diffusion through a porous regolith analog using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For each measurement, Na vapor was deposited onto the underside of a puck-shaped quartz glass frit, after which the Na concentration on the top side was monitored over time while the bottom of the frit was held at a constant temperature between 300 and 700 K. The high-purity quartz frits used in these experiments are commercial porous filters composed of sintered quartz-glass beads, with puck thickness ranging from 2 to 3 mm and pore sizes ranging from 16 to 40 microns. (Fig. 1). For an initial Na surface concentration of 3.1 at-% on the underside of the frit, we found the rate of diffusion through the frit at 700 K to be 6.4 x 10^-7 at-% s^-1, or roughly 1.3 x 10⁹ Na cm^-2 s^-1.

Fig 1. Front face of disc-shaped frit, where sintered glass particles form irregular channels of 16-40 microns. Image field width is 519 microns; irregular particles create channels. Na is deposited at RT on the bottom face of the frit, diffusing through the channels to reach the front face. The frit front Na concentration is monitored as a function of time, at constant temperature.

Fig. 2. (Left) Elemental concentrations vs. time on the top surface of the porous 16-40 um pore dia. quartz frit at 700 K after Na vapor deposition onto the bottom surface. The profiles show adventitious carbon and minor N, in addition to SiO₂. (Right) Zoomed region of the left-hand plot showing a steady increase in Na on the frit top over time. During ~1900 thru ~2400 minutes, the temperature was maintained but XPS spectra were not acquired.

References:

[1] Sprague 1990, Icarus, 84, 1, 93-105.

[2] Killen and Morgan 1993, J. Geophys. Res., 98, E12, 23589–23601.

[3] Gamborino et al. 2019, Ann. Geophys., 37, 455–470.

[4] Verkercke et al. 2024, Geophys. Res. Lett., 51, e2024GL109393.

[5] Killen et al. 2007, Space Sci Rev 132, 433–509.

[6] Leblanc & Johnson 2003, Icarus, 164, 261-281.

[7] Schmidt et al. 2020, Planet. Sci. Journal, 1, 14.

[8] Millano et al. 2021, Icarus, 355, 114179.  

How to cite: Dukes, C., Woodson, A., and Lin, L.: Laboratory Measurement of Na Diffusion Through Hermean Regolith Analogs, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15951, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15951, 2026.

The ESA-JAXA joint mission BepiColombo is still on the track to Mercury and will be inserted into Mercury orbit in November 2026. It completed all flybys by January 2025 and conducted numerous scientific observations. The Mercury Transfer Module will be first separated in September 2026, followed by insertion into Mercury's orbit in November 2026. Subsequently, the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) will separate in December 2026, deploying its wire antennas and magnetometer masts. Following initial checkout of the spacecraft bus and scientific instruments, along with test observations, the nominal science phase will start in April 2027. The baseline observation plans for Mio faces thermal constraints during the perihelion season and power constraints during the aphelion season, respectively. Operation planning and updating is progressing to address these limitations. This presentation will report on the latest status of BepiColombo/Mio and its upcoming operation and observation plans.

How to cite: Murakami, G., Jones, G., and Besse, S.: Updates and upcoming operation plans of BepiColombo/Mio, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16269, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16269, 2026.

Most global simulations of Mercury’s magnetosphere assume a steady solar wind. However, the planet's extremely small magnetosphere responds on characteristic timescales of only a few minutes, making it inherently sensitive to solar-wind variability. Such rapid temporal forcing is expected to generate a highly dynamic magnetospheric environment, favorable to the development of plasma instabilities. These processes can facilitate electron entry into the magnetosphere, their subsequent trapping and acceleration and, in some cases, their direct interaction with Mercury’s exosphere and surface.

To investigate these effects, we perform global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of Mercury’s magnetospheric response to both steady and time-dependent solar-wind conditions using the spherical code PLANET_MAG_AMRVAC. These simulations are designed to support the upcoming science phase of the BepiColombo mission, scheduled to begin in less than a year, by predicting magnetospheric and exospheric observables accessible to instruments onboard both Mio and MPO under a broad range of solar-wind conditions.

As a first step, the model was tested through comparisons with electron density measurements obtained by the MEA1 instrument onboard Mio during Mercury’s three firsts flybys. The simulations include a planetary plasma source driven by the photoionization of exospheric neutrals, allowing for a more realistic representation of plasma populations in Mercury’s near-planet environment. In parallel, the code was used to predict the quasi-thermal noise spectra measurable by the SORBET instrument during flybys, when the antennas cannot be fully deployed during the cruise phase.

Building on this foundation, the focus of this work is the impact of transient solar wind structures -- for now magnetic holes or vortices -- on Mercury’s magnetosphere. Particular attention is paid to their transmission through the bow shock, their evolution within the magnetosheath, and the conditions under which they can penetrate into the magnetosphere.

To address these questions, we first adopt a global MHD approach to capture the large-scale dynamics and overall morphology of these events. We then aim to confront these results with kinetic or particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations in order to explore the associated small-scale physics beyond the MHD framework. Finally, we outline ongoing and future work involving the injection of test particles, treated within the guiding-center approximation, in selected regions of interest. This approach will allow us to investigate particle transport, acceleration, and loss processes in Mercury’s magnetosphere under different solar-wind disturbance scenarios.

How to cite: Mertz, I., Griton, L., Pantellini, F., Houeibib, A., Issautier, K., Verkampt, B., and Girgis, K.: The dynamic response of Mercury’s magnetosphere to solarwind forcing: consequences for the acceleration of chargedparticles in a telluric planetary environment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17940, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17940, 2026.

Thanks to MESSENGER observations, we know that Mercury’s magnetosphere is highly dynamic, and it can be fully reconfigured in a few minutes, with strong influences of external conditions.

BepiColombo mission includes a comprehensive payload for the investigation of the environment. During the swing-bys the magnetic field and particles in Mercury’s magnetosphere were successfully measured by the MPO and Mio payloads. In this presentation, we will focus on Mercury’s swing-by 2 (MSB2) on 23 June 2022 showing a good example of highly dynamic magnetosphere.

During this swing by, BepiColombo passed from dusk in the far tail toward dawn in the dayside. The trajectory was in the southern hemisphere in a nearly equatorial path. Simultaneous Na ground-based observations have been obtained by the THEMIS solar telescope during the whole day. Solar Orbiter was at about 90° est of BepiColombo observing the Sun remotely.

These two simultaneous observations allowed to observe the magnetosphere in situ while the Na global exosphere was imaged.

According to the magnetic field data (MPO-MAG and MGF) before and after the flyby, the IMF z component was around 0 nT varying between northward to southward. The solar wind observed by SERENA-PICAM before and after the swing-by shows a high variability in the energy. Ion and electron populations in the plasma sheet and close to the planet at dawn have been observed.

When the spacecraft was entering in the far tail at about 9 UT, an abrupt increase in dayside exospheric intensity has been registered by THEMIS. This intensity slowly recovered to the previous values in about 3 hours. When the spacecraft exited from the planetary shadow, at 9:50 UT, SIXS-P observed an electron population at energy between 70-280 keV.

The magnetopause boundary was clearly identifiable together with a weak low latitude boundary layer. While the bow shock crossing was not clearly distinguishable, showing energy-dispersion signatures and a flapping boundary. Upstream the bow shock, foreshock ions have been observed by SERENA-PICAM and MPPE-MSA in agreement with a quasi-parallel IMF configuration.

On the same day, Solar Orbiter/FSI observed a M2 and long-lasting flare from 9:00 UT to 12:UT in the southern solar hemisphere toward Mercury quadrant.

While the Na exospheric variability is clearly linked to solar conditions, it is still difficult to describe the exact mechanism responsible of the Na release without two vantage-point measurements providing information of external conditions and magnetospheric dynamic and exosphere.

How to cite: Milillo, A., Mangano, V., Stumpo, M., Varsani, A., Heyner, D., Schmid, D., Barabash, S., Hadid, L., Andrè, N., Kilpua, E. K. J., Vainio, R., Massetti, S., Aizawa, S., and Exner, W. and the MPO/SERENA, MPO-MAG, Mio-MGF, Mio/MPPE-MEA and MSA, SIXS teams: Mercury’s Environment Observed by BepiColombo during the Second Mercury’s Swing-by, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18224, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18224, 2026.

Mercury will soon be visited by the BepiColombo mission, whose scientific objectives span a wide range of topics in physics and planetary science. Investigating its interior and origin is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of the Solar System. To this aim, the Mercury Orbiter Radio science Experiment (MORE) will enable the determination of the static gravity field and Mercury’s potential Love number k₂, which quantifies the response of a planetary body’s gravity potential to tidal forcing.

In many studies, a static tide approximation is adopted, leading to the determination of a single k₂ value. This approach is appropriate when the planet is treated as purely elastic, so that the tidal response is instantaneous and in phase with the tidal forcing. A more physically consistent description of the interior, however, requires viscoelastic rheologies, which induce a lag in the tidal response. Under these conditions, the static tide approximation is more adequate when the orbit is circular and the planet is in synchronous rotation (tidally locked). Mercury, however, is in a 3:2 spin-orbit resonance and has an eccentric orbit (e = 0.2056), making a dynamical tide description required. To implement it, the tidal potential is expanded as a Fourier series over multiple tidal modes. The main consequence of this approach is the emergence of a frequency-dependent Love number, k₂(Ιω_2mpqΙ) , evaluated at the specific forcing frequencies Ιω_2mpqΙ.

The aim of this work is to investigate the scientific insights that could be gained from measuring k₂(Ιω_2mpqΙ). Since not all tidal modes contribute equally, we focus on those expected to account for the largest fraction to the tidal signal. We then consider different internal models of Mercury and compute the Love numbers associated to the selected modes using ALMA3 and assess their sensitivity to various parameters of the planet’s interior. The main variables examined are the thickness and rigidity of the elastic lithosphere, the size of the liquid outer core, and the viscosity and rheology of the mantle. We demonstrate that the measurement of the dynamical Love number could significantly improve our understanding of Mercury’s mantle relaxation timescales, providing new and essential constraints on its internal structure.

Finally, we performed accurate numerical simulations to verify the feasibility of these measurements with MORE, showing that its sensitivity is adequate to explore the admissible region of the parameter space considered in our models.

How to cite: Consorzi, A., Mitri, G., Durante, D., De Marchi, F., Tartaglia, P., Zurria, A., and Iess, L.:  Unveiling Mercury’s interior with dynamical Love numbers, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18424, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18424, 2026.

As BepiColombo gets closer to its target Mercury, the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA) and the Mercury Orbiter Radio-Science Experiment (MORE) teams prepare for operation, scientific measurements, and analysis. For that purpose, both teams simulate the future measurements: altimetric range measurements by BELA and orbit determination product from MORE radio science measurements. These simulated measurements provide a test bed for the different analysis algorithms and applications.

We report on three different approaches to derive Mercury’s Love number h₂, that were developed and are being optimized within the BELA team: co-registration [1, 2]; cross-over analysis [2, 3]; global grid approach [4, 5]. All of these approaches were already validated in applications to existing laser altimetry data from the Moon and Mercury. In this study we are challenging these approaches by utilizing simulated BELA data and estimate their individual performance in terms of estimation biases and uncertainty assessment. For the simulation of BELA data, we performed an iterative approach. We started with an idealized BELA range measurement simulation, assuming error-free measurements without false detections up to 1400 km. A tidal signal with a defined h₂ value was incorporated into the simulated measurements (dataset v1). Next, we added a simple performance model that includes false detections but keeps range measurements perfect (v2). The third version employed a full BELA performance model [6], which also accounts for slope and roughness at the observation site (v3). For all simulations, the spacecraft’s orbit, attitude, and Mercury’s rotation were assumed to be perfectly known. This assumption changed in the next iteration, where we utilized spacecraft orbits reconstructed by the MORE team from simulated radio-science data (v4). Because the accuracy of h₂ and other geodetic parameters depends on orbit reconstruction quality, careful modelling of the orbit is mandatory.

The MORE simulation consists of an orbit-determination process: first, synthetic radiometric observables are generated by numerically integrating the spacecraft trajectory; second, a least-squares estimation compares these synthetic observables with predictions to reconstruct the trajectory.

In a blind test, all three h₂ inversion approaches received different versions of the simulated observations and were tasked with retrieving the assumed h₂. All tidal models successfully derived the unknown Love number, though differences in estimation accuracy were observed, reflecting each method’s strengths, weaknesses, and the specific parameters used.

References

[1] Xiao H.,et al. (2024), GRL., vol. 52, no. 7, 2025, doi:10.1029/2024GL112266.

[2] Xiao H., et al. (2022). JGR: Planets, 127(7), https://doi.org/10.1029/2022je007196.

[2] Desprats W., et al. (2025). Acta Astronautica, 226, 585–600. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.10.045.

[3] Bertone, S., et al. (2021). JGR: Planets, 126(4), doi:10.1029/2020JE006683

[4] Thor R.N., et al., (2020), A&A, vol. 633, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201936517.

[5] Thor R.N., et al. (2021), J. Geod., vol. 95, no. 1, doi:10.1007/s00190-020-01455-8.

[6] Steinbrügge G., et al. (2018). PSS, 159, 84–92. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2018.04.017.

How to cite: Stenzel, O., Xiao, H., Desprats, W., Van Hoolst, T., Steinbrügge, G., Stark, A., Nishiyama, G., Zurria, A., Iess, L., and Hussmann, H.: Approaching Mercury – Preparation for Geodesy Studies by the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18606, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18606, 2026.

Because of Mercury’s close orbital position to the Sun and its low mass, the planet cannot retain a dense atmosphere and instead possesses an exosphere. The gaseous species detected so far - such as H, (Mariner 10, MESSENGER), He (Mariner 10, MESSENGER, BepiColombo flyby), (possibly) O (Mariner 10), Na, K, Ca (ground-based and MESSENGER), Mg (MESSENGER), and Li and H₂ (inferred from MESSENGER magnetic field data) - yield a column content in the order of about 10¹² cm⁻², which is lower than the expected column content of an exosphere which is in the order of about 10¹⁴ cm⁻². In addition to these elements, MESSENGER’s FIPS instrument also detected C, OH, H₂O, Ne, Al, Si, O₂, Ar, CO₂, Ti, and Fe ions at the downstream of Mercury. Atmospheric measurements from the Mariner 10 occultation experiment indicate that the electron density near the planet's surface is less than 10³ cm^-3 on both sides of the planet, implying an upper limit to the dayside surface gas number density of about 10⁶ cm^-3. The observed elements are expected to represent only a small fraction of Mercury’s exosphere,  as the total surface pressure contributed by these known species is far lower than the upper limit for the exospheric surface pressure of 10^-11 - 10^-12 bar. While H and He appear to originate from the solar wind (i.e., thermal release of implanted solar wind ions), heavier elements are sourced from the planet’s regolith and may be delivered by meteoroids of various sizes. In this study, we investigate the role of meteoroids and their contribution to the elemental input on Mercury's surface and exosphere. We also discuss the potential effects of meteoritic material on the volatile components of the planet's surface composition and examine which currently undetected elements, potentially delivered from meteoroids, may contribute to the still-unknown surface pressure.

How to cite: Lammer, H., Weichbold, F., Scherf, M., Schmid, D., Berezhnoy, A., Varsani, A., and Volwerk, M.: The role of meteoritic delivery to Mercury’s surface-exosphere environment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18943, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18943, 2026.

We present global modelling of Mercury’s solar wind interaction with the open-source 3D hybrid-particle code framework RHybrid (paRallel Hybrid) in light of BepiColombo's flybys and forthcoming orbital science observations. In the hybrid-particle model, ions are treated kinetically as macroscopic particle clouds (macroparticles) moving under the Lorentz force, while electrons are described implicitly as a charge-neutralising, inertialess fluid governed by Ohm’s law. The kinetic ion dynamics are coupled to the evolution of the magnetic field through Faraday’s law, and the system is closed using Ampère’s law. This approach allows ion velocity distributions to evolve self-consistently, capturing wave-particle interactions, finite Larmor radius effects, and other ion-kinetic processes. The code is highly parallelised using message passing between compute nodes, enabling efficient use of large high-performance computing resources. This allows us to simulate spatial structures and ion velocity distributions in the Hermean plasma environment with high resolution, resolving the coupling between ion scales and global magnetospheric scales.

In the model, Mercury’s surface is represented as a particle-absorbing boundary, with the underlying crust–mantle region modelled as a resistive spherical shell overlying an ideally conducting core. The intrinsic planetary magnetic field is prescribed as a dipole offset northward from the planet’s centre, or alternatively by any other 3D planetary magnetic field model. The production of exospheric ion species is described through photoionisation of arbitrary 3D neutral density profiles.

Here we discuss the application of global hybrid modelling to study the formation, structure, and dynamics of different regions in the Hermean plasma environment, as well as ongoing development of the RHybrid code, including adaptive mesh refinement, temporal substepping, and improved electron physics. Mercury’s environment is characterised by strong couplings and feedbacks between the solar wind, magnetosphere, exosphere, surface, mantle, and core. Global hybrid modelling provides essential context for interpreting in situ observations, enables controlled numerical experiments under varying conditions, and supports systematic and flexible investigations of the scaling of solar wind interaction processes.

How to cite: Jarvinen, R., Honkonen, I., Kallio, E., Phillips, D., Dubyagin, S., Grant, S., and Borg, M.: Interpreting BepiColombo's observations of Mercury's solar wind interaction with global hybrid-particle simulations, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19073, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19073, 2026.

Mercury hosts a highly dynamic magnetosphere in which energy and momentum can be transported between different regions by field-aligned currents (FACs). The region 1 FAC are generated near the dawnside magnetopause, propagate along magnetic field lines toward the planet, and return toward the dusk magnetospheric flank. In-situ observations have established FACs as a ubiquitous feature of the Hermean magnetosphere. However, in the absence of a substantial ionosphere, the mechanisms by which these currents close remain poorly understood. In this study, we present the analysis results from in-situ MESSENGER magnetic field observations and apply the magnetometric resistivity inversion technique to infer FAC closure pathways above and within the planetary surface and within Mercury’s interior without any pre-assumptions about the conductivity structure. We further show the influence of different inversion side constraints, including solenoidal current continuity and minimum-norm regularization, on the inferred current systems.

