leaf versus canopy temperature sensors
a comparison of thermistor and infra-red style sensors
LT-1T Leaf Temperature Sensor
The LT-1M or LT-1T Leaf Temperature Sensor is a thermistor style sensor with a clip to hold the sensor in contact with the leaf surface. The LT-1T is ideal for characterizing boundary layer conditions as well as providing an accurate measurement of leaf temperature at a local scale.
advantages:
- Easy to install - simply clip onto a leaf within seconds.
- Easy to maintain - adjust on the leaf, or move to another leaf, as needed.
- Digital output: the LT-1T model has SDI-12 output to connect many sensors to a ES-SYS Logging System or to a wireless, LoRaWAN style system.
- Accurate measurements of a single leaf.
limitations:
- The contact area of the thermistor is small at approximately 1 mm^2.
further information:
LT-IRM Infrared Canopy Temperature Sensor
The LT-IRM is an infrared style temperature sensor. It is a non-contact sensor that can potentially measure an entire, or significant portion, of a plant canopy. The LT-IRM has a 3:1 field of view - for every 3 units of distance from the sensor, there is a 1 unit diameter field of view (FOV).
advantages:
- Measure a large, or entire, portion of the canopy.
- Non-contact with the leaf or canopy.
- Easy to install - simply mount on a pole and point at the plant's canopy.
- Easy to maintain - adjust the field of view as needed.
- Digital output: the LT-IRM has SDI-12 output to connect many sensors to a ES-SYS Logging System or to a wireless, LoRaWAN style system.
- Flexible outputs: the LT-IRM also comes with analog (voltage), current (4..20mA) and RS-485 outputs.
limitations:
- Emissivity, distance, environment temperature and atmospheric absorption must be noted.
further information: