https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/375 2026-09-05T18:41:58Z 2026-09-05T18:41:58Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148728 2026-08-27T08:44:50Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Understanding temporal dynamics of meteo-marine parameters at the Ċirkewwa Marine Park Abstract: This study investigates the temporal variability of key meteo-marine parameters within the Ċirkewwa Marine Park (ĊMP), Malta, through the integration of in-situ observations and modelled datasets. This site was selected due to its ecological significance and exposure to dynamic coastal processes, providing an appropriate setting to assess atmosphere-ocean interactions. Particular emphasis is placed on subsurface sea temperature variability and the extent to which model outputs accurately represent observed conditions. A multi-method approach was employed, involving the deployment of temperature loggers at depths of 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, and 20 m to collect high-resolution hourly measurements. Following the loss of the 5 m logger, analyses were based on observations from the remaining depths. These measurements were complemented by meteorological parameters, including air temperature, wind speed, and direction, alongside model outputs from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS). The combined datasets were analysed to evaluate temporal trends, vertical stratification, and the influence of atmospheric forcing on water column dynamics. Results demonstrate clear seasonal variability, with temperatures increasing from early summer to a peak in September, followed by a gradual decline into autumn. A persistent vertical gradient was observed, indicative of stratified conditions, although episodic wind events exceeding 5 m/s promoted short-term mixing and partial disruption of the thermocline. While modelled and observed datasets showed general agreement in near-surface trends, discrepancies became increasingly pronounced with depth, with CMEMS consistently underestimating deeper temperatures. This highlights limitations in the capacity of models to resolve fine-scale coastal processes and vertical structure. However, the study is constrained by its relatively short temporal coverage and limited spatial resolution, which restrict the generalisability of the findings. Despite these limitations, it provides a valuable high-resolution baseline for the ĊMP and underscores the importance of sustained, multi-depth monitoring and rigorous model validation to enhance understanding of coastal dynamics and inform effective marine management strategies. Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Vasilakos, Petros N. Upadhyay, Abhishek Manousakas, Manousos I. Alastuey, Andrés Allan, James D. Alves, Célia A. Bergmans, Benjamin Brem, Benjamin T. Castillo, Sonia Christoudias, Theodoros Colombi, Cristina Conil, Sébastien Dzepina, Katja Eichler, Anja Eleftheriadis, Konstantinos Favez, Olivier Flynn, Michael Glojek, Kristina Grange, Stuart K. Green, David C. Hueglin, Christoph Jaffrezo, Jean-Luc Jenk, Theo M. Jiang, Jianhui Krymova, Ekaterina Lucarelli, Franco Makorič, Petra Massabò, Dario Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos Močnik, Griša Modini, Robin L. Mohr, Claudia Naccarato, Attilio Pokorná, Petra Prati, Paolo Probst-Hensch, Nicole Prévôt, André S.H. Querol, Xavier Reche, Cristina de la Rosa, Jesús D. Scerri, Mark M. Sciare, Jean Sigl, Michael Tremper, Anja H. Traversi, Rita Trejo Banos, Daniel Tsagkaraki, Maria Uzu, Gaëlle Vecchi, Roberta Via, Marta de Hoogh, Kees El-Haddad, Imad Daellenbach, Kaspar R. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148116 2026-07-17T10:11:30Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Rising dust pollution across Europe in a changing climate Authors: Vasilakos, Petros N.; Upadhyay, Abhishek; Manousakas, Manousos I.; Alastuey, Andrés; Allan, James D.; Alves, Célia A.; Bergmans, Benjamin; Brem, Benjamin T.; Castillo, Sonia; Christoudias, Theodoros; Colombi, Cristina; Conil, Sébastien; Dzepina, Katja; Eichler, Anja; Eleftheriadis, Konstantinos; Favez, Olivier; Flynn, Michael; Glojek, Kristina; Grange, Stuart K.; Green, David C.; Hueglin, Christoph; Jaffrezo, Jean-Luc; Jenk, Theo M.; Jiang, Jianhui; Krymova, Ekaterina; Lucarelli, Franco; Makorič, Petra; Massabò, Dario; Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos; Močnik, Griša; Modini, Robin L.; Mohr, Claudia; Naccarato, Attilio; Pokorná, Petra; Prati, Paolo; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Prévôt, André S.H.; Querol, Xavier; Reche, Cristina; de la Rosa, Jesús D.; Scerri, Mark M.; Sciare, Jean; Sigl, Michael; Tremper, Anja H.; Traversi, Rita; Trejo Banos, Daniel; Tsagkaraki, Maria; Uzu, Gaëlle; Vecchi, Roberta; Via, Marta; de Hoogh, Kees; El-Haddad, Imad; Daellenbach, Kaspar R. Abstract: Mineral desert dust is a major contributor to total atmospheric particulate matter. Desert dust outbreaks degrade air quality and can pose adverse health effects, including asthma exacerbation and increased mortality. At some European locations, there has been a rise in the intensity and frequency of transported dust outbreaks from deserts in recent decades5–9. However, it remains unclear whether this increase is consistent across Europe and whether desertification and aridity or shifts in atmospheric circulation are the