How to cite: Heyner, D., Pump, K., Kolhey, P., Plaschke, F., Pommier, A., and Johnson, C.: Magnetometric Resistivity Inversion of Region 1 Field-Aligned Currents in Mercury’s Interior, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19710, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19710, 2026.

BepiColombo is a joint mission to Mercury between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), launched in October 2018. It is now nearing the end of its eight-year-long cruise to the planet, during which it encountered the Earth and Venus, and performed six flybys of Mercury. In September 2026, the Mercury Transfer Module will detach from the mission’s two orbiters. The Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) will together enter Mercury orbit in late November, and these two orbiters will separate from each other in December. MPO will adjust its orbit until reaching its final science orbit in March 2027. Less then a year from now, in April 2027, both orbiters will begin their joint comprehensive exploration of planet Mercury and its environment with their extremely capable payload suites. We shall provide an overview of the two orbiters and their instruments, a summary of the mission status, a preview of the remaining plans for the mission up to and after arrival in orbit around Mercury, and a broad overview of scientific results to date.

How to cite: Jones, G., Murakami, G., and Besse, S.: BepiColombo Approaches Mercury: A Mission Update, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19883, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19883, 2026.

The MERTIS (Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer) instrument aboard the ESA–JAXA BepiColombo mission is designed to characterize Mercury’s surface mineralogy using thermal infrared spectroscopy in the 7-14 µm range [1,2]. During BepiColombo’s fifth Mercury flyby on 1 December 2024, MERTIS acquired the first spatially resolved mid-infrared spectra of Mercury’s surface, collecting more than 1.4 million spectra at spatial resolutions of approximately 26–30 km per pixel [3,4]. These observations revealed spectral variations associated with impact craters, bright and dark deposits, and other geological features, providing an important preview of the global dataset that will be obtained after Mercury orbit insertion in late 2026.

However, interpreting thermal infrared spectra of Mercury is challenging due to the planet’s extreme surface temperatures (~100–700 K) and strong thermal gradients, which produce non-isothermal conditions within individual MERTIS pixels. These conditions obscure mineralogical features by blending them with multiple temperature-dependent Planck radiation, making accurate determination of the emissivity a central challenge [1,5,6]. In addition, thermal infrared spectral features are influenced by physical surface properties such as grain size, porosity and surface roughness, further increasing interpretation uncertainties [7,8,9]. Robust analysis of the upcoming global MERTIS dataset therefore requires laboratory reference measurements under comparable conditions.

To support ongoing laboratory studies, we developed the MERTIS Imaging Model for Instrument Characterization (MIMIC), a dedicated laboratory emulator that reproduces the imaging geometry and spectral behavior of MERTIS. MIMIC is designed as a complementary approach to established bulk emissivity measurements acquired with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, extending these methods by enabling spatially resolved thermal infrared imaging under Mercury-like thermal conditions at DLR’s Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory (PSL). Through a mid-infrared transparent window mounted on a high-temperature, evacuated emissivity chamber, MIMIC produces imaging data that are comparable to MERTIS observations. This capability allows systematic investigation of how surface physical properties, such as grain size, grain shape (angularity and sphericity), porosity, and surface roughness, affect thermal emission at the pixel scale. By bridging laboratory spectroscopy with orbital observations, MIMIC offers a unique platform to improve the interpretation of MERTIS data and our understanding of mid-IR emission processes on airless planetary bodies.

[1] Hiesinger, H., et al., 2010, Planetary and Space Science [2] Helbert, J., et al., 2013, SPIE [3] Hiesinger, H., et al., 2025, LPSC [4] Adeli, S., et al., 2025, EPSC-DPS [5] Wohlfarth, K., et al., 2023, Astronomy & Astrophysics [6] Tenthoff, M., et al., 2025, EPSC-DPS [7] Maturilli, A., et al., 2006, Planetary and Space Science [8] Morlok, A., et al., 2016, Icarus [9] Martin, A.C., et al., 2025, JGR Planets

How to cite: Domac, A., Adeli, S., Helbert, J., Althaus, C., Maturilli, A., D'Amore, M., Barraud, O., Garland, S., Knollenberg, J., Walter, I., Verma, N., Van der Neucker, A., Alemanno, G., Lorek, A., Hamann, C., Wünnemann, K., and Hiesinger, H.: A Laboratory Imaging Emulator for the MERTIS Instrument in preparation for BepiColombo Mission: MIMIC, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20040, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20040, 2026.

Mercury’s northern magnetospheric cusp is a primary pathway for solar wind plasma to the surface, exosphere, and magnetosphere. Using the full MESSENGER orbital data set, we investigate how cusp magnetic variability responds to global magnetospheric activity. We quantify high-frequency magnetic field variability with the scalar metric σ_b(B) derived from filtered MAG measurements and relate it to the magnetic disturbance index (DI) derived from MESSENGER magnetometer data Anderson et al. (2013).

We find that DI exerts a strong, control on σ_b(B) the cusp. The high-DI intervals show an enhanced and spatially expanded magnetic variability within the northern cusp region. This enhancement is consistent with the increases in planetary heavy-ion signatures, particularly Na⁺ and He²⁺, attributed to intensified cusp driven ion sputtering from incoming H⁺ at the surface. The resulting ions are distributed within the magnetosphere by e.g. E × B drift, providing a feedback between cusp precipitation, planetary ion supply, and enhanced magnetospheric disturbance Raines et al. (2022).

How to cite: Zywczok, R. and Heyner, D.: Disturbance-Dependent Expansion of Magnetic Field Variability in Mercury's Northern Magnetospheric Cusp, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20478, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20478, 2026.

The knowledge of Mercury's crater record has significantly evolved during the last decade thanks to the MESSENGER mission, which enabled the implementation of updated global crater catalogs by allowing the identification of a wealth of previously unknown impact structures. Particularly, recent re-examination of MESSENGER data led to the identification of tens of previously unreported large (D>150 km) impact basins. These large basins have not yet been studied in detail despite their significant geological and geophysical importance. Here, we present geological, topographical, structural, compositional, and geophysical investigations of one (maybe the largest) of these basins. The basin has not yet an International Astronomical Union (IAU) name but it has been reported as b56 or Lennon-Picasso basin in the published literature. The basin has an approximate diameter of more than 1500 kilometers and is centered at about 15S, 50E, located north-westward of Rembrandt basin. However, the most external structures associated to this basin extend fairly more than 1500-km form its center, suggesting a diameter closer if not higher than 2000 km, thus equivalent if not bigger than Caloris basin, known as the largest Mercury’s basin. Geology, tectonics, and composition of this basin have been investigated by using photointerpretation and remote sensing techniques applied to all the available data. Visible imagery from MDIS camera has been integrated with Digital Elevation Models (DEM), spectral data (color mosaics and data from MASCS), and gravity data from the Radio Science (RS) experiment onboard of MESSENGER into Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. DEM and slope maps highlight the annular terraced floor of the basin, suggesting that this may have formed as a peak ring or multiring structure. The basin is defined by several major lineaments (up to thousands of km long) consisting of a series of tectonic structures encompassing a broadly circular topographic low corresponding to the internal floor of the basin. This central region shows a gravity anomaly and a low crustal thickness with respect to the surrounding areas. The impact triggered volcanic activity since the floor presents the typical characteristics of other volcanic infilled Mercury’s basins: a smoother texture and lower albedo with respect to the surroundings regions, radial faults, wrinkle ridges and concentric circular lobate scarps, and spectral signatures from MASCS data. Most importantly, our results show that the tectonics associated to this basin, along as that of many other recently discovered large basins, might have had a regional and global significance, which has been so far overlooked. Indeed, these impact-related structures have been so far included in current estimates of Mercury’s contraction, most likely leading to its overestimation. After presenting the above mentioned lines of evidence we will discuss the implications of the tectonics of Mercury’s large basins for the planet global tectonics and contraction estimates.

How to cite: Di Achille, G., D'Incecco, P., and Caddeo, Y.: Don’t call it b56: geology and geophysics of a Caloris-size impact basin and implications for Mercury’s global tectonics, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21371, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21371, 2026.

Venus’ regios are large surface structures characterized by both elevated topography and geoid, as well as presence of extensive lava flows that overlie the surrounding terrains. These regios are the youngest surface features observed on Venus, and are interpreted as the manifestations of mantle plumes and related melting. Our goal is to infer the subsurface structure of Venus that is consistent with the observation of these structures. Using the finite-element open-source code ASPECT, we set up a 3D thermochemical incompressible model with melting to calculate the convection in the upper mantle and related lithospheric evolution. The assumed material rheology includes thermal and melt-induced chemical buoyancy, as well as diffusion creep with water-dependent stiffening. We perform a parametric study independently varying rheological properties, plume size, and plume temperature. For each set of parameters, we analyze the melting distribution, surface topography, and the generated geoid, and compare these predictions with available observations of Venus’ regios. Our results demonstrate that the plume models are mostly consistent with the geophysical signature of Venus’ regios. Additionally, we provide constraints on the upper-mantle structure beneath the regios, and show the diversity of the melting patterns that may explain various systems of tectonic features observed on Venus.

How to cite: Dizov, A., Čadek, O., Maierová, P., Dumoulin, C., Choblet, G., and Tobie, G.: Regios as a manifestation of upper-mantle dynamics, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-499, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-499, 2026.

How to cite: Gullbekk, S. B., Brissaud, Q., Froment, M., and Näsholm, S. P.: Infrasound waveguides on Venus enable exploration of explosive volcanism using balloons, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-804, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-804, 2026.

Reconstructing Venus’s early evolution and determining whether it once had Earth-like, temperate conditions remain challenging because its surface is geologically young. Climate models suggest that Venus may have maintained mild temperatures and even liquid water until <1 Ga (Way et al., 2016), while other work suggests that Venus might have had high surface temperature over most of its history, with values possibly even higher than today (Noack et al., 2012). At the same time, the surface temperature is strongly linked to the volcanic and outgassing history, and thus to the presence of volatiles in the interior. Some studies suggest that the interior is intrinsically dry (Constantinou et al., 2024), while others indicate that at least the lower mantle might still contain volatiles (Smrekar & Sotin, 2012). The presence of volatiles can substantially affect the mantle viscosity that, in turn, affects the thermal, magmatic, and outgassing history.   

Venus’s geodynamic regime is heavily debated (Rolf et al., 2022), but recent evidence of ongoing volcanic activity (Herrick & Hensley, 2023) indicates that magmatic processes could still play a key role today. Early geodynamic models that included magmatism considered only extrusive magmatism, known as heat-pipe regime (Moore & Webb, 2013). Recent studies investigated scenarios where magmatic intrusions dominate, known as plutonic-squishy regime (Lourenco et al., 2020). Although current surface and lithospheric conditions suggest a highly intrusive magmatic style (Maia et al., 2025), the relative roles of intrusive and extrusive magmatism in regulating mantle cooling for different surface temperature scenarios and rheological conditions remain unexplored.

We test different surface temperature and mantle viscosity values and model their effect on the long-term cooling on Venus and Venus-like planets, using the geodynamic code GAIA in a 2D spherical annulus geometry (Hüttig et al., 2013; Fleury et al., 2024). We assume a temperature- and depth-dependent viscosity following an Arrhenius law (Hirth & Kohlstedt, 2003), and pressure- and temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and expansivity (Tosi et al., 2013). We model the decay of radioactive heat-producing elements and cooling of the core. Melting occurs when mantle temperatures exceed the solidus (Stixrude et al., 2009).

Our results show that surface temperature and mantle viscosity are key factors in determining the efficiency of planetary cooling for different magmatic styles (intrusive or extrusive). A high surface temperature, like Venus’s current 737 K, shows a more efficient cooling when intrusive magmatism is considered, while cooler surfaces (~500 K) lead to stronger mantle cooling for an extrusive magmatism scenario, for cases assuming a reference viscosity of ~10²¹ Pa s. Mantle viscosity modulates this behavior: lower viscosities (~10²⁰ Pa s) allow planets with cold surfaces to cool more efficiently if intrusions are present, while higher viscosities (~10²² Pa s) with hot surfaces cool more efficiently if extrusive magmatism dominates. These findings suggest that Venus’s surface conditions and mantle properties over time play a crucial role in its thermal and magmatic evolution, offering insights into the potential habitability of Venus-like exoplanets, where the balance between intrusive and extrusive magmatism likely governs long-term surface-mantle interactions and volatile cycling.

How to cite: Herrera, C., Plesa, A.-C., Maia, J., and Breuer, D.: Surface temperature and mantle viscosity influence the cooling efficiency of magmatic styles on Venus, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1018, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1018, 2026.

Gravity data from Magellan revealed Venus's excited spin state: the planet does not rotate around its axis of symmetry (principal axis of inertia), but instead, the spin axis is offset from this principal axis by 0.48° ^[1]. As a consequence, Venus's spin pole is expected to move across the planet's surface (polar motion), but this motion has not yet been detected, since currently available images of Venus's surface lack the resolution necessary to resolve it.

Anticipating the exploration of Venus by ESA's EnVision and NASA's VERITAS, we show in this study how a future measurement of polar motion, combined with a refined measurement of the precession (the spin axis's motion in inertial space), could improve our knowledge of Venus's interior structure by helping to reveal essential properties such as the state and size of its core.

We used a distribution of plausible interior density profiles^[2] and GCM-simulated atmospheric dynamics^[3] to derive Venus's expected polar motion. At a timescale of a few years, the spin pole is expected to drift across the surface at a rate of 21.7 (±2.6) meters per year^[4]. This rate depends largely on the moment of inertia of Venus (for models with a fully solidified core) or that of the mantle only (for models with a liquid core).

This polar drift is the short-term expression of a slow wobble (called the Chandler wobble) of the spin axis around the principal axis, with a period of 13,000-19,000 years. We characterized the wobble's damping, caused by dissipation in Venus's solid tides (pole tide and solar tide). From a range of plausible tidal responses^[5], the damping timescale ranges from 0.8 to 13 million years. Combined with the Chandler frequency acting here as a resonant frequency, we derived the transfer function characterizing how Venus's polar motion responds to an excitation, thus providing a basis for further investigations of long-term excitation processes that could explain the currently observed excited spin state.

^[1] Konopliv et al. (1999), Icarus, doi:10.1006/icar.1999.6086
^[2] Shah et al. (2022), The Astrophysical Journal, doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac410d
^[3] Lai et al. (2024), JGR Planets, doi:10.1029/2023je008253
^[4] Phan and Rambaux (2025), Astronomy & Astrophysics, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202553658
^[5] Musseau et al. (2024), Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116245

How to cite: Phan, P.-L. and Rambaux, N.: Venus's Polar Drift as a Probe of its Interior Structure, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1048, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1048, 2026.

How to cite: Ceragioli, B., Plane, J., Marsh, D., Feng, W., Egan, J., Carrillo-Sánchez, J. D., Janches, D., Christou, A., Stolzenbach, A., Lebonnois, S., and Lefèvre, F.: Exploring the variability of the meteoric metal layers in the Venusian atmosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1157, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1157, 2026.

Venus at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths exhibits distinct light and dark markings (Rossow et al., JAS ,1980). The discovery of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) using a ground-based high resolution spectrometer explained Venus’ albedo at wavelengths < 320 nm but not these dark markings at 320-500 nm (Esposito et al. GRL, 1979; Pollack et al., JGR , 1980; Pérez-Hoyos et al., JGR , 2018). So at least one other absorber must be important at these wavelengths. Radiative balance simulations suggest this unidentifed absorber is responsible for absorbing about half of the solar energy absorbed by Venus’ atmosphere (Titov et al., Space Sci Rev, 2018). Polysulfur species (S_x) have been suggested but a sufficiently fast pathway to form these polysulfur species hasn’t been identified (Mills et al., Planet Space Sci, 2007). One pathway that has received minimal attention since it was proposed by Halstead and Thrush (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A Math. Phys. Sci., 1966) is the reaction SO+OCS→CO₂+S₂. This reaction was proposed by Halstead and Thrush (1966) to explain the disagreement between their inferred upper limit rate for 2SO{+M} →SO₂+S {or (SO)₂}  and the rate inferred by Sullivan and Warneck (Ber. Bunsenges. Phys. Chem., 1965). Baulch et al. (Butterworths, 1976) included the Halstead and Thrush (1966) rate for SO+OCS→CO₂+S₂ in their assessment of high temperature gas kinetic data but noted it should be used with caution. This reaction potentially enhances the rates of formation of both CO₂ and S_x, and, thus, it potentially contributes to two long-standing issues in Venus atmospheric chemistry: the overprediction of mesospheric column O₂ and the requirement for faster production of S₂ (if S_x contributes significantly to the unidentified UV absorption). When included in a 1-D photochemical model with the Halstead and Thrush (1966) rate coefficient, this reaction dominates production of S₂ in the upper cloud layer. This occurs for both the Pinto et al. (Nature Comm., 2021) and Francés-Monerris et al. (Nature Comm., 2022) schemes for enhanced S₂ production. The resultant SO₂ profile differs significantly from previous simulations (Zhang et al., Icarus, 2012) but remains marginally compatible with existing observations (Jessup et al., Icarus, 2015). Similar behaviour is found when the volume mixing ratio for OCS at 58 km is increased to 4x10^-6 and SO₂ is reduced to 1.2x10^-6, even if the SO+OCS reaction rate is set to zero. The results from a suite of simulations exploring this new region of parameter space and the potential implications for the Venus upper cloud will be discussed. 

How to cite: Katrivesis Brown, G., Mills, F., and Croke, B.: An Exploration of Polysulfur Chemistry in a Simulated Venus Atmosphere , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1286, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1286, 2026.

References:

[1] Mogul R. et al. (2025) GRL 52.

[2] Hoffman J. H. et al. (1979) Science 205.

[3] Moroz V. et al. (1997) Adv. Space Res. 19.

[4] Avice G. et al. (2022) Space Sci. Rev. 218.

[5] Vandaele A. C. et al. (2016) Adv. Space Res. 57.

