MARTIN STUCHI MONTINGELLIFernando de Noronha: physics in search of energy sources MARTIN STUCHI MONTINGELLI
The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha is a natural paradise sitting 360 kilometers off the coast of the state of Pernambuco. But the electricity that powers the local community comes mostly from heavily polluting, diesel-burning generators. Sun and wind are abundant energy sources in those parts, albeit yet untapped. There is no good reason for this. When wind speeds and solar radiation in the archipelago are correlated, the resulting index shows persistence year-round, according to statistical analyses conducted during the master’s studies of Priscilla Sales dos Anjos, advised by Serbian-born physicist Tatijana Stosic at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (Physica A, April 2015). The researchers discovered that wind persistence and solar radiation in Fernando de Noronha exhibit an alternating pattern, making it a productive option to use equipment that combines both energy sources. Their results were obtained from data collected between 2004 and 2013 – an unprecedented temporal series, useful for a combined analysis of the two phenomena. The analysis also showed that wind persistence on the islands is steadier than solar radiation over time. To explain the connection between the two variables, the authors suggest that solar radiation is responsible for wind formation: soil, ocean, and air heating creates a pressure gradient that generates wind. This wind also affects the arrangement of clouds, which modulate the sunlight that reaches the Earth. Upcoming research will study the potential offered by alternative energy sources.
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