Local weatherman Roger Hosking has produced a case study of local statistics titled 'Climate Change at Braidwood, a single-site case study". Roger says that "Declining trends in the carrying capacity of grazed pastures and runoff rainfall are shown to be associated with climate change in several weather elements, a significant factor is blowin' in the wind."
Roger has used some mathematical modelling in examining windbreaks as management strategy, and to quantify the potential benefits to pastures, farm dams and livestock. Roger has incorporated advice on the design and porosity of windbreaks, as well as some practical advice on getting started.
For example, Roger has calculated that "a medium density windbreak (40% porosity) can produce a 30% reduction in wind speed averaged over a downwind distance of 30 times the height (H) of the windbreak" and that a "30% reduction in wind by windbreak around a farm dam can reduce annual evaporation by an average of 222mm or 23%."
For more see Wednesday's The Braidwood Times...
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