Course Description
Tree rings are a powerful natural archive for addressing research questions across a range of spatial and temporal scales, owing to the fact that they are annually resolved, long-lived (e.g., multi-century) and cover a large portion of the Earth's surface. Tree rings reflect changes in their local environment, and they are sensitive to factors that limit biological processes, such as light, soil moisture, temperature and disturbance. Environment changes are 'encoded' in the physical properties of treerings (e.g., ring width, wood density or isotopes). This course will provide students with the theoretical background and technical skills needed to cross-date, measure, analyse and interpret tree-ring data, and use this information to address practical research questions.
Distribution Requirement: Science
Lecture hours: 12
Practicum hours: 24
Prerequisite: 9.0 credits including [ GGR276H5 and ( GGR214H5 or GGR227H5) or permission of instructor]
It was great how every lecture session built upon itself. It's very progressive in a sense of feeling like an actual tree-ring scientist in the end.
Core Skills Developed
- learn fundamental theory underpinning the field of dendrochronology
- immersive lab and field-based experiential learning in tree-ring science
- microscopy, data collection, data analysis and visualisation, numeracy, and science literacy and communication