NOAA Paleoclimatology Program, NCDC Paleoclimatology Branch

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Tree-ring Chronologies

A tree-ring chronology is a time-series of annual values derived from the ring-width measurements of 10 or more trees of the same species at a single site. Nearly 100 tree-ring chronologies (>250 years) collected from moisture-sensitive tree species across California, Nevada, and far southern Oregon are among the 2,500 chronologies archived in the International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB).

These chronologies have been used to help generate several hydrologic reconstructions in California, and they could be used to generate new reconstructions in other California basins. A chronology doesn't need to be in a particular river basin in order to capture the regional flows of atmospheric moisture that drive streamflow in that basin.

In the map below, the locations of tree-ring chronologies are shown by green triangles. The numbers next to the chronologies correspond to additional information in a table below the map. The ring-width data for each chronology can be accessed by using the search form for the ITRDB and entering the Site Name.

Table: Additional Chronology Information

No.	ITRDB Code	State	Site Name	Species	Begin	End	Length	Lat.	Long.-	Elev. (m)	Elev. (ft)
1	CA614	CA	American Canyon	QUDG	1577	1996	420	35.30	-120.27	580	1900
2	CA067	CA	Antelope Lake	PIPO	1484	1980	497	40.15	-120.60	1480	4854
3	CA066	CA	Antelope Lake	PIJE	1471	1980	510	40.15	-120.60	1480	4854
4	CA628	CA	Antelope Lake Recollection	PIPO	1450	1998	549	40.15	-120.60	1480	4854
5	CA526	CA	Black Cone	PIPO	1526	1979	454	41.18	-120.12	2195	7200
6	CA084	CA	Blue Banks	PIJE	1318	1980	663	39.67	-122.97	1598	5241
7	CA629	CA	Boles Creek	JUOC	1152	1998	847	41.45	-120.90	1302	4271
8	CA636	CA	Boreal Plateau	PIBA	831	1992	1162	36.45	-118.55	3420	11218
9	CA091	CA	Bryant Creek	PIMO	1556	1983	428	38.75	-119.67	2073	6800
10	CA092	CA	Buena Vista	PIJE	1434	1981	548	36.72	-118.88	2280	7478
11	CA533	CA	Campito Mountain	PILO	626	1983	1358	37.50	-118.22	3400	11152
12	CA630	CA	Carson Pass East and Caples Lake	JUOC	-420	1999	2420	38.70	-120.00	2591	8498
13	CA602	CA	Cathedral Peak	PIAL	1532	1991	460	37.83	-119.42	2960	9709
14	CA530	CA	Cirque Peak	PIBA	917	1987	1071	36.45	-118.22	3505	11496
15	CA615	CA	Clear Lake State Park	QUDG	1642	1996	355	39.02	-122.82	426	1397
16	CA065	CA	Dalton Reservoir	PIPO	1357	1980	624	41.62	-120.70	1531	5022
17	CA525	CA	Damon's Butte	PIPO	1627	1979	353	41.50	-121.17	1448	4750
18	CA603	CA	Dana Plateau	PIAL	1430	1996	567	37.92	-119.23	3300	10824
19	CA076	CA	Devil's Dance Floor	PIJE	1441	1980	540	37.75	-119.75	2084	6836
20	CA616	CA	Don Pedro Reservoir and Green Valley	QUDG	1669	1992	324	37.72	-120.42	274	899
21	CA074	CA	Donner Summit	PIJE	1510	1980	471	39.32	-120.35	2265	7430
22	CA617	CA	Eel River	QUDG	1535	1996	462	39.82	-123.07	610	2000
23	CA618	CA	Feather River Lake Oroville	QUDG	1637	1996	360	39.52	-121.43	305	1000
24	CA619	CA	Finley Lake	QUDG	1515	1996	482	40.27	-121.85	853	2798
