Measuring Trunk Diameter of Coast Redwoods by Tape Wrapping.

Tape-Wrapping Giant Redwoods

Copyright 2014 by Mario Vaden

Continued from: Coast Redwoods

NOTE !! Tape wrapping known redwood giants serves no reason if photos exist for ID. If researchers have already published dimensions, measuring for one's own satisfaction just makes wear and tear with no gain in knowledge. If a photo exists, use that instead.

Measuring to determine size and wood volume includes wrapping tapes around the trunk. The measurement is done 4.5 feet above ground. If ground is sloped, the difference is split between the low reach and high reach of the trunk. This can be difficult on steep slopes. The measurement for circumference and diameter is 54 inches above grade. In the photo below, the redwood had already been measured 4.5 feet up , and the tape was repositioned to find the diameter 10 feet higher. Just getting the tape 4.5 feet above average grade on this redwood meanf a wrap 11 feet above ground on the low side. The low side is sometimes difficult. The circumference is divided by 3.14 and that gives diameter. If a trunk is oval / elliptical, the circumference measure provides an average between the wide and narrow sides. The Coast Redwood below was discovered 2014 in Redwood National and State Parks.

Since a few asked ... this discovery was not in Bigfoot Valley. I headed down two days before Atkins, so I could photograph Rhododendrons and get prepared. After getting a camp permit, fueling, packing snacks and charging batteries, we headed out to explore, eventually, finding this in a remote section of Redwood National and State Parks. It was a foggy morning followed by a sunny afternoon.