Reading the rings
But translating what the rings tell scientists about the climate isn't easy - because climate isn't the only thing that can affect how thick the annual rings grow.
'It isn't just about sunshine and rainfall. It's also things like how fertile the soil is, how old the tree is, and whether there has been any insect attack. We have to separate all these things out to see what the climate signal is.'
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'Rather than cutting down trees, we work by drilling a small core through the tree. It doesn't harm the tree and we get the record.' Keith Briffa, UEA
Image: Climate Research Unit, UEA |
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