Environmental and Earth Sciences

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Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Oceanography

Hansen Yue

,

Jie Guo

,

Chawei Hou

,

Yong Jin

Abstract: The central Bohai Sea (CBS) serves as a distribution center and wintering ground for the migration of economically important species of fish, shrimp, and crabs from the Yellow Sea and the BS. The frequency of hypoxia has gradually increased, posing a threat to the ecology of the CBS. Data from an on-site investigation of the cold water mass coverage area in the southern part of the BS in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2022 were an-alyzed to determine the relevant factors using stratification data and the nutritional status quality index. The results indicated that stratification was the leading cause of hypoxia. The 'boot-shaped' distribution of hypoxia in summer was primarily the result of the intrusion of cold and highly saline water in the northern part of the study area, as well as the intrusion of high-temperature and low-salinity water from the Yellow River estuary and the high salinity water in the northeast corner of the study area. The study found that the cold water mass in the northern part of the Bohai Sea invades the cold water mass in the southern part. This study provides novel insights into the formation and distribution of hypoxia in the CBS.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Remote Sensing

Qiliang Lv

,

Peng Zhou

,

Sheng Yang

,

Yongjun Shi

,

Jiangming Ma

,

Jiangcheng Yang

,

Guangsheng Chen

Abstract:

The survival and growth of mangrove along the coastal China was threatened by the invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Due to the high mortality and frequent replanting of mangrove trees and impacts of invasive smooth cordgrass, it is still unclear about the exact mangrove forest area in Zhejiang Province, China. Based on provincial scale UAV imagery and large numbers of field survey plots, this study classified the area and distribution of mangroves and the invasion status of smooth cordgrass using the identified machine-learning method. The accuracy assessment indicated that the overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient were 97% and 0.96, respectively for land cover classifications. The total area of mangrove forest and smooth cordgrass was 140.83 ha and 52.95 ha, respectively in Zhejiang Province. The mangrove forest area was mostly concentrated in Yuhuan, Dongtou, Yueqing and Longgang districts. The overall survival rate of mangrove trees was only 36.41%, with lower than 20% survival rates in all northern and some central districts. At spatial scale, the mangrove trees showed a scattered distribution pattern, and over 70.04% of the planting area has canopy coverage lower than 20%, indicating a high mortality rate. Smooth cordgrass has widely invaded in all 11 districts, accounting for about 13.7% of the total planting area of mangrove trees. Over 67.3% and 85.4% of the planting area has been occupied by smooth cordgrass in Wenling and Jiaoxiang districts, respectively, which calls for an intensive anthropogenic intervention to control the spreading of smooth cordgrass in these districts. Our study provides a more accurate monitoring of the mangrove and smooth cordgrass distribution area at a provincial scale. The findings will help guide the replanting and management activities of mangrove trees and the control planning of smooth cordgrass, and also provide data basis for accurate estimation of carbon stock for mangrove forests in Zhejiang Province.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

Soumik Basu

,

David Sauchyn

Abstract: The North American Prairies are a region of critical importance to continental hydroclimate and agriculture, exhibiting high sensitivity to variability in atmospheric moisture transport. This study investigates the seasonal and interannual variability of integrated moisture flux over the Prairie region (246°–264°E, 49°N–53°N) using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Reanalysis dataset from 1979 to 2022. We employ a combination of composite analysis and Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to identify the dominant modes of variability and their associated large-scale synoptic drivers. Our results confirm a strong seasonal reversal: winter moisture flux is predominantly zonal (westerly), contributing an average of 26.2% to total inbound flux, while summer flux is primarily meridional (southerly), contributing a dominant 72.6%. Composite analysis of extreme moisture years reveals that anomalously high moisture winters are associated with an intensified Aleutian Low and a strengthened pressure gradient off the North American west coast, facilitating enhanced westerly flow. Conversely, a strengthened continental high-pressure system characterizes anomalously low moisture winters by. During summer, high moisture years are driven by an enhanced southerly component of flow, likely linked to a strengthened Great Plains Low-Level Jet (GPLLJ). The first EOF mode for winter explains 36.4% of the variance in eastward flux and is characterized by a pattern consistent with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnection pattern. These findings underscore the control of Pacific-centric circulation patterns on Prairie hydroclimate and have significant implications for predicting seasonal water availability.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Araylym Aitpaeva

,

Nurbol Khuangan

,

Gulzat Zhunis

Abstract: A method is presented for studying the influence of disjunctive geological faults on the formation of conditions that lead to gas-dynamic phenomena (GDP) during the ex-traction of outburst-prone coal seams. The methodology is based on numerical model-ing of the stress–strain state of the rock mass using the finite element method (FEM) to determine the magnitudes of principal stresses in the zone between the excavation and the fault. Based on the adopted coal–rock strength theory, areas of disturbed rock in-tegrity are identified, which are considered potentially hazardous in terms of sudden coal and gas outbursts. The results of modeling a real gas-dynamic event that occurred in an operating mine confirmed the applicability of the proposed approach for pre-dicting outburst-prone zones during excavations within disjunctive tectonic faults. The scientific novelty of this research lies in identifying the specific features of stress-field formation resulting from the interaction between natural geological faults and tech-nological disturbances induced by mining operations. On this basis, a method has been developed to detect potential zones of gas-dynamic manifestations. After validation under mine conditions, the proposed method can be recommended for practical im-plementation in the design and planning of mining operations to forecast and prevent GDP.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Water Science and Technology

David Dunkerley

Abstract:

Driving rain or ‘wind-driven rain’ (WDR) arrives at the ground on an oblique trajectory, and drops may strike at a speed greater than their still-air terminal velocity. Oblique rain can affect a range of geomorphic processes including the splash dislodgment and transport of soil particles, and hydrological processes including overland flow, canopy interception and the generation of stemflow. The mean rain inclination angle at which WDR strikes the ground has been estimated from the catch of paired gauges, one with a conventional horizontal orifice, and one with a vertical orifice. Such data allow the resolution of rain vectors to find the rain inclination. This can only be carried out over periods sufficiently long for a measurable rain depth to be measured, and does not permit the real-time recording of rain inclination. Here, a new acoustic method for measuring rain inclination is introduced that provides an inexpensive tool for the continuous, real-time monitoring of WDR. Furthermore, the method also permits the simultaneous recording of rainfall duration and intermittency at high temporal resolution, with no additional apparatus. Data on rain inclinations collected during showers on a tropical coast exposed to strong trade-winds are presented to illustrate the operation of the acoustic measurement system. However, the focus of this paper is the presentation of the new method itself, and not on the climatology of WDR.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Danil V. Ilyasov

,

Anastasia V. Niyazova

,

Iuliia V. Kupriianova

,

Aleksandr F. Sabrekov

,

Alexandr A. Kaverin

,

Mikhail F. Kulyabin

,

Mikhail V. Glagolev

Abstract:

Reliable upscaling of peatland carbon stocks is fundamentally challenged by fine-scale microrelief heterogeneity, which remains unresolved by conventional field or satellite methods. We demonstrate the critical advantage of Unmanned Aerial System LiDAR (UAS-LiDAR) for mapping the hierarchical microrelief (ridges/hollows, hummocks/depressions) of a Western Siberian ombrotrophic bog to enhance ground-layer phytomass estimation. We developed and validated a straightforward, rule-based method to classify microforms from a normalized digital terrain model using optimized elevation thresholds. The resulting map was used to upscale field-measured phytomass and compared against estimates from satellite imagery (SuperView-2) and traditional field-visual extrapolation. While total landscape-level phytomass stocks were similar across methods (~93–97 t ha−1), their spatial allocation among microtopographic elements differed fundamentally. Crucially, the satellite-based method exhibited a predictable, landscape-dependent systematic bias (overestimation in ryam with hollows, underestimation in ryam), which remained hidden when using only aggregate accuracy metrics. Only the LiDAR-based approach accurately resolved the biomass of critical small microforms (e.g., hummocks within hollows), which were missed or misaggregated by traditional techniques. We conclude that objective, high-resolution microrelief mapping via UAS-LiDAR is essential for spatially explicit and ecologically coherent phytomass upscaling, providing an indispensable structural template for accurate carbon accounting in heterogeneous peatlands.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Water Science and Technology

