Wind Chill Research Articles

Perinatal lamb survival was not reduced by grazing forage oats

Context Grazing forage oats (Avena sativa) is perceived as a risk to perinatal lamb survival and grazing oats only during the lambing period has reduced lamb survival. Aims This study assessed whether perinatal lamb mortality differed for ewes grazing a legume-based pasture throughout the lambing period compared with those grazing oat forage during lambing. Methods A randomised design used two replicates each of two litter sizes (singles or twins) in two forage treatments. Mature Merino ewes were used (n = 424; 53 per group) and all groups grazed legume-based pasture from 6 weeks prior to the start of the lambing period. Control ewes remained on legume pastures, whereas Oat groups were moved to forage oats 9–11 days before lambing. A calcium, magnesium and sodium loose lick supplement was offered to all groups. Key results Ewe mortality was 1.2%, mainly in twin-bearing ewes and similar among treatments. Lamb birthweights were similar; however liveweight at marking was greater for lambs that were born on the legume pastures than for those born on the oats (13.1 ± 0.19 and 12.5 ± 0.18 kg; P = 0.041). Lamb survival did not differ (P = 0.192) between ewes grazing oats (87.3 ± 3.4%) and those grazing legume pasture (78.1 ± 3.4%), and resulted in 1.28 versus 1.14 (P = 0.143) lambs marked/ewe. Lamb survival was similar (P = 0.102) for singles (89.2 ± 3.2%) and twin lambs (76.2 ± 3.2%). Loss in condition score during the lambing period was reduced (P < 0.001) by grazing oats (−0.2 ± 0.06) compared with legume pasture (−0.6 ± 0.06). Conclusions Lamb survival was not reduced by grazing oats rather than legume pasture during the lambing period, although further replication is needed, given the large numerical difference. Any difference in survival between oats and a legume-based pasture when ewes are offered a calcium, magnesium and sodium supplement may depend on the capacity of forage to meet the energy requirements of ewes, although taller oats potentially provide shelter from wind chill. Implications Grazing forage oats during the lambing period has variable effects on lamb survival associated with the relative ability of alternative pasture to provide adequate nutrition, with positive impacts possible.

Floor position in multitier broiler closed houses and its impact on microclimatic, air quality and litter conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of floor position in a multitier closed house on microcli-matic air quality and litter conditions. Fourteen thousand and five hundred unsexed Ross broiler chick-ens with a DOC body weight of 45.84 ± 2.40 g were placed on each floor of a three-tier closed house and allocated to a randomized block design consisted of 3 treatments and 18 replications. Each floor measured 12x78x2 m3. The maintenance procedure was applied according to the integrated partnership company guidelines PT Tumbuh Optimal Prima, with an observation period of 28 days. The treatments applied were as follows: T1= placement of broiler chickens on the 1st floor, T2= placement of broiler chickens on the 2nd floor, and T3= placement of broiler chickens on the 3rd floor. Microclimate condi-tions (temperature, RH, wind speed, temperature humidity index, wind chill effect, and calculated real feel temperature) and air quality parameters (NH3, CO2, O2, TVOC, and HCHO) were measured daily on each floor. Litter conditions, included water content, litter temperature, NH3 content, pH, and caking were measured weekly. The results revealed that during the starter phase (weeks 1–2), the microclimat-ic conditions and air quality of the 3rd floor were significantly better (P<0.05) than those of the 1st floor and 2nd floor, a trend was continued during weeks 3–4. Notably, the results obtained on the 1st and 2nd floors were still within the normal range for the broiler thermoneutral zone. Conversely, the 3rd floor litter was generally poorer, with significantly higher (P<0.05) moisture content, temperature, and cak-ing than the lower floors, particularly in weeks 3–4. However, broiler placement on different floors did not significantly affect the litter pH (P>0.05). In conclusion, the microclimatic conditions and air quali-ty of the 3rd floor were generally superior to those of the lower floors over the 4-week rearing period, whereas the litter quality was inferior.

