Swiss Tree Ring Chronology from 242 to -30 BP

NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology archives this tree ring dataset from the Burchen Bielwald site in Switzerland. The data provides parameters for climate reconstruction, covering the period from 242 to -30 calendar years before present. It was contributed by researcher Schweingruber and last archived in 1980.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies using the tree-ring width parameter as a climate proxy.
• Calibrate radiocarbon dating models by correlating the tree-ring chronology with other paleoclimate records.
• Analyze growth response to environmental stressors by examining the time-series of ring parameters from 242 to -30 BP.
• Validate regional climate model simulations for Western Europe using the high-resolution, site-specific chronology.

Strengths

• Time series spans 272 years, from 242 to -30 calendar years before present.
• Geographically precise data from a single site (Burchen Bielwald) in Switzerland.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, last updated in 1980, potentially missing modern methodological revisions.
• Sample size and specific parameters (e.g., ring width, density) are unknown from the description.
• Geographic scope is limited to one site in Western Europe, limiting broad spatial analysis.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology).

Time Range

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

Freshness

null

Geography

Burchen Bielwald, Switzerland, Western Europe.