Van Tu Nguyen

,

Vu Duy Nhan

Abstract: Leachate in landfills becomes difficult to treat due to its complex and widely variable composition, containing a large amount of organic, inorganic substances and heavy metals. When it seeps into the ground, leachate pollutes groundwater, and if discharged into surface water, it will harm the aquatic environment in the corresponding area. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to treat leachate before discharging it into the environment to prevent this negative impact. In this study, a lab-scale A2O (Anaerobic–Anoxic–Oxic) system integrated with a Moving Bed Biological Reactor (MBBR) was established. We evaluated key water quality indicators of wastewater pretreated by internal electrolysis, the effluent from the A2O–MBBR system, and the combined treatment process. The wastewater was taken from Nam Son landfill, Soc Son, Hanoi, in Viet Nam. COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, and pH of the input leachate wastewater were 2140 mg/L, 250 mg/L, 895 mg/L, and 8 ± 0.5, respectively. The conditions of internal electrolysis were as follows: 120 minutes of reaction time, pH =4, 4.0 g/L Fe/Cu dosage and 100 mg/L PAM dosage. Following the internal electrolysis pretreatment, the removal efficiencies of COD, BOD₅, and NH₄⁺–N reached 49.0%, 4.8%, and 11.2%, respectively. After 24 hours of operation, the integrated treatment process exhibited markedly enhanced performance, achieving removal rates of 85.0% for COD, 85.2% for BOD₅, 94.1% for total nitrogen, 98.0% for total phosphorus, and 96.7% for NH₄⁺–N. These results demonstrate the high synergistic efficiency of the combined internal electrolysis–A₂O–MBBR system. Furthermore, all post-treatment parameters complied with the Vietnamese standard QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT (Column B2) for leachate wastewater, confirming its effectiveness and environmental suitability.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Uloaku Michael-Igolima

,

Samuel J. Abbey

,

Augustine O. Ifelebuegu

,

Raphael B. Jumbo

,

Kabari Sam

Abstract: Existing soil remediation approaches are either lacking in cost effectiveness, environmental impacts or societal acceptance. Environmental remediation techniques are often characterized by considerable time requirements, and may leave residual effects on the natural ecosystems, thereby potentially compromising net environmental benefits. This study investigated the oil adsorption capacity of aerogels produced from waste orange peels. Aerogels are highly porous three-dimensional materials made from organic and inorganic materials, with low density, and high adjustable specific surface area. Orange peels aerogel was produced from waste orange peels using combined methods of physical, chemical, and thermal modification process, and was dried using freeze-drying method. Adsorption and reusability test were conducted after characterization of the aerogel. Surface characterization of the orange peels aerogel indicated it has an ultra-light density of 0.010417g/cm3, high porosity of 99%, and contact angle measurement of 102o. Adsorption experiment was conducted with sandy and clay soils, and the maximum oil adsorption capacities of the orange peels aerogel was 13.55mg/g and 9.60mg/g for sandy and clay soil respectively. High oil adsorption capacity was shown by the produced aerogel and attributed to the ultra-light density of 0.010417g/cm3 and high porosity of 99% of the orange peel aerogel. In conclusion, the higher oil adsorption capacity of orange peels aerogel in sandy soil than clay soil indicated that soil texture and aerogel properties influenced the oil remediation capacity of orange peel aerogels. The reusability test in three adsorption trials indicated that orange peels aerogel is a sustainable material for the remediation of oil-contaminated soil.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Rachida Rania Benaissa

