Fire History Reconstruction From Nile Creek Tree Rings

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology archives fire history data derived from tree rings at the Nile Creek Aspect Polygon 11 site in Washington, USA. The dataset provides a temporal record of fire events from 590 to -46 calendar years before present (BP). It is maintained by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information under the World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Use Cases

• Analyze fire_event_year and fire_interval to model historical fire frequency and return intervals in coastal Washington forests.
• Correlate fire_scar_evidence from tree-ring sequences with regional paleoclimate proxy records to assess climate-fire relationships.
• Reconstruct site-specific fire_history_parameters to validate and calibrate broader regional fire history models.
• Use the calendar_years_bp timeline to place local fire events within a standardized global paleoclimatic chronology.

Strengths

• Time series covers 636 calendar years (from 590 to -46 BP), providing a multi-century record.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Dataset is temporally stale, with a last update recorded in 1996.
• Sample size and specific column details (e.g., number of tree cores, site replication) are unknown, limiting statistical assessment.
• Geographic coverage is restricted to a single polygon site in Washington, USA.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Data derived from tree-ring analysis (dendrochronology) for fire scar evidence.

Time Range

590 to -46 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

1996-01-01

Geography

Nile Creek Aspect Polygon 11, Washington, United States Of America.