How reliable are tree rings for climate modeling?

[Mk]

As historical thermometers, tree rings are so bad scientists have to cherry pick samples, removing those that do not exhibit a desired response and so inconsistent as to be useless for temperature reconstruction.

I won't say who said it, but does this sound right to you? Dendrochronolgists on TV all say it so easy, you count the tree rings and the space in between, and that will tell you about the temperature and precipitation and how long the tree lived.
Also:

As historic thermometers, tree rings are adequate, because confounding factors like moisture availability, nutrients, etc... are accurately known

This sounds kind of dumb, but what about carbon dating? We assume the ambient carbon (or something like that) stayed the same the whole time. But didn't it change? What about between mass extinctions?

 

[BobK]

I don't see how tree rings can be reliable.

Various factors go into a tree's growth pattern. Fertilization, sunlight, precipitation, temperature, and probably others I haven't considered. All of which can vary in different ways over the years.

I frankly think they are fooling themselves when they say they can extract accurate temperature data from the ring width or density.

 

[ravenprp]

The statement that tree rings are unreliable for climate modeling is not accurate. While it is true that dendrochronologists may have to carefully select tree ring samples for certain studies, this does not mean that tree rings are inconsistent or useless for temperature reconstruction. In fact, tree rings have been used successfully for decades to reconstruct past climate conditions and have provided valuable insights into long-term climate patterns.

The process of counting tree rings and analyzing the space between them is not as simple as it may seem on TV. Dendrochronology is a complex and rigorous scientific method that involves analyzing multiple tree ring samples from different locations and cross-checking the results to ensure accuracy. Additionally, dendrochronologists take into account other factors that can affect tree growth, such as moisture availability and nutrient levels, to accurately interpret the data.

As for the use of carbon dating in dendrochronology, it is true that there can be variations in the levels of carbon in the atmosphere over time. However, dendrochronologists are able to account for these variations and calibrate their results accordingly. This is done by comparing tree ring data with other forms of climate data, such as ice cores, sediment layers, and historical documents.

Overall, while there may be some limitations and challenges in using tree rings for climate modeling, they are still a valuable and reliable tool for understanding past climate conditions. Dendrochronologists continue to refine and improve their methods, and their research has greatly contributed to our understanding of Earth's climate history.