,

Perla A. Gómez

,

Almudena Giménez

,

Victor M. Gallegos-Cedillo

,

Jesús Ochoa

,

Juan A. Fernández

,

Catalina Egea-Gilabert

Abstract: The demand for ready-to-eat salads made from leafy vegetables such as wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) continues to rise due to their convenience and high levels of bioactive compounds. However, both organically enriched substrates and sustainable packaging alternatives to conventional plastic films are required to reduce the envi-ronmental impact of wild rocket production. This study assessed the effects of three cultivation substrates as growing media and three biodegradable packaging materials (polylactic acid (PL), cellulose kraft (CK), and kraft-reinforced polylactic acid (PLK)) on the postharvest performance of wild rocket stored at 4 °C for 7 and 14 days. Plants were grown in coco peat (CP), coco peat supplemented with livestock compost (90:10; CP+LC), and coco peat combined with mushroom compost (50:50; CP+MC). Yield and key pre- and postharvest quality attributes, including nitrate accumulation, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, colour, and weight loss, were evaluated. CP+LC pro-duced the highest harvest yield, whereas CP promoted greater phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Among the packaging materials, PLK provided the most bal-anced internal atmosphere, effectively reducing dehydration and condensation while preserving superior sensory quality after 14 days. Overall, the integration of organic compost amendments, particularly CP+LC, with PLK bio-based packaging represents a promising and sustainable strategy to maintain postharvest quality and reduce the en-vironmental footprint of minimally processed wild rocket within short food supply chains.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

Sheila Serrano-Vincenti

,

Jonathan González-Chuqui

,

Mariana Luna-Cadena

,

León Escobar

Abstract: The advance and delay of the rainy season is among the most frequently cited effects of climate change by Ecuadorian farmers. However, its assessment is not feasible using the conventional indicators recommended by the standardized indices of the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). This study aims to analyze such advances and delays through harmonic analysis in Tungurahua, a predominantly agricultural province in the Tropical Central Andes, where in-situ data are scarce. Daily in-situ data from five meteorological stations were used, including precipitation, maximum, and minimum temperature records spanning 39 to 68 years. The study involved an analysis of the region’s climatology, climate change indices, and harmonic analysis using Cross Wavelet Transform (XWT) and Wavelet Coherence Transform (WCT) to identify seasonal patterns and their variability (advance or delay) by comparing historical and recent time series, and Kriggin for regionalization. The year 2000 was used as a breakpoint for comparing past and present trends. Results show a generalized increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures. In the case of extreme rainfall events, no significant changes were detected. Harmonic analysis was found to be sensitive to missing data. Furthermore, the observed advances and delays in seasonality were not statistically significant and appeared to be more closely related to the geographic location of the stations than to temporal shifts.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Wencelito Palis Hintural

,

Heo Eunseon

,

Soyeon Jeong

,

Jinwoo Lim

,

Si Ho Han

,

Byung Bae Park

Abstract: Urban green infrastructure is increasingly recognized as a critical buffer against ecological degradation, yet empirical evidence on the long-term stability of ecosystem services (ES) in rapidly urbanizing cities remains limited. Despite widespread assumptions that urbanization inevitably leads to irreversible ecological decline, few studies have quantitatively examined whether ES can persist, or even recover, over multi-decadal time horizons. This study investigates the long-term trajectories of eight urban ES in Seoul, South Korea, across nearly five decades (1978–2025) and eight congressional districts, providing one of the longest temporal assessments of urban ES in East Asia. Using i-Tree Canopy and high-resolution aerial imagery across four benchmark years (1978, 1989, 2010, 2025), this study quantified standardized indicators for carbon sequestration (CSeq), avoided runoff (AVRO), and removal of six atmospheric pollutants (O₃, NO₂, SO₂, CO, PM₁₀, PM₂.₅). Paired-sample t-tests and Cohen’s dz (effect size) were used to assess within-district temporal shifts and the magnitude of ecological change. Results reveal a pronounced period of early ecological stress during rapid industrialization (1978–1989), with negative standardized effect sizes across all services (dz between −0.65 and −0.72). However, these early losses were not sustained. Structural services such as CSeq and AVRO exhibited long-term functional stability, with effect sizes converging toward zero and the 1978–2025 change in CSeq showing no statistical difference (p = 0.784). Pollutant removal services followed an early-decline–followed-by-recovery trajectory, exemplified by CO removal shifting from a large early decline (dz= −0.72) to a modest positive effect in later decades dz = 0.31). These findings indicate that Seoul’s sustained urban greening and environmental policies were effective in preventing further deterioration and maintaining core ecological functions, even if they produced stabilization rather than significant long-term gains in ES delivery.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Geography

