Cryptogamic communities (CC) are assemblages of photoautotrophic non-vascular organisms, such as cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes, being accompanied by heterotrophic bacteria, microfungi, and archaea. They colonize almost all substrates on Earth, including soil, rocks, and vegetation. CC are particularly relevant in drylands, where they cover vast regions as biological soil crusts (biocrusts) colonizing the uppermost centimeters of the soil. Biocrusts perform highly relevant ecosystem processes, as they fertilize the soil by fixing carbon and nitrogen, balance water cycling, influence plant germination and growth, and effectively stabilize dryland soils.

Knowledge of the composition and distribution patterns of CC across spatial scales serves as a prerequisite to investigate their functional roles in regional and global Earth system processes. Thus, together with my research team, I investigated the microbial composition of biocrust types, defined by the visible photoautotrophic component (cyanobacteria, lichens, bryophytes), and discovered that these were characterized by distinct microbial communities that in turn impacted physiological biocrust functioning. For biocrust mapping, we established a deep learning-based classification technique, which, besides identification, also allows neighborhood and growth analyses. For biocrust identification at the regional scale, I developed one of the first high-resolution remote sensing algorithms utilizing hyperspectral imagery.

During my research, I investigated several functional roles of CC. In an international research team, we identified biocrusts as key nitrogen (N) fixers with an annual fixation of ~11.5 Tg, corresponding to ~18% of the overall N fixation in natural biomes. During N cycling in CC after fixation, we were the first to show major releases of reactive gases NO and HONO. These emissions were linked to precipitation, but heterogeneous microscale mechanisms limited process understanding. To address this, we now developed a controlled in-situ setup and applied a mechanistic model to clarify the underlying processes.

Applying a modeling approach, we developed a first global biocrust map, revealing that biocrusts cover ~18 * 10⁶ km², corresponding to about 1/3 of the global dryland area. Combining this map with data on the soil-stabilizing role of biocrusts, we assessed biocrust relevance in global dust cycling. Our results revealed that biocrusts reduce dryland dust emission and cycling by 60%, thus preventing the release of ~0.7 Pg of dust per year. This study was the first assessing global biocrust relevance and including this in Earth system models.

Although biocrusts thrive under extreme environmental conditions, our studies univocally demonstrate their high sensitivity towards global change. Utilizing our deep learning-method on a 16-year biocrust monitoring project on the Colorado Plateau, we observed a decrease in biocrust coverage by ~40%, with lichens and bryophytes reacting particularly sensitive to extended drought events. Similarly, biocrust coverage on the global scale will decrease by 16-39% until the year 2070 according to our mapping and modeling approach.

In summary, my research reveals that CC play key roles in biogeochemical processes but are also vulnerable by global change, which need to be considered both in ecosystem management and Earth system models to fully reflect their role and effectively meet future challenges of the Anthropocene.

How to cite: Weber, B.: Relevance of cryptogamic communities in Earth system processes under the impact of global change, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12853, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12853, 2026.

Soils are central regulators of the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles, yet the mechanisms that influence the role of soil organic matter in soil functioning and its vulnerability to human interventions are still not sufficiently understood. In my research, I have explored the processes leading to organic matter stabilization at contrasting scales in temperate and tropical ecosystems. In this lecture, I will present my vision of how these scales need to be integrated in an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how contrasting pedoclimatic conditions, management practices, and climate change influence biogeochemical cycling. I will also present my research on the development of innovative soil amendments and sustainable management strategies to enhance fertility and increase soil carbon sequestration with the aim to strengthen resilience to global change.

I will highlight the benefits of international collaboration across continents in bringing together different viewpoints, enriching the research environment, and contributing to development. At the same time, the changing conditions we encounter when engaging with scientific knowledge, coupled with widespread misinformation, make it increasingly important to uphold scientific integrity. To nurture curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists to seek truth with rigor and dedication, we should not entirely abandon the “old-fashioned” way of doing research. In this lecture, I will share my perspective on how soil scientists can continue to generate reliable knowledge, inform responsible management, and contribute to a sustainable future.

How to cite: Rumpel, C.: Soil organic matter research in a changing world, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6371, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6371, 2026.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a cornerstone of ecosystem stability, yet its response to anthropogenic pressure is governed by molecular-scale processes that bulk analyses often fail to capture. This award lecture will illustrate how the application of stable isotopes at the compound-specific level provides a high-resolution lens to elucidate SOM complexity and dynamics across diverse environmental frontiers. By transitioning from established carbon-cycle isotope research to the pioneering frontier of organic phosphorus (OP) research, this work explores the molecular "fingerprints" of SOM dynamics.

In this award lecture, I will summarize my research on the molecular mechanisms of SOM transformation and the development of isotopic tools to decipher the turnover and fate of organic pools under varying environmental factors. First, I will provide an overview of how compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) revelas molecular shifts that precede detectable losses in diverse soil organic carbon forms, providing a diagnostic for soil vulnerability under diverse land uses and climate factors. This will comprise both a conventional biomarker extraction approach and a novel direct pyrolysis analytic technique.

Next, I will demonstrate how these isotopic approaches can be applied to disturbance ecology, specifically focusing on the resilience and transformation of organic matter in fire-affected soils. Finally, I will review the transition to the OP cycle, presenting innovative methodologies implemented to advance our understanding of C and P biogeochemical cycles, and providing unprecedented insights into the biogeochemical persistence of this major OP pool.

I will conclude by discussing how these molecular insights are vital for developing site-specific management strategies and interdisciplinary models that account for the simultaneous impacts of global change on multiple soil functions.

How to cite: San-Emeterio, L. M.: From carbon to phosphorus: Advancing compound-specific stable isotope analysis to decode soil organic matter dynamics across diverse environmental contexts, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20649, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20649, 2026.

The most prevalent clay mineral found in soil is montmorillonite. Montmorillonite-rich soils also known as expansive soils can pose hazards that bring geotechnical challenges because their swelling or shrinking behaviour arises due to the large water retention capacity of montmorillonite-rich soils. This soil swelling reduces the shear strength of soil and results in differential settlement of foundation, which compromises the structural integrity of the infrastructure. Montmorillonite is made up of multiple-layer structures, and these interlayers contain free cations that enable attachment of water molecules, which cause volumetric expansion of the soil. To prevent swelling, calcium-based stabilizers are often utilized for sodium-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) clay stabilization. These calcium-based stabilizers replace sodium ions with calcium ions with creating a diffuse layer around clay particles that affects the water adsorption capacity of Na-MMT. Therefore, to ensure structural safety and soil stability, it is essential to predict accurate soil properties, which depend on soil-water interactions; a pore-scale study of soil stabilization provides an enhanced understanding of soil-water interactions and water adsorption in the clay, which is responsible for swelling in Na-MMT. This study examines water adsorption and soil-water interactions inside montmorillonite clay pores using the Monte Carlo molecular simulations to quantify the systematic exchange of sodium with calcium cations and their influence on swelling behaviour in montmorillonite. The pore width (multiple of d-spacing) ranges from 10 to 20 Å, and varied pH environment via change in Ca²⁺ cation exchange compositions upto 100% have been simulated under in-situ conditions of temperature range of 288 to 308 K and at a pressure of 1 atm. The ClayFF forcefield was used to modelled Na-MMT clay pore, and the SPCE forcefield was used to modelled the water molecules. The simulated bulk densities of water were validated with literature data at the considered thermodynamic conditions. The Ca²⁺ exchange indicated an influence on the hydration behaviour of Na-MMT and altered the molecular ordering of water inside the pore. The adsorption of water shows dependency on interactions between water and the pore surface, as well as the available pore volume. Furthermore, these simulations analysed the percentage change in cation composition on the surface using local density distribution profiles and pore pressure across the height of the pore. This study aims to provide molecular insights into the performance of calcium-based stabilisers on expansive soils and clay-water interactions, which will help to predict pore pressure, swelling and softening and improved stability of expansive soils.

How to cite: Singh, A., Sengupta, A., and Guha Roy, D.: A Molecular Simulation Study on Sodium-Montmorillonite Clay Soil Stabilization through Calcium-Based Stabilizers, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1128, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1128, 2026.

Subalpine pastures in the Pyrenees are part of a long-standing cultural landscape shaped by centuries of extensive free-range grazing and transhumance. Like other European mountain regions, these grasslands are biodiversity-rich socio-ecological systems whose persistence depends on continuous management. Their ecological and cultural value is increasingly threatened by land abandonment, shrub encroachment, and climate warming, which reduce forage quality, alter soil processes, and compromise ecosystem resilience. Understanding how grazing influences soil functioning is therefore essential for sustainable pastoral management. We tested the hypothesis that, within low-stocking extensive systems, areas with moderately higher grazing exhibit enhanced soil quality relative to lightly used areas through effects on vegetation, nutrient inputs, and biogeochemical functioning, while remaining within low-intensity stocking levels.

We assessed soil quality under two relative grazing uses, Higher grazing use (HG) and Lower grazing use (LG), in extensive free-range systems with very low absolute stocking densities. At the Spanish site, the grazing unit comprises ~8,000 ha used by a free-ranging herd of 30 cattle (~0.04 LU·ha⁻¹). GPS tracking of five collared cows revealed strong contrasts in site use: 3,496 minutes in HG areas versus 298 minutes in LG areas during July–September. Parcels were classified based on vegetation structure and field indicators of bovine activity. At each site (Spain, Andorra, France), two areas (HG, LG) were sampled, each with four replicated subplots. Soil cores were collected at 0–6 cm (bulk density, mesofauna) and 0–20 cm (physical, chemical, biological properties), and aboveground biomass was harvested in 40×40 cm quadrats.

Soil Quality Index (SQI) values were calculated using the Minimum Data Set approach (Andrews et al., 2002), normalized on a 0.1–1 scale. Mesofauna was incorporated through the Ecological–Morphological Index (Menta et al., 2018).

The highest-weighted SQI indicators were electrical conductivity (0.560), total glomalin (0.197), pH (0.197), cation exchange capacity (0.197), water saturation content (0.170), coarse fragments (0.170), Olsen-P (0.073), porosity (0.073), bulk density (0.073), and clay (0.073). SQI showed consistent regional patterns, with higher values in HG areas: Spain 0.780 ± 0.005 vs. 0.727 ± 0.017; France 0.624 ± 0.027 vs. 0.606 ± 0.008; Andorra 0.714 ± 0.034 vs. 0.692 ± 0.024.

Several high-weight indicators showed grazing-related changes. Aggregate stability increased under higher grazing in Andorra but decreased in France and Spain. Total glomalin was identical between HG and LG in Andorra and France, but lower under LG in Spain. Cation exchange capacity and pH were consistently higher in HG. Electrical conductivity remained slightly higher in HG, especially in Spain. Coarse fragments varied by site, but their contribution was moderate relative to conductivity and cation exchange capacity.

Overall, moderately higher grazing helps maintain soil structural stability, supports fungal contributions to soil carbon, preserves cation-exchange capacity and pH, and sustains electrical conductivity within functional ranges. Together, these processes enhance soil quality in extensive free-range systems. Our findings highlight intermediate grazing as a key driver of soil functioning and ecosystem resilience in subalpine Pyrenean pastures, emphasizing the integration of soil indicators, biological communities, and grazing patterns for sustainable management of high-mountain rangelands.

How to cite: Quintana, S., Martí, C., Badía, D., and Santolaria, P.: Soil quality responses to extensive grazing use in subalpine pastures across the Pyrenees., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1236, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1236, 2026.

Floodplain wetlands are important carbon sinks, yet drought-induced water level declines threaten this function by triggering mudflat-to-meadow transitions that alter soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and stability. Microtopography shapes wetland hydrology and vegetation productivity; however, its interactive effects with vegetation on microbial necromass carbon (MNC)—the main component of stable SOC derived from microbial death—remain unknown. Combining amino sugar biomarkers, amplicon and metagenomic sequencing, we investigated MNC distribution and drivers across vegetation covers (meadow and mudflat) and microtopographic units (dish-shaped depressions, delta slopes, and riparian slopes) up to 30 cm depth in Poyang Lake floodplains. In the top 10 cm, MNC pool shifted from bacterial (BNC) to fungal necromass carbon (FNC) dominance from mudflats to meadows, with FNC/BNC ratio increasing from 0.5 to 1.7. This shift was driven by drainage that stimulated plant growth and C input belowground as well as oxygenation, thereby enriching fungal saprotrophic and symbiotrophic guilds, cellulose-hydrolyzing enzymes, and genes responsible for aerobic lignin-degradation. Conversely, lower meadow pH suppressed bacterial richness and functions critical for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling. Microtopography further mediated MNC/SOC ratio following vegetation effects. In the top 10 cm, delta meadow soil had higher FNC/SOC than dish-shaped and riparian meadows, driven by recalcitrant dissolved organic matter that enriched saprotrophic fungi. Aerated riparian mudflat had higher BNC/SOC than other mudflats due to efficient nitrogen turnover and reduced CO₂ emissions. Below 10 cm, BNC exceeded FNC owing to oxygen limitation for fungi. Delta meadow and riparian mudflat also maintained higher BNC/SOC than other microtopography units, primarily driven by clay-silt mineral protection. Overall, drought-induced meadow expansion restructured topsoil microbial communities, shifting microbial carbon sequestration pathway from bacterial toward fungal dominance. Slope wetlands mitigate climate change more effectively than depressions through greater SOC stability, mediated by depth-dependent drivers of microbial necromass—substrate availability in the top 10 cm and mineral protection below. These findings reveal that the impact of microbial life-and-death processes on long-term carbon sequestration and stability is regulated by the hotspot-specific conditions created by vegetation, microtopography, and soil depth, highlighting the need for hotspot-differentiated wetland management strategies.

How to cite: Zhang, X., Kuzyakov, Y., Zhao, D., and Zeng, J.: Vegetation and microtopography drive microbial necromass carbon sequestration in wetland soils, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2885, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2885, 2026.

Military operations in Ukraine are causing significant changes to the environment, with soil being one of the most vulnerable components. Explosions, the utilisation of heavy machinery, and the pollution emanating from military facilities are collectively responsible for the deterioration of the soil physical properties. This results in a reduction of soil fertility and an alteration in the soil microbiome composition. Microorganisms play a pivotal role in biogeochemical processes that affect soil quality, its regenerative capacity, and the stability of agroecosystems. The rehabilitation and restoration of ecosystems, including soils, in the aftermath of armed conflict is crucial to ensure food security and strongly depends on the soil conditions. Therefore, comprehensive study to investigate the consequences of military interventions on the microorganisms, as well as physico-chemical characteristics of soils, and their consequent influence on the ecological conditions are necessary.

We collected soil samples from a militarily disturbed area in the vicinity of the village Moshchun in the Kyiv region in May 2025. The site presents a crater left by an aerial bomb explosion in the spring of 2022. The agrochemical parameters were determined according to the standard protocols. For microbiological analysis, soil suspension was plated onto selective nutrient media. The directional coefficients microbiological processes in soil (i.e., mineralisation-immobilisation coefficients, oligotrophy, pedotrophy) were calculated according to SSU 3750-98, and microbial transformation of soil organic matter – according to Mukha V.D.

The agrochemical parameters of the soil sampled in the crater and in the area directly adjacent to it indicates degradation of the soil organic matter and a decrease in nitrogen availability. These changes indicate the areas of significant thermal and mechanical destruction. An increase in mineral nitrogen in the centre of the approximately 6 m deep crater may reflect the exposure of inorganic nitrogen from deeper parent material layers. We also observed a decrease in the contents of mobile phosphorus and potassium, as well as soil organic matter (or humus) content. These findings confirm the negative impact of the explosion on soil fertility indicators.

Samples collected from the crater and adjacent undisturbed areas exhibited pronounced shifts in the abundance of different microbial groups. In the immediate vicinity of the explosion epicentre, the abundance of oligotrophs and pedotrophs increased, whereas populations of ammonifiers, phosphate mobilisers and cellulose decomposers decreased. Directionality coefficients of microbiological processes indicate a general shift toward predominance, of mineralisation processes withn the explosion-affected zones, resulting in the loss of organic carbon and a negative humus balance. The elevated proportion of oligotrophic and pedotrophic microorganisms in the crater centre suggest depletion of readily available nutrients for the microbiota, accompanied by active uptake of mobile nutrients from deeper soil or parent materials.

We acknowledge the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for the financial support of this research (Projects 0124U001049 and 0124U000960).

How to cite: Illienko, V., Salnikova, A., Bondar, V., Lazarev, M., and Klepko, A.: Soil microbiome state in militarily impacted soils of Ukraine, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9411, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9411, 2026.

Global warming is increasingly threatening vineyards soil health, particularly in Mediterranean regions, mainly compromising their biological parameters, which are highly sensitive to rising temperatures. Sustainable management practices, such as the use of legume cover crops (CCS) have been emerging as an effective strategy to mitigate these impacts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of legume CCs in new vineyard plantations, as a sustainable soil management practice to enhance resistance and resilience to warming conditions. The experiment was conducted in Central Spain) under dry climate (Bsk, cold steppe), with an average annual temperature of 14.1 °C, and annual precipitation of 421.8 mm, 57% of which occurs between September and February and the soil presented a sandy loam texture. A completely randomised design was applied with three factors: (i) temperature: normal (current climatic conditions) vs increased (~ +1 °C) using open-top chambers (OTC); (ii) soil management with three levels: bare soil with tillage (T), and two CCs, CC Trifolium subterraneum L. (TCC), and Medicago truncatula Gaern. (MCC); and (iii) grapevine cultivar: cv.  Airén versus cv. Tempranillo. The combination generated 12 treatments with four replicates (48 experimental units). Four months after grapevine planting and CC sowing, and one month after CC mowing soil samples were collected at two depths (0–10 and 10–30 cm) to determine key soil health indicators: enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, phosphatase, urease, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase), basal and induced respiration, pH and electrical conductivity. The infiltration rate was also determined. Results show that both MCC and TCC significantly increased β-glucosidase and urease activities in the 0–10 cm layer compared with tilled bare soil, while OTC warming reduced phosphatase and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activities, potentially compromising nutrient recycling. The grapevine cultivar × CC interaction revealed that soils with cv. Airén responded better with Medicago truncatula Gaern, showing a significant increase in urease activity in the 10–30 cm layer, whereas in cv. Tempranillo no significant differences were observed. This suggests that the effect of CC on soil biological activity depends on the grapevine cultivar, underscoring the need to further investigate these interactions. Basal and induced respiration increased with CCs relative to bare soil but decreased under OTC warming. In addition, MCC increased electrical conductivity in the 0–10 cm layer compared to TCC and bare soil. No significant differences were observed in the infiltration rate. These findings indicate that leguminous cover crops enhance soil biological activity in the short term, while physical properties such as infiltration and chemical properties such as pH require longer periods to show significant changes. Overall, the use of leguminous CCs represents a promising strategy to sustain soil health in young vineyards under global warming, with cultivar-specific responses that warrant deeper investigation.

Acknowledgements: This study was carried out in the framework of the CUBIC project. Grants PID2023-147576OB-C21 and PID2023-147576OB-C22 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033

How to cite: Enciso-Santacruz, D., Hontoria, C., Peregrina, F., Hernández-Montes, E., Sánchez-Elez Martin, S., and Mariscal-Sancho, I.: Short-term effect of leguminous cover crops on soil health in young vineyards with simulated global warming., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12374, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12374, 2026.

Process-based crop models are often coupled with soil models to compute the soil water and nutrient status in the root zone. The integration of a geochemical module with existing soil models can enhance their accuracy and capability to simulate additional key bio-geochemical processes. 2DSOIL is a legacy soil model integrated with several prominent process based crop models such as those for maize (MAIZSIM), cotton (GOSSYM), soybean (GLYCIM) and potato (SPUDSIM). However, this soil model lacks a dedicated geochemical component. This study addresses this limitation by integrating the prominent geochemical model, PhreeqcRM, with 2DSOIL using the operator splitting approach, resulting in an improved reactive transport model named ‘2DSOIL-PhreeqcRM’. This new model was validated with two exercises: (i) benchmarking simulated reactive transport against the standard analytical solutions; and (ii) inter-model comparison between cation-exchange simulations from 2DSOIL-PhreeqcRM versus PHREEQC’s built-in transport module. 2DSOIL-PhreeqcRM performed well in both exercises, with a mean absolute percentage error less than 4.75 % and RMSE less than 0.015 mol/l. This research establishes the accuracy and robustness of the 2DSOIL-PhreeqcRM, paving the way for its future use in simulating complex agro-bio-geochemical processes such as the nutrient transformations, precipitation and dissolution of minerals, effect of the addition of lime, ammonia and urea etc.

How to cite: Kapoor, A., Beegum, S., Fleisher, D., Timlin, D., Ray, C., and Reddy, V.: Adding reactive transport capabilities to the 2DSOIL model with the integration of PhreeqcRM , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13521, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13521, 2026.

In Mediterranean viticulture, climate change is reshaping management practices by increasing water scarcity and temperatures, challenging productivity and wine quality. The establishment of new vineyards is particularly vulnerable at early stages. In this context, legume cover crops (CCs) may enhance soil resilience and vineyard establishment through increased biological activity and biological N fixation.

This study evaluated the potential of two legume CCs to improve soil N availability and early grapevine development under a simulated warming scenario (+2 °C) and contrasting precipitation regimes. A microcosm experiment (12 kg soil per pot) was conducted under semi-controlled greenhouse conditions (Madrid, Spain) using a multifactorial design including three soil management treatments (bare soil, cover crop of Medicago truncatula Gaertn., and cover crop of Trifolium subterraneum L.), two precipitation levels (current and 15 % reduced), and two grapevine cultivars (white cv. Airén and red cv. Tempranillo). Cover crops were mowed 75 days after sowing, and their residues were left on soil surface as mulch. After one growing cycle, soil total N and extractable NO₃⁻ were measured, and grapevine foliar biomass, as well as foliar N content, were determined.

Under warming conditions, legume CCs did not increase soil total N or extractable NO₃⁻ compared with bare soil. In contrast, reduced precipitation increased both parameters. Moreover, reduced precipitation decreased total foliar N amount by a 14 %. This suggests that reduced precipitation limited N uptake by the grapevine and in consequence increased the soil NO₃^-. These results may be explained by decreased water availability, given that N assimilation is an active, energy-dependent process regulated by the water status of grapevine and CCs.

Foliar biomass showed significant interaction between soil management and precipitation level. Under bare soil conditions, reduced precipitation decreased leaf biomass by 22 % relative to current precipitation. In contrast, under current precipitation, CCs reduced leaf biomass by 20 % compared with bare soil.  However, under reduced precipitation CCs did not decrease foliar biomass respect to bare soil. This interaction indicates that cover crop competition is significant under current precipitation but not under reduced precipitation. A reduction in foliar biomass under CCs, when not accompanied by reduced precipitation, would indicate that factors other than water competition are involved. One such factor could be N uptake by the cover crops, which reduces N uptake by the grapevine and consequently limits its foliar development.

In conclusion, legume CCs did not increase soil N availability grapevine N status, or foliar growth in grapevines during their first growing cycle. However, they were not detrimental to grapevine foliar biomass under water-restricted conditions compare to the bare soil. Overall, the results highlight water availability as a key factor modulating of the soil–plant N balance. These results support the use of legume CCs as sustainable soil management for climate-resilient viticulture at the first year of grapevine establishment. Further research is needed to optimize legume CCs management to enhance soil N availability and grapevine performance under future climate change scenarios.

Acknowledgements: proyecto CUBIC. PID2023-147576OB-C21 y PID2023-147576OB-C22, financiadas por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.

How to cite: Fariña, C. J., Enciso Santacruz, D., Hernández- Montes, E., Muñiz González, A. B., Mariscal-Sancho, I., Hontoria, C., and Peregrina, F.: Effects of Legume Cover Crops on Soil Nitrogen Availability, Biomass and Foliar N of Young Grapevines under Simulated Warming and Reduced Precipitation, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13573, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13573, 2026.

Global warming and rice cultivation are both significant drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, with methane (CH₄) representing a potent short lived climate forcer. Understand the interactive effects of rising temperatures and soil management practices in regulating carbon fixation and emissions is essential for developing climate-smart rice agroecosystems. Biochar amendment has been proposed to improve soil fertility and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, yet its interactive effects with warming remain insufficiently understood. A synergistic assessment of warming and biochar application is therefore necessary to evaluate their integrated potential for climate mitigation and sustainable rice production.

A controlled pot experiment using a water bath warming system was established to investigate the interactive effects of warming and biochar amendment. Four treatments were implemented: (1) conventional fertilization (NPK, control), (2) warming (NPK + H), (3) biochar addition (NPK + BC), and (4) combined warming and biochar (NPK + BC + H). Throughout the growing season, key environmental variables, including soil temperature, moisture, and electrical conductivity were continuously monitored. In parallel, rice growth traits and photosynthetic parameters were measured periodically. Greenhouse gas fluxes (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) were regularly quantified to assess treatment effects on emissions dynamics.

The experiment revealed critical interactions between warming and biochar. Their effects were often divergent when applied singly but convergent in combination. Specifically, while biochar alone stimulated CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes, and warming independently raised soil temperature, their combined application did not yield additive outcomes. Instead, it suppressed the biochar-induced increase in CO₂ and CH₄, demonstrating a clear interactive mitigation effect. Furthermore, this combination synergistically promoted rice photosynthesis and growth, and all amendment treatments reduced N₂O emissions relative to the NPK control.

Our findings demonstrate that warming and biochar amendment interactively regulate soil-plant processes and greenhouse gas fluxes in rice paddies, primarily through an antagonistic interaction that reverses the sole effect of biochar on CH₄ and CO₂ emissions. This shift indicates a fundamental change in microbial activity and carbon metabolism under combined treatment. Moreover, the synergy between warming and biochar enhanced photosynthetic carbon fixation, illustrating a dual mechanism that simultaneously optimizes carbon gain and attenuates carbon loss. These results provide mechanistic insight into how integrated management can reconcile productivity with climate mitigation, supporting the development of climate-smart strategies for rice agroecosystems under future warming scenarios.

How to cite: Chen, X., Ma, L., Mao, Q., and Cui, N.: Interactive effects of warming and biochar addition on photosynthesis and greenhouse gas emissions in a paddy system, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17269, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17269, 2026.

Introduction

Soybean has a strong impact on soil biological processes by interacting with microorganisms. Using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and bacterial inoculants improves nutrient uptake and soil biological activity. However, the combined effects of these treatments with chemical seed treatment on soil health indicators in chernozem soils under intensive farming have not been studied enough.

Materials and Methods

The research was carried out on typical chernozem after maize for silage and soybeans. All variants of the experiment were created under uniform mineral fertilization (N₆₀P₆₀K₆₀).

The experimental design included the following treatments:

• Control – mineral fertilization only, without seed treatment, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, or inoculation;
• Chemical seed treatment – mineral fertilization with seed treatment (Maxim XL, 1.0 l/t);
• Mycorrhizal treatment – MycoApply (4.0 g/ha) combined with seed treatment (Maxim XL, 1.0 l/t) under mineral fertilization;
• Combined biological treatment – MycoApply (4.0 g/ha) + HiStick inoculant (400 g/ha) with seed treatment (Maxim XL, 1.0 l/t) under mineral fertilization

The number of microorganisms capable of ammonification, amylolysis, oligotrophy, pedotrophy, phosphate mobilization, and actinomycetes was assessed. The functional indices of soil health were evaluated using the coefficients of mineralization-immobilization, organic matter transformation, oligotrophy, and pedotrophy.

Results and Discussion

The control samples showed fairly high soil biological activity, which suggested a substantial presence of ammonifying microorganisms. The presence of numerous oligotrophic and pedotrophic microorganisms suggests the stable organic matter pools were frequently used. The limited quantity of actinomycetes present suggests a reduced rate of humification and carbon stabilization.

The application of Maxim XL led to a broader decrease in microbial populations, especially affecting oligotrophic and pedotrophic microorganisms. Lower values for the coefficient of organic matter changes suggest a dampening of microbial actions involved in breaking down organic residues.

Integrating MycoApply with a chemical seed treatment helped recover some microbial populations and improved functional measures when contrasted with seeds that only received the chemical treatment. More phosphate-mobilizing microorganisms showed up, meaning there was more phosphorus available.

The biological treatment, which included MycoApply with HiStick and Maxim XL, showed the best microbial response, as compared to other treatments. The presence of mycorrhizal fungi and bacterial inoculant lessened some of the negative aspects associated with chemical seed treatment. We found that microbial numbers and activity were greater than with just the chemical treatment by itself. Even though the microbial levels did not quite get back to where they started, this treatment did make the microbial community more resilient and stable when a lot of fertilizer was used.

Conclusions

In a common chernozem soil, various seed treatments for soybean farming caused noticeably different reactions in the biological markers for soil health. The application of chemical seed treatments independently led to a reduction in both microbial activity and the processes involved in organic matter transformation. In contrast, applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, especially when paired with bacterial inoculation, somewhat lessened these problems and contributed to more even soil microbial activity. The findings indicate that biological methods can sustain soil health and ecosystem functions in soybean-based agroecosystems under conditions of global change.

How to cite: Pravylov, V.: Biological indicators of soil health under soybean cultivation as affected by mycorrhizal application and seed treatment in typical chernozem, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21989, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21989, 2026.

Soil threats, such as pollution, salinity, soil organic carbon (SOC) loss and compaction, are often difficult to quantify or costly to analyze and bioindicator research represents an important approach for their efficient evaluation. Microbial bioindicators can reflect early biological responses to soil degradation processes, offering a sensitive and cost-efficient complement to conventional soil analyses. The identification of microbial clade–specific indicators can be achieved in detail through metabarcoding technologies, although these methods typically require extensive data processing and advanced bioinformatics expertise.

In contrast, ester-linked fatty acid (ELFA) analysis provides an inexpensive biological method capable of quantifying major microbial groups in soil, including bacteria, fungi, Gram-positive, Gram-negative and Actinobacteria. We hypothesize that ELFA analysis can serve as a complementary and alternative technique for soil threat bioindication.

Using LUCAS 2018 soil survey data, we assessed relationships between soil threat proxies (estimated metal and metalloid concentrations, electrical conductivity, SOCmeasured/SOCexpected ratio and bulk density) and ELFA-derived parameters (both raw and ratio-transformed) through random forest modeling and ANOVA. Significant bioindicators (α < 0.05 and β > 0.8) were confirmed using generalized additive model (GAM) regressions across European biogeoclimatic regions (Alpin, Continental, Pannonian, Mediterranean, Boreal and Atlantic).

Our results demonstrate that Actinobacteria/Gram− ratio, fungi-to-bacteria (F/B) ratio, Gram+ and Gram− groups can serve as potential bioindicators for soils enriched in metals (Zn and Cd) and for SOC loss (SOC_observed/SOC_expected) as significantly highlighted by Random Forest, ANOVA and GAM analyses. Some responses were found to be specific to continental, boreal and Mediterranean biogeoclimates.

These findings support the inclusion of ELFA-based microbial metrics in European soil monitoring schemes such as LUCAS or the Soil Monitoring Law. Future research should integrate ELFA data with molecular bioindicators to refine multi-parameter soil threat assessments.

How to cite: Martin, N., Caner, L., Vilhelmsson, O., and Zucca, C.: Data Mining of ELFA Bioindicators to Assess Soil Threats Across European Biogeoclimatic Regions Using the LUCAS Dataset, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22253, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22253, 2026.

Abstract: Understanding how vegetation patterns control gravity erosion, such as avalanches, landslides, and mudflows, in slope–gully systems under heavy rainfall, remains a key challenge on the Chinese Loess Plateau. To address this, five 1-h simulated rainfalls were conducted, at an intensity of 1.4 mm/min, on experimental plots. These plots featured a gentle slope of 3° and a gully sidewall of 70°, and were covered with different vegetation patterns. Our results show that high-coverage grass on the gentle slope effectively reduced avalanche magnitude. The plot with 85% grass coverage had the lowest average avalanche volume, at 109.6 cm³, across the five rainfall experiments. Conversely, the excessive restoration of woody vegetation, or planting woody vegetation near the gully shoulder line, markedly increased landslide scale. Across the five rainfalls, the average landslide volume was 1,202.7 cm³ in the plot with 85% tree coverage and 983.3 cm³ in the plot with 60% shrub coverage along the gully shoulder line––both nearly triple that of bare land. Mudflow volumes in most of the plots accounted for less than 10% of the total gravity erosion. Avalanche and landslide volumes were significantly correlated with root mass density, silt content, bulk density, and organic matter, with all correlation coefficients exceeding 0.45. Consequently, implementing high-coverage grass on gentle slopes is one of the most effective strategies for mitigating gravity erosion on gully sidewalls.

Keywords: Gravity erosion; Vegetation pattern; Slope–gully systems; Grass; Loess Plateau

How to cite: Ran, G. and Xu, X.: High-coverage grass on slope–gully systems effectively mitigates gravity erosion in the Loess Plateau, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6345, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6345, 2026.

Plant roots actively modify the physical properties of the soil in their area by secreting mucilage. Chia seed mucilage (CSM) is used as a model for plant root exudates primarily because of its similarities in physicochemical properties to natural root mucilage and its easy extraction in substantial, consistent quantities for laboratory experiments to study plant-soil-water relations. CSM can form highly viscous solutions at low concentrations and exhibits excellent properties, including water-holding capacity, surface tension, and emulsion stabilization. Most previous studies focused on chia seed mucilage as a conceptual model to describe the effect of mucilage on soil hydraulic properties, solute movement and gas diffusion in soil. However, the interactions between CSM and heavy metals have not been studied yet. Here, we showed the role of CSM as a bio-adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals and contaminants. Due to its sensitivity, non-destructivity, and simplicity, molecular fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to provide qualitative and quantitative information on the interaction between natural dissolved organic matter and metal ions. CSM was extracted from hydrated chia seeds and characterized using fluorescence Excitation-Emission Matrices combined with the Parallel Factor Analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) method. The binding interactions of CSM fluorescent components with heavy metals were quantified using fluorescence quenching titration and the Stern-Volmer model. Competitive binding studies were also conducted using one heavy metal as the quenching agent in the presence of competing heavy metal ions. Unconstrained PARAFAC modelling with two to four components was performed separately on 61 EEMs obtained from different concentrations of CSM samples, and the final component scores were determined through core consistency analysis, split-half analysis, and examination of the explained variance percentages. Protein-like (tryptophan & tyrosine) substances were the main fluorescent components identified by EEM-PARAFAC. The quenching titration results showed that the fluorescence intensity of CSM fluorescent components decreased with increasing heavy metal concentration under various environmental conditions. This strong quenching effect implies the binding ability of CSM to heavy metals and its significance in understanding metal toxicity, bioavailability, and transport in soil and natural waters.

How to cite: abrha, K. A. and Arye, G.: Adsorption of heavy metals to chia seeds' mucilage, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7583, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7583, 2026.

The increasing production of wastewater and sewage sludge (SS) is a major environmental challenge of the 21^st century, while the need for sustainable waste management and resource recovery drives the development of innovative technologies for sludge utilization. The thermochemical conversion of SS through pyrolysis to biochar (BC) is a promising “waste-to-resource” strategy, as it allows both the reduction of sludge volume and the production of a functional, value-added material.

This study aims to examine sewage sludge-derived biochar (BCxSS), focusing on its characterization methods, the effect of pyrolysis conditions on its physicochemical properties, and its practical applications in water and wastewater treatment. By applying a structured PRISMA-based methodology, 170 studies concerning the production, modification, and environmental utilization of BCxSS were studied. The results showed that pyrolysis conditions, and particularly pyrolysis temperature, have a major influence on the properties of the BC, such as yield, ash content, pH, specific surface area, porous structure, and surface functional groups. Furthermore, BCxSS effectively removes heavy metals, dyes, phenolic compounds, and emerging organic micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and antibiotics. These removals occur through mechanisms such as physical adsorption, ion exchange, surface complexation, and π-π interactions. BCxSS is also attracting attention as a precursor for catalysts capable of degrading persistent pollutants. Despite these advances, the application of BCxSS for the adsorption and inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes remains limited, revealing a critical research gap. Understanding BC-microorganism interactions is vital, given the significant public and environmental health risks posed by waterborne pathogens.

Overall, BCxSS provides a tangible example of circular economy in practice, transforming wastewater treatment byproducts into valuable resources that reduce waste and mitigate pollution.

How to cite: Gkogkou, E. V., Isari, E. A., Grilla, E., Manariotis, I. D., Kalavrouziotis, I. K., and Kokkinos, P.: Sewage sludge-derived biochar as a circular “waste-to-resource” strategy for wastewater treatment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10788, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10788, 2026.

Numerous recent publications have demonstrated the relationship between random reflectance and the proportion of the fully carbonized fraction (equivalent to the fusinite maceral) contained in a biochar sample. These findings have motivated international frameworks and independent carbon registries to consider random reflectance among the core analytical proxies required to assess biochar permanence in soil. However, skepticism for the application of the proxy still persists, with main challenges revolving around the aspects of data acquisition and data interpretation. This is mostly attributed to the fact that the methods applied in the microscopic study of biochar were originally developed and standardized for the study of coal, where the calculation of the average and standard deviation of a 100 measurements on collotelinite, accompanied by a histogram showing the frequency distribution of the measured values, is often enough to describe and report this optical property.

