Can dendrochronology be used as an identifier of climatic fluctuations using tree core samples from the Brocklebank Ground and Under Crag woodland?

Abstract

Climate fluctuations are an ongoing and continuous process that can be tracked using modern day meteorological equipment. This project uses the scientific discipline of
dendrochronology to track the response of English Oak tree ring growth to the climate fluctuations over the past 50 years at the Brocklebank Ground and Under Crag woodland. The precipitation values and temperature values of the previous 50 growing seasons were compared to the ring widths and statistically analysed. Upon analysis it was discovered that precipitation had little importance in affecting the overall size of ring widths. However, the
temperature variable was found to support a significant relationship to the widths of rings, providing evidence that the temperature is the more dominant climatic variable at this location. Even though the temperature was the dominant climate control on ring widths the relationship obtained between these two variables was unusual as an increase in temperature reduced overall ring growth. It is expected that an increase in temperature should produce years of good growth (Briffa et al, 2004). However this is not the case, which makes using this data set for past climate reconstructions that extend further than 50 years at this location difficult. The results of the English Oak ring widths were also compared to results from Sitka Spruce ring widths and it can be identified that each species responds differently to the prevailing climatic conditions.