Mt. Lemon Douglas Fir Tree Ring Chronology from 382 BC

Tree ring data from Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees on Mt. Lemon in Arizona provide a proxy climate record spanning 415 calendar years, from 382 BC to 33 AD. The dataset was archived by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information under its Paleoclimatology World Data Service. The study was published in 1983.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct annual precipitation or temperature anomalies for Arizona using tree ring width measurements as a proxy.
• Analyze the frequency and severity of drought events in the southwestern United States over the 415-year chronology.
• Cross-reference this Douglas fir chronology with other regional tree ring datasets to validate broader climate patterns.
• Study the impact of volcanic or other major historical events on local tree growth patterns recorded in the rings.
• Calibrate radiocarbon dating or other dating methods using the precisely dated tree ring sequence.

Strengths

• Time coverage spans 415 calendar years (382 BC to 33 AD), providing a multi-century climate proxy.
• Data originates from the authoritative NOAA NCEI Paleoclimatology World Data Service, ensuring curation and metadata standards.

Limitations

• The dataset is temporally stale, with its last update recorded in 1983, potentially lacking modern re-analysis.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single site (Mt. Lemon, Arizona), reducing generalizability.
• Specific data parameters like ring width, measurement methods, and sample counts are unknown from the provided description.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring sampling and analysis from Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees.

Time Range

382 BC to 33 AD (415 calendar years).

Freshness

1983-01-01

Geography

Mt. Lemon, Arizona, United States of America.