Physically-based distributed rainfall-runoff models as the standard analysis tools for hydro-logical processes have been used to simulate the water system in detail, which includes spa-tial patterns and temporal dynamics of hydrological variables and processes (Davison et al., 2015; Ek and Holtslag, 2004). In general, catchment models are parameterized with spatial information on soil, vegetation and topography. However, traditional approaches for eval-uation of the hydrological model performance are usually motivated with respect to dis-charge data alone. This may thus cloud model realism and hamper understanding of the catchment behavior. It is necessary to evaluate the model performance with respect to in-ternal hydrological processes within the catchment area as well as other components of wa-ter balance rather than runoff discharge at the catchment outlet only. In particular, a consid-erable amount of dynamics in a catchment occurs in the processes related to interactions of the water, soil and vegetation. Evapotranspiration process, for instance, is one of those key interactive elements, and the parameterization of soil and vegetation in water balance mod-eling strongly influences the simulation of evapotranspiration. Specifically, to parameterize the water flow in unsaturated soil zone, the functional relationships that describe the soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity characteristics are important. To define these functional relationships, Pedo-Transfer Functions (PTFs) are common to use in hydrologi-cal modeling. Opting the appropriate PTFs for the region under investigation is a crucial task in estimating the soil hydraulic parameters, but this choice in a hydrological model is often made arbitrary and without evaluating the spatial and temporal patterns of evapotran-spiration, soil moisture, and distribution and intensity of runoff processes. This may ulti-mately lead to implausible modeling results and possibly to incorrect decisions in regional water management. Therefore, the use of reliable evaluation approaches is continually re-quired to analyze the dynamics of the current interactive hydrological processes and predict the future changes in the water cycle, which eventually contributes to sustainable environ-mental planning and decisions in water management. Remarkable endeavors have been made in development of modelling tools that provide insights into the current and future of hydrological patterns in different scales and their im-pacts on the water resources and climate changes (Doell et al., 2014; Wood et al., 2011). Although, there is a need to consider a proper balance between parameter identifiability and the model's ability to realistically represent the response of the natural system. Neverthe-less, tackling this issue entails investigation of additional information, which usually has to be elaborately assembled, for instance, by mapping the dominant runoff generation pro-cesses in the intended area, or retrieving the spatial patterns of soil moisture and evapotran-spiration by using remote sensing methods, and evaluation at a scale commensurate with hydrological model (Koch et al., 2022; Zink et al., 2018). The present work therefore aims to give insights into the modeling approaches to simulate water balance and to improve the soil and vegetation parameterization scheme in the hydrological model subject to producing more reliable spatial and temporal patterns of evapotranspiration and runoff processes in the catchment. An important contribution to the overall body of work is a book chapter included among publications. The book chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the topic and valua-ble insights into the understanding the water balance and its estimation methods. Moreover, the first paper aimed to evaluate the hydrological model behavior with re-spect to contribution of various sources of information. To do so, a multi-criteria evaluation metric including soft and hard data was used to define constraints on outputs of the 1-D hydrological model WaSiM-ETH. Applying this evaluation metric, we could identify the optimal soil and vegetation parameter sets that resulted in a “behavioral” forest stand water balance model. It was found out that even if simulations of transpiration and soil water con-tent are consistent with measured data, but still the dominant runoff generation processes or total water balance might be wrongly calculated. Therefore, only using an evaluation scheme which looks over different sources of data and embraces an understanding of the local controls of water loss through soil and plant, allowed us to exclude the unrealistic modeling outputs. The results suggested that we may need to question the generally accept-ed soil parameterization procedures that apply default parameter sets. The second paper attempts to tackle the pointed model evaluation hindrance by getting down to the small-scale catchment (in Bavaria). Here, a methodology was introduced to analyze the sensitivity of the catchment water balance model to the choice of the Pedo-Transfer Functions (PTF). By varying the underlying PTFs in a calibrated and validated model, we could determine the resulting effects on the spatial distribution of soil hydraulic properties, total water balance in catchment outlet, and the spatial and temporal variation of the runoff components. Results revealed that the water distribution in the hydrologic system significantly differs amongst various PTFs. Moreover, the simulations of water balance components showed high sensitivity to the spatial distribution of soil hydraulic properties. Therefore, it was suggested that opting the PTFs in hydrological modeling should be care-fully tested by looking over the spatio-temporal distribution of simulated evapotranspira-tion and runoff generation processes, whether they are reasonably represented. To fulfill the previous studies’ suggestions, the third paper then aims to focus on evalu-ating the hydrological model through improving the spatial representation of dominant run-off processes. It was implemented in a mesoscale catchment in southwestern Germany us-ing the hydrological model WaSiM-ETH. Dealing with the issues of inadequate spatial ob-servations for rigorous spatial model evaluation, we made use of a reference soil hydrologic map available for the study area to discern the expected dominant runoff processes across a wide range of hydrological conditions. The model was parameterized by applying 11 PTFs and run by multiple synthetic rainfall events. To compare the simulated spatial patterns to the patterns derived by digital soil map, a multiple-component spatial performance metric (SPAEF) was applied. The simulated DRPs showed a large variability with regard to land use, topography, applied rainfall rates, and the different PTFs, which highly influence the rapid runoff generation under wet conditions. The three published manuscripts proceeded towards the model evaluation viewpoints that ultimately attain the behavioral model outputs. It was performed through obtaining information about internal hydrological processes that lead to certain model behaviors, and also about the function and sensitivity of some of the soil and vegetation parameters that may primarily influence those internal processes in a catchment. Accordingly, using this understanding on model reactions, and by setting multiple evaluation criteria, it was possi-ble to identify which parameterization could lead to behavioral model realization. This work, in fact, will contribute to solving some of the issues (e.g., spatial variability and modeling methods) identified as the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology in the 21st century (Blöschl et al., 2019). The results obtained in the present work encourage the further inves-tigations toward a comprehensive model calibration procedure considering multiple data sources simultaneously. This will enable developing the new perspectives to the current parameter estimation methods, which in essence, focus on reproducing the plausible dy-namics (spatio-temporal) of the other hydrological processes within the watershed.

Estimating the amount of material without significant losses at the end of hybrid casting is a problem addressed in this study. To minimize manufacturing costs and improve the accuracy of results, a correction factor (CF) was used in the formula to estimate the volume percent of the material in order to reduce material losses during the sample manufacturing stage, allowing for greater confidence between the approved blending plan and the results obtained. In this context, three material mixing schemes of different sizes and shapes (gypsum plaster, sand (0/2), gravel (2/4), and Posidonia oceanica fibers (PO)) were created to verify the efficiency of CF and more precisely study the physico-mechanical effects on the samples. The results show that the use of a CF can reduce mixing loss to almost 0%. The optimal compressive strength of the sample (S1B) with the lowest mixing loss was 7.50 MPa. Under optimal conditions, the addition of PO improves mix volume percent correction (negligible), flexural strength (5.45%), density (18%), and porosity (3.70%) compared with S1B. On the other hand, the addition of PO thermo-chemical treatment by NaOH increases the compressive strength (3.97%) compared with PO due to the removal of impurities on the fiber surface, as shown by scanning electron microscopy. We then determined the optimal mixture ratio (PO divided by a mixture of plaster, sand, and gravel), which equals 0.0321 because Tunisian gypsum contains small amounts of bassanite and calcite, as shown by the X-ray diffraction results.

