Dendrochronology of bristlecone pine. Progress report, 15 February 1981-15 January 1982

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5386163

Dendrochronological studies of bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva, in the White Mountains of California have resulted in the establishment of a continuous tree-ring sequence back to 6700 B.C., a total of 8680 years. C-14 dates on three exploratory samples indicate that bulk collections proposed for 1982 will strengthen and extend the present chronology. Collections made at a site in the White Pine Range, east-central Nevada, have provided excellent material for a chronology back to 3240 B.C. The project has provided 1132 dendrochronologically dated samples for an interlaboratory calibration of the radiocarbon time scale, and continues to do so as material for selected time periods becomes available. Four specimens, spanning the interval from the present back to 6600 B.C., were selected for a study of isotopic ratios at the University of Washington. Overlapping tree-ring records from the Methuselah Walk site are being merged to create an 8000-year series that can be used for climatic reconstruction. The primary climatic signal that can be isolated and reconstructed is annual moisture deficit.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-81EV10680
• OSTI ID: 5386163
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV/10680-T1; ON: DE82008814
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
AGE ESTIMATION
CALIBRATION
CLIMATES
CONIFERS
PALEONTOLOGY
PINES
PLANTS
TREE RINGS
TREES