Judul: Pengaruh Variasi Komposisi Klobot Jagung dan Anti-UV pada Biomulsa.
Abstrak: Biomulsa adalah plastik yang dapat diurai atau didegradasi oleh mikroorganisme yang terdapat di dalam tanah karena adanya kandungan pati yang memiliki serat pada bahan pembuat plastik. Dalam penelitian ini dibuatlah biomulsa berbahan dasar klobot jagung dan Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) serta adanya penambahan anti-UV. Analisis proksimat menunjukkan klobot jagung memiliki kandungan karbohidrat yang tinggi dalam rentang 78%, yang didukung dengan hasil analisis FTIR dari klobot jagung. Biomulsa dicetak dengan tiga variasi 5%, 10%, dan 15% klobot jagung dengan menggunakan metode ekstrusi calandering. Mulsa yang terbentuk mempunyai ukuran lebar 15 cm dan tebal ±0.68 mm. Hasil analisis FTIR biomulsa menunjukkan untuk semua bahan dasar mulsa terdeksi, tetapi muncul puncak baru yang artinya biomulsa ini telah tercampur secara mekanik dan kimiawi. Berdasarkan analisis termal menggunakan Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), biomulsa memiliki nilai Tg berkisar antara 114-119 °C. Biomulsa dengan variasi 15% memiliki daya serap yang lebih tinggi dari biomulsa variasi lain dengan komposisi anti-UV Tinuvin yang sama banyak.
Keyword: biomulsa, klobot jagung, LLDPE, anti-UV, sifat optik

Judul: Pengaruh Variasi Komposisi LLDPE dan Klobot Jagung Terhadap Karakteristik Mekanik Dan Biodegradasi Mulsa Bioplastik
Abstrak: Mulsa Bioplastik ini merupakan campuran polimer Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) dan klobot jagung ukuran 200 mesh dengan metode calandering, variasi 5%, 10%, dan 15% klobot jagung. Biomulsa plastik yang telah dicetak dengan calandering, dianalisis mikrostruktur, sifat mekanik (uji tarik) dan biodegradasi. Analisis proksimat menunjukkan klobot jagung memiliki kadar serat dan karbohidrat tinggi. Konsentrasi 5% klobot jagung memiliki sifat mekanik paling tinggi dengan kekuatan tarik arah persilangan 8.598 MPa dan arah mesin 20.75 MPa, strain at break arah silang 143.3% dan arah mesin 409%. Hasil uji biodegradasi memperlihatkan Aspergillus niger dapat tumbuh pada biomulsa plastik, tetapi Penicillium sp. terlihat tidak tumbuh pada biomulsa plastik. Proses biodegradasi tersebut menyebabkan adanya persen berat yang hilang pada biomulsa plastik.
Keyword: biodegradable, klobot jagung, mulsa bioplastik, sifat mekanik

Judul: Thermal Characteristics and Dynamics of Tropical Cyclone over Western North Pacific Ocean: A Case Study of Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) 2011
Abstrak: The frequent occasion of Tropical Cyclone (TC) over Western North Pacific (WNP) Ocean lies from 10˚N to 26˚N and 121˚E to 170˚E. Sources of TC development come from warm ocean temperature where latent heat is released during condensation processes and subsequently concentrated in the boundary layer. Relative humidity at 850-700 hPa is responsible to produce the most intense storm. Meanwhile, weak vertical wind shear between 850-200 hPa is one of the dynamical factors that lead to the development of TC. Pressure level of 850-200 hPa is chosen to minimize the thermodynamic effect in the lower troposphere. Typhoon Songda (Chedeng in the Philippines) or TSC lasted from May 18th to 30th, 2011 and strengthened into powerful Super Typhoon stage between May 24th and 27th. Long curving track and the exhibition of all sequences of TC life cycle, TSC is then considered as an ideal case of TC. The objective of the study with case of TSC is to investigate the role of thermal characteristics and dynamics on TC intensity. The research is carried out by using Advanced Research of Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF ARW model) version 3.3. Two domains are employed in the model. The first domain situate from 02˚N to 40˚N and 118˚E to 149˚E and cover spatial resolution () of 33.1 km. The second domain situate from 09˚N to 27˚N and 119˚E to 132˚E with of 11 km. Timestep of the model () is 120 seconds. The model is supported by the following physical parameterization, i.e., Yonsei University Scheme (YSU) in the boundary layer, Kain-Fritsch scheme (KF) in the cumulus, and WRF Single-Moment 3-class scheme in the microphysics. Initial meteorological condition prior to the formation of the cyclone is generated using WRF ARW standard-release model. Sensitivity of the model output is obtained from a selected single-parameter change scenarios, namely, 10 % to 20 % decrease and increase of wind shear initial data at 850-200 hPa, and by 10 % to 20 % decrease of relative humidity initial data at 850-700 hPa. The result showed that the negative correlations between wind shear and intensity are found in wind shear scenarios. Wind shears of 10 ms-1 which lead to strengthening of the wind intensity in the early period of Typhoon development are found in wind shear scenarios. The effect of wind shear changes on wind intensity is statistically significant in the 20 % wind shear scenarios. During mature stage, weak wind intensity occurred when wind shear increase as given in the WRF standard-release and the 20 % decreasing scenario. Different situation is found in the 20 % increasing scenario where wind shear tend to weak and lead to strong wind intensity at this stage. Meanwhile, the reduction of moisture supply at 850-700 hPa resulting from 20 % decreasing relative humidity play a major role in the weakening of wind intensity and reduces mechanical energy of the cycle process as much as 300 J kg-1.
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