Formulations of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics such as moxidectin are regularly administered to sheep to combat parasites. A disadvantage of these pharmaceuticals are their side effects on non-target organisms when entering the environment. Little is known about anthelmintic effects on plant reproduction and whether the effects depend on environmental factors. For ecological and methodological reasons, we aimed at testing whether temperature affects the efficacy of a common moxidectin-based formulation on seed germination. We carried out a germination experiment including three typical species of temperate European grasslands (Centaurea jacea, Galium mollugo, Plantago lanceolata). We applied three temperature regimes (15/5, 20/10, 30/20°C), and a four-level dilution series (1:100–1:800) of formulated moxidectin (i.e., Cydectin oral drench). These solutions represent seed-anthelmintic contacts in the digestive tract of sheep shortly after deworming. In addition, a control was carried out with purified water only. We regularly counted emerging seedlings and calculated final germination percentage, mean germination time and synchrony of germination. Formulated moxidectin significantly reduced percentage, speed and synchrony of germination. A 1:100 dilution of the formulation reduced germination percentage by a quarter and increased mean germination time by six days compared to the control. Temperature moderated effects of the anthelmintic drug on germination in all response variables and all species, but in different patterns and magnitudes (significant anthelmintic x temperature x species interactions). In all response variables, the two more extreme temperature regimes (15/5, 30/20°C) led to the strongest effects of formulated moxidectin. With respect to germination percentage, G. mollugo was more sensitive to formulated moxidectin at the warmest temperature regime, whereas P. lanceolata showed the highest sensitivity at the coldest regime. This study shows that it is important to consider temperature dependencies of the effects of pharmaceuticals on seed germination when conducting standardised germination experiments.

In den letzten Jahren hat die Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) das Thema Wohnen zunehmend in ihren Wahlprogrammen aufgegriffen und für die eigene politische Profilierung genutzt. Der Beitrag zeigt, inwiefern die Thematisierung des Wohnens bei der AfD so formuliert ist, dass es erhebliche Anknüpfungspunkte an rechtes Gedankengut herstellt. Der Beitrag thematisiert die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen für eine kritische Stadtforschung sowie für progressive soziale Bewegungen. Er plädiert dafür, sich der Gefahr der rechten Vereinnahmung des Themas Wohnen bewusst zu sein und sich deutlich von den rechten Übernahmeversuchen abzugrenzen sowie Gegenstrategien zu entwickeln.

Wasserbezogene regulierende und versorgende Ökosystemdienstleistungen (ÖSDL) wurden im Hinblick auf das Abflussregime und die Grundwasserneubildung im Biosphärenreservat Pfälzerwald im Südwesten Deutschlands anhand hydrologischer Modellierung unter Verwendung des Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) untersucht. Dabei wurde ein holistischer Ansatz verfolgt, wonach den ÖSDL Indikatoren für funktionale und strukturelle ökologische Prozesse zugeordnet werden. Potenzielle Risikofaktoren für die Verschlechterung von wasserbedingten ÖSDL des Waldes, wie Bodenverdichtung durch Befahren mit schweren Maschinen im Zuge von Holzerntearbeiten, Schadflächen mit Verjüngung, entweder durch waldbauliche Bewirtschaftungspraktiken oder durch Windwurf, Schädlinge und Kalamitäten im Zuge des Klimawandels, sowie der Kli-mawandel selbst als wesentlicher Stressor für Waldökosysteme wurden hinsichtlich ihrer Auswirkungen auf hydrologische Prozesse analysiert. Für jeden dieser Einflussfaktoren wurden separate SWAT+-Modellszenarien erstellt und mit dem kalibrierten Basismodell verglichen, das die aktuellen Wassereinzugsgebietsbedingungen basierend auf Felddaten repräsentierte. Die Simulationen bestätigten günstige Bedingungen für die Grundwasserneubildung im Pfälzerwald. Im Zusammenhang mit der hohen Versickerungskapazität der Bodensubstrate der Buntsandsteinverwitterung, sowie dem verzögernden und puffernden Einfluss der Baumkronen auf das Niederschlagswasser, wurde eine signifikante Minderungswirkung auf die Oberflächenabflussbildung und ein ausgeprägtes räumliches und zeitliches Rückhaltepotential im Einzugsgebiet simuliert. Dabei wurde festgestellt, dass erhöhte Niederschlagsmengen, die die Versickerungskapazität der sandigen Böden übersteigen, zu einer kurz geschlossenen Abflussreaktion mit ausgeprägten Oberflächenabflussspitzen führen. Die Simulationen zeigten Wechselwirkungen zwischen Wald und Wasserkreislauf sowie die hydrologische Wirksamkeit des Klimawandels, verschlechterter Bodenfunktionen und altersbezogener Bestandesstrukturen im Zusammenhang mit Unterschieden in der Baumkronenausprägung. Zukunfts-Klimaprojektionen, die mit BIAS-bereinigten REKLIES- und EURO-CORDEX-Regionalklimamodellen (RCM) simuliert wurden, prognostizierten einen höheren Verdunstungsbedarf und eine Verlängerung der Vegetationsperiode bei gleichzeitig häufiger auftretenden Dürreperioden innerhalb der Vegetationszeit, was eine Verkürzung der Periode für die Grundwasserneubildung induzierte, und folglich zu einem prognostizierten Rückgang der Grundwasserneubildungsrate bis zur Mitte des Jahrhunderts führte. Aufgrund der starken Korrelation mit Niederschlagsintensitäten und der Dauer von Niederschlagsereignissen, bei allen Unsicherheiten in ihrer Vorhersage, wurde für die Oberflächenabflussgenese eine Steigerung bis zum Ende des Jahrhunderts prognostiziert. Für die Simulation der Bodenverdichtung wurden die Trockenrohdichte des Bodens und die SCS Curve Number in SWAT+ gemäß Daten aus Befahrungsversuchen im Gebiet angepasst. Die günstigen Infiltrationsbedingungen und die relativ geringe Anfälligkeit für Bodenverdichtung der grobkörnigen Buntsandsteinverwitterung dominierten die hydrologischen Auswirkungen auf Wassereinzugsgebietsebene, sodass lediglich moderate Verschlechterungen wasserbezogener ÖSDL angezeigt wurden. Die Simulationen zeigten weiterhin einen deutlichen Einfluss der Bodenart auf die hydrologische Reaktion nach Bodenverdichtung auf Rückegassen und stützen damit die Annahme, dass die Anfälligkeit von Böden gegenüber Verdichtung mit dem Anteil an Schluff- und Tonbodenpartikeln zunimmt. Eine erhöhte Oberflächenabflussgenese ergab sich durch das Wegenetz im Gesamtgebiet. Schadflächen mit Bestandesverjüngung wurden anhand eines artifiziellen Modells innerhalb eines Teileinzugsgebiets unter der Annahme von 3-jährigen Baumsetzlingen in einem Entwicklungszeitraum von 10 Jahren simuliert und hinsichtlich spezifischer Was-serhaushaltskomponenten mit Altbeständen (30 bis 80 Jahre) verglichen. Die Simulation ließ darauf schließen, dass bei fehlender Kronenüberschirmung die hydrologisch verzögernde Wirkung der Bestände beeinträchtigt wird, was die Entstehung von Oberflächenabfluss begünstigt und eine quantitativ geringfügig höhere Tiefensickerung fördert. Hydrologische Unterschiede zwischen dem geschlossenem Kronendach der Altbestände und Jungbeständen mit annähernden Freilandniederschlagsbedingungen wurden durch die dominierenden Faktoren atmosphärischer Verdunstungsanstoß, Niederschlagsmengen und Kronenüberschirmungsgrad bestimmt. Je weniger entwickelt das Kronendach von verjüngten Waldbeständen im Vergleich zu Altbeständen, je höher der atmosphärische Verdunstungsanstoß und je geringer die eingetragenen Niederschlagsmengen, desto größer war der hydrologische Unterschied zwischen den Bestandestypen. Verbesserungsmaßnahmen für den dezentralen Hochwasserschutz sollten folglich kritische Bereiche für die Abflussbildung im Wald (CSA) berücksichtigen. Die hohe Sensibilität und Anfälligkeit der Wälder gegenüber Verschlechterungen der Ökosystembedingungen legen nahe, dass die Erhaltung des komplexen Gefüges und von intakten Wechselbeziehungen, insbesondere unter der gegebenen Herausforderung des Klimawandels, sorgfältig angepasste Schutzmaßnahmen, Anstrengungen bei der Identifizierung von CSA sowie die Erhaltung und Wiederherstellung der hydrologischen Kontinuität in Waldbeständen erfordern.

