Impact of atmospheric forcing data on simulations of the Laptev Sea polynya dynamics using the sea-ice ocean model FESOM

The polynyas of the Laptev Sea are regions of particular interest due to the strong formation of Arctic sea-ice. In order to simulate the polynya dynamics and to quantify ice production, we apply the Finite Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model FESOM. In previous simulations FESOM has been forced with daily atmospheric NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) 1. For the periods 1 April to 9 May 2008 and 1 January to 8 February 2009 we examine the impact of different forcing data: daily and 6-hourly NCEP reanalyses 1 (1.875° x 1.875°), 6-hourly NCEP reanalyses 2 (1.875° x 1.875°), 6-hourly analyses from the GME (Global Model of the German Weather Service) (0.5° x 0.5°) and high-resolution hourly COSMO (Consortium for Small-Scale Modeling) data (5 km x 5 km). In all FESOM simulations, except for those with 6-hourly and daily NCEP 1 data, the openings and closings of polynyas are simulated in principle agreement with satellite products. Over the fast-ice area the wind fields of all atmospheric data are similar and close to in situ measurements. Over the polynya areas, however, there are strong differences between the forcing data with respect to air temperature and turbulent heat flux. These differences have a strong impact on sea-ice production rates. Depending on the forcing fields polynya ice production ranges from 1.4 km3 to 7.8 km3 during 1 April to 9 May 2011 and from 25.7 km3 to 66.2 km3 during 1 January to 8 February 2009. Therefore, atmospheric forcing data with high spatial and temporal resolution which account for the presence of the polynyas are needed to reduce the uncertainty in quantifying ice production in polynyas.

Impact of Laptev Sea flaw polynyas on the atmospheric boundary layer and ice production using idealized mesoscale simulations

The interaction between polynyas and the atmospheric boundary layer is examined in the Laptev Sea using the regional, non-hydrostatic Consortium for Small-scale Modelling (COSMO) atmosphere model. A thermodynamic sea-ice model is used to consider the response of sea-ice surface temperature to idealized atmospheric forcing. The idealized regimes represent atmospheric conditions that are typical for the Laptev Sea region. Cold wintertime conditions are investigated with sea-ice–ocean temperature differences of up to 40 K. The Laptev Sea flaw polynyas strongly modify the atmospheric boundary layer. Convectively mixed layers reach heights of up to 1200 m above the polynyas with temperature anomalies of more than 5 K. Horizontal transport of heat expands to areas more than 500 km downstream of the polynyas. Strong wind regimes lead to a more shallow mixed layer with strong near-surface modifications, while weaker wind regimes show a deeper, well-mixed convective boundary layer. Shallow mesoscale circulations occur in the vicinity of ice-free and thin-ice covered polynyas. They are forced by large turbulent and radiative heat fluxes from the surface of up to 789 W m−2, strong low-level thermally induced convergence and cold air flow from the orographic structure of the Taimyr Peninsula in the western Laptev Sea region. Based on the surface energy balance we derive potential sea-ice production rates between 8 and 25 cm d−1. These production rates are mainly determined by whether the polynyas are ice-free or covered by thin ice and by the wind strength.

Temporal and spatial variability of surface fluxes over the ice edge zone in the northern Baltic Sea

Three land-fast ice stations (one of them was the Finnish research ice breaker Aranda) and the German research aircraft Falcon were applied to measure the turbulent and radiation fluxes over the ice edge zone in the northern Baltic Sea during the Baltic Air-Sea-Ice Study (BASIS) field experiment from 16 February to 6 March 1998. The temporal and spatial variability of the surface fluxes is discussed. Synoptic weather systems passed the experimental area in a rapid sequence and dominated the conditions (wind speed, airsurface temperature difference, cloud field) for the variability of the turbulent and radiation fluxes. At the ice stations, the largest upward sensible heat fluxes of about 100 Wm�2 were measured during the passage of a cold front when the air cooled faster (�5 K per hour) than the surface. The largest downward flux of about �200 Wm�2 occurred during warm air advection when the air temperature reached +10�C but the surface temperature remained at 0�C. Spatial variability of fluxes was observed from the small scale (scale of ice floes and open water spots) to the mesoscale (width of the ice edge zone). The degree of spatial variability depends on the synoptic situation: during melting conditions downward heat fluxes were the same over ice and open water, whereas during strong cold-air advection upward heat fluxes differed by more than 100 Wm�2. A remarkable amount of grey ice with intermediate surface temperature was observed. The ice in the Baltic Sea cannot be described by one ice type only.

