Estimating uncertainty in pooled stable isotope time-series from tree-rings

Woodley, E.J.; Loader, N.J.; McCarroll, D.; Young, G.H.F.; Robertson, I.; Heaton, T.H.E.; Gagen, M.H.. 2012 Estimating uncertainty in pooled stable isotope time-series from tree-rings. Chemical Geology, 294-295. 243-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.12.008

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text
CHEMGE-S-11-002651.pdf
Download (257kB) | Preview

Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...

Abstract/Summary

Stable carbon isotope time-series (δ13C) from tree-rings are capable of providing valuable palaeoclimatic information, but analysis of individual tree-rings is time consuming and expensive. Pooling material from several tree-rings prior to isotopic analysis reduces costs, but does not allow the magnitude of uncertainty in the mean δ13C chronology to be calculated unless the pool is broken and each tree-ring measured individually at regular intervals. Here we use a comparison of pooled and mean individual (the arithmetic mean of isotopic data from tree series measured individually) δ13C records between AD 1650 and 2007, comprising cores from 21 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees growing in the western Highlands of Scotland. The aim is to determine whether the true error structure of the time series is better captured by using the overall mean error estimate for the entire time series or by linear interpolation between the equally spaced measurements. We conclude that where autocorrelation exists within the error structure of a chronology, annual estimates of 95% confidence intervals, developed through linear interpolation at 5-year or 10-year intervals, are preferable to using the overall mean uncertainty. The method outlined increases the viability of pooled δ13C records for palaeoclimatic research by retaining error structure whilst reducing analytical time and costs. The method is applied here using tree-ring data, but could theoretically be applied to any well-replicated time-series.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.12.008
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2010 > NERC Isotope Geoscience Laboratory
ISSN:	0009-3541
Date made live:	23 Jan 2012 13:50 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16457

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.12.008

Programmes:

BGS Programmes 2010 > NERC Isotope Geoscience Laboratory

ISSN:

0009-3541

Date made live:

23 Jan 2012 13:50 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16457