Effects of moxibustion in improving synovitis in adjuvant arthritis rats by regulating synovial GPR43 and peripheral blood Th17/Treg balance

To observe the effects of moxibustion on G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) and helper T cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) balance in rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA), so as to investigate the partial mechanism of moxibustion therapy on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a moxibustion group, with 8 rats in each group. The AA rat model was replicated using wind, cold and moisture environmental factors + Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA) injection method. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was performed on bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Shenshu" (BL23) for 20 min/time, once daily, for 21 d. The changes of joint swelling degree (JSD) and arthritis index (AI) were observed in each group of rats. Transmission electron microscopy and HE staining were used to examine changes in the cellular structure of the ankle joint synovial tissue in each group. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the expression levels of GPR43 in the synovial tissue of the ankle joints. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of Treg and Th17 in peripheral blood. ELISA was used to determine the contents of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1) in serum. Compared with the normal group, the JSD and AI in the model group increased before and after treatment (P<0.01), with significant synovial pathological and ultrastruct ural injury observed. Additionally, compared with the normal group, the expression of GPR43 in the synovial tissue decreased (P<0.01), the Treg percentage in peripheral blood decreased (P<0.01) and the Th17 percentage increased (P<0.01), serum IL-10 and TGF-β1 contents decreased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the moxibustion group exhibited a significant reduction in JSD and AI after treatment (P<0.01), the degree of pathological and ultrastruct ural damage in the synovium decreased, the expression of GPR43 in the synovial tissue increased (P<0.05), the Treg percentage in peripheral blood increased (P<0.01) and the Th17 percentage decreased (P<0.01), serum IL-10 and TGF-β1 contents increased (P<0.01). The relative expression of GPR43 in synovial tissue was positively correlated with the percentage of Treg in peripheral blood (r=0.967, P<0.01). Moxibustion can significantly improve the inflammatory response in the synovial membrane of AA rats. The mechanism may be related to moxibustion restoring the Th17/Treg balance through regulating GPR43.

A ship motion forecasting approach based on Fourier transform, regularized Bi-LSTM and chaotic quantum adaptive WOA

Ship motion forecasting is of great significance to assist ship navigation and ensure ship operation. However, due to the coupling influence of wind, waves, currents and other factors, the ship motion has a strong time variation, which brings great challenges to the improvement of the ship motion forecasting accuracy. This paper proposes a novel approach for ship motion forecasting. Firstly, Fourier Transform (FT) is used for data pre-processing to deal with the data noise. Secondly, the Bi-LSTM is applied to simulate the nonlinear dynamical system of ship motion, and the Dropout mechanism and l2 regularization method are used to improve the generalization performance of the network, and a novel ship motion prediction model (FRB model) is constructed. Thirdly, in view of the inherent defects of Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), based on chaotic mapping and quantum computing, a new Chaotic Quantum Adaptive Whale Optimization Algorithm (CQAWOA) is proposed to construct a new ship motion forecasting approach, namely FRB&CQAWOA. Finally, based on the measured pitch and roll data of ship, the feasibility and superiority of the established FRB model and the proposed CQAWOA are tested. The test results indicate that the proposed model have better prediction accuracy than other algorithms selected in this paper.

Construction and climatic certification of an area as a prerequisite for development of energy-efficient buildings and their external wall constructions

Construction and climatic certification and, therefore, the orientation of buildings and building envelopes are important aspects of design and construction, especially in the conditions of specific climatic zones of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The main points that should be taken into account when determining climatic conditions, including in certification: the study of climatic conditions at the construction site, such as solar radiation, temperature, humidity, wind and other meteorological factors. This permits to select the appropriate building structures, materials and technologies. Based on climatic data, an energy saving strategy is developed to ensure an optimal level of comfort in buildings with minimal costs for heating and air conditioning, as well as to minimize overheating in the summer and provide optimal solar lighting, take into account the prevailing wind directions to minimize the negative impact of strong winds on structures and improve ventilation. The developed methodology of construction and climatic certification and factors of the natural and climatic environment, entered into the passports of the construction object, is the basis for the creation of design documentation of the Architecture section to ensure optimal conditions for the design, construction and operation of buildings and structures.

