PAR Measurements Characterize Tree Coverages

The Center for Forest Research and Extension Andean Patagonian (CIEFAP) studies forest systems and land suitable for forestry in the Andean region of Patagonia Argentina. The center does research to contribute to sustainable development in the Patagonia region. Recently, CIEFAP has been studying the relationship between tree coverage and the survival and initial growth of native Andean-Patagonian forest species. The study is determining the % of PAR (under canopy/open sky) differing health of species are receiving to determine the % of PAR related to survival and initial growth. To do this study CIEFAP measured under canopy PAR using an Apogee MQ-301 line quantum sensor and open sky PAR using a ceptometer at different sites and times of day.   The results are still being evaluated, however, at this point CIEFAP has been able to determine that species receiving 50 to 60 % open sky PAR have the best survival and initial growth. Once the study is concluded CIEFAP will be able to use its data to make recommendations for the restoration of degraded forests.

Application Summary Summary Studying % of PAR (under canopy/open sky) and its relation to survival and initial growth of native forest species. Sensors Used MQ-301 Line Quantum Sensor Organization Center for Forest Research and Extension Andean Patagonian (CIEFAP) Location Andean region of Patagonia Argentina Contributor CIEFAP

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Solar Power on Lakes and Dams

Korea Water Resource Corporation (K-water) is the number one clean energy producer in Korea. The company operates several clean energy plants including hydropower, tidal power, wind power, and solar photovoltaic power. More recently K-water developed the world’s first ecofriendly floating solar photovoltaic power system called SOLATUS, which was installed at Hapcheon Dam. The company plans to install additional floating photovoltaic power plants on dams and lakes in Korea by 2022. Part of the installation process is determining the best location for the power plant. To find these locations K-water is studying solar radiation at different angles, using a configuration of eight Apogee SP-110 Silicon-cell Pyranometers, and weather data, using wind, temperature, and humidity sensors.   Once K-water has collected all of the data from the sensors it will be reviewed to find the best location for the new power plants and the optimal angles for the solar panels to collect power throughout the day.

Application Summary Summary Studying solar radiation at different angles to determine locations for solar power plants. Sensors Used SP-110 Silicon-cell Pyranometers Organization K-water (Korea Water Resource Company) Location Korea Contributor K-water

Forecasting Ice Formations

Campbell Scientific has incorporated our infrared radiometer sensors into a cost-effective system providing "Perugia (Italy) with portable, reliable data" for the "forecasting of ice formation on Italian road surfaces." PDF of Project

Application Summary Summary Forecasting ice formation on road surfaces using infrared radiometers on a mobile system. Sensors Used SI-111 Infrared Radiometer Organization University of Perugia and Ecosearch Location Perugia, Italy Original Article Forecasting ice formation on Italian road surfaces

Peter Sinks

The TS-100 has been deployed for the past year on a weather station at a record-setting cold location in the contiguous United States - Peter Sinks, Utah. It is used to accurately measure the extremely cold air temperatures that occur at the site. The Peter Sinks site uses two yellow-bead thermistors and two PRTs in an Apogee TS-100 to make replicate measurements. Note the Apogee SP-230 all-season pyranometer in the picture as well. A webinar of the TS-100 with more information on the Peter Sinks site can be found here. The Peter Sinks information starts at approximately 15:25.

Application Summary Summary Used on a weather station at a record-setting cold location-Peter Sinks, Utah. Sensors Used TS-100 Aspirated Radiation Shield ST-110 Thermistor ST-300 PRT SP-230 Pyranometer Location Peter Sinks, Utah More Information Peter Sinks Data Feed Site Air Temperature Measurement Sensor Webinar

Temperature Free-Air Controlled Enhancement (T-FACE)

