In this Section:

	Background
	Project Overview
	Research Methods
	Project Status
	Reconstruction Data
	References
	Related Links
	Contacts

Annual growth rings in trees have been used to reconstruct Southwest climate back to AD 1000.

Research and Products:
Reconstructing Past Climate in the Southwest

Project Status

Reconstructions of cool-season precipitation are complete for all climate divisions using both the linear regression and neural network procedures. In addition, a combination of the reconstructions, emphasizing the best qualities of each, has also been completed. The results of this work have been published in The International Journal of Climatology (see references).

Current work involves summarizing the characteristics of these chronologies with respect to 20th century drought and the physical mechanisms that cause drought. This will enable a broader understanding of the nature of drought in the Southwest.

CLIMAS has developed an online tool that allows stakeholders to access statewide reconstructions for Arizona and New Mexico, as well as individual reconstructions for each climate division.

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Reconstruction Data >