Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.37982/hmc.56.1.3
Dew and rain water potential in north Matabeleland (Zimbabwe)
Marc Muselli
; University of Corsica, Avenue du 9 Septembre, BP52, 20250 Corte, France
*
Daniel Beysens
; ESPCI, Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, ESPCI Paris-PSL University, Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Matabeleland North is, during the dry season (April–Sept.), one of the driest regions in Zimbabwe. However, the relative air humidity remains large, which makes dew an interest- ing potential supplementary source of water. In this paper, one reports an estimation of dew over one year i.e. between 29 May 2020 and 28 May 2021 by using an energy equation and me- teorological data extrapolated from the Joshua Mqabuko airport. The calculation was validat- ed by measurements between 1 June 2020 and 21 July 2020 performed on cars used as standard dew condensers. Rain is also considered to determine the dew/rain ratio. It follows from this study that during the dry season, dew is relatively abundant (8.66 mm) and amounts to nearly 40% of rain (22.6 mm). However, dew becomes rare at the end of the dry season (Aug.–Sept.). Dew events are frequent (dry season, typically 1.4 days without dew events; rainy season, 2 days), in contrast to rainfall (dry season, typically 32 days without rain events and erratic; rainy season, 4.1 days). Dew can thus provide a noticeable and reliable supplementary source of wa- ter during most of the dry season.
Keywords
dew water; rain water; dew/rain ratio; North Matabeleland (Zimbabwe); dry season
Hrčak ID:
318285
URI
Publication date:
12.6.2024.
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