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A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE) / DARREN DAVIES

Swansea University Author: DARREN DAVIES

  • E-Thesis – open access under embargo until: 22nd June 2027

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.60372

Abstract

Anthropogenic actions have altered the Earth’s climate system. To help improve future predictions of Climate Change, tree-rings can be used as a climate proxy to extend modern weather records back in time to provide a greater perspective. For this purpose, this thesis aimed to produce the first oak...

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Published: Swansea 2022
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Loader, Neil ; McCarroll, Danny
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60372
first_indexed 2022-07-04T10:28:43Z
last_indexed 2023-01-13T19:20:27Z
id cronfa60372
recordtype RisThesis
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Alpha cellulose was extracted from &gt;18,000 latewood bands to produce one of the largest isotope datasets in the literature. The initial dataset was found to have a compromised common signal, and examination of the individual records highlighted anomalous events. It was hypothesised that both natural disturbances and forest management practices were the cause. It was concluded that the raw dataset would not be suitable for a climate reconstruction, but if the disturbances could be removed, then a reconstruction maybe possible. A homogenisation methodology adapted from climatology was tested and calibrated. It was found that the approach could remedy the disturbances in the &#x3B4;13C dataset. This improved the common signal of the records to a level traditionally deemed suitable in dendroclimatology for climate analysis. It was assumed that this reflected an improvement in the extractable climate signal. Importantly, the method did not require the need for detrending or filtering, which would have compromised the long-term climate signal. Using the homogenised record, and a baseline non-treated chronology for contrast, climate analysis was conducted. Comparisons of the two masters with climate variables, demonstrated that the homogenised record was superior. With the results justifying a scaled reconstruction of late summer (July and August) solar radiation. The reconstruction covered 1523 &#x2013; 2000 CE and was interpreted to indicate changes in cloud coverage. The reconstruction was also considered alongside reconstructions of temperature and precipitation for the region. The Little Ice Age was dominated by a time of increased sunshine and low temperatures. Some of the driest conditions in the whole reconstruction were also found during this period. However, the Little Ice Age also saw two periods of suggested storminess, marked by high precipitation and cloud coverage. The modern warm period (post-1800 CE) was characterised by increased temperatures and below average precipitation. Initially, the modern warm period was the cloudiest in the reconstruction, however, by the end of the 20th century, solar radiation approached the levels seen during the Little Ice Age. 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spelling 2022-07-04T12:05:04.7217286 v2 60372 2022-07-04 A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE) 2de8d41c536cb21ed5772d2bb6c7d133 DARREN DAVIES DARREN DAVIES true false 2022-07-04 Anthropogenic actions have altered the Earth’s climate system. To help improve future predictions of Climate Change, tree-rings can be used as a climate proxy to extend modern weather records back in time to provide a greater perspective. For this purpose, this thesis aimed to produce the first oak latewood stable carbon isotope (δ13C) reconstruction for the UK. Alpha cellulose was extracted from >18,000 latewood bands to produce one of the largest isotope datasets in the literature. The initial dataset was found to have a compromised common signal, and examination of the individual records highlighted anomalous events. It was hypothesised that both natural disturbances and forest management practices were the cause. It was concluded that the raw dataset would not be suitable for a climate reconstruction, but if the disturbances could be removed, then a reconstruction maybe possible. A homogenisation methodology adapted from climatology was tested and calibrated. It was found that the approach could remedy the disturbances in the δ13C dataset. This improved the common signal of the records to a level traditionally deemed suitable in dendroclimatology for climate analysis. It was assumed that this reflected an improvement in the extractable climate signal. Importantly, the method did not require the need for detrending or filtering, which would have compromised the long-term climate signal. Using the homogenised record, and a baseline non-treated chronology for contrast, climate analysis was conducted. Comparisons of the two masters with climate variables, demonstrated that the homogenised record was superior. With the results justifying a scaled reconstruction of late summer (July and August) solar radiation. The reconstruction covered 1523 – 2000 CE and was interpreted to indicate changes in cloud coverage. The reconstruction was also considered