View allAll Photos Tagged Synchronous
Highest Explore Position #114 ~ On December 20th 2008.
Millennium Bridge / St Pauls Cathederal, London, England - Tuesday December 16th 2008.
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This photography Milarkie isn't without it's dangerous...I nearly got run over taking this shot...lol...:O)))
The woman in the hat thought it was funny though, as you can see...lol..:O)))
Anyhoo...that's me finished with work now for the rest of the year...so I now have two weeks to go out into the big wide world, camera in hand...so beware people of the Universe, my next picture could involve you....well, tiss a small world after all...so you never know...:O)))
I hope you are all having an awesome Friday and you also have a stress free last weekend Christmas shopping..:O))
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ The London Millennium Footbridge is a pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City. It is located between Southwark Bridge (downstream) and Blackfriars Bridge (upstream). With construction beginning in 1998, it is owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation.
Londoners nicknamed the bridge the Wobbly Bridge after crowds of pedestrians felt an unexpected swaying motion on the first two days after the bridge opened. The bridge was closed and modified, and further modifications eliminated the "wobble" entirely.
The southern end of the bridge is near Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery and Tate Modern, the north end next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge alignment is such that a clear view of St Paul's south facade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports, thus providing a scenic view of the cathedral.
The nearest London Underground station is Blackfriars.
Design ~ The design of the bridge was the subject of a competition organised in 1996 by Southwark council. The winning entry was an innovative "blade of light" effort from Arup, Foster and Partners and Sir Anthony Caro. Due to height restrictions, and to improve the view, the bridge's suspension design had the supporting cables below the deck level, giving a very shallow profile. The bridge has two river piers and is made of three main sections of 81 metres (266 ft), 144 metres (472 ft) and 108 metres (354 ft) (North to South) with a total structure length of 325 metres (1,066 ft); the aluminium deck is 4 metres (13 ft) wide. The eight suspension cables are tensioned to pull with a force of 2,000 tons against the piers set into each bank — enough to support a working load of 5,000 people on the bridge at one time.
Construction ~ The bridge from St Paul's CathedralConstruction began in late 1998 with the main works beginning on 28 April 1999 by Monberg Thorsen and Sir Robert McAlpine.[1] The bridge was completed at a cost of £18.2m (£2.2m over budget) and opened on 10 June 2000 (2 months late). Unexpected lateral vibration (resonant structural response) caused the bridge to be closed on 12 June for modifications.
Attempts were made to limit the number of people crossing the bridge: this led to long queues, but dampened neither public enthusiasm for what was something of a white-knuckle ride, nor the vibrations themselves. The closure of the bridge only three days after opening attracted public criticism, as another high-profile British millennium project suffered an embarrassing setback, akin to how many saw the Millennium Dome.
Further modifications to the bridge successfully eliminated the "wobble," which has not recurred since the bridge reopened in February 2002.
The bridge was temporarily closed on 18 January 2007, during the Kyrill storm due to strong winds and a risk of pedestrians being blown off the bridge.
Resonance ~ The bridge from St Paul's after opening: long queues formed as attempts were made to limit vibrationsThe bridge's movements were caused by a 'positive feedback' phenomenon, known as Synchronous Lateral Excitation. The natural sway motion of people walking caused small sideways oscillations in the bridge, which in turn caused people on the bridge to sway in step, increasing the amplitude of the bridge oscillations and continually reinforcing the effect.
The bridge opened on an exceptionally fine day, and it was included on the route of a major charity walk. On the day of opening the bridge was crossed by 90,000 people, with up to 2,000 on the bridge at any one time.
Resonant vibrational modes due to vertical loads (such as trains, traffic, pedestrians) and wind loads are well understood in bridge design. In the case of the Millennium Bridge, because the lateral motion caused the pedestrians loading the bridge to directly participate with the bridge, the vibrational modes had not been anticipated by the designers (Arup).
my mother frances was born on a magical day, 2/22/22 ~ and today is her 91st birthday!
≈ happy, happy birthday darling mom! ≈
and so,
it seems synchronous today to share the news of the new mother who birthed her egg 2 days ago! :*)
our new mama-spirit did so on the very same place of the very same bough where lantern & holi & solstice were each born! (and from different mothers & fathers :)
also where our first Spirit bird was likely born.. then appeared to us in lulu's tree on the day of mom's surgery 3 years ago.
so to celebrate my own brave & heartful mom today ♥ here is our brave & heartful birdita mommy!
she is a very young fairy tern who is right now warming her precious new egg *
have been praying mightily for their well~being .. as there've been pounding, thunderous rains & winds of 30 mph gusting to 50+ mph since the birthing of the egg...
and, as most friends here know, fairy terns don't make a nest ! the egg is laid upon a bare bough! and held there only by the attending parent, and (here) by a tiny branch nub which creates a fragile tripod ..
and ...
father fairy tern has not been here since before the birthing of the egg... and so my hopes & prayers are also for his return so he can take turns warming their egg .. as mama has had no food nor water nor rest since the birth of their egg 2+ days ago ..
(fairy tern parents usually trade places once every day for the 38-43 long days before hatching.. doing a graceful, heart-stopping glide over the egg. .. though, going on day 3, this has not happened yet..)
if all goes well, dear new baby spirit will be born on Easter ❀
≈ happy birthday mom!! ≈
and happy birthing day, dear baby-bird-within-the-egg!
and lovelight to All beings!.. everywhere
≈♡≈
(the above image was made very late in the evening of the egg~birthing day; here are a couple more of mama warming her baby~heart >>)
© All my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved! The may not be used or reproduced in any way without my explicit written permission!
Best seen large on black ... Please press L for lightbox .. Meilleur vue en noir ... SVP clickez sur L .
Color , tone, cadence ,texture are synchronous
Abstract art in a frozen clime
Couleurs, tons ,textures et cadence sont en
harmonie
De l'art abstrait dans un climat frigorifié
:-)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K9vT6wvfSc
Stacey kent & Jim Tomlinson - Jardin d'hiver
g
Ste Adèle
This full moon was seen from Albir at the Costa Blanca in Spain using a 300mm prime lens and 2x extender. Had to focus manually.
The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth, always showing the same face, with its near side marked by dark volcanic maria that fill the spaces between the bright ancient crustal highlands and the prominent impact craters.
It is the second-brightest regularly visible celestial object in Earth's sky after the Sun, as measured by illuminance on Earth's surface. Its surface is actually dark (although it can appear a very bright white) with a reflectance just slightly higher than that of worn asphalt.
Its prominence in the sky and its regular cycle of phases have made the Moon an important cultural influence since ancient times on language, calendars, art, and mythology.
Other platforms:
Composite
Moon Facts
The Moon (or Luna) is the Earth’s only natural satellite and was formed 4.6 billion years ago around some 30–50 million years after the formation of the solar system. The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth meaning the same side is always facing the Earth. The first unmanned mission to the Moon was in 1959 by the Soviet Lunar Program with the first manned landing being Apollo 11 in 1969.
The Moon
Moon Profile
Diameter:3,475 km
Mass:7.35 × 10^22 kg (0.01 Earths)
Orbits:The Earth
Orbit Distance:384,400 km
Orbit Period:27.3 days
Surface Temperature: -233 to 123 °C
Facts about the Moon
The dark side of the moon is a myth.
In reality both sides of the Moon see the same amount of sunlight however only one face of the Moon is ever seen from Earth. This is because the Moon rotates around on its own axis in exactly the same time it takes to orbit the Earth, meaning the same side is always facing the Earth. The side facing away from Earth has only been seen by the human eye from spacecraft.
The rise and fall of the tides on Earth is caused by the Moon.
There are two bulges in the Earth due to the gravitational pull that the Moon exerts; one on the side facing the Moon, and the other on the opposite side that faces away from the Moon, The bulges move around the oceans as the Earth rotates, causing high and low tides around the globe.
The Moon is drifting away from the Earth.
The Moon is moving approximately 3.8 cm away from our planet every year. It is estimated that it will continue to do so for around 50 billion years. By the time that happens, the Moon will be taking around 47 days to orbit the Earth instead of the current 27.3 days.
A person would weigh much less on the Moon.
The Moon has much weaker gravity than Earth, due to its smaller mass, so you would weigh about one sixth (16.5%) of your weight on Earth. This is why the lunar astronauts could leap and bound so high in the air.
The Moon has only been walked on by 12 people; all American males.
The first man to set foot on the Moon in 1969 was Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 mission, while the last man to walk on the Moon in 1972 was Gene Cernan on the Apollo 17 mission. Since then the Moon has only be visited by unmanned vehicles.
The Moon has no atmosphere.
This means that the surface of the Moon is unprotected from cosmic rays, meteorites and solar winds, and has huge temperature variations. The lack of atmosphere means no sound can be heard on the Moon, and the sky always appears black.
The Moon has quakes.
These are caused by the gravitational pull of the Earth. Lunar astronauts used seismographs on their visits to the Moon, and found that small moonquakes occurred several kilometres beneath the surface, causing ruptures and cracks. Scientists think the Moon has a molten core, just like Earth.
The first spacecraft to reach the Moon was Luna 1 in 1959.
This was a Soviet craft, which was launched from the USSR. It passed within 5995 km of the surface of the Moon before going into orbit around the Sun.
The Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar System.
At 3,475 km in diameter, the Moon is much smaller than the major moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Earth is about 80 times the volume than the Moon, but both are about the same age. A prevailing theory is that the Moon was once part of the Earth, and was formed from a chunk that broke away due to a huge object colliding with Earth when it was relatively young.
The Moon will be visited by man in the near future.
NASA plans to return astronauts to the moon to set up a permanent space station. Mankind may once again walk on the moon in 2019, if all goes according to plan.
During the 1950’s the USA considered detonating a nuclear bomb on the Moon.
The secret project was during the height cold war was known as “A Study of Lunar Research Flights” or “Project A119” and meant as a show of strength at a time they were lagging behind in the space race.
Source: space-facts.com/the-moon/
Strawberry Moon
The full moon that falls in June is commonly referred to as the "Strawberry Moon"—a name that originates with Native Americans. This is because June is traditionally a time when wild strawberries are ready for harvest in North America.
"June's full moon was named to what translates in the English language as 'Strawberry Moon' by several indigenous peoples, including members of the Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, to mark the ripening of wild strawberries," Catherine Boeckmann, senior digital editor for the website of The Old Farmer's Almanac, told Newsweek.
Other Native American peoples gave different names to the June full moon, including the Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe), Green Corn Moon (Cherokee), Hoer Moon (Western Abenaki), Birth Moon (Tlingit), Egg Laying Moon or Hatching Moon (Cree).
Full moons are lunar phases that occur roughly once every month when the moon is located opposite to the sun, with the Earth in between. During a full moon, the side that faces towards our planet is fully illuminated, appearing as a perfect circle.
Source: www.newsweek.com/june-full-moon-2022-meaning-behind-straw...
Alállomás gyilkoló menet a Rail Cargo Hungaria jóvoltából; az 1116 026-6, 1116 012-6 és a 1116 018-3 pályaszámú Taurusok jönnek hazafele a 44327-1 számú gyorstehervonattal Bécs rendezőpályaudvara felől Budapest Ferencváros nyugati rendezője felé.
