An H II region is a cloud of ionized hydrogen in interstellar space, which is typically associated with star formation. The term "H II" signifies that the hydrogen in these regions has been ionized, which means that the hydrogen atoms have lost their electrons due to the high-energy ultraviolet radiation emitted by nearby hot, young stars. H II regions are often found surrounding young, massive stars, where the intense radiation and stellar winds from these stars ionize the surrounding hydrogen gas.
OPeNDAP, which stands for "Open-source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol," is a protocol and software framework that enables the sharing and access of scientific data over the internet. Originally developed to facilitate access to large datasets in fields such as oceanography, meteorology, and remote sensing, OPeNDAP allows users to seamlessly retrieve subsets of data from remote servers without needing to download whole datasets.
OpenWeatherMap is a comprehensive weather data service that provides a wide range of weather-related information and APIs for developers and businesses. It offers various services, including current weather data, forecasts, historical weather data, and weather maps. The platform aggregates data from numerous weather stations, satellites, and meteorological sources to deliver accurate and up-to-date weather information.
Sh2-308, also known as the "Dragon Nebula," is an emission nebula located in the constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn. It is part of a larger region of star formation and is noted for being a site of active stellar birth. Sh2-308 is associated with the open star cluster NGC 2244, which is a young cluster of stars that has formed from the surrounding gas and dust.
The Weather Channel is a television network and media company that provides weather-related information and forecasts. Founded in 1982, it specializes in delivering real-time weather data, forecasts, alerts, and information about severe weather phenomena. The channel features a variety of programming, including news segments, documentaries, and lifestyle shows that focus on weather's impact on daily life.
Weather Underground is a weather service that provides hyper-local weather data, forecasts, and weather-related information. Founded in 1995, it started as a community of weather enthusiasts who shared data from personal weather stations, and it has since grown into a comprehensive weather service owned by The Weather Company, which is itself a subsidiary of IBM.
An extinction event, also known as a mass extinction, refers to a significant and widespread reduction in the biodiversity of life on Earth, typically characterized by the rapid loss of many species across various taxonomic groups. These events are often global in scale and can occur over relatively short geological timeframes, often triggered by catastrophic environmental changes or catastrophic events.
The Soil Dryness Index (SDI) is a quantitative measure used to assess soil moisture levels and dryness conditions in a particular area. It provides an indication of how much moisture is present in the soil and is often utilized in agricultural, environmental, and hydrological studies to monitor soil health, drought conditions, and irrigation needs. The index typically incorporates various factors like: 1. **Soil Texture**: Different soil types (sand, silt, clay) retain moisture differently.
Sunshine recorders are devices used to measure and record the amount of sunlight received at a particular location over time. They typically consist of a glass sphere that focuses sunlight onto a recording medium, usually a piece of paper or a strip of photosensitive material. As sunlight hits the paper, it creates a burn or mark that indicates the intensity and duration of sunshine.
CLidar, or "Clustered Lidar," is a term that may refer to a specific application or implementation of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. LiDAR itself is a remote sensing method that uses laser light to measure distances to the Earth, generating detailed three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.
Dark adaptor goggles, also known as night vision goggles or low-light goggles, are specialized optical devices designed to enhance visibility in low-light or dark environments. These goggles utilize various technologies, such as image intensification and thermal imaging, to amplify available light or detect heat signatures, allowing users to see clearly in conditions where normal vision is insufficient. **Key features of dark adaptor goggles include:** 1.
A heat flux sensor is a device used to measure the rate of heat transfer through a surface. It quantifies the amount of thermal energy that is passing through a specified area per unit time, often expressed in watts per square meter (W/m²). Heat flux sensors are commonly utilized in research and industrial applications to monitor thermal conditions, assess insulation properties, and optimize energy efficiency. ### Components and Working Principles 1.
ISO 9847 is an international standard that pertains to the evaluation of the performance of laboratory photometric measurements. It specifically deals with the calibration of photometric instruments, particularly in relation to the measurement of light. The purpose of ISO 9847 is to provide a guideline for determining the accuracy and reliability of photometric measurements by specifying procedures for the calibration of instruments used in these measurements. This standard is essential for ensuring consistency and comparability in the data produced by different laboratories and institutions.
Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances to a target. This technique involves sending out laser pulses and measuring the time it takes for the light to return after bouncing off an object or surface. By calculating the time of flight of the laser pulses, Lidar can determine the distance to the target with high precision.
A sounding rocket is a suborbital rocket used for scientific research and experimentation in the upper atmosphere and near-space environment. Unlike traditional orbital rockets, which are designed to place payloads into orbit around the Earth, sounding rockets typically reach altitudes from about 30 kilometers (approximately 19 miles) to 1,500 kilometers (about 930 miles) before descending back to Earth.
A storm glass is a type of weather predicting device, often made of a sealed glass container filled with a special liquid that includes various chemical compounds, such as distilled water, ethanol, and ammonium chloride. The idea behind a storm glass is that the appearance and behavior of the liquid inside can change in response to various weather conditions. When the weather changes, the liquid inside the storm glass may form crystals or change clarity, which proponents claim can indicate impending weather changes.
Meteorological instrumentation refers to the various tools and devices used to measure and record atmospheric conditions. These instruments are essential for understanding weather patterns, climate, and various atmospheric phenomena. The data collected by these instruments aids in weather forecasting, climate research, and environmental monitoring. Key categories of meteorological instruments include: 1. **Thermometers**: Measure temperature. Various types include liquid-in-glass thermometers, electronic thermometers, and infrared thermometers.
A pyranometer is a scientific instrument used to measure solar radiation received on a surface, typically expressed in watts per square meter (W/m²). It is specifically designed to measure the solar irradiance from the sun, taking into account both direct sunlight and diffuse sky radiation. Pyranometers consist of a sensor that detects radiation, often using a thermopile or a photodiode, and a transparent dome or glass cover that allows solar energy to enter while protecting the sensor.
Weather radar is a type of radar used to detect precipitation, its motion, and intensity, as well as to analyze storm systems and atmospheric conditions. It operates by sending out radio waves that bounce off precipitation particles (like raindrops, snowflakes, or hail) in the atmosphere. The radar system then measures the time it takes for the emitted waves to return and the change in frequency of the waves (Doppler effect), which helps determine the location, movement, and speed of the precipitation.
A weather vane, also known as a wind vane, is a device used to show the direction of the wind. It typically consists of a rotating pointer mounted on a fixed mast, which indicates the wind's direction by aligning itself with the wind flow. The pointer often has a design (such as an arrow or a specific shape) that makes it easy to read.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 2.
    You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either https://OurBigBook.com or as a static website
    .
    Figure 3.
    Visual Studio Code extension installation
    .
    Figure 4.
    Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation
    .
    Figure 5.
    Web editor
    . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
    Video 4.
    OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo
    . Source.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact