Climate Signals in Stable Isotope Tree-Ring Records

Abstract

AbstractIn this chapter we introduce the climate signal in stable isotope tree-ring records, with the emphasis on temperate forests. The development of the subdiscipline is recapped followed by an exploration of isotope dendroclimatic records by geography and, broadly, by isotopic species. Whilst there are still questions to be answered around signal strength and age-related effects in different environments and in different species, the proxy is now contributing to palaeoclimatology in a far greater way than in the days of the first hints of ‘isotope tree thermometers’. We include two summary tables. Table 19.1 exemplifies the range of climate information available from stable carbon isotope time series and Table 19.2 explores oxygen isotope proxy signals. Due to the greater complexity seen in stable carbon isotope interpretations we explore response groupings with example references given for each category of proxy response. Finally, we summarize the state of the art in isotope dendroclimatology and discuss possible future directions.