Average temperature     = 8.2°C
 Average humidity        = 92%
 Average dewpoint        = 7.0°C
 Average barometer       = 1020.8 mb
 Average windspeed       = 4.5 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 9.4 mph
 Average direction       = 270° ( W )
 Rainfall for month      = 51.0 mm
 Rainfall for year       = 167.5 mm
 Rainfall for day        = 0.4 mm
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.4 mm on day 27 at time 22:02
 Maximum temperature     = 10.6°C on day 27 at time 12:40
 Minimum temperature     = 6.6°C on day 27 at time 03:48
 Maximum humidity        = 96% on day 27 at time 08:24
 Minimum humidity        = 86% on day 27 at time 15:06
 Maximum pressure        = 1022.5 mb on day 27 at time 01:36
 Minimum pressure        = 1018.3 mb on day 27 at time 23:52
 Maximum windspeed       = 9.2 mph on day 27 at time 16:15
 Maximum gust speed      = 18 mph  from 315 °( NW) on day 27 at time 04:31
 Maximum heat index      = 10.6°C on day 27 at time 12:40

Sales rocket during cold weather

WHILE the recent snow and ice brought many small businesses to a standstill in the Gordano Valley, at least three businesses in Portishead said the cold spell was good for business.

Mike Johnston, who runs Summit Outdoor Leisure, and his brother Jonathan, who runs Carey’s DIY, both saw a rise in sales as residents in the town found exactly what they needed right on their doorstep.

Mike said: “It was surprising just how many people suddenly realised they didn’t have suitable footwear to cope with the snowfall and sales of walking boots, waterproof clothing, gloves and hats soared at Summit.”

Jonathan sold out of sledges within 24 hours and was unable to obtain further supplies from his wholesalers due to a high demand all over the country.

He also sold large quantities of sand and grit as members of the public made every effort to keep their driveways and access roads clear of snow and ice.

He said: “When wintry conditions kept people at home it was their local, independent traders who came through with the goods they needed.

“If everyone supported their local shops regularly instead of just when they find travelling out of town difficult, the future of the town’s independent retailers would be secure.

“We were pleased to be of help to our customers and pleased they chose to shop locally in this instance.”

Indravadan Patel, who runs the Costcutter supermarket at the top of Avon Way, also reported an up turn in sales as the severe weather took hold.

He said: “I made additional trips to the wholesalers to ensure the people of Portishead would not go without supplies like bread and milk if the bad weather took hold.

“I also let my regular customers know that if any of them were stuck and could not get out I would do my best to get basic supplies to them.

 Average temperature     = 7.7°C
 Average humidity        = 92%
 Average dewpoint        = 6.4°C
 Average barometer       = 1024.9 mb
 Average windspeed       = 5.0 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 10.1 mph
 Average direction       = 273° ( W )
 Rainfall for month      = 50.6 mm
 Rainfall for year       = 167.1 mm
 Rainfall for day        = 0.4 mm
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.4 mm on day 26 at time 16:52
 Maximum temperature     = 10.0°C on day 26 at time 13:05
 Minimum temperature     = 6.0°C on day 26 at time 07:44
 Maximum humidity        = 96% on day 26 at time 08:24
 Minimum humidity        = 87% on day 26 at time 18:53
 Maximum pressure        = 1027.3 mb on day 26 at time 00:17
 Minimum pressure        = 1022.3 mb on day 26 at time 23:34
 Maximum windspeed       = 12.7 mph on day 26 at time 16:42
 Maximum gust speed      = 22 mph  from 270 °( W ) on day 26 at time 16:42
 Maximum heat index      = 10.0°C on day 26 at time 13:05

 Average temperature     = 7.7°C
 Average humidity        = 95%
 Average dewpoint        = 6.9°C
 Average barometer       = 1028.3 mb
 Average windspeed       = 3.4 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 7.3 mph
 Average direction       = 269° ( W )
 Rainfall for month      = 50.2 mm
 Rainfall for year       = 166.7 mm
 Rainfall for day        = 1.1 mm
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.4 mm on day 25 at time 07:47
 Maximum temperature     = 9.3°C on day 25 at time 14:52
 Minimum temperature     = 6.8°C on day 25 at time 05:46
 Maximum humidity        = 97% on day 25 at time 11:52
 Minimum humidity        = 92% on day 25 at time 01:18
 Maximum pressure        = 1029.7 mb on day 25 at time 11:13
 Minimum pressure        = 1026.6 mb on day 25 at time 22:40
 Maximum windspeed       = 9.2 mph on day 25 at time 14:42
 Maximum gust speed      = 18 mph  from 248 °(WSW) on day 25 at time 14:10
 Maximum heat index      = 9.3°C on day 25 at time 14:52

 Average temperature     = 8.7°C
 Average humidity        = 91%
 Average dewpoint        = 7.3°C
 Average barometer       = 1027.5 mb
 Average windspeed       = 0.7 mph
 Average gustspeed       = 2.2 mph
 Average direction       = 239° (WSW)
 Rainfall for month      = 49.1 mm
 Rainfall for year       = 165.6 mm
 Rainfall for day        = 0.0 mm
 Maximum rain per minute = 0.0 mm on day 24 at time 23:57
 Maximum temperature     = 11.4°C on day 24 at time 13:50
 Minimum temperature     = 7.2°C on day 24 at time 00:01
 Maximum humidity        = 94% on day 24 at time 09:48
 Minimum humidity        = 86% on day 24 at time 15:34
 Maximum pressure        = 1028.9 mb on day 24 at time 22:52
 Minimum pressure        = 1026.2 mb on day 24 at time 03:31
 Maximum windspeed       = 3.5 mph on day 24 at time 21:54
 Maximum gust speed      =  7 mph  from 248 °(WSW) on day 24 at time 17:31
 Maximum heat index      = 11.4°C on day 24 at time 13:50

Nasa’s first dedicated mission to measure carbon dioxide from space has failed following a rocket malfunction.

