Tree-Rings and Climatic Changes in Western North America
Abstract
Based on about one-third million annual rings in selected, drought-sensitive trees from semi-arid sites, regional indices have been derived for the upper basins of all the major streams of the western United States. Almost all indices are statistically well-based for about 500 years; the Colorado and Missouri indices are well documented for about 800 years. Three series of maximum length are: Colorado, 2,009 years, including the extension in archaeological beams; Snake, 1494 years; Missouri, 973 years. A major element in the construction of these indices was the discovery and extensive sampling of a category of drought-recording, stunted conifers growing with extreme slowness on the most adverse sites and attaining ages twice or more the normal for the species on optimum growth sites. The oldest tree thus far discovered in each of the principal species is: limber pine, 1510 years; pinyon pine, 975 years; Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir, 880 years; ponderosa pine, 850 years. The much longer-lived Sequoia, growing in a relatively moist environment, were not sampled for this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 20, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0664014
Entities
People
- Edmund Schulman
Organizations
- University of Arizona