An Iowa State University researcher studying the impact of wind turbines on Iowa crops hopes to win funding to expand on the initial work he has done. Gene Takle has already found some differences in conditions such as temperature and humidity in fields near turbines. That funding is running out in the next year.

 

Takle, a distinguished professor of agronomy and geological and atmospheric sciences, says there are many other researchers who are interested in taking part.

 

Takle says other researchers have examined satellite images of wind farms and they see a consistent pattern that at night the satellite pictures show that there is a very slight warm spot associated with each of these wind farms.  He says that warm spot is like heat islands seen on satellites near cities. Takle says there is more to learn more about why the heat island is created.