Landscape Language
Dendrology (noun) – the study of trees and wooden plants
Mount Rainier’s snowy peak attracts a lot of attention, but 58% of the park is covered by forest! Dendrology is the study of trees. One aspect of dendrology is using tree rings to determine the age of trees. Tree rings can also provide clues as to the growth conditions of the past, such as when droughts occur, allowing scientists to get an idea of past climates.
Dendrology is also used in archaeology, helping to date artifacts, or in geology. Some debris flows at Mount Rainier, such as the 500-year-old Electron Mudflow, have been dated in part by using dead trees found in the debris! You can try your hand at dendrology the next time you are in Longmire by looking at the large tree slice located outside of the Longmire Museum. What can it tell you about the past?
NPS Photos of the tree slice displayed in Longmire. ~kl