[6] Morellina S. et al. (2020) Icarus 350.

[7] Limaye S. S. et al. (2017) Icarus 294.

[8] Hoffman J. H. et al. (1980) JGR Space Sci. 85.

[9] Mogul R. et al. (2023) Icarus 392.

[10] Mogul R. et al. (2023) MethodsX 11.

[11] Mogul R. et al. (2025) JGR Planets 130.

[12] Marty B. et al. (2011) Science 332.

[13] Füri E. et al. (2015) Nature Geosci. 8.

How to cite: Mogul, R., Limaye, S., and Way, M.: First N2 Profile for Venus’ Deep Lower Atmosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2276, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2276, 2026.

 The existing measurements of the lower atmosphere provided little information about the spatiotemporal distributions and variations of temperature and sulfur compounds profiles. An improved understanding of temperature and sulfur compounds in the Venusian lower atmosphere is required to investigate the mechanisms which maintain the atmospheric super-rotation, the surface-atmosphere interactions, and the origin and evolution of the Venusian atmosphere and climate. In the present study, we demonstrate that a passive microwave sounder placed in low Venus orbit could provide the required high-precision, high-resolution and vertically-resolved observations of temperature, sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and gaseous sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄(g)). By model simulations, the frequency channel selection and performance simulation for the sounder are completed. The simulation results show that temperature can be measured from the Venus surface to ~61 km with a precision of 1-3.5 K and a vertical resolution of 6-15 km. Precision of 10-35% is expected for SO₂ in the ~12-64 km altitude range and with a vertical resolution of 8-19 km. H₂SO₄(g) can be measured in the altitude range ~36-54 km with a precision of 10-30% and a vertical resolution of 6-13 km.

How to cite: Zhang, Z. and Dong, X.: Simulation Study on Passive Microwave Remote Sensing of the Venusian Lower Atmosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3313, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3313, 2026.

EnVision is ESA’s next mission to Venus in partnership with NASA, where NASA provides the VenSAR instrument and mission support to critical phases. ASI, DLR, BelSPO, and CNES lead the procurements of the SRS, VenSpec-M, VenSpec-H and VenSpec-U instruments and the Radio Science Experiment (RSE), respectively. The mission was adopted in January 2024, and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) was awarded the contract to build the spacecraft in January 2025. The launch is scheduled for 2031, and the start of the science operations at Venus is expected in mid-2034, following the mission cruise and aerobraking phase around Venus to achieve a low Venus polar orbit.

The scientific objective of EnVision is to provide a holistic view of the planet from its inner core to its upper atmosphere, studying the planets history, activity and climate. EnVision aims to establish the nature and current state of Venus’ geological evolution and its relationship with the atmosphere. EnVision’s overall science objectives are to: (i) characterize the sequence of events that formed the regional and global surface features of Venus, as well as the geodynamic framework that has controlled the release of internal heat over Venus history; (ii) determine how geologically active the planet is today; (iii) establish the interactions between the planet and its atmosphere at present and through time. Furthermore, EnVision will look for evidence of past liquid water on its surface.

The nominal science phase of the mission will last six Venus cycles (~four Earth years), and ~210 Tbits of science data will be downlinked using a Ka-/X-band communication system. The VenSAR S-band radar will perform targeted surface imaging as well as polarimetric and stereo imaging, radiometry, and altimetry. The high-frequency Subsurface Radar Sounder (SRS) will perform novel sounding of the upper crust in search of material boundaries. The three spectrometers, VenSpec-U, VenSpec-H and VenSpec-M, operating in the UV and Near-IR, will map trace gases, search for volcanic gas plumes above and below the clouds, and map surface emissivity and composition. The Radio Science Experiment (RSE) will exploit the spacecraft Telemetry Tracking and Command (TT&C in Ka-/X bands) system to determine the planet’s gravity field and to sound the structure and composition of the middle atmosphere and cloud layer in radio occultation. All instruments have Venus heritage and robust margins relative to the requirements, allowing the mission to meet its scientific objectives. The EnVision science teams will adopt an open data policy, with public release of the scientific data after validation and verification. Public calibrated data availability is <6 months after data downlink.

The Envision Science Working Team (SWT) have recently compiled a list of prioritized Venus targets used to create the Regions of Interest (ROIs) to be observed by the mission. The missions scientific objectives, instrumentation, and status will be presented together with a first version of the ROIs, on-going scientific and technical maturity activities, and the next steps in the mission preparation.

How to cite: Straume-Lindner, A. G. and Pacros, A. and the Envision Science Working Team (SWT): Objectives and status of the Envision Venus mission, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4511, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4511, 2026.

The atmospheres of Venus and Mars are primarily CO₂ which photolyses at wavelengths ∼<200 nm to CO and O. Direct recombination via CO+O+M → CO₂+M is very slow so the rate of production of CO₂ to balance its loss via photolysis is controlled by the abundances of trace radicals that catalyse production of CO₂ (e.g., Yung and DeMore, Icarus 51, 199, 1982). These trace radicals, such as OH and ClCO, are derived directly or indirectly from photolysis of H₂O and HCl. Previous large uncertainties in the rates of some of the key reactions that comprise these catalytic processes have been significantly reduced (eg., Mills and Allen, PSS 55, 2007; Marcq et al., Space Sci Rev 214, 10, 2018; Chao et al., AGU Fall Mtg Abst P11B-2985, 2024). In addition, several studies in the past 15 years have refined our understanding of the UV cross sections of CO₂ and H₂O (e.g., Archer et al., JQSRT 117, 88, 2013; Schmidt et al., PNAS 110, 17691, 2013; Ranjan et al., Astrobio 17, 687, 2017; Venot et al., A & A 609, A34, 2018; Ranjan et al., Ap J 896, 148, 2020). Consequently, it is appropriate to examine again the impact on mesospheric simulations of the remaining uncertainties in the photolysis and extinction cross sections for CO₂, HCl, and H₂O. 

How to cite: Mills, F.: Impact of uncertainties in CO2, HCl, and H2O cross sections on simulations of Venus mesospheric chemistry, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4927, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4927, 2026.

Increasing observational evidence and recent geodynamical modelling indicate that Venus may have experienced or may still experience tectonic-like processes (Sulcanese et al., 2024; Gülcher et al., 2025). In fact, surface deformation is believed to be driven primarily by mantle convection and plume-lithosphere interactions, producing a wide range of tectono-volcanic features (Smrekar et al., 2023). A key expression of this deep dynamics is the global network of rifts (chasmata), which extends for thousands of kilometres (Graff et al., 2018; Brossier et al., 2022). However, their driving mechanisms, temporal evolution, and lithospheric structure remain poorly constrained as a result of limited observational data. Therefore, constraining the evolution of Venusian chasmata is essential to understanding the interior dynamics of the planet and its evolution.

In this study, we used forward 2D numerical models to constrain the rates, durations, and lithospheric structures of extensional processes, integrating observational evidence from topography and gravity anomalies to improve our understanding of Venusian rifting. In particular, we tested different extensional velocities and lithospheric and crustal thicknesses.

For comparison with topographic and gravity observation, we extracted 12 topographic cross-sections along 28 Venusian rift axis. To minimize 3D effects when compared with our 2D numerical models, we evaluated the longitudinal variability of topography by grouping three or more adjacent cross-sections and computing their mean profiles. Only portions of the rifts that did not show statistically significant variations in topography were considered for our comparison. We then compared the mean topography of these rift portions with the topography predicted by the models. Finally, we compared the gravity anomalies derived from the selected rift portions with the gravity anomalies extracted by the models.

We observed that extensional velocities between 0.5 and 2 cm/yr reproduce the observed topography well, while lower velocities often do not allow for the development of rifting structures. In addition, models with a lithospheric thickness of 100 km and a crustal thickness of 15 km show the best topographic fit with observations. Finally, comparing the observations with the evolution of the models at different times allows us to recognize an asynchronous evolution in the Diana chasma, with differences of approximately 1 Myr along its axis. 

J. Brossier, M. S. Gilmore, and J. W. Head. Extended rift-associated volcanism in ganis chasma, venus detected from magellan radar emissivity. Geophysical Research Letters, 49 (15):e2022GL099765, 2022. doi:10.1029/2022GL099765.

J. Graff, R. Ernst, and C. Samson. Evidence for triple-junction rifting focussed on local magmatic centres along parga chasma, venus. Icarus, 306:122–138, 2018. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.02.010.

A. J. Gülcher, M. Gurnis, and S. E. Smrekar. Dynamics of venusian rifts and their interactions with plumes and intrusions. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 667:119514, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119514.

S. E. Smrekar, C. Ostberg, and J. G. O’Rourke. Earth-like lithospheric thickness and heat flow on Venus consistent with active rifting. Nature Geoscience, 16:13–18, 2023. doi:10.1038/s41561-022-01068-0.

D. Sulcanese, G. Mitri, and M. Mastrogiuseppe. Evidence of ongoing volcanic activity on Venus revealed by Magellan radar. Nature Astronomy, 8:973–982, 2024. doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02272-1.

How to cite: Thieulot, C., Regorda, A., van Zelst, I., Maia, J., and Erdős, Z.: Constraining the evolution of Venusian rifts: an integrated observation and modelling approach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5892, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5892, 2026.

The three rocky planets of our Solar System, Earth, Venus, and Mars, each once had the potential to sustain habitable conditions, yet today only Earth remains habitable. A key factor governing planetary habitability is the ability to retain an atmosphere. At present, atmospheric loss from all three terrestrial planets is dominated by non-thermal escape processes driven by interactions between planetary atmospheres and the solar wind. In the absence of a strong intrinsic magnetic field, Venus is particularly vulnerable to such interactions.

In this presentation, I will focus on the role of non-thermal escape processes on present-day and early Venus, with particular emphasis on ion pickup. Neutral atmospheric species ionized by solar UV radiation and charge exchange are continually picked up by the magnetized solar wind, resulting in the loss of planetary volatiles. While present-day escape rates are too low to substantially cause thinning of atmosphere, these processes were likely far more efficient under the enhanced solar activity conditions of the early Solar System. I aim to explore how non-thermal escape drives the long-term evolution of Venus and contributed to the development of its present CO₂-dominated atmosphere. The possible existence of an early Venusian magnetic dynamo and its implications on non-thermal escape may also provide context for Venus as an analogue for early Earth and rocky exoplanets.

How to cite: Raorane, A., Kislyakova, K., Van Looveren, G., Guedel, M., Mueller, L., and Macdonald, E.: Non-thermal Escape in Venus Atmosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6985, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6985, 2026.

Venus' dense atmosphere prevents optical surface observation, making radar the only geological analysis method. Without ground truth on Venus, terrestrial analogues provide the only means to validate radar interpretation techniques.

Venus' surface is dominated by volcanic terrain [2] and understanding what changes the new missions may ‘see’ requires analysis of radar signatures at barren, volcanic terrains on Earth. The Askja volcanic area provides an ideal natural laboratory [1] basaltic composition, diverse flows (historical to >6100 years), minimal vegetation cover, and accessibility for validation [5,6]. Key questions include: (1) Can we differentiate volcanic surfaces using radar backscatter? (2) Can we date flows based on radar characteristics? (3) Can we identify flow emplacement and modification processes?

Methodology and Data Acquisition

This research analyses ten lava flow units from the 1961 Vikrahraun eruption to >6100-year-old flows using multi-scale radar data: high-resolution F-SAR (2m), which was collected by the DLR for the VERITAS mission in Aug 2023, at X-band (3.1 cm), S-band (9.4 cm), and L-band (23.8 cm) with full polarimetry [3,4], and Sentinel-1 C-band (30m) [7]. Flow units are mapped using radar imagery, stratigraphic relationships, and field data.

Key Findings

Backscatter curves as a function of incidence angle for individual lava flows show a strong decrease in backscatter with increasing incidence angle (10-15 dB decrease from 10° to 80°), consistent with typical radar scattering behaviour from rough surfaces.

S-band HH analysis reveals systematic changes in backscatter with increasing age: youngest flows (1961) show highest mean backscatter (-7.9 dB), and the oldest flows (>6100 years) show lowest (-16.8 dB); ca 10 dB backscatter decrease over 6000 years. This marked decrease with flow age is caused by post-emplacement weathering, smoothing and mantling.

The age-backscatter correlations across X, C, S, and L bands reflect systematic changes in lava flow surface characteristics over time. Young flows with original emplacement textures produce high backscatter, while older flows develop smoother surfaces through weathering, resulting in lower backscatter. Surface roughness and backscatter decrease with age, enabling relative dating using multi-parameter radar data.

Wavelength comparison reveals progressive decrease in contrast and dynamic range from L-band through S-band to X-band, with enhanced discrimination at longer wavelengths. L-band with cross-polarized (HV) channel provides the highest dynamic range, optimal for flow differentiation.

Polarimetric analysis successfully differentiates surface scattering mechanisms and flow morphologies. High HH and HH/HV ratios indicate smooth pāhoehoe flows and mantled surfaces, while high HV backscatter indicates rough a'ā flows and steep terrain slopes. Decomposition analysis further enhances morphological discrimination capabilities.

Implications and Conclusions

This study demonstrates that multi-parameter radar data enables discrimination of flow morphologies and ages through wavelength-scale roughness analysis. Age-backscatter correlations provide quantitative dating frameworks, while polarimetric analysis enables morphological and textural discrimination. These findings provide ground truth for interpreting radar signatures of volcanic terrains on Venus, supporting upcoming VERITAS and EnVision missions.

References: [1] Adeli et al., 2023; [2] Brossier et al., 2020; [3] Horn et al., 2017; [4] Keller et al., 2024; [5] Mason et al., 2024; [6] Raguso et al., 2025; [7] Torres et al., 2012.

How to cite: Davidova, N., Moreira, A., Ghail, R., Gallardo i Peres, G., and Mason, P.: Multi-wavelength Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Lava Flows at Askja, Iceland: A Venus Analogue Study, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8132, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8132, 2026.

Upcoming Venus missions will feature a range of radar and multispectral instruments to image and map the surface, which is inaccessible to optical sensors due to the thick Venus atmosphere. Of these missions, the X-band VISAR synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument on the VERITAS spacecraft will be used to create a global, high-resolution Digital Elevation Map (DEM) with a posting of less than 250 m and a vertical accuracy of better than 10 m. How can the VERITAS mission achieve such performance if the Venus atmosphere, with its high pressure and temperature, introduces consequent apparent range delays to the radar measurements of several hundreds of meters, and only limited in-situ measurements of the deep atmosphere from earlier missions are available?
Our answer to this problem is a Venus atmospheric model that combines available data on the atmospheric constituents with wave propagation physics of X-band signals under such conditions. Based on previous work by Duan et al. (2010), we have built a Python-based toolkit to compute the signal delay and attenuation for given atmospheric composition, refraction and absorption models, and instrument viewing geometries. We investigate using simulations how the mismodeling of the atmospheric parameters can lead to an inaccurate georegistration of the SAR imagery (based on work by Gisinger et al., 2015, 2017), which in turn would significantly degrade the quality of the derived DEMs.
We perform our investigations on a global scale and over the entire VERITAS science phase of approx. 3 years, and compare our results with analytical expressions. We also show that the expected variability of temperature, pressure, and ionospheric density with latitude and solar time only plays a negligible role in the performance degradation. Finally, we aim to share our atmospheric modeling code with the community, such that we may incorporate improvements to the model, and to help sensitize future users of radar (or multispectral) data from the VERITAS, EnVision, or other missions, to the importance of atmospheric corrections.

How to cite: Köhne, T., Gisinger, C., Duan, X., Hensley, S., and Peral, E.: The Importance of Atmospheric Modeling for Next-Generation Venus Mapping Missions, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9253, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9253, 2026.

In the context of future Venusian missions, it is crucial to improve our understanding of Venus upper atmosphere through 3D modelling, notably for spacecraft orbit computation. This study compares three General Circulation Models (GCMs) of the Venusian atmosphere up to the exosphere: The Venus Planetary Climate Model (Venus PCM; Lebonnois et al., 2010; Martinez et al. 2024), the Venus Thermospheric Global Model (VTGCM; Brecht et al., 2021) and the Tohoku University GCM (TUGCM; Hoshino et al., 2013), focusing on their nominal simulations (e.g. composition, thermal & dynamic structures and heating/cooling rates).

Similarities and discrepancies among them are deeply discussed in Martinez et al. (2026), together with data-models comparison. Despite similar large-scale features, significant differences are identified among the models (see Figure 1). All three GCMs reproduce a warm dayside thermosphere and a cold nightside cryosphere, driven by a balance between solar extreme ultraviolet heating, near-infrared heating, radiative cooling by CO₂ at 15-μm, thermal conduction, and dynamical effects. However, the magnitude and vertical distribution of temperatures differ substantially, particularly in the upper thermosphere. Comparisons with Pioneer Venus, Venus Express, and Magellan observations reveal that the nominal simulations systematically overestimate daytime exospheric temperatures. This bias is consistently linked to an underestimation of atomic oxygen densities, which reduces radiative cooling efficiency at high altitudes.

Figure 1: Diurnal structure of the temperatures for equatorial latitude (30°S–30°N) for Venus PCM, VTGCM and TUGCM at high solar activity (leftside) and at low solar activity (rightside). The approximate altitude of each model for each solar period is marked in white for pressure levels of 10, 1, 0.1, 10⁻², 10⁻³, 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁵ Pa.

Based on the findings of the article, a list of recommendations is proposed aiming at improving the modelling of Venus’ upper atmosphere, among them: 1. Standardize the EUV-UV solar spectrum input. 2. Update the near-infrared heating scheme with Venus Express-Era data. 3. Reassess Radiative cooling schemes. 4. Investigate the underestimated atomic Oxygen abundance.

References:

Brecht, A. S., Bougher, S. W., Shields, D., Liu, H.‐L., & Lee, C. (2021). Planetary‐Scale Wave Impacts on the Venusian Upper Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere. In Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (Vol. 126, Issue 1). American Geophysical Union (AGU). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020je006587

Lebonnois, S., Hourdin, F., Eymet, V., Crespin, A., Fournier, R., Forget, F., 2010. Superrotation of Venus’ atmosphere analyzed with a full general circulation model. J. Geophys. Res. (Planets) 115, 6006. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JE003458.

