Spatio‐temporal patterns of tree growth as related to carbon isotope fractionation in European forests under changing climate

Aim To decipher Europe-wide spatiotemporal patterns of forest growth dynamics and their associations with carbon isotope fractionation processes inferred from tree rings as modulated by climate warming. Location Europe and North Africa (30‒70°N, 10°W‒35°E). Time period 1901‒2003. Major taxa studied Temperate and Euro-Siberian trees. Methods We characterize changes in the relationship between tree growth and carbon isotope fractionation over the 20th century using a European network consisting of 20 site chronologies. Using indexed tree-ring widths (TRWi), we assess shifts in the temporal coherence of radial growth across sites (synchrony) for five forest ecosystems (Atlantic, Boreal, cold continental, Mediterranean and temperate). We also examine whether TRWi shows variable coupling with leaf-level gas exchange, inferred from indexed carbon isotope discrimination of tree-ring cellulose (Δ13Ci). Results We find spatial autocorrelation for TRWi and Δ13Ci extending over up to 1,000 km among forest stands. However, growth synchrony is not uniform across Europe, but increases along a latitudinal gradient concurrent with decreasing temperature and evapotranspiration. Latitudinal relationships between TRWi and Δ13Ci (changing from negative to positive southwards) point to drought impairing carbon uptake via stomatal regulation for water saving occurring at forests below 60°N in continental Europe. A rise in forest growth synchrony over the 20th century together with increasingly positive relationships between TRWi and Δ13Ci indicate intensifying drought impacts on tree performance. These effects are noticeable in drought-prone biomes (Mediterranean, temperate and cold continental). Main conclusions At the turn of this century, convergence in growth synchrony across European forest ecosystems is coupled with coordinated warming-induced drought effects on leaf physiology and tree growth spreading northwards. Such a tendency towards exacerbated moisture-sensitive growth and physiology could override positive effects of enhanced leaf intercellular CO2 concentrations, possibly resulting in Europe-wide declines of forest carbon gain in the coming decades

An Example of Application of Dendrochronological Analysis for Dating of Timbers from the Bochnia Salt Mine

The presented study deal with the dendrochronological dating of wood sampled from timbering in the Bochnia salt mine. The exact dates of felling trees that had been used for timbering were determined by applying the tree−ring analysis for wood from three mining chambers: the Passionis chapel, the Mysiur stable and the Rabsztyn chamber. It transpired that the analysed timbers originated from different periods representing the time interval between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. The wood from the Passionis chapel was dated 1652 while that from the Rabsztyn chamber comes from the eighteen century and from the Mysiur stable – from the eighteen and nineteen centuries

Dendrochronological dating of timbers wood in the gold mine from Złoty Stok

The research carried out was aimed at dendrochronological analysis of old timbers from the Gold Mine in Złoty Stok. The analysis resulted in 15 absolute datings of timbers of two tree species: Scots pine and fir. The established data fell into four last centuries. The oldest date, after 1667 AD, was obtained for fir wood from timbering of a shaft in the Masters' Adit (sztolnia Mistrzów), whereas the youngest one, after 1941 AD – for pine wood from the Prince's Adit

Wieliczka Salt Mine and its history written in annual growth rings of spruce wood

This paper presents results of dendrochronological analysis of spruce wood from the Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the oldest mines in Poland. The wood came from the first level of the mine, from casings of drifts, chambers, mineshafts, short shafts, galleries and chapels. The oldest wood, representing spruce trees cut down in the 15th century, appears in the Wałczyn, August and Dusząca chambers, Bąkle chamber and Powroźnik gallery, as well as the cast between the Kaczorowski and Sroki chambers. Younger wood, from the 16th and 17th century, was recognized in the Krupiński, Dusząca, Reyna and Weszki chambers, the Leszno and Karol galleries, the Sułów short shaft, and the Lizak chapel. The 18th–19th century wood appears in the August, Wałczyn, Dusząca, Rex and Kloski chambers, the Klemens gallery, the Piżmowa chapel, and the Wałczyn short shaft. In two excavations of the August and Weszki chambers, fragments of 20 th century wood were recognized. Wood from old mines is a valuable source of information on history of the mining excavations or tools used in the mines. It also allows extending the scope of research of the mining archaeology

Carbon-13 in alpha-cellulose of oak latewood (Jędrzejów, Southern Poland) during the Maunder Minimum

We have studied the δ13C signature in latewood alpha-cellulose of an ancient oak (Quercus robur L.) from a Cisterian Abbey belfry in Jędrzejów (Southern Poland). The time scale for the delta 13C record during 1631-1765 AD was built on the basis of detailed dendrochronology studies. Techniques available for extraction of alpha-cellulose from small samples have been used, the mean value of alpha-cellulose extraction efficiency being ca. 35%. In the delta 13C record of alpha-cellulose the cooling between 1650-1700 AD is clearly visible as a decrease of about 1.5‰. This period is consistent with the interval of the lowest solaractivity between 1645 and 1715 AD, which is known as the Maunder Minimum. Anti-correlation between δ13C and δ13C during the Maunder Minimum was observed but δ13C record is delayed by about 30 years with respect to the Maunder Minimum

Tree Growth and Climate Relationship: Dynamics of Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) Growing in the Near-Source Region of the Combined Heat and Power Plant During the Development of the Pro-Ecological Strategy in Poland

Since the 1990s, the emission of pollutants was reduced in a majority of Polish and developing country factories whereas the level of energy production was similar to that prior to the 1990s. The conifer investigated in this study has grown for many years under the stress of industrial pollution. Despite this, the trees are preserved, to a large extent, sensitive to the natural climatic factors. We present a complex analysis of the climatic (sunshine, temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind circulation) and anthropogenic factors influencing the radial increment dynamics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in the vicinity of the combined heat and power station in Łaziska (Poland). We analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of growth reductions, the depth of reduction with respect to the distance from the emitter, the relationship between tree growth and climate during the industry development period and during proecological strategy application . Samples of carbon isotopic composition in pine needles from 2012 to 2013 were additionally determined. Pines series of 3 positions indicate that they have a similar sensitivity to most climatic elements of the previous and given year, but there is also a different rhythm between the studied populations of incremental growth of pines. The causes of diversity are due to the different types of habitat (site types) and industrial pollution. The variation in carbon stable isotopic composition in pine needles was connected with an increase of CO(2)