Development of real-time reference evapotranspiration at the regional scale using satellite-based observations

Real-time data of reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) at different space-time scales are essential to regional agricultural drought assessment, water accounting at the watershed to basin scale, and provide irrigation advisory to farmers. Here, we present a data-fusion approach that integrates satellite-based insolation product (8 km) from an Indian geostationary satellite (Kalpana-1) sensor (VHRR; Very High Resolution Radiometer) and high-resolution (~ 5 km) short-range weather forecast into an FAO56 model based on the classical Penman–Monteith (P-M) formulation. Five year (2009–2013) mean monthly estimates from the daily ET₀ product over the Indian landmass were found to vary between 10 and 350 mm. It increased from January to May (70–350 mm), followed by a decrease to reach the lowest in November (10–140 mm), thus typically showing unimodal distribution. The comparison of daily space-based and station-based estimates (at six ground stations) produced a root mean square deviation (RMSD) ranging from 21% to 38% for 977 paired data sets with the correlation coefficient (r) varying from 0.32 to 0.82. The error was reduced from 25% to 10% with an increase in ‘r’ from 0.43 to 0.98 for daily to 10 day summation period. Spatial grid-to-grid comparison of monthly ET₀ estimates with Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) potential evapotranspiration (PET) showed RMSD within a range of 1.4–18.4% for most of the months, except for two. Further ET₀ analysis over normal and drought years showed that it could be used for comprehensive drought assessment with other existing indicators.     

A Chaucer microstrip fractal antenna for mobile applications

In this paper a Chaucer fractal patch antenna integrated with split ring structure is simulated using Ansoft’s (HFSS), as well as fabricated and tested using VNA. The obtained results indicate that the proposed antenna resonates at 2.4 GHz in the ISM band. In addition, the structure offers multi-band operation with the fair value of return loss, gain, and bandwidth, impedance and directivity in the entire range of frequency operation.     

Physico‐mechanical properties of nano‐polystyrene‐decorated graphene oxide–epoxy composites

Nano‐polystyrene (nPS)‐decorated graphene oxide (GO) hybrid nanostructures were successfully synthesized using stepwise microemulsion polymerization, and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. XRD and FTIR spectra revealed the existence of a strong interaction between nPS and GO, which implied that the polymer chains were successfully grafted onto the surface of the GO. The nPS‐decorated GO hybrid nanostructures were compounded with epoxy using a hand lay‐up technique, and the effect of the nPS‐decorated GO on the mechanical, thermal and surface morphological properties of the epoxy matrix was investigated using a universal tensile machine, Izod impact tester, thermogravimetric analysis and contact angle measurements with a goniometer. It was observed that in the epoxy matrix, GO improved the compatibility. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Study on effect of diverse air inlet arrangement on thermal management of cylindrical lithium-ion cells

Lithium-ion cells are preferred in the electrical powertrain due to high-power density, compactness, and modularity. In real driving conditions, the cells undergo discharge rates as high as 4 C resulting in high heat generation affecting the performance. To obtain the maximum performance the pack construction and thermal management of cells are crucial parameters. In our work, air-cooled technique with diverse air inlet and staggered scheme with a two-channel partition approach for thermal management of the cylindrical lithium-ion cells are studied in computational fluid dynamics. The simulation model is validated with experimental results. The obtained results demonstrate that the cells in the dual-directional air inlet arrangement had low maximum temperature difference among and within the cells and required least fan work. This arrangement required least fan work to generate optimal air inlet velocity of 2 m/s for 1, 2, and 3 C and 4 m/s for 4 C discharge rates. There is a reduction of 50% and 33% fan work for 3 and 4 C discharge rates, which are the majority operating points. Also, it shows that the temperature uniformity within the cells has improved. The results of this study can used to optimize parameters for designing an enhanced thermal management system.     

Can Our Group Survive? An Investigation of the Evolution of Mixed‐Mode Groups

Applying an ecological and evolutionary perspective, this study examines the evolution and the sustainability of “mixed‐mode groups,” a type of voluntary association created and organized online to interact physically in geographically defined ways. Meetup.com is a website that facilitates the creation and coordination of mixed‐mode groups. Analysis of interviews with 34 Meetup group organizers and a longitudinal analysis of 100 randomly selected Meetup groups revealed the evolutionary processes at the group and population level, respectively. Specifically, the ecological factor of population density, the demographic factor of group age, the group's profit orientation, experience of leadership change and shared leadership, and external ties played decisive roles in predicting group survival. Implications of the findings for theoretical and practical contributions are discussed.     

Thermal performance comparisons between passive solar and conventional housing in an Irish climate

The thermal performance of a passive solar house in Ireland having high energy conservation standards is compared with that of a similar sized conventional dwelling house. In both cases the performance over a meteorological Test Reference Year is assessed using climatically responsive models developed experimentally which predict their internal temperature without heating.

The results indicate that the conventional house required over three times as much auxiliary heating as the passive solar house. Solar gain accounted for over half the gross heat demand in the solar house compared to 13% in the bungalow. An added advantage of the increased utilization of solar gain was the estimated reduction in the heating season from nine to six months.