Triple synchronous operation by the Rail Cargo Hungaria; 1116 026-6, 1116 012-6 and the 1116 018-3 numbered Taurus engines running home from Wien Central yard with the 44327-1 numbered express freight train to Budapest Ferencváros western yard near Törökbálint.
Der 1116 026-6, 1116 012-6 und 1116 018-3 fährt von Wien Zentralverschiebebahnhof mit 44327-1 schnell güterzug nach Budapest Ferencváros über Hegyeshalom.
© All rights reserved.
The Scavrat Destroyer is the Union’s first walker, and the culmination of years of effort by the organization’s finest mechanists. Reassembled from the ruined chassis discovered in Arrow Cache A, and reinforced with scavenged Sisterhood tech, the Destroyer finally establishes the Scavrats as a burgeoning military force, and greatly extends their range into the artifact-rich wastes.
Of particular significance, senior mechanists were able to seal and vent the Destroyer’s nuclear power plant, allowing a human pilot to replace the desiccated machine brain. This innovation has not been shared with the Sisterhood, which must still procure revenant Symbiotes to pilot their own radiation-drenched walkers. That being said, the human interface is rudimentary, limiting overall agility and the synchronous use of primary and proximity defence weaponry. In this regard, the Scavrats have a long way to go. For now...
Highest Explore Position #373 ~ On Saturday May 30th 2009.
Atlantic Puffin - Farne Islands, Northumberland, England - Tuesday May 27th 2009.
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Well, a bonus image tonight as I have thousands of photo's from my 5 days away...and could end up still posting them come Christmas..lol
Especially as I could get a few hundred more images if I find somewhere to go over the weekend during my trip back home to Colchester..:)
Sooooo...I hope your all having a wonderful evening / night wherever you may be..:)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is a seabird species in the auk family. It is a pelagic bird that feeds primarily by diving for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such as squid and crustaceans. Its most obvious characteristic is its brightly coloured beak during the breeding seasons. Also known as the Common Puffin, it is the only puffin species which is found in the Atlantic Ocean. The curious appearance of the bird, with its colourful huge bill and its striking piebald plumage, has given rise to nicknames such as "clown of the ocean" and "sea parrot".
Description ~ The Atlantic Puffin is 28–34 cm (11-13.5 in) in length, with a 50–60 cm (20-24 in) wingspan. The male is generally slightly larger than the female, but they are coloured alike. This bird is mainly black above and white below, with gray to white cheeks and red-orange legs. The bill is large and triangular, and during the breeding season is bright orange with a patch of blue bordered by yellow at the rear. The characteristic bright orange bill plates grow before the breeding season and are shed after breeding. The bills are used in courtship rituals, such as the pair tapping their bills together. During flight, it appears to have grey round underwings and a white body; it has a direct flight low over the water. The related Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata) from the North Pacific looks very similar but has slightly different head ornaments.
The Atlantic Puffin is typically silent at sea, except for soft purring sounds it sometimes makes in flight. At the breeding colonies the birds make a deep growl
Distribution and ecology ~ This species breeds on the coasts of northern Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and eastern North America, from well within the Arctic Circle to northern France and Maine. The winter months are spent at sea far from land - in Europe as far south as the Mediterranean, and in North America to North Carolina.
About 95% of the Atlantic puffins in North America breed around Newfoundland's coastlines. The largest puffin colony in the western Atlantic (estimated at more than 260,000 pairs) can be found at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, south of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Predators of the Atlantic Puffin include the Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), the Great Skua (Stercorarius skua), and similar-sized species, which can catch a puffin in flight, or pick off one separated from the colony. Smaller gull species like the Herring Gull (L. argentatus) which are hardly able to bring down a healthy adult puffin, take eggs or recently hatched chicks, and will also steal fish.
Diet ~ Feeding areas are often located 100 km (60 mi) offshore from the nest or more, though when provisioning young the birds venture out only half that distance. Atlantic Puffins can dive for distances of up to 70 m (200 ft) and are propelled by their powerful wings, which are adapted for swimming. They use their webbed feet as a rudder while submerged. Puffins collect several small fish, such as herring, sprats, zooplankton, fish (shellfish), sand eels, when hunting. They use their tongues to hold the fish against spines in their palate, leaving their beaks free to open and catch more fish. A popular, but untrue, story claims that puffins neatly line up the fish in their bills with the heads facing alternate ways. Additional components of their diet are crustaceans and mollusks. A puffin can sometimes have a dozen or more fish in its beak at once.
Reproduction ~ Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs. They can face competition from other burrow nesting animals such as Rabbits, Manx Shearwaters and occasionally Razorbills. They will also nest amongst rocks and scree. Male puffins perform most of the work of clearing out the nest area, which is sometimes lined with grass, feathers or seaweed. The only time spent on land is to nest. Mates are found prior to arriving at the colonies, and mating takes place at sea.
The Atlantic Puffin is sexually mature at the age of 4–5 years. The species is monogamous and has biparental care. A single-egg clutch is produced each year, and incubation responsibilities are shared between both parents. Total incubation time is around 39–45 days, and the chick takes about 49 days to fledge. At fledging, the chick leaves the burrow alone, and flies/swims out to sea, usually during the evening. Contrary to popular belief, young puffins are not abandoned by their parents (although this does occur in some other seabirds, such as shearwaters). Synchronous laying of eggs is found in Atlantic Puffins in adjacent burrows.
When they threw the switch, turned off the twilight and turned on the carney lights, they lit up this massive targeting device. Rumor had it that Air Force One was over head. It looks like the light powered beam is as squirrely as the the Trumposaurus. This carney shot shows the device. It requires a generator to create a synchronous wave form and an electromagnetic wave collator to form the waves into a powerful beam. I got this description of the device from Dr. Saltzberg, PHD of physics. I captured several heavy action shots after dark that evening,
This display caught my eye first and the title was once again obvious. I am another foray with the nightfall action-blur shots of the colored lights and lovin' it. I worked harder at these action-blur shots at this time. All this stuff is really hit and mostly miss photography. The 200mm report is where I started the zoom. The EXIF is often meaningless. I will try for a series. Anyone up for the challenge?
Can you believe it? It was county fair time that summer and again the carney (Crabtree) came to town, And again, here I was willing to try the remaining light tricks. I tried to find great angles and hand held the camera this time, hoping the rides would provide some extra action. I thought the normal/zoom would provide better action at closer ranges. The carney has already been torn down to head to another venue but I have a load of night light shots to peruse and edit.
I waited for a totally black sky and was aided by heavy weather obscuring the sunset. This was a fast exposure but there is a lot more slack to impart action at 2-3 seconds. It seems that I can never get the experimentation done, another eDDie challenge and foray with different results. I shot at f:/22 and slower than a second later in the dark. I arrived at the parking before 6:00. It is difficult getting three rides running at once but this technique overcomes that problem. I hope this Fire Ball doesn't come apart when I am this close. This ride is centrifugally contained except when the cars nearly hang upside-down. Gravity is really in charge as the cars zip by. I doubt they have the same stresses on the Farris wheel. I look at the results on the monitor and good takes become obvious titles. I expect to delve into these takes over time. Each episode is a learning experience and I extend my list of pointers.
Poor Glitch! He's uncomfortable and on the mend in the Heliotrope, looking for V; from Convergence: the Synchronous City. See more at: convergence.enjin.com/
© Saúl Tuñón Loureda
El Puente del Milenio es un puente colgante, peatonal y fabricado con acero que cruza el río Támesis, a su paso por Londres, en Inglaterra, uniendo la zona de Bankside con la City. Se localiza entre el Puente de Southwark y el Puente de Blackfriars. Fue el primero que cruzó el Támesis desde que se construyera el Tower Bridge, o Puente de la Torre, en 1894. Es propiedad de la Bridge House Estates una fundación benéfica que también se encarga de su mantenimiento, y que es supervisada por la City of London Corporation.
El lado sur del puente se encuentra cerca del teatro The Globe, de la Galería de Bankside y del Tate Modern. El lado norte del puente se encuentra cerca de la School of London City y de la Catedral de San Pablo. El alineamiento del puente es tal, que nos ofrece una clara vista de la fachada sur de la Catedral de San Pablo, enmarcada por los soportes del puente, que constituye uno de los lugares mas fotogénicos de la Catedral.
Diseño
El diseño del puente fue elegido por concurso, en 1996 por el concilio de Southwark. El diseño ganador fue muy innovador, y fue realizado por Arup, por Foster and Partners y por sir Anthony Caro. Debido a las restricciones de peso, y para mejorar la vista, la suspensión del puente tuvo que tener cables de apoyo bajo el nivel de la cubierta, dando una sensación de poca profundidad en las aguas. El puente tiene dos plataformas de soporte y está hecho en tres secciones de 81 m, 144 m, y 108 m (de norte a sur) con una estructura resultante de 325 m; la cubierta de aluminio mide 4 m de ancho. Los 8 cables que mantienen el puente en suspensión, están tensados para poder sostener 2000 toneladas de peso, lo suficiente para soportar a 5000 personas en el puente al mismo tiempo.
La construcción comenzó a finales de 1998, pero los principales trabajos comenzaron el 28 de abril de 1999. El coste económico del puente fue de 18,2 millones de Libras, 2,2 millones por encima del presupuesto anunciado. Fue abierto el 10 de junio de 2000, dos meses más tarde de lo esperado, y unas inesperadas vibraciones y fallos estructurales, hicieron que éste tuviera que ser cerrado el 12 de junio, dos días después de su apertura, para realizar modificaciones. Estos movimientos eran producidos por el gran número de personas, 90.000 el primer día y más de 2.000 en el puente al mismo tiempo. Las primeras pequeñas vibraciones animaron (o incluso obligaron) a los viandantes a caminar de manera sincronizada con el balanceo, incrementando el efecto, incluso cuando el puente se encontraba relativamente poco transitado al comienzo del día. Estos balanceos hicieron que el puente se ganase el apodo de Wobbly Bridge.
Se intentó limitar el número de personas cruzando el puente en el mismo momento. La clausura del puente solo 3 días después de que se abriese produjo una gran crítica pública, como otro gran proyecto del sentir británico que sufría un revés vergonzoso, semejante al del Millennium Dome.
Tras unas obras que duraron desde mayo de 2001 hasta enero de 2002 y que costaron 5 millones de libras, el problema se arregló, y tras un periodo de prueba, se reabrió el 22 de febrero de 2002.
Desde entonces no se han vuelto a tener noticias de movimientos extraños en el puente, y sólo se volvió a cerrar durante la tormenta Kyrill, una especie de ciclón.
Cultura Popular
El Puente del Milenio aparece en una de las primeras escenas de acción en la película Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe, que aparece mientras es destruido por algunos seguidores(mortífagos) de Lord Voldemort antes de caer al Támesis. Obviamente, no se derrumbó el puente, sino que se filmaron planos desde helicópteros, y después se usaron potentes efectos especiales para modificar la imagen y hacer parecer que cae al río. Véase el vídeo www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXhDwxxSOTI&feature=related / www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo-U5iOinM8
El puente también apareció en el comienzo del primer episodio de Ashes to Ashes.
