Earth Systems and Environment

Abstract Urban heat islands (UHIs) pose significant environmental challenges in rapidly urbanising regions, highlighting the need for high-quality spatial datasets to better characterise urban thermal patterns. The Local Climate Zones (LCZ) approach provides a standardised land-use framework for UHI research and is known to strongly correlate with Land Surface Temperature (LST). In this study, 27…

Abstract Potamogeton natans L. is a widespread floating-life macrophyte of high ecological relevance in freshwater ecosystems. By contributing to oxygenation, habitat structure, water clarity and nutrient cycling, it plays a key role in ecosystem functioning, although under favourable conditions it can form dense stands that impair water flow, irrigation and navigation. This review integrates cur…

Abstract In rockfall susceptibility mapping, the reliability of predictive models depends heavily on the quality and structure of input data, particularly the rockfall inventory that forms the foundation of any analysis. Despite its central role, one critical aspect is often overlooked: the geometric representation of this inventory. Many studies apply different formats, points, polylines, or pol…

Abstract The Red River Valley (RRV) of North Dakota, a major agricultural hub in North America, has experienced notable shifts in crop patterns over recent decades. However, few studies have quantitatively examined how long-term climatic trends influence spatial changes in crop patterns or how these climate variables can be used to predict future agricultural land cover in this region. This study…

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, partial lockdown measures in Egypt created a natural experiment to assess their impact on toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in semi-arid regions. While global air quality changes during lockdowns are documented, data on PAH characterization and associated health risks in understudied subtropical North Af…