University of the Algarve

About: University of the Algarve is a education organization based out in Faro, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 3649 authors who have published 10303 publications receiving 233536 citations.

Historical variation and trends in storminess along the Portuguese South Coast

Abstract: . This work investigates historical variation and trends in storm climate for the South Portugal region, using data from wave buoy measurements and from modelling, for the period 1952 to 2009. Several storm parameters (annual number of storms; annual number of days with storms; annual maximum and mean individual storm duration and annual 99.8th percentile of significant wave height) were used to analyse: (1) historical storminess trends; (2) storm parameter variability and relationships; and (3) historical storminess and its relationship to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). No statistically significant linear increase or decrease was found in any of the storm parameters over the period of interest. The main pattern of storm characteristics and extreme wave heights is an oscillatory variability with intensity peaks every 7–8 yr, and the magnitude of recent variations is comparable with that of variations observed in the earlier parts of the record. In addition, the results reveal that the NAO index is able to explain only a small percentage of the variation in storm wave height, suggesting that more local factors may be of importance in controlling storminess in this region.

Spherical 2-categories and 4-manifold invariants

Abstract: In this paper I define the notion of a non-degenerate finitely semi-simple semi-strict spherical 2-category of non-zero dimension. Given such a 2-category I define a state-sum for any triangulated compact closed oriented 4-manifold and show that this state-sum does not depend on the chosen triangulation by proving invariance under the 4D Pachner moves. This invariant of piece-wise linear closed compact oriented 4-manifolds generalizes the Crane-Yetter invariant and probably it is also a generalization of the Crane-Frenkel invariant. As an example we show how to obtain a 2-category of the right kind from a finite group and a 4-cocycle on this group. The invariant we obtain from this example looks like a four dimensional version of the Dijkgraaf-Witten invariant.

Decision‐making processes of Portuguese tourist travelling to South America and Africa

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to study the decision‐making processes of Portuguese tourists traveling to South America and Africa destinations by developing a conceptual framework that focuses on information sources, motivations, perceptions, satisfactions, and behavioral intentions.Design/methodology/approach – The study applies a structural model that looks to explain the factors behind decision making and the relationships present. The relationships are observed in detail through the application of a categorical principal component analysis.Findings – The results of the empirical study show that behavioral intentions precede emotional and cognitive satisfaction, which in turn, are explained through perceptions and motivations. Tourists perceive tourism destinations as places of leisure although little information is available on existing facilities and core attractions.Research limitations/implications – The study has the restriction of being limited to the Portuguese tourists. However, these findings open...