1.0 Preoperation Procedures

You may need to go through some of these procedures before starting your field work.

Procedure 1.1 - Setting the Console Clock Manually

The console clock uses 24-hour time notation (1:00 p.m. = 13:00). Follow these steps to set the clock:

  1. Go to MENU > Console Setup > Set Time and press OK (or the Right arrow button).
  2. The time field reads HH:MM YYYY/MM/DD. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to select the correct values for each field, and use the Left and Right arrow buttons to switch between fields.
  3. Press OK to implement the new time or EXIT to abandon changes.

Procedure 1.2 - Setting the Console Clock from GPS

The console clock uses 24-hour time notation (1:00 p.m. = 13:00). If GPS is active and has valid data, you can choose to set the clock using GPS-generated Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). To set the clock using GPS:

  1. Go to MENU > Console Setup > Set Time > Use GPS and press OK (or the Right arrow button).
  2. Enter a number for UTC Offset, ± difference from UTC in hours and minutes for a particular time zone (e.g. if console is set to Central Daylight Time (USA), then this is –5).
  3. Press OK to implement the new time or EXIT to abandon changes.

Procedure 1.3 - Setting the Wand Clock Manually

The optical sensor (wand) clock can be set manually or synchronized with the control unit clock. To set the wand clock Manually:

  1. Connect the wand to the control unit, go to MENU > Wand Setup > Select wand > Clock and press OK (or the Right arrow button).
  2. Select Set Time
  3. The time field reads HH:MM YYYY/MM/DD. Use the Up and Down arrow buttons to select the correct values for each field, and use the Left and Right arrow buttons to switch between fields.
  4. The time is implemented after you select Yes. Verify the time and press OK.

Note: If using two optical sensors, the clocks in both must be synchronized in order to match data in time. See Procedure 1.4 - Synchronizing Wand and Console Clock.

Procedure 1.4 - Synchronizing Wand and Console Clock

The optical sensor (wand) clock can be synchronized with the control unit clock.

  1. Connect the wand to the control unit, go to MENU > Wand Setup > Select wand > Clock and press OK (or the Right arrow button).
  2. Select Sync Time.
  3. The time is implemented after you select Yes. Verify the time and press OK.

Procedure 1.5 - Resetting Wand to Factory Calibration

  1. Go to MENU > Wand Setup > Select wand > Match Values > View/Set.
  2. Press LOG.

Note: Factory calibration values need to be in place for sky brightness distribution to be measured, which is an important step when doing scattering corrections.

Procedure 1.6 - Deleting Records From a Wand

To delete all records from the optical sensor memory:

  1. Attach the optical sensor(s) to the console.
  2. Go to MENU > Data > Wand > Purge.
  3. Select the appropriate optical sensor.
  4. Press OK to purge, or EXIT to return to the Wand Data menu.

Procedure 1.7 - Setting Prompts

  1. Press the Menu button, then go to Log Setup and select Prompt.
  2. Enter the desired prompts in the Prompt1 and Prompt2 fields. If you wish, you can enter default responses, or leave the Resp1 and Resp2 fields blank. Either way, you will be able to enter responses in the Resp1 and Resp2 fields when you create a new data file.

Procedure 1.8 - Build a Match File for Two Sensors (Match Method 1)

This is best done on a cloudless day, in a location with a clear view of the sky. If the sky is not cloudless in the area being viewed by the sensors (and you can’t chose a better day), then hand-hold both optical sensors (so they move a little bit) for step 5 and log about 10 readings instead of 1 or 2.

You will want to do these steps for each size view cap that you might be using, creating a separate file for each.

  1. Install the view cap to be used on each optical sensor. Each sensor should have the same view cap size with the same orientation on the lens.
  2. Connect the sensors to a console.
  3. Reset each sensor to its factory default calibration Procedure 1.5 - Resetting Wand to Factory Calibration).
  4. Open a file (Procedure 2.2 - Opening a New Data File). Give it a name to reflect that it is a match file, and include the view cap size (e.g. M45 or M90).
  5. Make sure sensor are pointed in the same direction, side by side. Log 1 or 2 readings by pressing LOG for each reading.
  6. Close the file.

LAI-2000 Note: If you do this with LAI-2000s, do not connect two sensors to a single console, but rather use a separate console for each wand, and make separate files. Then follow one of two paths:

Alternatively, if you wish to retain the LAI-2000 format, then when you create the two files, log A readings in one, and B readings in the other, and combine the files. Then, on subsequent data collection, be sure the sensor that logged the A readings is always the one used for above data.

Procedure 1.9 - Build a Match File for More than Two Sensors (Match Method 1)

  1. Build match files for pairs of sensors by following the instructions under Procedure 1.8 - Build a Match File for Two Sensors (Match Method 1). If there is an odd number of sensors, so that one cannot be attached to a console, then
    1. Use it autonomously to log readings without a console. Be sure to clean its memory first (Procedure 1.6 - Deleting Records From a Wand).
    2. Download the logged records by importing them into the appropriate match file (Procedure 2.13 - Moving Wand Data to the Console).
  2. Combine all the match files for a given view cap size by using Procedure 3.12 - Combining Multiple Files - FV2200.

Procedure 1.10 - Enabling a Quantum Sensor

  1. Attach the quantum sensor cable to port 1 or 2, then go to MENU > Log Setup > PAR Sensors, select Port 1 or Port 2 (whichever has a quantum sensor attached), and press OK.
  2. Set the Enabled field to On.
  3. (Optional) Name the sensor. The name is used in the Contributing Sensors section of data files (see Sensor Information).
  4. In the Cal field, enter the calibration multiplier for your light sensor. The calibration multiplier is printed on your sensor’s calibration certificate. It also can be found by entering your sensor's serial number in the Calibration search box at
    http://www.licor.com/env/support.
  5. Press OK to implement the changes.

Quantum sensor settings are saved to the global template and will be applied to any data file that is created.

Procedure 1.11 - The Canopy Gap Test

The Canopy Gap Test is discussed in The Gap Test. Follow these steps to estimate the error resulting from using a view cap that is too large:

  1. Use a 45° view cap.
  2. Set Transcomp to A-P-C (Above, Previous, and Clip).
  3. Make a measurement in the canopy consisting of 2 AB pairs. Both of the below readings should be in the same location, but one viewing the densest part of the canopy, and the other viewing the sparsest part. (Because they are viewing different directions, you need separate A readings for each B reading.)

Look at the value of ACF, apparent clumping factor. For purposes of this test, interpret this as the ratio of the LAI you would get with a wider view cap to the one you would get with the narrower view cap. For example, an ACF of .95 means the wider view cap would produce an LAI that is 5% lower than that found with a narrow view cap. An ACF of 0.8 would be 20% lower, and so on. The lower the ACF, the more you need the narrow view cap.