Holocene tree-line variability in the Kauner Valley, Central Eastern Alps, indicated by dendrochronological analysis of living trees and subfossil logs (original) (raw)
Related papers
2004
The combined oak and pine tree-ring chronologies of Hohenheim University are the backbone of the Holocene radiocarbon calibration for central Europe. Here, we present the revised Holocene oak chronology (HOC) and the Preboreal pine chronology (PPC) with respect to revisions, critical links, and extensions. Since 1998, the HOC has been strengthened by new trees starting at 10,429 BP (8480 BC). Oaks affected by cockchafer have been identified and discarded from the chronology. The formerly floating PPC has been cross-matched dendrochronologically to the absolutely dated oak chronology, which revealed a difference of only 8 yr to the published 14 C wiggle-match position used for IntCal98. The 2 parts of the PPC, which were linked tentatively at 11,250 BP, have been revised and strengthened by new trees, which enabled us to link both parts of the PPC dendrochronologically. Including the 8-yr shift of the oak-pine link, the older part of the PPC (pre-11,250 BP) needs to be shifted 70 yr to older ages with respect to the published data (Spurk 1998). The southern German part of the PPC now covers 2103 yr from 11,993-9891 BP (10,044-7942 BC). In addition, the PPC was extended significantly by new pine chronologies from other regions. A pine chronology from Avenches and Zürich, Switzerland, and another from the Younger Dryas forest of Cottbus, eastern Germany, could be crossdated and dendrochronologically matched to the PPC. The absolutely dated tree-ring chronology now extends back to 12,410 cal BP (10,461 BC). Therefore, the tree-ring-based 14 C calibration now reaches back into the Central Younger Dryas. With respect to the Younger Dryas-Preboreal transition identified in the ring width of our pines at 11,590 BP, the absolute tree-ring chronology now covers the entire Holocene and 820 yr of the Younger Dryas.
Tree-ring (TR) chronologies are important instruments for the dating and provenance analyses of historical wood, as well as for climate reconstructions. However, radial growth patterns differ between tree species and growing environments. Therefore chronologies are more or less specific for a certain tree species, region and elevation. Chronologies that are restricted to more confined regions could extend the possibilities for dating, dendroprovenancing and regional climate reconstructions.
Radiocarbon, 2004
The combined oak and pine tree-ring chronologies of Hohenheim University are the backbone of the Holocene radiocarbon calibration for central Europe. Here, we present the revised Holocene oak chronology (HOC) and the Preboreal pine chronology (PPC) with respect to revisions, critical links, and extensions. Since 1998, the HOC has been strengthened by new trees starting at 10,429 BP (8480 BC). Oaks affected by cockchafer have been identified and discarded from the chronology. The formerly floating PPC has been cross-matched dendrochronologically to the absolutely dated oak chronology, which revealed a difference of only 8 yr to the published 14 C wiggle-match position used for IntCal98. The 2 parts of the PPC, which were linked tentatively at 11,250 BP, have been revised and strengthened by new trees, which enabled us to link both parts of the PPC dendrochronologically. Including the 8-yr shift of the oak-pine link, the older part of the PPC (pre-11,250 BP) needs to be shifted 70 yr to older ages with respect to the published data (Spurk 1998). The southern German part of the PPC now covers 2103 yr from 11,993-9891 BP (10,044-7942 BC). In addition, the PPC was extended significantly by new pine chronologies from other regions. A pine chronology from Avenches and Zürich, Switzerland, and another from the Younger Dryas forest of Cottbus, eastern Germany, could be crossdated and dendrochronologically matched to the PPC. The absolutely dated tree-ring chronology now extends back to 12,410 cal BP (10,461 BC). Therefore, the tree-ring-based 14 C calibration now reaches back into the Central Younger Dryas. With respect to the Younger Dryas-Preboreal transition identified in the ring width of our pines at 11,590 BP, the absolute tree-ring chronology now covers the entire Holocene and 820 yr of the Younger Dryas.
