Researchers used data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe to explain how the solar wind surpasses speeds of 1 million miles per hour. The energy released from the magnetic field near the sun's surface drives the fast solar wind, comprising ionized particles flowing outward from the sun.
The Parker Solar Probe has detected streams of high-energy particles that match supergranulation flows within coronal holes, suggesting these are the origins of the fast solar wind. The solar wind's charged particles were accelerated by magnetic reconnection within funnel structures on the sun's surface.
Researchers found near-surface wind direction is highly variable over timescales of less than 10 minutes, especially in urban areas. They hypothesize an optimal range of wind speed and environmental surface complexity helps insects locate odor sources.
Researchers analyzed wind field structure of tropical cyclones to understand their size and intensity relationship. Vortexes with larger radius of maximum wind expand more under the same level of intensity increment, highlighting the importance of paying attention to incipient storms with large RMW.
Bird and bat deaths at US wind turbines surge during seasonal migrations, with most species affected in the prairies and plains. The study's findings suggest adjusting curtailment requirements to protect sensitive bird and bat species.
Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a chemical process to disassemble epoxy composite materials from wind turbine blades, extracting intact glass fibres and high-quality epoxy resin building blocks. The process has potential applications for circular economies in the aerospace, automotive, and space industries.
A new study reveals that our perception of difficulty in shouting upwind is incorrect. It's not the wind itself that makes it hard, but rather our inability to hear ourselves due to the convective attenuation effect. The study found that sound carries better within the first 100 meters upwind, making it easier for others to hear us.
Researchers at the University of Arizona developed an algorithm to measure wind by analyzing water vapor movements, providing a novel solution for forecasting extreme weather events. The method uses data from two operational satellites of NOAA and achieves higher resolution than traditional methods.
Researchers find that changes in wind patterns caused by warmer tropical waters are steering storms closer to the US East and Gulf coasts, increasing risk for residents. The study reveals that this phenomenon is linked to stronger hurricane frequency due to climate change.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a unique method to reduce ship aerodynamic drag, which could lead to significant energy efficiency gains and reduced fuel consumption. The method uses the Coanda effect to create a more efficient airflow around the ship's superstructure, reducing drag by 7.5%.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found that more predictable solar or wind energy generation can save millions of dollars in operating costs and prevent clean energy spillage. By analyzing six existing solar farms, they discovered that optimal locations changed when predictability was considered, leading to significant in...
A research team developed a near-infrared dual-channel oxygen-corrected laser heterodyne radiometer for measuring vertical profiles of wind fields in the troposphere and low stratosphere. The instrument achieves high spectral resolution, detecting slight Doppler frequency shifts caused by wind fields.
A new Argonne study compares drone energy usage to diesel trucks and electric vehicles, finding that drones consume as much energy as either on average windy days. The models are based on regional energy consumption and facility costs of direct delivery drones under various wind speed scenarios.
Researchers found that seabird species have unique wind tolerance strategies, with some flying fast to counteract wind drift. Albatrosses can fly in most storm conditions, while tropical species use special avoidance tactics.
Researchers develop site-specific mitigation strategy for wind turbines, significantly reducing bat fatalities. The approach uses wind speed, temperature, and rainfall data to adapt curtailment strategies, resulting in a 86% reduction in bat deaths.
Researchers used Reinforcement Learning to enable kites and gliders to adjust their orientations in real-time, accounting for turbulence. This improvement could significantly enhance the performance of airborne wind energy devices, expanding the reach of wind power to poorer communities.
Researchers at Tampere University have developed a polymer-assembly robot that can fly by the power of wind and be controlled by light. The fairy-like robot has several biomimetic features, including high porosity and lightweight structure, allowing it to float in the air and travel long distances with stability.
A study found that wind turbines in forests cause common noctules, a threatened bat species, to collide with blades and lose foraging space. The researchers recommend building turbines at least 500 meters away from roosts and compensating for lost habitats elsewhere.
New research highlights the need for a re-imagined regulatory framework to balance competing interests and promote sustainable growth. The study shows that hydrogen can enhance profitability for wind farm owners, but disparate rules and regulations hinder its potential.
Researchers from Finland investigated the impact of wind turbines on bat presence and activity in boreal forests. Bats were found to be repelled by wind turbines, with Northern bats avoiding distances of up to 800 meters and Myotis species avoiding areas over one kilometer away.
