A simple program to measure and analyse tree rings using Excel, R and SigmaScan.

Area of Science:

• Dendrochronology
• Image Analysis
• Statistical Software

Background:

• Tree-ring analysis is crucial for understanding past climate and ecological conditions.
• Existing software often requires manual data transfer and lacks integrated functionalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated software solution for efficient tree-ring analysis.
• To streamline measurements, data processing, and statistical analysis in dendrochronology.

Main Methods:

• Development of macros in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
• Integration of SigmaScan for image analysis, Excel for data management, and R for statistical analysis.
• Implementation of automated measurements for ring width and latewood-earlywood transition.

Main Results:

• A novel software tool linking SigmaScan, Excel, and R for tree-ring analysis.
• Macros enable automated ring width measurement, pith distance calculation, and inter-series correlation.
• Potential for automatic detection of tree-ring boundaries and latewood identification demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The developed software offers an economic and adaptable solution for tree-ring research.
• Integration enhances efficiency and accuracy in dendrochronological data processing.
• The tool is easily adjustable for specific project needs and expandable with existing code.