General Electric (Austria)

Peatland restoration is increasingly recognized as a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it is expected to play a key role in meeting national emission targets. In Austria, drained and cultivated organic soils are a significant potential source of emissions. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive information on the cost-effectiveness of peatland restoration measures. Specifically, there is insufficient data on cost ranges, differences between restoration methods, and spatial factors that influence costs and effectiveness.To address this gap, the Money4Moor project aims to systematically collect and analyze detailed cost data on peatland restoration and rewetting measures in Austria. The project will (i) compile a comprehensive database of restoration measures implemented since 2005 and (ii) analyze and categorize the costs, technical approaches, and spatial characteristics of restoration projects.The ongoing data collection includes 44 peatland restoration projects implemented between 2007 and 2025 across eight Austrian provinces, excluding Vienna. Of these projects, 19 are in ombrotrophic bogs, 11 are in fens, and the remainder are in other peatlands. These projects vary substantially in scale, duration, and cost, ranging from small maintenance measures to large-scale restoration projects. Most projects were short-term, with 11 completed within one year and only three extending beyond six years.First evaluations of 19 projects (14 ombrotrophic bogs, 5 fens) resulted in the following cost distribution. Annual restoration costs ranged from €2,600 to €246,000 for ombrotrophic bogs (mean: €60,300; median: €23,500) and from €7,600 to €400,000 for fens (mean: €92,000; median: €12,500). Next steps will allocate restoration costs to restored areas to improve comparability, include further spatial analyses to assess regional cost differences and the categorization of costs. By enhancing data availability and transparency, the project aims to support robust cost-effectiveness assessments and evidence-based decision-making for peatland restoration and climate policy.This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is carried out under the program Austrian Climate Research Programme Implementation 2024 (ACRPI, Nr.: KC511213).

The Na-Ca partitioning between coexisting scapolite and plagioclase constitutes a potential geothermometer. The application is, however, complicated by the potential influence of additional parameters, including the bulk-rock and the fluid composition. The term scapolite refers to a solid solution between the marialite (3NaAlSi3O8·NaCl) and meionite (3CaAl2Si2O8·CaCO3) end-members. Thermodynamic mixing models for scapolite are available for Ca-rich scapolite with CO32- as the only anion (carbonate scapolite) and do not account for Ca-poor scapolite, where Cl- is an important anion, in addition to CO32-. Even for carbonate scapolite, the bulk rock composition, in particular, the alumina to silica and the Na2O to CaO ratios, may have an influence on the compositions of coexisting scapolite and plagioclase. We investigate the chemical compositions of scapolite and plagioclase from the southeastern part of the Bohemian massif in Austria. Scapolite is found within calcsilicate gneiss associated with marble layers of the Drosendorf unit. The layers can be traced more or less continuously for at least 75 km in a north-south direction with a slight temperature increase towards the south. We compare the results with predictions from Gibbs energy minimization. The thermodynamic calculations indicate a substantial temperature dependence of the Na-Ca partitioning between coexisting carbonate scapolite and plagioclase. At fixed pressure and temperature and in the presence of calcite, the compositions of scapolite and plagioclase are fixed. Under these specific conditions, the temperature dependence of the Na-Ca partitioning between Ca-rich carbonate scapolite and anorthite-rich plagioclase are a viable geothermometer. In the absence of calcite, the compositions of coexisting scapolite and plagioclase depend on the bulk rock composition and can produce a range of compositions for the same temperature. Still, the Na-Ca partitioning may be used for temperature determination if scapolite-plagioclase pairs of different compositions are available from one sample or one outcrop, so that several scapolite-plagioclase conodes can be determined simultaneously.