Die endemischen Arganbestände in Südmarokko sind die Quelle des wertvollen Arganöls, sind aber durch bspw. Überweidung oder illegale Feuerholzgewinnung stark übernutzt. Aufforstungsmaßnahmen sind vorhanden, sind aber aufgrund von zu kurz angelegten Bewässerungs- und Schutzverträgen häufig nicht erfolgreich. Das Aufkommen von Neuwuchs ist durch das beinahe restlose Sammeln von Kernen kaum möglich, durch Fällen oder Absterben von Bäumen verringert sich die kronenüberdeckte Fläche und unbedeckte Flächen zwischen den Bäumen nehmen zu. Die Entwicklung der Arganbestände wurde über den Zeitraum von 1972 und 2018 mit historischen und aktuellen Satellitenbildern untersucht, ein Großteil der Bäume hat sich in dieser Zeit kaum verändert. Zustandsaufnahmen von 2018 zeigten, dass viele dieser Bäume durch Überweidung und Abholzung nur als Sträucher wachsen und so in degradiertem Zustand stabil sind. Trotz der Degradierung einiger Bäume zeigt sich, dass der Boden unter den Bäumen die höchsten Gehalte an organischer Bodensubstanz und Nährstoffen auf den Flächen aufweist, zwischen zwei Bäumen sind die Gehalte am niedrigsten. Der Einfluss des Baumes auf den Boden geht über die Krone hinaus in Richtung Norden durch Beschattung in der Mittagssonne, Osten durch Windverwehung von Streu und Bodenpartikeln und hangabwärts durch Verspülung von Material. Über experimentelle Methoden unter und zwischen den Arganbäumen wurden Erkenntnisse zur Bodenerosion gewonnen. Die hydraulische Leitfähigkeit unter Bäumen ist um den Faktor 1,2-1,5 höher als zwischen den Bäumen, Oberflächenabflüsse und Bodenabträge sind unter den Bäumen etwas niedriger, bei degradierten Bäumen ähnlich den Bereichen zwischen den Bäumen. Die unterschiedlichen Flächenbeschaffenheiten wurden mit einem Windkanal untersucht und zeigten, dass gerade frisch gepflügte Flächen hohe Windemissionen verursachen, während Flächen mit hoher Steinbedeckung kaum von Winderosion betroffen sind. Die Oberflächenabflüsse von den unterschiedlichen Flächentypen werden in die Vorfluter abgeleitet. Die Sedimentdynamik in diesen Wadis wird hauptsächlich von Niederschlag zwischen den Messungen, Einzugsgebiet und Wadilänge und kaum von den verschiedenen Landnutzungen beeinflusst. Das Landschaftssystem Argan konnte über diesen Multi-Methodenansatz auf verschiedenen Ebenen analysiert werden.

