Taiwan Strait Research Articles

A novel framework for wind energy assessment at multi-time scale based on non-stationary wind speed models: A case study in China

Wind energy assessment at multi-time scale is essential for the effective utilization of offshore wind resources. Conventionally, energy assessment factors are estimated based on parametric models under the assumption of wind speed stationarity. However, given the subjection of seasonal variability and long-term trends, the hypothesis is violated, especially in the context of climate change. In this paper, to advance the conventional approach, wind speeds were modelled using the decomposition-based method to consider the non-stationarity, and a novel framework for the estimation of energy factors at multi-time scale was designed. Using long-term ERA5 data, wind energy potential across the sea area along Chinese continental coastline was investigated. It is demonstrated that the established non-stationary models are superior to commonly used stationary models, allowing the estimation of energy assessment factors at arbitrary time scales after one-time parametrization of parametric distributions. Results confirmed that wind energy exhibits apparently temporal and spatial variability. The difference between annual averaged wind power density at different nodes exceeds 1000 W/m2. Moreover, significant long-term trends of wind energy characteristics were detected. The increase can be up to 16 W/m2/year in Taiwan Strait, emphasizing that an adequate consideration of the non-stationarity of wind speed in future research is required.

A mysterious skin rash outbreak over Pescadores Islands in Taiwan Strait: An airborne contact dermatitis by Euproctis taiwana revealed by ultrastructure mapping

Abstract Background: A mysterious skin rash (papular lesions) outbreak broke out for unknown reasons in Taiwan’s Pescadores Islands in mid-autumn 2021, causing much anxiety in the population already nervous about the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Objectives: We conducted a field survey for possible culprit agents. Methods: Skin samples were taken with rapid-glue adhesives from the affected skin. Electron microscopy from the skin samples as well as caterpillar seta was performed. Additional neurotransmitter analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) was conducted on the skin samples. Results: A field survey found a large increase in caterpillars, Euproctis taiwana, in September 2021, the warmest September in recent years. Electron microscopy performed on superficial skin samples (3–6 cells thick) of affected and healthy skin (n = 5 and 3, respectively) and caterpillar setae revealed ultrastructural similarities between setae spurs (0.15–0.2 μm) and tiny pits (0.2 μm) on the affected skin as well as similar vegetative debris (0.75 μm) on both setae and affected skin. MS showed large increases in tyrosine, serine, and histamine, known mediators of arthropod insult. Conclusion: The co-occurrence of E. taiwana population growth, excessive warming, and strong monsoon winds may lead to this unusual autumn outbreak in late September. The lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions against earlier that month probably exacerbated it.

Historical Marine Cold Spells in the South China Sea: Characteristics and Trends

Marine cold spells (MCSs) are extreme ocean temperature events impacting marine organisms, yet their characteristics and trends in the South China Sea (SCS) historical period remain unclear. This study systematically analyzes sea surface temperature (SST) and MCSs in the SCS using satellite observation data (OISSTv2.1) from 1982 to 2022. The climatological mean SST ranges from 22 °C near the Taiwan Strait to 29 °C near the Nansha Islands, showing notable variations. Annual SST anomalies demonstrate a heterogeneous spatial trend of approximately 0.21 ± 0.16 °C/decade (p < 0.01) across the SCS, indicating an increase in SST over time. MCS analysis uncovers spatial non-uniformity in frequency, with higher values near the Beibu Gulf and Hainan Island, and longer durations in the northeastern coastal areas. Statistical analysis indicates normal distributions for frequency and duration trends but skewness for intensity and cumulative intensity, reflecting extreme values. Winter months exhibit larger MCS occurrence areas and higher mean intensities, illustrating seasonal variability. Anticipated changes will significantly impact the ecological structure and functioning of the SCS.