Autonomous longitudinal separation control of aircraft in random wind fields based on MPC

Aiming at the problem of autonomous longitudinal separation under random disturbance of flight path, the random factor of high-altitude wind often leads to poor robustness of longitudinal separation between two aircraft. This paper proposes an autonomous longitudinal separation control method for aircraft based on model predictive control. Firstly, the nonlinear kinematic differential equation of the wind field difference between the two aircraft and the longitudinal separation is established, and the linear time-varying prediction model is derived. The longitudinal separation and path deviation distance of the two aircraft are selected as the optimization objectives, the high-altitude wind is the random disturbance, and the true airspeed and yaw angle of the leading aircraft are measurable. Terminal equality constraints are added to the air safety and aircraft performance constraints to maintain the stability of the system. To verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, within the prescribed simulation time of 120 seconds, this paper sets three groups of different expected intervals 12, 13, 14km. Through the designed MPC controller, by controlling the true airspeed and yaw angle of the trailing aircraft within the rolling time domain period, the interval curve between the two aircraft is relatively smooth and is always not less than the minimum safety interval of 10 km. It stabilizes at the expected target interval at the 74th, 90th and 118th seconds respectively, and begins to return to the route at the 58th, 74th and 95th seconds, and finally returns to the center line of the route; two groups of wind field control groups are set up, one group is the forecast wind intensity increased by 2 times, and the other group is the turbulent wind disturbance intensity increased by 8 times. Both can smoothly and stably establish the expected interval of 12 km at the 61st and 72nd seconds respectively.

An investigation on NGR failure in Indian smart cities while replacing the existing overhead lines by underground cables

Abstract Nowadays, Indian power distribution companies (PDCs) are implementing smart distribution networks. Older cities are becoming smarter as per the recent government’s policy. Existing overhead distribution lines are being replaced by underground cables as an essential criterion of a smart city. One of the main problems arising in this process is the overheating of the neutral grounding resistor (NGR) in 11 kV distribution systems, even in normal conditions. NGRs, placed inside the substations, are overloading the air conditioning and exhaust systems of the substation. Sometimes failure of the NGR occurs due to overheating. In this paper, a comprehensive investigation has been carried out to reach the roots of this problem. It is observed that long underground cables have a higher ground capacitance than overhead distribution lines. Due to the higher cable capacitance, the third harmonic current circulates through neutral, which overheats the NGR even in normal conditions. The situation becomes worse when the substation runs on diesel generators (DGs) in an isolated state under main grid failure, as a higher amount of third-harmonic current circulates depending on the type of winding and pitch factor of the DGs. Different solutions are proposed, and their advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. Finally, the rating of the NGR is modified, and louvers-cooling fan arrangement is preferred for the running substation.

Rapid drops of ocean temperatures in several shallow bays in Nova Scotia during a recent cold air outbreak

Abstract From February 3-5, 2023 Atlantic Canada experienced an extremecold Arctic air outbreak with high winds that set many local meteor-ological records, including wind chills as low as -47°C. The impacts of the cold air outbreak on ocean temperatures and ice formation are investigated using predictions from the Coastal Ice-Ocean Prediction System for the East Coast of Canada (CIOPS-E), developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Observations from moorings further inform the predictions. The analysis suggests that during the event, several shallow bays and coastal areas in Nova Scotia experienced significant, abrupt temperature decreases ranging from 1.0 to 3.9°C. Overall cooling estimated by the model was 2.3°C for nearshore locations where observations recorded an average temperature decrease of 3.0°C. On the other hand, at individual sites the difference between observed and modelled cooling was up to 2.4°C. This difference can be attributed partly to the fact that the model does not adequately resolve the coastline features of some of the nearshore mooring sites. In comparison, we also analyze another cold air outbreak that occurred on December 15-18, 2016, with wind chills as low as -37°C. The ocean temperatures changes associated with this earlier event saw decreases of 0.8 to 3.5°C, potentially contributing to an ongoing fish kill in St. Mary’s Bay (near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy) at the time. Keywords: Ocean temperature, Cold air outbreak, Ocean forecasting, Shallow bays, Nova Scotia

