A new open loop control system enables efficient energy conversion in low wind speeds, providing a viable alternative for remote locations. The device, designed by Dr. Andy Knight, is built with cheap and easy-to-find components and can produce electric energy from winds as low as 10 km/h.
A study by Stanford researchers suggests that converting to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles powered by wind could prevent millions of cases of respiratory illness and tens of thousands of hospitalizations. The conversion could be done at a comparable cost to gasoline, with potential health benefits outweighing the costs.
Researchers found that public opposition to offshore wind projects is driven by concerns about the ocean's aesthetic value and emotional connection. The study suggests that a better understanding of these values can inform a more effective policy framework for offshore wind development.
A new study maps global wind speeds to identify regions suitable for wind farms, finding consistent winds in the Great Lakes region and along coastal areas. The research suggests that harnessing a fraction of this energy could meet the world's electricity demands, but practical barriers remain.
Scientists have identified solar wind flowing from funnel-shaped magnetic fields in the Sun's corona, originating in coronal funnels with a speed of about 10 km/s. This discovery improves our understanding of the solar wind's magnetic nature and source region.
Researchers have developed a new model that accurately forecasts US hurricane activity, enabling skilful seasonal predictions to benefit individuals and decision-makers. The model uses height-averaged winds as a predictor, exhibiting significant linkages to US landfalling hurricanes.
A study by University of Warwick researchers has shown that the solar wind density behaves like a turbulent stream, not a passive scalar as previously thought. This discovery will impact our understanding of turbulence in complex systems such as climate change and weather patterns.
A new study refines hurricane intensity prediction models by incorporating the impact of large eddies on wind speed and air humidity. The research suggests that large eddies contribute significantly to energy, heat, and moisture transfer between the ocean and atmosphere.
The study combined three computer models to investigate the effect of surface waves and wind on hurricane dynamics. The team found a new characterization of the effect of surface waves on air-sea momentum under hurricane wind forcing, which is necessary for accurate predictions of track and intensity.
Researchers analyzed 324 combinations of public and private wind speed and damage models, finding vastly different results due to varying inputs. Creating a centralized database of wind speeds and requiring insurance companies to divulge more information about damage claims could help improve the accuracy of these models.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reanalyzed the wind loads that the World Trade Center (WTC) towers were originally designed to resist, finding that the values used in the design exceed those established by building codes prior to 1968. The study suggests that the WTC towers' reserve capacity to withstand u...
Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing a computational platform to calculate wind loads and structural capacities of low-rise buildings. The goal is to appreciably reduce damage and increase safety for residential, institutional, and commercial structures vulnerable to extreme winds.
A recent study found that wind pollination works more efficiently in solid meadow plants than when they are spread apart. This could explain why Spartina covers only 60 acres of Willapa Bay despite being present for a century. Inefficient wind pollination may also speed the extinction of rare plants.
The Cluster mission has found a new way for charged particles from the solar wind to enter Earth's magnetosphere, using giant vortices called non-linear Kelvin-Helmholtz waves. These vortices can carry particles inside the magnetosphere, potentially explaining the presence of hot plasma stored in the tail of Earth's magnetic field.
Research shows that wind turbines can be integrated into electricity grids without major issues, but the type of turbine affects measures needed. Simulation models helped investigate how wind turbines impact grid stability, revealing two fundamental differences from conventional power stations.
Clemson researchers are using innovative 'wind towers' to gather high-resolution wind speed data near the ground, crucial for developing hurricane-resistant homes. The device's output will be used to refine building codes and potentially reduce construction costs.
Scientists have successfully measured wind's interaction with the ocean, revealing a pattern consistent with a 1957 theory. The findings could improve climate modeling and prediction of weather and wave activity.
Researchers discovered that fluctuations in solar wind magnetic energy density are more likely to occur in extreme events, similar to stock market indices. The solar wind's self-similar pattern at various time scales allows for the application of knowledge from one field to understand the other.
The institute will revamp the system for collecting generation reports, prepare white papers on wind energy potential and problems, and establish a program to map out California's wind resources. Data on wind resources is over 20 years old, highlighting the need for better forecasting.
Modern wind turbines equipped with power electronics converters can boost voltage and stabilize mains voltage, even in the absence of wind. The technology uses reactive power compensation to adjust voltage without significant energy loss.
