Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

About: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is a facility organization based out in Potsdam, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Climate change & Global warming. The organization has 1519 authors who have published 5098 publications receiving 367023 citations.

Use of a Water Stress Index to Identify Barley Genotypes Adapted to Rainfed and Irrigated Conditions

Abstract: Future climate changes are expected to increase risks of drought, which already represent the most common stress factor for stable barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production in Mediterranean areas. It is important, therefore, to evaluate if there are needs of specific adaptive measures in selecting genotypes for these more stressful environments. Our objective was to study diversity of yield performance under rainfed (R) and irrigated (I) conditions in 89 barley genotypes of different origin, growth habit, and year of release, representing a sample of cultivars grown in Europe. The experiment was conducted at Foggia (southern Italy) for 3 yr. For each trial, a water stress index (WSI) was calculated on the basis of the daily potential and actual evapotranspiration in the growing season, estimated by Thornthwaite's method. The WSI explained most of the variation in yield (R 2 = 0.89**) among years and treatments. We examined, using the yield vs. WSI regression, the behavior of a given genotype across trials. The intercept and slope values were used as measures of yield potential and adaptability under drought, respectively. Several cultivars showing high yield potential and minimal genotype × environment (GE) interaction were identified. Notably, they were characterized by a high slope of the yield vs. WSI regression. Furthermore, within the range of water stress here examined, high yield potential played a preeminent role in the performance of these barley genotypes. This explains why, in this specific context, a selection based on minimum yield decrease under stress with respect to favorable conditions failed to identify the best genotypes.

Explosive synchronization in a general complex network.

Abstract: Explosive synchronization (ES) has recently attracted much attention, where its two necessary conditions are found to be a scale-free network topology and a positive correlation between the natural frequencies of the oscillators and their degrees. Here we present a framework for ES to be observed in a general complex network, where a positive correlation between coupling strengths of the oscillators and the absolute of their natural frequencies is assumed and the previous studies are included as specific cases. In the framework, the previous two necessary conditions are replaced by another one, thus fundamentally deepening the understanding of the microscopic mechanism toward synchronization. A rigorous analytical treatment by a mean field is provided to explain the mechanism of ES in this alternate framework.

Potential and risks of hydrogen-based e-fuels in climate change mitigation

Abstract: E-fuels promise to replace fossil fuels with renewable electricity without the demand-side transformations required for a direct electrification. However, e-fuels’ versatility is counterbalanced by their fragile climate effectiveness, high costs and uncertain availability. E-fuel mitigation costs are €800–1,200 per tCO2. Large-scale deployment could reduce costs to €20–270 per tCO2 until 2050, yet it is unlikely that e-fuels will become cheap and abundant early enough. Neglecting demand-side transformations threatens to lock in a fossil-fuel dependency if e-fuels fall short of expectations. Sensible climate policy supports e-fuel deployment while hedging against the risk of their unavailability at large scale. Policies should be guided by a ‘merit order of end uses’ that prioritizes hydrogen and e-fuels for sectors that are inaccessible to direct electrification. E-fuels—hydrocarbon fuels synthesized from green hydrogen—can replace fossil fuels. This Perspective highlights the opportunities and risks of e-fuels, and concludes that hydrogen and e-fuels should be prioritized for sectors inaccessible to direct electrification.

Codominant water control on global interannual variability and trends in land surface phenology and greenness

Abstract: Identifying the relative importance of climatic and other environmental controls on the interannual variability and trends in global land surface phenology and greenness is challenging. Firstly, quantifications of land surface phenology and greenness dynamics are impaired by differences between satellite data sets and phenology detection methods. Secondly, dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) that can be used to diagnose controls still reveal structural limitations and contrasting sensitivities to environmental drivers. Thus, we assessed the performance of a new developed phenology module within the LPJmL (Lund–Potsdam–Jena managed Lands) DGVM with a comprehensive ensemble of three satellite data sets of vegetation greenness and ten phenology detection methods, thereby thoroughly accounting for observational uncertainties. The improved and tested model allows us quantifying the relative importance of environmental controls on interannual variability and trends of land surface phenology and greenness at regional and global scales. We found that start of growing season interannual variability and trends are in addition to cold temperature mainly controlled by incoming radiation and water availability in temperate and boreal forests. Warming-induced prolongations of the growing season in high latitudes are dampened by a limited availability of light. For peak greenness, interannual variability and trends are dominantly controlled by water availability and land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) in all regions. Stronger greening trends in boreal forests of Siberia than in North America are associated with a stronger increase in water availability from melting permafrost soils. Our findings emphasize that in addition to cold temperatures, water availability is a codominant control for start of growing season and peak greenness trends at the global scale.

Challenges in operationalizing the water–energy–food nexus

Abstract: Concerns about the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus have motivated many discussions regarding new approaches for managing water, energy and food resources. Despite the progress in recent years, there remain many challenges in scientific research on the WEF nexus, while implementation as a management tool is just beginning. The scientific challenges are primarily related to data, information and knowledge gaps in our understanding of the WEF inter-linkages. Our ability to untangle the WEF nexus is also limited by the lack of systematic tools that could address all the trade-offs involved in the nexus. Future research needs to strengthen the pool of information. It is also important to develop integrated software platforms and tools for systematic analysis of the WEF nexus. The experience made in integrated water resources management in the hydrological community, especially in the framework of Panta Rhei, is particularly well suited to take a lead in these advances.