Hill Demonstration Forest climate, soil moisture and tree water use data

This data publication contains daily vapor pressure deficit, solar radiation, soil moisture, sap flux density, tree transpiration, and precipitation data measured from 2018 to 2019 (pre-thinning) and 2020 (post-thinning) on a watershed planted with loblolly pines (Pinus taeda L.) in January 2012. The study site is on the Hill Demonstration Forest (owned and managed by North Carolina University) and is located north of Durham, North Carolina. Sap flux density and tree transpiration were measured from both loblolly pine and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.). Sap flux density is a localized measure of water movement through the tree at a specific point. Transpiration is computed from sap flux density however it is a whole-tree process, representing the total water used and released by the tree.
The purpose of this study is to understand species-specific water use to refine watershed water budget models, aiding forest management strategies. Sap flux density offers insights into water movement within the tree’s xylem but needs to be scaled up to provide a full understanding of the tree’s water use. Transpiration provides a more comprehensive picture of the tree’s water use and its contribution to the local water cycle.
For more information about this study and these data, see Boggs et al. (2024).