Climatic information from 18O/16O ratios of cellulose in tree rings (original) (raw)

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• Published: 05 August 1976

Nature volume 262, pages 481–482 (1976) Cite this article

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Abstract

THE high precision of dendrochronology makes possible the construction of short (∼ 9,000 yr), detailed records of past climates. This paper explores the possibility of using the oxygen isotopic composition of cellulose from tree rings as a ‘thermometer’ to measure past temperatures. Using meteorological data from Edmonton we have shown that temperatures can be measured with a precision of ∼ ±0.15°C when averaged over a 5-yr period.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1, Canada
   JOHN GRAY & PETER THOMPSON

Authors

1. JOHN GRAY
2. PETER THOMPSON

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GRAY, J., THOMPSON, P. Climatic information from 18O/16O ratios of cellulose in tree rings.Nature 262, 481–482 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262481a0

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• Received: 12 April 1976
• Accepted: 09 June 1976
• Issue date: 05 August 1976
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/262481a0

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