Officials said the fairing – the part of the rocket which covers the satellite on top of the launcher – did not separate properly.

Data indicates the spacecraft crashed into the ocean near Antarctica.

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) was intended to help pinpoint the key locations on our planet’s surface where CO2 is being emitted and absorbed.

Nasa officials confirmed the loss of the satellite at a press conference held at 1300 GMT.

I am bitterly disappointed about the loss of OCO Dr Paul Palmer, University of Edinburgh

John Brunschwyler, from Orbital Sciences Corporation, the rocket’s manufacturer, told journalists: “Our whole team, at a very personal level, is very disappointed in the events of this morning.”

He added: “The fairing has considerable weight relative to the portion of the vehicle that’s flying. So when it separates off, you get a jump in acceleration. We did not have that jump in acceleration.

“As a direct result of carrying that extra weight, we could not make orbit.”

‘Mishap’ board

The $270m (£190m) mission was launched on a Taurus XL – the smallest ground-launched rocket currently in use by the US space agency.

The mission was to have been Nasa’s first dedicated CO2 mapper

Since its debut in 1994, this type of rocket has flown eight times, with six successes and two failures including this launch. But this is the first time Nasa has used the Taurus XL.

The US space agency will now put together a “Mishap Investigation Board” to determine the root cause of the problem.

Onlookers watched the launcher soar into the sky from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 0955 GMT on Tuesday.

The first indication of a problem came in an announcement made by the Nasa launch commentator, George Diller.

“This is Taurus launch control. We have declared a launch contingency, meaning that we did not have a successful launch tonight,” he said.

HOW SATELLITE SHOULD HAVE LAUNCHED

Separation of the fairing was one of the last technical hurdles faced by the satellite as it flew into orbit. Orbital said there had been no changes to the design of the fairing since previous launches.

Mr Brunschwyler, programme manager for the Taurus rockets, cast doubt on any suggestion of a link between the failure and a power glitch which occurred to the vehicle just prior to launch.

“That was on a separate system, so I do not believe there was any connection,” Mr Brunschwyler told journalists at the Nasa press conference.

Our goal will be to find a root cause for the problem. And we won’t fly Glory until we have that data known to us Chuck Dovale, Nasa launch director

Dr Paul Palmer, a scientist from the University of Edinburgh, UK, who was collaborating on the mission, told BBC News: “I am bitterly disappointed about the loss of OCO. My thoughts go out to the science team that have dedicated the past seven years to building and testing the instrument.”

Professor John Burrows, from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, who is also collaborating on the mission, commented: “The UK and European science community is a major partner in OCO and the loss of this instrument is a serious setback.”

Scientists had hoped OCO would improve models of the Earth’s climate and help researchers determine where the greenhouse gas is coming from and how much is being absorbed by forests and oceans.

This would have helped scientists make more accurate predictions of future climate change.

Rebuild question

Only about 50% of the carbon emitted from human sources – principally, from fossil fuel combustion – stays there. The remainder is mopped up by the land and oceans, which act as “sinks”.

However, scientists are unsure of the precise detail, with perhaps 20% of our CO2 going into a hitherto unrecognised sink.

“All eyes are now on the Japanese Gosat instrument to search for the missing carbon sink,” said Dr Palmer.

Fortunately, Japan’s Gosat mission is up and working

Gosat was launched in January from Tanegashima in Japan. It is also designed to monitor atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Nasa’s Glory satellite, which is designed to measure carbon soot and other aerosols in the Earth’s atmosphere, is due to launch on a Taurus XL from California in June.

“Our goal will be to find a root cause for the problem. And we won’t fly Glory until we have that data known to us,” said Nasa’s launch director Chuck Dovale.

Taurus is based on Orbital’s air-launched Pegasus rockets which have a long, proud history. The fairing is essentially the same as is used on that rocket. Mr Brunschwyler said: “We have not had any issues with this fairing design in the past.”

When the European Space Agency’s Cryosat spacecraft was destroyed on launch in 2006, officials decided to re-build it; the launch is scheduled for later in the year. However, the future of the OCO mission remains unclear at this stage.

Responding to a question about spare parts for the US satellite, Michael Freilich, director of Nasa’s Earth science division, said: “At this time, we don’t have a complete inventory of flight spares, or what we should need, should we make a decision to re-build an OCO.”

The only other failure to hit the Taurus rocket occurred in September 2001, when the rocket dropped off its payload of two satellites at a lower altitude than had been intended.

CO2 in the atmosphere has seen a steady rise in recent years

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7907570.stm

Published: 2009/02/24 11:02:26 GMT

© BBC MMIX