Zambian Tree Ring Data from SAFARI 2000 Field Campaign

Tree ring data from approximately 50 individual trees across three sites near Mongu, Zambia. The dataset includes raw ring width measurements and standardized chronologies for each site, with a maximum temporal coverage of 46 years. Data was collected during the SAFARI 2000 Dry Season Field Campaign in August 2000 by researchers using LINTAB equipment and TSAP software.

Use Cases

• Analyzing annual growth patterns of Brachystegia bakeriana and Brachystegia spiciformis using raw ring width measurements.
• Reconstructing past climatic influences on woodland ecosystems using the standardized site chronologies.
• Cross-dating tree samples to establish accurate timelines for ecological events.
• Studying the impact of subsistence harvesting on tree growth by examining samples from freshly cut trees.

Strengths

• Contains data from approximately 50 individual trees, providing a substantial sample size for analysis.
• Measurements were taken with high precision to the nearest 0.01 mm using specialized LINTAB equipment.
• Four radii were measured per sample disc, improving reliability and reducing measurement bias.
• Data includes both raw measurements and standardized chronologies for each of the three sites.

Limitations

• Conflicting metadata: the 'last updated' date differs between sources (2000-08 vs. 2026-03), suggesting potential platform synchronization issues.
• Most individual tree series do not extend longer than 30 years, limiting long-term trend analysis.
• Specific column names and exact row counts are not provided by any source.

Provenance

Source

ORNL_CLOUD (Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center)

Collection Method

Samples were full stem discs taken from freshly cut trees at breast height (1.3 m), measured using LINTAB equipment and TSAP software, with cross-dating performed via routine dendrochronological techniques.

Time Range

Maximum of 46 years (exact start year not specified).

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:14:47.093682

Geography

Three sites located approximately 25 km from the meteorological station at Mongu, Zambia.