Merritt Forest Tree Ring Chronology From Iowa

Iowa tree ring data spanning 349 years, from 319 to -30 calendar years before present. This paleoclimatology study was archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. The dataset was last updated in the NOAA system in 1980.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past climate variables like temperature or precipitation using annual tree ring width measurements.
• Analyze growth trends and forest response to historical environmental events recorded in the ring sequences.
• Calibrate and validate climate models for the North American region using this proxy data series.

Strengths

• Time series covers a 349-year period, providing a multi-century environmental record.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage ends at -30 BP (approximately 1980 CE), lacking recent decades.
• The specific sample size, measurement parameters, and data granularity are not detailed in the provided metadata.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology) from the Merritt Forest State Preserve.

Time Range

319 to -30 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Iowa, United States of America.