Even though biochar samples are petrographically much simpler than coal and other sedimentary rocks, they have peculiarities that require a more careful consideration when applying standard petrographic techniques for their study. Biochar manufacturing conditions play a major role in the extent of the carbonization degree of the feedstock and this in turn has an impact on the heterogeneity of the formed biochar grains often resulting in complex distributions of the reflectance values, not always accurately captured in the basic descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation, etc.), particularly in the case of polymodal distributions. For this reason a higher number of measurements, ranging between 300-500, on fields of view selected along a regular grid, is required to acquire meaningful average and standard deviation values, as opposed to coal samples, where a “run of the sample” on parallel traverses where collotelinite occurs is a common practice.  

Advanced descriptive statistics have long been successfully used for the evaluation of grain size analysis of clastic sedimentary rocks for the assessment of reservoir properties and depositional environment. This study attempts to investigate the frequency and probability distributions and derived advanced descriptive statistics of random reflectance measurements acquired from 50 plant-based biochar samples, in order to characterize their heterogeneity with regards to the proportion of the fully carbonized fraction. The calculated advanced descriptive statistics include the coefficient of variation and confidence intervals, measures of central tendency (median and mode), measures of dispersion (variance and interquartile range), shape parameters (skewness and kurtosis), and probability-related measures (probability density function, cumulative distribution function, and percentiles, particularly those associated with the established “inertinite benchmark”-IBR_o2). In addition to those, the study attempts a comparison between the IBR_o fractions determined by the measurement of 3-4 points per field of view, against those determined by just measuring the point located at the crosshair of each field of view, together with the convergence of the acquired set of measurements to the mean and median of each sample. Findings are expected to contribute to a mathematically more robust characterization of the acquired datasets, providing greater rigor in how this data can be utilized with regards to the assessment of biochar carbon permanence.

How to cite: Siavalas, G., Alami Sounni, K., and Camps Arbestain, M.: Advanced descriptive statistics of random reflectance measurements on plant-based biochars-do they even matter?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19240, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19240, 2026.

Soil compaction is commonly viewed by agronomists as an undesirable consequence of intensive agricultural activities arising from heavy machinery or livestock trampling. However, when induced at the bottom of furrows, it might help reduce the water loss during furrow irrigation. As such, understanding of how compaction alters soil hydraulic properties is essential for developing sustainable soil and water management practices. This study aimed to investigate the impact of compaction on soil hydraulic properties of a clay-textured Nitisol. Thirty undisturbed soil samples were collected from a depth of 15 cm in Koga irrigation scheme, Ethiopia, and subjected to five compaction levels: control (0%), 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% volume reduction, each with six replicates. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured using the KSAT® apparatus with the falling head technique, while water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were measured using the HYPROP® system based on the modified evaporation method. Compaction reduced water retention and hydraulic conductivity, particularly in the wet range up to pF 3. Saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased by 9% to 78% from the lowest to highest compaction level tested. Compaction also increased bulk density (8% – 40%) and relative field capacity (4% – 10%) and decreased total porosity (6% – 33%), macroporosity (28% – 82%), air capacity (25% – 61%), and plant-available water content (8% – 17%). When compared with soil quality thresholds, compaction of 15% or more reduced plant-available water below optimal range (< 0.2 m³ m^-3) and lowered saturated hydraulic conductivity below the threshold (8.64 cm day^-1). While this study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of furrow irrigation subjected to compaction, the findings also emphasize the need for sustainable soil management to improve crop yield and soil resilience.

Keywords: Hydraulic properties, HYPROP2®, KSAT®, Soil compaction, Soil physical quality

How to cite: Yimam, A. Y., Asmamaw, D. K., Chen, M., Tilahun, S. A., Beyene, A. A., Dessie, M., Walraevens, K., Tsegaye, E. A., Frankl, A., and Cornelis, W.: Evaluating the Effect of Compaction on Soil Hydraulic Properties, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-276, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-276, 2026.

The characterization and monitoring of soils and groundwater affected by non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) remains a challenge due to the difficulty and high costs associated with their spatial delineation through intrusive methods (e.g., core-recovery drilling). The radon deficit technique is a promising screening method that enables the identification of potentially impacted areas based on the ubiquity of this gas, its operational simplicity and capability for rapid in situ measurement, and its preferential partitioning into NAPLs. However, subsurface sampling does not allow discrimination between impacts occurring in the vadose zone and those in the saturated zone. This work proposes the application of machine learning algorithms (Random Forest) as a tool to analyze the spatial variability of radon activity data in contaminated sites, with the aim of quantitatively determining their dependence on information related to contamination processes in both the vadose and saturated zones, as well as evaluating the ability of these algorithms to assess  the potential of the radon deficit technique for monitoring remediation processes in NAPL-impacted sites.
This study uses information collected during sampling campaigns conducted at a NAPL-impacted site at various depths within the vadose and saturated zones. The collected data (radon activity, lithological characteristics, and organic contamination information) were integrated into a machine learning algorithm that enabled the spatial analysis of the joint behavior of the variables, resulting in a predictive model to assess the potential of the radon deficit technique for monitoring remediation processes.
The results suggest that the radon deficit is a useful screening and monitoring method for NAPL-impacted sites, and demonstrate the value of machine learning not only as a predictive tool but also as an analytical resource to interpret complex relationships and validate indirect environmental monitoring techniques.

How to cite: Montalvo Piñeiro, J., Barrio Parra, F., Serrano García, H., Izquierdo Díaz, M., De Miguel García, E., and Lorenzo Fernández, D.: Potential of Radon Deficit as a Monitoring Tool in Organic Soil Remediation: A Machine Learning-Based Predictive Approach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-294, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-294, 2026.

This paper examines how the urban underground is organized and managed during construction projects, focusing on professional boundaries between asset managers and project managers. Drawing on an ethnographic case study of a large underground utilities construction and renovation project, the paper analyzes how the underground is made sense of in everyday project practices. The findings show that during construction the underground was framed as an ambiguous entity, simultaneously treated as a manageable technical space and as an uncontrollable source of risk. Although largely absent from planning routines, underground conditions repeatedly disrupted project performance through delays, budget overruns and physical damage. Risk management became the dominant response to these disruptions. However, despite the involvement of underground experts, uncertainty could not be eliminated and projects proceeded with the expectation of further unforeseen events. Experts navigated this uncertainty by mobilizing a dual framing of the underground: as a controllable container for infrastructure and as a natural force beyond managerial control. The paper argues that the agency of the underground is decentralized and relational, emerging through local practices, narratives and material conditions rather than residing in a single actor or substance. By showing how managerial framings themselves become agentive, the study contributes to research on infrastructure governance and project management by reconceptualizing the underground as a distributed and untamed agent in urban development processes.

How to cite: Martinius, R. E.: Taming Underground, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8294, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8294, 2026.

Soil erosion represents a major threat to soil health, water resources, food security, and ecosystem resilience, particularly in regions exposed to increasing climatic extremes and long-standing pressures from unsustainable land use. In Southeast Europe, intensified rainfall events, land degradation, and inadequate spatial planning have amplified erosion processes and related hazards, such as torrential floods, highlighting the need for more integrated and adaptive approaches to soil conservation.

This study examines soil erosion and conservation from a comparative and integrative perspective, focusing on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and situating both within the broader European Union policy and governance framework. Soil erosion is addressed not only as a biophysical process, but as a systemic challenge arising from interactions between natural processes, land management practices, institutional arrangements, and policy implementation.

In Serbia, soil erosion and torrential processes have long been recognized as major environmental challenges, particularly in hilly and mountainous catchments. The country has a strong tradition of erosion control and torrent regulation based primarily on technical and biotechnical measures implemented at the local scale. National assessments indicate that approximately 86% of Serbia’s territory is potentially exposed to water erosion, ranging from very weak to severe intensities, reflecting pronounced geomorphological diversity. Despite extensive technical expertise, soil conservation remains weakly integrated with spatial planning, ecosystem-based approaches, and socio-economic valuation of soil functions and ecosystem services, resulting in predominantly sectoral and engineering-oriented interventions.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, erosion-prone catchments are shaped by steep terrain, erodible soils, increasing climate variability, and fragmented institutional responsibilities. National erosion mapping shows that areas affected by excessive, intensive, and medium erosion account for approximately 15.7% of the territory, while 84.3% is characterized by slight to very slight erosion, largely associated with forested areas, karst landscapes, and lowland agricultural plains. Management responses are largely reactive, focused on post-event measures following extreme rainfall and torrential floods, with limited long-term effectiveness due to weak catchment-scale coordination and insufficient integration with land-use planning.

The European Union provides an important reference framework through the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the EU Soil Strategy, which promote integrated, catchment-based management and the wider use of nature-based solutions. However, implementation in candidate and neighboring countries remains uneven, constrained by institutional capacity, financial resources, and governance complexity.

By comparing national experiences with EU policy principles, this study identifies persistent gaps between scientific knowledge, management practice, and policy implementation. It argues for a shift from fragmented, sectoral approaches toward integrated strategies linking process-based understanding, sustainable land management, nature-based solutions, and coherent governance. In this context, soil erosion control emerges as a key pathway for advancing Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land; aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015–2030), while simultaneously contributing to disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and ecosystem resilience in Southeast Europe.

How to cite: Vranesevic, M., Bajrić, M., Kapović Solomun, M., and Čigoja, I.: Soil Erosion Control at the Interface of Processes, Management, and Policy: Lessons from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the European Union, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13470, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13470, 2026.

Arsenic (As) contamination in soils and waters is a critical challenge to human health, agricultural productivity, and ecological integrity. In soil-water systems, As can modify microbial community structure and physicochemical properties; therefore, indicators that integrate As availability and biological stress across heterogeneous matrices are needed. This study evaluated whether phenotypic As resistance patterns in environmental bacteria can be used as bioindicators and whether native, As-tolerant Bacillus and Pseudomonas stains could support recovery-oriented assessments.

Soil/sediment and water samples were collected at six sites across three high-Andean areas in southern Perú: Desaguadero (Puno; deep well and spring), Sicuani (Cusco; two springs), and Espinar (Cusco; Salado River). Solid matrices included riverbed sediments, saturated solids at spring outlets, and excavated well soils (drill cuttings/spoil around the wellhead). In soil/sediment, pseudo-total As was determined by aqua regia digestion. In waters, dissolved As, was quantified alter filtration (0.45 µm) and acidification (HNO₃ (pH < 2).

Tolerance assays were performed on nutrient agar amended with 100, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg L^-1 As (III) at 30°C for 24-72 h to estimate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was then determined by subculture in As-free broth (triplicate; OD₆₀₀). A total of 59 isolates were obtained: Bacillus (n = 40, water = 12, solid matrix = 28) and Pseudomonas (n = 19, water = 3, solid matrix = 16). Biochemical profiling assigned Bacillus to the B. cereus complex (cereus/thuringiensis), B. subtilis group, and Bacillus spp.; Pseudomonas to P. aeruginosa, P. stutzeri, P. mendocina and Pseudomonas spp.

Bacillus showed higher resistance than Pseudomonas: with growth observed in 37/40, 28/40, 20/40 and 4/40 isolates at 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg L^-1, respectively, and higher tolerance enriched in solid matrix isolates (1500 mg L^-1: 17/28 vs 3/12; 2000 mg L^-1: 4/28 vs 0/12). In Pseudomonas, growth occurred in 16/19, 9/19 3/19 and 0/19 isolates at the same concentrations. The most tolerant isolates were B2539 (Bacillus sp.; MBC = 2200 mg L^-1) and P2501 (P. aeruginosa), with an MBC = 1400 mg L^-1). These results support MIC/MBC “resistance fingerprints” as quantitative bioindicators to compare sites and matrices in As-affected environments.

Keywords: arsenic; microbial bioindicators; riverbed sediment; springs, soil; Bacillus; Psedomonas; souther Perú. 

How to cite: Cjuno Huanca, O. L., Valderrama Negrón, A. C., Quino Favero, J. M., and Silva Santos, E.: MIC/MBC resistance fingerprints to As(III) in Bacillus and Pseudomonas as bioindicators across water and solid matrices in southern Perú, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14632, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14632, 2026.

Agriculture in semi-arid Mediterranean regions contributes significantly to local food production and rural livelihood.  Nevertheless, it depends strongly on irrigation to sustain crop production and soil fertility. With the terrain complexity present, irrigation can lead to downward and lateral transfer of soil particles and nutrients, thus intensifying and accelerating the complex interplay between leaching and erosion, which in turn, reduce soil productivity and create spatial fertility imbalances. This study addresses the lack of knowledge about these processes to support better soil management in  Bir Bouhouch irrigated perimeter with complex terrain characteristics in northeastern Algeria , which represents a strategic agricultural area mainly producing cereals .The area has been used for intensive agriculture since the expansion of irrigation schemes in recent decades .In This study  the vertical and catenary variability of physicochemical characteristics of soils were examined. Four soil profiles along a toposequence from the summit (P1), to the toeslope (P4) were described and soils samples were collected in different depth to physicochemical characterization (texture, pH and electrical conductivity in water (EC), active lime, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen and extractable phosphorus. All profiles showed alkaline pH (8.10–8.60) with low EC (0.23–0.58 dS/m) that increased progressively from the summit to the teslope as well as with depth. Surface horizons (0- 60 cm) at downslope profiles showed finer textures with transition from silty clay to loamy clay and higher OM contents (up to 17.2 g/kg) compared with the summit (9.00 g/kg), indicating possible downslope colluvial accumulation. Active lime increased but followed a bi-profile sequence along surface (from 55 to 145 g/kg for P1-P2 and from 35 to 105 g/kg for P3-P4) and with depth reflecting a possible carbonate leaching and re-precipitation under alkaline conditions, locally forming caliche horizons. Extractable P concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 0.07 mg/kg and were enriched at lower slope positions at surface horizons. Besides total N (0.8–1.5 g/kg) showed limited vertical and lateral variation. These patterns demonstrate that soil variability along the transect can be mainly controlled by the topography-driven redistribution and carbonate dynamics enhanced by irrigation.

This work was funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the projects UIDB/04129/2020 and UID/04129/2025 (LEAF) and LA/P/0092/2020 (TERRA).

How to cite: Kouider, K., Benhalima, Y., Mazouz, E. H., Santos, E., and Arán, D.: Toposequence-driven variability on soil properties redistribution at irrigated semi-arid landscape, Northeastern Algeria, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14894, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14894, 2026.

Contamination of agricultural soils with heavy metals poses a critical threat to global food security and human health due to their high mobility and long biological half-life. Consequently, there is an urgent need for innovative remediation strategies, such as the development of safe multi-functional soil amendments, that do not disrupt food production. Among various additives, biochar (BC), obtained through the pyrolysis of organic wastes (including agricultural residues), is one of the most extensively studied. BCs can immobilize pollutants due to their developed surface area and abundance of functional groups. Hydrogels (HG) are another type of modifier that can simultaneously immobilize metals and improve the water-holding capacity of soils. Special attention is given to biopolymer-based HGs due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Furthermore, nanoparticles (NPs) have been reported to decrease heavy metal toxicity to plants. Thus, in this study, a series of hybrid chitosan-lignin HGs enriched with wheat straw-derived BC and selenium (Se) or copper (Cu) NPs were developed, and their effect on maize germination under water-deficit and cadmium contamination stress was evaluated.

During the study, agricultural soil was modified using 1% (w/w) of the developed HGs: (1) HG filled with BC; (2) HG filled with BC and SeNPs; (3) HG filled with BC and CuNPs; and (4) a combination of HGs (2) and (3). The plant growth experiment was conducted in a growth chamber and included soils contaminated with cadmium (35 mg/kg) and uncontaminated controls. Two weeks after sowing, watering was stopped, to simulate water-deficit conditions, and water evapotranspiration was monitored gravimetrically. After one week, seedlings were collected, and their fresh/dry mass and length were determined.

A decrease in evapotranspiration rates was observed for the soil modified with HGs. For example, the control soil lost 68 g/pot of water during 7 days, while the soils modified with HG/BC and HG/BC/SeNPs lost 59 and 57 g, respectively. Additionally, these HGs demonstrated a stimulatory effect on maize growth. The average shoot height increased from 18.3 cm in the control to 20.9 cm, and dry mass rose from 0.029 g to 0.037 g for the soils modified with HG/BC and HG/BC/SeNPs. The root dry mass also increased in both cases. Moreover, under cadmium contamination, both hydrogels neutralized the negative impact of the heavy metal on shoot growth. In contrast, HG filled with BC and CuNPs had an inhibitory effect on plant biomass growth. The mixture of hydrogels demonstrated a moderated effect on plant germination.

Acknowledgements: The research was funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchanges under the Strategic Partnerships Program (BNI/PST/2023/1/00108) and the National Science Centre (2024/08/X/NZ9/00561).

How to cite: Siryk, O. and Szewczuk-Karpisz, K.: Chitosan-lignin hydrogels enriched with biochar and Se/Cu nanoparticles for the mitigation of cadmium and drought stress in maize, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17043, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17043, 2026.

Soil erosion is a global ecological and environmental issue. To improve the accuracy of regional soil erosion estimation, this study investigates the impact of different sampling densities on soil erosion estimation at the watershed scale using the CSLE model, taking the Beiluo River Basin as an example. Based on the CSLE model, the study compares the effects of four sampling densities (0.0625%, 0.25%, 1%, and 4%) on soil erosion estimation in the study area using two methods: full coverage calculation and unit interpolation extrapolation. The differences and main causes of these effects are analyzed to identify the appropriate sampling density and soil erosion estimation method for the watershed. This provides a theoretical basis for the selection of field sampling density and methods in regional soil erosion dynamic monitoring. This study extracted land use and soil and water conservation measure information through remote sensing interpretation of sampling survey units at different densities. Based on the CSLE model, soil erosion rates were calculated for the watershed. The results indicate that both the full-coverage calculation method and the sampling survey method are capable of capturing the macro-scale patterns of soil erosion within the watershed. The full-coverage calculation method provides complete spatial coverage, effectively represents the spatial distribution characteristics of regional soil erosion, and is relatively insensitive to variations in sampling density. However, due to limitations in the accuracy of model input data sources, this method tends to overestimate soil erosion rates. In contrast, the sampling survey method utilizes higher-precision input factors, resulting in more accurate soil erosion assessments. Nevertheless, its estimation results are strongly influenced by sampling density and the choice of interpolation methods. In summary, the sampling survey method better reflects soil erosion variations across different topographic conditions, making it an efficient and practical approach for regional soil erosion investigations.

Keywords：Beiluo River Basin; CSLE model; soil erosion estimation; sampling density; full coverage calculation

How to cite: Wang, M., Zhang, X., Wang, H., Sun, W., Geng, W., and Liu, X.: Soil Erosion Assessment in the Beiluo River Basin Based on the CSLE Model and Sampling Survey Method, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17792, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17792, 2026.

The recovery of sulfide mine areas using designed Technosols and vegetation is often evaluated under controlled conditions, whereas field-scale evidence remains scarce. The first pilot (1.5 ha) with designed Technosols, produced from agro-industrial and urban wastes, was installed at the São Domingos mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal)in two areas subject to continuous leaching of acid mine drainage, for environmental recovery purpose. An adjacent area without Technosol was used as control. The areas with and without Technosol were sown with a commercial herbaceous mixture including some autochthonous shrub species. After 4.5 years from recovery system (Technosol+vegetation) installation, the physicochemical quality of soil (pH, EC, fertility, nutrients and potentially hazardous elements-PHE availability) and the vegetation status (species composition, % cover, total biomass, seed bank diversity) were evaluated. A total of 25 randomly distributed sampling points were established with both soil and vegetation samples collected at each point (T1-Technosol area: 15, T2-Technosol area 2: 5, control: 5). The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical quality of soil and vegetation status in the Technosol and control areas at long-term.

The application of the designed Technosol significantly improved the soil quality of the mine area compared to the control, increasing pH (from 4.08 to 7.76) and organic C content (62.49 vs. 2.42 g kg⁻¹). The available fractions of macronutrients were higher in the Technosols areas while available PHE amounts were approximately 73% lower than in the control area. Vegetation reflected soil improvement, with 20 taxa (10 families) registered and higher family richness in the Technosol areas (10 vs. 4) .Technosols areas were dominated by Poaceae and Asteraceae showing almost complete soil cover (~96%). The control area was barely covered (<9%) mainly by Poaceae with Linaceae and Brassicaceae. The soil seed bank showed higher plant diversity in Technosols samples (8 families), while no germination was recorded in the control (assay conducted under controlled conditions for 3 months).

Comparing the two areas with Technosol, no remarkable differences was obtained for pH (7.75–7.78 and low PHE availability but EC EC (500.6 vs. 236.4 µS/cm), available P content (321.7 vs. 191.1 mg kg⁻¹) and CEC (61.1 vs. 46.6) were different. Despite the application of similar Technosol and seeding, the plant communities diverged for the plant diversity (8 families vs. 5) and dominance of grasses. Although the vegetation cover and biomass amounts were similar between the Technosol areas, a differentiation of the carbon stock obtained (948.8 vs. 645.2 g C/m^-2). Seed bank family richness was similar (6 families each) but composition differed Poaceae, Asteraceae, Urticaceae and Apiaceae families were common, while presence of Brassicaceae and Solanaceae or Malvaceae and Amaranthaceae depended on the Technosol area. This field case study provides a practical workflow linking soil improvement, contamination dynamics and vegetation recovery. It highlights the effectiveness of Technosol in environmental recovery of sulfide mine areas at long term and the spatial heterogeneity evolution.

This work was funded by national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the projects UID/04129/2025 (LEAF) and LA/P/0092/2020 (TERRA).

How to cite: Estrada, A., Benhalima, Y., Santos, E., and Arán, D.: Soil and vegetation diversity responses to designed Technosol applied in a sulfide mine under semi-arid conditions: field evidence at long term, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18654, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18654, 2026.

Abandoned mining sites are a major source of long-term soil contamination by potentially toxic elements. This study assessed the environmental risk of metal-contaminated soils from the Sidi Kamber mine (northeastern Algeria). Mining residues are spread into the surrounding areas and the Oued Es-Souk, a river that supplies the Guenitra dam.This dam is the main drinking water reserve in the Skikda region..

This study is based on the geochemical and ecotoxicological analysis of 16 soil samples, from four stations distributed along the Oued Es-Souk until the dam. Samples were taken at two depths (0–25 cm and 25–50 cm) during both the dry and wet seasons. in Metal availability was evaluated through simulated leachate analyses, while soil properties (pH, fertility and pseudo-total elemental concentrations) were determined using conventional methods. Ecotoxicological bioassays were conducted to assess the biological effects of both soils and leachates in two plant species (Allium cepa and Lactuca sativa), focusing on seed germination, root elongation, and total biomass production as sensitive indicators of phytotoxicity.  Soil pollution indices, including the Igeo-Geoaccumulation Index and the CF-Contamination Factor were calculated to quantify contamination levels and identify the most critical elements.

The soils showed a very variable conductivity (510–3460 μS/cm) and a pH ranging from neutral to slight acid (5.15–7.54), with a tendency towards acidification during dry season. The leachates, less saline, were systematically acid (pH ~5). The organic carbon and some available nutrients contents were relatively low confirming low soil fertility.

The upstream location had the lowest Zn, Mn, Cu, and Pb concentrations in pseudo-total fraction recorded in wet season (194, 480, 16.5, and 88 mg/kg, respectively).  Despite being the lowest on the site, these levels exceeded benchmarks reported by Dutch Target Values or AFNOR standards. The highest concentrations are located at the surface of the soils and at specific points, reflecting a localized accumulation.  Mobility Index (MI = Av/PT) ranked metals in descending order of mobility: Cd>Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Fe. Contamination Factors confirm a significant polluting heritage: the pseudo-total contents of Zn, Pb and Cd are considerably enriched (CF>10 in many cases) compared to local natural levels. The geoaccumulation index classifies metals into three categories: strong to extreme contamination for Cd and Pb (Igeo>3); moderate accumulation for Zn and S (1<Igeo<2); and low to natural levels for Fe, Mn, Cr and Ni (Igeo=0).

Inhibition index specially on  Lactuca, shows that root growth is much more sensitive than germination. If it is very little affected (indices from -0.06 to +0.01), the length of the roots varies greatly, from a marked inhibition (-33.5% for the most toxic sample) to a significant stimulation (+46.5%). Among all the relationships studied, it is between pH and germination that the negative correlation is the most marked..

Overall, this integrated approach provides a comprehensive framework for assessing the environmental risks associated with abandoned mining.

This work was funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the projects UIDB/04129/2020 and UID/04129/2025 (LEAF) and LA/P/0092/2020 (TERRA).

How to cite: Cedah, S., Fekrache, F., Aran, D., and Santos, E.: Integrated environmental Assessment of  multielement Contamination in Mining-Impacted Soils and Leachates: A Case Study from Northeastern Algeria, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19058, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19058, 2026.

Abandoned ore processing plants represent critical, long-term sources of environmental contamination and therefore constitute an important field of research for the subsequent rehabilitation of the area.  

The objective of this study was the evaluation of the level and spreading of soil contamination by trace metal elements in the vicinity of an abandoned ore processing plant in northeastern Algeria. Superficial soil samples were collected from 8 sampling stations located upstream, downstream, and directly at the abandoned ore processing plant during the wet and dry seasons.  An environmental assessment of soil samples was conducted through the analysis of physicochemical characteristics: pH, electrical conductivity, and concentration of nutrients and potentially toxic elements in the available and total fractions.

Soil samples showed marked spatial variability in pH values and electrical conductivities although, in general, soils collected in the both seasons showed an acid pH (3.66-4.19) and low-moderate EC (250-446 µS/cm)The total concentrations of S, Fe, Cr, As, Cu, Pb and Zn were elevated in all soil samples, exceeding the maximum values permitted for industrial land use according to soil legislation in several countries (e.g. Canada). For Ni and Cd, only some soil samples exceeded the maximum allowed values. The variation in the elements' availability revealed clear spatial heterogeneity between locations upstream and downstream of the abandoned ore processing plant. However, values remained consistently high near the plant regardless of position, which confirmed its role as the primary contamination source through multidirectional dispersion via runoff and wind.

This work was funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the projects UIDB/04129/2020 and UID/04129/2025 of LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Research Unit and LA/P/0092/2020 of Associate Laboratory TERRA

How to cite: Djemli, M., Boudeffa, K., Fekrache, F., Arán, D., and Santos, E.: Evaluation of soil contamination surrounding an abandoned ore processing plant in Northeastern Algeria: spatial variability and seasonality effect, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19259, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19259, 2026.

Soil provides 95% of our food and provides other essential ecosystem services, such as water purification, biodiversity, and climate regulation. Unfortunately, numerous agroecological functions of soil are increasingly threatened by the intensifying, primarily anthropogenic, processes of soil degradation. This deteriorates the surface, sorption, and buffering properties of soils, the spread of pollutants into watercourses and groundwater, and adverse changes in porosity, organic matter composition and content, wettability, aggregation, and microbial community, resulting in soil partially or completely losing its ability to function properly. Therefore, it is so important to develop new soil conditioners that can reduce the effects of anthropogenic pressure and make soils more resistant to negative phenomena.

The main aim of this study was to estimate the impact of newly developed biochars and activated carbons from orange peels as well as water-soluble polymers (exopolysaccharide of bacterial origin (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii), ionic polyacrylamides) on the structure and sorption capacity of the selected soil. Haplic Luvisol, the most common Polish soil, was collected from 0–20 cm depth of arable land in Poland (Parchatka, Lublin Upland, N 51°22′54″ E 21°59′54″). It was derived from loess parent material. It was modified with 1 wt.% of solid modifier (biochar, or activated carbon) by mixing. Macromolecular compounds (of initial concentration 100 mg/L) were added in the form of solutions. The following parameters: pH, ash content, total organic carbon content, porosity, variable surface charge of the soil were measured before and after modification to estimate effectiveness of the performed treatment. The soil sorption capacity was examined towards copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) using a batch adsorption method. The metal concentration was determined using a atomic absorption spectrometer working in the graphite cuvette technique (ContrAA 800, Analytik Jena, Germany). Porosity of the soils was examined using a mercury porosimetry (autopore IV 9500, Micrometrics INC, USA).

It was observed that all modifications using carbonaceous materials improved total pore area, average pore diameter, and total porosity of the soil, which was mainly associated with highly porous structure and relatively large specific surface area of the applied solids. The modification with activated carbon and cationic polyacrylamide resulted in the highest increase in total pore area. Carbon-rich materials could not only increase specific surface area and porosity of the soil, but also form organo-mineral connections, improving the number of active centers. Consequently, they increase soil sorption capacity towards Cu and Cd. The activated carbon application improved their 3- and 1.9-fold adsorption, respectively. The presence of polymers further increased their adsorption on the soil.

The research was founded by National Science Centre, Poland (2021/41/B/NZ9/03059).

How to cite: Kukowska, S., Grygorczuk-Płaneta, K., and Szewczuk-Karpisz, K.: Changes in soil structure and sorption capacity after mixed treatment with macromolecular compounds and orange peels-derived activated carbons , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19332, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19332, 2026.

Over the past decades, the World is suffering from a serious process of land degradation as a result of global climate change and the increasingly acute conflicts among population, resources and the environment. According to IGBPS (2018, 2023), the area of degraded soil worldwide is continuously increasing, and the global soil health situation is still deteriorating, with which soil erosion was regarded as the 1^st threat to the planet soil.  In order to reverse this trend towards land degradation, many regions and countries have carried out sustained and painstaking initiatives for soil and water conservation, whose results has been monitored using different methodologies, and providing efficient recommendation for local government. It is urgent to adopt state of the art technologies including the latest earth observation techniques to evaluate global soil erosion status and soil conservation benefit in a standardized way.  Accurately achieving the status of global soil erosion and the distribution and types of soil and water conservation measures, will help to illustrate the difference in effectiveness of soil/water conservation practices, improve current technologies, promote soil/water conservation measures, eliminate interregional imbalances and promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals using solid science.

         Among numerous erosion models, only the USLE-family models are frequently employed in regional and global-scale soil erosion studies. Current research has established the distribution patterns of soil erosion at the global scale. However, significant challenge remains in balancing a model’s ability to represent real surface processes, its accuracy, and the target objectives f different levels of government.        For global erosion surveys and mapping (GSERmap), we will draw upon experiences from China’s 2010 Soil and Water Conservation Census. By employing an unequal probability sampling units and investigation methods, combined with high-resolution remote sensing imagery, we aim to enhance the models’ simulation capability of real-world surface processes while maintaining a certain accuracy.

How to cite: Zhang, X., Li, R., Liu, B., Yang, Q., Gomez Carlero, J. A., Guzman, G., Strauss, P., and Dostal, T.: Enhancing the representation of human activities’ impact on surface processes to improve the model’s ability to simulate reality on global scale, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19666, 2026.

The implementation of irrigation is a key management practice in arid and semi-arid regions to sustain agricultural productivity. Irrigation modifies the soil carbon cycle [1], [2] but its effects on soil inorganic carbon (SIC) have received far less attention than those on soil organic carbon. However, SIC constitutes most of the soil carbon stock in calcareous soils of these regions. Understanding how irrigation interacts with SIC dynamics, governed by carbonate dissolution and precipitation processes, is crucial to assess soil carbon stability and its response to management changes.

This study compares two contrasting management scenarios, rainfed maize and irrigated maize, and evaluated how irrigation affected the dynamics of the SIC in an experimental plot in Navarra (northern Spain) historically cultivated with rainfed wheat. We quantified SIC and SOC contents in bulk soil and in coarse (>50 µm) and fine (<50 µm) fractions of the tilled layer (0–30 cm) of a calcareous soil (⁓40% CaCO₃), together with the isotopic signatures of SOC (δ¹³C-SOC) and SIC (δ¹³C-SIC) along the first 7 years of the trial, as direct assessment of SIC isotopic signatures provides a more reliable estimate of pedogenic carbonate contributions than commonly used mixing equations, avoiding biases associated with C3–C4 crop changes [3].

After 7 years, it was found that the accumulated SOC inputs were higher in irrigated maize (24.0 Mg C ha⁻¹) than in rainfed maize (14.8 Mg C ha⁻¹).  Therefore, irrigated maize showed an increase in SOC stocks of +7.1% [4]. With regard to total SIC, ⁓24% of soil carbonates were found in the coarse fraction and ⁓16% in the fine fraction. No differences were observed between treatments, either in total SIC or in the coarse fraction, but there were differences in the fine fraction of irrigated maize compared to rainfed maize (-1%).

Clear differences in δ¹³C-SIC were however observed between treatments. In bulk soil, δ¹³C-SIC decreased from −3.80‰ under rainfed maize to −4.14‰ under irrigated maize. In the coarse fraction, the shift was more pronounced, from −3.70‰ to −4.95‰, while intermediate changes were observed in the fine fraction (from −3.94‰ to −4.20‰). These isotopic shifts indicate that irrigation, together with increased organic matter inputs, activated carbonate dissolution–precipitation cycles, thereby increasing the relative contribution of pedogenic carbonates.

Furthermore, the preferential accumulation of SIC in the coarse fraction may be related to the formation of pseudo-sands driven by carbonate cementation within aggregates [5], highlighting the need to adjust ultrasonic energy during particle-size fractionation.

Overall, our results demonstrate that irrigation triggers SIC dynamics in calcareous agricultural soils, promoting carbonate dissolution and precipitation processes even in the absence of significant changes in total SIC content, and emphasize the importance of jointly considering SOC and SIC to accurately interpret pedogenic carbonate formation under contrasting agricultural management regimes.

References

[1] Ball et al. (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109189

[2] de Soto et al. (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.03.005

[3] de Soto et al. (2024), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108362

[4] Antón et al. (2022), https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2022.831775

[5] Rowley et al. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-017-0410-1

How to cite: Conte, A. P., Antón, R., Enrique, A., de Soto, I. S., and Virto, I.: Irrigation activates soil inorganic carbon dynamics in a calcareous mediterranean agroecosystem, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20534, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20534, 2026.

 In order to reveal the sorting characteristics and transport mechanism of sediment on the steep slope Of engineering accumulation driven by runoff,three simulated runoff scour experiments were designed under The conditions of 10,20,and30 L/min from above to analyze the particle distribution characteristics of erosion sediment on the steep slope(32°) of the accumulation body of the Yangling project. The results showed that the clay and fine silt in the eroded sediment (before dispersion) increased significantly compared with the original soil, which was easy to produce erosion. The influence of runoff on aggregate fragmentation of erosion sediment clay content and the influence of runoff on pellet crushing effect on clay content is negative when runoff power is less than 1.709N/(m•s), but positive when runoff power is greaterthan3.89N/(m•s). In sediment，fine and coarse silt particles are mainly transported in the form of single grain, while clay and sand particles are mostly transported in the form of aggregates. Clay particles are enriched and sand particles are depleted. The sediment particle size determines the main transport mode,<0.11mm sediment particles are mainly suspended saltation transport,>0.11mm sediment particles are mainly rolling transport,More than 80% erosion sediment particles are transported by suspended saltation, and the contribution rate of rolling transport increases first and then decreases with the increase of runoff transport capacity. The conclusion of this study will help to reveal the micro mechanism of slope water erosion process of engineering accumulation body, and provide scientific basis for improving the prediction accuracy of slope water erosion model of engineering accumulation.

How to cite: Gao, Z.: Study on Sediment Sorting Characteristic sand Transport Mechanism of  Engineering Accumulation Slope Erosion, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20591, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20591, 2026.

Land use change plays a crucial role in the dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen, thereby influencing soil fertility. However, the effects of historical land use changes on deep soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, as well as microbial community composition, in alpine sandy regions remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how different historical land-use types regulate soil carbon and nitrogen and shape microbial community structure along a deep soil profile in an alpine sandy ecosystem. The study site located at elevation of 2800 m, experiences an arid climate, with an annual mean temperature of 3.9°C, an average annual precipitation of 246.3 mm, and an annual potential evaporation of 1,716.7 mm, thereby classifying the area as an alpine arid region with predominantly sandy soils. This study investigated a 23-year-old Caragana microphylla shrub forest in the Gonghe Basin, northwestern China. Three land-use types were established: post-agricultural reforestation on sandy land (PR), where former cropland was converted to forest 23 years ago, direct afforestation on sandy land (PF), established directly on sandy land without prior agricultural use, and bare sandy land as a control (CK), which remained uncultivated and unafforested. Soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial community structure were examined across the 0–500 cm soil profile among the three land-use types. Results indicated that historical land-use changes significantly influenced the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC), inorganic carbon (SIC), and total nitrogen (STN). Average concentrations of SOC, SIC, and STN across the 0–500 cm soil profile were highest in PR (2.40, 10.37, and 0.28 g·kg⁻¹, respectively), followed by PF (1.46, 9.53, and 0.17 g·kg⁻¹), and lowest in CK (0.89, 8.31, and 0.11 g·kg⁻¹). SOC and STN storage within each 100 cm depth increment were also greater in PR than in PF and CK. Soil water content emerged as a critical environmental factor regulating deep soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. Microbial diversity was highest in the 0–40 cm layer under PR, whereas PF exhibited greater diversity in deeper soil layers (100–500 cm). Bacterial communities were more sensitive to historical land-use changes than fungal communities. In CK, microbial communities were primarily influenced by soil physical factors, including pH, soil water content, and electrical conductivity, whereas in PF, SOC and STN were the dominant controlling factors. In PR, SIC content, soil bulk density, and soil water content played major regulatory roles. Overall, the post-agricultural reforestation model in alpine sandy regions demonstrates greater effectiveness than direct afforestation on sandy land in enhancing SOC, SIC, and STN storage across the 0–500 cm soil profile and in promoting surface soil microbial diversity. In contrast, direct afforestation on sandy land plays a distinct ecological role in maintaining microbial diversity in deeper soil layers. These findings highlight that, in sandy land restoration, consideration of the long-term legacy effects of historical land-use conversion is essential for promoting the sustainable development of desertification control strategies.

