We need an alternative to driving, that’s for sure!

First up, the Heathrow Pods. Officially called a Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) System, these futuristic pods are actually due to start being used at Heathrow to ferry passengers between the business car park and Terminal 5. They look like something from James Bond or some sci-fi adventure. The pods don’t require drivers. Instead they are powered by a battery pack. There are no timetables, they wait at the designated pick up point and once you get in the doors close and take you to your destination. The pods follow a guide-way using the lasers which are fitted within them. If there is no pod waiting, you can call on one and it should be with you within seconds. They only travel at 25 miles per hour but they are extremely convenient, much better than standing in the rain waiting for a shuttle bus. Most importantly, the pods have no emissions. It is likely, if these pods are successful at Terminal 5, that Heathrow will roll them out across the whole airport. The town of Daventry in Northamptonshire is also looking at using PRT as a solution to transporting its  increasing population. These pods are also extremely safe, with CCTV installed in each of them. There is no need to share a pod with a person, or people that you do not know, making for a more pleasant experience all round.

Like an iMac

Another alternative to car transport is the scooter. Now, scooters may not seem like the most convenient alternative to cars, especially as they can only accommodate a maximum of two people but they are great for getting about. However, an even greener alternative is the electric scooter which is bound to become more popular as people continue to examine their choices and the subsequent effect on the environment. These electric scooters can be charged in a standard household socket and within a few hours they will have sufficient energy to travel between 20-30 miles. These environmentally friendly scooters can cost as little as £500 for smaller models with motors around 200 watts. These are powered by lead acid batteries with a 36 voltage. Top of the range electric scooters tend to cost around £1000 but for this money you will get a motor with 1500 watts which is powered by a 48 volt silicon gel battery. Granted the smaller versions only travel at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Anyone over the age of 14 is permitted to ride these, however the larger models travel at speeds of up to 30mph and have the same classification as mopeds. You needn’t skimp on style either as all of these scooters come in a range of colours so there is sure to be something for everybody.

An electric scooter will get you the girls

Train travel is already considered to be one of the greenest methods of transportation for the masses within the country. However, when people are jetting off from these fine shores they often find it more convenient to catch a flight. It can be difficult to keep your carbon footprint high up on your agenda when thoughts of a sunnier climate are filling your thoughts. There is another alternative though as trains operate over the High Speed 1 line. This does exactly as it says, introducing high speed train travel between the UK and Paris, Lille and Brussels. For example, train travel to Paris will be 20 minutes shorter, at just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Eventually there will be eight of these high speed 1 trains travelling every hour between Britain and Europe. St Pancras station has become the home of this international train link, although another station has opened in Ebbsfleet, Kent.

If they run on time, they’re fine

Travelling by boat seems to be somewhat under-rated unless you are the owner of some fabulous yacht decked out with all that your heart desires. However, this method of transport actually has many plus points. You are closer to the environment that we are all trying so hard to protect when you are on a boat. When else would you have the opportunity to face mother nature’s elements to the same degree? Another positive is the lack of traffic, beeping horns, congestion, and fumes! So, why not give it a try? A day at sea is guaranteed to lift your spirits and make you feel worthy for reducing that carbon footprint.

Erm, perhaps not.

Of course, when talking about transport for the future we seem to believe that it has to be some futuristic, space-age invention but often reverting back to  more traditional methods of transport can be the best idea. This brings me to my final non-car method of transport for the future – the humble bicycle. That’s right the bike that you spent so many hours enjoying as a child but then gave up as more mature methods of transport seemed more appealing, well the bike is back. We have seen an upsurge in high profile people choosing to ride bikes due to its green credentials. The bike is the ideal method for zooming around and to top it all off, you will get fitter at the same time. Besides, what better than spending some time in the fresh air every day?

Biking is always a good one1

So, I guess only time will tell whether or not the majority of us ditch the convenience of our cars for greener methods or newer technologies. At least we know that there are alternatives out there and hopefully, bit by bit, we can all do something to reduce our carbon footprint.

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Now that’s a big wave…

The basic concept of a wave is the same regardless of how it is created.  A wave is simply produced through the transference of energy.  If you were to skip a rock across the surface of a lake, ripples would radiate outward from each location where the rock touched the water along its path.  In this situation, the rock transferred energy to the water which produced the tiny waves.  All this really means is that waves just don’t appear; they are created with the help of some other form of energy.

The most common types of waves are produced by the wind.  Picture the wind blowing over the surface of the sea.  As the wind blows, there is energy transference to the surface water that helps to push the wave forward.  On a particularly windy day, the waves are more likely to be bigger simply because there is more energy being transferred to the water.  On a calmer day of weather, waves may barely make a splash as they roll onto the beach.

It’s the wind that causes all the waves

Hurricanes are capable of producing the most violent waves.  The most destructive hurricanes can produce winds that blow at more than 135 knots.  It is easy to see how such strong winds could create dangerous waves.  These waves may also reach much further inland than the ordinary waves that roll in each day and may cause coastal flooding.

Wakes are another type of wave that can be seen in the water.  Watch a boat drive by in the water and you will see a series of small waves form at the bow and pass down the sides, forming a wake as they leave the stern.  These waves will spread outwards away from the boat. The waves are caused by the boat’s movement in the water which is another type of energy transference.  If the boat is just bobbing in a stationary position, the wake will likely be very small.  If a speedboat ploughs through the water, expect a far bigger wake.  The largest wakes that you are likely to see are those produced by some of the high-speed ferries that operate from ports on the South Coast of England.

Wake in the wake..

Although they are thankfully quite rare tsunamis are just another form of wave, but these ‘walls of water’ can cause a great deal of damage.  This type of wave caused much concern in 2004 after a tsunami in the Indian Ocean washed ashore and killed close to 230,000 people.  Tsunamis happen fairly infrequently although at least 25 major events have been recorded throughout the last century.

Unlike the more traditional wave a tsunami is triggered by a different kind of event.  Anything from an earthquake to a large underwater detonation can trigger these giant waves.  If a large earthquake were to occur in the ocean, a great deal of water would very suddenly be displaced.  As the water absorbs energy from the earthquake, a tsunami can form.  Because of the way a tsunami gradually grows, it might not even be detectable at sea.  It is possible that a ship could sail right over a tsunami and never even know it was there.

Normal waves created by the wind will have around 100 metres between each crest in the series.  A tsunami has closer to 200 kilometres between each crest in the series and they travel at speeds greater than 800 kilometres per hour.  As the tsunami comes closer to the shore, the waves begin to slow down and they start to pile up on one another.  This causes the distance between the waves to decrease dramatically. The end result is a gigantic wave that crashes onto the beach carrying all before it.

Tsunami’s are awful, dangerous things

Because of the unique nature of a tsunami, this type of natural event can’t really be predicted.  One of the biggest indications that a tsunami is coming occurs within minutes of the massive wave’s arrival.  As the tsunami comes closer to land, the water will begin to drawback from the shore into the crest of the wave.  Someone standing on the shore would notice that a portion of the beach that is not typically visible could now be seen.  Anyone witnessing this type of event needs to head towards high ground quickly because the tsunami will not be far behind; you will never outrun one!

Another type of large wave is known as a rogue wave.  This type of wave may not be as large as a tsunami but they can certainly pose a great threat to shipping or to people standing close the edge of the sea.  Unlike a tsunami that may be completely unnoticed at sea, a rogue wave appears along the surface of the ocean.  Rogue waves can be so dangerous because they are completely random and unpredictable. For many years, this concept of a rogue wave was considered to be a thing of fiction.  It was not until more recent years that evidence was found to prove that such waves actually existed.  Rogue waves occur fairly infrequently and nobody knows for sure what exactly causes them to form.

Quick! It’s a rouge wave!!!

It is a misconception that the moon creates waves.  Although the moon does have an impact on the Earth’s seas and oceans, it comes in the form of the tides and not waves.  There is a gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon that is similar to two magnets trying to pull themselves together.  The Earth can’t hold on to the water like it can the land and so the moon is able to pull the water up and down on a continuous basis.  This process produces our high and low tides

So there are several different types of waves that exist.  Wind created waves are very common while tsunamis and rouge waves are thankfully much more rare.  The one thing that these waves all have in common is that they were created by the transference of some type of energy.

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Useful as well as fun

If you set your alarm clock the night before to wake you up in the morning, chances are you probably slept in.  Unless you happen to have an alarm clock that is powered by batteries, you will be likely to awake late to a powerless alarm clock.  Even if your alarm clock has a battery backup, how many of us really check to make sure the batteries aren’t dead on a regular basis?

After you light a candle so you don’t have to stumble around your house, you may find yourself heading straight to the kettle to make a cup of tea.  You can imagine your frustration when you go to boil the kettle only to be denied by a lack of power.

Now it is time to shower and get ready for work.  If you have an electric shower you will immediately encounter a problem because it won’t work. If you use an electric shaver likewise, hopefully you have a disposable razor stashed somewhere to use as a backup.  There are other morning related accessories that require electricity including your hair dryer.

Overslept, no coffee, no shower - bad day at work

Getting to work is going to be a nightmare.  If it is wintertime it will be dark and there will be no streetlights.  Think about the number of traffic lights that you pass through during your commute.  Every one of these lights is likely to be shutdown.  Even if they have a backup power source, chances are that they are reliant on electricity in one form of the other.  They probably won’t be working properly anyway as most these days are controlled by a computer system, which will be likely to have shut down.

After sitting through hours of traffic you may finally make it to work.  Depending on what you do for a living, there might not be much work for you to take care of.  Fax machines, computers, and many other pieces of office machinery will be out of service unless your company has a backup generator.  That will leave you sitting in a dark office chatting with the rest of your fellow co-workers who were able to make it in.

As you climb into your car to head home, the low petrol light pops on when you turn on the engine.  The traffic that you endured going into work has depleted your fuel supply.  While it might seem easy enough to stop at the petrol station, remember that the fuel pumps are powered by electricity and the computer tills will all have stopped working.