Insekten stellen die artenreichste Klasse des Tierreichs dar, wobei viele der Arten bedroht sind. Das liegt neben dem Klimawandel vor allem an der sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten stark verändernden landwirtschaftlichen Nutzung von Flächen, was zu Lebensraumzerstörung und Habitatfragmentierung führt. Die intensivere Bewirtschaftung von Gunstflächen einerseits, sowie die Flächenaufgabe unrentabler Flächen andererseits, hat schwerwiegende Folgen für Insekten, die an extensiv genutzte Kulturflächen angepasst sind, was besonders durch den abnehmenden Anteil an Spezialisten deutlich wird. Eine Region, die aufgrund des kleinräumigen Nebeneinanders von naturnahen Bereichen und anthropogen geschaffenen Kulturflächen (entlang eines großen Höhengradienten) eine wichtige Rolle für die Biodiversität besitzt, speziell als Lebensraum für Spezialisten aller Artengruppen, sind die Alpen. Auch hier stellt der landwirtschaftliche Nutzungswandel ein großes Problem dar, weshalb es einen nachhaltigen Schutz der extensiv genutzten Kulturlebensräume bedarf. Um zu klären, wie eine nachhaltige Berglandwirtschaft zukünftig erhalten bleiben kann, wurden im ersten Kapitel der Promotion die Regelungsrahmen der internationalen, europäischen, nationalen und regionalen Gesetze näher betrachtet. Es zeigt sich, dass der multifunktionale Ansatz der Alpenkonvention und des zugehörigen Protokolls „Berglandwirtschaft“ nur eine geringe normative Konkretisierung aufweisen und daher nicht im ausreichenden Maße in der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik der EU sowie im nationalen Recht umgesetzt werden; dadurch können diese einer negativen Entwicklung in der Berglandwirtschaft nicht ausreichend entgegenwirken. Neben diesen Rechtsgrundlagen fehlt es jedoch auch an naturwissenschaftlichen Grundlagen, um die Auswirkungen des landwirtschaftlichen Nutzungswandels auf alpine und arktische Tierarten zu beurteilen. Untersuchungen mit Charakterarten für diese Kulturräume sind somit erforderlich, wobei Tagfalter aufgrund ihrer Sensibilität gegenüber Umweltveränderungen geeignete Indikatoren sind. Deshalb wurden im zweiten Kapitel der Promotion die beiden Schwestertaxa Boloria pales und B. napaea untersucht, die für arktische und / oder alpine Grünlandflächen typisch sind. Die bisher unbekannte Phylogeographie beider Arten wurde daher mit zwei mitochondrialen und zwei Kerngenen über das gesamte europäische Verbreitungsgebiet untersucht. In diesem Zusammenhang die zwischen- und innerartlichen Auftrennungen analysiert und datiert sowie die ihnen unterliegenden Ausbreitungsmuster entschlüsselt. Um spezielle Anpassungsformen an die arktischen und alpinen Lebensräume der Arten zu entschlüsseln und die Folgen der landwirtschaftlichen Nutzungsänderung richtig einordnen zu können, wurden mehrere Populationen beider Arten freilandökologisch untersucht. Während B. pales über den gesamten alpinen Sommer schlüpfen kann und proterandrische Strukturen zeigt, ist B. napaea durch das Fehlen der Proterandie und ein verkürztes Schlupfzeitfenster eher an die kürzeren, arktischen Sommer angepasst. Obwohl beide Arten die gleichen Nektarquellen nutzen, gibt es aufgrund verschiedener Bedürfnisse Unterschiede in den Nektarpräferenzen zwischen den Geschlechtern; auch innerartliche Unterschiede im Dispersionsverhalten wurden gefunden. Populationen beider Arten können eine kurze Beweidung überleben, wobei der Zeitpunkt der Beweidung von Bedeutung ist; eine Nutzung gegen Ende der Schlupfphase hat einen größeren Einfluss auf die Population. Daneben wurde ein deutlicher Unterschied zwischen Flächen mit langfristiger und fehlender Beweidung gefunden. Neben einer geringen Populationsdichte, gibt es auf ganzjährig beweideten Flächen einen größeren Druck, den Lebensraum zu verlassen und die zurückgelegten Flugdistanzen sind hier auch deutlich größer.

Agricultural monitoring is necessary. Since the beginning of the Holocene, human agricultural practices have been shaping the face of the earth, and today around one third of the ice-free land mass consists of cropland and pastures. While agriculture is necessary for our survival, the intensity has caused many negative externalities, such as enormous freshwater consumption, the loss of forests and biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions as well as soil erosion and degradation. Some of these externalities can potentially be ameliorated by careful allocation of crops and cropping practices, while at the same time the state of these crops has to be monitored in order to assess food security. Modern day satellite-based earth observation can be an adequate tool to quantify abundance of crop types, i.e., produce spatially explicit crop type maps. The resources to do so, in terms of input data, reference data and classification algorithms have been constantly improving over the past 60 years, and we live now in a time where fully operational satellites produce freely available imagery with often less than monthly revisit times at high spatial resolution. At the same time, classification models have been constantly evolving from distribution based statistical algorithms, over machine learning to the now ubiquitous deep learning. In this environment, we used an explorative approach to advance the state of the art of crop classification. We conducted regional case studies, focused on the study region of the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, aiming to develop validated crop classification toolchains. Because of their unique role in the regional agricultural system and because of their specific phenologic characteristics we focused solely on maize fields. In the first case study, we generated reference data for the years 2009 and 2016 in the study region by drawing polygons based on high resolution aerial imagery, and used these in conjunction with RapidEye imagery to produce high resolution maize maps with a random forest classifier and a gaussian blur filter. We were able to highlight the importance of careful residual analysis, especially in terms of autocorrelation. As an end result, we were able to prove that, in spite of the severe limitations introduced by the restricted acquisition windows due to cloud coverage, high quality maps could be produced for two years, and the regional development of maize cultivation could be quantified. In the second case study, we used these spatially explicit datasets to link the expansion of biogas producing units with the extended maize cultivation in the area. In a next step, we overlayed the maize maps with soil and slope rasters in order to assess spatially explicit risks of soil compaction and erosion. Thus, we were able to highlight the potential role of remote sensing-based crop type classification in environmental protection, by producing maps of potential soil hazards, which can be used by local stakeholders to reallocate certain crop types to locations with less associated risk. In our third case study, we used Sentinel-1 data as input imagery, and official statistical records as maize reference data, and were able to produce consistent modeling input data for four consecutive years. Using these datasets, we could train and validate different models in spatially iv and temporally independent random subsets, with the goal of assessing model transferability. We were able to show that state-of-the-art deep learning models such as UNET performed significantly superior to conventional models like random forests, if the model was validated in a different year or a different regional subset. We highlighted and discussed the implications on modeling robustness, and the potential usefulness of deep learning models in building fully operational global crop classification models. We were able to conclude that the first major barrier for global classification models is the reference data. Since most research in this area is still conducted with local field surveys, and only few countries have access to official agricultural records, more global cooperation is necessary to build harmonized and regionally stratified datasets. The second major barrier is the classification algorithm. While a lot of progress has been made in this area, the current trend of many appearing new types of deep learning models shows great promise, but has not yet consolidated. There is still a lot of research necessary, to determine which models perform the best and most robust, and are at the same time transparent and usable by non-experts such that they can be applied and used effortlessly by local and global stakeholders.

The endemic argan tree (Argania spinosa) populations in southern Morocco are highly degraded due to overbrowsing, illegal firewood extraction and the expansion of intensive agriculture. Bare areas between the isolated trees increase due to limited regrowth; however, it is unknown if the trees influence the soil of the intertree areas. Hypothetically, spatial differences in soil parameters of the intertree area should result from the translocation of litter or soil particles (by runoff and erosion or wind drift) from canopy-covered areas to the intertree areas. In total, 385 soil samples were taken around the tree from the trunk along the tree drip line (within and outside the tree area) and the intertree area between two trees in four directions (upslope, downslope and in both directions parallel to the slope) up to 50 m distance from the tree. They were analysed for gravimetric soil water content, pH, electrical conductivity, percolation stability, total nitrogen content (TN), content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and C/N ratio. A total of 74 tension disc infiltrometer experiments were performed near the tree drip line, within and outside the tree area, to measure the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. We found that the tree influence on its surrounding intertree area is limited, with, e.g., SOC and TN content decreasing significantly from tree trunk (4.4 % SOC and 0.3 % TN) to tree drip line (2.0 % SOC and 0.2 % TN). However, intertree areas near the tree drip line (1.3 % SOC and 0.2 % TN) differed significantly from intertree areas between two trees (1.0 % SOC and 0.1 % TN) yet only with a small effect. Trends for spatial patterns could be found in eastern and downslope directions due to wind drift and slope wash. Soil water content was highest in the north due to shade from the midday sun; the influence extended to the intertree areas. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity also showed significant differences between areas within and outside the tree area near the tree drip line. This was the case on sites under different land usages (silvopastoral and agricultural), slope gradients or tree densities. Although only limited influence of the tree on its intertree area was found, the spatial pattern around the tree suggests that reforestation measures should be aimed around tree shelters in northern or eastern directions with higher soil water content or TN or SOC content to ensure seedling survival, along with measures to prevent overgrazing.

