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Climatic information from 18O/16O ratios of cellulose in tree rings

Abstract

THE high precision of dendrochronology makes possible the construction of short ( 9,000 yr), detailed records of past climates. This paper explores the possibility of using the oxygen isotopic composition of cellulose from tree rings as a ‘thermometer’ to measure past temperatures. Using meteorological data from Edmonton we have shown that temperatures can be measured with a precision of ±0.15°C when averaged over a 5-yr period.

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GRAY, J., THOMPSON, P. Climatic information from 18O/16O ratios of cellulose in tree rings. Nature 262, 481–482 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262481a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/262481a0

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