Researchers from Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research and European Space Agency use Loon project data to validate Aeolus satellite wind measurements, finding almost bias-free results. They recommend increasing vertical resolution for future wind satellites to improve accuracy.
A new study uses drone-mounted technology to deter bats from flying into wind turbines, reducing fatalities by 40% and allowing turbines to operate efficiently. The device transmits ultrasonic signals and lights to warn bats of danger, leading them to fly over the turbine and out of harm's way.
A new research project led by Associate Professor Marta Victoria aims to describe periods of extreme weather and design strategies for reliable renewable energy systems. The project, funded with DKK 6.2 million, will run for four years and focus on predicting and adapting to multiple adverse events.
Researchers have observed long, web-like plasma structures in the Sun's middle corona, which discharge particles into space through interactions within the structures. This innovative observation method could lead to a better understanding of the solar wind's origins and its interactions with the rest of the solar system.
Direct observation of magnetic reconnection in the solar wind reveals a common bursty state, leading to plasma acceleration and heating. Turbulent reconnection increases with solar wind speed, highlighting its role in energizing plasmas.
A new MIT study suggests that prioritizing polluting power plants in times of wind energy generation could quadruple the health benefits associated with wind power, resulting in $8.4 billion in nationwide health benefits. However, this approach would not address existing disparities in air pollution exposure among low-income and minori...
Researchers analyzed GPS tracks of 46 wandering albatrosses to understand their airspeed increases with wind speed up to 20 m/s. The birds limit their airspeed by adjusting turn angles to maintain wing strength, while exploiting updrafts over waves in low winds.
A new research project at Aarhus University aims to develop intelligent drones that can detect ice on turbine blades, optimizing energy production and expanding market opportunities. The project has the potential to reduce energy losses by up to 80% and enable wind farms to operate in colder climates.
A new study presents a comprehensive framework for assessing and mitigating the impacts of offshore wind energy development on marine birds. Researchers propose three steps for mitigation: avoid, minimize, and offset, with the potential to offset negative impacts through conservation strategies that can increase seabird population sizes.
Researchers at the University of Oldenburg have developed a new statistical model that accurately describes wind turbulence and generates fully three-dimensional wind fields using limited measurement points. This breakthrough enables precise wind turbine load estimation and improves wind farm planning, with applications in various fiel...
Researchers found that acoustic monitoring alone is insufficient for large wind turbines, emphasizing the need for carcass searches and additional ultrasonic detectors. Uneven bat distributions can lead to incorrect curtailment times, putting many bats at risk.
Researchers at Yale University discovered that flies can detect the direction of moving odor packets, independent of wind. This allows them to adjust course and find the source of smells more accurately. The finding has potential applications in agriculture, public health, and robotics.
A new method for wind profiling using small drones has been tested and validated, enabling reliable wind speed measurements. The approach uses thermal anemometers, which are ideal for sUAVs due to their lightweight and inexpensive nature.
A new multimodality prediction method jointly learned vision and sequence information for accurate solar wind speed prediction. The model achieved best performance in many metrics, including RMSE, MAE, and CORR, and demonstrated the effectiveness of each module in improving prediction accuracy.
The NTU-developed wind harvester generates a voltage of three volts at wind speeds as low as two meters per second, powering commercial sensor devices. The device can also store excess charge for extended periods in the absence of wind, serving as an alternative to smaller lithium-ion batteries.
A study by the Max Planck Institute found that playing wind instruments releases fewer viruses into the air than singing, but still more than breathing quietly. Wind instruments act as filters for larger particles, reducing transmission risk, while smaller particles spread further and pose a higher risk.
A new study suggests that transitioning to a decarbonized energy system by 2050 can save the world at least $12 trillion compared to continued fossil fuel use. The study shows that rapidly transitioning to clean energy results in lower energy system costs, provides more energy to the global economy, and expands energy access.
Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have developed a more robust and realistic general method for dealing with wind-driven phenomena in geostatistical modeling, which promises to greatly improve the accuracy of pollutant dispersion prediction.
Researchers at the University of Oldenburg and Fraunhofer IWES collaborate on a new project to develop more accurate wind flow simulations using artificial intelligence. The goal is to reduce computing times and enhance precision, ultimately accelerating innovation in wind turbine design.
