| 1. |
- Akinsete, Ebun, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainable WEF Nexus Management: A Conceptual Framework to Integrate Models of Social, Economic, Policy, and Institutional Developments
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 2624-9375. ; 4
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rapid population growth along with increased rates of economic growth around the globe are placing valuable natural resources, water in particular, under unprecedented stress; this in turn drives the pursuit of innovative tools to support integrated Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus management. This paper presents a framework for the integrated management of the WEF nexus, which brings together four separate models that address the less well-examined socio-anthropological aspects of the nexus. The proposed framework provides insight into the human element as part of the wider ecosystem in terms of socio-cultural and economic activities, the laws and policies that govern these activities, as well as their potential socio-economic impacts and consequences. This paper outlines each individual model, before going on to present a conceptual framework for the integration of the various models for the purpose of supporting more robust decision-making. The framework, which is grounded in systems thinking, adopts the principles of sustainable development as structural foci in order to position the various models in relation to one another; harmonizing their inputs as well as outputs.
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| 2. |
- Benegas, Laura, et al.
(författare)
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Positive Effects of Scattered Trees on Soil Water Dynamics in a Pasture Landscape in the Tropics
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2624-9375. ; 3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a result of canopy interception and transpiration, trees are often assumed to have negative effects on the local hydrological budget resulting in reduced soil and groundwater resources. However, it has also been shown that trees can have positive effects through reducing surface run-off and improving soil infiltrability and groundwater recharge, especially in many tropical ecosystems characterized by high rain intensity and degradation-prone soils. In this study, we used isotopic measurements of soil water to better understand the main processes by which trees influence local soil water dynamics within a tropical pasture with scattered tree cover in the Copan River catchment, Honduras. We also determined the stable isotope signature of xylem water in grasses and trees to assess potential competition for water sources during the wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, when soil water availability was not limiting, both grasses and trees primarily utilized soil water near the soil surface (i.e., 0–10 cm). In contrast, during the dry season, we observed niche partitioning for water resources where grasses primarily utilized soil moisture at deeper soil depth (i.e., 90–100 cm) while trees relied heavily on groundwater. Moreover, isotopic data of soil water suggest that trees reduce evaporative water losses from the soil surface, as indicated by the lack of correlation between soil water content and lc-excess (line condition excess) values of surface soil water under trees, and enhance preferential flow as suggested by less negative lc-excess values under trees compared to open areas during the dry season. Taken together, our findings provide further support that trees can have positive effects on the local water balance with implication for landscape management, promoting the inclusion of scattered trees to provide water ecosystem services in silvopastoral systems, adding to other ecosystem services like biodiversity or carbon sequestration.
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| 3. |
- Buffam, Ishi, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of the Landscape Template on Chemical and Physical Habitat for Brown Trout Within a Boreal Stream Network
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2624-9375. ; 3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We used the distribution of stream-dwelling brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a 67 km(2) boreal catchment to explore the importance of environmental organizing factors at a range of spatial scales, including whole-catchment characteristics derived from map data, and stream reach chemical and physical characteristics. Brown trout were not observed at any sites characterized by pH < 5.0 during the spring snowmelt episode, matching published toxicity thresholds. Brown trout distributions were patchy even in less acidic regions of the stream network, positively associated with glaciofluvial substrate and negatively associated with fine sand/silty sediments. A multivariate model including only whole-catchment characteristics explained 43% of the variation in brown trout densities, while models with local site physical habitat characteristics or local stream chemistry explained 33 and 25%, respectively. At the stream reach scale, physical habitat apparently played a primary role in organizing brown trout distributions in this stream network, with acidity placing an additional restriction by excluding brown trout from acidic headwater streams. Much of the strength of the catchment characteristics-fish association could be explained by the correlation of catchment-scale landscape characteristics with local stream chemistry and site physical characteristics. These results, consistent with the concept of multiple hierarchical environmental filters regulating the distribution of this fish species, underline the importance of considering a range of spatial scales and both physical and chemical environments when attempting to manage or restore streams for brown trout.
