Rings Of Change

“At The Kauri Museum in Matakohe biologist Dr Jonathan Palmer explains a novel approach to assessing global climate change — by analysing the rings of ancient kauri trees,” Chris Kilham writes for Fox News. “By analysing samples of wood from the cores of ancient kauri trees, scientists have been able to establish certain cycles of global temperature, including very hot periods and very cold periods. With this information they have generated a climatic graph that covers several thousand years. It may be that the assessment of kauri rings from ancient trees will help to clarify what remains a confusing and hotly disputed issue that affects us all. Palmer is also working on a project to help repopulate kauri trees, and to establish a sustainable kauri timber industry.”