This type of experiment applies a heating treatment to open-field plant canopies, simulating models of future warmer conditions. Dr. Bruce Kimball of the Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center and colleagues design and operate such experiments. In 2005 they developed a proportional–integrative–derivative control system for controlling the rise in temperatures. Apogee Infrared Radiometers provided the data on control and heated plot temperatures. Dr. Kimball and his colleagues have developed hexagonal arrays of infrared heaters that produce uniform warming across 3-meter-diameter plots. The degree of warming is maintained using the proportional-integrative-derivative control system for controlling the rise in temperatures. Apogee Infrared Radiometers (housed in a white PVC pipe radiation shield in the photo) sense the canopy temperatures of the heated plots as well as unheated reference plots which are used by dataloggers to modulate the output of the heaters. Similar infrared warming experimentation using this design and Apogee Infrared Radiometer sensors are also underway in Haibei, Qinghai, China; Cheyenne, WY; Ely and Cloquet, MN; Urbana, IL; Lexington, KY, and several other places around the world.   Image: Wheat warmed by infrared heaters is headed sooner in the "Hot Serial Cereal" experiment conducted by Dr. Bruce A. Kimball and colleagues at the USDA-ARS Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center and the University of Arizona at Maricopa, Arizona.

Application Summary Summary Simulating models of future warmer conditions by applying a heat treatment to open-field plant canopies. Apogee infrared radiometers provide the data and control the heated plot temperatures. Sensors Used Infrared Radiometer Contributor Dr. Bruce Kimball of the Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center Location Nebraska Original Article Kimball, B. A., 2005. Theory and performance of an infrared heater for ecosystem warming. Global Change Biology, 11(11):2041-2056. Kimball BA, Conley MM, Wang S, Lin X, Luo C, Morgan J, Smith D (2008) Infrared heater arrays for warming ecosystem field plots. Global Change Biology 14, 309-320.

Soil Oxygen Concentration

Dr. Wendy Yang’s Global Change Ecology Lab, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is currently using the Apogee SO-110 oxygen sensor, with the optional diffusion head, for quasi-continuous measurements of bulk soil oxygen concentration in managed and natural ecosystems. Their quasi-continuous field measurements of soil oxygen has allowed them to correlate soil oxygen concentrations with process rates and determine how soil oxygen concentrations relate to precipitation and soil temperature, which can drive high biological oxygen demand to induce anoxia. The Apogee SO-110 allows Dr. Wendy Yang’s Global Change Ecology Lab to collect long-term data sets in the field without fear of compromising the sensors under harsh conditions, due to the sensors ability to withstand cold winter temperatures and wet conditions. Oxygen is a major control for reduction-oxidation reactions in soil and can lead to the production or consumption of methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gases. Processes such as methanogens and nitrous oxide reduction to dinitrogen were once thought to be restricted to flooded or saturated soils such as those found in wetlands, however, Dr. Wendy Yang’s lab has documented the importance of these processes in unsaturated soils from upland ecosystems. Their measurements have allowed them to correlate soil oxygen concentration with process rates and determine how soil oxygen concentrations relate to precipitation and soil temperate, even under saturated soil conditions. They are currently investigating these relationships in agricultural fields in the Midwest to better understand how current land management and historical soil drainage patterns mediate soil greenhouse gas emissions.

Application Summary Summary Quasi-continuous measurements of bulk soil oxygen concentration in managed and natural ecosystems Sensors Used SO-110 Oxygen Sensor Organization Dr. Wendy Yang's Global Change Ecology Lab Location University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Crop Water Stress Index - Case Study

Crop Water Stress Index is a means of irrigation scheduling and crop water stress quantification based on canopy temperature measurements and prevailing meteorological conditions. Plant temperature is an indicator of plant water status because stomates close in response to soil water depletion causing a decrease in water uptake and an increase in leaf temperature. Precise measurements, particularly canopy temperature, are required. Apogee Infrared Radiometers have been used by Dr. Suat Irmak, of the University of Nebraska, in his CWSI research. Read the full journal article Payero, J. O., S. Irmak. 2006. Variable upper and lower crop water stress index baselines for corn and soybean. Irrigation Science, 25 (1):21-32.

