May 7, 2012

Good Morning,

Using satellite data for the first time in this sort of study, scientists find that wind turbines have a direct and relatively astounding impact on ground temperature. Check out the second article for all the details and how these studies will revolutionize our understanding of alternative power sources.

Until Next Time,
Erin

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Documents reveal clues to ancient weather

MADRID - Writings by Arab historians offer a chronology of climatic events in the Middle East from 816 to 1009, when cold waves and snow were normal, researchers say. A team led by Spanish scientists has interpreted records written in Iraq that chronologically narrate social, political and religious matters but also mention climate. The researchers focused on ancient meteorological notes of the Iraqi city of Baghdad, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology reported. "We have recovered an interesting chronology of climatic events, such as droughts, floods, rain, frost, heat and cold waves as well as strong winds during the period between 816-1009 in the areas now known as Iraq and Syria" Fernando Dominguez-Castro of the University of Extremadura said. The period had a high number of cold waves, he said. "The period between 902 and 944 had a high number if we compare them to current weather data," he said. Dominguez-Castro said six snowfalls occurred in the region during that period, while only one snowfall is known to have occurred "in our era," on Jan. 11 2008. The documents reveal the cold climatic events in Baghdad were more frequent and more intense during the first half of the 10th century than those of today. "The Arabic records are very useful for reconstructing the climate in eras and places about which we know very little," the researchers said.


Texas wind farms warming the ground

ALBANY, N.Y. - Four large energy wind farms in west-central Texas have caused the area to warm at a faster rate than surrounding areas without wind farms, researchers say. Scientists say they believe the 1.3-degree Fahrenheit rise each decade during the study period is a result of local meteorological effects of the turbines as turbulence in their wakes acts as fans to pull warmer air to the surface. Researchers analyzed data from NASA satellites for the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Data from instruments on NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites observed the warming trend mostly at night, NASA said. In west-central Texas the land surface temperature after sunset normally cools faster than the air temperature, but as the wind turbines continued to turn the movement brought warmer air to the surface creating a warming effect compared to non-wind farm regions, researchers said. The warming is considered a local effect, not one that would contribute to a larger global trend, researchers at the State University of New York said. "This is a first step in exploring the potential of satellite data to quantify the possible impacts of big wind farms on weather and climate," Chris Thorncroft, head of the Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences department, said. "We are now expanding this approach to other wind farms and building models to understand the physical processes and mechanisms driving the interactions of wind turbines and the atmospheric boundary layer near the surface."


New radiation detector said security boost

ATLANTA - Scientists at Georgia Tech say they are working on technology that can bolster U.S. security by effectively detecting smuggled radioactive materials. Terrorists attacks involving nuclear devices or materials are a concern, they said, so enhanced detection capabilities would be welcome at ports, border crossings, airports and elsewhere. "U.S. security personnel have to be on guard against two types of nuclear attack -- true nuclear bombs, and devices that seek to harm people by dispersing radioactive material," principle project investigator Bernd Kahn said in a Georgia Tech release. "Both of these threats can be successfully detected by the right technology." The researchers, using novel materials and nanotechnology techniques to produce improved radiation detection, have developed a device dubbed a Nano-photonic Composite Scintillation Detector. When gamma rays or particles strike a scintillation detector, they create light flashes that are converted to electrical pulses to help identify the radiation. The prototype Georgia Tech device combines rare earth elements and other materials at the nanoscale for improved sensitivity, accuracy and robustness, researchers said.


Apple TV? Maybe not for a while

CUPERTINO, Calif. - People eagerly awaiting an Internet-
connected TV set from Apple may have to wait a bit more, a prominent industry analyst says. Sources "do not indicate any looming TV-related product launch," with most citing unfavorable economic conditions causing a wait-and-see attitude on Apple's part, JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz said. "Strained economics" being experienced by the TV industry are likely giving Apple concerns, despite the fact several television manufacturers have offered Apple a number of "suitable" platforms for a connected TV set, Moskowitz said. "We are not sure that the Apple premium could prevail in the TV market, unless there is a radical change of the user interface, integration of the TV programming and data content, and use of gesture or voice control," the analyst said in an industry note obtained by AppleInsider. Apple has apparently decided to adopt a slower, more evolutionary approach to breaking into the home entertainment market, TG Daily said. However, Apple would likely be the one company capable of "radically altering the TV landscape" if it chose to, Moskowitz said. "We believe Apple can design a smarter set top box to manage all components behind the end user's TV experience, as well as eliminate the oft-cumbersome user interface provided by the cable and satellite operators," he said.

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