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The UNEXMIN (Horizon 2020) and UNEXUP (EIT RawMaterials) projects developed a novel technology to send robots and even autonomously deliver optical images, 3D maps and other georeferenced scientific data from flooded underground environments, like abandoned mines, caves or wells. The concept turned into a market-ready solution in seven years, where the last few years of field trials of the development beautifully demonstrating the technology’s premier capabilities.

A multi-salinity experiment was conducted in three tight clay-bearing (kaolinite, chlorite, and glauconite) sandstones to study the impact of clay on their petrophysical properties. Chlorite sandstone presented higher electrochemical interaction, followed by glauconite and kaolinite. In the geothermal context, this investigation highlights the importance of ensuring that the correct fluid chemistry is used in clay-bearing geothermal reservoirs.

This study focuses on the optimization of open-loop shallow geothermal systems to improve their efficiency and sustainability. Different approaches to solve optimization problems in this field are explored, their strengths and limitations are highlighted, and recommendations are given for their use and future developments. The study can be a valuable basis for researchers and practitioners involved in the management and optimization of shallow geothermal systems.

By testing the strength of granite in compression and tension at a range of deformation rates, we found that the strength increases with faster deformation. This observation highlights that at these rates, relevant for example to geothermal exploration, we have to consider how the rate of deformation impacts the energy released when rocks crack. The results are promising for developing safe procedures for extracting resources from the subsurface.

Qatar is located on the eastern portion of the stable shelf of the Arabian Plate. The surface of Qatar is mostly characterized by low to moderate relief, with the highest elevations measuring 103 meters above sea level located in the southern western part of the peninsula. Aeolian sand dunes are the most significant topographic feature in Qatar, covering approximately 12 % of the country's total surface area.

The paper reviews the societal and energy impacts of Storm Franz in Europe on 11–12 November 2007. An analysis is conducted of tide gauges around the North Sea to trace the progression of the storm surge and assess if the surge passage was associated with large measured waves and maritime casualties. A North Sea rogue wave incident had occurred on 1 November 2006, causing damage to the FINO1 research tower, and it is unclear how prevalent these waves are during North Sea storms.

Uranium migration for a close to real case situation is quantified with reactive transport simulations using input data from the deep geothermal borehole Schlattingen, which is near the targeted area in Switzerland, and including the effect of the multi-barrier system on the source term. The hydrogeological system must always be considered in safety assessments since adjacent aquifers have a major impact on the pore water geochemistry, and hence sorption processes.

In the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority's (SSM) licensing review of the application to construct and operate a spent fuel repository at the Forsmark site various concerns related to canister degradation processes were brought up. Some of these concerns were initiated by stakeholders and independent scientists. This paper provides a brief summary of a selection of these concerns, and describes how they were dealt with in the review process.

We studied and mapped the ground deformation in Catania plain in Italy using artificial intelligence techniques applied to displacement time series of Sentinel-1 satellites. We estimated the dates when the velocities of displacement time series changed. We observed significant land subsidence in the south part of Catania Airport and showed how the precipitation cycles and trend change had a potential impact on ground deformation.

15ky ago a great eruption occurred in the Campi Flegrei. The Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, produced by this eruption extended itself for more than 1000 km² and represents an easily recognizable level both in the Tyrrhenian Sea and on land. Here, through a seismostratigraphic study, we have identified and described the extension of these deposits in the Gulf of Gaeta. Knowing the areal extension of the Campi Flegrei eruptions deposits, helps to build volcanic risk maps for an area densely populated.

To ensure the effective and sustainable operation of water exploitation projects, it is imperative to select appropriate extraction technologies.

Our study addresses the challenges of costly groundwater investigation in the catchments by integrating in-situ groundwater data with terrain classification. This approach allows us to identify terrain-based groundwater potential and characterize groundwater levels. We aim for our findings to guide ongoing researchers in planning more detailed studies within their respective areas. These insights contribute to sustainable groundwater management and resource planning in similar topographies.

This study proposes an offline machine-learning (ML) algorithm that ranks candidate training points by scoring them based on their distance to the closest training point and on the local gradient of the surrogate estimate and then choosing the highest-rank point. The effectiveness of this method is confirmed in developing surrogates to solve a two-objective groundwater pumping optimization problem formulated on a three-dimensional island aquifer.

The impacts of climate change have become increasingly apparent, even in Slovakia. To monitor and issue drought warnings, we conduct analyses and prepare documents. Our analysis, covering the last decade (2013-2022) and 2022, provides a map of surface and groundwater abstractions throughout Slovakia, categorized by sector. This comprehensive approach enables us to better understand and manage our water resources effectively.