NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology archives a tree ring dataset from Switzerland, Western Europe. The data coverage spans from 130 to -47 calendar years before present. This study was archived by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information in 1997.
Use Cases
- Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies using tree ring width measurements as a proxy.
- Calibrate climate models by comparing the tree ring chronology with instrumental records for the overlapping period.
- Analyze growth patterns and extreme events recorded in the tree ring parameters for specific calendar years.
- Study ecological responses to historical climate shifts in the Swiss region through the lens of tree growth data.
Strengths
- Data spans 177 years of calendar years before present, providing a multi-century record.
- Sourced from the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, ensuring standardized archiving.
Limitations
- Temporal coverage is limited to a specific 177-year window and may not capture longer-term trends.
- The dataset's last update was in 1997, making it temporally stale for contemporary analysis without recent validation.
- Geographic scope is restricted to a single location in Switzerland, limiting regional generalizability.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
- Collection Method
- Tree ring data collection (dendrochronology).
- Time Range
- 130 to -47 calendar years before present (BP).
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Switzerland, Western Europe.