25	CA609	CA	Fish Creek Trail (San Gorgonio)	PIJE	1560	1995	436	34.12	-116.80	2890	9479
26	CA528	CA	Flower Lake	PIBA	898	1987	1090	36.77	-118.37	3291	10794
27	CA620	CA	Folsom Lake State Recreation Area American River	QUDG	1603	1996	394	38.77	-121.10	183	600
28	CA611	CA	Fry Creek Palomar Mt.	PSMA	1640	1992	353	33.35	-116.85	1524	5000
29	CA604	CA	Granite Lakes	PIAL	1520	1996	477	37.92	-119.28	3300	10824
30	CA527	CA	Greenville Saddle	PIPO	1623	1979	357	40.22	-120.92	1768	5800
31	CA524	CA	Grizzly Peak	PIPO	1661	1981	321	41.17	-122.03	1463	4800
32	CA073	CA	Hager Basin Reservoir	JUOC	1310	1980	671	41.77	-120.75	1524	5000
33	CA085	CA	Hell's Half Acre	PIJE	1497	1980	484	39.60	-122.95	1922	6300
34	CA631	CA	Jackson Meadow Reservoir	JUOC	930	1999	1070	39.52	-120.55	1921	6300
35	CA087	CA	Kaiser Pass	JUOC	1140	1981	842	37.28	-119.08	2731	8960
36	CA514	CA	Kennedy Meadows	PIJE	1607	1981	375	36.03	-118.18	2024	6640
37	CA621	CA	Kern River	QUDG	1585	1996	412	35.52	-118.67	670	2200
38	CA064	CA	Lemon Canyon	PIJE	1415	1980	566	39.57	-120.25	1859	6100
39	CA520	CA	Likely Mountain	PIJE	1653	1980	328	41.15	-120.57	1811	5940
40	CA503	CA	Log Cabin Mine Road Tioga Pass	JUOC	1500	1964	465	37.95	-119.15	2591	8500
41	CA505	CA	Log Cabin Mine Road Tioga Pass	PIJE	1304	1964	661	37.95	-119.15	2591	8500
42	CA605	CA	Mammoth Lake	PIAL	885	1996	1112	37.87	-119.28	3300	10824
43	CA535	CA	Methuselah Walk	PILO	-6000	1979	7980	37.43	-118.17	2805	9200
44	CA623	CA	Mt. Diablo State Park	QUDG	1645	1997	353	37.87	-121.95	245	804
45	CA624	CA	Mt. Diablo State Park	QULO	1621	1996	376	37.87	-121.95	245	804
46	CA523	CA	Mt. Eddy	PIJE	1388	1981	594	41.33	-122.52	2134	7000
47	CA610	CA	Mt. Laguna	PIJE	1660	1995	336	32.87	-116.42	1800	5904
48	CA531	CA	Onion Valley	PIBA	1027	1987	961	36.77	-118.35	2865	9400
49	CA625	CA	Pacheco Pass State Park	QUDG	1607	1996	390	37.05	-121.00	396	1300
50	CA612	CA	Pine Mountain North	PSMA	1470	1993	524	34.65	-119.37	1500	4920
51	CA626	CA	Pinnacles National Monument	QUDG	1578	1996	419	36.47	-121.18	350	1148
52	CA094	CA	Piute Mountain	PIJE	1528	1981	454	35.53	-118.43	1975	6478
53	CA536	CA	San Bernardino Mountains A	PSMA	1654	1988	335	34.27	-117.28	1400	4592
54	CA537	CA	San Bernardino Mountains B	PSMA	1725	1988	264	34.27	-117.33	1400	4592
55	CA539	CA	San Bernardino Mountains D	PSMA	1560	1988	429	33.98	-116.75	1600	5248
56	CA544	CA	San Bernardino Mountains I	PSMA	1707	1988	282	34.17	-117.12	1400	4592
57	CA547	CA	San Bernardino Mountains L	PSMA	1684	1988	305	34.17	-117.05	1400	4592
58	CA550	CA	San Bernardino Mountains O	PSMA	1621	1988	368	34.22	-117.22	1400	4592
59	CA552	CA	San Bernardino Mountains Q	PSMA	1628	1988	361	34.10	-116.97	1600	5248
60	CA553	CA	San Bernardino Mountains R	PSMA	1540	1988	449	34.17	-116.73	1500	4920
61	CA554	CA	San Bernardino Mountains S	PSMA	1701	1988	288	33.97	-116.75	1600	5248
62	CA627	CA	San Joaquin River Millerton Lake	QUDG	1710	1996	287	37.03	-119.67	213	699
63	CA512	CA	Santa Ana	PSMA	1610	1972	363	33.73	-117.55	1200	3936
64	CA613	CA	Santa Ana Mts. (New and Old)	PSMA	1660	1995	336	33.73	-117.55	1200	3936
65	CA632	CA	Sardine Point	JUOC	1010	1999	990	39.55	-120.20	2268	7440
66	CA095	CA	Sharp Mountain	JUOC	1548	1982	435	41.72	-121.80	1417	4650
67	CA079	CA	Snow White Ridge	PIPO	1557	1980	424	38.13	-120.05	1731	5678
68	CA089	CA	Sorrel Peak	PIJE	1505	1981	477	35.43	-118.28	2011	6600
69	CA511	CA	Southern California (Network 41)	PSMA	1458	1966	509	33.68	-116.70	1436	4710
70	CA606	CA	Spillway	PIAL	800	1996	1197	37.83	-119.22	3300	10824
71	CA082	CA	St. John Mountain	PIPO	1500	1980	481	39.43	-122.68	1555	5100
72	CA501	CA	Susanville	PIPO	1485	1963	479	40.48	-120.55	1829	6000
73	CA532	CA	Timber Gap Lower	PIBA	1050	1987	938	36.45	-118.62	3017	9900
74	CA529	CA	Timber Gap Upper	PIBA	699	1987	1289	36.45	-118.60	3261	10700
75	CA517	CA	Timbered Mountain	JUOC	1654	1980	327	41.72	-120.75	1586	5202
76	CA637	CA	Upper Wright Lakes	PIBA	-215	1992	2208	36.62	-118.37	3519	11542
77	CA555	CA	Yolla Bolly	PIBA	1177	1988	812	40.03	-122.87	2460	8069
78	NV509	NV	Berry Creek	PIMO	1551	1976	426	39.37	-114.72	2242	7354
79	NV040	NV	Duck Creek Range West	PIMO	1570	1976	407	39.33	-114.75	2286	7500
80	NV507	NV	Egan Range West	PIMO	1465	1976	512	39.38	-114.92	2134	7000
81	NV516	NV	Hill 10842	PILO	0	1984	1985	38.93	-114.23	3050	10000
82	NV036	NV	Horse Canyon Ridge	PIMO	1567	1978	412	39.27	-114.12	2347	7700
83	NV515	NV	Indian Garden	PILO	-2370	1980	4351	39.08	-115.43	2900	9512
84	NV060	NV	Jackson Mountains	JUOC	1267	1984	718	41.30	-118.43	2097	6878
85	NV518	NV	Jackson Mountains Recollection	JUOC	975	1998	1024	41.30	-118.43	2097	6878
86	NV052	NV	Moody Mountain	PIMO	1470	1982	513	39.10	-115.80	2004	6573
87	NV057	NV	Panaca Summit	PIMO	1556	1982	427	37.77	-114.18	2103	6900
88	NV056	NV	Pequap Summit	PIMO	1330	1982	653	41.05	-114.58	2286	7500
89	NV058	NV	Pete's Summit	PIMO	1439	1982	544	39.18	-116.78	2347	7700
90	NV049	NV	Pony Express	PIMO	1400	1982	583	39.82	-114.62	2210	7250
91	NV048	NV	Ruby Mountains South	PIMO	1503	1978	476	40.15	-115.53	2195	7200
92	NV517	NV	Spring Mts Lower	PILO	320	1985	1666	36.32	-115.70	3000	9840
93	NV055	NV	Wall Canyon	PIMO	1490	1982	493	38.68	-117.23	2316	7600
94	NV053	NV	White Horse Summit	PIMO	1400	1982	583	40.40	-114.22	1996	6547
95	OR002	OR	Lakeview	PIPO	1421	1964	544	42.10	-120.57	1829	6000
96	OR027	OR	Little Aspen Butte	PIPO	1495	1981	487	42.27	-122.08	1650	5412

Species Codes:

JUOC - Juniperus occidentalis (Western juniper)

PIAL - Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine)

PIBA - Pinus balfouriana (foxtail pine)

PIJE - Pinus jeffreyii (Jeffrey pine)

PILO - Pinus longaeva (Great Basin bristlecone pine)

PIMO - Pinus monticola (singleleaf pinyon)

PIPO - Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine)

PITO - Pinus torreya (Torrey pine)

PSMA - Pseudotsuga macrocarpa (bigcone Douglas-fir)

QUDG - Quercus douglasii (blue oak)

QULO - Quercus lobata (live oak)


http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/streamflow/ca/chronologies.html Downloaded Sunday, 06-Jul-2008 21:56:19 EDT Last Updated Thursday, 30-Nov-2006 09:13:19 EST by paleo@noaa.gov Please see the Paleoclimatology Contact Page or the NCDC Contact Page if you have questions or comments.