Die Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL), eine Schicht mit erhöhtem Aerosolgehalt, tritt jedes Jahr von Juni bis September in 14-18 km Höhe in einem Gebiet auf, das sich vom Mittelmeer bis zum westlichen Pazifik erstreckt. Hinsichtlich der Zusammensetzung der Partikel, sowie ihrer Bedeutung für die Strahlungsbilanz in dieser klimasensitiven Höhenregion bestehen große Unsicherheiten. Die bisher einzigen Flugzeugmessungen aus dem Zentrum der ATAL wurden 2017 im Rahmen der StratoClim Kampagne von Kathmandu aus gewonnen. Dabei entdeckten wir mit Hilfe des Infrarotspektrometers GLORIA auf dem Forschungsflugzeug Geophysica, dass feste Ammoniumnitrat (AN) â€Ì Partikel einen beträchtlichen Teil der Aerosolmasse ausmachen. Diese zählen zu den effizientesten Eiskeimen in der Atmosphäre. Zudem zeigte die gleichzeitige Messung von Ammoniakgas (NH3) durch GLORIA, dass dieses Vorläufergas durch starke Konvektion in die obere Troposphäre verfrachtet wird. Im Rahmen der PHILEAS-Kampagne schlagen wir eine gemeinsamen Betrachtung von atmosphärischen Modellsimulationen und Messungen vor, um die Zusammensetzung, Ursprung, Auswirkungen und Verbleib der ATAL-Partikel zu untersuchen â€Ì insbesondere im Hinblick auf ihre Prozessierung sowie ihren Einfluss auf die obere Troposphäre und die untere Stratosphäre der nördlichen Hemisphäre. Messungen von monsunbeeinflussten Luftmassen über dem östlichen Mittelmeer sowie über dem nördlichen Pazifik werden es uns erlauben, Luft mit gealtertem Aerosol- und Spurengasgehalt zu analysieren und damit die StratoClim-Beobachtungen aus dem Inneren des Monsuns zu komplementieren. Um dabei die wahrscheinlich geringeren Konzentrationen an Aerosol und Spurengasen zu quantifizieren, schlagen wir vor, die GLORIA-Datenerfassung von NH3 und AN u.a. durch die Verwendung neuartiger spektroskopischer Daten zu verbessern. Ferner werden wir die Analyse der GLORIA-Spektren auf Sulfataerosole sowie deren Vorläufergas SO2 auszudehnen. Auf der Modellseite werden wir das globale Wetter- und Klimamodellsystem ICON-ART weiterentwickeln, um die ATAL unter Einbeziehung verschiedener Aerosoltypen (Nitrat, Ammonium, Sulfat, organische Partikel, Staub) zu simulieren â€Ì unter Berücksichtigung der hohen Eiskeimfähigkeit von festem AN. Modellläufe werden durchgeführt, um einerseits einen globalen Überblick über die Entwicklung der ATAL 2023 zu gewinnen und zudem detaillierte, auf die relevanten Kampagnenperioden zugeschnittene, wolkenauflösende Informationen über die Aerosol-Wolken-Strahlungs-Wechselwirkungen zu erhalten. Über die direkte Analyse der PHILEAS-Kampagne hinausgehend wird diese Arbeit die Grundlage für eine verbesserte Analyse von Aerosolparametern aus GLORIA-Beobachtungen früherer und zukünftiger HALO-Kampagnen sowie aus Satellitenbeobachtungen legen. Darüber hinaus wird sie ICON-ART, einem der zentralen Klimamodellsysteme in Deutschland die Simulation von Aerosolprozessen sowie Aerosol/Wolken-Wechselwirkungen im Zusammenhang mit der ATAL ermöglichen.
Prehistoric pits are filled with ancient topsoil material, which has been preserved there over millennia. A characteristic of these pit fillings is that their colour is different depending on the time the soil material was relocated. Soil colour is the result of soil forming processes and soil properties, and it could therefore indicate the soil characteristics present during that specific period. To the best of our knowledge, no investigation analysed and explained the reasons for these soil colour changes over time. The proposed project will investigate soil parameters from pit fillings of different archaeological periods in the loess area of the Lower Rhine Basin (NW-Germany). It aims to implement the measurement of colour spectra as a novel analytical tool for the rapid analyses of a high number of soil samples: the main goal is to relate highresolution colour data measured by a spectrophotometer to soil parameters that were analysed by conventional pedogenic methods and by mid infrared spectroscopy (MIRS), with a main focus on charred organic matter (BPCAs). This tool would enable us to quantify the variation of soil properties over a timescale of several millennia, during different prehistoric periods at regional scale and for loess soils in general. Detailed information concerning changing soil properties on a regional scale is necessary to determine past soil quality and it helps to increase our understanding of prehistoric soil cultivation practices. Furthermore, these information could also help to increase our understanding about agricultural systems in different archaeological periods.
