Hello, Flint,
I am just brainstorming--
1. Use radiation--
a. Very weak gamma source on one side of the tree and a Geiger counter
on the other side
b. Measure sound attenuation from one side of the tree to the other
(some distance away from it).
c. Put an ultrasound probe on the tree and measure reflection times.
2. Use immersion to get volume--
Not the whole tree. Put a cylinder around the bottom and fill it with
something. Then weigh how much stuff you put in the cylinder. Ping pong
balls
might work nicely
3. Measure bremsstrahlung radiation from the beta decay of C14 in the tree.
This might be an innovative way of measuring the mass of many objects that
contain carbon and are hard to put on a scale. For very old trees, a
correction for age might be necessary. For thick forest, you would need to
subtract
background.
IF this has never been done, and IF feasible, it might make a nice
research project.
Ernie Rogers
In a message dated 6/23/2007 10:01:58 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:09:48 -1000
From: Flint Hughes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Ficus challenges to tree diameter-biomass relationships
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Hello,
We are in search of useful feedback on how best to measure the diameter of
Ficus (F. macrocarpa, F. benjamina, and F. macrophylla) trees in order
estimate their aboveground biomass using allometric models. Does anyone
have any ideas on how to estimate Ficus biomass given the plant
morphological eccentricities (extensive aerial roots and the lack of a
solid stem trunk to wrap a diameter tape around) that this species
presents? Does anyone happen to have or know of Ficus-specific tree models?
Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to provide and I will post
a summary of any useful responses.
Best Wishes, Flint
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