Reconstruction of Precipitation in Northeastern Nevada Using Tree Rings, 1600–1982

Abstract

September?August annual precipitation in northeastern Nevada has been reconstructed for 1600?1982 using a single independent variable, an average of the White Horse Summit and Connors Pass tree-ring indices. The regression equation explains 71% of the variance in divisional precipitation from 1932?82. Precipitation in the reconstruction, 1600?1982, ranged from a lower limit of about 6.00 in. in 1934 to an upper limit of at 1east 15.92 in. in 1839. However, 1983, which is not included in the reconstruction because the trees were cored in the summer of 1983 prior to the end of the growing season, was the wettest year from 1600?1984, with 18.03 in. The driest ten-year period in the reconstruction was 1652?61 and the wettest was 1905?14. However, 1975?84 was the wettest ten year period if the years 1983 and 1984 are included. When averaged over 30 years, the 1901?30 period was the wettest in at least the last 400 years. Cross-spectral analysis suggests the reconstructed precipitation series is highly correlated with the actual overall frequencies.