Colorado Tree Ring Width Chronology from 750 to 37 BCE

Tree ring width measurements from Douglas fir (PSME) trees in the Peak to Peak region of Colorado. The chronology covers 787 years, from 750 to 37 calendar years before present, and was archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. This paleoclimatology study was last updated in 1987.

Use Cases

• Reconstruct historical drought indices by analyzing annual tree-ring width variations.
• Calibrate climate models using the multi-century tree-ring width chronology as a proxy for past temperature or precipitation.
• Study the growth response of Douglas fir (PSME) to environmental stressors over a 787-year period.
• Cross-date and validate other tree-ring chronologies from the North American 2K network using this series.

Strengths

• 787-year continuous chronology from 750 to 37 BCE.
• Data is part of the authoritative PAGES North America 2K network for paleoclimate reconstruction.

Limitations

• The dataset has not been updated since 1987, potentially missing modern methodological refinements.
• Geographic scope is limited to a single species (PSME) in a specific region of Colorado.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Tree ring (dendrochronology) sampling and width measurement.

Time Range

750 to -37 calendar years BP (787 years total).

Freshness

1987-01-01

Geography

Peak to Peak region, Colorado, United States of America.