The Dust Bowl and How It Affected Weather Predicting Research Paper

The Dust Bowl and How It Affected Weather Predicting - Research Paper Example This paper therefore seeks to review the effects of Dust Bowl on weather predicting and to examine the technologies that were used. Practical use of weather predicting Structured weather reports were maintained following the discovery of instruments to measure atmospheric conditions in early in the 17th century. Certainly these initial reports were used mostly by those people who were involved in farming activities. As noted by Lutgens, et al. (2001) planting and harvesting of plants clearly was better planned if the long term weather patterns were predicted. In America, weather prediction was initially done by the Army Signal Corps starting in the 1870s. This service was later offered by Department of Agriculture and later by the U.S Weather Bureau that was established in 1920s. Radio broadcasts was the main way of announcing weather forecast. Use of Radar technology One of the technologies used to predict weather during the America Dust Bowl era was the radar. Following the Dust Bo wl, those involved in weather forecasting focused on the use to radar as a tool to predict weather. Though, radar has been developed to monitor enemy airplanes, it was discovered that the equipment gave better results from raindrops at a particular wavelengths. Thus, it became feasible to track and examine development of thunderstorms or heavy showers and also it was possible to â€Å"view† the precipitation composition of big storms. Indeed, as pointed out by Byers (1994) the Dust Bowl that were experienced were caused by a long drought that lasted about six years leaving the landscape with bear and when strong wind came, they easily gathered tones of dust resulting in this Dust Bowl. Thus, the radar was seen as a tool to forecast such severe weather disasters. Indeed, since the era, radar has developed in its meteorological use as a predicting tool. As Wigley (1985) remind us, nearly all tornadoes as well as harsh thunderstorms in America have been predicted using this long -established technology. Radar examination of development, movement and features of these kinds of storms offers hints of the level of the storms. However, current radars have improved technology of Doppler, which is move effective. According to Trihey and Campbell (1989) the Dust Bowl, that followed the very bad drought in the Midwest experience between 1930 and 1936, was a typical meteorological drought, meaning that it resulted mainly due to odd climate patterns. They further points out that these climate patterns were destructive in their rhythmic relentlessness. Meteorological Kites In early 1930, meteorological kites were used to in weather forecasting. The kites were used in the weather stations for weather observations, and also in examining the atmosphere to collect different information regarding the weather. The main instruments that were carried on the kite included those for measuring the wind velocity, temperatures, different humidity at different altitudes as well as the barometer that was used to measure pressure. Indeed, as observed by Williams (2001) during this era, the U.S Weather Bureau perfected the science of using the kite. Different sizes of kites were used according to their speed and how far they could go. Nonetheless, these kites had their

Implementation of Cold Ironing in the Port of Southampton, UK Dissertation

Implementation of Cold Ironing in the Port of Southampton, UK - Dissertation Example To carry out these processes, most ships switch off their main engines but leave their auxiliary engines running. Some even leave their main engines running throughout. The term is generally thought to originate from the era when steamships were powered by coal, with ‘cold ironing’ referring to the fact that when the ships were in port, the fires feeding the boilers were no longer fed with coal, and so the iron engines eventually went cold. Today, cold ironing refers to the increasing trend for ships to be powered when in port by being connected to an electricity supply on the shore. This is mostly seen as a way to reduce harmful gas emissions from the ships’ engines when they are in port. In recent decades, global trade has increased considerably year on year. In line with this, emissions from ocean-going ships have also increased, given that shipping is the main and most cost-effective way on transporting bulk goods internationally. Most ocean-going vessels aflo at today use bunker oil, or heavy furnace oil – a diesel fuel which is responsible for a considerable proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is not just conventional greenhouse gases that are emitted. Some research, as will be discussed below, has suggested that particulate matter (PM), released in large quantities by the burning of bunker fuel, leads directly to health complications and premature death. Burning bunker fuel also produces nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SOx), both of them toxic. Talley (2009) states that the bunker fuel used in some ships has a sulphur content of 27,000 parts per million, compared to 15 parts per million in the fuel used by cars, and that oceangoing vessels contribute 5-30% of the SOx in coastal areas (p.164). Therefore, in order to reduce the risks to people living close to large ports, the feasibility of cold ironin