Wind power has dropped in cost to 3-4 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it less expensive than coal energy. Shifting from coal to wind could address health, environmental, and energy problems, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers confirm long-standing mystery of magnetic reconnection, a process that generates solar flares and aurorae. The event was observed by NASA's Wind spacecraft as it flew through the Earth's magnetotail, revealing collisionless processes that explain its fast rate.
A new map of Mars' ionosphere reveals strong localized magnetic fields as a significant barrier to atmospheric erosion by the solar wind. The findings suggest that these crustal fields played an important role in the past evolution of Mars' atmosphere and could have protected it from being stripped away.
Researchers detect first P Cygni profile in X-rays, revealing a 4.5-million-mile-per-hour wind from a compact pair of stars. The discovery provides new insights into stellar winds and their role in astrophysics.
A team of researchers used the High Energy Transmission Grating to study a powerful gas flow surrounding a giant black hole. The wind is driven by intense radiation and contains elements such as oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, argon, and iron.
A new study found that a sharp decrease in solar wind density caused Earth's magnetosphere to balloon to more than 100 times its normal volume, reaching nearly to the moon. The event, dubbed "The Day the Solar Wind Ran Out of Gas," was rare and only seen a few times since satellites began measuring solar wind 35 years ago.
Millions of defective low-rise buildings in the US lead to high annual losses from windstorms, with recent hurricanes causing $70 billion in damages. A symposium aims to develop a national plan for wind-hazard mitigation and improve building codes.
Clemson University engineers are deploying mobile data-acquisition platforms, called 'wind towers,' to measure wind speed and direction in the path of Hurricane Floyd. The goal is to provide accurate ground-level data to help develop design bases for hurricane-resistant homes.
Winglee's design harnesses solar wind to accelerate spacecraft, potentially reaching speeds of over 100km/s. The sailcloth is a magnetic field that repels ions and charged particles, exerting a small but steady force on the spacecraft.
The Florida Coastal Monitoring Project installs 28 sensors on 10 South Florida homes to gather data on wind speed and pressure. The project aims to improve the design and construction of houses that can withstand high winds.
Scientists measure solar wind gusts that squeeze the Earth's magnetosphere, triggering brightening in the aurora borealis. This phenomenon can lead to global magnetic storms, potentially disrupting communications and power supplies.
The Home Energy Saver Internet site computes residential energy savings possibilities for consumers by analyzing a home's energy use and identifying tailored improvements. The site provides personalized recommendations, linking users to hundreds of practical resources for energy-efficient products, service providers, and online materials.
Decentralized energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, are being implemented in developing countries to address electricity shortages. The symposium aims to discuss recent developments and barriers to the wider adoption of renewable energy sources.
An international team of scientists identified regions on the Sun where the high speed solar wind originates using the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation spectrometer on SOHO. The research will lead to a better understanding of the solar wind's effect on Earth's space environment.
A scale model wind machine is being tested at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory to simulate natural storms. The experimental data collected will aid in designing hurricane-resistant homes, with a focus on affordable solutions for shelter protection.
Scientists Dr. Jeffrey R. Johnson and colleagues developed a helium-3 map of the Moon based on factors like exposure age, solar wind, and titanium content. The greatest amounts of helium-3 are expected to be found on the far side maria and in nearside areas with high concentrations of titanium dioxide.
David V. Rosowsky, a Clemson civil engineering associate professor, has received the Dow Outstanding New Faculty Award for his groundbreaking work in wind engineering research and teaching. He is part of a team that developed methods to make homes better able to withstand high winds, utilizing Clemson's unique wind-load test facility.
New data from the University of Delaware reveals that solar wind is not a simple, wave-like entity but rather a dynamic phenomenon with complex fluctuations. Understanding these fluctuations may enable prediction of cosmic disturbances and provide warnings for astronauts and utility companies.
The prototype non-Doppler optical sensor registers faint wind movements that anemometers cannot measure, correlating with those of anemometers in test results. It offers a low-cost alternative to complex arrays of traditional sensors and can measure both horizontal and vertical wind speeds.
Researchers are conducting studies on wind load, wind engineering meteorology, and wind flow around low-rise buildings. Computer programs have been developed to calculate direct/indirect costs of natural hazard disasters. The goal is to mitigate damage caused by hurricanes and other severe weather events.