Optimization of convolutional neural network with dual attention mechanism: Estimation of chlorophyll-a concentration in the Taiwan Strait using MODIS data

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration plays a crucial role in monitoring marine phytoplankton, holding significant implications for marine ecosystems and human livelihoods. Remote sensing serves as a valuable method for directly estimating Chl-a concentration and facilitating marine monitoring activities. In order to accurately estimate Chl-a concentration and effectively monitor the marine ecological environment of the Taiwan Strait, this paper introduces a novel neural network model called Convolutional Neural Network with Dual Attention Mechanism Optimization (CNN-CBAM). Additionally, the spectral bands derived from MODIS 500 m imagery are subjected to various processing techniques to generate four distinct sets of feature data. These datasets are subsequently merged with in-situ measurements of Chl-a concentration obtained from buoy stations. Given the limited availability of buoy stations, the temporal continuity of data is leveraged to overcome the spatial distribution constraints. This enables the estimation of Chl-a concentration at various time intervals within the research area of the Taiwan Strait. To evaluate the performance of the model, metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and R2 are employed. The results demonstrate that the CNN-CBAM model, utilizing MODIS temporal data, effectively retrieves Chl-a concentration in the research area of the Taiwan Strait with high accuracy. For the CNN-CBAM model, the RMSE is 0.34 μg L−1, MAPE is 22%, and R2 is 0.86. In comparison, the traditional empirical model using the Band Ratio (BR) model has an RMSE of 0.61 μg L−1, MAPE of 57%, and R2 of 0.31. The results indicate that the CNN-CBAM model has improved R2 by 0.55 compared to the traditional BR model. Additionally, the RMSE and MAPE have decreased by 0.27 μg L−1 and 35%, respectively. The superiority of the CNN-CBAM model over the traditional BR model is evident, showcasing a substantial enhancement in the accuracy of Chl-a concentration retrieval. Given the challenges posed by the intricate and ever-changing marine environment, particularly the scarcity of in-situ buoy stations, this study offers a practical solution for monitoring Chl-a concentration. It establishes a framework for leveraging satellite-based multispectral sensors to enable large-scale and multi-temporal remote sensing retrieval of Chl-a concentration in the research area of the Taiwan Strait.

Spatial distribution, mass flux, and ecological risk of antibiotics in Taiwan and Luzon Straits: A case in the West Pacific Region

Emerging pollutants are hazardous to the ecological environment and human health, and these issues have attracted increasing attention from scholars. In the current study, the Taiwan Strait is long and narrow, highly influenced by terrestrial domains, and frequently disturbed by human activities. Conversely, the Luzon Strait is an open sea far from the shore, and the impact of human activities on it is minimal. The description of antibiotics in two different types of seas revealed that contaminants were most commonly detected in both straits. In particular, the coasts of the Minjiang River, Jinjiang River, and Jiulong River were found to be pollution hotspots in the Taiwan Strait. The calculation of risk quotients revealed that antibiotics were more sensitive to algae. Furthermore, estimation of the risk quotients of the mixtures found that antibiotics in the environment do not pose a high risk to aquatic organisms at different trophic levels.

The Impact of Large-Scale Environments and a Southwest Vortex on Heavy Rainfall in Southern Taiwan in Late May 2020

Abstract This paper investigates the impact of the environmental conditions during the first half of the 2020 mei-yu season (Y20) and the southwest vortex (SWV), as well as their interaction, on heavy precipitation in southern Taiwan during late May 2020, based on a quantitative approach through ensemble simulations. The control experiment successfully replicates observed heavy precipitation in southern and central Taiwan and reveals a positive spatial correlation between precipitation occurrence probabilities and mean accumulated precipitation, emphasizing continuous rainfall accumulation over intermittent extreme events. Comparative analyses with sensitivity experiments elucidate that the Y20, featuring an extended western North Pacific subtropical high, intensify pressure gradients and southwesterly flow near Taiwan, favoring precipitation in windward regions but hindering it in the east. The SWV creates a moist and vortical environment near Taiwan, amplifying moisture supply and westerly winds, promoting precipitation in southern Taiwan, and enhancing frontal activity. The interaction between the SWV and the Y20, though limited in its impact on providing favorable wind and moisture conditions for precipitation southwest of Taiwan, significantly contributes to precipitation in southern Taiwan. The reason is that although the SWV primarily enhances moisture and the Y20 predominantly boost southwesterly flow, creating favorable conditions for rainfall, substantial precipitation occurs only when both factors converge in a nonlinear interaction. The interaction increases frontal activity over the Taiwan Strait and influences the movement and strength of the SWV, enhancing southwesterly flow and moisture flux in southwestern Taiwan.