Martinez, A., Chaufray, J.-Y., Lebonnois, S., Gonzàlez-Galindo, F., Lefèvre, F., & Gilli, G. (2024). Three-dimensional Venusian ionosphere model. In Icarus (Vol. 415, p. 116035). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116035

Martinez A., Karyu H., Brecht A., Gilli G., Lebonnois S., Kuroda T., Stolzenbach A., Gonzalez-Galindo F., Bougher S. and Fujiwara H. (2026). Comparison of General Circulation Models of Venus upper atmosphere. Icarus, 116901, 0019-1035, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116901

Hoshino, N., Fujiwara, H., Takagi, M., Kasaba, Y., (2013), Effects of gravity waves on the day-night difference of the general circulation in the Venusian lower thermosphere, J. Geophys. Res. (Planets), 118, pp. 2004-2015, doi:10.1002/jgre.20154

How to cite: Martinez, A., Karyu, H., Brecht, A., Gilli, G., Lebonnois, S., Kuroda, T., Stolzenbach, A., Gonzalez-Galindo, F., Bougher, S., Fujiwara, H., and M. Lara, L.: Comparison of General Circulation Models of the Venus upper atmosphere, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9887, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9887, 2026.

Giant impacts were common in the early evolution of the Solar System. Such an impact has been suggested to have affected the rotation of Venus and possibly its thermal evolution, causing long-lived volcanic activity.

Here, we explore a range of possible giant impacts using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). We analyse the post-impact rotation and debris disc masses to identify scenarios that can reproduce Venus’ present-day characteristics. We model post-impact interior dynamics evolution using the StagYY convection code, by transferring the thermal field obtained through SPH simulations into a 2D spherical annulus geometry. We account for the low viscosity of molten volumes of the mantle above 35% melt fraction by using an effective "eddy" thermal conductivity of 10¹⁰ W/(m.K) following Lourenço et al. (2020), and the heat flux is parametrized following Abe (1993, 1997). The evolution of the core uses a 1D parameterized model to track the temperature profile and the growth of the inner core.

We observe that a wide range of impact scenarios are consistent with Venus’ current rotation for both head-on collisions on a non-rotating Venus and oblique, hit-and-run impacts on a rotating Venus. Collisions that match consistent rotation rates typically produce minimal debris discs residing within Venus’ synchronous orbit (Bussmann et al., 2025). We select these favourable scenarios to model their long-term interior evolution.

In the simulations, giant impacts expectedly produce surface magma oceans. Their relative depths vary between different simulations depending on impact properties: from a shallow melt layer in the order of 100 km thick to a fully molten mantle from surface to core-mantle boundary for the most energetic impacts (high impactor mass and velocity). If the surface is able to radiate heat to space efficiently, the magma ocean cools down quickly and first reaches the rheological transition (35% melt fraction) in a few 100-1000 yrs. Full solidification (0% melt fraction) can take longer because of the effects of the impact on the deep interior.

Indeed, as highlighted by Marchi et al. (2023), giant impacts also deposit a considerable amount of energy in the upper layers of the core, which translates into temperatures reaching up to 10⁴ K. This causes the base of the mantle to fully melt. The resulting liquid layers (in the core and the mantle) convect vigorously and cool the core rapidly (~10⁴ years). The very hot mantle melt is buoyant and rises toward the surface through the solid mantle on timescales of 10⁴-10⁵ yrs. Plumes formed in such a way persist until the excess of heat is extracted from the core and the lower mantle reaches the rheological transition. Solidification of the surface can be delayed by plumes, but models indicate that a fully solid state is reached in a few 1-10 Myr.

After a few hundred million years, the thermal evolution of a Venus-like planet that experienced a giant impact becomes similar to that of cases devoid of impacts. The characteristics of the convection regime in both cases do not substantially differ at present-day (after 4.5 Gyr).

How to cite: Gillmann, C., Tackley, P., Bussmann, M., Lourenço, D., Reinhardt, C., Meier, T., Stadel, J., and Helled, R.: Giant impacts on Venus: lasting consequences on interior dynamics and volcanism, or the lack thereof., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10551, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10551, 2026.

When we look at Earth’s surface, we can identify a wide range of crustal deformation patterns associated with the planet’s underlying geodynamic processes. This approach can be adapted to the surfaces of other planetary bodies, enabling the understanding of the origin and evolution of the structures they host.

Venus is considered Earth’s sister planet due to their similarities in size and composition; however, they exhibit different tectonic regimes, resulting in distinct surface features. The deformation of the surface of Venus is characterized by numerous patterns of lineaments that are notably distinct from those on Earth, but with some similarities that allow for establishing parallelisms.

In this work, we map tectonic lineaments across key areas of Venus's surface using Magellan Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery in ArcGIS Pro. We selected a few areas that host fault systems with some degree of analogy to those found on Earth. These faults are divided into different families based on their orientation, spatial distribution and cross-cutting relationships. The objective is to establish a relative chronology of tectonic events and to gain insights into the stress regimes responsible for their formation.

The analysis of these deformation patterns aims to better understand the geodynamic processes that shape the Venusian surface and to explain why and how these structures differ from those observed on Earth. Such results will be important when preparing for future space missions to Venus.

This work is supported by FCT, I.P./MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC): LA/P/0068/2020 - https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0068/2020 , UID/50019/2025,  https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/PRR/50019/2025, UID/PRR2/50019/2025

How to cite: Fandinga, I., Duarte, J. C., Machado, P., Quirino, D., and Rosas, F. M.: Mapping Tectonic Lineaments in Venus, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10668, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10668, 2026.

Current models of Venus’ volcanic activity and evolution largely rely on maps of volcanic edifices and features, most notably on an extensive human survey of Magellan data that produced a catalog of ~85,000 volcanic features with sizes ranging from ~1 km (~7 SAR pixels) to ~100 km [1]. Our goal is to use a supervised deep learning-driven approach to address some of the limitations of the catalog provided by [1], specifically by 1) suppressing or removing (human) observer expectancy and fatigue effects, 2) complementing the catalog with edifices smaller than ~5 km (making up 99 % of the [1] catalog), and 3) adding accurate morphometric information for all volcanic features. Ultimately, we seek to create a reference catalog of volcanic features on Venus that can enable investigations of volcanic activity and evolution at an unprecedented level of scale as well as form the backbone for the systematic identification of surface change using new data returned by upcoming Venus missions.

We previously trained EVA, the Extractor Vulcanis Aedificiis (Volcanic Edifice Extractor) [2]. The current version of EVA identifies ~200,000 shield volcanoes (shields) and calderas across Venus, scanning through both left-look (LL) and right-look (RL) SAR data in only ~4 hours. EVA detects ~90 % of all surface-visible edifices in a small, dedicated testset, where ~90 % of all testset detections are correct.  Globally, we find that the number of detected shields increases by up to ~5x in regions mapped as shield plains [3] and more than 10x in more heavily tectonized regions. Qualitative inspection suggests that in tectonized regions, false detections are more prevalent. To further scrutinize EVA’s performance, we examine 22 regions across the planet covered by LL data, each with at least ~50 EVA detections, that span all major geologic units. Nine regions are also covered by RL images.  For each region we manually map shields and calderas to provide a second “ground truth” data set (in addition to that of [1]) against which EVA detections can be compared. Preliminary results indicate that in regions of higher shield density [1], the two ground truth data sets differ in number of detections by a factor of 1.5-2, with excellent overlap (i.e. most features in the smaller data set are contained in the larger one), and EVA results in another ~2x as many detections. There is also very good agreement between the two ground-truth data sets in more tectonized areas, and we are currently using results from these areas to understand and refine EVA performance.  

We will present EVA’s current performance and solicit community feedback, to ensure that EVA can be a reliable, well-understood, and comprehensive inventory of volcanic features on Venus.

[1] Hahn & Byrne (2023). A Morphological and Spatial Analysis of Volcanoes on Venus. JGR Planets 128 (4).
[2] Bickel et al. (2025). Revisiting Volcanism on Venus with Deep Learning. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2025, Abstract ID #1387.
[3] Ivanov & Head (2011). Global Geological Map of Venus. Planetary and Space Science 59 (1559–1600).

How to cite: Bickel, V. T., Johnson, C. L., Russell, M. B., and Rossmann, F. M.: EVA – Towards a Comprehensive Inventory of Small Volcanic Features on Venus, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12049, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12049, 2026.

Geochemical models of atmospheric formation and evolution predict that Venus-like atmospheres, dominated by CO2 and thicker than a few bars pressure, are among the most common secondary volcanic atmospheres to be produced on rocky exoplanets. Meanwhile, astronomical detection biases toward short period planets ensure than rocky exoplanets are commonly found orbiting their host stars within the hypothetical 'Venus Zone' - a zone bounded by the cosmic shoreline at its inner edge and the CO2-condensation line at its outer edge. In this talk, I will present the chemical diversity of Venus-like atmospheres from both of these perspectives: the diversity of Venus-like atmospheres predicted via geochemistry, and the diversity of photochemical disequilibrium processes reshaping these atmospheres across the range of planet-hosting stars that we observe via astronomy.

How to cite: Jordan, S., Rungger, G., Bower, D., and Sossi, P.: The Diversity of Venus-like Atmospheres on Exoplanets, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12411, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12411, 2026.

Often referred to as the Earth’s twin, Venus represents today one of the most extreme places in the Solar System, with a dense atmosphere and a young surface dominated by volcanic features at all spatial scales (Hahn & Byrne, 2023). While the present-day interior structure and geodynamic regime is still debated, models agree that magmatism played a major role during the entire thermal history (Rolf et al., 2022).

Limited constraints for the deep interior of Venus are available from measurements of the tidal Love number k₂ = 0.295±0.066 (Konopliv & Yoder, 1996), which is sensitive to the size and state of the core, and moment of inertia factor (MoIF), which describes the distribution of mass in the interior suggesting a core radius of 3500±500 km (Margot et al., 2021). The phase lag of the deformation, whose value is particularly sensitive to the thermal state of the interior, has not yet been measured but will be constrained by future missions.

Venus has a higher correlation of gravity and topography for long wavelengths and a globally large apparent depth of compensation (Sjogren et al., 1980). Recently, Maia et al. (2023)  showed that a viscosity jump at 700 km depth (corresponding to ringwoodite-bridgmanite phase transition) is inconsistent with the observations, while a 250-km-thick low-viscosity layer at the base of the lithosphere is favored by the data.

In this study, we use the mantle convection code GAIA (Hüttig et al., 2013) to compute the thermal evolution of Venus. We use a pressure- and temperature-dependent viscosity, and allow for surface mobilization. Our models are compatible with the so-called plutonic squishy lid regime (Lourenco et al., 2020), in which magmatic intrusions can considerably affect the thermal state of the lithosphere (Herrera et al., this meeting). The thermal expansivity and conductivity are pressure- and temperature-dependent (Tosi et al., 2013), and we consider core cooling and radioactive decay as appropriate for thermal evolution modeling. We vary the core radius (3025–4000 km), mantle viscosity (10²⁰–10²² Pa s), and the viscosity increases with depth (up to three orders of magnitude). Based on the assumed core size and on the thermal state, temperature variations, and viscosity structure obtained from our models we calculate the tidal deformation, the MoIF, and evaluate the dynamic topography and geoid signatures.

We find that models with a core radius ≥4000km are incompatible with current estimates of the tidal Love number k₂. Our models also show a lower tidal quality factor for Venus compared to solid Earth, which suggests a hotter interior. The increase of viscosity with depth needs to be lower than two orders of magnitude to avoid a significant decrease of the spectral correlation and admittance, at odds with observations.

Future measurements of the NASA VERITAS (Smrekar et al., 2022) and ESA EnVision (Straume-Lindner et al., 2022) missions will provide unprecedented information to address the interior structure and thermal history of Venus, and will help refine models of the interior evolution.

How to cite: Plesa, A.-C., Maia, J., Walterova, M., and Breuer, D.: The thermal state and interior structure of Venus, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14324, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14324, 2026.

Observations of Venus' night-side disc in the transparency windows of the CO₂ atmosphere (spectacular at 1.74 and 2.3 μm near-infrared wavelengths) allow us to study various morphology and dynamics in the middle to lower cloud layers of Venus. For such studies, Akatsuki, Japan's Venus Orbiter was equipped with the IR2 2-μm camera (Satoh, et al., 2017). A sharp and large discontinuity of cloud opacities was imaged in the night-side of Venus by IR2 (Peralta et al., 2020). This feature was best observed by IR2 in 4 occasions, 9 August, 18 August, 27August, and 5 September in 2016. Since the faint night-side emission features receive contamination from intense light from the day crescent, we have developed image restoration techniques which successfully recovered the "true" contrast between this enormous cloud cover (ECC) and the adjacent background cloud (BC) regions. From such restored images, the radiance from pixels in BC and ECC from each image were extracted. By conducting a series of radiative transfer computations, we compare the observed brightness changes (from BC to ECC) in two filters of IR2 (1.735 and 2.26 μm). It is found that an increase of Mode 3 particles near the cloud base (∼48 km altitude) can reproduce the decreasing radiance from BC to ECC for 9 August and 27 August data. On the other hand, the 18 August data require both the increase of Mode 3 particles AND decrease of smaller particles at the same time to explain the observation. Finally, the 5 September data do not need the increase of Mode 3 particles but slight increase of smaller particles explains the data. Although these are not a unique explanation of how the cloud structure changes from BC to ECC region, this seems to be a favorable characterization of its lifecycle. Implications to the possible mechanism will also be discussed.

How to cite: Satoh, T., Sato, T., Imamura, T., and Kuroda, T.: Radiative Transfer Analysis of Gigantic Discontinuity in Venus Cloud Layer and ItsLifecycle, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15629, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15629, 2026.

Cryptic degassing is the release of volatiles from a magmatic intrusion independent of extrusive volcanic activity. On Earth, rheological transitions within the crust can throttle magma ascent, leading to the cryptic release of volatiles and the decoupling of the CO₂ flux from the rate of extrusive volcanism (Black et al., 2024). This process is particularly significant for large igneous province (LIP) events, where high magma influx rates may sustain CO₂ release and lead to greenhouse warming for > 1 Myr after eruption ceases (Black et al., 2024).

On Venus, higher surface temperatures and lower eruption efficiencies (Lourenço et al., 2020) suggest that this rheologic transition can occur for even lower magmatic influx rates than on Earth. Venus’s surface exhibits numerous volcanic features associated with intrusive magmatism, including coronae and steep-sided domes, where shallow intrusions may continuously outgas volatiles to the atmosphere. However, the role of cryptic degassing on Venus and its potential for influencing the atmosphere has not been previously explored.

We will present a model of rheologic throttling of magmas within Venus’s crust and assess the potential for cryptic degassing of CO₂ and other volatiles. Our results will have implications for understanding how outgassing has contributed to Venus’s atmosphere and the interpretation of noble gas signatures such as argon and helium isotopes (Namiki & Solomon, 1998).

References

Black, B. A., Karlstrom, L., Mills, B. J. W., Mather, T. A., Rudolph, M. L., Longman, J., & Merdith, A. (2024). Cryptic degassing and protracted greenhouse climates after flood basalt events. Nature Geoscience, 17(11), 1162–1168. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01574-3

Lourenço, D. L., Rozel, A. B., Ballmer, M. D., & Tackley, P. J. (2020). Plutonic-Squishy Lid: A New Global Tectonic Regime Generated by Intrusive Magmatism on Earth-Like Planets. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21(4), e2019GC008756. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008756

Namiki, N., & Solomon, S. C. (1998). Volcanic degassing of argon and helium and the history of crustal production on Venus. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 103(E2), 3655–3677. https://doi.org/10.1029/97JE03032

How to cite: Trussell, A., O'Rourke, J., Black, B., and Mukhopadhyay, S.: Modeling Cryptic Degassing From Intrusive Magmatism on Venus, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15675, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15675, 2026.

Thermal tides dominate Venus’ middle atmosphere, exhibiting a semidiurnal signature at low latitudes and a diurnal one at mid-to-high latitudes. However, their full three-dimensional structure and dynamical influence remain only partially characterized. Past studies have primarily relied on cloud-level temperatures from radio occultation and horizontal winds from cloud tracking. Recent analyses of Akatsuki radio-occultation profiles at low latitudes revealed both upward and downward propagation of the semidiurnal component, pointing to an excitation region within the cloud deck (50–65 km). It remains unclear whether this mechanism extends to higher latitudes or how it couples to the broader three-dimensional flow.

Here, we present a new analysis of over 1,000 radio-occultation soundings from Akatsuki (2016–2024) and Venus Express (2006–2014), spanning 90°S to 90°N and altitudes from 40 to 95 km. This combined dataset enables a detailed reconstruction of Venus' thermal structure across the solar day cycle, capturing the transition from semidiurnal to diurnal tides, their evolving vertical propagation, and how the altitude of peak tidal signatures varies with latitude. We also derive the zonal flow field via cyclostrophic balance, both in the time-mean state and over the solar day. Compared with cloud-level measurements, our results provide new insight into the tidal modulation of zonal winds and associated energy transport.

How to cite: Navon, R., Galanti, E., Imamura, T., Tellmann, S., Ando, H., and Kaspi, Y.: The latitudinal and vertical structure of Venus’ thermal tides as inferred from radio occultations, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16911, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16911, 2026.

Despite decades of exploration by multiple space missions, the history of water on Venus remains uncertain, limiting our understanding of the planet’s evolution and its potential for habitability. The atmospheric deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio is a key tracer of past water loss and atmospheric escape processes. To date, measurements of this ratio have been largely confined to altitudes at or below the exobase level, derived from remote sensing and in situ observations of water vapor. In this work, we revisit magnetic field observations from Venus Express to analyze pick-up ion cyclotron waves generated by freshly ionized hydrogen, so called proton cyclotron waves (PCWs). We further extend this approach to investigate pick-up ion cyclotron waves associated with deuterium ion pick-up, providing the first altitude-resolved density profile of deuterium in Venus’ extended exosphere. We find that the hydrogen escape rate is consistent with previous observations, while the inferred deuterium escape rates are higher than expected, indicating a limited Venusian water inventory with implications for the planet’s atmospheric and planetary evolution (see EGU Abstract from Scherf+).

