DENDROCRONOLOGY APPLIED TO THE ENVIRONMENT

  1. PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS
  2. DENDROGEOMORPHOLOGY AND LANDSLIDES
  3. DENDROGEOMORPHOLOGY AND COASTAL EROSION
  4. DENDROSEISMOLOGY
  5. DENDROHYDROLOGY
  6. DENDROVOLCANOLOGY
  7. DENDROECOLOGY
  8. DENDROASTRONOMY

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS Dendrochronology applied to environment (dendron = plant, chronos = time, logos = science) is the science based on an examination of annual increases of plants, called “rings”. Sampling shall be carried out with non-destructive methods (core drill Pressler) (fig. 1) on live plants but also on trunks or historic wooden artifacts and fossils. The samples are pasted on wooden supports, to be prepared and polished for later dating (fig. 2). A first dating is carried out with the help of skeleton plots, indicating characteristic rings (pointer years) (fig. 3). The samples are then measured by a slide micrometer (Velmex), connected to a microscope and specific software (fig. 4); subsequently data are controlled statistically with Cofecha software. Are thus reconstructed annual growth curves for each sample (fig. 5) and in the case of multiple rays even eccentricity curves (fig. 6). In case of stress, especially in situations of geological disturbance, are examined the sudden changes in growth (reductions or increases) (fig. 7), divided into classes of varying intensity (fig. 8). Dendrochronology has many applications in the field of the environment, our study was primarily interested in the sector of dendrogeomorphology (landslides and coastal erosion), dendroseismology (study of active faults), dendroecology (forest decay), dendrohydorlogy (river flood zones), but also in the examination of the impact of meteorites (dendroastronomy).

fig.1 Campionamento con carotiere Pressler

fig.1 Pressler core sampler

Fig.2 - Campioni su supporti legno

fig.2 – samples on wood support

fig.3 skeleton plot (from:ltrr.arizona.edu)

fig.3 skeleton plot
(from:ltrr.arizona.edu)

fig.4 Velmex equipment

fig. 5 annual growth curve

fig.6 eccentricity curve

9Bis lato A rid 1981

Fig.7 growth suppression of pine on landslide (Sicily – Italy)

fig. 8 classi di riduzioni

fig. 8 growth anomaly calsses

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