Moroccan Tree Ring Chronology from 542 to 37 BC

Tree ring width measurements from Morocco provide a 579-year climate proxy record from 542 to 37 BC. The data is archived by NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology as part of their paleoclimate study collection. This specific chronology was contributed by the author Chbouki and last updated in the NOAA system in 1987.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past precipitation and drought indices in Northern Africa by analyzing annual tree ring width variations.
• Calibrate regional climate models by comparing the tree ring chronology proxy data with known historical climate events.
• Study the frequency and intensity of climatic extremes in Morocco over a multi-century pre-industrial period.
• Perform cross-dating with other regional tree ring chronologies to validate and extend climate reconstruction networks.

Strengths

• Covers a 579-year continuous time period from 542 to 37 BC.
• Geographically specific to Morocco, providing focused regional data.
• Archived and curated by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• The dataset's last known update was in 1987, potentially missing modern reanalysis or corrections.
• Specific sample depth, replication statistics, and measurement parameters are unknown from the provided metadata.
• Limited to a single geographic location (Morocco), reducing broad spatial representativeness.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring sampling and measurement (dendrochronology).

Time Range

542 to -37 calendar years BP (Before Present, where 0 BP = 1950 AD). This equates to approximately 542 BC to 37 BC.

Freshness

1987-01-01

Geography

Morocco, Northern Africa.