Costa Rica - October 2002 - Cont'd
Holbrook - Selva Verde

Rainforest Hikes

We also participated in a two-hour hike through the 500-acre rainforest preserve of Selva Verde. Along the way, our nature guides pointed out the many varieties of plants and the differences in vegetation between the primary and secondary forest. We also spotted several inhabitants of the rainforest, including howler monkeys, birds, lizards, poison-dart frogs, leaf-cutter and bullet ants.


Using the Humidity/Temp/Dew Point Sensor, we were able to simultaneously measure relative humidity and temperature. Below is about a 20-minute segment that clearly illustrates the affect of the rainforest canopy on the environment.
Humidity & Temperature
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This graph covers the entire morning hike and the wide range of temperature change as we passed through the various regions of the rainforest, alternating between thick and thin canopy coverage.
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Another unique characteristic of the rainforest is the low amount of light that penetrates through the canopy and actually reaches the forest floor. Using a Light Sensor, we measured the level of light intensity (lux) at three different points along our hike.
Light Intensity
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One characteristic of soil is its ability to insulate temperature from the surrounding air. Although the soil is protected from the sun's direct radiant heat by the rainforest's canopy, the graph below still clearly shows this phenomenon.
Temperature
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Climate

In addition to temperature and humidity levels, another variable is barometric pressure. You can see how pressure changed over a 24-hour period, particularly when two different rainstorms hit the region.

Barometric Pressure
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