Scientists can decode the pattern of a tree’s growth rings to learn which years were warm or cool, and which were wet or dry. Scientists combine the ring patterns in living trees with wood from trees that lived long ago, such as the wood found in old logs, wooden furniture, buildings like log cabins, and wooden ships, in order to build a longer historical record of climate than the lifespan of a single tree can provide. You can decode tree ring data to learn about past climates and extreme weather events using a simple simulation.
Using Tree Rings for Past Weather and Climate
- 11 And Over
- Climate Change
- Pollution
- Research