How to cite: Weichbold, F., Lammer, H., Scherf, M., Schmid, D., Simon-Wedlund, C., Mazelle, C., Volwerk, M., Constantinou, T., Woitke, P., Emminger, P., Ferrus, M., and Rimmer, P.: Probing Venus’ Extended Exosphere through Deuterium and Hydrogen generated Pick-Up Ion Cyclotron Waves, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17869, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17869, 2026.

Most of the current knowledge regarding the interior of Venus is derived from Magellan gravity and topography datasets collected three decades ago. While this mission provided the first high-resolution global gravity field, the computational limitations of the 1990s necessitated compromises that impacted the accuracy of the gravity solutions. We report on a reanalysis of the Magellan Doppler tracking data, leveraging modern computational capabilities to improve the Venus gravity field, orientation, and rotational dynamics.

Most significantly, modern computing power allows us to achieve a spherical harmonic degree-and-order 180 solution via a single inversion, eliminating the need for the multi-step approach that previously affected the solution.  We observe a reduction in high-frequency noise (ringing) in the solution, leading to more coherent spatial structures in the solution which is beneficial for localized analyses of near-subsurface features. The single-step solution, additionally, removes the discontinuities in the uncertainty estimates of the gravity field coefficients, enabling more coherent and robust uncertainty quantification on derived products.

Using this new field, we investigate the elastic properties of the lithosphere taking advantage of improved polar resolution and robust uncertainty quantification. Additionally, we assess the sensitivity of the dataset to length-of-day variations which were previously not explicitly solved-for, but whose magnitudes as observed from Earth would have had a measurable influence on the probe.

How to cite: Cascioli, G., Goossens, S., and Mazarico, E.: A new look at Venus gravity and rotation from a reanalysis of Magellan Doppler tracking, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19152, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19152, 2026.

Today, Venus is a dry planet with an atmosphere that contains very little water. The bulk D/H ratio in its atmosphere is enriched by a factor of ~120 compared to the Earth. This suggests that more of the lighter hydrogen escaped into space over time compared to the heavier deuterium, leading to the conclusion that the planet once hosted a much larger water reservoir than today. Recent climate studies even suggest that Venus could have hosted a temperate period with a liquid water ocean and habitable conditions up to ~0.7 Gyr ago [1]. If so, (i) the ocean must have evaporated afterwards with H and D being lost into space and O being either lost into space or sequestered into the surface, and (ii) the D/H ratio likely needed to fractionate from its initially low, Earth-like value toward its present bulk value since the time of ocean evaporation. Recent analysis of Venus Express data, however, suggest that the D/H ratio in Venus’ atmosphere increases with altitude, reaching values of D/H~0.2 in the mesosphere [2] and even ~0.4 in the exosphere [3]. Photochemical escape rates for D and H based on the analysis of exospheric ion cyclotron waves (see EGU abstract by Weichbold et al.) further suggest lower loss rates for H but higher ones for D, as expected before Venus’ unexpectedly high upper atmosphere D/H ratio was revealed. Based on these novel results, we re-evaluate the evolution of Venus’ water inventory and D/H ratio over time. Our study indicates that only a comparatively small amount of H and D could have been lost since the last resurfacing event (contributing to less than 1 m global equivalent layer of water) and that the D/H ratio likely has been fractionated toward high values already relatively early in Venus’ history, potentially during an early phase when the atmospheric escape of H transitioned from hydrodynamic toward Jeans escape indicating an early loss of most of Venus’ water reservoir. A habitable ocean, as late as 0.7 Gyr ago, can therefore hardly be compatible with the new findings on Venus’ upper atmosphere D/H ratio and the therewith connected escape rates of H and D. This supports recent findings that Venus has never been liquid-water habitable [4].

References:

[1] Way, M. J. and Del Genio, Anthony D., Venusian Habitable Climate Scenarios: Modeling Venus Through Time and Applications to Slowly Rotating Venus-Like Exoplanets, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 125, 5, e06276, 2020, doi:10.1029/2019JE00627610.1002/essoar.10501118.3.

[2] Mahieux, A., Viscardy, S., Yelle, R.V. et al., Unexpected increase of the deuterium to hydrogen ratio in the Venus mesosphere, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 121, 34, e2401638121, 2024, doi:10.1073/pnas.2401638121.

[3] Weichbold, F., Lammer, H., Scherf, M. et al., First Detection of Deuterium in Venus's Extended Exosphere, 2025, preprint (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7720153/v1]

[4] Constantinou, T., Shorttle, O., and Rimmer, P. B., A dry Venusian interior constrained by atmospheric chemistry, Nature Astronomy, 9, 189, 2025, doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02414-5.

How to cite: Scherf, M., Weichbold, F., Erkaev, N., Lammer, H., Constantinou, T., Woitke, P., Simon-Wedlund, C., Ferus, M., Eminger, P., Rimmer, P., Kačina, J., and Němečková, K.: What does the unexpectedly high D/H ratio in Venus’ upper atmosphere imply for the existence of a late ocean?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19284, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19284, 2026.

The early evolution of the atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars, and hence their potential habitability, is strongly linked to the early evolution of the Sun, which was significantly more active during the first ~1 billion years than it is at present. The high solar X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) surface flux received by the three planets during this time heated their upper atmospheres, inducing thermal and non-thermal atmospheric escape rates that are assumed to be significantly higher than at present. However, whether an atmosphere is stable against escape into space depends not only on the incident solar/stellar XUV surface flux but also on planetary size and atmospheric composition. CO₂ and other infrared coolants, for instance, cool the thermosphere, making atmospheres with larger CO₂ mixing ratios less susceptible to atmospheric erosion. This implies that atmospheres with certain compositions (e.g., CO₂-dominated atmospheres) were more likely to survive the harsh conditions of the early Solar System than others (e.g., N₂-dominated atmospheres). This, in turn, has implications for prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life since different atmospheric compositions, but also the therewith connected tropospheric temperature and the hydrology of a planet, further affect the photochemical production and rainout of prebiotic molecules into ancient oceans or shallow ponds. This highlights the importance of considering both the upper atmosphere/thermosphere to evaluate atmospheric stability and the lower atmosphere/homosphere to evaluate prebiotic chemistry and climatic conditions if we want to better understand the habitability and evolution of the rocky planets in the Solar System and beyond. We first discuss atmospheric stability on early Venus, Earth, and Mars and investigate the atmospheric compositions needed for the three planets to host stable atmospheres. By investigating the photochemical production and rainout of prebiotic molecules (with a focus on formaldehyde) within thermally stable atmospheres, we finally assess the prebiotic potential and early habitability of the three planets.

How to cite: Scherf, M., Weichbold, F., Lammer, H., Woitke, P., Constantinou, T., Rimmer, P., and Ferus, M.: Atmospheric stability and its implication on prebiotic chemistry on early Venus, Earth, and Mars, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19506, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19506, 2026.

Next-generation instruments will provide the first opportunity to characterize temperate rocky exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars. Because the surface conditions of rocky exoplanets are much more difficult to constrain than their bulk parameters, these observations will be very challenging. Furthermore, there is a broad range of possible climates for such exoplanets due to difficult-to-constrain parameters like atmosphere mass and composition, surface composition, water abundance, rotation, and obliquity. For example, Venus and Earth have similar bulk parameters but very different climate regimes. Therefore, characterizing a temperate rocky exoplanet means being able to distinguish between Venus-like and Earth-like climates from the planet’s spectrum. I will compare synthetic reflected light spectra of Venus constructed from climate simulations and empirical data. I will discuss the sensitivity of these spectra to model, instrument, and observation parameters, and the conditions required to identify an exoplanet as Venus-like or Earth-like. 

How to cite: Macdonald, E., Kislyakova, K., Van Looveren, G., Müller, L., and Raorane, A.: Venus as an analogue for exoplanet observations, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20571, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20571, 2026.

Venus and Earth exemplify two divergent evolutionary pathways of rocky planets despite their similar sizes, bulk densities and orbital distances. Today, Earth maintains a thin N2- and O2-dominated atmosphere, regulated by efficient volatile and crustal recycling, while Venus hosts a CO2-dominated, 92 bar atmosphere that results in extreme surface temperatures. The origin of Venus’ massive atmosphere is likely a combination of processes including early magma ocean degassing, impact delivery and long-term mantle outgassing, with possibly one or more catastrophic outgassing events (Gillmann et al., 2022). The efficiency and composition of long-term mantle outgassing is still poorly constrained for Venus. Previous studies have shown that pressure is the primary control on volatile solubility, regulating whether degassing occurs at all and the elemental sequence of volatility e.g. C-bearing species degass predominantely at higher pressures, while the redox state of the mantle controls primary the chemical speciation of outgassed volatiles e.g. wheather CH4 or CO or CO2 is degassed (Gaillard and Scaillet, 2014, Gaillard et al. 2020).  
 
In contrast to Ortenzi et al. (2020), who have focused on the redox-dependence of volatile partitioning and gas speciation for various planetary masses, this study investigates the pressure-dependence of volcanic outgassing for varying redox states and its implications for Venus’ atmospheric evolution. First, Atmodeller (Bower et al., 2025) is used to calculate the pressure-dependent volatile solubility and gas speciation for erupted lava. Then, the findings are linked to 2D mantle convection models of Venus with varying surface temperatures and rheological parameters. These models use the numerical mantle convection code StagYY (Tackley, 2008) including partial melting with prescribed intrusion efficiencies to quantify melt production, lithospheric thickness as well as the tectonic regime. By explicitly accounting for volatile degassing as a function of surface pressure, our study aims to constrain total outgassing and the role of pressure-buffered volatile retention in shaping Venus’ atmosphere.

How to cite: Murzakhmetov, L., Gillmann, C., Bower, D., Gülcher, A., Sossi, P., and Tackley, P.:  Pressure-Dependent Mantle Outgassing and the Evolution of Venus’ atmosphere​​, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20754, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20754, 2026.

One of the biggest open questions about Venus is the degree and extent of present-day volcanism [1]. Despite having a similar size and density to Earth, Venus underwent distinct geodynamic evolution. The planet hosts a wide diversity of tectonic and volcanic landforms, as revealed by NASA/Magellan global imagery (1990 – 1994) [2].

One prominent feature is the extensive, widespread rifts on Venus (e.g., [3]), covering about 8% of the planetary surface [4]. These are extensional structures [5], among the youngest geological features on the planet according to stratigraphic interpretation [6]. Evidence of recent rift volcanism has been suggested for Olapa Chasma [7 – 9] and Ganis Chasma [10 – 11]. However, the mechanisms of rift formation, age, and relationships with other structural features remain poorly understood, yet crucial for supporting modelling studies [12].

In this study, we analyse the tectonovolcanic activity of a few selected rifts on Venus using microwave emissivity as a proxy to constrain the weathering degree, relative age, and composition [11, 13 – 14], assuming the presence of ferroelectric minerals [13, 15 – 16]. We use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), microwave emissivity, and elevation datasets collected from NASA/Magellan. Site selection, radar emissivity, and elevation extraction are performed in ArcGIS Pro to examine emissivity excursion with altitude. Complementary analyses based on stratigraphic relationships with structural features, such as lava flows, rift structures, and lineaments, provide relative chrono-stratigraphy and conceptual interpretation of tectonovolcanic activation processes. Thus, the objective is to provide a conceptual model for tectonovolcanic rift activation by combining microwave emissivity excursions, stratigraphic relationships, and stress patterns. These results are relevant to upcoming accepted and potential missions to Venus in the coming decade, which will yield extensive new data.

References: [1] Filiberto, J., et al., 2025. Geochemistry, 85; [2] Saunders, R. S., & Pettengill, G. H., 1991. Science, 252, 247; [3] Masursky, H., et al., 1980, J. Geophys. Res., 85, A13; [4] Price, M., & Suppe, J., 1995. EM&P, 71, 99; [5] Magee, K. P., & Head, J. W., 1995. J. Geophys. Res., 103, B1; [6] Ivanov, M. A., & Head, J. W., 2011. P&SS, 59, 1559; [7] D’Incecco, P., et al., 2020. EPSL, 546, 116410; [8] D’Incecco, P., et al., 2021. PSJ, 2, 5; [9] López, I., et al., 2022. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 421, 107428; [10] Shalygin, E. V., et al., 2015. GRL, 42, 12; [11] Brossier, J., et al., 2022. GRL, 49, e2022GL099765; [12] Regorda, A., et al., 2023. JGR: Planets. 128, e2022JE007588; [13] Brossier, J. F., et al. 2020. Icarus. 343. 113693; [14] Brossier, J., et al., 2021. JGR: Planets. 126, e2020JE006722; [15] Shepard, M. K., et al., 1994. GRL, 21, 6; [16] Treiman, A. H., et al., 2016. Icarus, 280, 172.

Funding: DQ acknowledges this work to be supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. by project reference and DOI identifier 10.54499/2023.05220.BD. This work is supported by FCT, I.P./MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC): LA/P/0068/2020 - https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0068/2020 , UID/50019/2025,  https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/PRR/50019/2025, UID/PRR2/50019/2025

How to cite: Quirino, D., Duarte, J. C., Machado, P., Green, M., Rosas, F. M., and Fandinga, I.: Exploring Rift Tectonovolcanism in Venus, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20866, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20866, 2026.

The detection of surface changes on Venus is fundamental to understanding its ongoing volcanic activity and geological evolution. The upcoming EnVision and VERITAS missions, equipped with advanced SAR systems (VenSAR and VISAR), will image Venus more than 40 years after Magellan. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to detect active surface processes by comparing future high-resolution images with Magellan data. However, reliable inter-mission SAR change detection faces significant challenges due to differences in spatial resolution, wavelength, polarization, and viewing geometry.

A critical issue is the difference in spatial resolution between SAR images, which invalidates classical statistical models that assume identical equivalent number of looks (ENL) and leads to unreliable change detection results. In this work, we propose a novel change detection method by integrating the generalized beta prime (GB2) distribution into the Kittler-Illingworth (KI) minimum error thresholding framework, termed GB2KI. A modified criterion function is derived for optimal threshold selection. To address the class imbalance problem, we introduce an entropy-weighted maximum likelihood estimation method for robust parameter estimation. Additionally, a multiscale post-processing technique is developed to suppress noise patches and reduce false alarms in the final change detection map.

The proposed method is validated using both simulated and real SAR datasets. Simulations are conducted on Magellan Cycle 1 and Cycle 3 images by adding artificial changes with varying intensities, extents, and types to test the algorithm’s robustness. Further validation is performed using Earth observation data from the Holuhraun lava flow-field in Iceland. Two distinct datasets are analyzed, including Sentinel-1 images from different imaging modes (1-year interval) and Radarsat-1/Sentinel-1 images (15-year interval). Results demonstrate that our method achieves higher overall accuracy with significantly reduced false alarm rates compared to existing approaches.

This work provides a robust framework for inter-mission SAR change detection applicable to future Venus missions, enabling reliable identification of volcanic activity and other surface processes.

How to cite: Gao, Y., Gallardo i Peres, G., Awasthi, S., Ghail, R., and Mason, P. J.: Detecting Surface Changes on Venus: A GB2KI Thresholding Approach for Inter-mission SAR Images, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21046, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21046, 2026.

The extreme conditions in Venus’s lower atmosphere make robust calibration of in situ observations challenging. Consequently, measurements from past entry probes provided mixed evidence regarding the existence of a near-surface particulate layer (NSPL). Although the Venera 11 (1978) and Venera 13 and 14 (1982) landers performed in situ spectrophotometric observations during descent, the original datasets were later lost. However, a subset has been reconstructed by digitising graphical outputs produced during the missions’ initial data-processing phase [1]. Following careful analysis to identify and mitigate errors and other artefacts, the reconstructed dataset retains the reliable downward-looking spectra acquired by the three landers from ~62 km altitude to the surface.

Previous retrievals from the reconstructed Venera 13 indicated an NSPL centred at ~3.5–5 km, with particulate optical properties consistent with a basaltic composition [2]. Following the methodology of [2], we use NEMESIS, a radiative transfer and retrieval code [3], to perform near-surface retrievals from the reconstructed Venera 11 and Venera 14 datasets. The results from Venera 11, 13, and 14 retrievals are compared with reported detections and non-detections from other instruments on earlier in situ missions, to explore potential formation pathways for the NSPL in light of the combined observational record.

References:

[1] Ignatiev, N. I., Moroz, V. I., Moshkin, B. E., Ekonomov, A. P., Gnedykh, V. I., Grigor’ev, A. V., and Khatuntsev, I. V. Cosmic Research 35(1), 1–14 (1997).

[2] Kulkarni, S. V., Irwin, P. G. J., Wilson, C. F., & Ignatiev, N. I. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 130, e2024JE008728, (2025).

[3] Irwin, P. G., Teanby, N. A., de Kok, R., Fletcher, L. N., Howett, C. J., Tsang, C. C., Wilson, C. F., Calcutt, S. B., Nixon, C. A., and Parrish, P. D. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 109(6), 1136–1150 (2008). 

How to cite: Kulkarni, S., Irwin, P., Wilson, C., and Ignatie, N.: Comparative analysis of Venera 11, 13, and 14 spectrophotometric data: implications for the near-surface particulate layer, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22501, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22501, 2026.

Although several lines of evidence suggest that substantial water was lost from the atmosphere of Venus, it remains unclear whether surface oceans ever existed. One possible proxy for past water–basalt interactions, which are most easily accomplished within oceans, is the occurrence of abundant felsic rocks. Venus’s crustal plateaus share some characteristics with Earth’s continental crust and have been suggested to be composed of granitoids or other felsic rocks based on infrared emissivity anomalies. Future missions will continue to investigate this possibility, which is considered critical for assessing the planet’s past habitability.

