Soil and stem xylem water isotope data from two pan-European sampling campaigns

The dataset includes samples from 40 forest sites featuring beech (Fagus sylvatica), spruce (Picea abies), or mixed beech-spruce forests, and is supplemented with detailed site-specific, soil-specific, and tree-specific metadata. Samples and metadata were collected by various researchers across Europe following a standardized protocol.

Soil samples were taken at up to five depths (ranging from 0 to 90 cm), and stem xylem samples were collected from three beech and/or spruce trees at each site. All samples were sent to a single laboratory for analysis, where water was extracted using cryogenic vacuum distillation and analyzed with an isotope laser spectrometer. Additionally, a subset of the samples underwent analysis with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer.