Primary Causes of Climate Variability

On June 21, 2011, in Climate, by admin
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Primary Causes of Climate Variability

Article by Christa Kowalczyk

Due to “global warming” and the so-called “greenhouse effect”, sudden climate changes are experienced in all parts of the world. Climate changes produce a variation in the Earth’s atmosphere that is felt in other parts of the globe like the ice caps and oceans.

The Earth is always experiencing climate variability according to several climate specialists. In general, climate is identified by a long-term pattern of weather conditions. Climate is not similar to weather since the latter refers to short-term variations such as the development and movement of the weather system.

The climate’s variability and predictability is defined as the often cyclic, natural and regularly high variation in terms of climate or weather. In fact, climate change can be human-induced or natural. It can also show longer-term trends. The longer-term variation in climate is frequently well preserved in aquifers.

The effect of “global warming” that goes hand in hand with the greenhouse effect produces unexpected climate variations in different parts of the world. Tropical countries are now hotter during summer with a range of 37- 40 degrees Celsius. Icebergs of cold countries are now melting, and this causes floods and other disasters.

Types of Programs and Groups that Study Climate change and Variability

* ESRL or Earth System Research Laboratory Group – This system contains a lot of chemical, biological, and physical processes required to be dynamically combined to predict their performance over the scale level from local to global standards. The ESRL or Earth System Research Laboratory officials are working together towards the greater surveillance of the Earth through a number of studies to understand the changes and processes of the Earth’s system.

* CVWG or Climate Variability Working Group – This organization was developed to study both induced and natural patterns of climate variability when it comes to CCSM or its component models. It also observes various weather conditions with the CCSM component model.

* Managing Climate Variability Group – This group created a somewhat subprogram called “Managing Climate Variability Sub-program”. The program focuses on adaptation of obtainable information significant to climate science research. They also have a goal to produce improved and effective decisions concerning weather forecasts.

* USGS Researcher Group – This research group synthesize, compile, and analyze climate change in the United States. It also provides a basis of understanding the specific effects of yearly climate variability including the discharge and recharge of climate change.

* KNMI Researcher Group – This group of researchers operate 24 hours a day just to inform the public about their main focus which is weather change and seismology. In the international level, this group works with the other research institutes that are established in Europe, Brazil and London.

* Climate Dynamic Group – The objective of this group is to use the climate model in order to develop an understanding of climate variability, change and predictability. This group also aims to develop the performance of the climate model through diagnostic and evaluation studies. The group is still participating in international model experiments such as Couple Model Intercomparison Project, the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project, the Climate of 20th Century Project and the Cloud Model Intercomparison Project.

* UBS Climate Prediction Group – They are dedicated primarily to studying short-term climate prediction and variability. The UBC group develops the neural networks and the other machine learning process for nonlinear multivariate.

* Climate Variations Diagnostic Group – This group studies the mechanisms of the normal variability in the ocean as well as the atmospheric system. This is done in order to let the public know. Furthermore, they perform common circulation model experiments to elucidate the mechanisms of quick atmospheric response to the anomalies in the mind.

* Climate Impact Group – They study the impact of global climate change and natural climate variability on the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The climate impact group focuses on the association of climate science and fundamental research on climate impact.

* Climate variability affects almost all the human activities and natural systems. The direct impact of climate includes the following: water quantity, agriculture, human health and ecosystems. Actually, predicting and understanding climate change is vital to the public and this necessitates a broad array of decision makers. The goals of all climate researchers and groups are listed below.

* Describe and detect the climate variations

* Understand the functions of clouds in climate and radiative forcing

* Attribute and diagnose the causes of man-made forcing or climate variations to natural

* Predict and forecast the climate events

* Provide improved certainty of chaotic systems

* Improve predictive climate model

* Cryosphere and climate interactions

* Detect and describe the atmospheric ozone

* Measure the stratospheric aerosol of volcanic eruption, flashflood and much more

* Improve the information that they give to the public about climate changes.

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Marbella Climate

On June 11, 2011, in Climate, by admin
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Marbella Climate

No wonder so many people from colder northern climes come here to live. Not just the European snow birds but there are plenty of those even from across the Atlantic.

In this part of Spain you have many outstanding locations for living and sailing.

Marbella, Puerto Banus, Benalmadena, Cabopino and Sotogrande just to name a few.

The short spring and long autumn seasons tend to merge gently together forming one with no real winter season.

