Specialized Tools
Expert field references and specialized measurement tools.
Overview
Specialized Tools provide expert references and guides commonly needed in ecological fieldwork but often left at the office.
Soil Color Matcher
Digital Munsell color chart for soil description.
Features
- Complete Munsell notation
- Hue, Value, Chroma selectors
- Visual color display
- Common soil color names
How to Use
- Prepare soil sample (moist preferred)
- Compare to on-screen colors
- Match hue (color family)
- Match value (lightness)
- Match chroma (saturation)
- Record notation (e.g., 10YR 4/3)
Munsell Notation
Format: Hue Value/Chroma
- Example: 10YR 4/3 = “Brown”
Common Soil Colors
| Notation | Name |
|---|---|
| 10YR 2/1 | Black |
| 10YR 4/3 | Brown |
| 10YR 6/4 | Light yellowish brown |
| 2.5Y 6/2 | Light brownish gray |
| 5YR 4/6 | Yellowish red |
Tips
- Use moist soil for consistency
- Good lighting essential
- Compare multiple samples
- Note depth of sample
Cloud Cover Estimator
Visual guide for estimating sky coverage.
Okta Scale
Standard meteorological scale (0-8):
| Oktas | Coverage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0% | Clear sky |
| 1 | 12.5% | Few clouds |
| 2 | 25% | Scattered |
| 3 | 37.5% | Scattered |
| 4 | 50% | Broken |
| 5 | 62.5% | Broken |
| 6 | 75% | Broken |
| 7 | 87.5% | Almost overcast |
| 8 | 100% | Overcast |
Visual References
The tool shows reference images for each level to aid estimation.
How to Use
- Look at entire visible sky
- Estimate cloud coverage
- Match to reference images
- Record okta value
Wind Speed Estimator
Beaufort scale visual guide.
Beaufort Scale
| Force | km/h | Description | Observable Signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | <1 | Calm | Smoke rises vertically |
| 1 | 1-5 | Light air | Smoke drifts |
| 2 | 6-11 | Light breeze | Leaves rustle |
| 3 | 12-19 | Gentle breeze | Leaves in constant motion |
| 4 | 20-28 | Moderate | Small branches move |
| 5 | 29-38 | Fresh | Small trees sway |
| 6 | 39-49 | Strong | Large branches move |
| 7 | 50-61 | Near gale | Whole trees move |
| 8+ | 62+ | Gale+ | Difficult to walk |
How to Use
- Observe vegetation/objects
- Match to descriptions
- Record Beaufort number
- Convert to km/h if needed
UV Index Display
Current ultraviolet radiation level (requires internet).
UV Index Scale
| Index | Risk | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | Low | Minimal needed |
| 3-5 | Moderate | Hat, sunscreen |
| 6-7 | High | Seek shade |
| 8-10 | Very High | Limit exposure |
| 11+ | Extreme | Avoid sun |
Applications
- Safety planning
- Fieldwork timing
- UV-sensitive species research
Field Checklist Generator
Create equipment and safety checklists.
Pre-built Checklists
- General fieldwork
- Bird survey
- Vegetation survey
- Aquatic survey
- Night survey
- Safety items
Features
- Customizable items
- Check-off functionality
- Save custom templates
- Share with team
How to Use
- Select checklist type
- Customize items
- Check off as you pack
- Save for future use
Related Documentation
- Essential Tools - Core measurements
- Sensor Tools - Device sensors
- Getting Started - Survey preparation