Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41714183›Full record

ArticleTree physiology2026

Interpreting inter- and intra-annual environmental signals in tree-ring δ18O using isotope-enabled modeling.

Kersti Leppä, Paul Szejner, Charlotte Angove, Giles H F Young, Olga Blokhina, Kurt Fagerstedt, Ansgar Kahmen, Samuli Launiainen, Lan Mo, Daniel B Nelson and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tree physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Kersti LeppäEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-5160-1154
Paul SzejnerEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-7780-1215
Charlotte AngoveStable Isotope Laboratory of Luke (SILL), Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.
Giles H F YoungEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.
Olga BlokhinaFaculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-0808-9663
Kurt FagerstedtFaculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-6839-2958
Ansgar KahmenDepartment of Environmental Sciences-Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-7823-5163
Samuli LauniainenEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.
Lan MoEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-6669-0591
Daniel B NelsonDepartment of Environmental Sciences-Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Andreas RichterCenter of Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Elina SahlstedtEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-8612-6007
Pauliina Schiestl-AaltoFaculty of Science, Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Yu TangCollege of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China.
Katja T Rinne-GarmstonEcosystems and Modelling, Bioeconomy and Environment, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-9793-2549

Funding

European Research Council 755865
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interpreting tree-ring oxygen isotope composition (δ18Oring) is complicated by the combined influences of source water (δ18Osw) and relative humidity (RH). This study investigates intra- and interannual δ18Oring signals in Scots pine stands in southern and northern Finland over a 10-year period (2010-19). We applied correlation analysis and process-based intra-annual δ18O and δ13C modeling to disentangle RH and δ18Osw signals in δ18Oring. Growth models for xylogenesis were used to date the analyzed tree-ring subsections. Dual isotope modeling provided additional constraints to evaluate the uncertainties caused by xylogenesis. Our results show that δ18Oring signals were dominated by RH, due to its much higher relative variability compared with that of δ18Osw. Generally, correlations were stronger at interannual than intra-annual resolution. Modeling indicated that additional factors complicate the interpretation of intra-annual δ18Oring signals beyond the combined effects of RH and δ18Osw. We show that seasonal variations in the proportion of oxygen exchange with source water during the pathway to tree-ring cellulose may explain the lower RH signal at intra-annual resolution. Incorporating variable oxygen exchange improved model performance and aligned modeled δ18Oring more closely with observations. Despite the encouraging modeling results using growth models for dating tree-ring subsections, we recognize that time integration and alignment will continue to challenge the interpretation of intra-annual isotope signals. Our study demonstrates that combining empirical data analysis with mechanistic modeling is essential for resolving the environmental drivers of δ18Oring and for extending interpretations beyond site-specific conditions. Our findings are particularly relevant as intra-annual δ18O analysis becomes more common, underscoring the importance of time integration and dating tree-ring subsections, highlighting future research needs (e.g., varying oxygen exchange) and advancing their use for climate reconstruction.

Indexed as

Oxygen IsotopesPinus sylvestrisTreesCarbon IsotopesFinlandHumidityModels, BiologicalSeasonsCarbon IsotopesOxygen Isotopesboreal forestcarbon isotopeintra-seasonaloxygen isotoperelative humidityScots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Identifiers

PMID41714183
PMCPMC13064660

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.