In tropical mountains, extreme hydrometeorological hazards have the potential to produce significant geomorphic changes that influence flood hazard dynamics. Although considerable research has been devoted to the geomorphic response of catchments to flood in temperate areas, comparatively little attention has been paid to the geomorphic and hydrological impacts of hurricanes in tropical mountainous areas. It is thus crucial to identify and quantify the differential response of catchments to these events and to integrate those changes into the corresponding flood hazard analyses. In this study, we address three key research questions: (1) What are the geomorphic impacts triggered by hurricanes in mountainous regions at the river reach scale? (2) To what extent do neighboring catchments differ in their response to hurricanes? (3) How do hurricane-induced geomorphic changes influence flood hazard dynamics? For that, we investigate the geomorphic response and flood hazard of two catchments in the Sierra de las Minas (Guatemala), Pasabien and Jones, by analyzing their response to cascading events triggered by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. We use an integrated approach that combines UAV and satellite-based remote sensing analyses, field-based evidence and physically based modeling to analyze landform and flood extent changes after the events. The overall results indicate that hurricanes have the capacity to impact flood hazard dynamics as they play a key role in landscape evolution, and that the storm characteristics, together with physiographic characteristics of the catchment, condition their differential geomorphic impact . These results have strong implications for disaster risk reduction, especially in the light of the ongoing urbanization process and the increasing frequency of hydrometeorological extreme in tropical mountains. • Hurricanes Eta-Iota triggered divergent geomorphic responses and flood hazards in adjacent catchments. • Catchment physiography controls landslide susceptibility and post-hurricane channel response. • Hurricanes Eta-Iota mobilized vast coarse sediment, driving river widening, avulsion, and floodplain change. • An integrated multi-method approach reconstructs cascading hazards in data-scarce tropical mountain regions.

ABSTRACT A 2‐h shift in the timing of evening observations in 1971 resulted in a discontinuity in the estimation of daily means of air temperature and humidity across all climate stations in Austria. This study employs hourly observations to, for the first time, comprehensively quantify and correct this break. On average over all 134 long‐term stations, the observed break caused a non‐negligible, spurious cooling (−0.15 K) and drying (−2.1%) in the time series, with considerable variability among stations and seasons. The correction is achieved by eliminating the systematic bias in predicting true daily means from sub‐daily observations, utilising progressively refined, station‐specific multi‐linear regressions. This approach reduces the typical error in predicting true daily means by almost half, compared to the commonly used averaging formulae. Additionally, the regressions significantly decrease differences in the predictability of true daily means among stations, seasons and observation times. The final model is stratified by calendar month, station and diurnal temperature range class and uses two separate regressions to account for the differing evening observation times before and after 1971. It operates fully stand‐alone, requiring only the station's own subdaily time series as input. The method is applied to both air temperature and relative humidity, achieving comparable improvements in RMSE (up to 52% reduction for temperature and up to 57% reduction for humidity, depending on the averaging formulae) and bias elimination across all seasons. The importance of break correction is evident in basic applications: Without correction, the temperature and humidity trends for the period 1961–2022 are underestimated on average by −0.13 K and −1.5% respectively. Furthermore, employing break‐corrected series largely eliminates a systematic misestimation of climate indices and demonstrably improves temporal consistency in spatial climate monitoring. The simplicity and autonomy of this correction method make it easily applicable to similar issues in other regions. The break‐corrected series contribute to error reduction in widespread applications, a more reliable assessment of climate variations and a better understanding of underlying mechanisms.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> Extreme hydrometeorological events are increasingly raising concern in central Europe, particularly in the European Alps, where they pose significant threats to ecological and socio-economic systems. To support authorities to improve risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts it is crucial to understand upon which conditions the available meteorological data allow for the detection of meteorological extremes able to trigger hazardous events in a given area of interest. Considering precipitation as a key triggering factor for such hazards, this study explores different approaches for the identification of extreme precipitation events and the assessment of their link to geohydrological processes (i.e., landslides, debris flows, floods) observed in a transboundary Alpine region between Austria and Italy from 2003 to 2020. Three definitions of extremes based on regional and local-scale statistics were applied to the daily precipitation grids from four meteorological datasets and the events identified by each combination of datasets and statistical approaches were then compared with hazard occurrences both spatially and temporally. Results show that daily precipitation fields identified as extreme by local-scale statistics, i.e., considering local intensities, report a greater spatial and temporal match with observed hazards. High-resolution observation products, especially if in situ observations are combined with radar data, offer a more detailed and reliable representation of precipitation intensities and relation with hazards. For all methods, the coarser-resolution reanalysis ERA5-Land shows the lowest performance in explaining hazard occurrences, mostly due to the gap between the spatial scale resolved by the data and the one relevant for geohydrological processes. The precipitation statistics and the fields of extreme events identified for the considered region are provided as a reference for further studies. The outcomes of this work can provide methodological recommendations for supporting the understanding and modelling of transboundary risks related to precipitation extremes triggering geohydrological processes in the Alpine regions.

