ESTIMATION OF TREE HEIGHT

Post date: Jul 27, 2013 5:43:26 PM

ESTIMATION OF TREE HEIGHT: RIGHT TRIANGLE TRIGONOMETRY

Scientists studying a forest ecosystem over a long period of time may record measurements of trees for a number of variables, including each tree's diameter at breast height, height of the lowest living branch, canopy cover, etc. One aspect of a tree's growth that can be hard to measure is tree height. Forest researchers sometimes use a piece of equipment consisting of telescoping components, which are extended until the tip reaches the same height as the tree top (this requires a second researcher standing at a distance from the tree to determine when the tip is at the correct height). This method can be cumbersome, as the equipment is bulky and the measurements require two people.

http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/bealsmodules/triangle.html