Fieldwork Report - Microclimates

Introduction
In this report I will analyze the data that was collected both in grassland and a close
wood and determine if there is a microclimate present by comparing the data. To be able to
do this I must define a microclimate as a local zone wherein the climate differs from the
surrounding area. Different data (soil temperature, air temperature at ground level, air
temperature 1 meter above ground level, light intensity, relative humidity, wind speed and
vegetation type) was collected and compared in two different areas (wood and grassland) to
determine if a possible microclimates eist. This will be considered the aim of the
research.
Hypothesis
The microclimate in woodland will differ to that found in open grassland.
The soil temperature in the woodland will be much smaller to that of the grassland due to
the fact that there is less light intensity resulting form vegetation.
!oth air temperatures will be smaller in the woodland due to the abundance of vegetation
than to the grassland.
There will be an larger amount of light intensity in the grassland due to the lac" of shade in
comparison to the woodland.
The relative humidity in the woodland will be greater than in the grassland due to the lac"
of light intensity (reduces evaporation).
There will be an lower wind speed in the woodland than in the grassland due to the
interference caused by the trees on the wind.
Method of data collection
The data will be collected through a transect that covers both the woodland and the
grassland in intervals of 1# meters in a straight line. $o that a more accurate set of results is
collected and outward and an inward covering of the transect will be performed and the
results with be averaged. There will be a division of tas"s in order to perform the collection
of data faster and intervals will be mar"ed to maintain a common transect both of the times
that it is covered. %t each point of the transect anomalies should be recorded.
1
$oil temperature&
'lace the measuring end of the soil thermometer into the soil.
(ait of 1 minute measured with a stopwatch.
)easure the reading of the soil thermometer.
*ecord results.
*epeat the procedure of each given chec"point along the transect.
%ir temperature (ground level)&
'lace the specified end of the digital logging at ground level.
(ait of 1 minute measured with a stopwatch.
)easure the reading of air temperature the soil thermometer.
*ecord results.
*epeat the procedure of each given chec"point along the transect.
%ir temperature (1 meter above ground level)&
'lace the specific end to measure temperature at 1 meter above ground level.
(ait of 1 minute measured with a stopwatch.
)easure the reading of air temperature from the soil thermometer.
*ecord results.
*epeat the procedure of each given chec"point along the transect.
+ight intensity&
'lace the light meter at 1 meter above ground level.
(ait of 1 minute measured with a stopwatch.
)easure the light intensity from the light meter.
*ecord results.
*epeat the procedure of each given chec"point along the transect.
*elative humidity&
'lace the measuring end of the soil thermometer into the soil.
(ait of 1 minute measured with a stopwatch.
)easure the reading of relative humidity from the data logging unit.
*ecord results.
*epeat the procedure of each given chec"point along the transect.
(ind speed&
,old the digital anemometer 1 meter above ground level.
(ait of 1 minute measured with a stopwatch.
)easure the reading of wind speed from the digital anemometer.
*ecord results.
-
*epeat the procedure of each given chec"point along the transect.
Data Collection:
Note: Readings were measured both for the inward and outward covering of the transect,
but only the average will be shown.
Vegetation type: W = woodland, = grassland
%verage readings&
$ample
point
Distance
from
start (m)
$oil
temperature
(./)
%ir
temperature
(ground
level, ./)
%ir
temperature
(1 meter,
./)
+ight
intensity
(+u)
*elative
,umidity
(0)
(ind
speed
(m1s)
2egetation
type
1 # --,33 -4,3# -5,5# 6,36 15,5# #,63 (
- 1# -1,43 -5,3# -5,4# 6,#4 1#,7# #,13 (
6 -# -1,53 -5,-# -4,5# 7,-8 17,1# #,-3 (
9 6# -1,3# -4,3# -8,4# 7,98 1#,6# #,8# (
3 9# -1,83 -8,4# -8,6# 3,76 -1,5# 1,9# (
7 3# -1,3# -8,6# -8,3# 9,56 -3,-# 1,13 (
8 7# -1,6# -8,6# -8,43 9,64 -6,93 1,1# (
4 8# -1,33 -8,63 -8,13 7,1- -6,33 1,-3 (
5 4# -1,33 -8,63 -8,9# 3,1- -3,#3 1,83 (
1# 5# -1,53 -8,63 -8,9# 6,67 -7,1# 1,93 (
11 1## --,33 -8,63 -8,## 6,9- -7,5# -,3# (
1- 11# -3,#3 -7,43 -7,5# 9,86 -4,-# -,#3 :
16 1-# -8,-3 -7,5# -7,43 6,-1 -8,83 -,1# :
19 16# -4,5# -7,5# -8,## 19,-1 -#,13 9,## :
13 19# -5,-# -8,-# -4,-# 35,93 -9,#3 1,43 :
17 13# -4,#3 6#,33 6#,4# 34,6# -3,4# 1,83 :
18 17# -4,93 61,43 -5,83 37,63 -3,5# -,-3 :
14 18# -8,53 61,53 63,6# 37,53 -3,-3 -,63 :
15 14# -7,3# 6-,9# 6-,93 7#,-3 -9,4# 1,83 :
-# 15# -7,53 66,13 6-,6# 7#,4# -8,6# 1,9# :
-1 -## -8,6# 66,93 66,83 7#,7# -7,43 1,63 :
6
Data Presentation and analysis
Soil temperature throughout transect
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
7
0
8
0
9
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
3
0
1
4
0
1
5
0
1
6
0
1
7
0
1
8
0
1
9
0
2
0
0
Distance (m)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
e

