Abstract

Accurate microclimate temperature measurements are essential for understanding environmental dynamics in forests. Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) systems, using long optical fibers, offer ultra-high-resolution spatial and temporal temperature data. However, the influence of environmental factors, such as solar radiation, on DTS accuracy in natural ecosystems remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated how direct sunlight affects the thermal accuracy of optical fibers in a field setting by comparing aluminum-coated and uncoated fiber sections. Results showed that uncoated fibers exhibit higher temperatures under sunlight, highlighting the impact of radiative fluxes on measurements. Our findings propose a method to mitigate this bias, improving the reliability of DTS in environmental monitoring.