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Environmental Science

A revolutionary new turbine technology for hydropower plants is one step closer to its first commercial deployment. At peak performance, an Alden turbine should convert about 94 percent of the water’s energy into usable electricity, comparable or superior to the efficiency of traditional turbines; the overall wildlife survival rate should be over 98 percent, up from 80-85 percent for a traditional turbine. <a href = "http://energy.gov/articles/fish-friendly-turbine-making-splash-water-power">Read more</a>.

A revolutionary new turbine technology for hydropower plants is one step closer to its first commercial deployment. At peak performance, an Alden turbine should convert about 94 percent of the water’s energy into usable electricity, comparable or superior to the efficiency of traditional turbines; the overall wildlife survival rate should be over 98 percent, up from 80-85 percent for a traditional turbine. Read more.

Our Dusty Atmosphere
A heavy layer of air pollution, a mix of aerosol particles and vapors, obscures the view over Mexico City. Two studies by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory show the importance of including the small-scale effects of aerosols in climate modeling. | Image courtesy of PNNL

Aerosols -- tiny particles like soot and dust — in our atmosphere can make a difference in weather, as well as climatic warming and cooling.
 Studying these tiny particles could lead to improvements in global climate models.

Bluer Skies and Brighter Days: The U.S. and India Collaborate in First Long-Term Climate Experiment
ARM Mobile Facility instrumentation is installed in June 2011 at the ARIES Observatory in Nainital, India, for the Ganges Valley Aerosol Experiment (GVAX). | Courtesy of ARM.gov

The Energy Department's mobile climate facility makes a stop in the Ganges Valley in India. Find out how studying the relation of aerosols to monsoons will inform our climate studies.

Today's Forecast: Improved Wind Predictions

Accurate weather forecasts are critical for making energy sources -- including wind and solar -- dependable and predictable.