The growth of Earth’s continental crust is associated with the hydrous alteration of basalts, which can either melt directly to produce felsic melts (e.g., Archean TTGs) or generate modern calc-alkaline granitoids through extensive differentiation of hydrous silicate melts at subduction zones. Anhydrous
igneous processes, on the other hand, are generally thought to produce only minute amounts of felsic material (<10%) and only under very specific conditions, such as extreme fractional crystallization.

We performed thermodynamic calculations showing that, while anhydrous processes are indeed inefficient at producing felsic melts at low pressure, abundant felsic melts (≈25%) can be generated by melting dry metabasalts at sufficiently high pressures (>1.5 GPa; depths >60 km). Such conditions were likely met on Venus, either within the roots of several crustal plateaus or during resurfacing events accompanied by crustal recycling. Although these melts are felsic (dacitic) in composition, their viscosity should be low enough to allow them to rise to the surface, implying that extensive felsic crust on Venus could be compatible with a water-poor planet that never experienced oceans.

How to cite: Collinet, M., Maia, J., Plesa, A.-C., Klemme, S., and Wieczorek, M.: Could felsic crustal plateaus have formed on a Water-Poor Venus?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22898, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22898, 2026.

We argue that the habitability of terrestrial planets is linked to plate tectonics. We base our proposal on two premises.

First, in the absence of a robust magnetic field, a planet’s atmosphere is vulnerable to stripping by the solar wind, leading to catastrophic water loss and, ultimately, sterilization, as exemplified by modern Mars and Venus.

Second, a strong intrinsic planetary magnetic dipole must be generated by vigorous convection in the liquid core, which in turn requires efficient removal of heat from the core. On Earth, this heat removal occurs through the operation of plate tectonics.

The contrasting evolutionary paths of Earth, Venus, and Mars provide a natural laboratory for examining these relationships. Unlike Earth, both Mars and Venus lack plate tectonics and simultaneously lack a strong magnetic field. Venus currently operates in a stagnant-lid regime, in which heat loss occurs primarily by conduction across a thick lithosphere. This mode of heat transfer appears insufficient to sustain a core dynamo, resulting in the absence of a magnetic field and, consequently, in the loss of water and the development of an uninhabitable environment.

Another key “experiment” is recorded in Earth’s own history at the end of the Ediacaran period. This interval was preceded by approximately 1.5 billion years of a gradual decline in Earth’s dipole moment, from values comparable to the present field to a minimum that was roughly 30 times weaker. This minimum field strength persisted between 591 and 565 Ma, followed by a rapid threefold strengthening by about 532 Ma. Concurrently, atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels began to rise, supporting an increase in the abundance and size of living organisms. These developments are commonly attributed to the formation of the inner core around ~550 Ma. However, both inner core growth and the associated intensification of the magnetic field would have been impossible without the simultaneous onset of plate tectonics. Thus, it was this tectonic regime change that enabled the rapid expansion of habitability at the Precambrian–Phanerozoic boundary.

We conclude that, although direct evidence remains limited, current scientific understanding strongly supports the notion that Earth’s long-term habitability is linked to the operation of plate tectonics, which sustains the geodynamo and protects the atmosphere from erosion by the solar wind. Nevertheless, the fundamental question of why Earth retained a functioning dynamo through plate tectonics, whereas Mars and Venus did not, remains an open problem for future investigation.

How to cite: Khazan, Y. and Aryasova, O.: Plate tectonics is crucial for habitability of terrestrial planets, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3113, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3113, 2026.

JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) is the first Large ESA mission in the Cosmic Vision Science program. JUICE was launched in 2023 and is aimed to study the Jupiter system in 2031-2035 where it will answer major science goals of the Jovian atmosphere and the Galilean satellites (Grasset et al., 2013). JANUS (Jovis, Amorum ac Natorum Undique Scrutator) is the high-resolution camera on JUICE and operates in the spectral range 340-1080 nm. The instrument is equipped with 13 filters and a detector of 1,504x2,000 pixels with a pixel FOV of 15 microrad and a total FOV of 1.29ºx1.72º (Palumbo et al. 2025).

JANUS imaged the Earth during and shortly after a Lunar and Earth Gravitational Assist maneuver (LEGA) on 19-20 August 2024. Earth observations offer a real testbed scenario to the science investigation of the Jovian atmosphere (Fletcher et al. 2023). Close approach observations were acquired at spatial resolutions of 126-256 m/pix and covered a narrow strip of the planet in which the spacecraft flew from the night-side over Madagascar, moved over the Indian Ocean, Cambodia and Vietnam and observed the terminator and dawn over Luzon Island. Later observations were acquired over morning to noon hours flying above tropical latitudes over the Western Pacific. Additional observations acquired on September 9, 2024 provided a low-resolution multi-filter portrait of the Earth and the Moon.

The high-resolution images contain atmospheric airglow, convective clouds illuminated by a full Moon, fires in rural areas, lights over the ocean from maritime traffic, city lights over Cambodia and Vietnam, and bright pixels compatible with meteoroids of 1-30 g entering Earth's atmosphere. Images over the terminator and dawn show crepuscular rays under extreme incidence angles with highly convective clouds projecting elongated shadows. Day-time observations show gravity waves on elevated cirrus clouds, sun glint on multi-filter images of the tropical Western Pacific, convective storms over tropical latitudes over the Northwest Pacific and internal waves in the ocean. We compared multi-filter images of the ocean and cloud systems over 12 filters through the JANUS spectral range with spectra obtained by the EnMAP and PRISMA instruments on Earth observing satellites showing good agreement.

These Earth images confirm the expected instrument performance and the ensemble of observations contains a large variety of atmospheric features that are good analogs to multiple systems in Jupiter's atmosphere (Hueso et al. 2026). Additional observations of the Earth will be acquired during the next two Earth flybys on September 2026 and January 2029 providing new data at a wider variety of spatial resolutions.

References

• Fletcher et al. Jupiter Science Enabled by ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Space Science Reviews (2023).
• Grasset et al. JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE): An ESA mission to orbit Ganymede and to characterise the Jupiter system, Planet. and Space Sci. (2013).
• Hueso et al., JANUS observations of Earth in preparation for its investigation of Jupiter’s atmosphere, Annales Geophysicae, in preparation (2026).
• Palumbo et al. The JANUS (Jovis Amorum ac Natorum Undique Scrutator) VIS-NIR Multi-Band Imager for the JUICE Mission, Space Science Reviews (2025).

How to cite: Hueso, R., Palumbo, P., Tubiana, C., Portyankina, G., Lara, L. M., Stephan, K., Zinzi, A., Luchetti, A., Agostini, L., Penasa, L., Coustenis, A., Haruyama, J., Kersten, E., Matz, K.-D., Politti, R., Patel, M., Sato, M., Simon, A., Takahashi, Y., and Yair, Y. and the JANUS Earth flyby team: JANUS observations of the Earth during and shortly after JUICE’s Lunar and Earth Gravity Assist (LEGA) on August 2024, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5763, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5763, 2026.

Earth's climate has changed in many ways over the past 4+ gigayears (Gyr), while mostly sustaining temperate conditions via volatile cycling.  This is remarkable given that the Sun's luminosity has changed by almost 30% in 4 Gyr.  The Earth's rotation rate has also changed by a factor of nearly 2 due to the receeding of the moon from Earth and changing bathymetry affecting tidal dissipation.  The climate of deep time future Earth (+1-3 Gyr) has seldom been explored, but one can use Earth's distant past to help inform us. The Sun's luminosity will continue to increase, while the moon's orbit will continue to grow affecting tidal dissipation in whatever bathymetry the Earth has in the future.  Using the ROCKE-3D climate model and VPlanet orbital dynamics components we attempt to model the future climate of Earth and how it might inform us about similar worlds orbiting nearby stars. For example, in one modeled dynamical scenario 1.9Gyr into the future the Earth's length of day (LoD) will increase to 46 days, while it's obliquity will approach zero. The global mean surface temperature (GMST) will only be 7.6C. If we choose a less dissipative scenario we find a LoD=1.5 days, an obliquity of 27.5, and a GMST=40C!  Will Earth eventually enter a moist and then a runaway greenhouse, or will it remain a temperate world until the Sun's red giant phase engulfs it in another 5 gigayears?  We will attempt to provide some answers to these questions.

How to cite: Way, M. and Barnes, R.: The Climate Evolution of Earth's Distant Future and implications for eta Earth, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6124, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6124, 2026.

The toolkit of methods used in the search for life on other planets is growing vaster as research pushes new ways to examine the habitability of other planetary bodies. One method which can highlight the bioenergetic potential of our solar system involves thermodynamic calculations to estimate the Gibbs free energy produced by redox reactions. This method allows for predictions of the dominant biological reactions within environments such as Noachian-age martian hot springs and could be a useful indicator of habitability based on simple geochemical measurements capable by future Mars missions.

We utilise aqueous, gas and mineral measurements of key redox species within modern hot spring systems to predict the thermodynamic feasibility of chemolithoautotrophic metabolisms. These predictions are then compared to metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing of these analogous microbial communities, to test the accuracy of Gibbs free energy calculations in predicting dominant redox metabolisms within primitive ecosystems. In addition, we model the outflow of these springs within a Noachian atmosphere to examine the differences in free energy availability and therefore dominant metabolisms compared to modern Earth systems.

Results reveal thermodynamically feasible carbon, iron and sulfur metabolisms and a ubiquitous reliance on biological fixation of inorganic N₂ and carbon within the hot spring communities. We find that the proportion of reduced and oxidised mineral iron in models impacts the feasibility of many redox reactions, including those which do not use iron species, suggesting that redox conditions are impacted by mineralogy. In addition, the free energy yield of redox reactions varies before and after equilibrating with mineral and atmospheric species, encompassing the natural chemical gradients within both modern hot springs and ancient systems on Mars.

Combining geochemical methods with genomic sequencing in this way allows for a true interdisciplinary assessment of free energy predictions and habitability of early Earth and Mars hot spring habitats.

How to cite: Galloway, T., Stüeken, E., Nixon, S., Telling, J., Nielson, G., Stead, C., Greco, C., and Cousins, C.: Thermodynamic predictions of redox metabolisms within Mars analogue hot springs, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12339, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12339, 2026.

 Validated temporal gradient-driven gas migration on Earth as the primary mechanism for repeatable methane fluctuations on Mars.

By

Hovav Zafrir¹, Yuval Reuveni², Ayelet Benkovitz², Zeev Zalevsky¹, Elad Levintal³, Noam Weisbrod³,Danielle Ilzycer⁴

¹ Faculty of Engineering, Bar Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel

²Department of Physics, Ariel University, Ariel 4070000, Israel

³The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, BGU University, of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel

⁴Soreq NRC, Yavne, Israel

ABSTRACT

A significant observation by Curiosity’s Tunable Laser Spectrometer in Mars' Gale Crater involves repeatable methane fluctuations with distinct seasonal and sub-diurnal variability. After a decade of data, these methane emissions clearly require robust geophysical explanations rooted in thermodynamics.

On Earth, extensive field and laboratory research have demonstrated that surface temperature gradients primarily drive subsurface gas flows, particularly those of Radon-222. This thermally induced transport exhibits an exponential dependence, verified through long-term field measurements (4 years (*)) and also in controlled laboratory conditions, where oscillating vertical gas flow closely matches surface heating cycles, from the natural one per day to one per eight days. The field monitoring has shown that radon gas flows downward throughout all daylight hours within the bedrock to a measured depth of 100 meters and responds inversely to atmospheric temperatures at night, creating an inverted surface temperature gradient that drives nocturnal exhalation.

While gases on Earth's ground also respond linearly to semi-diurnal barometric pressure changes (barometric pumping), within cracks, voids, or fractures between geological layers and structures, our experience indicates that such effects become negligible when the pressure gradient is less than 2 millibars. Specifically, on Mars, where barometric pressure is two orders of magnitude lower than Earth's, the resulting pressure gradient is insufficient to drive significant gas transport, even through sand on Earth's surface.

^(*) Benkovitz et al., 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15164094. Zafrir, et al., 2016, https://doi. org/10.1002/2016JB013033.

How to cite: Zafrir, Dr. H., Reuveni, Y., Benkovitz, A., Zalevsky, Z., Levintal, E., Weisbrod, N., and Ilzycer, D.: Validated temporal gradient-driven gas migration on Earth as the primary mechanism for repeatable methane fluctuations on Mars., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14723, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14723, 2026.

Impact events represent the most energetic processes during late-stage terrestrial planet accretion and generate large amounts of debris that can be redistributed throughout the inner Solar System. The long-term dynamical fate of this impact-generated material plays a key role in regulating planetary growth, cross-planet mass exchange, and material loss from the system. However, most N-body accretion models still rely on simplified collision prescriptions that neglect the detailed structure and dynamics of impact remnants.

In this study, we investigate the long-term evolution and final fate of impact-induced debris by coupling high-resolution Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations with GPU-accelerated N-body integrations. We perform a systematic suite of SPH simulations spanning a broad parameter space in impactor mass, impact velocity, and impact angle. Gravitationally bound clumps (GBCs) formed in the impact aftermath are identified using an energy-based clustering algorithm and mapped self-consistently into N-body initial conditions, which are then evolved for 15 Myr using the GENGA integrator in a realistic inner Solar System configuration.

Our simulations reveal a two-stage debris clearance process. More than 80% of the ultimately accreted mass is reaccreted within the first 10⁵ years after impact, followed by a prolonged phase of dynamical depletion dominated by planetary perturbations. Earth is the primary sink of impact debris, reaccreting on average ∼40% of the total fragment mass, while Venus acts as a significant secondary reservoir, capturing ∼18-27%. In contrast, Mercury and Mars contribute only marginally to debris accretion. Approximately 25-30% of the debris is ultimately ejected from the Solar System, primarily through gravitational scattering by Jupiter.

Statistical analysis demonstrates that impact angle and velocity are the dominant parameters controlling debris fate, with high-velocity and grazing impacts strongly enhancing mass loss via ejection. Initial orbital phase also modulates debris survival and reaccretion efficiency. These results provide quantitative constraints on post-impact mass redistribution and highlight the importance of explicitly resolving impact remnants when modeling late-stage terrestrial planet formation.

How to cite: Duan, R.: N-body simulations to track the long-term fate of impact–induced debris, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16133, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16133, 2026.

Earth is the best-constrained planetary body, yet many Earth-system challenges still require remote-sensing workflows that remain robust under incomplete ground truth, multi-sensor heterogeneity, and complex observation geometries. Planetary science has long operated under these constraints, developing interpretation strategies and processing practices that are increasingly relevant for Earth Observation (EO) applications in hazard monitoring, environmental change, and geological process understanding. In line with the PS1.3 scope of transferring planetary-science methodologies to advance Earth-system knowledge, we present an education-driven framework designed to operationalise this methodological transfer at MSc level.
We describe the structure and rationale of a new Earth Observation curriculum embedded within an MSc in Planetary Sciences, conceived as an “educational pipeline” that trains students to move from sensor-aware analysis to geology-driven interpretation and application-ready products. The curriculum integrates core modules on Earth Observation analysis, satellite multi/hyperspectral data analysis, and geospatial technologies, followed by geology-centred Earth-system applications (e.g., sedimentary environments, marine geology, global changes) and applied EO modules targeting volcanic monitoring and tectonic deformation. A distinctive component is digital field mapping with emerging technologies, designed to explicitly link remote-sensing products to validation strategies and field-based geological reasoning. The training pathway is reinforced through institutional collaboration with national agencies and research bodies, enabling exposure to operational practices and real-world constraints.
We argue that the key innovation lies in implementing a reproducible planetary-to-Earth methodological transfer framework based on: (i) observation-geometry and uncertainty-aware processing, (ii) scalable multi-sensor analytics, (iii) process-based geological interpretation, and (iv) field-connected validation and mapping. By framing education as a mechanism for transferring robust planetary methodologies into EO practice, this approach contributes to bridging planetary and Earth-system sciences while producing graduates capable of translating EO data into reliable, decision-relevant geoscience knowledge.

Keywords: comparative planetology; Earth Observation; remote sensing; hyperspectral; GIS/geoprocessing; hazards; digital field mapping. 

How to cite: Pondrelli, M., Salese, F., Coletta, A., Flamini, E., Mancini, F., Pace, B., Iezzi, G., Satolli, S., Vessia, G., Boncio, P., and Ori, G. G.: Education as a transfer mechanism: translating planetary remote sensing methodologies into operational Earth Observation for Earth-system applications, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20005, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20005, 2026.

Venus hosts hundreds of enigmatic circular tectono-magmatic features known as coronae, whose origins, activity state, and role in planetary heat loss remain among the most persistent open questions in Earth and planetary sciences. Coronae display extraordinary diversity in size, morphology, topography, gravity signatures, and tectonic setting, indicating that they do not represent a single formation mechanism, but instead reflect a spectrum of dynamic processes. Understanding these structures is critical not only for deciphering Venus’ geodynamic regime, but also for assessing whether similar processes may have operated on the early Earth before, or during, the onset of sustained plate tectonics.

Here, we present new insights into the coronae enigma by integrating results from a newly compiled global corona database with joint analysis of topography and gravity observations, complemented by recent three-dimensional thermo-chemical geodynamic modeling. The updated database includes 741 coronae, substantially more than previously catalogued features, enabling a more accurate global-scale statistical assessment of coronae morphology, geological setting, and spatial distribution. The expanded dataset reveals numerous corona(-like) structures not previously recognized and highlights systematic variations in corona expression across different tectonic environments.

We investigate the topography and gravity signatures of the largest coronae using Magellan datasets. By analyzing free-air gravity anomalies together with key topographic characteristics, we identify distinct classes of coronae that exhibit signatures consistent with buoyant mantle support and different styles of plume–lithosphere interaction, including scenarios in which crust is recycled back into the mantle through lithospheric delamination or subduction-like processes. Importantly, our analysis further reveals that the limited spatial resolution of the Magellan gravity field can obscure or suppress positive gravity anomalies beneath some coronae, particularly where deep annular troughs surround an uplifted interior. This suggests that a subset of potentially active coronae could be effectively “hidden” in current geophysical datasets. These coronae therefore represent key observables for forthcoming missions such as ESA's EnVision and NASA's VERITAS.

