A New Methodology for Assessing the Interaction between the Mediterranean Olive Agro-Forest and the Atmospheric Surface Boundary Layer
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Wind velocity Wind-trees interaction Andalusian olive grove Wind tunnel Agricultural meteorology
Date
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Jiménez-Portaz, M.; Clavero, M.; Losada, M.Á. A New Methodology for Assessing the Interaction between the Mediterranean Olive Agro-Forest and the Atmospheric Surface Boundary Layer. Atmosphere 2021, 12, 658. https://doi.org/10.3390/ atmos12060658
Patrocinador
“Proyectos de Investigación Precompetitivos para Jóvenes Investigadores” from the University of GranadaRésumé
Historically, the olive grove has been one of the most emblematic ecosystems in Mediterranean countries. Currently, in Andalusia, Spain, the land under olive grove cultivation exceeds
1.5 million hectares, approximately 17% of the regional surface. Its exploitation has traditionally
been based on the use of the available land and heterogeneous plantations, with different species
adapted to southern Mediterranean climatic conditions, and to the management of the traditional
olive cultivation culture. The objective of this work is to characterize the mechanical behavior of
the atmospheric surface boundary layer (SBL) (under neutral stability) interacting with different
olive grove configurations. Experimental tests were carried out in the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
(BLWT) of the Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA), University of Granada. Three
representative configurations of olive groves under neutral atmospheric conditions were tested. The
wind flow time series were recorded at several distances and heights downwind the olive plantation
models with a cross hot wire anemometry system. Herein, this paper shows the airflow streamwise, including the mean flow and the turbulent characteristics. The spatial variability of these two
mechanical magnitudes depends on, among others, the size, the agro-forest length, the layout of
the tree rows, the porosity, the tree height, the crown shape and the surface vegetation cover. The
aerodynamic diameter and Reynolds number for each agro-forest management unit are proposed as
representative variables of the system response, as these could be related to olive grove management.
The plantation, in turn, conforms to a windbreak, which affects the microclimate and benefits the
elements of the ecosystem. Detailed knowledge of these variables and the interaction between the
ecosystem and the atmosphere is relevant to optimize the resources management, land use and
sustainability of the overall crop. Thus, this paper presents preliminary work to relate atmospheric
variables to environmental variables, some of which could be humidity, erosion, evapotranspiration
or pollen dispersion.