Winter wave climate, storms and regional cycles: the SW Spanish Atlantic coast

Climatic change-related impacts on coastal areas became an important issue in past decades and nowadays threaten many human settlements and activities. Coastal hazards are linked to flooding and erosion processes associated with sea level rise and the increased strength of hurricanes, cyclones and storms. The main aim of this work is the characterization of coastal storms in Cadiz (SW Spain) and the determination of their recurrence intervals and relationships with several regional cycles. Storm characterization was carried out using the Storm Power Index (Dolan and Davis, 1992) and five classes were obtained, from class I (weak events) to V (extreme events). Storm occurrence probability was 96% for class I (i.e. almost one event per year) to 3% for class V. The return period for class V was 25 years and ranged from 6 to 8 years for classes III and IV storms, e.g. significant and severe events. Classes I and II showed a period of recurrence ranging from 1 to 3 years. Stormy winter seasons were 2009/10 (12 events), 1995/6 and 2002/3 (with 10 events each) and 1993/4 (8 events). Approximately 40% of the change in monthly wave data and storminess indices was related to several teleconnection patterns, the most important drivers of change being the Arctic Oscillation (AO), 21.45%, and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), 19.65%. It is interesting to note that a great number of storms, larger storm duration and higher values of Storm Power Index were only observed when neutral to strong negative NAO and AO phases occurred at the same time (89 storms and 3355 h) and/or when there was an abrupt change of NAO and AO phases, i.e. they moved from a positive to negative phase without passing through a neutral phase. The results obtained in this work have wider applications for ocean and coastal management. It is suggested that methodology used can be easily applied in different areas where wave buoy data are available. In the same way, information obtained with this kind of work constitutes the first step in the development of coastal protection plans to preserve socio-economic activities from the impact of severe storm events

Analysis of the Potential for Treated Wastewater Reuse from the MCC Jordan Compact Investment and Implications for the Compact’s Economic Benefits

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the most water scarce countries in the world. To address water shortage the Government of Jordan seeks to increase the use on non-conventional water sources such as reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation. Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact investment of US$ 275 million, made in water and wastewater sectors in Zarqa Governorate, is projected to improve water supply and collect additional wastewater from domestic uses. This study applied two-step approach to evaluate the economic benefits associated with the reuse of the additionally collected wastewater: 1) the development of water balance model for Jordan Valley, and 2) the economic analysis of impacts to the agricultural sector in Jordan Valley and municipal water users in Amman and Zarqa. The analysis results show that net benefits associated with the investment are significant and potentially contributing to water conservation in Jordan

Energy pollution: the relative influence of wind-wave and vessel-wake energy in Tallinn Bay, the Baltic Sea

The role of frequent vessel wakes on the wave energy budget of 5cmi-sheltered beaches has been re-evaluated for the almost tideless Tallinn Bay, the Baltic Sea. High-resolution water surface time series containing signals of >650 ship wakes collected over 30 days at a depth of ~2.7 m shows that (i) the daily maximum heights of vessel wakes have increased considerably since the beginning of the decade while (ii) the leading wave periods (W-13 s) and integral properties of vessel wakes such as the total wave energy and its flux have remained largely unchanged. The typical daily largest ship waves (1.2-1.4 m) are equivalent to the annual highest 0.8-1.8% of wind waves and the highest ship waves (l.7 m) to the highest 0.25% of wind waves. Unlike the Baltic Proper, the overall wind wave intensity has varied insignificantly over the last three decades in Tallinn Bay where vessel wakes contribute about 10% in terms of wave energy and 25% in terms of energy flux. Substantial seasonal variation of wave intensity with markedly low wind waves in the biologically most active season suggests that vessel wakes may play a decisive role during some seasons even in areas with overall high wind wave activity

Pathways to Prevent Dumping of Climate Harming Room Air Conditioners in Southeast Asia

This project examines the ongoing, widespread sale of less efficient air conditioners with obsolete refrigerants across Southeast Asia. The research includes actionable solutions which could reduce a billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years, and slash consumers energy bills

Scoping Opportunities for the Circular Economy of Air Conditioners (ACs) in Thailand

CLASP supported the Thai government agencies with their introduction of circular economy principles within the end of life for air conditioners and beyond

Optimal use of biogas from waste streams : an assessment of the potential of biogas from digestion in the EU beyond 2020

As the European Commission is working on the further development and concretisation of the post-2020 climate and energy policies, this study was commissioned to zoom in on the potential role, cost and benefits of biogas, and to assess the key barriers and drivers of biogas deployment in the EU. An important question to address was what policies at both EU and Member State level can best contribute to the effective and efficient growth of biogas deployment in the EU. The study focussed on biogas production by digestion processes of local waste streams, i.e. on biogas production from sewage sludge, landfill gas and from suitable organic waste streams from agriculture, the food industry and households

Far-field vessel wakes in Tallinn Bay

The properties of wave fields induced by high-speed ferries and recently introduced conventional ferries with increased cruise speeds are analysed for a site in Tallinn Bay, the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea, located about 3 km from the sailing line and up to 8 km from the wave production area. The analysis is based on high-resolution profiling of the water surface for about 650 wakes from fast ferries, measured during 4 weeks in June–July 2008. The new large conventional ferries with cruise speeds of 25–30 knots (~ 45–55 km/h) sail at near-critical speeds along extensive sections of eastern Tallinn Bay, and excite wakes equivalent to those of high-speed ferries. The peak periods of these wakes are between 10 and 13 s. The typical daily highest ship wave is approximately 1.2 m, measured prior to wake breaking. The largest recorded ship wave in calm conditions had a height of 1.5 m and in the presence of some wind wave background 1.7 m. The cumulative impact of ship wakes results in a gradual increase in the suspended matter concentration in near-bottom water over the course of a day. The largest and longest ship waves produce considerable wave runup at the coast and prevent several coastal sections from achieving an equilibrium state. The largest ship waves have an asymmetric shape both in terms of the water surface elevation above and below the mean level and in terms of the shape of the wave front and back. The overall intensity of anthropogenic waves has remained at the same level as it was in the year 2002, although the ships that produced the highest waves in the past are no longer in service