Dendrochronological analysis at pine timberline
1998
A typical tirnberline Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) lives to an age of 200-300 years and the oldest ones encountered have been over 400 years old. The oldest Scots pine tree ever found in Lapland, age 810 years, was found by professor Gustaf Sireninthe 1950s. Dead pine trees can rernain undecayed for over 1000 years on the ground; the oldest such individuals date back to the 8th century. Trees that have ended up subrnerged in ice-cold srnall ponds can rernain stored in thern for thousands of years (Fig.l.). In recent studies, we have found that it is possible to span the entire history of all the generations of Scots pine that have ever lived during the Holocene period (the past 10 000 years, starting frorn the end of the last Ice Age and including the present). Actually, this seerns to be case throughout Finland, as well as Sweden, Norway and the Kola Peninsula (in NW Russia). The oldest found subfossilised pine trunks had cornrnenced their growth over 7500 years ago. Sorne lakes have preserved tens of tree generations in their rnuddy bottorn layers. Our basic experience is that it is possible to find lakes that contain rnost of the 16-80 tree generations ever lived on their banks during the Holocene period. The first Scots pines spread out into Lapland about 8000-7500 years ago. Several studies have shown that the clirnate in Finland about 6 000 years ago was a couple of degrees warrner than it is today (Fig. 2). In those tirnes, the growing season was significantly longer than it is today and the ternperature surn rnay have risen on a specific site 150-200 d.d. higher than nowadays. This rneans that the ancient pine tirnberline was located along the present 350-400 d.d. zone (nowadays along about 550 d.d.) and at elevations 120-150 rn higher than today, at an altitude of
Elevation-specific tree-ring chronologies of Norway spruce and Silver fir in Southern Germany
Dendrochronologia, 2012
Tree-ring (TR) chronologies are important instruments for the dating and provenance analyses of historical wood, as well as for climate reconstructions. However, radial growth patterns differ between tree species and growing environments. Therefore chronologies are more or less specific for a certain tree species, region and elevation. Chronologies that are restricted to more confined regions could extend the possibilities for dating, dendroprovenancing and regional climate reconstructions.
The Holocene, 2009
An ultra-long tree-ring width chronology (9111 years long, 7109 BC to AD 2002) has been established based on the analysis and dating of 1432 subfossil/dry dead wood samples and cores from 335 living trees. The material was collected from treeline or near-treeline sites ( c. 2000 to 2400 m a.s.l.) mainly in the Eastern Alps. The availability of preserved samples through time at high altitudinal sites is influenced by Alpine forest history and is partly climatically controlled, as shown by comparisons of the sample depth record of the Eastern Alpine Conifer Chronology (EACC) with the Holocene glacier record. The similarity of variations over time between the sample depth of the chronology and the mid-Holocene GISP2 10Be record suggest a relationship between sample depth and solar activity. The Eastern Alpine Conifer Chronology has already been used as a dating base in environmental studies, eg, on glacier fluctuations, as well as in archaeological studies.
Possible errors in the Eastern Alpine Conifer Chronology
The Eastern Alpine Conifer Chronology is clearly synchronized with the European oak chronologies over the recent 2500 years, thus confirming the long established dendrochronological bridge over the "Roman gap" which we dispute. We claim that the European timber complex archaeologically anchored in Roman time is conventionally dated too old by 218 years. But as the raw measurement data of the Alpine chronology is unpublished and unavailable we can not check whether our hypothesis is wrong, or the chronology is in error. However, some "outliers" in data derived from the chronology seem to tilt the scales in our favor.
ATR (Association for Tree Ring Research) :TRACE (Tree Ring, Climate, Archaeology and Environment). Conference, Fribourg, 21-23 Apr. 2005., 2005
We propose an experimental method, using curvilinear regressions, called corridor method, for dating and building a global useful signal based on oak ring widths in northern and eastern France. The resulting signal seems to be more useful than others to progress in the domains of ancient climate and ancient environments: dendrodating, dendroclimatology, dendroecology and, of course, human history (Lambert, 2002, Houbrechts and Lambert, 2004, Durost, 2005). However, we were lead to adapt or reconsider several basic mathematical functions, meteorological indexes or common dendrochronological definitions. [...]
2007
This publication is the outcome of the "Dendrosymposium 2002", a tree-ring conference held from April 11 th -13 th 2002 at the University of Bonn (Institute of Geography) and the Research Centre Jülich (Institute of Sedimentary Systems, ICG V). The aims of the Germanlanguage symposium were (i) to present the state of the art as well as new research perspectives in the different fields of dendrochronology, (ii) to stimulate further investigations and closer collaboration between different research groups and (iii) to strengthen dendrochronological sciences in central European research. About 50 scientists from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and The Netherlands attended the meeting. In total, 20 talks and 19 posters covering the topics (1) Archaeology, (2) Long Records, (3) Climatology, (4) Isotopes and Climate, (5) Isotopes and Plant Physiology, (6) Dendroecology, (7) Forest Dynamics at the Timberline and (8) Geomorphology were presented. The contributions clearly documented the topical and methodological progress that has been achieved in dendrochronology during the last years, including new approaches such as stable isotope analysis, dendrogeomorphology or ecophysiological aspects. The proceedings volume contains 21 extended abstracts. In order to give a comprehensive overview, shorter abstracts of participants, who did not submit a long version, are additionally included in their original language. : 40 Fossil pines from loamy slope sediments reflect Lateglacial climatic variations J. Esper 47 A millennium-long temperature reconstruction for the Tien Shan Mountains, Kirghizia (short Abstract) H.-P. Kahle and R. Unseld: 48 Analyse der raumzeitlichen Variationen des Radialzuwachses von Fichten in Südwestdeutschland (short Abstract) Th. Riemer: 49 Trendanalyse mit gemischten Modellen -Methodik, Software und Anwendung in der Dendroklimatologie (short Abstract)