BOREAS TE-05 Tree Ring and Carbon Isotope Ratio Data Summary These data include tree ring widths and cellulose carbon isotope data from coniferous trees collected at the BOREAS NSA and SSA by the BOREAS TE-05 team. Ring width data are provided for both Picea mariana and Pinus banksiana. The carbon isotope data are provided only for Pinus banksiana. The data are provided in tabular ASCII files. Table of Contents * 1. Data Set Overview * 2. Investigator(s) * 3. Theory of Measurements * 4. Equipment * 5. Data Acquisition Methods * 6. Observations * 7. Data Description * 8. Data Organization * 9. Data Manipulations * 10. Errors * 11. Notes * 12. Application of the Data Set * 13. Future Modifications and Plans * 14. Software * 15. Data Access * 16. Output Products and Availability * 17. References * 18. Glossary of Terms * 19. List of Acronyms * 20. Document Information 1. Data Set Overview 1.1 Data Set Identification BOREAS TE-05 Tree ring and carbon isotope ratio data set 1.2 Data Set Introduction Tree ring widths were collected from trees from Old Black Spruce (OBS) in the BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Southern Study Area (SSA), Upland Black Spruce (UBS) in the Northern Study Area (NSA), and Old Jack Pine (OJP) in the SSA and the NSA. The carbon isotope ratio of cellulose was measured on individual tree rings from 1974 to 1994 for the OJP sites, two trees from each site. 1.3 Objective/Purpose The purpose of this study was to measure year-to-year variation in ring widths and carbon isotope ratios in the conifers at the northern and southern sites. These data were compared with year-to-year variations on meteorological measurements in an attempt to find whether variables have influenced both diameter growth and carbon isotope discrimination. Investigators studied whether controlling climate variables were the same in the north as in the south. 1.4 Summary of Parameters and Variables Annual ring widths (mm) Carbon isotope ratios 1.5 Discussion Tree cores were collected at both the NSA and SSA in both 1993 and 1994 at the OJP, OBS, and OBS (T6R56) sites. These data can be compared to determine differences in growth rates and possible effects of climate variables during the time frame recorded by tree ring widths. The tree ring isotope data ranges can be used to determine the relative concentration of C isotopes based on knowing the relative assimilation by trees at different sites. 1.6 Related Data Sets BOREAS TE-05 Diurnal CO2 Canopy Profile Data BOREAS TE-05 Leaf Carbon Isotope Data International tree ring data base (http://tree.ltrr.arizona.edu/~grissino/itrdb.htm) 2. Investigator(s) 2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title Jim Ehleringer SIRFER Dept. of Biology University of Utah Dr. Larry Flanagan Department of Biological Sciences University of Lethbridge 2.2 Title of Investigation Vegetation-Atmosphere CO2 and H2O Exchange Processes: Stable Isotope Analyses 2.3 Contact Information Contact 1 ------------------------------ J. RenČe Brooks Department of Biology University of South Florida Tampa, FL (813) 974-7352 (813) 974-3563 (fax) jrbrooks@chuma.cas.usf.edu Contact 2 ------------------------------ Dr. Larry Flanagan Department of Biological Sciences University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, Alberta CANADA Contact 3 ------------------------------ Shelaine Curd Raytheon STX Corporation NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD (301) 286-2447 (301) 286-0239 fax shelaine.curd@gsfc.nasa.gov 3. Theory of Measurements Annual variation in tree ring width represents variation in stem growth. Annual variation in delta 13C of cellulose represents the annual variation of carbon isotope discrimination by the tree. For complete information on stable carbon isotope ratios, see Coleman and Fry (1991). The stable carbon isotope ratio (13C/12C) is not presented as an absolute but as the relative difference between the isotope ratios of the sample and standard gases: delta 13C (o/oo) = ((Rsample / Rstandard) -1) * 1000, where Rsample and Rstandard are the 13C/12C ratios of the plant sample and standard Pee Dee Belemite (PDB). The overall precision of the measurements of cellulose materials was ± 0.11 o/oo. 4. Equipment 4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description Isotope ratio mass spectrometer (delta S, Finnigan Mat, San Jose, CA) Measuring stage for tree ring widths (Fred C. Henson, Mission Viego, CA) 4.1.1 Collection Environment NSA and SSA black spruce and jack pine sites. Carbon isotopes of cellulose were measured only for the last 20 years of growth (1994-1974). 4.1.2 Source/Platform Dominant conifer trees which were considered to be those trees that were clearly taller than the surrounding trees, were chosen. 4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between environmental variables and annual variation in tree ring widths and carbon isotope ratios. 