No petrol = Mad Max!

By the time you do get home, the thought of a nice cold bottle of beer from the fridge will seem pretty good.  Too bad that bottle of beer is no longer cold.  Whatever food you have in your refrigerator and freezer is likely to go bad quickly with no electricity to keep it cold.  Hopefully you don’t have a microwave or an electric range to cook with.  Neither appliance will do you much good in this situation.  A quick look through your camping gear may reveal an old cooking stove that you can easily prepare meals on.

Clearly life as we know it would change completely without electricity.  It is easy to think of all the little things we would have to do without if electricity ceased to exist.  Along with all of the luxuries like TV, there are many bigger and more vital things that would be affected by the lack of electricity.

Think about your drinking water.  Chances are it is run through some type of purification plant before it ever reaches you.  If there is no electricity to power the different systems that a purification plant relies on, there will be no clean water to drink.  The same can be said for our waste disposal plants.  Think about what would happen if all of our waste began to build up; cities would start to stink.

All the water will be horrible as well….

Hospitals would barely function without electricity.  There are numerous different machines that doctors rely on to help diagnose different ailments.  There are also machines that are used to monitor certain vital signs during procedures.  Without electricity, illnesses could go undetected and patients could fall into cardiac arrest without anyone noticing.

The food industry has greatly benefited from the use of electricity. Think of the sophisticated packaging plants that exist and the different types of machinery that each one relies on. How would we get food from the farm into each of our houses without electricity?

While so many aspects of our lives would be altered without electricity, it is not the end of the world, but the consequences would be pretty disastrous.  Economies would collapse and there would be major public unrest. There would certainly be growing pains as we discovered new ways to accomplish different tasks.  It is important to realise that we existed for thousands of years before electricity became a major influence in our lives.  We would eventually figure out how to exist without it once again.

This is where the economy would go down

Just looking back at a few of the daily activities, there are already alternatives for some of the obstacles we might encounter.  Open fires can be used to cook our food and candles can be used to provide light where it is needed.

It is easy to see all of the bad things that would happen if we were to lose our electricity.  What might not be so obvious are the good things that might happen.  If we are forced to walk more instead of driving our cars everywhere, our health would improve.   Without things like cars and factories emitting greenhouse gasses, our planet would be much healthier.  Having said that it wouldn’t be much fun and life as we are used to living it would be gone.

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Amazing things to see….from a distance….

These massive columns of devastation can have wind speeds of up to 318 mph (or 512 kph).  They hit every continent in the world except Antarctica.  Tornadoes can occur any time of the year and at any time of the day or night as long as the conditions are right.

All tornadoes (according to the National Weather Service) are generated by a thunderstorm.  Unstable air lifts up from the ground to much higher altitudes.  Air pressure drops and the surrounding air flows up even faster.  The resulting vortex (or tornado as it is called when it forms over land and touches down) follows the path directed by the parent thunderstorm.

They always come after a thunderstorm

The first scale for measuring the destructive force of a tornado was introduced in 1971 by T. Theodore Fujita.  The Fujita scale ranked tornadoes at six levels according to wind speed and damage.

Scientists enhanced the measurements in 2007 using more criteria but still keeping the six levels.  Both scales use wind estimates and not true measurements since few instruments are available (or are left intact) in the path of a tornado.  The Fujita Scale and the Enhanced Fujita Scale do more to judge the damage of the tornado than to measure the actual force of that tornado.

The scales do not measure the size of the tornado.  A small tornado can be extremely powerful and a large tornado can be weak.  The size of the tornado has little to do with the destructive force inside that tornado.

Look at the destruction!

Tips to Understanding the Enhanced Fujita Scale

•    The Enhanced Fujita Scale looks at the different constructions and gives more weight to any damage to larger and stronger structures.

•    The degree of damage to the structures is also rated by 28 different indicators.

•    The Enhanced Fujita Scale looks at the tornado’s path as a whole and not just the worst damage.

Enhanced Fujita Scale

EF0 - winds are estimated between 65 and 85 mph.  The damage is light with only minor damage to roofs or gutters.  Tree branches are broken and smaller trees may be blown over.

EF1 - the wind speeds will be around 85 to 110 mph.  There is moderate damage with roofs stripped and mobile homes turned over.  Windows and glass will be shattered.

EF2 - the wind speeds are between 111 and 135 mph (a category 4 hurricane has winds in this range).  Damage is heavier with single wide mobile homes completely destroyed.  Stick built homes are moved off the foundation.  Softwood trees can lose their bark.

EF3 - the wind speeds are between 136 and 165 mph (a category 5 hurricane has winds in this range).  Damage is severe with portions of stick built homes being destroyed.  Hardwood trees will lose their bark.

EF4 - the wind speeds will be between 166 and 200 mph.  Damage is devastating with buildings completely destroyed.

EF5 - the wind speeds will be over 200 mph.  The damage is unimaginable.  Even stronger mid and high rise buildings will sustain incredible damage.

The finger of god!

