Laboratory for Dendroclimatology

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

last updated: June 23, 2025

About the Laboratory

Laboratory for Dendroclimatology

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

@ Section 4.6 Geomorphology

This Laboratory is part of:

Networks: Geo.X

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Description

The Dendroclimatology Laboratory serves for the reconstruction of temporal and spatial variability of the climate of the past utilizing multi-parameter tree ring analysis.

Aims:

to reconstruct the temporal and spatial variability of the climate of the past utilizing multi-parameter tree ring analysis
to assess and verify the causes of climate change and its impact on woody plants

Tasks:

quantitative analysis of the climate-signal transfer from atmosphere through soil and leaf into the wood of tree rings (Monitoring, calibration and verification of tree ring parameters vs. instrumental data),
to establish multi-centennial to millennium long time series of tree-ring parameters (ring width, cellstructure parameters, stable isotope ratios) for networks of sites from selected regions of the earth, and
comparative study of time series of climate proxies from different geo-archives (varved sediments, spelethemes, corals etc.).

Instruments

A pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing distant objects. Most are sized to be held using both hands, although sizes vary widely from opera glasses to large pedestal mounted military models. Group: Instrument_Details Entry_ID: BINOCULAR Group: Instrument_Identification Instrument_Category: In Situ/Laboratory Instruments Instrument_Class: Photon/Optical Detectors Short_Name: BINOCULAR Long_Name: BINOCULAR End_Group Online_Resource: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/BER_BLA/BINOCULAR_INSTRUMENT.html Sample_Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Binocularp.svg/450px-Binocularp.svg.png Creation_Date: 2010-08-31 End_Group (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
Binocular
Binocular Microscope, Stereo Microscope
Optical Scanner
Laser Microdissection Microscope
LAM, LCM
CSLM - Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope
Confocal Microscope, LCSM, Laser Confocal Scanning Microscope
Laboratory methods using special instruments, or microtomes, to cut very thin slices of specimens for microscopic studies. (Source: USGS; https://apps.usgs.gov/thesaurus/term-simple.php?thcode=2&code=741)
Microtome
Sliding Microtome
Saw
Increment Borer
Belt Sander
HTTP-IRMS - High-Temperature Pyrolysis Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer
Measurement and study of the relative abundances of the different isotopes of an element in a material using a mass spectrometer. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
IRMS - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer
Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer

Analytical Methods

Study of the variations in width and number of tree rings to date historical events and to study periods of climatic and hydrologic changes. (Source: USGS; https://apps.usgs.gov/thesaurus/term-simple.php?thcode=2&code=1188)
Tree Ring Analysis
MICROSCOPES are instruments that magnify the image of small objects.
Laboratory methods using instruments that employ optical lenses or radiation to study objects too small to be seen by the naked eye. (Source: USGS; https://apps.usgs.gov/thesaurus/term-simple.php?thcode=2&code=740) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
Microscopy
CSLM - Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy
Confocal Microscopy, LCSM, Laser Confocal Scanning Microscopy
LMD - Laser Microdissection
LAM, LCM, Laser Capture Microdissection, Laser-assisted Microdissection, Microdissection
Laboratory methods using special instruments, or microtomes, to cut very thin slices of specimens for microscopic studies. (Source: USGS; https://apps.usgs.gov/thesaurus/term-simple.php?thcode=2&code=741)
Microtomy
HTP-IRMS - High-Temperature Pyrolysis Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
Measurement and study of the relative abundances of the different isotopes of an element in a material using a mass spectrometer. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
IRMS - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Cellulose Extraction
Dendrochronology
Tree-ring Measurement
Wood Chemistry
δ¹³C
δ¹⁸O

Disciplines

Geoscience > Paleogeosciences > Paleoclimate
Paleoclimate
Geoscience > Paleogeosciences > Paleoenvironmental Change
Paleoenvironmental Change
Geoscience > Paleogeosciences > Paleogeoscience
Paleogeoscience
Interdisciplinary > Biology/Ecosystems Science > Biology
Biology

Links

Key Publications: