I think the physics are always the same, but the trees are different, just
like the physics of playing a violin and violoncello is the same but the sounds
coming out of them are different. The size and thickness of the tree itself, the
size of leaves, the shape of them, the surface of them, the rigidness of
petioles and branches - it all makes the difference, makes one tree vibrate a
little differently then other trees even of the same specie.
I like the sound of common aspen best, it always reminds me of childhood and
summer and just makes me feel good.
The earth is a gargantuous playground for acoustic resonance. Trees and plants and grass and nature in general all vibrate and resonate based on simple yet complex arrangements of acoustic physics. This implies that weight, density, volume, surface area, thickness and etc of a medium all play a role in the sounds that you hear. Nature is a playground for our senses when we care to listen and observe...!
It just comes down to the shape of the trees, thier height and shape and the shape of the leaves...density of the wood maybe which dictates whether it moves fast in the wind or not.
Books' worth! Any airflow disturbance creates sounds of characteristic
volume, frequency, decay, damping, attack, and oscillation. Trees' songs change
with wind speed and direction. Higher branches have different shapes and
textures of leaves, and encounter higher winds. Thin, threadlike or needle-like
leaves or petioles shed vortices as the wind oscillates round them, creating
the high-pitched, romantic whisper of conifers. To experiment with the process,
whiffle a straightened wire hanger through the air, and compare the effect with
the same wire bent into a smooth scimitar-shape. Then reverse the scimitar,
point leading. Its voice suddenly weakens, the vortices flying off alone,
instead of trailing along the wire and amplifying new vortices. Hold threads of various thicknesses under
various tensions beside your ear as Aeolian speedometers; you may be surprised at
the clarity of their sound even at walking pace.
Flat leaves flap like flags, depending on thickness, firmness, edge outline,
and surface texture. This is commonly the main component of the rustling sound.
Pointed, narrow willow leaves shed wind energy with whisperings rather than
flappings. Colliding leaves suffer damage, so they grow in patterns that avoid
touch, but in high winds impact is inevitable, causing another kind of rustling.
Smooth, large, simple leaves tend to give low notes except when flapping
vigorously; trees with small or compound leaves, prominent veins, complex
outlines, furry surfaces, and rough bark, seem quieter, but they produce more
ultrasonics. Crisp autumn leaves act as rattles. Hollow leaves galled by
aphids, and swollen Acacia thorns hollowed by ants, may actually whistle. Dense
foliage damps the transmission of high notes. The leaves of rushes scrape and
vibrate like the reeds of wind instruments; their susurration and sibilation
gave rise to the Greek legend about their whispering: "Midas has asses'
ears!"
Any airflow disturbance, such as that caused by leaves, creates
sounds of characteristic volume, frequency and oscillation. Trees' songs
change with wind speed and direction, and the type of leaves.
Needle-like leaves, or petioles, shed vortices as the
wind oscillates round them, creating the high-pitched, romantic whisper
of conifers. Flat leaves flap like flags, depending on thickness,
firmness, edge outline and surface texture. This is commonly the main
component of the rustling sound. Pointed, narrow willow leaves shed wind
energy with whisperings.
Colliding leaves suffer damage, so they grow in patterns
to avoid touch. In high winds, though, impact is inevitable, causing
another kind of rustling. Smooth, large, simple leaves tend to give low
notes except when flapping vigorously; trees with small leaves,
prominent veins, complex outlines, furry surfaces and rough bark seem
quieter, but produce ultrasonic sounds.
Crisp autumn leaves act as rattles. Hollow leaves emptied
by aphids, and acacia thorns hollowed by ants, may whistle. Dense
foliage dampens high notes. Leaves on high branches differ in shape and
texture, and encounter higher winds. The leaves of rushes scrape and
vibrate like the reeds of wind instruments, giving rise to the Greek
legend about their whispering: "King Midas has ass's ears!"