Swiss Tree Ring Chronology from Wylewald Forest

NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology archives a tree-ring chronology dataset from a healthy fir tree (Abies alba) in Wylewald, Switzerland. The data covers 94 years, from 65 to -29 calendar years before present (BP), indicating a period spanning approximately 29 BC to 65 AD. It was published by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information in 1979.

Use Cases

• Calibrating regional climate models by analyzing annual tree-ring width variations as a proxy for past growing conditions.
• Cross-dating archaeological wood samples from the Alpine region using the established fir tree chronology.
• Investigating climate anomalies during the Roman period by examining the ring-width time-series for extreme narrow or wide years.
• Assessing the growth response of Abies alba to documented historical events within the 94-year temporal coverage.

Strengths

• Data spans a continuous 94-year chronology from 65 to -29 BP.
• Sourced from a single, healthy specimen (Tanne gesund) minimizing biological noise.
• Archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Dataset is from a single tree location, limiting spatial representativeness for broader regional analysis.
• The last update was in 1979, and methodologies may not reflect modern dendrochronological standards.
• Specific measurement parameters (e.g., raw ring widths, standardized indices) are not detailed in the provided metadata.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree-ring data collection via dendrochronological analysis of a fir tree core sample.

Time Range

65 to -29 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Wylewald, Switzerland, Western Europe.