Certified Forester Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

A hypsometer is an instrument specifically designed to measure the height of objects, particularly trees. An altimeter is primarily used to measure altitude or elevation relative to sea level, but it can also be effectively used for calculating the height of trees when combined with a distance measurement technique. By measuring the angle of elevation to the top of a tree from a known distance, an altimeter can provide the necessary data to calculate the tree's height.

The other instruments listed have distinct purposes that don't align with the specific function of height measurement in forestry. For instance, a tree caliper is designed for measuring the diameter of a tree trunk at breast height, which does not relate to height measurement. A mil scale, used to measure the thickness of wood or other materials, also does not provide information regarding height. Lastly, the Barr and Stroud optical dendrometer, while capable of measuring tree height, is more specialized and may not be as readily used in comparison to the versatile nature of an altimeter in a variety of situations. Therefore, the choice of an altimeter as a hypsometer is validated as it serves a dual role in measuring both altitude and tree height under appropriate conditions.