Description: The ²³⁴Th-²³⁸U radioactive pair has been extensively used to evaluate the efficiency with which photosyntetically fixed carbon is exported from the surface ocean by means of the biological pump since the 90's. The seminal work of Buesseler et al. (1992) proposed that particulate organic carbon (POC) flux can be indirectly calculated from ²³⁴Th distributions if the ratio of POC to ²³⁴Th measured on sinking particles (POC:²³⁴Th) at the desired export depth is known. Since then, a huge amount of ²³⁴Th depth profiles have been collected using a variety of sampling instruments and strategies that have changed along years. This is a global oceanic compilation of ²³⁴Th measurements, that collects results from innumerable researchers and laboratories over a period exceeding 50 years. The present compilation is made of a total 223 datasets: 214 from studies published either in articles in referred journals, PhD thesis or repositories, and 9 unpublished datasets. Including measurements from JGOFS, VERTIGO and GEOTRACES programs, with sampling from approximately 5000 locations spanning all the oceans. The compilation includes total ²³⁴Th profiles, dissolved and particulate ²³⁴Th concentrations, and POC:²³⁴Th ratios (both from pumps and sediment traps) for two sizes classes (1-53 μm and 〈 53 μm) when available. Appropriate metadata have been included, including geographic location, date, and sample depth, among others. When available, we also include water temperature, salinity, ²³⁸U data and particulate organic nitrogen data. Data sources and methods information (including ²³⁸U and ²³⁴Th) are also detailed along with valuable information for future data analysis such as bloom stage and steady/non-steady state conditions at the sampling moment. This undertaking is a treasure of data to understand and quantify how oceanic carbon cycle functions and how it will change in future. The compilation can be downloaded in three different ways: 1) A single merged file including all the individual excel files. This option can be accessed under "Other version: More than 50 years of Th-234 data: a comprehensive global oceanic compilation (single xlsx file)". 2) A summary table that includes details from cruise, sampling dates, techniques applied, authors and DOI of the compiled ²³⁴Th data, among others, each line corresponds to a specific dataset. The table can be accessed by clicking ""View dataset as HTML" and downloaded in "Download dataset as tab-delimited text". 3) Individual Excel files for each dataset can be manually chosen from the summary table, corresponding to the complete ²³⁴Th dataset and metadata from a specific publication or program. This option is available by clicking "View dataset as HTML". Furthermore, all files referred to can be downloaded in one go as ZIP or TAR.

Description: There is a growing need for past weather and climate data to support science and decision-making. This paper describes the compilation and the construction of a global multivariable (air temperature, pressure, precipitation sum, number of precipitation days) monthly instrumental climate database that encompasses a substantial body of the known early instrumental time series. The dataset contains series compiled from existing databases that start before 1890 (though continuing to the present) as well as a large amount of newly rescued data. All series underwent a quality control procedure and subdaily series were processed to monthly mean values. An inventory was compiled, and the collection was deduplicated based on coordinates and mutual correlations. The data are provided in a common format accompanied by the inventory. The collection totals 12452 meteorological records in 118 countries. The data has been merged from 18250 original data files. The data can be used for climate reconstructions and analyses. It is the most comprehensive global monthly climate data set for the preindustrial period.

Description: A vision for the establishment of a Geopark in Jordan is given in this work, with a subsequent application to the UNESCO Global Geopark programme. The Dead Sea area and its surroundings have suffered strong changes in the last decades, accompanied by a variety of natural hazards related to enhanced erosional processes. The aspiring Geopark will thematically encompass the influence that these changes and related natural hazards, including flash floods and subsidence, have had on the local population, from geological, over historical up to recent times. The hydrogeology and geomorphology, i.e., the connection between erosion by water, dissolution of minerals, and landscape evolution, will be the main guiding theme that connects the Eastern Rim Highlands with the Dead Sea rift valley through ephemeral wadis, vegetated springs areas, and traditionally communities. The creation of the Geopark is aimed at holistic, sustainable development and management of the area by eco-tourism, and includes education on water resource management, hazard awareness and resilience, as well as international research. We here present the conceptual approach to the initial development of a Geopark network in Jordan. In a narrative discourse, we highlight realised and further implementation steps, with an evaluation of the expected timeline, potential partner institutions, regional involvement and the chances for realisation.

