• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2003

This study was carried out to examine the heavy metal concentrations in soils under roadside trees and tree ring layers, and to investigate the relationship between heavy metal concentrations and tree ring growth of roadside trees in Seoul. Soil samples at $0{\sim}20\;cm$ depth and tree line were collected from Platanus occidentalis and Ginkgo biloba at nine streets, and pH and heavy Metal concentrations were analyzed. Soil pH ranged from 6.62 to 8.01 and soil heavy metal concentrations under roadside trees were higher (Zn 109.03, Pb 26.49 and Cu 44.98 mg/kg) compared with those of the referred forest soils. Soils at Cheonggye2ga street showed the highest heavy metal concentrations, and seemed to be related to heavy traffic and dense hardware stores. Tree ring width significantly decreased from 1979 through 2000 for both species. There were positive correlations between Cr, Pb and Cu concentrations in soils and tree ring layers for P. occidentalis and Ni for G. biloba. However, there were negative correlations between Cr concentration in tree ring layers and tree ring width for P. occidentalis, and Ni and Cu for G. biloba. Also there were no significant correlations between climatic factors in Seoul and tree ring width.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2022

To analyze the relationship between climatic factors (mean monthly temperature and total precipitation) and tree-ring growths of Pinus densiflora S. et Z. from National Parks (according to region) of the Korea, 20 trees were sampled from 13 National Parks. Only trees that were successfully cross-dated were used for dendrochronological analysis, and at least 11 trees were included. The tree-ring chronology of Mt. Bukhan (covering the shortest period of 1917 - 2016 [100 years]) was assessed, as well as that of Mt. Seorak (covering the longest period of 1687 - 2017 [331 years]). After cross-dating, each ring width series was double-standardized by first fitting a logarithmic curve and then a 50-year cubic spline. The relationships between climate and tree-ring growth were calculated with response function analysis. The results show a significant positive correlation between a given year's February-March temperature, May precipitation levels, and tree-ring growth. It indicates that a higher temperature in early spring and precipitation before cambium activity are important for radial growths of Pinus densiflora in the Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.661-670
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• 2017

50-year tree-ring ${\delta}^{18}O$ chronologies (1966~2015) for principle conifer tree species (Taxus cuspidata, Pinus koraiensis, Abies koreana) and Quercus mongolica at subalpine zone in Mt. Jiri were established. The establishing of tree-ring ${\delta}^{18}O$ chronologies for each tree species were fulfilled using four trees, which showed the good result in cross-dating. In the comparisons between tree-ring ${\delta}^{18}O$ chronologies within the same tree species all tree species showed reliable results statistically (p < 0.001), and they also showed EPS higher than 0.85. In addition to, the reliable correlations (p < 0.001) were verified between tree-ring ${\delta}^{18}O$ chronologies of four tree species, as well. In the response function analysis in order to investigate the relationships between tree-ring ${\delta}^{18}O$ chronologies and corresponding climatic factors, i.e., monthly precipitation and mean temperature, T. cuspidata showed a negative correlation with May precipitation (p < 0.05) and A. koreana showed a negative correlation with April precipitation (p < 0.05). If long tree-ring ${\delta}^{18}O$ chronologies of T. cuspidata and A. koreana will be established, it will be possible to reconstruct April and May precipitation in the past when we have no the meteorological data.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.515-525
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• 2016

The Palsangjeon Pagoda is a five-story wooden building in the Beopjusa Temple area in the Songnisan national park in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. According to historical records, it was constructed in either AD 1605 or AD 1626. To specify the construction year more precisely, we took 41 wood samples for tree-ring analysis during repair actions in 2013; 28 from red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.), 12 from oak (Quercus spp.), and 1 from fir (Abies spp.). The tree-ring boundaries became clearly visible by smoothing their cross-sectional surface and the tree-ring widths were measured under a stereo microscope. All tree-ring series were compared with each other to establish mean chronologies, which we then compared with local master chronologies established using tree rings collected from wooden elements of the Daeungjeon Hall which is the main building in the Beopjusa Temple area. As a result, it was verified that the red pines were felled in AD 1624 and in AD 1851. Moreover, it was verified that the oaks were also felled in AD 1624 based on cross-dating with the red pine chronology. We concluded that the Palsangjeon Wooden Pagoda was constructed in AD 1626, as mentioned in the historical record (Daeungdaekwangmyeongjeonbulsangki, 1630) and the letters on a purlin on the $4^{th}$ story, using oak and red pine felled in AD 1624 and repaired later on using red pine felled in AD 1851.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2013

This study aims to date wooden coffins excavated from graves in Shinnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea, using dendrochronology. The species of woods used to make the coffins were identified as Pinus densiflora S. et Z., one of the major conifers in Korea. Of 12 graves, 10 were successfully dated using various red-pine chronologies of South Korea. Due to the absence of the last-formed tree ring before felling, the number of sapwood rings, used to obtain likely cutting dates, had to be estimated. The terminus post quem for two coffins without plaster frames were AD 1548 and AD 1571, respectively. Eight coffins with plaster frames yielded estimated dates from AD 1664 to AD 1799. The tree-ring dates indicated that the coffins with plaster frames in Shinnae-dong were constructed approximately 100 years later than those without plaster frames.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2007