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Bridge
The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, linking Bankside with the City of London. It is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. It is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction began in 1998 and it initially opened in June 2000.
Londoners nicknamed the bridge the "Wobbly Bridge" after pedestrians felt unexpected swaying motion. The bridge was closed later on opening day and, after two days of limited access, it was closed for almost two years while modifications were made to eliminate the motion. It reopened in 2002.
The southern end of the bridge is near the Globe theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, the north end next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south façade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports.
Design
The design of the bridge was the subject of a competition organized in 1996 by Southwark council and RIBA Competitions. The winning entry was an innovative "blade of light" effort from Arup, Foster and Partners, and Sir Anthony Caro. Due to height restrictions, and to improve the view, the bridge's suspension design had the supporting cables below the deck level, giving a very shallow profile. The bridge has two river piers and is made of three main sections of 81 m (266 ft), 144 m (472 ft), and 108 m (354 ft) (north to south) with a total structure length of 325 m (1,066 ft); the aluminium deck is 4 m (13 ft) wide. The eight suspension cables are tensioned to pull with a force of 2,000 tons against the piers set into each bank — enough to support a working load of 5,000 people on the bridge at one time.
Construction
London Millennium Bridge at night. This image shows the well known and much photographed illusion of St. Paul's Cathedral being supported by one of the bridge supports.
Ordinarily, bridges across the River Thames require an Act of Parliament. For this bridge, that was avoided by the Port of London Authority granting a licence for the structure obtaining planning permissions from the City of London and London Borough of Southwark.[1] Construction began in late 1998 and the main works were started on 28 April 1999 by Monberg & Thorsen and Sir Robert McAlpine.[2] The bridge was completed at a cost of £18.2M (£2.2M over budget), primarily paid for by the Millennium Commission and the London Bridge Trust.[3] It opened on 10 June 2000 (two months late).
Unexpected lateral vibration (resonant structural response) caused the bridge to be closed on 12 June 2000 for modifications. Attempts were made to limit the number of people crossing the bridge. This led to long queues but was ineffective to dampen the vibrations. Closure of the bridge only two days after opening attracted public criticism of it as another high-profile British Millennium project suffered an embarrassing setback, akin to how many saw the Millennium Dome. Vibration was attributed to an under-researched phenomenon whereby pedestrians crossing a bridge that has a lateral sway have an unconscious tendency to match their footsteps to the sway, exacerbating it. The tendency of a suspension bridge to sway when troops march over it in step was well known, which is why troops are required to break step when crossing such a bridge.[4]
The bridge was temporarily closed on 18 January 2007, during the Kyrill storm due to strong winds and a risk of pedestrians being blown off the bridge.
The bridge's movements were caused by a 'positive feedback' phenomenon, known as synchronous lateral excitation. The natural sway motion of people walking caused small sideways oscillations in the bridge, which in turn caused people on the bridge to sway in step, increasing the amplitude of the bridge oscillations and continually reinforcing the effect.[6] On the day of opening, the bridge was crossed by 90,000 people, with up to 2,000 on the bridge at any one time.
Resonant vibrational modes due to vertical loads (such as trains, traffic, pedestrians) and wind loads are well understood in bridge design. In the case of the Millennium Bridge, because the lateral motion caused the pedestrians loading the bridge to directly participate with the bridge, the vibrational modes had not been anticipated by the designers. The crucial point is that when the bridge lurches to one side, the pedestrians must adjust to keep from falling over, and they all do this at exactly the same time. Hence, the situation is similar to soldiers marching in lockstep, but horizontal instead of vertical.
The lateral vibration problems of the Millennium Bridge are very unusual, but not entirely unique.[7] Any bridge with lateral frequency modes of less than 1.3 Hz, and sufficiently low mass, could witness the same phenomenon with sufficient pedestrian loading. The greater the number of people, the greater the amplitude of the vibrations. For example, Albert Bridge in London has a sign dating from 1873 warning marching ranks of soldiers to break step while crossing.[8] Other bridges which have seen similar problems are:
Birmingham NEC Link bridge, with a lateral frequency of 0.7 Hz
Groves Suspension Bridge, Chester, in 1977 during the Jubilee river regatta
Auckland Harbour Bridge, with a lateral frequency of 0.67 Hz, during a 1975 demonstration[9]
After extensive analysis by the engineers,[10] the problem was fixed by the retrofitting of 37 fluid-viscous dampers (energy dissipating) to control horizontal movement and 52 tuned mass dampers (inertial) to control vertical movement. This took from May 2001 to January 2002 and cost £5M. After a period of testing, the bridge was successfully reopened on 22 February 2002. The bridge has not been subject to significant vibration since. In spite of the successful fix of the problem, the affectionate "wobbly bridge" epithet remains in common usage among Londoners.
An artistic expression of the higher-frequency resonances within the cables of the bridge were explored by Bill Fontana's 'Harmonic Bridge' exhibition at the Tate Modern museum in mid-2006. This used acoustic transducers placed at strategic locations on the cabling of the Millennium Bridge and the signals from those transducers were amplified and dynamically distributed throughout the Turbine Hall of the Tate by a programme which Fontana entered into the sound diffusion engine of the Richmond Sound Design AudioBox.
In popular culture
The Millennium Bridge was featured in the sixth installment of the Harry Potter film franchise, where the bridge collapsed following an attack by Death Eaters.[14]
The Bridge also appeared in the 2014 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Guardians of the Galaxy during the climactic battle on Xandar.[15]
The Bridge also appeared in the video to the Olly Murs song "Heart on My Sleeve."
Three images, merged
MS Sea Princess (formerly Adonia) is a Sun-class cruise ship operated by the Princess Cruises line. She has three sister ships: Sun Princess in the Princess Cruises fleet and Oceana (formerly Ocean Princess) and Pacific Explorer (Formerly Dawn Princess) in the P&O Cruises fleet.
Class and type:Sun-class cruise ship
Tonnage:
77,499 GT, 44,202 NT, 8,293 DWT
Length:261 m (856 ft)
Beam:32 m (105 ft)
Draught:8.11 m (26.6 ft)
Decks:14
Deck clearance:9.290 m (30.48 ft)[clarification needed]
Installed power:
4 × GMT Sulzer 16ZAV40S (4 × 11,520 kW) 46,080 kW (combined)
Propulsion:
Diesel-electric; two shafts
GEC Alsthom synchronous AC motors (2 × 14,000 kW)
Two 6-bladed propellers (⌀ 5.2 m)
Speed:22.4 knots (41.5 km/h; 25.8 mph)
Capacity: 2,000 passengers
Crew: 900.
Vancouver harbour, Burrard inlet,
Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite and was formed 4.6 billion years ago around some 30–50 million years after the formation of the solar system. The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth meaning the same side is always facing the Earth.
The first unmanned mission to the Moon was in 1959 by the Soviet Lunar Program with the first manned landing being Apollo 11 in 1969.
The Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar System.
At 3,475 km in diameter, the Moon is much smaller than the major moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Earth is about 80 times the volume than the Moon, but both are about the same age. A prevailing theory is that the Moon was once part of the Earth, and was formed from a chunk that broke away due to a huge object colliding with Earth when it was relatively young.
I belive this phase of the moon is know as the "waxing gibbous"
Our latest customer request released. A coal mine from the Ruhr area. The finished model consists of about 15000 individual parts and can be built partially modular in different modules and is equipped with some details. Included are the PDF building instructions for the large winding tower with the two rope sheaves, the machine house, including rope drive, the chimney and the coal washing building. The rope sheaves can be driven prototypically via a drive in the machine house. A synchronous shaft transmits the power evenly to the lower part of the winding tower. Here, there is also a tension pulley that tensions the rope.
From the coal washing building, the hard coal is loaded onto the trains via a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven and, with the "pieces of coal" attached to it, conveys the feeling of a working plant.
Further information and the PDF-building instruction is here available: en.bricks-on-rails.de/product-page/pdf-anleitung-zeche-be...
Salam/ Hi to All My FRIENDS..
About Earth's Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System. It is the largest natural satellite in the Solar System relative to the size of its planet, a quarter the diameter of Earth and 1/81 its mass, and is the second densest satellite after Io. It is in synchronous rotation with Earth, always showing the same face; the near side is marked with dark volcanic maria among the bright ancient crustal highlands and prominent impact craters.
Keutamaan Umrah Bulan Zulkaedah
Hadith :
Dari Anas r.a katanya:”Rasulullah s.a.w mengerjakan umrah empat kali. Semuanya itu dikerjakan baginda di bulan Zulkaedah selain yang dikerjakannya bersama-sama dengan haji. Iaitu umrah yang dilakukan baginda di Hudaibiyah ketika berlakunya perdamaian Hudaibiyah dalam bulan Zulkaedah, dan umrah tahun sesudah itu juga dalam bulan Zulkaedah dan umrah yang dilakukan baginda dari Ji’ranah ketika membahagi-bahagikan harta rampasan perang Hunain, juga di bulan Zulkaedah, dan sesudah itu umrah yang dilakukan baginda bersama-sama dengan haji.”
(Muslim)
Karacho 12/06/2025 12h56
The launch coaster Karacho is one of the heavy rollercoasters of this park
Karacho
Karacho (German for 'high speed') is a Gerstlauer steel roller coaster at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill, Germany designed by Imaginvest. It opened on 10 July 2013. It features a launch and 4 inversions, and accelerates to 90 kilometres per hour in 1.6 seconds.
The ride was Gerstlauer's 50th roller coaster, with Erlebnispark Tripsdrill also being the park where the company installed their first roller coaster.
The roller coaster is a modified Infinity Coaster model. The station is located inside and the train first goes through a tunnel after departure. In this tunnel, after a small descent, there is first a heartline roll and then the launch. The launch delivers a power of 2000 hp and accelerates the train to 100 km/h in 1.6 seconds. The highest point of Karacho is a top hat with a height of 30 meters. The roller coaster also has a dive loop, an inverted top hat and a corkscrew.
FACTS & FIGURES
Opening date: 10 July 2013
Cost: € 7,000,000
Type: Steel – Launched
Manufacturer: Gerstlauer
Designer:Imaginvest
Model: Infinity Coaster
Lift/launch system: Linear synchronous motor launch
Height: 30 meters
Length: 700 meters
Speed: 90 km/h
Inversions: 4
Capacity: 960 riders per hour
Acceleration: 0 to 90 km/h in 1.6 seconds
Number of trains: 4
For my Video; youtu.be/vm4mDSQuVaY,
Hats off Day, Burnaby Heights, BC., Canada, 2016,
Burnaby Heights, Burnaby, British Columbia
The third-generation Smart electric drive, Smart ED3, was unveiled at the September 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Key differences with the second-generation model include a more powerful electric motor with improved acceleration and top speed; a new lithium-ion battery pack, which increased the range to 140 kilometres (87 mi) with a quick-charge option; other new features include an enlarged grille opening, LED daytime running lights, wider door sills, some minor modifications to the rear, fully automatic air conditioning with pollen filter and pre-air conditioning. Several features are controlled remotely through a smart drive application for the iPhone.
