Iowa Tree-Ring Chronology for Paleoclimate Analysis

Tree-ring width measurements from Geode State Park in Iowa, United States. The dataset covers a period from 226 to -34 calendar years before present. It is archived by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information as part of the World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past climate variables like temperature or precipitation using tree-ring width as a proxy.
• Analyze growth patterns in the tree-ring chronology to identify periods of environmental stress.
• Calibrate and validate climate models for the region using the 260-year temporal coverage.
• Study the response of local tree species to climatic events within the recorded time span.

Strengths

• Provides a 260-year chronology for climate reconstruction.
• Sourced from the authoritative NOAA/NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage ends at -34 BP, limiting analysis of the most recent centuries.
• Geographic scope is limited to a single park in Iowa, reducing regional generalizability.
• Data last updated in 1984, potentially missing newer methodological refinements.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology).

Time Range

226 to -34 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Geode State Park, Iowa, United States Of America.