Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Oxygen isotope ratios in trees reflect mean annual temperature and humidity

Journal Article · · Science; (United States)
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/ 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.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
DOE Contract Number:
AT06-79EV10206
OSTI ID:
6566763
Journal Information:
Science; (United States), Journal Name: Science; (United States) Vol. 211; ISSN SCIEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English