Canadian pricing for the Electric Drive starts at CA$26,990
Specifications
Power: peak power output of 55 kW (74 hp), Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous motor (PMSM)
Torque: 130 newton-metres (96 lbf⋅ft)
Top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph)
0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 11.5 seconds and 0 to 60 km/h (0 to 37 mph) in 5 seconds
Battery capacity: 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery by Deutsche ACCUmotive
Range: 145 km (90 mi)
Miles per gallon equivalent: 122 MPGe city, 93 MPGe highway, 107 MPGe combined
Photo awarded third place in the Polish photographic competition.The competition is organized by the Warsaw Royal Baths.
Sunday evening: So I play around with some old shots and made this pseudo-HDR. Perhaps someone likes it.
You like it (now I know)!!!
Highest position on explore: #317 on Tuesday, February 24, 2009
synchronous cat wash,
Lhasa-Hexchen & Simona,
❤️❤️
2023,06.18, 11:17
(in the background: picture of Putzi, my first guinea pig, painted by my sister)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant. The sea is sometimes considered a part of the Atlantic Ocean, although it is usually identified as a completely separate body of water.
The name Mediterranean is derived from the Latin mediterraneus, meaning "inland" or "in the middle of the land" (from medius, "middle" and terra, "land"). It covers an approximate area of 2.5 million km² (965,000 sq mi), but its connection to the Atlantic (the Strait of Gibraltar) is only 14 km (8.7 mi) wide. In oceanography, it is sometimes called the Eurafrican Mediterranean Sea or the European Mediterranean Sea to distinguish it from mediterranean seas elsewhere.[3][4]
The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,500 m (4,900 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5,267 m (17,280 ft) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea.
It was an important route for merchants and travellers of ancient times that allowed for trade and cultural exchange between emergent peoples of the region. The history of the Mediterranean region is crucial to understanding the origins and development of many modern societies.
Name
The term Mediterranean derives from the Latin word mediterraneus, meaning "in the middle of earth" or "between lands" (medi-; adj. medius, -um -a "middle, between" + terra f., "land, earth"): as it is between the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. The Greek name Mesogeios (Μεσόγειος), is similarly from μέσο, "middle" + γη, "land, earth").[5]
The Mediterranean Sea has historically had several names. For example the Romans commonly called it Mare Nostrum (Latin, "Our Sea"), and occasionally Mare Internum (Sallust, Jug. 17).
In the Bible, it was primarily known as הים הגדול (HaYam HaGadol), the "Great Sea", (Num. 34:6,7; Josh. 1:4, 9:1, 15:47; Ezek. 47:10,15,20), or simply "The Sea" (1 Kings 5:9; comp. 1 Macc. 14:34, 15:11); however, it has also been called the "Hinder Sea", due to its location on the west coast of the Holy Land, and therefore behind a person facing the east, sometimes translated as "Western Sea", (Deut. 11:24; Joel 2:20). Another name was the "Sea of the Philistines" (Exod. 23:31), from the people occupying a large portion of its shores near the Israelites.
In Modern Hebrew, it has been called HaYam HaTikhon (הַיָּם הַתִּיכוֹן), "the Middle Sea", reflecting the Sea's name in ancient Greek (Mesogeios), Latin (Mare internum) and modern languages in both Europe and the Middle East (Mediterranean, etc.). Similarly, in Modern Arabic, it is known as al-Baḥr [al-Abyaḍ] al-Mutawassiṭ (البحر [الأبيض] المتوسط), "the [White] Medium Sea", while in Islamic and older Arabic literature, it was referenced as Baḥr al-Rūm (بحر الروم), or "the Roman/Byzantine Sea." In Turkish, it is known as Akdeniz,[6] "the White Sea" since among Turks the white color (ak) represents the west.
History
Several ancient civilizations were located around its shores; thus it has had a major influence on those cultures. It provided routes for trade, colonization and war, and provided food (by fishing and the gathering of other seafood) for numerous communities throughout the ages.[7]
The sharing of similar climate, geology and access to a common sea led to numerous historical and cultural connections between the ancient and modern societies around the Mediterranean.
Two of the most notable Mediterranean civilizations in classical antiquity were the Greek city states and the Phoenicians. When[citation needed] Augustus founded the Roman Empire, the Mediterranean Sea began to be called Mare Nostrum (literally:"Our Sea") by the Romans.
Darius I of Persia, who conquered Ancient Egypt, built a canal linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Darius's canal was wide enough for two triremes to pass each other with oars extended, and required four days to traverse.[8]
The western Roman empire collapsed around AD 476. Temporarily the east was again dominant as the Byzantine Empire formed from the eastern half of the Roman empire. Another power soon arose in the east: Islam. At its greatest extent, the Arab Empire controlled 75% of the Mediterranean region.
Europe was reviving, however, as more organized and centralized states began to form in the later Middle Ages after the Renaissance of the 12th century.
Ottoman power continued to grow, and in 1453, the Byzantine Empire was extinguished with the Conquest of Constantinople. Ottomans gained control of much of the sea in the 16th century and maintained naval bases in southern France, Algeria and Tunisia. Barbarossa, the famous Ottoman captain is a symbol of this domination with the victory of the Battle of Preveza. The Battle of Djerba marked the apex of Ottoman naval domination in the Mediterranean. However, as naval prowess of the European powers grew, they confronted Ottoman expansion in the region when the Battle of Lepanto checked the power of the Ottoman Navy. This was the last naval battle to be fought primarily between galleys.
The Barbary pirates of North Africa preyed on Christian shipping in the western Mediterranean Sea.[9] According to Robert Davis, from the 16th to 19th century, pirates captured 1 million to 1.25 million Europeans as slaves.[10]
The development of oceanic shipping began to affect the entire Mediterranean. Once, all trade from the east had passed through the region, but now the circumnavigation of Africa allowed spices and other goods to be imported through the Atlantic ports of western Europe.[11][12][13] The Malta president described the Mediterranean sea as a "cemetery" due to the large amounts of migrants who drown there.
Geography
With its highly indented coastline and large number of islands, Greece has the longest Mediterranean coastline.
The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar in the west and to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, by the Dardanelles and the Bosporus respectively, in the east. The Sea of Marmara is often considered a part of the Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Black Sea is generally not. The 163 km (101 mi) long man-made Suez Canal in the southeast connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
Large islands in the Mediterranean include Cyprus, Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesbos, Chios, Kefalonia, Corfu, Limnos, Samos, Naxos and Andros in the eastern Mediterranean; Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Cres, Krk, Brač, Hvar, Pag, Korčula and Malta in the central Mediterranean; and Ibiza, Majorca and Minorca (the Balearic Islands) in the western Mediterranean.
The typical Mediterranean climate has hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Crops of the region include olives, grapes, oranges, tangerines, and cork.
Extent
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Mediterranean Sea as follows:[15]
Stretching from the Strait of Gibraltar in the West to the entrances to the Dardanelles and the Suez Canal in the East, the Mediterranean Sea is bounded by the coasts of Europe, Africa and Asia, and is divided into two deep basins:
Western Basin:
On the west: A line joining the extremities of Cape Trafalgar (Spain) and Cape Spartel (Africa).
On the northeast: The West Coast of Italy. In the Strait of Messina a line joining the North extreme of Cape Paci (15°42'E) with Cape Peloro, the East extreme of the Island of Sicily. The North Coast of Sicily.
On the east: A line joining Cape Lilibeo the Western point of Sicily (37°47′N 12°22′E), through the Adventure Bank to Cape Bon (Tunisia).
Eastern Basin:
On the west: The Northeastern and Eastern limits of the Western Basin.
On the northeast: A line joining Kum Kale (26°11'E) and Cape Helles, the Western entrance to the Dardanelles.
On the southeast: The entrance to the Suez Canal.
On the east: The coasts of Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza Strip.
Oceanography
Being nearly landlocked affects conditions in the Mediterranean Sea: for instance, tides are very limited as a result of the narrow connection with the Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean is characterized and immediately recognised by its deep blue colour.
Evaporation greatly exceeds precipitation and river runoff in the Mediterranean, a fact that is central to the water circulation within the basin.[16] Evaporation is especially high in its eastern half, causing the water level to decrease and salinity to increase eastward.[17] This pressure gradient pushes relatively cool, low-salinity water from the Atlantic across the basin; it warms and becomes saltier as it travels east, then sinks in the region of the Levant and circulates westward, to spill over the Strait of Gibraltar.[18] Thus, seawater flow is eastward in the Strait's surface waters, and westward below; once in the Atlantic, this chemically distinct Mediterranean Intermediate Water can persist thousands of kilometres away from its source.
Coastal countries
Twenty-two countries have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. They are:
Northern shore (from west to east): Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Turkey.
Eastern shore (from north to south): Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine (limited recognition).
Southern shore (from west to east): Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt.
Island nations: Malta, Cyprus, Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.svg Northern Cyprus (limited recognition).
Several other territories also border the Mediterranean Sea (from west to east): The British overseas territory of Gibraltar, the Spanish autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and nearby islands, and the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus
Major cities (municipalities) with populations larger than 200,000 people bordering the Mediterranean Sea are:
CountryCities
AlbaniaDurrës
AlgeriaAlgiers, Annaba, Oran
CroatiaSplit, Rijeka
EgyptAlexandria, Port Said
FranceMarseille, Nice
GreeceAthens, Patras, Thessaloniki
IsraelAshdod, Haifa, Tel Aviv
ItalyBari, Catania, Genoa, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Rome, Taranto, Trieste, Venice
LebanonBeirut, Tripoli
LibyaBenghazi, Khoms, Misrata, Tripoli, Zawiya, Zliten
MoroccoTétouan, Tangier
SpainAlicante, Badalona, Barcelona, Cartagena, Málaga, Palma, Valencia
State of PalestineGaza City
SyriaLatakia
TunisiaBizerte, Sfax, Tunis
TurkeyAntalya, İskenderun, İzmir, Mersin
Subdivisions
According to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the Mediterranean Sea is subdivided into a number of smaller waterbodies, each with their own designation (from west to east):[15]
the Strait of Gibraltar;
the Alboran Sea, between Spain and Morocco;
the Balearic Sea, between mainland Spain and its Balearic Islands;
the Ligurian Sea between Corsica and Liguria (Italy);
the Tyrrhenian Sea enclosed by Sardinia, Italian peninsula and Sicily;
the Ionian Sea between Italy, Albania and Greece;
the Adriatic Sea between Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania;
the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey.
