Rivers directly support the development of a region/country; however, globally, these aquatic regions are impacted by recent human activity. During a rainfall event, we monitored the baseline information on the spatial variability of microplastics (MPs) in the Cauvery River in South India. Forty surface water samples from two selected sites were collected between 27 September and 16 October 2022 during the commencement of monsoon which indicates 69 and 43 pieces L of MPs, respectively. SEM and FTIR analysis on the surface morphotypes (cracks, grooves, pits) and elemental (Si, Ti, Mg, Cu, Ta) presence/adsorption of these elements' (in particle) surface indicates surface deformation of fibers, which is mainly due to external input/forces. Fragments of polymers establish a high degree of deterioration indicating its longer trajectory in the aquatic environment. The origin of extended fiber ranges between 631.65 and 5639.9 µm, which is being associated with laundry activities for textiles, household items, and fishing gear. Toxicity and ecological risk assessment suggest significant degree of weathered MPs due to photo-oxidation process and aging owing to exposition of intense UV light. This research serves as a strong illustration of the multiple pressures from urban development and cultural practices that have a bigger influence on the river ecosystem like Cauvery River and regular monitoring.

Intensive rice cultivation with multiple aeration in both irrigated and rainfed farming leads to increased nitrous oxide (NO) emissions. However, the spatio-temporal variations in NO emissions has been largely neglected in the policy guidelines of seasonal rice cultivation. NO emissions were quantified in two rice regions in Bangladesh: Bogura and Cumilla in annual triple rice systems for two consecutive years. The treatments were two residue levels (NR, no residue and CR, crop was cut at 30 cm height); and four nitrogen (N) rates: control (no N), farmers' practice (FP), current recommended N rate (RD) and 125 % of RD, 1.25RD. The yield target and N application rate was different for the pre-monsoon rice (T. Aus), monsoon (T. Aman) and winter rice (Boro). The NO emissions within the season increased with the N application rate. Despite the different N rates, NO emissions were similar between seasons, suggesting that the estimation of NO emission factors (EFs) needs to be disintegrated into the different seasons in multiple rice systems. Integration of crop residues coupled with RD of N fertilizer (CR-RD) increased NO emissions over the NR with the same N rate (NR-RD). Mean NO emissions ranged from 0.68 to 0.88 kg N ha in Boro, 0.75 to 0.82 kg N ha in T. Aus and 0.69 to 0.77 in T. Aman, indicating that even the lower N rate in the warmer seasons can emit similar NO to the cooler season resulting in higher EFs. The NO EFs, being higher in warmer seasons, ranged from 0.0039 to 0.0074, was slightly above the IPCC default EF (0.0033 for flooded and 0.0050 for intermittent draingage), but still within the global rice EF range. While crop residue increased rice NO emissions, its integration with optimum N rates will minimize the climate impacts of rice through reduced NO emissions.

Rivers are primary vectors of plastic debris to oceans, but sources, transport mechanisms, and fate of fluvial microplastics (<5 mm) remain poorly understood, impeding accurate predictions of microplastic flux, ecological risk and socio-economic impacts. We report on microplastic concentrations, characteristics and dynamics in the Mekong River, one of the world's largest and polluting rivers, in Cambodia and Vietnam. Sampling throughout the water column at multiple localities detected an average of 24 microplastics m (0.073 mg l). Concentrations increased downstream from rural Kampi, Cambodia (344 km from river mouth; 2 microplastics m 0.006 mg l), to Can Tho, Vietnam (83 km from river mouth; 64 microplastics m, 0.182 mg l) with most microplastics being fibres (53 %), followed by fragments (44 %) and the most common polymer being polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester. Pathways of microplastic pollution are expected to be from urban wastewater highlighting the need for improved wastewater treatment in this region. On average, 86 % of microplastics are transported within the water column and consequently we identified an optimum sampling depth capturing a representative flux value, highlighting that sampling only the water surface substantially biases microplastic concentration predictions. Additionally, microplastic abundance does not linearly follow discharge changes during annual monsoonal floods or mirror siliciclastic sediment transport, as microplastic concentrations decrease rapidly during higher monsoon flows. The findings reveal complex microplastic transport in large rivers and call for improved sampling methods and predictive models to better assess environmental risk and guide policy.

Vector-borne diseases (VBD) are a major public health concern. Globalization, urbanization & climate change are reasons for the emergence and re-emergence of VBDs. In our study, we looked into the prevalence of VBD infections around our tertiary care hospital in South India. The objective was to determine the prevalence of common VBDs like Malaria, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis (JE), Chikungunya and Scrub typhus in patients with acute febrile illness (AFI).

