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Research on wind speed characteristics is of interest for many disciplines from renewable energy to ecology. Whereas mean values and trends are commonly studied, less attentions is paid to the evaluation of other features such as low-wind conditions. However, there is no clear definition of "low-wind" on the literature. Here we propose the Beaufort scale to characterize low-wind values over Europe through a fixed threshold of 3.3 m/s ("light breeze" category). Climatological (1979–2018) assessment is performed using ERA5 reanalysis hourly data. The limited amount of observational stations indicate a 40-year averaged amount of around 3500 low-wind hours/year, comparable to the corresponding ERA5 reanalysis cells, which shows severe limitations over mountainous areas. The European domain features a strong north–south low-wind hours gradient. Remarkable patterns are obtained over coasts and complex orography regions. Seasonal low-wind variability range around 20–25% for most of the regions, and interannual coefficient of variability from 0.05 to 0.17. Oceanic regions present smaller low-wind values than land areas, with Atlantic and Mediterranean regions behaving differently. The largest annual spells (consecutive) hourly low-wind episodes are within the range from 5 to 10 days, (from 120 to 240 h) over many land areas. Annual mean hourly wind spells typically extend from 15 to 25 h, with more than 200 episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding space–time features of wind speed is of high interest in meteorology and several applied sciences. Accurate wind speed measurements in combination with reliable gridded products, such as reanalyses, are needed to address the main characteristics of the wind field. Hourly 10 m wind speed from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) latest reanalysis (ERA5) is compared with HadISD wind observations from 245 stations across Europe. Averaged ERA5 hourly data is able to reproduce the annual cycle of monthly wind speed in Europe. ERA5 presents slightly larger (shorter) monthly medians in winter (summer) than observations. ERA5 is compared against observations for each station using a frequency distribution‐based score (score, from 0 to 1). Most of the stations exhibit hourly scores ranging from 0.8 to 0.9, indicating that ERA5 is able to reproduce the wind speed spectrum range, from light to strong relative frequencies, for any location over Europe. Ranges of mean values, variability, distribution function parameters and high or low wind thresholds frequencies are shown for this ensemble of European stations, allowing for an overall description of wind features. Generally, there is no clear relationship between scores and the variables analysed. The correlation and scores between ERA5 and HadISD is even further increased at longer time frequencies (6–24 hourly), together with centred root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) and standard deviation decreases. Hourly wind data from ERA5 reanalysis is, despite some shortcomings, valuable information to perform further detailed studies with a regular spatial and time wind distribution, from the climatological or renewable energy perspectives, for example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is international recognition that developing a climate-smart bioeconomy is essential to the continuation of economic development, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation to climatic change; Bio-based products have an important role in making this transition happen. Supporting policy interventions have been put forward at European and national levels to support innovation and development of bio-based products and services. This study asks whether suggested policy interventions reflect the needs of stakeholders and examines how these needs vary between European regions. This consultation was performed through an online survey of 447 experts actively involved in bio-based research, industry, and governance across Europe. The majority of responses received were from stakeholders in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK which are examined in greater depth. Climate change was clearly an important driver for bio-based innovation as 86% of the respondents considered climate change to be a significant threat. There were clear differences between regions but also areas of consensus between stakeholders across the European regions surveyed. In particular there was consensus regarding the need for improved access to financial support and the need to ensure continuity of policy. The need to build investor confidence through demonstration of bio-based technologies, the provision of greater clarity regarding best conversion routes for specific feedstocks, and the need to promote a culture of industrial symbiosis were also regarded as important interventions. © 2016 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A market-oriented approach and a competitive higher education environment challenge the ability of degrees in tourism to satisfy stakeholders' needs. The purpose of this paper is to describe through strategic analysis the tourism degree in order to detect its strengths and areas for improvement in the context of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), taking into account the importance of employee qualification in such a labour-intensive industry. In general, a closer relationship between professionals and academics is required in the design of tourism studies course syllabi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many ethnobotanical studies show that people in industrial countries still rely on their traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for self-treatment, although the trend might not be as common as some decades ago. Given the social and public health implications of ethnopharmacological practices, this survey aims at recording and analysing the medicinal plants used in the folk medicine of the Northwest of the Basque Country focusing on how medicinal plants knowledge and practices evolve. Materials and methods: Fieldwork consisted of 265 orally consented semi-structured interviews with 207 informants about medicinal uses of plants. Interviews were conducted between September 2008 and January 2011. Informants were on average 76 years old (minimum 45, maximum 95), being more than half of them (112) men. Data collected were structured in use-reports (UR). Following informants' comments, medicinal use-reports were classified as abandoned-UR, when the informants reported that the use was only practiced in the past, and prevalent-UR, when the informants reported to continue the practice. Results and discussion: A total of 2067 UR for 139 species that belong to 58 botanical families were recorded, being the most important families Asteraceae, Liliaceae sensu latu and Urticaceae. Some of the most important species are commonly used in other European areas (e.g., Chamaemelum nobile, Urtica dioica and Chelidonium majus). However, there are also plants commonly used in the area such as Helleborus viridis or Coronopus didymus, that are scarcely used in other areas, and whose record is an original contribution of the local pharmacopeia. It is also the case of remedies such as the use of Plantago leaves against strains in a local remedy called zantiritu. Overall, and for all variables analysed (total UR, medicinal use-categories, drug preparation and administration), the percentage of UR being currently practiced (prevalence ratio) was very low (near 30%) suggesting a strong decay in the use of traditional medicinal plants. Exceptionally, some species (Chamaemelum nobile, Verbena officinalis or Anagallis arvensis) had a high prevalence ratio, reflecting the fact that this erosion process is not evolving homogeneously. Informants also reported that new species and medicinal plant uses were entering into the local pharmacopeia via non-traditional sources such as books, courses, or the internet. These modern ways are now being used to spread some traditional remedies that in the past were only orally transmitted. Conclusions: This study shows that traditional knowledge is continuously changing, evolving and adapting to the new social and environmental conditions. The image of the local folk medicine as a dying reality doomed to disappear should be reviewed. It also shows the need of a culturally sensitive approach by the official health systems to these practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]