Investigations of the migration of elements in tree rings by Laser-ICP-MS

The autocorrelation function of the concentration of elements in growth rings has been used to study their migration from ring to ring. The correlation time which can be calculated by the autocorrelation function gives an indication of the transport of elements. However, a large correlation time might only be taken as a necessary criterion for the migration but not for a sufficient one. Laser sampling-ICP-MS has been used for the determination of the contents of elements in the rings of an 150 years old oak - the autocorrelation functions of selected elements have been calculated. Large correlation times have been only obtained for Ca, Fe and Cr. It may be concluded that Mg, Zn, Cu, Sr, Pb, Ni, Ba, Al and Mn hardly migrate radially in the trunk of an oak.