Technology has helped reduce some of the destructive nature of tornadoes.  Construction is better, but the warning system is what has seen the most improvement.  These days the use of different radars and communications allows meteorologists to predict tornadoes and issue warnings with enough time for people to seek shelter.

Some Tornado Myths

Myth:  You need to open the doors and windows to keep the tornado from blowing up a house.

Truth:  Never waste your time opening the windows.  The force of the wind and debris will shatter any glass.  Use your time to seek sufficient cover.

Myth:  Inside anything is the best place to be during a tornado.

Truth:  The inside of a solid structure is the safest place to be during a tornado.  You are safer in a ditch or other similar location than you are inside a mobile home or car (which can be tossed around by the tornado).

Any solid structure will protect you

Myth:  Underneath an overpass is a good place to take cover if you are on the road.

Truth:  Bridges and overpasses become wind tunnels that enhance the power of the tornado.  Find a deep ditch instead.

Myth:  Tornadoes always move in a straight line.

Truth:  Tornadoes can rotate within the mother thunderstorm or run along a straight path along with that thunderstorm.

Always in a straight line

Tornadoes are one of the most destructive storms.  Understanding their power and respecting that power is the best way to ensure the safety of your family when a tornado threatens to strike.

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There are lots of different ways to create electricity

As wave power is a renewable energy source it is an important energy alternative in comparison to fossil fuels which will not last forever. If we can efficiently harness such renewable energy sources on a larger scale then perhaps we would rely less on the sources which will expire relatively soon.

Waves are generated by wind passing over the sea – as long as the waves are formed slower than the speed of the wind, the transfer of energy is achieved from the wind to the most energetic waves. Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves. The energy is captured in order to harness and make use of it. Examples include the generation of electricity, water desalination and the pumping of water, such as into reservoirs.

There’s alot of power in those waves

There are factors which increase the growth of the wave height. The speed of the wind; the length of time the wind blows against the water/waves; the depth of the water, and the fetch (distance of the open water over which the wind has travelled across).
When considering harnessing waves as a viable energy source, it is important to understand that in general, large waves are more powerful. The wave power can be determined by the height, speed and wavelength of the wave, alongside water density. There is a point called a “fully developed sea” where by the wind speed has a matching practical limit from which neither distance nor time will produce bigger waves.
Wave power is distinct from tidal power and ocean currents. It has not been widely employed commercially, despite attempts to do exactly this since at least 1890. In recent years, there has been more of a focus on wave power. The world’s first commercial wave farm was opened in 2008 in Portugal. In 2007, funding for the world’s largest wave farm was announced, and it is to be located in Scotland. There are also plans for a wave hub off the north coast of Cornwall, England. The wave energy will connect to generating devices, and will supply electricity.

The moon controls it all!

It may seem that the cost of such equipment for wave farms appears high, but the savings that wave power generators will bring are significant, especially considering the growing importance of acting against the greenhouse effect which is worsened by other energy sources, most particularly fossil fuels. The Cornwall wave power generator alone is thought to be able to save the environment from 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide during the next 25 years!

300,000 tonnes is the same as this very large hole

It seems vital that we should globally invest in our planet’s future – sooner rather than later. By accepting the relatively small short term financial costs of installing such wave power technology, we can help protect our planet from a potentially large environmental cost. This is especially important as the fossil fuels which we so much rely on will be exhausted at some point in the future.
The modern scientific pursuit of harnessing wave energy started in response to the oil crisis. In the 1970s Professor Stephen Salter of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland created what is known as “Salter’s Duck” or the “Nodding Duck” – officially known as the “Edinburgh Duck”. An analysis of this identified errors in the estimated cost of wave energy production. This, alongside a lack of enthusiasm for renewable energy in the 1980s, held back any advances in the creation and use of wave power technology.

The ‘Edinburgh Duck’

The efficiency of converting wave power into electricity can pose challenges. It tends to be available in low-speed, high forces, most of which are multi-directional. Whilst it is clear that wave power can provide energy for our use, it is important to consider any negatives to investing and constructing wave power equipment. There are challenges to deploying wave power devices. The construction of the devices must withstand potential damage from salt-water corrosion and storm damage. The designers of such devices tend to create prototypes that are so overbuilt that the costs of materials prevent affordable production. There may also be impacts on the marine environment – such as noise pollution – which could have a negative impact if not monitored. As the designs of wave power devices vary greatly, the estimated noise and visible impact will also differ.
There is a high total cost of electricity; wave power can only compete well with other forms of energy generation when the total cost of this method of generation is reduced. Costs include the installation and maintenance of the devices, the mooring system, the power take-off system, the primary converter and electricity delivery costs.

But it is an expensive way to make energy

There is a huge potential for deep water wave power. The best locations for this include the northern coast of the UK, the western seaboard of Europe, the Pacific coastlines of North and South America, Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The temperate zones have the best sites for capturing wave power.
The back-and-forth or up-and-down movement of waves can be harnessed to capture wave power. An example of how this works would be for the wave power to force air in and out of a chamber to then drive a piston or spin a turbine which subsequently powers a generator.
Wave power is a viable energy alternative to the much used and increasingly depleting fossil fuels. Ocean technologies are still young and mostly experimental mainly due to the difficulties and costs met whilst building tidal arrays at sea and then transferring the energy back to land. However, as the industry develops and matures, overall costs will decrease and so the benefits of harnessing this renewable energy source may be enjoyed. It seems that a main reason why wave power is not widely harnessed today is directly due to the cost involved in the technology’s implementation.