Jorge Ferreira

,

Gonçalo Antunes

Abstract: There has been substantial debate regarding the consequences of overtourism in cities. Scholars have also examined variables that are directly and indirectly related to tour-ism, including demography, urban rehabilitation and requalification, gentrification, speculation in the real estate market, the influence of digital booking platforms, and the expansion of short-term rental (STR) accommodation. This research seeks to de-velop a clearer spatial understanding of this last one. By analysing their distribution, density (maximum occupancy), and clustering and by employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this article will propose methodol-ogies to better visualise spatial patterns, providing different perspectives of the city of Lisbon and its most tourism-intensive parishes. The article finds that STR in Lisbon have expanded rapidly, concentrating over-whelmingly in six historic parishes where STR supply and maximum occupancy now exceed resident populations and housing availability. GIS analysis reveals intense clustering in central neighbourhoods—especially Alfama—indicating significant tour-ism pressure and signs of overtourism. These spatial patterns correlate with depopula-tion and rising housing costs. The study concludes that STR are now a decisive factor in urban imbalance and that detailed spatial analysis is essential for regulating tour-ism, defining carrying-capacity thresholds, and developing more sustainable, socially just urban planning policies.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Vidjinnagni Vinasse Ametooyona Azagoun

,

Kossi Komi

,

Djigbo Félicien Badou

,

Expédit Wilfrid Vissin

,

Komi Selom Klassou

Abstract: The degradation of vegetation cover and the vulnerability of urban market gardening systems to climate risks are a major challenge for food security in peri−urban areas. This study analyzes the spatio−temporal dynamics of vegetation using the NDVI index and assesses its correspondence with producers' perceptions of hydroclimatic impacts. NDVIs were extracted from the MODIS MOD13Q1 product via Google Earth Engine, with a spatial resolution of 250 m × 250 m and a temporal resolution of 16 days, then processed in Python using the xarray library. Additionally, 369 producers in Grand Nokoué were surveyed about the risks of flooding, drought, and heat waves, as well as the adaptation strategies they implement. The results reveal a decline in areas with a moderate to high NDVI index (between 0.41 and 0.81) and an expansion of areas with a low or very low NDVI index (below 0.41), reflecting increased fragmentation and degradation of vegetation cover. Producers' perceptions confirm this vulnerability and reveal different strategies depending on the type of crop and risk, including irrigation, temporary abandonment of plots, agroforestry, and the adoption of resilient crops. These observations highlight the need to implement targeted policies and appropriate agroecological practices in order to strengthen the resilience of urban market gardening systems to extreme climate risks.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Sarah Anne Abela

,

Alan Deidun

,

Adam Gauci

,

Ritienne Gauci

Abstract: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are essential for preserving marine biodiversity, yet they face challenges from various human pressures, including vessel activities. This study applies a cumulative, normalized vessel density approach across multiple habitat types to examine the impact of maritime activities on the Southwest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Malta, known as MT101. Vessel activities, including anchoring, mooring, and discharge, pose significant threats to benthic habitats such as sandbanks and seagrass meadows. Despite protective measures, vessels continue to frequent these MPAs, raising concerns about habitat degradation. Using data spanning from 2017 to 2022, this research analyses vessel density distribution and its implications for marine habitats within MPA MT101. The results show the cumulative vessel presence, with passenger and fishing vessels showing consistent high presence along bay areas, and on sensitive habitats such as Posidonia meadows and reefs. While the ecological effects have not been directly measured here, the analysis highlights spatial and temporal hotspots where pressures are likely to be most pronounced, offering a basis for targeted management and monitoring. Proposed mitigation measures include enhanced enforcement of MPA regulations and habitat-specific management strategies. By integrating vessel activity patterns with habitat distribution, this methodological framework provides a transferable tool for assessing cumulative pressures and has direct policy relevance for marine spatial planning and targeted MPA management. The findings emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems within MPA MT101. This study contributes valuable insights into the understanding of vessel impacts on MPAs and provides guidance for conservation and management strategies in similar marine environments globally.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Sustainable Science and Technology

