Beech latewood density as a proxy for temperature reconstruction
Maximum latewood density of conifers is the most widely used annual-resolution summer temperature proxy. Regions with few conifers, however, remain underrepresented in global paleoclimate records. Here, we use x-ray micro–computed tomography (micro-CT) to show that latewood density measurements of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in a temperate lowland forest exhibit a strong summer (May to September) temperature signal (r = 0.73; 1833 to 2022 CE). Complementary wood anatomical analyses using deep learning segmentation reveal that both vessel and fiber anatomy are key drivers of latewood density variability and its temperature sensitivity. By integrating these anatomical responses, x-ray micro-CT–based latewood density measurements generate a robust and temporally stable summer temperature signal. Our results highlight the untapped potential of broad-leaved tree species for density-based climate reconstructions in temperate regions and open previously unidentified avenues for high-resolution paleoclimatology beyond the use of conifers. Beech latewood density provides a robust summer temperature signal, expanding climate reconstructions beyond conifers.
Details
| Volume | 12 |
|---|---|
| Magazine issue | 27 |
| Type | A1: Web of Science-article |
| Category | Research |
| Magazine | SCIENCE ADVANCES |
| Issns | 2375-2548 |
| Language | English |
Bibtex
@article{f19a9907-5f00-416f-a7ee-dbdc50ac90d5,
title = "Beech latewood density as a proxy for temperature reconstruction",
abstract = "Maximum latewood density of conifers is the most widely used annual-resolution summer temperature proxy. Regions with few conifers, however, remain underrepresented in global paleoclimate records. Here, we use x-ray micro–computed tomography (micro-CT) to show that latewood density measurements of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in a temperate lowland forest exhibit a strong summer (May to September) temperature signal (r = 0.73; 1833 to 2022 CE). Complementary wood anatomical analyses using deep learning segmentation reveal that both vessel and fiber anatomy are key drivers of latewood density variability and its temperature sensitivity. By integrating these anatomical responses, x-ray micro-CT–based latewood density measurements generate a robust and temporally stable summer temperature signal. Our results highlight the untapped potential of broad-leaved tree species for density-based climate reconstructions in temperate regions and open previously unidentified avenues for high-resolution paleoclimatology beyond the use of conifers. Beech latewood density provides a robust summer temperature signal, expanding climate reconstructions beyond conifers.",
author = "Louis Verschuren and Vladimir Matskovsky and Matthieu N. Boone and Pieter De Frenne and Tom De Mil and Kristof Haneca and Shashidhara Marathe and Charlotte Pearson and Christoph Rau and Ute Sass-Klaassen and Joris Van Acker and Kris Vandekerkhove and Kaz Wanelik and Julia Weidemüller and Valerie Trouet and Jan Van den Bulcke",
year = "2026",
month = jul,
day = "03",
doi = "10.1126/sciadv.aee1305",
language = "English",
publisher = "Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek",
address = "Belgium",
}
Authors
Louis VerschurenVladimir Matskovsky
Matthieu N. Boone
Pieter De Frenne
Tom De Mil
Kristof Haneca
Shashidhara Marathe
Charlotte Pearson
Christoph Rau
Ute Sass-Klaassen
Joris Van Acker
Kris Vandekerkhove
Kaz Wanelik
Julia Weidemüller
Valerie Trouet
Jan Van den Bulcke