Doing well by talking good? A topic modelling-assisted discourse study of corporate social responsibility

Using the novel technique of topic modelling, this paper examines thematic patterns and their changes over time in a large corpus of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports produced in the oil sector. Whereas previous research on corporate communications has been small-scale or interested in selected lexical aspects and thematic categories identified ex ante, our approach allows for thematic patterns to emerge from the data. The analysis reveals a number of major trends and topic shifts pointing to changing practices of CSR. Nowadays ‘people’, ‘communities’ and ‘rights’ seem to be given more prominence, whereas ‘environmental protection’ appears to be less relevant. Using more established corpus-based methods, we subsequently explore two top phrases - ‘human rights’ and ‘climate change’ that were identified as representative of the shifting thematic patterns. Our approach strikes a balance between the purely quantitative and qualitative methodologies and offers applied linguists new ways of exploring discourse in large collections of texts.

Inter-comparison of stratospheric mean-meridional circulation and eddy mixing among six reanalysis data sets

The stratospheric mean-meridional circulation (MMC) and eddy mixing are compared among six meteorological reanalysis data sets: NCEP-NCAR, NCEP-CFSR, ERA-40, ERA-Interim, JRA-25, and JRA-55 for the period 1979–2012. The reanalysis data sets produced using advanced systems (i.e., NCEP-CFSR, ERA-Interim, and JRA-55) generally reveal a weaker MMC in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) compared with those produced using older systems (i.e., NCEP/NCAR, ERA-40, and JRA-25). The mean mixing strength differs largely among the data products. In the NH lower stratosphere, the contribution of planetary-scale mixing is larger in the new data sets than in the old data sets, whereas that of small-scale mixing is weaker in the new data sets. Conventional data assimilation techniques introduce analysis increments without maintaining physical balance, which may have caused an overly strong MMC and spurious small-scale eddies in the old data sets. At the NH mid-latitudes, only ERA-Interim reveals a weakening MMC trend in the deep branch of the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC). The relative importance of the eddy mixing compared with the mean-meridional transport in the subtropical lower stratosphere shows increasing trends in ERA-Interim and JRA-55; this together with the weakened MMC in the deep branch may imply an increasing age-of-air (AoA) in the NH middle stratosphere in ERA-Interim. Overall, discrepancies between the different variables and trends therein as derived from the different reanalyses are still relatively large, suggesting that more investments in these products are needed in order to obtain a consolidated picture of observed changes in the BDC and the mechanisms that drive them.

The complementary exponential power lifetime model

In this paper we propose a new lifetime distribution which can handle bathtub-shaped unimodal increasing and decreasing hazard rate functions The model has three parameters and generalizes the exponential power distribution proposed by Smith and Bain (1975) with the inclusion of an additional shape parameter The maximum likelihood estimation procedure is discussed A small-scale simulation study examines the performance of the likelihood ratio statistics under small and moderate sized samples Three real datasets Illustrate the methodology (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Villasystem för solvärme

