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Scientific Merits and Analytical Challenges of Tree‐Ring Densitometry

J. Björklund Orcid Logo, G. Arx Orcid Logo, D. Nievergelt, R. Wilson Orcid Logo, J. Van den Bulcke Orcid Logo, B. Günther, Neil Loader Orcid Logo, M. Rydval Orcid Logo, P. Fonti Orcid Logo, T. Scharnweber Orcid Logo, L. Andreu‐Hayles Orcid Logo, U. Büntgen, R. D'Arrigo, N. Davi, T. De Mil, J. Esper, H. Gärtner Orcid Logo, J. Geary, B. E. Gunnarson, C. Hartl, A. Hevia, H. Song, K. Janecka, R. J. Kaczka, A. V. Kirdyanov, M. Kochbeck, Y. Liu, M. Meko, I. Mundo Orcid Logo, K. Nicolussi Orcid Logo, R. Oelkers, T. Pichler, R. Sánchez‐Salguero, L. Schneider, F. Schweingruber, M. Timonen Orcid Logo, V. Trouet Orcid Logo, J. Van Acker Orcid Logo, A. Verstege, R. Villalba Orcid Logo, M. Wilmking, D. Frank

Reviews of Geophysics, Volume: 57, Issue: 4, Pages: 1224 - 1264

Swansea University Author: Neil Loader Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1029/2019rg000642

Abstract

X-ray microdensitometry on annually resolved tree-ring samples has gained an exceptional position in last-millennium paleoclimatology through the maximum latewood density (MXD) parameter, but also increasingly through other density parameters. For 50 years, X-ray based measurement techniques have be...

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Published in: Reviews of Geophysics
ISSN: 8755-1209 1944-9208
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2019
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52898
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Abstract: X-ray microdensitometry on annually resolved tree-ring samples has gained an exceptional position in last-millennium paleoclimatology through the maximum latewood density (MXD) parameter, but also increasingly through other density parameters. For 50 years, X-ray based measurement techniques have been the de facto standard. However, studies report offsets in the mean levels for MXD measurements derived from different laboratories, indicating challenges of accuracy and precision. Moreover, reflected visible light-based techniques are becoming increasingly popular, and wood anatomical techniques are emerging as a potentially powerful pathway to extract density information at the highest resolution. Here we review the current understanding and merits of wood density for tree-ring research, associated microdensitometric techniques, and analytical measurement challenges. The review is further complemented with a careful comparison of new measurements derived at 17 laboratories, using several different techniques. The new experiment allowed us to corroborate and refresh “long-standing wisdom” but also provide new insights. Key outcomes include (i) a demonstration of the need for mass/volume-based recalibration to accurately estimate average ring density; (ii) a substantiation of systematic differences in MXD measurements that cautions for great care when combining density data sets for climate reconstructions; and (iii) insights into the relevance of analytical measurement resolution in signals derived from tree-ring density data. Finally, we provide recommendations expected to facilitate futureinter-comparability and interpretations for global change research.
Keywords: Microdensitometry, maximum latewood density (MXD), X-ray densitometry, blue intensity, anatomical density, paleoclimatology
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Issue: 4
Start Page: 1224
End Page: 1264