Spatiotemporal Variation in Soil Wind Erosion in the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains from 2000 to 2018

The Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains (NSTM) is characterized by complex and diverse terrain, which represents a fragile ecological environment. Soil wind erosion is a key factor affecting the natural ecosystem and the social development of the region, but it has not been well understood until now. In this study, the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) was employed to display the spatial and temporal characteristics of soil wind erosion in the NSTM from 2000 to 2018. In addition, the main driving factors of wind erosion were analyzed. The results showed that approximately 94.25% of the NSTM experienced soil wind erosion, with a multi-year average actual soil wind erosion modulus of 6556.40 t·km−2·a−1. From 2000 to 2018, the actual soil wind erosion modulus in the NSTM showed a trend of fluctuational increase, with an increase rate of 44.65 t·km−2·a−2, but the area affected by soil wind erosion exhibited a downward trend. The wind erosion rate decreased in 76.38% of the total area, except for some areas such as Hami, with an increasing trend of soil wind erosion. The wind factor in RWEQ showed a significant linear relationship with the soil wind erosion modulus (r = 0.62, p &lt; 0.01). Land use changes also have a critical impact on the soil wind erosion. The results of geographical detectors show that the combined effect of weather factor and vegetation factor can explain more than 60% of the changes in soil wind erosion.

Determining Residential Areas Based on Bioclimatic Conditions in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye

Bioclimatic comfort refers to the climatic conditions that contribute to individuals’ physiological and psychological well-being. Criteria such as temperature, relative humidity and wind speed are pivotal in determining bioclimatic comfort. Bioclimatic areas should be taken into consideration in urban planning studies for both human well-being and energy saving. This study endeavors to identify bioclimatic comfort areas tailored for Kahramanmaraş. 57 years of climate data obtained from 32 meteorological stations were used. These data were imported into ArcGIS 10.8 geographic information systems (GIS) software. Bioclimatic comfort levels were analyzed on a monthly, seasonal, and annual basis, employing the Discomfort Index (DI), Heat Index (HI), and Wind Chill Index (WCI). The findings revealed that the optimal bioclimatic conditions fell within specific ranges: a temperature range of 18-25°C, relative humidity between 32-48%, and a wind speed of 1.25 – 2.75 m/s. Ten classes were generated based on bioclimatic suitability. The areas characterized by almost unsuitable bioclimatic comfort cover are 426 km² and 2.93%, less suitable areas encompass 9106 km² and 62.69%, and moderately suitable bioclimatic comfort areas span 4993 km² and 34.38%.

POST-EL-NIÑO WEAKENING OF COASTAL UPWELLING AND ITS ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS IN THE SOUTH-CENTRAL VIET NAM REGION

