TY - RPRT T1 - Continuation of Studies on the Dendrochronology of Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata Englem.) (Continuation of Research Grant NSF-G 19949): A Research Proposal Y1 - 1963 A1 - McGinnies, W.G. KW - bristlecone pine KW - california KW - chronology KW - colorado river basin KW - dendrochronology KW - dendroclimatology KW - extend KW - NSF KW - pinus aristata KW - white mountains AB -

The original research grant NSF-G 19949, effective October 1, 1961, for the dendrochronology of bristlecone pine has made it possible: (1) to develop a workable chronology extending back 3850 years, (2) to carry out studies of tree growth as related to environmental parameters through two field seasons, and (3) to make some statistical comparisions which indicate (a) that there is no significant difference between young and old trees in radial growth response to environmental variables, (b) that there are significant correlations between bristlecone pine and other coniferous species extending up to 1000 miles east and southeast, and (c) that there is strong evidence that bristlecone pine will provide a good basis for extending climatic interpretations to at least 2600 B.C.

The present request is for funds: (1) to complete an exact chronology made possible through the study of both living and dead material in the White Mountains of California; (2) to extend the chronology building to other key tree-ring areas in the Colorado River Basin with the aim of determining the past climatic chronology; (3) to statistically evaluate the various chronologies thus established for interrelations with climate and with other tree-ring series; (4) to continue the environmental studies and evaluations through a third growing season, 1964; (5) to determine the biological model of cause and effect and its statistical counterpart for estimating climate from these tree-ring series; and (6) to provide for the closely integrated radiocarbon analysis of tree-ring material.

The results will be used (1) to strengthen dendrochronological dating and to provide a master tree-ring chronology which can be used by climatologists, archaeologists, radiocarbon investigators, and others; (2) to strengthen and geographically extend the dendroclimatological studies of Schulman (1956), especially in the Colorado River Basin; (3) to provide, when integrated with various environmental studies now being conducted, a stronger basis for environmental interpretations, based on the difference in radial growth shown by trees that respond primarily to differences in precipitation. This information will be of great value to meteorologists, hydrologists, and others, including the Inter-Union Commission on Solar and Terrestrial Relationships.

PB - Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research CY - Tucson ER - TY - RPRT T1 - Dendrochronology of Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata Engelm) as a Basis for the Extension of Dendroclimatic Indices: Research Proposal Y1 - 1960 A1 - McGinnies, W.G. KW - bristlecone pine KW - dendrochronology KW - dendroclimatic indices KW - dendroclimatology KW - extention KW - NSF grant KW - pinus aristata KW - tree ring chronology AB -

It is proposed to make an analysis of growth-rings of bristlecone pine, to construct a tree-ring chronology covering more than four millenia and to investigate the relationship between the tree-rings and climate with the objective of establishing precipitation indices. The research will be based on previous findings with other species and will follow techniques and methodologies developed at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. The research will continue studies initiated by Edmund Schukman under NSF Grant G2274 but terminated by his untimely death in 1958. During the period Dr. Schulman was operating under the NSF Grant, the full significance of the bristlecone pine discovery became apparent, and he left a legacy of material that will make it possible to carry research further into the past than was envisioned at the time the grant was made. The present proposal has been expanded to take advantage of this enlarged opportunity.

The research will be conducted on a team basis, utilizing all the skills available at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. The Director of the Laboratory will serve as Principal Investigator, but will utilize the training and knowlege of the laboratory staff in supervising the research program.

PB - Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research CY - Tucson ER -