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A nuclear power plant is a steam-electric power plant.  The water is heated by the process of fission and the steam from the water turns the turbines to generate the electricity.  At the beginning stage the uranium is mildly radioactive and can be handled with no shielding present.

They look pretty inconspicuous don’t they?

The process of generating power through the process of fission (splitting neutrons in uranium atoms) has proven to be a successful resource.  It has also proven to be a dangerous resource.  The spent uranium is highly radioactive and special care has to be taken to handle, transport and store the waste.

Many countries are turning to nuclear power plants as a potential resource for new fuel.  Other alternatives are also being considered – like wind power – but the power generated from one nuclear power plant is more than the other resources can offer.

Finding cheap fuel sources is important to the powering of a nation, but there are many more risks associated with nuclear power plants than with other alternative fuels.

This is what we’re all afraid of!

Problems with Nuclear Power

• The waste from nuclear power plants emits a heat along with the radiation.  This meant that it will eventually corrode any container that is currently used to store it.  Once it leaks from its containers the nuclear waste is deadly to life forms around it.

• One nuclear power plant can produce up to 20 metric tons of used fuel each year.  There are a limited number of locations where all of this contaminated waste can safely be stored.

• It takes thousands of years for the radioactive waste to decay down to a safe level.  Low-level radio active waste (clothing, rags, mops, filters, shoe covers, reactor water and even equipment and tools) all take centuries to decay before they are safe to life around them in an unprotected state.

• Poor design and improper operation of any nuclear power plant in the world can lead to catastrophic disaster (the Chernobyl malfunction killed thousands and contaminated millions of acres of forest).

A meltdown can kill everything

• The waste in the form of plutonium from the nuclear power plants is used to create nuclear weapons.  A bomb that could cause the same damage as the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in World War II would only take around 18 pounds of the plutonium.

• Just the mining of the uranium for use in the nuclear power plants can cause adverse affects on the surrounding ecosystem.

Many experts say that the benefits far out weigh the risks involved with nuclear power plants.  Having the proper oversight and putting in the right investment for building and maintaining nuclear power plants helps to decrease the risks that comes with utilizing the alternative fuel.

But it will stop pollution?

The Chernobyl accident cost the government more than it had saved in almost four decades of running all of its power plants.  The problems also reached as far as Scotland.  The impact of the nuclear power plant disaster reached well beyond the immediate surrounding areas.

Those against nuclear power plants argue that the best thing that can be done is to stop using it altogether.  Even this has some risks and if there are going to be risks anyway why not benefit from them at the same time.  There seems to be no easy answer.  Once the genie was let out of the box it seems like an impossible task to get it back in.

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The sun, we really, really, really need it.

This entry is a brief description of five alternative power types being used today. Solar energy is the original source of energy that enables alternative power types to generate biomass, hydroelectric power, geothermal power, hydrogen and solar power.

1.  Biomass is a process of using plant materials as food for bio energy. Bio energy is successful because the vegetative material used is easily replenished. If people continue to plant vegetation, the process of biomass production can continue to change garbage, vegetation and wood into biofuels, alcohols and other products.

The biomass process generates electricity by burning garbage in its decomposition stage thereby producing methane gas. The gas is collected in pipes and generates electricity.

Clean when done, but not to produce

A second biomass process is plant exposure to sunlight during decomposition. This causes photosynthesis and generates CO2, turning the garbage into vegetable oil. The vegetable oil has a high flash point and can fuel machinery. Some of the vegetable oil is processed as fuel for diesel engines.

Another biomass process is making fertilizer or charcoal from sewage to put back into the soil. Adding water to sewage dumped into large vats and boiling it to very high temperatures causes the sewage and water to separate. The water is skimmed off and the sediment left is bagged and sold as fertilizer. This biomass product is carbon neutral and is an excellent addition as a soil nutrient.

2. Hydroelectric Power is one of the oldest alternative power types requiring a combination of wind energy and waterpower. Using wind turbines it is possible to capture energy found within wind speed. Wind turbines are used successfully in rural areas where other forms of electricity cannot be produced.

Electricity can be generated through power installations in small bodies of water such as a stream. In the past electric power was generated by burning coal or natural gas. Using fire to produce electrical power is a destructive process. Developing electric power from moving water is a non-destructive process. When water is transformed into electricity the result is hydroelectric power, which generates large amounts of electricity.

Again, a clean outcome, but not clean to manufacture

In years past, large water wheels created electrical current in bodies of water such as a river. The electricity generated powered machinery to grind the grain brought to the grain mills. Today mill machinery is powered from hydroelectric power plants.

