Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for distilling fresh water from seawater or from impure water by evaporation and condensation, as a system which may be characterized as a direct-heating continuous-flow solar thermal still, with heat supplying an evaporator primarily by solar energy from incident or reflecting sunlight, cooling supplying a condenser primarily by cold seawater piping from deep below the sea surface or from another cold-water source, with evaporator operating in a range of pressures from atmospheric at sea level to a pressure reduced below atmospheric pressure at sea level. The system maximizes the thermal gradient from the hot side of the evaporator to the cold side of the condenser, minimizing the energy flows and mass flows required for a given unit of fresh water output.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: Disclosed is an atmospheric information network comprised of a group of low earth orbit satellite-based sensors providing global coverage of the earth, together with one or more ground-based sensor networks, together with one or more mobile sensor networks, all operating to collect near-real-time or real-time data, together with data gathering from other governmental and commercial atmospheric data sources, together with software algorithms and processes for data reduction, data analysis, correlation of information, data fusion, modeling, reporting of near-real-time or real-time atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind, and prediction of future atmospheric conditions of air pollution and wind. Such information is presented in geospatial and infographic formats on computer or mobile device displays, or electronic billboards.

Abstract: The present invention is a control system and set of methods for providing and controlling a money payment transaction through a network. The methods comprise determining the values of several variables which influence the fee charged for the transaction by choices from an array of selections, and then charging a predetermined fee for the transaction based on the determined values of the selected variables. Alternatively, the methods comprise selecting a fee, and determining the allowable timing parameters for such a fee. Guarantees for settlement of the transaction within certain timing constraints are also provided. The benefits of this system and methods are that Users, instead of financial intermediaries such as banks or other transaction processors, can explicitly control the timing of a money payment transaction.