Cloudtraps in Morro Velosa
The work on the installation of the first "cloudtraps" has commenced in Morro Velosa; the installations are temporary and will remain experimental for some months. The Cabildo de Fuerteventura, through the Department of the Environment, is taking part in a project called "Dysdera", (which is a genus of spider, or a girl from Greek mythology), that is currently in the design stage. This will involve the installation and monitoring of a network of atmospheric water capture stations in Madera and the Canaries. "The initial plan is that the stations will be installed at Morro Velosa, Pico La Zarza and Montaña de la Muda.
The objective is to study the possibilities that this type of device offers in the capture of cloud water, and to use it in the reforestation of the areas where the stations are located, or to create feeding and watering facilities for the local fauna", explained the Counsellor for the Environment, Lázaro Cabrera. The project has a budget of 132,000€ and the work on the installation at Morro Velosa has already begun. This consists of a metal structure with a network designed to carry the water to a place where it can be accumulated.
Besides the general scientific interest in the data, the data collected from Fuerteventura, a very dry island, will be of particular interest as it will allow comparisons with the more humid islands", stated Lázaro Cabrera Previously the installations were used to carry out a geographical study, and the design was adapted for each locality to look for a better efficiency and to select the best locations. Once it is operational there will be a period of monitoring to evaluate the performance of the station. The device installed on the Pico de la Zarza will have eight capture panels, as will those at the other two locations. There will also be a unit to separate the water from any other material collected. All the units will be removable and once the installation is finally installed there function will be explained on information boards.
The project will also include stations on La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and Madeira. The idea is to produce a network of 7 collection points, three of which will be on Fuerteventura, each with a meteorological station and mist analyzer. The data gathered about the behaviour and performance of the units will provide a reference as to the value of such devices for future installations in other places, or the amplification of those being installed.
Atmospheric water has been captured in various locations around the world since 1977, and since that time new models have been developed to increase the efficiency and performance of the process. For existing station the maximum capture rate to 20 litres per square metre, confirming the technique as a continuously renewable water-obtaining alternative. The installation and normalisation of the equipment should take nine months, and a further nine months will be dedicated to the development and perfection of the systems.
One of the reasons that Fuerteventura is so dry is that mountains of less than 800m do not cause rain clouds to form. If you walk (climb?) to the Pico de la Zarza you can observe the clouds forming as the wind blows the air over the ridge. This results in some pretty rainbow effects. When driving around Jandia, where the highest peaks on the island are to be found, the scenery changes throughout the day as the clouds form and dissipate.
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