Bending of Pinus jeffreyi in response to wind

Abstract

Aim of study: To evaluate the degree of trunk sway in relation to wind velocity, with varying temporal integration and to compare this relation among seasons. Area of study: Sierra de Juárez, Baja California, México Materials and Methods: Displacements of a 19 m tall Jeffrey pine tree were recorded at 6 m from a three dimensional digital compass during one year, at c. 4 Hz. Adjacent wind speed at 6 m was recorded at 1 Hz. Main results: Sway was essentially unaffected by wind in the same second but increasing dependence of cumulative displacement on average sustained wind speed was found for intervals of 1 to 60 minutes (r2 up to 0.89). The relation is generally log-linear but apparently differs in parameters between seasons. Research highlights: Wind-sway relations are clear from integration of several-to-many minutes. However, to estimate cumulative stress, sub-second data on sway are essential. Sub-second, precision measurements of sway can be registered from small, inexpensive sensors.