Lab Director: Dr. Dan Smith Department of Geography University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W 3R4 Phone: (250) 472-4733 Fax: (250) 721-6216 E-Mail: smith at uvic.ca

The University of Victoria Tree-Ring Laboratory (UVTRL) is housed in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria. The UVTRL provides a focus for the research activities of undergraduate and graduate students who are using insights developed from measurements of tree rings to describe the Holocene environmental character of the British Columbia Coast Mountains. Research is focused on dendrochronology, dendroarchaeology, dendroclimatology, dendroentomology, dendrogeomorphology and dendroglaciology.

Laboratory Instrumentation The UVTRL is equipped with two WinDendro digital tree ring measurement systems and two Velmex tree ring measurement systems equipped with trinocular boom-mounted microscopes and CCD video displays. The UVTRL also houses a filmless ITRAX X-ray densitometer. Intended to support climate change studies through tree ring measurement of earlywood/latewood parameters, UVTRL densitometric studies are supported by a Walesch Electronic Dendrocut twin-bladed saw. UVTRL researchers are also EvaluTree partners, and have ready access to a globally unique grouping of infrastructure for analyzing and researching wood fibre properties. Included within this instrumentation is the only North American-based SilviScan instrument that uses a range of analytical technologies, including optical microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, x-ray densitometry, image analysis, and applied for the rapid analysis of wood samples.

UVTRL News Recent UVTRL Publication: Johnson, A.L. and Smith, D.J. 2009. Geomorphology of snow avalanche impact landforms in the southern Canadian Cordillera. The Canadian Geographer. [Download Early View paper PDF] Laxton, S.C. and Smith, D.J. 2009. Dendrochronological reconstruction of snow avalanche activity in the Lahul Himalaya, Northern India. Natural Hazards 49(3):459-467. [Download paper PDF] Jackson, S.I., Laxton, S.C. and Smith, D.J. 2008. Dendroglaciological evidence for Holocene glacial advances in the Todd Icefield area, Northern British Columbia Coast Mountains. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 45(1):83-98. [Download paper PDF] Recent UVTRL thesis: Bethany Coulthard (M.Sc., 2009). Dendroclimatological and Dendroglaciological Investigations at Confederation and Franklin Glaciers, Central Coast Mountains, British Columbia, Canada. [ Abstract] Sarah Hart (M.Sc., 2009). A Dendrochronological Investigation of Paraglacial Activity and Streamflow in the Vicinity of the Homathko Icefield, British Columbia Coast Mountains, Canada. [ Abstract] Lynn Koehler (M.Sc., 2009). Late Holocene Glacial History of Manatee Valley, Upper Lillooet Provincial Park, Southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia.. [ Abstract] Aquila Flower (M.Sc., 2009). A Dendroclimatic Investigation in the Northern Canadian Rocky Mountains, British Columbia. [ Abstract] Trisha Jarrett (M.Sc., 2008). A Dendroclimatic Investigation of Moisture Variability and Drought in the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. [ Abstract] UVTRL Field Research: Summer 2009: Researchers from the UVTRL completed fieldwork at Jambeau Glacier in the Mt. Waddington area, in the vicinity of the Cambria Icefield and on northern Vancouver Island. See our 2009 Photo album from Jambeau Glacier. Summer 2008: Researchers from the UVTRL undertook field studies in the Homathko Icefield, in the Mt. Waddington area, and in the Cambria Icefield areas of the British Columbia Coast Mountains. See our 2008 Photo album. Summer 2007: Field investigations were completed in Kwadacha Wilderness Provincial Park in the Northern Canadian Rocky Mountains and in Upper Lillooet Provincial Park in the southern British Columbia Coast Mountains. See our 2007 Photo album.

UVTRL Resource Links

UVTRL - The Movie: Click to see a documentary produced by the BC Knowledge Network showing UVTRL researchers describing our dendroglaciological investigations at Bridge Glacier. Please note that is large Quicktime movie file that may take some time to download to your computer!