Using a dendrochronological approach, we determined the resistance, recovery and resilience of the radial stem increment towards episodes of growth decline, and the accompanying variation of 13C discrimination against atmospheric CO2 (Δ13C) in tree rings of two palaeotropical pine species. These species co-occur in the mountain ranges of south–central Vietnam (1500–1600 m a.s.l.), but differ largely in their areas of distribution (Pinus kesiya from northeast India to the Philippines; P. dalatensis only in south and central Vietnam and in some isolated populations in Laos). For P. dalatensis, a robust growth chronology covering the past 290 years could be set up for the first time in the study region. For P. kesiya, the 140-year chronology constructed was the longest that could be established to date in that region for this species. In the first 40 years of the trees’ lives, the stem diameter increment was significantly larger in P. kesiya, but levelled off and even decreased after 100 years, whereas P. dalatensis exhibited a continuous growth up to an age of almost 300 years. Tree-ring growth of P. kesiya was negatively related to temperature in the wet months and season of the current year and in October (humid transition period) of the preceding year and to precipitation in August (monsoon season), but positively to precipitation in December (dry season) of the current year. The P. dalatensis chronologies exhibited no significant correlation with temperature or precipitation. Negative correlations between BAI and Δ13C indicate a lack of growth impairment by drought in both species. Regression analyses revealed a lower resilience of P. dalatensis upon episodes of growth decline compared to P. kesiya, but, contrary to our hypothesis, mean values of the three sensitivity parameters did not differ significantly between these species. Nevertheless, the vigorous growth of P. kesiya, which does not fall behind that of P. dalatensis even at the margin of its distribution area under below-optimum edaphic conditions, is indicative of a relatively high plasticity of this species towards environmental factors compared to P. dalatensis, which, in tendency, is less resilient upon environmental stress even in the “core” region of its occurrence.

Perennial energy crops (PECs) are increasingly used as feedstock to produce energy in an environmental friendly way. Compared to traditional conversion strategies like thermal use, sophisticated technologies such as biomethanation defined different re-quirements of the feedstock. Whereas the first concept relies on dry, woody mate-rial, biomethanation requires a moist feedstock. Thus, over time, the spectrum of species used as PECs has widened. Moreover, harvest dates were adjusted to pro-vide the feedstock at suitable moisture contents. It is well known that perennial, lignocellulose- based energy crops, compared to annual, sugar- and starch- based ones, offer ecological advantages such as, inter alia, improving biodiversity in landscape, protecting soil against erosion, and protecting groundwater from nutrient inputs. However, one of the main arguments for PEC cultivation was their undemanding nature concerning external inputs. With respect to the broader spectrum of PEC spe-cies and changed harvest dates, the question arises whether the concept of PECs being low- input energy crops is still valid. This also implies the question of suitable grow-ing conditions and sustainable management. The aims of this opinion paper were to classify different PECs according to their life- form strategy, compare nutrient exports when harvested in different maturation stages, and to discuss the results in the context of sustainable PEC cultivation on marginal land. This study revealed that nutrient exports with yield biomass of PECs harvested in green state are in the same range than those of annual energy crops and therewith several times higher than those of PECs harvested in brown state or of woody short rotation coppices. Thus, PECs can-not universally be claimed as low- input energy crops. These results also imply the consequences of cultivation of PECs on marginal land. Finally, the question has to be raised whether the term PECs should prospectively be better specified in written and spoken words.

The nonhydrostatic regional climate model CCLM was used for a long-term hindcast run (2002–2016) for the Weddell Sea region with resolutions of 15 and 5 km and two different turbulence parametrizations. CCLM was nested in ERA-Interim data and used in forecast mode (suite of consecutive 30 h long simulations with 6 h spin-up). We prescribed the sea ice concentration from satellite data and used a thermodynamic sea ice model. The performance of the model was evaluated in terms of temperature and wind using data from Antarctic stations, automatic weather stations (AWSs), an operational forecast model and reanalyses data, and lidar wind profiles. For the reference run we found a warm bias for the near-surface temperature over the Antarctic Plateau. This bias was removed in the second run by adjusting the turbulence parametrization, which results in a more realistic representation of the surface inversion over the plateau but resulted in a negative bias for some coastal regions. A comparison with measurements over the sea ice of the Weddell Sea by three AWS buoys for 1 year showed small biases for temperature around ±1 K and for wind speed of 1 m s−1. Comparisons of radio soundings showed a model bias around 0 and a RMSE of 1–2 K for temperature and 3–4 m s−1 for wind speed. The comparison of CCLM simulations at resolutions down to 1 km with wind data from Doppler lidar measurements during December 2015 and January 2016 yielded almost no bias in wind speed and a RMSE of ca. 2 m s−1. Overall CCLM shows a good representation of temperature and wind for the Weddell Sea region. Based on these encouraging results, CCLM at high resolution will be used for the investigation of the regional climate in the Antarctic and atmosphere–ice–ocean interactions processes in a forthcoming study.

