NAUTILUS-DTU10 MW Floating Offshore Wind Turbine at Gulf of Maine: Public numerical models of an actively ballasted semisubmersible

This study presents two numerical multiphysics models of the NAUTILUS-10 floating support structure mounting the DTU10 MW Reference Wind Turbine at Gulf of Maine site, and analyses its dynamics. With the site conditions and the FAST model of the onshore turbine as the starting point, the floating support structure: tower, floating substructure with its corresponding active ballast system and station keeping system, was designed by NAUTILUS. The numerical models were developed and the onshore DTU wind energy controller was tuned to avoid the resonance of the operating FOWT by TECNALIA, in the framework of H2020 LIFES50+ project. This concept and its subsystems are fully characterised throughout this paper and implemented in opensource code, FAST v8.16. Here, the mooring dynamics are solved using MoorDyn, and the hydrodynamic properties are computed using HydroDyn. Viscous effects, not captured by radiation-diffraction theory, are modelled using two different approaches: (1) through linear and quadratic additional hydrodynamic damping matrices and (2) by means of Morison elements. A set of simulations (such as, decay, wind only and broadband irregular waves tests) were carried out with system identification purposes and to analyse the differences between the two models presented. Then, a set of simulations in stochastic wind and waves were carried out to characterise the global response of the FOWT.European Union Horizon2020 programme under the agreement H2020-LCE-2014-1-640741, LIFES50+ projec

Pesticide Exposure Alters Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Levels in Mexican Agricultural Workers

Organophosphorous pesticides (OPs) are suspected of altering reproductive function by reducing brain acetylcholinesterase activity and monoamine levels, thus impairing hypothalamic and/or pituitary endocrine functions and gonadal processes. Our objective was to evaluate in a longitudinal study the association between OP exposure and serum levels of pituitary and sex hormones. Urinary OP metabolite levels were measured by gas–liquid chromatography, and serum pituitary and sex hormone levels by enzymatic immunoassay and radioimmunoassay in 64 men. A total of 147 urine and blood samples were analyzed for each parameter. More than 80% of the participants had at least one OP metabolite in their urine samples. The most frequent metabolite found was diethylthiophosphate (DETP; 55%), followed by diethylphosphate (DEP; 46%), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP; 32%), and dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP; 31%). However, the metabolites detected at higher concentrations were DMTP, DEP, DMDTP, and dimethylphosphate. There was a high proportion of individuals with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations outside the range of normality (48%). The average FSH serum levels were higher during the heavy pesticide spraying season. However, a multivariate analysis of data collected in all periods showed that serum FSH levels were negatively associated with urinary concentrations of both DMTP and DMDTP, whereas luteinizing hormone (LH) was negatively associated with DMTP. We observed no significant associations between estradiol or testosterone serum levels with OP metabolites. The hormonal disruption in agricultural workers presented here, together with results from experimental animal studies, suggests that OP exposure disrupts the hypothalamic–pituitary endocrine function and also indicates that FSH and LH are the hormones most affected

