Dendrochronology has developed into a leading method for recording and monitoring climate change, natural ecological processes, and human-caused changes in the environment. The annual nature of tree growth permits trees to serve as a bio-recorder for the duration of their lifetime. By studying these annual growth rings, we can determine how forests have changed over time and relate growth with ecological (e.g., land use change, insect outbreaks, forest fires) and climatic (e.g., precipitation, temperature, drought) factors. We can also use those annual growth rings to determine felling (inferred construction) dates of prehistoric and historic wooden artifacts and buildings.
Tree rings are an important tool for understanding forest dynamics and climatic variability on a multi-century scale. Our research is an applied science that focuses on annual resolution information about climate, disturbance regimes, and cultural history.
Current dendroarchaeological and dendroecological projects are being conducted in North Carolina and Virginia:
- We have a working partnership with Hart Square Foundation (https://hartsquare.com/) to date numerous log structures on their NC property
- We are continuing efforts to date historic log buildings in the Shenandoah Valley, VA with collaborative partner Shenandoah County Historical Society (https://shenandoahhistory.org/)
- We are assessing tree encroachment in a high elevation bog in NC as part of a larger project supported by a RIEEE Concert Research Grant Appal BogNet: A Canopy to Bedrock Monitoring Network of climate sensitive high mountain forests and bogs
Graduate student Joshua McClellan collects a core sample from a historic oak log at Hart Square Village, Vale NC.
Come Study With Us! If you're interested in joining a dynamic laboratory engaged in active dendrochronological research to further your undergraduate or graduate experience, contact Dr. de Graauw (degraauwkk@appstate.edu) and I’ll be glad to talk with you about opportunities I have available.