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result(s) for
"environmental control"
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Radiation, Air Temperature, and Soil Water Availability Drive Tree Water Deficit Across Temporal Scales in Canada's Western Boreal Forest
by
Nehemy, Magali
,
Spence, Christopher
,
Alcock, Haley
in
Active control
,
Air temperature
,
Atmospheric conditions
2024
Changes are projected for the boreal biome with complex and variable effects on forest vegetation including drought‐induced tree mortality and forest loss. With soil and atmospheric conditions governing drought intensity, specific drivers of trees water stress can be difficult to disentangle across temporal scales. We used wavelet analysis and causality detection to identify potential environmental controls (evapotranspiration, soil moisture, rainfall, vapor pressure deficit, air temperature and photosynthetically active radiation) on daily tree water deficit and on longer periods of tree dehydration in black spruce and tamarack. Daily tree water deficit was controlled by photosynthetically active radiation, vapor pressure deficit, and air temperature, causing greater stand evapotranspiration. Prolonged periods of tree water deficit (multi‐day) were regulated by photosynthetically active radiation and soil moisture. We provide empirical evidence that continued warming and drying will cause short‐term increases in black spruce and tamarack transpiration, but greater drought stress with reduced soil water availability.
Plain Language Summary
This research explores how climate change could impact the water stress experienced by black spruce and tamarack trees in the western boreal forest of Canada. We focused on a key measure called “tree water deficit” to understand if the trees were under stress due to insufficient water. We examined how tree water deficit relates to environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight, and soil moisture. The findings revealed that, on a daily basis, factors like sunlight and temperature cause trees to release more water into the air. However, over longer periods (days to weeks), the amount of water in the soil becomes crucial, suggesting that trees might face water stress during dry spells. So, while trees could grow more on hotter, sunnier days, they could also experience water stress and reduced growth if the soil becomes too dry for an extended period. This study helps us grasp how various factors interact to influence tree water stress in the boreal forest, providing insights important for managing these ecosystems in a changing climate.
Key Points
A novel approach to determine environmental controls of tree water deficit across time scales with wavelet analysis and Granger causality
Soil moisture emerges as a significant control of tree water deficit in boreal trees at longer scales (multi‐days)
Daily productivity gains with warming will be mitigated by decreased soil water availability in longer periods of tree water deficit
Journal Article
Environmental Controls of Size Distribution of Modern Planktonic Foraminifera in the Tropical Indian Ocean
by
Conrod, Sandrine
,
Marchant, Ross
,
Garidel‐Thoron, Thibault
in
Abundance
,
Accuracy
,
automated analysis
2023
Paleoceanographic studies often rely on abundance changes in microfossil species, with little consideration for characteristics such as organism size, which may also be related to environmental changes. Using a tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) core‐top data set, we test the Optimum size‐hypothesis (OSH), investigating whether relative abundance or environmental variables are better descriptors of planktonic foraminifera species' optimum conditions. We also investigate the environmental drivers of whole‐assemblage planktonic foraminiferal test size variation in the TIO. We use an automated imaging and sorting system (MiSo) to identify planktonic foraminiferal species, analyze their morphology, and quantify fragmentation rate using machine learning techniques. Machine model accuracy is confirmed by comparison with human classifiers (97% accuracy). Data for 33 environmental parameters were extracted from modern databases and, through exploratory factor analysis and regression models, we explore relationships between planktonic foraminiferal size and oceanographic parameters in the TIO. Results show that the size frequency distribution of most planktonic foraminifera species is unimodal, with some larger species showing multimodal distributions. Assemblage size95/5 (95th percentile size) increases with increasing species diversity, and this is attributed to vertical niche separation induced by thermal stratification. Our test for the OSH reveals that relative abundance is not a good predictor of species' optima and within‐species size95/5 response to environmental parameters is species‐specific, with parameters related to carbonate ion concentration, temperature, and salinity being primary drivers. At the species and assemblage levels, our analyses indicate that carbonate ion concentration and temperature play important roles in determining size trends in TIO planktonic foraminifera.
Plain Language Summary
In core‐top samples from the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO), we investigate the optimum size‐hypothesis, testing whether species' relative abundance or environmental parameter(s) are better descriptors of planktonic foraminifera species' optimum conditions. Further, we investigate the main environmental drivers of size variations in planktonic foraminifera at the assemblage‐level, given that temperature has been reported to primarily drive assemblage size trends. We use a state‐of‐the‐art machine (MiSo) to automatically identify planktonic foraminiferal species, analyze their size, and quantify fragmentation using machine learning techniques. When compared to identification carried out by human experts across 21 species, the machine classified the species accurately 97% of the time. The MiSo‐generated size data was similar to that by other researchers. The frequency distributions of the species' size spectra show that most species have distributions that form bell‐shaped curves. As species diversity increased, so did the assemblage size (95th percentile size); we attribute this observation to the effect of temperature‐dependent niche separation. We find that, in the TIO, environmental parameters are better descriptors of optimum conditions in planktonic foraminifera than relative abundance. Our results also reveal that size variation at the species and assemblage levels is mostly driven by ambient carbonate chemistry and temperature.