Del 1:Innehållsförteckning och korta sammanfattningarDEL 2:Verksamhetsberättelsen för perioden maj 1992 till april 1993 beskriver de arbeten som har gjorts av villasolvärmegruppen på SERC efter den inledande studie (SERC/UCFB-91/0039), där villasolvärmesystem kartlades. Följande arbeten beskrivs:- Utveckling av lågflödessystem och internationella kontakter- Uppbyggnad av värmelaboratorium på SERC- Praktiska test av värmelagringsenheten- Praktiska test av nya systemkomponenter i solvärmekretsen- Datasimulering inkluderande nyutvecklade systemkomponenterI verksamhetsplanen beskrivs huvudmålet för de arbeten som ska utföras under trårsperioden 93 - 96. Mera detaljerat beskrivs de arbeten som ska utföras under budgetåret 1993/94:- Beräkningsprogram för nogrannare dimensionering av finrörsvärmeväxlare- Konstruktion av maskiner för värmeväxlartillverkning- Utveckling av värmeväxlare för tappvarmvatten- Simuleringsberäkningar för hela systemet med PRESIM/TRNSYS.DEL 3:Del 3 innehåller en redovisning av mätresultat för den undersökta kombitanken. Temperaturförloppen på olika höjd i tankens har studerats vid uppvärmning genom solvärmeväxlaren och nedkylning genom tappning av varmvatten. Resultaten diskuteras kvalitativt och redovisas kvantitativt i form av diagram. Mätresultaten på två prototyper av den på SERC utvecklade finrörsvärmeväxlaren redovisas och diskuteras i jämförelse till traditionell värmeväxlare. De erhållna mätresultaten används som ingångsvärden för simuleringsberäkningar med PRESIM/TRNSYS. Problemen med de i PRESIM/TRNSYS befintliga modellerna diskuteras. De utförda modellberäkningarna tillåter en uppskattning av möjliga förbättringar i form av höjd årsverkningsgrad för ett svenskt villasolvärmesystem med kombitank. I del 3 redovisas dessutom de mätningar som har utförts på otika pumpar vilka skulle kunna användas i solfångarkretsen. Sex olika pumpar analyseras och diskuteras. Del 3 har följande rubriker:- Beskrivning av den undersökta lagringstanken- Mätningar på tappvarmvattenväxlare- Mätningar på solvärmeväxlare (kamflänsrör och finrörsvärmeväxlare)- Simuleringsberäkningar- PumpmätningarDEL 4:Del 4 innehåller publicerade rapporter under 1992 och 93 samt patentansökan för SERC?s finrörsvärmeväxlare: - NORTH SUN 1992, Solar Energy at High Latitudes, June 24-26 1992 Trondheim, Norway. Domestic solar heating system - a systematic study i progress Patentansökan på finrorsvärmeväxlare till Patent- och Registreringsverket från 93 01 23. ISES SOLAR WORLD CONGRESS, 23-27 augusti 1993, Budapest, HUNGARY Criteria for cost efficient small scale solar hot water installations.DEL 5:Del 5 hänvisar till rapporterna från IEA Task-1 4 mötena om solfångarsystem i- Hameln, Tyskland, augusti 1992 och- Rom, Italien, januari 1993.I rapporterna beskrivs aktiviteten inom den internationella arbetsgruppen speciellt med hänsyn på utveckling av villasolvärmesystem. I Rom presenterades principlösningen för den på SERC utvecklade finrörsvärmeväxlare. De har publicerats separat som nr 42 och 46 i SERCs rapportserie.

Report on IEA Task-14 activities on solar collector systems conference in Rome, 25-29 Jan. 1993

The memebers of IEA (International Energy Agency) Task 14 (Advaced Active Solar Systems) met in Rome during January 1993. The latest developments in several countries were presented and discussed during this meeting. This report describes briefly the recent work carried out on small scale systems in the Domestic Hot Water (DHW) working group of Task 14, as reported by the representatives from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Holland and Switzerland. Klaus Lorenz, SERC, attended the meeting as observer and presented our work on small-tube heat exchangers. Several participants expressed their interest. A summary of his presentation is included in this report.

