What Does a Dendrochronologist Do

A dendrochronologist measures the creation of ever-widening circles of tree rings in the trunks of trees as a yearly growth phenomenon. Though this only occurs in some tree species and varies depending on the climate, it is seen as an accurate means of dating past events. It is a field of science often used in climatology studies by botanists and foresters, as well as in the field of human archeology.

• Collect samples of tree ring data from specific climate regions and species of trees.
• Gather current tree ring growth samples and work back in time to reconstruct climate changes.
• Collect tree ring data from old timbers used in buildings and petrified wood or logs preserved from decay in peat bogs.
• Graph samples using computer to produce accurate reference data sets for determining changes in climate.
• Use large databases of tree ring data, such as The International Tree Ring Data Bank managed by NOAA, to reconstruct past climate changes.
• Analyze tree ring data to trace social and cultural patterns, industrial pollution effects, and natural environmental changes.
• Interpret long range trends recorded in tree rings to forecast possible future climate trends.