Occasional but severe: Past debris flows and snow avalanches in the Helmos Mts. (Greece) reconstructed from tree-ring records.

The eastern Mediterranean is a hotspot in terms of geomorphic hazards, but the activity of gravitational processes in mountainous areas is largely unexplored. We carried out dendrogeomorphic research in the Helmos Mountains (Northern Peloponnese, Greece) to determine the timing, spatial extent, and hydrometeorological triggers of debris flows and snow avalanches. Specifically, we sampled increment cores from 123 injured Greek firs (Abies cephalonica L.) growing on a debris flow cone and growing along a snow avalanche track. Tree rings were counted and cross-dated with the reference chronology using CooRecorder and CDendro software and the event years were determined on the basis of the location of scars and traumatic resin ducts. We compiled an 118-year chronology (1904-2021) with seven debris flow event years and only one severe debris flow occurring in the 1970/1971 dormant period (WIt = 148.0), followed by spatially limited records for 1986/1987 (WIt = 3.8) and 1993/1994 (WIt = 2.5). Similarly, seven snow avalanche event years were identified in the period 1854-2021, with one major event in 1997/1998 (WIt = 304.5) followed by the 1998/1999 event (WIt = 6.3). Extremely wet conditions in February-March 1971 followed by rain-on-snow precipitation were considered as the most likely trigger of the analysed debris flow event using data from nearby meteorological stations and the ERA5 reanalysis. The snow avalanche event was deciphered in the spring of 1998, when heavy snowfall over three days (62 cm) was followed by rapid snowmelt due to high average temperatures (6-11 °C). We conclude that the abundance of snow is a crucial factor in the geomorphic activity in the study region and that the temperature fluctuations and rain-to-snow transitions are the leading factors for the debris flows or snow avalanches to occur. Furthermore, the dendrogeomorphic approach used can be useful to clearly identify large-scale geomorphic events and excludes potential geomorphic noise caused by other ecological stresses.

Intra-annual dendrogeomorphic dating and climate linkages of flood events in headwaters of central Europe.

Unlike large rivers, floods in headwaters have been poorly documented despite the fact that greater discharges are expected in such areas due to ongoing rainfall intensification. The purpose of this study is to carry out intra-annual dating of past floods combined with analysis of their climate linkages which may point on distribution and origin of floods. To this end, we applied dendrogeomorphic dating of impact scars on riparian vegetation to provide flood chronologies in twelve headwaters of eastern Czechia and determined their seasonal occurrences. Furthermore, we analyzed the precipitation indices and evaluated the flood events using reanalysis of pressure fields and the climate oscillation indices, particularly those representing the North Atlantic, Scandinavian, and East Atlantic/Western Russian patterns. Based on 434 dated trees, we identified 22-31 flood event years in each region over the last 70 years. The most frequent floods occurred from May to July. In addition, in ten event years it was possible to identify multiple flood events: for example May and July-August floods in 2010, 2014, and 2016. The monthly precipitation showed the strongest, but still weak, correlation with indices of Scandinavian climate oscillation during summer months (Rs = 0.23-0.42; p < 0.00), suggesting the influence of a blocking anticyclone over Scandinavia and wet air propagation to central Europe. This finding was also confirmed by the most frequent positions of low-pressure centers located east of the study sites except for the region with western orographic enhancement. In addition, timing shift of extreme precipitation to earlier period was identified at two out of three regions. We conclude that intra-annual dating of floods supported by analyses of climate extremes provides new data from sparsely gauged headwaters, thereby supplementing the information on possible changes in flood occurrences during ongoing climate change.

Understanding complex slope deformation through tree-ring analyses.

Dendrogeomorphic methods are frequently used for the analysis of past landslide behaviour and have become the standard approach used to date landslide activity. Unfortunately, many questions related to the application of tree-rings to landslide analysis remain unsolved. This study points to the significance of dividing a large complex slope deformation area into homogenous zones to obtain as much relevant chronological data as possible and to help with a more precise landslide hazard assessment. The multidisciplinary approach included geophysical measurement and geomorphic mapping. The clay mineral content in weathered slope sediments was analysed to verify the presence of expanding minerals contributing to slope instability. Furthermore, 713 samples from 271 trees and 18 tree roots were analysed to create event chronologies for each zone. The results provided evidence about the different behaviours of each zone. The intensity of tree responses to slope movement significantly changed even within one isolated zone. Chronological data were used to identify landslide triggers using rainfall characteristics and indices for climate variability and extremes. The results suggested a significant contribution of spring rainfall to landslide activity. In addition, shallow landslides movement was dependent on above-average rainfall characteristics compared to the movement of deep-seated blocks. Tree-ring-based chronologies of individual zones were used to characterise the general concept of complex slope deformation development.

Hypoxic marker CA IX and adhesion mediator ß-catenin are downregulated by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus persistent infection.

Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most frequent cancer diseases with high resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Mutation of VHL gene is frequent in these tumors leading to simulation of hypoxic conditions. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, belonging to RNA viruses, is a neglected human pathogen and teratogen. We have found that infection of renal cell carcinoma cells by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain MX causes a decrease of carbonic anhydrase IX protein and RNA level. Lower expression of carbonic anhydrase IX on the cell surface provides less target for carbonic anhydrase IX-targeted immunotherapy. What more, reduced levels of adhesion mediating protein ß-catenin as well as E-cadherin, as a consequence of infection, suggest a possible increase in metastatic potential of cells infected by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain MX. These results might help elucidate differences in patients susceptibility to immunotherapy directed against carbonic anhydrase IX or in developing new therapeutical strategies. Our data indicate that presence of infection can significantly affect patient response to cancer therapy.