How to cite: Guan, J., Deng, L., Guo, J., Wang, Y., Li, W., Chen, Z., Cao, G., Wang, S., Xie, H., Li, X., and Wang, W.: Effects of historical land use changes on soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial communities in an alpine sandy region of northwestern China, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20735, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20735, 2026.

Desertification, defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as land degradation in drylands driven by the interaction between climate variability and human activities, represents an escalating global threat, particularly in drought-prone regions. In Europe, large areas are already classified as high to very highly vulnerable to degradation, a situation expected to intensify under projected climate change scenarios and continued land-use pressures.

Recent estimates suggest that between 60 and 70% of soils in Europe are considered unhealthy, highlighting the urgent need for effective soil protection. Soil degradation compromises key ecosystem functions, including food production, water retention, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation. If critical thresholds are exceeded, the resulting environmental and socio-economic consequences may become irreversible.

The EU Horizon project TERRASAFE aims to empower local communities in southern Europe and northern Africa to address the growing threat of desertification by promoting a suite of innovations, including nature-based solutions (biochar, compost, technosols, and hydrogels), sensor-based monitoring tools, and social approaches. The present work focuses exclusively on the four nature-based solutions, as these innovations directly modify soil properties and processes and are therefore most suitable for systematic evaluation through biophysical indicators. Although these solutions have been already tested across a range of dryland environments, their reported impacts remain unevenly investigated and fragmented across disciplines, indicators, and experimental scales. In this context, a robust understanding of the current state of knowledge is essential.

To address this need, the present study conducts a systematic review of the scientific literature assessing the effects of these four solutions under arid, semi-arid, and Mediterranean climatic conditions, with a specific focus on the indicators used to evaluate desertification-related processes. A wide range of soil, plant, and ecosystem indicators was examined and synthesized to determine whether they are being investigated evenly or whether critical indicators remain underrepresented in the current state of the art.

Preliminary screening reveals a marked dominance of physical, chemical, and productivity-related indicators, while biological, ecotoxicological, and eco-physiological indicators appear comparatively neglected. Identifying these knowledge gaps is pivotal to avoid partial interpretations of solution performance and to support broader, integrated impact assessments that adequately capture key desertification mechanisms.

In a subsequent phase, building on this representativeness analysis, the study will advance beyond indicator frequency, to identify which indicators most effectively explain desertification processes. This will provide a foundation to more targeted, meaningful, and decision-relevant monitoring strategies in regions with high vulnerability to desertification.

How to cite: Martins, M. A. S., Corticeiro, S., Gruselle, M.-C., Stolte, J., and Keizer, J.: Beyond indicator frequency: a systematic review towards integrated impact assessment of soil-based solutions to mitigate land desertification processes., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21034, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21034, 2026.

Winter wheat yields are varying by preceding crop as shown for certain preceding crops like wheat itself, winter oilseed rape or different legumes. However, there is hardly any published data on the pre-crop effect of other economically important crops such as sugar beet and silage maize. Further, the mechanisms of the pre-crop effect are partially unknown.

In this study, winter wheat was grown after wheat, winter oilseed rape, sugar beet and silage maize over two winter wheat growing periods (harvest years 2024 and 2025) in a long-term crop rotation trial in Central Germany. Soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) in 0-90 cm soil depth was analyzed at sowing in October, in December, January and February. After the last SMN sampling, plots were split into no (N0) and regular nitrogen fertilization (Nopt). At harvest, grain yield and straw biomass were recorded as well as nitrogen uptake.

Levels of SMN at sowing in October were clearly affected by pre-crop type with higher values after oilseed rape and lowest values after silage maize and sugar beet. In December, SMN levels were similar to October, while in January differences between the pre-crops became smaller and were mostly levelled by February. At N0, in both years, wheat grain yield as well as straw biomass was clearly highest after oilseed rape with up to 100 % more total biomass than after the other pre-crops. Other pre-crops had similar effects on total biomass. At Nopt, differences between the pre-crops were overall much lower, yet highest yields were found after oilseed rape.

December SMN levels correlated with grain yields at N0 over both years, while a similar correlation was even found under Nopt conditions in one of the study years. Thus, it appears nitrogen supply originating from pre-crops affects winter wheat growth. This might be one way pre-crops affect wheat growth beyond regulation of disease pressure.

How to cite: Grunwald, D., Koch, H.-J., and Jacobs, A.: Impact of different pre-crops on soil nitrogen and growth of following winter wheat, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21561, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21561, 2026.

Uruguay is facing increasing pressure on its water resources due to a strong dependence on agricultural production and a rising frequency of droughts. These trends intensify competition between agricultural water use and environmental water requirements, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies that ensure both ecosystem integrity and agricultural productivity.

Irrigated agriculture relies on on-farm, gravity-fed systems in which water is supplied from reservoirs and distributed through open channel networks. Although effective at the field scale, this traditional approach creates challenges for water allocation control, monitoring, and basin-scale planning due to the large number of small reservoirs and users. In addition, it largely overlooks land use planning, as irrigation development tends to follow water availability rather than optimising the use of high-quality soils or avoiding areas with a high risk of nutrient runoff.

In this context, the study examines the sustainable intensification of irrigated agriculture in the Arapey Basin (northern Uruguay). The basin covers approximately 11,400 km² and contains extensive agricultural lands with high potential for crops such as rice, maize, and improved pastures. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, calibrated and validated against long-term streamflow records (30 years), was implemented to represent current and future water management scenarios, including the design of irrigation districts, reservoir operations, and their impacts on streamflow, nutrient transport, and agricultural production. The analysis includes the potential expansion of the reservoir system by seven new reservoirs, increasing total basin storage from 50 hm3 to 280 hm3 across 13 reservoirs.

Simulation results indicate that coordinated reservoir development and controlled water releases could support the expansion of irrigated agriculture while mitigating the effects of drought in the main river. Additionally, regulated reservoir operations and strategically located irrigation districts may help dilute downstream nutrient concentrations. However, the results also highlight the need for good management practices at the field scale to prevent local nutrient accumulation and degradation of water quality. The findings suggest that a basin-scale approach to irrigation development, combining expanded reservoir storage with careful management, can enable sustainable agricultural intensification in northern Uruguay while simultaneously enhancing water governance and protecting environmental resources.

How to cite: Zubelzu, S., Gelos, M., Pais, J. I., Estrada, L., Medina, G., Rosas, J. F., Carriquirry, M., and Navas, R.: Basin-Scale Design of Irrigation Districts and Water Planning Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Intensification, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22150, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22150, 2026.

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.

Cover crops in Mediterranean perennial cropping systems have been associated with several environmental benefits, such as a reduction in soil erosion, biodiversity, or an improvement in soil physicochemical properties. Thanks to these advantages, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has introduced subsidies through a specific eco-scheme aimed at promoting the establishment of ground cover in these systems. For this reason, in the last few years, the use of cover crops has increased in southern Spain, mainly by means of spontaneous vegetation. However, more than 55% of the cropped area is still managed as bare soil (ESYRCE, 2023), due in great part to strong edaphoclimatic constraints in this region, which in many cases impede the effective establishment and longtime persistence of cover crops.

Thus, this work aims at a dual objective: First, to examine soil physicochemical properties and groundcover dynamics at six commercial farms representing three major perennial crops, almond, olive, and grapevine, at Granada, Seville and Cordoba (southern Spain) respectively under contrasting soil management practices, thus highlighting the diversity within the different ways of managing soil and their measurable impacts on soil quality. Second, to investigate farmers' attitudes related to the adoption of cover crops across the region (Andalusia) at these semiarid agricultural systems with the purpose of determining the principal barriers that impede its general implantation. A structured questionnaire was carried out, covering four aspects: 1) farmers' sociodemographic characteristics, 2) key attributes of the farms, 3) farmers' main concerns related to soil management, and 4) factors affecting the adoption or non-adoption of cover crops.

The resulting insights are expected to help develop improved training strategies, extension services, and policy measures that promote sustainable soil management by incorporating practical locally grounded experiences. These outcomes can contribute to ensure greater adoption of cover crops not only in the region but also can be transferred to other Mediterranean areas where perennial crops are similarly widespread under comparable biophysical and socioeconomic conditions.

Acknowledgement
This work was supported by "Improving soil cover assessment strategies in Mediterranean agricultural areas” ECOMED project (PR.AVA23.INV202301.035)

Reference
ESYRCE (2023). Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. Available at: https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/estadistica/temas/estadisticas-agrarias/boletin20231_tcm30-690544.pdf.

How to cite: Cárceles, B., Benavente-Ferraces, I., Ramírez, P., and Guzmán, G.: From Soil Responses to Adoption Barriers: Insights for Promoting Cover Crops in Mediterranean Orchard Systems, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-497, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-497, 2026.

Soil erosion is a global concern given its negative consequences to the quality of soils and water bodies. This issue can be mitigated through proper soil management and identification of the sources of sediment causing erosion and siltation. This work aimed i) to characterize soils of an urban/rural watershed in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and ii) to track the source of sediments reaching the lake present in this watershed. Samples of soils (86) and sediments (16) were collected throughout the watershed (91.6 km²) (0-2 cm of depth) and at the bottom of the Ibirité lake (2.8 km²), respectively. About 40% of the watershed is occupied by urban areas, with the remaining land uses/land cover being divided by native vegetation, pasture, and crops. Soils were classified in every sampling place after morphological description. Texture (clay, silt, and sand contents) of soils and sediments were determined by the pipette method along with their total elemental contents, through a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Tracer 5g, Bruker), and their magnetic properties, using a Bartington MS2B magnetometer. Then, groups of sediments were separated by cluster analysis based on their texture, chemical composition and magnetic properties. These clusters were validated by comparing the samples within each group with their morphological properties. Soil properties were spatialized to the entire watershed using the Multilevel B-splines method (SAGA GIS software) and sediment clusters were applied to these soil property maps, identifying the similarities between sediments and soils across the entire watershed. Finally, this map was combined with areas containing bare soil and topographic features that determine the hydrological connectivity of streams from those places to the Ibirité Lake, thus creating a map showing the areas more prone to be the source of sediments. Fe, Si, magnetic properties and texture were the most important properties to differentiate clusters of soils and sediments. Clusters using only texture were less satisfactory to separate those samples. Groups of soils with similar physical and chemical properties could be separated, indicating their parent materials. These physical and chemical properties are related to the mineralogy of these samples and, hence, could be used as fingerprinting of the soils being eroded. Topographic features and bare soil areas along with soil physical and chemical properties indicated the places more likely to produce sediments. Although there is a great impact of urban areas on the production of sediments, which can change over time, the application of these sediment clusters to the soil property maps for the entire watershed determined the most likely source of sediments causing siltation, confirming the potential of this proximal soil sensing approach to this end. Future works on such large and constantly changing areas should focus on time-series analysis and the search for other environmental variables to help track the source of sediments in such close-to-urban areas.

How to cite: Silva, S. H. G., Baquero, N. S., Rodrigues, A., Brentan, B., Eleutério, J. C., Ribeiro, F. E. D., Camilo, B. K., Kasper, D., Bezerra-Neto, J. F., Nóbrega, R., Macedo, D., and Amorim, C.: Tracking the source of eroded sediments causing siltation in the Ibirité Lake, Brazil, via proximal sensing and soil variability, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-874, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-874, 2026.

Quantifying long-term soil erosion dynamics, for example, to better assess the effects of climate change on soil erosion, requires temporally continuous records of rainfall erosivity, a key input for explicit soil loss modeling. However, high-temporal-resolution precipitation data are rarely available historically at large scales. We present a data-driven framework to overcome this constraint and to reconstruct annual gridded rainfall erosivity (R-factor) for Germany from 1930 to 2000. First, high-temporal-resolution gridded precipitation from the RADOLAN product (2001–2025) was used to compute spatial maps of rainfall erosivity for the modern period based on standard intensity-based erosivity formulations. These modern R-factor maps served as target fields to train a convolutional neural network (CNN) that learns the relationship between erosivity and commonly available predictors, including monthly and annual precipitation statistics, temperature indices, and large-scale climatic indicators. The CNN model was trained and evaluated using spatial–temporal cross-validation and independent station holdouts to quantify predictive skill and uncertainty. After validation, the model was applied retrospectively to coarse-resolution historical climate records to generate annual 1-km gridded R-factor estimates for 1930–2000. The reconstructed time series reveal spatially coherent patterns and multi-decadal trends in rainfall erosivity that are not captured by coarse aggregated proxies, and they provide a physically informed dataset for retrospective soil erosion modeling and climate-impact assessments.

How to cite: Shokati, H., D. Seufferheld, K., Fiener, P., and Scholten, T.: Long-Term Trends in Rainfall Erosivity Derived from a Deep Learning Reconstruction Framework, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1408, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1408, 2026.

Soil erosion by water poses a critical threat to global soil resources, with increasingly severe impacts under changing climate conditions. To implement specific soil conservation measures, it is essential to accurately identify areas of erosion and deposition within a landscape. However, soil erosion models are often calibrated solely against sediment yield at catchment outlets. This approach creates uncertainty regarding the model's ability to represent internal redistribution processes and amplifies the equifinality problem, as outlet data aggregates complex spatial dynamics into a single value. In our study, we evaluate the performance of the spatially distributed soil erosion and sediment delivery model WaTEM/SEDEM by utilising data at varying spatiotemporal resolutions. Our goal is to validate the model’s ability to simulate internal soil redistribution, rather than just total sediment yield at the outlet. We focused on a mesoscale catchment in Southern Germany (405 km²) and utilised high-resolution orthophotos (2011–2012), expert-validated erosion and deposition classification, as well as sediment delivery data. Our evaluation follows a three-step approach: (1) We compared model simulations against visually detected erosion classes at the field scale for single events; (2) We analysed depositional patterns in grasslands, located downslope of erosion-affected arable fields, against mapped deposition polygons for the same events; and (3) We followed the traditional approach, assessing model performance at the catchment scale by comparing simulated results with observed sediment loads at the outlet. This methodology enables a detailed assessment of how effectively WaTEM/SEDEM captures field-scale erosion as well as landscape-scale sediment connectivity and sediment routing. Our findings highlight specific sources of model uncertainty and demonstrate the importance of spatially distributed multi-step validation. These insights are crucial for improving sediment redistribution models and supporting sustainable land management practices in complex agricultural landscapes.

How to cite: Seufferheld, K. D., Chalaux-Clergue, T., Woldemariam, A. D., Shokati, H., Scholten, T., and Fiener, P.: Evaluating the Spatial Performance of WaTEM/SEDEM Using Multi-Source Datasets Across Scales, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1640, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1640, 2026.

Soil erosion exacerbates soil organic carbon (SOC) loss, whereas soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) mitigate SOC loss and promote SOC accumulation. Despite current research on the influence of SWCMs on SOC in different areas, a national synthesis of these studies to comprehensively understand the mechanism of change in SOC is still lacking. Therefore, We conducted a meta-analysis of 1015 SOC observations to clarify the spatiotemporal effects of SWCMs on SOC. The results revealed that in most regions in China, straw mulching and terraceing greatly enhanced SOC by 10.74%–22.63% and 17.94%–27.0%, respectively, compared with the initial baseline levels. Afforestation also showed exceptional efficacy with SOC increased by 109.80% in Southern Red Soil Region, significantly larger than other areas (34.58%–76.47%). This exceptional increase is attributed to a low initial SOC baseline and rapid biomass accumulation following afforestation. All tillage measures (straw mulching, straw returning, no-tillage, and contour tillage) induced maximal SOC gains (6.82%–75.77%) within 5–10 years from the baseline. For afforestation and grass planting, longer durations of 21–30 and 11–20 years were required for the best promotion effect, with SOC increased by 82.94%–110.01% and 11.29%–77.71%, respectively, over the initial values. Similarly, engineering measures like terracing (14.11%–60.96%) and fish-scale pits had optimal enhancement effects (79.86% on the Loess Plateau) on SOC storage in years 11–30 relative to the initial conditions. Further boosted regression tree analysis revealed that soil total nitrogen was the primary driver of SOC increases across all measures. These findings are essential for the implementation of ecological restoration projects to mitigate CO₂ in China.

How to cite: Zhang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Liu, S., Miao, J., and Han, X.: Spatiotemporal Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Soil Organic Carbon Enhancement in China: A Meta-Analysis, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2031, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2031, 2026.

Soil erosion represents one of the most critical environmental threats to the sustainability of agricultural systems, particularly in Mediterranean regions where strong seasonality and extreme precipitation events intensify soil degradation. Despite advances in erosion modelling, current conservation planning typically relies on retrospective annual analysis of historical data. This approach often fails to capture intra-annual variability or anticipate upcoming critical periods of erosivity, limiting the effectiveness of adaptive management strategies. This study presents an innovative methodological framework that integrates seasonal meteorological forecasts (1 to 7 months lead time) into the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Utilizing the ECMWF SEAS5 seasonal forecasting system, we apply bias correction and statistical downscaling techniques to predict both precipitation and erosivity (R factor) at the catchment scale. The methodology is applied to an olive grove catchment in Córdoba (Southern Spain). By conducting "hindcasting" simulations, we evaluate how the use of seasonal forecasts could have informed the strategic implementation of cover crops. The objective is to maximize soil protection by synchronizing vegetative cover with predicted high-erosivity periods, while simultaneously minimizing water competition between the cover crop and the main crop during forecasted dry years. To bridge the gap between scientific modelling and practical land management, this project also develops a set of open-source, interactive tools based on Jupyter Notebooks. These accessible tools allow technicians and decision-makers to process seasonal predictions and simulate erosion scenarios without requiring advanced programming skills. By enabling a shift from reactive to proactive management, this approach aligns with the European Soil Strategy and offers a scalable solution for preserving soil health in a changing climate.

How to cite: Peñuela, A.: From Retrospective to Proactive: Integrating Seasonal Weather Forecasts with Erosion Modelling to Optimize Soil Conservation, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4999, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4999, 2026.

Though climate change induces gradual shifts in mean temperature and annual precipitation, its most erosion-relevant impacts arise from disruptions to intra-annual patterns, including more intense rainfall events, prolonged droughts, and altered seasonal distribution. These changes modify crops phenology (e.g., accelerating or delaying growth stages) and prompting farmers to adapt their practices (e.g., earlier harvests, altered planting windows). Together, these changes could increase the susceptibility of cropping systems to erosion by misaligning vegetative cover with periods of increased erosivity. This study investigates the long-term evolution (1990-2020) of the USLE/RUSLE Cover factor (C factor) for major Bavarian crops (incl. wheat, barley, and maize; southern Germany), integrating high-resolution phenological data with radar-derived rainfall erosivity to assess climate- and management-driven changes in crop erosion sensitivity. Preliminary results indicate that while annual C factors remain relatively stable, crop-specific phenological shifts and intra-annual precipitation volatility alter seasonal erosion sensitivity. These findings highlight the relevance of dynamic C factor approaches for erosion modelling - integrating real-time cover development and rainfall erosivity - to improve model reliability and better inform climate-adaptative farming and soil conservation strategies.

How to cite: Chalaux-Clergue, T., Seufferheld, K., Woldermariam, A. D., van Dongen-Köster, R., Hoffmann, T., and Fiener, P.: Evolution of phenological and rainfall erosivity interactions for major Bavarian crops under climate change: Intra- and inter-annual C factor dynamics (1990-2020), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5113, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5113, 2026.

The surface of the continental Earth is constantly reworked at different scales of time and space by weathering and erosion. Erosion, although perceived as destructive process, can produce spectacular landscapes giving rise to an outstanding geodiversity. Particularly in southern Mediterranean regions, soils have become highly dynamic owing to climate change and intense land use. Soil redistribution rates (erosion/accumulation) determine soil evolutional trajectories, weathering and organic carbon dynamics in such landscapes. The interaction among these factors, however, remains poorly understood. The area around Corleone (north-western Sicily, Italy), a potential new UNESCO geopark, consists of a worldwide peculiar geological condition, i.e. massive glauconitic calcarenites. We investigated soil erosion rates by using ^239+240Pu as tracer, the weathering state of soils, soil organic carbon dynamics and its chemistry in this area. Although the soils showed clear signs of strong degradation and erosion with up to 39 t ha^-1 yr^-1, org. C stocks remained on a surprisingly high level with 7 to 25 kg C m^-2. Erosion removed the strongly weathered part of the soil and left behind a younger and fresher soil matrix with a low org. C content, but an organic carbon fraction that was enriched in aliphatic chains and lignin-like compounds and having, therefore, a lower maturity. The investigated soils developed on a parent material that promoted the stabilisation and sequestration of organic matter so that even highly eroded and shallow soils still contained a considerable amount of org. C, which is rather unique for Mediterranean areas. Due to the presence of glauconite, smectite and oxyhydroxides in the parent material, the soils were able to retain a high amount of soil organic carbon. The determination of erosion rates on such soils was, however, challenging, and the major difficulties are discussed. Furthermore, when using ^239+240Pu as a tracer for soil erosion, only point information is usually obtained and an extrapolation to a larger area is difficult or very time and resource consuming. A new, promising procedure will be presented, based on ^239+240Pu, on how to overcome this problem in future and how to extrapolate to a whole catchment area.

How to cite: Egli, M.: Eroded but organic carbon rich: Soil dynamics on glauconitic landscapes of Mediterranean Sicily, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5479, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5479, 2026.

Mountain ecosystems face increasing pressure from outdoor recreation and tourism, with trail-based activities concentrated during snow-free periods when critical biological processes occur. Despite trails occupying minimal surface area, they can contribute disproportionately to catchment-scale degradation. This study investigates soil degradation processes along trails in the Spanish Pyrenees, examining how intensive summer use affects soil properties and contributes to land degradation in these sensitive environments. Using drone-based remote sensing and laser scanning, we quantify actual soil loss along trails, while ground-based measurements assess changes in soil quality parameters.

In this context, within the SOLPYR project, we established study sites at three high-use mountain locations (Ibón de Plan, Astún, and Izas) in the Central Pyrenees, characterized by intensive summer outdoor tourism and farmland activities. Our methodology combined drone-based remote sensing, laser scanning, and ground-based measurements to assess trail degradation before and after peak summer use. Soil samples were collected from both trails and adjacent undisturbed grassland to quantify differences in key parameters, including bulk density, moisture content, total carbon, total nitrogen, and soil organic carbon.

Preliminary results reveal significant soil degradation on trails compared to adjacent grasslands. Total carbon, total nitrogen, and soil organic carbon concentrations and stocks were substantially higher in grassland soils than on trail surfaces, while bulk density showed the opposite pattern with significantly elevated values on trails. These findings indicate that human and animal trampling causes soil compaction, reduces organic matter content, and potentially accelerates carbon loss from mountain soils.

This research highlights trade-offs between recreational land use and soil carbon storage in mountain ecosystems. Given the slow recovery capacity of these environments and their role as carbon reservoirs, our findings will inform management strategies for sustainable mountain tourism while supporting climate change mitigation and soil conservation goals in the Pyrenees.

This research project is supported by the SOLPYR project (INTERREG EFA045/01).

How to cite: Wagner, C., López-Moreno, J. I., Revuelto, J., Llena, M., Sánchez-Navarrete, P., García Hernánez, J., and Nadal-Romero, E.: Assessing Trail Impacts on Mountain Soil Degradation in the Pyrenees: A Multi-Method Approach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10740, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10740, 2026.

Soil erosion and nutrient losses threaten soil health, water quality, and the long-term sustainability of agroecosystems. Degradation risks are highly pronounced in croplands on sloped soils with naturally poor characteristics, managed conventionally, where intense rainfall events lead to high erosion rates. Despite promotion of conservation practices, research linking event-scale runoff and sediment dynamics to specific tillage methods and crop yield outcomes remains scarce for many South-East European agricultural systems.

An experiment was established in 2024 to monitor hydrological and erosional responses in a maize cultivation on sloped Stagnosols in continental Croatia. Four tillage management were evaluated: conventional ploughing, subsoiling, chisel tillage, and no-tillage. Twelve experimental plots (100 m long, 8 m wide) were set up, containing overland flow collectors. During six rainfall–runoff events, from May to October, runoff, sediment concentration, soil loss, and losses of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were determined. Soil bulk density and penetration resistance were assessed at 0–10 and 10–30 cm depth during spring and autumn, while maize grain yield was recorded to assess the impact of soil conservation strategies on productivity.

Ploughing resulted in significantly greater degradation compared to all other tillage management systems. Relative to ploughing, soil loss decreased by 83% with subsoiling and 77% with chisel tillage, while no-tillage achieved a 94% reduction. Phosphorus and nitrogen losses exhibited similar trends, with reductions of 83% and 82% under subsoiling, 78% and 76% under chisel tillage, and 90% and 88% under no-tillage, respectively. Carbon loss was also substantially reduced, ranging from 76% (chisel tillage) to 89% (no-tillage). Runoff was reduced by 27–43%, suggesting that conservation tillage primarily limited soil detachment and transport rather than completely preventing runoff. Erosion patterns were highly variable, with two rainstorms accounting for approximately 67% of total soil loss under conventional ploughing.

Soil physical properties were consistent with observed hydrological patterns. At the 0–10 cm depth, bulk density was lowest under chisel tillage and subsoiling (approximately 1.37 g cm⁻³) compared to ploughing (1.42 g cm⁻³). Penetration resistance was highest under no-tillage (1.41 MPa) and lowest under subsoiling (0.57 MPa). At the 10–30 cm depth, no-tillage exhibited the highest bulk density (1.48 g cm⁻³) and penetration resistance (2.10 MPa), indicating greater mechanical impedance that may contribute to the observed yield trade-off. Chisel tillage and subsoiling maintained yields relative to ploughing (+2.0% and −0.7%, respectively), whereas no-tillage reduced yield by 17.6%, indicating that a no-tillage system very likely may require additional residue, nutrient, and weed management strategies.

The present study shows that conservation tillage involving loosening (chisel and subsoiling) can provide immediate reductions in sediment and nutrient losses with no significant yield loss in maize cultivation systems.

Keywords: Soil erosion, conservation tillage, sustainable agriculture, sediment transport, environmental impact, FORMclimaSOIL

Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation through the project “Forming climate smart soils: Mitigation of soil erosion and degradation processes in Croatian agricultural systems” (IP-2022-10-5692) (FORMclimaSOIL).

How to cite: Bogunovic, I., Pereira, P., Galic, M., Percin, A., Trevisani, S., and Kisic, I.: Conservation tillage as a dual-benefit strategy: substantial reductions in sediment and nutrient export with limited maize yield penalties, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10776, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10776, 2026.

The Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) is a USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) type model. Despite its regional or global applications, the empirical nature of the USLE presents persistent challenges in factor estimation and the representation of region-specific soil conservation measures. To address this, the CSLE substitutes the USLE’s C (cover-management) and P (support practice) factors with B (vegetation cover and biological measures), E (engineering measures), and T (tillage measures) factors, which correspond directly with land-use types, thereby enhancing its practical utility for soil conservation planning and land management. All erosion factors were rigorously calibrated and validated using extensive data from rainfall and experimental soil conservation stations distributed across China's diverse geographical regions. The CSLE has been applied for the National Soil Water Erosion Survey (2010–2012) and two subsequent five-year cycles of the National Soil Loss Dynamic Monitoring (2018–2027) in China. The BET three-parameter set proposed for soil and water conservation measures features the core advantages of easy remote sensing acquisition and large-scale adaptability, which can effectively improve the work efficiency of regional soil erosion surveys. After calibration and verification based on nationwide large-scale observation data, it not only significantly enhances the accuracy of soil erosion prediction, but also enables effective evaluation of the benefits of national soil and water conservation measures.

How to cite: Liu, B., Xie, Y., Zhang, K., Fu, S., Zhang, W., Yin, S., Wei, X., Zhang, Y., Guo, Q., and Liu, Y.: The Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE): A Model Emphasizing Regional Soil Erosion Assessment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11726, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11726, 2026.

Erratic rainfall conditions combined with the sloping terrains and anthropogenic factors causes severe soil erosion rates in the semi-arid highlands of Northern Ethiopia. High soil erosion rates are known to cause on-site and off-site socioeconomic and ecological disturbances. Reservoir sedimentation is one of the well-known negative off-site effects of soil erosion. Single rainfall events contribute disproportionally to the annual sediment yield in semi-arid catchments. Event based hydrological analysis helps to understand the suspended sediment and discharge contribution of single events. We applied physically based hydrological model, OpenLISEM in small, paired catchments in the Northern Ethiopian highlands. The objectives of the study were a) Identify model sensitive parameters in the paired catchments and b) Evaluate the effects of soil and water conservation measures on sediment yield reduction at an event scale. Initial soil moisture content was found to be the most sensitive parameter affecting both peak and total discharges. The suspended sediment yield at the outlets of both catchments was also sensitive to changes in Manning’s roughness coefficient. OpenLISEM performed satisfactorily (NSE > 0.5) for most of the calibrated events. The model fails to adequately capture peak discharge and discharge hydrograph in events characterized by multiple peaks and smaller precipitation amounts. OpenLISEM successfully simulated the total suspended sediment yield of an event. Suspended sediment yield was found to be influenced by a combination of hydrological and sedimentological model parameters. The combined implementation of stone bunds on hillslopes and check dams across channels resulted in a simulated sediment yield reduction of 36-74 % at the outlets of the paired catchments. The model simulation results provide valuable insight for the implementation of different soil and water conservation management practices to reduce catchment sediment yield and reservoir sedimentation, contributing to the long-term sustainability of reservoir-based irrigation schemes in the semi-arid highlands of northern Ethiopia.

How to cite: Berhe, G., Grum, B., Veldwisch, G. J., and Baartman, J.: Event-scale runoff and sediment responses to soil and water conservation measures in semi-arid catchments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12188, 2026.

Many soils are subjected to wind erosion and dust emission processes. This may result in a loss of essential system-resources and soil degradation. Agricultural activities change the intrinsic soil properties and the soil aggregation, and thus the soil erodibility to wind and water forces. The research focuses on the aeolian (by wind) loss of Particulate Matter (PM) that is less than 10 μm in diameter – the size fraction of clay, organic matter and nutrients in the soil. Various agriculture Loess soils in a semi-arid climate zone were analyzed for physical, chemical and biological properties. A boundary-layer wind tunnel has been used to study soil erosion and dust emission by simulation and quantification of high-resolution wind processes. Wind erosion experiments were conducted in agriculture fields of rain-fed conventional practices and organic practices alternating with grazing. Clay content, organic matter, and bacterial diversity were shown to be influenced by the practice type. The erosion experiments revealed changes in dust emission and PM fluxes in response to the topsoil properties and the wind velocity.  The dus process indicates loss of soil-PM and specific nutrients. Annual balance of soil-PM was calculated by analyzing the output by dust emission and the input by atmospheric dust deposition as the major source of PM. The results highlight a negative balance of PM in all the soils that are subjected to human-induced topsoil disturbance and decrease in soil aggregation. The results can reduce uncertainties in models of dust emission from agricultural fields, and may provide essential information for developing management strategies of soil conservation.  

How to cite: Katra, I.: Soil-PM loss by wind erosion from agricultural Loess fields in the east Mediterranean, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12990, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12990, 2026.

Notable recent growth in the number of publications describing RUSLE/GIS-based soil erosion model studies indicates a previously-unmet policy-driven need for maps of water erosion rate covering nationally-sized (or larger) areas, at a field-scale (or smaller) resolution. Other current erosion modelling approaches have not been able to fulfil this need. What is necessary for future soil erosion models to do so?

Assume a hypothetical future farmer-focused policy-driven study, requiring a modelled estimate of erosion rate for ‘tiles’, each 10 m², to cover 10⁵ km² (1/3 of Germany). Thus needing 10¹⁰ tiles.

RUSLE calculates long-term average soil loss. Running once for each tile would give the required spatial coverage, but no information regarding temporal change. Future anthropogenically-driven climate change, and future climate-change-driven land-use change, will have a major global impact on soil loss. The hypothetical study must consider these impacts. Additionally, the RUSLE model is empirical. Confidence in statistical relationships decreases when the relationship is extrapolated i.e. used with values outside the range of values employed to derive it. Future global change will produce surprises, needing RUSLE input values outside the values used to derive the model. A temporally dynamic, and not wholly empirical, erosion model will therefore be necessary for the hypothesised study.

Other anthropogenic choices are important. Especially in agricultural areas, there will be ‘pinch points’: locations where a minor change in some attribute has a major downslope impact. Where sediment and flow encounters a barrier (e.g. a hedge), the degree of barrier permeability will strongly influence subsequent flow. Further, the permeability of the barrier may depend on past events e.g. previous accumulation of of waterborne trash.

Our study will need to consider combinations of climate and land-use change scenarios: parsimoniously, assume 10 model runs per tile. It is less obvious how we would cope with ‘pinch point’ problems, but assume (again, parsimoniously) the need for 10 more scenarios. These two would bring the number of model runs up to 10¹²: an impressively large number.

For this daunting challenge, what might be the next steps?

So far, we assume data availability for every tile. Whilst not a problem for RUSLE, this would be a major headache for physically-based models. Thus there is a need to (a) develop erosion models of reduced complexity (but not wholly empirical), with correspondingly reduced data needs; and possibly (b) an approach to determining the ‘importance’ of each tile.

A potentially fruitful approach would adopt a systems-based approach, by explicitly considering the scaling relationships (often fractal, and with power-law frequency-magnitude) which result from multiple process feedback loops operating within the erosional system. If such a scaling relationship were derived between a plot-scale process-focused model (e.g. RillGrow) and another erosion model operating on a larger area with coarser resolution and reduced data requirement; then this relationship could be used to interpolate between scales.

Our study might then involve running multiple scenarios of the coarser-scale model for the whole area, using the scaling relationship to identify potentially problematic tiles, and running the plot-scale model only for these locations/situations.

How to cite: Favis-Mortlock, D.: How might we use erosion models to meet future policy challenges?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14085, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14085, 2026.

Soil erosion remains the number one threat to soil resources around the world, adversely affecting our ability to produce food, protect air and water resources, and sustain the viability of communities and industries.  For several decades, models have been used to assess soil erosion and sedimentation, and the potential for soil conservation practices.  With advances in computing, modelling has become very sophisticated and widespread.

Although this technology is quite mature, there are major deficiencies in the development and application of existing erosion models: (i) Lack of integration of models for wind, water and tillage erosion, necessary to provide accurate estimates of soil losses.  (ii) Lack of accounting of historical soil losses.  (iii) Lack of coherence of model input scales within and across processes, creating substantial errors and uncertainties in model outputs and map products.  Consequently, these erosion models do not reflect the soils losses observed in fields by land managers, the losses that affect the production and profitability of crops.  These deficiencies are demonstrated based on experience in Canada.  The necessary path forward is clear, and is presented.

How to cite: Lobb, D. and Li, S.: Fixing the holes in soil erosion modelling, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14911, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14911, 2026.

Soil compaction is a key land degradation process that affects soil structure, infiltration, runoff generation, and soil stability, thereby influencing erosion processes and soil conservation outcomes. While compaction has been extensively studied in arable systems, permanent grasslands, particularly in mountain regions, remain comparatively understudied despite their relevance for erosion control and sustainable land management. This contribution addresses soil compaction in permanent grasslands in Carinthia (southern Austria) using a multi-dimensional approach that integrates soil physical indicators with land manager perspectives.

Field investigations were conducted between 2022 and 2024 across intensively and extensively managed meadows and pastures, including a reference site. A set of soil physical indicators was applied to capture compaction-related changes in soil structure and hydrological functioning relevant to erosion and land degradation processes. In parallel, a structured survey with local farmers was carried out to examine awareness of soil compaction, perceived drivers, and management responses.

The study adopts an interdisciplinary perspective to explore how physical soil degradation processes and human decision-making interact in permanent grassland systems. By combining field-based assessments with stakeholder knowledge, this contribution aims to support improved monitoring approaches and inform conservation-oriented management strategies in the future. The work is positioned within current European soil protection and land degradation frameworks and contributes to ongoing discussions on how process understanding can be translated into practical guidance for farmers, land managers, and policy makers.

How to cite: Puff, M., Bohner, A., Eriksson, M., and Garcia-Santos, G.: Soil compaction, management and farmer awareness in permanent mountain grasslands in Carinthia (Austria), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17310, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17310, 2026.

