An application of climatological water balance modeling to dendroclimatology in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Abstract

Tree-ring data from bur oak (Ouercus macrocarpa) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) were used to investigate the relationship between annual ring width and soil moisture in the Black Hills area of western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Soil moisture values were developed from a water balance model (SNWBAL), using climate data from weather stations in the area. The response between the tree-ring chronologies and climate and water-balance variables shows a strong relation between annual ring growth and precipitation and soil moisture. The best variable combinations for reconstructing the local drought history were identified from this analysis. Several statistical approaches were used to check the internal consistency of the data and to determine the relationship between the various data sets. A scenario for further study, especially for the reconstruction of past climate variables was drawn based on the results of response analysis.