Meteotsunamis in the Tamsui River estuary, Taiwan

This study presents meteotsunami evolution and statistics in the Tamsui River estuarine system from 12 years observations. In the tide-dominated estuary, a strong correlation is observed between high tidal levels and the upstream propagation of meteotsunami waves. Such long waves travel the Tamsui River at an average speed of 6 m/s, while their speed slightly decreases to 4 m/s in the upstream rivers. The propagation changes are likely due to the contraction channel and shallow depth of the upstream rivers. During the upstream propagation, low-frequency waves (an average period of 44.5 min) have the significantly low reduction of wave height compared to high-frequency waves (an average period of 21.5 min). Findings suggest that low-frequency waves are capable of propagating over longer distances within the river estuary than high-frequency waves. In terms of long-term statistical analysis in 2014–2020, meteotsunamis predominantly occur in late winter and early spring. These events are primarily triggered by cluster and frontal convective storms, which are predominant atmospheric forcings responsible for initiating meteotsunami waves. These convective storms are often associated with incoming cold surges or cold fronts crossing the Taiwan Strait, which has implications on the role of pressure and wind disturbances, as well as the resonance mechanism in meteotsunami initiation. Furthermore, the study assesses the probability of meteotsunami occurrences, revealing that an annual prediction of wave height can reach up to 0.3 m. This finding raises concerns regarding potential hazards in Taipei City, where the population exceeds 6.8 million people. Of particular concern is the vulnerability of the Keelung River, which flows through the city center. In summary, the potential hazards posed by meteotsunamis in the Tamsui River estuary underscore the importance of risk management and preparedness measures.

Seasonal variation of Marine Heat Wave in the East China Sea

The satellite-based daily sea surface temperature was used to study the Marine Heat Wave (MHW) in the East China Sea. The seasonal variation of MHW is significant. In winter, the 200 m isobath on the shelf is identified as a section with high-frequency MHW. The duration of MHW is relatively long on the slope and deep basin, and mean intensity of MHW is obviously high in the central Taiwan Strait. In summer, the frequency of MHW is relatively high near the coast of the China Mainland. Meanwhile, the shelf section of the 200 m isobath is also high in frequency. Otherwise, the duration of MHW on the shelf is short. In the northern shelf, the mean intensity of MHW is obviously higher. The total days and maximum intensity of MHW are also discussed, aiming at giving near-fully description of MHW in the East China Sea.

New insights into the South China Sea throughflow and water budget seasonal cycle: evaluation and analysis of a high-resolution configuration of the ocean model SYMPHONIE version 2.4

Abstract. The South China Sea throughflow (SCSTF) connects the South China Sea (SCS) with neighboring seas and oceans, transferring surface water of the global thermohaline circulation between the Pacific and Indian oceans. A configuration of the SYMPHONIE ocean model at high resolution (4 km) and including an explicit representation of tides is implemented over this region, and a simulation is analyzed over 2010–2018. Comparisons with in situ and satellite data and other available simulations at coarser resolution show the good performance of the model and the relevance of the high resolution for reproducing the spatial and temporal variability of the characteristics of surface dynamics and water masses over the SCS. The added value of an online computation of each term of the water, heat, and salt SCS budgets (surface, lateral oceanic and river fluxes, and internal variations) is also quantitatively demonstrated: important discards are obtained with offline computation, with relative biases of ∼40 % for lateral oceanic inflows and outflows. The SCS water volume budget, including the SCSTF, is analyzed at climatological and seasonal scales. The SCS receives on average a 4.5 Sv yearly water volume input, mainly from the Luzon Strait. It laterally releases this water to neighboring seas, mainly to the Sulu Sea through Mindoro Strait (49 %), to the East China Sea via Taiwan Strait (28 %), and to the Java Sea through Karimata Strait (22 %). The seasonal variability of this water volume budget is driven by lateral interocean exchanges. Surface interocean exchanges, especially at Luzon Strait, are all driven by monsoon winds that favor winter southwestward flows and summer northeastward surface flows. Exchanges through Luzon Strait deep layers show a stable sandwiched structure with vertically alternating inflows and outflows. Last, differences in flux estimates induced by the use of a high-resolution model vs. a low-resolution model are quantified.

