Oxygen isotope ratios in trees reflect mean annual temperature and humidity
Burk RL and Stuiver M. 1981. Oxygen isotope ratios in trees reflect mean annual temperature and humidity. Science. 211(4489):1417-1419
Values of the oxygen isotope ratios (delta-O-18) in tree-ring cellulose closely reflect the delta-O-18 values in atmospheric population and hence mean annual temperature. The change in delta-O-18 in cellulose is 0.41 per mil per degree Celsius for selected near-coastal stations. The values of delta-O-18 in precipitation and cellulose also change with altitude, as demonstrated for Mount Rainier, Washington. A temperature lapse rate of 5.2 degrees +/- 0.5 degreees C per 1000 meters calculated from cellulose delta-O-18 values agrees with the accepted mean annual lapse rate of 5 degrees C per 1000 meters for this region. Cellulose delta-O-18 values and delta-O-18 values of carbon dioxide equilibrated with leaf water differ by a fixed 16 per mil.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Burk, R; Stuiver, M
- Units
- MORA
- Keywords
- Alaska, Altitude, atmospheric precipitation, California, carbohydrates, cellulose, Climate, coastal environment, Experimental Studies, Geology, Humidity, Indicators, Isotopes, Mathematical Models, Models, Mount Rainier, O 16, O 18, Organic Materials, Oxygen, Paleoclimatology, ratios, Temperature, theoretical studies, Tree Rings, Trees, Washington, Western U.S.