Fenton Lake Ponderosa Pine Tree Ring Chronology from New Mexico

418 calendar years before present of tree ring width data from Ponderosa Pine trees near Fenton Lake, New Mexico. The dataset was archived by NOAA's World Data Service for Paleoclimatology and last updated in 1986. It supports reconstruction of past climate conditions.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct annual precipitation or temperature anomalies using tree ring width as a proxy.
• Calibrate regional climate models by comparing the tree ring chronology with instrumental records.
• Analyze growth response patterns to specific climatic events recorded in the time-series.
• Establish a dated master chronology for cross-dating other tree ring samples from the region.
• Study the frequency and severity of drought events in the New Mexico region over 418 years.

Strengths

• Covers a 418-year time period, providing a multi-century climate record.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage ends at 36 years before present, making the most recent data from approximately the mid-20th century.
• Geographic scope is limited to a single site (Fenton Lake) in New Mexico.
• The dataset was last updated in 1986 and may not reflect more recent methodological standards.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring cores collected and measured using dendrochronological techniques.

Time Range

From 418 to -36 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

null

Geography

Fenton Lake, New Mexico, United States of America.