Uncertainty-Based Capacity Factors of Operational Wind Turbines Using the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) Method

This study proposes a novel framework that couples the general likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method with a deterministic forecasting approach to conduct a new uncertainty analysis approach for assessing the energy production of operational wind turbines installed in the Jhongtun wind farm at Penghu (an island in the middle of Taiwan Strait). The 10-year measured data of wind speeds and energy output collected on these wind turbines is divided into two 5-year data sets for the present analysis framework of execution and validation to demonstrate the predictability of the GLUE method. The present study considers 15 scenario testing cases with various time periods, i.e., twelve months, the strong-wind (October-March) regime, the weak-wind (April-September) regime, and one year, for the framework to investigate the applicability of the GLUE method on long-term wind energy forecasting. In the execution framework, the 5-year measured data is used by the GLUE method to access the uncertainties involved in the deterministic approach (i.e., the shape and scale parameters of the Weibull wind speed distribution (WWSD), the performance curve, and the capacity factor) with two confidence intervals of 50% and 90%. The framework is then validated by the measured capacity factors in the last 5-year data and compared with the results of the uncertainty analysis approach by the Monte Carlo (MC) approach to discover the applicability of the new uncertainty analysis approach. From the simulated results, it is found that the proposed uncertainty analysis approach provides predictions of confidence intervals that match the measured data better than the MC-based uncertainty analysis approach. Specifically, the proposed approach can match the measured capacity factors in all the simulated scenarios. Conversely, the MC-based approach is found to create narrow confidence intervals that cannot completely capture the measured capacity factors, particularly for the strong-wind, weak-wind, and one-year scenarios. Therefore, this novel uncertainty analysis approach is proven to be useful in predicting the uncertainties of wind energy production.

Microplastics Prevalence in Different Cetaceans Stranded along the Western Taiwan Strait.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is of global concern, which poses serious threats to various marine organisms, including many threatened apex predators. In this study, MPs were investigated from nine cetaceans of four different species, comprising one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), two pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), one ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), and five Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) stranded along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait from the East China Sea based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. Mean abundances of 778 identified MPs items were 86.44 ± 12.22 items individual-1 and 0.43 ± 0.19 items g-1 wet weight of intestine contents, which were found predominantly to be transparent, fiber-shaped polyethylene terephthalate (PET) items usually between 0.5 and 5 mm. The abundance of MPs was found at a slightly higher level and significantly correlated with intestine contents mass (p = 0.0004*). The MPs source was mainly likely from synthetic fibers-laden sewage discharged from intense textile industries. Our report represents the first study of MPs in pelagic and deep-diving cetaceans in China, which not only adds baseline data on MPs for cetaceans in Asian waters but also highlights the further risk assessment of MPs consumption in these threatened species.

A Pseudo-nitzschia metabarcoding approach with a calibrated ITS1 reference sequence database applied in the Taiwan Strait

Pseudo-nitzschia is a cosmopolitan phytoplankton genus of which some species can form blooms and produce the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). Identification of Pseudo-nitzschia is generally based on field material or strains followed by morphological and/or molecular characterization. However, this process is time-consuming and laborious, and can not obtain a relatively complete and reliable profile of the Pseudo-nitzschia community, because species with low abundance in the field or potentially unavailable for culturing may easily be overlooked. In the present study, specific ITS primer sets were designed and evaluated using in silico matching. The primer set ITS-84F/456R involving the complete ITS1 region was found optimal. Based on matching with a Pseudo-nitzschia ITS1 reference sequence database carefully-calibrated in this study, a metabarcoding approach using annotated amplicon sequence variants (ASV) was applied in the Taiwan Strait of the East China Sea during two cruises in the spring and summer of 2019. In total, 48 Pseudo-nitzschia species/phylotypes including 36 known and 12 novel were uncovered, and verified by haplotype networks, ITS2 secondary structure comparisons and divergence analyses. Correlation analyses revealed that temperature was a key factor affecting the seasonal variation of the Pseudo-nitzschia community. This study provides an overview of the Pseudo-nitzschia community in the Taiwan Strait, with new insights into the diversity. The developed metabarcoding approach may be used elsewhere as a standard reference for accurate annotation of Pseudo-nitzschia.

FIRST REPORT OF RAPHIDASCARIS LOPHII INFECTION IN BLUEFIN SEAROBIN (CHELIDONICHTHYS SPINOSUS)

This study reports on diseased Chelidonichthys spinosus fish that were originally obtained from the Taiwan Strait for exhibition in an aquarium. These fish showed abnormal swimming behavior, eye damage and skin lesions. Gross examination and histopathology revealed that the C. spinosus was suffering from severe nematode infections in the pyloric caeca, liver and mesentery. Marine nematodes from internal organs were verified by partially sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene. Sequencing results revealed that the nematodes shared 99.75% sequence identity with Raphidascaris lophii (GenBank accession No. MW132926). Additionally, secondary Vibrio harveyi infections were also detected in some C. spinosus. This is the first report of R. lophii infection in C. spinosus.

