Abstract
Tree-ring-based reconstructions of past climate have proved useful for evaluating hydrological statistics calculated from the shorter observational record of climate1, and particularly for analysing past patterns of drought in the western USA2. The independently verified climatic reconstructions obtained here provide a significant contribution to a reliable data base for evaluation of climatic changes on time scales of decades to centuries. Fifteen tree-ring chronologies were developed from specimens of drought-sensitive white oak (Quercus alba), many over 300-yr old, in the western part of the North American corn belt. Verification statistics indicate reliable reconstructions of annual precipitation for the two-state area of Iowa and Illinois can be obtained back to 1680 from these chronologies. This extends the network of confirmed drought-sensitive tree-ring chronologies well into the central USA, and provides encouragement for further expansion of the tree-ring chronology network into the North American grain-belt region.
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Blasing, T., Duvick, D. Reconstruction of precipitation history in North American corn belt using tree rings. Nature 307, 143–145 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307143a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307143a0
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