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| 4. |
- Caretta, Martina Angela, et al.
(författare)
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Flooding Hazard and Vulnerability. An Interdisciplinary Experimental Approach for the Study of the 2016 West Virginia Floods
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2624-9375. ; 3:60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The hydrosocial (HS) and social-hydro (SH) frameworks each attempt to understand the complexity of water and society, but they have emerged from historically disparate fields with distinctly different goals as well as methodological and epistemological standpoints. This paper encapsulates the shared experiences of two human geographers and two hydrologists studying hazard and vulnerability in two communities impacted by extreme flooding in West Virginia in 2016. We add to the limited examples of scientists working across epistemologies to improve the understanding of water-societal relations. In so doing, we also contribute to broader discussions of water justice. We outline an experimental approach connecting hydrosocial and social-hydro frameworks to study flood hazard and vulnerability. Within our conceptualization, we set forth that while social and hydrological factors can be presented as purely anthropogenic or geophysical, respectively, their intersection is the crux to investigate. The relationships between variables of both major categories can help us understand how the social and biophysical systems are interrelated. We depart from 21 semi structured interviews and a secondary analysis of local biophysical factors to develop a model that could show the relations between social and biophysical factors. Linking these factors is crucial step toward integration of SH and HS approaches to create a more comprehensive understanding of water-human relations. These studies can inform policymakers by highlighting where negative connections can be remedied and positive connections can be fostered to emphasize water justice.
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| 5. |
- Dalla Fontana, Michele, et al.
(författare)
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The Five Ws of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus : A Reflexive Approach to Enable the Production of Actionable Knowledge
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2624-9375. ; 3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The water-energy-food nexus is now a popular approach in the sustainability field. However, whereas the nexus calls for more holistic, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches, the research produced over the past decade has been fragmented and specialized. Furthermore, there is still a gap between the nexus as a descriptive and analytical concept and its operationalization. Nexus research needs a shift from “thinking” to “action,” which we understand as the production of actionable knowledge. This paper delves into the literature and presents five “W” questions as an iterative heuristic for the nexus concept to encourage reflexivity and inter-and transdisciplinary dialogue, while aiming at the production of actionable knowledge. We draw on the literature to discuss the five “W” questions of the nexus, namely: (i) Why, in which we explore the purpose of nexus research for actionable knowledge; (ii) What, in which we explore the material aspect of the nexus and the interactions between water, energy and food systems; (iii) Where, in which we discuss issues of scale, interactions between scales, and the geographical context of the nexus; (iv) When, in which we consider temporal dimensions of nexus research with a particular emphasis on intergenerational trade-offs, and (v) Who, which focuses on nexus stakeholders and the importance of understanding issues of justice and equity. Finally, we discuss the connections and dependencies between the five Ws, reinforcing the importance for researchers to reflect on their decision-making and engage in inter- and transdisciplinary debate to enable nexus action.
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| 6. |
- Liera, Carla, et al.
(författare)
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Human rights, COVID-19, and barriers to safe water and sanitation among people experiencing homelessness in Mexico City
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2624-9375. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are human rights and play a fundamental role in protecting health, which has been particularly evident during the SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) pandemic. People experiencing homelessness face frequent violations of their human rights to water and sanitation, negatively affecting their health and dignity and ability to protect themselves from COVID-19. This research aimed to identify barriers to safe water, sanitation and hygiene access for people experiencing homelessness in Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of 101 respondents experiencing homelessness was conducted using mobile data collection tools in collaboration with El Caracol A.C., an NGO that contributes to the visibility and social inclusion of homeless people in Mexico. We report findings according to the following themes: general economic impacts of COVID-19; experiences with reduced access to WASH services due to COVID-19, challenges in accessing hand washing to follow COVID-19 public health advice; and coping mechanisms used to deal with reductions in access to WASH. We discuss the broader implications of the findings in terms of realization of the human rights to water and sanitation (HRtWS), and how people experiencing homelessness are left behind by the existing approaches to ensure universal access to water and sanitation under SDG 6.
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| 7. |
- Moreira, Luana Lavagnoli, et al.
