To what extent can oxygen isotopes in tree rings and precipitation be used to reconstruct past atmospheric temperature? A case study
Martine Rebetez, Matthias Saurer & Paolo Cherubini
| Résumé |
We analyzed the relationship between air temperature and oxygen
isotopes measured in tree rings of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)
from a long-term forest ecosystem research plot in the Swiss Jura
mountains (LWF project). The oxygen isotope data were compared with
a century-long meteorological series of air temperature data.
Measurements of oxygen isotope ratios in precipitation were also
used for comparison. Results show that the late-wood tree-ring
series is significantly correlated with May to August temperatures.
Correlations were higher for maximum (daytime) air temperature and
even better for air temperature measured on rainy days only. We
stress that trends in maximum temperature series for this time of
the year, like trends in oxygen isotope ratios series from tree
rings, are completely different from trends in yearly mean
temperature. Indeed, maximum temperature trends during the
vegetation period slightly decreased during the 20th century,
whereas yearly means increased strongly. |
| Mots-clés |
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE, CELLULOSE, VARIABILITY, SWITZERLAND, DELTA-O-18, TRENDS, 20TH-CENTURY, MAXIMUM, RECORD, RATIOS |
| Citation | Rebetez, M., Saurer, M., & Cherubini, P. (2003). To what extent can oxygen isotopes in tree rings and precipitation be used to reconstruct past atmospheric temperature? A case study. Climatic Change, 61(1-2), 237-248. |
| Type | Article de périodique (Français) |
| Date de publication | 2003 |
| Nom du périodique | Climatic Change |
| Volume | 61 |
| Numéro | 1-2 |
| Pages | 237-248 |