Submesoscale Short-Lived Eddies in the Southwestern Taiwan Strait Observed by High-Frequency Surface-Wave Radars

Surface currents obtained from the high-frequency surface-wave radars (HFSWRs) installed along the coast of Fujian Province are utilized to characterize submesoscale eddies in the southwestern Taiwan Strait from 29 January to 26 March 2013. The algorithm based on vector geometry (VG) has been applied to datasets and a total of 414 (161 anticyclonic and 253 cyclonic eddies) were obtained. Eddies with both rotations had a relatively short lifespan (≤3.7 h), and their radii were in the range of 5–22.5 km. Eddies with a lifespan of over 30 minutes were more likely to occur north of the Taiwan Strait shoals and move eastward or northeastward. The deviation of moving directions of eddies with a moving distance of more than 20 km was within 18°. Moreover, eddies could hardly hold their original forms with cyclones extending in the east-west and compressing in the north-south direction, and anticyclones were the opposite. The vorticity and strain rate were proportional to the square of the energy intensity (EI). This study shows that the array HFSWRs have a strong capability to observe short-lived submesoscale eddies.

Physical drivers of Noctiluca scintillans (Dinophyceae) blooms outbreak in the northern Taiwan Strait: A numerical study

The red Noctiluca scintillans (RNS) blooms often break out near Pingtan Island, in the northern Taiwan Strait from April to June. It is essential to gain insights into their formation mechanism to predict and provide early warnings for these blooms. Previous studies and observations showed that RNS blooms are the most likely to occur when winds are weak and shifting in direction. To explore this phenomenon further, we employed a high-resolution coastal model to investigate the hydrodynamics influencing RNS blooms around Pingtan Island from April to June 2022. The model results revealed that seawater exhibited weak circulation but strong stratification during RNS blooms. Residence time were examined through numerical experiments by releasing passive neutrally buoyant particles in three bays of Pingtan Island. The results showed a significantly longer residence time during RNS blooms, indicating reduced flushing capabilities within the bays, which could give RNS a stable environment to multiply and aggregate. This hydrodynamic condition provided a favorable basis for RNS blooms breakout near Pingtan Island. The shifts and weakening of the prevailing northeast wind contributed substantially to weakening the flow field around Pingtan Island and played a crucial role in creating the hydrodynamics conducive to RNS blooms. Our study offers fresh insights into the mechanisms underpinning RNS blooms formation near Pingtan Island, providing a vital framework for forecasting RNS blooms in this region.

Wave contributions to sea levels along the coast of northern South China Sea over 2002–2022

To better understand the wave contribution to coastal sea level variation in the northern South China Sea (SCS), the total sea level time series, which is estimated as the sum of waves, tides, atmospheric surges and altimetric sea levels, over the period of 2002–2022 are used in this study. It is found that tides and waves are two dominate contributors to coastal sea level changes at seasonal (45.7 % and 40.8 %) and interannual (58.6 % and 28.4 %) time scales. The sea level trend is dominated by the altimetric sea levels, but waves can also influence the trends in the Taiwan Strait and Beibu Gulf. The amount of sea level rise that doubles the frequency of the former 50-year return level is analyzed by using the Generalized Extreme Value Distribution (GEVD) model. The results show that the amount of sea level rise is closely related to the amplitude and variance of extreme sea levels. Because waves can significantly increase probability of occurrence of exceedingly large extreme sea levels, the amount of sea level rise (∼1 m) that doubles the coastal flooding frequency is much greater than that (∼10 cm) without the wave contribution. This result demonstrates the important role of waves in changing the coastal flooding frequency.

