Impact of Forest Windbreaks on Vineyard Protection Against the Zonda Wind

Abstract

This study evaluated the behavior of the Zonda wind in the province of Mendoza, Argentina, with emphasis on its impact at speeds between 18 and 25 m/s (Zonda type 1 and type 2) on different forest windbreaks used to protect vineyards. The research focused on determining the protective effect of these barriers, considering various configurations and levels of optical porosity. Multiple configurations of forest windbreaks were designed, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to assess their effectiveness. The simulations incorporated different levels of optical porosity and various geometries of the windbreaks. The results indicated a significant reduction in the impact of the Zonda winds due to the forest windbreaks. The effectiveness of the configurations was directly related to the level of optical porosity (OP) of the barriers. Comparing these findings with existing literature, the importance of OP and the arrangement of forest windbreaks in mitigating the effects of the Zonda wind was emphasized. These results reinforce previous studies that highlight the essential role of windbreak structures in protecting agricultural crops from adverse weather conditions. In conclusion, the implementation of forest windbreaks with a porosity between 35% and 50% is recommended to provide effective protection against the Zonda wind in the vineyards of Mendoza. Future research is suggested to further optimize windbreak configurations and enhance the resilience of crops to extreme weather events.