Aircraft Applications of Insecticides in East Africa. III.—Atmospheric Turbulence in Woodland

Abstract

An effort was made to determine the best conditions to achieve maximum saturation and persistence of small droplet insecticide (5-200 microns droplet diameter) within a type of African woodland. The problem is entirely one of atmospheric turbulence within the woodland. No attempt was made, or is likely to be fruitful, to introduce a detailed or mathematical argument. The relevant factors pertaining to atmospheric turbulence were observed and in some cases were directly compared with simultaneous observations made in the open. The absence of zero wind speeds, considerations of changing lapse rates, bi-directional wind vane records, and visual observations of smoke, all combine to suggest that when conditions of calm or light winds exist in the free air, there is, under moderately dense woodland canopies, an almost continuous and slow transfer of air between the canopy and the ground, these movements tending towards laminar or sheet flows. With stronger winds, eddying about the trees swamps these gentle movements and air motion becomes erratic and turbulent, although such turbulence is less the denser the canopy. During the daytime there is notable horizontal movement of air towards clearings where convection is at a maximum.