Finally, we explore how corona-formation models are relevant to early Earth evolution.  These results provide a framework for evaluating plume-induced lithospheric weakening and transient subduction-like behavior as key mechanisms for the onset of plate tectonics on our planet.

How to cite: Gülcher, A.: Venus: The Coronae Enigma and Lessons for Earth, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20108, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20108, 2026.

Radar remote sensing is essential for investigating Venus’ surface due to its dense CO₂-rich atmosphere and permanent cloud cover. The forthcoming ESA EnVision mission, equipped with the S-band VenSAR instrument operating in dual polarimetric HH and HV modes, will provide high-resolution observations to characterise surface scattering mechanisms, surface roughness, and dielectric properties. These observations are expected to enable the identification of signatures associated with active volcanic processes, including recent lava flow emplacement and surface alteration driven by thermal and chemical weathering. However, interpretation of polarimetric SAR observations over volcanic terrains remains challenging due to strong surface roughness, structural anisotropy, and orientation angle-induced depolarisation effects. Terrestrial volcanic analogues therefore provide a suitable framework for the development and validation of physically consistent polarimetric models prior to the availability of VenSAR data. This study presents a technical analysis of polarimetric scattering mechanisms at the Sundhnúksgígar and Holuhraun volcanic sites in Iceland using dual and full polarimetric ALOS-PALSAR-2 L-band SAR datasets. Fully polarimetric observations are used to quantify dominant scattering contributions and to evaluate the performance of conventional model-based decomposition approaches, including Freeman-Durden and Yamaguchi decomposition, over rough and structurally complex lava surfaces. To address the systematic overestimation of volume scattering, which can cause rough aa lava flows to be misclassified as vegetation, a modified model-based decomposition technique is introduced. By redistributing cross-polarised backscatter as a function of surface roughness, the proposed approach improves the separation of scattering mechanisms and enables more accurate discrimination of lava flow units and volcanic surface textures across both study areas. In addition, a dual polarimetric analogue of the proposed model-based decomposition technique is developed to enable volcanic surface characterisation using reduced polarimetric configurations consistent with the EnVision VenSAR acquisition mode. Multi-temporal ALOS PALSAR 2 dual polarimetric acquisitions are analysed to investigate surface evolution and volcanic dynamics associated with lava emplacement, flow cooling, and post-eruptive surface modification at the Sundhnúksgígar volcano site. The dual polarimetric formulation demonstrates strong correspondence with full polarimetric results in terms of dominant scattering behaviour and spatial variability, supporting the applicability of the proposed framework for future Venus observations. These results provide a validated polarimetric approach for characterising volcanic surfaces and contribute directly to the scientific preparation and exploitation of EnVision VenSAR data.

Keywords: Volcanos; SAR Polarimetry; Polarimetric SAR Decomposition; EnVision; ALOS-PALSAR-2; VenSAR

How to cite: Awasthi, S., Gao, Y., Gallardo i Peres, G., Davidova, N., C. Ghail, R., and Mason, P. J.: Polarimetric Characterisation of Volcanic Surfaces Using Dual and Full Polarimetric Spaceborne SAR Datasets: Analogue Studies for the Venus’s EnVision Mission, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20877, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20877, 2026.

Faults provide key evidence for a planet’s tectonic history, especially where direct geophysical data are scarce. Fault geometry analysis is essential for understanding tectonic deformation [1] and seismic potential [2]. Thorough fault geometry analysis constraints fault evolution mechanical response [3,4]. Marsquakes at Cerberus Fossae, Mars [5] which were detected by InSight mission’s seismometer renewed interest in Martian tectonics, and underscored the significance of extensional fault systems. Memnonia Fossae is a region hosting prominent extensional structures similar to Cerberus Fossae. Yet, these structures in Memnonia Fossae are much older than the ones in Cerberus Fossae, which provides a valuable opportunity to explore the long-term evolution of fault systems on Mars. However, due to the challenges in obtaining high-resolution topographic data [6], fault geometry studies on Mars are still limited. Therefore, to address this limitation, we use the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland as a terrestrial analogue, where active tectonic processes in basaltic terrains reflects those believed to occur on Mars. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the geometric properties and scaling relationships of normal faults in Memnonia Fossae region on Mars and Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, providing insights into fault growth mechanisms at a planetary scale.

Previously, we obtained a maximum displacement-to-length (D_max/L) ratio of 0.007 by analyzing fault scaling in Memnonia Fossae using remote sensing data from 100 faults. In this study, we focused on the Reykjanes Peninsula, and we collected structural measurements from 74 faults and fractures across 180 locations, recording parameters such as strike, dip, opening throw, shear, and extension vectors. Alongside field measurements, the Arctic DEM and drone imagery were employed also for less accessible faults.  The integration of field measurements, remote sensing, and drone imagery enabled a detailed characterization of fault geometry and displacement. The D_max/L ratio derived from Reykjanes peninsula was 0.006, closely corresponding to values derived for Memnonia Fossae and aligning with fault scaling observation in volcanic terrains on Earth. The observed similarities between faults in Reykjanes and Memnonia Fossae indicate that comparable fault growth processes may operate in both regions despite differences in age and origin. Reykjanes faults are part of an active plate-boundary rift zone on Earth, whereas Memnonia faults formed in the ancient crust of a single-plate planet. Comparing older and younger faults offer insights into the tectonic evolution of Mars and demonstrates the value of Earth-based multi-source datasets in planetary studies.

Figure 1: Dmax/L ratio comparisons of Memnonia Fossae, Reykjanes, and volcanic rocks on Earth [7].

[1] Schultz, R.A. et al. (2010) J. Struct. Geol., 32, 855-875. [2] Wells, D.L. and Coppersmith, K.J. (1994) Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer., 84, 974-1002. [3] Cartwright, J. A., et al., (1995) J. Struct. Geol. 17, 1319-1326. [4] Cowie, P.A. and Scholz, C.H., (1992) J. Struct. Geol. 14, 1133-1148. [5] Drilleau, M., et al., (2021) EGU General Assembly. Conf. 14998. [6] Gwinner, K. et al., (2010) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 294, 506-519. [7] Lathrop, B. A., et al., (2022) Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 907543.

How to cite: Yazıcı, I. S., Kenkmann, T., Sturm, S., Karagoz, O., Hauber, E., and Tirsch, D.: From Iceland to Mars: Fault Scaling and Tectonic Insights from an Earth Analogue, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21129, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21129, 2026.

The physical behaviour of silicate magmas and their eruptive style are strongly controlled by melt structure, volatile content, and cooling conditions, reflected in spectral properties. Magma rheology and eruptive style are primarily controlled by volatile-driven modifications of melt structure (especially due to H₂O), which govern fragmentation during magma–water interactions, producing fine, lithic-rich tephra. Spectroscopic techniques provide a powerful means to investigate melt structure and pre-eruptive volatile contents, offering insights into eruption dynamics.
We analysed tephra samples from two phreatomagmatic successions on Vulcano Island (Aeolian Arc, Italy), a natural laboratory to investigate relationships among magma composition, volatile content, and eruption style (Keller, 1980; De Astis et al., 1997). Eleven ash-rich layers were sampled. Field measurements included VNIR reflectance spectra acquired with an ASD FieldSpec spectroradiometer and portable Raman spectroscopy. Diffuse reflectance FTIR spectra were collected using a Bruker Invenio X spectrometer on natural and oven-dried samples (105 °C, 48 h) to evaluate adsorbed water. Quantitative spectral parameters were extracted, including band center, full width at half maximum, and area under the curve in the 300–25000 nm domain. We investigate whether VNIR reflectance spectroscopy and laboratory FTIR measurements can identify spectral criteria diagnostic of eruption style in surge-dominated pyroclastic deposits. Preliminary analyses reveal systematic spectral variations related to volatile content and silicate melt structure. The spectra display absorption features attributed to Fe³⁺, molecular H₂O, OH⁻, Al–OH, and Fe–OH vibrations, enabling extraction of band parameters sensitive to hydration state and polymerization degree. Thermal treatment experiments show reduced band areas and spectral slope associated with H₂O and OH⁻ absorptions after heating, indicating that most water in natural samples is weakly bound or adsorbed. However, water loss varies among stratigraphic levels, reflecting differences in glass content, porosity, and hydration history. Variations in Si–O and Al–O band positions and widths indicate differences in silicate network polymerization, with narrower bands and shifts toward higher wavenumbers consistent with evolved compositions. Overall, the spectral signatures are consistent with highly explosive eruptions involving water-rich, evolved magmas and record internal heterogeneity within the eruptive column, marked by progressive degassing during the eruptive event.
This study contributes to the development of spectral reference datasets of terrestrial volcanic materials, essential for interpreting remote sensing data. By linking spectral features to the physical and chemical characteristics of volcanic deposits and their eruptive context, we constrain the nature of volcanic activity on other planetary bodies.

De Astis, G.F. et al., 1997. Volcanological and petrological evolution of the Vulcano Is land Aeolian arc, southern Tyrrhenian Sea. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 8021–8050.
Keller, J., The island of Vulcano, Rend. Soc. Ital. Mineral. Petrogr., 36, 369–414, 1980

How to cite: Gentili, C., Tiraboschi, C., Pisello, A., Baroni, M., Ortenzi, G., Baqué, M., Bohnhardt, T., and Perugini, D.: From terrestrial volcanic ashes to planetary surfaces:FTIR spectral constraints on eruption style from surge deposits from Vulcano Island (Italy), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21130, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21130, 2026.

Thermal moonquakes are a series of repetitive seismic signals exhibiting nearly identical waveform patterns and amplitudes that occur periodically with the lunar diurnal cycle. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully landed in the south polar region of the Moon, deployed the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) to record ground accelerations at the landing site (69.37°S, 32.32°E) between August 24, 2023, and September 4, 2024. The instrument also monitored local surface temperatures, revealing extreme variations ranging from –20 °C to +60 °C.

After preliminary data processing, distinct thermal moonquakes were identified. The objective of this study is to analyze their frequency-dependent characteristics and investigate temperature-driven signatures. Based on waveform morphology, the thermal moonquakes are classified into three types: impulsive, intermediate, and emergent. Among these, emergent events are natural and occur due to the extension and contraction of lunar rocks, whereas the impulsive and intermediate events are caused by rover movement and other experiments conducted during the mission.

An additional focus of this research is to estimate the source locations of the thermal moonquakes using a chi-squared iterative single-station event-location algorithm. Assuming that seismic energy propagates along a one-dimensional path through a near-surface velocity model, we perform a grid search over latitude and longitude to identify the most probable source regions. Our results suggest that natural thermal moonquakes may originate from thermally induced stresses caused by large diurnal temperature variations in the lunar regolith, which reduce rock elasticity and lead to cracking and micro-fracturing.

The lunar south polar region remains one of the most intriguing yet least explored areas on the Moon. This study provides new insights into its near-surface mechanical behavior, offering a significant contribution toward understanding thermal stress-induced seismicity and the geophysical environment of the lunar south pole.

Keywords: Thermal moonquakes; Chandrayaan-3; ILSA; Lunar south pole; Thermal stress-induced seismicity; Single-station event location; Lunar regolith; Diurnal temperature variation.

How to cite: Dey, A. K., Biswas, R., Sandhu, K., and Kumar, P.: Thermal moonquakes at the lunar south pole: New evidence from Chandrayaan-3 ILSA observations, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-620, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-620, 2026.

Impact craters are ubiquitous features on surfaces of planetary bodies in the inner Solar System. Impact cratering exposes subsurface materials, making them valuable for studying subsurface compositions of planetary bodies. The ~1.88 km diameter Lonar crater in India is a simple crater that formed by the impact of a chondritic impactor ~570 ka ago [1,2]. This is a well-preserved crater hosted entirely within the ~66 My old Deccan continental flood basalts, making it an ideal terrestrial analogue for craters on the basaltic surfaces of other planetary bodies like the Moon. We report geochemical and stable (δ⁸⁸Sr) and radiogenic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) Sr isotopic compositions of six target basalts and nine impact melt breccias sampled from the upper crater wall and the distal ejecta blanket [2,3]. Geochemical measurements were performed using an ICP-MS (Thermo Scientific iCAP RQ), while Sr isotopic compositions were measured using TIMS (Thermo Scientific Triton Plus) at the Centre for Earth Sciences, IISc, Bengaluru. The external reproducibility for δ⁸⁸Sr measurements using an ⁸⁴Sr-⁸⁷Sr double-spike technique [4] was better than 0.033‰ (2SD) based on repeated analyses of NIST SRM-987 Sr standard (n=6).

The δ⁸⁸Sr values of the Lonar crater rocks are the first such values reported for any impact crater; the δ⁸⁸Sr values range from 0.256‰ to 0.305‰ for the target basalts (average = 0.278 ± 0.04‰ (2SD), n = 6) and from 0.113‰ to 0.288‰ for the impact melt breccias. The impactites are categorized into two groups: Group 1 (n=4) with δ⁸⁸Sr values overlapping those of target basalts, and Group 2 (n=5), which exhibits lower δ⁸⁸Sr values relative to the target basalts. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the impactites (0.707519-0.708139) are more radiogenic than the target basalt average of 0.706600 and are consistent with a 3-5 wt% contribution from the underlying granitic basement of Deccan lavas to the impact melt breccias [2,3]. After correcting for the contribution of the basement, the δ⁸⁸Sr values of the impactites were used to model the extent and nature of kinetic isotope fractionation, employing the standard Rayleigh fractionation model using a Monte Carlo simulation. The absence of heavier δ⁸⁸Sr values in the impact melt breccias suggests that Lonar impactites predominantly reflect origin from vapour condensates. The primary vapour originated from complete volatilization of Sr from the target and projectile, yielding a δ⁸⁸Sr similar to Lonar basalts. Group 2 impact melt breccias likely contain a component formed through nearly complete (>99%) Sr condensation within the impact vapour plume. In contrast, Group 1 impact melt breccias may have originated from the impact ejecta blanket, reflecting no evidence of significant evaporative loss.

[1] Fredriksson, K., et al. (1973), Science 180.4088.

[2] Gupta, R. D., et al. (2017), GCA, 215.

[3] Chakrabarti, R., & Basu, A.R. (2006), EPSL 247.3-4.

[4] Ganguly, S., & Chakrabarti, R. (2022), JAAS, 37(10).

How to cite: Papola, G. S. and Chakrabarti, R.: Stable Sr Variations in Impactites of Lonar Impact Crater, India: A Terrestrial Analogue for Lunar Crustal Evolution , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-630, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-630, 2026.

Characterizing the radiation environment on the lunar surface is essential for a safe human and robotic exploration. Having a negligible atmosphere, the Moon is exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), a continuous high flux of very energetic particles, and solar energetic particles (SEPs), which are accelerated in the solar corona or in coronal mass ejections. These particles can damage biological, electronic systems and other materials and thus hinder or even terminate space missions.

To aid future mission planning and habitat design, we developed a Geant4 based model, LUNAIRE, that simulates GCR and SEP propagation through the lunar surface. The model accounts for secondary particle generation on the sub-surface and derives physical quantities such as absorbed dose and Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectrum at the surface and underground. This model was adapted from the detailed Mars Energetic Radiation Environment (dMEREM) developed by LIP (Laboratory of Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics) for ESA (European Space Agency), and includes location dependent surface composition, as well as user custom particle spectra as inputs.

We validated the model by comparing the LET (Linear Energy Transfer) spectrum obtained with LUNAIRE to measurements of the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Additionally, we compared the spectrum of secondary particles production with those of the HZETRN (High Charge and Energy Transport) code available through OLTARIS (On-Line Tool for the Assessment of Radiation in Space).

 The results allow for a reconstructed GCR spectra that matches BadhwarO'Neill (BON) Galactic Cosmic Ray Model reference curves across species. We found the LET spectrum to be in good agreement with CRaTER data for both July 2009 (solar minimum available) and July 2015 (solar maximum available). Secondary particle fluxes also match HZETRN results for neutrons and protons but are not so according for electrons and gamma particles. This was attributed to differences in the physics processes of HZETRN comparing to Geant4.

 These results show that LUNAIRE accurately characterizes the lunar radiation environment that can lead to better forecasts of, and safer missions. Ongoing work includes the evaluation against SEP events, the incorporation of complex topography geometries and validation against other mission results.

How to cite: Lima, B., Neves, T., Arruda, L., Gonçalves, P., Gomes, A., and Pinto, M.:  LUNAIRE - LUNAr Ionising Radiation Environment , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-737, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-737, 2026.

The Moon is thought to have solidified from a global lunar magma ocean (LMO) through fractional crystallization. Well-documented hemispheric asymmetries in topography, crustal thickness, surface abundances of radiogenic elements, and volcanic history suggest that the nearside and farside underwent distinct evolutionary pathways. These differences likely reflect variations in the deep interior, particularly in the distribution of radiogenic heat-producing elements (HPEs) capable of sustaining long-lived temperature contrasts. However, direct geophysical evidence for such a dichotomy has been limited. A recent study based on tidal response by Park et al. (2025) reveals a 2-3% difference in shear modulus between the nearside and farside mantle, implying that the nearside mantle remains ~200 K warmer today. Similarly, He et al. (2025), using Chang’e-6 farside basalt samples combined with remote-sensing-based geochemical modeling, report farside mantle temperatures at least ~100°C cooler than those of the nearside. In this study, we employ numerical modeling to investigate whether a hemispheric thermal contrast of several hundred kelvins in the lunar mantle can persist throughout lunar history and to assess how degree-1 mantle convection and HPE distributions influence the maintenance of this dichotomy. We further explore the role of dense ilmenite-bearing cumulates (IBCs), initially crystallized beneath the crust during the final stages of LMO solidification, and later overturned and settled near the core-mantle boundary due to gravitational instability, to shape the Moon’s long-term thermochemical and dynamical evolution.

How to cite: Kar, P. and Li, M.: Hemispheric Thermal Dichotomy in the Lunar Mantle, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-860, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-860, 2026.

