Previous research by K. James on measuring the root plate tilt has shown that trees do experience a large range of root plate tilt. It is obvious that the tilt of a tree must correlate somehow with the wind speed. But how can the correlation be found with the lowest possible effort?

The forest research of Sophie E. Hale et al found a good correlations between turning moment and wind speed by mounting cup anemometers “at or near the top of the canopy” and strain gauges at the base of the tree. Does this approach work for root plate tilt too?

How can we avoid installing anemometers above the top of the tree?

The simple solution is to use the wind data of the local weather station. The measurements have been taken on a number of trees in the city of Rostock, Germany.

The talk shows how the wind related root plate tilt correlates with the wind speed data of the weather station in low and high winds.

In particular these topics will be discussed:

-       Which mathematical functions can be used to describe the correlation between wind speed and root plate tilt?

-       Repeatability of the measurements.

-       Deciduous tree in winter and summer: the impact of the foliation on the wind sway motion.

-       The impact of the trees peripherals such as other trees or buildings.

-       The impact of decay in the trunk on root plate tilt

-       Does tilt data of low wind speed events allow predictions of the root plate tilt of higher wind speeds?