Soil is an essential natural system, forming the foundation and refuge of terrestrial life, regulating key biogeochemical cycles, and acting as a reservoir for water and gases. Despite its fundamental importance, soil (a non-renewable resource on human timescales) remains largely overlooked, with significant gaps in its study, identification, and proper characterization across many European territories. 
Mountain areas provide essential ecosystem services to surrounding societies, functioning as water towers, system regulators, and biodiversity refuges. However, these sensitive environments face increasing threats from anthropogenic pressures (tourism, land-use change, urbanization) and Climate Change (droughts, reduced snow cover, and extreme rainfall events).
The SOLPYR project aims to improve knowledge of Pyrenean soils, using this mountain range as a representative study area for understanding pressures and challenges affecting mountain environments. The ultimate goal is to design, analyse, and implement soil protection measures that ensure soil resilience and the sustained provision of soil-based resources, as a strategy for adaptation to Global Change. 
The project is structured around four main actions: (i) the creation of a comprehensive soil catalogue and soil maps of the Pyrenees at 1:400,000 scale through the compilation and harmonization of existing data, complemented by field identification and characterization, and delineation using GIS, based on standardized and replicable methodologies; (ii) the study, assessment, and quantification of soil degradation in mountain environments (pilot areas and mountain trails), along with the establishment of best practices for soil use and restoration; (iii) raising awareness and promoting public understanding of the natural value of soils, the processes driving their degradation, and the need for their conservation through sensitization campaigns, soil-themed itineraries, and specialized training courses; and (iv) fostering cooperation among stakeholders and institutions with a shared interest in the conservation, preservation, and sustainable use and management of Pyrenean soils through a robust governance framework
A key outcome of the project will be the development of a Cross-border Action Plan for Pyrenean soils, establishing priorities and strategic guidelines for soil protection in alignment with the European Union’s 2030 soil protection strategy. Although still in its early stages of implementation, the SOLPYR project represents a strong example of transboundary and interdisciplinary collaboration for soil protection. Beyond contributing substantially to scientific knowledge, its outcomes provide a robust foundation for the study, assessment, and management of sensitive mountain environments worldwide. By establishing networks that connect scientific communities, land managers, and territorial stakeholders, the project offers a valuable framework for adaptation to Global Change.
Acknowledgements: This research project was supported by the SOLPYR (POCTEFA 2021-2027 (EFA045/01)) project funded by Interreg Poctefa and European Union.

How to cite: Cortijos-López, M., Nadal-Romero, E., Wagner, C., López-Moreno, J. I., Revuelto-Benedí, J., and García-Ruiz, J. M.: Knowing soils in order to protect them: the SOLPYR project as an example of soil research, impact assessment, and public awareness of their importance in sensitive mountain areas., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17432, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17432, 2026.

Water erosion is considered one of the most critical forms of land degradation, which was estimated to cover 24% of European land and 32% of agricultural land. Widespread land deforestation practices, overgrazing by livestock, inappropriate cultivation and agricultural practices, and climate change (including torrential rains) are the main factors influencing the acceleration of erosion processes, for which the affected land is projected to increase by further 25% EU-wide by 2050.

Researchers emphasise the need to establish an EU erosion monitoring network, which can contribute to more accurate large-scale empirical modelling and improve the implementation of appropriate soil protection policies. The literature also highlights the need for improve process-based modelling at the field scale to obtain more precise recommendations for land management and erosion mitigation strategies.

The predictive value of existing models (despite the efforts of many researchers) is still limited, especially at the continental scale, as systematic knowledge of local soil (and climate) parameters is often not available. On the other hand, scaling in time and space is currently a key challenge for physical models. These models also suffer from the disadvantage of complexity and significant input data requirements.

The aim of our proposed research is to determine a parameter (or group of parameters) from of which the exact susceptibility of soil to splash erosion will be determined for 100 Central Europe soils. The splash phenomenon is the first stage of soil water erosion, and while its subsequent forms (e.g. surface, rill or gully erosion) can only occur under specific conditions (e.g. high rainfall intensity or suitable terrain), splash erosion always occurs. This is because it is responsible for the moment of interaction between the raindrop and the soil surface, and depending on the intensity of rainfall, this phenomenon can initiate further forms of water erosion at different scales. Therefore, obtaining detailed information on the nature of the splash phenomenon is crucial to understanding and fully describing water erosion. Recognising the mechanisms of this process at all stages can contribute to the development of effective methods to reduce the degradation of the most fertile top layer of the soil profile. Based on our experience in describing the splash erosion, we firmly believe that determination of the susceptibility of soils to the splash phenomenon (determination of the splashability factor) will contribute to the development of physical models by providing data for calibration and validation, and consequently, also reducing the uncertainty of these models.

The study was partially funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, in the frame of project no. 2024/55/B/ST10/01326.

How to cite: Sochan, A., Mazur, R., Beczek, M., Pelczar, R., Ryżak, M., Polakowski, C., and Bieganowski, A.: Splashability – missing element, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18117, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18117, 2026.

Soil erosion “risk” maps are almost exclusively produced by estimating long-term average soil loss rates with USLE-based models, after which at-risk areas are ranked according to poorly justified thresholds. This approach fails to engage with well-established concepts from more mature fields in risk science.

Soil erosion is a natural process and only becomes a hazard once vulnerable systems are exposed to individual or successive erosion events. Hence, meaningful erosion risk assessments require (i) a clear definition of the exposed elements considered to be at risk (e.g. soil itself, farmers, downstream infrastructure and water bodies); (ii) their biophysical and/or socio-economic vulnerability to erosion; (iii) the consequences that erosion may generate (e.g. crop yield losses, increased vulnerability to droughts and floods, off-site pollution); and (iv) the time frame over which these consequences occur. Crucially, meaningful erosion risk assessments must describe erosion in probabilistic terms rather than as deterministic averages.

In this contribution, we outline several steps towards more progressive erosion risk assessments. First, we demonstrate how the probability of occurrence of severe water-erosion events on individual arable fields can be estimated using a simple machine-learning approach and dynamic input factors. This enables the identification of short-term risks of crop or off-site damage and can lead to the development of early warning systems. Second, to address medium- to long-term risks associated with erosion-induced soil change, we propose a dynamic, process-oriented multi-model framework that represents how erosion alters soils and their functioning over time. This framework accommodates different erosion processes and their interactions within a multi-hazard perspective. Our contribution will be presented in an interactive poster format, inviting the soil erosion research community to co-develop a more useful and consequence-oriented erosion risk assessment framework.

How to cite: Batista, P. and Fiener, P.: Risk of what, to whom, and when? Soil loss maps are no risk assessments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19060, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19060, 2026.

Soil erosion represents a major threat to agricultural sustainability, soil fertility, and hydrological functioning in mountainous regions. These challenges are particularly pronounced in the Central High Atlas of Morocco, where complex topography, marked climatic variability, and intensive human activities accelerate degradation processes. This study evaluates current and future soil erosion dynamics in the Lakhdar watershed, located in the Oum Er-Rbia basin using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) coupled with high-resolution climate projections from CMIP6 models. Spatially distributed data on rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, land cover, and conservation practices are integrated to quantify present erosion rates and identify areas most susceptible to degradation. Future scenarios assess the influence of projected changes in precipitation regimes on erosion dynamics over the coming decades. By identifying current erosion hotspots and anticipating future risks, this study informs targeted soil conservation interventions, supports sustainable land management strategies, and contributes to preserving soil functions, water resources, and ecosystem services. The findings emphasize the need to coordinate policy and community actions, integrating both socio-economic dimensions and local knowledge, to strengthen and support climate adaptation in vulnerable mountainous areas.

Keywords: CMIP6 models, Morocco, RUSLE, Soil erosion risk, Sustainable land management.

How to cite: Sbabou, F. Z., Lahmili, A., Ait El Haj, F., Ongoma, V., Hakam, O., and M'hamdi Alaoui, I.: Assessing Current and Future Soil Erosion Risks in the Lakhdar Watershed (Morocco) Using RUSLE and CMIP6 Climate Projections, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19706, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19706, 2026.

Current anthropogenic pressures on lands, soil, and water resources lead to the degradation of natural environments, directly affecting human health. One of the most important causes of water and soil resource depletion is soil erosion. Soil erosion directly impacts soil’s ability to provide valuable ecosystems services, but it also contributes to downstream sediment transport with associated water bodies degradation (e.g. excess turbidity, riverbed and coastal water clogging) and associated pollutants transfers in the environment. However, these phenomena are complex and result from the interaction and feedback between choices driven by economic and social forces. There is therefore a strong demand for management tools that can help design and implement remediation strategies at the catchment and landscape scale.

The development of soil erosion modelling methodologies able to reproduce the temporal and spatial dynamics of soil erosion and sediment transfer across catchments in the land-to-sea continuum is thus an essential step towards soil and water resources conservation. However, most modelling studies are based on relatively dated concepts, a majority of which even referring to very simple empirical equations elaborated decades ago. This huge gap between the extent of environmental concerns and the lack of consistent model development is even more surprising given that significant advances have recently been achieved in observation and monitoring technologies, as well as in computational capacity.

In this context, the objective of this study is to describe the different elements that could be investigated to improve our modelling capabilities. We will address the different stages, from field and laboratory experiments; concept development and numerical implementation; to calibration and evaluation procedures. Finally, some recommendations for future research opportunities will be discussed.

How to cite: Cerdan, O., Arthur, G., Grangeon, T., Landemaine, V., and Vandromme, R.: Soil erosion modelling, should we get back to work?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20170, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20170, 2026.

Current UK policy encourages water companies and farmers to collaborate and uptake minimum tillage and cover crops to reduce soil erosion’s impact on the environment, field productivity, and raw drinking water quality. This provides an opportunity for soil erosion risk prediction models to be used as decision-support tools, such as the modified Morgan-Morgan-Finney model (mMMF) (Morgan & Duzant., 2008). It currently lacks parameters to predict the impact of cover crops and minimum tillage, an adapted temporal resolution to reflect the intra- and inter- annual variability of soil erosion risk, and field validation with water quality data. The aim of this study is to further improve the mMMF as a decision support tool for water companies and land managers to target management options to reduce runoff and control soil erosion on farm to improve water quality. To do so, cover crop and soil surface roughness parameters were obtained via field measurements and literature. Spatial and temporal trends in cover cropping windows were identified based on crop type from the Crop Map of England (CROME) dataset. The mMMF will be modified to a monthly time step, and the predicted results will be interpreted alongside turbidity and suspended solids data. The improved model could not only facilitate the implementation of cover crops and minimum tillage by farmers, but also help stakeholders better prioritize measures for soil and water conservation.

How to cite: Donovan, L., Simmons, R., and Grabowski, R.: Modelling the impact of regenerative agriculture on soil erosion and river water quality, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20344, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20344, 2026.

 During soil erosion, sediment load of rill flow changes dynamically and may affect its hydraulic characteristics. However, current research on hydraulics of sediment-laden rill flow primarily uses river sand/artificial homogeneous materials as sediment, which significantly differ from natural soil, leaving a research gap on how soil quantity impacts rill flow hydraulics. This study uses natural soil in an indoor rill flume simulation experiment to explore how sediment load influences hydraulic characteristics of rill flow, including flow velocity (V), Darcy–Weisbach friction coefficient (f), Reynolds number (Re), Froude number (Fr), and flow depth (h). Experiments were conducted under combinations of six different sediment loads, five flow discharges, and five slopes. The results indicated that V, f, Re, Fr were significantly influenced by sediment concentration. V and Fr show an upward trend as the sediment load increases, while f, Re, and h demonstrate a downward trend. The sediment load predominantly influences V, f, and Fr, accounting for contributions of 0.33, 0.49, and 0.39, respectively. The influence of slope gradient on V and Fr intensifies as the sediment load increases, while the impact of flow
discharge on V, f, and Fr diminishes. As flow discharge increases, the effect of sediment load diminishes on V and Fr, and that of slope gradient strengthens. Two kinds of prediction equations were developed for estimating thehydraulic parameters of sediment-laden rill flow. The models demonstrate high R2 values (0.74 to 0.98), suggesting strong performance of the prediction equations. These findings lay a foundation for the better development of a physical process-based rill erosion model. Given the differences in the properties of natural soils,which may impact hydraulic characteristics, it is a limitation of this study that it only focuses on a single soil type, and thus future research should explore the effect of sediment properties on hydraulic characteristics. 

How to cite: Shen, N.:  Variability of hydraulic characteristics of sediment-laden rill flow under various slopes, water flows and sediment loads , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3668, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3668, 2026.

The mountainous relief of Georgia, along with the complex geological and geomorphological conditions within river basins – especially in their upper reaches – promotes the development of erosion processes. Depending on their form of manifestation, erosion processes may in some cases be visually imperceptible. This is particularly true with surface, or sheet, erosion, which is often less noticeable.
Studies confirm that the climate change in the alpine part of the mountainous regions of Georgia is characterized by warming, leading to intensified weathering, intensive glacier melting, increased rainfall intensity, and enhanced snowmelt, which in turn increases the amount of solid material. This is further compounded by intensified soil erosion and the intense development of agriculture in the middle and lower reaches of the river valleys. It is evident that glacier retreat and the melting of permanent ice cover will increase the transportation of solid sediment material from slopes into river valleys.
At the same time, it is possible that the increased amount of solid sediment, due to river regulation, may not be transported downstream, and a significant portion may be temporarily deposited within the river system, in alluvial valleys and floodplains, also partially altering the longitudinal profiles of rivers.
The amount of solid sediment material in Georgia's rivers shows an increasing trend. Reliable assessment and forecasting of these processes in the future represent one of the most important tasks.

How to cite: Sulashvili, T., Trapaidze, V., Kalandadze, I., Bregvadze, G., and Kalandadze, B.: Changes in River Solid Discharge in the Context of Climate Change: The Case of Georgia, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4230, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4230, 2026.

Significant progress has been made in gully erosion research since the early 2000s. However, quantifying the 3-dimensional evolution of gullies at regional and global scales remains a major challenge in soil erosion science.
The first challenge is the multidimensional gap. While global assessments have successfully mapped gully head distributions (0D) and the characterization of  linear gully densities (1D) has been achieved in specific countries and regions, accurate gully sediment budgeting requires a shift towards three-dimensional (3D) volumetric quantification of gully structure . The primary technical requirement is the large-scale inversion of gully depth, which can be addressed through the integration of modern geodetic techniques—including high-precision field surveys, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, and satellite stereoscopic mapping—with AI-driven predictive algorithms. Parallel to this is the temporal gap. Most regional datasets remain static. Resolving these spatial and temporal challenges is the prerequisite for transitioning from purely morphological descriptions to robust, process-based gully erosion models at large scales. The convergence of multi-source remote sensing now offers opportunities to reconstruct gully development (in 3-D) over recent decades. Coupled with the advancement of AI, which facilitates a transition from labor-intensive manual digitizing to automated, high-throughput workflows, it is now feasible to achieve rapid, dynamic, and intelligent extraction of gully information.
This report systematically examines these methodological challenges and evaluates potential solutions through the integration of multi-modal remote sensing, field measurements, and advanced analytical frameworks. To demonstrate these solutions, we present case studies from the Chinese Loess Plateau and the Northeast Black Soil Region based on small-watershed units, including 1,300 remote-sensing survey units and 65 high-precision units integrating field measurements with UAV surveys. These data provide the foundation for validating AI-driven depth inversion and automated extraction methodologies at a regional scale. Finally, we propose an international cooperation initiative to harmonize data collection and standardize validation protocols. Such a collaborative framework is essential to effectively integrate gully erosion into the next generation of global soil loss and Earth system models.

How to cite: Wang, C., Liu, B., Cruse, R., Vanmaercke, M., Chen, Y., Ma, L., Pang, G., and Yang, Q.: Bridging the Dimensional and Temporal Gaps in Large-Scale Gully Erosion Modeling: Challenges and Solutions, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4311, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4311, 2026.

Vegetation plays a crucial role in the control of gully erosion due to its combined impact of root system and the above ground components. However, limited research has been done on the hydrodynamic effects of vegetation in relation to gully erosion. Vegetation, including stems and litter, are key surface roughness factors that greatly influence the flow of water, subsequently impacting sedimentation. In this study, a series of scouring experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different shrub stem coverages (0%, 0.15%, 0.30%, 0.60%, and 1.20%) and litter coverages (0 g m^-2, 100 g m^-2, 200 g m^-2, 300 g m^-2, and 400 g m^-2) on the spatiotemporal variations of flow velocity, shear stress, resistance f and sediment concentration under concentrated flow during the gully bed erosion processes in the dry-hot valley region of Jinsha River, Southwest China. The results showed that the number of branches in the vegetated plots increased significantly from upstream to downstream as stem coverage and litter coverage increased. Compared with bare gully bed, the flow velocity and shear stress of the four stem coverages decreased by 17% ~ 61% and 2% ~ 23%, respectively. These reductions were more significant as stem coverage and litter accumulation increased. The resistance f increased 0.14~5.8 times as stem cover and litter coverage increased, and the increase was more obvious along with the extending direction of gully bed. The sediment concentration decreased with increasing stem cover and litter coverage. The split flow effects under different shrub stem and litter coverages significantly affected the spatiotemporal variation of soil loss and hydraulic properties during gully bed erosion processes. Overall, increasing shrub planting in gully beds is essential to mitigate gully bed erosion, and the effects generally are enhanced with increasing stem litter and cover in gully beds.

How to cite: Xiong, D. and Liu, L.: Hydraulic properties and sediment yield as affected by different shrub stem and litter coverages during gully bed erosion processes , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4418, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4418, 2026.

Within the historically cultivated region of Navarra, Spain, ephemeral gully erosion dominates soil losses, threatening agricultural productivity and landscape degradation.  Effective management requires soil erosion prediction technology as directly informed by regionally collected field data.  In particular, soil erosion models must replicate the emergence and evolution of ephemeral gullies in time and space to accurately assess and implement conservation practices.  Here we report on the results of a field campaign located in Pitillas, Southern Navarra.  An agricultural field composed of a highly erodible silty loam was tilled in November 2023, but it was kept out of production for the 2023-24 growing season.  The evolving landscape was captured by drone flights after every major precipitation event, producing DEMs at centimeter-scale resolution.  Ephemeral gullies appeared four months after initial tilling, which over time created incised drainage network systems.  Centimeter-to-decimeter scale rills occupy the furrows that are concordant to the tilled topography, whereas decimeter-scale ephemeral gullies occupy the major swales that are discordant to the tilled topography.  One such rill and ephemeral gully system at the conclusion of the season is interrogated to define the morphometric characteristics of the eroded channels and to calculate total soil losses.  This third-order ephemeral gully system exhibits a trellis drainage pattern occupying an area of 0.266 ha.  Channel dimensions and longitudinal profiles are characterized along nine continuous channel reaches.  The results show that scaling relationships for channel width and depth conform well to upstream drainage area using a hydraulic geometry framework.  Exponent values derived for the longitudinal variation in width, average depth, and maximum depth as a function drainage area are 0.21±0.06, 0.31±0.11, and 0.34±0.11, respectively.  That is, these channels incise more deeply than they widen in response to erosive runoff events consistent with previous observations within the region.  While variations in slope concavity indicate localized zones of flow acceleration and deceleration, a headward migrating wave of degradation, located mid-slope by season’s end, demarcates the transition from areas of net erosion to net deposition.  By comparing original and final surface topographies, total soil loss from this ephemeral gully system is estimated to be 3.23 kg/m²-yr, also consistent with previous work in this region.  Current efforts are now focused on (1) correlating specific rainfall events to channel development and evolution, and (2) validating models to ensure that these discrete erosional processes can be predicted accurately in time and space.  The field campaign has proven to be invaluable in the further development and refinement of soil erosion prediction technology required for effective resource management regionally.    

How to cite: Bennett, S. J., Barberena, I., Campo-Bescós, M. A., van Wiltenburg, K., and Casalí, J.: Using a natural field experiment to characterize the temporal and spatial evolution of ephemeral gully erosion on a conventionally tilled plot, Southern Navarra, Spain, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-8002, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-8002, 2026.

Abstract:

Gully erosion is a critical threat to global food security.  Under intensive cultivation and increasingly frequent extreme rainfall, many ephemeral gullies (EGs) are rapidly evolving into permanent gullies. However, compared to permanent gullies, the impacts of EGs remain poorly understood. In particular, the effects of EGs on upland crops' growth and yield have been widely underestimated.

As EGs are often masked by seasonal tillage, they commonly exhibit pronounced dynamic changes and delayed effects.  EGs’ development not only accelerates soil erosion but also significantly reshapes the spatial distribution of soil structure, moisture, and nutrients. These impacts extend from the gully channel into adjacent areas. Conventional assessments commonly attribute yield decline to soil loss, overlooking the constraints imposed by EG-induced soil compaction and root habitat degradation. Consequently, the real contribution of productivity loss induced by EGs remains obscured.

To address these knowledge gaps, this study focused on ephemeral gullies in croplands of the Black Soil Region of Northeast China.  Integrating field survey and UAV-based high-resolution imagery, we measured the morphological parameters of typical EGs and their actual damage to arable land.  Through experimental analysis, we evaluated the soil structure, moisture, nutrients, crop growth, and crop yield at 108 independent sampling points within EG-controlled catchments. Our results demonstrate that EG development significantly intensifies soil compaction, reduces soil water-holding capacity and nutrient availability, and ultimately suppresses crop growth and yield. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) further reveals the influence pathways of "gully→topography→soil properties→crop response" in slope-gully systems.

This study clarifies the key processes through which gully erosion drives yield loss and emphasizes the necessity of EGs-controlled slope-gully systems as priority conservation and management units. Such an approach is crucial for improving land degradation assessment frameworks, mitigating permanent gully risks, and protecting regional food security.

Keywords: Ephemeral gully; Yield loss; Soil physicochemical properties; SEM; Slope-gully systems

How to cite: Qiao, X., Wang, C., Wang, W., and Ma, L.: The Overlooked Impact of Ephemeral Gullies on Arable Land Degradation: From Soil Physicochemical Transformation to Yield Loss, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9838, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9838, 2026.

Subsurface erosion caused by soil piping is of the most overlooked soil erosion processes. It plays a significant role in landscape development (including gully development) and contributes substantially to land degradation. Moreover, soil pipes affect hydrological and sediment connectivity in landscapes and hence potentially aggravate off-site effects of water erosion. Since now, the global distribution of this process remains unknown, as existing publications present only case studies and lack regional or global overview. This presentation aims to demonstrate the potential of Google Earth imagery for detecting pipe collapses (PCs) worldwide. The methods include manual on-screen mapping of PCs in different morphoclimatic zones and under various land use types (e.g., arable lands, pastures). Preliminary results indicate that Google Earth can be successfully used for detecting PCs. Its main advantages are the ease and wide accessibility of the software. Additionally, Google Earth imagery allows analyses of temporal changes in PCs where images from different years are available. The principal limitations are associated with forested areas, where PCs are sometimes observed. This limitation can be overcome by analyzing LiDAR-derived digital elevation models. However, these data are not as readily or universally available as Google Earth imagery.

The study is supported by the National Science Centre, Poland within the project OPUS 29 (2025/57/B/ST10/01326).

How to cite: Bernatek-Jakiel, A.: Google Earth imagery as a tool for detecting pipe collapses, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10192, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10192, 2026.

Gully gravitational erosion is one of the primary erosion types on the Loess Plateau and an important pathway for sediment yield in watersheds. To address the challenges of the complex gravitational erosion process and the difficulty in observation and identification, this study analyzes the environmental conditions, locations, scales, and types of gravitational erosion on the Loess Plateau. Leveraging existing observation technologies and data processing capabilities, a multi-technology integrated observation method for gravitational erosion is developed through the functional synergy of various observation techniques. This method offers broader observation coverage, faster data processing, and higher precision in monitoring processes, providing a scientific basis for soil and water conservation efforts on the Loess Plateau.

How to cite: Zhang, P.: Characteristics and Observation Methods of Gully Gravity Erosion on the Loess Plateau, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11557, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11557, 2026.

Gully erosion is a significant soil erosion process with potentially severe on-site and off-site impacts. Characterizing and monitoring gullies is essential for accurately predicting their occurrence and effectively preventing their formation and extension. However, creating a gully inventory is both time-consuming and subject to operator bias. Given the low spatial density of gullies in most contexts and their sometimes ephemeral nature, the use of remote sensing appears unavoidable.

In Wallonia (Belgium), gullies mainly occur as ephemeral gullies on agricultural land. Their average width could be as small as 50 cm. High-resolution (25 cm) orthophotographs covering the entire territory are acquired on an annual basis and freely available. Although gullies mostly form on bare or poorly covered soil, depending on the dates of gully formation and image acquisition, gullies may be surrounded by bare or vegetated soil.  

As of today, no methodology has been developed for automatically detecting gullies with such small dimensions at regional scale. This study therefore aims at developing a methodology for automatically detecting ephemeral gullies in Wallonia by remote sensing.

Based on June 2019 orthophotos, 67 gullies across 32 agricultural plots with varying soil cover (including bare soil) were digitized. 16 plots (34 gullies) were used for calibration and 16 plots (33 gullies) for validation. Gully and non-gully pixels were defined inside and immediately outside each gully, respectively, while accounting for delineation uncertainty. An optimal NDVI threshold for each gully was defined as the value maximizing the F1-score of the confusion matrix.

Three pixel-based classification approaches were considered: (1) a fixed NDVI threshold, set to maximize the average F1-score across all gullies of the calibration dataset; (2) a plot-specific NDVI threshold derived from a regression equation linking the median NDVI of the agricultural plots to their optimal NDVI thresholds. This equation was established to optimize the average F1-score (0.82); and (3) a multi-variable Random Forest model.

The use of a fixed NDVI threshold (NDVI = 0.13) achieved an F1-score of 0.77 on the validation dataset. Proper gully detection was achieved only when the median NDVI value of the plot exceeded significantly the threshold value. In contrast, the variable thresholding method allowed to detect gullies even on plots with median NDVI values as low as -0.017 (validation F1-score = 0.82). However, below this value, it failed to detect gullies reliably.

The Random Forest model (3) was trained on the same database. Additional remote sensing as well as topography-related variables were included, such as brightness, the Maximum Difference Index (the maximum difference between the RGB and NIR bands for each pixel), and the distance to the nearest concentrated runoff flow path. Preliminary results are encouraging, and combining this approach with the relative thresholding method could facilitate scaling detection to agricultural plot level and improve post-processing of features with spectral characteristics similar to gullies (e.g., wheel tracks). This approach shows strong potential for large-scale monitoring of gully erosion.

How to cite: Weber, A. and Bielders, C.: Automatic Detection of Ephemeral Gullies Using Orthophotographs: Development and Comparison of Three Pixel-Based Methods in Wallonia (Belgium), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12886, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12886, 2026.

Whereas current erosion models are successful in quantitative estimates of soil erosion by water flow, modeling the coevolution of geomorphological features, particularly rill network properties and soil erosion on hillslopes, is still a major challenge. In this study, we propose a rill evolution modeling approach, and combine it with a rainfall-runoff and soil erosion model to simulate the feedback loop of hillslope geomorphic development and soil erosion processes. Rill evolution is mainly characterized by three rill network attributes, comprised of rill density, orientation angle, and rill width, all modeled with physical equations. The entire rainfall-runoff-erosion and rill evolution model is tested against a set of rill network evolution and soil erosion data from an experimental hillslope subjected to successive rainfall events. The simulated spatial and temporal variations of rill network characteristics and soil erosion agree well with the measured data. The results demonstrate that the three rill network characteristics continually alter the partitioning of interrill and rill flows and affect the interrill and rill flow erosivity and soil erosion, which in turn modify the rill geometry and rill network planform. Comparatively, existing approaches such as WEPP that ignore the rill evolution processes largely underestimate the hillslope soil erosion when using time independent model parameters. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis indicates that both the rill evolution and soil erosion processes are sensitive to the rill evolution parameters, rainfall intensity, and slope angle. These results can inform the development of general geomorphic evolution and soil erosion models on evolving rilled hillslopes.

How to cite: wu, S.: Modeling soil erosion with evolving rills on hillslopes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15441, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15441, 2026.

The Northeast Black Soil Region is a crucial commercial grain production base in China. However, long-term intensive mechanized farming combined with a lack of effective soil and water conservation measures has resulted in severe soil erosion driven by the combined effects of wind erosion, water erosion, and freeze-thaw processes, critically threatening both food security and ecological stability. Farmland shelterbelts are widely recognized as an effective measure to reduce wind speed through surface friction and turbulence generation, and thus play a key role in decreasing wind erosion and improving soil properties. Nevertheless, their layout and orientation have rarely considered potential impacts on water erosion processes, and the role of shelterbelt distribution in regulating rill/inter-rill erosion, and gully erosion remains poorly understood. In our study, the effects of shelterbelt arrangements on both wind and water erosion were systematically assessed in the typical black soil region of Northeast China using field sampling surveys and multi-temporal remote sensing interpretation, integrated with meteorological and topographic data. The results indicate that shelterbelts effectively control wind erosion, with particularly better effects in areas experiencing severe wind erosion. However, shelterbelt orientation on sloping croplands often constrains ridge direction, and when tillage shifts to up- and down-slope or cross-slope ridging, rill and gully erosion are significantly enhanced. In addition, snowmelt runoff is a major driver of water erosion in high-latitude regions. Shelterbelts influence snow redistribution patterns, thereby modifying snowmelt-driven runoff and soil erosion processes. Gullies affected by shelterbelt-induced snow redistribution exhibited area expansion rates approximately 1.6 times higher than those unaffected. These findings provide new insights into the coupled effects of shelterbelt configuration on wind and water erosion and offer a scientific basis for optimizing shelterbelt design and soil erosion control strategies in cold-region agricultural landscapes.

How to cite: Tang, J., Xie, Y., and Cheng, H.: Can farmland shelterbelts exacerbate soil erosion in the black soil region of Northeast China?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16915, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16915, 2026.

Loess covers approximately 10% of the Earth’s land surface. Despite its ability to maintain vertical cliffs, loess is highly susceptible to rapid internal erosion, leading to the formation of pipes, tunnels, and gullies. These in turn can lead to ground collapse or rapid transport of contaminants. Despite these impacts, the physical process of how these gullies form is not yet fully understood. Our contribution focuses on the effect of confinement, a critical factor for loess stability that has been so far understudied.

This study used a new experimental method where loess blocks were encased in concrete or epoxy to simulate deep-profile conditions. These laboratory simulations revealed a distinct dual behavior: unconfined loess disintegrates rapidly through air slaking upon contact with water, whereas confined loess—restricted from expanding by the surrounding soil mass—maintains its structural integrity and resists erosion even under high hydraulic pressure.

Field validation conducted at a quarry supported these findings. In situ tests demonstrated exceptional cohesion, withstanding hydrostatic pressures of up to 3 meters. The results show that loess collapse and pipe expansion are not continuous but occur only at the onset of flow through them. The results indicate that erosion in loess pipes and tunnels is driven by air-slaking when excess air pressure builds up in pores due to surface tension as water infiltrates previously air-filled pores, not by the seepage force of flowing water. This study shows that any credible experimental setup for cohesive soils must consider the effect of confinement to accurately reflect field conditions.

• Vojtíšek, J., Bruthans, J., & Weiss, T. (2025). Confinement as a key but overlooked factor controlling erosion rate in loess pipes and tunnels. Geomorphology, 109874.
• Vojtíšek, J., & Bruthans, J. (2024). Loess susceptibility to erosion: Interaction of cohesion sources, air slaking and confinement. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 49(6), 1821-1835.

How to cite: Weiss, T., Vojtíšek, J., Landa, D.-A., and Bruthans, J.: Confinement as a key factor in loess erosion and stability, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17747, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17747, 2026.

Gully erosion is one of the most severe yet least systematically monitored forms of soil erosion in Europe, causing disproportionate losses of fertile soil, landscape fragmentation and significant off-site impacts. Despite its importance for agricultural sustainability and long-term soil security, gully erosion has historically been poorly represented in continental-scale monitoring frameworks, limiting its integration into policy-relevant assessments.

Here we present a pan-European analysis of gully erosion based on the 2022 Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS), which combined in situ field observations and on-screen interpretation across 399,591 locations in the European Union. This effort resulted in GE-LUCAS v1.1, the first harmonized EU-wide inventory of gully erosion channels, identifying 3,116 locations affected by gully erosion, corresponding to approximately 0.8% of all surveyed points. The inventory reveals strong spatial contrasts across Europe, with a clear predominance of gully occurrence in Mediterranean regions and substantially lower frequencies in northern and Atlantic areas. Gully presence shows consistent associations with land use and land cover, soil texture classes and biogeographical regions, underscoring the combined influence of climate conditions, topography and land management practices on gully development (Borrelli et al., 2025a).

In the second part of the contribution, we use Mediterranean olive groves as an illustrative example to demonstrate how these continental-scale patterns translate into acute threats to soil security at the landscape level. Recent evidence highlights that the expansion of olive cultivation onto steeper, erosion-prone terrain, combined with intensive management practices and increasing climate pressure, has led to widespread gully erosion and extremely high soil loss rates in key producing regions such as southern Spain, Italy and Greece. In these systems, gully erosion undermines the long-term availability of soil as a productive resource, amplifies off-site environmental impacts and increases socio-economic vulnerability in rural areas (Borrelli et al., 2025b).

Overall, this contribution demonstrates the value of harmonized large-scale monitoring for identifying gully erosion hotspots and land-use systems at risk, providing new evidence to support soil security objectives and targeted mitigation strategies under current and emerging EU soil policies.

Acknowledgement

Authors acknowledge funding from the European Union Horizon Europe Project Soil O-LIVE (Grant No. 101091255) and from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU project ‘Complex Modelling of Multiple Land Degradation Processes in Europe’ (EUroLanD), grant agreement ID 760051/23.05.2023, code CF 216/29.11.2022, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Romania – Pillar III, Component C9-2022-I8.

References

Borrelli, P., Matthews, F., Alewell, C., Kaffas, K., Poesen, J., Saggau, P., & Panagos, P. (2025a). A hybrid in situ and on-screen survey to monitor gully erosion across the European Union. Scientific Data, 12(1), 755.

Borrelli, P., Matthews, F., Saggau, P., Manzaneda, A. J., Panagos, P., Kaffas, K., & Alewell, C. (2025b). Unsustainably losing ground. Nature Sustainability, 8(9), 986-989.

How to cite: Borrelli, P., Panagos, P., Pravalie, R., and Alewell, C.: Pan-European monitoring of gully erosion: spatial patterns, land-use controls and implications for soil security, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17961, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17961, 2026.

ABSTRACT: Soil erosion is a severe form of land degradation that threatens food production, especially in Northeast China, where fertile Mollisols dominate the agricultural landscape. Most previous studies have quantified soil erosion by water, while wind erosion of severely water-eroded areas with exposed loose subsoil remains rarely explored. Here, we present a wind tunnel experiment (75 measurements) with different wind velocities and aggregate size classes (<53, 53-250, 250-850, and 850-2000 μm) to assess the wind erosion behavior of loose subsoil. Free-stream wind velocities of 10, 12, 14, and 16ms^-1 resulted in shear velocities ranging from 0.15 to 0.75 ms^-1. The variation of shear velocity depended on the interaction between free-stream wind velocity and the surface roughness as influenced by aggregate size (R² = 0.40). The maximum aggregate size was also a good predictor of threshold velocity (R² = 0.84). Moreover, mass flux at higher elevations increased with wind velocity for both the 53-250 and 250-850 μm groups, whereas near-bed behavior varied by aggregate size. The second-finest fraction (53-250 μm) always exhibited an obvious peak in mass flux with height. The peak height increased slightly from 3 to 5 cm with increasing wind velocity. The second-coarsest fraction (250-850 μm) developed a pronounced peak height only at the highest wind velocity (16 ms^-1). These wind tunnel experiments on sieved loose subsurface soil materials indicate potential wind-driven transport. They also demonstrate that sever water erosion may additionally increase wind erosion and should be avoided to safeguard soil resources and food security.

How to cite: Wen, Y., Xu, Y., and Auerswald, K.: Effects of Wind Velocity and Aggregate Size on Wind Erosion Characteristics of Loose Subsoil From the Mollisols Region of China: A Wind Tunnel Assessment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20282, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20282, 2026.

Soil erosion driven by soil compaction and freeze-thaw cycles is a critical global environmental issue in intensively mechanized cold-region agroecosystems. Existing studies predominantly focus on the direct effects of freeze-thaw cycles on soil erosion, yet overlook the legacy effects of pre-freeze-thaw soil compaction, particularly whether a critical threshold exists for such legacy effects. A comparative study was conducted in the Mollisol region of Northeast China by using in situ field erosion experiments and soil property measurements under various compaction levels before and after the freeze-thaw period. Results showed that the pre-freeze-thaw soil compaction exacerbated post-freeze-thaw soil erosion. Before the freeze-thaw period, the influence of soil properties on runoff was greater than their direct effect on sediment mass, and the sediment mass variation was mainly driven by runoff scouring due to soil compaction. After the freeze-thaw period, the decreased soil erosion resistance (aggregate stability and soil strength) and the increased runoff caused by the legacy effects of compaction were the primary reasons for higher sediment mass in compacted soil compared to uncompacted soil. Based on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework to determine a critical bulk density range that maximizes the alleviating effect of freeze-thaw cycles on soil compaction to reduce runoff, thereby avoiding the exacerbation of post-thaw soil erosion. This study underscores how compaction legacy amplifies post-thaw erosion, offering mechanistic insights into optimizing tillage management and soil restoration in seasonally frozen agroecosystems.

