Tree Ring Chronology from Chihuahua, Mexico Spanning 335 Years

Tree ring width measurements from Pinus ponderosa (PIPO) at the Rancho Escondido 2 sites in Chihuahua, Mexico provide a proxy climate record. The chronology covers 335 years, from 320 to 15 years before present (BP). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) archives this paleoclimatology study, last updated in 1965.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past precipitation or drought indices by analyzing annual tree ring width variations.
• Calibrate climate models using the 335-year proxy temperature record from Chihuahua.
• Study the growth response of Pinus ponderosa (PIPO) to historical environmental stressors.
• Perform cross-dating with other regional tree ring chronologies to validate climate signals.
• Analyze long-term frequency of extreme climatic events captured in the ring width series.

Strengths

• Time series covers a continuous 335-year period (320 to 15 BP).
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.
• Provides a geographically specific record for Chihuahua, Mexico.

Limitations

• The dataset's last update was in 1965, potentially lacking modern reanalysis or calibration.
• Limited to a single tree species (Pinus ponderosa) at two specific sites, reducing regional representativeness.
• Unknown sample depth (number of core samples) underlying the chronology, affecting uncertainty estimates.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring cores collected and measured for width, standardized into a chronology.

Time Range

320 to 15 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

1965-01-01

Geography

Rancho Escondido 2 sites, Chihuahua, Mexico.