The current study explores for the first time the contrasts and similarities between the elementa... more The current study explores for the first time the contrasts and similarities between the elemental (Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) composition of pines that grow in a polluted industrialized area, located close to a steelworks, and that of pines growing in a comparative site, far from industry. Radial trace element profiles were determined by LA-ICPMS. The results are compared with the rainfall load at the monitoring station in Katowice, the nearest one to sampling sites, over the years 1999–2012, received from the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOS). The results show that in annual tree rings, there is no direct linear correlation between rainfall load and concentration of the studied elements in wood of the annual rings. The element concentrations in trees may reflect the sum of different factors that impact the ecosystem, including pollution from large sources and local point sources, immission, load of the rainfall level, and also specific plant physiology pro...
ABSTRACTHere, we present the results of carbon isotope and elemental analysis of one-year-old Pin... more ABSTRACTHere, we present the results of carbon isotope and elemental analysis of one-year-old Pinus Sylvestris L. needles collected in 2021 from 10 sampling sites in a highly populated and industrialized area of Poland. The needles were exposed to air pollution for one year. The chemical analysis of the samples was performed using different methods: radiocarbon analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry, stable isotope analysis using isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Variations in the carbon isotopes and elemental composition of pine needles were due to a mixture of carbon dioxide originating from different sources such as households, vehicle traffic, and industrial factories.
We present here the analysis of the radiocarbon concentration and the components deposited on 2-y... more We present here the analysis of the radiocarbon concentration and the components deposited on 2-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. needles collected in 2021, which were exposed to air contaminants for approximately two years. The needles were collected from seven sampling sites located near roads, households, and industrial factories in Silesia, the most industrialized part of Poland. The radiocarbon concentration was investigated using liquid scintillation spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to quantitatively analyze the elements deposited on the surface of pine needles. The depletion of the radiocarbon concentration in pine needles relative to clean air was observed at most of the investigated sites. Although it has been observed that in the research area, the fossil fuel CO2 emission ranging from 0.4 to 3%, we cannot exclude that Suess effect may be underestimated due to biomass burning and mixing of the 14CO2 origin from differ...
Trees can be used as archives of changes in the environment. In this paper, we present the result... more Trees can be used as archives of changes in the environment. In this paper, we present the results of the analysis of the impact of water stress and increase in air temperature on BAI and carbon stable isotopic composition and water use efficiency of pine. Dendrochronological methods together with mass spectrometry techniques give a possibility to conduct a detailed investigation of pine growing in four industrial forests in Silesia (Poland). Detailed analysis-based bootstrap and moving correlation between climatic indices (temperature, precipitation, and Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index) and tree parameters give the chance to check if the climatic signals recorded by trees can be hidden or modified over a longer period of time. Trees have been found to be very sensitive to weather conditions, but their sensitivity can be modified and masked by the effect of pollution. Scots pine trees at all sites systematically increased the basal area increment (BAI) and the in...
This article focuses on constructing a high-resolution age-depth model for the Puścizna Mała peat... more This article focuses on constructing a high-resolution age-depth model for the Puścizna Mała peat bog located in Orawa-Nowy Targ Basin (S Poland). The chronology was established on the basis of both210Pb and14C measurements, and further confirmed by pollen diagrams and the peat bulk composition (density, ash content, and measurements of C, N, S). The137Cs profile revealed significant downward migration of this radionuclide and was not suitable for geochronological interpretation. The peat profile in southern Poland records almost 2000 yr of paleoecological and geochemical changes. Major historical events linked to anthropogenic and climatic changes are recorded in the investigated proxies, which confirm the reliability of the age-depth model. Specifically, the Roman period, Migration period, Medieval times, as well as the Industrial Revolution are reflected in the palynology and bulk composition of the peat. However, dating results obtained for the core segment between 22–45 cm are ...
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was an... more Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was analysed to delineate dendroclimatologically uniform areas. A dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis revealed the following: a dry and sunny previous September, low winter temperature, and moisture supply in July limit the radial growth of the pines in all the regions. The weather conditions of the current growing season have been the most strongly reflected in the isotopic ratio. Positive relationships were noted between δ13C and temperature and δ13C and sunshine. A negative relationship was observed between δ13C and precipitation and δ13C and humidity. At the same time, a positive relationship was noted between δ18O and sunshine and δ18O and temperature, but negative between δ18O and humidity. The climate signal recorded in the stable isotope composition was temporally unstable and only for a few of the climatic parameters did we find temporally stable climate signals. Howev...
