Nepal Tree-Ring Chronology for Paleoclimate Reconstruction

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology archives a tree-ring chronology dataset from the KatyaKhola-3 site in Nepal. The data covers a 326-year period from 279 to -47 calendar years before present (BP), providing parameters related to tree-ring growth. This study was contributed to the International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB) and is maintained by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies in Nepal using annual tree-ring width measurements.
• Calibrate climate models by comparing the tree-ring chronology proxy data with instrumental records.
• Analyze the frequency of extreme climatic events, such as droughts, indicated by narrow ring sequences.
• Study ecological responses to historical climate change through inter-annual growth variability captured in the series.

Strengths

• Data spans a 326-year period (279 to -47 BP), offering a multi-century climate record.
• Archived by NOAA NCEI's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, ensuring long-term preservation and standardized metadata.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage ends at 47 BC, with no overlap with recent instrumental climate data for direct validation.
• The dataset is from a single geographic site (KatyaKhola-3, Nepal), limiting regional climate inferences.
• Last update recorded in 1997, indicating the core data is static and may not reflect newer methodological refinements.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree-ring data collection and standardization for the International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB).

Time Range

279 to -47 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

Static archive; last updated in 1997.

Geography

Nepal, Southcentral Asia (specific site: KatyaKhola-3).