Mount Rainier Tree Ring Chronology from 139 to 42 BCE

A 181-year tree ring chronology from subalpine fir trees near Mount Rainier, Washington, provides paleoclimate data for the period 139 to 42 BCE. The dataset is archived by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information under its World Data Service for Paleoclimatology. This specific study was published in 1992.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies using the annual tree-ring width time-series.
• Calibrate climate models by comparing the tree-ring chronology with other proxy records from the same time period.
• Analyze growth patterns in subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) in response to documented volcanic events from the Mount Rainier region.
• Study long-term ecological trends by examining the tree-ring parameter data for signs of environmental stress or change.

Strengths

• Covers a continuous 181-year period (139 to 42 BCE) from a specific location.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• Focuses on a single species (Abies lasiocarpa) at a defined site, reducing ecological variability.

Limitations

• The dataset contains only one primary chronology, offering a single point source for climate reconstruction.
• Temporal coverage is limited to 181 years, which is short for analyzing multi-decadal or centennial climate cycles.
• Data has not been updated since its publication in 1992, potentially lacking modern reanalysis or calibration.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology) of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa).

Time Range

139 to -42 calendar years BP (139 BCE to 42 BCE).

Freshness

Last updated 1992-01-01; static archival dataset.

Geography

Mount Rainier, Washington, United States.