Spatio-temporal variability of droughts in Bolivia: 1955-2012

In this study, the spatio-temporal variability and trends of droughts across Bolivia between 1955 and 2012 were investigated using two climate drought indices: the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), which is based on precipitation data, and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), which is based on the difference between the precipitation and the reference evapotranspiration (ETo). We found that the average drought conditions across the country showed a temporal behaviour mainly characterized by decadal variations. The spatial pattern of drought evolution showed marked differences between the Amazonian region and the Bolivian Altiplano. Both regions showed different drought periods, a lower frequency of drought variability in the Amazon region and trends towards drier conditions in the Altiplano, mainly due to a higher atmospheric water demand as a consequence of increased ETo. We also showed that inclusion of ETo, obtained from maximum and minimum temperature records, increased the spatial heterogeneity of the drought evolution in relation to the evolution observed when only precipitation droughts were considered. The SPEI, the calculation of which includes precipitation and ETo, indicated intensification in drought severity in the last years analysed relative to the pattern found when precipitation droughts alone were considered, and also indicated an increase in the magnitude and duration of drought events. The potential for increasing drought conditions under various climate change scenarios is discussed. © 2015 Royal Meteorological Society.This work has been supported by research projects I-COOP H2O 2013CD0006: ‘Test multisectorial y actividades demostrativa sobre el potencial desarrollo de sistemas de monitorización de sequías en tiempo real en la región del oeste de Sudamérica’ financed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), CGL2011-27574-CO2-02 financed by the Spanish Commission of Science and Technology and FEDER, ‘Demonstration and validation of innovative methodology for regional climate change adaptation in the Mediterranean area (LIFE MEDACC)’ financed by the LIFE programme of the European Commission, C.A.-M. received a postdoctoral fellowship # JCI-2011-10263. A.S.-L. is supported by the ‘Secretaria per a Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Economia i Coneixement, de la Generalitat de Catalunya i del programa Cofund de les Accions Marie Curie del 7è Programa marc d'R + D de la Unió Europea’ (2011 BP-B 00078) and the postdoctoral fellowship # JCI-2012-12508.Peer Reviewe

Air and wet bulb temperature lapse rates and their impact on snowmaking in a Pyrenean ski resort

A set of 17 air temperature and relative humidity sensors were used to analyze the temporal variability of surface air temperature (Tair), wet bulb temperature (Twb), and daily snowmaking hours (SM, number of hours per day with Twb < − 2 °C), lapse rates, and the occurrence of thermal inversions at the Formigal ski resort (Spanish Pyrenees) from December to March during three consecutive ski seasons (2012–2013, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015). The Tair and Twb lapse rates showed strong hourly and daily variability, with both exhibiting almost identical temporal fluctuations. The Twb exhibited average lapse rates that were slightly steeper (− 5.2 °C/km) than those observed for Tair (− 4.9 °C/km). The less steep lapse rates and most thermal inversions were observed in December. Days having less (more) steep Tair and Twb lapse rates were observed under low (high) wind speeds and high (low) relative humidity and air pressure. The temporal dynamics of the SM lapse rates was more complex, as this involved consideration of the average Tair in the ski resort, in addition to the driving factors of the spatio-temporal variability of Twb. Thus, on a number of cold (warm) days, snowmaking was feasible at all elevations at the ski resort, independently of the slopes of the lapse rates. The SM exhibited an average daily lapse rate of 8.2 h/km, with a progressive trend of increase from December to March. Weather types over the Iberian Peninsula tightly control the driving factors of the Tair, Twb, and SM lapse rates (wind speed, relative humidity, and Tair), so the slopes of the lapse rates and the frequency of inversions in relation to elevation for the three variables are very dependent on the occurrence of specific weather types. The less steep lapse rates occurred associated with advections from the southeast, although low lapse rates also occurred during advections from the east and south, and under anticyclonic conditions. The steepest Tair and Twb lapse rates were observed during north and northwest advections, while the steepest rates for SM were observed during days of cyclonic circulation and advections from the northeast.This study was funded by the research project CGL2014-52599-P "Estudio del manto de nieve en la montaña española y su respuesta a la variabilidad y cambio climatico" (Ministry of Economy and Development, MINECO)

Divulgación en tiempos de pandemia: el poder de las webs

Trabajo presentado en el simposio Micromundo Aprendizaje-Servicio para el descubrimiento de antibiótico

Drought impacts on vegetation activity, growth and primary production in humid and arid ecosystems

