What techniques could be used to assess the wind and solar resource if meteorological data is scarce?
81355
Satellite images can help quite a bit with the solar resource. Accurate modeling can calculate how much solar energy reaches the atmosphere at any location, then aerosols and esepcially clouds diminish it - difficult estimating to what extent though. Local obstructions such as a high tree line can also affect it significantly (and winds). Analogs can be helpful (i.e., comparing measured solar energy amounts at geographically and meterologically similar locations), but can also be misleading.\n\nFor winds, you can take whatever sparse data is available and combine it with knowledge of the microclimate and modeled data. This is probably more difficult because topography and other local features can make surface layer winds differ quite a lot over small distances.
581432
atmospheric pressure, winds, light
216148
GO to www.noaa.com... you can get everything under the sun from this site.
568666
Try this http://www.solarwinds.net/ You can find out a lot about what the tool does.
1165620
Wind speed, weather conditions
115537
North American Wind Power magazine is also a good reference, they should be on the web too.
311984
Well, you could connect them in a few ways. One would be to study ice cores (from glaciers) to see what was in the atmosphere over time, which shows you trends in long-term weather changes. Another would be to study coastal zones and make predictions and models concerning what happens in different zones when sea levels rise due to global climate change. The imagination knows no end to what you can study!
531695
Well an easy one is the thermometer of corse for the temperature \n\nAnother will be your barometer this instament measures pressure of the atmosphere (lower pressure a good signal for bad weather) \n\nThe anamometer we use to measure wind speed and direction \n\nNow one of the ccolest instaments we have is a laser cieliometer...aka(LBC) this device measures cloud heights by firing an invisible laser into the air, however it is only good up to 12,000ft AGL (above ground level)\n\nTransmisometer-runway visual range\nWSR-88D(Radar)- storm location, movement, intesity, direction...ect\n\nThere are several instaments we use....one of the best resources other than this might be to go to the local news station.
71053
You could, but you would have to measure and record ambient temperature and barometric pressure changes over the same period, as well as sheilding your water container from wind, and then do some calculus to come up with the rate of evaporation. Depending on the amount of data you record the result might only be an average value over several days. A much easier method is to use a sling psychrometer, which will give you an immediate value. You can build one yourself from two thermometers and some simple parts.\n\nI too would like to know how Lewis and Clark did this, as according to all references I have checked, they didn't. In a published article by Vernon L. Preston he states that the only meteorological instruments that Lewis and Clark had were thermometers. He compiled all the weather data and comments made by Lewis and Clark and I find no references to relative humidity, and no records of any data collected. They only mentioned things like rain and dew. I've added the link to this article.
368898
It is renewable since warmth from the sun generates new wind all the time.\n\nThis is the opposite of oil.  Oil takes so long to produce that we use it up much faster than it is created in the earth.  We can actually use up all the oil.
146543
http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1986_July_August/The_Basement_Built_Wind_Generator\n\nthis might help
507641
go to nasa world wind and load it and you can see for yourself
818579
they are nonrenewable resources.\nonce they been used once (burned) they finished with and cannot create anymore energy.\nThe world has a limited suply of these nonrenewable energy sources left.\n\nrenewable sources woud include solar (sun) wind and water power as these will never run out
666028
Weather and temperature data is extrapolated from given information on the real time data governing barometer, wind, current surrounding storm systems, time of year et. al. The forecast is derived from evaluation the given information against historical data to give you the future forecast. The most clear indication is in the percentages given for a chance of precipitation. The forecaster looks at the present data and measures it up against historical data with similar parameters and evaluates the percentage of time there was precipitation and relays that information to you in the form of a percent chance.
561124
Yes. My neighbor has collected weather data for the last 15 years.  It's mostly temperature, rain amount, and a general description of the weather.  I did a statistical analysis of the temperature data and discovered that the trend indicated an increasing temperature.  I used a least squares analysis and plotted the graph.  I did this for a monthly average, and a yearly average.  The trend is upward for both, and some record highs were recorded in several months. I don't want to get into the details for anyone who is a statistical genius at this point.  The outcome seems to depend on which political party you belong to in the US. \nThere are also some wild fluctuations in temperature, and wind events.  We have had some severe storms that have damaged large areas of pristine forests, and we have had some major flooding. I live in Pennsylvania and, yes, I would say the temperature is changing somewhat by inching upwards, based on temperature data.  The voracity of some storm events are very damaging, as viewed over my lifetime in this geographic area.  Friend to friend, I would think about moving to Europe if I was you.  You are going to experience a cataclysmic event in the near future that will have devastating effects on the UK.  At least that's what my research shows.  But, it's just the rantings of a conspiracy nut, that's what my friends say.
964687
renewable - Wind power - cheap, available, enviromentally friendly & does not run out. Disadvantage - has to be windy/exposed, initial cost of setting up, can be considered unsightly\nTidal - Cheap, enviromentally friendly, available around the world & does not run out. Disadvantage - cost of setting up, small return for initial investment, suitable locations\nSolar - available, enviromentally friendly, relatively cheap after installation. Disadvantages - Cost of setting up, sunny location needed, storing power\nNon Renewable - Nuclear - reliable, clean, economic. Disadvantage - enviromental hazard, safety, disposal of waste\nFossil fuel Coal & gas - widely available, relatively cheap, established technology. Disadvantage - limited source, carbon emmissions, price can fluctuate
428972
Alternate energy sources are our next step to stabilize our economy and lessen the dependence on other countries to provide us that need. However, they are extremely costly and hard to come by. Wind mills are a disaster in terms of the amount of space it needs to operate. Solar panels are not effecient everywhere, say Seattle or Alaska. Nuclear fission is the next step but since it is potentially dangerous as nuclear bombs, it's being closely monitored thus dampening the research process. I guess we are still depended on oil is because it is so universal and exremely easy to use and harness everywhere. I agree with you, if I had enough money to fund researches like these, I'd do it in a heartbeat!