Key Points
Optimum size‐hypothesis holds true in planktonic foraminifera if one considers the main parameters driving each species' size distribution
Size variations in planktonic foraminifera are linked to species' niches and diversity does not increase with productivity
Within‐species size is driven by CO32− concentration, temperature, and salinity; assemblage size by CO32− concentration and temperature
Journal Article
Environmental risk communication : principles and practices for industry
\"Modern industry faces many communication challenges, including social media. This second edition is thoroughly updated, expanded, and reorganized to help industry communicators remain effective in addressing these new challenges. At the core of the book are foundational building blocks that address the human factors responsible for driving success or failure when communicating about environmental risk. Coupled with tools and best practices from decades of research, this insider's guide provides CEOs, plant managers, environmental compliance and health and safety officers, etc., with the direction and the confidence needed to prepare for difficult dialogue and high-pressure encounters\"-- Provided by publisher.
Design of a Closed Piggery Environmental Monitoring and Control System Based on a Track Inspection Robot
2023
To improve environmental quality in enclosed piggeries, a monitoring and control system was designed based on a track inspection robot. The system includes a track mobile monitoring platform, an environmental control system, and a monitor terminal. The track mobile monitoring platform consists of three main components: a single-track motion device, a main box containing electronic components, and an environmental sampling device. It is capable of detecting various environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, NH3 concentration, CO2 concentration, light intensity, H2S concentration, dust concentration, and wind speed at different heights below the track. Additionally, it can control on-site environmental control equipment such as lighting systems, ventilation systems, temperature control systems, and manure cleaning systems. The networked terminal devices enable real-time monitoring of field equipment operating status. An adaptive fuzzy PID control algorithm is embedded in the system to regulate the temperature of the piggery. Field tests conducted on a closed nursery piggery revealed that the system effectively controlled the maximum temperature range within 2 °C. The concentrations of CO2, NH3, and PM2.5 were maintained at a maximum of 1092 mg∙m−3, 16.8 mg∙m−3, and 35 μg∙m−3, respectively. The light intensity ranged from 51 to 57 Lux, while the wind speed remained stable at approximately 0.35 m∙s−1. The H2S concentration was significantly lower than the standard value, and the lowest relative humidity recorded was 18% RH at high temperatures. Regular humidification is required in closed piggeries and other breeding places when the system does not trigger the wet curtain humidification and cooling function, as the relative humidity is lower than the standard value. By controlling the temperature, the system combined with a humidification device can meet environmental requirements. The control method is simple and effective, with a wide range of applications, and holds great potential in the field of agricultural environmental control.
Journal Article
The Lucifer effect : how good people turn evil
2007
'The Lucifer Effect' examines how the human mind has the capacity to be infinitely caring or selfish, kind or cruel, creative or destructive, and the ways in which the goodness of humanity can be transformed into bestiality.
Intelligent Environmental Control in Plant Factories: Integrating Sensors, Automation, and AI for Optimal Crop Production
2025
ABSTRACT
The growing global challenges of environmental degradation and resource scarcity demand innovative agricultural solutions. Intelligent environmental control systems integrating sensors, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) optimize crop production and sustainability in vertical farming. This review explores the critical role of these technologies in monitoring and adjusting key environmental parameters, including light, temperature, humidity, nutrient delivery, and CO₂ enrichment. Intelligent environmental control systems use real‐time data from sensor networks to continuously maintain optimal growing conditions. Sensors measure changes in the environment, such as light intensity and humidity levels. Automation enables tasks to be performed without human intervention, ensuring consistent adjustments to environmental conditions. AI predicts plant responses and enables proactive management strategies in this context. The review also examines how these technologies integrate, highlighting successful case studies and addressing challenges like energy management, scalability, and system harmonization. Looking ahead, AI's potential in predictive maintenance and emerging trends in vertical farming highlight the transformative role of intelligent environmental control in enhancing agricultural efficiency and sustainability.
Journal Article
Performance analysis of a new multifunctional aircraft environmental control system under variable operating conditions
2024
As long-distance flights increase, the widespread use of electric heating for hot water in domestic civil aircraft will pose a challenge to the aircraft's energy systems. Moreover, the aircraft environmental control system operates under variable environmental conditions during aircraft take-off, leading to changes in system performance and outlet parameters. In this paper, mathematical models of the new aircraft environmental control system are established during aircraft take-off, and the main factors affecting the performance of systems are discussed. Results show that hot water with an average temperature of 61 °C can be provided by the new system during aircraft take-off. In the new multi-functional system, the bleed air supply volume during aircraft take-off is less than that of the conventional system, and the system energy loss is also less. When the aircraft just takes off, the condenser accounts for the most significant portion of the system exergy loss. However, the exergy loss in the secondary heat exchanger is the largest, as the aircraft altitude increases. Compared with the conventional system, the exergy efficiency of the new system is 8.85% higher at a 4-5 km level flight, and it’s 3.21% higher at a 9-10 km level flight.
Journal Article