The zinc isotopic composition of siliceous marine sponges: investigating nature's sediment traps

The Zinc (Zn) content and isotopic composition of marine biogenic opal has the potential to yield information about the nutrient availability, utilisation and export of particulate organic matter from surface to deep waters. Here, we report the first measurements of the Zn isotopic composition of deep-sea marine sponge skeletal elements – spicules - collected in the Southern Ocean. Our results highlight different Zn uptake and isotopic fractionation behaviour between the two major siliceous sponge clades (hexactinellids and demosponges), which is most likely linked to sponge feeding strategy. Hexactinellid spicule Zn isotopic compositions are not fractionated with respect to seawater, most likely due to Zn transport via the open internal structure of the sponges. In contrast, demosponge spicules exhibit a wide range of Zn isotopic compositions that are related to the opal Zn concentration, most likely reflecting variable Zn isotope compositions in the organic matter particles on which they feed, and internal fractionation processes

Informational Barriers to Energy Efficiency – Theory and European Policies

This BEER addresses informational barriers to energy efficiency. It is a widely acknowledged result that an energy efficiency gap exists implying that the level of energy efficiency is at an inefficiently low level. Several barriers to energy efficiency create this gap and the presence of asymmetric information is likely to be one such barrier. In this article a theoretical framework is presented addressing the issues of moral hazard and adverse selection related to energy efficiency. Based on the theoretical framework, European policies on energy efficiency are evaluated. The article is divided into two main parts. The first part presents the theory on information asymmetries and its consequences on energy efficiency focusing on the problems of moral hazard and adverse selection. Having established a theoretical framework to understand the agency barriers to energy efficiency, the second part evaluates the policies of the European Union on energy efficiency. The BEER finds that problems of moral hazard and adverse selection indeed can help explain the seemingly low levels of energy. In both presented models the cost to the principal from implementing high energy efficiency outcome is increased with the informational asymmetries. The theory reveals two implications to policies on energy efficiency. First, the development of measures to enable contractual parties to base remuneration on energy performance must be enhanced, and second, the information on technologies and the education of consumers and installers on energy efficiency must be increased. This could be complemented with certification of installers and energy efficiency advisors to enable consumers to select good agents. Finally, it is found that the preferred EU policy instrument on energy efficiency, so far, seems to be the use of minimum requirements. Less used in EU legislation is the use of measuring and verification as well as the use of certifications. Therefore, it is concluded that the EU should consider an increased use of these instruments, and in particular focus on a further development of standards on measurability and verification as well as an increased focus on education of consumers as well as installers and advisors on energy efficiency.Energy efficiency, Informational barriers, European policies

Mikroberne spiser gerne op

Fremtidens restmaterialer fra produktion af bioethanol kan måske anvendes som plantegødning i marken og gøre produktionen af bioethanol mere bæredygtig. Forsøg viser, at tilbageførsel af sådanne restprodukter ikke skader jordens mikrobielle diversitet og funktion på kort sigt

Integration of UTM and U-Space on Norwegian continental shelf

In this master thesis, we present an overview of the U-Space and Regulations in Europe, while also taking into consideration the progression of the integration of both parts in Norwegian airspace over the Norwegian continental shelf. This thesis is mainly separated into three parts. The first part is taking a look into the European Union's roadmap/plan for establishing an Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) and how they plan to develop their system into a single European sky. The end goal is that essentially every operator of a drone can do so all over Europe without having any issues with crossing borders or different regulations. The second part of the thesis is dedicated to a detailed insight into the technical side of a UTM, the different layers, examples of which systems are the most relevant to be utilized on the Norwegian continental shelf. The third part of this thesis is dedicated to looking at the regulatory side of things, in regards of the UTM system in itself, different factors of drone operations, requirements for every part of an operation. In addition, discussing and concluding about everything we have been though in the thesis. Additionally, there are uses cases where everything comes together to see how it would work in practise and in certain scenarios. In the final part of the thesis the previous parts of the project will be discussed, as well as drawing final conclusions to the project