Certified Forester Practice Exam

Which type of film can be useful in assessing tree health and species differentiation?

1. Panchromatic film

2. Color infrared film

3. Black and white film

4. Black and white infrared film

The correct answer is: Color infrared film

Color infrared film is particularly effective in assessing tree health and species differentiation because it captures the way plants reflect light in the infrared spectrum. Healthy vegetation reflects more infrared light compared to stressed or unhealthy plants. This difference allows foresters and ecologists to analyze plant health effectively, as variations in infrared reflectance can indicate issues such as disease, drought stress, or nutrient deficiencies. Moreover, color infrared film can also facilitate the differentiation of tree species based on their unique reflectance properties. Different species often have varying foliage structures and pigment composition, affecting how they reflect infrared light. By utilizing this film, experts can quickly identify and categorize tree species based on their spectral responses. In contrast, the other types of film, while useful for other purposes, do not provide the same level of detail regarding plant health or species identification. Panchromatic film captures a single band of visible light and lacks the ability to distinguish plant health effectively. Black and white film and black and white infrared film similarly do not offer the same insights into the health of trees or allow for effective differentiation of species as color infrared film does.