To clarify the effect of windbreaks on meteorological improvement at an oasis in an arid land, an investigation was carried out in September 1997, in Turpan, China. Using a mobile observation method, horizontal variations of air temperature and relative humidity were measured along two routes traversing through an oasis to a desert. Observations were carried out in days of fine weather, at the time of the day when air temperature was maximum and relative humidity was minimum.
The meteorological condition differs with the arrangement of windbreaks in the routes. In the first route which characterized by firm windbreaks at an average of 490m intervals, entering into the oasis from the desert at 1km distance, air temperature decreased by about 5°C and relative humidity increased by 14%. Air temperature and relative humidity were constant at a distance of over 1km from the desert into the oasis. In the second route which characterized by thin and less than 10m height windbreaks, entering into the oasis from the desert at 6km distance, air temperature decreased by 0.7°C and relative humidity increased by 3%.
The meteorological conditions vary between the marginal area and central area of the oasis. Hence, it is necessary to consider meteorological conditions of the area prior to determination of a suitable land for crop production. For instance, the marginal area of an oasis is suitable for cultivating sorghum and cotton because of the influence of desert climate, which makes the area hotter and drier than the central area of an oasis. Sorghum can be grown under hot and dry conditions. High quality cotton can be produced in irrigated, and hot and dry conditions.
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