Durum wheat is mainly grown as a summer crop. An introduction of a winter form failed until now due to the difficulty to combine winter hardiness with required process quality. Winter hardiness is a complex trait, but in most regions the frost tolerance is decisive. Thereby a major QTL, which was found in T. monococcum, T.aestivum, H. vulgare and S.cereale on chromosome 5, seems especially important. With genotyping by sequencing it is now possible to make association mapping based on very high dense marker maps, which delivers new possibilities to detect main and epistatic effects. Furthermore, new sequencing techniques allow candidate gene based association mapping. The main aim of the project is to unravel the genetic architecture of frost tolerance and quality traits in durum. Thereby, the objectives are to (1) determine the genetic variance, heritability and correlations among frost tolerance and quality traits, (2) examine linkage disequilibrium and population structure, (3) investigate sequence polymorphism at candidate genes for frost tolerance, and (4) perform candidate gene based and genome wide association mapping.
Bamboos (Poaceae) are widespread in tropical and subtropical forests. Particularly in Asia, bamboos are cultivated by smallholders and increasingly in large plantations. In contrast to trees, reliable assessments of water use characteristics for bamboo are very scarce. Recently we tested a set of methods for assessing bamboo water use and obtained first results. Objectives of the proposed project are (1) to further test and develop the methods, (2) to compare the water use of different bamboo species, (3) to analyze the water use to bamboo size relationship across species, and (4) to assess effects of bamboo culm density on the stand-level transpiration. The study shall be conducted in South China where bamboos are very abundant. It is planned to work in a common garden (method testing), a botanical garden (species comparison, water use to size relationship), and on-farm (effects of culm density). Method testing will include a variety of approaches (thermal dissipation probes, stem heat balance, deuterium tracing and gravimetry), whereas subsequent steps will be based on thermal methods. The results may contribute to an improved understanding of bamboo water use characteristics and a more appropriate management of bamboo with respect to water resources.
Chromium (Cr) is introduced into the environment by several anthropogenic activities. A striking ex-ample is the area around Kanpur in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where large amounts of Cr-containing wastes have been recently illegally deposited. Hexavalent Cr, a highly toxic and mobile contaminant, is present in significant amounts in these wastes, severely affecting the quality of sur-roundings soils, sediments, and ground waters. The first major goal of this study is to clarify the solid phase speciation of Cr in these wastes and to examine its leaching behavior. X-ray diffraction and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques will be employed for quantitative solid phase speciation of Cr. Its leaching behavior will be studied in column experiments performed at un-saturated moisture conditions with flow interruptions simulating monsoon rain events. Combined with geochemical modeling, the results will allow the evaluation of the leaching potential and release kinetics of Cr from the waste materials. The second major goal is to investigate the spatial distribution, speciation, and solubility of Cr in the rooting zone of chromate-contaminated soils surrounding the landfills, and to study the suitability of biochar as novel soil amendment for mitigating the deleterious effects of chromate pollution. Detailed field samplings and laboratory soil incubation studies will be carried out with two agricultural soils and biochar from the Kanpur region.
Outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to consumptions of fresh, or partially processed, agricultural products are a growing concern in industrialized and developing countries. The incidence of human pathogens on fresh fruits and vegetables is often related to the use of recycled wastewaster in surface irrigation as well as high amounts of animal manure in agricultural management practice. Thereby the soil inhabiting fauna plays an important role in the transport and dissemination of microorganisms. The focus of the proposed project is on nematodes, well known vectors for bacteria and viruses in soil. The major goals are to: (1) survey human pathogens in soil and on/in free-living and plant parasitic nematodes in agriculture field sites irrigated with recycled wastewater or fertilized with fresh animal manure in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, (2) assess the function of nematodes as vectors in transmitting bacteria from microbial hot spots to plants, and (3) localize bacteria on and/or within the nematode and identify bacterial factors required for survival in the nematode host. Understanding the mechanisms involved in dissemination of human pathogens by nematodes will enhance the ability to develop practical means to minimize contamination of fresh produce and increase safety in food production.
