scholarly journals Glove and mitten protection in extreme cold weather: an Antarctic study

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 33564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth V. Iserson
Keyword(s):  
Climate ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumik Basu ◽  
David Sauchyn

In February 2019, central Canada, and especially the province of Saskatchewan, experienced extreme cold weather. It was the coldest February in 82 years and the second coldest in 115 years. In this study, we examine National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Reanalysis 1 data to understand the atmospheric processes leading to this cold snap. A detailed investigation of surface air temperature, sea level pressure, surface fluxes, and winds revealed a linkage between the North Pacific storm track and the February cold snap. A shift in the jet stream pattern triggered by the storm activity over the North Pacific caused a high-pressure blocking pattern, which resulted in unusual cold temperatures in Saskatchewan in February. This study demonstrates the potential for extreme cold in a warming climate; weather records in Saskatchewan show an increase in minimum winter temperature by 4–5 °C.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 2017265
Author(s):  
Kate Fraser-Smith ◽  
Andrew Nevin

With the increasing interest to drill in extreme cold environments and the existing drilling and production of oil in extreme cold weather locations, the extent of cold regions operations are expected to increase. OSRL tasked its Cold Weather Working Group to assess and build on its capability to maintain a suitable level of competence to deliver the response services required by its members. The subsequent action was the design and delivery of a five day cold weather Standard Course and Continuation Course to OSRL staff, Global Response Network (GRN) members and industry. The courses were designed using the cold weather knowledge and experience that OSRL staff gained through their secondments in Sakhalin, Kazakhstan and Alaska. GRN members, in particular Eastern Canada Response Centre (ECRC) and Alaska Clean Seas (ACS), were also instrumental in the design and delivery of the courses. The paper will seek to present how knowledge collaboration and impartation has been integrated throughout the full training cycle which includes the preparation phase of the courses, the delivery phase in Canada with the delegates from GRN members and industry, and the evaluation phase with a view for future development courses. Much research has been conducted on theory and methods of response to oil spills in extreme cold weather environments and the challenges that can arise such as the safety elements of working on ice and in remote locations. In conclusion, the paper will highlight the elements of the Standard and Continuation Courses that are implemented into the training cycle in order to increase, and thereafter, maintain OSRL's competence and industry's preparedness.


2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
pp. 922-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Buchan ◽  
Joël J.-M. Hirschi ◽  
Adam T. Blaker ◽  
Bablu Sinha

Abstract Northern Europe experienced consecutive periods of extreme cold weather in the winter of 2009/10 and in late 2010. These periods were characterized by a tripole pattern in North Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and exceptionally negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). A global ocean–atmosphere general circulation model (OAGCM) is used to investigate the ocean’s role in influencing North Atlantic and European climate. Observed SST anomalies are used to force the atmospheric model and the resultant changes in atmospheric conditions over northern Europe are examined. Different atmospheric responses occur in the winter of 2009/10 and the early winter of 2010. These experiments suggest that North Atlantic SST anomalies did not significantly affect the development of the negative NAO phase in the cold winter of 2009/10. However, in November and December 2010 the large-scale North Atlantic SST anomaly pattern leads to a significant shift in the atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic toward a NAO negative phase. Therefore, these results indicate that SST anomalies in November/December 2010 were particularly conducive to the development of a negative NAO phase, which culminated in the extreme cold weather conditions experienced over northern Europe in December 2010.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5192
Author(s):  
Andrew Speake ◽  
Paul Donohoo-Vallett ◽  
Eric Wilson ◽  
Emily Chen ◽  
Craig Christensen

In regions where natural gas is used for both power generation and heating buildings, extreme cold weather events can place the electrical system under enormous stress and challenge the ability to meet residential heating and electric demands. Residential demand response has long been used in the power sector to curtail summer electric load, but these types of programs in general have not seen adoption in the natural gas sector during winter months. Natural gas demand response (NG-DR) has garnered interest given recent extreme cold weather events in the United States; however, the magnitude of savings and potential impacts—to occupants and energy markets—are not well understood. We present a case-study analysis of the technical potential for residential natural gas demand response in the northeast United States that utilizes diverse whole-building energy simulations and high-performance computing. Our results show that NG-DR applied to residential heating systems during extreme cold-weather conditions could reduce natural gas demand by 1–29% based on conservative and aggressive strategies, respectively. This indicates a potential to improve the resilience of gas and electric systems during stressful events, which we examine by estimating the impact on energy costs and electricity generation from natural gas. We also explore relationships between hourly indoor temperatures, demand response, and building envelope efficiency.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 548-558
Author(s):  
HongYan Liu ◽  
Addie Bahi ◽  
Frank K. Ko

Purpose Wolverine hairs with superior heat transfer properties have been used as fur ruffs for extreme cold-weather clothing. In order to understand the exclusive mechanism of wolverine surviving in the cold areas of circumpolar, the purpose of this paper is to establish a one-dimensional fractional heat transfer equation to reveal the hidden mechanism for the hairs, and also calculate the fractal dimension of the wolverine hair using the box counting method to verify the proposed theory. The observed results (from the proposed model) found to be in good agreement with the box counting method. This model can explain the phenomenon which offers the theoretical foundation for the design of extreme cold weather clothing. Design/methodology/approach The authors calculated the fractal dimension of the wolverine hair using the box counting method to verify the proposed theory. The observed results (from the proposed model) found to be in good agreement with the box counting method. Findings The box counting method proves that the theoretical model is applicable. Originality/value The authors propose the first heat transfer model for the wolverine hair.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Kouroush Jenab ◽  
Josh Herrin ◽  
Saeid Moslehpour ◽  
Sam Khoury

<p class="1Body">NASA became overconfident with consecutive successful flights with no major failures leading up to Flight 25 of the Space Shuttle Challenger and failed to correctly apply quality assurance to reanalyze the possibilities of failure when extreme cold weather was present for what would become the last Challenger launch. System Hazard Analysis applied correctly to analyze the failure rate patterns of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Solid Rocket Booster field joints may have prevented the launch of the tragic Flight 25, where there was a total loss of aircraft and seven astronauts were killed in the accident. The steps of System Hazard Analysis will be explained that if followed may have provided the data necessary for NASA to correct the field joint error prior to instead of after the Challenger explosion.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. S262-S263
Author(s):  
J.M. Cloutier ◽  
S. Liu ◽  
B. Hiebert ◽  
J. Tam ◽  
C.M. Seifer
Keyword(s):  

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy H. Chiu ◽  
Sara J. Vagi ◽  
Amy F. Wolkin ◽  
John Paul Martin ◽  
Rebecca S. Noe

Abstract Dangerously cold weather threatens life and property. During periods of extreme cold due to wind chill, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues wind chill warnings to prompt the public to take action to mitigate risks. Wind chill warnings are based on ambient temperatures and wind speeds. Since 2010, NWS has piloted a new extreme cold warning issued for cold temperatures in wind and nonwind conditions. The North Dakota Department of Health, NWS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated in conducting household surveys in Burleigh County, North Dakota, to evaluate this new warning. The objectives of the evaluation were to assess whether residents heard the new warning and to determine if protective behaviors were prompted by the warning. This was a cross-sectional survey design using the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) methodology to select a statistically representative sample of households from Burleigh County. From 10 to 11 April 2012, 188 door-to-door household interviews were completed. The CASPER methodology uses probability sampling with weighted analysis to estimate the number and percentage of households with a specific response within Burleigh County. The majority of households reported having heard both the extreme cold and wind chill warnings, and both warnings prompted protective behaviors. These results suggest this community heard the new warning and took protective actions after hearing the warning.


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