January 3, 2018


News and Views


I FELT SURE THAT TRUMP WAS BUILDING A BIG BROTHER LIST INSTEAD OF A VOTER LIST, BUT WHATEVER HE WAS TRYING TO DO, THE REACTION OF OUR CITIZENS IN LARGE NUMBERS WAS TO FIGHT BACK. GOOD GOING, GUYS!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/03/trump-disbands-controversial-voting-commission-citing-endless-legal-battles/1002172001/?csp=chromepush
Trump disbands controversial voting commission, citing 'endless legal battles'
Gregory Korte, USA TODAY
Published 7:18 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 2018 | Updated 7:29 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 2018

Photograph – Caption: Here's the latest for Monday December, 25th: President, First Lady give Christmas Greeting; Pope calls for peace in Jerusalem on Christmas; Queen honors those struck by terror; Hardy Germans take Christmas plunge in lake.AP, AP

WASHINGTON — President Trump signed an executive order late Wednesday disbanding his own election integrity commission after less than eight months, saying he didn't want to waste taxpayer money fighting with state governments over their voter data.

“Despite substantial evidence of voter fraud, many states have refused to provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with basic information relevant to its inquiry," Trump said in a statement through his press secretary.

"Rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, today I signed an executive order to dissolve the commission, and have asked the Department of Homeland Security to review these issues and determine next courses of action.”

When he created the commission in May, Trump cited a repeatedly debunked claim that three million people voted illegally in the 2016 presidential election — a number that, if true, would have explained Hillary Clinton's lead in the popular vote.

But many states, citing their own voter privacy laws, refused to provide the commission data on their voters without an act of Congress. Those troubles ground the commission's work to a standstill last fall.

Civil and voting rights groups who had fought the effort said the commission was an attempt to justify new laws restricting the right to vote and suppress voter turnout, particularly among minorities.

"This is a major victory for every activist who has called out this sham commission for what it is. Good riddance to bad rubbish," said Marge Baker of the People For the American Way.

More: Trump's voter fraud commission appears to have gone dark



HEAP BIG STORM

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42544605
'Bomb cyclone': US braces for explosive winter storm
January 3, 2018

Photograph -- It's snowed in Tallahassee, Florida, for the first time in 28 years

The US is braced for a "bomb cyclone" - a weather phenomenon which officials say will arrive during a cold snap that has already claimed at least 11 lives.

Forecasters say a severe pressure drop will lead to an explosive winter storm along the eastern US, and is already bringing snow to Florida.

The US is currently on its 10th day of frigid record-breaking low temperatures which began around Christmas.

But the predicted new storm has led meteorologists to deploy a new term.

Ice and snow cover branches near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, CanadaImage copyrightREUTERS
Image caption
Ice and snow cover branches near the brink of Niagara Falls

The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that "Arctic air mass will remain entrenched over the eastern two thirds of the country through the end of the week".

"Very cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills expected," the NWS added.

What is a 'bomb cyclone'?

A "bomb cyclone" or "weather bomb" is an unofficial term for what is known as explosive cyclogenesis, according to BBC Weather.

This occurs when the central pressure of a low pressure system falls by 24 millibars in 24 hours and can result in violent winds developing around the system.

The winds can be strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage.

The Washington Post adds that the coming storm will "in many ways resemble a winter hurricane" which could be the eastern US's most intense in decades.

It comes as the average temperature across the continental US hovered around 9.1F (-12.7C) on Tuesday morning, according to CBS News.

Media caption -- Cold snap grips North America

Where is it expected to hit?

On Thursday and Friday, the major storm is expected to develop along the eastern seaboard of the US, bringing strong winds, rain, sleet and snow, according to BBC Weather.

The storm is forecast to undergo rapid cyclogenesis over the Atlantic Ocean, and current projections show areas north of New York as having the highest risk of significant impacts from strong winds and heavy snow.

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Major east coast winter storm is expected to bring snow, ice, rain, strong winds, and tidal flooding to coastal locations from the southeast U.S. to New England Wednesday into Thursday. Hazardous travel is likely.

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Media caption -- People around the US have rapidly been turning boiling water into snow

Major north-eastern cities such as Boston are at risk of blizzards, and it is expected to cause disruption at air travel hubs with power outages also possible.

In the US South, freezing rain and sleet may reach as far down as Orlando, where agricultural officials say cold-sensitive crops such as citrus and strawberries are threatened.

Parts of Florida, including the northern city of Tallahassee, have already seen their first snow settling in decades.

Excited residents have been snapping photos of themselves playing in the snow, and school is cancelled in much of the state.

