The useful potential of using existing data to uniquely identify predictable wind events and regimes, part 2

Wind data from four sites were stratified and found to naturally fit into a few unique groups. These were compared with synoptic weather patterns using the Booz-Allen classification system. Strong relationships became evident between a particular synoptic type and wind events for each site. Statistics indicate certain patterns which result in strong winds and some that result in weak winds. For each site there is a preferred wind direction associated with the strongest speed. Important relationships were also found comparing 850-mb and surface wind. Additionally, comparisons between pressure gradient and wind speed for a given gradient direction show some significant relationships. It can be stated that the overall results show what by using existing data for any site, the winds can be characterized and correlated with synoptic weather patterns. As a result, reliable wind forecasts can be made for utility companies for the purpose of power generation

Kinetics and thermodynamics of ceramic/metal interface reactions related to high T(sub c) superconducting applications

Superconducting ceramic materials, no matter what their form, size or shape, must eventually make contact with non-superconducting materials in order to accomplish current transfer to other parts of a real operating system, or for testing and measurement of properties. Thus, whether the configuration is a clad wire, a bulk superconducting disc, tape, or a thick or thin superconducting film on a substrate, the physical and mechanical behavior of interface (interconnections, joints, etc.) between superconductors and normal conductor materials of all kinds is of extreme importance to the technological development of these systems. Fabrication heat treatments associated with the particular joining process allow possible reactions between the superconducting ceramic and the contact to occur, and consequently influence properties at the interface region. The nature of these reactions is therefore of great broad interest, as these may be a primary determinant for the real capability of these materials. Research related both to fabrication of composite sheathed wire products, and the joining contacts for physical property measurements, as well as, a review of other related literature in the field are described. Comparison are made between 1-2-3, Bi-, and Tl-based ceramic superconductors joined to a variety of metals including Cu, Ni, Fe, Cr, Ag, Ag-Pd, Au, In, and Ga. The morphology of reaction products and the nature of interface degradation as a function of time will be highlighted

Virgin Atlantic Airways: A Look Inside the Airline’s Green Initiatives

Greenwashing is a growing trend in the advertising of organization’s green efforts as well as the relationship it holds with a corporation’s public image and identity. Environmental communication is used to discuss our surroundings as well as controversial topics such as carbon emissions. Companies are seen to partake in greenwashing as a newer approach for them to achieve greater success. The importance of their image and identity is crucial to the portrayal of their organization to the general public. Image and identity also influence the corporation’s sense of understanding their place in their industry and society. In this study, I analyze Virgin Atlantic Airways green initiative programs as possible culprits of greenwashing through their use of rhetoric to depict themselves as a green corporation. I found that Virgin Atlantic can be deemed guilty of partaking in these actions through their largely publicized efforts that may have little to no effect on the environment, their disregard of the programs failures or small-scale efforts, and their conflicting voice in relation to their business and environmental programs

Stacking faults in epitaxial silicon thin films

It is proposed that stacking faults are generated by the collapse of vacancy clusters as a natural consequence of the low stacking fault energy

High resolution microstructural and microchemical analysis of zirconia eutectic interfaces

The goal of the research performed here is to study and understand the nature of fine scale microchemical variation, on the order of the lattice periodicity, in ceramic oxides. To that end, during the past year, emphasis was placed on the selection of appropriate materials systems and their fabrication into samples suitable for study using advanced high resolution analytical electron microscopy (work to be performed in the coming year). The work concentrated on two materials systems