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General Reports and Other Publications
BERR: A comprehensive study by Salford University has concluded that the noise phenomenon known as aerodynamic modulation (AM) is not an issue for the UK's wind farm fleet. AM indicates aerodynamic noise from wind turbines that is greater than the normal degree of regular fluctuation of blade swoosh and it is sometimes described as sounding like a distant train or distant piling operation.
The Government commissioned work assessed 133 operational wind projects across Britain and found that although the occurrence of AM cannot be fully predicted, the incidence of it from operational turbines is low.
Based on these findings, Government does not consider there to be a compelling case for more work into AM and will not carry out any further research at this time; however it will continue to keep the issue under review.
Press release ~ Research into aerodynamic modulation of wind turbine noise ~ Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform ~ BERR Factsheet ~ Hayes McKenzie study ~ The assessment and rating of noise from wind farms ~ Related documents ~ BWEA: Are wind turbines noisy?
ESRC: The Internet and other communications technology are helping to speed up international mobilisation to causes & campaigns and are contributing to changes in governance structures and a new booklet entitled From local to global, published by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), examines the implications for civil society organisations and other activists.
It was produced following the fifth in a series of special seminars entitled ‘Engaging Citizens’, organised by the ESRC in collaboration with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and it explores how links between local and global groups are forming effective social movements for campaigning and advocacy.
In addition, it highlights why social movements benefit from a better understanding of the inter-relationships between the different forms of political and economic power.
Press release ~ ESRC Society Today ~ From local to global ~ ESRC Society Today - ESRC/NCVO Public Policy Seminar Series ~ National Council for Voluntary Organisations ~ Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex ~ Global Campaign for Education ~ Make Poverty History
MoD: Researchers in the King's Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) have found evidence that the amount of time Armed Forces personnel spend on military operations, above current guidelines, increases the risk of common mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
The research demonstrated a consistent pattern of excess symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, multiple physical symptoms and severe alcohol problems in those deployed for 13 months or over in comparison to those deployed for a shorter period of time in the last three years.
The MoD admits that while the ‘continuing high operational tempo is manageable. It has, however, meant that the harmony guidelines are not always met. The definition of a breach in the Harmony guidelines used by King's College is different to that used by the MoD. King's College define it as 13 months or more in a three year period.