Description: This paper aims to identify and discuss the chances, solutions, and possible drawbacks related to the establishment of safe geotourism sites in subsidence-affected areas, exemplarily applied to the Ghor Al-Haditha sinkhole site at the southeastern shore of the Dead Sea. Such safe areas shall be established in the territory of the proposed future UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) in Jordan. The highlights of the geopark and the basis of its creation are the subsidence features and stream channels found along the SE shoreline of the Dead Sea, which form both a natural hazard and geological heritage of high international significance and have attracted many researchers so far. This recent and ongoing formation is related to the sharp regression of the lake, the specific geomechanical conditions, and the hydrogeologic and climatic background of the surroundings. Nearby communities have suffered in economic terms from these natural phenomena, including flash floods and droughts in this semi-arid to arid region. We here present a concept on how to integrate geoscientific research for hazard monitoring and early warning to maintain safety for inhabitants and visitors on the one hand and reach sustainable economic development through the establishment of geotourism sites on the other hand. This highlight area of the proposed UGGp serves as a starting example for delineating safe zones for walkways and infrastructure. This involves two-way knowledge transfer between spatial planning and hydrogeophysical monitoring, a network of community-supported geophysical surveillance, and regular maintenance and adaptation. The cross-cutting benefits for the territory involve the delineation of safe areas for agriculture and geotourism, the increase of sustainable tourism in the region with a shift towards alternative ways of income, more investment in infrastructure, a growth of international visibility of the region, enhanced environmental education with focus on responsible water usage, and involvement in international research and education projects.

Description: Shallow, semi-enclosed coastal systems are particularly prone to eutrophication. Depending on local site conditions and historical nutrient legacies, sea-based measures might be necessary in addition to land-based nutrient removal. In this study, C:N:P ratios were combined with open-source bathymetric information and linked with the prevailing geomorphological and sedimentological regimes to gain insights into nutrient hotspots and understand their sources and fate in coastal waters. Land-based sediment samples were taken behind outlets at three sites in Eckernförde Bay (Baltic Sea), and complemented with ship-based sampling at locations approximately 8 m and 12 m water depth. The total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in surface sediments increased at deeper sites. This suggests that an increased downslope particle transport and deposition regime, based on local geomorphology, might influence nutrient hotspots to a larger extent than proximity to sources (e.g., outlets). Overall, the recorded C:N ratios (mean = 28.12) were closer to the ratio of terrestrial plants than those of marine phytoplankton, indicating allochthonous sources of organic matter.

Description: Data on infauna and sediment characteristics were collected as part of an extensive research program on the effects of offshore wind turbines on the marine environment funded by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. The investigations were performed in the first German offshore wind farm alpha ventus in the German Bight (North Sea). The overall aim of the program was to evaluate the German national standard concept for environmental impact assessments for offshore wind farms. Specifically, our study addressed the potential changes of the infauna communities in different distances from single turbines in an early stage of the operational phase of the wind farm. The data were collected during the cruises HE296 (2008), HE313 (2009), HE340 (2010) and HE369 (2000) of the German research vessel RV Heincke. Infauna samples were taken with van Veen grab samples (sampling area: 0.1 m2, weight: 95 kg) inside the wind farm and in two reference sites outside the wind farm. Three replicate samples were taken at each station. The samples were sieved through a 1 mm mesh and species of the macro-infauna were determined to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Sub-samples of the sediments were fractionated in a cascade of sieves of different mesh sizes to determine the grain size distributions. The organic contents of the sediments were determined as weight loss on ignition. The dataset comprises 11,400 count and biomass records for 103 infaunal taxa (89 % on species level, 11 % others) from 528 samples. Sediments were characterised for 176 van Veen grabs.