The increasing proportion of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) in different branches of industry will result in an increasingly larger quantity of CFRP wastes in future. With regard to improved management of natural resources, it is necessary to add these fibres that require energy-intensive production to effective recycling management. But high-quality material recycling is only ecoefficient if the recycled fibres can be used to produce new high-quality and marketable products. Tests carried out up to now indicate that very good results can be expected for large-scale recycling of carbon fibres by means of pyrolysis. The waste pyrolysis plant (WPP) operated in Burgau is the only large-scale pyrolysis plant for municipal wastes in Germany. Use of this plant to treat CFRP wastes represents a unique opportunity for the whole Southern German economy and in particular the Augsburg economic region. In a study funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Health ('Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Gesundheit'), the specific implementation options for the recovery of carbon fibres from composites by means of large-scale pyrolysis have been under investigation since November 2010. To this end, in the first step a development study was carried out, which in particular examined the options for modifying the Burgau WPP for the recycling of CFRP. The knowledge acquired from the pyrolysis tests, the fibre tests and the economic feasibility study confirmed the positive assessment of the overall concept of CFRP recycling in Burgau. As an overall result, unlimited profitability was found for all scenarios with regard to investments in CFRP recycling in Burgau WPP. The work on the development study was carried out by bifa Umweltinstitut GmbH together with the Augsburg-based 'function integrated lightweight construction project group ('Funktionsintegrierter Leichtbau' - FIL) of the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT). Methods: analysis and moderation of social processes, economy and management consulting, process engineering
The Labrador Sea is one of the few places in the world ocean, where deep water formation takes place. This water is exported from the Labrador Sea to become part of the southward branch of the meridional overturning circulation. Previous observational work has largely focused on the role of deep convection in the interior of the Labrador Sea. Recent evidence from observations and numerical ocean models specifically indicate that processes near the ocean boundaries might be most relevant for both Eulerian downwelling of waters in the Labrador Sea and the fast export of newly transformed waters. We propose to analyze mooring based observations at the western margin of the Labrador Sea together with high resolution numerical model simulations to understand the role both processes play for the meridional overturning circulation in the subpolar North Atlantic. Specifically, we want to test (i) if (and where) downwelling occurs along the margins of the Labrador Sea, (ii) how downwelling relates to the seasonal evolution of convection and eddy activity, (iii) how fast waters newly transformed near the western margin of the Labrador Sea are exported, and (iv) how the two processes (downwelling, fast export) affect the temporal variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation.
In recent years science has taken an increased interest in mineralization processes in tropical soils in particular under minimal tillage operations. Plant litter quality and management strongly affect mineralization-nitrification processes in soil and hence the fate of nitrogen in ecosystems and the environment. Plant secondary metabolites like lignin and polyphenols are poorly degradable and interact with proteins (protein binding capacity) and hence protect them from microbial attack. Nitrification, a microbiological process, directly and indirectly influences the efficiency of recovery of N in the vegetation as well as the loss of N (through denitrification and leaching) causing environmental pollution to water bodies and contributes to global warming (e.g. the greenhouse gas N2O is emitted as a by-product of nitrification and denitrification). Nitrifiers comprise a relatively narrow species diversity (at least as known to date) and are generally thought to be sensitive to low soil pH and stress. Despite these properties nitrification occurs in acid tropical soils with high levels of aluminium and manganese. Thus the main objective of the project will be the identification of micro-organisms and mechanisms responsible for mineralization-nitrification processes in acid tropical soils and the influence of long-term litter input of different chemical qualities and minimal tillage options. The project will include the use of stable isotopes (15N, 13C), mass spectrometry, gas chromatography (CO2, N2O), biochemical methods (PLFA) and molecular biology (16s rRNA., PCR, DGGE)
Die große Sauerstoffkatastrophe (Great Oxidation Event - GOE) kennzeichnet den starken Anstieg von molekularem Sauerstoff (O2) in der Atmosphäre während der Frühgeschichte der Erde, was flächendeckende Habitabilität ermöglicht und komplexes Leben auf der Erde erlaubt. Viele Fragen sind diesbezüglich weiterhin offen. Was dazu führte, dass sich Sauerstoff in der Atmosphäre anreicherte, der Zeitpunkt und das Ausmaß sind nicht gut bestimmt. Erst jetzt ist es möglich die komplizierten Wechselwirkungen zwischen atmosphärischen, biologischen und geologischen Prozessen zu identifizieren. Das sich daraus ergebende Absterben methanogener Lebensformen und das Auftreten eines sogenannten Schneeball-Erden-Zustandes sind Beispiele für die extremen Auswirkungen des GOE. Eine zentrale Frage, die wir untersuchen, ist ob der GOE in einem linearen oder, aufgrund einer möglichen Bistabilität von Sauerstoff, in einem sprungweisen Anstieg von O2 erfolgte. Des Weiteren studieren wir den Einfluss des Kohlenstoffzyklus und des Klimas auf die Charakteristika und den Zeitpunkt des GOE. Wir wenden unsere Erfahrung in eindimensionalen (1D) und 3D Klimamodellierungen an, um die Auswirkung unterschiedlicher Klima auf den GOE zu ermitteln. Um dies zu erreichen entwickeln und verwenden wir unser einzigartiges Atmosphärenmodell mit detailliertem Sauerstoffzyklus (inklusive zum Beispiel Verwitterungsprozesse, atmosphärische Photochemie) welches die Atmosphäre, Biosphäre und Geosphäre umfasst. Ein wichtiges Ziel ist die Analyse der Kernprozesse für den GOE unter der Berücksichtigung jüngster Ergebnisse geologischer Untersuchungen (zu zum Beispiel Oberflächendruck, atmosphärischen Treibhausgases, usw.).
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