Upwelling that occurs in the summer offshore of South-Central Viet Nam in the South China Sea (SCS) also known as the East Viet Nam Sea (EVS), is one of the region’s key dynamic processes. The weakening of upwelling phenomena during post-El-Niño events and their ecological responses were studied based on a reanalysis dataset derived from the HYCOM/NCODA system, coupled with a local Finite Element Model (FEM) and observed data. Long-term warming, along with orographic and wind factors, play significant roles in the formation and weakening of upwelling phenomena during normal and post-El-Niño episodes, respectively. The weakening of upwelling during post-El-Niño periods is reflected by: Extreme weakening of wind forcing and Ekman pumping; a northward shift of the cold-saline tongue and current dipole, with a limited eastward extent; dominance of northward circulation in the surface layer and westward circulation in deeper layers; and the formation of a homogeneous surface thermohaline layer of about 50 meters thick, with a thermo-halocline layer at 50-60 meters depth. These abrupt changes strongly influenced the ecological characteristics of the upwelling area. Coral bleaching during the summers of 2010 and 2016, as well as anomalous distributions of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in the surface layer in 1998, 2003, 2010, and 2016, were concrete indicators of the ecological responses of Viet Nam's coastal upwelling waters in post-El-Niño years. Detailed intra-seasonal variations of temperature during the summer showed a warming of the waters, leading to coral bleaching and abnormal Chl-a levels during post-El-Niño years. Organisms in this region struggled to adapt to these rapid environmental changes, leading to a potential reduction in living resources.

Design and Analysis of a Highly Reliable Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine for Flywheel Energy Storage

This article aims to propose a highly reliable permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) for flywheel energy-storage systems. Flywheel energy-storage systems are large-capacity energy storage technologies suitable for the short-term storage of electrical energy. PMSMs have been used in the flywheel energy-storage systems due to their advantages. One of the key requirements for PMSMs in flywheel energy-storage systems is high reliability. A double redundant winding structure is adopted to ensure fault-tolerant operation of the PMSM. The stator is designed with auxiliary teeth to reduce the short-circuit current. Moreover, the number of slots and poles is determined to ensure the winding factor, heat dissipation, and reduce losses. Moreover, the dual three-phase stator winding structure and auxiliary teeth are adopted on the PMSM to improve reliability. Afterward, the electromagnetic performance is analyzed, and the mechanical stress is investigated to ensure mechanical strength. Finally, a prototype is built and tested to verify the theoretical analysis and performance of the PMSM.

Spatiotemporal changes in tourism climate comfort in Sichuan Province from 1961 to 2022

AbstractBased on the daily temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, sunshine hours and precipitation in Sichuan Province from 1961 to 2022, the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of tourism climate comfort in Sichuan Province were analysed using the temperature–humidity index (THI), precipitation index (P), sunshine duration index (SSD), wind chill index (WCI) and tourism climate index (TCI). The results show that the average annual TCI in Sichuan Province over the past 62 years is “acceptable” or above and shows a significant increasing trend at a rate of 0.018 per decade. On average, the best travel comfort period in Sichuan Province is from March to May and from October to November. The TCI increased significantly in cold seasons such as February and November with rates of 0.064 and 0.053 per decade, respectively. The increase in TCI is mainly controlled by the increase in THI and WCI, both of which are related to the increase in temperature, with a greater effect in cold seasons and at higher elevations. Most of China's 5A‐level tourist attractions in Sichuan Province (14 of 17) have an annual TCI of “acceptable” or better. Similarly, the top 3 months for climate comfort at these attractions tend to be March to May and October, with ratings reaching “good” or even “very good.” For the other three destinations, all characterized by glaciers and mountains, the top 3 months for climate comfort are concentrated in the warm months. The overall tourism climate comfort of Sichuan Province is increasing, and the climate is changing in a positive way for the tourism industry.

PMSM Design for Elevators: Determination of the Basic Topology Affecting Performance

