Arctic shrubs record the history of the region – from volcanic cooling to traces of ancient Viking settlements. Prof. Magdalena Opała-Owczarek’s team from the University of Silesia uses microscopic rings of long-lived junipers and polar willows to reconstruct the climatic conditions of several centuries ago. Using not only contemporary samples but also forgotten botanical collections from museums in Copenhagen, London, and Washington, researchers are reconstructing the history of Arctic weather dating back to the 16th century. Their growth rings reveal the effects of eruptions of volcanoes such as Laki and Tambora, which were capable of lowering temperatures by several degrees. Arctic dendrochronology, previously marginalised, is now becoming the key to understanding past and future climate change.
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No. 2(12) (2025)
Published: 2025-11-21
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