Swiss Spruce Tree Ring Chronology from Madiswil (142 to -27 BP)

Tree ring width measurements from spruce trees (Fichte) near Madiswil, Switzerland, used for climate reconstruction. The chronology covers a 169-year period from 142 to -27 calendar years before present. This dataset was archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information and World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, with a last recorded update in 1977.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct historical temperature or precipitation anomalies by calibrating tree ring width series against instrumental climate records.
• Analyze growth patterns and extreme events within the 169-year chronology to identify periods of environmental stress.
• Cross-date the Madiswil spruce chronology with other regional tree ring series to validate and extend climate reconstructions for Switzerland.
• Calibrate radiocarbon dating models using the known-age tree ring series provided by this dataset.

Strengths

• Chronology spans a defined 169-year period (142 to -27 BP), providing a continuous proxy record.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• The dataset's last update was in 1977, indicating it may not reflect more recent methodological standards or include newer samples.
• The specific sample size (number of trees/cores) and measurement resolution are unknown from the provided metadata.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single site (Madiswil, Switzerland), which may not represent broader regional climate signals.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Dendrochronological analysis of spruce tree (Fichte) ring widths.

Time Range

142 to -27 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

1977-01-01

Geography

Madiswil, Switzerland, Western Europe.