Tree-Ring Stable Isotope Measurements: The Role of Quality Assurance and Quality Control to Ensure High Quality Data

Abstract

Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) are important components of every study. In this chapter, we give an overview of QA/QC specific for tree-ring stable-isotope analysis from the perspective of the entire research project, rather than from the operation of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometers (IRMS). We address how users of stable isotope tree-ring data can quantify the quality of their data for reporting in publications by calculating accuracy and precision. We cover some of the potential sources of error that can occur during sample processing and isotopic measurements, basic principles of calibration to the appropriate isotopic scales, and how researchers can detect error and calculate uncertainty using duplicates and quality control standards.