main drivers behind this rise. Here we compile a database of daily dust metal concentrations from European sites, establishing robust elemental ratios for transported dust. Using this database, we develop a machine learning model to estimate daily PM10 (particulate matter smaller than 10 μm) dust concentrations from 2012 to 2021, ranging from 2.09 ± 1.05 μg m−3 across northern and central Europe to 5.28 ± 2.65 μg m−3 across the south. In southern Europe, residents are exposed to transported dust events averaging 9.68 ± 4.85 μg m−3, linked to a 0.67 ± 0.02% rise in daily mortality. Intensified dust intrusions over the past decade are linked to shifts in atmospheric circulation. Data from an Alpine ice core record shows a 110% increase in dust concentrations since pre-industrial times, mostly associated with North African desertification. As climate change accelerates land degradation and affects weather patterns, worsening dust pollution may pose increasing risks to public health and air quality goals.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148072 2026-07-15T08:53:09Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessing the fungal contamination of paper artefacts in museum reserve storage Abstract: Fungal communities pose a significant threat to paper artefacts of cultural and historical importance, often proliferating under favourable environmental and nutritional conditions, such as within museum paper repositories. Their development is influenced by both macro- and microclimatic factors, as well as storage methods. The role of preventive conservation has gained recognition in reducing fungal-induced biodeterioration, with monitoring and the subsequent implementation of site-specific measures often being advantageous. This study assessed variations in fungal counts and taxa within the reserve collection of a Maltese museum, particularly within its plan chests. It also considered its transitional areas, which included a drying room used to isolate mould-infested paper artefacts. This was achieved using adhesive-coated spore traps and by combining passive-gravimetric, active-volumetric, and surface sampling methods, alongside thermohygrometric monitoring and self reporting of plan chest use. The results revealed that the thermohygrometric conditions remained near established environmental set-points, except within the drying room, potentially facilitating the continued viability of mould-infested artefacts. Airborne Aspergillus/Penicillium spp. was prevalent, this was followed by Chaetomium spp., Alternaria spp., and Cladosporium spp. among the fungi identified. The highest fungal counts were reported within the plan chests, yet elevated counts remained transient. Statistical analyses additionally found a negative association between Aspergillus/Penicillium spp. and actual humidity within the plan chests. Nonetheless, unaccounted nonroutine activities may have affected such findings. Based on the results, sitespecific recommendations were provided, namely lowering the reserve’s temperature and the drying room’s relative humidity, alongside the development of standard operating procedures for mould detection on paper. Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148071 2026-07-15T08:49:59Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Barriers and enablers to eco-certification in Malta’s SME hotel sector Abstract: The steep increase in tourism experienced in the Maltese islands in recent years has been accompanied by a number of environmental pressures and consequences, therefore emphasising the important position that the hospitality industry plays in safeguarding the environment. Eco-certification was introduced as a way to structurally guide hotel managers into making their facility as sustainable as possible, offering both environmental and financial benefits. However, the implementation of this certification amongst small and medium sized hotels in Malta is not so common. This study aims to assess the awareness, and the perceived value and impact of eco-certification from the perspective of hotel managers in Malta, as well as to recommend any suggestions to improve the certification’s uptake. Following a series of semi-structured interviews with hotel managers and other relevant representatives, various barriers were identified, namely: fragmented information, perceived ineffectiveness, resistance to change, operational and administrative burden and financial constraints, all of which hinder to various degrees, the uptake of eco-certification amongst SME hotels in Malta. Furthermore, a number of enabling factors also emerged from the interviews, including : simplified procedures, financial incentives, perceived profitability and market appeal, and perceived benefits. Following the analysis of these main themes using NVivo® software, the following suggestions aiming to increase the uptake of eco-certification amongst SME hotels emerged: policy based approaches, such as setting certain environmental standards or requirements for SME hotels, improved guidance in order to increase knowledge and awareness on the topic, and support structures & SME tailored schemes in order to provide financial aid to the smaller hotels who are currently unable to pursue the certification due to monetary constraints. Description: B.Sc. (Hons)(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z