Expanding the simulation of East Asian super dust storms: physical transport mechanisms impacting the western Pacific

Abstract. Dust models are widely applied over the East Asian region for the simulation of dust emission, transport, and deposition. However, due to the uncertainties in estimates of dust transport, these methods still lack the necessary precision to capture the complexity of transboundary dust events. This study demonstrates an improvement in the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model dust treatment during long-range transport of dust from northwestern China to the South China Sea (SCS). To accomplish this, we considered a super dust storm (SDS) event in March 2010 and evaluated the dust scheme by including adjustments to the recent calibration (Dust_Refined_1) and bulk density (Dust_Refined_2) refinements individually and in combination (Dust_Refined_3). The Dust_Refined_3 normalized mean bias of PM10 was −30.65 % for the 2010 SDS event, which was lower in magnitude compared to Dust_Refined_1 (−41.18 %) and Dust_Refined_2 (−49.88 %). Indeed, Dust_Refined_3 improved the simulated aerosol optical depth (AOD) value during significant dust cases, e.g., in March 2005, March 2006, and April 2009. Dust_Refined_3 also showed more clearly that, in March 2010, a “double plume” (i.e., one plume originating from the Taiwan Strait and the other from the western Pacific) separated by the Central Mountain Range (CMR) of Taiwan affected dust transport on the island of Dongsha in the SCS. On 15–21 April 2021, both CMAQ simulations and satellite data highlighted the influence of Typhoon Surigae on dust transport to downwind Taiwan and the western Pacific Ocean (WPO). The CMAQ Dust_Refined_3 simulations further revealed that many dust aerosols were removed over the WPO due to Typhoon Surigae. Hence, the model indicated a near-zero dust particle concentration over the WPO, which was significantly different from previous dust transport episodes over the Taiwan region. Therefore, our study suggested an effective method to improve dust management of CMAQ under unique topographical and meteorological conditions.

A 16-year meteotsunami climatology in the coastal areas of southern Asia-Pacific Ocean

This study presents the meteotsunami behavior in response to different storm types in the coasts of southern Asia-Pacific Ocean from 16 years water level records. Through the size- frequency analysis, the dangerous meteotsunami, wave height exceeding 0.3 m, can occur up to 44 events per year. Notably, during the extreme waves of the 2007 event, wave heights reached approximately 0.9-1.5 m in the Taiwan Strait and the western coastal areas of Taiwan. We have classified storms into six types by radar reflectivity images and satellite-derived precipitation. Findings indicate that predicted wave heights caused by bows and typhoons could reach hazardous magnitude of exceeding 2 m in a 100-yr interval. Spatial and temporal analysis reveals that meteotsunami occurrences are most frequent in the western regions during the winter to early spring months (December to April). Of all meteotsunami occurrences, cluster storms are identified as the most prevalent atmospheric forcing, accounting for 60% of meteostunamis. Typhoons have a 20% association with meteotsunamis along the east coasts of Taiwan during late summer to autumn. On the east coasts, typhoon type-induced events may be attributed to the combination effect of meteotsunamis and infra-gravity waves. Overall, this study provides the first comprehensive examination of meteotsunami-storm characteristics and their associated hazard risks in the coastal areas of the southern Asia-Pacific Ocean.

The Effect of wind barriers on the local wind field on a bridge deck

Abstract The adverse effect of crosswinds on road vehicles on a bridge deck or traffic lanes is of increasing concern. Local flow characteristics depend on the bridge's architecture and wind barriers are commonly used to alleviate wind-induced instability for vehicles. Terrain orography is another dominant factor. This study uses a terrain model with a coastal bridge (Chen-Kung Bridge, Penghu, Taiwan). The bridge is located between a reservoir and the Taiwan Strait. Numerous accidents have occurred due to strong monsoon winds in autumn and winter. In wind tunnel experiments, an atmosphere boundary layer is established and the test conditions (wind speed and wind incidence) are taken from local meteorological data. The effect of the height of solid wind barriers on local wind direction and speed is determined. The results can be used to remodel wind barriers to increase safety for road vehicles.

Decolonizing the ‘One China’ Narrative: The Case of Taiwan

This essay argues that contemporary Taiwan, as a democratic, functionally independent polity, constitutes the crucial exception to disavowals by the Republic of China (ROC) and People’s Republic of China (PRC) of imperialist claims and ambitions. As such, it explores how the ideal of a single China spanning the Taiwan Strait (‘one China’) depends on the erasure of a (proto-) national Taiwanese identity, and possibly the suppression of the people who claim it. ‘One China’ narratives seek to naturalize Taiwan’s absorption into the ROC in the 1940s and its potential future annexation by the PRC, hiding the pressures placed on Taiwanese people today to give up their hard-fought democracy, as well as the bloodshed that would be involved in any military conquest.