Strain and Wind Measurements for 21 Trees in Wytham Woods

From September 2015 to June 2016, strain and wind data were collected for 21 trees in a mature temperate woodland in southern England. The dataset was created to extract tree resonant frequencies, estimate critical wind speeds for breakage, and test a finite element model of tree-wind dynamics. Strain data was recorded at 4Hz using two perpendicular gauges per tree.

Use Cases

• Extract resonant frequencies of trees from 4Hz strain gauge data to study biomechanical properties.
• Estimate critical wind speeds for tree breakage by correlating strain measurements with wind data from cup anemometer and sonic anemometer.
• Test a finite element model of tree-wind dynamics using the paired strain and wind data collected over a 10-month period.
• Analyze seasonal variations in tree strain by comparing data from winter (cup anemometer) and summer (Gill Sonic-1) collection periods.

Strengths

• Contains data from 21 instrumented trees, providing a multi-tree biomechanical study.
• Data collection spans a 10-month period from September 2015 to June 2016, capturing seasonal variation.
• Strain data has a high temporal resolution of 4Hz, suitable for dynamic analysis.
• Includes wind data from two different instrument types, allowing for methodological comparison.

Limitations

• Small sample size of 21 trees may limit statistical power for broad ecological inference.
• Wind data time resolution varies between the two instruments used, complicating direct temporal alignment.
• The dataset is temporally static, covering a single 10-month period without more recent updates.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre.

Collection Method

Strain data collected at 4Hz using two strain gauges per tree at 1.3m height; wind data collected from a canopy walkway using a cup anemometer and a Gill Sonic-1.

Time Range

September 2015 to June 2016.

Freshness

Data covers 2015-2016; metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Wytham Woods, a mature temperate woodland in southern England, UK.