LAKE PLACID, N.Y.—The Cornell Maple Program recently launched version 2.0 of the Maple Climate Network just in time for the maple season.

The Maple Climate Network is system of sensors collecting maple production and climate data and then sharing that data in real-time online.

Thanks to a grant from the North American Maple Syrup Council, the new version of sensors are collecting additional data but most importantly, the sensors have expanded outside of NY to collect data across the maple production region.

There are currently sensors in Ohio, Maine, Quebec, and Wisconsin along with sensors at the two Cornell Maple Research Forests in NY and hopes of still adding a couple more sensors this year.

Data from the sensors can be monitored in real-time online at www.cornellsaprun.com.  

One goal of the Maple Climate Network is to serve as a benchmarking tool for producers to monitor maple production in different regions.

The other primary goal is to collect long-term data on sap yields in correlation with various climate variables.

As we brace against the impact of a changing climate on maple sap production, it is important to collect data from across the region that will allow us to prepare for production in the future. 

Currently the sensors are tracking sap flow under vacuum from a single tree along with soil moisture and temperature surrounding a tree, pressure within the tree, atmospheric pressure, internal tree temperature, and precipitation.

Daily sap sweetness readings will be uploaded to the dashboard.

This data will help visualize sap flow and yields within a maple tree along with allowing us to create future correlations on sap production.

It is anticipated that over time, we will be able to draw further conclusions on climate variables that impact sap and sugar yields. 

Anyone can monitor the data online by visiting www.cornellsaprun.com.

For more information on the Maple Climate Network visit www.cornellsaprun.com or reach out to Adam Wild at adw94@cornell.edu or (518) 523-9337.