As the volume of meteorological observations continues to grow, automating the quality control (QC) process is essential for timely data delivery. This study evaluates the performance of three machine learning algorithms—autoencoder, variational autoencoder, and long short-term memory (LSTM) autoencoder—for detecting anomalies in air temperature data. Using expert-quality-controlled data as ground truth, all models demonstrated anomaly detection capability, with the LSTM outperforming others due to its ability to capture temporal patterns and minimize false positives. When applied to raw data, the LSTM achieved 99.6% accuracy in identifying valid observations and replicated 79% of manual flags, with only five false negatives and six false positives over a full year. Its sensitivity to subtle meteorological changes, such as those caused by rainfall or cloud cover, highlights its robustness. The LSTM’s performance using a three-day timestep, combined with basic QC checks in SaQC (System for Automated Quality Control), suggests a scalable and effective solution for automated QC at Met Éireann, with potential for expansion to include additional variables and multi-station generalization.

Deposits of thick volcanic and volcaniclastic series can be interpreted as either related to regional tectonics (commonly extensional or transtensional tectonics) or local volcanic mechanisms (caldera collapse). In order to distinguish between these two end-member mechanisms, we propose the use of magnetic techniques, namely analysis of Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and paleomagnetism, and analysis of geological structures. These techniques have been applied to the Estac Basin (Central Pyrenees), an inverted Late Carboniferous–Permian basin now involved in the antiformal stack of the Pyrenean belt. AMS data provide directions of flow of volcanic rocks that can be interpreted in terms of palaeo-slopes and therefore can be related to structures contemporary with deposition and Late Carboniferous–Permian volcanic activity. The maximum of the magnetic lineation (i.e. volcanic paleoflow) direction is bimodal, with (i) an absolute maximum (as occurring in most South-Pyrenean Late Carboniferous–Permian basins) along a WNW–ESE direction and (ii) a secondary magnetic lineation along an N–S direction. Paleomagnetic data obtained from the volcanic products show a primary magnetization or early remagnetization compatible with the Late Carboniferous–Permian paleomagnetic reference direction and allow us to reconstruct an early folding probably related to the warping of the basin. The magnetic and structural data can be interpreted according to a volcano-tectonic subsidence model in which E–W faults played a major role and caldera collapse contributed to the important thickness of the volcaniclastic deposits.

There is clear evidence that rapid warming has been fuelling significant changes in the ocean and cryosphere in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Less is known about how terrestrial biological ecosystems, particularly plants, are responding to warming and hydroclimatic change. We show that high evaporative environmental conditions and microclimate associated with topography lead to humidity-dependent evaporative effects on the oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) of moss waters and α-cellulose in the northern Antarctic Peninsula, based on a spatial (> 400 km) isotopic survey at 14 sites over 24 days during summer 2020. The δ18O of moss waters define a water line of δ2H = 4 × δ18O + 37 for Polytrichum strictum and δ2H = 3.8 × δ18O + 38.9 for Chorisodontium aciphyllum, indicating enrichment compared to line slopes ranging from 6.7 to 8.5 for snow, standing water, previous published snapshots of moss waters and the long-term local meteoric water lines along the Antarctic Peninsula. The δ18O of moss waters negatively correlated with relative humidity (which ranged from ~50% to 100%) and not with temperature or latitude, where a higher δ18O indicates increased evaporative enrichment or dry conditions. A positive correlation between the δ18O of moss waters and α-cellulose (ρ = 0.397, P = 0.011) for P. strictum (ρ = 0.533, P = 0.007) but not C. aciphyllum suggests that the high evaporative conditions from the season imprinted on the cellulose. Lastly, we found significant positive correlations between topographic aspect (north-exposedness) and the δ18O of moss waters (ρ = 0.569, P < 0.001) and α-cellulose (ρ = 0.579, P < 0.001), indicating that irradiance on north-facing slopes promotes drier conditions and evaporative enrichment. Topographic aspect (and resulting microclimate) is an important and predictable determinant of the δ18O of moss waters and α-cellulose. This study highlights that mosses are sensitive recorders of climatic and non-climatic conditions in polar terrestrial ecosystems.