Soils in forest ecosystems bear a high potential as carbon (C) sinks in the mitigation of climate change. The amount and characteristics of soil organic matter (SOM) are driven by inputs, transformation, degradation and stabilization of organic substances. While tree species fuel the C cycle by producing aboveground and belowground litter, soil microorganisms are crucial for litter degradation as well as the formation and stabilization of SOM. Nonetheless, our knowledge about the tree species effect on the SOM status is limited, inconsistent and blurred. The investigation of tree species effects on SOM is challenging because in long-established forest ecosystems the spatial distribution of tree species is a result of the interplay of environmental factors including climate, geomorphology and soil chemistry. Moreover, tree distribution can further vary with forest successional stage and silvicultural management. Since these factors also directly affect the soil C-status, it is difficult to identify a pure “tree species effect” on the SOM status at regular forested sites. It therefore remains unclear in how far tree species-specific litter with different quality influences the microbial driven turnover and formation of SOM. Tree species effects on SOM and related soil microbial properties were investigated by examining soil profiles (comprising organic forest floor horizons and mineral soil layers) in different forest stands at the recultivated spoil heap ‘Sophienhöhe’ located at the lignite open-cast mine Hambach near Jülich, Germany. The afforested sites comprised monocultural stands of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), black pine (Pinus nigra), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and red oak (Quercus rubra) as well as a mixed deciduous stand site planted mainly with hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), lime (Tilia cordata) and common oak (Quercus robur) that were grown for 35 years under identical soil and geomorphological conditions. Because the parent material used for site recultivation was free from organic matter or coal material, the SOM accumulation is entirely the result of in situ soil development due to the impact of tree species. The first study revealed that tree species had a significant effect on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, stoichiometric patterns of C, nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) as well as the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content in the forest floor and the top mineral soil layers (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-30 cm). In general, forest floor SOC stocks were significantly higher at coniferous forest stands compared to deciduous tree species, whereas in mineral soil layers the differences were smaller. Thus, the impact of tree species decreased with increasing soil depth. By investigating the linkage of the natural abundance of 13C and 15N in the soil depth gradients with C:N and O:C stoichiometry, the second study showed that differences in SOC stocks and SOM quality resulted from a tree species-dependent turnover of SOM. Significantly higher turnover of organic matter in soils under deciduous tree species depended to 46 % on the quality of litterfall and root inputs (N content, C:N, O:C ratio), and on the initial isotopic signatures of litterfall. Hence, SOM composition and turnover also depends on additional – presumably microbially driven – factors. The subsequent results of the third study revealed that differences in SOM composition and related soil microbial properties were linked to different microbial communities. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) patterns in the soil profiles indicated that the supply and availability of C and nutrient-rich substrates drive the distribution of fungi, Gram-positive (G+) bacteria and Gram-negative (G−) bacteria between tree species and along the soil depth gradients. The fourth study investigated the molecular composition of extractable soil microbial biomass-derived (SMB) and SOM-derived compounds by electrospray ionization Fourier transformation ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR-MS). This was complemented by the analysis of nine monosaccharides representing microbial or plant origin. Microbially derived compounds substantially contributed to SOM and the contribution increased with soil depth. The supply of tree species-specific substrates resulted in different chemical composition of SMB with largest differences between deciduous and coniferous stands. At the same time, microorganisms contributed to SOM resulting in a strong similarity in the composition of SOM and SMB. Overall, the complex interplay of tree species-specific litter inputs and the ability, activity and efficiency of the associated soil fauna and microbial community in metabolizing the organic substrates leads to significant differences in the amount, distribution, quality and consequently, the stability of SOM. These findings are useful for a targeted cultivation of tree species to optimize soil C sequestration and other forest ecosystems services.

Grundlage der Arbeit stellten zwei Arbeitshypothesen dar, die es zu überprüfen galt. Die beiden Arbeitshypothesen wurden aufgrund einer Beobachtung eines Phänomens im Freiland formuliert, da bei scheinbar unterschiedlich starkem Reblausbesatzes im Boden kein direkter Zusammenhang zu einer schädigenden Wirkung dieses Stressphänomens (Reblausbefall) hergestellt werden konnte. Im Gegenteil traten die schädigenden Wirkungen des Reblausbefalls in Form von Rückgangserscheinungen eher in Rebflächen auf, die einer mangelhaften Bewirtschaftung oder Bestandsführung unterlagen. Zur Klärung dieses Phänomens wurden daher die beiden (A., B.) folgenden Hypothesen aufgestellt, die es zu überprüfen galt: A.: Die in mit Unterlagsrebsorten der Kreuzung V. berlandieri x V. riparia zu beobachtenden Rückgangserscheinungen in Rebanlagen mit Reblausvorkommen werden nicht allein durch die Saugtätigkeit der Reblaus an den Rebwurzeln verursacht; eine direkte Korrelation zwischen Reblausdichte und Ausmaß der Rückgangserscheinungen an infizierten Reben besteht nicht. B.: Das Ausmaß möglicher Rückgangserscheinungen ist abhängig von der Bewirtschaftung des Rebbestands, wobei der Bodenbewirtschaftung eine maßgebliche Rolle zukommt. Um diese Hypothesen zu überprüfen wurde ableitend von den Zielen der Arbeit ein Reblausbonitursystem zur Erfassung der Reblausabudanz im Freiland im Boden erarbeitet. Die besonderen Schwierigkeiten bei der Erfassung des Reblausbefalls im Boden aufgrund des stark variierenden Wurzelsystems der Rebe und dem ebenfalls stark schwankenden Reblausbefalls an der Wurzel der Rebe wurde mit dem Reblausbonitursystem (Grabungen) Rechnung getragen, sodass ein valides System zur Beurteilung des Reblausbefalls auch im jahreszeitlichen Verlauf erstellt worden konnte. Damit wurde ein Reblausbonitursystem geschaffen, das auch in praktischer Anwendung durchführbar ist und somit mit seiner höheren möglichen Replikationsrate bei der Probenentnahme dem stark variierenden Charakter des Reblausbefalls im Boden Rechnung trägt. Um Rückgangserscheinungen in einem Weinberg nachhaltig analysieren zu können, wurde ein Wuchsbonitursystem evaluiert. Dieses System beurteilt alle Reben einer Rebfläche innerhalb eines einfachen für den Menschen kognitiv sehr gut verarbeitenden Bewertungssystem zum Wuchs der Reben. Damit ist eine Erfassung einer sehr großen Datenmenge zur Beurteilung des Wuchses auf einem Rebfeld möglich. Die Korrelation des mit dem System ermittelten Wuchses zu vielen Leistungsparametern der Rebe und den Gegebenheiten auf den Versuchsflächen zeigt die hohe Validität des Wuchsbonitursystems auf. Auch konnten Wuchsunterschiede in sehr differierenden Versuchsfeldern mit dieser Methode deutlich belegt werden. Damit wurde deutlich, dass mit dieser Wuchsboniturmethode die Rückgangserscheinungen in einer Rebfläche erkannt und analysiert werden konnten. Somit konnten mit den beiden Instrumenten der Wuchs- und Reblausbonitur die beiden Arbeitshypothesen dahingehend belegt werden, dass unter Verwendung der Unterlagensorten der Kreuzungskombination V. berlandieri x V. riparia kein Zusammenhang zwischen der Reblausdichte im Boden und Rückgangserscheinungen der Rebe vorliegen. Darüber hinaus konnte belegt werden, dass in Erweiterung dieser Erkenntnis das Ausmaß der Rückganserscheinungen bei Reben maßgeblich von der Art der Bewirtschaftung abhängt und somit deutlich abzutrennen ist vom Einfluss des Reblausbefalls. Vor allem konnte durch die vorliegende Arbeit unter Einbeziehung des Wuchsbonitursystems eine Methode erarbeitet werden, die in Zukunft bei der Beurteilung von Fernerkundungsdaten ein nützliches Instrument darstellt, um die wirklichen Gegebenheiten hinsichtlich des Wuchses der Reben auf Weinbergsflächen mit den berechneten Werten zu Wuchsindizes zu korrelieren.

