{
  "id": 16888955,
  "title": "Dead tree branches rise and fall with changing humidity, laser scans reveal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/dead-tree-branches-rise-and-fall-with-changing-humidity-laser-scans",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-28T11:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-10-dead-tree-fall-humidity-laser.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dead tree branches are not stationary, but rather move throughout the day due to changing humidity levels, according to a study conducted by researchers at Heidelberg University in collaboration with the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute. By employing an autonomous laser scanning system, the scientists were able to map a specific forest plot at regular intervals and quantify the small branch movements driven by humidity fluctuations.\n\nThe study, published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, reveals that dead branches exhibit systematic daily movement patterns, with conifer branches moving downward during the day and upward at night, and birch branches moving in the opposite direction. The tips of the branches can shift up to 43 centimeters in height within a few days. This movement is closely tied to the wood equilibrium moisture content, which is influenced by relative humidity and air temperature.\n\nThe researchers found that the movement of dead branches is primarily attributed to the hygroscopic properties of the wood, which involve the absorption and release of moisture. By comparing the movement signatures of living and dead branches using a tracking algorithm and autonomous laser scanning system, it may become possible to identify dead branches without physical contact, enabling automated monitoring of tree health in forests and urban areas.",
  "summary": "Dead tree branches are by no means static but move throughout the day. Geoinformatics researchers at Heidelberg University tracked these movements in a study conducted in cooperation with the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI).",
  "key_points": [
    "Dead tree branches move daily with humidity changes, study finds",
    "Conifer branches lower during day, rise at night",
    "Branch tips shift up to 43 centimeters in height"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Quantifying the hygroscopic movements of dead wood provides a non-contact method for automated forest monitoring and offers a new way to identify tree health through remote laser scanning.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}