CRUI: Historic Patterns of Fog Utilization and Climate Variability Using Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis of Redwood Tree Ring Cellulose.

雾是红杉（Sequoia sempervirens）森林的重要水资源。植物获得雾的可能性可能取决于许多气候因素，如海面温度（厄尔尼诺事件）和干旱。本研究的目的是利用水源和树轮纤维素的稳定同位素分析来量化红木树木对雾的历史利用模式。这是一个跨学科的项目，它将生物学、生物地球化学、古气候学、生态系统水文学、海洋学和气象学等不同领域的研究联系起来。该研究将为了解与雾水利用相关的气候信号如何记录在树木年轮中奠定基础。已经采伐的古代红木可以提供1000多年来重要气候周期的周期性和强度的重建。这些树木的水文输入的历史记录对于了解气候变化、气候变化以及森林管理措施如何影响这种濒危生态系统的活力至关重要。拟议的研究将主要利用水源和树轮纤维素的稳定同位素分析来确定红木树木现在和过去对雾水的利用。同位素是生物和生物圈内变化的被动示踪剂。附近气象站的天气记录将用于将最近的树木年轮信号与最近的气候事件进行校准。目前的环境条件和水源也将被量化，以加强将纤维素同位素组成和气候联系起来的建模工作。

Fog represents a significant water resource for redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests. The availability of fog for plants may depend on a number of climatic factors, such as sea surface temperatures (El Nino events) and drought. The objective of this study is to quantify historic fog utilization patterns by redwood trees using stable isotope analysis of water sources and tree-ring cellulose. This is an interdisciplinary project that links diverse fields of study such as biology, biogeochemistry, paleoclimatology, ecosystem hydrology, oceanography and meteorology. This study will lay the foundation for understanding how the climatic signals associated with fog water utilization are recorded in tree-rings. Slabs of already harvested ancient Redwood trees could provide 1000+ year reconstructions of the periodicity and strength of important climatic cycles. A historic record of hydrologic inputs for these trees is critical for understanding how climatic change, climatic variation as well as forest management practices influence the vigor of this endangered ecosystem. The proposed research will primarily use stable isotope analysis of water sources and tree-ring cellulose to determine current and past fog water utilization by Redwood trees. Isotopes are passive tracers of transformations within organisms and the biosphere. Weather records from nearby stations will be used to calibrate recent tree ring signals with recent climatic events. Current environmental conditions and water sources will also be quantified to enhance modeling efforts to link cellulose isotopic composition and climate.