Research Coordinator Luke Peel and CEO Carolyn Hall inspect the climate station at Home Farm. (Photo taken in pre-Covid times) — Research Coordinator Luke Peel and CEO Carolyn Hall inspect the climate station at Home Farm.
(Photo taken in pre-Covid times)

The two climate stations installed at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms as part of ongoing monitoring for the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative were supplied by Envirodata and have been operational since July 2020, with real-time data available to all through the Weathermation website.

The climate stations have a few extra components measured compared to the standard weather station.

Temperature
Relative humidity
Barometric pressure – these first three instruments are housed in the white dome-shaped device on the eastern arm
Rainfall – accurate to 0.2mm
Wind speed and direction
Incoming and outgoing solar radiation – separate pole with glass bulbs on the upper and lower side
Soil moisture sensor at 8, 18, 28 and 38cm depth – also measures temperature
Soil temp sensor at 8cm associated with soil heat flux
Soil heat flux plate at 8cm.

These measurements are important individually, and with appropriate formulas, allow us to calculate evaporation, potential evapo-transpiration and stored energy in the soil. This is important in understanding how the sun’s energy is transferred or transformed to various components (e.g. soil temp) and to power plants (biotic pumps of water cycle), in the context of soil moisture and temperature (that drive soil microbe activity). The prevailing conditions such as humidity, air temperature, wind speed, etc can also significantly affect evaporation and evapotranspiration (small water cycle).

Exclusion fencing has been installed to protect the instrumentation from livestock and wildlife.

Sentek soil moisture sensors have also been installed close to the surface (i.e. 8cm beneath the ground) and in many cases are displaying the diurnal soil moisture changes created by dew fall that depletes during the day and replenishes each morning (the small water cycle).

For landholders, being able to maintain good soil moisture in the root zone and temperature via plant or litter cover helps moderate temperature and soil moisture (during extreme hot or cold days) and maximise soil microbial activity, which in turn drives plant growth and carbon sequestration. Moderating the extremes of climate particularly in the root zone is significant for any farmer or land manager. Being able to monitor those parameters and adjust farming practices accordingly gives land managers a valuable tool for better managing their land.

These climate stations have been installed as part of the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative, which is jointly funded through The Mulloon Institute and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.