The rise of grasslands is linked to atmospheric CO2 decline in the late Palaeogene

Grasslands are predicted to experience a major biodiversity change by the year 2100. A better understanding of how grasslands have responded to past environmental changes will help predict the outcome of current and future environmental changes. Here, we explore the relationship between past atmospheric CO2 and temperature fluctuations and the shifts in diversification rate of Poaceae (grasses) and Asteraceae (daisies), two exceptionally species-rich grassland families (~11,000 and ~23,000 species, respectively). To this end, we develop a Bayesian approach that simultaneously estimates diversification rates through time from time-calibrated phylogenies and correlations between environmental variables and diversification rates. Additionally, we present a statistical approach that incorporates the information of the distribution of missing species in the phylogeny. We find strong evidence supporting a simultaneous increase in diversification rates for grasses and daisies after the most significant reduction of atmospheric CO2 in the Cenozoic (~34 Mya). The fluctuations of paleo-temperatures, however, appear not to have had a significant relationship with the diversification of these grassland families. Overall, our results shed new light on our understanding of the origin of grasslands in the context of past environmental changes.

Climatic Change as a Driver of Economic Development: an Example from Angara–Yenisey Siberia

Climate change and its impact on economic development is an important, but still understudied issue. This paper is aimed to fill in this gap in relation to the Angara–Yenisey macroeconomic region. It contributes to the literature in several dimensions. First, an overview of research on the climate impact on various sectors of the Russian economy is given. Second, we showed the main trends and factors in the dynamics of economic development in Russia over the past 20 years. And at last, the comparison of the average annual temperature and the gross regional product growth rates was conducted for the four regions of the Angara–Yenisey Siberia. It was concluded that there is no sufficient evidence that regional economies are significantly dependent on temperature fluctuations. Nevertheless, there is still space for further research.

Calculation of temperature waves in kurums

The article indicates the relevance of the study of heat transfer processes in kurums. Boundary value problems of vertical temperature change in kurums and in the underlying rock base are solved, when the temperature on the surface of kurums changes according to a given periodic law, which simulates daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations. The cases when the rock base is a heat-conducting medium and permafrost are considered. Some regularities of temperature propagation along the depth are revealed.

Holstein polaron at fixed temperature: influence of the chain length

Based on the semiclassical Holstein model, the dynamics of a quantum particle in one-dimensional molecular chain with a trapping site is modeled. Numerical simulation is used to investigate the dynamics of a polaron in a chain with small random Langevin-like perturbations which imitate the thermostat. Parameter values are chosen such that the polaron energy at the trapping site is much greater than the energy of temperature fluctuations. Results of modeling demonstrate that temperature decay of a polaron depends on the chain length even at very low temperatures.

Intercalation Electrochemistry for Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting from Temperature Fluctuations

The effective use of energy from sustainable sources is considered a crucial step on the way to a CO2-neutral economy. Low-grade waste heat (< 100°C) is widely and ubiquitously available,...

Effect of Temperature Fluctuations on the Bearing Capacity of Cold In-Depth Recycled Pavements

This study investigates the influence of the temperature fluctuations on the bearing capacity of cold in-depth recycled (CIR) pavements stabilized with foamed asphalt (FA). Aiming to achieve this goal, non-destructive testing was conducted during mild and high temperatures on a highway CIR pavement, utilizing mainly the FWD device. The back-calculated moduli values were utilized to estimate the strain values within the body of the pavement, while the strains induced using the FWD device were measured with a fiber optic sensors (FOS) system. Moreover, data from the fatigue behavior of the layer materials was also considered. The results of the related analysis indicate that for every 1 °C temperature increase within the body of the AC overlay, an approximately 5.7% increase of the critical tensile strain is expected. Moreover, for every 1 °C temperature increase within the body of the FA layer, an approximately 1.8% increase of the tensile strain at the bottom of the FA layer is expected. The new constructed layers, i.e., asphalt concrete (AC) and FA, sustain much more damage at high temperatures. This was more evident in the upper layer, i.e., the AC overlay.