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Full-Text Articles in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Endargement Of Undeveloped Areas Of Serbia By Forest Fires, João F. Gomes
Endargement Of Undeveloped Areas Of Serbia By Forest Fires, João F. Gomes
João F Gomes
Considering the significance of discovering the causes of forest fires, the hypothesis on the solar activity is presented (i.e. physical–chemical characteristics of the solar wind) as the possible cause of these natural disasters. The empirical confirmation of the mentioned hypothesis was disabled by the non existence of an adequate data base on the (regional) distribution of the number of fires and burned areas on the level of Serbia. Therefore an emphasis is put on theoretical explanations, but also on the characteristic situations in which there is an agreement between the processes occurring on the Sun and fire phenomena in the …
New Technologies For Effective Forest Fire Fighting, João Gomes
New Technologies For Effective Forest Fire Fighting, João Gomes
João F Gomes
Efficient fire extinction with water could be greatly improved by using superabsorbent polymers, added to the water used for fire fighting, or sprayed over surfaces of combustible materials in order to protect them from fire. Specially developed superabsorbent polymers such as acrylamide/2-acrylamide-2-methyl-propane-sulphonate (AA/AMPS) seem to be particularly efficient for this purpose. In terms of water absorption, the experimental tests performed, showed that the optimal composition of this polymer is 30:70 AMPS versus AA, using 0.5% of bis-acrylamide (BA) as crosslinking agent.
Forest Fires In Portugal: How They Happen And Why They Happen, João F. Gomes
Forest Fires In Portugal: How They Happen And Why They Happen, João F. Gomes
João F Gomes
Forest fires are recurrent phenomena in Southern European countries, due to the nature of Mediterranean forest and climatic characteristics. However, in Portugal, in the last years, forest fires attained the dimension of public calamity and are now endangering sustainability of forest itself, as well as several derived economic activities. This paper reviews the past and current situation of forest fires in Portugal, analyses its main causes and consequences and derives recommendations to effectively overcome this problem.