Stable Isotopes in Dendroclimatology: Moving Beyond ‘Potential’ - Dendroclimatology - page 161

Fig. 6.4 The spatial pattern of correlation with gridded climate data revealed by maximum late-
wood density (MXD) ('upper site' series from Gagen et al. 2004 ; n =

13 C

14) and latewood δ

(composite upper and lower site mean series in Gagen et al. 2004 ; n 6) from Pinus sylvestris

and Pinus uncinata sampled at Montgenévre (see Gagen et al. 2004 for details). ( a ) Stable carbon
isotopes and June-August precipitation (University of East Anglia, Climatic Research Unit CRU
TS 2.1, 0.5 ◦ analysis, precipitation: AD 1901-1995). ( b ) Maximum latewood density and June-
August precipitation (CRU TS 2.1 0.5 ◦ analysis, precipitation; AD 1901-1995). ( c ) Stable carbon
isotopes and July-August temperature (AD 1901-2002; CRU TS 2.1 0.5 ◦ analysis). ( d )MXDand
July-August temperature (AD 1901-2002; CRU TS 2.1 0.5 ◦ analysis). Spatial field correlations
were performed by using KNMI Climate Explorer

=

series, when correlated with summer precipitation; however, for summer tempera-
tures, the signal is both stronger and more spatially homogenous with the latewood
density series.
It is in situations such as this—where stable isotopes can provide a measure of
a different climatic variable that might be coupled to temperature reconstructions
derived from the traditional tree-ring proxies—that stable isotope dendroclimatol-
ogy has much to offer.