(

C
)
There is an increase in soil temperature beginning at the distance of 1## m, that is when
entering the grassland. This is due to the reduction of light intensity due to the high amount
of vegetation in the woodland. It is hard for sunlight to reach the ground and therefore
increase the temperature of the soil.
Air temperature (ground level) thorughout transect
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
7
0
8
0
9
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
3
0
1
4
0
1
5
0
1
6
0
1
7
0
1
8
0
1
9
0
2
0
0
Distamce (m)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

(

C
)
The temperature of the ground level remains constant until half way through after entering
the grassland (13# m of distance) where it increases. This is because the 3# m of grassland
9
that were supposed to have a higher temperature that of the woodland were covered in
shadow. %fter this the ground temperature increased due to the influence of sunlight on
temperature.
Air temperature (1meter above ground level)
throughout transect
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0
2
0
4
0
6
0
8
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
1
4
0
1
6
0
1
8
0
2
0
0
Distance (m)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

(

C
)
In this case there is also a rather constant air temperature until reaching half way
into the grassland, again resulting from the shadow cast by the forest. %fter this the
temperature increases due to heating up of sunlight on air.
Light intensity throughout transect
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0
2
0
4
0
6
0
8
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
1
4
0
1
6
0
1
8
0
2
0
0
Distance (m)
L
i
g
h
t

i
n
t
e
n
s
i
t
y

(
L
u
x
)
The light intensity of the forest is low do to shade caused by tress, but when entering the
grassland it remains low due to the shadow cast by the woodland. %round 16# meters from
the starting point there is a dramatic increase in light intensity due to the fact that the
reading was ta"en out of the presence of the shadow cast by the woodland.
3
elative humidity throughout transect
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0
2
0
4
0
6
0
8
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
1
4
0
1
6
0
1
8
0
2
0
0
Distance (m)

e
l
a
t
i
v
e

h
u
m
i
d
i
t
y

(
!
)
During the first 3# meters there was al relative low humidity because there was an opening
in the woodland causing evaporation to occur. +ater the humidity increased due to the lac"
of evaporation. The humidity was intended to have fallen in the grassland, but it remains
rather constant due to the fact that there was a water source close by.
"ind speed throughout transect
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5
3
3,5
4
4,5
0
2
0
4
0
6
0
8
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
1
4
0
1
6
0
1
8
0
2
0
0
Distance (m)
"
i
n
d

s
p
e
e
d

(
m
#
s
)
It was relatively low in the woodland due to the fact that the trees would interfere with the
wind and reduce its speed. Despite fluctuating constantly there is a clear increase in wind
speed in the grassland than in the woodland.
7
Conclusion and Ealuation:
%ccording to my results I can state that there is a clear difference in between both
the woodland and the grassland and therefore I can conclude that they are both
microclimates different from each other. This is reflected throughout most of the graphs
representing the data collected. The graphs reflect that in most cases there was a change in
the data collected after eiting the woodland and entering the grassland therefore proving
the eistence of two different microclimates. It is evident that there can be some eceptions
to this, but this is due to other factors such as an opening in the woodland and a source of
water in the grassland.
Improements:
To measure data simultaneously so that the sun does not shift during the day and alter
results.
To collect data a larger number of times in order to obtain more accurate averages.
To use a transect that does not have many eternal factors affecting the differences in
between their microclimates.
To measure data carefully and more constantly.
To use far more precise instrument to obtain data.
To go through different transects to determine if they are microclimates or if it is only an
anomaly of the area around the transect.
!ources of error:
Insufficient data collected giving a higher eperimental error.
Incorrect use of measuring instruments.
Incorrect reading of data.
Detours form established transect.
Transect chosen with many eternal factors affecting it could lead to a change in results
complicating future conclusions.
)easuring data at different times of the day.
)easuring data at different weather conditions.
8