Microclimates Fieldwork

Revision of fieldwork techniques.

Remember you field work at Ashby School?

• Use these slides to remind yourself of the techniques that you used.

• Make sure you can:• Describe Explain how the methods work.• Explain the “considerations” that could effect

the results of fieldwork using these techniques.

Wind Speed

• Anemometer

Considerations• Very high or low wind speeds can be

difficult to measure.• Wind strength is hard to measure at

ground level (things like buildings can block or funnel the wind).

• Taking several readings and finding an average can make results more accurate.

Wind direction

• Wind sock

The Beaufort scale can be used to give a qualitative judgement of wind speed.

Temperature and light level

• Thermometer

• Light meter

3 readings of light and temperature taken at each site and average taken.

Considerations• Cloud cover can change quite quickly,

affecting results at each site.• Holding thermometer in direct sunlight

can affect results.

Cloud Cover• Estimated in Oktas, which refers to how

many eighths of the sky are covered by cloud.

• The amount of cloud cover at a location can affect temperature readings and light readings.

Precipitation (rainfall)

Rain gaugeSet up and leave for 24 hours at each location.

Considerations• Consider whether buildings,

trees, etc could provide shelter and affect results.

• Evaporation from the rain gauge could affect results.