Cloudy July mornings, with a 6.6 okta cloud cover, mean selecting shade-tolerant crops or using greenhouses or poly-tunnels to maintain adequate sunlight exposure. Additionally, the windiest month, September, with an average 9am speed of a relatively low 7.0 km/h, highlights the need for windbreaks or shelter belts to shield plants from winds and preserve soil moisture, ensuring a thriving permaculture ecosystem.
Based on the Morning and Afternoon Averages in Neerim Junction, the following recommendations can be made for regenerating an old farm into a permaculture farm:
- Temperature: During colder periods, it is important to consider frost protection measures for sensitive crops. In the afternoons, the temperature patterns can be similar, with slightly higher temperatures.
- Humidity and Dew Point: The mean 9am relative humidity is highest in February with 86%. This suggests that mornings in February can be relatively humid, which may create favorable conditions for plant growth. The mean 9am dew-point temperature ranges from 3.9°C in July to 11.8°C in January. Higher dew-point temperatures indicate increased moisture levels in the air, which can benefit plant water uptake.
- Cloud Cover: Mornings in July may be more cloudy, potentially reducing sunlight exposure for plant growth. It is important to consider selecting crops that can tolerate lower light conditions or implementing structures like greenhouses to ensure adequate sunlight for growth.
- Wind Speed: The mean 9am wind speed is highest in September with 7.0 km/h. Wind can affect plant growth and soil moisture levels. It is advisable to consider windbreaks or shelterbelts to protect plants from strong winds and minimize water evaporation from the soil.
In summary, for regenerating Mistwood into a permaculture farm, we will need to:
- Implement frost protection measures for sensitive crops during colder months.
- Take advantage of the relatively humid mornings in February for plant growth.
- Consider selecting crops that can tolerate lower light conditions during cloudy mornings in July.
- Plan windbreaks or shelterbelts to protect plants from strong winds and minimize water evaporation.
Mean 9am temperature
The mean 9am temperature ranges from 5.5°C in July to 15.5°C in January. The mean 9am wet-bulb temperature ranges from 4.8°C in July to 13.5°C in January. The mean 9am dew-point temperature ranges from 3.9°C in July to 11.8°C in January. The mean 9am relative humidity is highest in February with 86%. The mean 9am cloud cover is highest in July with 6.6 oktas. The mean 9am wind speed is highest in September with 7.0 km/h.
9am Averages | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
9 am conditions | |||||||||||||
Mean 9am temperature (°C) | 15.5 | 14.4 | 12.7 | 10.5 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 9.2 | 11.8 | 12.9 | 14.4 | 10.7 |
Mean 9am wet-bulb temperature (°C) | 13.5 | 13.1 | 11.8 | 9.4 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 7.7 | 9.7 | 10.9 | 12.6 | 9.4 |
Mean 9am dew-point temperature (°C) | 11.8 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 8.7 | 6.8 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 9.3 | 10.6 | 8.1 |
Mean 9am relative humidity (%) | 80 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 87 | 83 | 77 | 80 | 79 | 85 |
Mean 9am cloud cover (oktas) | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 6.0 |
Mean 9am wind speed (km/h) | 5.2 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.9 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 5.3 |
Mean 3pm temperature
The mean 3pm temperature ranges from 10.9°C in July to 23.6°C in February. The mean 3pm wet-bulb temperature ranges from 8.4°C in July to 17.0°C in February. The mean 3pm dew-point temperature ranges from 5.6°C in July to 11.6°C in January. The mean 3pm relative humidity is highest in May with 74%. The mean 3pm cloud cover is highest in July with 6.4 oktas. The mean 3pm wind speed is highest in January with 10.9 km/h.
3pm Averages | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
3 pm conditions | |||||||||||||
Mean 3pm temperature (°C) | 23.1 | 23.6 | 21.4 | 17.5 | 14.2 | 11.7 | 10.9 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 16.3 | 19.0 | 20.9 | 17.0 |
Mean 3pm wet-bulb temperature (°C) | 16.5 | 17.0 | 15.6 | 13.2 | 11.4 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 10.3 | 12.2 | 14.1 | 15.2 | 12.7 |
Mean 3pm dew-point temperature (°C) | 11.6 | 11.9 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 6.9 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 7.8 | 9.8 | 10.9 | 8.8 |
Mean 3pm relative humidity (%) | 52 | 51 | 54 | 62 | 71 | 74 | 71 | 65 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 56 | 61 |
Mean 3pm cloud cover (oktas) | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
Mean 3pm wind speed (km/h) | 10.9 | 10.1 | 9.0 | 7.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 9.9 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 10.0 | 8.9 |
Insights and Implications—Detailed climate data underscores the need for adaptive strategies to manage microclimate effects on crop health.
The detailed climate averages provide insights into daily conditions that could affect plant health, such as morning dew and wind speeds. These factors should be considered when planning planting locations and windbreaks to protect crops and optimize microclimatic conditions.
High humidity in months like February offers growth advantages but also poses challenges such as increased disease pressure. Managing humidity through proper plant spacing and air circulation will be crucial.
Actions—Install cool/shade tolerate plants, as well as greenhouses for year-round protection, build physical windbreaks, and irrigation based on changing humidity and wind.
Design and plant windbreaks to shield crops from prevalent winds, particularly in September when wind speeds are highest.
Space plants appropriately and manage the farm layout to improve air circulation, reducing potential moisture-related issues in denser canopy areas.
Install a climate monitoring system to continuously track temperature, humidity, dew point, and wind conditions, enabling more informed agricultural decisions.