Valerie Trouet.
Tree Story: the history of the world written in rings.
Johns Hopkins University Press. 2020
In Tree Story, Valerie Trouet reveals how the seemingly simple
and relatively familiar concept of counting tree rings
has inspired far-reaching scientific breakthroughs t
hat illuminate the complex interactions between nature and people.
Trouet, a leading tree-ring scientist, takes us out into the field,
from remote African villages to radioactive Russian forests,
offering readers an insider’s look at tree-ring research,
a discipline known as dendrochronology.
Blending popular science, travelogue, and cultural history, Tree Story highlights exciting findings of tree-ring research, including the fate of lost pirate treasure, successful strategies for surviving California wildfires, the secret to Genghis Khan’s victories, the connection between Egyptian pharaohs and volcanoes, and even the role of olives in the fall of Rome. These fascinating tales are deftly woven together to show us how dendrochronology sheds light on global climate dynamics and uncovers the clear links between humans and our leafy neighbors.