Analysis of Growth Rings (2)

Growth ring patterns recur in samples from trees with the same area. This can be used for comparison and age determination regarding individual trees. The samples shown below contain patterns with known years marked out: 

1847: very thin latewood;

1859: thin and small;

1860: clearer, thicker; 

1861: always a small growth ring.  

Growth rings can also show release effects that occur when sudden changes in the tree's environment lead to particularly favorable growth conditions. These changes include forest fires, storms or direct human impact, such as felling. When the surrounding trees disappear, the increase in light and nutrient supply benefits the remaining individual tree.

In this manner, the growth rings describes the past of each tree; these rings also provide valuable information about the context of the tree.