Episode 329: Getting to the Root of Climate History

How much can a tree tell us about the climate? Quite a lot, it turns out.This week, we chat with Dr Kathryn Allen from the University of Tasmania, one of Australia’s few dendroclimatologists, about how she uses tree rings to reconstruct past climates and environmental change.Kathryn shares her unconventional pathway into science and how she built a career in climate research. Along the way, we explore how tree rings record rainfall, temperature and drought, what these natural archives can reveal about past climate variability, and why this research is so important for understanding our changing world. She also shares a few memorable fieldwork stories from her adventures collecting samples in the field.From climate science to tree-ring detective work, this episode offers a fascinating look at the hidden stories written in wood.Show theme music: Kevin MacLeodThank you to the whole TWICS team for the incredible behind-the-scenes volunteering every week! Host: Dr Hannah MooreProduction: Dr Meredith Castles (@MeredithCastles)