Researchers have developed a new composite resin suitable for wind turbine blades that can be recycled into new blades or other products. The material has the same physical properties as its predecessor, making it ideal for reuse.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania studied wind instrument aerosol dispersion to understand how far aerosols travel and decay. Aerosols emitted by wind instruments share a similar concentration and size distribution with normal speech and respiration events, suggesting that musicians should stay 6 feet apart.
Engineers developed an algorithm to optimize individual turbine angles, reducing wake impact and increasing overall farm efficiency. This could lead to a significant improvement in existing wind farms' energy output and enable more turbines to be installed in tighter spaces.
Researchers at MIT develop a new flow model that optimizes individual turbine control to maximize wind farm energy production. The algorithm increases energy output by up to 32% in real-world experiments, with potential gains of over $1 billion per year.
A new University of Michigan study finds that local wind and solar jobs can fully replace the 80,000 coal-plant jobs in the US by 2030, with operations and maintenance jobs accounting for 57% to 92% of replacement employment.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a more efficient wind sensor for drones, balloons, and autonomous aircraft. The sensor uses smart materials to measure wind speed and direction, improving safety and efficiency in autonomous flight.
Researchers at University of the Basque Country have developed a convolutional neural network to predict flow characteristics around flow control devices on wind turbines. The model achieves accurate results with minimal computational time, reducing errors compared to traditional CFD simulations.
A team of scientists from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research found that forest specialist bats avoid wind turbines due to habitat loss. The researchers recommend that wind turbines should not be sited inside forests, but rather in open landscapes with compensatory measures.
Two Rutgers studies project that offshore wind farms will reduce Atlantic surfclam catches by 3-15%, with losses reaching 25% in New Jersey. A spatially-explicit model, SEFES, predicts impacts on fishing behavior and revenue.
A study by Leibniz-IZW scientists reveals that the death of common noctule bats at wind turbines interrupts natural food chains, compromising ecosystem services like pest control. The loss of these insectivorous bats has significant consequences for agriculture and forestry in Germany.
A recent study by Colorado State University economists and NOAA found that improved wind forecasts result in significant energy savings for consumers. The research shows a net gain of over $150 million in annual savings through better predictions of wind patterns.
A study estimates that old wind turbines can be deadly for protected bat species, with some turbines claiming up to 70 bat victims per year. The researchers recommend adjusting the operation of old turbines to current regulations, or even dismantling them if they are located in unfavorable sites.
A new study reveals that Manx shearwaters use dynamic soaring to harvest wind energy and travel efficiently across the ocean. The birds' ability to adapt their flight patterns to optimize energy gain suggests a potentially game-changing strategy for drones and other aerial vehicles.
Wind-dominant electric grids face challenges in recovering from blackouts. Researchers at Iowa State University have developed grid-forming controllers and stall-prevention systems to enable certain wind turbines to blackstart a power grid. This critical step enhances the resilience of wind farms to blackouts.
Researchers propose a novel gravitational-based storage solution using lifts in tall buildings to store energy. The system, called Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST), stores energy by lifting wet sand containers or other high-density materials.
Experts predict wind turbines will reach 130 meters in height by 2035, capturing more energy through larger rotor diameters. Plant sizes are expected to be 1,100 MW for fixed-bottom and 600 MW for floating offshore wind, driving cost reductions of up to 35%.
Researchers develop a new optimization model integrating electricity and hydrogen systems to evaluate the potential value of long-duration energy storage (LDES) in a net-zero grid. The integration of LDES technologies reduces overall annual cost of the electricity grid by tens or hundreds of millions of pounds.
To achieve the EU's climate neutrality goal by 2050 with a maximum temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius, a massive rollout of solar and wind power is required, along with investments in Power-to-X technologies and carbon capture. The model suggests installing 400 GW of new solar and wind energy capacity every year from 2025-2035.
Scientists have learned how discrete auroras on Mars are formed through the interaction between solar wind and crustal magnetic fields. The study, published in JGR: Space Physics, reveals that aurora occurrence rates depend on solar wind conditions and orientation.
Researchers found that improved wind forecasts resulted in at least $384 million in energy savings for US consumers over the last decade. The study used NOAA's HRRR model to compare forecast accuracy and quantify cost savings.
The Tianwen-1 mission has successfully observed solar wind plasma upstream of Mars, revealing several large-scale solar wind disturbances and consistent tendencies with other Mars missions. The joint observation will bring new opportunities for studying the evolution of the Martian atmosphere and paleoclimate.