The main aims of these studies were dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis of the im... more The main aims of these studies were dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis of the impact of climate on tree rings width and stable isotopes composition in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The conifers were growing in the vicinity of chemical and nitrogen factories in Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland) in the period of time from 1920s to 2012 AD. The combined usage of tree ring width and isotopic composition data provides historic records of the environment changes. These data allows identifying the behavior adaptation of pine growing under pollution stress to climate changes. The incremental rhythm of the studied pine populations was not identical, probably due to their different sensitivities to some climatic factors. This study evidences that the isotopic records in tree-rings α-cellulose may be sensitive bio-indicators of the way that the components of air and water may be changed by the trees in response to the climate changes and anthropogenic effects. The water use efficiency m...
This study reports the variation of tree-ring widths and annual variation of concentration of met... more This study reports the variation of tree-ring widths and annual variation of concentration of metals (Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) in pine growing nearby chemical factories. The conifers (Pinus silvestris L.) investigated in this study covered the time span from 1920s to 2010 AD. Tree-ring widths were measured, dated and rechecked using the COFECHA. Radial trace-element profiles were determined by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The combined usage of tree ring width and chemical composition of wood provides historic records of anthropogenic impact on the environment and allows identifying the behavior adaptation of trees to the pollution. Data of pine tree cores collected from the sites nearby chemical factories show increasing levels of pollution linked to the increasing of industrial activities in Poland and subsequent dust fallout around the site. This study evidences that tree rings can be used as archives of past environmental contamination.
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was an... more Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was analysed to delineate dendroclimatologically uniform areas. A dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis revealed the following: a dry and sunny previous September, low winter temperature, and moisture supply in July limit the radial growth of the pines in all the regions. The weather conditions of the current growing season have been the most strongly reflected in the isotopic ratio. Positive relationships were noted between δ13C and temperature and δ13C and sunshine. A negative relationship was observed between δ13C and precipitation and δ13C and humidity. At the same time, a positive relationship was noted between δ18O and sunshine and δ18O and temperature, but negative between δ18O and humidity. The climate signal recorded in the stable isotope composition was temporally unstable and only for a few of the climatic parameters did we find temporally stable climate signals. Howev...
New records of δ13C and Δ14C values in annual rings of pine and oak from different sites around t... more New records of δ13C and Δ14C values in annual rings of pine and oak from different sites around the world were obtained with a time resolution of 1 yr. The results obtained for Europe (Poland), east Asia (Japan), and South America (Peru) are presented in this paper. The δ13C and radiocarbon concentration of α-cellulose from annual tree rings of pine and of the latewood of oak were measured by both accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and liquid scintillation spectrometry (LSC). The values of 14S, which represent decreasing 14C concentrations caused by the emission of CO2 from fossil fuel use (Suess effect; Suess 1955), were calculated for each site. Low average 14S (about −0.4 to 0.8%) values for clean areas and high values (about 3.4–3.6%) for industrial and/or urbanized areas were noted. Records of the δ13C values obtained for pine and oak from Poland were used to reconstruct climate changes during the last 400 yr. The results clearly indicate the climate cooling during the periods...
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was an... more Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was analysed to delineate dendroclimatologically uniform areas. A dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis revealed the following: a dry and sunny previous September, low winter temperature, and moisture supply in July limit the radial growth of the pines in all the regions. The weather conditions of the current growing season have been the most strongly reflected in the isotopic ratio. Positive relationships were noted between δ13C and temperature and δ13C and sunshine. A negative relationship was observed between δ13C and precipitation and δ13C and humidity. At the same time, a positive relationship was noted between δ18O and sunshine and δ18O and temperature, but negative between δ18O and humidity. The climate signal recorded in the stable isotope composition was temporally unstable and only for a few of the climatic parameters did we find temporally stable climate signals. Howev...
