California Tree Ring Chronology from 347 to 46 BC

NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology archives this tree-ring chronology from the American River area at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in California. The data provides annual-resolution climate proxy records covering a 393-year period from 347 to 46 BC. It was published by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information in 1996.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct annual precipitation or streamflow for the American River basin using the tree-ring width chronology.
• Calibrate regional climate models by comparing the tree-ring proxy data with other paleoclimate records for the specified time period.
• Analyze the frequency and severity of pre-historic droughts in California from the 393-year annual resolution series.
• Study the response of local tree species to climate forcing during the period from 347 to 46 BC.

Strengths

• Covers a continuous 393-year period (347 to 46 BC) providing a long-term baseline.
• Annual resolution data suitable for high-frequency climate signal analysis.
• Curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, last updated in 1996, with no recent revisions.
• Geographic scope is limited to a single site (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area).
• The raw data format and specific measurement parameters are not detailed in the provided description.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology).

Time Range

347 to -46 calendar years BP (Before Present, where present=1950), equivalent to approximately 347 BC to 46 BC.

Freshness

1996-01-01

Geography

American River area, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, California, United States.