Oxygen isotope ratios in trees reflect mean annual temperature and humidity

Journal Article · Fri Mar 27 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.211.4489.1417· OSTI ID:6446651

Burk, R L; Stuiver, M

Values of the oxygen isotope ratios (delta/sup 18/O) in tree-ring cellulose closely reflect the delta/sup 18/O values in atmospheric precipitation and hence mean annual temperature. The change in delta/sup 18/O in cellulose is 0.41 per mil per degree Celsius for selected near-coastal stations. The values of delta/sup 18/O in precipitation and cellulose also change with altitude, as demonstrated for Mount Rainier, Washington. A temperature lapse rate of 5.2/sup 0/ +/- 0.5/sup 0/C per 1000 meters calculated from cellulose delta/sup 18/O values agrees with the accepted mean annual lapse rate of 5/sup 0/C per 1000 meters for this region. Cellulose delta/sup 18/O values and delta/sup 18/O values of carbon dioxide equilibrated with leaf water differ by a fixed 16 per mil.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• DOE Contract Number: AT06-79EV10206
• OSTI ID: 6446651
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 211; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGE ESTIMATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CELLULOSE
CHALCOGENIDES
COASTAL REGIONS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION X
HUMIDITY
ISOTOPE DATING
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEASURING METHODS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN 16
OXYGEN 18
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
STABLE ISOTOPES
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TREES
USA
WASHINGTON