Steens Mountain Tree-Ring Chronology from 449 to -32 BP

Tree-ring width measurements from a single site in Oregon's Steens Mountain provide a 481-year chronology. The data, archived by NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, covers the period from 449 to -32 calendar years before present. This record was last updated in the NOAA system in 1982.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing past temperature or precipitation anomalies by calibrating tree-ring width data against modern instrumental records.
• Analyzing the frequency and severity of drought events within the 481-year chronology for the Steens Mountain region.
• Cross-dating this site chronology with others from the ITRDB (International Tree-Ring Data Bank) to build regional climate reconstructions.
• Investigating growth response and potential climate sensitivity of the tree species (likely juniper) at this high-elevation site.

Strengths

• Chronology spans 481 calendar years, providing a multi-century climate proxy.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• The dataset's temporal coverage ends 32 years before present (1950 CE), lacking recent decades.
• Data is from a single geographic site (Steens Mountain), limiting regional representativeness.
• The last metadata update was in 1982, indicating potential staleness in documentation.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree-ring cores collected and measured using standard dendrochronological techniques.

Time Range

449 to -32 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Steens Mountain, Oregon, United States of America.