Short Description
The Core Facility “Climate and Dendrosciences” is an integrated research and service platform dedicated to investigating tree growth, environmental conditions, and isotope-geochemical climate signals. It combines dendrochronology, continuous environmental monitoring, remote sensing, and standardized sample preparation for stable isotope mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS).
Sample separation of stem discs and increment cores is carried out using the precision cutting machine Mecatome 205, ensuring structurally consistent surfaces. Subsequent vacuum drying in the Thermo Scientific VO29 guarantees reproducible moisture conditions. Optical tree-ring width measurements are performed with the high-resolution SKIPPY system, enabling micrometer-precise digital measurements, semi-automated ring boundary detection, and statistically validated chronology building (cross-dating).
For isotope-geochemical analyses, micro-segmented tree-ring samples undergo standardized α-cellulose extraction. Homogenization is performed using the Hielscher VialTweeter. After drying, samples are weighed in the microgram range using the Sartorius Cubis ultra-microbalance and prepared for EA-IRMS analysis.
In addition, the Core Facility operates automated dendrometers for continuous monitoring of intra-annual stem radius variations. Environmental monitoring stations provide high-resolution data on temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, radiation, and relative humidity. Drone platforms capture vegetation structure, canopy dynamics, and stress indicators using multispectral sensors. These datasets are integrated with satellite-based remote sensing products and climatological big-data archives, enabling multi-scale analyses from individual trees to landscape levels. By integrating field sensor systems, remote sensing, big-data analytics, high-resolution imaging, and mass spectrometric techniques, the Core Facility provides a quality-assured infrastructure for investigating climatic and ecological processes across seasonal to multi-decadal timescales.
Contact Person
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Geograf Dr. Jussi Grießinger
Research Services
1. Dendrochronological services
• Precise tree ring width measurement (optical, SKIPPY)
• Cross-dating and statistical validation of tree ring chronologies
• Creation of dendrochronological time series for growth analyses
2. Isotope analysis services
• α-cellulose extraction from tree ring segments
• Ultrasonic homogenization and sample preparation
• Microgram-accurate weighing for EA-IRMS
• Determination of stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ¹⁵N)
• Consulting on the interpretation of isotope-based climate signals
3. Field measurement and monitoring services
• Installation and operation of dendrometers for continuous trunk radius monitoring
• Use and maintenance of environmental measuring stations (temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, radiation)
• Collection and processing of high-resolution climate data
4. Remote sensing and drone-based services
• Multispectral vegetation and canopy dynamics recording with drones
• Integration of drone and satellite data (remote sensing)
• Big data analysis to derive climatic and ecological patterns
5. Data analysis & consulting
• Integration of laboratory and field data (laboratory-field coupling)
• Analysis of temporal growth and climate data at the individual tree to landscape level
• Consulting on the use of data for dendroclimatological, ecological, or forestry science issues
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
Laboratory and analytical methods
• Coverage of all necessary analysis steps in sample preparation of tree rings for tree ring width measurement and EA- IRMS analysis
• Field and environmental methods
• Dendrometer monitoring for the analysis of growth dynamics.
• Environmental measuring stations for recording various environmental variables
• Drone and remote sensing for multispectral recording of vegetation structure, crown dynamics, and stress indicators.
• Big data integration between remote sensing, environmental, and paleoclimatological data sets for cross-scale analyses.
Expertise
• Combination of laboratory methods and field monitoring for comprehensive dendroclimatological studies.
• High-precision, reproducible sample preparation and analysis.
• Integration of time-resolved growth data with climatological and remote sensing data.
• Statistical validation of tree-ring chronologies and isotope-based climate signals.
• Investigation of ecological and climatic processes from the individual tree to the landscape level.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, China
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Geographie, Germany
Universidad Austral de Chile, Chile
WSL Birmensdorf, Switzerland