The National Science Foundation reports that "researchers Matthew Salzer and Malcolm Hughes of the University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and their colleagues have analyzed tree-rings from bristlecone pine trees at the highest elevations, looking for the reasons behind an extraordinary surge in growth over the past 50 years" that was greater than at any time in the last 3,700 years. Salzar and Hughes determined warmer temperatures were promoting the rapid growth of trees along the treeline. [right, coring a bristlecone pine. Credit, Lisa Raffensperger, National Science Foundation]]
NSF put out an striking audio slide show on the research as well as featuring the story in the science news email they distribute. The story is getting lots of national as well as local attention.