Colorado Fire History Reconstruction From Tree Rings

Fire history data reconstructed from tree-ring analysis at the Archuleta Mesa Plot AA1 site in Colorado. The temporal coverage spans 502 calendar years, from 450 to -52 years before present. The dataset is archived and maintained by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information under its World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Use Cases

• Analyze fire frequency and return intervals using the fire history time-series.
• Correlate fire events with regional climate proxies using the calendar years before present (BP) chronology.
• Model historical fire regimes in Colorado using the site-specific geographic location data.
• Reconstruct past fire seasons and intensities based on tree-ring scar parameters.

Strengths

• Temporal coverage spans 502 calendar years, providing a multi-century record.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to a single plot (Archuleta Mesa AA1), restricting spatial representativeness.
• The dataset was last updated in 2002, indicating potential methodological staleness.
• The exact number of recorded fire events, rows, and data columns is unknown.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Reconstructed from tree-ring analysis (dendrochronology).

Time Range

450 to -52 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

Last updated on 2002-01-01.

Geography

Archuleta Mesa Plot AA1, Colorado, United States of America.