Ferrel Periphery - The Jet Stream Archives - Part II

Transcribing the Thermal Flows of the Jet Stream

An exploration of Atmospheric Circulation, Pressure Systems and Methods of Recording Meteorological Data

04. Site and Spatial Investigations

Discerning a site based on geographic

National and Local Scale Factors

The Outer Hebrides have historically experienced some of the most extreme recordings of atmospheric pressure in the UK. At the most North-Westerly location in the UK, the islands are closest to the threshold between the Polar Cell and Ferrel Cell, with a boundary that fluctuates between 50 and 60o. Moreover they are subject to the more frequent, Westerly fronts of strong Jet Stream Winds.

Zooming into the islands, the varied topography brings about stronger ground level winds, and the Isle of South Uist sees a rich landscape, popular hiking route and is dotted with communications systems and environmental monitoring equipment.

Comparison of Two High-Altitude Zones of the Ferrel Cell

Way of Life

Crofting Land Divisions

Thatching

Crofting Land Divisions

Dry Stone Walling

Workshop with the Last Thatcher of Marram Grass

Archaeology

Callanish Stone Circle

Dun Carloway Broch

Mount Hecla from the Roadside

Boggy Landscape of the South Uist Hills

Dimensions of Weather Attachment

Iron Age Brochs

Double-walled, drystone towers from the Iron Age built as defensive structures and farmhouses. They provided protection from the stormy conditions of Atlantic Scotland; galleries within the walls shielded central rooms from the wet weather and voids retained the heat from the fire. A conical form was achieved by corbelling dry stones, and the cavities were wide enough to be occupied; even staircases would fit between. Those that remain climb as tall as 13m.

Neolithic Stone Circles Bothies Blackhouses

Prehistoric monuments consisting of standing stones in a circular arrangement. Their purpose is unknown, though they are speculated to have had religious, or social significance. Studies on their solar shading patterns imply their potential former use as an astronomical observatory. The Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis range in dimensions of 0.5-5 metres x 0.2-1.8 metres. Their uniformity is a testament to the skilled craftsmen who erected them.

Relatively small, simple shelters built in remote areas, traditionally used by shepherds and forestry workers up in the mountains when they weren’t able to hike back to their settlements before darkness would fall. They are still used now by travellers and outdoor enthusiasts, they are free to use by anyone who needs.

Traditional Hebridean houses with thick stone or turf walls and thatch roofs, that were inhabited up until the early 20th Century. Typically they were built using dry-stone wall construction. The roofs supported by wooden rafters, with a layer of straw and then thatch from local marram or heather grass in the locality, secured in place by netting and stones.

Mount Hecla’s composition is of Lewisian gneiss on the western slopes and of gabbro to the east; both are unique forms of igneous rock with interesting appearances. Lewisian gneiss is distinctively banded in appearance due to the alignment of mineral grains during formation.

Section A - A

Section B - B

Heather Growing Between the Rocks on Hecla Banded Grain Texture of Gneiss from a mountain on Lewis

View from the Hike to Hecla

Rock Samples Collected from Site

Topographic Analysis

Running a script to test the rate of increase in height over lateral distance

Digital Site Analysis Using Average Wind

Monthly Wind Averages and Vertical Profile

= Flat

= Steep

= Smooth rise

- ideal for site

- Avoid westward adjacency to a steep incline (due to turbulence)

Recursive subdivision of surface analysing height

Identifying zones with steep / shallow gradient

Topography

Average Annual Weather Data

Simulated Vorticity (Rotational Particle Behaviour)

CFD Simulation of Wind Velocity

A weather recording device at the intersection between world coordinate grid lines and the fluctuating boundary between two atmospheric air masses.

Emerging from the rich geology of the South Uist Hills in full exposure to Westerly winds, and sat just above the 1000mb pressure threshold, the building engages with the elements to amplify the tangible experience of the Jet Stream.

A Climate Beacon at the Periphery of the Ferrel Cell

The Jet Stream as a Political Decision

The proposal seeks to tangibly communicate both long term patterns of climate, and the potential impact of impending global warming on the effects of more localised, short-term weather systems. Through various means of representation and kinetic response, the architecure engages with ground level aspects of weather and records patterns over time.