4.1.4 Key Variables Year Annual ring widths (mm) Annual cellulose carbon isotope ratios 4.1.5 Principles of Operation None. 4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry Not applicable 4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument Mass spectrometer: Finnigan Mat 355 River Oaks Parkway San Jose, CA 95134 (404) 424-5284 Measuring stage Fred C. Henson Co. 28362 Marguerite Parkway Mission Viego, CA 92691-1523 (714) 831-9192 4.2 Calibration Ring width calibration: Calibration on the measuring stage was checked prior to each use. The nature of the measuring stage is such that the calibration is extremely stable and no adjustments were ever needed. Carbon isotope calibration: The mass spectrometer is calibrated to standard PDB gas. This international standard was a limestone of fossil Belemnitella maericana from the Cretaceous Pee Dee formation in South Carolina. In addition, a standard cellulose sample was run after every 12 cellulose samples. 4.2.1 Specifications None. 4.2.1.1 Tolerance Annual ring widths: Precision: 0.01 mm Carbon isotope ratio Precision: 0.1 4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration Mass spectrometer: 1 in every 12 samples was a cellulose standard. Mass spectrometers are maintained by Craig Cook at the University of Utah. Measuring stage: Calibration was tested prior to every use. 4.2.3 Other Calibration Information None. 5. Data Acquisition Methods At each site, four to six dominant trees were cored or slabs were collected for analysis. All slabs and cores were collected at breast height (1.3 m). Slabs were collected from trees that were destructively harvested for biomass estimates (see other BOREAS Terrestrial Ecology (TE)-06 documentation). In the lab, slabs and cores were sanded so that tree rings were clearly visible. For each tree, ring widths were measured from two directions and averaged together. Prior to measuring ring widths, tree rings were counted along both measuring directions and checked to ensure that each count was the same. Skeletal plots were created for each tree and compared for all trees within a plot to insure comparable dating for all the trees. Aging these trees was very straightforward from diameter at breast height (dbh); however, it was understated that this is not the absolute age of the tree because time and growth were needed for the tree to reach dbh (for more details see: Cook and Kairiukstis, 1990). Each tree ring chronology begins at the last year of growth (1993 or 1994, depending on when the sample was collected) and ends at the year the tree reached 1.3 m (center of the slab). Carbon isotopes of cellulose were measured only for the last 20 years of growth (1994-1974). To collect enough cellulose material for isotope analyses, only tree slabs were used. For each year, sample material was collected from four sides of the slab to ensure annual uniformity. Tree rings were carefully separated using an exacto knife while viewed under a 40x dissecting scope. Care was taken to include tissue only from the year of interest in the sample. Cellulose was extracted from the wood samples following the method outlined in Leavitt and Danzer, (1992). Cellulose samples were then analyzed on the mass spectrometer for delta 13C. 6. Observations 6.1 Data Notes None given. 6.2 Field Notes None given. 7. Data Description 7.1 Spatial Characteristics 7.1.1 Spatial Coverage NSA-OJP flux tower site: Lat/Long: 55.927 N, 98.62 W; Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 14, N:6,197,997 E:523,501. SSA-OJP flux tower site: Lat/Long:53.916 N, 104.69 W: UTM Zone 13, N:5,951,000 E:479,400. NSA-UBS canopy access tower site (auxillary site number T6R5S, BOREAS Experiment Plan, Version 3). SSA-OBS flux tower site: Lat/Long: 53.985 N, 105.122 W; UTM Zone 13, N:5,981,904 E:492,000. 7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map Not available. 7.1.3 Spatial Resolution These data represent point measurements of the sampled trees that may be representative of a larger area. 7.1.4 Projection Not applicable. 7.1.5 Grid Description Not applicable. 7.2 Temporal Characteristics Not applicable. 7.2.1 Temporal Coverage Ring width measurements: NSA-OJP: 1994 - 1939 NSA-UBS (T6R5S): 1994 - 1944 SSA-OJP: 1994 - 1902 SSA-OBS: 1994 -1867 Carbon isotope data: NSA-OJP and SSA-OJP - 1994-1974. 7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map Not applicable. 7.2.3 Temporal Resolution Annual 7.3 Data Characteristics Data characteristics are defined in the companion data definition file (te5treer.def). 7.4 Sample Data Record Sample data format shown in the companion data definition file (te5treer.def). 8. Data Organization 8.1 Data Granularity All of the Tree Ring and Carbon Isotope Ratio Data are contained in one dataset. 8.2 Data Format(s) The data files contain numerical and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with a single apostrophe marks. There are no spaces between the fields. Sample data records are shown in the companion data definition files (.def). 9. Data Manipulations None. 9.1 Formulae None. 9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms None. 9.2 Data Processing Sequence 9.2.1 Processing Steps None. 9.2.2 Processing Changes None. 10. Errors 10.1 Sources of Error Other than normal background error associated with the instrumentation, there are no other sources of error. The overall precision of the measurements of cellulose materials was ± 0.11 o/oo. 10.2 Quality Assessment None given. 