Some preliminary results of climatic studies based on European tree-ring and vine quality time series

In this paper some aspects of palaeonclimatology are discussed. Tree-ring parameters and grape harvest values representing biospheric quantities are used as annual proxy data. They are matched with climatic time series (temperature and precipitation) on a monthly or seasonal data basis to obtain an assessment of the biosphere-climate response. The climatic variables extend from the late summer of each current year back to the spring of each previous year. The maximum annual ring density proved to be controlled mainly by the temperature of late summer, whereas the so-called Hollstein Index contains information on the precipitation of early summer; the vine quality is influenced by temperature and precipitation alike.