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Jessica Herrington
@jessjherrington
A true Florida snow.. Snow covered ant hills and @Teva sandals in NE Tallahassee! @robnucatola @NWSTallahassee

8:21 AM - Jan 3, 2018
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Share your #TLHWinterStorm pictures with us by tagging @COTNews. Here’s what it looks like at the Emergency Operations Center. ☃️❄️☃️

8:24 AM - Jan 3, 2018 · Tallahassee, FL
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Is it cold everywhere?

No, it was actually colder in Jacksonville, Florida, than it was in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday.

Several of Alaska's northern and central towns experienced some of their hottest months of December on record.

On Tuesday, the Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage recorded a temperature of 48F (9C) - higher than almost anywhere in the Lower 48 states.

Media caption -- Parts of Niagara Falls freeze

Antarctica's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station recorded a temperature on Tuesday of -12 (-24.5C)F, just one degree warmer than Indianapolis, Indiana.

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, British officials are warning that Storm Eleanor, which has already caused flooding and power outages, will pose a danger due to flying debris in high winds.

US meteorologist Dr Marshall Shepherd told the BBC that while it is colder than normal in parts of the US and Canada, most of the rest of the world is actually warmer than normal this week.

'Risk to life' as storm warning raised

Storm Eleanor disruption after 100mph gusts

What about Canada?

Environment officials warned that a major winter storm is expected to smash into the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island on Thursday.

Media caption -- Stuck Canadian moose rescued by snowmobilers

Officials predict that snow and high winds may cause worse power outages than those that affected 158,000 customers in Nova Scotia on Christmas Day.

"We're encouraging customers to be prepared for potentially lengthy power outages as a result of this storm," Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Tiffany Chase told the Canadian Press agency.

Earlier this week, king penguins at the Calgary Zoo in Canada's western Alberta province were kept in their indoor shelters to avoid the bitter cold.


I’VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WAYS TO PRODUCE OR STORE WATER SINCE THE GLOBAL WARMING IS APPARENTLY CREATING DROUGHTS NOW, BOTH IN THE US AND ELSEWHERE. WE CAN FIGHT MOTHER NATURE IF WE’RE CREATIVE ABOUT IT. THIS ONE IS FASCINATING, AND BEAUTIFUL ALSO. LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND WATCH THIS VIDEO ON FOG COLLECTION -- HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=H8VLZZ25VTG.

http://www.climatetechwiki.org/content/fog-harvesting

Table of Contents

Description:
Advantages of the technology
Disadvantages of the technology
Financial requirements and costs
Institutional and organisational requirements
Barriers to implementation
Opportunities for implementation
References

Fogs have the potential to provide an alternative source of fresh water in dry regions and can be harvested through the use of simple and low-cost collection systems. Captured water can then be used for agricultural irrigation and domestic use. Research suggests that fog collectors work best in locations with frequent fog periods, such as coastal areas where water can be harvested as fog moves inland driven by the wind. However, the technology could also potentially supply water in mountainous areas if the water is present in stratocumulus clouds, at altitudes of approximately 400 m to 1,200 m (UNEP, 1997b). According to the International Development Research Centre (1995), in addition to Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, the areas with the most potential to benefit include the Atlantic coast of southern Africa (Angola, Namibia), South Africa, Cape Verde, China, Eastern Yemen, Oman, Mexico, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.

Description:

Fog harvesting technology consists of a single or double layer mesh net supported by two posts rising from the ground. Mesh panels can vary in size. The ones used by the University of South Africa in a fog harvesting research project measured 70 m² (UNISA, 2008) whereas in the Yemen, a set of 26 small Standard Fog Collectors (SFC) of 1 m² were constructed (Schemenaur et al, no date). The material used for the mesh is usually nylon, polyethylene or polypropylene netting (also known as ‘shade cloth’) which can be produced to various densities capable of capturing different quantities of water from the fog that passes through it (UNEP, 1997b). The collectors are positioned on ridgelines perpendicular to prevailing wind and capture and collect water when fog sweeps through. The number and size of meshes chosen will depend on the local topography, demand for water, and availability of financial resources and materials. According to FogQuest the optimal allocation is single mesh units with spacing between them of at least 5 m with additional fog collectors placed upstream at a distance of at least ten times higher than the other fog collector. In South Africa, the University research project arranged several mesh panels together in order to expand the water catchment area and provide greater stability to the structure in windy conditions (UNISA, 2008).