Horacio E. Bown

,

Mark Bloomberg

,

Matt Deering

,

Brenda Rosser

,

Robert Besaans

Abstract: We evaluated the impact of traditional versus catchment-oriented forest harvest scheduling of radiata pine plantations on profitability and rainfall-induced landslide susceptibility in the Uawa catchment, Aotearoa|New Zealand. Our hypothetical case study assumed that 59% of the Uawa catchment area is covered with radiata pine plantations (31,899 hectares). These plantations are located within 89 Catchment Management Units (CMUs) and 1123 hillslope units (HSUs). The HSUs are assumed to be the forest stands with stand ages as measured in 2024. We maximised the Net Present Value of the forests (NPV) subject to non-declining yield (NDY) constraints, considering different maximum harvesting levels (MHL) (10 to 50% of CMU area) that could be allowed for any single CMU during any single 5-year period. We found that profitability increased rapidly when the MHL increased from 10 to 20%, with only marginal increases after 25%. We calculated a proxy for rainfall-induced landslide (RIL) susceptibility as the aggregated sum of the area harvested from each HSU, multiplied by its RIL susceptibility. We then imposed constraints for our RIL proxy to become constant over successive periods. Our final catchment-oriented harvest schedule marginally reduced the Internal Rate of Return from the business-as-usual scenario, from 8.92% to 8.52%. Forest owners’ concerns about the economic and operational effects of catchment-oriented harvest scheduling appear to be surmountable.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Water Science and Technology

Assiel Mugabe

,

Felicien Majoro

,

Leopold Mbereyaho

,

Telesphore Kabera

Abstract: Flood susceptibility mapping is crucial for understanding flood-prone areas and mitigating the associated risks, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Sebeya Catchment. This study has adopted a GIS-AHP approach integrated with local community knowledge over flood susceptibility factors such as Topographic Wetness Index (WTI), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Precipitation, Slope, Land Use/ Land Cover (LULC), Normalized Vegetative Index (NDVI), Distance to Roads, Distance to River, and Drainage Density. The pairwise comparison matrix was used to determine each factor's weight according to its influence in inducing flood. The findings revealed that 33.1% of the total area has a very and high susceptibility to floods, whereas the rest part of the catchment is moderately susceptible to floods. Most social economic activities in this study are located in high-risk zones, which significantly to appearance of flooding impacts. Current study indicates that, damage to infrastructure, loss of livelihoods, displacement of communities, and increased costs of disaster response are key consequences observed in affected regions. A confusion matrix approach was employed to validate the flood susceptibility map, and the results indicate an overall accuracy of 0.92, confirming strong model performance and reliability. The study further proposes adaptive strategies and provides recommendations for enhancing flood resilience, including improvement in land-use planning, use of early warning systems, and sustainable catchment management. Further studies should develop an economic-loss prediction model based on flood-susceptibility mapping.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Pollution

Muhammad Sukri Bin Ramli

Abstract: New methods are needed to monitor environmental treaties, like the Montreal Protocol, by reviewing large, complex customs datasets. This paper introduces a framework using unsupervised machine learning to systematically detect suspicious trade patterns and highlight activities for review. Our methodology, applied to 100,000 trade records, combines several ML techniques. Unsupervised Clustering (K-Means) discovers natural trade archetypes based on shipment value and weight. Anomaly Detection (Isolation Forest and IQR) identifies rare "mega-trades" and shipments with commercially unusual price-per-kilogram values. This is supplemented by Heuristic Flagging to find tactics like vague shipment descriptions. These layers are combined into a priority score, which successfully identified 1,351 price outliers and 1,288 high-priority shipments for customs review. A key finding is that high-priority commodities show a different and more valuable value-to-weight ratio than general goods. This was validated using Explainable AI (SHAP), which confirmed vague descriptions and high value as the most significant risk predictors. The model's sensitivity was validated by its detection of a massive spike in "mega-trades" in early 2021, correlating directly with the real-world regulatory impact of the US AIM Act. This work presents a repeatable unsupervised learning pipeline to turn raw trade data into prioritized, usable intelligence for regulatory groups.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Other

Hesham Mostafa El-Asmar

,

Mahmoud Shaker Felfla

,

Amal A. Mokhtar

Abstract:

