RECONSPHERE - Reconciling inter-hemispheric proxy-model temperature inconsistencies during the past millennium by using treering anatomy

Aim

In this project, we will analyze a new tree-ring proxy, i.e. an indicator of past climate recorded in tree-rings, to investigate whether this new natural climate archive will result in a stronger agreement with climate model perspectives. This proxy is based on quantitative analysis of wood cells, tree-ring anatomy.

The aim of the project is to try to clarify - by establishing a strategic network of tree ring anatomy - whether the discrepancies between models and proxy data will be reduced and increase the confidence in climate models, or continue to display differences and reduce model confidence. Regardless, the results will provide a new long-term perspective on the differences and similarities in the temperature histories of the northern and southern hemispheres.

With the help of new time-saving AI-assisted advances in data production, we will:

1. reassess how supposed climatic periods such as the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age relate to current warming
2. evaluate whether the modest or absent cooling in the Southern Hemisphere following volcanic eruptions is related to the inability of previously used natural indicators to detect these extreme events, or rather is due to the lack of climatic impact of volcanism in the Southern Hemisphere
3. investigate whether patterns of modern warming in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are more consistent when the historical climates are analyzed with tree-ring anatomy.