Some benefits of hydroelectric power are minimal wasted energy and it is clean and safe. Hydroelectric power is a renewable alternative power type.

3. Geothermal power is an alternative power type and is renewable. The heat from the sun is stored within the crust of the earth and can be extracted.  The extracted heat can be converted into power and electricity in almost unlimited in quantity.

The advancement of this technology is slow with only a few functioning geothermal energy plants. Our dependency upon oil and gas is a habit not broken easily and there has been resistance to geothermal energy. Geothermal advocates say more geothermal plants will soon be built near large cities.

Ever seen the film, ‘The Core’? It’s well hot down there

Geothermal energy offers the potential for building your own geothermal plant to power your home’s electricity far cheaper than any other method. Natural gas and coal used as sources of heat are extracted from the earth and they cannot be replaced. They are not sustainable sources of energy.

4. Solar power is a renewable alternative power type used to heat and cool our homes and other buildings. With the exception of nuclear power whatever the alternative source of energy or power is its source is the sun. Only the sun has an inexhaustible amount of energy, which comes to us free of charge. Man has learned to capture this solar energy.

One of the ways to capture solar energy is in photoelectric cells or thermal power plants. Man has learned to use both of these methods to collect energy from the sun. All alternative power types were developed to capture and use solar energy and power.

We all know about Solar power, don’t we?

Solar power is used as thermal energy and electric energy and therefore it warms, cools and provides light for homes and commercial buildings. The use of solar power is not new because in the 1800’s people used solar power water heaters to provide hot water.

Solar power has been an accepted alternative power type for many years. Heating homes and other buildings by solar power today involves much more than a skylight and direct sunlight. Heating a building today with solar power requires some expertise in solar system design including the use of photovoltaic cells. Solar system specialists today can help homebuilders and others enjoy the benefits of solar power.

5. Hydrogen, while not really a true alternative power type, serves the same purpose.  Hydrogen is known to possess many practical uses, including biofuel. Hydrogen is recognized as a fuel that could replace gasoline and propane or natural gas to heat our homes. Hydrogen can run generators to provide electricity. Anywhere there is sun and water there is hydrogen because it is in them.

An important benefit of replacing gasoline with hydrogen is the lack of carbon dioxide emissions. Using hydrogen would drastically decrease the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and advance the fight to halt global warming.

Hydrogen, first bombs, then BMWs

Electrolysis is the process used to divide water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be housed in fuel cells to generate electricity. Hydrogen cells are now available on the market to provide electricity for our homes, offices and industry. Some cars can run on hydrogen; however only a few service stations selling hydrogen exist. Developing new methods to produce hydrogen would be a step in the right direction.

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The rain can start at the worst times

They believe man has the ability to change and thereby control the weather. The list of ways people have attempted to control the weather in various parts of the world reads like a list straight from pages of “the most daring or ridiculous thing I ever did.” Perhaps the strangest and most curious part about the world’s Weather Modification Programmes is the methods used to change weather patterns.

Prior to the 2008 Olympics, concerned Chinese officials made plans to control the weather during the opening ceremonies. The 8th August 2008 was a cloudy day and their plan was put into action. Using aeroplanes, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns Beijing workers fired over a thousand rockets filled with silver iodide and dry ice into the clouds to prevent rainfall from reaching the stadium in which the ceremonies were to be held. They also seeded clouds near the stadium with gallons of liquid nitrogen.

The Chinese used rockets to control the weather

It did not rain on their parade but torrential rainfall struck back over the following days halting some games. Did the Chinese control the weather? It appears so, but they sure got wet during the days after the opening.

Researchers around the world have been discussing this question for many years and continue to do so in the present. They use the term weather modification rather than control the weather. However, in the case of the Arch (the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet) standing in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, US, there is no denying that it changes the weather pattern of an approaching snowstorm. The structure is actually used as a part of ongoing weather control experiments to control a storm’s behaviour. The arch, forcing half of the storm to travel northward, divides a large snowstorm heading into St. Louis making the other half travel in the opposite direction. The result is that St. Louis receives very little snow. The storm reunites as it heads toward Illinois and Indiana, dropping large amounts of snow across both states.

The snowbreaker

This did not occur by accident; it was well planned and the arch was actually built to do what it often does, change the direction of a storm by splitting it in two. The arch contains very powerful weather controlling devices. The structure is made of stainless steel and produces an ionic pulse. Each leg of the arch can force positive and negative ions into the air. This causes a charged field, which in turn has the ability to push the storm away. Meteorologists call this process the “arch effect”.

While it is true this arch does not prevent a snowstorm, it does change the direction of snowstorms and prevents heavy snow in St. Louis. The arch effect changes the weather in Illinois and Indiana, drastically at times.

Does this always happen? Not every time! Is this a result of man’s imperfect genius or is it something else controlling the path of the storm?

Many years ago a variety of people claimed to control the weather, especially rain. All kinds of strange theories were generated by those who really believed it was within their personal power to cause rain to fall or stop falling. At one time many people believed it was possible to cause rain by seeding a cloud with water.