Rapport från/Report from IEA Task-14 mötet/meeting on solar heating system, Hameln Tyskland/Germany August 1992

Participation as observer at the meeting of Task 14 of IEA's Solar Heating and Cooling Projects held in Hameln, Germany has led to greater understanding of interesting developments underway in several countries. This will be of use during the development of small scale systems suitable for Swedish conditions. A summary of the work carried out by the working groups within Task 14 is given, with emphasis on the Domestic Hot Water group. Experiences of low-flow systems from several countries are related, and the conclusion is drawn that the maximum theoretical possible increase in performance of 20% has not been achieved due to poor heat exchangers and poor stratification in the storage tanks. Positive developments in connecting tubes and pumps is noted. Further participation as observer in Task 14 meetings is desired, and is looked on favourably by the members of the group. Another conclusion is that SERC should carry on with work on Swedish storage tanks, with emphasis on better stratification and heat exchangers, and possible modelling of system components. Finally a German Do-it-Vourself kit is described and judged in comparison with prefabricated models and Swedish Do-it-Yourself kits.

Knubbved istället för vanlig ved? : slutrapport från projekt Styckeved för småskalig eldning

Chunkwood is a wood fuel with a fuel particle length between 50 and 150 mm, i.e. with a sizebetween wood chips and conventional firewood. Chunkwood can be produced and handled asrational as wood chips and can dry during storage like conventional firewood. This is known sincelong. In project Smallwood for small scale heating we have investigated if chunkwood can be usedin a small scale as a fuel for heating detached houses in conventional firewood boilers as well asautomatically fed to a boiler in a similar way as wood chips. We have also compared completesystems for small scale production, distribution and heating with chunkwood, wood chips andconventional firewood.Storage of chunkwood produced for testing small scale boilers confirmed that chunkwood can dryduring storage at least as good as conventional firewood. Tests in different boilers for detachedhomes showed that chunkwood can be used in conventional firewood boilers as well as in automaticallyfed wood chips boilers. Chunkwood can be delivered to the customer to the same or lowercost as wood chips and firewood, but need much less handling by the customer than conventionalfirewood. However, if chunkwood is used in a conventional firewood boiler, it needs some handlingby shovel and wheelbarrow. Technical development of handling from the storage to the boiler isneeded. In a somewhat larger scale, e.g. a boiler for apartment blocks or a small district heatingsystem, chunkwood should be very interesting as a replacement of fuel pellets or fuel briquettes. Itwould be interesting with some projects, which in this scale demonstrates the whole system fromthe forest to heat.

Detaljhandelns användande av frontlinjepersonalen, som betydelsefull faktor för kundrelationer och skapande av intäkt

Syftet med denna studie var att komma fram till om kedjeföretag inom detaljhandeln intagit ett serviceperspektiv, där fokus ligger på relationer. Detta genom att undersöka hur aktörerna använder sin frontlinjepersonal. En kvalitativ flerfallstudie har genomförts där tre kedjeföretag bidragit med information rörande transaktions- eller relationsorienterad försäljning, medarbetarskap och betraktande av frontlinjepersonalen. Utgångspunkten för analys av fallstudierna har varit två intervjuer per företag. Dels med butikens högste chef samt med en medarbetare. Det teoretiska ramverket i denna studie rörande medarbetarskap, skapande av värde/nytta för kund samt intern marknadsföring som möjliggör att kund upplever hög tjänstekvalité, signalerar ett tankesätt inom ett serviceperspektiv och används för att svara på syftet. Huruvida kedjeföretagen intagit ett serviceperspektiv fullt ut, är inte möjligt att konkludera i denna småskaliga forskningsuppsats. Vidare forskning är nödvändig. Resultatet från de undersökta företagen i denna studie visar på tendenser till att utveckla ett serviceperspektiv med fokus på goda kundrelationer, vilket är det som skall ge framgång. De undersökta kedjeföretagen skiljer sig dock åt vad gäller intagandet av ett serviceperspektiv. Exempelvis förlitar sig ett företag alltjämt till lågt pris och produktens egenskaper som primära faktorer för intäktsskapande, medan andra premierar det personliga mötet.