Mare Australe (47.77°S, 91.99°E) is a distinctive volcanic province (diameter ~1000km) at the eastern nearside and farside boundary of the Moon. The basalts of the region were considered a part of mare filling volcanism inside an ‘Australe Basin’ due to the circular arrangement of its 248 basaltic patches [1]. The proposed Australe Basin, however, lacks any discernible topographic signatures, a ring morphology, and a central positive Bouguer anomaly typically associated with the lunar impact basins. The results from the GRAIL mission and geological investigations revealed the presence of a ~880 km diameter impact structure in the northern part of Mare Australe, naming it the Australe North Basin (35.5°S, 96°E) [2, 3]. The Mare Australe basalts are dominantly emplaced outside this newly discovered Australe North Basin, which is perplexing. In this study, we carry out an extensive compositional investigation of the previously uncharacterized Australe region using hyperspectral data from the Moon Mineralogical Mapper (M³) onboard Chandrayaan-1. We investigate both mare and non-mare units in the region to understand their mineralogy in the given geological context. The spectral investigation reveals that despite widespread volcanism, the region lacks the presence of high-Ca pyroxene. Instead, the basalts are primarily composed of low to intermediate Ca-pyroxene in comparison to the rest of the lunar basalts, displaying their unique mineralogical signature. These findings provide new insights into the nature and origin of the atypical volcanism on the Moon in the Australe Region and highlight the distinct geological environment of Mare Australe responsible for the same. This study offers important implications for understanding lunar volcanic evolution and its relationship with impact processes.

[1] Whitford-Stark, J. L. (1979) LPSC X, 2975- 2994. [2] Neumann G. A. et al. (2015) Sci Adv. 1(9), e1500852. [3] Panwar N. and Srivastava N. (2024) Icarus, 408, 115841

How to cite: Panwar, N., Kapadia, T., and Srivastava, N.: Spectral Investigation of the Mare Australe Basalts: A Fresh look at the Atypical Volcanism on the Moon, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-956, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-956, 2026.

The Moon’s ancient magnetic field provides critical insights into its thermal and magnetic evolution, yet the lifetime of its dynamo remains debated. Returned samples yield complex and contradictory paleomagnetic records, while orbital data reveal crustal magnetic anomalies of uncertain origin from either a core dynamo or transient impact-generated fields. Here we jointly invert gravity and magnetic observations in the region around the Dewar swirl, a high-albedo feature associated with the Dewar magnetic anomaly. We identify a shallow, magnetized, high-density body consistent with buried mare basalt. Its formation requires paleointensity exceeding 11 μT, suggesting a lunar dynamo was active at about 4.2 Ga, as constrained by the superposed basin ejecta. Results also show that swirl formation requires horizontal magnetization and iron oxide enrichment. These findings link a magnetic anomaly to its geologic source and the state of the lunar dynamo, providing new constraints on the lunar magnetic and volcanic history.

How to cite: Yang, X., Mittelholz, A., Broquet, A., and Moorkamp, M.: Magmatic origin of the Dewar magnetic anomaly: Implications for an early lunar dynamo, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2285, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2285, 2026.

Reliable assessment of lunar surface engineering behavior requires regolith simulants that realistically capture both the mechanical response and impact-derived characteristics of natural lunar regolith. Although numerous lunar regolith simulants have been developed for geotechnical testing, most remain insufficient in reproducing the structure and mechanical role of impact products such as agglutinates and impact breccias, which dominate the load-bearing framework of lunar regolith. In this study, we establish a fabrication route for lunar regolith simulants that combines thermal processing of basalt-derived materials with glass-phase incorporation and subsequent mechanical crushing. Using this method, two simulant series, THIP-5 and THIP-6, are designed to represent regolith conditions at the Chang’e-5 nearside and Chang’e-6 farside landing regions, respectively. Systematic laboratory characterization demonstrates that the impact product simulant generated with 25 wt.% hollow glass beads reproduce key morphological and micromechanical features of natural lunar impact products. Comparisons of bulk scale properties further reveal that the synthesized simulants closely match their corresponding target soils across multiple physical and compositional metrics, including mineralogy, chemistry, grain-size characteristics, and density-related parameters. Furthermore, static angle of repose tests show that THIP-5 exhibits behavior comparable to established Chang’e-5 simulants, while experimental results from THIP-6 enable an estimation of the static angle of repose of the Chang’e-6 regolith at approximately 52.8°. The THIP simulant framework provides a physically grounded experimental basis for investigating lunar regolith mechanics, supporting the design of surface infrastructure, mobility systems, and future astronaut operations on the Moon.

How to cite: Luo, A., Cui, Y., and Nie, J.: Lunar regolith simulants incorporating impact product simulants for surface engineering and exploration applications, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2442, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2442, 2026.

Characterizing lunar surface mineralogy is essential for understanding crustal evolution, magma ocean differentiation, impact excavation processes, and identifying In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) targets for future exploration. This study determines the mineralogical composition and crustal stratigraphy across four geologically distinct lunar terrains using Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³) hyperspectral data: the Aristarchus plateau (volcanically complex), Dionysius crater (a pristine impact structure), the Malapert region (ancient highlands of the South Pole), and Leibnitz R (primordial anorthositic crust).

Level-2 M³ hyperspectral cubes (430-3000 nm, 140 m/pixel) [1] were processed through systematic workflows: destriping, photometric normalization, Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transform, Pixel Purity Index (PPI) endmember extraction, continuum removal, and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classification. Spectral signatures were validated against RELAB laboratory spectra resampled to M³ resolution. Key mineral phases identified include anorthite, low-calcium pyroxene (LCP), high-calcium pyroxene (HCP), olivine, spinel-bearing assemblages, and ilmenite.

Aristarchus exhibits the highest mineralogical diversity [2], with anorthositic highland material, HCP- and LCP-bearing mafic units, and localized olivine signatures. Anorthosite absorption features (1.25 µm band depth) dominate the crater floor, pyroxene signatures characterize the ejecta blanket, and olivine (1 µm band depth) appears along crater rims. This heterogeneity reflects volcanic emplacement and deep impact excavation, offering diverse oxygen-rich and iron-bearing ISRU targets.

Dionysius (Mare Tranquillitatis) reveals systematic radial mineralogical zonation from HCP-dominated rim materials to LCP-enriched central exposures, indicating excavation through compositionally stratified crust. This vertical gradient constrains upper crustal HCP overlying lower crustal LCP layers [3,4], consistent with magma ocean crystallization models. Olivine and ilmenite detections suggest penetration to mafic lithologies, constraining crust-mantle differentiation.

Malapert (South Pole) is predominantly anorthositic, with isolated spinel-bearing outcrops (5% band depth at 2 µm) associated with uplifted crustal blocks. These exposures constrain deep crustal composition and early magma ocean differentiation. The area's abundant anorthosite and its location near permanently shadowed regions make it a key site for oxygen extraction and the establishment of polar exploration facilities.

Leibnitz R (far side) displays spectrally pure anorthositic composition, representing primordial crust formed during lunar magma ocean plagioclase flotation. Its compositional homogeneity provides a reference for early lunar differentiation and high-purity feedstock for ISRU oxygen production.

This study integrates hyperspectral mineralogy with surface morphology to constrain crustal architecture and geological evolution across diverse lunar environments. The methodology establishes a replicable framework for hyperspectral analysis applicable to future mission planning, linking fundamental crustal processes to ISRU resource assessment and advancing sustainable lunar exploration strategies.

References: [1] Green et al. (2011) JGR: Planets, 10.1029/2011JE003797; [2] Chevrel et al. (2009) Icarus, 10.1016/j.icarus.2008.08.005; [3] Moriarty & Pieters (2018) JGR, 10.1002/2017JE005364; [4] Wieczorek et al. (2013) Science, 10.1126/science.1231530

Acknowledgement: EU HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01, Grant 101183089

How to cite: Guth, C., Mancini, F., Allemand, P., Salese, F., and Ori, G. G.: Mineralogical Diversity and Crustal Composition of Selected Lunar Regions Based on M³ Hyperspectral Analysis: Implications for ISRU and Future Exploration, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3498, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3498, 2026.

With the advancement of deep space exploration, conducting electromagnetic (EM) sounding on the Moon is of great significance for investigating the lunar internal structure and the surface EM environment. Since the Moon lacks a global dipole magnetic field and is directly exposed to complex solar wind and Earth's magnetotail environments, clarifying its time-domain response mechanisms to external magnetic perturbations is a prerequisite for lunar surface EM exploration.

This study establishes a homogeneous spherical model to simulate the lunar electromagnetic response to disturbances in the interplanetary magnetic field. By deriving analytical solutions for electromagnetic fields under step excitation (simulating a 10 nT abrupt change in the solar wind), the transient response characteristics for lunar internal electrical conductivities in the range of 10^-5 ~10^-7S/m are quantitatively analyzed.

The simulation results reveal distinct induction mechanisms:(1) The penetration of the magnetic field is governed by the skin effect. Higher conductivity leads to a stronger shielding effect and a longer rise time to reach the steady state, whereas lower conductivity allows for faster magnetic propagation. (2) The induced electric field exhibits a transient response, with its magnitude inversely proportional to conductivity. Lower conductivity results in a higher instantaneous peak electric field but a faster decay, while higher conductivity suppresses the peak amplitude but extends the signal duration. (3) The induced electric field displays a toroidal symmetry along the latitudes, reaching its maximum at the lunar equator and zero at the poles, with no vertical component.

These findings indicate that electric field detection is particularly suitable for capturing high-frequency transient variations. The derived relationships between signal bandwidth, field intensity, and conductivity provide a theoretical reference for future lunar electromagnetic exploration.

How to cite: Zhang, W., Wang, Z., and Liu, Z.: Time-Domain Simulation and Transient Characteristics of Induced Electromagnetic Fields for Lunar Deep Interior Sounding, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3527, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3527, 2026.

Lunar magnetic field investigation connects the interior, the surface, and the space environment of the Moon. Measuring and understanding the lunar magnetic field at different length-scales and time-scales is of critical importance to understand the bulk water content and temperature profile in the lunar mantle, the existence and properties of a partial melt layer above the lunar core, the size of the lunar core, the origin of volatiles on the lunar surface, and the origin and properties of the past lunar dynamo, all of which are intimately connected to the origin of the Earth-Moon system and the subsequent thermal-chemical-environmental evolution of the Moon. The surface of the Moon, however, is a challenging environment, including contrasting temperatures between lunar day and lunar night, dust, and surface charging.

Here we report our progress in the designing, building, and testing of a temperature-stabilized fluxgate magnetometer (FGM) system for long-term operations on the surface of the Moon. We refer to this FGM system configuration as L-MAG. The sensor design draws heritage from those onboard the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, InSight Mars Lander, the Europa Clipper mission, and most recently the TRACERS mission. One of the key improvements is a magnetically clean AC heater that directly surrounds the FGM sensor, improving power efficiency and responsiveness compared to Europa Clipper Magnetometer’s distant heater pod. Thermal losses are reduced with a low-emissivity enclosure and lightweight Kapton flex harness. The heater system is designed to yield a temperature stability of ± 0.1 degrees °C around two set-point temperatures (day and night) to further reduce long-term drift, allowing the inference of lunar induction responses at periods of  10⁵ seconds and longer, necessary to probe the lower lunar mantle and core. This power efficient FGM design will be compatible with installation onto a lunar lander or placed on the surface of the moon by an astronaut. Our L-MAG system will significantly improve measurement capabilities for upcoming lunar science missions including those via the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) and via Artemis astronaut deployments.

How to cite: Cao, H., Strangeway, R., Khurana, K., Caron, R., McDowell, E., Pierce, D., Hinkley, D., and Walsh, N.: L-MAG: A Temperature-Stabilized Fluxgate Magnetometer System for Long-Term Lunar Surface Observatories, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3637, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3637, 2026.

Introduction and heritage

LUNINA is a compact, durable, and location‑independent node that provides accurate navigation and communication services on the Moon. Based on the FMI led ESA’s MiniPINS/LINS project heritage, each LUNINA unit operates autonomously nominally with RHU‑assisted thermal control, solar power, and batteries. RTG-unit option is also available. Deployed individually or as a network, LUNINA nodes enables precise positioning, robust data relay, and continuous operations, enabling and supporting the scientific missions on Moon surface and orbital missions. 

Future Lunar science and missions requires dependable surface infrastructure for positioning and communication (data etc.). While future Lunar constellations will provide space segment navigation, surface users will face line‑of‑sight constraints, topographic shadowing etc. obstacles, and Lunar thermal extremes. LUNINA addresses these challenges with a drop‑and‑forget node that include navigation aid option and provides local data relay for science operations.

Figure: LUNINA nodes on the Lunar surface. Network of LUNINA's form an Earth-like mobile communication grid that supports both human and robotic Lunar exploration.

Surface operations that support the Lunar science

Accurate positioning supports the scientific operations, and it is required to achieve requirements posed by each Lunar mission goals. Nodes establish a resilient, low‑latency link between e.g. sensors/instruments, rovers, habitats, and orbiters. This LUNINA link capability and feature supports high efficiency measurements (e.g. done by multiple individual dust/plasma, thermal, environmental monitoring stations) and provides a 24/7 operating safety and communication channel for EVA operations as well. RHU‑assisted LUNINA thermal control maintains electronics safe through the Lunar night, reducing data loss and enabling long time‑series measurements and observations essential for understanding e.g. Lunar regolith thermophysics, exosphere variability, and electrostatic dust rising practically in all possible locations on Moon where at least some Sun light is present for solar panels. If node is equiped with optional RTG-unit providing the required power, then node is location-independent. In addition to this, strategic placement on hills or crater rims extends line‑of‑sight coverage into otherwise inaccessible terrain, complementing the Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS) space segment when available. We have identified following main science use cases for LUNINA:

• Geophysics: seismic science instrumentation as a piggy-back of LUNINA node. Delivery of the observation telemetry for crustal structure science and impact monitoring.
• Regolith and environment: LUNINA node assisting the thermal probes and permittivity sensors with nighttime power/thermal survivability in heat flow and volatile behaviour research.
• Dust–plasma interactions: electric field, plasma, and dust sensors included as a piggy-back at multiple LUNINA nodes to resolve charging and dust rising dynamics.
• Resources search and identification: navigation and data relay assist for mapping of the terrain that are in shadowed regions from Moon base and/or main lander.

Conclusions

LUNINA provides practically the nonstop navigation and communications base infrastructure that Lunar science needs and it is easy to scale with additional nodes. By enabling precise positioning, robust data relay, and night‑survivable operations, LUNINA contributes to the achieving of Lunar scientific benefits and results and supports both robotic and human Lunar exploration.

How to cite: Haukka, H., Kestilä, A., Harri, A.-M., Genzer, M., Nyman, L., Koskimaa, P., and Kivekäs, J.: LUNINA: In‑situ Navigation and Communication Infrastructure for Lunar Science, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5115, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5115, 2026.

Pakepake_005 is a lunar fragmental breccia recovered from the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang, China. It exhibits a clastic breccia texture, in which mineral fragments and subordinate lithic clasts are cemented by matrix and impact glass. The dominant phases are plagioclase and pyroxene, whereas olivine is less abundant but widely distributed. Minor to accessory phases include ilmenite, chromite, troilite, phosphates, silica, baddeleyite, armalcolite, and Fe–Ni metal. Lithic clasts comprise impact-melt, plutonic, and basaltic components, as well as symplectites produced by breakdown of pyroxene.

Pyroxene clasts are predominantly subhedral to anhedral and range from ~0.1 to 1 mm in size. A subset exhibits fine clinopyroxene–orthopyroxene exsolution lamellae, with Mg# spanning 15.3–71.4 and locally well-developed Fe–Mg zoning. In contrast, some Fe-rich pyroxenes lack exsolution, are compositionally homogeneous, commonly fractured, and have Mg# values of 6.6–45.2. Some Fe-rich pyroxenes underwent breakdown reactions to form symplectites consisting of augite (Mg# = 30.7–35.5), fayalitic olivine, and quartz, accompanied by minor ilmenite and phosphate minerals. Mg-rich pyroxenes also lack exsolution, are comparatively homogeneous, and have Mg# values of 50.7–74.8.

Pyroxene compositions define two distinct populations on the Fe/(Fe+Mg)–Ti/(Ti+Cr) diagram, indicating multiple sources. The first group shows a positive correlation between Fe/(Fe+Mg) and Ti/(Ti+Cr), consistent with pyroxenes from very low-Ti (VLT) lunar basalts [1]. The second group is characterized by higher Mg# together with relatively elevated Ti/(Ti+Cr), consistent with magnesian pyroxenes crystallized from a more primitive melt. CI-chondrite-normalized REE patterns [2] further indicate that those pyroxenes record at least two sources.

In situ SHRIMP U–Pb geochronology of phosphates and baddeleyite from different components constrains two major events recorded by Pakepake_005. Phosphates hosted in the matrix and impact-derived lithic clasts yield an impact age of 3923 Ma, consistent with the Imbrium basin forming event around ~3.9 Ga[3]. In contrast, phosphates in symplectites and baddeleyite from a VLT clast yield an age of 3486 Ma, documenting a VLT magmatic episode. Taken together, these petrographic, mineral-chemical, and chronological constraints suggest that Pakepake_005 was sourced from an Imbrium-ejecta–related VLT basaltic unit, broadly analogous to basaltic materials exposed in the northern Mare Imbrium region (e.g., east of the Chang’e-3 landing site), where remote-sensing data indicate VLT compositions and yield model eruption ages of ~3.5 Ga for the associated basaltic unit [4].

Acknowledgments: This study was financially supported by National Key R&D Program of China from Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China grant no. 2022YFF0704905, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) grant no. 42241107 and the Open Project for Innovative Platform of Meteoritical Research, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

[1] Robinson K. L. et al. (2012). Meteoritics & Planetary Science 47: 387–399.[2] Anders E. and Grevesse N. (1989). Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 53: 197–214.[3] Nemchin A. A. et al. (2021). Geochemistry 81: 125683.[4] Ji J. et al. (2022). Science Bulletin 67: 1544–1548.

How to cite: Yue, C., Che, X., Long, T., Wang, Z., Jin, M., Ding, X., Ma, Q., and Liu, D.: Mineralogical, Geochemical and Chronological Study of the lunar fragmental breccia Pakepake_005, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5708, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5708, 2026.