August 2014

Drought is a focal point in the assessment of hydroclimatic variability in the MediterraneanBasin. Droughts can have drastic social and economic impacts, particularly in North Africa (NA)and Eastern Mediterranean (EM) where population is increasing rapidly and water supplies areextremely limited. Knowledge of drought variability on time scales of decades to centuries isneeded to understand and prepare for dry and wet conditions in the region. Drought-sensitivetree-ring records are a valuable resource for extending knowledge of hydroclimatic variabilityboth in space and time.

A wide variety of information or 'metadata' is required when undertaking dendrochronological sampling.  Traditionally, researchers record observations and measurements on field notebooks and/or paper recording forms, and use digital cameras and hand-held GPS devices to capture images and record locations.  In the lab, field notes are often manually entered into spreadsheets or personal databases, which are then sometimes linked to images and GPS waypoints. This process is both time consuming and prone to human and instrument error.

We offer a diverse variety of science field classes – on the UA Campus at the Bryant Bannister Tree Ring Building, at Tumamoc Hill, and at field sites in the Catalina Mountains - where students learn that science is a dynamic process of gathering and evaluating information. We adapt our innovative approach to work with teachers and students of all ages and grade levels, depending on the needs of your students.