" UNESCO is publishing the first-ever world map of shared aquifers to coincide with the submission to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 27 October of a draft Convention on Transboundary Aquifers. Almost 96% of the planet’s freshwater resources are to be found in underground aquifers, most of which straddle national boundaries.
espite its strategic importance, no global inventory of this resource had been compiled to date. Since 2000, UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) has been participating in the establishment of a groundwater database. It is now presenting a detailed map of transboundary aquifers ? available online ? showing the delineations of aquifers that are shared by at least two countries. It also provides information about the quality of their water and rate of replenishment. So far, the inventory comprises 273 shared aquifers: 68 are on the American continent, 38 in Africa, 65 in eastern Europe, 90 in western Europe and 12 in Asia.
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" General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles.
”Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century,”said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. ”The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges.” "
-----image(”2011 Chevrolet Volt Production Show Car 2011 Chevrolet Volt Propulsion System. X11AR_CH001 (United States)
”） : GM : Photosより
" Solo kiting on the Pacific
From San Francisco to the French Polynesian Islands
2008: Anne Quemere’s new challenge
The only woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean in both directions on the Southern and Northern routes and on a third occasion, again kiting solo the Atlantic from New York to France.
This time, Anne Quemere will challenge the Pacific Ocean over 7000 kilometres.
She will kite from San Francisco to the French Polynesian Islands, crossing from the Northern to the Southern hemisphere and Equator’s infamous “doldrums” also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Anne Quemere’s determination, courage and perseverance have been well established by her three previous crossings of the Atlantic Ocean.
2008 will be the year of yet a more demanding challenge and sports event. She will establish a new route for kite sailing on an ocean which bears but a peaceful name.
Three objectives arise from this new challenge:
・Update technological innovations : the challenge will be a wonderful occasion to collect scientific data
・Selflessness, imagination and feelings will be highlighted. These methods will allow everyone to follow in true time this undoubtedly trying adventure
・The challenge will concentrate on the development of renewable energy
Anne Quemere or a lifetime on the oceans
Born in Quimper of the Finistere region (France), Anne Quemere is still the only woman to have rowed solo and without assistance across the Atlantic Ocean both ways. She completed these feats by rowing the Trade Winds and then the Northern routes.
During the summer of 2006, Anne Quemere succeeded a yet unseen method of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. She set out from New York, heading to Ouessant (France), again sailing solo and without assistance, relying on the Oceankite, a five metre prototype propelled by kites.
This was a World’s first.
The goal of this challenge was to prove it could be done and it was!
Important technical considerations were surmounted, yet there are numerous improvements to be carried out (mastering the sailing techniques, the weather, speed and complex manoeuvring of the kites themselves).
The adventure had to continue…
With the experience she gathered with the 2006 Atlantic Challenge, both from human and technical standpoints, Anne Quemere wanted more answers for this new type of sailing.
Again partnering with Anne, the “Conseil Regional” of Brittany recalls that :”The spirit of adventure, courage and determination are valued by our people as they help build the image of a dynamic Brittany”.
The Naish Corporation again will provide technical support as it had done during the 2006 Challenge.
If the Challenge is well seated in all its technical aspects, Anne Quemere would like to attract more partners in order to share this adventure with a greater number of people.
All information can be found at : www.anne-quemere.com "
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-----image(pop up) : Google Earthキャプチャー画像。[NASAが公開している地球の姿。2008/10/19AM0:00収録-Composite of daily MODIS TERRA subsets. Built and served using Web Map Service from http://OnEarth.jpl.nasa.gov/.
This layer contains images collected the previous day, around 10AM local time. The layer is updated every day, around 09AM GMT.The background is the current month from the MODIS Blue Marble Next Generation.]
" Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation, rising sea level, more intense and frequent extreme weather events and melting glaciers, ice sheets and Arctic sea ice are some of the challenges for Europe already triggered by global climate change, says a report released today by the European Environment Agency, the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.
The report 'Impacts of Europe’s changing climate', based on 40 key indicators, stresses the consequences of both observed and projected changes, including an increased risk of floods and droughts, losses of biodiversity, threats to human health and damage to economic sectors such as energy, transport, forestry, agriculture, and tourism.
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”This report makes strikingly clear that many regions and sectors across Europe are vulnerable to climate change impacts. Implementation of adaptation actions has only just started. We need to intensify such actions and improve information exchange on data, effectiveness and costs.”-Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA
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" The report presents past and projected climate change and impacts in Europe by means of about 40 indicators and identifies sectors and regions most vulnerable with a high need for adaptation. The report covers the following indicator categories: atmosphere and climate, cryosphere, marine biodiversity and ecosystems, water quantity (including river floods and droughts), freshwater quality and biodiversity, terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity, soil, agriculture and forestry, human health. Furthermore the report shows the need for adaptation actions at EU, national and regional level and the need for enhanced monitoring, data collection and exchange and reducing uncertainties in projections. The report is a joined effort of the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC-IES) and the World Health Organisation Europe (WHO). "
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" The Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit, today launched “Solekshaw”, the solar-electric rickshaw for eco-friendly urban transport, at a function organized on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti near the Chandni Chowk Metro Station here in the august presence of Shri Kapil Sibal, the Vice-President, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR and Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari, the Director General, CSIR was among the other dignitaries who were present on the occasion.
