Scribd
Upload
3K views6 pages

Study of Instruments Used To Measure Microclimatic Variables

This document summarizes several instruments used to measure microclimatic variables: 1. Soil thermometers measure soil temperature at various depths using mercury-glass or protected thermometers. 2. Maximum/minimum thermometers record the highest and lowest temperatures using a glass U-tube with mercury. 3. Anemometers measure wind speed using a revolving cup design or simple handheld versions. 4. Psychrometers/hygrometers measure humidity using a wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometer. 5. Rain gauges collect rainfall in a tube surrounded by a larger collector to measure amounts to 0.01 inches. 6. Lux meters measure light intensity in units of lux using a

Uploaded by

H2o
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3K views6 pages

Study of Instruments Used To Measure Microclimatic Variables

This document summarizes several instruments used to measure microclimatic variables: 1. Soil thermometers measure soil temperature at various depths using mercury-glass or protected thermometers. 2. Maximum/minimum thermometers record the highest and lowest temperatures using a glass U-tube with mercury. 3. Anemometers measure wind speed using a revolving cup design or simple handheld versions. 4. Psychrometers/hygrometers measure humidity using a wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometer. 5. Rain gauges collect rainfall in a tube surrounded by a larger collector to measure amounts to 0.01 inches. 6. Lux meters measure light intensity in units of lux using a

Uploaded by

H2o
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Study of instruments used to measure microclimatic variables

Soil Thermometer

(*Please draw these diagrams on your practical copy.)


A soil thermometer used to measure the temperature of the soil.
Two forms of the mercury-in-glass thermometer are used for this purpose. For measurement
at small depths, a thermometer with a right-angle bend in the stem is used. The bulb is
inserted into a hole in the ground with the stem lying along the surface.
A thermometer that has been fused into an outer protecting glass shield is used for
measurement at greater depths. Wax is inserted between the bulb and the shield to increase
the time constant.
To obtain a measurement, the instrument is lowered into a steel tube that has been driven into
the soil to the desired depth.
Maximum and Minimum Thermometer

(*Please draw this diagram on your practical copy.)


Maximum and minimum thermometer is a U-shaped parallel tube made up of glass. One side
registered the maximum temperature and the other side records the minimum temperature.
The bend at the bottom of the thermometer contains mercury which moves up or down based
on the expansion and contraction of the alcohol.
When the temperature rises, the alcohol expands and pushed the mercury up the maximum
column. This also pushed the mercury down in the minimum column.
Similarly, when the temperature falls, the alcohol contracts and pulls the mercury up in the
minimum column resulting in a fall of mercury in the maximum column.
The steel indexes are located on the surface of mercury. They move along with the flow of
mercury up and down. When the temperature reaches its maximum and minimum limits, the
metal indexes remain at that place. This helps in recording the maximum and minimum
temperatures of the day.
Anemometer

(*Please draw this diagram on your practical copy.)


Anemometer is used for measuring wind movement. The standard weather-bureau
anemometer is most practical for field work. However, the simple form of hand anemometer
is also used in ascertaining the effects of cover.
The standard anemometer is practically a self-recording instrument. It is securely fastened by
means of a thumbscrew to a stake driven vertically into the ground. Readings are generally
taken with the revolving cups at the general level of the vegetation. Care should be taken that
their movement is not retarded by contact with the growing plants.
In case of low growing vegetation, a pit is dug for the stem of the anemometer so that the cups
may be at the height of growing plants. For comparative readings, two or more instruments
should be operated at different heights.
Wind movement is measure by taking two anemometers and operates them at different levels
in various plant communities during a period of one or more days. The wind movements at the
same level in different plant communities are also compare.
Psychrometer/hygrometer

(*Please draw this diagram on your practical copy.)


A psychrometer is actually a rather simple type of hygrometer, an instrument that is used to
measure the amount of humidity that is present in the atmosphere through the use of two
thermometers.
1. a dry bulb thermometer, is used to measure the temperature by being exposed to the air.
2. a wet bulb thermometer, measures temperature by having the bulb dipped in a liquid.
Through the comparison of both temperatures, individuals determine the relative humidity of
the surrounding area by calculating the difference between the temperatures.
Rain Gauge

(*Please draw this diagram on your practical copy.)


Rainfall is measured by means of rain gauge, an instrument which collect the rain falling upon
a large surface in a narrow vessel.
In the standard gauge, the ratio of surface between receiver and tube is 10:1.
A direct measure of the water in the tube must be divided by 10 to give the rainfall, or a
standard measuring rod, upon which this compensation is already made, may be used.
The purpose of the smaller, inner tube is to increase the depth of the water and permit of more
accurate reading. Reading may be made to 0.01 inch.
After a heavy rainfall, when the water from the inner tube has overflowed into the outer one,
first the inner tube is read, emptied, and then the water from the outer one poured into it and
the amount is recorded.
Lux meter

(*Please draw this diagram on your practical copy.)


Lux meter is an equipment that measures the brightness of falling on an object at a particular
area. In other words, it properly gauges the intensity at which brightness appears to the human
eye.
Lux can be simply defined as a unit of measurement of illuminance or more accurately,
brightness. It derives its name from the candela, which is the standard unit of measurement for
the power of light.
There are many benefits of using lux meters.
Firstly, they provide a qualified measurement of the amount of light available without which
we are simply guessing.
Secondly, with a lux meter, we can clearly see and compare the impacts of different lighting
conditions.
A lux meter works by making use of a photo cell to capture light. It then converts this light to
an electrical current stream, and after measuring this current, allows the device to calculate the
lux value of the light it has captured. Furthermore, a lux meter makes it easier to plan new
camera deployments.
To properly operate a lux meter, it has to be taken to the proper camera site and check the
light reading.

You might also like