What We Do

Site specific, scientific information is crucial for assessing frost protection  viability and  requirements of new and existing horticultural developments. 

Microclimate New Zealand Ltd deploys scientific equipment around a property to continuously measure temperature, inversion strengths, wind speed and direction. These parameters are an integral part of the nocturnal climate and each plays a specific role in governing the pattern and severity of frost.

Microclimate's equipment is located carefully as the equipment density must ensure nothing is left open to interpretation or assumption. The data set will represent the nocturnal climate of the site and must include a number of strong radiative cooling episodes, charcterised by clear, settled weather. The equipment is deployed long enough to collect sufficient data which typically is anywhere from 2 – 5 weeks.  Data collection can commence at any time of the year.

During data analysis nocturnal temperatures in the horizontal plane are compared to a control point and the deviation is illustrated as a Micromap™. This indicates areas of a property that are relatively warmer or cooler than the control point. Inversion characteristics are closely analysed together with katabatic drift speeds and directions and these results are used to provide recommendations for on site frost management and protection. 

The data collection, analysis and interpretation processes are presented in report format.

Ongoing data for the 'self' analysis of frost severity and incidence is best established by installing a weather station with frost alarm at, or near, the control point determined by Microclimate.