In recent years, with the increase in high-rise building construction, there has been a rise in demand for elevators. This demand has spurred mutual growth between the vertical transportation sector and high-rise building construction. Both sectors are improving technology, security, and comfort standards. Traditional elevator traction machines typically employ asynchronous motors coupled with geared reducers, despite their low energy efficiency and requirement for large machine rooms. However, with the proliferation of rare-earth magnet materials and advancements in driver technologies, the use of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) in elevator traction machines has increased. PMSMs operate with direct drive, eliminating the need for reducers. High efficiency and passenger comfort are crucial parameters for elevator traction machines. This study focuses on identifying the fundamental topology that could influence the performance of PMSMs for gearless elevator machines. Factors such as stator materials, rotor structures, permanent magnets, winding configurations, slot/pole combinations, cogging torque and torque ripple have been examined to select suitable design topologies for elevator motors. Important topics such as the magnetic properties of grain-oriented silicon steel sheets used in stator construction, B-H curves, lamination forming and stacking factors have been addressed. Two different rotor topologies and magnet arrangements, namely internal and external, have been investigated in PMSM designs. Additionally, the use of four different magnet materials, namely AlNiCo, Ferrite, NdFeB, and SmCo have been compared for PMSM traction motors in elevators. Single-layer and double-layer winding configurations, distributed and concentrated winding configurations have been compared. Fractional slot/pole combinations, which directly affect the performance and comfort of PMSMs, have also been examined based on information obtained from the literature. Particularly, structures with high winding factors, such as 12/10, 12/14, 18/16, 18/20, 24/22, and 24/26 have been identified. Finally, studies on skewing to reduce cogging torque and torque ripple have been addressed.

The association of outdoor temperature and self-reported Raynaud's phenomenon severity among people with systemic sclerosis: a Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort study

Raynaud's phenomenon is the earliest and most common systemic sclerosis manifestation. Episodes can be triggered by cold exposure and ambient temperature changes. Small studies have found that Raynaud's phenomenon outcomes were associated with season. We aimed to map the degree that differences in ambient temperature are associated with Raynaud's phenomenon outcomes across the temperature spectrum. People with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort completed past-week Raynaud's phenomenon severity assessments (0-10 numerical rating scale) at enrolment and longitudinally at 3-month intervals. Mean daily temperature and feels like temperature, which incorporates wind chill and humidity, for the week before each assessment were extracted for each participant from a weather site close to the participant's recruiting centre via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. We used linear mixed models with basis splines to flexibly model non-linear changes in Raynaud's phenomenon severity across the temperature spectrum. People with lived experience of systemic sclerosis contributed to the study design and interpretation. Between April 15, 2014 and Aug 1, 2023, we included data on 20 233 Raynaud's phenomenon severity assessments from 2243 participants. 1964 (88%) of 2243 participants were women, 279 (12%) were men, and 1813 (82%) were White. Mean age was 54·8 (SD 12·7) years. The maximum predicted Raynaud's phenomenon severity score was 6·8 points (95% CI 5·6-8·1), which occurred at -25°C. Severity scores decreased minimally from -15°C to 5°C (0·05-0·21 points per 5°C difference), then decreased in larger steps between 5°C and 25°C (0·37-0·54 points per 5°C difference). The minimum predicted score was at 25°C (2·6 points [95% CI 2·5-2·7]). Scores increased at temperatures above 25°C to 3·5 points (3·0-4·1) at 35°C and 5·6 points (4·5-6·8) at 40°C. Results were similar for feels like temperature. Raynaud's phenomenon severity is worst at very cold temperatures but also increases with very warm temperatures, presumably due to air conditioning. Clinical management and Raynaud's phenomenon intervention trial designs should consider temperature patterns. Scleroderma Society of Ontario, Scleroderma Canada, Sclérodermie Québec, Scleroderma Manitoba, Scleroderma Atlantic, Scleroderma Association of BC, Scleroderma SASK, Scleroderma Australia, Scleroderma New South Wales, Scleroderma Victoria, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Arthritis Society, the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, and McGill University.