9 Pags., 5 Figs.[EN] We have evaluated the response of the Earth biomes to drought using a new global dataset that captures drought effects on vegetation at various time scales. We show that arid and humid biomes are both affected by drought, and that the time scale on which droughts most intensively affects vegetation plays a key role in determining the sensitivity of biomes to drought. Arid biomes respond to drought at short time scales because plants have mechanisms allowing them to rapidly adapt to changing water availability. Humid biomes also respond to drought at short time scales, probably because there plant species show a poor adaptability to water shortage. Sub-humid biomes respond to drought at long time scales because plants are adapted to withstand water deficit, but they lack the rapid post-drought recovery observed in arid biomes.[ES] En este trabajo se evalúa la respuesta de los diferentes biomas terrestre a la sequía mediante una base de datos nueva que captura el efecto de la sequía sobre la vegetación a diferentes escalas temporales. Se ha comprobado que los biomas característicos de zonas áridas y húmedas se ven afectados por la sequía, y que la escala temporal de la sequía juega un papel clave al determinar la sensibilidad de los biomas a la sequía. Los biomas áridos responden a las sequías medidas a escalas temporales cortas, debido a que las plantas tienen mecanismos que les permitan adaptarse rápidamente a la disponibilidad de agua. Los biomas húmedos también responden a la sequía a escalas temporales cortas, probablemente debido a que las especies ubicadas allí muestran una mala adaptación a la escasez de agua. Los biomas subhúmedos responden a la sequía a escalas de tiempo más largas, porque las plantas están adaptadas para soportar el déficit de agua, pero carecen de la rápida recuperación observada tras la sequía en los biomas áridos.This work was supported by projects financed by the Spanish Commission of Science and Technology (CGL2O1 1-27574-C02-02, CGL2O1 1-27536 and CGL2O1 1-26654) and the Aragón Government. J.J.C. thanks the support of ARAID and A.S-L. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2009 BP-A 00035).Peer reviewe

Drought impacts on vegetation activity, growth and primary production in humid and arid ecoystems

We have evaluated the response of the Earth biomes to drought using a new global dataset that captures drought effects on vegetation at various time scales. We show that arid and humid biomes are both affected by drought, and that the time scale on which droughts most intensively affects vegetation plays a key role in determining the sensitivity of biomes to drought. Arid biomes respond to drought at short time scales because plants have mechanisms allowing them to rapidly adapt to changing water availability. Humid biomes also respond to drought at short time scales, probably because there plant species show a poor adaptability to water shortage. Sub-humid biomes respond to drought at long time scales because plants are adapted to withstand water deficit, but they lack the rapid post-drought recovery observed in arid biomes.Peer Reviewe

Cytomolecular identification of individual wheat-wheat chromosome arm associations in wheat-rye hybrids

Chromosome pairing in the meiotic metaphase I of wheatrye hybrids has been characterized by sequential genomic and fluorescent in situ hybridization allowing not only the discrimination of wheat and rye chromosomes, but also the identification of the individual wheat and rye chromosome arms involved in the chromosome associations. The majority of associations (93.8%) were observed between the wheat chromosomes. The largest number of wheat-wheat chromosome associations (53%) was detected between the A and D genomes, while the frequency of B-D and A-B associations was significantly lower (32 and 8%, respectively). Among the A-D chromosome associations, pairing between the 3AL and 3DL arms was observed with the highest frequency, while the most frequent of all the chromosome associations (0.113/ cell) was found to be the 3DS-3BS. Differences in the pairing frequency of the individual chromosome arms of wheat-rye hybrids have been discussed in relation to the homoeologous relationships between the constituent genomes of hexaploid wheat

Análisis Comparativo del Posicionamiento Preciso Utilizando el Receptor de Bajo Costo GNSS ZED-F9P en Conjunto con la Antena BEIBT300 y Diferentes Modelos de Antena de Orden Geodésico

