Plants × Weather × Sensing – Understanding Environmental Interactions

Plant ecosystems, including forests, play a crucial role in modifying environmental conditions. They regulate rainfall distribution, alter wind patterns, and dynamically adjust their structure in response to environmental forces. For example, forest canopies intercept precipitation, reducing the amount of rain reaching the ground, while trees act as natural windbreaks, slowing wind speeds. In snowy environments, the accumulation of snow can lead to branch breakage or trunk failure, illustrating the complex interactions between plants and weather.

To unravel the mechanisms governing these interactions and promote sustainable environmental management, our laboratory integrates advanced sensing technologies and mechanical analysis to study the relationships between precipitation, wind, and soil erosion. Our research aims to enhance understanding and support the development of strategies for ecosystem conservation and disaster prevention.

Research Fields

• Ecohydrology (rainfall dynamics, raindrop formation, precipitation partitioning by forest canopy)
• Hydrogeomorphology (soil erosion by water and wind)
• Plant Biomechanics (tree deflection, wind-induced damage, structural adaptation of trees, coastal forest)
• Instrumentation (measurment device development, environmental monitoring)

Keywords

• Rainfall; precipitation; raindrop; throughfall; stemflow; canopy interception
• Tree sway; stem breakage; uprooting; forest wind damage; mechanical simulation; coastal forest
• Splash erosion; soil erosion; wind erosion; machine learning applications
• Laser disdrometer; IoT-based environmental sensing