Abstract
Wind erosion has gained increasing attention as one of the most serious global ecological and environmental threats. Windbreaks are effective at decreasing wind erosion by reducing wind speed to protect crops, livestock, and farmsteads, while providing wildlife habitats. Synthetic shrubs can act as novel windbreaks; however, there is limited knowledge on how their design affects wind speed. This study determined the protective effects (airflow field and sheltering efficiency) based on the design of synthetic shrubs in a wind tunnel. Broom-shaped synthetic shrubs weakened the wind speeds mainly at the middle and upper parts of the shrubs (5–14 cm), while for hemisphere-shaped shrubs this effect was greatest near their bases (below 4 cm) and least in the middle and upper parts (7–14 cm). Spindle-shaped synthetic shrubs provided the best reduction effect in wind range and strength. Moreover, the wind speed reduction ratio decreased with improved wind speeds and ranged from 26.25 cm (between the second and third rows) to 52.5 cm (after the third row). These results provide strong evidence that synthetic shrubs should be considered to decrease wind speed and prevent wind erosion.
Highlights
Wind erosion is an ecological and environmental issue of global concern, with many adverse effects such as damage to infrastructure, economic loss, increased regional poverty, and social instability [1,2]
Measurements for the Pitot tubes were the same height as the synthetic shrubs
Based on the wind tunnel experiments conducted in this study, we found that the zone of weakened wind strengths resulting from the spindle-shaped synthetic shrubs was both wider and more uniform than those of the other designs
Summary
Wind erosion is an ecological and environmental issue of global concern, with many adverse effects such as damage to infrastructure, economic loss, increased regional poverty, and social instability [1,2]. Desertification affects 32% of the world’s population, 67% of countries, and 40% of the land area, making it a serious threat. Reducing the rate of land degradation was prioritized in 2007 through the Action Plan to Combat Desertification (APCD) [3]. Many countries have made progress in desertification control science through the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) [4,5]. Costly projects (accounting for 0.024% of China’s annual GDP) to combat desertification and sandstorms.
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