Development of a portable field rainfall simulator for use in hillside vineyard runoff and erosion studies
✍ Scribed by M. C. Battany; M. E. Grismer
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2000
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 167 KB
- Volume
- 14
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0885-6087
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
An inexpensive, mobile ®eld rainfall simulator and runo plot frame were developed for use on hillside vineyards. The simulator framework and components were lightweight, readily available and easily manageable such that they can be handled by one person during transport, set±up and operation. The vineyard rainfall simulator was simpler than many of the machines in recent use for similar studies, yet oered equal or improved performance for small-plot studies. The system developed consistent sized 2 . 58 mm raindrops at intensities ranging from 20 to 90 mm/h. The average distribution uniformity coecient at an intensity of 60 mm/h was 91 . 7%, with a deviation of only 2 . 2%. This coecient was similar to the range reported for a more complex rotating disk simulator, and was notably greater than that obtained for other similar devices. The system water capacity of 40 l allowed for 1-h storm durations at 60 mm/h, usually sucient time for commencement of erosion and runo. The runo plot frame was designed to be quickly installed, and to discourage sediment deposition in the routing of runo to collect containers.