The chronology of Late Pleistocene and Holocene aeolian sand activity in midcontinent North America provides important insight into paleoenvironmental change and associated surface processes. Near the limit of Marine Isotope Stage 2 glaciation of the Huron-Erie Lobe (Laurentide Ice Sheet) in south-central Indiana, aeolian sand deposits found along the eastern margin of outwash plains in the East Fork and West Fork White River valleys provide an opportunity to test the causal mechanisms for aeolian sand activity. Twenty-five optically stimulated luminescence ages on aeolian sand and four radiocarbon ages on gastropod shells document two phases of aeolian sand activity. The first phase, between 26 and 19 ka, records deflation from active outwash plains in the East Fork and West Fork White River valleys during and after the local glacial maximum. These ages overlap with the chronology of Huron-Erie Lobe advance into and out of the White River drainage basin based on a radiocarbon-dated slackwater succession. The second phase, between 16 and 12 ka, records reworking of older aeolian sand and outwash during a period of no-analog vegetation during the Bølling-Allerød/Younger Dryas and is in general agreement with the timing of dune activity from previous studies in the Great Lakes region.

A large-scale outcrop was exposed along the newly constructed road access to the Kumamoto Earthquake Museum “KIOKU” (former Tokai University Aso Campus). Multiple layers of tephra and paleosols cover the Sawatsuno lava (27 ± 6 K-Ar ka) in this outcrop. Three (3) characteristic tephra layers: Kusasenrigahama Pumice (Kpfa: ca. 32.5 cal ka BP) from Kusasenrigahama crater in Aso caldera, Aira Tn (AT: ca. 30 cal ka BP) and Kikai Akahoya (K-Ah: ca. 7.3 cal ka BP) from southern Kyushu are intercalated between thick sandy volcanic ash layers erupted from the post-caldera volcanoes of Aso caldera. Thirteen (13) radiocarbon ages were obtained from soil samples and charcoal fragments. Among these, a sample just below AT shows a younger age, indicating that the upper soil/tephra sequence including AT, was re-deposited on ground surface at the time immediately after ca. 13.4 cal ka BP indicated by this age. This suggests that the duplicated sequence, confirmed by our detailed dating is a product of either near-surface hidden faulting or a small local landslide associated with one of the paleoseismic events similar to the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake.

This article attempts a first historical periodisation of the checkered history of the French Southern Islands in the Indian Ocean. Beginning with early extractive activities during the 18th and 19th centuries and followed by colonial ambitions during the first half of the 20th century, the article also discusses the more recent efforts of the French government to reinforce sovereignty in the form of permanent bases, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. The most recent period covered of scientific affirmation and ecological restoration (1970s–2006) introduces a solid historical perspective on the still ongoing efforts (from 2006 onwards) of reinforced patrimonialisation and environmental protection of the French Southern Islands. Throughout all periods, our main attention is directed towards various forms of projects. Indeed, the project perspective allows to uncover largely forgotten ambitions and shows that the history of the French Southern Islands is closely connected to larger historical developments in the entire Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region.

Loess–paleosol sequences (LPSs) provide valuable archives of Quaternary paleoenvironments. Here we present new data from the Baix LPS, comprising the entire Late Pleistocene. The Baix LPS is located at the western edge of the Rhône Rift Valley, France, in the transition zone from the presently temperate to the Mediterranean region of Europe. This LPS provides a missing link between the analyzed LPSs in the presently temperate regions farther north and those in the Mediterranean region. Reddish Btg horizons of a Stagnic Luvisol at the base of the Baix LPS represent the remains of an MIS 5 pedocomplex formed under warm and, at least temporarily, relatively moist conditions. Two brown Bw horizons of truncated Cambisols have been preserved in the overlying MIS 5a/4 to MIS 3 deposits. The upper Bw horizon is associated with large carbonate nodules, indicating that considerable amounts of calcium carbonate were leached from a former MIS 3 Cambisol and accumulated in the underlying loess unit. This truncated MIS 3 Cambisol is very similar to the MIS 3 paleosol remains in the LPS Collias that we investigated 87 km farther south in the present Mediterranean climate. No paleosols were observed in the late MIS 2 deposits.