Development of an improved physical modelling of a forest area in a wind tunnel

A new concept to model a finite forest area in a boundary layer wind tunnel is proposed. A specific arrangement of rings made from metallic mesh is used in order to reproduce the effect of trees on the atmospheric boundary layer. The comparison between field data and wind tunnel data of wind profiles through the canopy is satisfying and that justifies the use of this model concept to manufacture the model of the finite inhomogeneous forest area surrounding the Research Centre of Julich (Germany), as guaranteed within the research project ECHO. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.