How to cite: Zhang, B., Maerker, M., and Ma, R.: Legacy effect of soil compaction drives post-freeze-thaw rill erosion: Identifying the critical hydro-mechanical threshold in Mollisols, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21211, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21211, 2026.

Soil erosion presents a critical environmental challenge, particularly in regions exposed to climatic variability and anthropogenic pressures. In Morocco, where complex physiographic and climatic conditions prevail, the assessment of soil erosion and sediment transport is hindered by persistent data scarcity, limiting model accuracy and the effectiveness of watershed management. This thesis focuses on the development and application of robust soil erosion and sediment modeling approaches, combining both statistical and process-based methods.

The study begins with a national-scale review of soil erosion assessments in Morocco. Results indicate that research is predominantly concentrated in the Rif and Atlas Mountains, with models based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) or its original version, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), representing over 51% of applications. However, many studies omit key parameters such as the support practice factor and have limited spatial coverage. Erosion rates were found to be strongly influenced by geomorphological, climatic, and land use factors, although methodological inconsistencies and data limitations contribute to significant variability.

To address these challenges, an advanced modeling framework was applied in the Bouregreg watershed, a semi-arid basin in northwestern Morocco, with a focus on modeling suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and sediment yield (SY) over the period 09/01/2016–08/31/2021.

The initial approach employed four machine learning (ML) algorithms, Extra Trees, Random Forest, CatBoost, and XGBoost, were integrated with Genetic Programming to enhance predictive accuracy and robustness. Model evaluation using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), correlation coefficient (r), and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) demonstrated strong performance (NSE: 0.53–0.86; RMSE: 1.20–2.55 g/L; r: 0.83–0.91) in predicting SSC. To improve interpretability, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was employed, revealing streamflow and seasonality as the most influential predictors.

Subsequently, the RUSLE and the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) models were used to estimate soil loss and sediment yield using high-resolution soil data from INRA (1:50,000) and global FAO data (1:1,000,000). RUSLE_INRA yielded more accurate results (15.56 t/ha/yr) than RUSLE_FAO (10.24 t/ha/yr), while MUSLE_INRA estimated 11.40 t/ha/yr. Sediment yield was validated using observed data from the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (SMBA) Dam. Projections under the SSP126 and SSP585 climate scenarios for the period 09/01/2021–12/31/2040 predict increased soil erosion (31.54–37.04 t/ha/yr), highlighting the urgent need for proactive soil conservation strategies.

This thesis contributes a scalable and interpretable modeling framework that integrates machine learning and geospatial data for improved erosion prediction and watershed management under current and future climate conditions.

How to cite: Lamane, H., Mouhir, L., Zouahri, A., and Moussadek, R.: Modeling soil water erosion and sediment transport in Bouregreg watershed (Morocco) using machine learning and climate projections, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-662, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-662, 2026.

Marginal lands are areas with low or declining agricultural potential due to persistent soil degradation, vegetation stress, or long-term disturbances in land use. Mapping such lands is especially important in the Northeastern Region (NER) of India, where steep slopes, intense monsoonal rainfall, and widespread shifting cultivation create highly dynamic and fragile landscapes. Recent nationwide assessments have also highlighted that many districts in this region exhibit very high susceptibility to soil erosion, making the identification of marginal lands essential for restoration planning and sustainable land-use management. In this study, we propose a machine-learning framework to classify marginal lands by jointly analyzing erosion severity classes, vegetation dynamics, and bare-soil exposure. Multi-year Sentinel-2 data are used to compute pixel-wise Poor Vegetation Frequency from NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and Bare Soil Frequency from BSI (Bare Soil Index), providing robust indicators of vegetation stress and soil exposure. These variables are combined with potential soil loss estimates, topographic attributes, and land-use information to form a comprehensive feature set. The model is trained and evaluated using observed degradation patterns from the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, enabling an independent assessment of classification performance. The resulting marginal land maps show strong spatial agreement with known erosion-prone and degraded zones across the selected study region, with bias mass balance values generally ranging between 0.6 and 0.8. This study demonstrates the value of integrating erosion severity and vegetation dynamics within a machine-learning environment, offering a scalable approach for exploring and mapping marginal lands in complex and data-constrained regions.

How to cite: Raj, R. and Biswal, B.: Integrating Erosion Severity and Vegetation Stress Indicators for Marginal Land Mapping in Northeastern India Using a Machine Learning Approach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1146, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1146, 2026.

Ephemeral-gully erosion is among the most dynamic yet least monitored drivers of land degradation in agricultural landscapes. Despite its global prevalence, its multidimensional impacts across contrasting climates and management systems remain poorly quantified. Here we present a cross-regional assessment of how ephemeral-gully processes reorganize soil physical, chemical, biological, and nutrient functioning across four agricultural systems spanning semi-arid Kansas (no-till and conventional tillage) and humid-subtropical Mississippi (amended no-till). High-resolution lateral (gully axis to shoulders) and longitudinal (outlet to headcut) sampling in the 0–10 cm layer, supported by depth-resolved observations to 35 cm, revealed robust and spatially coherent degradation patterns. Across all sites, erosional shoulders and mid-gully convergence zones consistently emerged as hotspots of structural breakdown, acidification, nutrient depletion, and biological suppression. In the semi-arid no-till system, degradation was primarily surface-confined and driven by selective removal of fine particles, aggregate destabilization, and desalinization. Conventional tillage amplified these contrasts, producing pronounced carbon and nutrient redistribution and intensified biological stress. In humid amended systems, surface amendments yielded only localized improvements; upslope acidification, organic-carbon loss, and base-cation leaching persisted, with the most humid site exhibiting degradation extending well into the subsoil. Depositional hollows showed partial resilience—higher carbon availability, moisture retention, and microbial activity—but these benefits were spatially limited and insufficient to offset broader hillslope decline. Overall, our results demonstrate that ephemeral gullies function as system-level engines of land degradation rather than transient geomorphic features. By integrating multi-indicator soil responses across climates, managements, and depths, this study provides process-based insights essential for soil monitoring, erosion modelling, and targeted conservation planning, directly informing land-degradation neutrality goals, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and the EU Soil Monitoring Law.

How to cite: Ganjalikhan Hakemi, F., Bridges, W., and Darnault, C.: Ephemeral Gullies as Engines of Land Degradation: A Cross-Climate, Multi-Indicator Breakdown of Soil Quality Decline, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2414, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2414, 2026.

How to cite: Liu, H., Shi, P., and Wang, Y.: The Impact of Open-Pit Mining on Soil Erosion in the Mining Area of Ordos Plateau in China, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3033, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3033, 2026.

Soil internal forces, including electrostatic, hydration, and Van der Waals forces, are underlying mechanisms responsible for aggregate breakdown and subsequent soil erosion. However, whether these forces consistently initiate raindrop-induced erosion remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the influence of soil internal forces on raindrop-induced erosion by conducting aggregate stability and simulated rainfall experiments using two soils (Heilu soil and Aeolian sandy soil) from the Loess Plateau. Electrolyte solutions with different concentrations (from 10^–5 to 1 mol L^–1) were employed as soaking solutions and raindrop materials to quantitatively regulate soil internal forces. Our results indicate that an electrolyte concentration of 10^–2 mol L^–1 was the critical point for net pressure (NP), which varied greatly when the electrolyte concentration reduced from 1 to 10^–2 mol L^–1. In this case, the aggregate stability, splash erosion mass (SEM), and cumulative loss mass (CLM) of Heilu soil increased rapidly with decreasing electrolyte concentrations. A significant correlation was also observed between NP and mean weight diameter (MWD) (r = –0.909), SEM (r = 0.821), and CLM (r = 0.806), respectively (p<0.01). However, the MWD, SEM and CLM of Aeolian sandy soil remained unchanged with varying electrolyte concentrations, as it lacks an effective aggregate structure and rarely underwent the “breakdown” process during wetting. Therefore, except structureless soils, raindrop-induced erosion typically is initiated by soil internal forces and then driven by raindrop impact and overland flow. This study enhances our understanding of the driving mechanism of rainfall-induced erosion, providing a theoretical foundation for developing targeted soil erosion prevention strategies.

How to cite: li, J., hu, F., and xu, C.: Is raindrop-induced erosion controlled by the combined effects of soil internal and external forces?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4399, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4399, 2026.

Water erosion is one of the main processes of soil degradation in semi-arid mountain watersheds, due to its role in accelerated sediment export, loss of soil fertility, and disruption of water resources. In the upper Tassaoute watershed, located in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, these dynamics result in increased suspended sediment flows and the development of gullies, revealing the increased vulnerability of slopes to climatic and anthropogenic stresses.

In this context, this study proposes a comparative analysis of two complementary approaches—remote sensing and machine learning—to assess and map spatial susceptibility to water erosion. The first approach is based on the use of Sentinel-2A optical images and statistical analysis of spectral indices describing soil condition and vegetation cover. Four vegetation indices and nine soil indices are calculated and then aggregated to construct a composite explanatory variable. Regression analyses are performed between this variable and the individual indices to estimate the correlation and determination coefficients (R²), allowing their relative contribution to erosion to be assessed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is then applied to reduce redundancy between indices and structure the multispectral information. The first component is mainly associated with soil signatures (moisture, roughness, minerality), while the second reflects more the condition and vigor of the vegetation. On this basis, a predictive model is developed by weighting the indices according to their explanatory power and factorial contribution, leading to the development of a map classifying soils into four levels of susceptibility to degradation.

The second approach uses machine learning techniques to map susceptibility to gully erosion. An inventory of 400 occurrences, comprising 200 gullied sites and 200 non-gullied sites, was compiled based on field observations and interpretation of satellite images. These occurrences are correlated with 21 predisposing factors grouped into topographical, geological, climatic, pedological, anthropogenic, and land use variables. Five models (GLM, GBM, ANN, Random Forest, and SVM) are evaluated according to different data partitioning scenarios, with hyperparameter optimization by cross-validation. Performance is assessed using AUC-ROC and classification indicators, before producing probabilistic maps reclassified into four levels of vulnerability.

The results show that remote sensing provides a consistent and easily updatable reading of surface conditions, while machine learning significantly improves predictive capacity by integrating non-linear relationships and multiple environmental factors. Their combination provides a robust decision-making framework for targeting priority areas, guiding anti-erosion actions, and supporting land-use planning in fragile mountain environments.

Keywords: Water erosion, remote sensing, machine learning, upstream Tassaoute watershed, Morocco.

How to cite: Nait-taleb, O., El Goumi, S., Bimouhen, M., Ouchkir, I., Ismaili, M., El Kamouni, F. E., Elomari, S., Krimissa, S., Namous, M., and Elaloui, A.: Comparative analysis of remote sensing and machine learning approaches for mapping susceptibility to water erosion in the Moroccan High Atlas, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4531, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4531, 2026.

The accurate characteristics of raindrops play a crucial role in various fields, including meteorology, hydrology, agriculture, horticulture, weather forecasting and atmospheric physics. This can be important, especially in the context of soil splash erosion caused by the impact of raindrops and the consequent transport of soil microorganisms, such as pathogens. At present, the most common technique for measuring precipitation drops is the use of disdrometers, while high-speed imaging technique are becoming more popular. Therefore, the aim of the study was to present the possibilities of using high-speed cameras in order to characterize large falling drops and to compare this methodology with the use of selected disdrometers.

The study was based on the formation of single water drops with specified diameters (3.2, 4.3 and 5.3 mm) and different heights of drop release (1, 3 and 5 m). The analyses included a comparison of data obtained from a single high-speed camera, a set of synchronized high-speed cameras with 3D PTV module (i.e. particle tracking velocimetry) and two types of laser disdrometers (Thies Clima LPM and Parsivel²). Based on the evaluation of the suitability of selected methods for measuring the properties of large drops, it has been shown that high-speed cameras allowed a very accurate analysis of the parameters of individual drops (i.e. size, velocity and shape descriptors) in contrast to the tested disdrometers which showed substantial variability in the results. The calculated coefficient of variation for the measured parameters was up to 5.5% for the cameras, and up to 13.6% for the disdrometers. In this context, high-speed cameras offer an alternative method of measuring processes subject to significant errors, such as those related to the irregularity and variability of the drop shape, in disdrometer-based measurements like throughfall phenomenon. They also serve as a valuable tool for validating widely used instruments.

Acknowledgement: this work was financed from the National Science Centre, Poland project no. 2022/45/B/NZ9/00605 and the CTU in Prague project no. SGS23/155/OHK1/3T/11.

Reference: Beczek M., Neumann M., Mazur R., Zumr D., Dostal T., Bieganowski A.: Challenges in measuring the size and velocity of large raindrops: a comparison of selected methods Journal of Hydrology 662, Part B, 133932, 2025

How to cite: Beczek, M., Mazur, R., Neumann, M., Zumr, D., Dostal, T., and Bieganowski, A.: Possibilities of using a high-speed camera to characterize falling drops, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4861, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4861, 2026.

Rainfall erosivity is a key driver of the soil erosion process, and it varies greatly across Europe due to differences in climate regimes, precipitation patterns, and storm intensities. The rainfall erosivity (R-factor) database in Europe needs to be updated. The rainfall erosivity database is required to develop robust input data for soil erosion models. This contribution presents an updated Rainfall Erosivity Database at European Scale (REDES 2.0), which is based on high-frequency, sub-hourly and hourly data from 9,138 stations across Europe. All the high-frequency data were converted to a 30-minute time step using data aggregation or disaggregation using a multiplicative cascade model. The 30-minute time step was then used to calculate R-factor following the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) methodology. Over 2.4 million erosive events were consequently identified, primarily covering the period from 2010 to 2025, with an average station data length of 15 years and approximately 265 erosive events per station. Spatial patterns of the annual R-factor show pronounced differences across Europe, with the highest values concentrated in the Mediterranean and Alpine regions. In contrast, northern, eastern and central Europe exhibit comparatively lower values. These spatial patterns and the country-averaged R-factor values resemble those of the previous REDES 1.0 database somewhat, though there are some differences in countries such as Greece and Italy. This can be attributed to the increased spatial density of stations in REDES 2.0 and to some extreme storms in recent years. REDES 1.0 and 2.0 are overlapping at 1062 locations around Europe and average annual R-factor values for these stations are 792 MJ*mm*ha^-1*h^-1*year^-1 and 861 MJ*mm*ha^-1*h^-1*year^-1 for REDES 1.0 and 2.0, respectively. The corresponding standard error of the annual R-factor in REDES 2.0 using all available data averaged at around 18%. Using only data from 2010 onwards did not significantly alter the annual R-factor or the corresponding standard error compared to using all available data in the calculation of the annual R-factor.  The relationship between the annual R-factor and station characteristics, such as location and elevation, was generally weak. This indicates the complex drivers of rainfall erosivity in Europe. REDES 2.0, an updated version of the original database (REDES 1.0), provides essential input for soil erosion modelling, land management planning and climate adaptation strategies. It can also be used to develop methods for dynamic estimation of continental rainfall erosivity.

Acknowledgment: The N. Bezak contribution was supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) through grant P2-0180. 

How to cite: Bezak, N., Borrelli, P., Cesarini, L., Müller-Thomy, H., Philipp Saggau, F. M., Liakos, L., Brettin, J., Galdies, C., Petan, S., Valiukas, D., Giannaklis, C.-P., Lagouvardos, K., Gomes, G., Salamon, P., Begueria, S., Lakatos, M., Perčec Tadić, M., Chervenkov, H., Michaelides, S., and Panagos, P.: Rainfall erosivity in Europe: an update of the REDES database, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4979, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4979, 2026.

[Objective] This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of soil water erosion in the eastern region of the agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China, and firstly quantifies the interactive effects of multiple factors on water erosion dynamics, providing decision-making bases and methodological references for soil erosion control and ecological environment restoration in this region. [Methods] Based on the RUSLE model, an attribution analysis was conducted on the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics of soil water erosion in the eastern region of the agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China from 2000 to 2023, and a quantitative analysis was performed on the main contributing factors to dynamic changes in soil water erosion. [Results] (1) The multi-year average soil water erosion modulus in the eastern region of the agro-pastoral ecotone is 777.94 t·km⁻²·a⁻¹, with most areas experiencing slight and mild erosion, accounting for 69.3% and 22.9% of the total eroded area, respectively. (2) From 2000 to 2023, the soil water erosion intensity in the study area showed a slight upward trend, with an increase rate of 0.90 t·km⁻²·a⁻¹. Soil erosion alleviated in the southeastern and northwestern regions, while intensified in the western region. (3) Areas prone to soil water erosion in the eastern region of the agro-pastoral ecotone are mainly distributed in Chifeng City in the central part, and Zhangjiakou City and Xilin Hot in the southwestern part of the study area. (4) The main contributing factor to dynamic changes in soil water erosion in the eastern region of the agro-pastoral ecotone from 2000 to 2023 is the vegetation cover management factor, with an average contribution rate of 64.18%. The combined influence of three factors(vegetation cover management factor, soil and water conservation practice factor, and rainfall erosivity factor) accounts for 23.12%, the soil and water conservation practice factor contributes 10.57% on average, and the rainfall erosivity factor contributes 2.13% on average. There are strong interactions between parameters of the RUSLE model, and the combined influence of multiple factors has a significant contribution to the dynamic changes of water erosion in the study area. [Conclusion] From 2000 to 2023, the soil water erosion situation in the eastern region of the agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China was generally stable. During the study period, with the improvement of vegetation coverage and the effective adoption of soil and water conservation measures, the aggravating effect of increased rainfall erosivity on water erosion intensity was alleviated to a certain extent. However, the soil water erosion situation in this region remains severe, and areas with low vegetation coverage and without soil and water conservation measures should be prioritized in soil erosion control efforts.

How to cite: Wu, J. and Shi, P.: Quantitative analysis of soil erosion spatiotemporal variation and contributing factors in the eastern region of the Agro pastoral Transition Zone in Northern China based on RUSLE, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5378, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5378, 2026.

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2), is the primary water erosion prediction tool used by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for land management planning across the United States. Despite its widespread adoption, RUSLE2’s reliance on a personal computer-based model limits its capacity for large-scale, dynamic applications. This research addresses these constraints by developing a novel cloud-based platform to host and enhance RUSLE2, enabling server-based computation, geospatial data integration, and scalable modeling capabilities. Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the platform integrates web-based user interfaces, spatial databases, and geoprocessing tools to streamline soil erosion modeling. It incorporates historical data on soil properties, weather patterns, and land use practices to support precise assessments of rill and interrill erosion. A redesigned database architecture ensures computational efficiency, data security, and collaborative development. Scientific advancements in RUSLE2 include quantifying the effects of precipitation variability and land use on the spatiotemporal dynamics of key soil properties. Leveraging advanced field and laboratory methods, remote sensing, and machine learning, the platform improves the measurement and mapping of soil erodibility and soil loss across diverse U.S. agricultural landscapes. These enhancements enable more accurate forecasts of erosion risk under evolving environmental scenarios and support flexible land management strategies. This transformative, cloud-based platform delivers innovative tools to guide land use practices and improve long-term agricultural productivity. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and data-driven modeling, this work addresses longstanding challenges in erosion science and enhances regional and national resilience in soil resource management.

How to cite: Darnault, C., Ghorbani, M., Genc Kildirgici, G., Ghimire, B., Sisk, C., Cunningham, K., Calhoun, J., Momm, H., Yoder, D., Vieira, D., Bingner, R., Locke, M., Wells, R., and Ferruzzi, G.: Advancing Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) Development: Integrating Cutting-Edge Science and Cloud-Based Innovations for Transformative Soil Erosion Modeling and Land Management, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6166, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6166, 2026.

Underground soil loss (USL), the net removal of eroded sediment from the land surface to underground space, is a difficult-to-measure and puzzling phenomenon that typically occurs in karst areas. Compared to surface soil loss (SSL), USL has been largely ignored in soil loss assessments utilizing Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-type models due to the absence of credible prediction methods. Here, we propose a framework to estimate USL locally, regionally, and globally as a first step toward developing a subsurface USLE, namely, the Underground Soil Loss Equation, as a counterpart to the surface USLE. We find that USL is a relatively minor but indispensable component of soil loss in karst areas, and its contribution increases with spatial scale and large-scale pathways. Globally, USL accounts for 5% of total soil loss and 8% of erosion-induced carbon fluxes, corresponding to an annual financial loss of $21 billion. In karst areas, the annual average soil loss and its resulting carbon fluxes would be underestimated by approximately 25% when the USL is excluded. Using a USL-included framework, we identify soil loss threats among countries with karst landscapes. Low-income countries suffer high SSL rates and should be wary of aggravated USL with insufficient conservation measures. High-income countries tend to have higher USL rates and are more likely to underestimate soil loss if USL is ignored. Middle-income countries, which account for over 3/5 of karst area and 3/4 of USL amount, should be cautious of higher SSL and USL rates as well as significant risks of underestimating soil loss. Our findings emphasize the importance of incorporating USL into soil loss-relevant modeling and assessments to more accurately identify pertinent threats and offer more strategic approaches in monitoring and conservation.

How to cite: Ke, Q., Zhang, K., Yu, B., and Zhong, D.: Macroscopic and multi-scale estimation of karst underground soil loss: toward a subsurface USLE, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6491, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6491, 2026.

Soil loss is a major environmental concern because it can compromise the provision of ecosystem services on both local and global scales. Therefore, developing effective mitigation measures and soil protection strategies is essential and should be grounded in a solid understanding of the main factors and processes that trigger and predispose erosion. Water related soil erosion is increasing in temperate as well as tropical and subtropical areas, especially in hilly and mountainous environments where cultivation and land-use changes reduce vegetation cover. Regions in southern Italy are characterized by a morphological configuration that increases the vulnerability to water erosion, making them relevant case studies representative of the Mediterranean area. In this context, accurately estimating the R-factor, which quantifies the potential of precipitation to cause soil erosion, is essential for assessing erosion risk and supporting effective soil conservation planning.

This study aims to update estimates of the R-factor across three regions of southern Italy (i.e., Campania, Sardinia, and Sicily) and to analyze its spatio-temporal evolution over the past 72 years. The first part of the study uses high resolution (10-minute) database of recent rainfall observations (2002-2023) to derive point-scale reference values of the R-factor at 169 stations in Campania, 134 in Sardinia and 92 in Sicily. These benchmark values, calculated using the RUSLE-2 method for rainfall kinetic energy combined with an innovative approach for identifying erosive events, were then used to locally calibrate and validate a selection of simplified empirical models at the regional level. Such simplified models can estimate the R-factor based on coarser resolution (i.e. daily) rainfall data, enabling broader regional applicability while maintaining accuracy.

In the second part of the study, the calibrated models were forced with daily rainfall data arising from a spatially distributed database (spatial resolution: 10 km x 10 km) covering the three regions over the period 1951-2022. This allowed the generation of an updated R-factor map for the regions and enabled an unprecedented analysis of trends over the 72-year time series. Specifically, trend detection was performed using the non-parametric Modified Mann-Kendall test at a significance level of α = 0.05, while trend magnitude was estimated using Sen’s slope estimator. The R-factor was computed over moving time windows of 16 years with a 4-year lag, also considering a multi-model ensemble mean approach. Additionally, Moran’s autocorrelation indices were used to investigate the spatial distribution of trends.

The results of the study revealed an overall positive trend in the R-Factor across the study area, indicating an increase in erosive potential of rainfall over the past years in all examined regions, with a more pronounced intensification in inland areas. The observed trends in southern Italy, consistent with broader patterns observed across the Mediterranean region, highlight the need for proactive soil conservation measures aimed at planning resilient and sustainable management strategies for regional agroecosystems.

How to cite: Ippolito, M., Nasta, P., Langousis, A., Romano, N., Deidda, R., and Pumo, D.: Rainfall erosivity in semi-arid Mediterranean areas: a multi-decadal spatio-temporal analysis of the R-factor (1951–2022), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10598, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10598, 2026.

How to cite: Wöckinger, S., Wittholm, J., Johannsen, L., Schmaltz, E., and Haslinger, K.: Multi-model high-resolution projections of rainfall erosivity in Austria , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12122, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12122, 2026.

Iceland has a long history of land degradation lasting over a millennium. Prior to human settlement, heath plant communities were widespread, and mountain birch covered around 40% of the country. Today, birch cover about 1% after episodes of degradation and extensive erosion. It is furthermore estimated that 40% of the land cover is still in degraded or eroded state. The drivers behind this shift are both anthropogenic and environmental with considerable interactions. One critical factor is the vulnerability of Andisols, the dominating soil order, due to their lack of particle cohesion and low bulk density. However, Andisols can contain considerable amounts of soil organic carbon and soil water, both contributing to potentially high fertility. Degraded lands, where the Andisols have been lost, do therefore have a high potential for carbon sequestration through revegetation. The project presented here focuses on monitoring soil and vegetation changes in reclamation areas dating back to 1990. The sampling unit is a 10 x 10 m plot located on a random 1x1 km² national grid. Five subplots (50 x 50 cm) are used to collect composite samples and estimate vegetation cover using a modified Braun-Blanquet scale. Soil samples are divided into 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm depth intervals. These plots have now been sampled twice within 10 years. C and N content was analyzed in all samples. Preliminary results indicate a general increase in vegetation cover and carbon stocks over the 10-year sampling period but trends do differ depending on approaches and location. This variability highlights the importance of finding the most suitable reclamation approach depending on local environmental and geographical conditions. Further statistical analysis will focus on identifying the key factors affecting changes in carbon stocks and vegetation covers, and how we can use the different reclamation approaches to effectively revegetate the degraded land.

How to cite: Benediktsdottir, E. B., Sanchez, S., Fridriksdottir, H. V., Gudmundsdottir, S. B., and Thorsson, J.:  Revegetation in Icelandic eroded areas: monitoring over a 10-year period, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12577, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12577, 2026.

Soil erosion by water remains a major environmental threat in Europe, with rainfall erosivity (R-factor) acting as a key driver of its magnitude and spatiotemporal variability, and with indications that erosion pressures may intensify under future climatic conditions (Panagos et al., 2021). At the European scale, event-based rainfall erosivity has been robustly characterized through the REDES database, resulting in a mean multi-annual R-factor map (Panagos et al., 2015) and monthly climatological R-factor maps derived from REDES and WorldClim data (Ballabio et al., 2017), together providing a consistent spatial framework for erosion assessments. Building on these established frameworks, we extend these products by reconstructing temporally resolved annual and monthly rainfall erosivity for Europe from 1950 to present, combining the spatial patterns of REDES with the temporal variability captured by ERA5-Land hourly precipitation.

ERA5-Land hourly precipitation is used to identify erosive rainfall events at each grid cell using standard criteria (Renard et al., 1997). Rainfall erosivity (EI₆₀) is calculated for each erosive event, and monthly erosivity is obtained by aggregating event contributions and applying month-specific conversion factors to express erosivity on a 30-min basis (Panagos et al., 2016), ensuring consistency with established formulas and enabling comparable monthly and seasonal analyses across heterogeneous recording intervals. Annual and monthly reconstruction is performed by scaling the REDES multi-annual and monthly climatological erosivity maps using ERA5-derived annual and monthly anomalies, therefore preserving the spatial patterns of REDES while transferring ERA5-captured interannual and intra-annual variability. The workflow produces gridded annual and monthly ERA5 erosivity and reconstructed erosivity maps accompanied by statistics and extreme-event diagnostics.

Results indicate that most years and months exhibit scaling ratios close to unity across large parts of Europe, while a limited fraction of pixels shows substantial anomalies and are subjected to targeted hotspot analysis. By extending rainfall erosivity reconstruction beyond the reference period to the present and transforming established multi-annual and monthly climatological R-factor products into fully time-resolved annual and monthly maps, we enable a consistent assessment of recent variability and extremes fully aligned with European erosivity mapping, providing a robust basis for erosion modeling, risk assessment, and climate-impact studies.

Acknowledgement: K.K, F.M., P.B, were funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Project Soil O-LIVE (Grant No. 101091255). P.S. was funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Project AI4SoilHealth (Grant No. 101086179).

References:

Ballabio, C., Borrelli, P., Spinoni, J., Meusburger, K., Michaelides, S., Beguería, S., ... & Panagos, P. (2017). Mapping monthly rainfall erosivity in Europe. Science of the Total Environment, 579, 1298-1315.

Panagos, P., Ballabio, C., Borrelli, P., Meusburger, K., Klik, A., Rousseva, S., ... & Alewell, C. (2015). Rainfall erosivity in Europe. Science of the Total Environment, 511, 801-814.

Panagos, P., Borrelli, P., Spinoni, J., Ballabio, C., Meusburger, K., Beguería, S., ... & Alewell, C. (2016). Monthly rainfall erosivity: conversion factors for different time resolutions and regional assessments. Water, 8(4), 119.

Renard, K.G., et al., 1997. Predicting Soil Erosion by Water: A Guide to Conservation Planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) (Agricultural Handbook 703). US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, p. 404.

How to cite: Kaffas, K., Matthews, F., Saggau, P., Panagos, P., and Borrelli, P.: Annual and Monthly Reconstruction of Historical R-Factor from REDES and ERA5-Land, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13715, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13715, 2026.

Soil erosion by water and wind is a major land degradation process with wide-ranging impacts on food production, ecosystem functioning, and socioeconomic systems (Shokri et al., 2025). Intensified precipitation extremes and increasing aridity could influence the relative dominance of water- and wind-driven erosion in complex and spatially heterogeneous ways. However, a systematic understanding of where and how these two erosion mechanisms will respond to future climate variability at the global scale remains largely lacking. Current global assessments predominantly rely on empirical models. However, these approaches are highly parameterized, require extensive calibration, and are often difficult to apply consistently under changing climate conditions. Here, we aim to present a new framework to quantify potential soil erosion risk, in terms of the probability of erosion occurrence, rather than absolute soil loss. The study will use km-scale global simulations from ICON (~10 km) (Hohenegger et al., 2023), together with satellite and global soil datasets, to assess potential water and wind erosion risk under present and future climate conditions. The resulting high-resolution maps provide insight into present-day erosion hot spots, projected changes in erosion likelihood under different scenarios, and contrasting responses of water- and wind-driven erosion systems to variations in precipitation regimes, wind, and land surface conditions. This establishes an integrated and climate-informed basis (Shokri et al., 2023) for identifying priority regions for soil conservation and land management.

References:

Hohenegger, C., Korn, P., Linardakis, L., Redler, R., Schnur, R., Adamidis, P., et al. (2023). ICON‐Sapphire: Simulating the components of the Earth system and their interactions at kilometer and subkilometer scales. Geoscientific Model Development, 16(2), 779–811. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-779-2023

Shokri, N., Robinson, D.A., Afshar, M., Alewell, C., Aminzadeh, M., Arthur, M., Broothaerts, N., Campbell, G.A., Eklund, L., Gupta, S., Harper, R., Hassani, A., Hohenegger, C., Keller, T., Kiener, M., Lebron, I., Madani, K., Marwala, T., Matthews, F., Moldrup, P., Nemes, A., Panagos, P., Prăvălie, R., Rillig, M.C., Saggau, P., Shokri-Kuehni, S.M.S., Smith, P., Thomas, A., Wollesen de Jonge, L., Or, O. (2025). Rethinking Global Soil Degradation: Drivers, Impacts, and Solutions, Rev. Geophys. 63, e2025RG000883, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025RG000883

Shokri, N., Stevens, B., Madani, K., Grabe, J., Schlüter, M., Smirnova, I. (2023). Climate Informed Engineering: An essential pillar of Industry 4.0 transformation, ACS Eng. Au, 3, 1, 3–6, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsengineeringau.2c00037

How to cite: Deng, S., Hohenegger, C., and Shokri, N.: Global patterns and climate sensitivity of water- and wind-driven soil erosion risk, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14262, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14262, 2026.

Soil erosion in the Ethiopian highlands poses a persistent threat to land productivity, downstream water bodies, and long-term watershed sustainability. While both climate change and land-use transitions are recognized as major drivers of erosion, their combined and relative effects remain insufficiently quantified at watershed scale. This study investigates how projected climate change and land-use change interact to shape future soil erosion dynamics in the Gumara–Maksegnit watershed, a critical tributary of Lake Tana in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. An integrated modeling framework was developed by coupling the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) with probabilistic climate projections and data-driven land-use simulations. Future rainfall was derived from five CORDEX-Africa regional climate models, bias-corrected and combined using Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) to reduce model uncertainty and improve representation of rainfall erosivity. Land-use and land-cover changes were mapped for 2003 and 2023 using multi-temporal Landsat imagery and Random Forest classification, and future land-use patterns (2083) were simulated using an artificial neural network–based Cellular Automata approach. Soil erosion was quantified for historical, current, and future periods under land-use change only, climate change only (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5), and combined scenarios. Results indicate a continued expansion of cultivated land at the expense of forest and grazing areas, accompanied by a progressive increase in rainfall erosivity. Mean annual soil loss increased substantially from historical to current conditions and is projected to intensify further under future scenarios. Climate change exerts a stronger marginal influence on soil erosion than land-use change alone; however, their interaction amplifies erosion non-linearly, leading to the highest erosion rates under the combined land-use change and RCP8.5 scenario. Persistent erosion hotspots are concentrated on steep northern and northeastern slopes, where high topographic control coincides with limited conservation practices. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating climate uncertainty and land-use dynamics in soil erosion assessments and highlight the need for slope-targeted, climate-adaptive soil and water conservation strategies to mitigate future land degradation in the Upper Blue Nile highlands.

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Getu Legese Abebaw is funded for his PhD study by the Scholarship for Christian Young People.

How to cite: Getu, L. A., Szegedi, S., Addis, H. K., and Túri, Z.: Climate and Land Use Controls on Future Soil Erosion in the Upper Blue Nile Highlands, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15013, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15013, 2026.

The cover-management factor for non-agricultural land (C_non-crop) is a critical parameter in the USLE-based soil erosion models, and its estimation accuracy directly affects the reliability of regional and global soil erosion simulations. This study developed a dynamic global estimation framework for C_non-crop by integrating a pixel-based spectral mixture model (NDVI-SWIR32) and rainfall erosivity weighting within the Google Earth Engine platform. Using MOD43A4 and MOD09GA data, we retrieved global fractional cover of photosynthesizing vegetation (f_PV), non-photosynthesizing vegetation (f_NPV), and bare soil (f_BS) at 500 m resolution from 2000 to 2024. The f_NPV during the non-growing season in deciduous forests was explicitly incorporated as a proxy for annual understory coverage to better represent its role in erosion mitigation. Combined with ERA5 rainfall data and land use information, soil loss ratios across 24 half-month periods were weighted by rainfall erosivity to generate a continuous global C_non-crop product. The results show that the mean C_non-crop values for forests, shrublands, and grasslands were 0.017, 0.014, and 0.029, respectively, which align closely with values reported in the literature (0.020, 0.018, and 0.032), with absolute errors ranging between 0.003 and 0.004. This confirms the stability and applicability of the proposed method across different ecological zones. Approximately 82.8% of the global land area exhibited a C_non-crop value below 0.2, primarily distributed in temperate and subtropical regions. High C_non-crop values (>0.5) were concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions such as North Africa and Central Asia, indicating weaker vegetation protection and higher ecosystem vulnerability. The explicit inclusion of understory vegetation significantly improved the parameterization of soil erosion factors in forest ecosystems and effectively reduced the systematic bias associated with relying solely on canopy cover.

How to cite: Shi, H., Liu, B., Li, R., Yang, Q., Zhang, X., and Zhang, H.: Global Estimation of the Soil Erosion Cover-Management Factor for Non-Agricultural Land (Cnon-crop) Using Google Earth Engine, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15627, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15627, 2026.

Mitigating soil erosion and muddy floods with vegetative barriers in Belgium's open agricultural landscapes

Glenn Desplentere, Amaury Frankl

Climate and Earth Lab, Department of Geography, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

Vegetative barriers are widely implemented nature-based solutions in open agricultural landscapes to mitigate the off-site impacts of soil erosion and reduce the occurrence of muddy floods. Although their effectiveness and functioning are well documented in laboratory settings, relatively few studies have evaluated their performance under field conditions. Using hilly Flanders (Belgium) as a case study, this research assessed (i) the quality of field implementation, (ii) the effectiveness in reducing peak runoff, and (iii) potential negative geomorphological feedbacks, across 244 small agricultural catchments treated with vegetative barriers. The barriers consisted of woodchips, coconut-fibre bales, willow brushwood, and straw bales. To assess whether field-installed barriers function as intended, 40 randomly selected barriers were inspected in situ. Barrier capacity to attenuate peak runoff was evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring grid, based on criteria including structural continuity, evidence of bypass flow, and the presence of soil piping. Peak runoff was simulated for all barriers under the assumption of fully functional performance. Long-term runoff time series were generated from historical rainfall records, and peak flows were derived using peak-over-threshold (POT) frequency analysis. Simulated peak inflows were then compared with barrier outflow capacity to assess effectiveness. Results indicate a generally poor implementation quality: only a limited fraction of barriers were fully functional, while more than half were classified as dysfunctional (i.e., unable to mitigate peak flow). Woodchip barriers performed best overall, whereas straw-bale barriers exhibited the lowest reliability. Modelled peak runoff suggests that approximately half of all barriers are unable to buffer peak flows during high-intensity rainfall events, whereas well-maintained barriers show a clear capacity to attenuate peak discharges. In addition, negative geomorphological feedbacks were observed: ephemeral gullying occurred on nearly half of cropland areas downstream of barriers. While nature-based solutions are increasingly promoted to mitigate off-site erosion impacts and reduce muddy-flood risk, these findings highlight substantial management challenges and potential unintended geomorphological effects. Field-based evidence such as presented here is crucial, as modelling approaches may otherwise overestimate barrier effectiveness. Muddy floods can be viewed as a symptom of structurally and hydrologically degraded soils; vegetative barriers can contribute to mitigation, but only when carefully implemented and maintained, and when guided by a robust geomorphological understanding of the treated catchments.