The collector and conveyance system functions due to gravity. Water droplets that collect on the mesh run downwards and drip into a gutter at the bottom of the net from where they are channelled via pipes to a storage tank or cistern. Typical water production rates from a fog collector range from 200 to 1,000 litres per day, with variability occurring on a daily and seasonal basis (FogQuest). Efficiency of collection improves with larger fog droplets, higher wind speeds, and narrower collection fibres/mesh width. In addition, the mesh should have good drainage characteristics. Water collection rates from fog collectors are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Water collection rates from fog collectors

Project Total collecting surface (m2) Water collected (liters/day)
University of South Africa 70 3,800
Yemen 40 4,500
Cape Verde 200 4,000
Dominican Republic 40 4,000
Eritrea 1,600 12,000

Sources: UNISA, 2008; Schemenauer et al, 2004; Washtechnology; FogQuest

The dimensions of the conveyance system and storage device will depend on the scale of the scheme. Storage facilities should be provided for at least 50 per cent of the expected maximum daily volume of water consumed. For agricultural purposes, water is collected in a regulating tank, transferred to a reservoir and then finally into an irrigation system that farmers can use to water their crops (UNEP, 1997b).

Operation and maintenance are relatively simple processes once the system has been properly installed. Nevertheless, an important factor in the sustainability of this technology is the establishment of a routine quality control programme which should include the following tasks (UNEP, 1997b):

Inspection of mesh nets and cable tensions to prevent loss in water harvesting efficiency and avoid structural damage
Maintenance of nets, drains and pipelines to include removal of dust, debris and algae
Maintenance of the storage tank or cistern to prevent accumulation of fungi and bacteria

Where spare parts are not available locally, it is recommended that a stock of mesh and other components be kept in reserve as local supply might be restricted, especially in remote mountainous regions.

Drought caused by climate change is leading to reductions in the availability of fresh water supplies in some regions. This is having an impact on agricultural production by limiting opportunities for planting and irrigation. Fog harvesting provides a way of capturing vital water supplies to support farming in these areas. Furthermore, when used for irrigation to increase forested areas or vegetation coverage, water supplies from fog harvesting can help to counteract the desertification process. If the higher hills in the area are planted with trees, they too will collect fog water and contribute to the aquifers. The forests can then sustain themselves and contribute water to the ecosystem helping to build resilience against drier conditions.

Advantages of the technology top:

Atmospheric water is generally clean, does not contain harmful micro-organisms and is immediately suitable for irrigation purposes. In a number of cases, water collected with fog harvesting technology has been shown to meet World Health Organisation standards (UNISA, 2008; WaterAid, no date). The environmental impact of installing and maintaining the technology is minimal (WaterAid, no date). Once the component parts and technical supervision have been secured, construction of fog harvesting technology is relatively straightforward and can be undertaken on site. The construction process is not labour intensive, only basic skills are required and, once installed, the system does not require any energy for operation. Given that fog harvesting is particularly suitable for mountainous areas where communities often live in remote condition, capital investment and other costs are generally found to be low in comparison with conventional sources of water supply (UNEP, 1997b).

Disadvantages of the technology top:

Fog harvesting technologies depend on a water source that is not always reliable, because the occurrence of fogs is uncertain. However, certain areas do have a propensity for fog development, particularly, mountainous coastal areas on the western continental margin of South America. Further, calculation of even an approximate quantity of water that can be obtained at a particular location is difficult (Schemenauer and Cereceda, 1994). This technology might represent an investment risk unless a pilot project is first carried out to quantify the potential water rate yield that can be anticipated in the area under consideration.

Financial requirements and costs top:

The costs vary depending on the size of the fog catchers, quality of and access to the materials, labour, and location of the site. Small fog collectors cost between $ 75 and $ 200 each to build. Large 40-m² fog collectors cost between $1,000 and $1,500 and can last for up to ten years. A village project producing about 2,000 litres of water per day will cost about $ 15,000 (FogQuest). Multiple-unit systems have the advantage of a lower cost per unit of water produced, and the number of panels in use can be changed as climatic conditions and demand for water vary (UNEP, 1997b). Community participation will help to reduce the labour cost of building the fog harvesting system.

Institutional and organisational requirements top:

It is generally recommended that the local population is involved in the construction of the project (UNEP, 1997; WaterAid, no date). Community participation helps to remove labour costs and also helps to ensure a sense of ownership by the community and a commitment to maintenance. A community management committee could be set up and consist of trained individuals responsible for repair and maintenance tasks, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of the technology. In the initial stages, government subsidies may be required to buy raw materials and fund technical expertise.

A range of meteorological and geographic information is required for choosing a site to implement fog harvesting technology, including predominant wind direction and the potential for extracting water from fogs (such as frequency of fog occurrence and fog water content). A feasibility study and pilot-scale assessment should also be carried out to assess the magnitude and reliability of the fog water source. Some of this information can usually be gathered from government meteorological agencies but may require local meteorological stations and the use of a neblinometer (a device to measure the liquid water content) for collection of localised data (Box 1).