The current study explores for the first time the contrasts and similarities between the elementa... more The current study explores for the first time the contrasts and similarities between the elemental (Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) composition of pines that grow in a polluted industrialized area, located close to a steelworks, and that of pines growing in a comparative site, far from industry. Radial trace element profiles were determined by LA-ICPMS. The results are compared with the rainfall load at the monitoring station in Katowice, the nearest one to sampling sites, over the years 1999–2012, received from the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (GIOS). The results show that in annual tree rings, there is no direct linear correlation between rainfall load and concentration of the studied elements in wood of the annual rings. The element concentrations in trees may reflect the sum of different factors that impact the ecosystem, including pollution from large sources and local point sources, immission, load of the rainfall level, and also specific plant physiology pro...
ABSTRACTHere, we present the results of carbon isotope and elemental analysis of one-year-old Pin... more ABSTRACTHere, we present the results of carbon isotope and elemental analysis of one-year-old Pinus Sylvestris L. needles collected in 2021 from 10 sampling sites in a highly populated and industrialized area of Poland. The needles were exposed to air pollution for one year. The chemical analysis of the samples was performed using different methods: radiocarbon analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry, stable isotope analysis using isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Variations in the carbon isotopes and elemental composition of pine needles were due to a mixture of carbon dioxide originating from different sources such as households, vehicle traffic, and industrial factories.
We present here the analysis of the radiocarbon concentration and the components deposited on 2-y... more We present here the analysis of the radiocarbon concentration and the components deposited on 2-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. needles collected in 2021, which were exposed to air contaminants for approximately two years. The needles were collected from seven sampling sites located near roads, households, and industrial factories in Silesia, the most industrialized part of Poland. The radiocarbon concentration was investigated using liquid scintillation spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to quantitatively analyze the elements deposited on the surface of pine needles. The depletion of the radiocarbon concentration in pine needles relative to clean air was observed at most of the investigated sites. Although it has been observed that in the research area, the fossil fuel CO2 emission ranging from 0.4 to 3%, we cannot exclude that Suess effect may be underestimated due to biomass burning and mixing of the 14CO2 origin from differ...
Trees can be used as archives of changes in the environment. In this paper, we present the result... more Trees can be used as archives of changes in the environment. In this paper, we present the results of the analysis of the impact of water stress and increase in air temperature on BAI and carbon stable isotopic composition and water use efficiency of pine. Dendrochronological methods together with mass spectrometry techniques give a possibility to conduct a detailed investigation of pine growing in four industrial forests in Silesia (Poland). Detailed analysis-based bootstrap and moving correlation between climatic indices (temperature, precipitation, and Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index) and tree parameters give the chance to check if the climatic signals recorded by trees can be hidden or modified over a longer period of time. Trees have been found to be very sensitive to weather conditions, but their sensitivity can be modified and masked by the effect of pollution. Scots pine trees at all sites systematically increased the basal area increment (BAI) and the in...
This article focuses on constructing a high-resolution age-depth model for the Puścizna Mała peat... more This article focuses on constructing a high-resolution age-depth model for the Puścizna Mała peat bog located in Orawa-Nowy Targ Basin (S Poland). The chronology was established on the basis of both210Pb and14C measurements, and further confirmed by pollen diagrams and the peat bulk composition (density, ash content, and measurements of C, N, S). The137Cs profile revealed significant downward migration of this radionuclide and was not suitable for geochronological interpretation. The peat profile in southern Poland records almost 2000 yr of paleoecological and geochemical changes. Major historical events linked to anthropogenic and climatic changes are recorded in the investigated proxies, which confirm the reliability of the age-depth model. Specifically, the Roman period, Migration period, Medieval times, as well as the Industrial Revolution are reflected in the palynology and bulk composition of the peat. However, dating results obtained for the core segment between 22–45 cm are ...
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was an... more Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was analysed to delineate dendroclimatologically uniform areas. A dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis revealed the following: a dry and sunny previous September, low winter temperature, and moisture supply in July limit the radial growth of the pines in all the regions. The weather conditions of the current growing season have been the most strongly reflected in the isotopic ratio. Positive relationships were noted between δ13C and temperature and δ13C and sunshine. A negative relationship was observed between δ13C and precipitation and δ13C and humidity. At the same time, a positive relationship was noted between δ18O and sunshine and δ18O and temperature, but negative between δ18O and humidity. The climate signal recorded in the stable isotope composition was temporally unstable and only for a few of the climatic parameters did we find temporally stable climate signals. Howev...
