Home Promo Wind Turbines Found To Aid Crops
Wind Turbines Found To Aid Crops
A multi-year study led by an Iowa State University scientist suggests the turbines commonly used in the state to capture wind energy may have a positive effect on crops. Gene Takle, a Distinguished Professor of agronomy and geological and atmospheric sciences, said tall wind turbines disbursed throughout a field create air turbulence that may help plants by affecting variables such as temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations. Takle and his team installed research towers on a 200-turbine wind farm. Takle said the team's data show that the wind turbines have a measurable impact on several key variables that affect growing conditions. Takle said turbines can change the temperature in the areas around them. The research team's data show that turbulence produced by wind turbines leads to temperatures about a half degree cooler during the day and between a half to a full degree warmer at night. That's because the turbulence mixes air at different elevations. That mixing cools the ground level during the daylight hours, like a fan blowing on a wet surface, Takle said. But at night, as the ground loses heat, the mixing brings warmer air aloft down to ground level, resulting in a net warming effect. The turbulence also suppresses the formation of dew and dries the crops, Takle said, which could combat harmful molds and fungi.
From Iowa State University Photo Credit John Vlahakis
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