Betatakin Canyon Douglas Fir Tree Ring Chronology 687 to -22 BP

709 annual tree-ring width measurements from Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees in Betatakin Canyon, Arizona, spanning from 687 to -22 calendar years before present. This dendrochronological dataset was archived by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information and contributed by researcher Schulman. The data was last updated in the NOAA system in 1972.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct annual precipitation or drought indices for the southwestern U.S. using tree-ring width as a proxy.
• Calibrate radiocarbon dating sequences by cross-referencing the 709-year tree-ring chronology.
• Analyze climate periodicity and extreme events (e.g., megadroughts) from the annual resolution time-series data.
• Validate regional climate model simulations for the period 687 to -22 BP against the dendroclimatic record.
• Study the growth response of Douglas fir (PSME) to environmental stressors over a multi-century timeline.

Strengths

• 709-year continuous chronology providing high-resolution annual climate proxy.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• Specific geographic location (Betatakin Canyon, Arizona) enables localized climate analysis.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage ends at -22 BP (1972 CE), lacking recent decades for modern climate comparison.
• Data is from a single tree species (PSME) at one site, limiting regional representativeness.
• The last system update was in 1972, indicating potential staleness in metadata or format.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

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

Time Range

687 to -22 calendar years before present.

Freshness

null

Geography

Betatakin Canyon, Arizona, United States.