Harvard Forest Tree Ring Chronology from 52 to -58 BP

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology archives a tree ring dataset from the Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts. The data provides a chronology covering the period from 52 to -58 calendar years before present. This study was contributed by van de Gevel and last updated via NOAA NCEI in 2008.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct past climate variables like temperature or precipitation using tree ring width measurements.
• Calibrate and validate climate models for the Northeastern US region using the provided chronology.
• Analyze forest growth responses to historical environmental events recorded in the ring data.
• Establish a dated timeline for ecological studies at the Harvard Forest site.

Strengths

• Chronology provides a continuous time series covering 110 calendar years.
• Data is curated and archived by the authoritative NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

Limitations

• The dataset's last update was in 2008, indicating potential staleness relative to current methods.
• Specific sample size, row count, and measurement parameters are not provided in the input.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single forest site in Massachusetts.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring analysis (dendrochronology).

Time Range

52 to -58 calendar years before present (BP).

Freshness

Last updated in 2008.

Geography

Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts, United States.