The main aims of these studies were dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis of the im... more The main aims of these studies were dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis of the impact of climate on tree rings width and stable isotopes composition in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The conifers were growing in the vicinity of chemical and nitrogen factories in Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland) in the period of time from 1920s to 2012 AD. The combined usage of tree ring width and isotopic composition data provides historic records of the environment changes. These data allows identifying the behavior adaptation of pine growing under pollution stress to climate changes. The incremental rhythm of the studied pine populations was not identical, probably due to their different sensitivities to some climatic factors. This study evidences that the isotopic records in tree-rings α-cellulose may be sensitive bio-indicators of the way that the components of air and water may be changed by the trees in response to the climate changes and anthropogenic effects. The water use efficiency m...
This study reports the variation of tree-ring widths and annual variation of concentration of met... more This study reports the variation of tree-ring widths and annual variation of concentration of metals (Na, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) in pine growing nearby chemical factories. The conifers (Pinus silvestris L.) investigated in this study covered the time span from 1920s to 2010 AD. Tree-ring widths were measured, dated and rechecked using the COFECHA. Radial trace-element profiles were determined by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The combined usage of tree ring width and chemical composition of wood provides historic records of anthropogenic impact on the environment and allows identifying the behavior adaptation of trees to the pollution. Data of pine tree cores collected from the sites nearby chemical factories show increasing levels of pollution linked to the increasing of industrial activities in Poland and subsequent dust fallout around the site. This study evidences that tree rings can be used as archives of past environmental contamination.
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was an... more Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was analysed to delineate dendroclimatologically uniform areas. A dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis revealed the following: a dry and sunny previous September, low winter temperature, and moisture supply in July limit the radial growth of the pines in all the regions. The weather conditions of the current growing season have been the most strongly reflected in the isotopic ratio. Positive relationships were noted between δ13C and temperature and δ13C and sunshine. A negative relationship was observed between δ13C and precipitation and δ13C and humidity. At the same time, a positive relationship was noted between δ18O and sunshine and δ18O and temperature, but negative between δ18O and humidity. The climate signal recorded in the stable isotope composition was temporally unstable and only for a few of the climatic parameters did we find temporally stable climate signals. Howev...
New records of δ13C and Δ14C values in annual rings of pine and oak from different sites around t... more New records of δ13C and Δ14C values in annual rings of pine and oak from different sites around the world were obtained with a time resolution of 1 yr. The results obtained for Europe (Poland), east Asia (Japan), and South America (Peru) are presented in this paper. The δ13C and radiocarbon concentration of α-cellulose from annual tree rings of pine and of the latewood of oak were measured by both accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and liquid scintillation spectrometry (LSC). The values of 14S, which represent decreasing 14C concentrations caused by the emission of CO2 from fossil fuel use (Suess effect; Suess 1955), were calculated for each site. Low average 14S (about −0.4 to 0.8%) values for clean areas and high values (about 3.4–3.6%) for industrial and/or urbanized areas were noted. Records of the δ13C values obtained for pine and oak from Poland were used to reconstruct climate changes during the last 400 yr. The results clearly indicate the climate cooling during the periods...
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was an... more Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in 16 sites in three industrial regions in Poland was analysed to delineate dendroclimatologically uniform areas. A dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis revealed the following: a dry and sunny previous September, low winter temperature, and moisture supply in July limit the radial growth of the pines in all the regions. The weather conditions of the current growing season have been the most strongly reflected in the isotopic ratio. Positive relationships were noted between δ13C and temperature and δ13C and sunshine. A negative relationship was observed between δ13C and precipitation and δ13C and humidity. At the same time, a positive relationship was noted between δ18O and sunshine and δ18O and temperature, but negative between δ18O and humidity. The climate signal recorded in the stable isotope composition was temporally unstable and only for a few of the climatic parameters did we find temporally stable climate signals. Howev...
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