Root Wood Anatomy of a Black Pine Tree: Landslide Traces

Abstract

Dendrochronology is the scientific discipline of dating based on tree-rings (growth rings) to analyse temporal and spatial patterns of processes in the physical and cultural sciences. Of which a subdiscipline of dendrochronology, dendrogeomorhology provides the techniques to date and analyse earth surface processes such as rockfall and landslide events, debris and mood flows, flash floods, avalanches, erosion and sand dune dynamics, and etc. Moreover, exposed-root anatomy has been recently used for dendrogeomorphological studies. In this study, found in a small scale landslide event happened in the year of 2012 in Akorensokuler, Bartin -Turkey, the exposed root wood of a black pine tree was investigated anatomically. After the event, albeit wider tree rings with large latewood were formed, tracheid diameters were 45 % smaller. These are expected results on the basis of former dendrogeomorphological studies. However, indented rings formed due to micro-scars in the exposed root also indicated to the event time.