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Technical Features
Power source Solar and human
Drive Motor-assisted pedal-driven
Electric motor BLDC hub motor: 240-350 W, 36 V with regenerative capabilities
Transmission Chain drive with differential and two ratios
Brakes Three-wheel braking
Seating capacity Two passengers
Payload 200 kg(excluding driver)
Speed limit 15 kmph
The advanced versions of Soleckshaw Mark II and Mark III with better aesthetics, ergonomics, speed and recumbent driving position is expected to be ready for launch during the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Several R&D projects are slated to be launched in the areas of storage batteries, charge and speed controller, solar photovoltaics and hybrid transmission, in a network mode to make the future Soleckshaw, an engineering marvel.
コメント
太陽電池は、屋根には搭載していない。つまり電動リキシャーで、バッテリーの充電を太陽電池で行うことができる。オートリキシャというより、電動アシスト機能付きの、人力車のようです。
”Power source Solar and human” いいですね。動力は、太陽と人っていうのが。モデル名は、Soleckshaw Mark IIとIIIとかいうらしいです。電動アシストがついたことで、リキシャワーラーの収入などがあがり、労働環境の改善にもつながる効果も見込まれるとのことです。
日本でも人力のベロタクシーが走っている町があります。そのベロタクシーにバッテリーとモーターで動かせば、日本版の電動オートリキシャはできそうですが、法規などが問題になるんでしょうね。はやり日本では、シンプルに人力のみというのがいいのかもしれません。(t_t)
" We invite bloggers to examine poverty from their own blog topics and perspectives, to look at it from the macro and micro, as a global condition and a local issue, and to bring their own ideas, views and opinions on the subject. ”
In 2008, the Blog Action Day theme is Poverty. Bloggers are free to interpret this as they see fit. We invite bloggers to examine poverty from their own blog topics and perspectives, to look at it from the macro and micro, as a global condition and a local issue, and to bring their own ideas, views and opinions on the subject.
Because Poverty as a subject for blogging can feel a little daunting, we’ve prepared a series of resources to help bloggers get started with tackling this issue. Visit the Resources pages for help. "
「インサイト・コンセプト」は、優れた空力性能による力強い走りをテーマに「環境性能」と「Fun to drive」を高次元で融合させたエクステリアデザインを採用。ボディサイズは全長4,375mm、全高1,425mm、全幅1,695mmのコンパクトな5ナンバーサイズで、超軽量の専用アルミホイールに205／40 R18のタイヤを装着。インテリアは操る楽しさを感じるコクピットとハイブリッドならではの先進感・未来感を演出したデザインとなっている。
家庭の冷蔵庫には、コンプレッサーと冷媒を使って熱交換をするコイル部分がある。冷蔵庫は、一般家庭で使われるようになってせいぜい50年。冷媒は、フロンから代替フロンなどにかわり、保温材の性能がかわりスタイルもかわれども、基本的なシステムは変わっていない。コンプレッサーとコイルは、場所をとるし製品の性能と寿命を左右する。この部分のイノベーションは、これまでも熱電対などを利用したものが試されてはいるが、既存品に変わるものとはなっていない。こうした現状を打破すべく、アメリカのPennsylvania State Universityの研究者が新たな方式の冷機を開発したことがスラッシュドットに掲載されました。
" Refrigerators and other cooling devices may one day lose their compressors and coils of piping and become solid state, according to Penn State researchers who are investigating electrically induced heat effects of some ferroelectric polymers.
”This is the first step in the development of an electric field refrigeration unit,”says Qiming Zhang, distinguished professor of electrical engineering. ”For the future, we can envision a flat panel refrigerator. No more coils, no more compressors, just solid polymer with appropriate heat exchangers.”
Other researchers have explored magnetic field refrigeration, but electricity is more convenient.
Zhang, working with Bret Neese, graduate student, materials science and engineering; postdoctoral fellows Baojin Chu and Sheng-Guo Lu; Yong Wang, graduate student, and Eugene Furman, research associate, looked at ferroelectric polymers that exhibit temperature changes at room temperature under an electrical field. These polarpolymers include poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)-chlorofluoroethylene, however there are other polarpolymers that exhibit the same effect.
Conventional cooling systems ? refrigerators or air conditioners ? rely on the properties of gases to cool and most systems use the change in density of gases at changing pressures to cool. The coolants commonly used are either harmful to people or the environment. Freon, one of the fluorochlorocarbons banned because of the damage it did to the ozone layer, was the most commonly used refrigerant. Now, a variety of coolants is available. Nevertheless, all have problems and require energy-eating compressors and lots of heating coils.
Zhang's approach uses the change form disorganized to organized that occurs in some polarpolymers when placed in an electric field. The natural state of these materials is disorganized with the various molecules randomly positioned. When electricity is applied, the molecules become highly ordered and the material gives off heat and becomes colder. When the electricity is turned off, the material reverts to its disordered state and absorbs heat.
The researchers report a change in temperature for the material of about 22.6 degrees Fahrenheit, in the Aug. 8 issue of Science. Repeated randomizing and ordering of the material combined with an appropriate heat exchanger could provide a wide range of heating and cooling temperatures.
"These polymers are flexible and can be used for heating and cooling, so there may be many different possible applications," said Zhang, also a faculty member of Penn State's Materials Research Institute.
Besides air conditioning and refrigeration units, applications could include heating or cooling of a variety of clothing including cooling of protective gear for firefighters; heating of mittens and socks or shoes for athletes, sportsmen and law enforcement officers; and even cooling of mascot and cartoon character costumes. Another application would be in electronics, where small amounts of the polymers could effectively cool over heating circuit boards and allow closer packing, and therefore smaller devices.
The U.S. Department of Energy supported this work. "
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