Publications

Remotely sensed land surface temperature (LST) is often used as a proxy for air temperature in urban heat island studies, particularly to illustrate relative temperature differences between locations. Two sensors are used predominantly in the literature, Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). However, each has shortcomings that currently limit its utility for many urban applications. Landsat has high spatial resolution but low temporal resolution, and may miss hot days, while MODIS has high temporal resolution but low spatial resolution, which is inadequate to represent the fine grain heterogeneity in cities. In this paper, we overcome this inadequacy by combining high spatial frequency Environmental Services (ES), Landsat-driven Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and MODIS low spatial frequency background LST at different spatial frequency bands (spatial spectral composition). The method is able to provide fine scale LST four times daily on any day of the year. Using data from Paris in 2019 we show that (1) daytime cooling by vegetation reaches a maximum of 30 °C, above which there is no further increase in cooling. In addition, (2) the cooling is relatively local and does not extend further than 200 m beyond the boundary of the NBS. This model can be used to quantify the benefits of NBS in providing cooling in cities.

The REGREEN NbS Transition Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the REGREEN project's key findings and outcomes, focusing on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for urban sustainability in Europe and China. The handbook is structured into nine chapters, each addressing crucial aspects of NbS design, implementation and governance. Below is an overview of the chapters as outlined in the handbook: Introduction and Urban Living Labs (ULLs): Highlights the strategic positioning of Urban Living Labs (ULLs), serving as innovative testbeds in the Local and Regional Governments (LGR) for co-creating knowledge and fostering urban innovation. The REGREEN project showcased its crucial role as a catalyst for strategic developments, capacity building, and the design and implementation of NbS by local and regional public organisations. Nature-based learning and NbS: Emphasises the pivotal role of education in addressing urbanisation and climate change challenges. Developed by an interdisciplinary team, REGREEN's educational approaches are participatory and action-oriented, instilling an appreciation for nature and awareness of NbS among the younger generation. Urbanisation and Ecosystem Services (ES): Explores the relationship between urbanisation and ES in Europe and China, with a focus on NbS as an approach. The chapter advocates for effective policies and the leveraging of NbS, particularly green and grey built infrastructure, to enhance urban resilience. Urban Ecosystem Service Mapping and Modelling: Provides a comprehensive overview of existing datasets on urban ES, advocating for standardised, comparable data. The chapter offers actionable insights for policymakers and urban practitioners, stressing the integration of ES into urban planning and collaborative, interdisciplinary decision-making approaches. Wellbeing Values of NbS: Delves into the comprehensive exploration of the health and well-being values associated with NbS, emphasising the complex nature of assigning values to NbS, especially in the context of health and well-being. Different types of evidence contribute to robust arguments supporting the integration of NbS into policies and strategic decisions. Initiatives for Scaling Up NbS: It outlines three key outcomes within the REGREEN project, addressing distinct aspects of promoting and scaling up NbS: an Online Decision Support Tool, a Prospectus for NbS Business Investment, and a Start-Up Accelerator Programme. These initiatives converge on the core principles of informed decision-making, innovation promotion, and stakeholder empowerment. Nature based Urban Land Use Planning Approaches: Provides a comprehensive exploration of planning approaches in urban land use planning within the REGREEN project, with a specific focus on 'de-paving' and 're-greening' strategies, capacity building for NbS practitioners, and pioneering urban coastal resilience. Governance Contexts for NbS Implementation: Investigates how diverse cultural and historical governance settings lead to innovations in governance approaches for NbS. The concept of 'governing architectures' is introduced, emphasising the impact on NbS outcomes and intervention success. The REGREEN NbS Transition Handbook provides actionable insights, methodologies, and recommendations tailored for policymakers, practitioners, and educators. It stands as a valuable tool for navigating the complexities of NbS, encouraging the replication of effective strategies, and bridging the gap between research and practical application. Ultimately, the handbook contributes to the development of a comprehensive and sustainable NbS ecosystem.

The title mol-ecule, C(7)H(15)NO(5), the major product from selective enzymatic oxidation followed by hydrogeno-lysis of the corresponding azido-heptitol, was found by X-ray crystallography to exisit in a chair conformation with three axial hydroxyl groups. One of the hydroxymethyl groups is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.590 (3):0.410 (3) ratio. In the crystal, O-H⋯O, O-H⋯(O,O), O-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding occurs.

The ICP Vegetation is an international programme that reports to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) on the effects of air pollutants on (semi-)natural vegetation and crops. The WGE considers the effects of air pollutants on waters, materials, forests, vegetation, ecosystems, and health in Europe and North-America (Working Group on Effects, 2004). The ICP Vegetation has focussed on two air pollution problems of particular importance: quantifying the risks to vegetation posed by ozone pollution and the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals to vegetation. Two further pollution problems investigated by the programme are plant responses to pollutant mixtures (e.g. ozone and nitrogen interactions) and the deposition of nitrogen pollutants to vegetation. In addition, the ICP Vegetation is taking into consideration consequences for biodiversity and the modifying influence of climate change on the impacts of air pollutants. The work of the ICP Vegetation currently aims to provide information for the review of the Gothenburg Protocol (1999) designed to address the problems of acidification, nutrient nitrogen and ground-level ozone, and the Aarhus Protocol (1998) designed to reduce emissions of heavy metals (Working Group on Effects, 2004). Over 180 scientists from 35 countries of Europe and North-America contribute to the programme. The ICP Vegetation is chaired by Mr Harry Harmens at the Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor, UK, and the coordination is supported by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Ecosystem degradation represents one of today's major global challenges, threatening human well-being and livelihoods worldwide. To reverse continuing degradation, we need to understand its socio-economic consequences so that these can be incorporated into ecosystem management decisions. This requires links to be made between our understanding of how ecosystems function and change, with socially meaningful representations of those changes. While increasing attempts are being made at such integration, the interface or translation between those two strands remains largely undiscussed. This carries the risk that key aspects of the socio-ecological interactions become 'lost in translation'. In this paper, we document and discuss how models of ecosystem change may be combined with socially meaningful outcomes exposing and discussing the translation process itself (i.e. the 'translation key'). For this, we use an exemplar based on peatland condition. We employ a process-based model, DigiBog, to simulate the effects of land use on blanket peatlands, which we relate to estimates of changes to the public's well-being derived from peatland degradation and restoration, obtained as monetary values from a choice experiment survey in Scotland (UK). By quantifying linkages between environmental conditions and social values, we make the translation between these system components transparent and allow value estimates to be recalculated under different ecological scenarios, or as new evidence emerges. This enhances the replicability of the research and can better inform decision-making. By using peatlands as the exemplar ecosystem, this paper also contributes to a limited body of evidence on the socio-economic impacts of changes to the most space-effective carbon store in the terrestrial biosphere.

Executive Summary The International Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation) was established in the late 1980s. It is led by the UK and has its Programme Coordination Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in Bangor. It is one of seven ICPs and Task Forces that report to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the Convention on Longrange Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) on the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different components of the environment (e.g. forests, fresh waters, materials) and health in Europe and North-America. Today, the ICP Vegetation comprises an enthusiastic group of over 200 scientists from 35 countries in the UNECE region with outreach activities to other regions such as Asia, Central America and Africa. An overview of contributions to the WGE workplan and other research activities in the year 2010/11 is provided in this report.