Climate Group
Preston Flux Tower Site
This project is being undertaken by Andrew Coutts (PhD candidate) at Monash University under the supervision of Dr. Jason Beringer and Dr. Nigel Tapper.
Project Overview:
In the year 2000, 90.7% of Australia's population lived in urban areas, while it is projected that by the year 2030, this figure is estimated to rise to 96% (United Nations, 2003). Urbanisation alters the natural environment due to the physical structure of the city, and its artificial energy and pollution emissions, all interact to form distinct urban climates (Bridgeman et al., 1995). These urban climates can often be undesirable causing increases in air pollution and aiding the formation of Urban Heat Islands (UHI) and can have substantial implications on air quality and human health. It is therefore important to include climate knowledge in the urban planning process as the intensity of changes in local climates and their ultimate harm to the environment can be significantly reduced through informed and efficient land use (Stone and Rogers, 2001).
With the release of the Victorian Governments
plan for managing Metropolitan growth in Melbourne(Melbourne 2030)
due to an anticipated population increase of one million people and
625,000 households, it is important to look at this issue. With the
increasing awareness of the impact cities are having on the local
climate, it is paramount that research be directed towards reducing
these impacts, which can be achieved through improved planning measures.
This study aims to observe the surface energy balance of an Australian
city, Melbourne, of which is fundamental to an understanding of boundary
layer meteorology and climatology, as it governs the evolution of
the boundary layer and the formation of local climates. In particular,
this study looks at the likely impact of increased housing density,
as a result of Melbourne 2030's plan for a urban growth boundary
and pursuing a more compact city.This study aims to observe variations
in the surface energy balance between different types of housing
densities and neighbourhood design and give an indication of which
pattern of urban design produces the best possible local climate
conditions for the inhabitants of the Melbourne region. The Preston
flux tower is one of four sites that were established as part of
this experiment, and is located in a high-medium density residential
area north of Melbourne CBD.
Data
This page has been developed by Dr. Jason Beringer and Andrew Coutts for the routine status checking of the system. The tower was first established in August 2003. Flux estimates are also given but are uncorrected and not quality controlled.
