Stable carbon isotopes in tree rings of beech: climatic versus site-related influences |
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Authors: | M Saurer Silvio Borella Fritz Schweingruber Rolf Siegwolf |
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Institution: | (1) Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland, CH;(2) Physics Institute, University of Berne, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland, CH;(3) Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland, CH |
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Abstract: | Stable carbon isotopes in tree rings are a promising tool in palaeoclimate research, provided attempts are made to disentangle
climatic from local effects (e.g. soil properties, competition, light). The 13C/12C variations in cellulose of tree rings of beech (Fagus sylvatica) were determined at several sites in the Swiss Central Plateau covering the last 50 years. We chose sites which differ in
moisture conditions and sampled cores from four to six trees per site. The mean 13C/12C series from the different dry sites (distant by up to 40 km) are closely interrelated suggesting a common external cause.
Correlation analysis with climate data proved the total precipitation in the months May, June and July to have the strongest
effect on the carbon isotopes (r = – 0.73). This result is in agreement with the commonly used model which relates the isotope discrimination to the water
use efficiency. On the other hand, the isotope series of the wet sites are not as well correlated to the climate. At two of
the sites (a dry and a humid) tree ring width suddenly increased. We used this effect as a test-case to study the influence
of local growth conditions on the climate-isotope relationship.
Received: 17 April 1996 / Accepted: 2 September 1996 |
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Keywords: | Stable carbon isotopes Palaeoclimate Fagus sylvatica Tree ring Precipitation |
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