An end of February with 20 ºC, haze and full reservoirs is not "good time": it is the sign of a completely misplaced meteorology

If we take a brief look at how February 2026 is ending (the sun, the 20 degrees, the haze, the candy-like reservoirs), it is difficult not to say to ourselves: “Finally some good weather!” Above all, if we take into account that after these days of calm, a front will enter from the northwest, inaugurating meteorological spring in style. And yet, it is inevitable to raise an eyebrow. But let’s start at the beginning…. The arrival of a front from the northwest is not only synonymous with rain, but with a progressive drop in temperature and the return of the frosts after disappearing for a few days. Of course, the southern half is not going to notice it too much. Otherwise, the haze has been there for days causing problems (and locust rains in the Canary Islands) and, in the background, a DANA starts to give signs about what will approach Andalusia on Monday or Tuesday. In Xataka After the rains, Spain faces the same problem as a year ago: a devastating fire season Where is spring? If that’s the question, the answer is that it’s already here. Not just because this weekend ‘astronomic spring’ beginsbut because the meteorological dynamics have made everything accelerate in a strange way. Neither the processions deceiveneither allergies disappear. And that means the trap is already here. Because, although the reservoirs are full, they are not filled homogeneously. While Spain is at 83%, there are many basins with many problems (the Segura is at 47.2% and that of Júcar at 63.7%). And, starting in March, both evaporative demandas consumption (agricultural irrigation, urban peaks, tourism) skyrocket. Therefore, with the history of poor management that we have in the country and this feeling of “false security” that is spreading, having the reservoirs full unfortunately means nothing. Absolutely nothing. {“videoId”:”x7zoac4″,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”Climate change and the influence of humans”, “tag”:”Earth”, “duration”:”304″} More problems, many problems. To all this we must add that we do not know what is going to happen from now on. We will never know, it is true: but this precipitation scenario is so new and unusual that all scenarios are open. The only thing that is clear is that, if we do not start managing the forest, forest fires are going to mark the country as soon as the heat arrives. The new normal? That is the second big question because the pan-European studies agree that we are going towards an earlier start of spring compared to previous decades. But no one is very clear if this is an anomaly or a first step. What is clear is that, no matter what happens, this is especially noticeable here in the south. And that is the first big question: Are we prepared? Are we willing to do what we have to do? Image |AEMET In Xataka |In China they are deploying metal firefighters. Maybe they are more useful than robo-waiters (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news An end of February with 20 ºC, haze and full reservoirs is not “good weather”: it is the sign of a completely misplaced meteorology was originally published in Xataka by Javier Jimenez .

prevent plasma at 150 million ºC to destroy the reactor

The adjective “titanic” fits as a glove if our intention is to describe the reactor of nuclear fusion experimental ITER (International Thermonuclear Experctor reactor), The machine that an international consortium led by Europe He is building in the French town of Cadarache. This ingenuity is titanic for its dimensions. Also by The size of the challenges that raises. Even for its ambition. Inside His huge vacuum chamber 29 x 29 meters stainless steel, with a weight of 3,850 tons and a volume of 16,000 m³ an extremely powerful magnetic field a gas that is at a temperature of at least 150 million degrees Celsius. It is necessary that this plasma reaches this temperature because in these conditions the deuterium and tritium nuclei that contains acquire the kinetic energy they need to overcome their natural electrical repulsion. Almost without realizing we have repaired in one of the great challenges that the nuclear fusion entails: it is necessary that the plasma reaches that extreme temperature because on the earth we do not have the intense gravitational field that helps the stars to keep on “the nuclear oven”. And less pressure implies more temperature if our purpose is to recreate the necessary conditions so that the fusion reactions between the deuterium and tritium nuclei take place. To monitor the temperature, a lot has needed to develop a lot of technology The most exposed components not only at the extreme temperature of the plasma, but also to the action of high energy neutrons that it is not possible to confine inside the magnetic field are Tungsten shields that cover the inner mantle of the vacuum chamber and the diving. These components must withstand the bombardment of plasma high energy neutrons, transforming their kinetic heat into heat. To release this thermal energy and refrigerate the diving is responsible for the water that circulates inside. The diving is responsible for purifying plasma, allowing the extraction of the ashes and impurities resulting from the nuclear fusion reaction The tungsten has been chosen to put the shields exposed to plasma because this is the metal that has the highest melting point: nothing less than 3,422 degrees Celsius. In addition, the diving is responsible for purifying plasma, allowing The extraction of ashes and impurities resulting from the nuclear fusion reaction and plasma interaction with the most exposed layer of the mantle. In any case during the reactor operation, it is necessary to monitor the temperature that the components most exposed to the plasma action reaches. If the tungsten shields, the diving or any other component of the vacuum chamber exceeds its maximum temperature threshold could be irremediably damaged. And changing one of these pieces in a 23,000 tons machine is not at all pathered bread. Fortunately, engineers who participate in Iter have resolved this challenge. In the cover photography of this article we can see the machine used to carry out the thermal cycles tests to which the prototype of a mirror has been subjected to the National Institute of Aerospace Technique of Spain, which is one of the research institutions that have participated in the project. And is that precisely to measure the temperature of the components most exposed to the plasma, the engineers of Iter will use A great angle vision system which uses several mirrors manufactured with great precision to collect the visible and infrared light from the diversion and the main wall of the camera. This architecture will allow to measure the temperature of all surfaces in real time, so that the reactor operators can identify if a component is overheat and prevent damage in time. This system brings together no less than 15 independent lines of vision that will be housed in four different locations of the vacuum chamber with the purpose of covering 80% of the internal surfaces. Spectacular. Image | Fusion for Energy More information | Fusion for Energy In Xataka | China is unstoppable in nuclear fusion: the construction of its own iter is aimed at beating all records

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.