Abstract. Paleoclimatic glacial archives in low-latitude mountain regions are increasingly affected by melt, which leads to heavy percolation and can remove snow and firn accumulated across months, seasons, or even years. Proxy system models, used for improved interpretation of glacial proxies and paleoclimatic reconstructions, generally do not account for melt because they are optimized for sites where snow layer removal by melting is negligible. In this paper, we present a mass balance model applied to the Mt Ortles drilling site, at 3859 ma.s.l. in the Eastern Italian Alps, with the aim of building a pseudo-proxy of atmospheric conditions during the formation of snow layers that survived to ablation. This pseudo-proxy is useful for improved dating and environmental interpretation of firn layers (&lt; 15 m depth), affected by significant melt in the period 1996–2011, which includes the extremely warm summer of 2003. Here we show that the model significantly improves the interpretation of the firn stratigraphy. This is fundamental for detecting melted layers and for refining the dating of the core based on traditional annual layer counting of stable isotope and pollen seasonal oscillations.

Geological cross-sections (GCs) are valuable tools for understanding the subsurface, but their limitations become evident in the interpretation of deep mineral deposits, such as graphite. Typically, GCs are built based on near-surface observations and rely on the interpolation of the data; thus, also limiting the spatial resolution of the structures defined. Geophysical methods can play a crucial role in extending the interpretation of GCs both horizontally and vertically. This study investigates the effectiveness of the transient electromagnetic (TEM) method for graphite exploration in Lower Austria. We conducted TEM soundings to map large areas of difficult access and identify high conductivity anomalies associated with potential graphite deposits. Our results demonstrate the strength of TEM as a rapid and efficient tool, particularly suitable for abandoned mining areas and previously unexplored regions. We identified high-conductivity anomalies at depths of around 40 m, which correspond to surface areas where paragneiss and marble units are in contact, suggesting a high potential for flake-type graphite deposits. These anomalies align well with known graphite occurrences documented in geological maps. We also evaluate the abilities of the TEM method to map graphite-rich zones using numerical experiments. • Integrated geological and geophysical data to enhance graphite exploration. • Discovered new graphite-rich zones using transient electromagnetic soundings. • Enhanced geological mapping precision with advanced geophysical methods. • Assessed graphite supply potential in Austria using non-invasive geophysical methods.

