The use of geological evidence may help the judicial system to solve cases of homicide, corpse concealment, hit-and-run accidents, kidnappings, sexual assaults, geohazard problematics, environmental damages, animal maltreatment, wildlife crimes, and gemstone and fossil fraud. Forensic geologists may be supported by a team of experts during the scientific investigation of the most serious crimes. Geology, botany, and entomology are significant branches of the forensic sciences that may be simultaneously involved in a holistic approach for analysing inorganic (minerals and rocks), anthropogenic (glass, brick fragments), and organic (plant and insect remains) materials found as trace or micro-trace physical evidence at outdoor crime scenes and on the victim and/or suspect in cases of homicide or ground concealment. Different analytical methods are applied to geological trace evidence to identify, characterize, and quantify the geological trace. These analyses may be non-destructive (as in the case of gemstone fraud) or destructive. Most aim to obtain information on the compatibility degree among unknown and known samples and the possible provenance. Based on the above, different experts may collaborate with geologists and investigate geological evidence together in research teams. Geologists approaching forensic geology need to master sedimentology, micropaleontology, physical geology, petrography, gemology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, soil sciences, geomorphology, stratigraphy, regional geology, remote sensing, and applied geology and geophysics. Botanists address their investigation in forensic botany by studying plant ecology, vegetal anatomy, systematics, palynology, algology, and plant DNA in soil and sediment. On the other hand, entomologists approach forensic entomology by studying chemistry, biology, human and animal health, molecular science, and animal DNA in soil and sediment. Accordingly, this special issue welcomes research contributions on earth sciences, environmental sciences, botany, and entomology with a holistic approach to solving criminal cases. In this context, particular attention will be given to the following topics: comparative analyses of geological trace evidence, reconstruction of walking, study of and search for clandestine graves, geographical profiling, environmental forensics, and gemstone fraud.

A major challenge for humankind is to provide adequate and reliable supplies of affordable energy and natural resources. These should be obtained in environmentally sustainable ways, which is essential for economic prosperity, environmental quality, and political stability around the world. With this Special Issue, that reflects the scientific program of the General Assembly 2024 of the Division Energy, Resources and the Environment (ERE) of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), we would like to provide a holistic view on activities according to the development, assessment, and management of energy-related programs. In addition, we provide a forum for the presentation of fundamental scientific advances and engineering developments in the understanding of resources systems. This can also cover aspects of the environmental impacts of socio-economic development.

Review process: all papers of this special volume underwent the regular peer-review process of ADGEO handled by guest editors designated by the ADGEO managing editor.

Pressure over water resources is expected to increase rapidly as a result of climate change and growing demand. Therefore, water shortages are expected in the near future. In this context, we need to develop and propose new methods, approaches, and tools to contribute to improving the management of groundwater resources under the current context of global change. This special issue comprises extended abstracts of the submitted contributions to the session HS8.2.1 (Groundwater management in the context of global change: integrating innovative approaches) organized in the General Assembly 2024 of the European Geosciences Union.

Review process: all papers of this special volume underwent the regular peer-review process of ADGEO handled by guest editors designated by the ADGEO managing editor.

Evidence of the complex evolution related to two superposed orogeneses is recorded by the orogens stretched along the Mediterranean area. Evidence of the Variscan tectono-metamorphic phenomena is recorded in the Paleozoic successions exposed in the Betic–Rifian Arc, Algeria, Calabria–Peloritani Arc, Apennines, Corsica–Sardinia block, and the Alps. Evidence of the Alpine tectono-metamorphic evolution, superposed on part of these ancient basements, is widespread in the Mesozoic to Cenozoic stratigraphic record preserved in the Mediterranean Alpine chain with spectacular synorogenic to late orogenic compressional and extensional deformation.

The Alpine synorogenic to late (post-)orogenic tectono-sedimentary evolution recorded by the basins stretched on and along the Alpine belt testifies to the Tertiary to Quaternary evolution of this complex framework of the Mediterranean area. The interplay between tectonics and sedimentation ruled the synorogenic sedimentation in the Foreland Basin System, including back bulge, fore bulge, foredeep, and wedge-top basins. Sedimentary facies analysis and paleoenvironment evolution of depositional systems, together with sediment provenance studies as well as paleogeographic, paleoecologic, and paleoclimatic reconstructions, provide further constraints to trace the evolution of these sedimentary basins.

Accordingly, this special issue encompasses research contributions on earth sciences (regional geology; stratigraphy; palaeontology; sedimentology; structural geology; tectonics; mineralogy; petrography; sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic petrology; geochemistry; geochronology) related to the geological evolution of the central–western Mediterranean area.

A major challenge for humankind is to provide adequate and reliable supplies of affordable energy and natural resources. These should be obtained in environmentally sustainable ways, which is essential for economic prosperity, environmental quality, and political stability around the world. With this Special Issue, that reflects the scientific program of the General Assembly 2023 of the Division Energy, Resources and the Environment (ERE) of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), we would like to provide a holistic view on activities according to the development, assessment, and management of energy-related programs. In addition, we provide a forum for the presentation of fundamental scientific advances and engineering developments in the understanding of resources systems. This can also cover aspects of the environmental impacts of socio-economic development. Any combination of theoretical, computational, or experimental approach is highly welcomed.

Critical infrastructures and other technological systems such as transportation systems, telecommunication networks, power lines, pipelines, and reservoirs are at risk of natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, floods, landslides, wildfires) in many urban and rural areas worldwide. A key to safe and affordable operations of these types of infrastructures is in-depth knowledge of their exposure and vulnerability to natural hazards and the impact of damage experienced either locally or across the network. Fundamental understanding of hazard and risk involves (a) systematic identification, monitoring, and mapping of potential infrastructure exposure; (b) integrated assessment of impact as a result of damage, repair, and/or mitigation; (c) indirect losses from infrastructure disruption and synergistic effects; and (d) consideration of interactions between hazards and/or cascades of hazards. This SI welcomes contributions with a focus on natural hazards risk assessment for critical infrastructures and technological systems, as well as compilation of databases to record impact and elements at risk. We also encourage abstracts addressing the development and application of tools for cost modelling. The SI is dedicated to contributions with national, regional, and local perspectives and intends to bring together experts from science and practice as well as young scientists.