Dendrometers installed to reveal moisture dynamics of trees

Dendrometers measure stem radius variations at sub-micrometre resolution. These variations occur as the trees lose water during transpiration and suck up water from the soil through their roots at different times of the day in response to sunlight, temperature, soil moisture, wind and rain. State-of-the-art dual-point dendrometers from Natkon were installed. The dendrometers consist of two linear potentiometers, mounted on an 8 mm-thick carbon fibre reinforced polymer chassis to accurately measure radial variation in both the bark and sapwood of the trees. Wireless dataloggers from Decagon transmit the measurement data to an Internet of Things gateway, making the data available in real time over the internet.

This information will be used to better understand the variations in BorealScat's radar measurements.