Spatial interpolation and orographic correction to estimate wind energy resource in Venezuela

This paper presents a wind resource assessment in Venezuela using an efficient combination of spatial interpolation and orographic correction for wind mapping. Mesoscale modelling offers a relatively accurate means to model meteorological conditions by solving the continuity and momentum equations. However, this approach is both time and computationally demanding. The methodology used in this work offers a computationally inexpensive solution by combining both a simple geo-statistical Kriging method to interpolate horizontal wind speed and an orographic correction to account for changes on terrain elevation. Hourly observations of wind speed and direction for 34 masts recorded during the period 2005–2009 have been analysed in order to define a statistical model of wind resources. The resulting method, which includes an exploratory statistical analysis of the wind data, is a computationally economical alternative to mesoscale modelling. Simulations results include equivalent mean wind speeds and wind power maps which have been created to a height of 50, 80 and 120 m above the ground based on a horizontal resolution of 15×15 km. Results show that the greatest wind energy resources are located in the coastal area of Venezuela with a potential for offshore applications. Preliminary findings provide a very positive evidence for offshore exploitation of wind power. Results also suggest that wind energy resources for commercial use (utility-scale) are available in northern Venezuela, additionally; they suggest excellent conditions for wind power production for micro-scale applications, both on- and off-grid

Cartografía geomorfológica del Valle de Tobalina (Burgos)

[Resumen] La cartografía geomorfológica a escala 1/25.000 del valle de Tobalina permite establecer un inventario morfológico y la secuencia temporal de glacis, terrazas, acumulaciones tobáceas y conos que caracterizan el valle. La evolución geomorfológica presenta once fases morfogenéticas mayores que permiten reconstruir la evolución del curso del Ebro en Tobalina durante el Cuaternario.[Abstract] The Tobalina valley geomorphological map permits to establish a geomorphological inventory and the temporal sequences of glacis, terraces, tufas and fans. The geomorphological evolution has eleven main morphogenetic phases and it is posible to estblish the Ebro course evolution in Tobalina during Quaternary

Present and future of the OTELO project

OTELO is an emission-line object survey carried out with the red tunable filter of the instrument OSIRIS at the GTC, whose aim is to become the deepest emission-line object survey to date. With 100% of the data of the first pointing finally obtained in June 2014, we present here some aspects of the processing of the data and the very first results of the OTELO survey. We also explain the next steps to be followed in the near future.Comment: Oral contribution presented in the XI Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society held on September 8-12, in Teruel, Spain (7 pages, 2 figures, 1 table). To appear in Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics VIII, Proceedings of the XI Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society. Eds. A. J. Cenarro, F. Figueras, C. Hern\'andez-Monteagudo, J. Trujillo, L. Valdiviels

Digital Signal Processing: State-of-the-Art at CERN and Recommendations

Dramatic hardware performance improvements over the last decades have paved the way to the ascent of digital techniques for processing signals, with a concurrent and parallel interest in Digital Signal Processing (DSPing) and in the use of Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). Recent discussions within PS showed that there are needs for DSP-qualified manpower in new projects that cannot be fully satisfied internally. In order to determine how PS can best profit from the growing importance and efficiency of DSP technologies, with an effort compatible with the available divisional resources, a DSP working group was created. Its mandate is to advise PS management on the best way to proceed in the DSPs and DSPing domains. In particular, the issues targeted are wide-ranging, from evaluating the state-of-the-art at CERN to hardware standardisation and required training. This report gives the findings of the working group and presents its closing recommendations

