Tree Rings Reconstruct Coffee Crop Growing Conditions

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Kevin Anchukaitis has worked in Guatemala for nearly ten years, using tree rings to reconstruct the climate of the area in times before the short records from meteorological stations. His research has practical implications for local coffee farmers, since their crop only grows well within a narrow range of climatic conditions, and the pathogens that can damage it have their own climatic preferences. A recent article highlights the usefulness of this long-term climatic perspective for indigenous farmers.