South Dakota Tree Ring Width Chronology from 450 to -30 BP

NOAA NCEI archives this tree-ring width chronology from the Reno Gulch site in South Dakota, USA. The dataset provides paleoclimate proxy data covering the period from 450 to -30 calendar years before present. It was contributed by researcher Meko and published as part of the PAGES North America 2K network.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies in the Black Hills region using the tree-ring width proxy.
• Calibrate the tree-ring width chronology against instrumental climate records to develop transfer functions.
• Analyze long-term climate trends and extreme events over a ~500-year period captured in the ring-width series.
• Compare this South Dakota chronology with other PAGES 2K network sites to study spatial climate patterns.

Strengths

• Temporal coverage spans approximately 480 years (450 to -30 BP), providing a multi-century climate record.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
• Part of the standardized PAGES North America 2K network, facilitating continental-scale comparisons.

Limitations

• The dataset's last known update was in 1980, indicating it is a static archive and may not reflect newer methodologies.
• Limited to a single tree species (Pinus ponderosa, PIPO) and geographic site (Reno Gulch, South Dakota).
• The 'years before present' dating convention requires careful conversion for integration with Common Era datasets.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree-ring analysis (dendrochronology) measuring ring width parameters.

Time Range

450 to -30 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

Static archive last updated 1980-01-01.

Geography

Reno Gulch, South Dakota, United States of America.