I can control the weather, I can

Men flew aeroplanes into the air above the clouds and dropped water into a cloud just above the spot where rain was needed. Sometimes, a short time later rain did fall and because of this many believed in the possibly we can control the weather by seeding the clouds. Today instead of water dangerous chemicals are used for seeding clouds.

In 2007, a programme entitled, “Can We Control the Weather”, aired on the Discovery Channel. It was to some people an interesting and exciting programme while for others it was scary with amoral overtones. The assumption was that we can control the weather. The result was the revelation that experiments are taking place across the world to find ways to control the behaviour of hurricanes. One can imagine why so many programmes to control hurricanes are withheld from the public.

Aeroplanes fly over an area where a hurricane is heading and dump a patch of black carbon dust on the area. The black carbon dust is supposed to absorb heat from the sun causing a temperature change in the atmosphere. The change in temperature is meant to move the hurricane in another direction causing the hurricane to hit another unsuspecting area.

Any intervention to stop this would be excellent

So, are Weather Modification Programmes simply creating ways to modify the weather or harming the earth and its people with chemicals? Aeroplanes continue dumping black carbon dust in various parts of the world in the attempt to control the activity and direction of hurricanes.

Early mariners poured oil on the stormy sea to calm the raging water. Today people are suggesting oil slicks to perform the same task. They are willing to destroy sea life and dirty the coastlines with black oil in an attempt to control raging water during storms.

Another way that is attempted to control a hurricane is pouring soapy water on the sea where the storm is headed. The thinking is, by controlling hurricanes they can change weather patterns and cause rain to fall where there is a draught.

The implications resulting from experiments to control the weather are:

1. Successfully controlling weather could result in worse weather later
2. Preventing bad weather in one area can cause severe weather elsewhere
3. Damaged or destroyed ecosystems
4. Injury from accidents or malfunctioning equipment
5. Use of weapons to redirect bad weather toward others

Fancy this every day?

A rather humorous response to the question is the blogger who suggested someone can invent a talking machine, which could talk to the eye of the storm and tell it to go to some other place.

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These could be, or could not be Solar Panels

Solar power today involves technology to convert the rays of the sun into some form of energy power used as solar day lighting, cooling and heating of water or air and many other purposes. It is direct power from the sun, while photovoltaic power is harnessed solar power encased in a retention container. We can say solar power is direct heat and light from sun exposure you cannot control, while photovoltaic power is heat and light on demand. You all got that?

Everything’s powered by the sun

Beginning in ancient times men have managed to harness the sun’s power and convert it into solar power. Development of solar power technology led to the development of alternative power types used to generate electricity as needed. Physicists have studied solar power for centuries and designed, developed and produced alternative power types capable of generating electricity to run machines. Solar energy is the original source of solar power, which has become an answer to cleaner air and the prevention of global warming.

Global Warming keeps some happy

In the search for new and more efficient ways to use free, unlimited and inexhaustible solar power in place of coal, gas and oil, solar technologies led to the development of heat engines and photovoltaics. Both heat engines and photovoltaics have proven to be successful initiators for generating electricity. NASA is starting to try and use both together, which would make a huge jump forward for green technologies.

NASA are experimenting on dual panels

Photovoltaics convert sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaics are silicon solar cells with the ability to provide solar power; a group of photovoltaic cells connected electrically and housed in a frame are capable of generating electricity. We could say photovoltaics are solar power in a box.

Perhaps the simplest definition of photovoltaics is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaics originally were silicon cells wired together and placed under glass to form a photovoltaic module. They were a solar panel to absorb light and heat from the sun. Later, thin film materials placed on glass, metal, and plastics were used, then light sensitive dye was applied to the panels. These were called embedded solar cells or photovoltaics aimed at converting sunlight into electricity.

Converting sunshine into Electricity

No doubt you have seen the shapeless silver silicon solar cells in your calculator. This is called photovoltaic material and we find this inside batteries and other photovoltaics. To use the calculator you push the on button and silicon solar cells generate light. Power generation happens in response to light rather than in response to a battery powered calculator.

The use of photovoltaics began in the early 1950’s and over the years since then the use of photovoltaics has expanded through developing technology. The Vanguard I satellite launched in 1958 was the first time silicon solar energy was used to power a satellite. The satellite used electricity generated by photovoltaic cells. The year 1982 brought us the very first photovoltaic power station. It was built in Hysperia, California.

It’s not really a new technology

Solar power is one of the solar products generated when man harnessed solar energy to do the work he could not do alone. Heat engines are called photovoltaics but they differ from photovoltaic cells in a frame such as a battery. An example of this technology is the development of solar panels/heat engines to supply heating and cooling, light and thermal energy for cooking.

Photovoltaics are many and their purpose is to use solar energy for heating, cooling and generating electricity. They are often the power which moves machinery in factories and other places. Among the present day photovoltaics are solar panels; solar thermal collectors of heat and light from the sun. Photovoltaics absorb the solar energy from the sun and release solar power as it is needed.