Description: Plastic pollution is a major global issue and its impacts on ecosystems and socioeconomic sectors lack comprehensive understanding. The integration of plastics issues into the educational system of both primary and secondary schools has often been overlooked, especially in Africa, presenting a major challenge to environmental awareness. Owing to the importance of early age awareness, this study aims to investigate whether plastic pollution issues are being integrated into South African primary and secondary education school curriculums. Using face-to-face interviews with senior educators, we address this research problem by investigating (i) the extent to which teachers cover components of plastic pollution, and (ii) educator understandings of plastic pollution within terrestrial and aquatic environments. The results indicate that plastic pollution has been integrated into the school curriculum in technology, natural science, geography, life science, life skills and life orientation subjects. However, there was a lack of integration of management practices for plastics littering, especially in secondary schools, and understanding of dangers among different habitat types. This highlights the need for better educational awareness on the plastic pollution problem at both primary and secondary school level, with increased environmental programs needed to educate schools on management practices and impacts

Description: Global change has led to manifold changes of marine ecosystems and biodiversity world-wide. While it has been shown that certain jellyfish and comb jelly species have increased regionally, it remains to be investigated if this is a general trend or localized phenomenon. Especially for the economically important Baltic Sea, which is characterized by an extreme physical environmental gradient, this question has not been addressed to date. Here we present a detailed account of the gelatinous macro-zooplankton community including their physiological tolerance towards abiotic conditions and resulting distribution ranges in the Baltic. We show that the arrival and establishment of non-indigenous species has led to a rising importance of jellyfish and comb jellies in the Baltic. This accounts for the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, which was first observed in Northern Europe in 2005, as well as for the hydromedusae Blackfordia virginica, first sighted in 2014. Both species have been shown to attain high population densities with pronounced grazing impact in other invasive regions. Given the current and anticipated changes of the physical environment of the Baltic Sea, especially ongoing warming, amplification of their impact can be expected.

Description: Time series data of physical oceanography (seawater conductivity, temperature, pressure, salinity) and ocean current velocities were obtained from mooring M3 on the upper part (750 m isobath) of the continental slope, just east of the Filchner Trough in the southern Weddell Sea in February 2017 - February 2021. The mooring was deployed during the WAPITI expedition on James Clark Ross (JR16004), and recovered during the COSMUS expedition with Polarstern (PS124). The attached archive contains data from 1 RCM7 (21 meters above bottom (mab herafter) and sampling interval (sint hereafter) 2h), 13 SBE56 (22,56,81,106,159,184,6508,260,285,310,335,360,385 mab, sint: 120 s), 4 SBE37 (31, 134, 209, 410 mab, sint: 600 s), 1 RDI ADCP 75 kHz (235 mab, upwardlooking, sint: 2h), 1 SBE39 (435 mab, sint: 900s). Mooring diagrams and information about data processing are provided.

Description: Time series data of physical oceanography (seawater conductivity, temperature, pressure, salinity) and ocean current velocities were obtained from mooring M6 on the upper part (500 m isobath) of the continental slope, just east of the Filchner Trough in the southern Weddell Sea in February 2017 - February 2021. The mooring was deployed during the WAPITI expedition on James Clark Ross (JR16004), and recovered during the COSMUS expedition with Polarstern (PS124). The attached archive contains data from 1 RCM7 (24 meters above bottom (mab herafter) and sampling interval (sint hereafter) 2h), 5 SBE56 (25, 59, 74, 126, 202 mab, sint: 120 s), 3 SBE37 (34, 99, 176 mab, sint: 600 s), 1 RDI ADCP 150 kHz (235 mab, upwardlooking, sint: 1h), 1 SBE39 (15 mab, sint: 900s). Mooring diagrams and information about data processing are provided