The Mediterranean climate is also known as a ‘winter rainfall’ climate and other areas around the world with a similar sunshine and rainfall pattern are also said to have a Mediterranean climate.

These can be found in the central and southern coast of California which has an amazingly similar topography, the south-western cape of South Africa, central Chile and south-western Australia.

All areas which are defined as having a Mediterranean climate lie between 30-45 degrees latitude irrespective as to whether they are to the north or south of the equator

Rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain but in Andalucia there is usually very little rain between June and September but a reasonable amount of rain between October to March.

The prevailing Westerly wind comes from the Atlantic Ocean and therefore western Andalucia is naturally wetter than the eastern part.

The area to the west of Ronda, is known as the Sierra de Grazalema and this is the wettest area of Spain with just under 90 inches of rain per year.

Tarifa, (where we get the word Tarrif from) lies at Andalucia’s southernmost point where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean is a very windy spot indeed and is a haven for windsurfers here you can see the fantastic emerging city of Tangier rising on the distant sky line.

Tarifa dates back to Roman times and beyond.

The mountain ranges are much cooler than the plains and have a higher rainfall with some snow in winter. The Sierra Nevada Mountains, rising above 3000 metres, are covered in snow for much of the year.

There is a very considerable difference in the climate between the inland and coastal parts of Andalucia.

Near the sea temperatures are more temperate in winter and cooler than inland during the summer months. During the months from November to February Inland areas have cooler temperatures often falling many degrees below freezing but then there also very high temperatures during the summer months.

This is a great climate to enjoy and live in. One that is suited for the outdoor life and pursuits such as golf and sailing.

A paradise for Holiday makers and those that choose Marbella as a home.

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Air Handling Units for Climate Control

On August 15, 2010, in Climate, by admin
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Air Handling Units for Climate Control

Article by Oleg Tchetchel

Direct gas-fired equipment is the most efficient choice for makeup air. While indirect gas-fired equipment might have a nominal energy efficiency of 75% to 80%, a direct-fired unit will operate at a nominal 93%. Thus, the further north or more extreme the climate, the more valuable a direct-fired piece of equipment becomes.

Buffalo Fan Co. is a world-wide distributor of industrial Make-Up Air Unitss for efficient ventilation and heating of large industrial facilities.

Makeup air is vitally important to the health and welfare of a building and its occupants. If the proper amount of makeup air is not introduced into a space, consequences can range from exterior doors that are hard to open or close, to buildups of carbon monoxide in the space, to fume hoods that don’t actually control the contaminants they were intended to control. In addition, the outside air that is brought into a building to “make up” the amount of air that has been exhausted has a very significant impact on cooling and heating capacities.

Insufficient make-up air can lead to increased building infiltration and higher energy costs, not to mention unhappy building owners and uncomfortable occupants.

While there are no facts and figures to show how many buildings provide the correct amount of makeup air, it can be stated that there are probably a great many that do not have sufficient makeup air. And there’s no one solution that is available for every building. Each building must be analyzed with a careful air balance calculation and evaluated based on the diversity of sources of exhaust air and infiltration.

The type of make up air equipment used, as well as its size, is usually dependent on the climate. Humid areas of the country require considerably larger-capacity units to dehumidify outdoor air. The supply air requirements for occupant comfort are generally air temperatures of 70 degrees to 75 degrees F with an rh of 50%. A good design criteria for air-handlung units engineers is to specify the unit performance at two operating conditions – a design day and an off-peak period such as a 70 degrees rainy day. The off-peak times of the year are actually more critical to evaluate the unit performance because this is the lion’s share of the unit operation. Engineers also need to specify the maximum allowable supply air dew points.

It is also possible to experience condensation within the heat exchanger sections of indirect- fired units in very cold climates. If the heat exchanger is not properly pitched and drained and not constructed of stainless steel through all sections, then corrosion and premature failure can occur.

That’s not to say that indirect gas-fired makeup air equipment doesn’t have its place, but again, it comes down to the climate. Climates with high concentrations of combustible or potentially toxic elements in the air might not be suitable for direct-fired equipment as the air is directly exposed to the flame. Many applications allow the recirculation of some of the air from the space and return air that is laden with paint, solvents, or very fine powders would be better handled with an indirect gas-fired piece of equipment.

Additional information can be found at the Buffalo Fan company web site http://www.buffalofan.com.

Susana TerlitskyAir Handling Systems EngineerBuffalo Fan Co.http://www.buffalofan.com/contact.htmlhttp://www.buffalofan.com/news.html

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