Long-term evaluation of surface topographic and topsoil grain composition changes in an agricultural landscape

Understanding long-term changes in topography and topsoil grain composition is crucial for the management of agricultural landscapes, especially in areas prone to wind erosion. This study investigates long-term changes in topography and topsoil grain composition within an agricultural landscape in south-western Slovakia. To analyse topographic changes over time, we used high-precision positioning measurements and airborne laser scanning to create digital terrain models (DTM) for the years 2011, 2017 and 2020. To assess changes in soil grain composition, we performed grain size analyses on soil samples collected during three different periods: M1 (1961–1970), M2 (2009–2015) and M3 (2015–2016). Changes in soil texture were evaluated to understand the impact of wind erosion on soil composition. The influence of windbreaks was also analysed by comparing the accumulation and deflation processes. The results showed significant changes in both topography and soil texture over the study period. The DTMs showed marked differences in the accumulation and deflation processes, highlighting areas affected by wind erosion. Comparisons of soil samples showed a shift in dominant soil types from loam and clay loam to silty loam, highlighting the effects of wind erosion. Analysis revealed a decrease in clay and silt content and an increase in sand content, indicating wind-induced soil degradation. The presence of windbreaks played a crucial role in reducing soil erosion by reducing wind speed, promoting soil accumulation and stabilising the landscape up to 80 m windward and 20 m leeward. The study highlights the complex interplay of climate and wind factors in shaping topography and soil properties and emphasises the protective role of windbreaks in agricultural landscapes over time. Our results show that wind erosion significantly alters soil texture, which can affect agricultural productivity. However, windbreaks have proven to be an effective measure in reducing soil erosion and maintaining soil quality.

Machine learning based urban land cover classification using PolInSAR data: a study with ALOS-2 and RADARSAT-2 datasets

A substantial variation in the land cover dynamics has been observed as a consequence of increasing urban expansion. Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data is widely being used for land cover studies in urban areas due to its all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities. However, in densely built-up areas, challenge arises with buildings having large Azimuth Orientation Angles (AOAs). These buildings are often misclassified as vegetation due to the depolarization of radar signal causing volumetric scattering response from the structures. This study addresses this issue by proposing an approach that integrates polarimetric information with interferometric SAR (InSAR) coherence to improve the differentiation between urban structures and vegetated areas, enhancing the accuracy of urban land-cover classification. Vegetated areas exhibit lower temporal coherence due to changes in the orientation of its leaves and branches caused by wind, seasonal variations, growth phenology, and other factors. In contrast, urban structures, being relatively stable targets, maintain high temporal coherence values. In present research various decomposition and scattering parameters were evaluated, along with PolInSAR coherence derived from L-band (ALOS-2) and C-band (RADARSAT-2), using two machine learning algorithms namely, Random Forest (RF) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The C-band RADARSAT-2 data, particularly with six-component decomposition parameters, performed better, achieving an overall accuracy as 85.85% using RF algorithm. To further improve classification results, optical datasets from Landsat constellation were fused with SAR parameters using Gram-Schmidt fusion technique. This fusion led to significant improvements, achieving an overall accuracy of 94.50% and kappa statistics of 0.92, when CNN algorithm was applied to the fused optical and C-band RADARSAT-2 dataset. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of combining PolInSAR and optical data for more accurate urban land-cover classification, particularly in complex urban environments.

Simulation study of jet trajectory based on Runge-Kutta method

Abstract To solve the problem of not being able to accurately spray to the designated target point due to wind and distance factors when firefighting at a long distance, this paper adopts the Runge-Kutta algorithm to simulate the trajectory of the fire cannon, and establishes the mathematical model of the trajectory of the jet under the ideal state and the trajectory of the jet under the influence of the wind. We carry out three-dimensional visualization research and compare the results of the simulation experiment with the real experimental data, and the range, height, and trajectory have a high degree of fit. Comparing the simulation results with the real experimental data, the range and height of the jet and the trajectory have a high degree of affinity, and adding the wind power value panel in the visualization interface can simulate the changes of the jet trajectory under different wind speeds and wind power and effectively simulate the trajectory of the jet under natural conditions.