This working paper examines the concept of metabolism and its potential as a critical analytical lens to study the contemporary city from a political perspective. The paper illustrates how the metabolism concept has been used historically, both as a metaphor to describe the technological, social, political and economic dimensions of human-environment relations, and as a concrete analytical tool to quantify and better understand how flows of matter and energy shape the territorial and spatial configurations of cityscapes. Drawing on the example of the urban water metabolism of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), it is argued that contemporary approaches to metabolic analysis should be extended in two ways to increase the integrative potential of the urban water metabolism concept. On the one hand, the paper demonstrates that a political ecology approach is particularly well-suited to illuminate the contested production of urban environments and move beyond a narrow technical, managerial and state- centric focus in research on urban metabolic relations. On the other hand, the paper advocates for an approach to metabolic analysis that views the urban environment not simply as a relatively static exteriority that is produced by dynamic flows of matter, energy and information, but rather as a dynamic, nested and co-evolutionary network of complex biosocial and material relations, which in itself shapes how various metabolisms interact across scales. The paper then concludes by briefly discussing how a combination of metabolic analysis and political ecology research can inform urban water governance. In sum, the paper emphasizes the need for metabolic analysis to remain open to a plurality of different knowledge forms and perspectives, and to remain attentive to the inherently political nature of material and technological phenomena in order to allow for mutually beneficial exchanges between various scholarly communities.

The main socio-ecological pressures in five wetlands in the Greater Accra Region were first identified and then summarized by reviewing the relevant literature. As a second step, fieldwork in the region was carried out in 2016 to further examine the pressures identified in the literature. Most research on the wetlands in Ghana was published around the year 2000. Yet, similar socio-ecological pressures persist today. Based on both, fieldwork observations and the literature review, these pressures were ranked using the IUCN pressures system analysis framework. It is suggested that further research needs to proceed with uncovering how trade-offs between ecosystem and quality of life can be defined.

This report presents the results of a stakeholder mapping exercise carried out in the WaterPower project. The mapping was conducted for the following main research areas of the project: water supply, land use planning and management, wetland management and climate change adaptation/disaster risk reduction. The report gives an overview of the stakeholders that play a role in these respective areas and identifies those who have concomitant responsibilities in different sectors. It represents the first step towards further involvement of stakeholders in the WaterPower project.

Urban flooding cannot be avoided entirely and in all areas, particularly in coastal cities. Therefore adaptation to the growing risk is necessary. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based knowledge on risk informs location-based approach to adaptation to climate risk. It allows managing city- wide coordination of adaptation measures, reducing adverse impacts of local strategies on neighbouring areas to the minimum. Quantitative assessments dominate GIS applications in flood risk management, for instance to demonstrate the distribution of people and assets in a flood prone area. Qualitative, participatory approaches to GIS are on the rise but have not been applied in the context of flooding yet. The overarching research question of this working paper is: what can GIS, and what can it not say about relationships / social relations in adaptation to urban flood risk? The use of GIS in risk mapping has exposed environmental injustices. Applications of GIS further allow model- ling future flood risk in function of demographic and land use changes, and combining it with decision support systems (DSS). While such GIS applications provide invaluable information for urban planners steering adaptation they however fall short on revealing the social relations that shape individual and household adaptation decisions. The relevance of networked social relations in adaptation to flood risk has been demonstrated in case studies, and extensively in the literature on organizational learning and adaptation to change. The purpose of this literature review is to identify the type of social relations that shape adaptive capacities towards urban flood risk which can- not be identified in a conventional GIS application.

The rate and range of ongoing changes in social and ecological systems and particularly the global environmental degradation illustrates the need of holistic and sustainable approaches for the governance of natural resources to ensure their well-functioning for future generations (Rockström et al. 2009). The narrative of common pool resources system such as SES of small-scale fisheries, reports world-wide of stock collapse, environmental degradation and overexploitation (Cinner et al. 2013). In order to understand the complexity of system interactions in those resource systems, the consideration of local scale specific phenomena is of great relevance (Ostrom 2007b). The focus of this thesis consequently is the social-ecological system of a small scale fishery in a heavily urbanised coastal wetland on the fringes of Ghana ́s capital Accra. With the theoretical foundation of the social-ecological system (SES) theory (Folke et al. 2004; Berkes et al. 2003; G. S. Cumming 2011) and the social-ecological system framework (SESF) by Ostrom (2007a) and McGinnis & Ostrom (2014) as analytical tool, the study ex- amines the role of the fishers as focal actor group and the governance system based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) (Berkes et al. 2003). While the common narrative of system collapse is partly confirmed for the focal system, also contradicting findings about the diversity of the actor group, their sustainable and responsible exploitation of the deltas resources have been found, that rather illustrate the fishers as potential cooperation partners for the development of sustainable governance strategies (see Hollup 2000) than simply as bur- den to the system. However, the results also show that in order to achieve sustainable outcomes in the focal SES, so far unsuccessful top-down governance efforts have to work cooperatively with the fishers to challenge the multiple threats to the system from external perturbation and internal changes, in the long run.

This literature review was conducted to identify important wetlands in the Greater Accra Region and to illustrate dominant research trends, prevailing perspectives and corresponding research gaps. Six wetlands systems were identified as most significant lagoon systems, namely the Densu Delta, Sakumo, Muni-Pomadze, Keta, Korle and Songor Lagoons. Research foci for each of the respective wetlands were extrapolated and summarized in a category system. The frequency of different categories illustrates that natural science’s perspectives dominate, as most of Accra’s lagoons have been studied with regard to their ecological, physical and chemical properties. The development of research interest over time and focus on ecological baseline conditions are related to the designation of Ramsar Sites and orientation of national policies towards environmental protection. A research gap was identified, as studies link their findings to human activities but neglect the connection between governance variables and environmental developments. It is suggested to expand the natural science’s perspective on Accra’s wetlands to account for social and political aspects in order to develop a holistic and more sustainable management strategy.

This working paper outlines analytical pathways that could contribute to deepening the understanding of water inequalities in cities of the Global South. It brings together the status quo of research on water inequalities in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and studies on Environmental Justice. In doing so, it argues for the need to analytically distinguish between the terms ‘(in)equality’ and ‘(in)justice’. Studying everyday water practices and per- spectives on water (in)justice of different stakeholders would be a suitable entry point for an in-depth ethnographic study that analytically separates water inequalities and water injustices but considers their interlinkages. The working paper is based on a literature review conducted in 2015 in the scope of the WaterPower project.

