The fingerprint of the 2018 drought in Europe on ground-based atmospheric CO2 measurements.

During the summer of 2018, a widespread drought developed over Northern and Central Europe. The increase in temperature and the reduction of soil moisture have influenced carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems in various ways, such as a reduction of photosynthesis, changes in ecosystem respiration, or allowing more frequent fires. In this study, we characterize the resulting perturbation of the atmospheric CO2 seasonal cycles. 2018 has a good coverage of European regions affected by drought, allowing the investigation of how ecosystem flux anomalies impacted spatial CO2 gradients between stations. This density of stations is unprecedented compared to previous drought events in 2003 and 2015, particularly thanks to the deployment of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) network of atmospheric greenhouse gas monitoring stations in recent years. Seasonal CO2 cycles from 48 European stations were available for 2017 and 2018. Earlier data were retrieved for comparison from international databases or national networks. Here, we show that the usual summer minimum in CO2 due to the surface carbon uptake was reduced by 1.4 ppm in 2018 for the 10 stations located in the area most affected by the temperature anomaly, mostly in Northern Europe. Notwithstanding, the CO2 transition phases before and after July were slower in 2018 compared to 2017, suggesting an extension of the growing season, with either continued CO2 uptake by photosynthesis and/or a reduction in respiration driven by the depletion of substrate for respiration inherited from the previous months due to the drought. For stations with sufficiently long time series, the CO2 anomaly observed in 2018 was compared to previous European droughts in 2003 and 2015. Considering the areas most affected by the temperature anomalies, we found a higher CO2 anomaly in 2003 (+3 ppm averaged over 4 sites), and a smaller anomaly in 2015 (+1 ppm averaged over 11 sites) compared to 2018. This article is part of the theme issue 'Impacts of the 2018 severe drought and heatwave in Europe: from site to continental scale'.

Heavy metals in bottom sediments of Lake Umbozero in Murmansk Region, Russia.

Sediment cores collected from different locations of Lake Umbozero were studied with respect to concentration and mobility of trace and heavy metals Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn. Lake Umbozero is the second largest lake in the Murmansk Region and subjected to contamination by air-borne emissions and river transportation from the nearby metallurgical and mining industries. Unlike its neighboring, more industry-prone Lake Imandra, Lake Umbozero is relatively unexplored with respect to its state of pollution. In our study, metal distribution in sediments was found to vary with respect to the cores, although in general the concentrations were at the same level throughout the lake indicating uniform horizontal distribution of metals. When compared to Lake Imandra, the concentrations of most of the metals studied were significantly lower and represented the levels in sediments measured in lakes of Kola Peninsula located further off from industrial pollutant sources. An exception was Pb the concentration of which was at the same level as in Lake Imandra, probably due to long-distance transport. Sediment layers were subjected to four-step sequential extraction procedure to reveal the metal distribution in soluble, exchangeable, acid-soluble, and residual fractions. Indicative of their potential higher lability, Mn, U, and Zn were generally found in exchangeable fraction; as also Mn and U extensively in the acid-soluble fraction.

(137)Cs, (239,240)Pu and (241)Am in bottom sediments and surface water of Lake Päijänne, Finland.

The concentrations and vertical distribution of (239,240)Pu, (241)Am and (137)Cs in the bottom sediments and water samples of Lake Päijänne were investigated. This lake is important, since the Päijänne area received a significant deposition from the Chernobyl fallout. Furthermore Lake Päijänne is the raw water source for the Helsinki metropolitan area. In addition no previous data on the distribution of plutonium and americium in the sediment profiles of Lake Päijänne exist. Only data covering the surface layer (0-1cm) of the sediments are previously available. In the sediments the average total activities were 45+/-15Bq/m(2) and 20+/-7Bq/m(2) for (239,240)Pu and (241)Am, respectively. The average (241)Am/(239,240)Pu ratio was 0.45+/-0.14. The (241)Am/(239,240)Pu ratio is lowest in the surface layer of the sediments and increases as a function of depth. The (238)Pu/(239,240)Pu ratio of the sediment samples varied between 0.012+/-0.025 and 0.162+/-0.079, decreasing as a function of depth. The average activity in water was 4.9+/-0.9mBq/m(3) and 4.1+/-0.2mBq/m(3) for (239,240)Pu and (241)Am, respectively. The (241)Am/(239,240)Pu ratio of water samples was 0.82+/-0.17. (239,240)Pu originating from the Chernobyl fallout calculated from the average total activities covers approximately 1.95+/-0.01% of the total (239,240)Pu activity in the bottom sediments. The average total (137)Cs activity of sediment profiles was 100+/-15kBq/m(2) and 19.3+/-1.4Bq/m(3) in water samples.

