Chardon Report III: Model Pollen Transport Wind

The report introduces a Cellular Automation (CA) model that simulates pollen movement using a rectangular lattice to track how wind velocity and deposition probabilities affect the spread of pollen. By comparing simulations with observed data for grasses and maize, the authors found that the model can reproduce general deposition patterns. A key finding is the inherent 'patchiness' of pollen deposits, which suggests that fixed separation distances may be insufficient to prevent cross-contamination, particularly for GM maize in the UK, as pollen can travel significant distances via high-altitude currents.

• The Cellular Automation (CA) model simulates pollen transport by tracking pollen created in a source field as it moves across a rectangular lattice, where its movement and deposition are determined probabilistically based on wind velocity and a deposition probability (Ps).
• The model successfully reproduced the general behavior of relative pollen deposition distances observed in seven species of grasses and the relative amounts of maize hybridisation relative to distance from a source field.
• Experimental data indicates that pollen can persist at large distances even against prevailing winds, with outcrossing percentages in maize between 80 m and 160 m reaching as high as 0.79%, which is near the 1 percent contamination limit for GM maize trials in the United Kingdom.
• Pollen deposition is characterized by 'patchiness,' meaning that even in calm conditions or at great distances, isolated areas of high pollen concentration can occur, making it difficult to establish a reliable fixed distance to prevent cross-pollination.

APA

Novotny, E., & Perdang, J. (2002). Chardon Report III: Model Pollen Transport Wind. Scientists for Global Responsibility. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/chardon-report-iii-model-pollen-transport-wind

Chicago

Novotny, Eva, and Jean Perdang. Chardon Report III: Model Pollen Transport Wind. Scientists for Global Responsibility, 2002. https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/chardon-report-iii-model-pollen-transport-wind.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Novotny |first1=Eva |last2=Perdang |first2=Jean |title=Chardon Report III: Model Pollen Transport Wind |publisher=Scientists for Global Responsibility |date=May 2002 |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/chardon-report-iii-model-pollen-transport-wind |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{novotny2002chardon, author = {Novotny, Eva and Perdang, Jean}, title = {{Chardon Report III: Model Pollen Transport Wind}}, institution = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, year = {2002}, month = may, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/chardon-report-iii-model-pollen-transport-wind}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }