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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - US Mid-Atlantic Region 800 Year May Precipitation Reconstruction

browse graphicPaleoclimatology - Climate Reconstruction
This archived Paleoclimatology Study is available from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), under the World Data Service (WDS) for Paleoclimatology. The associated NCEI study type is Climate Reconstruction. The data include parameters of instrumental with a geographic location of United States Of America. The time period coverage is from 750 to -47 in calendar years before present (BP). See metadata information for parameter and study location details. Please cite this study when using the data.
  • Cite as: Maxwell, R.S.; Hessl, A.E.; Cook, E.R.; Buckley, B.M. (2012-01-28): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - US Mid-Atlantic Region 800 Year May Precipitation Reconstruction. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/sjmg-9q98. Accessed [date].
  • Please refer to Credit tab for full citation information.
noaa-recon-12425
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Data Center Contact
NOAA World Data Service for Paleoclimatology
828-271-4800
paleo@noaa.gov
Coverage Description Date Range: 1200 CE to 1997 CE; Date Range: 750 cal yr BP to -47 cal yr BP;
Time Period 1200 to 1997
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -80
East: -75
South: 35
North: 40
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • A Multicentury Reconstruction of May Precipitation for the Mid-Atlantic Region Using Juniperus virginiana Tree Rings
    • Associated Reference published 2012
      R. Stockton Maxwell, Amy E. Hessl, Edward R. Cook,Brendan M. Buckley, 2012: A Multicentury Reconstruction of May Precipitation for the Mid-Atlantic Region Using Juniperus virginiana Tree Rings. Journal of Climate, 25, 1045-1056, 10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00017.1
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2012-01-28
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency Data update frequency not available
Supplemental Information
STUDY NOTES: Reconstruction of May precipitation for AD 1200-1997 for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. The reconstruction is based on two Juniperus virginiana L. (eastern redcedar) tree-ring chronologies collected in West Virginia.
ABSTRACT SUPPLIED BY ORIGINATOR: This paper presents a multicentury reconstruction of May precipitation (1200-1997) for the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The reconstruction is based on the first principal component (PC1) of two millennial-length Juniperus virginiana L. (eastern red cedar) tree-ring chronologies collected from rocky, limestone sites in the Ridge and Valley province of West Virginia. A split-calibration linear regression model accounted for 27% of the adjusted variance in the instrumental record and was stable through time. The model was verified by the reduction of error (RE = 0.21) and coefficient of efficiency (CE = 0.20) statistics. Multidecadal changes in precipitation were common throughout the reconstruction, and wetter than median conditions and drier than median conditions occurred during the medieval climate anomaly (1200-1300) and the Little Ice Age (1550-1650), respectively. The full reconstruction contained evidence of interannual and decadal variability; however, the twentieth century recorded the greatest number of decadal extreme wet and dry periods. A comparison of the May precipitation reconstruction to other regional reconstructions [Potomac River, Maryland, streamflow (Cook and Jacoby); Virginia/North Carolina July Palmer hydrologic drought index (PHDI; Stahle et al.); Missouri July PHDI (Cleaveland and Stahle); and White River, Arkansas, streamflow (Cleaveland)] showed that the eastern U.S. decadal drought and pluvial events extended into the mid-Atlantic region. A positive correlation between PC1 and the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index and comparisons of smoothed May precipitation and the NAO (Luterbacher et al.) indicated that J. virginiana's response to May precipitation was mediated by winter temperature.
Purpose Records of past temperature, precipitation, and other climate variables derived from paleoclimate proxies. Parameter keywords describe what was measured in this data set. Additional summary information can be found in the abstracts of papers listed in the data set citations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Maxwell, R.S.; Hessl, A.E.; Cook, E.R.; Buckley, B.M. (2012-01-28): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - US Mid-Atlantic Region 800 Year May Precipitation Reconstruction. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/sjmg-9q98. Accessed [date].
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Cited Authors
  • Maxwell, R.S.
  • Hessl, A.E.
  • Cook, E.R.
  • Buckley, B.M.
Originators
  • Maxwell, R.S.
  • Hessl, A.E.
  • Cook, E.R.
  • Buckley, B.M.
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Climate Indicators > Paleoclimate Indicators > Paleoclimate Reconstructions
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • earth science > paleoclimate > instrumental
  • earth science > paleoclimate > climate reconstructions|tree ring
  • earth science > paleoclimate > climate reconstructions|tree ring
  • earth science > paleoclimate > reconstructions > precipitation
  • Precipitation Reconstruction
  • drought
  • precipitation
Paleoenvironmental Standard Terms (PaST) Thesaurus
  • What: precipitation; Material: null
  • What: age; Material: null
  • What: precipitation; Material: null
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States Of America > US Mid-Atlantic Region > LATITUDE 37.5 > LONGITUDE -77.5
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Maxwell, R.S.; Hessl, A.E.; Cook, E.R.; Buckley, B.M. (2012-01-28): NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - US Mid-Atlantic Region 800 Year May Precipitation Reconstruction. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/sjmg-9q98. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
  • Please cite original publication, online resource, dataset and publication DOIs (where available), and date accessed when using downloaded data. If there is no publication information, please cite investigator, title, online resource, and date accessed. The appearance of external links associated with a dataset does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the Department of Commerce/NOAA does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this Department of Commerce/NOAA Web site.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
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Last Modified: 2024-01-19
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