Reading in rings

1994/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Historia

Trees are like people, wrinkle and age. In our territory, a wrinkle or ring is added to the trees every spring. Therefore, we have known ancient trees measuring and counting concentric rings.

The growth ring depends on the climate of the year, ranging from 0.1 to 5 millimeters thick. The year of heavy rain produces a thick ring and that of drought a fine ring.

The thickness sequence provides the so-called dendrochronological profile and allows the dating of the wood compared to the samples used as reference. The dating of the piece of wood can be done well if it has more than eighty rings. If you have less security it is not possible.

The Second World War in Dendrochronology is developing in Germany since the end of World War II and for oak have fixed the chronology of the last 9,000 years.