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Last experiments of the Aeolus satellite for TROPOS before re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere

The Aeolus satellite is conducting a controlled reentry, involving extensive scientific experiments led by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS). Key findings include tests on vertical winds and the ATLID lidar, which will be replicated on the EarthCARE satellite.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·JournalAtmospheric Measurement Techniques·TypeObservational study·DateJul 28, 2023

City buildings could blow air taxi future off course

Recent studies have measured the impact of sudden wind gusts around city buildings on aircraft stability, revealing significant safety challenges for air taxis. To address this, regulations are being compiled globally to ensure safe operation in urban environments.

SourceRMIT University·JournalDrones·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 23, 2023

A pool at Yellowstone is a thumping thermometer

The study of Doublet Pool reveals that the interval between episodes of thumping reflects the amount of energy heating the pool, while also indicating heat loss through the surface. The researchers found that wind speed over the pools was correlated with silence intervals, suggesting that blowing wind removes heat energy from the water.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeObservational study·DateMar 8, 2023

Seabirds in the eye of the storm

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.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 1, 2023

Tracking data reveals how seabird species adopt different strategies to cope with extreme storms

Researchers investigated how seabird flight characteristics vary among different species in response to cyclone-strength winds. Birds living in windier environments are faster fliers, while tropical species use strategies to cope with extreme events. Some albatrosses even avoid strong winds by flying into the eye of the storm.

SourceSwansea University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 1, 2023

Protecting bats with better wind turbine control

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.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalMammalia·TypeCase study·DateFeb 14, 2023

New wind field models accurately describe wind gusts

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...

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalPRX Energy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2022

NTU Singapore scientists develop inexpensive device that can harvest energy from a light breeze and store it as electricity

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.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalMechanical Systems and Signal Processing·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 5, 2022

Following the wind

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.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalJournal of the American Statistical Association·DateSep 6, 2022

A new perspective of the tropical cyclone size-intensity relationship

Researchers discovered a new perspective on the tropical cyclone size-intensity relationship, finding that latitude and environmental vertical wind shear are primary influences. This reexamination sheds light on the physical mechanisms underlying coordinated changes within TCs, enabling better warning systems.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateAug 7, 2022

Study finds offshore wind could drive down energy costs in New England

A new analysis found that offshore wind power in New England could reduce wholesale electricity prices by $28.81 megawatts per hour, while lowering emissions consistently. However, extreme winter storms may cause temporary losses of power due to high wind speeds, but these events are rare and do not break the system.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalEnergy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 21, 2022

Jet stream models help inform US offshore wind development

A new study from Cornell University provides detailed models characterizing the frequency, intensity, and height of low-level jet streams over the U.S. Atlantic coastal zone. The research finds that low-level jets can occur up to 12% of the time in the late spring and early summer, potentially impacting wind turbine performance.

SourceCornell University·JournalEnergies·DateFeb 7, 2022

Effects of meteorological factors and airmass movements on airborne pollen in Betula wetland in Xinjiang

Airborne pollen concentrations in Betula microphylla-dominated wetland of Ebinur Lake, Xinjiang, are influenced by meteorological factors such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and direction. The study found that airborne pollen composition corresponds to local vegetation and reflects long-distance transported pollen taxa.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateOct 28, 2021

Using overpasses as shelter from tornado?

Researchers from the University of Rhode Island studied the interaction between tornado-strength winds and highway overpasses, finding no evidence of wind acceleration under an overpass. The study, published in Physics of Fluids, suggests that using an overpass as a shelter during a tornado may not be safer than other options.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2021

Smoggier skies, lower scores? A Brazilian study examines the effects of air pollution on students’ cognitive performance

A Brazilian study examines the causal relationship between outdoor air pollution and students' cognitive performance in Brazil. The findings suggest that an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM10 decreases students' scores by 6.1 points, with poorer students more susceptible to air pollution's effects.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 6, 2021

How to build a better wind farm

Researchers discovered that wind turbines in close proximity to each other reduce overall energy output. They suggest smaller, spaced-out farms may be more efficient, but further research is needed. The study's findings have implications for global energy supply and the transition away from fossil fuels.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2021

More than a bumpy ride: turbulence offers boost to birds

A Cornell University-led study reveals that birds can use turbulence to their advantage, offering a potential boost to the aerospace industry. The research found that birds' accelerations are highly irregular and fluctuating, similar to particles in turbulent airflows, allowing them to harness energy from wind speed.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2021

In the eye of a stellar cyclone

Apep, the newest star to join an elite club of elegant binary pairs, has been found to break all rules. Its dust spiral is expanding four times slower than the measured stellar winds, a phenomenon unheard of in other systems. This discovery makes Apep a strong contender for producing a gamma-ray burst when it does finally explode.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 11, 2020