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The relationship between open windspeed and windspeed reduction in shelter

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Abstract

Windspeed reduction in shelter is generally expressed relatively and is usually assumed to be independent of open windspeed. The purpose of this study was to re-examine the relationship between open windspeed and windspeed reduction in shelter using windspeeds and wind directions measured for two windbreak systems at various distances from the windbreaks and with three windbreak porosities. Optical windbreak porosities were estimated from digitized color photographs using an intelligent (trainable) image processing program. Relative windspeed reduction in shelter was found to be related to the open windspeed. There existed a threshold windspeed at approximately 5 m s−1, below which relative windspeed reduction varied but generally decreased as the open windspeed increased. Above the threshold windspeed, open windspeed did not have an effect on relative windspeed reduction in the sheltered zone. Using the threshold windspeed reduction, the authors propose an index to evaluate the effectiveness of a windbreak for the overal windspeed protection.

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Author notes

  1. H. Zhang

    Present address: UCLA-DOE Laboratory, University of California, 900 Veteran Avenue, 90024-1786, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Nebraska, 68583-0814, Lincoln, NE, USA

    H. Zhang & J. R. Brandle

  2. Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska, 68583-0726, Lincoln, NE, USA

    G. E. Meyer

  3. Department of Horticulture, University of Nebraska, 68583-0724, Lincoln, NE, USA

    L. Hodges

Authors
  1. H. Zhang
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  2. J. R. Brandle
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  3. G. E. Meyer
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  4. L. Hodges
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Additional information

Published as Journal Series No. 10815 of the Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska.

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Zhang, H., Brandle, J.R., Meyer, G.E. et al. The relationship between open windspeed and windspeed reduction in shelter. Agroforest Syst 32, 297–311 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711717

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