How to cite: Desplentere, G. and Frankl, A.: Mitigating soil erosion and muddy floods with vegetative barriers in Belgium's open agricultural landscapes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17622, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17622, 2026.

Understanding future changes in rainfall erosivity is crucial for soil erosion management and related hazard mitigation in regions with complex topography. Rainfall erosivity is strongly controlled by short-duration precipitation characteristics, which are more realistically represented by convection-permitting climate models (CPMs) operating at convection-resolving scales, than by coarser regional models. Despite their advantages, CPM-based projections remain challenging due to limited simulation lengths and ensemble sizes. This study assesses projected changes in rainfall erosivity by analyzing both the intensity and the frequency of individual erosive rainfall events. The focus is on the Greater Alpine Region, a climatically and topographically heterogeneous area particularly sensitive to rainfall-driven erosion processes. An ensemble of nine CPM simulations from the CORDEX-FPS initiative at 3-km resolution is analyzed for a historical period (1996–2005), and a far future (2090–2099) under the RCP8.5 scenario.

The results indicate a widespread increase in projected rainfall erosivity across the region, driven by intensification of erosive rainfall events and, in some areas, by their increased frequency. Notably, the strongest relative increases are projected for high-elevation areas (particularly in the Eastern Alps), where present-day rainfall erosivity is comparatively low, while lowland regions, characterized by higher current erosivity, exhibit more moderate future changes. This altitudinal contrast points to a partial redistribution of erosive potential. These findings highlight a growing erosion risk in alpine environments under future climate conditions.

How to cite: Ahmed, M., Dallan, E., Panagos, P., Vohnicky, P., and Borga, M.: Future Evolution of Rainfall Erosivity in the Greater Alpine Region from Convection-Permitting Climate Models, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18825, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18825, 2026.

In wildfire-affected landscapes, climate variability and fire burn severity jointly determine how long the soil surface remains exposed and how quickly vegetation recovers. In practice, annual basis soil loss estimates often overlook the seasonal dynamics between exposure and stabilization, which are strongly driven by rainfall and drought timing. This study examines how rainfall and drought impact vegetation recovery and the risk of soil erosion in the Upper Cache Creek watershed, following the 2018 Ranch Fire in the southwestern United States. We monitored biome-specific vegetation cover dynamics and postfire recovery using seasonal time series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from Landsat-8 imagery spanning 2016 to 2024. We mapped fire burn severity using the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) and quantified drought stress from the Gridded Surface Meteorological (GRIDMET) dataset using the Standardized Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index. Rainfall erosivity density was reconstructed by integrating long-term mean annual precipitation from the Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) with a high-temporal-resolution station-based erosivity dataset, thereby providing an updated rainfall erosivity factor for the study period. We further derived high-resolution soil erodibility and topographic parameters from the Soil Survey Geographic database and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model, respectively. Geospatial data processing and model parameterization were conducted using Google Earth Engine and Quantum Geographic Information System. Results show that forest and shrubland exhibited an exponential recovery pattern in moderate-to-high-burn-severity areas, with a half-recovery period of about 2 to 3 years. By the sixth year following the fire, the two vegetation types had significantly rebounded, reaching 69% recovery in forests and 76% in shrublands compared to prefire conditions. Grasslands responded erratically, marked by rapid greening during the first postfire wet season and declines in subsequent drought years. In line with these vegetation trends, RUSLE estimates indicate that the largest erosion pulse occurred in the first postfire year, when high rainfall erosivity coincided with widespread soil exposure.  As a result, mean annual soil loss rates in fire-affected areas were up to fourfold relative to the prefire values. With rainfall erosivity closer to baseline conditions in 2024, erosion remained double due to intervening drought years, which suppressed early recovery gains by up to 40%. RUSLE soil loss estimates were validated with observed sediment yield at the watershed’s outlet and showed strong agreement across most postfire years. The observed sediment yield in 2017 remained notably higher relative to the estimated value. This anomaly was likely influenced by seasonal sediment-flushing operations, given the presence of two large upstream reservoirs. The results show that the interaction between rainfall and drought events governs postfire recovery and erosion, highlighting the importance of accounting for their timing, especially in annual assessments of postfire erosion.

Keywords: Wildfire, Soil Erosion, Vegetation Recovery, RUSLE, Rainfall Erosivity

How to cite: Damtie, M. T., De Michele, C., and Ravi, S.: The Role of Postfire Rainfall and Drought Timing in Vegetation Recovery and Soil Erosion Risk, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19844, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19844, 2026.

The Congo Basin, home to the world’s second largest tropical rainforest and river network, plays a crucial role in the global carbon (C) cycle. However, rapid population growth and land-use changes are intensifying geomorphic and biogeochemical disturbances. Consequently, the basin is experiencing accelerated soil redistribution, whose impacts on lateral C transfer along the land–ocean aquatic continuum (LOAC) remain largely unknown. By integrating the most comprehensive observation dataset available with a state-of-the-art land surface model (ORCHIDEE-C_lateral), this study quantified the magnitude and temporal evolution of lateral C fluxes in the forms of particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) over the past five decades, and assessed the impact of these lateral C transfers on the terrestrial C budget. The calibrated ORCHIDEE-C_lateral model explains 73%, 84%, 78%, and 84% of the spatial variation in observed river water discharge, sediment discharge, POC concentration, and DOC concentration in the Congo River network, respectively. It also captures well the seasonal variations in riverine water discharge, sediment discharges, water surface extent, and riverine CO₂ partial pressure. Using the calibrated model, we reconstructed the historical evolution of C fluxes and transformations along the LOAC. Since 1970, lateral C (i.e., POC, DOC, and CO₂) input from land to river has increased significantly (Mann–Kendall P < 0.001), with POC, DOC, and CO₂ rising by 51%, 20%, and 29%, respectively. The increase in POC is primarily driven by land-use change, followed by climate change and rising atmospheric CO₂. Of the terrestrial C entering the Congo River network, 61% of DOC and 67% of POC remain within the river–floodplain complex—approximately two and three times the proportion retained in the Amazon and European river networks, respectively. These results suggest that the majority (> 60%) of the laterally transported terrestrial C is stored or transformed inside the Congo Basin rather than being exported to the ocean or released to the atmosphere. With the projected rapid population growth and land-use expansion in the Congo Basin, lateral C fluxes along the LOAC are expected to intensify further, reinforcing the Congo Basin’s role as a major inland C buffer that reshapes the regional land–ocean C balance.

How to cite: Zhao, P., Ma, M., Carlier, N., de Groot, L., de Clippele, A., Barthel, M., Drake, T. W., Hemingway, J. D., Zhang, H., Hastie, A., Six, J., Van Oost, K., and Regnier, P. A. G.: A Half-Century Intensification of Lateral Carbon Transfer along the Congo Basin’s Land–Ocean Aquatic Continuum, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21715, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21715, 2026.

The vegetation of South Africa’s Northern Cape forms part of the Succulent Karoo biome, a globally significant dryland system characterized by exceptionally high succulent diversity and endemism. During drought periods and because of land-use change, reduced vegetation cover can enhance the frequency and intensity of aeolian activity by facilitating sand transport. This process reinforces wind erosion and increases the susceptibility of the remaining vegetation to mechanical disturbance.

Although succulent species are generally well adapted to arid environments, their responses to intensified aeolian impacts remain insufficiently understood. Increased abrasion, tissue damage, and partial burial caused by sandblasting may impair plant functioning and survival, thereby weaken the stabilizing role of vegetation and promoting positive feedbacks between vegetation loss and soil degradation. Despite the importance of these mechanisms for dryland degradation, the direct effects of aeolian abrasion on succulent vegetation and their contribution to land degradation dynamics are still poorly quantified.

This study investigates the effects of sandblasting on individual succulent plants using controlled wind tunnel experiments. Experimental treatments combined wind speeds ranging from 2 to 12 m s⁻¹ with systematically varied sediment loads, including differences in sand concentration and grain-size composition, to determine damage thresholds and evaluate the effects of repeated sandblasting events. The experimental framework enables a clear separation of aerodynamic and sediment-related controls, reflecting both present-day conditions and plausible future sandstorm scenarios in degraded dryland environments. Plant responses were quantified at the individual scale using high-resolution imaging to document abrasion patterns, tissue degradation, and structural alterations.

The results are expected to provide quantitative insights into the role of aeolian processes in driving vegetation degradation and reinforcing land degradation in the Northern Cape. By linking wind erosion intensity to plant-level damage, this study contributes to a mechanistic understanding of degradation pathways in arid and semi-arid rangelands.

How to cite: Fister, W., Nyffenegger, L., and Niederberger, D.: Effects of Wind-Induced Sand Abrasion on Succulent Plant Communities in the Northern Cape, South Africa., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22132, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22132, 2026.

Understanding sediment provenance is crucial for reconstructing past environmental conditions and deciphering erosion patterns in rapidly evolving mountain belts such as the Himalaya. The Yarlung–Tsangpo–Brahmaputra system, one of the world’s most dynamic sediment-routing networks, provides a key setting to examine how extreme hydrological events mobilize material from distinct source terranes. In this study, we analyse five well-dated paleoflood deposits from the Siang River using an integrated suite of provenance tools—sand petrography, U–Pb zircon geochronology, and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry—to evaluate their relative strengths and interpretive limitations.

Petrographic data show quartz–feldspar-rich compositions and heavy-mineral assemblages pointing to contributions from the Higher Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) and Tethyan Sedimentary Sequence (TSS), although long-distance transport, weathering, and hydraulic sorting obscure lithologic specificity. Zircon age spectra reveal diverse age populations sourced from the Namche Barwa syntaxis, Tibetan Plateau, and Lhasa Terrane; however, zircon recycling and overlapping age groups introduce ambiguity in resolving discrete source areas. Sr–Nd isotopic signatures provide a more integrated and transport-insensitive signal, indicating dominant TSS influence with enhanced erosion of the Namche Barwa region during high-magnitude flood events. Together, these proxies demonstrate that each method captures a different scale of sediment input—petrography reflecting local lithologic contributions, zircon ages tracing distal and recycled sources, and Sr–Nd isotopes integrating basin-scale signatures. The multi-proxy approach underscores the need to combine complementary datasets to accurately reconstruct sediment routing, identify erosional hotspots, and comprehend megaflood-driven landscape evolution in the eastern Himalayas.

How to cite: Panda, S., Kumar, A., Singhal, S., and Srivastava, P.: Tracing Sediment Pathways in the Siang Basin: A Multi-Proxy Provenance Approach Using Petrography, Zircon Geochronology, and Sr–Nd Isotopes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-797, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-797, 2026.

Reliable prediction of scour depth is essential for hydraulic design, yet its nonlinear dependence on flow and sediment parameters often limits the accuracy of empirical formulations. This study develops a comprehensive machine-learning framework to model scour depth using a dataset of 450 samples. Two families of ML models were employed: (i) traditional techniques—Decision Tree and Support Vector Regression (SVR), and (ii) ensemble-based techniques—Random Forest, Bagging Regressor, AdaBoost, and Gradient Boosting. Model performance was evaluated using multiple statistical and graphical diagnostics, including scatter plots, residual distributions, cumulative relative-error curves, frequency histograms, Taylor diagrams, and train–test comparisons.

To assess robustness, controlled Gaussian noise perturbations (2.5–15%) were synthetically induced in the input variables, and ten Monte-Carlo trials were performed for each noise level. For every model, the lower bound, upper bound, and mean R² values were computed, enabling a stability-based comparison. Ensemble models demonstrated substantially higher accuracy and noise-tolerance than traditional approaches. Gradient Boosting and Random Forest consistently exhibited the highest coefficient of determination, narrowest error bands, and least sensitivity to perturbations, whereas SVR and Decision Tree showed wider deviation ranges.

Overall, the findings confirm that ensemble learning—particularly boosting-based methods—provides a more accurate, robust, and generalizable tool for scour prediction compared to standalone ML models. The proposed framework establishes a reproducible methodology that integrates predictive accuracy with noise-resilience, making it suitable for practical hydraulic engineering applications.

How to cite: Sangra, A., Kotnoor Suryanarayanarao, H. P., and Ojha, C. S. P.: Evaluation of Traditional and Ensemble ML Algorithms for Scour Depth Prediction: Performance, Error Distribution, and Gaussian Noise Robustness  , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-820, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-820, 2026.

Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, significant deposition of radiocesium, including ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, occurred across vast regions of Northeastern Japan, in the Tohoku Region. However, as most studies have focused on fallout in the Fukushima Prefecture, there is much less information available on the situation in other parts of the Tohoku region of Japan further north. Against this backdrop, the present study examined the presence of fallout radionuclides (including the natural radionuclide ²¹⁰Pb and the artificial radionuclides ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) in both burned and unburned soil profiles, as well as in various surface soil and sediment samples collected in the Kamaishi region (Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku Region, Japan), which was affected by extensive wildfires in 2017.  The results show that ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs can be used to trace sediment sources in landscapes affected by wildfires in this region. Furthermore, analysis of the soil profiles demonstrated that all analysed fallout radionuclides were enriched in the burned versus unburned profiles due to radionuclides being trapped by vegetation and incorporated into the ash after the fire. Detecting ¹³⁴Cs in the uppermost 0–5 cm layer of all soil profiles investigated also demonstrated significant Fukushima fallout of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs in this region, roughly equivalent to the fallout associated with nuclear atmospheric tests in the 1960s. In future, both sources of fallout should be considered when interpreting radionuclide data found in environmental samples collected in vast regions of north-eastern Japan. Analysis of ¹³⁴Cs should also be encouraged in order to document fallout sources in these regions for as long as this short-lived radionuclide remains detectable (i.e. until around 2031).

How to cite: Evrard, O., Takahashi, N., Chalaux-Clergue, T., Foucher, A., and Chaboche, P.-A.: Potential use of fallout radionuclides as tracers of environmental processes after wildfires in Tohoku Region, Japan, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1774, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1774, 2026.

In the context of river ecological restoration in Europe and in order to achieve a “good” ecological and chemical status in watercourses, it is essential to quantify the volumes of contaminated sediment accumulated in fluvial annexes, which may be remobilized during floods or human interventions. These assessments not only allow the evaluation of ecotoxicological risks, but also help to assess the ecological functions associated with reconnection to the main channel. The Saône River (France), the main tributary of the Rhône River in terms of hydro-sedimentary contributions, has been little studied from this perspective, despite numerous developments (dykes) that have profoundly altered the lateral connectivity of its main channel. A more in-depth knowledge of the Saône River is therefore clearly needed  to guide effective and safe ecological restoration actions.

The volumes of sediments accumulated in three fluvial annexes distributed along the Saône River were estimated by combining ground-penetrating radar (GPR) transects with sediment cores sampling. These sediment archives were characterized (grain-size, organic matter content, trace metal content) to reconstruct the temporal trends of metal accumulation, based on ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb dating. Depending on the site, these sediment sequences provide six to eight decades of records, extending back to the 1940s for the longest. These data allow quantification of contaminants stocks (trace metals) and estimation of the annual load of contaminated suspended matters by the river in each site.

The study sites exhibit contrasting morphologies and varying levels of lateral connectivity with the main channel. These differences influence the sediment storage volumes within the fluvial annexes, ranging from 8,000 m³ to 100,000 m³. These results reveal metal enrichment since the 1940s, with a clear and well-documented increase in Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn during the post‑World War II economic expansion (1950s), reaching maximum concentrations during the 1970s. Their concentrations subsequently declined in the 1990-2000s before stabilizing at lower plateau values.

A specific feature concerns the contamination history of Ag, most likely driven by the photographic industry, which presented a three-phase pattern: (i) regular increase in the 1970s and 1980s, (ii) successive peaks between 1986 and 1994, and (iii) a marked decline in the late 1990s-2000s, with the decline of silver. This typical signal was observed at all studied sites along the river, despite hydrological connectivity differences. These sedimentary record complement monitoring data, especially for trace metals that were difficult to quantify in the past. This study highlights the major influence of historical contamination sources that released polluted sediments at the basin scale over several decades. This reconstruction also has national-scale implications and complements records obtained by other research works (such as on the Seine or Garonne rivers), highlighting the extent and persistence of pollution linked with photographic product manufacturing in Western Europe before 2000. Together, these results provide an integrated understanding of sediment dynamics and contamination, offering key insights for future river management and restoration strategies.

How to cite: Écorse, A., Dendievel, A.-M., Mourier, B., Coynel, A., Dhivert, É., Paran, F., Peuble, S., Winiarski, T., and Bedell, J.-P.: Which benefits of fluvial annex sediment analysis for quantifying and tracing industrial pollution along the Saône River? , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2798, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2798, 2026.

A considerable number of geochemical and granulometric datasets from various sediment sequences was gathered during the recent decades in the context of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate reconstructions, assessment of human impacts on earth surface processes, and provenance tracing in fluvial environments. Although the large importance of grain-size control on sediment geochemistry has been known for many years and was explicitly declared in some review papers on geochemical provenance tracing, it still forms a challenge for current research. The problem is that provenance, grain-size, and weathering (post-depositional alterations) jointly control the resulting chemical composition of paleosol-loess sequences or floodplain deposits, and need hence to be distinguished from each other. However, in several recent studies data processing was simplified and the results were presented in an unequivocal manner, although interpretation of sediment composition is always rather equivocal. This was especially the case when geochemical datasets were subjected to automated data processing by software routines, instead of an expert-based examination of the individual datasets and a correct qualitative distinguishing of the individual controlling factors.

Data assessment should always start from understanding the major geochemical and sedimentological factors and processes behind data variability. This phase cannot be automated, and should mandatorily precede the selection of appropriate data processing routines. On the one hand geochemical compositions may be mainly controlled by varying percentages of ‘diluting’ components such as quartz (usually sand) or (detritic or autochthonous) carbonate, that can be corrected for by rationally chosen element ratios. Numerous complex mathematical approaches have been designed to address that issue, however, they do not always produce interpretable results and therefore need empirical (expert-based) verification. One the other hand, ‘dilution’ effects can interfere with grain-size control, that can be revealed by scatterplots of element ratios or the visualisation of element ratios and grain size classes. Furthermore, the recently established Bayes space methodology for modelling and analysing continuous distributive data can visualise the grain size control of element ratios for entire granulometric curves. Combined with regression modelling this allows statistically sound conclusions about grain size effects on the element ratios desired for interpretation. For example, varying grain-size preferences of feldspars or zircons can point to distinct source rocks and thus qualitatively reveal provenance changes. Provenance changes can only be quantified after deciphering and considering ‘dilution’ and grain-size effects, and only if the sediment sources have really distinct geochemistry. The provenance tracing cannot be automated or based only on the formal performance of statistical tools such as low values of RMSE.

Concluding, provenance tracing should be based on geochemically interpretable element concentration ratios after cross-checking for ‘dilution’ and grain-size control, best done ‘manually’ by assessing a series of (old-fashioned) scatterplots, preferably with the granulometry information implemented using the Bayes space methodology. To obtain sound conclusions it is also essential to phrase clear and testable research questions before any research, acquire suitable data really representing variability in studied sediment sequences and potential provenance areas, and use statistical methods respecting real data complexity.

How to cite: Matys Grygar, T., von Suchodoletz, H., Pavlů, I., and Zeeden, C.: Deciphering dilution, grain size, and provenance in sediment geochemistry, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3575, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3575, 2026.

This study investigates the effectiveness of torrential erosion control structures (concrete check dams) in reducing post-fire sediment transport in the Seich Sou Forest close to Thessaloniki, Greece. The July 1997 wildfire destroyed 68% of the forest vegetation, posing an urgent risk of severe erosion and floods in Thessaloniki's urban complex.

The responsible agencies decided to construct erosion control structures inside the streambeds of the watersheds that drain the Seich Sou Forest. This work was critical in watersheds where the lowland segment of the stream runs through communities, and the transportation of sediments and debris might endanger property, infrastructure, and even human life. Most of the concrete check dams were built in 2001, four years after the fire. This study included a complete documentation of the constructed check dams as well as a measurement of the sediments that gathered 21 years after the fire.

This study assessed the efficiency of constructed check dams in capturing sediments after a fire, as well as the influence of construction time, in two typical catchments (Eleonas and Panteleimon). In addition, the hypothesis "What would the effectiveness of check dams be if they were constructed immediately after the fire?" was examined. The innovative part of this study was the detailed recording of all check dams and the volume of trapped sediments, while the fact that most dams were not completely filled allowed us to compute soil erosion rates in detail.

In 2022, our team carried out field investigations to assess the size, effective storage capacity, and siltation of 40 check dams. The results showed that the dams in the Eleonas and Panteleimon catchments stored 14.36% and 18.81% of their maximal effective capacity, respectively. In the first three years following the fire, the potential maximum annual retention capacity of the check dams in the Eleonas watershed was 6.17 t/ha/year, while in the Panteleimon basin, it was 7.08 t/ha/year. The delayed construction of the check dams resulted in the failure to trap the eroded soil, which means that in the first three post-fire years, all the soil was lost to the sea.

Previous investigations have determined the precise values of post-fire erosion in the study region to be 7.76 t/ha/year and 3.39 t/ha/year for the first and second post-fire years, respectively. The annual post-fire erosion values mentioned above fall within the estimated maximum retention capacity of the check dams constructed in the research catchments. As a result, the timely (immediately following the fire) and appropriate construction of check dams can effectively manage the greatly increased post-fire erosion rates. Although check dams are extremely successful in stabilizing disrupted fire environments, their full advantage can only be realized if they are built on time and efficiently. To decrease soil loss and improve landscape resilience, future studies should focus on the timely construction of post-wildfire erosion control structures.

How to cite: Kastridis, A. and Sapountzis, M.: The Effectiveness of Check Dams on Post-fire Erosion Control - The Significance of Timely Construction, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3609, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3609, 2026.

Sediment-laden runoff in Ethiopia’s Upper Blue Nile Basin (UBNB) threatens the ecological health of Lake Tana and the operational efficiency of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Limited event-based sediment sampling hinders the accurate estimation of fluxes and process-based modeling in this data-scarce region. This study reconstructs continuous daily sedigraphs (1990–2020) for the Gilgel Abay (1,664 km²) and Gumara (1,394 km²) watersheds using machine-Learning (ML) methods, including Gradient Boosting (GB), Random Forest (RF), and Quantile Regression Forests (QRF), along with traditional techniques, using discharge, rainfall, temperature, and evapotranspiration as predictors.

QRF achieved the highest validation accuracy at the daily scale (R² = 0.62–0.72), capturing non‑linear sediment dynamics and providing uncertainty‑quantified yields (90% CI: 17.15–54.37 t/ha/yr for Gilgel Abay; 21.15–40.61 t/ha/yr for Gumara). Mean annual sediment yields were 27.5 ± 7.2 t/ha/yr (Gilgel Abay) and 23.8 ± 10.7 t/ha/yr (Gumara), with 93–95% of transport occurring during the monsoon season (June–October), emphasizing strong rainfall control.

The reconstructed records enabled the first successful calibration and validation of the WASA-SED model for coupled daily streamflow and suspended-sediment dynamics in the Ethiopian Highlands. Monthly simulations showed strong performance (NSE 0.66–0.86; R² 0.72–0.87). Flow- and sediment-duration curves indicated excellent skill during high-flow events, which dominate sediment export, with underestimation in mid- and low-sediment ranges.

Decadal analyses revealed contrasting watershed trajectories. In Gilgel Abay, rainfall intensified (from 136.9 mm/month in the 1990s to 208 mm/month in the 2020s), streamflow increased by 78% (55 to 98 m³/s), and sediment loads peaked mid‑period before declining. In Gumara, rainfall remained stable, but streamflow rose 54% (35 to 54 m³/s), and sediment loads increased 61% (8.2 to 13.2 × 10³ t/day), influenced by wetland loss (−63%) and rapid urban expansion.

This integrated ML–process modelling framework bridges sediment data gaps, advances hydro-sediment process understanding, and supports targeted erosion mitigation for the sustainable management of the UBNB. The approach is transferable to other humid tropical basins facing similar data limitations.

Keywords: sediment reconstruction, QRF, WASA‑SED, decadal trends, Upper Blue Nile, humid tropics, data‑scarce modelling

How to cite: B.Worku, K., A. Zimale, F., Francke, T., Zargar, M., and Bronstert, A.: Suspended Sediment Fluxes and Decadal Trends in the Humid Tropics: Machine Learning Reconstruction and Coupled Modelling in Upper Blue Nile Tributaries, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4157, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4157, 2026.

Suspended sediment dynamics exhibit strong temporal variability and nonlinear behavior, making it challenging to characterize their relationship with streamflow using traditional statistical or machine-learning approaches. In this study, we addressed the following questions: how does the coupling between suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and discharge change across temporal scales, and which hydrological, morphological, climatic, and land-use factors control these changes? To investigate this, we examine the time-scale-dependent and non-stationary coupling between SSC and discharge across fourteen catchments (0.94-2846 km²) spanning diverse climatic and geomorphic settings. We applied wavelet coherence (WTC) and partial wavelet coherence (PWTC) analyses to quantify both the total and precipitation-independent SSC-discharge coupling across time scales ranging from 2 to 512 days. The analysis is performed continuously in time and interpreted within short (2-32 days), intermediate (32-128 days), and long (128-512 days) temporal bands. We used Spearman correlation to explore links between coherence and catchment characteristics, including physiography, morphology, climate, hydrology, and land use. Across all catchments, SSC-discharge generally exhibits strong coupling, although the strength of this coupling can be weak and fragmented at some time scales, indicating a non-stationary sediment response to discharge variations. After removing the influence of precipitation, much of this coherence weakens or becomes more fragmented across time scales, demonstrating that a substantial part of the SSC-discharge relationship reflects their shared hydrological forcing by precipitation. Nevertheless, a part of coherent patterns persists in all catchments, implying that catchment characteristics also sustain SSC-discharge coupling beyond direct precipitation effects. At short time scales, coupling is primarily controlled by slope and maximum length of the catchment; at intermediate scales, by moisture accumulation, land use, and aspect; and at long time scales, by moisture, slope aspect, and pasture cover. Using data from fourteen catchments, this study moves beyond single-catchment analyses and shows that wavelet-based approaches can disentangle precipitation-driven sediment dynamics from those controlled by catchment characteristics, providing new insight into how intrinsic catchment properties regulate SSC-discharge interactions across multiple temporal scales.

Key words: Catchment characteristics, Hydro-sediment dynamics, Partial wavelet coherence (PWTC), Suspended sediment concentration, Wavelet coherence (WTC)

How to cite: Mirchooli, F., Martínez-Carreras, N., and Klaus, J.: Time-scale-dependent Sediment–Discharge Coupling across Fourteen Catchments Using Wavelet Analysis, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4192, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4192, 2026.

Geo-hydrological risk mitigation exceeds administrative borders and needs shared and coordinated actions to address climate change effects across borders. In vulnerable areas, such as North-Eastern Italy and Slovenia where torrents and rivers cross national boundaries, joint strategies are essential to improve watershed management, infrastructure safety, and human protection. This requires integrating diverse expertise through cooperation among cross-border authorities, stakeholders, and researchers to develop a shared management solution and a response to common challenges. Torrent control works have been strategically used for several decades to regulate sediment dynamics in mountain catchments, but few research studied how structures interact with erosion and deposition processes. Nowadays, multi-temporal High-Resolution Topography (HRT) and GIS technologies enable efficient analysis of sediment dynamics in fluvial systems and their evolving interactions with watershed control structures. To improve watershed management and prioritise maintenance, the Interreg ITA-SLO “TORRENT” project aims to define shared international standards for monitoring torrent control systems and evaluating their long-term performance. The results highlight how a shared database complemented by common tools such as the Maintenance Priority Index, advanced technology and standardised data collection protocols, strengthens watershed management challenges in Slovenia and Italy and provides a transferable strategic approach for other basins in neighbouring countries.

Acknowledgments

The TORRENT project is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme.

How to cite: Cazorzi, F., Žvokelj, L., Zupanc, V., Bezak, N., Fabbro, M., Clerbois, A., Ziraldo, A., di Bernardo, F., Maset, E., Beinat, A., Arnone, E., Poli, M. E., Orlando, C., and Cucchiaro, S.: Joint practices to support the torrent control structures management in geo-hydrological risk mitigation across borders, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5762, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5762, 2026.

Identifying the sources of suspended particulate matter (SPM) at the watershed scale remains a major challenge for sediment management, particularly in large river basins. Several approaches are used to trace particle origins, such as the implementation of a SPM fluxes monitoring network, sedimentary modelling or by combining geochemical fingerprinting method with mixing models. Significant progress over the past decade has strengthened their robustness, particularly in the selection of tracers, resolution algorithms, source-term representation, and validation procedures. However, most sediment fingerprinting studies rely on discrete surface source-sediment sampling, which may not adequately reflect the spatial and temporal variability of sediment sources.

Particle traps (PTs) provide an effective alternative for suspended particulate matter sampling, offering an integrative approach that better captures temporal variability in SPM properties over a defined deployment period (typically one week to one month). However, their use raises a number of methodological locks, which could call into question the robustness of their use in fingerprinting approaches. PTs tend to preferentially collect coarser particles and may be affected by redox processes during deployment, which may induce trace metal release or redistribution and reducing their reliability as conservative tracers. To assess the representativeness of sediment traps, we implemented a dual sampling strategy combining monthly integrative sampling using PTs with discrete SPM grab samples. This comparison enables us to (i) quantify biases associated with PT sampling and (ii) assess the robustness of these integrative tools in an organic-rich, hydrogeologically dynamic environment.

To overcome these biogeochemical processes in the PT, we applied a recently developed analytical approach, targeting trace metals bound to the non-reactive fraction of SPM and enabling their use as conservative tracers unaffected by these processes. Therefore, combining PT sampling with tracers derived from the conservative fraction of SPM, we propose a highly promising method to track SPM origin.

This innovative tracing approach is being applied in the Saône basin (about one-third of the Rhône basin - 30,000 km²). The sediments of the Saône are the second most contaminated along the Rhône. Their downstream continuity to the Mediterranean Sea highlights the need to identify and quantify SPM sources to better manage their impacts on aquatic systems. The experimental design spans the 2024 - 2025 hydrological year and includes instrumentation of five major tributaries (Upper Saône, Ognon, Ouche, Doubs and Seille) as well as the basin outlet at Lyon. Particle traps were installed at each site and sampled monthly, supplemented by monthly spot sampling of reference SPM sampling. Mixing model outputs are presented as a function of sampling strategy (PTs versus spot sampling) and the tracers analysed in the residual / conservative fraction. For the first time, a preliminary estimate of the relative contributions of tributaries to the SPM flow at the scale of the Saône basin can be proposed, highlighting the strengths and limitations of the different fingerprint approaches used.

How to cite: Maeva, C., Matthieu, M., Alexandra, G., Lysiane, D., and Aymeric, D.: Innovative and robust approach to trace the origin of suspended particulate matter (SPM): application to the Saône watershed, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7778, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7778, 2026.

The 2025 "State of Food and Agriculture" (SOFA) report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reiterates the significant threat posed by soil erosion and land degradation to agricultural productivity, food security, and the resilience of ecosystems. The FAO estimates that around 1.7 billion individuals globally reside in regions facing yield gaps associated with human-induced land degradation (FAO, 2025).

Numerous scientists across the globe, including our research team in Basel, have utilized and assessed d13C compound-specific stable isotopes (CSSI) derived from long-chain fatty acids across various land uses as tracers. This methodology has been employed to monitor and identify erosion stemming from different land uses to river or lake sediments (Alewell et al., 2016; Upadhayay et al., 2022), as well as to depositional sites (Mabit et al., 2018), and to investigate land use changes within soil chronosequences (Swales and Gibbs, 2020). This analytical tool can act as a significant asset for global decision-makers, aiding in the protection of soil and water resources both in a general context and in relation to specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 2 – Zero Hunger, 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 – Climate Action, 14 – Life Below Water, and 15 – Life On Land.

We present data of isotopes collected over several years from different land use in various regions including Europe (Switzerland, France, England, Scotland), South Korea, and Brazil. The isotopic values transition from being more depleted in temperate Europe to more enriched in the semi-humid Brazilian savannah, with South Korea exhibiting intermediate values. Furthermore, additional data from over 40 internationally published studies have been compiled to enhance our findings.

This is the first presentation of such a data collection, which can be continuously updated with the latest research findings, functioning as both an archive and a foundational data resource for sediment source attribution to ascertain the origins and potential causes of soil erosion. Additionally, a CSSI land use database encompassing numerous regions globally could significantly lessen the burden of costly and labor-intensive source soil sampling, particularly when time and resources are constrained.

References:

Alewell, C., Birkholz, A., Meusburger, K., Schindler Wildhaber, Y., and Mabit, L.: Quantitative sediment source attribution with compound-specific isotope analysis in a C3 plant-dominated catchment (central Switzerland), Biogeosciences, 13, 1587–1596, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1587-2016, 2016.

FAO. 2025. The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 – Addressing land degradation across landholding scales. Rome.

Mabit, L., Gibbs, M., Mbaye, M., Meusburger, K., Toloza, A., Resch, C., Klik, A., Swales, A., Alewell, C.,: Novel application of Compound Specific Stable Isotope (CSSI) techniques to investigate on-site sediment origins across arable fields, Geoderma, Volume 316, 2018.

Swales, A. & Gibbs, M.: Transition in the isotopic signatures of fatty-acid soil biomarkers under changing land use: Insights from a multi-decadal chronosequence, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 722, 2020.

Upadhayay, H.R., Granger, S.J. & Collins, A.L. Comparison of sediment biomarker signatures generated using time-integrated and discrete suspended sediment samples.Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 22431–22440 (2024). 

How to cite: Birkholz, A., Evrard, O., Foucher, A., Glendel, M., Park, J.-H., Ramon, R., Salvador-Blanes, S., Tiecher, T., and Alewell, C.: Global assessment of CSSI land use fingerprints of long-chain fatty acids in soils, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10161, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10161, 2026.

In alpine torrents, the transport of large wood plays a significant role in the development of multi-hazard chains, while also contributing to channel complexity, sediment regulation, and the ecological functioning of mountain stream ecosystems, its mobilization during extreme events increases the risk of damage for infrastructures. The interaction between large wood, sediment and infrastructure such as engineering structures can lead to hazards, due to the formation of wood jams, related backwater effects, overtopping and unexpected morphological changes. Therefore, understanding the transport dynamics of large wood is fundamental for the design of resilient torrent control measures.

The Rindbach catchment in Ebensee close to the Traunsee (Austria) serves as a representative case study area for these processes. This torrent has a history of high wood recruitment driven by deforestation and avalanches such as the Häuseleckgraben avalanche in 2009 which delivered about 1,000 m³ of wood into the channel. A wood retention rack was built as part of a project by the Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV), after the flood event in 2013 that demonstrated the vulnerability of local settlements to wood-laden floods.

To analyze the potential formation of wood jams at the retention structure, the 2D numerical model IberWood is used. The methodology focuses on the interaction between channel morphology, hydraulic flow conditions and the variable transport pattern of large wood. To analyze the systematic response of the torrent to varying wood loads, historical high-flow conditions like the event in 2013 are used as a reference framework. The focus lies on identifying the amount of wood needed to clog the retention structure and affect its discharge capacity. The aims of this study are to provide valuable insights into the optimization of technical wood retention in torrential catchments and to contribute to the development of more resilient hazard mitigation measures in the Alps.

How to cite: Kienesberger, S., Schalko, I., Ruiz-Villaneva, V., and Scheidl, C.: Evaluation of Large Wood Accumulation Processes at a Retention Structure in the Rindbach Alpine Torrent (Austria): A Numerical Study, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10772, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10772, 2026.

Direct protection forests (DPFs) play a key role in mitigating natural hazards by reducing their impacts on exposed elements such as buildings, infrastructure, and transportation networks. By definition, a DPF requires the simultaneous presence of three components: (i) a potentially damaging natural hazard, (ii) people or assets exposed to this hazard, and (iii) a forest capable of preventing or mitigating the resulting damage, thereby providing a protective function. Despite the conceptual clarity of this definition and the importance of DPFs for land-use planning, their delineation at the regional scale remains challenging. This is because the protective role of forests varies with the type of natural hazard and is often constrained by limited or heterogeneous data availability.

