The Inkomati Catchment Management Agency installed an automated rainfall gauge at Treeferns Trout Lodge, Vlakfontein to support their real time river operations  of the Inkomati Catchment Area. Rainfall and temperature data are transmitted daily to the receiver.

Treeferns rainfall gauging station is one of 15 rainfall stations installed in the Inkomati catchment. The Inkomati catchments Management Agency (ICMA) is the first of a total of 19 Catchment Management Agencies to be formed by the government of South Africa. The Agency was formed in order to be responsible for the protection, conservation, development and management of the water resources in South Africa at the Inkomati water management area (WMA) level.

The ICMA is currently a client for the UNESCO-IHE and Water research commission co-funded projects that aim to implement an improved system for the ICMA, improve the hydrological understating of the catchment. However the accuracy of the system relies on sufficient data in real time of which rainfall is a key aspect, as the accurate representation of rainfall data is paramount in obtaining accurate close real-to-time runoff forecasts from hydrological models. Rainfall is the primary entity behind river runoff and its spatial and temporal variability is a significant source of uncertainty for water resource modeling.

The rainfall at the gauging station is measured permanently by iMETOS® rain, and is powered by rechargeable batteries and a solar panel which makes the unit autonomous. iMETOS® rain only needs a valid GPRS contract with sufficient good GSM coverage in the area. The data from the station is sent to the internet at a user defined times several times per day.

Regards,

Sipho D. Magagula Cand. Sci.Nat.
Hydrologist: Water Resources Planning & Programmes:
Inkomati Catchment Management Agency

P/Bag X11214, Nelspruit, 1200
Floor 3, Caltex Bldg, 32 Bell Street, Nelspruit, 1200

Tel: +27 13 753 9027
Fax: +27 13 753 2786
Mobile: +27 72 810 5928
Email: magagulas@inkomaticma.co.za
Web: www.inkomaticma.co.za

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Info on  the weather is necessary to plan your break-away and/or fly fishing trip. Therefore we have decided to report weekly on the weather conditions at Treeferns.  Changes in wind, temperature, air pressure, rain , etc. invariably influences one’s weekend plans. Of these air pressure is perhaps the more important to forecast the weather.

A barometer measures air pressure in kilo pascals(kpa), and therefore can tell a lot about the weather. When the air pressure is high, the air is dense and tends to drop and warm up preventing clouds to form. Therefore high pressure usually accompanies clear skies. On the other hand, low pressure causes moist air to cool off and form clouds with a possibility of rain. When the  barometric reading is high i.e. 800 kpa and higher, the weather is conducive to trout taking the fly. If it drops lower than 800 kpa the fish are less likely to feed and therefore take the fly. It is believed that a change in air pressure causes more or less pressure upon the surface of the water which the fish feels through the swimming bladder affecting their feeding patterns.

Weather Report for the week ending :   10 November 2011, 17h00 daily.



On Christmas day 2009 we uncharacteristically experience our own white Christmas at Treeferns Trout Lodge.

In the late afternoon a thunderstorm built up, and after a few big raindrops the clatter on the roof signified something more ominous than ordinary raindrops – what else than hail. All of a sudden havoc broke loose, and hail stones of  5 – 10 mm came down with brut

e force. Soon the grass was covered with a layer of pure white like snow.

Hail is a sudden downpour or precipitation of solid balls or lumps of ice, normally measuring between 5 and 150 mm. With most thunderstorms there is a chance of hail, and when it occurs it mostly lasts for 5 – 10 minutes.

Fortunately no damage was suffered, and guests experienced  a wonderful white Christmas, as can be seen on the slide show :

The most spectacular night skies can be observed at Treeferns because of its altitude and clear atmosphere.  As the phase of the moon has an effect on the behaviour of trout, a frequently asked question is what the current phase of the moon is. Furthermore, stargazing is highly dependant on the moon phase ; the stars are much more brilliant and visible with a dark moon.

PHASES OF THE MOON  2011

I was fortunate to observe the rising full moon on 6 August 2009, and took these pictures :

The Eastern Escarpment, with Dullstroom most centrally situated, boasts the most impressive cloud formations.

