California Tree Ring Width Chronology from Flower Lake (750-37 BP)

NOAA NCEI archives a paleoclimatology dataset containing tree-ring width measurements from Flower Lake, California. The chronology covers a 787-year period from 750 to 37 calendar years before present, compiled by researcher Graybill. This study was published as part of the PAGES North America 2K initiative.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct annual temperature or precipitation anomalies for California using the tree-ring width time-series.
• Calibrate climate models by comparing the Flower Lake chronology with other regional proxy records.
• Analyze the frequency and severity of historical droughts in the Sierra Nevada region from ring-width variations.
• Establish a dated master chronology for the region to cross-date other sub-fossil wood samples.

Strengths

• Chronology spans 787 years (750 to 37 BP), providing a multi-century climate record.
• Data is curated and archived by NOAA's authoritative World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• Part of the standardized PAGES North America 2K network, facilitating continental-scale comparisons.

Limitations

• Dataset is temporally stale, with a last update recorded in 1987.
• The raw sample depth and replication statistics for the chronology are unknown.
• Geographic scope is limited to a single site (Flower Lake) in California.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree-ring analysis (dendrochronology) of samples collected from the Flower Lake site.

Time Range

750 to 37 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Flower Lake, California, United States of America.