Schulman Old Tree Ring Chronology from Mesa Verde Colorado

Tree ring width measurements from a single ponderosa pine (PSME) in Mesa Verde, Colorado, spanning 563 years from 550 to -13 calendar years before present. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information archived this dendrochronological study, which was last updated in the database in 1963.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct annual precipitation or drought indices for the Colorado Plateau by analyzing the tree_ring_width time series.
• Calibrate regional climate models by comparing the ring_width chronology with other proxy records from the same period.
• Study the growth response of ponderosa pine (PSME) to specific climatic events captured in the 563-year record.
• Perform cross-dating analysis to validate the calendar year assignment for the time period coverage from 550 to -13 BP.

Strengths

• Time series covers a 563-year period from 550 to -13 calendar years BP.
• Data originates from the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Dataset contains measurements from only one tree (Schulman Old Tree Number 1), limiting statistical robustness.
• The last recorded update to the metadata was in 1963, indicating potential staleness in data handling or availability.
• Geographic coverage is restricted to a single location in Mesa Verde, Colorado.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Dendrochronological sampling and measurement of tree ring widths from a ponderosa pine (Pseudotsuga menziesii - PSME).

Time Range

550 to -13 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Mesa Verde, Colorado, United States of America.