Patterns of the Jet Stream are directly affected by climate change, with the forecast of more frequent and intense1 extreme weather events caused by localised stationary pressure systems. This is of particular relevance to a remote, island location that on a higher level more subjective to extreme weather events and sea level rise. On the west coast and at the highest latitudes of the UK, the Outer Hebrides are exposed to the fronts of the polar jet stream, and have historically experienced some of the most extreme of national pressure recordings. 2 Moreover, the lifestyle of locals is so intrinsically governed by the weather, and the strong sense of community furthers the importance of implementing climate change adaptation strategies.

To achieve this, the architectural intervention will provide a facility for research, climate forecasting and political stratification. Rather than relying on a top-down approach to adaptation planning, the project will challenge the existing political hierarchy and respond to community initiatives, encouraging a collaborative approach to decision-making. Acting as a “Climate Beacon for the Western Isles” - engaging with local climate working groups and at a national scale when necessary - the scheme will lead the way into the development of effective climate adaptation strategies, and set a benchmark for other communities in the UK to emulate.

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/07/05/more-frequent-european-heat-waves-linked-to-changes-in-jet-stream/

Closer Stakeholders:

MET Office

- UK National weather service and climate centre

UKESM

- National Earth Systems Model to support international efforts against climate change

Creative Carbon Scotland

- Provide training in carbon measurement and reduction, aid in policy making

Adaptation Scotland

- Raise awareness of impacts of climate change and identify means of adaptation

Community Energy Scotland

- Charity that aids communities in green energy development and decarbonisation

Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership

- Public agency partners collaborating for island wellbeing and development

Lan Thide

- The Outer Hebrides Climate Beacon (one of 7), to engage locals with climate change

Scale and Interaction

Engagement with Project Occupancy and Areas

Project Timeline

Programme Matrixes

Form Generation

Developed from the Linework of the Drawing Device - South Uist 2020 Climate Plot

Laser Etching for Casting

Landscaped Wind Channels + Fins

Pressure Responsive Facade + Roof

Rainwater Tanks

Wind Tunnels + Acoustic Pipes

Material Storage

Totem Pole System

Wind-Driven Form

Ground Floor Plan

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWURnR-?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWURnR-?usp=sharing

Datum +3m

Datum Level = MSL + 283m

All GL + FFL labels using this as 0.

Room Key:

01. Material Storage Zone

02. Rainwater Tanks

03. Wind Turbines

04. Renewables maintenance and storage

05. Climate Data Receiver Port at 57.3o, -7.3o

06. Small Data Management Office

07. Stone Archives Fabrication Zone

08. Community Amenities

Grounding the Jet Stream

Section Of the Air: Wind Velocity

Of the Material

4 x internal turbines at 3kW each (in 25mph / 11m/s winds)

= 12kW capacity (based on precedents of similar scale)

A Building as a Climate Compass

Lower Ground Floor Plan

Jet Stream Condition, S Wind, 2025

First Floor Plan

High Pressure, NE Wind, 2040

Long Section

Low Pressure, W Wind, 2050

Climate Beacon View

High Pressure, E Wind, 2055

Pressure - A Jet Stream

Pressure is used to forecast weather conditions, between 0.5 - 3 days in advance; and provides an indication of the jet stream latitude relative to a location. Low pressure corresponds to the jet stream trough, while high pressure signifies being in the peak, or an anticyclone. A responsive facade system acts like an aneroid barometer, as a small metal bellows of air expands and contracts with changing air pressure to induce helical motion; to architecturally express the jet stream’s current latitude.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWURnR-?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SMadjCjujvnRTTJD6tQqmFncWdWURnR-?usp=sharing

Stream Latitude Indicator

Response in the Facade

Stormwater Management

Letting the Rain In

The Climate Conference Room

Etched into Stone

The Jet Stream Archives are constructed over several decades to develop a physical, comprehensive archive of climate data; paying homage to the Hebridean neolithic stone circles.

2030-2040

2040-2050

2050-2060

2050-2060

Over time the stones in the archives are constructed according to pressure recordings. This would be a community-based craft enterprise whereby young people would stay in the accomodation temporarily for the short fabrication course, contributing to the rich stone heritage that is to come.

Left: Etched Jet Stream Pattern for Casting Below: Plaster casting against mould

Craftmanship

Fabrication Area

Earth and Wicker