Replacing Finned Copper withCorrugated Stainless Steel, forthe Heat Exchangers of a SolarCombisystem Store : Performance and EconomicEvaluation

The importance of investigating cost reduction in materials and components for solar thermal systems is crucial at the present time. This work focuses on the influence of two different heat exchangers on the performance of a solar thermal system. Both heat exchangers studied are immersed helically coiled, one made with corrugated stainless steel tube, and the other made with finned copper tube with smooth inner surface.A test apparatus has been designed and a simple test procedure applied in order to study heat transfer characteristics and pressure drop of both coils. Thereafter, the resulting experimental data was used to perform a parameter identification of the heat exchangers, in order to obtain a TRNSYS model with its corresponding numerical expression. Also a representative small-scale combisystem model was designed in TRNSYS, in order to study the influence of both heat exchangers on the solar fraction of the system, when working at different flow rates.It has been found that the highest solar fraction is given by the corrugated stainless steel coil, when it works at the lowest flow rate (100 l/hr). For any higher flow rate, the studied copper coil presents a higher solar fraction. The advantageous low flow performance of stainless steel heat exchanger turns out to be beneficial for the particular case of solar thermal systems, where it is well known that low flow collector loops lead to enhanced store stratification, and consequently higher solar fractions.Finally, an optimization of the stainless steel heat exchanger length is carried out, according to economic figures. For the given combisystem model and boundary conditions, the optimum length value is found between 10 and 12 m.

Mobile Assisted Language Learning : A Literature Review

Mobile assisted language learning (MALL) is a subarea of the growing field of mobile learning (mLearning) research which increasingly attracts the attention of scholars. This study provides a systematic review of MALL research within the specific area of second language acquisition during the period 2007 - 2012 in terms of research approaches, methods, theories and models, as well as results in the form of linguistic knowledge and skills. The findings show that studies of mobile technology use in different aspects of language learning support the hypothesis that mobile technology can enhance learners’ second language acquisition. However, most of the reviewed studies are experimental, small-scale, and conducted within a short period of time. There is also a lack of cumulative research; most theories and concepts are used only in one or a few papers. This raises the issue of the reliability of findings over time, across changing technologies, and in terms of scalability. In terms of gained linguistic knowledge and skills, attention is primarily on learners’ vocabulary acquisition, listening and speaking skills, and language acquisition in more general terms.

Distance teacher education : Experiences from Dalarna University, Sweden

In 2003 the first distance teacher education started at Dalarna University in a small scale compared with today when a large part of the teacher education is distributed as distance education. From this point of view it seems important to ask the question: How can you become a successful distance student? This paper is based on a case study. Data were collected from earlier research reports, study registers and a group interview. The most important parameters appeared to be motivation, situation in life, discipline and experiences from earlier studies and/or work experience and good relations to other students and the university teachers.

Gestão de transferência de inovações tecnológicas para empresas do setor produtivo: complexidade no relacionamento entre organizações de culturas diferentes

The motivation of this study is based on the expectation of understanding, at least in part, the reason why the brazilian academic production ¿ which is among the largest if compared to the developing countries, has not been translated in a useful way into concrete technology transference for the production sector. The supposition that different cultures and subcultures, in terms of values, behavior, practices among organizations and groups of selected actors involved in that process,- which is the central problem of this study, and peculiar to the technology context, has elected that relationship process the object of this research this study theoretical fundaments rely on culture and technology to analyze the subcultures which manifest themselves through the typified groups of researchers, in the public organizations, small scale employers, acting on technology based companies in the private sector (ebts) and mediators. Who also act in the process the preliminary step was the case study. Several qualitative methods an procedures were used. And the investigation has advanced toward interacting interviews, at the end added by the focal group method. The conclusions reject the existence of incompatibility among the subject groups points of view, however, points out some divergent values, the presence of mutual stereotypes and also confirms the supposition that the research platform is strongly influenced by the financial factor. Although, the study reveals that the presence of common objectives which lay behind the cited divergences make possible to present a core of practical suggestions to implement the studied relationships for the benefit of the production sector as well. The peculiarities perceived while dealing with that singular context suggest futures research to clarify possible new and obscure areas in that complex relationships.