This study proposes an integrated, spatially explicit methodology for delineating DPFs based on the overlay of multiple geospatial information layers: (i) natural hazard maps describing the spatial distribution of susceptibility (or probability of occurrence) to shallow landslides, rockfalls, debris flows, and avalanches; (ii) a forest cover map providing both forest extent and canopy cover classes; (iii) elements at risk derived from regional authority databases; and (iv) a connectivity map used to identify sediment linkage areas between potential hazard source zones and exposed elements. A key component of this last layer is the Sediment Connectivity Index, which provides spatially explicit estimates of sediment connectivity and allows the identification of forest patches that perform a direct protective function for the selected elements at risk.

The methodology was applied to the Lombardy Region in northern Italy, whose territory extends over 23,860 km², including large portions of Italian Alps and Pre-Alps, and is characterized by a forests cover of approximately 6,259 km² (26% of the entire regional area). The results indicate that DPFs extend over 992 km², accounting for the 16% of the forested area. Based on this delineation, spatially distributed indices were developed to assess forest protection predisposition and the priority of silvicultural interventions. Overall, the proposed approach provides an effective decision-support tool for forest management, improving mapping consistency and supporting targeted strategies aimed at enhancing the long-term protective function and resilience of forests under increasing natural hazard pressure.

How to cite: Vercellino, I., Mascetti, G., Vacchiano, G., Bischetti, G. B., and Cislaghi, A.: Linking sediment connectivity with direct protection forest management: the case study of Lombardy Region , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11642, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11642, 2026.

Large wood (LW) is a key factor influencing the physical, chemical, environmental, and biological characteristics of low-order mountain stream systems. LW recruitment is controlled by several physical processes, including debris flows, shallow landslides, streambank erosion, and windthrow, and it can significantly increase hazards to downstream populations and infrastructure during extreme events. Quantifying LW recruitment is particularly challenging due to the diversity of potential source areas and mobilization processes. 

Accurate quantification requires an integrated approach that accounts for LW recruitment from hillslopes mobilized by shallow landslides, from headwater hollows affected by debris flows, along the channel network through streambank failures, and during downstream transport. This study combines a physically based and probabilistic slope stability analysis, several empirical relationships for debris-flow initiation/propagation, a spatially distributed sediment connectivity index, and a simplified one-dimensional hydraulic model to simulate channel widening and downstream LW transport. Input parameters were derived from analyses of forest stand characteristics, soil and lithological properties, intensity–duration–frequency curves, and digital elevation model.

The proposed approach identifies critical channel stretches and crossing infrastructures that are most prone to obstruction by floating recruited LW. The model was applied to a small mountainous headwater catchment in the Northern Apennines, characterized by a dense forest cover and a high susceptibility to shallow landslides and debris flows, particularly in late spring and early autumn. Results indicate that the estimated LW volumes are comparable to those measured through field surveys, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed methodology. Because the approach relies on commonly available data, it represents a valuable tool for forest planning and management, for assessing the impacts of natural and anthropogenic forest disturbances (e.g., diseases, fires, clear-cutting, or clearing), and for supporting the optimal placement of in-channel wood retention structures.

How to cite: Cislaghi, A., Oggioni, S., Bassi, F., Vacchiano, G., and Bischetti, G. B.: An integrated framework for evaluating large wood recruitment from hillslopes to channel network in forested mountain catchments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11837, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11837, 2026.

Since the mid-20th century, agricultural intensification and expansion have profoundly altered sediment fluxes from cultivated landscapes to freshwater systems. However, the long-term (>70 years) regional and global imprint of these changes remains poorly quantified. Here, we present a global synthesis of sediment accumulation records from 812 lakes and reservoirs draining agricultural catchments affected by land use worldwide.

By compiling sediment accumulation rates (SAR), mass accumulation rates (MAR) and associated geochemical proxies constrained by robust age–depth models, we reconstruct multi-decadal sediment flux trajectories from 1900 to 2010 at global and regional scales, and compared them with global land use statistics. These trajectories provide an integrated proxy for long-term land degradation. Our results reveal a pronounced and sustained post-1950 increase in sediment fluxes, with global MAR and SAR rising by approximately 500% and 350%, respectively. This acceleration is observed across all regions of the world, although its timing and relationship with land-use change differ markedly. In Europe and North America, sediment fluxes increased earlier (1950s–1960s; ≈140%) despite declining agricultural land area, suggesting an anticorrelation with land extent but a strong link to the intensification of agricultural practices. In contrast, Africa, Asia and Latin America exhibited later accelerations (1980s–2000s) that are positively correlated with the agricultural expansion.

Together, these findings demonstrate that lakes and reservoirs in agricultural regions worldwide record a coherent sedimentary response to post-1950 agricultural changes, while highlighting regional contrasts in the mechanisms linking land use, land management and sediment delivery. This synthesis provides a long-term reference for evaluating the impact of agricultural intensification on soil degradation and freshwater systems during the Anthropocene.

How to cite: Foucher, A., Evrard, O., Cerdan, O., and Salvador-Blanes, S.: Global acceleration of sediment fluxes under post-1950 agricultural intensification, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12086, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12086, 2026.

Check dams are widely implemented in Alpine torrents to mitigate natural hazards and regulate sediment fluxes, yet their influence on sediment transfer and connectivity remains poorly constrained. In particular, it is still unclear how a series of check dams can modify sediment connectivity, specifically the erosion, and deposition patterns along the sediment cascade. We address this gap in the 12 km² Gürbe catchment at the northern margin of the Swiss Alps, where a steep, geomorphologically active channel reach has been engineered by approximately 100 check dams. The Gürbe torrent originates in low-erodibility Mesozoic limestones and transitions downstream into highly erodible Flysch, Molasse, and glacial till. A glacially conditioned knickzone at ~1200 m a.s.l. marks the onset of strong channel incision and enhanced hillslope–channel coupling (Schmidt et al. 2026). Downstream of this knickzone, the channel steepens by about 3°, traverses a landslide-prone corridor, and finally reaches the alluvial fan, forming a reach that is almost entirely controlled by check-dam structures.

We investigated the impact of check dams on bedload transport using repeated uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) - based photogrammetric surveys, which allowed us to quantify volumetric changes of the channel bed and to track erosion and deposition patterns through time (seasonal to annual and decadal). Our results show that bedload transport within the engineered reach is highly discontinuous, particularly during frequent low- to moderate-magnitude flow events. Check dams interrupt sediment continuity and create a succession of closely spaced erosion and deposition zones, leading to pronounced spatial variability in sediment dynamics over short distances. Even during moderate floods, gravel-bar re-working differs markedly between adjacent dam sections. Sediment inputs strongly control these dynamics. Material delivered from upstream is repeatedly reworked as it passes through successive check-dam compartments, alternating between reaches dominated by deposition and by erosion. In contrast, lateral sediment inputs, especially from landslides, promote net deposition and progressive accumulation of stored bedload material that is only mobilized during larger, less frequent flood events. Further downstream segments with lateral input of sediment derived from tributaries as well as non-regulated channel reaches are characterized by enhanced sedimentary dynamics, leading to abundant channel reorganization.

Overall, the check-dam system exhibits a tendency toward net deposition and sediment storage on decadal timescales, with dams acting as temporary buffers that trap bedload. These accumulated sediments form a latent sediment stock that is episodically released during major events, when channel erosion intensifies and stored material is excavated and transferred downstream. Our findings demonstrate that check dams fundamentally shift bedload transport from a relatively continuous process toward a pulsed, event-driven regime characterized by persistent reworking, long-term accumulation, and episodic phases of intensified erosion and transport.

Schmidt, C., Mair, D., Akçar, N., Christl, M., Haghipour, N., Vockenhuber, C., Gautschi, P., McArdell, B., and Schlunegger, F.: Quantifying erosion in a pre-Alpine catchment at high resolution with concentrations of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, and ¹⁴C, Earth Surf. Dynam., 14, 33–53, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-14-33-2026, 2026.

How to cite: Schmidt, C., Mair, D., McArdell, B., and Schlunegger, F.: Disrupted Connectivity: The Impact of Check Dams on Bedload Transport and Sediment Storage in the Gürbe Catchment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13048, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13048, 2026.

Tropical monsoon rivers can export a disproportionate share of sediment during short–lived high–flow events, yet humid, low–relief regions remain underrepresented in global discharge–sediment syntheses. Here we compile national daily discharge (Q) and suspended–sediment discharge (Qs) records from Peninsular Malaysia and quantify fluxes, yields, and discharge–sediment coupling across 12 river basins from seasonal to interannual scales. Across catchment outlets (n = 30), runoff export is comparatively buffered (water yield, WY ≈ 240–7691 mm yr^-1), whereas sediment export is highly uneven and episodic (sediment yield, SY ≈ 46–985 t km^-2 yr^-1), with a small number of rivers contributing most monitored sediment flux. Basin attributes define a dominant relief–to–lowland regional gradient, but this structure explains only a modest share of SY variability (R² ≈ 0.15), , suggesting that sediment yield is strongly modulated by basin-scale processes beyond regional structure. Across outlets, SY scales with WY as a power law (SY = 1893.5WY^0.68; R² = 0.30, p = 0.002), but the coupling differs by coast (West: R² = 0.49, p = 0.008; East/South: R² = 0.21, p = 0.082), implying systematic regional contrasts in sediment yield at comparable runoff. Seasonality is strongly monsoon–driven, and sediment export forms the sharper pulse. The wettest three–month period typically carries ~32–68% of annual discharge but ~38–88% of annual sediment. Interannually, discharge varies within a modest range, while sediment export commonly changes several–fold, so moderately wetter years can dominate long–term sediment budgets. Regulation further modifies these dynamics without a single consistent direction, indicating that post–dam sediment delivery depends on basin–specific sediment supply, storage, and connectivity rather than trapping alone.

How to cite: Huang, J., Park, E., Chow, M. F., Wang, X., and Switzer, A. D.: Discharge–Sediment Regimes in Peninsular Malaysia: A Multi–Scale Analysis Based on National Datasets, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13341, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13341, 2026.

River systems transport and transform organic carbon (OC) from the terrestrial realm, before delivering this organic matter to deposition centers. Organic carbon with different ages, such as i) modern organic matter, ii) pre-aged organic matter from surface soils or riparian zones or iii) petrogenic or rock-derived organic matter, is transported under different environmental conditions. Using a 30-month high-resolution time series study of the organic matter content of the suspended load in the subalpine Sihl River watershed (Switzerland), the impact of hydrology and seasonality on the amount and source of organic matter was determined.

Previous work on the distribution and amount of suspended bulk OM and vegetation derived lipid biomarkers (long chain fatty acids and n-alkanes) revealed that hydrology and seasonality determine their fluxes (i.e. Schwab et al., 2025). Specifically, storms are interpreted to promote the mobilization of both contemporary plant detritus and surface soils. Because plant waxes are sourced from both modern vegetation and pre-aged soils, the unique contribution of pre-aged soil material was not targeted. Now, the analysis of branched GDGTs, bacterial membrane-spanning lipids produced in high abundance in soils, allows to track this specific C pool. Furthermore, these three lipid classes are expected to show a different recalcitrance to degradations (fatty acids>GDGTs>n-alkanes), which allows to determine the effect of age and degradation on the composition of suspended organic matter.

Across the sampling period, the export of branched GDGTs closely follows the hydrograph. High discharge conditions (>12.7 m³ s⁻¹), typified by a high suspended sediment load, result in a high brGDGT export flux. The distribution of brGDGTs in these conditions points towards a higher altitude source of brGDGTs during winter, compared with summer. This is distinct from the lower altitude source derived from plant wax distributions (Schwab et al., 2023). Changes in relative contribution of the three biomarker classes indicate the presence of three end-members, i) an end-member of recently produced fresh organic matter, dominated by long-chain fatty acids, ii) an end-member with strongly degraded organic matter (n-alkane Carbon Preference Index < 2), dominated by n-alkanes and iii) a poorly defined end-member with increased n-alkane and GDGT concentrations, interpreted as an input of soils. Remarkably, the content of the radio-active isotope 14C (F¹⁴C), is not uniform for given end-member mixtures, indicating that age alone does not determine the relative abundance of the lipid classes.

In low discharge conditions, the low contribution of soil-derived GDGTs is overwritten by GDGTs produced in the aquatic system. As GDGT distributions reflect their production environment (soil versus aquatic), the use of GDGT ratios to quantify soil-derived versus aquatic bacterial biomass is evaluated. The direct effect of temperature on GDGTs produced in low discharge conditions, however, results in large ranges of their ratio values, complicating their proposed interpretation as a tracer for the provenance of aquatic biomass in river systems.

References:
Schwab, M. S., Haghipour, N. & Eglinton, T. I. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 391, 31–48 (2025).

How to cite: De Jonge, C., Anjewierden, P., Peterse, F., Freymond, C., Gies, H., Schwab, M., and Eglinton, T.: Employing lipid biomarkers to constrain environmental controls on the export of plant, soil and -derived organic matter., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14490, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14490, 2026.

Sediment pollution in (sub)tropical rivers and lakes of Queensland and East Africa is rapidly increasing, largely driven by subsurface erosion of deep alluvial and volcanic soils. These regions experience strong rainfall variability and flooding linked to climate and topographic controls, resulting in highly episodic soil loss and sediment transport. However, monitoring sediment sources during extreme events in remote (sub)tropical catchments remains challenging, meaning current understanding is often based on low temporal resolution data or visually dominant erosion features. In addition, the current set of sediment tracing approaches struggle to discriminate sources in deep tropical and alluvial soils or behave non-conservative in these environments.

This study addresses these methodological limitations to improve quantification of dominant sediment sources and soil loss processes in (sub)tropical catchments. We combine multiple water and suspended sediment monitoring tools, including low-cost automatic samplers, to capture the fluxes and variability of suspended sediment. We subsequently developed a novel sediment fingerprinting approach based on sequential extraction of elemental soil fractions. This tracer framework enables discrimination not only between catchment zones but also among multiple subsurface soil layers in deep alluvial and volcanic profiles. The tracer data are integrated into mixing models and event-scale sediment hysteresis analyses to construct dynamic sediment budgets and capture non-linear sediment responses to extreme rainfall.

Our results reveal the critical role of downwearing and chemical dissolution processes in large alluvial gullies of northern Queensland. These processes are largely neglected in current catchment models and gully analyses because they are not evident from repeat imagery assessments of gullies that demonstrate headcut retreat and bank collapse. In the Albert River (Southeast Queensland), we show that flooding associated with tropical Cyclone Alfred contributed approximately 60% of annual sediment export, dominated by erosion of subsurface soils from recent urban developments. This contrasts with earlier assessments in which radionuclide tracers provided only a binary subsurface signal, which together with visually evident bank collapse from aerial imagery led to attribution of sediment sources to alluvial bank erosion. Overall, our approach demonstrates how sediment source contributions and gully erosion processes shift dynamically during storm events, offering improved process understanding and more targeted management options under increasing climate extremes.

How to cite: Wynants, M., Doriean, N., Verboom, C., Lizaga, I., Spencer, J., Bennett, W., Brooks, A., and Boeckx, P.: Combining elemental fractions as novel tracers with hysteresis analysis to improve the quantification of sediment sources during large storm events in (sub)tropical catchments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16353, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16353, 2026.

In engineering practice, the export of sediment loads during so-called “torrent events”, i.e. fluvial events or debris-flow events in steep headwater catchment, is of interest for short-term hazard assessment and longer-term sediment management in alpine regions. Several empirical models already exist for this purpose, each with varying degrees of complexity and uncertainty. In this study, a total of 3,642 torrent events in Austria, where information on the associated sediment load is available, were analyzed and related to geomorphological, geological, and hydro-meteorological boundary conditions. Despite of substantial scatter, we find that the type of event – fluvial flows or debris flows – as well as geology and geomorphology have the strongest control on sediment loads, while, interestingly, triggering precipitation show only limited correlations. Based on these results, we derive simple empirical equations to provide a data-driven assessment tool to estimate value ranges for future event sediment loads in torrent catchments in the Austrian Alps.

How to cite: Kaitna, R., Ender, M., Nagl, G., Moser, M., and Kammerlander, J.: Event-based sediment loads from Austrian torrent catchments related to process and catchment characteristics, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17224, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17224, 2026.

In the last decade, sediment fingerprinting has evolved from a specialised geochemical technique to a widely used numerical tool for catchment management. However, as models become more complex (from Frequentist to Bayesian or Machine Learning approaches), a fundamental question arises: is the uncertainty in our results a product of environmental complexity or a consequence of the mathematical structures we use? This work advocates for a synergistic approach where mathematical rigor and field expertise are not just compatible, but inseparable.
Drawing on extensive research using virtual experiments and artificial laboratory mixtures, we demonstrate that unmixing models are inherently "blind" to any process not explicitly included in their underlying hypotheses. We show how common issues, such as high source variability, non-contributing sources, or particle size effects, often manifest as "model bias" when, in fact, they represent mathematical inconsistencies between the tracer signal and the model's assumptions.
We present the Consistent Tracer Selection (CTS) and the Linear Variability Propagation (LVP) methods as essential bridges between these two worlds. These tools allow researchers to test the mathematical consistency of their datasets before running any unmixing algorithm. Our findings, derived from comparing multiple model structures (including FingerPro, MixSIAR, and others), reveal a crucial reality: when tracers are selected following strict physical and mathematical criteria, the choice of the model becomes secondary.
The results show that different algorithms tend to converge on the same solution when the input data is consistent. Therefore, we argue that the future of sediment fingerprinting lies not in a "model war," but in a shift toward rigorous tracer validation. We conclude that understanding the mathematics behind the mixing process, such as the Conservative Balance (CB), is what allows us to interpret whether a model’s output represents a physical reality or merely a mathematical artifact.

How to cite: Latorre, B., Gaspar, L., and Navas, A.: Escaping the black box: Addressing the mathematical blindness of sediment fingerprinting models, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18366, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18366, 2026.

Slit dams, a common type of check dam, are engineered to retain coarse sediment while allowing finer particles to pass through. During the interception of granular flows, a separation of water and sediment typically occurs, beginning with the initial impact and continuing through subsequent deposition stages. To fundamentally understand the mechanisms by which slit dams separate solid-liquid mixtures, it is essential to first isolate and examine the hydrodynamic impact of water on the dam structure in detail.

In the design of slit dams, the width of the slits between piers and the dam height are critical parameters. To investigate the effect of different slit widths, experiments were conducted in a rectangular transparent flume with a length of 1.58 m set at a fixed slope of 15°. Three slit configurations, labeled A4, A5, and A6 (representing arrangements with 4, 5, and 6 piers respectively), were tested in the flume. During the experiments, miniature pressure sensors were used to sample pressure fluctuations, and a high-speed camera operating at 400 fps was employed to capture the flow behavior. This setup allowed the detailed process of flow impacting the slit dams to be fully recorded for statistical analysis. The results indicate that the impact process can be divided into three stages: turbulent, stable, and decay. The maximum average impact force and overflow depth showed no significant difference across the different slit widths. The hydrograph for the A5 configuration, which exhibited high turbulence, demonstrated a longer duration and slower pressure decay, followed by A6 and then A4.

How to cite: Fan, J., Chen, J.-C., and Li, F.: Experimental Investigation of Water-Flow Impact on Slit Dams with Varying Slit Widths, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18921, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18921, 2026.

Mediterranean agricultural landscapes face significant challenges from soil degradation and erosion processes that compromise both productive capacity and downstream water resources, creating an urgent need for implementing sustainable conservation strategies through Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs). This research employed the InVEST Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) modeling framework to examine erosional dynamics and quantify the potential benefits of various NBS interventions within the 506 km² Carapelle catchment. Model calibration and validation procedures utilized empirical sediment yield observations from the 2007-2008 monitoring period, achieving optimal parameter adjustment with only 4.3% variance from field measurements. A 20-year measured weather data were used to run the InVEST SDR model. The investigation examined four distinct NBS implementation strategies: contour-based cultivation techniques (CF), conservation tillage practices (NT), vegetative cover establishment (CCs), and integrated management approaches (Comb). Annual soil displacement rates under baseline conditions ranged between 2.43 and 3.88 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ across the study years, with corresponding downstream sediment delivery of 0.86-1.30 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Conservation tillage emerged as the most effective single intervention, achieving an average 72.2% reduction in sediment transport. The integrated strategy combining conservation tillage with cover crop establishment delivered optimal results, yielding 75.9% and 70.5% reductions in sediment export and soil displacement, respectively. Geospatial evaluation demonstrated that forested and shrubland areas exhibited the highest natural retention capacity, while cultivated landscapes presented the greatest opportunities for NBSs deployment. The findings confirm that NBSs substantially improve sediment retention ecosystem services within Mediterranean agricultural watersheds. The InVEST SDR modeling approach demonstrates robust capabilities for catchment-scale erosion assessment. These outcomes offer practical insights for developing evidence-based land stewardship policies and conservation strategies in erosion-vulnerable Mediterranean regions.

How to cite: Abdelwahab, O. M. M., Ricci, G. F., Netti, A. M., Fiore, A., Mohammedi, S., De Girolamo, A. M., and Gentile, F.: Assessing Erosion Mitigation Effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions Using InVEST® SDR Modeling: Application to the Carapelle Basin, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20411, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20411, 2026.

The occurrence and magnitude of debris flows largely depend on the amount of sediment stored within a catchment and the effectiveness of its connection to the channel network. Quantifying both sediment availability and its connectivity is therefore a critical requirement for constraining numerical simulations used to delineate debris-flow inundation areas. To support more reliable hazard assessments in alpine regions, an integrated geomorphological framework was developed and implemented in the Camonica Valley (Italian Alps) to characterise potential debris flow behaviour. The approach places particular emphasis on sediment connectivity as a key link between sediment sources and downstream propagation, reinforcing the role of geomorphological and geomorphometric analyses as a foundation for numerical modelling. Field observations, historical records of past events, and morphometric indicators are jointly used to discriminate between dominant flow processes and to estimate the volumes of sediment that may be mobilised during extreme events. The workflow combines GIS-based regional screening of debris-flow susceptibility along the drainage network with the identification of sediment source areas derived from orthophotos and terrain analysis, followed by an explicit evaluation of sediment connectivity and field-based verification of sediment thickness. Overall, the methodology provides a coherent and transferable basis for debris-flow hazard zonation and land-use planning in mountain environments, with sediment connectivity explicitly embedded in the assessment process.

How to cite: Cavalli, M., Crema, S., Rocca, J., Ballaera, A., Barizza, A., Gaigher, G., Ioriatti, E., Marchi, L., Piantini, M., Sarretta, A., Agostini, M., Bianchi, F., Martinengo, M., and Simonelli, T.: Sediment availability and connectivity: a geomorphological framework for debris-flow hazard assessment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20802, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20802, 2026.

Soil erosion and sediment redistribution in Mediterranean agroforestry landscapes are strongly influenced by land use and substrate variability, affecting sediment delivery to downstream sinks. Identifying the relative contributions of hillslope sediment sources to depositional environments is essential for understanding sediment transfer processes and source–sink connectivity. In this study, sediment fingerprinting techniques were applied to quantify hillslope sediment contributions recorded in a lake shore sediment core within the endorheic Estaña catchment (NE Spain). The closed hydrological setting and the presence of a lake acting as a natural sediment trap provide favourable conditions for tracing sediment provenance from adjacent slopes. A sediment core collected at the lower part of the hillslope in a lake shore, was analysed and compared with potential sediment sources representing different land uses and lithological units. Potential source materials and sediment core samples, analysed as a sequence of 5 cm depth intervals from the surface to depth, were characterised using a suite of geochemical elements (Mg, K, Na, Pb, Ba, Zn, Sr, Li, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe, Al and Ca) and fallout radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs and excess ²¹⁰Pb). The unmixing model FingerPro 2.0 was used to identify and estimate the relative contributions of the potential sources to the lake shore sediment core, allowing uncertainty to be explicitly assessed. Preliminary results reveal marked spatial variability in sediment source contributions linked to land use and lithology on the contributing hillslope, demonstrating the potential of combining geochemical and fallout radionuclide tracers to improve the robustness of sediment fingerprinting in small Mediterranean catchments. This approach provides valuable insights into hillslope to lake shore sediment connectivity and contributes to a better understanding of sediment source dynamics and temporal shifts in dominant sediment sources under changing environmental conditions.

How to cite: Gaspar, L., Latorre, B., and Navas, A.: Tracing hillslope sediment contributions to a lake shore using geochemical and fallout radionuclide fingerprints, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21024, 2026.

Sediment transport water demand provides the critical theoretical foundation for effective watershed management, optimized reservoir operation, and sustaining river ecosystem health. This demand refers to the clear or sediment-laden water volume needed for transporting a specified amount of sediment to a downstream location within a given period, under defined flow-sediment and channel boundary conditions, while preserving a target erosion-deposition balance. This demand is governed by the sediment‑carrying capacity and channel‑forming processes of the river and is modulated by channel geometry, sediment supply dynamics, grain‑size distribution, target erosion‑deposition levels, and temporal scale. It manifests through multi‑factor coupling, spatiotemporal variability, scale dependency, and functional orientation. A range of methods have been developed to calculate this demand, including the definition method, the equilibrium sediment transport method, data‑based analysis, erosion‑deposition correction, energy balance, and non‑equilibrium sediment transport approaches. Drawing on case studies from the Ningxia-Inner Mongolia reach and the lower Yellow River, this paper examines the key characteristics of sediment transport water demand and compares the applicability of prevailing calculation methods.

How to cite: Le, M., Guo, C., and zhou, Z.: Water Demand for Sediment Transport in Rivers: Conceptualization and Computational Approaches, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21094, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21094, 2026.

Flood events show a worrying growth trend, in severity and frequency, compared to the past, in particular in the Mediterranean countries. In accordance with the recent Natural Restoration Law (2024), Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRMs) are configured as tools capable of integrating engineering interventions with nature-based approaches to mitigate flood risks. To the authors’ knowledge, there is a lack of studies on the quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of NWRMs. In this context, the present study proposes a methodology based on hydraulic modeling for the evaluation of the effects of some NWRM at catchment area scale for flood risk mitigation, considering two case studies in Sicily, i.e. the catchment areas of the Eleuterio and Belice rivers. Starting from the study of the land use and the lithology of the considered Sicilian catchments, the most appropriate NWRM proposals are defined, which are reforestation in uncultivated land and low- and no-till practices in agricultural areas. Multiple intervention scenarios are proposed to identify the most effective measures for the case studies: i) reforestation, assumed on increasing percentages of the areas allocated to such intervention, i.e. 25%, 55%, 85% and 100%, considering both the initial and final state of growth of planted tree species; ii) conservation agriculture techniques (low-till and no-till practices) in fields intended for arable and similar crops or/and in orchards, vineyards and olive groves; iii) the combination of the above mentioned interventions. By using a rainfall-runoff model based on the Curve Number method, four hydrographs at the river mouth are obtained for each scenario and for the no intervention case, corresponding to the return periods of 5, 50,100 and 300 years. The implementation of the considered NWRMs produces the reduction of the peak flow rates with respect to the no intervention case. The obtained hydrographs are then used as inputs for the 2D hydraulic model developed in HEC-RAS,  and flood maps are obtained. As expected, for both case studies, the best performances are obtained with the combination of reforestation and conservation agriculture techniques, with reduction in the water depth of flooded areas up to 34.52% for a return period of 5 years and 16.12% for a return period of 300 years, and in the extension of flooded areas up to 52.74% for a return period of 5 years and 8.35% for a return period of 300 years. Moreover, reforestation appears to provide the larger contribution to flood risk reduction.

How to cite: Sangiorgi, A., Stagnitti, M., Sanfilippo, M., Cavallaro, L., Foti, E., and Musumeci, R. E.: Hydraulic modeling of Natural Water Retention Measures for flood risk mitigation in Sicily, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-21560, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-21560, 2026.

The lowland Maya of Mesoamerica were affected by multiple environmental stresses throughout their history, and many experienced a major demographic and political decline, or collapse, during a period of inferred intense multidecadal drought, approximately 1200- and 1000-years BP. Given regional variation in the timing and character of the collapse (Demarest, 2004; Hodell et al., 2007; Webster et al., 2007; Kennett and Beach, 2014; Douglas et al., 2015), much remains to be discovered about the complex interactions between climate and society in the Maya lowlands. To this end, we combine carbon and hydrogen isotopic analyses of leaf wax n-alkanes with quantification of faecal stanols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from a lake sediment core from the southwest lowlands to assess whether (1) palaeoecological evidence of land use is related to population change; and (2) whether population and land use are linked to changing precipitation. Our data reveal a transition from generally more intense fire use and C₄ plant agriculture during the Preclassic (3500–2000 BP) to dense populations and reduced fire use during the Classic (1600–1000 BP). This is consistent with other evidence for a more urbanised and specialised society in the Classic. We do not find evidence of drought in the hydrogen isotope leaf wax record (δD_lw), implying that local drought was not a primary driver of observed variability in land use or population change in the Classic-period southwestern lowlands. We present preliminary data from lake sediment cores from the northern lowlands. 

How to cite: Gwinneth, B., Johnston, K., Breckenridge, A., Strachan, I., Marcoux, A., Martínez Dyrzo, H., Roy, P., and Douglas, P.: Reconstructing human-environment interactions in the Maya lowlands using lipid biomarkers, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-456, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-456, 2026.

Climate models are based on our understanding of the Earth climate system. To improve their accuracy, we rely on regional paleotemperature reconstructions, that can also be used to validate model outputs. Many existing paleoclimate proxies reconstruct mean annual or summer temperatures. Spring, which is essential for biodiversity and agricultural activities, is underrepresented, resulting in an incomplete perception of past climate, especially regarding seasonal variations. Lacustrine alkenones are lipid biomarkers that appear as a promising paleothermometer to quantitatively record spring temperatures in freshwater lakes. They are long chain ketones (35 to 42 carbons) with a varying number of double bonds (2 to 4) produced exclusively by the haptophyte phytoplankton in the Order Isochrysidales. These algae were found to respond to water temperature changes by altering relative proportions of the produced alkenones. The UK37 index has been extensively used to reconstruct sea surface temperatures in the past. Alkenone producing algae are divided into three major phylogenetic groups shaped largely by salinity. Among these groups, Group I dominate freshwater lakes, making them potential powerful tools for reconstructing continental spring temperatures. Alkenone seasonality was resolved in several studies conducted in high-latitude lakes which found alkenones occurring at the ice-off (spring-summer). The question arises regarding which seasonal temperatures are recorded by the UK37 index in mid latitude lakes? When other proxies show great uncertainty, three robust in-situ calibrations with low uncertainties were developed for the correlation of UK37 values to temperatures in high-latitude lakes. However, so far, no monitoring studies have been conducted in mid-latitude lakes, and no in-situ calibration has been established. Therefore, we conducted high-frequency monitoring of alkenone production in two Swiss lakes with very distinct settings for comparison: Greifensee (453masl, lowland and not ice-covered), and Lake St. Moritz (1768masl, alpine and ice-covered). The monitoring consisted in taking water samples over a full year on Greifensee, and from spring to summer in Lake St. Moritz, and retrieving sediment traps regularly to study alkenone deposition into the sediments in parallel with production in the water. We also collected environmental data such as salinity, nutrient contents, chlorophyll concentrations, temperature, and light radiation. We describe the seasonality of alkenone production in these two lakes and draw the first calibrations between the UK37 and temperature. The timing of alkenone production will be compared with variations in the environmental parameters to estimate the bloom drivers. With this work, we aim to establish a reliable continental spring temperature proxy. 

How to cite: Marchand, L., Martin, C., Richter, N., Amaral-Zettler, L., and Dubois, N.: Seasonality of Group I alkenone production and in-situ UK37-Temperature calibrations for mid-latitude Swiss lakes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1451, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1451, 2026.

The Younger Dryas (YD, 12,900-11,700 cal. yr BP) was a major abrupt cooling event caused by a slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which sharply reduced heat transport in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the magnitude, temporal pattern and seasonality expression of the YD cooling across Europe remain difficult to constrain due to the lack of quantitative proxies and confounding factors on proxy responses. Here, we aim to reconstruct YD mean annual temperatures of months above freezing (MAF) using temperature-sensitive bacterial membrane lipids, so-called branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), stored in lake sediments from Retournemer (eastern France) and Steisslingen (southern Germany). In both lakes, brGDGT-derived MAFs show only a minor cooling (~1-2C) during the YD, whereas more established GDGT-based proxies indicate a deeper oxic layer and shifts in lake microbial communities consistent with colder and windier conditions across Europe. As such, our brGDGT records confirm that most of the cooling was expressed during winters, in line with previously suggested seasonality patterns. Subsequent examination of the much less explored branched glycerol monoalkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGMGTs) that are characterized by an additional carbon–carbon bond between their alkyl chains reveals a stronger response during the YD in both lakes. However, translation to absolute temperature is hampered by their distinct composition from that in East African lakes on which the only currently existing transfer function is based. Regardless, our results show that brGMGTs have potential as indicators of YD cooling in future studies.

How to cite: Panbut, C., Hendriks, P., Lane, C. S., Engels, S., Sachse, D., Hoek, W. Z., and Peterse, F.: Towards quantifying Younger Dryas cooling in Europe using lipid biomarkers archived in lake sediments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3374, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3374, 2026.

Lipid biomarkers such as glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) and 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) are widely used proxies for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. To evaluate their applicability in high-latitude environments, we analyzed samples from seven soil trenches collected at 5 cm intervals to a depth of ~40 cm, fifteen surface soils, and nine fjord sediments from the Ny-Ålesund region of Svalbard. The datasets were compared to assess the relative performance of lipid-based proxies under Arctic conditions. Soils from Svalbard display higher proportion of 6-methyl branched GDGTs compared to most global soils. Although the overall concentrations of branched and isoprenoid GDGTs are relatively low, likely due to the cold climate and short growing season. The microbial lipid derived pH proxy, performs reliably in extreme setting. In contrast, the temperature index, MBT′_5ME values show substantial variability despite limited temperature variation, suggesting that temperature is not the sole factor affecting the lipid distribution. Depth-profile analyses of brGDGTs in moss-dominated soils reveal that moss-covered areas contribute significantly to brGDGT abundance. Moss-derived organic matter enhances bacterial activity and lowers the fungal-to-bacterial ratio within the microbial community. This interpretation is supported by stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) and total organic carbon (TOC) data, which suggest that mosses are the primary source of organic carbon supporting brGDGT production. Overall, finding highlight the important role of moss cover in regulating microbial processes and GDGT distributions in Arctic soils, emphasizing the need to consider vegetation effects when applying lipid-based proxies in high-latitude paleoclimate reconstructions.

How to cite: Kumar, V., Roy, B., Tiwari, M., Thamban, M., and Sanyal, P.: Understanding Microbial Lipid (GDGTs and 3-OH FAs) Responses Across Arctic Ecological Gradients, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3820, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3820, 2026.

Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) of organic biomarkers enables reconstruction of past environmental and climatic conditions by resolving the isotope composition of individual molecular compounds. Among these applications, hydrogen isotope (δD) measurements of leaf wax n-alkanes are widely used to infer changes in hydroclimate, including variations in precipitation isotopic composition, moisture source, and evaporative conditions. Because long-chain n-alkanes are resistant to degradation and preserve a terrestrial signal in sedimentary archives, their δD values provide a robust proxy for past continental hydroclimate across a wide range of depositional settings.

Despite this utility, CSIA of organic biomarkers is frequently limited by the low abundance of target compounds, particularly in sedimentary archives where concentrations vary strongly across stratigraphy and compound class. This limitation is especially acute for δD measurements, which typically require injected analyte masses of several hundred nanograms to achieve acceptable precision on gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) systems. Because hydrogen isotope analysis relies on pyrolytic conversion to H₂, δD measurements generally operate at lower absolute signal intensities than compound-specific δ¹³C analyses, placing them closer to instrumental sensitivity limits where background correction, baseline placement, and nonlinear response exert a proportionally greater influence on measured isotope ratios. As a result, δD analysis of individual low-abundance compounds is often precluded, necessitating pooled samples or coarse sampling intervals that suppress short-duration climate signals and limit the achievable resolution of paleoclimate reconstructions.

Here, we assess the feasibility, limitations, and uncertainty structure of isotope dilution (ID) for δD measurements of leaf wax n-alkanes using internationally recognized, isotopically characterized n-alkane standard mixtures. Isotope dilution offers a potential strategy to stabilize isotope measurements through controlled mixing of a low-abundance analyte with an isotopically characterized spike, thereby increasing the total amount of analyte contributing to the measurement and reducing uncertainty associated with low signal intensities. Controlled mixing experiments isolate the effects of nominal mixing ratio, isotope contrast between spike and sample, and signal intensity on back-calculated isotope values. These tests provide a framework for quantifying uncertainty propagation in ID-CSIA and for defining practical constraints on its application. Our results establish conditions under which isotope dilution can yield accurate and precise δD measurements for low-abundance compounds and provide methodological guidance for extending CSIA into concentration regimes that are otherwise analytically inaccessible, enabling higher-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions and expanding the range of sedimentary archives amenable to biomarker isotope analysis.

