Wambo Coal AEMR 2010-2011 - Peabody Energy

2010-2011 AEMR3.0 EnvironmentalManagement andPerformance3.1 Meteorological Monitoring3.1.1 Environmental ManagementThe WCPL maintains a weather station inaccordance with the Australian Standard AS2923 –1987. The weather station is located approximately350m east of the WCPL administration building (seeFigure 3.1). The meteorological station wasapproved for relocation to its current position (seeFigure 3.1) by the OEH in December 2007. Asrequired under Schedule 4, Condition 10(a) ofDevelopment Consent DA 305-7-2003, themeteorological station records the followingparameters:temperature (at 2 m and 10 m);lapse rate;wind speed;wind direction;solar radiation;humidity; andsigma theta.Evaporation is calculated from this information, foruse in reports such as the site water balance.Meteorological information collected at the weatherstation is used on a daily basis for general miningactivities including the location of operating plantand equipment, and to minimise blasting impacts onthe neighbouring residences.3.1.2 Environmental PerformanceA malfunctioning solar radiation sensor resulted inreduced data capture rate between October 2010and February 2011. The sensor was replaced andrecalibrated in accordance with relevant AustralianStandards. Due to the malfunctioning solar radiationsensor and problematic commissioning issues withthe replacement sensor, the cumulative evaporationdata for October 2010 to February 2011 was notavailable. The evaporation data for these monthswas substituted with monthly averages from 2005 to2010. A summary of weather data recorded duringthe reporting period is provided below and inAppendix 2A.3.1.3 Rainfall and EvaporationThe monthly and cumulative rainfall and evaporationdata for the 2010-2011 reporting period is providedin Figure 3.2 below. The long term annual averagerainfall is from the Bureau of Meteorology Jerry’sPlains Post Office weather station, which hasrecorded weather data since 1884, is provided inAppendix 2A.A total of 741.0mm of rainfall was recorded atWCPL during the reporting period, of which 121.2mm was recorded in November 2010. The long-termaverage (1884 – 2010) recorded at the Jerry’sPlains Post Office weather station is 641.4 mm.Rainfall recorded during the previous reportingperiod (2009-2010) was 564.3 mm.3.1.4 TemperatureThe maximum and minimum temperatures recordedduring the 2010-2011 reporting period are shown inFigure 3.3 below. The maximum temperature of42.5 0 C was recorded in January 2011, the lowesttemperature of -5.7 0 C was recorded in July 2010.The seasonal average temperatures recordedduring the reporting period were as follows: 11.1 0 Cin winter; 17.8 0 C in spring; 24.1 0 C in summer; and17.1 0 C in autumn. These results are typical oftemperature variations in this region.3.1.5 Wind Speed and DirectionThe dominant winds recorded during the 2010-2011reporting period were from the north west and southeast directions with the strongest winds blowingfrom the NW. The maximum average wind speed of4.8 m/s was recorded in September and October2010. The mean monthly wind speed variedbetween 1.5 m/s to 2.2 m/s, with the yearly averagebeing 1.9 m/s. The annual and seasonal wind rosesfor the reporting period are shown in Figure 3.4 toFigure 3.8.Page 35