Con el avance de la Geodesia y la mejora de las especificaciones técnicas de los receptores de bajo costo, los GNSS abren nuevas alternativas para investigar las capacidades técnicas y rendimiento real que proveen este tipo de receptores para diferentes propósitos geodésicos. En este contexto, la precisión alcanzable fue analizada usando el receptor de bajo costo GNSS ZED-F9P en conjunto con dos antenas de orden geodésico (ASH701975.01B y LEIAS10 NONE) y una antena de bajo costo (BEIBT300 NONE). Las observaciones GNSS fueron llevadas a cabo en un periodo de dos días para cada modelo de antena. El análisis fue realizado en tiempos de observación de 12, 6 y 1 h, respectivamente. Estas observaciones fueron procesadas usando el método relativo estático mediante la inclusión de una estación de referencia continua del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía, la cual está localizada a una distancia aproximada de 4 km. Los resultados demuestran que la mayor precisión es lograda en un periodo de 12 h, con diferencias mínimas de 3 cm para la componente Norte y 33 cm para la vertical. En este sentido, la solución menos precisa es obtenida en el periodo de 1 h resultando diferencias de 70 cm, 46 cm y 2.3 m para la componente Norte, Este y vertical respectivamente. &nbsp; With advancements in geodesy and enhancements in the technical specifications of low-cost receivers, GNSS opens up new avenues for investigating the capabilities and performance provided by these receivers for various geodetic purposes. In this context, the precision achievable using the low-cost GNSS receiver ZED-F9P in conjunction with two geodetic antennas (ASH701975.01B and LEIAS10 NONE) and a low-cost antenna (BEIBT300 NONE) was analyzed. GNSS observations were conducted over a 2-day period for each antenna model. The analysis involved observation durations of 12, 6, and 1 h. These observations were processed using the static relative method alongside a continuously operating GNSS station from the Active National Geodetic Network of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, situated at ~4 km. The results demonstrate that the highest precision was achieved over a 12 h period, with minimal differences of 3 cm for the North component and 33 cm for the vertical component. Conversely, the least accurate solution was obtained within a 1 h observation period, resulting in differences of up to 70 cm, 46 cm, and 2.3 m for the North, East, and vertical components, respectively

The complex influence of ENSO on droughts in Ecuador

48 Pags.- 1 Tabl.- 18 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://link.springer.com/journal/382In this study, we analyzed the influence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the spatio-temporal variability of droughts in Ecuador for a 48-year period (1965–2012). Droughts were quantified from 22 high-quality and homogenized time series of precipitation and air temperature by means of the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. In addition, the propagation of two different ENSO indices (El Niño 3.4 and El Niño 1 + 2 indices) and other atmospheric circulation processes (e.g., vertical velocity) on different time-scales of drought severity were investigated. The results showed a very complex influence of ENSO on drought behavior across Ecuador, with two regional patterns in the evolution of droughts: (1) the Andean chain with no changes in drought severity, and (2) the Western plains with less severe and frequent droughts. We also detected that drought variability in the Andes mountains is explained by the El Niño 3.4 index [sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the central Pacific], whereas the Western plains are much more driven by El Niño 1 + 2 index (SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific). Moreover, it was also observed that El Niño and La Niña phases enhance droughts in the Andes and Western plains regions, respectively. The results of this work could be crucial for predicting and monitoring drought variability and intensity in Ecuador.This work was supported by the EPhysLab (UVIGO-CSIC Associated Unit) and the research projects I-COOP H2O 2013CD0006: “Test multisectorial y actividades demostrativa sobre el potencial desarrollo de sistemas de monitorización de sequías en tiempo real en la región del oeste de Sudamérica” financed by the Spanish National Research Council, CGL2011-27574-CO2-02, CGL2014-52135-C03-01 and Red de variabilidad y cambio climático RECLIM (CGL2014-517221-REDT), financed by the Spanish Commission of Science and Technology and FEDER, and “LIFE12 ENV/ES/000536-Demonstration and validation of innovative methodology for regional climate change adaptation in the Mediterranean area (LIFE MEDACC)” financed by the LIFE programme of the European Commission. Cesar Azorin-Molina was supported by the JCI-2011-10263 Grant. Arturo Sanchez-Lorenzo was supported by the JCI-2012-12508 Grant. Miquel Tomas-Burguera was supported by a doctoral grant by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Natalia Martin-Hernandez was supported by a doctoral grant by the Aragón Regional Government. E. Aguilar was funded by the Grant CCI-009-ATN/OC-12439-RG-2012 from the Banco Iberoamericano de Desarrollo.Peer reviewe