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How can we use on-demand evapotranspiration datasets from Remote Sensing in Riyadh’s urban context? Can we get water consumption for the urban forest in Riyadh?
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In 1843, a year after the tragic deaths in the Vienna hospital, American physician Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. published his essay, “The Contagiousness of Puerperal Fever,” identifying poor hygiene practices among doctors and nurses as the source of the outbreak. Today’s concern is similar, but it is related to the contribution of urban and landscape…
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Satellite imagery has become an indispensable tool for various applications, from environmental monitoring to urban planning and disaster management. Among the most popular satellite data sources is the Sentinel-2 mission, which provides high-resolution imagery at regular intervals and covers the entire planet. However, while Sentinel-2 imagery offers great spatial coverage and spectral richness, its spatial…
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According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), evaporation is when liquid water is converted to water vapour (vaporisation) and removed from the evaporating surface (vapour removal). Water evaporates from various surfaces, such as lakes, rivers, pavements, soils and wet vegetation. Simultaneously, transpiration is the vaporisation of liquid water in plant tissues and the vapour…
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The complexity and interdependency of today’s global development challenges demand an integrated framework for achieving a resilient, sustainable future. Building on systems thinking, the Nexus Approach goes beyond isolated problem-solving by acknowledging the inherent linkages between natural and human systems. This perspective not only clarifies trade-offs among sectors—such as water, energy, and food—but also highlights…
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The effects of climate change are increasingly evident in extreme weather events, melting ice caps, and unprecedented temperature spikes. Climate change is no longer a distant concept. During COP29, the urgent need for real, reliable financing has taken centre stage in the climate conversation. Governments and industries are under mounting pressure to mobilise resources that…
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The personification of urban spaces seems to be a current trend. Today, we read about cities that are smart, resilient, inclusive, creative, and even learning. Zooming into the concept of smart cities, a first impression indicated that it initially revolves around advanced technology. How true is that?
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The Middle East faces escalating water scarcity, prompting nations to adopt cloud seeding as a means to enhance precipitation. This practice, while potentially beneficial, introduces complex challenges, particularly concerning the transboundary nature of atmospheric water resources. This article examines the implications of cloud seeding within the framework of “Transboundary Sky Waters,” as proposed by Dezfuli…
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The concept of assigning and trading environmental protection and restauration efforts (Nature Repair Market) offers a unique opportunity to accelerate its sustainability and greening goals aligned with Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). By tailoring the market’s framework to the Kingdom’s priorities, this innovative approach can deliver transformative results for biodiversity, environmental restoration,…
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Concerns around biodiversity are growing in a world where climate change is not a distant threat anymore but a reality. The international community is increasing its focus on biodiversity conservation. Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), ratified by 196 countries, is one of three conventions established at the UN Rio Earth…