Box 1: Key information requirements for assessing fog harvesting suitability

“Global wind patterns: persistent winds from one direction are ideal for fog collection. The high-pressure area in the eastern part of the South Pacific Ocean produces onshore, south-west winds in northern Chile for most of the year and southerly winds along the coast of Peru.

Topography: it is necessary to have sufficient topographic relief to intercept the fogs/clouds. Examples on a continental scale, include the coastal mountains of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, and, on a local scale, include isolated hills or coastal dunes.

Relief in the surrounding areas: it is important that there are no major obstacle to the wind within a few kilometres upwind of the site. In arid coastal regions, the presence of an inland depression or basin that heats up during the day can be advantageous, as the localised low pressure area thus created can enhance the sea breeze and increase the wind speed at which marine cloud decks flow over the collection devices.

Altitude: the thickness of the stratocumulus clouds and the height of their bases will vary with location. A desirable working altitude is at two-thirds of the cloud thickness above the base. This portion of the cloud will normally have the highest liquid water content. In Chile and Peru, the working altitudes range from 400 m to 1,000 m above sea level.

Orientation of the topographic features: it is important that the longitudinal axis of the mountain range, hills, or dune system be approximately perpendicular to the direction of the wind bringing the clouds from the ocean. The clouds will flow over the ridge lines and through passes, with the fog often dissipating on the downwind side.

Distance from the coastline: there are many high-elevation continental locations with frequent fog cover resulting from either the transport of upwind clouds or the formation of orographic clouds. In these cases, the distance to the coastline is irrelevant. However, areas of high relief near the coastline are generally preferred sites for fog harvesting.

Space for collectors: ridge lines and the upwind edges of flat-topped mountains are good fog harvesting sites. When long fog water collectors are used, they should be placed at intervals of about 4.0 m to allow the wind to blow around the collectors.

Crestline and upwind locations: slightly lower-altitude upwind locations are acceptable, as are constant-altitude locations on a flat terrain. But locations behind a ridge or hill, especially where the wind is blowing downslope, should be avoided.”

Source: UNEP, 1997b
Aside from hard data detailed in Box 1, expertise in the construction and maintenance of the fog harvesting technology is required and training should be provided to local communities to undertake regular quality control and equipment inspections.

Barriers to implementation top:

Several challenges and issues have emerged from fog harvesting projects implemented to date:

Where fog is a seasonal source, water has to be stored in large quantities for dry season use (WaterAId, no date)
If not properly maintained, water quality becomes an issue during low-flow periods
Fog water collection requires specific environmental and topographical conditions, limiting its application to specific regions
Procurement and transportation of materials is hindered by remote locations and steep terrain
Strong winds and snow fall can result in structural failure during the winter season
Water yield is difficult to predict, requiring feasibility studies prior to large scale implementation
For harvesting to be effective, frequent fogs are needed and sufficient water collected for the investment to be cost-effective. This limits the technologies to areas with specific conditions.
There are few commercial producers of mesh currently in operation, with main suppliers located in the Chile. There is none in Africa, North America or Asia (FogQuest). Therefore implementation and maintenance can be costly[due to import or transportation].
Opportunities for implementation top:

Fog water collection has emerged as an innovative technology for mountainous communities without access to traditional sources of water. Still largely in a state of development, there is opportunity for research and development into fog harvesting technology and its potential to support agricultural production. Given the lack of mesh suppliers, using locally available materials for component parts presents an opportunity for local business development. This technology also provides an opportunity to restore natural vegetation and support agricultural practices through the sourcing of clear water for crops and livestock.

References top:

IDRC (International Development Research Centre) (1995) Reading Clouds in Chile, IDRC Reports, Ontario.

Schemenauer, R.S., P. Osses, and M. Leibbrand (2004) Fog collection evaluation and operational projects in the Hajja Governorate, Yemen. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Fog, Fog Collection and Dew, Cape Town, South Africa, 38.

Schemenauer, R.S. and P. Cereceda (1994). Fog collection's role in water planning for developing countries. Natural Resources Forum, 18, 91-100, United Nations, New York.

UNEP (1997) Sourcebook of Alternative Technologies for Freshwater Augmentation in Some Countries in Asia, UNEP, Unit of Sustainable Development and Environment General Secretariat, Organisation of American States, Washington, D.C.

UNISA (University of South Africa) (2008) Research Report, UNISA. Cape Town.

WaterAid, Technical Brief: Rainwater Harvesting, no date