alongside reconstructions of temperature and precipitation for the region. The Little Ice Age was dominated by a time of increased sunshine and low temperatures. Some of the driest conditions in the whole reconstruction were also found during this period. However, the Little Ice Age also saw two periods of suggested storminess, marked by high precipitation and cloud coverage. The modern warm period (post-1800 CE) was characterised by increased temperatures and below average precipitation. Initially, the modern warm period was the cloudiest in the reconstruction, however, by the end of the 20th century, solar radiation approached the levels seen during the Little Ice Age. The UK solar radiation reconstruction reflected those from across Europe, suggesting a common forcing mechanism. E-Thesis Swansea Tree-ring; Carbon Isotopes; UK; Climate; Dendrochronology 22 6 2022 2022-06-22 10.23889/SUthesis.60372 ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3125-5551 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Loader, Neil ; McCarroll, Danny Doctoral Ph.D Swansea University Research Assistant Bursary 2022-07-04T12:05:04.7217286 2022-07-04T11:24:36.9130537 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography DARREN DAVIES 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2022-07-04T11:54:43.2868639 Output 12164370 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true 2027-06-22T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: The author, Darren Davies, 2022. true eng
title A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
spellingShingle A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
DARREN DAVIES
title_short A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
title_full A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
title_fullStr A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
title_full_unstemmed A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
title_sort A Tree-ring Stable Carbon Isotope Reconstruction of Summer Sunshine for the United Kingdom (1523 – 2000 CE)
author_id_str_mv 2de8d41c536cb21ed5772d2bb6c7d133
author_id_fullname_str_mv 2de8d41c536cb21ed5772d2bb6c7d133_***_DARREN DAVIES
author DARREN DAVIES
author2 DARREN DAVIES
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publishDate 2022
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.60372
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Geography
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description Anthropogenic actions have altered the Earth’s climate system. To help improve future predictions of Climate Change, tree-rings can be used as a climate proxy to extend modern weather records back in time to provide a greater perspective. For this purpose, this thesis aimed to produce the first oak latewood stable carbon isotope (δ13C) reconstruction for the UK. Alpha cellulose was extracted from >18,000 latewood bands to produce one of the largest isotope datasets in the literature. The initial dataset was found to have a compromised common signal, and examination of the individual records highlighted anomalous events. It was hypothesised that both natural disturbances and forest management practices were the cause. It was concluded that the raw dataset would not be suitable for a climate reconstruction, but if the disturbances could be removed, then a reconstruction maybe possible. A homogenisation methodology adapted from climatology was tested and calibrated. It was found that the approach could remedy the disturbances in the δ13C dataset. This improved the common signal of the records to a level traditionally deemed suitable in dendroclimatology for climate analysis. It was assumed that this reflected an improvement in the extractable climate signal. Importantly, the method did not require the need for detrending or filtering, which would have compromised the long-term climate signal. Using the homogenised record, and a baseline non-treated chronology for contrast, climate analysis was conducted. Comparisons of the two masters with climate variables, demonstrated that the homogenised record was superior. With the results justifying a scaled reconstruction of late summer (July and August) solar radiation. The reconstruction covered 1523 – 2000 CE and was interpreted to indicate changes in cloud coverage. The reconstruction was also considered alongside reconstructions of temperature and precipitation for the region. The Little Ice Age was dominated by a time of increased sunshine and low temperatures. Some of the driest conditions in the whole reconstruction were also found during this period. However, the Little Ice Age also saw two periods of suggested storminess, marked by high precipitation and cloud coverage. The modern warm period (post-1800 CE) was characterised by increased temperatures and below average precipitation. Initially, the modern warm period was the cloudiest in the reconstruction, however, by the end of the 20th century, solar radiation approached the levels seen during the Little Ice Age. The UK solar radiation reconstruction reflected those from across Europe, suggesting a common forcing mechanism.
published_date 2022-06-22T05:03:13Z
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score 11.09611

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