Los costes socioeconómicos de la diabetes mellitus

ObjetivoEvaluar el impacto económico en términos de costes directos (costes de la asistencia sanitaria) y costes indirectos (efectos sobre la producción provocados por la mortalidad y morbilidad) de la diabetes mellitus (DM) en Canarias durante el año 1998.DiseñoEl enfoque que se ha utilizado es el método del coste de la enfermedad, considerando a las personas únicamente en una esfera productiva (capital humano). Los costes directos e indirectos se han estimado utilizando los costes de la prevalencia, es decir, los costes que se producen durante el año 1998.EmplazamientoLos costes directos se han desglosado en asistencia hospitalaria, atención primaria, consultas externas, fármacos y pruebas complementarias; los costes indirectos en mortalidad anticipada y bajas laborales.Mediciones y resultados principalesEl coste total de la DM ascendió a 6.468,76 millones de pesetas (38,88 millones de e) o el equivalente a 126.168 pesetas (758,28 e) anuales por cada paciente diabético conocido. El coste directo total atribuible a la DM fue de 4.011,51 millones de pesetas (24,11 millones de e), lo que supone el 2,13% del gasto sanitario en Canarias, o el equivalente a 78.240 pesetas (470,23 e) anuales por cada paciente diabético conocido. El coste directo de la asistencia sanitaria constituyó un 62% del coste total. El coste indirecto total fue de 2.457,25 millones de pesetas (14,77 millones de e), lo que constituye un 38% del coste totalConclusionesA pesar de haberse adoptado un enfoque conservador, dado que el estudio no incluye los costes asociados con el dolor y sufrimiento, invalidez permanente y la atención en el hogar por parte de los familiares, el elevado coste socioeconómico de los pacientes con DM abre un camino hacia estudios coste-efectividad que permitan un debate más transparente sobre este tema.ObjectiveTo evaluate the economic impact in terms of the direct costs (health care costs) and the indirect costs (effects on production caused by mortality and morbidity) of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Canary Islands (Spain) during 1998.DesignThe approach used was to study the cost of the disease through looking only at people in the productive sphere (human capital). Direct and indirect costs were calculated by using costs of prevalence, i.e. the costs caused during 1998.SettingDirect costs were broken down into hospital care, primary care, out-patient consultations, drugs and further tests; indirect costs, into premature mortality and time off work.Measurements and main resultsThe total cost of DM amounted to 6468.76 million pesetas (38.88 millio e), or the equivalent of 126 168 pesetas (758.28 e) a year for each known diabetic patient. Total direct cost of DM was 4011.51 million pesetas (24.11 million e), which amounts to 2.13% of health expenditure in the Canaries; or the equivalent of 78 240 pesetas (470.23 e) a year for each known diabetic patient. Direct cost of health care was 62% of the total cost. Total indirect cost was 2457.25 million pesetas (14.77 million e), 38% of the total cost.ConclusionsDespite the conservatism of the approach, in that the study omitted costs linked to pain and suffering, permanent disability or home care by family members, the high social and economic cost of DM patients calls for cost-effectiveness studies that would permit a more transparent debate on this question

OTELO survey: optimal emission-line flux determination with OSIRIS/GTC

Emission-line galaxies are important targets for understanding the chemical evolution of galaxies in the universe. Deep, narrow-band imaging surveys allow to detect and study the flux and the equivalent widths (EW) of the emission line studied. The present work has been developed within the context of the OTELO project, an emission line survey using the Tunable Filters (TF) of OSIRIS, the first generation instrument on the GTC 10.4m telescope located in La Palma, Spain, that will observe through selected atmospheric windows relatively free of sky emission lines. With a total survey area of 0.1 square degrees distributed in different fields, reaching a 5 \sigma depth of 10^-18 erg/cm^2/s and detecting objects of EW < 0.3 A, OTELO will be the deepest emission line survey to date. As part of the OTELO preparatory activities, the objective of this study is to determine the best combination of sampling and full width at half maximum (FWHM) for the OSIRIS tunable filters for deblending H\alpha from [NII] lines by analyzing the flux errors obtained. We simulated the OTELO data by convolving a complete set of synthetic HII galaxies in EW with different widths of the OSIRIS TFs. We estimated relative flux errors of the recovered H\alpha and [NII]6583 lines. We found that, for the red TF, a FWHM of 12 A and a sampling of 5 A is an optimal combination that allow deblending H\alpha from the [NII]6583 line with a flux error lower than 20%. This combination will allow estimating SFRs and metallicities using the H\alpha flux and the N2 method, respectively.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Some authors added. Accepted for publication in PAS

Tarsis y la monarquía unificada de Israel

El hallazgo de numerosos restos fenicios de datación anterior al inicio de la colonización fenicia occidental y la explotación de recursos evidenciada identifican el hábitat de Huelva con Tarsis desde su mención en 1 Reyes 10.22. Sin embargo, la reciente revisión de la fiabilidad histórica de la Biblia cuestiona tanto esta identidad como unas navegaciones fenicias al lejano Occidente en la segunda mitad del siglo X a.C. El presente trabajo apunta que Jerusalén pudo constituir en esa época un centro de poder y asegura la existencia de escribas en el siglo IX a.C. que dispusieron de noticias fiables sobre acontecimientos del reinado de Salomón.The find of numerous Phoenician remains, dated prior to the beginning of Western Phoenician colonization, and the exploitation of resources evidenced thereof, identify the Huelva habitat with Tarshish since its mention in 1 Kings 10.22. However, this identity together with the Phoenician voyages to the far West in the second half of the 10th century BC, are somehow questioned by the recent revision of the historical reliability of the Bible. The present work suggests that Jerusalem might have been a power center at that time and assures the existence of scribes, towards mid 9thh century BC, who handled trustworthy news of certain events during the kingdom of Solomon