Relative Scale of Skeleton Plots

• Usually exhibit the same relative pattern of growth variation through time, BUT
• Often have absolute growth rates that differ substantially due to living in different microsites:
  • Difficult to compare the ring-growth variation of two or more specimens from actual wood samples
  • For example, see figure:
    
    1. All three samples above have exactly the same pattern of variation
    2. Top sample has a growth rate less than that of the middle sample
    3. Middle sample has a growth rate less than that of the bottom sample

• Represent growth variation of samples onto separate strips of graph paper
• Equalize the absolute scales ring growth
• Easily compare growth variation of two or more specimens

• Have the same relative scale
• Easy to compare to one another
• Clearly show the same pattern of variation of each sample:

When you try skeleton plotting for yourself, you can move the virtual core left and right:
Put the cursor anywhere on the core above Click and hold the mouse button Move the mouse left or right Don't worry that the core goes off the edges -- it always comes back!

Note: The virtual core comes with every 10th ring prenumbered -- which won't be true in real life, so number your wood carefully!

When you try skeleton plotting for yourself, you can change the scales of the graphics:
	There will be magnification circle buttons, as on the left You may enlarge or reduce the virtual core to see rings better Choose between 1x, 2x, or 3x Hint for magnifying a ring: There will be a vertical blue line marking the middle of your screen, as on the right Put the ring that you wish to see better at the blue line Then magnify -- at 3x magnification, narrow rings are apparent You may also enlarge or reduce the graphs Choose between Large, Medium, and Small

---

Introduction | Dendrochronology Applications | Crossdating Application | Ring-Growth Anomalies
Sensitivity-Complacency | Skeleton Plotting | Relative Scale | Master Chronology
Pattern Matching | Finding the Dates | Absent/False Rings | Try Skeleton Plotting for Yourself!
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research