skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Tree ring-based reconstruction of annual precipitation in the South-Central United State from 1750 to 1980. [Quercus stellata; Quercus alba]

Abstract

A 231-year reconstruction of annual precipitation, from 1750 through 1980 A.D., was developed from 10 tree ring chronologies (9 post oak, Quercus stellata, and 1 white oak, Q. alba, series) in the south-central United States. Straight line regression was used to calibrate regionally averaged precipitation with ring width data, and the derived reconstruction was verified with independent climatic data and historical evidence. A variance trend in the tree ring data, which may have resulted from nonclimatic factors, was removed. The reconstructed precipitation series indicates that (1) a drought which appears to have been more severe than any in the instrumental record occurred about 1860 and (2) severe and prolonged droughts comparable to twentieth century events have occurred at roughly 15- to 25-years intervals throughout the past 231 years. It follows that serious droughts in the south-central United States could be expected to recur even in the absence of projected CO/sub 2/-induced warming.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6970065
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Water Resour. Res.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 24:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; DROUGHTS; PALEOCLIMATOLOGY; FEDERAL REGION VI; ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS; CLIMATES; TREE RINGS; NORTH AMERICA; PALEONTOLOGY; USA; 580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Blasing, T J, Stahle, D W, and Duvick, D N. Tree ring-based reconstruction of annual precipitation in the South-Central United State from 1750 to 1980. [Quercus stellata; Quercus alba]. United States: N. p., 1988. Web. doi:10.1029/WR024i001p00163.
Blasing, T J, Stahle, D W, & Duvick, D N. Tree ring-based reconstruction of annual precipitation in the South-Central United State from 1750 to 1980. [Quercus stellata; Quercus alba]. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i001p00163
Blasing, T J, Stahle, D W, and Duvick, D N. 1988. "Tree ring-based reconstruction of annual precipitation in the South-Central United State from 1750 to 1980. [Quercus stellata; Quercus alba]". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i001p00163.
@article{osti_6970065,
title = {Tree ring-based reconstruction of annual precipitation in the South-Central United State from 1750 to 1980. [Quercus stellata; Quercus alba]},
author = {Blasing, T J and Stahle, D W and Duvick, D N},
abstractNote = {A 231-year reconstruction of annual precipitation, from 1750 through 1980 A.D., was developed from 10 tree ring chronologies (9 post oak, Quercus stellata, and 1 white oak, Q. alba, series) in the south-central United States. Straight line regression was used to calibrate regionally averaged precipitation with ring width data, and the derived reconstruction was verified with independent climatic data and historical evidence. A variance trend in the tree ring data, which may have resulted from nonclimatic factors, was removed. The reconstructed precipitation series indicates that (1) a drought which appears to have been more severe than any in the instrumental record occurred about 1860 and (2) severe and prolonged droughts comparable to twentieth century events have occurred at roughly 15- to 25-years intervals throughout the past 231 years. It follows that serious droughts in the south-central United States could be expected to recur even in the absence of projected CO/sub 2/-induced warming.},
doi = {10.1029/WR024i001p00163},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6970065}, journal = {Water Resour. Res.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 24:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}