CENTRAL PART OF NATURAL COASTAL SYSTEM TENDRA–JARYLGACH, THE BLACK SEA COAST

Problems of Research and Purpose. In the theory of general geomorphology, the section on coastal-marine processes at the genetic contact-zone between Land and Ocean assigns importance to the study of relief associations. One such complex of geomorphologic association on maritime coastlines is the winged-forelands. They consist of interconnected complex capes, active cliffs, typical benches, sandy beaches, and aeolian forms. Wind, sea wave, geobotanical, zoogeographical, geochemical, and other factors contribute to their development. Their morphology and dynamics are determined by lithodynamic interaction under the influence of a unified alongshore sediment flow transport. We conducted a study of one such winged-foreland on the non-tidal Black Sea coast, a classic foreland in "the Tendra–Jarylgach shore system". Practical issues were discussed, and identified development patterns allow for rational natural resource usage, emphasizing the relevance of the topic. Purpose of our scientific work is: Based on the obtained materials, identified patterns, and analyses of the development of the classic winged-foreland "the Tendra–Jarylgach" to determine optimal natural resource usage and ways to preserve the natural resources of the coastal environment. Data and Methods: During our research, we applied route and stationary methods, above-water and underwater methods, field descriptive and instrumental methods, cartographic techniques, geographical comparisons, aerial and space remote sensing, and analytical methods. Instruments for topographic and geodetic work, underwater profiling of the nearshore slope, lithological sampling, and laboratory data processing were used. Profiling of accumulative and abrasional forms of coastal relief, coastal intersections in different parts of the winged foreland, and specific descriptions of photo-reflectance were obtained. Special attention was paid to the efficiency of coastal protective structures on the abrasional front. Basical Results and Comments: The presented materials and their brief discussion revealed that the natural system of the winged-foreland "Tendra–Jarylgach" is a complex coastal-marine system of the physical-geographical subregion level with significant dynamics. All secondary elementary systems within it are closely connected by wave energy and sediment material flows in a unified sediment balance. Therefore, its conservation and the usage of its natural resources require a comprehensive systemic approach based on general-geographical principles. Within "the Tendra–Jarylgach" winged foreland, optimal natural resource utilization is achievable based on the general principles of geography and the fundamentals of coastal studies as an interdisciplinary geographical science. Key components of optimization include: a) adherence to rules and norms regarding anthropogenic pressure on the studied natural system; b) organization of the natural system to maintain high air and sea water quality; c) resistance to abrasive activities of the sea through the implementation of effective, operational engineering-geographical measures; d) preservation of sediment balance, as the creation of sediment mass is an exclusively long-term process, while disturbance is an instantaneous process. The leading source of sediment within the studied coastal-marine system is the abrasional input from coastal cliffs and benches. A minor contribution comes as a carbonate material. The coastal zone here experiences a significant deficit of coastal sediments, actively supporting further shoreline erosion. The development of the natural system of the researched winged-foreland is driven by the active action of the unified Tendra–Jarylgach alongshore sediment transport, involving the contribution of shell-detritus. This significantly distinguishes this type of foreland from others where two branches of sediment transport flows in opposite directions from the middle of the frontal part. During particularly strong storms, up to 5% of repetitions on accumulative forms typically result in new inlets and the expansion of existing old breaches. This undermines the stability of both spits, and the entire winged foreland in total. Such negative phenomena are exacerbated by disturbances to the sediment balance, especially artificial removals of beach sands for construction purposes.

Stochastic bulk density in the fire spread model

AbstractIn this study, we investigate the impact of inherent randomness on fire spread rates, with a particular focus on the stochastic parameter ε, representing the ratio of effective to actual fuel bulk density. By employing various probability distributions, such as the beta random distribution model ε, we explore the complex interplay between wind and slope factors in determining fire behavior. Our 3D visualizations and density plots illuminate the multidimensional nature of fire spread, emphasizing the significant role of stochastic variability in enhancing the accuracy of fire behavior models. This approach not only deepens our theoretical understanding but also provides valuable insights for improving fire management strategies.