For the measurement of sap flow or transpiration in plants.
The Heat Field Deformation (HFD) technique is ideally suited to sap flow research projects that require the measurement of extended radial sap flow profiles to accurately map hydraulic architecture of trees. Similar to the HRM sap flow sensor the HFD sensor can measure high sap flow rates as well as low to zero and reverse sap flow.
Heat Field Deformation – Sap Flow Meter Features
The HFD8-50 differs from the HFD8-100 only in the length of the probe needles. HFD8-100 Measurement needles feature a 10mm spacing between sensors while the HFD8-50 Measurement probes feature a 5mm measurement point spacing, offering an improved sap flow resolution. The shorter needles of the HFD8-50 also significantly reduce the time required for installation.
Logging:
Power management:
The Heat Field Deformation (HFD) technique is a radically new method for measuring sap flow. It is ideally suited to sap flow research projects that require the measurement of extended radial sap flow profiles to accurately map hydraulic architecture of trees. Similar to the HRM sap flow sensor the HFD sensor can measure high sap flow rates as well as low to zero and reverse sap flow. Hence as both sensors can measure in the same range the HFD sensor provides an extension of the HRM method making both sensors highly complimentary to each other in most sap flow measurement applications.
Developed by Dr. Nadezda Nadezhdina, (Mendel University, Czech Republic) the HFD technique has been used in published sap flow research since 1998 to study many previously unanswered plant physiological questions.
Nadezhdina N., Ferreira M. I., Silva R., Pacheco C.A. (2008) Seasonal variation of water uptake of a Quercus suber tree in Central Portugal. Plant and Soil, 305: 105-119.
a. Sap flux rates were observed to be highest in the outer sapwood area, near the cambium, and lowest towards the heartwood.
b. Rainfall event on day three and cloud cover on day four represented by a reduction in sap flux rates, and total sapflow volumes.
c. Cumulative sap flow for one week was calculated to be 33.63L.
The HFD technique is a thermodynamic method based on measuring the dT of the sapwood both symmetrically (in the axial direction, above and below) and asymmetrically (in the tangential direction or to the side) around a line heater.
The heater is continuously heated at approx 50 mA and generates an elliptical heat field under zero flow conditions. Sap flow significantly deforms the heat field by elongating the ellipse as shown in the photo of a thermal image of a HFD measurement. The symmetrical temperature difference (dTsym) allows bi-directional (acropetal and basipetal) and very low flow measurements, whereas asymmetrical temperature difference (dTas) is primarily responsible for the magnitude of medium and high sap flow rates.
By using the ratio of measured temperature differences and applying correction for each measurement points local conditions using the adjustable K-values the common features of the medium (such as variable water content, natural temperature gradients and, wound effects) have negligible impact on sap flow calculations.
The value for parameter K is equal to the absolute value of dTs-a or dTas for a zero flow condition. Under flow conditions the parameter K can be extrapolated with accuracy using linear regression.The-ICT-International-Journey 150520
Instrument Logging |
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Resolution | 0.00001V—24-Bit |
Accuracy | 0.001V |
Minimum Logging Interval | 1 second |
Delayed Start | Suspend Logging, Customised Intervals |
Sampling Frequency | 10Hz |
Data |
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Communications | USB, Wireless Radio Frequency 2.4 GHz |
Data Storage | MicroSD Card, SD, SDHC & SDXC Compatible (FAT32 format) |
Software Compatibility | Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and Mac |
Data Compatibility | FAT32 compatible for direct exchange of SD card with any Windows PC or Mac |
Data File Format | Comma Separated Values (CSV) for compatibility with all software programs |
Memory Capacity | Up to 16GB, 8GB microSD card included. |
Operating Conditions |
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Temperature Range | -40°C to +80°C |
R/H Range | 0-100% |
Dual Firmware | User Upgradeable firmware using USB boot strap loader function |
Dimensions |
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Length x Width x Depth | 340 x 84 x 35 mm |
Weight | 915g (Including mounting brackets) |
POWER |
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Internal Battery Specifications | |
4.8Ah Lithium Polymer, 4.20 Volts fully charged | |
External Power Requirements | |
Bus Power | 8-30 Volts DC, non-polarised, current draw is 340mA maximum at 17 volts per logger |
USB Power | 5 Volts DC |
Internal Charge Rate | |
Bus Power | 60mA – 700mA Variable internal charge rate, maximum charge rate of 700mA active when the external voltage rises above 16 Volts DC |
USB Power | 100mA fixed charge rate |
Internal Power Management | |
Fully Charged Battery | 4.20 Volts |
Low Power Mode | 3.60 Volts – Instrument ceases to take measurements |
Discharged Battery | 2.90 Volts – Instrument automatically switches off at and below this voltage when no external power connected. |
Battery Life varies | |
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David, T. S., David, J. S., Pinto, C. A., Cermak, J., Nadezhdin, V., & Nadezhdina, N. (2012). Hydraulic connectivity from roots to branches depicted through sap flow: Analysis on a Quercus suber tree. Functional Plant Biology, 39(2), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP11185
Eliades, M., Bruggeman, A., Djuma, H., and Lubczynski, M. W. (2018). Tree Water Dynamics in a Semi-Arid, Pinus brutia Forest. Water, 10(8), 1039. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10081039
Eliades, M., Bruggeman, A., Lubczynski, M. W., Christou, A., Camera, C., Djuma, H. (2017). The water balance components of Mediterranean pine trees on a steep mountain slope during two hydrologically contrasting years. Journal of Hydrology, 562, 712–724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.05.048
Guyot, A., Ostergaard, K. T., Fan, J., Santini, N. S., & Lockington, D. A. (2015). Xylem hydraulic properties in subtropical coniferous trees influence radial patterns of sap flow: Implications for whole tree transpiration estimates using sap flow sensors. Trees, 29(4), 961–972. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1144-5
Nadezhdina, N., Vandegehuchte, M. W., & Steppe, K. (2012). Sap flux density measurements based on the heat field deformation method. Trees, 26(5), 1439–1448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0718-3
Van de Wal, B. A., Guyot, A., Lovelock, C. E., Lockington, D. A., & Steppe, K. (2015). Influence of temporospatial variation in sap flux density on estimates of whole-tree water use in Avicennia marina. Trees, 29(1), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1105-z
Link, R. M., Fuchs, S., Arias Aguilar, D., Leuschner, C., Castillo Ugalde, M., Valverde Otarola, J. C., & Schuldt, B. (2020). Tree height predicts the shape of radial sap flow profiles of Costa-Rican tropical dry forest tree species. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 287, 107913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.107913