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International audience; Solar irradiance nowcasts can be derived with sky images from all sky imagers (ASI) by detecting and analyzing transient clouds, which are the main contributor of intra-hour solar irradiance variability. The accuracy of ASI based solar irradiance nowcasting systems depends on various processing steps. Two vital steps are the cloud height detection and cloud tracking. This task is challenging, due to the atmospheric conditions that are often complex, including various cloud layers moving in different directions simultaneously.This challenge is addressed by detecting and tracking individual clouds. For this, we developed two distinct ASI nowcasting approaches with four or two cameras and a third hybridized approach. These three systems create individual 3-D cloud models with unique attributes including height, position, size, optical properties and motion. This enables us to describe complex multi-layer conditions.In this paper, derived cloud height and motion vectors are compared with a reference ceilometer (height) and shadow camera system (motion) over a 30 day validation period. The validation data set includes a wide range of cloud heights, cloud motion patterns and atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, limitations of ASI based nowcasting systems due to image resolution and image perspective constrains are discussed.The most promising system is found to be the hybridized approach. This approach uses four ASIs and a voxel carving based cloud modeling combined with a cloud segmentation independent stereoscopic cloud height and tracking detection. We observed for this approach an overall mean absolute error of 648 m for the height, 1.3 m/s for the cloud speed and 16.2° for the motion direction.

Analysing the effect water temperature has on Daphnia magna is essential in anticipating the impact climate change will have on this freshwater zooplanktonic keystone species. While many authors have followed this line of research, few have covered an extensive temperature range or complex temperature change scenarios. Global warming is mostly associated with increased extreme temperature events, such as heat waves, as well as earlier and more intense thermal stratification. Both of these events may directly influence D. magna fitness, especially in those populations performing diel vertical migration (DVM). We analysed the effect water temperatures, ranging from 11 to 29°C, have on the filtration capacity (FC) of D. magna, to anticipate the effects of acclimation, temperature change rate (TCR) and potential reversibility of responses to such conditions. Results show that sudden temperature changes have an immediate negative impact on the FC of D. magna and is more severe at higher temperatures and higher TCRs. However, D. magna individuals have shown themselves to be capable of quasi-acclimating to temperatures ranging from 11 to 25°C in around a week and achieving much higher FCs; albeit never reaching the optimal FC achieved at 20°C. That said, 29°C is lethal for D. magna individuals within approximately five days. Finally, non-optimal temperature acclimated individuals can recover maximal FC within 2–4 days of the optimal long-term acclimation temperature (20°C) being re-established, thus proving temperature responses to be reversible This work was supported by the University of Girona funding MPCUdG2016 and by the INNOQUA project from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Ares2016-1770486) to MFM, TS, and JC

After the publication of the IPCC reports on climate change, the Dutch Meteorological Institute of the Netherlands (KNMI) conducted a study on the consequences of climate change for the Netherlands. Four different scenarios regarding the rise in temperature and their consequences have been developed. Other institutes have elaborated more on these scenarios, making predictions on the effects of climate change on nature and agriculture for the Netherlands. Overall conclusions are that climate change will have dramatic consequences for nature, agriculture and Dutch society in general, being so exposed to rising sea levels. Depending on the scenario, consequences have various gradients of impacts and effects. In general, it is estimated that winters will be softer and wetter, and that summers will be hotter and drier with intermittent torrential rains that can have dire consequences for agriculture and nature. Growing seasons will start earlier and will last longer which could lead to mismatches in species interaction. Species of various kind will suffer the effects of climate change and will disappear from the Netherlands altogether, either through extinction or by moving away north. Other warmth loving species from the south of the Netherlands will move upwards towards the country leading to possible threats to indigenous species.

The environmental impacts associated with floating solar systems in the wine industry For sustainable wine farming the main aim is to minimise environmental impact and to ensure sustainability and economic viability through environmentally sound production practices. This study evaluates the environmental impact of integrated over-water vineyard irrigation solar energy solutions in winery production systems and shows that floating solar systems on vineyard irrigation ponds in the Western Cape wine region may ensure positive environmental impact benefits.

The main aim of this paper is to depict the sustainability condition of an average subsistence farm in the mid-hill condition of Nepal. For the purpose, a hypothetical farm representing the average condition of the farming system in the area is taken. The analysis is based on the secondary information. For the purpose, only few indicators for the sustainability are analysed including gross profit margin, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen balance. The results reflect that an average subsistence farm in the midhill of Nepal earn just NRs 79,449 per annum. The nitrogen balance was negative and nitrogen use efficiency was more than 100% reflecting the system was economically and environmentally unsustainable. The problem behind unsustainability of the system is basically related with poverty and increased population pressure on poorly fertile land. Only a joint venture of public and private sector can address the problem.

The study examined research and outreach capacities on climate change agricultural adaptation in the faculties of agriculture in southeast, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty (120) randomly selected academic staff of faculties of agriculture were used. Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results show poor investment in equipment (18.7%) and human capacity building (25.8%); limited department/faculty (43.3%) and university/university (28.3%) linkages for climate change research and outreach. Only 25.0% of the respondents expressed the existence of outreach and fund for climate change activities. The personal activities of staff were attendance to conference (62.5%), and involvement in researches (91.7%) on climate change. Capacities for research and outreach on climate change were constrained by several factors namely high cost of TV, radio and newspaper adverts (M = 3.44), poor understanding/knowledge of climate change concepts (M = 3.36), limited grant for climate change research (M = 3.35) and others. The study recommends that government should enact favourable policies and institutional supports that could encourage, spur and stimulate capacity acquisition activities in the universities. The university system need to internally put in place activities, strategies and programmes that could attract external aids, collaboration and raise staff interest and motivation to acquire capacity on climate change agricultural adaptation. Key words: Climate change, university, research, outreach, adaptation, agriculture.

Demand for bioenergy is expected to triple by 2050 as a result of policies aimed to improve energy independence and mitigate global climate change. We review forest practices that generate biomass in mesic forests and show that they vary widely in intensity and potential magnitude of the effects on biodiversity. Although increased demand for bioenergy may incentivize maintaining forestland, increasing economic value of woody biomass will probably stimulate more intensive management practices, impacting many species, especially those associated with deadwood. The spatial extent of habitat modification and the type and degree of management will have an impact on populations of sensitive species. We propose preliminary management guidelines to minimize biodiversity impacts and introduce an initial research agenda to test the sensitivity of forest biodiversity to bioenergy practices at multiple scales.