Cedar Valley Tree Ring Chronology for Climate Reconstruction

275 tree-ring width measurements from Cyprus provide a 306-year climate proxy record from 275 to -31 calendar years before present. The dataset is archived by NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology and originates from the Schweingruber study. The data was last updated in the NOAA system in 1981.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past temperature or precipitation anomalies for Cyprus using the tree-ring width time series.
• Calibrate climate models by comparing the tree-ring proxy record with other paleoclimate archives for the period 275 to -31 BP.
• Analyze the frequency and severity of historical drought events in the Mediterranean from the tree-ring growth patterns.
• Establish a regional tree-ring chronology for cross-dating other archaeological or paleoenvironmental samples from Cyprus.

Strengths

• Covers a 306-year time period (275 to -31 BP), providing a multi-century climate record.
• Archived and maintained by the authoritative NOAA/NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• Specifically geolocated to Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, enabling regional analysis.

Limitations

• The dataset is temporally stale, with a last update recorded in 1981, potentially lacking modern revisions.
• The sample size (number of tree cores or series) is unknown, which limits assessment of statistical robustness.
• The calendar year BP dating system requires conversion for direct comparison with Common Era timelines.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree-ring analysis (dendrochronology) from samples collected at the Cedar Valley (Trocken) site.

Time Range

275 to -31 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Cyprus, Mediterranean Sea.