Self-rated health and associated factors among men of different ages.

The connections of certain clinico-physiological indicators of health state, chronic diseases, felt symptoms, and psychic well-being with self-rated health were studied among men of different ages as a part of the more extensive research project Jyväskylä Studies on Functional Aging. Study population was selected by using systematic random sampling among men aged 31 to 35, 51 to 55 and 71 to 75 years in the city of Jyväskylä. Log-linear and logit models as well as regression and structural equation models within the framework of LISREL were used as methods of analysis. The associations between general self-rated health and the explanative variables were different in different age groups: In the youngest age group self-rated health was best explained by symptoms and index of physical fitness; among the middle-aged by symptoms and psychic well-being; and among the oldest by chronic diseases. The results suggest that self-rated health belongs to the important indicators of health, and more attention should be paid to it both in research and in medical practice.

Myopia, use of eyes, and living habits among men aged 33-37 years.

As a part of a more extensive research project on health and functional capacity among a representative sample of men, the living habits and backgrounds of myopic men between 33 and 37 years of age living in the town of Jyväskylä were studied in comparison with non-myopic men of the same age. The prevalence of a negative spheric equivalent, which was considered as a criterion of myopia, was 25%. It was found that the myopic, on the average, had been more interested in reading from childhood onwards, their educational and occupational status were higher, and their body structure was lighter. As children they had taken less physical exercise, but as adults no difference was found in physical exercise between the myopic and non-myopic.

Some physiological and psychological characteristics of myopic and non-myopic young men.

As a part of a research project on the health and functional capacity of men at different ages a comparison of selected physiological and psychological characteristics of myopic and non-myopic 31-35 year-old men was made. The random sample studied consisted of 31 myopic and 100 non-myopic men. It was found that the body mass index and fat content were lower among the myopic than among the non-myopic. No significant differences were found in the elastic properties of skin, in blood pressure or in haematological assays studied between the groups. With respect to physical performance it was observed that the myopic had a higher aerobic capacity whereas there were no significant differences in muscular strength between the groups. In the psychological functions the myopic had a higher level in certain tests of intelligence. In the ophthalmological examination there were no significant differences between the groups in corrected vision, in eye tension and in dark adaptation. The amplitude of accommodation was 0.6-0.9 D. wider among the myopic. The results indicated some differences in physical and psychological characteristics between myopic and non-myopic young men. The differences could mainly be explained by differences in education and in physical activity during leisure.

Functional capacity of men born in 1906-10, 1926-30 and 1946-50. A basic report.

This interdisciplinary study aims at describing the functional capacity of men belonging to different generation cohorts. The development of methods for the assessment of functional capacity is also the purpose of the study. Functional capacity is defined as a hierarchy comprising physical, mental and social areas into which individuals can be placed depending on the levels of the assessed functions. The study also aims at analyzing environmental and individual factors which are assumed to cause variation in the levels of functions. The purpose of this first report is to describe the framework of the study, the methods and main results concerning differences between cohorts and occupational groups. The sampling frame consisted of the population register of Jyväskylä town in January 1981. The basic populations were men in three age groups, born in 1946-50, 1926-30 and 1906-10. From each age group a systematic random sample of 250 men was made. Persons who had moved or died by the end of August 1981 or were living in institutions (6 men) were removed from the samples. The sample sizes were further randomly reduced so that the final samples consisted of 183, 188 and 176 men. At the time of the study the ages of the cohorts were 31-35, 51-55 and 71-75. The study included postal questionnaires, interviews and laboratory examinations. The basic questionnaire dealt with the background information, living conditions, life history, occupational history, social contracts and social participation, close human relations, use of time, health status and living habits. The second postal questionnaire dealing with psychic capacity included the following main items: life changes, self-realisation, personal trait anxiety, social fears, coping, self-respect, and the purpose of life. The basic questionnaire was checked in an interview when the subjects came for the laboratory examinations. The entrance interview also included questions about the most important events of previous 24 hours. In addition the subjects filled in a questionnaire on situational anxiety. The laboratory examinations included the following tests: cognitive capacity (4 tests), audiometry, speech understanding, visual tests, vibration threshold, posture control, reaction and movement time, tapping rate, leg extension velocity, anthropometric measurements, skin measurements, bone mineral density, physiotherapist's examination, physician's examination, blood analyses, isometric strength of muscles (5 muscles), anaerobic power, aerobic power and anaerobic threshold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)