Swiss Tree-Ring Chronology from 61 to -41 Years Before Present

Tree-ring width data from the Eichbühl site in Switzerland provides a direct physical record of past environmental conditions. The chronology covers a 102-year period from 61 to -41 calendar years before present (BP), calibrated to a specific calendar year. This archived paleoclimatology study is maintained by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information's World Data Service.

Use Cases

• Calibrating regional climate models by comparing the tree-ring width series with instrumental temperature and precipitation records.
• Analyzing growth anomaly years within the 102-year chronology to identify extreme climate events like droughts or cold periods.
• Cross-dating this Eichbühl chronology (ITRDB SWIT362) with other European tree-ring series to validate regional climate reconstructions.
• Studying the response of tree growth to environmental changes during the transition from BC to AD dating in the Alpine region.

Strengths

• Data is archived and curated by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• The time period is precisely defined as 61 to -41 calendar years BP, offering a clear temporal anchor.
• Part of the International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB), ensuring standardized format and metadata.

Limitations

• The dataset's last update was in 1991, indicating it is a static archive and may not reflect newer methodological standards.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single site (Eichbühl) in Switzerland, limiting broader spatial analysis.
• Without column details, the specific measured parameters (e.g., raw ring width, standardized indices) are unknown.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology.

Collection Method

Tree-ring cores collected and measured using standard dendrochronological techniques.

Time Range

61 to -41 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

Static archive; last updated 1991-01-01.

Geography

Eichbühl, Switzerland, Western Europe.