The Role of the Tropics in Quaternary Climate Change

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

This proposed research involves the generation of high-resolution, precisely-dated tree-ring chronologies from data-sparse subantarctic regions, including Tasmania, New Zealand and southern South America. Such records are essential for developing a network of Southern Hemisphere paleoclimatic data comparable to that which already exists for the Northern Hemisphere. The proponents are utilizing the subantarctic chronologies in modeling and reconstruction of indices of temperature and atmosphere-ocean circulation for the Southern Hemisphere extratropical latitudes. Specific objectives include: (1) to develop additional ring-width and maximum latewood density chronologies to improve our existing network for subantarctic forest sites; (2) to extend selected tree-ring records and reconstructions further back in time using living and subfossil wood material; (3) to continue to model and reconstruct temperature, precipitation and circulation indices for subantarctic latitudes; and (4) to produce chronologies from several additional tree species.