Other seas
Although not recognised by the IHO treaties, there are some other seas whose names have been in common use from the ancient times, or in the present:
the Sea of Sardinia, between Sardinia and Balearic Islands, as a part of the Balearic Sea
the Sea of Sicily between Sicily and Tunisia,
the Libyan Sea between Libya and Crete,
In the Aegean Sea,
the Thracian Sea in its north,
the Myrtoan Sea between the Cyclades and the Peloponnese,
the Sea of Crete north of Crete,
the Icarian Sea between Kos and Chios
the Cilician Sea between Turkey and Cyprus
the Levantine Sea at the eastern end of the Mediterranean
Other features
Many of these smaller seas feature in local myth and folklore and derive their names from these associations. In addition to the seas, a number of gulfs and straits are also recognised:
the Saint George Bay in Beirut, Lebanon
the Ras Ibn Hani cape in Latakia, Syria
the Ras al-Bassit cape in northern Syria.
the Minet el-Beida ("White Harbour") bay near ancient Ugarit, Syria
the Strait of Gibraltar, connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain from Morocco
the Bay of Gibraltar, at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula
the Gulf of Corinth, an enclosed sea between the Ionian Sea and the Corinth Canal
the Pagasetic Gulf, the gulf of Volos, south of the Thermaic Gulf, formed by the Mount Pelion peninsula
the Saronic Gulf, the gulf of Athens, between the Corinth Canal and the Mirtoan Sea
the Thermaic Gulf, the gulf of Thessaloniki, located in the northern Greek region of Macedonia
the Kvarner Gulf, Croatia
the Gulf of Lion, south of France
the Gulf of Valencia, east of Spain
the Strait of Messina, between Sicily and the toe of Italy
the Gulf of Genoa, northwestern Italy
the Gulf of Venice, northeastern Italy
the Gulf of Trieste, northeastern Italy
the Gulf of Taranto, southern Italy
The Adriatic Sea contains over 1200 islands and islets.
the Gulf of Salerno, southwestern Italy
the Gulf of Gaeta, southwestern Italy
the Gulf of Squillace, southern Italy
the Strait of Otranto, between Italy and Albania
the Gulf of Haifa, northern Israel
the Gulf of Sidra, between Tripolitania (western Libya) and Cyrenaica (eastern Libya)
the Strait of Sicily, between Sicily and Tunisia
the Corsica Channel, between Corsica and Italy
the Strait of Bonifacio, between Sardinia and Corsica
the Gulf of İskenderun, between İskenderun and Adana (Turkey)
the Gulf of Antalya, between west and east shores of Antalya (Turkey)
the Bay of Kotor, in south-western Montenegro and south-eastern Croatia
the Malta Channel, between Sicily and Malta
the Gozo Channel, between Malta Island and Gozo
Sea temperature
Mean sea temperature (°C)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecØ/Year
Marseille[21]13131314161821222118161416.6
Venice[22]11101113182225262320161417.4
Barcelona[23]13131314172023252320171517.8
Valencia[24]14131415172124262421181518.5
Málaga[25]16151516172022232220181618.3
Gibraltar[26]16151616172022222220181718.4
Naples[27]15141415182225272522191619.3
Athens[28]16151516182124242421191819.3
Heraklion[29]16151516192224252422201819.7
Malta[30]16161516182124262523211819.9
Larnaca[31]18171718202426272725221921.7
Limassol[32]18171718202426272725221921.7
Antalya17171718212427282725221921.8
Alexandria[33]18171718202325262625222021.4
Tel Aviv[34]18171718212426282726232022.1
Geology
The geologic history of the Mediterranean is complex. It was involved in the tectonic break-up and then collision of the African and Eurasian plates. The Messinian Salinity Crisis occurred in the late Miocene (12 million years ago to 5 million years ago) when the Mediterranean dried up. Geologically the Mediterranean is underlain by oceanic crust.
The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,500 m (4,900 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5,267 m (17,280 ft) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea. The coastline extends for 46,000 km (29,000 mi). A shallow submarine ridge (the Strait of Sicily) between the island of Sicily and the coast of Tunisia divides the sea in two main subregions (which in turn are divided into subdivisions), the Western Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Western Mediterranean covers an area of about 0.85 million km² (0.33 million mi²) and the Eastern Mediterranean about 1.65 million km² (0.64 million mi²). A characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea are submarine karst springs or vruljas, which mainly occur in shallow waters[35] and may also be thermal.
Tectonic evolution
The geodynamic evolution of the Mediterranean Sea was provided by the convergence of European and African plates and several smaller microplates. This process was driven by the differential seafloor spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which led to the closure of the Tethys Ocean and eventually to the Alpine orogenesis. However, the Mediterranean also hosts wide extensional basins and migrating tectonic arcs, in response to its land-locked configuration.
According to a report published by Nature in 2009, some scientists think that the Mediterranean Sea was mostly filled during a time period of less than two years, in a major flood (the Zanclean flood) that happened approximately 5.33 million years ago, in which water poured in from the Atlantic Ocean and through the Strait of Gibraltar, at a rate three times the current flow of the Amazon River.[37] However, the sea basins had been filled for many millions of years before the prior closure of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Eastern Mediterranean
In middle Miocene times, the collision between the Arabian microplate and Eurasia led to the separation between the Tethys and the Indian oceans. This process resulted in profound changes in the oceanic circulation patterns, which shifted global climates towards colder conditions. The Hellenic arc, which has a land-locked configuration, underwent a widespread extension for the last 20 Ma due to a slab roll-back process. In addition, the Hellenic Arc experienced a rapid rotation phase during the Pleistocene, with a counterclockwise component in its eastern portion and a clockwise trend in the western segment.
Central Mediterranean
The opening of small oceanic basins of the central Mediterranean follows a trench migration and back-arc opening process that occurred during the last 30 Myr. This phase was characterised by the anticlockwise rotation of the Corsica-Sardinia block, which lasted until the Langhian (ca.16 Ma), and was in turn followed by a slab detachment along the northern African margin. Subsequently, a shift of this active extensional deformation led to the opening of the Tyrrenian basin.
Western Mediterranean[edit]
The Betic-Rif mountain belts developed during Mesozoic and Cenozoic times, as Africa and Iberia converged. Tectonic models for its evolution include: rapid motion of Alboran Domain, subduction zone and radial extensional collapse caused by convective removal of lithospheric mantle. The development of these intramontane Betic and Rif basins led to the onset of two marine gateways which were progressively closed during the late Miocene by an interplay of tectonic and glacio-eustatic processes.
Paleoenvironmental analysis
Its semi-enclosed configuration makes the oceanic gateways critical in controlling circulation and environmental evolution in the Mediterranean Sea. Water circulation patterns are driven by a number of interactive factors, such as climate and bathymetry, which can lead to precipitation of evaporites. During late Miocene times, a so-called "Messinian Salinity Crisis" (MSC hereafter) occurred, where the Mediterranean entirely or almost entirely dried out, which was triggered by the closure of the Atlantic gateway. Evaporites accumulated in the Red Sea Basin (late Miocene), in the Carpatian foredeep (middle Miocene) and in the whole Mediterranean area (Messinian). An accurate age estimate of the MSC—5.96 Ma—has recently been astronomically achieved; furthermore, this event seems to have occurred synchronously. The beginning of the MSC is supposed to have been of tectonic origin; however, an astronomical control (eccentricity) might also have been involved. In the Mediterranean basin, diatomites are regularly found underneath the evaporite deposits, thus suggesting (albeit not clearly so far) a connection between their geneses.
The present-day Atlantic gateway, i.e. the Strait of Gibraltar, finds its origin in the early Pliocene. However, two other connections between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea existed in the past: the Betic Corridor (southern Spain) and the Rifian Corridor (northern Morocco). The former closed during Tortonian times, thus providing a "Tortonian Salinity Crisis" well before the MSC; the latter closed about 6 Ma, allowing exchanges in the mammal fauna between Africa and Europe. Nowadays, evaporation is more relevant than the water yield supplied by riverine water and precipitation, so that salinity in the Mediterranean is higher than in the Atlantic. These conditions result in the outflow of warm saline Mediterranean deep water across Gibraltar, which is in turn counterbalanced by an inflow of a less saline surface current of cold oceanic water.
The Mediterranean was once thought to be the remnant of the Tethys Ocean. It is now known to be a structurally younger ocean basin known as Neotethys. The Neotethys formed during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic rifting of the African and Eurasian plates.
Paleoclimate
Because of its latitudinal position and its land-locked configuration, the Mediterranean is especially sensitive to astronomically induced climatic variations, which are well documented in its sedimentary record. Since the Mediterranean is involved in the deposition of eolian dust from the Sahara during dry periods, whereas riverine detrital input prevails during wet ones, the Mediterranean marine sapropel-bearing sequences provide high-resolution climatic information. These data have been employed in reconstructing astronomically calibrated time scales for the last 9 Ma of the Earth's history, helping to constrain the time of past Geomagnetic Reversals.[38] Furthermore, the exceptional accuracy of these paleoclimatic records have improved our knowledge of the Earth's orbital variations in the past.
Ecology and biota
As a result of the drying of the sea during the Messinian salinity crisis,[39] the marine biota of the Mediterranean are derived primarily from the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic is considerably colder and more nutrient-rich than the Mediterranean, and the marine life of the Mediterranean has had to adapt to its differing conditions in the five million years since the basin was reflooded.
The Alboran Sea is a transition zone between the two seas, containing a mix of Mediterranean and Atlantic species. The Alboran Sea has the largest population of Bottlenose Dolphins in the western Mediterranean, is home to the last population of harbour porpoises in the Mediterranean, and is the most important feeding grounds for Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Europe. The Alboran sea also hosts important commercial fisheries, including sardines and swordfish. The Mediterranean monk seals live in the Aegean Sea in Greece. In 2003, the World Wildlife Fund raised concerns about the widespread drift net fishing endangering populations of dolphins, turtles, and other marine animals.
Environmental threats
Biodiversity
Invasive species
The Reticulate whipray is one of the species that colonised the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 created the first salt-water passage between the Mediterranean and Red Sea. The Red Sea is higher than the Eastern Mediterranean, so the canal serves as a tidal strait that pours Red Sea water into the Mediterranean. The Bitter Lakes, which are hyper-saline natural lakes that form part of the canal, blocked the migration of Red Sea species into the Mediterranean for many decades, but as the salinity of the lakes gradually equalized with that of the Red Sea, the barrier to migration was removed, and plants and animals from the Red Sea have begun to colonise the Eastern Mediterranean. The Red Sea is generally saltier and more nutrient-poor than the Atlantic, so the Red Sea species have advantages over Atlantic species in the salty and nutrient-poor Eastern Mediterranean. Accordingly, Red Sea species invade the Mediterranean biota, and not vice versa; this phenomenon is known as the Lessepsian migration (after Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French engineer) or Erythrean invasion. The construction of the Aswan High Dam across the Nile River in the 1960s reduced the inflow of freshwater and nutrient-rich silt from the Nile into the Eastern Mediterranean, making conditions there even more like the Red Sea and worsening the impact of the invasive species.
Invasive species have become a major component of the Mediterranean ecosystem and have serious impacts on the Mediterranean ecology, endangering many local and endemic Mediterranean species. A first look at some groups of exotic species show that more than 70% of the non-indigenous decapods and about 63% of the exotic fishes occurring in the Mediterranean are of Indo Pacific origin,[40] introduced into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. This makes the Canal as the first pathway of arrival of "alien" species into the Mediterranean. The impacts of some lessepsian species have proven to be considerable mainly in the Levantine basin of the Mediterranean, where they are replacing native species and becoming a "familiar sight".