The coupled human-landscape system (CHLS) conceptual model, developed by Hossain et al. (2020), integrates natural and social processes using system dynamics to capture interactions and feedbacks between socio-economic and biophysical systems. This model enables the assessment of mountain communities&amp;#8217; risks and resilience to natural hazards. However, further development of the model is necessary to deepen understanding of key interactions and feedbacks. The goal is to refine the CHLS model as a &amp;#8220;blueprint&amp;#8221; for providing insights into future trajectories of mountain community risk and resilience, while also broadening perspectives on hazard and risk management by integrating adaptation strategies into the context of governance arrangements.The ACRP project EMERGENCE explores how transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation within a multi-scale assessment framework&amp;#8212;encompassing climate triggers, geomorphometric characteristics, mitigation efforts, and exposure dynamics&amp;#8212;enhances understanding of the processes driving torrential loss events and the resilience of mountain communities. This approach bridges the gap between conceptual human-landscape interaction modelling and the practical knowledge of stakeholders in hazard risk management. The insights gained inform adaptation strategies that are tailored to stakeholder needs.We present how Austrian experts in hazard and climate risk management identified damage triggers and examined their interactions within the CHLS framework. These efforts contributed to refining the model at the conceptual or numerical level, or by enhancing its basic assumptions. This process has strengthened the CHLS model&amp;#8217;s capacity to provide insights into future trajectories of mountain community resilience and adaptation strategies.&amp;#160;Reference:Hossain, M.S., Ramirez, J.A., Haisch, T., Speranza, C.I., Martius, O., Mayer, H., &amp;amp; Keiler, M. (2020). A coupled human and landscape conceptual model of risk and resilience in Swiss Alpine communities. Science of the Total Environment, 730, 138322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138322

Trees in undisturbed natural environments are known to contain ferromagnetic particles. The application of conventional paleomagnetic techniques to both living and fossil tree trunks has revealed the presence of low coercivity minerals and measurable remanences, with intermediate (300&amp;#176;C) unblocking temperatures and some archaeomagnetic records that are often magnetically viscous (Krs et al., 1994). However, many questions remain about the origin of the magnetization, the locking mechanisms and its stability.There are several long-lived tree species in the Biosphere, with ages up to 3500&amp;#61485;5000 years, distributed mainly in temperate (Fitzroya cupressoides) and dry mountain (Pinus longaeva) forests. &amp;#160;Most living conifers (sequoias, pines, firs, cypresses, cedars, junipers, larches, spruces, yews) and hardwood tree species (beech species, oaks, chestnuts, etc.) have maximum ages ranging 200-1000 years. In addition, the dendrochronological record and field evidence have demonstrated the ability of certain trees to withstand multiple fires and/or direct and repeated lightning strikes. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies on magnetic remanence in trees affected by fire or lightning compared to undisturbed wild trees, soils or rocks, which are better documented. Given the ages and distribution of certain tree species, the geomagnetic recording source has the potential to enhance our understanding of the secular variation of the Earth's magnetic field over the past 500-1000 years and beyond.In this contribution, we will present the first results derived from the following working hypothesis: "Wood structures associated with lightning strikes or wild fires (including those generated internally to facilitate healing and survival) may have reliably recorded the Earth's magnetic field during the immediate aftermath of the fire (TRM and/or CRM) or in the subsequent period following the lightning strike (CRM, acquired during the healing phase)&amp;#8221;. In order to validate or falsify this working hypothesis, several trees affected by lightning or fire were sampled in the Southern Pyrenees (External Sierras, Sto. Domingo range) between 2014 and 2019. The wood samples were analyzed in the paleomagnetic laboratories of the universities of Leoben, Burgos and Barcelona. The analyses performed included AF demagnetization of the NRM, IRM acquisition curves (and AF demagnetization). Magnetization measurements were obtained with 2G superconducting magnetometers in all cases. Additionally, preliminary observations were conducted using a JEOL 6010 Plus scanning electron microscope (located at the IGME headquarters in Tres Cantos, Madrid), operating in low vacuum mode with a backscattered electron detector and EDS microanalysis.&amp;#160;Krs M, Krsov&amp;#225; M, Pruner P, &amp;#268;&amp;#225;pov&amp;#225; J, Par&amp;#233;s JM (1994) Magnetism of subfossil and fresh wood: initial reports. In: R&amp;#367;&amp;#382;i&amp;#269;kov&amp;#225; E, Zeman A (eds) Holocene flood plain of the Labe River. Geol Inst Acad Sci, Praha, pp 51-65&amp;#160;