CONTEXT: Policy issues in most nations include adapting primary agricultural production to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Commitments have been established through multi-lateral agreements targeting GHG emission reductions to abate climate change impacts. In response to policy initiatives targeted at industries such as agriculture, producers are adopting innovative production methods and technologies to provide environmental services and mitigate emissions. GHG emissions arising from livestock production contribute to a damaging narrative surrounding agriculture, particularly beef production. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is three-fold, quantifying (a) net emissions,2 (b) changes in practice, and (c) economic outcomes attributed to the forage production facet of cow-calf production. METHODS: The Saskatchewan Forage Production Survey was developed to gather forage management practices data, placing emphasis on land use and land management changes. Canada's whole-farm assessment model, Holos, was applied as a carbon accounting framework to derive the net emissions of the forage production cycle. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate carbon sequestration increased between the periods of 1991-94 and 2016-19. Gross emissions decreased to a larger degree and net emission results for the forage production facet of the Saskatchewan cow calf sector are -0.123 Mg CO2e/ha/yr in 2016-19. SIGNIFICANCE: Recommendations include the renewal of forage rejuvenation funding programs that may improve forage yields and carbon sequestration potential. Further, the expansion of term conservation easement programs to include non-native forage lands is recommended to incentivize the retention of forage land.

Widespread changes to near-surface permafrost in northern ecosystems are occurring through gradual top-down thaw and more abrupt localized thermokarst development. Both thaw types are associated with a loss of ecosystem services, including soil hydrothermal and mechanical stability and long-term carbon storage. Here, we analyzed relationships between the vascular understory, basal moss layer, active layer thickness (ALT), and greenhouse gas fluxes along a thaw gradient from permafrost peat plateau to thaw bog in Interior Alaska. We used ALT to define four distinct stages of thaw: Stable, Early, Intermediate, and Advanced, and we identified key plant taxa that serve as reliable indicators of each stage. Advanced thaw, with a thicker active layer and more developed thermokarst features, was associated with increased abundance of graminoids and Sphagnum mosses but decreased plant species richness and ericoid abundance, as well as a substantial increase in methane emissions. Early thaw, characterized by active layer thickening without thermokarst development, coincided with decreased ericoid cover and plant species richness and an increase in CH4 emissions. Our findings suggest that early stages of thaw, prior to the formation of thermokarst features, are associated with distinct vegetation and soil moisture changes that lead to abrupt increases in methane emissions, which then are perpetuated through ground surface subsidence and collapse scar bog formation. Current modeling of permafrost peatlands will underestimate carbon emissions from thawing permafrost unless these linkages between plant community, nonlinear active layer dynamics, and carbon fluxes of emerging thaw features are integrated into modeling frameworks.

Altitude profiles of the mass concentrations of aerosol black carbon (BC) have been obtained,up to an altitude of 12 km, from in situ measurements over Hyderabad (17.47 degrees N, 78.57 degrees E, 557 m amsl;a tropical station in the central Indian peninsula), using three successive high altitude balloon ascents during winter and early summer seasons of 2023-2024. The profiles revealed predominant peaks at around 8 and 11 km, where the BC concentrations were reaching as high as nearly three times the surface concentrations (2.82, 2.76, and 2.60 mu g m-3, respectively), persistently in all the three flights. Detailed analyses using official data of air traffic movement, aviation statistics and emission inventory revealed a strong linkage with the emissions from commercial aircraft that touch Hyderabad and overfly the region. These elevated BC layers will have large implications to atmospheric radiative forcing and possible contributions to modification of the cirrus cloud properties.

Structures constructed on collapsible soil are prone to failure under flooding. Agro-waste like rice husk ash (RHA) and its geopolymer (LGR), consisting of lime (L), RHA, water glass (Na2SiO3), and caustic soda (NaOH), present a potential solution to address this issue. RHA and LGR were mixed up to 16% to improve the collapsible soil. Samples were remolded at optimal water content and maximum dry density for strength and collapsible potential tests. Unconfined compressive strength, deformation modulus, and soaked California bearing ratio exhibit exponential improvement with the inclusion of LGR. Additionally, for comparison of microstructural characteristics, analyses involving energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were conducted on both virgin and treated specimens. LGR resulted in the emergence of new peaks of sodium silicates and calcium silicates, as indicated by EDAX. The formation of H-C-A-S gel and H-N-A-S gel observed in SEM suggests the development of bonds among soil particles attributed to geopolymerization. SEM reveals the transformation of the inherent collapsible soil from a dispersed and silt-dominated structure to a reticulated structure devoid of micro-pores following the incorporation of LGR. A numerical model was constructed to forecast the performance of both virgin and stabilized collapsible soils under pre- and post-flooding conditions. The outcomes indicate an enhancement in the soil's bearing capacity upon stabilization with 12% LGR. The implementation of 12% LGR significantly resulted in a lower embodied energy-tostrength ratio, emissions-to-strength ratio, and relatively lower cost-to-strength ratio compared to the soil treated with 16% cement kiln dust (CKD). (c) 2025 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/

The Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance (NECB) is a crucial metric for understanding integrated carbon dynamics in Arctic and boreal regions, which are vital to the global carbon cycle. These areas are associated with significant uncertainties and rapid climate change, potentially leading to unpredictable alterations in carbon dynamics. This mini-review examines key components of NECB, including carbon sequestration, methane emissions, lateral carbon transport, herbivore interactions, and disturbances, while integrating insights from recent permafrost region greenhouse gas budget syntheses. We emphasize the need for a holistic approach to quantify the NECB, incorporating all components and their uncertainties. The review highlights recent methodological advances in flux measurements, including improvements in eddy covariance and automatic chamber techniques, as well as progress in modeling approaches and data assimilation. Key research priorities are identified, such as improving the representation of inland waters in process-based models, expanding monitoring networks, and enhancing integration of long-term field observations with modeling approaches. These efforts are essential for accurately quantifying current and future greenhouse gas budgets in rapidly changing northern landscapes, ultimately informing more effective climate change mitigation strategies and ecosystem management practices. The review aligns with the goals of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) and Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), providing important insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders working to understand and protect these sensitive ecosystems.

River riparian basins play a crucial role in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through carbon sequestration and nitrogen sinks. However, increased ecological stresses led to the release of CO2, CH4 and N2O. This study aimed to investigate how extreme temperatures, water levels, moisture content, land use changes and soil composition influence GHG emissions in the riparian corridor and to recommend mitigation techniques. It was carried out at the Yangtze River Riparian zone, China, using soil column testing. It used soil column testing. The results showed that extreme temperatures caused the highest emissions of CO2 (29-45%), CH4 (24-43%) and N2O (27-33%). This was due to increased soil temperatures and accelerated organic carbon/nitrogen decomposition. Conversely, control and wet-dry cycles absorbed CO2 (1-3%), CH4 (3-10%) and N2O (1-21%) by improving soil aeration, increased oxygen availability, soil structure, stable water table and low temperature change. Grasses in riparian areas also improved carbon sinks. Highest water levels had lowest gas concentrations and emissions due to low oxygen level. Adaptive wet-dry cycles, grass cover and better water table management can restore riparian areas, maintain soil moisture, balance soil carbon/nitrogen levels and mitigate climate change by improving soil quality. Dissolved organic matter fluorescence (DOMFluor) components are essential for soil carbon dynamics, aquatic biome safety, nutrient cycling and ecological balance in riparian zones. The study recommends implementing restoration practices, managing soil moisture, afforestation, regulating temperature and monitoring water tables to mitigate GHG emissions and address climate change. Future policies should focus on promoting resilient land use and ecosystems.

Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) has multiple impacts on the environment, climate change, and human health. China is the largest emitter of NH3 globally, with the dynamic inventory of NH3 emissions remaining uncertain. Here, we use the second national agricultural pollution source censuses, integrated satellite data, 15N isotope source apportionment, and multiple models to better understand those key features of NH3 emissions and its environmental impacts in China. Our results show that the total NH3 emissions were estimated to be 11.2 +/- 1.1 million tonnes in 2020, with three emission peaks in April, June, and October, primarily driven by agricultural sources, which contributed 74% of the total emissions. Furthermore, employing a series of quantitative analyses, we estimated the contribution of NH3 emissions to ecosystem impacts. The NH3 emissions have contributed approximately 22% to secondary PM2.5 formation and a 16.6% increase in nitrogen loading of surface waters, while ammonium deposition led to a decrease in soil pH by 0.0032 units and an increase in the terrestrial carbon sink by 44.6 million tonnes in 2020. Reducing agricultural NH3 emissions in China would contribute to the mitigation of air and water pollution challenges, saving damage costs estimated at around 22 billion US dollars due to avoided human and ecosystem health impacts.

