Tree Ring Chronology From El Valle, New Mexico Spanning 264 Years

Tree ring width measurements from a Pinus ponderosa site in New Mexico provide a 264-year chronology from 242 to -22 calendar years before present. The data is archived by NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology as part of their paleoclimate studies collection. This specific record was last updated in the NOAA system in 1972.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past climate conditions like precipitation or temperature by analyzing annual tree ring width variations.
• Calibrate radiocarbon dating or other chronological methods using the dated tree ring sequence.
• Study forest growth responses to historical environmental events captured in the ring record.
• Compare this local chronology with other regional tree ring datasets to identify broader climate patterns.

Strengths

• Chronology covers a 264-year time period (242 to -22 BP).
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• The dataset's last known update was in 1972, indicating it is a historical record not actively maintained.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single site (El Valle, New Mexico), reducing generalizability.
• Specific sample depth, measurement parameters, and metadata details are not provided in the input.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology) from Pinus ponderosa (PIPO) samples.

Time Range

242 to -22 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

El Valle, New Mexico, United States of America.