Windbreaks are made from trees and bushes and
are used to reduce soil erosion and Evapotranspiration.
Forests moderate the local
climate and the global water cycle through their light reflectance(albedo) and Evapotranspiration.
Spatial monthly and decadal rainfall and potential Evapotranspiration(PET) data were analyzed to estimate
length of growing period(LGP) spatially.
Potential Evapotranspiration is the amount of water that would be
lost through evaporation and transpiration if it were available.
The problem in this region is severe with extremes of weather
condition, low and erratic rainfall(100-400 mm) and high Evapotranspiration.
In comparison, forested land had rates of Evapotranspiration that were about three times higher,
adding more water vapor to the air.
This 3.7 km2 lens holds an estimated 19 million m3 of fresh water and has an average daily recharge from rainfall over 10,000 m3,
of which 40% remains in the lens and 60% is lost through Evapotranspiration.
It is estimated that this 3.7 km2 lens holds 19 million m3 of fresh water and has an average daily recharge from rainfall of over 10,000 m3,
of which 40% remains in the lens and 60% is lost through Evapotranspiration.