Understanding the dynamics of soil respiration (Rs) in response to freeze-thaw cycles is crucial due to permafrost degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). We conducted continuous in situ observations of Rs using an Li-8150 automated soil CO2 flux system, categorizing the freeze-thaw cycle into four stages: completely thawed (CT), autumn freeze-thaw (AFT), completely frozen (CF), and spring freeze-thaw (SFT). Our results revealed distinct differences in Rs magnitudes, diurnal patterns, and controlling factors across these stages, attributed to varying thermal regimes. The mean Rs values were as follows: 2.51 (1.10) mu mol center dot m(-2)center dot s(-1) (CT), 0.37 (0.04) mu mol center dot m(-2)center dot s(-1) (AFT), 0.19 (0.06) mu mol center dot m(-2)center dot s(-1) (CF), and 0.68 (0.19) mu mol center dot m(-2)center dot s(-1) (SFT). Cumulatively, the Rs contributions to annual totals were 89.32% (CT), 0.79% (AFT), 5.01% (CF), and 4.88% (SFT). Notably, the temperature sensitivity (Q10) value during SFT was 2.79 times greater than that in CT (4.63), underscoring the significance of CO2 emissions during spring warming. Soil temperature was the primary driver of Rs in the CT stage, while soil moisture at 5 cm depth and solar radiation significantly influenced Rs during SFT. Our findings suggest that global warming will alter seasonal Rs patterns as freeze-thaw phases evolve, emphasizing the need to monitor CO2 emissions from alpine meadow ecosystems during spring.

Rationale. Glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau (TP), especially in the Himalayas, are retreating rapidly due to rising air temperature and increasing anthropogenic emissions from nearby regions. Traditionally, pollutants deposited on the glaciers have been assumed to originate from long-range transport from its outside. Methodology. This study investigated the concentrations of black carbon (BC) and major ions in snowpit samples collected from two glaciers in the south-eastern TP (Demula and Palongzangbu) and one glacier in the west Himalayas (Jiemayangzong). The radiative forcing of BC was calculated based on BC concentration and glacier characteristics. Results. The results revealed that the BC/Ca2+ concentration ratio in snowpit samples from Palongzangbu, located near residential villages, is similar to 2.05 times higher than that of Demula, which is mainly influenced by long-range transported pollutants. Furthermore, on Jiemayangzong glacier, snowpit samples collected with 100-m vertical resolution exhibited that BC-induced radiative forcings at low altitude are similar to 2.37 +/- 0.16 times greater than those at high altitude. Discussion. These findings demonstrated that in addition to long-range transport, emissions from local residents also make substantial contributions to BC and certain major ions (e.g. SO42-). To accurately assess the sources and radiative forcing of BC and other light-absorbing impurities on glaciers of the TP, it is necessary to consider the impact of local populations and altitude-dependent variations.

During the final metres of the powered descent of Apollo 11, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin lost sight of the lunar surface. As the retro-rockets fired towards the lunar dust - or regolith - to decelerate the spacecraft, soil erosion occurred and the blowing dust led to severe visual obstruction. After a successful landing, the presence of dust continued to impact the mission with adverse effects including respiratory problems and difficulty in performing tasks due to clogging of mechanisms, amongst others. As these effects were observed in subsequent missions, the dust problemwas identified as one of the main challenges of extra-terrestrial surface exploration. In this work, the focus is placed on dust dispersal, which arises from the interaction between a rocket exhaust flow - or plume - and the planetary surface. Termed plume-surface interactions (PSI), this field of study encompasses the complex phenomena caused by the erosion and lofting of regolith particles. These particles, which are ejected at high-speeds, can lead to damage to the spacecraft hardware or a reduction in functionality. Moreover, plumes redirected back towards the landers can induce destabilising loads prior to touch-down, risking the safety of the landing. To achieve a sustained presence on the Moon, as planned by NASA's Artemis programme, it is essential that PSI are well understood and mitigating measures are put in place, particularly if spacecraft are to land in the vicinity of lunar habitats. Although experimental work began in the 1960s and mission PSI were first recorded in 1969, a fundamental understanding of this phenomena has not yet been achieved. In this paper, a compendium of experimental PSI is presented, identifying the main challenges associated with the design of tests, stating important lessons learnt and the shortcomings of available experimental data and findings. Lastly, recommendations for future experimental work are presented.