Clinometer

Clinometer (forestry) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation, search A clinometer employ in forestry The clinometer, known in m each cave inle as an inclinometer, is a common tool apply in forestry to broadsheet slope, vertical moves, and in combination with dis bronzece mensurations acme change or steer upper sides. How it works A forester using a clinometer makes affair of basic trigonometry. First the reviewer measures a straight-line distance D from some observation compass point O to the object. Then, using the clinometer, the percipient measures the discountt a between O and the top of the object.Then the observer does the same for the angle b between O and the bottom of the object. Multiplying D by the burn of a gives the heyday of the object above the observer, and by the tangent of b the depth of the object below the observer. Adding the two of course gives the total stature (H) of the object, in the same units as D. 1 Note that since multiplication is distri exactlyive it is evenly valid to add the tangents of the angles and thence multiply them by D A = tan a B = tan b H = (A ? D) + (B ? D) = (A + B) ? D Note withal that both angles should be positive numbers (i. . send packing any minus sign on the clinometers scale). Units of measure There ar typically three distinguishable units of measure that derriere be pronounced on a clinometer degrees, sh be, and topo. When buying a clinometer it is substantial to make sure it is calibrated to units suitable for the intended use.Tree height measurement Tree height measurement The forester stands at a frozen distance from the base of the tree. The most common distances in the United States be 50feet (15. 24 m), 66feet (20. 12 m), and 100feet (30. 48 m). 2 To pose accurate yarns it is best to use taped measured distance preferably of paced distances. For the most accurate readings it is best to use a distance that is not less(prenominal) than the height of t he tree being measured. 3, that is, that the clinometer go away measure an angle less than 45 (100%). The observer sights to the top of tree, if total height is the desired measurement. If the desired measurement is merchantable height that is, the height p poleucing quality that sack up be sold the observer sights to a point on the tree above which no more merchantable timber is found.The observer then measures to the bottom of the tree, takes the tangents and multiples them by the distance, and adds the two figures together. This will be the height of the tree. The observer must always measure a leaning tree so that the tree is leaning to the left or right. Measurements should never be taken with the tree leaning toward or away from the observer because this will affect their accuracy because of foreshortening. Slope measurement Measuring slope with a clinometerThe clinometer is also commonly utilize by foresters to obtain the percent slope of terrain. This measurement is g round on the same trigonometric principles expound above. Slope measurements, however, require that both observer and target be a constant height above the ground thus a clip pole or height of measurement (HI) stick is often used in slope measurements. The Clinometer The clinometer is an optical device for bill breeding angles above horizontal. The most common instruments of this type currently used atomic number 18 compass-clinometers from Suunto or Silva.Compass clinometers are fundamentally just magnetic compasses held with their cream stumble vertical so that a flump or its equivalent can point to the elevation of the sight line. A better clinometer (I believe) is the Abney hand smell level or clinometer, where the object sighted and the level peach can be seen simultaneously, so that the index can be congeal accurately. An Abney clinometer is shown in the photograph. A spirit level is so-called because it contains alcoholic beverage in a tube of large radius, in whic h the bubble moves to the highest point.Spirit levels are used for accurate surveying, although automatic levels that go back to the principle of the plummet are now frequently found, and are easy to use. The Abney clinometer has a perceive tube with an angle scale reading from -90 to +90, and a spirit level with a Vernier index that can be moved along the scale while the user looks through the sighting tube. A small mirror and lens makes the level bubble discernible in the field of view. When the object is aligned with the crosshair in the sighting tube, the spirit level is rotated so that the bubble is bisected by the crosshair, as illustrated in the diagram.Then, the elevation of the line of sight can be read off on the scale. The Vernier can be read to 10, but it requires a magnifier to do this. The clinometer can read easily and accurately angles of elevation that would be very difficult to measure in any other simple and inexpensive way. A fairly common use of a clinometer i s to measure the height of trees, which is easily done. A point should be marked with a stake as far from the nubble of the trunk of the tree as its estimated height, so that the elevation angle is astir(predicate) 45, which gives the best geometry. This distance D is measured with a tape. The observer then stands over the stake and sights the top of the tree, finding its elevation angle ?. The height H of the tree is then H = D tan ? + HI, where HI, the height of instrument, is the height of the observers eye. All this is illustrated in the diagram. A useful paraphernalia is a levelling rod, which can be home-made at little expense. Since the clinometer has no powerful telescope, the reading of the rod must be evident from a distance if you use it as a self-reading rod.Alternatively, if you have a rodperson, she can stand by the rod and move a finger or other marker up and down in response to your signals, then measure the distance with a tape. A self-reading rod can be made fro m a 1 x 4 x 10 choice pine board available at Home Depot. A bold pattern that can be estimated to a few centimetres can then be applied by stencil and matte bare spray paint. Two examples are shown at the right. Colors can also be used to make distinctions. The determination of the difference in elevation of two points is called levelling, and can be carried out with the clinometer set at 0.The place where you stand with the level is called a turning point, TP. Your rodperson holds the rod on the first point, and you make a backsight, BS, by reading the rod. The reading is the HI above the first point. Now the rod is held on the game point, and a foresight, FS, is taken. Foresights and backsights should be roughly equal in distance. The difference in elevation of the two points is BS FS. This procedure is illustrated at the left. If both points cannot conveniently be viewed from one TP, a chain of turning points is used, with an intermediate elevation between each one.The differe nce in elevation is the sum of the backsights less the sum of the foresights. If the sights are short, such as those that are practical with the clinometer, the bender of the earth will be taken into account automatically. Clinometer Clinometers are measuring devices that may be used in several different professions. Also known as an inclinometer, the essential function of the device is to settle accurate measurements as they partake to sloping, height and distance.The clinometer is often used in the profession of meteorology, as well as in forestry and surveying. virtuoso of the most common applications of the clinometer has to do with measuring angles as they relate to the slope of natural formations or buildings and other human construction projects. The supposition is to measure the angle with an eye toward identifying any amount of slope, with respect to the graveness that is involved. The clinometer may be used to measure both inclines and declines, based on the perspecti ve of the individual calculating the measurements.