A sound understanding of daily precipitation concentration provides critical insights about extreme precipitation and associated hazards such as rainstorms, flash floods, cloud bursts, and soil erosion. Therefore, this study examines the spatiotemporal variability and geoclimatic drivers of daily precipitation concentration using the concentration index (CI), precipitation concentration degree (PCD), Q Index (QI), and Theil index (TI) over a Western Himalayan Province, namely Himachal Pradesh, India. For this, the daily precipitation data pertaining to 111 grids (0.25° × 0.25° resolution), encompassing entire province, have been downloaded from India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune, for the period 1951 to 2020. The trends in concentration indices have been detected using Mann-Kendall (MK) and Sen's slope methods, whereas their relationship with geoclimatic drivers have been assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient (physiographic) and random forest regression model (climatic) at annual and monsoon season time scales. The results have revealed a high correlation between CI-TI (> 0.95), followed by QI-TI (> 0.84), QI-PCD (> 0.80), TI-PCD (> 0.78), QI-CI (> 0.65), and CI-PCD (> 0.60), representing nearly similar precipitation concentration distribution. Among the concentration indices, QI has shown maximum sensitivity to long-term changes followed by TI, CI, and PCD at both time scales. Similarly, physiographic factors have maximum effect on QI, showing its greatest sensitivity to latitude, longitude and elevation. While considering the impact of climatic drivers, Atlantic Meridian Oscillation (AMO) and Sunspot activity have exerted maximum influence on annual variability of CI, PCD, QI, and TI, whereas monsoon variability of these indices has been modulated by Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), especially over northern parts of Himachal Pradesh. These findings will assist soil and water resource managers, disaster executives, agricultural stakeholders, and urban planners in understanding the unexplored aspects of daily precipitation concentration and making informed decisions over the mountainous regions of western Himalaya.

Tropical hydroclimate in monsoonal regions has been largely understood according to the orbital monsoon hypothesis, in which rainfall exhibits strong covariation with local summer insolation on precessional (~21,000 years) time scales, as exemplified in the Asian and South American monsoon stalagmite records. However, paleo-rainfall variations in some tropical regions are poorly explained by the orbital hypothesis, suggesting alternative forcing mechanisms of regional monsoon changes. Here, we show a 140,000-year record of Central American rainfall from oxygen-isotope (δO) time series of precisely dated stalagmites which reveals two dominant thermally-controlled monsoon regimes in which the Atlantic Ocean thermal state linked to the meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is the primary driver, and local orbital summer insolation control is limited. Our reconstruction, supported by isotope-enabled climate model simulations, pinpoints the potential impacts of future AMOC weakening on the Central American and Caribbean climate.

Similar presenting manifestations in early phase and lack of awareness of aetiology of acute febrile illness (AFI) are major challenges in management of AFI.

In India, dengue is one of the health challenges and a leading cause of hospitalization, especially during the monsoon. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an independent marker for dengue severity. The present study aimed to analyze the correlation between CRP and ferritin and with other hematological markers in dengue fever (DF).

, commonly known as garlic chives, is an underutilized species despite its significant culinary value for its mild garlic flavor and therapeutic potential due to the presence of sulphur-containing compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This study assessed the cultivation potential of in the non-traditional agro-climatic region of the Western Ghats, focusing on the effects of cultivars and seasonal variations on growth, yield, and quality in two-year field trials. Among the accessions tested, Kazakhstan CGN-1587 demonstrated the highest yield, producing 157.01 tons of green foliage per hectare. Bright sunshine seasons positively influenced both yield and quality, while the monsoon season induced morphological changes such as increased stem length, reduced leaf width, and decreased stem girth, traits generally considered inferior for market quality. The monsoon also led to increased waste generation, highlighting the need for careful management during this period. Nutritional analysis revealed high concentrations of potassium (5355 mg/kg), phosphorus (691 mg/kg), and sulphur (2484 mg/kg), while biochemical profiling identified bioactive compounds such as flavonoids (3.19 mg/g) and organosulfur compounds, including Allyl Methyl Thiosulfinate (269.00 mg/kg), which contribute to the plant's notable health benefits. These findings support the suitability of for year-round cultivation in the Western Ghats and its potential for commercialization, especially in regions with similar climatic conditions.

The degradation of peri-urban wetlands has been a significant consequence of urban development and climate change. The present study discovered the decadal changes in land cover and climate impact on Raja Wetland, revealing significant alterations from 2011 to 2021. The analysis indicates substantial reductions in agricultural land (36.36%), fallow land (30.90%), water spread areas (10.14%) and surrounding wetlands (18.06%). Conversely, settlements, terrestrial vegetation and aquatic macrophytes increased by 19.77%, 3.39% and 1.16%, respectively. The primary driver of wetland shrinkage was urban expansion leading to a decrease in wetland area from 43.39 ha in 2011 to 38.99 ha in 2021. Climate data from 1991 to 2020 show a decreasing trend in annual rainfall (τ = - 0.274, p = 0.035) and an increasing trend in annual temperature (τ = 0.339, p = 0.009), with significant warming particularly during the monsoon months. The wetland's physicochemical attributes fluctuate seasonally, with eutrophic conditions prevailing (TSI range: 61.41-80.36). Notably, fish diversity is impacted by the dominance of the invasive species Oreochromis niloticus, which constitutes 89.31% of the catch. The established planktonic indicator genera of organic pollution were found to be abundant throughout the study period. These, combined with urban pollution and eutrophication, have led to a reduction in native fish species and overall aquatic health. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation measures to address the ecological imbalance and restore wetland resilience amidst ongoing climate and anthropogenic pressures. The communication also proposes various recommendations for the recovery and sustainable future use of wetland fisheries in the context of ongoing changes.