Global food security poses large challenges to a fast changing human society and has been a key topic for scientists, agriculturist, and policy makers in the 21st century. The United Nation predicts a total world population of 9.15 billion in 2050 and defines the provision of food security as the second major point in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As the capacities of both, land and water resources, are finite and locally heavily overused, reducing agriculture’s environmental impact while meeting an increasing demand for food of a constantly growing population is one of the greatest challenges of our century. Therefore, a multifaceted solution is required, including approaches using geospatial data to optimize agricultural food production. The availability of precise and up-to-date information on vegetation parameters is mandatory to fulfill the requirements of agricultural applications. Direct field measurements of such vegetation parameters are expensive and time-consuming. On the contrary, remote sensing offers a variety of techniques for a cost-effective and non-destructive retrieval of vegetation parameters. Although not widely used, hyperspectral thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing has demonstrated being a valuable addition to existing remote sensing techniques for the retrieval of vegetation parameters. This thesis examined the potential of TIR imaging spectroscopy as an important contribution to the growing need of food security. The main scientific question dealt with the extraction of vegetation parameters from imaging TIR spectroscopy. To this end, two studies impressively demonstrated the ability of extracting vegetation related parameters from leaf emissivity spectra: (i) the discrimination of eight plant species based on their emissivity spectra and (ii) the detection of drought stress in potato plants using temperature measures and emissivity spectra. The datasets used in these studies were collected using the Telops Hyper-Cam LW, a novel imaging spectrometer. Since this FTIR spectrometer presents some particularities, special attention was paid on the development of dedicated experimental data acquisition setups and on data processing chains. The latter include data preprocessing and the development of algorithms for extracting precise surface temperatures, reproducible emissivity spectra and, in the end, vegetation parameters. The spectrometer’s versatility allows the collection of airborne imaging spectroscopy datasets. Since the general availability of airborne TIR spectrometers is limited, the preprocessing and data extraction methods are underexplored compared to reflective remote sensing. This counts especially for atmospheric correction (AC) and temperature and emissivity separation (TES) algorithms. Therefore, we implemented a powerful simulation environment for the development of preprocessing algorithms for airborne hyperspectral TIR image data. This simulation tool is designed in a modular way and includes the image data acquisition and processing chain from surface temperature and emissivity to the final at-sensor radiance data. It includes a series of available algorithms for TES, AC as well as combined AC and TES approaches. Using this simulator, one of the most promising algorithms for the preprocessing of airborne TIR data – ARTEMISS – was significantly optimized. The retrieval error of the atmospheric water vapor during the atmospheric characterization was reduced. As a result, this improvement in atmospheric characterization accuracy enhanced the subsequent retrieval of surface temperatures and surface emissivities intensely. Although, the potential of hyperspectral TIR applications in ecology, agriculture, and biodiversity has been impressively demonstrated, a serious contribution to a global provision of food security requires the retrieval of vegetation related parameters with global coverage, high spatial resolution and at high revisit frequencies. Emerging from the findings in this thesis, the spectral configuration of a spaceborne TIR spectrometer concept was developed. The sensors spectral configuration aims at the retrieval of precise land surface temperatures and land surface emissivity spectra. Complemented with additional characteristics, i.e. short revisit times and a high spatial resolution, this sensor potentially allows the retrieval of valuable vegetation parameters needed for agricultural optimizations. The technical feasibility of such a sensor concept underlines the potential contribution to the multifaceted solution required for achieving the challenging goal of guaranteeing global food security in a world of increasing population. In conclusion, thermal remote sensing and more precisely hyperspectral thermal remote sensing has been presented as a valuable technique for a variety of applications contributing to the final goal of a global food security.

Because EU water quality policy can result in infrastructure creation or adaptation at the local level across member states, compliance cases are worth examining critically from a sustainable spatial planning perspective. In this study, the 2000 EU Water Framework Directive’s (WFD) reach to local implementation efforts in average towns and cities is shown through the case study of nonconforming household wastewater infrastructure in the German state of Rhineland Palatinate. Seeing wastewater as a socio-technical infrastructure, we ask how the WFD implementation can be understood in the context of local infrastructure development, sustainability, and spatial planning concepts. In particular, this study examines what compliance meant for the centralization or decentralization of local wastewater infrastructure systems—and the sustainability implications for cities from those choices.

Der vorliegende Artikel beschreibt die klimatische Situation des Naturparks Saar-Hunsrück. Neben der Einordnung der Region in die großskalige klimatische Zirkulation werden die wesentlichen Klimaelemente beschrieben. Da sich die Klimaelemente mit zunehmender Höhe verändern, bestimmt im unteren Saartal, im Saar-Nahe-Bergland und Hunsrück mit Osburger Hochwald, Schwarzwälder Hochwald und Idarwald die Höhenlage entscheidend die räumliche Struktur der einzelnen Klimaelemente. Die Niederschlagsverteilung zeigt deutlich den Luveffekt in den westlichen Teilen des Naturparks und die Abnahme der Niederschlagshöhen in nordöstlicher Richtung. Die räumlichen Muster der mittleren und maximalen Lufttemperatur folgen der Topographie, während Minimalwerte der Temperatur ein weniger differenziertes Bild zeigen. In den tiefer gelegenen Regionen des Naturparks treten 4-7 Hitzetage in langjährigen Mittel auf, in den Hochlagen des Hunsrücks werden nur noch 1-3 Tage / Jahr beobachtet. Oberhalb der 600 m-Höhenlinie ergeben sich im Mittel 110-130 Frosttage im Jahr, im südwestlichen Teil des Naturparks geht die Zahl auf 50 Tage / Jahr zurück. Die mittlere Anzahl der Tage mit Schneedecke liegt, bezogen auf das Areal des Naturparks, insgesamt zwischen 10 und 90 Tagen pro Jahr. Ihre Veränderung infolge des regionalen Klimawandels zeigt eine Abnahme zwischen 3-15 Tagen pro Jahr zwischen den Zeiträumen 1961-1990 und 1981-2010. Die aktuelle Sonnenscheindauer beträgt im westlichen Teil des Naturparks im Mittel 1500-1600 Sonnenscheinstunden pro Jahr, im südöstlichen Teil werden bis 1600 Stunden pro Jahr erreicht.

Species can show strong variation of local abundance across their ranges. Recent analyses suggested that variation in abundance can be related to environmental suitability, as the highest abundances are often observed in populations living in the most suitable areas. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms through which variation in environmental suitability determines abundance. We analysed populations of the microendemic salamander Hydromantes flavus, and tested several hypotheses on potential relationships linking environmental suitability to population parameters. For multiple populations across the whole species range, we assessed suitability using species distribution models, and measured density, activity level, food intake and body condition index. In high-suitability sites, the density of salamanders was up to 30-times higher than in the least suitable ones. Variation in activity levels and population performance can explain such variation of abundance. In high-suitability sites, salamanders were active close to the surface, and showed a low frequency of empty stomachs. Furthermore, when taking into account seasonal variation, body condition was better in the most suitable sites. Our results show that the strong relationship between environmental suitability and population abundance can be mediated by the variation of parameters strongly linked to individual performance and fitness.