How to cite: Lupien, R., Traphagan, J., and Juchelka, D.: Isotope dilution to enhance δD measurability in low-abundance n-alkane samples, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7259, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7259, 2026.

The Tortonian stage (11.6–7.2 Ma) represents a warm interval preceding the Late Miocene Cooling (7.5–5.5 Ma), during which high-latitude temperatures exceeded modern values by up to ~17°C. Atmospheric CO₂ reconstructions during the Tortonian are poorly constrained, with existing proxy records suggesting either high CO2 levels, reaching ~790 ppm at ~11 Ma (Mejia et al., 2017), or more moderate and relatively stable CO₂ conditions.

Here, we present new high-latitude pCO₂ reconstructions based on alkenone carbon isotopic fractionation (ε_p) from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1088 in the subantarctic South Atlantic, covering the interval from 11.6 to 9.0 Ma. Combined benthic and bulk carbonate δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O records are used to identify the Tortonian thermal maximum and to guide targeted, higher-resolution sampling. Sea surface temperatures are reconstructed from alkenone Uk′₃₇ ratios using the Bayspline calibration (Tierney et al., 2018), and ε_p is calculated from compound-specific δ¹³C measurements of the C_37:2  alkenone. The isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon is estimated from planktonic foraminiferal (G. bulloides) δ¹³C, accounting for the temperature-dependent fractionation between DIC and aqueous CO₂.

pCO₂ concentrations are then reconstructed using a probabilistic ε_p model (Stoll et al., 2019) that explicitly incorporates coccolithophore cell size, growth rate, and light availability. Coccolith size and thickness distributions are quantified from circular polarized image analyses, while growth rates are inferred from temperature and nutrient availability.

How to cite: Santos, M., Wijker, R., and Stoll, H.: Reconstructing sea surface temperature and atmospheric CO₂ across the Tortonian using alkenone εp records from South Atlantic ODP Site 1088, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7288, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7288, 2026.

Certain haptophyte algae produce a recalcitrant suite of long-chain (C₃₇-C₃₉) methyl and ethyl ketones called alkenones. These compounds are widely applied in paleoclimate studies due the temperature sensitivity of the ratio of di- to tri- unsaturated alkenones, most commonly quantified in the U^K’₃₇ index. However, phylogenetic effects and other physiological effects can alter the intercept of the U^K’₃₇ relationship to temperature, complicating the application to past climates. Here we present results of two strains of Group II (brackish) and four strains of Group III (open marine) haptophytes batch cultured under different temperatures, light levels, and CO₂ (aq) concentrations. One Group III strain was also continuously cultured in a turbidostat.

The alkenone response to temperature differs per strain, as has previously been found in culture studies. Additionally, when applying core top calibrations commonly used in paleoclimate studies, U^K’₃₇ consistently under-predicts batch culture growth temperature. We further find no systematic control on the offset between alkenone unsaturation calibrations from core top and expected values in batch culture for a given strain. When considering data from multiple strains, the offset from expected values in U^K’₃₇ and U^K_38Me, but not U^K_38Et, correlate to ratio of the alkenone concentration relative to particulate organic matter. In cells harvested with a higher proportion of alkenones relative to particulate organic carbon, this cold offset is diminished and temperature prediction for U^K’₃₇ and U^K_38Me is more consistent with core top calibrations.

In addition, we compare nutrient replete continuous culture results to batch culture of the same strain to assess if the alkenone unsaturation response to temperature similar.

How to cite: Rice, A., Torres-Romero, I., Zhang, H., Wijker, R. S., Clark, A. J., Jaggi, M., and Stoll, H. M.: Phylogenetic effects of alkenone unsaturation in cultured Group II and Group III haptophytes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7314, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7314, 2026.

Present-day biodiversity and landscapes in Europe reflect millennia of human influence. Particularly, the ‘medieval agricultural revolution’ marked large-scale movements of people, plants, and livestock, and major shifts in agricultural practices, coinciding with the Medieval Climate Anomaly. Understanding how this biodiversity emerged, and how it contributes to the resilience of socio-ecological systems is critical for future climate-adaptive land-use planning and management. Existing human-ecodynamic reconstructions are largely based on archaeological sites and mires, and therefore often lack the spatial representativeness beyond an individual site, continuous depositional archives, or the temporal resolution and ecological breadth needed to assess biodiversity, land-use history, and species vulnerability in detail.

The ERC synergy project “MEMELAND – Molecular Ecology of Medieval European Landscapes” addresses these gaps through an interdisciplinary multi-lake, multiproxy framework. As part of this project, we will investigate lake sediment records from 50 lake pairs across a latitudinal gradient in Europe. Each pair consists of one lake located near a high-status (elite) site and one “control” lake from a nearby area lacking direct archaeological evidence for medieval elite activity. Such baselines from nearby “pristine” lakes are rarely established but are essential for disentangling natural from anthropogenic drivers of change.

Here we present our faecal biomarker framework to reconstruct grazing and manuring intensity during the medieval period using sterols, stanols, and bile acids measured as concentrations and depositional fluxes. To improve source attribution, we are developing a diet-controlled livestock reference library that characterizes sterol/stanol and bile-acid fingerprints and diagnostic ratios under historically plausible feeding regimes. We further leverage MEMELAND’s sedaDNA component to benchmark biomarker-derived livestock inputs against taxonomically resolved signals of domestic animals and land-use indicators. In this complementary approach, faecal biomarkers constrain the magnitude of livestock input, while sedaDNA refines the source and ecological context.

We ask which faecal biomarkers and diagnostic ratios are most robust across heterogeneous European lake systems, whether paired-lake comparisons reveal consistent spatio-temporal contrasts in land use during the medieval period, and whether eutrophication trajectories track enhanced nutrient loading associated with grazing and manuring. Besides the sedaDNA data, biomarker results are further integrated with palynological proxies, hyperspectral imaging, geochemistry (µXRF), and chronostratigraphic approaches to identify and contextualize land-use signatures in sediment archives.

On our poster, we present an overview of this biomarker contribution to MEMELAND and look forward to discussing it with you.

How to cite: Schneider, T., Brown, A. G., Mackay, H., Lang, A., Hamerow, H., Mottl, O., and Dubois, N.: Sedimentary faecal biomarkers in European lakes: tracing land-use activity during the medieval agricultural revolution, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7602, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7602, 2026.

Lakes are key components of global carbon cycling, accounting for 6-16 % of natural methane (CH₄) emissions. Methane release from lakes is largely regulated by aerobic methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB), which oxidize up to 75% of the methane produced in lakes to CO₂. Over the past two centuries, anthropogenic environmental change and climate forcing have led to rapid changes in lake systems including eutrophication and stronger stratification. The implications of these ongoing processes for MOB communities and the key methane sink they represent remains unclear. A deeper understanding of how MOB communities in lakes responded to systemic change in the past is essential for discerning their future dynamics. This highlights the need for a reliable biomarker that can track changes in MOB communities in lakes across timescales. The hopanoid bacterial membrane lipids, bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs), exhibit specificity to MOB types and genera, therefore holding potential as biomarkers allowing us to track community assemblages. The peri-alpine lake Rotsee, located in central Switzerland, is a prime example of a monomictic eutrophic lake, making it an ideal study site to further understand and develop BHPs as biomarkers for MOB communities. Here we present initial results of a seasonal study of Rotsee where we used BHPs coupled with eDNA to investigate the MOB assemblages in the lake’s present-day water column, allowing us to ascertain how rapidly seasonally changing conditions affect MOB communities and the lipid biomarker assemblages they produce. We carried out intact polar lipid (IPL) extraction on suspended particulate matter (SPM) filtered from Rotsee’s 16-meter-deep water column at three-meter intervals and at the oxycline, from August 2025 to January 2026, and at two depths (surface and 15 meters) from May to December 2019. IPLs were measured on an Ultra High Precision Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS). Genetic material was extracted from the SPM samples and sequenced targeting bacterial 16S rRNA. Preliminary results show that MOB-specific BHPs: aminotriol, aminotetrol, and aminopentol, are present in the Rotsee water column. The relative abundances of BHPs in the epilimnion remains low and steady during spring and summer but spike during lake overturn in November, whereupon most of the methane is released and oxidized after accumulation in the hypolimnion. 16S rRNA data indicates that the MOB communities are entirely made up of Gammaproteobacteria and match BHP seasonal trends with MOB-specific sequences being more abundant during overturn in the surface water. Additionally, surface waters in November are characterized by a higher abundance of aminopentol, which is scarcely found during spring and summer. Interestingly surface water 16S rRNA data also show that the MOB community compositions change considerably in November and December, shifting from Methylomonas to Methylobacter-dominated. Therefore, preliminary results show that BHP abundances respond to seasonal MOB blooms and show promise towards tracking seasonal community dynamics in eutrophic stratified lakes.

How to cite: Cellino, L., De Jonge, C., Ajallooeian, F., Dubois, N., and Richter, N.: Lipid Biomarkers Respond to Seasonal Blooms of Methane Oxidizing Bacteria in a Eutrophic Lake, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9089, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9089, 2026.

The Mongol Empire (13^th - 14^th century CE) was the largest contiguous land empire in world history. However, it is not yet known how an urban lifestyle in its first capital Karakorum was sustained in the heart of the Mongolian steppe. One aspect of this is how food supply and subsequent delivery of raw materials was secured.

Therefore, we aimed at characterizing soil resources in Sarlag Tolgoi, an ancient settlement about 50 km northwest of Karakorum. We took samples of a transect through the settlement and reference samples of undisturbed soil, serving as control. We (i) analyzed these samples regarding their phosphorus concentration as waste marker and (ii) the sterol and bile acid concentration in cases where phosphorus levels were elevated, in order to reconstruct past settlement structures and the fingerprint they left on the surrounding environment.

We found a tenfold increase of phosphorus concentrations from 2 to 20 mg P kg^-1 in the topsoil from the surrounding area compared to the soil within the settlement itself. This clearly supports the hypothesis of anthropogenic influence at this site. A closer examination of those samples with increased phosphorus concentration by sterol and bile acid analysis revealed hotspots of an ancient faecal input by grazing animals - mainly cattle and sheep - within the settlement. Furthermore, the applied ratio (epi-5β-stigmastanol/5β-stigmastanol + epicroprostanol/coprostanol) revealed no indication of faecal input from horses, whereas low proportions of coprostanol suggested limited human faecal input. Therefore, we suppose that horses and ditches for human waste were outside of the settlement area.

In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Mongolian steppe soils preserve ancient fingerprints of human settlement associated with the Mongol Empire, expressed through changes in both, their morphology, and chemical signature. These findings highlight the considerable potential of basic soil science approaches to refine and strengthen archaeological interpretations in this region. Moreover, complementary chemical analyses provide valuable insights into past lifeways and human-environmental interactions. While the unambiguous attribution of signals to specific historical periods remains challenging, future integration of compound-specific biomarker dating in the vicinity of archaeological findings holds strong promise for achieving more robust chronological resolution.

How to cite: Koch, I., Mörchen, R., Bemmann, J., Reichert, S., and Amelung, W.: Reconstruction of ancient land-use in the Orkhon Valley, Central Mongolia, by waste markers: phosphorous, sterol and bile acid analyses, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-9870, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-9870, 2026.

Unlocking the functional complexity of soil ecosystems requires robust methods for characterizing the diverse communities residing within them. While phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis has long served as a standard tool for quantifying soil microbial community composition, it is inherently constrained by low taxonomic resolution and a historical bias toward bacteria and fungi, often obscuring the contributions of other critical soil organisms. To address this gap, intact polar lipid analysis offers potentially deeper and more detailed insight into the soil (micro)biome. Here, we present a comprehensive lipidomic reference library built from intact polar lipids extracted from pure isolates and individual species spanning the tree of life, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, plants, and soil fauna to enable high-resolution, culture-independent biodiversity assessments.

Using reversed phase UPLC separation followed by dual-polarity, high-resolution Orbitrap MS/MS and molecular networking, we captured over 140,000 molecular features and organized them into approximately 10,000 molecular families. This library covers ~30 phyla and >50 lipid classes, extending the analytical window far beyond PLFA to include diverse glycerophospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, and neutral lipids. Hierarchical analyses reveal distinctive lipidomic architectures across taxonomic levels, with over half of the detected compounds appearing exclusive to single phyla. Beyond standard microbial signals, we identified rich lipid fingerprints specific for faunal and protist groups (e.g., Arthropoda, Nematoda, Mollusca, Amoebozoa), plastid-associated glycolipids in photosynthetic lineages, and characteristic archaeal membrane compositions. Clustering these features yielded thousands of phylum-exclusive molecular families, providing candidate biomarkers with built-in signal redundancy.

As a proof-of-concept, we detected these signatures in heterogeneous soil samples, supporting the feasibility of the approach while highlighting the need for broader validation of potential biomarker families. These findings establish a path toward high-resolution lipid-based mapping of soil community composition and food-web structure, offering a powerful, functional complement to existing genomic and biochemical approaches.

How to cite: Samrat, R. and Wanek, W.: Beyond microbes: mapping soil food web biodiversity via lipid fingerprinting, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10003, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10003, 2026.

Paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions rely on proxies derived from physical, chemical or biological properties of the investigated archive. In order to achieve the highest spatial (hundreds of micrometers), and thus temporal resolution (subannual), various imaging techniques, such as hyperspectral imaging, computed tomography, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), X-ray, and µXRF can be employed. However, proxies generally respond to multiple environmental variables (e.g., the GDGT-based proxy CCat is influenced by both water column temperature and nutrient concentrations). Multi-proxy studies are necessary to obtain a comprehensive understanding of past conditions and to disentangle individual biogeochemical processes.

A major roadblock in multi-proxy studies is the alignment of data across multiple datasets since manual matching of ‘wiggles’ (1D time series) can be deceptive. With imaging data this issue can be avoided since data can be matched in 2D space. Moreover, RGB images are routinely obtained alongside each method. This provides a shared data layer between methods.

Not all imaging methods can be performed on the exact same sample slice, and MSI even requires multiple samples from the same core depth to cover multiple mass windows. Consequently, four aspects are taken into account in our proposed workflow: (I) subsamples need to be referenced back to the core; (II) datasets are obtained at different positions and can have vastly different resolutions; (III) samples may be distorted during sample preparation - so even two MSI measurements from the same sediment section at the same resolution cannot be mapped directly onto each other. And although these distortions are generally small, investigating seasonal variations requires consistency at the scale of hundreds of micrometers; (IV) after a transformation between images has been found, the data needs to be transformed (i.e., resampled). This requires interpolation, which can alter properties such as sparsity. Hence, interpolation targets as well as the interpolation methods need to be selected with care.

In this work, we present a workflow capable of semi-automatically combining image datasets from (sections of) sediment cores from any two imaging methods. Advanced methods for laminated sediments are also presented, as they are particularly suitable for fine-scale matching. With this workflow we aim to replace the tedious manual teaching point selection by providing robust image registration methods for routine multi-proxy studies on subannual scales.

How to cite: Zander, Y., Liu, W., Wörmer, L., and Hinrichs, K.-U.: A Workflow for Combining microscale Imaging Techniques in Paleoclimatology, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11129, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11129, 2026.

Throughout the past century, eutrophication and climate change have strongly impacted temperate lakes, resulting in greater algal productivity and shifts in phytoplankton community composition. In many lakes cyanobacterial blooms have become more common, reducing water quality, negatively impacting aquatic food webs, and affecting the cycling of carbon and other nutrients. Appropriate management of aquatic systems to mitigate and avoid these problems is informed by monitoring data, but direct observations are often limited to recent decades. Paleolimnological approaches can extend the observational window and contextualize long-term changes of algal communities in response to climatic and environmental forcings. However, it remains challenging to reconstruct changes in algal productivity and community assembly, particularly the relative abundance of cyanobacteria to eukaryotic algae, throughout the geologic past.

Here, we present two recently developed lipid-based proxies that can be used to reconstruct broad shifts in algal community composition: (1) the Phytol:Sterol Index (PSI), which represents the relative abundance of the chlorophyll side-chain, phytol, to phytosterols from eukaryotic algae and (2) hydrogen isotope offsets between phytol and the common membrane lipid C16 fatty acid (δ²H_{C16:0 Acid/Phytol}), which is higher for lipids produced by cyanobacteria and green algae than for other eukaryotic algae. We demonstrate the utility of these proxies in a collection of short sediment cores from lakes in the Swiss Plateau (Murtensee, Greifensee, and two hydrologically distinct basins of Zugersee), all of which experienced extreme eutrophication in the mid- to late 20^th century, followed by partial recovery to lower nutrient levels. We found significant changes in lipid distributions coincident with the main period of increasing total phosphorus inputs. During this time, PSI increased in all four lake records, indicating that more of the algal biomass accumulating in the sediments was derived from cyanobacteria. In Murtensee, PSI and δ²H_{C16:0 Acid/Phytol} co-varied, while in Greifensee the initial increase in cyanobacteria was followed by a period of low PSI and high δ²H_{C16:0 Acid/Phytol} values, consistent with observations of abundant green algae during this later period.

We cross-compared our lipid biomarker data with cyanobacterial and plastid 23S rRNA amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) of DNA extracted from the cores. In general, there was good agreement between PSI and the abundance of cyanobacterial ASVs. However, during periods when the cyanobacterial DNA was primarily from small-celled taxa such as Synechococcus, such as the early 20^th century in Murtensee, PSI was low relative to the abundance of cyanobacterial ASVs. This suggests that small but numerous cyanobacteria might be overrepresented in sedimentary DNA relative to their biomass, likely related to the polyploidy of their chromosomes.

Overall, sedimentary PSI appears to be a robust and analytically straight-forward indicator of cyanobacterial abundance. Due to the greater mass of phytol needed for δ²H measurements, chromatographical challenges can limit the application of δ²H_{C16:0 Acid/Phytol} in some sediments, such as those from Zugersee. The combination of these new lipid-based proxies with other tools, including sedimentary DNA, pigments, and microfossil analyses can provide the most comprehensive picture of past algal community composition.

How to cite: Ladd, N., Klatt, A., Nelson, D., Wälchli, J., Wietelmann, T., and Dubois, N.: New lipid-based proxies for past cyanobacterial abundance , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11425, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11425, 2026.

As the largest volcanic eruption in the Quaternary period, the ~74 ka Toba super eruption’s impact on the global heat budget and monsoon systems has been prominently debated. Despite particular focus on its consequences in India as one of the key regions of early modern human dispersal — ranging from catastrophic to minimal — high-resolution proxy evidence from geological archives that empirically support the claims has been scarce. In this study, we trace pre- and post-Toba monsoonal dynamics from a finely laminated sedimentary section from the Arabian Sea that brackets Toba tephra as an event marker of the eruption. The sediment core SO130-289KL was retrieved from the northeastern margin of the Arabian Sea outside of the upwelling zone (Sindh continental margin), at a water depth of 571 m, which today lies within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The site is sensitive to both monsoon seasons, as the South Asian summer monsoon controls sedimentary dynamics, whereas the wind strength of the winter monsoon primarily influences the sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Thus, the sediment core sensitively records the evolution of South Asian summer and winter monsoons. In order to reconstruct the regional climatic response to Toba at near-annual resolution, we produced time-series data of elemental and SST variations using µm-scale measurements (100–200 µm resolution) by x-ray fluorescence (µXRF) scanning and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) techniques, respectively. The µXRF elemental data trace terrestrial components primarily sourced by runoff from the summer monsoon, which are complemented by the glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether-based SST calculations from MSI that are affected by OMZ intensity. On the other hand, the alkenone measurements from MSI more sensitively trace SST variations that are primarily governed by the winter monsoon. Supplemented by conventional biomarker and stable hydrogen and carbon isotope measurements, which trace precipitation and vegetation dynamics over the Indus River catchment, respectively, our multi-proxy data contribute to a better understanding of the impact that the Toba eruption had on the regional climate, environment, and eventually, contemporaneous humans.

How to cite: Park, J., Liu, W., Wörmer, L., Schefuß, E., Lückge, A., Altun, J., Taubner, H., Hinrichs, K.-U., and Obreht, I.: South Asian monsoon response to the ~74 ka Toba super-eruption revealed by µm-scale imaging on Arabian Sea sediment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11753, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11753, 2026.

Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels are enhancing primary production, which could result in higher carbon sequestration in biomass (C-fixation). This higher primary productivity, however, relies on a sustained supply of soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N). To understand whether climate change and rising CO₂ levels have an impact on soil nitrogen availability on centennial to millennial timescales, a geological perspective can be used. For instance, the glacial-interglacial warming, and Holocene warm periods provide valuable natural analogues for investigating these long-term interactions. However, currently no quantitative methods exist to reconstruct soil nitrogen availability through time. To address this, we propose to develop novel proxies based on lipid biomarkers for essential processes in the soil N-cycle.

In aquatic systems, microbial membrane lipids are well established as biomarkers for specific steps in the N-cycle: for instance, heterocyte glycolipids (HGs), produced by heterocytous cyanobacteria, indicate biological nitrogen fixation. Further, microbial intact polar lipids (IPL), isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (isoGDGTs) and bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) are promising proxies for archaeal ammonia oxidation and bacterial nitrite-oxidation, respectively. We propose to test for these N-cycle biomarkers in soils. A pilot sample set of European surface soils was selected, consisting of both N-limited (N-) dryland (n = 8) and N-replete (N+) grassland soils (n = 4). Lipid extracts were analysed by UHPLC-HRMS to generate a high-resolution dataset of the complete lipidome. As a first step in the proxy development, we here present the BHP composition and changes in their relative distribution between in N- and N+ soils.

A total of 47 different BHPs were tentatively identified. In all samples, hydroxy BHPs are predominant components (50-60%). BHtetrol (BHT) is most abundant and all samples contain BHpentol and BHhexol. Amino-BHPs are less abundant in N- soils compared to N+ (2-7%; 10%). For example, aminotriol BHP is relatively increased in N+ soils. A total of 22 nucleoside BHPs were identified with either an adenine (adenosylhopanes) or inosine (inosylhopanes) headgroup that differ in amount and position of methylation on the BHP core or in the headgroup structure. Adenosylhopanes are relatively more abundant in N- than N+ soils (N-: 40-45%, N+: 20%). Inosylhopanes are present at a lower abundance, with 0-5% in N- and up to 10% in N+ soils. Based on changes in their occurrence, four adenosylhopanes and two inosylhopanes are tentatively proposed as N-cycle biomarkers. Specifically, three adenosylhopanes (diMe-adenosylhopane, diMe-adenosylhopane-headgroup-Me, Me-adenosylhopane-headgroup-diMe) and one Me-inosylhopane are exclusively found in N- soils. Likewise, an early adenosylhopane-headgroup-Me and an inosylhopane-headgroup-diMe only occur in N+ soils.

These results highlight the potential N-cycle lipid biomarkers in soils. The occurrence of other potential biomarkers (isoGDGTs, HGs) for the N-cycle will be tested for on the same soils. Moreover, we will apply an untargeted approach via computational MS to comprehensively characterize the whole soil microbial lipidome and evaluate the suite of potential lipid biomarkers associated with nitrogen cycling.

How to cite: Kerschhofer, F. P., Richter, N., Radujković, D., Verbruggen, E., Muñoz-Martín, M. A., Perona, E., Cantón Castilla, Y., Bauersachs, T., Ding, S., and De Jonge, C.: Intact polar lipids as biomarkers for nitrogen fixation and nitrification in European soils , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12957, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12957, 2026.

The evolution of typhoon activity in Taiwan at glacial-interglacial timescales remains poorly constrained, as modelling past typhoon trajectories is challenging and terrestrial archives rarely extend beyond the Holocene due to high erosion rates. However, the land-to-sea transfer of terrestrial material is mainly controlled by typhoons, with more than 75% of the annual flux occurring within less than 1% of the year. Particulate organic carbon (POC) transferred during typhoon-induced floods represents 77 to 92% of the annual biospheric (vegetation- and soil-derived) POC flux. Consequently, investigating changes in the flux of biospheric terrestrial POC in marine sediments off eastern Taiwan, where rivers connect directly to the canyon regardless of the relative sea-level due to the absence of a broad continental shelf, provides an opportunity to assess past variations in typhoon activity.

At this end, we analyzed lipid biomarkers together with sedimentological and geochemical parameters from a sediment core collected offshore eastern Taiwan. Coarser grain sizes, higher TOC, long chain n-alkanes and soil-derived brGDGTs (IIIa/IIa < 0.59) accumulation rates during the deglaciation relative to the Holocene indicate substantially enhanced land-to-sea carbon transport linked to more frequent and/or more energetic turbidity activity. In addition, higher CPI values and reduced age offsets between planktonic foraminifera and bulk organic matter radiocarbon dating over the same interval point to a larger fraction of biospheric terrestrial POC transfer to the marine sediments compared to the Holocene. Together, these results point to an enhanced typhoon activity affecting Taiwan during the deglaciation, in agreement with recent model simulations indicating a higher typhoon genesis potential at that time. Given the difficulties in simulating past typhoon activity in Taiwan, or in recording it from terrestrial archives, our approach provides an alternative way to constrain past changes in typhoon activity affecting the island. This also raises the possibility that, if typhoon activity affecting Taiwan were to increase due to a northward shift in typhoon pathways as projected under ongoing global warming, the eastern margin of Taiwan could turn into a carbon sink.

How to cite: Fenies, P., Ho, S. L., Bassetti, M.-A., Vazquez Riveiros, N., Hefter, J., Chang, Y.-P., Löwemark, L., Babonneau, N., Ratzov, G., Hsu, S.-K., and Su, C.-C.: Increased typhoon activity led to higher land-to-sea organic carbon export in the deglacial northwest subtropical Pacific: Insights from lipid biomarkers and sediment geochemistry, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17006, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17006, 2026.

Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire during approximately 9^th to 15^th CE. It relied on a sophisticated water management system to sustain a vast low-density urban population. For the last two decades, the decline of Angkor has been linked to hydroclimatic instability in combination with infrastructural failure. Recent archaeological evidence suggests that the decline of elite occupation within the civic-ceremonial core may have begun earlier, resulting from additional social, political, or economic drivers. Understanding the timing and potential causes of such changes is crucial for assessing the vulnerability of complex urban systems.

Sedimentary molecular biomarkers can provide insights into paleoenvironmental and anthropogenic changes. In particular, untargeted molecular fingerprinting is not constrained by predefined compound lists and analyzes thousands of molecular features simultaneously. This enables the detection of complex and overlapping source inputs and facilitates the identification of broader molecular shifts potentially associated with changing land use, ecosystem functioning, and anthropogenic activity.

Here we apply an untargeted molecular fingerprinting framework using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) to characterize sedimentary organic matter in lipid extracts from a sediment core retrieved from a pond inside the temple of Angkor Wat. GC×GC substantially increases chromatographic resolution and enables the detection of thousands of chemical features without a priori hypotheses and is thus suitable for the untargeted analyses. We investigate temporal shifts in molecular composition across the Angkorian and post-Angkorian periods to evaluate changes in organic matter inputs, microbial processing, and water quality, and discuss their implications for changes in urban land use and occupation patterns at the temple complex.

How to cite: Liu, W., Ruan, Y., Schefuß, E., Sistiaga, A., Korneliussen, T. S., Larsen, N. K., Ramsøe, A. D., Ruter, A., Siggaard-Andersen, M.-L., Demeter, F., Socheat, C., Pottier, C., Kjaer, K., Hinrichs, K.-U., Willerslev, E., and Wörmer, L.:  Environmental and ecological change across Angkor’s transition inferred from untargeted molecular fingerprints, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17016, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17016, 2026.

During the recent decades, human activity led to vast and rapid changes in algal communities through pollution, alteration of catchment areas and climate change. As a consequence of such stressors, lake conditions can offer favourable conditions for the formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) of cyanobacteria. The rise of bloom-forming taxa and toxin-producing taxa are threatening ecosystem services provided by lakes. Understanding the dynamic nature of algae and these stressors is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies to preserve or potentially restore the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring data is limited to a relatively recent period and thus sedimentary proxies facilitating the reconstruction of past cyanobacteria abundances are necessary to provide historical context for modern observations.

Recently, the phytol:sterol index (PSI), which corresponds to the ratio of phytol (produced by all algae including cyanobacteria) and specific phytosterols (produced only by eukaryotic algae) was proposed as a proxy for the relative abundance of cyanobacteria within the overall algal community (Klatt et al., 2025). Here, we aim to test the suitability of the PSI alongside other emerging sedimentary proxies to record cyanobacteria abundances and the abundance of HABs. To this end, we extracted short cores covering the past ~250 years from two of the Finger Lakes, Owasco and Skaneateles, in Upstate New York (USA) using a universal coring system in spring 2024. While Owasco Lake has experienced progressive eutrophication since the 1960s, nearby Skaneateles Lake with a much smaller watershed to lake surface area ratio remains oligotrophic. HAB occurrences in Owasco began several years before Skaneateles, but since 2017, HABs have occurred in both lakes, with greater prevalence in Owasco.

Bulk sediment analyses (% total organic carbon, C/N ratios) indicate an increase of algae productivity coinciding with the reported progressive eutrophication of Owasco Lake, while Skaneateles Lake shows rather stable conditions. This stability is also reflected in the PSI, which is about 0.25 in Skaneateles Lake throughout our record, indicating relatively low abundance of cyanobacteria. In Owasco Lake, on the other hand, PSI values reveal a marked increase to 0.45 after ~1950, consistent with a shift in community composition towards Cyanobacteria mid-20^th century. We compare these results to compound-specific hydrogen isotope measurements of fatty acids and phytol, and the offsets between them, to further distinguish ecological changes in the lakes. Finally, we use sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) metabarcoding to validate our lipid data by assessing changes in the phytoplankton community and to identify the presence of bloom forming taxa. Overall, the combined results of our proxies are in accordance with observations, and further extend our knowledge of algal community composition prior to the monitoring period. This emphasises the potential of this proxy and the strength of multiproxy approaches.

Klatt, A., De Jonge, C., Nelson, D.B., Reyes, M., Schubert, C.J., Dubois, N., Ladd, S.N., 2025. Algal lipid distributions and hydrogen isotope ratios reflect phytoplankton community dynamics. GCA 394, 205–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.02.013

How to cite: Wietelmann, T., Nelson, D. B., Dutta, M., Leon, N., Wood, D., Scholz, C., Thomas, E., and Ladd, S. N.: Assessing sedimentary proxies to reconstruct the occurrence and extent of harmful algal blooms, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17853, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17853, 2026.

Lipid biomarkers preserved in marine sediments provide powerful tools for reconstructing past climate and environmental change. However, their interpretation critically depends on understanding the processes governing their production, transport, and preservation, as different water-column processes can substantially modify the environmental signals transferred to sedimentary archives. This study investigates four different lipid biomarkers (long-chain fatty acids [LCFA], n-alkanes, alkenones, and glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers [GDGTs]) at three key stages of their source-to-sink pathway: production, transport in the water column, and deposition and preservation in surface sediments to shed light on their controlling processes factors. A particular focus is placed on tracking sea surface temperature (SST) signals encoded in some of these lipids at each key stage, thereby refining the current framework for biomarker-based paleotemperature reconstruction in the study region.

We collected suspended particulate matter from six southwest Iberian Margin stations (JC089 cruise, August 2013) using in situ filtration pumps yielding 38 samples (~1188 L on average per sample) from surface to ~3000 m depth at discrete fluorescence and turbidity maxima. Surface sediments from the same locations and 25 additional core-top samples were also analyzed. LCFA, n-alkanes, and alkenones were quantified using GC-FID, while GDGTs were analyzed by HPLC. Associated SSTs were reconstructed using the Uk′₃₇ and TEX₈₆ indices, with Bayesian calibrations applied to both proxies.

In the water-column, concentrations of terrestrial lipids (n-alkanes and LCFA) are highest in the upper photic zone with no clear onshore–offshore trend, reflecting mixed atmospheric and riverine inputs. Alkenones are predominantly found in nearshore waters within the photic zone and decrease in concentration with distance offshore, reflecting in situ production linked to primary productivity. Elevated GDGT concentrations are found above ~2000 m within the warm, saline, and relatively turbid Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW). While this distribution suggests some lateral transport, the absence of alkenones at these depths points to substantial in situ GDGT production.

Both alkenone (12.6–22.3 °C) and GDGT-derived SSTs (14.6–20.0 °C) exhibit a cold bias relative to surface CTD measurements in the water column. A similar cold bias is observed in surface sediments, where reconstructed SSTs (15.7–19.0 °C for alkenones; 14.6–19.2 °C for GDGTs) are lower than World Ocean Atlas annual mean values. We attribute these differences to variations in production depth and seasonal bias and furthermore rule out a significant influence from terrestrial GDGT input or riverine nutrients.

Future application of compound-specific radiocarbon and stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C, δ²H) on alkenones will further strengthen the mechanistic link between modern lipid cycling and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

How to cite: U.Nanayakkara, N., R. Magill, C., De Jonge, C., Eglinton, T., S. Wijker, R., Stoll, H., Hodell, D., J. Sierro, F., and Ausin, B.: Source-to-sink controls on lipid biomarkers and temperature signals in the Atlantic Iberian margin, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18675, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18675, 2026.

Lakes play an important role in paleoclimate studies as they archive high-resolution and continuous records. However, the climatic proxies developed for lake settings are limited. Among all, the lipid biomarkers have been widely studied, as they are ubiquitously distributed and efficiently carry environmental information. One prominent example is the branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), produced by bacteria, use to quantitatively reconstruct the temperature and pH based on lake sediment. However, due to the influence of confounding factors and not fully determined producer species, temperature reconstruction based on brGDGTs could yield uncertainties as large as 4°C. Having complementary and independent temperature proxies appears to be essential.

3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) were recently proposed as temperature and pH proxies in soils and may hold the potential to be also applied to lakes. These compounds are membrane lipids produced by Gram-negative bacteria. Similar to brGDGTs, their distribution was related to environmental variables. To date, 3-OH FAs were mainly investigated in soils [1] with only 3 studies, all in the Chinese region, in lakes. A linear correlation between some of the 3-OH FA isomers (i.e. the Ratio of Anteiso-C₁₃ to Normal-C₁₃  ̶   RAN₁₃)and mean annual air temperature (MAAT) was observed in Chinese lakes  [2]. In contrast, we did not observe such a correlation in 52 lake sediments of the French Alps and 20 lakes of Southern Chile [3]. This suggests that the relationship between MAAT and 3-OH FA distribution in lakes is complex and cannot be systematically reflected by a linear correlation. Nevertheless, this relationship needs to be further investigated using additional samples from all over the world.

This study aims to present the first global analysis of lacustrine 3-OH FAs and their relationship with MAAT. In addition to first studies, we analyzed these lipids in 220 lakes distributed worldwide over a large range of latitude and elevation, with MAATs ranging from -14.2°C to 27.7°C. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was first applied to the whole dataset (220 lakes) to investigate the changes in 3-OH FA distribution with location. In addition, both linear (including the RAN₁₃ index) and non-linear models (based on machine learning algorithms) are currently used to examine the relationship between 3-OH FA distribution and MAAT. This will bring new insights into the applicability of the 3-OH FAs as lacustrine temperature proxies at the global scale. 3-OH FAs could then be applied to paleotemperature reconstructions from lake sediment cores, complementarily of and independently from existing proxies such as brGDGTs.

References: [1] Véquaud et al. (2021). Biogeosciences 18, 3937-3959. [2]Yang et al. (2021). Org. Geochem. 160, 104277. [3] Ke et al., Org Geochemistry, under revision.

How to cite: Ke, S., Sabatier, P., Anquetil, C., and Huguet, A.: Development of a global lacustrine temperature calibration based on 3-hydroxy fatty acid membrane lipids, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19917, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19917, 2026.

The East Sea, located on the northwest continental margin of the Pacific Ocean, acts an important marine environment sensitive to the global/regional climate change including the East Asian monsoon. GDGT (glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether), one of the membrane lipids originated from archaea or bacteria, has been broadly used as a ubiquitous biomarker for the paleoceanogprahic reconstruction. Although the numerous paleoceanographic results in the East Sea have been reported, the GDGT records and its application to the East Sea paleoceanography are still limited. In this study, we reconstructed the late Pleistocene seawater temperatures using hydroxylated and isoprenoid GDGTs using a sediment core 19ESDP-101 from the Hupo Trough of the southwestern East Sea (Japan Sea). Several temperature proxies were compared, alongside additional GDGT-derived indices and mean grain size. The temperature proxies yielded broadly consistent temperatures during the warm periods, but diverged in cooler intervals, where RI-OH′ values decreased sharply. These discrepancies reflect the different sensitivity to temperature, salinity, and depositional conditions. Proxy-derived temperatures were inversely correlated with sediment grain size, implying linkage between hydrographic and depositional environments. During the glacial periods, coarse-grained particles, low TEX₈₆L values, and high terrestrial input were correlated, suggesting the sea-level control on environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the integration of multiple GDGT proxies from core 19ESDP-101 highlights the significance of local oceanographic settings in paleoenvironmental reconstruction and supports the selective use of TEX₈₆L and OH-GDGTs.

How to cite: Park, Y.-H. and Khim, B.-K.: Biomarker record in the Hupo Trough of the southwestern East Sea since the late Pleistocene, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20044, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20044, 2026.