Spanish Tree Ring Chronology from 340 to -38 BP

Tree ring width measurements from Spain provide a 378-year climate proxy record from 340 to -38 calendar years before present. The dataset is archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information under its World Data Service for Paleoclimatology. This specific chronology was last updated in the NOAA system in 1988.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies by calibrating tree ring width series against modern instrumental records.
• Identify extreme climatic events, such as multi-year droughts, within the 378-year chronology for Southern Europe.
• Validate or extend regional climate model simulations for the Iberian Peninsula using the dated proxy record.
• Cross-date other undated tree ring samples from the region using the master chronology established in this dataset.

Strengths

• 378-year continuous chronology providing multi-century climate context.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Chronology ends at -38 BP (38 BCE), lacking overlap with most modern instrumental climate records.
• The dataset's last known update was in 1988, potentially missing methodological revisions.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single site in Spain, not representative of the entire region.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology), measuring ring widths to build a dated chronology.

Time Range

340 to -38 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Spain, Southern Europe.