The Damietta–Port Said coast, Nile Delta, has experienced extreme morphological change over the past four decades due to sediment reduction due to Aswan High Dam and continued anthropogenic pressures. Using multi-temporal Landsat (1985–2025) and high-resolution RapidEye and PlanetScope imagery with 1127 DSAS transects, the study documents major shoreline shifts: the Damietta sand spit retreated by >1 km at its proximal apex while its distal tip advanced by ≈3.1 km southeastward under persistent longshore drift. Sectoral analyses reveal typical structure-induced patterns of updrift accretion (+180 to +210 m) and downdrift erosion (−50 to −330 m). To improve predictive capability beyond linear DSAS extrapolation, Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous (NARX) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) neural networks were applied to forecast the 2050 shoreline. BiLSTM demonstrated superior stability, capturing nonlinear sediment transport patterns where NARX produced unstable over-predictions. Furthermore, coupled wave–flow modeling validates a sustainable management strategy employing successive short groins (45–50 m length, 150 m spacing). Simulations indicate that this configuration reduces longshore current velocities by 40–60% and suppress rip-current eddies, offering a sediment-compatible alternative to conventional breakwaters and seawalls. This integrated remote sensing, hydrodynamic, and AI-based framework provides a robust scientific basis for adaptive, sediment-compatible shoreline management, supporting the long-term resilience of one of Egypt’s most vulnerable deltaic coasts under accelerating climatic and anthropogenic pressures.

Review
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Ecology

Nicoleta-Oana Nicula

,

Eduard-Marius Lungulescu

Abstract: Protecting aquatic biodiversity while ensuring reliable hydropower production and water supply remains a core challenge for both water security and biosecurity. In this PRIS-MA-based systematic review, we synthesize evidence from 96 studies on fish guidance and deterrence at hazardous water intakes. We examine non-physical barriers, including acoustic and light cues, electric fields, bubble curtains, and chemical stimuli, as well as physical barriers such as racks, louvers, guidance structures, and nets or screens that aim to divert fish away from intakes and toward selective passage routes. Overall, guidance and deterrence performance is strongly species- and site-specific. Multimodal systems that combine multiple cues show the highest mean deflection efficiency (~80%), followed by light-based deterrents (~77%). Acoustic, electric, and bubble barriers generally achieve intermediate efficiencies (~55–58%), whereas structural devices alone exhibit lower mean performance (~46%), with substantial variability among sites and designs. Physical screens remain effective for larger size classes but can increase head loss and debris ac-cumulation. By contrast, non-physical systems offer more flexible, low-footprint options whose success depends critically on local hydraulics, the sensory ecology of target species, and ambient environmental conditions. We identify major knowledge gaps relating to underlying sensory and behavioral mechanisms, hydraulics-based design rules, and standardized performance metrics. We also highlight opportunities to integrate advanced monitoring and AI-based analytics into adaptive, site-specific guidance systems. Taken together, our findings show that carefully selected and tuned barrier technologies can provide practical pathways to enhance water security and biosecurity, while supporting sustainable fish passage, improving invasive-species control, and reducing ecological impacts at water infrastructure.
Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Waste Management and Disposal

Samir Hafizov

,

Gharib Hafizov

Abstract: This study was conducted in order to show the transformative potential of extracting into the same solution and using the substances of the component composition of pomegranate peel and their seeds. First, the peel from hand-peeled pomegranates and seeds from juicing their grains in a laboratory press were crushed using a Reitz mill, then mixed taking into account the natural ratio between these parts in three different pomegranate samples [1-1.58/1, 2-1.03/1 and 3-3.77/1 (weight/weight)]. Maceration of these three mixtures was tested with a 1:2 hydromodule (g/ml) for 4.5 hours at 63 °C (mixtures 1 and 2) and for 2.5 hours at 50-55 °C with the addition of 0.15% of the enzyme Fructozym MA-LG by weight of the extraction mixture (mixture 3). Under these conditions, 44.48±0.97 % came out of mixture 1 into solution, 58.04±1.03 % from mixture 2, and 61.16±1.55% of dry substances from their total weight in the initial crude mixture from mixture 3. At the same time, more protein and fiber came out of mixtures 1 and 2 into solutions, but less fat than from mixture 3. Condensed extracts with a dry matter content of 57.0±0.5 g/100 ml were obtained from the primary extracts, including 3.24±0.03 - 4.93±0.04 g/100 ml of polyphenols and 2.80±0.02-4.00±0.04 g/100 ml of fatty oil. The insoluble residues were converted into two dietary powders with a high protein content (from 6.25±0.06 to 8.37±0.09 g/100 g dry weight) and fiber (from 58.98±0.58 to 62.6±0.65g/100 g dry weight).

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