10.2.1 Data Validation by Source None given. 10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment None given. 10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters None given. 10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments None given. 10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center Data was examined for general consistency and clarity. 11. Notes 11.1 Limitations of the Data Small sample sizes. 11.2 Known Problems with the Data There are no known problems with the data. 11.3 Usage Guidance None. 11.4 Other Relevant Information None given. 12. Application of the Data Set Tree ring and isotope data can be examined to determine previous climate conditions and how those conditions affect the growth of trees. 13. Future Modifications and Plans None given. 14. Software 14.1 Software Description The ITRDB Program Library Version 2.1 is the latest version of the ITRDB Program Library, an extensive collection of programs to acquire, manipulate, analyze and display tree ring data; they are accompanied by extensive documentation, including online help, and run from an easy-to-use DOS-based menu. Henri D. Grissino-Mayer wrote many of the programs as well as the main menu, Richard L. Holmes contributed the famous Dendrochronology Program Library, and Edward R. Cook contributed the standardization program ARSTAN. Other contributors include Thierry Varem-Sanders, Oriol Bosch, and Paul Krusic, and to them we are very grateful. If you or anybody you work with has developed software you feel would be useful to the entire dendrochronological community, contact Henri D. Grissino-Mayer to see about incorporating the programs in the Program Library. 14.2 Software Access http://tree.ltrr.arizona.edu/~grissino/software.htm For tree ring data: (source: Henri Grissino-Mayer http://tree.ltrr.arizona.edu/~grissino/software.htm) 15. Data Access 15.1 Contact Information Ms. Beth Nelson BOREAS Data Manager NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD (301) 286-4005 (301) 286-0239 (fax) beth@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov 15.2 Data Center Identification See Section 15.1. 15.3 Procedures for Obtaining Data Users may place requests by telephone, electronic mail, or FAX. 15.4 Data Center Status/Plans The TE-05 tree ring and carbon isotope data are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The BOREAS contact at ORNL is: ORNL DAAC User Services Oak Ridge National Laboratory (865) 241-3952 ornldaac@ornl.gov ornl@eos.nasa.gov 16. Output Products and Availability 17. References 17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation None. 17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports Coleman, D.C., and B. Fry. 1991. Carbon Isotope Techniques. Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 273. Cook, E.R., and L.A. Kairiukstis. 1990. Methods of Dendrochronology: Applications in the Environmental Sciences. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 394. Leavitt, S.W., and S.R. Danzer. 1992. Methods for batch processing small wood samples to holocellulose for stable-carbon isotope analysis. Anal. Chem. 65: 87-89. Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 94). Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 96). Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1997. BOREAS Overview Paper. JGR Special Issue (in press). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 94). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1997. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1996 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, H. Margolis, B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi, G. den Hartog, J. Cihlar, M.G. Ryan, B. Goodison, P. Crill, K.J. Ranson, D. Lettenmaier, and D.E. Wickland. 1995. The boreal ecosystem-atmosphere study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 76(9):1549-1577. 17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation 18. Glossary of Terms delta 13C, or d13C - stable carbon isotope ratio 19. List of Acronyms BOREAS - BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study BORIS - BOREAS Information System DAAC - Distributed Active Archive Center dbh - Diameter at breat-height EOS - Earth Observing System EOSDIS - EOS Data and Information System GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration NSA - Northern Study Area OBS - Old Black Spruce OJP - Old Jack Pine ORNL - Oak Ridge National Laboratory PANP - Prince Albert National Park SSA - Southern Study Area UBS - Upland Black Spruce URL - Uniform Resource Locator UTM - Universal Transverse Mercator 20. Document Information 20.1 Document Revision Date(s) Written: 3-Apr-1997 Last Updated: 08-May-1998 20.2 Document Review Date(s) BORIS Review: 18-Jun-1997 Science Review:27-Jan-1998 20.3 Document ID 20.4 Citation The efforts of Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah; Larry Flanagan, Carleton University; J. Renee Brooks, University of South Florida in collecting and providing these data are greatly appreciated. 20.5 Document Curator 20.6 Document URL Keywords Tree Ring Carbon Isotopes TE05_Tree_Ring.doc Page 8 of 12 05/26/98