A wide tree-ring data network from Western Himalayan region as well as from Central and Peninsular India have been established by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India. This includes several ring width and density chronologies of Himalayan conifers (Pinus, Picea, Cedrus, Abies)covering entire area of Western Himalaya and teak (Tectona grandis L.F.) from central and peninsular India. Many of these chronologies go back to $15^{th}$ century. Tree-ring based reconstructed pre-monsoon (March-April-May) summer climate of Western Himalaya do not show any significant increasing or decreasing trend since past several centuries. High altitude tree-ring chronologies near tree line-glacier boundary are sensitive to the winter temperature. Unprecedented higher growth in recent decades is closely associated with the warming trend over the Himalayan region. Dendroclimatic analysis of teak (Tectona grandis) from Central and Peninsular India show significant relationship with pre-monsoon and monsoon climate. Moisture index over the region indicates strong association with tree-ring variations rather than the direct influence of rainfall. It is evident that, two to three consecutive good monsoon years are capable of maintaining normal or above normal tree growth, even though the following year is low precipitation year.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3 s.131
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

Tree-ring chronologies can be used to date historical buildings or furnitures by matching them with chronologies of living trees. Tree-ring dating gives a calendar year to each tree ring and produces the cutting dates of logs or woods. In this study, we intend to extend our tree-ring dating applications to Korean furnitures. As a case study, we examined two traditional furnitures, one cabinet 'Jang' and the other chest, 'Bandaji'. The cutting date of the cabinet woods was A.D. 1839. The date of the outmost ring in the chest was A.D. 1904. Due to no bark present, the cutting date of the chest was only estimated as $1930{\pm}10$ by 'sapwood rings' estimation method. Ring-width pattern of the latter one also indicated that the origin of the chest must be Kangwon province. This case study suggests that tree-ring dating would be a useful and accurate method to identify the critical dates for the chronicles of Korean traditional furnitures.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.229-233
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Soil acidification, which is known to be one of the reasons of forest decline, is associated with decreases in exchangeable Ca and increases in Al concentration, leading to low Ca/Al ratio in soil solution. As tree rings are datable archives of environmental changes, Ca/Al ratios of annual growth ring may show decreasing pattern in accordance with the progress of soil acidification. This study was conducted to investigate Ca/Al pattern of Pinus densiflora tree ring in an attempt to test its usefulness as an indicator of historical soil acidification. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three P. densiflora tree disks were collected from P. densiflora forests in Jeonnam province, and soil samples (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm in depth) were also collected from the tree locations. Soils were analyzed for pH and exchangeable Ca and Al concentrations, and Ca/Al was calculated. Annual growth rings formed between 1969 and 2007 were separated and analyzed for Ca/Al. Soil Ca/Al was positively (P<0.01) correlated with soil pH, suggesting that soil acidification decreased Ca while increasing Al availability, lowering Ca/Al in soil solution. The Ca/Al of tree rings also showed a decreasing pattern from 18.2 to 5.5 during the period, and this seemed to reflect historical acidification of the soils. CONCLUSION(s): The relationship between soil pH and Ca/Al and the decreasing pattern of Ca/Al of tree ring suggest that Ca/Al of tree ring needs to be considered as a proxy of the progress of soil acidification in P. densiflora forest in southern Korea.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.35-43
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• 2010

To examine the relationship between climate and tree-ring growth of Pinus densiflora S. et Z. growing in the ridges of the Baekdudaegan, it was analyzed the sample cores of 48 trees were collected from 21 sites. After the pattern of tree rings of all Pinus densiflora were cross-dating each other, it was recognized the growth of Pinus densiflora was affected by climate largely when tree-ring chronologies were standardized to remove the age-related growth. As a cluster analysis was conducted to examine the similarity of chronologies, three clusters were classified, the tree-ring growths of Pinus densiflora was not by regional or elevational gradients but by the growth tree-ring width amplitude as micro-site growth environments. Correlation coefficients between the chronologies of three clusters and monthly climate (temperature and precipitation) factors were obtained. As a result, tree-ring growth of Pinus densiflora was more affected by temperature than precipitation and the trees of high-growth cluster possessed less climatic influences.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2021

This study aimed to conduct tree-ring dating and analysis of the materials used for the wooden coffins excavated from the ruins of Sipjeong-dong, Incheon. The tree species for the 10 wooden coffin materials was identified as pine. For accurate tree-ring measurement, the cross section was polished using sandpaper. The annual ring width was measured with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. Since the five materials were consistent with each other in dendrochronology, a representative annual ring chronology of 83 years was prepared. The prepared representative annual ring chronology was compared with the standard annual ring chronology, and the outermost ring of the wooden coffin was confirmed to correspond to the year 1575, suggesting that the wooden coffin was produced in the late 16th century. In addition, microscopic observation and FT-IR analysis revealed that the fibers attached to the surface of the wooden coffin were fibroin (Silk), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Py-GC/MS analysis showed that the paint left on the surface of the wooden coffin was lacquer.