Photovoltaics such as solar panels hold solar power and dispense it to naturally heat, cool and light a home or other types of buildings. Combining direct sunlight and photovoltaic cells is a sound solution toward energy efficiency in homes and other types of buildings. Today photovoltaic panels and thermal collectors to create a natural circulation of air are used in many products. Technology has developed to such a degree and at this point it is exciting to wonder what is next.

Panels are everywhere these days, aren’t they?

The conclusion is the sun’s energy is solar power and photovoltaic power is alternative solar power. Without solar power there would be no photovoltaic power.

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Children and dogs run to hide under a bed trying to escape the flashing lightning. Some families rush to their basements in an attempt to escape the sights and sounds of a thunderstorm. Scary they are, and scary they will always be! It is a rare person who looks forward to the thunderstorm season.

Thunderstorms give us reasons to be afraid and this article will cover some of those reasons. Every year around the world thunderstorms destroy property and bring unexpected injuries. Everyone seems to know hurricanes and tornadoes can and do cause injuries, but often we do not think about how many are injured or even killed during a thunderstorm.

The lightning which accompanies thunderstorms is guilty of wiping out computers and televisions in particular. We expect damages from hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, but lightning destroys more property and injures more people than any of these. Lightning is an electrical current discharge caused by particles called ice crystals bumping together inside a cloud.

As the ice crystals separate a positive charge moves near the top of a cloud and a negative charge settles at the base of a cloud. A positive shadow charge builds up from the ground below as a bright flash lights up the sky. The zigzag streak of lightning stretches from cloud to ground.

It stretches from cloud to ground…

There are three different kinds of lightning. Some lighting strikes are intra cloud lightning and occur in a cloud. Lightning strikes between clouds are called inter cloud lightning. The third type of lightning is called sheet lightning.

Moisture, instability and a lifting mechanism are the ingredients needed to cause a thunderstorm to strike. Among the sources of moisture are large bodies of water such as the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. The temperature of the water plays a role as to the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. Warm ocean currents cause more evaporation of moisture into the atmosphere than evaporation levels from cooler ocean currents. A region which is close to two bodies of water will naturally have more moisture in the atmosphere than a region close to only one body of water.

Places like the Gulf of Mexico are breeding grounds

Instability in the air is caused when warm moist air is near the surface and cold dry air is aloft. If air is forced upward it will cool and cause water vapour to condense and form a cumulonimbus cloud called a thunderstorm. Air is also unstable when warm moist air is near the surface and colder drier air is aloft and air forced upward continues to rise. However, air forced downward will continue to sink.

The sources of lift upward are Differential Heating, which means the heat on the ground and the lower atmosphere are not uniform. An example of this is a grassy field which heats more slowly than a paved street. Thermal is the name for the warmest air, which rises. An example is a wildfire, which provides heating for cumulus clouds to form above a smoke plume.

Wildfires = thunderstorms

Fronts are the boundary between two air masses with different temperatures. They lift warm moist air. When the air is moist and unstable along a cold front, thunderstorms usually form.

Drylines are the boundary between two air masses having different temperatures – one with warm moist air and the other with cooler air.  When warm moist air is lifted along a dryline, thunderstorms can form.

Outflow boundaries cause a rush of cold air during a thunderstorm. This mini cold front is called an outflow boundary. If the boundary lifts warm moist air this can cause additional thunderstorms.

Terrain can also be responsible for thunderstorms. As air bumps into a mountain and is forced up the slope of the terrain, this can cause upslope thunderstorms in the summertime.

This guy could go up in smoke in seconds

Hazards of thunderstorms are damaging wind, tornadoes, flash floods, and hail of various sizes.

In the spring and fall of the year severe thunderstorms are not uncommon and there are some things we can do to prepare for thunderstorms. It is a good idea to get outdoors in early spring and remove dead, rotting trees and branches from the yard. Go indoors or stay indoors when you see lightning; thunder usually follows within 30 seconds. Remain indoors for 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder.

To be safe during the thunderstorm season remember the difference between a thunderstorm watch and thunderstorm warning. This information could make a difference between life and death.  Cancel outdoor activities when a thunderstorm watch has been issued. When a warning is issued stay indoors in safe place. If outdoors, get inside as quickly as possible. Keep in mind rubber soled shoes are insufficient protection against lightning. They may protect you from a little shock from an appliance, but not against the high voltage of lightning.

Secure shutters and outside doors and it is a bad idea to take a bath or shower during a storm or storm warning. Using a cordless telephone or a cell phone is safe. Telephones with a cord are dangerous because of all of the lightning in thunderstorms. Be careful around the bathroom because some bathroom fixtures are electrical conductors.
Make sure all appliances, computers, and air conditioners are turned off and unplugged to avoid damages from a power surge during the thunderstorm. It is a good idea to have a battery powered Weather Radio for local updates and one or two flashlights.

What if you are outdoors and do not have time to get inside before a thunderstorm arrives? Here are some suggestions: Stay away

* from trees, especially isolated trees.
* from hilltops, fields, beaches, and boats on the water.
* from isolated sheds and small structures.
* from, and avoid touching, anything metal.

And above all, enjoy the show!

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