Application Summary Summary Using infrared radiometers to determine water schedule for plants. Sensors Used SI-111 Infrared Radiometer Organization Dr. Suat Irmak of the University of Nebraska Location Nebraska Original Article Payero, J. O., S. Irmak. 2006. Variable upper and lower crop water stress index baselines for corn and soybean. Irrigation Science, 25 (1):21-32

Google's Project Loon and the Apogee SP-230 Heated Pyranometer

Apogee’s SP-230 heated pyranometer was recently selected to be part of Project Loon from Google. Project Loon is a network of high-altitude balloons developed by the Google X team that will provide streaming internet coverage from the stratosphere down to many rural and remote areas around the world. Our SP-230 pyranometer is installed on each balloon to monitor the performance of the PV panels that provide the renewable power for the electronics. The SP-230 is uniquely suited for the job because the internal heater draws only 15.4 mA at 12 V DC, yet keeps the optics clear in the icy, cold conditions of the stratosphere.

The project began with four of our sensors being purchased for testing and development in 2013 and has grown to include hundreds of SP-230s that have been delivered for deployment around the globe. Apogee Instruments is proud to be a partner in a project that will help build a truly global community.

For more information on Project Loon visit: https://www.google.com/loon/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Loon

For more information on the SP-230 Heated Pyranometer visit: http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/sp-230-all-season-heated-pyranometer/ 

A Project Loon balloon is displayed at a launch event in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Schuyler Smith
Integrator and Technical Support

Apogee Headquarters Expansion Project

Apogee recently held an open house to celebrate our 20th anniversary and the completion of our expansion project that tripled the size of our headquarters. Joining us on May 10th, 2016 were many great university colleagues, customers, partners, neighbors, construction workers, and family members. After a brief speech by company president, Dr. Bruce Bugbee, the staff provided tours of the new facility including our expanded ESD-protected production area, an improved loading and shipping area, a machine-shop, a climate-controlled calibration lab, a photo/video studio, several engineering offices, a beautiful employee break room, a state-of-the-art classroom, and a museum of antique weather instruments.

 The new facility features a highly-efficient design with large windows to utilize natural light, enhanced insulation, radiant floor heat, and louvered architectural awnings that are precisely angled at 22° to provide shade in the summer and allow the sun to pass through in winter. Along the front of the building, 17 new solar PV panels were added in a continuous arc to blend with the style of the facade. To monitor the many new building control systems, several Apogee sensors were installed, including infrared radiometers, thermistors, and pyranometers.

Apogee has come a long way since our beginning at Bruce Bugbee’s kitchen table.

The newly expanded Apogee Instruments headquarters building located at 721 West 1800 North, Logan, Utah, 84321. The two-story section in the back was completed in April, 2016.

Jacob Bingham, Apogee's Technical Manager, explains some of the instruments in the Apogee museum to an open house guest.

One of our new webinars playing on the screen in our new classroom. 

Looking up our new staircase that leads to the engineering and R&D lab.

Devin Overly, Apogee COO (green shirt) greets several open house guests.

Guests enjoying the open house Hors d'Oeuvres in the new employee break-room.

Dr Bruce Bugbee talking with Rob Campbell, the new president of Campbell Scientific, and Ricardo Aguilar, of CS Centro Caribe. 

Dr Bruce Bugbee and Mike Stettler posing with a mural commemorating the building expansion construction process. Mike was the general contractor for the project.

Stations in the newly expanded, ESD-protected production area.

Damon Nitzel, head of International Distributor support, demonstrates the new Apogee SS-110 Field Spectroradiometer for Andrea Deho of Campbell Scientific Brazil while Brian Day of Campbell Scientific Canada and DeVon Labrum of Juniper converse in the background..

      

Chris Madsen
Marketing Director