Measurements of aerosol optical properties over the atmospheric column (aerosol optical thickness, spectral angular sky radiance (sky brightness), and downwelling hemispheric flux) have been used to derive climate‐relevant aerosol parameters such as the phase function, the broadband single‐scattering albedo, and the refractive index. These parameters are needed to estimate the direct short‐wave radiative forcing by aerosols and to validate aerosol models in the satellite retrieval algorithms. Values of the broadband single‐scattering albedo obtained in this study range between ω₀ = 0.98 (marine aerosols) and 0.90 (continental pollution aerosols). The columnar ambient broadband refractive index is found to be m = 1.39 ± 0.044 − i (<0.003) for marine conditions and m = 1.48 ± 0.058 − i (0.01 ± 0.003) for polluted continental aerosols. Nonsphericity is shown to be important in the case of marine aerosols. Moreover, aerosol nonsphericity gives an additional contribution to the negative short‐wave radiative forcing of marine aerosols under clear‐sky conditions, which can be estimated as being 30 up to 50% of the radiative forcing estimated for spherical marine aerosols. In the case of continental polluted aerosols the optical properties can be represented by spherical particles, and no additional shape effect has to be considered. However, the aerosol absorption leads to an increase of about 40% of the radiative forcing estimated for nonabsorbing aerosol of the same size distribution.

Forest fires, though part of a natural forest renewal process, when frequent and on a large -scale, have detrimental impacts on biodiversity, agroforestry systems, soil erosion, air, and water quality, infrastructures, and the economy. Portugal endures extreme forest fires, with a record extent of burned areas in 2017. These complexes of extreme wildfire events (CEWEs) concentrated in a few days but with highly burned areas are, among other factors, linked to severe fire weather conditions. In this study, a comparison between several fire danger indices (named ‘multi-indices diagnosis’) is performed for the control period 2001–2021, 2007 and 2017 (May–October) for the Fire Weather Index (FWI), Burning Index (BI), Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI), Continuous Haines Index (CHI), and the Keetch–Byram Drought Index (KBDI). Daily analysis for the so-called Pedrógão Grande wildfire (17 June) and the October major fires (15 October) included the Spread Component (SC), Ignition Component (IC), Initial Spread Index (ISI), Buildup Index (BUI), and the Energy Release Component (ERC). Results revealed statistically significant high above-average values for most of the indices for 2017 in comparison with 2001–2021, particularly for October. The spatial distribution of BI, IC, ERC, and SC had the best performance in capturing the locations of the two CEWEs that were driven by atmospheric instability along with a dry environment aloft. These results were confirmed by the hotspot analysis that showed statistically significant intense spatial clustering between these indices and the burned areas. The spatial patterns for SC and ISI showed high values associated with high velocities in the spread of these fires. The outcomes allowed us to conclude that since fire danger depends on several factors, a multi-indices diagnosis can be highly relevant. The implementation of a Multi-index Prediction Methodology should be able to further enhance the ability to track and forecast unique CEWEs since the shortcomings of some indices are compensated by the information retrieved by others, as shown in this study. Overall, a new forecast method can help ensure the development of appropriate spatial preparedness plans, proactive responses by civil protection regarding firefighter management, and suppression efforts to minimize the detrimental impacts of wildfires in Portugal.

Climate change threatens established agricultural systems and production, driving the need for adaptation and mitigation strategies. Vitiforestry, an alternative cultivation system combining trees and shrubs in the vineyard, promotes environmental sustainability and offers a possible adaptation strategy to climate change. This work scrutinizes the impact of shading on vineyards using an Integrated Model of Vineyard Shading and Climate Adaptation (IMVSCA), supported by a system dynamics approach. This model estimates solar radiation and computes daily and annual trends of insolation, air temperature, and relative humidity to shading and its influence on vineyard growth stages. It also assesses the effects of shading-related extreme weather events and the occurrence of grapevine disease development driven by daily weather conditions and zoning adaptations. The pilot results depict the effects of tree shading on vineyards, namely the impacts of solar radiation and air temperature on vine phenology, pollination, pollen germination, fungal diseases, and the complimentary indicators of grape production and quality. Our modeling framework and findings suggest that vitiforestry could be an interesting climate change adaptation technique, providing a starting point for further studies in this scope.