Bridging the Gaps in Tree-Ring Records: Creating a High-Resolution Dendrochronological Network for Southeastern Europe

Abstract

Dendrochronological research in North-Central Europe and the East Mediterranean has produced networks of long regional oak (Quercus sp.) reference chronologies that have been instrumental in dating, provenancing, and paleoclimate research applications. However, until now these two important tree-ring networks have not been successfully linked. Oak forests and historical/archaeological sites in southeastern Europe provide the key for linking the North-Central European and East Mediterranean tree-ring networks, but previous dendrochronological research in this region has been largely absent. This article presents the initial results of a project, in which we have built oak tree-ring chronologies from forest sites and historical/archaeological sites along a north-south transect between Poland and northwestern Turkey, with the aim of linking the North-Central European and East Mediterranean tree-ring networks and creating a new pan-European oak data set for dendrochronological dating and paleoclimatic reconstruction. Correlation among tree-ring chronologies and the spatial distribution of their teleconnections are evaluated. The southeastern European chronologies provide a solid bridge between both major European dendrochronological networks. The results indicate that a dense network of chronologies is the key for bridging spatial and temporal gaps in tree-ring records. Dendrochronological sampling should be intensively continued in southeastern Europe because resources for building long oak chronologies in the region are rapidly disappearing.

Potential for a New Multimillennial Tree-Ring Chronology from Subfossil Balkan River Oaks

“…In this issue, Ważny et al (2014) have demonstrated such a link through a north-south transect between Poland and northwestern Turkey.…”

Interpreting the effect of regional climate fluctuations on Quercus robur L. trees under a temperate continental climate (southern Romania)

“…A recent study noted that oak trees from Central and Eastern Europe include characteristics related to oak trees of the study area (Ważny et al, 2014). Although there are several studies for Central and Eastern Europe, (Kern et al, 2013;Čufar et al, 2014;Stajić et al, 2015), the dendroclimatological studies for oak species published that include Romania (Nechita, 2013;Nechita et al, 2017) do not include southern Romania (Vlasiei Plain), which has specific climate-related features.…”

Potential for a New Multimillennial Tree-Ring Chronology from Subfossil Balkan River Oaks

“…Our study region is located at the transition between the Mediterranean and continental climatic influence, making it a significant area to explore crossmatching potential for linking or bridging between the major North European tree-ring chronologies and data sets from the Mediterranean. In this issue, Ważny et al (2014) have demonstrated such a link through a north-south transect between Poland and northwestern Turkey.…”