Blue skies and white clouds at Treeferns.

Clouds are one of the most fascinating phenomena of God’s Creation.  What are clouds really ?

From ground level, a cloud is visible to the eye as a compressed mass of droplets or even frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface. The droplets are formed by the evaporation of moisture from the ground condensing  in the air. When billions of droplets gather together or surround each other, the become visible as clouds. Clouds reflect sunrays and thus appear white from the top. Depending on the  radiation of sun light they also become gray or even black as in thunder clouds. During sunrise and sunset clouds are illuminated by so-called  non-white light and therefore reflect the most beautiful colours.

Clouds are classified into four main types : cumulus, stratus, cirrus, and nimbus, the most familiar one being the cumulus or thunder clouds also called vertical clouds. The specific type depends on the height of the cloud, viz. high-level, mid-level, low-level.

Mostly clouds are accompanied by precipitation, i.e. rain, snow, hail,  or sleet depending on weather conditions like air pressure, wind, temperature, etc.

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Wait a short while for slide show.

Frost mostly occurs in autumn and winter in below freezing conditions. It is normally observed as ice crystals on grass, leaves and wood. It forms when  humidity is high and dew freezes in air temperatures  below freezing point. Frost forms typically under cold and light windy conditions. Wind mixes the air above the surface with air on the surface. Therefore areas with little or no slope tend to receive more frost than adjacent higher slopes. Obstructions like trees, buildings, etc. reduce the severity of frost. In higher areas such as the Eastern Escarpment, where Vlakfontein is situated, frost is mostly more severe than in lower places, and sometimes it is so heavy that it resembles snow. These pictures were taken between 06h00 and 07h00 on Thursday, 2 July 2009.

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(Wait a few seconds for slide show.)

We are priviledged to frequently experience the most colourful sunrises and sunsets at Vlakfontein, housing Treeferns Trout Lodge. In particular sunrises give credit to the name Mpumalanga, which means ” the place where the sun rises”. What can be more fascinating than a welcome to the new day  by nature’s most colourful show imaginable. The intense red and orange hues at sunrise and sunset are mainly caused by scatterings of sunlight by dust and soot particles, and other solid and liquid gasses in the atmosphere.  Sunset colours are typically more brilliant and more intense than at sunrise, since in the evening  there are generally more dust and smoke in the air than in the mornings. Photographers all over the world are captivated by this  remarkable phenomenon, and the most spectacular pictures are seen almost everyday.  Sunrise is Creation’s gift to the early risers, and mostly lasts for only a few minutes, so  running for your camera might be a little too late. Even sunset surprises one much too often. So, if you want to capture the day at its most beautiful, be prepared. I carry my Sony Cybershot with me all the time, and it is worth it.

Here are scenes from consecutive days.

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See also “Rainbow Colours” under “Climate”

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We are truly living in a colourful country and Mpumalanga province, and more specifically Treeferns Trout Lodge is no exception :

rainbow nation                  rainbow trout                 rainbow skies

“How appropriate ! “

Taking the lead from this colourful display, every new day explodes in a kaleidoscope of colours

with the rising sun —-

throughout the day —-

to the last colourfull rays of the setting sun—-

reflecting back on clouds in the eastern skies—-

and the spellbound shadows of full moon on some “enchanted evening” —-

” what a wonderful (colourful) world ! “

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Fog and mist occur frequently on the higher regions of the Eastern Escarpment. Normally if the eastern wind starts blowing in the late afternoon, it carries moisture inland from the Indian Ocean. When the moisture is sufficient, it cools to a temperature where condensation takes place. It then resembles a cloud very close to or on the ground. When it is thick, visibility is very poor and it becomes hazardous to traffic, and hiking alike.

Mist is more common in valleys, along streams and rivers, and occurs more often at night, but can last all day.  When the temperature rises or the wind starts blowing, the mist will rise to a higher level and move away.

As trout favour cool temperatures, misty conditions are ideal for trout fishing. People also seem to like a cool misty weather in front of the fire with a glass of red.