Stable carbon isotopic composition of tree rings from a pine tree from Augustów Wilderness, Poland, as a temperature and local environment conditions indicator*

Abstract

Tree rings can be used as archives of climatic and environmental data with annual resolution. Tree rings widths, maximum late wood density and other parameters as stable composition in tree rings can be used for the reconstruction of past climatic and environmental changes. Stable carbon isotope ratios in tree rings may provide valuable information on past climatic conditions. 13C/12C ratios of plant organic matter can reflect corresponding 13C/12C ratio of atmospheric CO2 during formation of the rings. Investigations of isotopic carbon composition in tree rings from in the ecologically clean the Augustów Wilderness region in the north-eastern part of Poland (22°58′E, 53°51′N) (nowadays a sanctuary) were undertaken. Series of δ13C in α-cellulose and in wholewood were acquired. Those measurements constituted a part of more complex investigations of carbon isotope composition in tree rings including the measurements of radiocarbon concentration and tree ring widths. This article presents preliminary results. It is argued that contrary to the tree ring widths and δ13C in wholewood that do not reveal significant correlation with temperature, the variation of δ13C in the latewood α-cellulose is correlated with combined July and August temperatures. Revised form of a paper presented on the 6th Isotope Workshop of the European Society for Isotope Research June 29 to July 4 2002, Tallinn, Estonia.