When was the last time you asked a tree to tell its story?
For scientists in the accelerating field of studying tree rings, this is a regular occurrence. Most of you are probably familiar with how trees tell stories about the climate or their growing season based on their rings, but this field has become something truly remarkable recently:
"Research involving tree rings is divided into three main categories — dendroclimatology, the analysis of tree rings for past climate data; dendroarchaeology, the study of tree rings to understand how past climate affected human societies; and dendroecology, which reconstructs past forest ecosystems. The most common tree rings studied come from bristlecone pine, fir and spruce.
At this particular time, the most essential role for tree rings is probably their use in reconstructing past climate and providing much greater context. “The instrumental period provides a snapshot,” of past climate, said David Meko, a researcher here, “but the tree rings are a panorama.”
This window into the deep climate past has become vital in a rapidly warming world, to show how the climate of the last half-century is far outside the historical norms going back thousands of years."
From - Chronicles of the Rings: What Trees Tell Us
In folklore, trees are often symbols of wisdom and knowledge; their potential for long life gives them a perspective we humans lack. Long term data sets like those from trees are incredibly valuable. We're getting better at listening to the stories trees can tell us and now we have an International Tree Ring Data Bank for all who are interested to study. Cool!
Mostly just wanted to share, but feel free to comment on the article or other aspects related to the stories trees have to tell.
For scientists in the accelerating field of studying tree rings, this is a regular occurrence. Most of you are probably familiar with how trees tell stories about the climate or their growing season based on their rings, but this field has become something truly remarkable recently:
"Research involving tree rings is divided into three main categories — dendroclimatology, the analysis of tree rings for past climate data; dendroarchaeology, the study of tree rings to understand how past climate affected human societies; and dendroecology, which reconstructs past forest ecosystems. The most common tree rings studied come from bristlecone pine, fir and spruce.
At this particular time, the most essential role for tree rings is probably their use in reconstructing past climate and providing much greater context. “The instrumental period provides a snapshot,” of past climate, said David Meko, a researcher here, “but the tree rings are a panorama.”
This window into the deep climate past has become vital in a rapidly warming world, to show how the climate of the last half-century is far outside the historical norms going back thousands of years."
From - Chronicles of the Rings: What Trees Tell Us
In folklore, trees are often symbols of wisdom and knowledge; their potential for long life gives them a perspective we humans lack. Long term data sets like those from trees are incredibly valuable. We're getting better at listening to the stories trees can tell us and now we have an International Tree Ring Data Bank for all who are interested to study. Cool!
Mostly just wanted to share, but feel free to comment on the article or other aspects related to the stories trees have to tell.
