Mike Sandiford
@msandifo.bsky.social
eternal husband/father/grandfather/sailor/scientist/walker (inc. among communities that for millennia have lived in the most dynamic and remote parts of our planet and some places beyond).
https://msandifo.github.io/
https://msandifo.github.io/
used to pump their fields/ desalinate the waters etc, contributed further to reseting electricity prices across the NEM. In combination, the rise in gas prices and the tightening of electricity supply increased electricity costs by around $14 billion pa across the NEM (all before Hazelwood closed).
December 8, 2025 at 12:09 AM
used to pump their fields/ desalinate the waters etc, contributed further to reseting electricity prices across the NEM. In combination, the rise in gas prices and the tightening of electricity supply increased electricity costs by around $14 billion pa across the NEM (all before Hazelwood closed).
Why should we absolve SANTOS for their poor performance in their coal seam gas fields - "privatise the profits, socialise the costs" no longer. Not only did their shortfalls contribute to massive local rises in domestic gas prices, but the boost in electricity demand (~10% in QLD) ...
December 8, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Why should we absolve SANTOS for their poor performance in their coal seam gas fields - "privatise the profits, socialise the costs" no longer. Not only did their shortfalls contribute to massive local rises in domestic gas prices, but the boost in electricity demand (~10% in QLD) ...
by the way - extraordinary overnight wind* resources in that country (@ 2x daytime production with night-time capacity factors well in excess of 60%**)
* low level nocturnal jets
** amazingly complimentary with daytime solar
* low level nocturnal jets
** amazingly complimentary with daytime solar
December 7, 2025 at 11:10 PM
by the way - extraordinary overnight wind* resources in that country (@ 2x daytime production with night-time capacity factors well in excess of 60%**)
* low level nocturnal jets
** amazingly complimentary with daytime solar
* low level nocturnal jets
** amazingly complimentary with daytime solar
Brief summary
*nb. Lake Capricornia better reserved for the lake that formed in the gulf during LGM times- so this one needs a new name :)
*nb. Lake Capricornia better reserved for the lake that formed in the gulf during LGM times- so this one needs a new name :)
December 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Brief summary
*nb. Lake Capricornia better reserved for the lake that formed in the gulf during LGM times- so this one needs a new name :)
*nb. Lake Capricornia better reserved for the lake that formed in the gulf during LGM times- so this one needs a new name :)
needs a different name* - but the existence and destruction of the lake explains the most enigmatic features of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers including the semi-circular pattern of the upper reaches of the Diamantina.
December 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
needs a different name* - but the existence and destruction of the lake explains the most enigmatic features of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers including the semi-circular pattern of the upper reaches of the Diamantina.
wonderful geomorphology with an amazing story involving Australia's largest palaeolake, probably around 43 million years ago - lake Capricornia (should have written it up years ago, but haven't, not yet anyway).
December 7, 2025 at 10:31 PM
wonderful geomorphology with an amazing story involving Australia's largest palaeolake, probably around 43 million years ago - lake Capricornia (should have written it up years ago, but haven't, not yet anyway).
Mithaka country www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
December 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Mithaka country www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
One of the most intriguing diagrams I have produced in a while ... at least for NEM/RE aficionados.
N* (y-axis) is ratio of midnight ± 3 hours to midday ±3 hours generation for QLD, NSW and VIC wind farms over the 12 months to end June 2025.
x-axis is wind farm dance from coastline.
N* (y-axis) is ratio of midnight ± 3 hours to midday ±3 hours generation for QLD, NSW and VIC wind farms over the 12 months to end June 2025.
x-axis is wind farm dance from coastline.
July 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
One of the most intriguing diagrams I have produced in a while ... at least for NEM/RE aficionados.
N* (y-axis) is ratio of midnight ± 3 hours to midday ±3 hours generation for QLD, NSW and VIC wind farms over the 12 months to end June 2025.
x-axis is wind farm dance from coastline.
N* (y-axis) is ratio of midnight ± 3 hours to midday ±3 hours generation for QLD, NSW and VIC wind farms over the 12 months to end June 2025.
x-axis is wind farm dance from coastline.
which contrasts inland wind which has a prominent nocturnal peak*, and therefore will suffer less economic curtailment (but currently lacks transmission ...) *best exemplified by QLD but is true also of inland NSW and VIC
July 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
which contrasts inland wind which has a prominent nocturnal peak*, and therefore will suffer less economic curtailment (but currently lacks transmission ...) *best exemplified by QLD but is true also of inland NSW and VIC
partly because southern coast wind production shows little diurnal variability ...
July 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
partly because southern coast wind production shows little diurnal variability ...
presumably - also reflecting the increases in economic curtailment of wind, which is an emerging issue especially for southern coast wind farms ...
July 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
presumably - also reflecting the increases in economic curtailment of wind, which is an emerging issue especially for southern coast wind farms ...
cf. north coast Rhodos, where solution notches are at, and below, sea level- eg. Kopria Beach
July 17, 2025 at 7:23 PM
cf. north coast Rhodos, where solution notches are at, and below, sea level- eg. Kopria Beach
Elevated Solution notches - Lindos (south coast of Rhodos)
July 17, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Elevated Solution notches - Lindos (south coast of Rhodos)
The Accursed Mountains (Peaks of the Balkans Trail) - Valbonё – Çerem, Albania, (photo taken on side track to Vusanje, Montenegro)
July 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The Accursed Mountains (Peaks of the Balkans Trail) - Valbonё – Çerem, Albania, (photo taken on side track to Vusanje, Montenegro)
Laugevegur trail - Markarfljótsgljúfur Canyon at Emstrur
July 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Laugevegur trail - Markarfljótsgljúfur Canyon at Emstrur
Laugavegur Trail - view over Lake Álftavatn (on trail section from Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn)
July 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Laugavegur Trail - view over Lake Álftavatn (on trail section from Hrafntinnusker to Álftavatn)
VIC1 spot and prices and demand, by hour of day (y-axis) and day of year (x-axis), for 12 months to end June '25.
July 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
VIC1 spot and prices and demand, by hour of day (y-axis) and day of year (x-axis), for 12 months to end June '25.
The amazing Channel country rivers in flood (courtesy Copernicus browser Sentinel-2).
May 5, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The amazing Channel country rivers in flood (courtesy Copernicus browser Sentinel-2).
Western desert magic (Sentinel 2, L2A Moisture Index)
April 28, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Western desert magic (Sentinel 2, L2A Moisture Index)
Cf southern VIC wind farm forecast generation v inland QLD across 2024/ location matters
January 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Cf southern VIC wind farm forecast generation v inland QLD across 2024/ location matters
Stay tuned as the www.superpowerinstitute.com.au delves into the wonders of LLNJs (low level nocturnal jets).
November 21, 2024 at 12:31 AM
Stay tuned as the www.superpowerinstitute.com.au delves into the wonders of LLNJs (low level nocturnal jets).
The complimentarity between inland nocturnal winds and daytime solar, especially so in central Queensland (and I suspect inland NW WA), there should be much to excite new investment … and provide new guidelines for appropriate transmission investment to capture the opportunity.
November 21, 2024 at 12:31 AM
The complimentarity between inland nocturnal winds and daytime solar, especially so in central Queensland (and I suspect inland NW WA), there should be much to excite new investment … and provide new guidelines for appropriate transmission investment to capture the opportunity.