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature definition, as well as Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Ramsar Convention terminologies, they are alien species, as they are non-native (non-indigenous) to the Mediterranean Sea, and they are outside their normal area of distribution which is the Indo-Pacific region. When these species succeed in establishing populations in the Mediterranean sea, compete with and begin to replace native species they are "Alien Invasive Species", as they are an agent of change and a threat to the native biodiversity. In the context of CBD, "introduction" refers to the movement by human agency, indirect or direct, of an alien species outside of its natural range (past or present). The Suez Canal, being an artificial (man made) canal, is a human agency. Lessepsian migrants are therefore "introduced" species (indirect, and unintentional). Whatever wording is chosen, they represent a threat to the native Mediterranean biodiversity, because they are non-indigenous to this sea. In recent years, the Egyptian government's announcement of its intentions to deepen and widen the canal have raised concerns from marine biologists, fearing that such an act will only worsen the invasion of Red Sea species into the Mediterranean, facilitating the crossing of the canal for yet additional species.
Arrival of new tropical Atlantic species
In recent decades, the arrival of exotic species from the tropical Atlantic has become a noticeable feature. Whether this reflects an expansion of the natural area of these species that now enter the Mediterranean through the Gibraltar strait, because of a warming trend of the water caused by Global Warming; or an extension of the maritime traffic; or is simply the result of a more intense scientific investigation, is still an open question. While not as intense as the "lessepsian" movement, the process may be scientific interest and may therefore warrant increased levels of monitoring.
Sea-level rise
By 2100, the overall level of the Mediterranean could rise between 3 to 61 cm (1.2 to 24.0 in) as a result of the effects of climate change.[42] This could have adverse effects on populations across the Mediterranean:
Rising sea levels will submerge parts of Malta. Rising sea levels will also mean rising salt water levels in Malta's groundwater supply and reduce the availability of drinking water.[43]
A 30 cm (12 in) rise in sea level would flood 200 square kilometres (77 sq mi) of the Nile Delta, displacing over 500,000 Egyptians.[44]
Coastal ecosystems also appear to be threatened by sea level rise, especially enclosed seas such as the Baltic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. These seas have only small and primarily east-west movement corridors, which may restrict northward displacement of organisms in these areas.[45] Sea level rise for the next century (2100) could be between 30 cm (12 in) and 100 cm (39 in) and temperature shifts of a mere 0.05-0.1°C in the deep sea are sufficient to induce significant changes in species richness and functional diversity.
Pollution
Pollution in this region has been extremely high in recent years.[when?] The United Nations Environment Programme has estimated that 650,000,000 t (720,000,000 short tons) of sewage, 129,000 t (142,000 short tons) of mineral oil, 60,000 t (66,000 short tons) of mercury, 3,800 t (4,200 short tons) of lead and 36,000 t (40,000 short tons) of phosphates are dumped into the Mediterranean each year.[47] The Barcelona Convention aims to 'reduce pollution in the Mediterranean Sea and protect and improve the marine environment in the area, thereby contributing to its sustainable development.'[48] Many marine species have been almost wiped out because of the sea's pollution. One of them is the Mediterranean Monk Seal which is considered to be among the world's most endangered marine mammals.[49]
The Mediterranean is also plagued by marine debris. A 1994 study of the seabed using trawl nets around the coasts of Spain, France and Italy reported a particularly high mean concentration of debris; an average of 1,935 items per km². Plastic debris accounted for 76%, of which 94% was plastic bags.
Shipping
Some of the world's busiest shipping routes are in the Mediterranean Sea. It is estimated that approximately 220,000 merchant vessels of more than 100 tonnes cross the Mediterranean Sea each year—about one third of the world's total merchant shipping. These ships often carry hazardous cargo, which if lost would result in severe damage to the marine environment.
The discharge of chemical tank washings and oily wastes also represent a significant source of marine pollution. The Mediterranean Sea constitutes 0.7% of the global water surface and yet receives seventeen percent of global marine oil pollution. It is estimated that every year between 100,000 t (98,000 long tons) and 150,000 t (150,000 long tons) of crude oil are deliberately released into the sea from shipping activities.
Approximately 370,000,000 t (360,000,000 long tons) of oil are transported annually in the Mediterranean Sea (more than 20% of the world total), with around 250-300 oil tankers crossing the Sea every day. Accidental oil spills happen frequently with an average of 10 spills per year. A major oil spill could occur at any time in any part of the Mediterranean.
Tourism
With a unique combination of pleasant climate, beautiful coastline, rich history and diverse culture the Mediterranean region is the most popular tourist destination in the world—attracting approximately one third of the world's international tourists.
Tourism is one of the most important sources of income for many Mediterranean countries. It also supports small communities in coastal areas and islands by providing alternative sources of income far from urban centres. However, tourism has also played major role in the degradation of the coastal and marine environment. Rapid development has been encouraged by Mediterranean governments to support the large numbers of tourists visiting the region each year. But this has caused serious disturbance to marine habitats such as erosion and pollution in many places along the Mediterranean coasts.
Tourism often concentrates in areas of high natural wealth, causing a serious threat to the habitats of endangered Mediterranean species such as sea turtles and monk seals. Reductions in natural wealth may reduce incentives for tourists to visit
Overfishing
Fish stock levels in the Mediterranean Sea are alarmingly low. The European Environment Agency says that over 65% of all fish stocks in the region are outside safe biological limits and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, that some of the most important fisheries—such as albacore and bluefin tuna, hake, marlin, swordfish, red mullet and sea bream—are threatened.[date missing]
There are clear indications that catch size and quality have declined, often dramatically, and in many areas larger and longer-lived species have disappeared entirely from commercial catches.
Large open water fish like tuna have been a shared fisheries resource for thousands of years but the stocks are now dangerously low. In 1999, Greenpeace published a report revealing that the amount of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean had decreased by over 80% in the previous 20 years and government scientists warn that without immediate action the stock will collapse.
Aquacultur
Aquaculture is expanding rapidly—often without proper environmental assessment—and currently accounts for 30% of the fish protein consumed worldwide. The industry claims that farmed seafood lessens the pressure on wild fish stocks, yet many of the farmed species are carnivorous, consuming up to five times their weight in wild fish.
Mediterranean coastal areas are already over exposed to human influence, with pristine areas becoming ever scarcer. The aquaculture sector adds to this pressure, requiring areas of high water quality to set up farms. The installation of fish farms close to vulnerable and important habitats such as seagrass meadows is particularly concerning.
[Erfe] - Rich Modern Curtain Set w/ HUD Pack
-Background curtain and tulle curtain come together | Curtains open synchronously
- 2k HQ textures, Textures and PBR Materials | Suitable for Non-PBR viewers
Located at Erfe Mainstore & Marketplace
🌿 just had a birthday. am 69 in Earth years, so.. :) seems synchronous to trip back to 1969 !
my heart tribe, gina (maltese doggie), annie (basset hound doggie), jelly (calico cat) and i (human being) 🍀 lived in this wee cottage on elk st. in eugene, oregon ~ right across the one-lane dirt road from an elk reserve! where lovely, friendly ELKS were our sweet neighbors :) and right next to hendricks park, 80 acres of a magnificence of trees & wondrous, colorful rhododendrons.
it was my senior year of college.
cup a winding road, this tiny cottage built in 1928 was our home .. big, wild yard in back, and a giant conifer Tree in front 🌳 .. and a concord grape arbor growing up and over the roof 🍇 from which friends & i made the truly-yummiest grape jelly .. and homemade bread to go with it :)
bliss 🔅
this is one of the two homes i've most loved in my life .. 💕
my ever-Loving Heart Tribe ~ annie, gina, & jelly! ~ looooved it too :)
Lovelight to you, each☀️one *
thank You for also being my Heart Tribe in this life!
✨💚✨
The Yaguchi is a Japanese-made cruiser designed to master the galactic battlefield. At over 400m in length, the ship is armed with several conventional ship-to-ship weapons able to outgun most capital ships. The real sting in it's tail comes from the Starscorn-class Siege Cannon, a dual-barrelled, fixed-fire rail cannon which, when charged and in adequate range can punch through the armour of the most hardy opposition ships and stations. In a synchronous orbit, the cannon can even precision target planetary opposition with devastating effect.
Although deadly and dangerous, the Yaguchi (roughly translated to 'Arrow Mouth') is very expensive to purchase and maintain. It's many weapons require tonnes of ammunition and fuel to operate for an extended period. It also requires outside protection from enemy snubfighters and bombers, armed with only nominal AA weaponry.
Length: 404m
Crew: 200, including marinces.
Role: Siege, ship-to-ship, battleship escort.
Armament:
2 x Dual STS Cannons
2 x Armour-Piercing Plasma Cannons
2 x 'Longshot' Frag Cannons.
2 x AA-Ion turrets
1 x 'Starscorn' Siege Cannon, fixed.
I have a rotation of local trails nearby that I visit home time-and-time again. I love to return to the same scene and observe how things have changed. Going back allows me to notice little things, like when the crocuses bloom or when the oak pollen drops. It gives me more of a handle on the micro-seasons of the environment. I think this familiarity is a great thing because it makes you feel more connected to the landscape. And photography-wise it is also a real benefit, because I have a mental catalog to draw from each season. I can make an educated guess on when and where the ferns will look nice, or where the delicate ice patterns will be on display, or when the star flowers are blooming in the understory. With each return, I rely on memories of prior visits, and often memories that I didn't know I retained flood back when I walk back down a familiar trail and jog my memory.
However, the one danger in returning to the same spot multiple times is that you can develop tunnel vision. It's easy to try to recreate the same photo you made a year ago. And sometimes, without doing so, you can put a location in a bucket. If I am going to that spot, I am looking for ice, or at that spot I am trying to photograph a certain group of trees, or this spot is only good in fall, etc. If you do that, you can get so focused on one subject that you miss out on a new discovery or a better photograph.
That's why I try to remind myself to do some exploring when I am out on my morning photo walks. For instance, I did not walk the section of trail here until probably my 6th visit to this trailhead. The trailhead here goes to a nice little rocky overlook with an expansive view, especially by Merrimack Valley standards. I have made a number of photographs from that overlook. It's a great spot for sunrise. And it's easy to think of that as the "sunrise overlook spot." I had explored some of the surrounding trails, but never took the time to follow the sign pointing to a chasm. On this visit I did, and it was a great little adventure into a dense canyon. Dare I say the chasm even eclipsed the overlook in photographic potential? Perhaps it did. And I am glad that I took the time to do some exploring because it led me to this photograph here, where the maple leaves reminded me of photos I had seen of synchronous fireflies in the Smoky Mountains.
On 2 September 2020, Vega flight VV16 lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana to progressively deliver 53 light satellites into Sun-synchronous orbits at 515 km and 530 km altitude on a mission lasting 124 minutes.
This proof-of-concept flight demonstrates and validates a new rideshare launch service for light satellites using the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser developed by ESA. The SSMS is light and has a modular design that can be configured to meet the requirements of the mission, securing anything from the smallest 1 kg CubeSats up to 500 kg minisatellites.
There were 21 customers sharing this launch.
ESA has contributed to the development of four payloads on board – the 113 kg ESAIL microsatellite and three CubeSats: Simba, Picasso and FSSCat which carries pioneering AI technology named Φ-sat-1.
Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Vidéo du CSG - JM GUILLON
The fourth Spacebus Neo satellite to benefit from ESA’s Neosat programme has launched into space on board the second Ariane 5 launch mission of 2022.
The 8.9 metre, three-storeys-high communications satellite – which will deliver high-speed broadband and in-flight connectivity across Europe for its operator, Eutelsat – weighs 6.525 tonnes and accounted for 99% of the 6.62-tonne launch mass.
Called Eutelsat Konnect Very High Throughput Satellite, it includes several innovative features developed under an ESA Partnership Project with satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space.
The satellite was launched at 23:45 CEST (18:45 local time) on 6 September from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, into a sub-synchronous transfer orbit. This highly elliptical trajectory, which loops from close to Earth to up to 60 000 kilometres away from the planet at an inclination of 3.5°, will enable it to transfer into a geostationary orbit some 36 000 kilometres above Earth.
After reaching geostationary orbit the satellite – the tallest ever built in Europe – will be tested further before it enters commercial service.
The satellite features new antenna deployment and pointing mechanisms used within the antenna tracking system, as well as other innovative features including next-generation batteries and structural panels, all developed under the ESA Partnership Project.
Credits: ESA / CNES / Arianespace / Optique vidéo du CSG - P. Piron
Our latest customer request released. A coal mine from the Ruhr area. The finished model consists of about 15000 individual parts and can be built partially modular in different modules and is equipped with some details. Included are the PDF building instructions for the large winding tower with the two rope sheaves, the machine house, including rope drive, the chimney and the coal washing building. The rope sheaves can be driven prototypically via a drive in the machine house. A synchronous shaft transmits the power evenly to the lower part of the winding tower. Here, there is also a tension pulley that tensions the rope.
From the coal washing building, the hard coal is loaded onto the trains via a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven and, with the "pieces of coal" attached to it, conveys the feeling of a working plant.
Further information and the PDF-building instruction is here available: en.bricks-on-rails.de/product-page/pdf-anleitung-zeche-be...
at times the Light does not appear to be near.. it seems far, far away... this, in both nature and in Spirit
its been very heavy times for many these days ... plenty blues.. and way too much sorrow
in these times, its good to remember ≈ the Light is ever present ≈
and the appearance of Light returning is happening now ~ as it always does and as it always will
synchronous of this, solstice is at 11:12 a.m. universal time on december 21st
(so throughout the americas before dawn)
being able to be with You for solstice has been my following star * as has the hope to again visit you on your streams in the coming days, so to share Christmas with you too!
you've been the warm, true light in my heart through this time i've had to be away.. thank You so *
♥
winter solstice
deep bass notes
dark sacred night
dark of the moon
purest stillness
falling snow
ancient awe
stars aglow
sacred gifts to gather our peace
peace all around us
peace within us
every breath a prayer for peace
every breath a prayer of gratitude
shhhh ... find the still place within
tonight we may dream of faraway drumbeats
in the morning we will know a secret
it was mother nature's wakening heartbeat
the sound of Light returning
so we take this peace
gathered in the stillness of winter solstice
and spread it like seeds in the warming ground.
≈ ♡ ≈
"Claret Cup Lakeside View:" I chanced upon this sizeable claret cup cactus about a year ago, but long after it had bloomed for the year. I remember making a mental note to start monitoring it earlier the following year to capture it in time to see it bloom, and it did not disappoint. I visited it as much as I could to see as many of its flowers blooming as possible, as each one only lasts a couple days before withering away for the year. Typically, only a portion of flowers in a bunch like this bloom at one time, so I was fortunate that so many had opened in somewhat synchronous fashion. The sight of this vibrant cactus, which epitomizes the arid desert environment, juxtaposed with the serene waters of the lake, made for a striking and unique scene. I hope you enjoy.
Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus)
The generic name derives from the onomatopoeic name for a cuckoo, based on the bird's call, in Old English = coccou or cukkow, in French = coucou and in Greek = kokkux or kokkyx. The specific name results from a combination of two Greek words: micro = little or very small and ptero = wing. Together, the name literally means "small winged cuckoo" which is reflected in an early common name.
Other common names: Short-winged Cuckoo, Indian Hawk-Cuckoo.
Taxonomy: Cuculus micropterus Gould 1837, Himalayas.
Sub-species & Distribution: Two races are recognised, both of which are found in this region:
micropterus Gould 1837, Himalayas. Ranges from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, east to E China, Mongolia, Korea and E Russia. It winters south to the Andamans and Nicobars, West Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines.
concretus S. Müller 1845, Borneo. This smaller resident form is found in Borneo, Sumatra and Java. It is also found from Phattalung, in S Thailand, south to Johore (Medway & Wells 1976).
Similar species: It is very similar to two other Cuculus species. The Common Cuckoo C. canorus does not occur in this region. The Oriental Cuckoo C. saturatus is a rare winter visitor and passage migrant. Both these birds do not have a broad black sub-terminal band, tipped with white, on the tail.
Size: 12½ to 13" (31 to 33 cm). Sexes differ slightly.
Description: Male: Head and neck dark ashy-grey tinged with brown, paler on the lores, chin, throat and upper breast. Remaining upperparts, scapulars and wing coverts dark ashy-brown, the primaries and secondaries similar but barred with white along the inner webs. Tail dark ashy-brown with a broad black sub-terminal band and tipped with white. Basally, the tail feathers have a series of alternating white and black bands, more on the outer feathers than the inner ones, often with white or rufous notches along both edges. Lower breast and abdomen creamy-white, boldly barred with dark blackish-brown bars, the vent, axillaries, undertail and underwing coverts more narrowly barred with blackish-brown.
Female: Very like the male, with the throat and breast tinged with rufous.
Immature birds: Juvenile birds appear largely white to rufous-white with dark brown bars on the head, nape, upper back, chin, throat, sides of neck and breast, the face and ear coverts less heavily marked. Remaining upperparts, including wing coverts more rufous, the feathers broadly edged with rufous-buff and tipped with white. Lower breast, belly and vent pale buffy-white, broadly barred with blackish-brown, more so on the flanks. The tail appears largely to be barred with rufous and black, with more numerous bars than adult have. They, too, like the adults, have a broad black sub-terminal tail band.
Gradually, the white and rufous edges on the upperparts disappear, the throat and upper breast turn ashy, and the bars on the underparts become more defined. Within five months of leaving the nest, the young are almost in adult plumage, the rufous band across the upper breast being ultimately lost except in females. However, they often have rufous or whitish tips to the flight feathers and upperwing coverts (Oates & Blanford 1895).
Soft parts: Iris dark yellowish-brown, orbital ring orange-yellow. Upper mandible black, lower mandible greenish-horn tipped with black, gape orange-yellow. Legs and feet orange-yellow, claws black.
Status, Habitat & Behaviour: A common winter visitor and passage migrant, is found throughout Singapore, the earliest date being 14th September, the latest date 19th May (Wang & Hails 2007). Between these two dates, this bird has not been recorded in Singapore, which suggests that C. m. concretus, the resident form found south to Johore in west Malaysia, does not occur in Singapore.
The nominate form is a vagrant to Borneo where C. m. concretus, a smaller and darker form, is also the resident race (Smythies & Davison 1999), up to 1100 m (3300 feet) in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak. In Sabah, it is found in primary, peatswamp and logged forests (Sheldon et. al. 2001).
In Singapore, it is more usually found in forests, along forest edges, in mangroves, secondary scrub and, occasionally, in gardens and parks (Wang & Hails 2007). In West Malaysia, both resident and migrant forms are found to 760 m (2500 feet), in the canopy of lowland and hill forests, as well as on offshore islands (Medway & Wells 1976). In India and Nepal, where it is very common in summer, it can be found in fairly wooded country to 2300 m, even up to 3700 m (Baker 1927).
A solitary and shy bird, it is generally found singly and easily overlooked, keeping to the treetops or flying hawk-like over the forest canopy. During the breeding season, however, it becomes very vocal, calling incessantly during the early hours of dawn and again at dusk, far into the night, especially on moonlit nights, even calling on the wing during courtship chases (Ali & Ripley 1969).
Food: It mainly eats caterpillars, ants, locustids, fruit, butterflies and grasshoppers (Smythies 1968), sometimes coming down to the ground, hopping about awkwardly to pick up insects from within the leaf litter (Ali & Ripley 1969). In Singapore, it was found feeding at a termite hatch (Subaraj 2008).
Voice and Calls: In India, its most common four-note call is a fine melodious pleasing whistle from which evolved some of its popular local names, Bo-kota-ko in Bengali (Jerdon 1862), Kyphulpakka (Oates & Blanford 1895), and the "Broken Pekoe" bird in English (Baker & Inglis 1930). The call has also been variously annotated by several other authors: as "crossword puzzle" (Ali & Ripley 1969), a far-carrying wa-wa-wa-wu (Medway & Wells 1976), a flute-like ko-ko-ta-ko (King, Woodcock & Dickinson 1975), as reminiscent of the beginning of Beethoven's 5th symphony (Sheldon et. al. 2001). There are several other interpretations of its call (Tsang 2010).
In the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, its call was continuously heard in late February over sub-montane forest at 900 m (3000 feet). The loud four-note call was fairly musical, koh-koh-koh-kok, the first three syllables on the same pitch, the third sometimes higher, the last note always lower. It was persistently uttered for several minutes at a time, each burst of four-note lasting slightly over one second with about two seconds between each burst, occasional with a fifteen to thirty seconds break between each set of notes. Once or twice, it made a more rounded fluting and musical variation of the same four notes. Most of the time, the call was echoed, almost synchronously, by a four-note squeaking call, much more shrill and softer, sometimes in a lower key (Sreedharan 2005).
It usually calls from the tops of tall trees or when flying from tree to tree (Jerdon 1862), and much more persistently during breeding season, often calling all night long (Smythies 1968). The call is uttered intermittently for hours on end, for more than five minutes at a stretch, at about 23 calls per minute, and, while courting a nearby female, the wings are dropped, the tail spread wide and erected, the bird pivoting from side to side (Ali & Ripley 1969).
Breeding: Very little is known of the breeding of this Cuckoo. It is brood parasitic and, instead of building its own nest, it surreptitiously lays eggs in the nests of several host species, its choice of victim varying from location to location. The nominate form, C. m. micropterus, does not breed in our area. The local form, C. m. concretus breeds in peninsular Malaysia.
The breeding season varies from May to July in northern China, March to August in India, January to June in Burma and January to August in the Malay Peninsula.
In India, the host species are said to be Streaked Laughing-Thrush Garrulax lineatus, White-bellied Redstart Hodgsonius phoenicuroides, Indian Bush-Chat Saxicola torquata and Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea, all of which lay blue or bluish eggs, similar to those of this Cuckoo (Baker 1927).
Additionally, it is said to victimise species such as Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis, Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus but other species, "in whose nests putative eggs of this cuckoo are claimed to have been found, or have been observed feeding its young", include the Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi, the Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna and, in Sri Lanka, the Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus (Ali & Ripley 1969).
Given the difficulty in determining the identity of young cuckoos, it is hardly surprising that these two authors have included a caveat, stating that the available data on the breeding biology of this bird, indeed, of all parasitic cuckoos are, "by and large, meagre, and of dubious authenticity. Most accounts are vague, largely conjectural and often contradictory. The whole subject calls for a more methodical de novo re-investigation".
Currently, this picture (Ong 2008), of a juvenile Indian Cuckoo fostered by a Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus provides the only incontrovertible evidence of a confirmed host in Malaysia. In Amurland, Siberia, its main host is the Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus, the cuckoo's eggs hatching in about 12 days, two to three days sooner than that of the shrike (Ali & Ripley 1969).
Oviduct eggs from females are said to be of two types: whitish with small reddish-brown dots, closely matching drongo eggs, or pale greyish-blue, like those of the Turdinae, the eggs c. 25 x 19 mm in size (Ali & Ripley 1969).
Migration: Seventeen night-flying migrants, attributed to C. m. micropterus, were caught at Fraser's Hill from 10th October to 27th November and 7th to 14th April between 1966 and 1969. Birds on passage were also collected in November at One Fathom Bank Lighthouse and on Rembia and Pisang islands. None of these belonged to the resident races have been handled (Medway & Wells 1976).
Moult: In the Family Cuculidae, moult strategy is quite complex, occasionally suspended. The primaries moult from two centres, P1 to P4 descendantly, P5 to P10 ascendantly. The secondaries, too, have two centres, S1 to S5 centripetally, S6 to S9 ascendant and alternate. Tail moult is irregular. They moult twice annually, undergoing a partial summer moult and a complete winter moult which finishes in early spring (Baker 1993).
None of the migrant birds from the off-shore sources were in moult. The migrants caught at Fraser's Hill in autumn were all in post-juvenile or adult plumage, indicating that the annual moult is completed in the breeding grounds, before they reach winter quarters (Medway & Wells 1976).
a small example of synchronous flying (greylag goose)
een staaltje van synchroon vliegen (grauwe gans)
Colorfully dressed employees of the Dutch City of Breda synchronously shoveling sand at a heap.
Kleurrijk geklede medewerkers van de Gemeente Breda scheppen zand op een hoop.
Our latest customer request released. A coal mine from the Ruhr area. The finished model consists of about 15000 individual parts and can be built partially modular in different modules and is equipped with some details. Included are the PDF building instructions for the large winding tower with the two rope sheaves, the machine house, including rope drive, the chimney and the coal washing building. The rope sheaves can be driven prototypically via a drive in the machine house. A synchronous shaft transmits the power evenly to the lower part of the winding tower. Here, there is also a tension pulley that tensions the rope.
From the coal washing building, the hard coal is loaded onto the trains via a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven and, with the "pieces of coal" attached to it, conveys the feeling of a working plant.
Further information and the PDF-building instruction is here available: en.bricks-on-rails.de/product-page/pdf-anleitung-zeche-be...
flamingo populations used the site for their breeding site nine years out of the 26 years observed, lending evidence towards the erratic nature of flamingo breeding habits. They also noticed that the largest colonies found only in high waters and large salinity levels, however, there was no indication of a direct relationship between salt conc and breeding intensity. They suggested instead, it may be related to increase food availability . Pairs are first formed through the ritualized group displays in which birds of similar breeding status come together within the colony to form smaller groups that will later find a suitable mudflat and lay their eggs together. Groups can display for weeks, sometimes even months, before breeding takes place . It was observed that the period in which this courtship behavior peaked also found flamingos displaying the highest levels of alert and aggressive behavior. ) RITUALIZED GROUP DISPLAYS Flamingo colonies break off into smaller display groups of 15 to 50 birds, in which they perform specific displays that can become highly synchronous. Often, this occurs in places far from a possible breeeding site, either in the water or just off the shore . These displays are normally exhibited before breeding and appear to have two roles: (1) stimulate synchronous nesting (2) facilitate pair formation, if a birds does not already have a mate .th sexes participate in courtship display in a very similar way. In fact, there does not appear to be any difference in displaying between males and females. A typical display, pictures the group standing together, and begins with necks raised in alert positions. Calling and head-flagging commence soon after, and movement increases to wing flapping and more unique behaviors (twist-preen;inverted-wing-salute;further-twist-preen; wing-leg-stretches) as calling increases in volume. In unusual display behavior, none of the displays are ever directed towards an individual but instead occur randomly
Moon is Earth's own part separated from it approximately 4.5 billion years ago (not long after Earth's creation) from a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia. Moon is Earth's only natural satellite having a synchronous rotation with Earth (i.e. always showing the same face to Earth). This is a shot taken on Moon's 15th day - Waning Gibbous period (waning = shrinking in illumination, gibbous = phase where the moon is more than half illuminated).
The Clock Tower, Herne Bay (built 1837), is a Grade II listed landmark in Herne Bay, Kent, England. It is believed to be one of the earliest purpose-built, free-standing clock towers in the United Kingdom.[4][5][6][7] It was funded by Mrs Ann Thwaytes, and now serves as a memorial to the fallen of the Second Boer War.
The clock tower was designed by Edwin James Dangerfield, and was possibly inspired by a Royal Exchange Assurance lead firemark badge which bore a picture of the Royal Exchange tower. It was built with deep foundations of arches and vaults, and its core is of brick, with Portland stone cladding. Its height has been estimated to be 77 feet (23 m) tall, or 85 feet (26 m) including the weather vane. Its original turret clock mechanism has been replaced by a synchronous electric hour striking unit, but it still retains its 12 cwt bell.
The benefactor
Main article: Ann Thwaytes
At the time of the erection of the Clock Tower, Ann Thwaytes (1789–1866) was the rich widow of London grocer William Thwaytes.[7] Between 1834 and 1840 she visited Herne Bay regularly with friends, staying with Mr Camplin who owned number 8 (now 30) Marine Terrace on Central Parade, and became an established town benefactor of Herne Bay.[8] While there in 1836 she donated £4,000 for the erection of the Clock Tower, which may have cost £5,000 to build.[1][5][9] A blue plaque has been erected in her memory by City of Canterbury Council, at Central Parade near the Clock Tower.[10]
Inspiration and planning
The Clock Tower was conceived within five years of the completion of Herne Bay's first pier of 1832, when the town was in the throes of its initial popularity and development. Herne Bay historian Mike Bundock suggests a possible inspiration for the unusual design of this tower.[4] On the back of 31 Marine Terrace, next door to Mrs Thwaytes' holiday residence, was a Royal Exchange Assurance lead firemark badge which bore a picture of the Royal Exchange tower, designed by Edward Jarman in 1721.[11] Mrs Thwaytes was already familiar with the Royal Exchange tower, as she had lived close to it during her marriage.[4][12][13] In 1836, possibly inspired by the success of the nearby pier and the grandeur of this image, Mrs Thwaytes requested the young architect Edwin James Dangerfield (1807–1879) of London and Herne Bay to draw a plan of a tower in the style of a Grecian temple with a clock at the top.
The building
This landmark structure is considered by Herne Bay historian Mike Bundock to be one of the earliest purpose-built, freestanding clock towers in the United Kingdom, and it has been a traditional symbol of Herne Bay since 1894 alongside the heron and Reculver Towers.[4][5][6][18][19] Estimates of height vary, but according to Mike Bundock it is 77 feet (23 m) tall, or 85 feet (26 m) including the weather vane.[2][5][17][18][20] The clock dials are 5 feet (1.5 m) diameter.[2] It was designed by Edwin James Dangerfield (1807–1879) of London and Herne Bay, and built by Ambrose Hukins (1788–1864), formerly of Chilham and Chartham and latterly of St Augustine's Cottage, William Street, Herne Bay.[1][17][21][22]
Design
The building was listed in 1951, and there is a full description of the design in the Listed Building entry 1085006.[3] The eclectic Victorian design has been criticised by John Newman in the 1965 Buildings of England series. He speaks of an "inept design" and of a "classical vocabulary thus debased," saying that the second stage of Corinthian columns should have been smaller than the first Doric stage of columns. He adds that the top is "hurriedly finished off."[23]
Structure
The building required deep foundations: "not solid but an elaborate series of arches and vaults," being built close to the sea on shingle and just west of the culverted outflow of Plenty Brook, hence the total estimated cost of £5,000.[1][2][7][8] The vaults were infilled with concrete after inspection in 1964.[2] The Tower's core is brick, with Portland stone cladding. The following legend is inscribed on the building: The gift of Mrs Ann Thwaytes to this town 11 Oct A.D. MDCCCXXXVII. Originally the Tower contained a clock mechanism and 12 cwt bell.[24] In 1837 there were iron railings at the base around the steps but these were removed in 1937...Wikipedia
Bakkhali is located on one of the many deltaic islands spread across southern Bengal. There is a 8 km long beach stretching from Bakkhali to Frasergunj with gently rolling waves. Except on an occasional holiday the beach is not crowded. A small stretch near Bakkhali has been lighted up. It is a hard beach suitable for cycling or even driving. More: Bakkhali
Monsoon Images of Bengal, India
The fishermen of Bakkhali practices traditional brackish water fishing techniques after sunset on full moon night. When moon rises and the tide starts moving in, thousands of small juvenile mullet fishes (probably, Mugil cephalus) land with the tidal waves. The model lunar components of the species landings showed a monthly oscillation synchronous to the full moon. Fishermen use their traditional nets in knee-deep water for catching the mullets and this phenomenon continues for around 30 min.
The ELA-4 launch zone at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is currently undergoing reconstruction in preparation for Europe’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle.
In this image you see both the launch pad and, in the background, the steel frame of the mobile gantry.
ESA and European industry are currently developing a new-generation launcher: Ariane 6. This follows the decision taken at the ESA Council meeting at Ministerial level in December 2014, to maintain Europe’s leadership in the fast-changing commercial launch service market while responding to the needs of European institutional missions.
The overarching aim of Ariane 6 is to provide guaranteed access to space for Europe at a competitive price without requiring public sector support for exploitation.
The targeted payload performance of Ariane 6 is over 4.5 t for polar/Sun-synchronous orbit missions at 800 km altitude and the injection of two first-generation Galileo satellites. Ariane 6 can loft a payload mass of 4.5–10.5 tonnes in equivalent geostationary transfer orbit.
The exploitation cost of the Ariane 6 launch system is its key driver. Launch service costs will be halved, while maintaining reliability by reusing the trusted engines of Ariane 5. The first flight is scheduled for 2020.
Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja
part of their love life seems to be to make the same movements as if , very slowly synchronizing into a harmony that ends with love-making!
Large and graceful in flight, the characteristic profile of the Brown Pelican is an unmistakable favorite on both coasts in Costa Rica. Flocks of these birds often fly in line or V-formation, flapping and gliding synchronously over the water. With long wings and necks, a large straight bill and an enormous gular pouch for swallowing fish, the pelican has a distinct profile, matching its distinct behavior. It is common along coastal waters, to see the Brown Pelican elegantly soaring and abruptly plunge-diving for fish from up to 10 m in the air. The Brown Pelican has air sacs in the chest to absorb the impact of the water, and uses its gular pouch to scoop fish that are near the surface. This bird may also take scraps from fishing areas and follow fishing boats for waste.