(författare)
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Sensitivity analysis of indicator weights for the construction of flood vulnerability indexes : A participatory approach
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2624-9375. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The assessment of flood vulnerability is a complex task that involves numerous uncertainties. Within this context, sensitivity analyses are crucial to better understand the variability of vulnerability index outcomes according to different input parameters. The present study sheds light on the importance of assessing the sensitivity of different criteria weights to construct flood vulnerability indexes using the Maquiné basin (Brazil) as a case study. Specifically, we compared vulnerability scores based on weights derived from a participatory survey with 44 stakeholders to those based on an equal weighting scheme. Results helped us identify areas with low and high uncertainty and the variables contributing to this. Overall, the preference for indicator weights did not vary significantly among stakeholders with distinct socioeconomic characteristics. Furthermore, the choice of weights only had an impact on the spatial distribution of flood vulnerability in certain regions. Compared to equal weights, the flood vulnerability outcomes obtained by averaging the stakeholder scenarios were similar, indicating that the results were robust and not highly sensitive to the choice of weights. By adopting a participatory approach, we were able to consider multiple stakeholders' views, which helped to provide a more comprehensive perspective of flood vulnerability and potentially increased the acceptance of the results. Based on our findings, end-users can better understand the relative importance of each indicator and how they contribute to vulnerability. Furthermore, our results can help identify points where stakeholders disagree, which can be used to facilitate dialogue and consensus building. The methodology applied is straightforward and could be easily adapted to other multi-criteria decision-making problems.
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| 8. |
- Pande, Saket, et al.
(författare)
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Never Ask for a Lighter Rain but a Stronger Umbrella
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2624-9375. ; 3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a recent editorial in the journal Nature Sustainability, the editors raised the concern that journal submissions on water studies appear too similar. The gist of the editorial: "too many publications and not enough ideas." In this response, we contest this notion, and point to the numerous new ideas that result from taking a broader view of the water science field. Drawing inspiration from a recently hosted conference geared at transcending traditional disciplinary silos and forging new paradigms for water research, we are, in fact, enthusiastic and optimistic about the ways scientists are investigating political, economic, historical, and cultural intersections toward more just and sustainable human-water relations and ways of knowing.
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| 9. |
- Zannella, Alberto, et al.
(författare)
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Metabolic processes control carbon dioxide dynamics in a boreal forest ditch affected by clear-cut forestry
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Water. - 2624-9375. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Boreal watercourses are large emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. For forestry intensive areas of the Nordic and Baltic countries, a high share of these watercourses are man-made ditches, created to improve drainage and increase forest productivity. Previous studies have suggested that terrestrial sources sustain the CO2 in these ditches and variability in hydrology is the main temporal control. However, few studies have explored ditch CO2 dynamics and its associated controls in catchments being exposed to forest harvest. An altered hydrology, increased nutrient export and light availability following forest harvest are all factors that potentially can change both levels, dynamics, and source controls of ditch CO2. Here, high-frequency (30 min) CO2 concentration dynamics together with other hydrochemical variables were studied in a forest ditch draining a fully harvested catchment in the Trollberget Experimental Area, northern Sweden. We collected data during the snow-free season from May to October. Ditch CO2 concentrations displayed a clear seasonal pattern with higher CO2 concentrations during summer than in spring and autumn. Concentrations ranged from 1.8 to 3.5 mg C L−1 (median: 2.4 mg C L−1 , IQR = 0.5 mg C L−1 ). Strong diel cycles in CO2 developed during early summer, with daily amplitudes in CO2 reaching up to 1.1 mg C L−1 . These pronounced daily cycles in CO2 were closely related to the daily sum of shortwave radiation and water temperature. Variations in hydrology had generally a low impact on the CO2 dynamics but did vary among seasons and between individual hydrological events. It was evident from our study that growing season CO2 concentrations in a forest ditch aected by clearcut harvest were highly variable and mainly controlled by light and temperature induced metabolism. These high dynamics and the associated controls need to be considered when scaling up ditch CO2 emissions across boreal landscapes aected by intensive forest
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