The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-09
Todays Science
BY DAVID DIETZ-

A RECORD of weather and life, season by season,
back through the years to prehistoric times, is
to be found in the rings of the giant trees of western
America. 1t is record that takes man back to the
discovery of America, back to the days of the ear
Hest Indians, back to the glacial age itself.
Once science completely comprehends this record
many puzzles, not only concerning the weather it
self but concerning the solar cosnic forces which
influence the weather, will be solved
The pioneer in this study of three rings is DR. A
E. Douglass, professor of astronomy of the Unver-
Sity of Arizona. 1t my good fortune some years
ago on trip through Arizona to spend several DAYS
in Tucson visiting the Steward observatory of which
Dr. Douglass is the director and going his work
on tree rings
Within the last few years the Carnegie Institution
of Washington has become greatly interested in the
whole subject of cycles in nature The institution
has financed number of studies, both of tree rings
and of other phenomena in which the occurrence of
cycles in nature can be studied.
IF a cross section of tree is examined series
4 of concentric rings can be found upon it. Each
ring represents years growth. DR.. Douglass began
to wonder in the course of drive through the Ari-
forest if by any chance the sunspot cycle in
fluenced the annual growth of trees If it did the
result should be found in the thickness of the tree
rings.
Moreover, if such influence did exist then the
rings of the gigantic and ancient trees would enable
scientists to push the sunspot records back many
centuries prior to the keeping of scientific records
affect the trees directly, but acted through some
intermediate climatic factor.
IF one carefully examines section of trees which
lived together neighbors he will notice that the
rings not all of the same size but that in many
cases they vary great deal in width from narrow
to average and up to big" DR.. Waldo S. Clock of
the Carnegie Institution of Washington says. DR..
Clock is stationed at the University of Arizona in
Tucson
"a passing acquaintanceship will reveal this vari-
alton in width" he continues Permanent friend
ship, however, will establish such familiarity with
the individual rings of a single specimen that the
identical rings can be recognized in an adjacent
tree Therein lies not only the thrill of discovery
but also one of the secrets of reading tree rings
EVERGREEN trees, such pine, fir and pnon,
u most easily studied according to Dr. Clock.
With the coming of spring the tree awakens
rather suddenly from it's winter sleep" he says.
Growth is rapid at first and the wood formed is
light-colored and porous. As summer advances,
growth gradually Slackens. The ight-colored wood
merges into band which is darker and denser.
When winter shuts down, the tree closes shop so
to speak, and all growth ceases so abruptly that
sharp line marks the outside boundary of the wood
put down during the spring and summer.
Therefore an annual ring consists of the light
colored wood or spring growth plus the dark-coored
wood or summer growth, and it is marked off by a
sharp line at its beginning and one at its end"