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Sap flux density measurements based on the heat field deformation method

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Abstract

Accurate measurements of whole tree water use are needed in many scientific disciplines such as hydrology, ecophysiology, ecology, forestry, agronomy and climatology. Several techniques based on heat dissipation have been developed for this purpose. One of the latest developed techniques is the heat field deformation (HFD) method, which relies on continuous heating and the combination of a symmetrical and an asymmetrical temperature measurement. However, thus far the development of this method has not been fully described in the scientific literature. An understanding of its underlying principles is nevertheless essential to fully exploit the potential of this method as well as to better understand the results. This paper therefore structures the existing, but dispersed, data on the HFD method and explains its evolution from an initial ratio of temperature differences proportional to vapor pressure deficit to a fully operational and practically applicable sap flux density measurement system. It stresses the importance of HFD as a method that is capable of measuring low, high and reverse flows without necessitating zero flow conditions and on several sapwood depths to establish a radial profile. The combination of these features has not been included yet in other heat-based sap flow measurement systems, making the HFD method unique of its kind.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) for the PhD funding granted to MWV and the Flemish Government, Department of Education and Training and the Czech Republic Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport for the scholarship granted to MWV for his research stay in Brno, Czech Republic. The work was partially supported by Czech projects MSM 6215648902 and IGA LDF 12/2010. The authors also wish to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Furthermore, the authors acknowledge the overall technical support of Nadyezhdin Valeriy as manufacturer of the first multi-point sensors developed by Jan Cermak.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forest Ecology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Zemedelska 3, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic

    Nadezhda Nadezhdina

  2. Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Maurits W. Vandegehuchte & Kathy Steppe

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  1. Nadezhda Nadezhdina
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  2. Maurits W. Vandegehuchte
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  3. Kathy Steppe
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Correspondence to Maurits W. Vandegehuchte.

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Communicated by M. Adams.

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Nadezhdina, N., Vandegehuchte, M.W. & Steppe, K. Sap flux density measurements based on the heat field deformation method. Trees 26, 1439–1448 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0718-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0718-3

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