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<br />MSH~ <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />tion and preserve bOlh low and high frequency variations. Also, {fee-ring data can <br /> <br /> <br />be more easily collected and replicated as compared to other proxy data sources. <br /> <br />Tree-ring dala are useful for climatic and hydrologic reconstructions because <br /> <br />the annual growth rings of cree species growing in temperate and sub-polar regions <br /> <br />reflect environmental conditions of the sites upon which they grow and integrate <br /> <br />them with genetic and physiologic factors to produce rings of varying widths. In <br /> <br />temperate climates, ring widths generally reflect moisture conditions durine and <br />p~or to individual growing seasons. Narrow rings are produced when moisture is <br />deficient and correspondingly wider rings when moismre supplies are adequate for <br /> <br />growth. <br /> <br />The discipline concerned with the use of tree rings for dating past events is <br /> <br />known as Dendrochronologv. Two subdisciplines, Dendroclimatologv and <br /> <br />Dendrohvdroloav have developed rapidly during recent years and involve, respec- <br /> <br />tively, the reconstruction or climatic and hvdrologic events. This rapid developmenr <br /> <br />has been made possible by the evolution of high speed computers capable of han- <br /> <br /> <br />dling large amounts of data, and more sophisticated statistical methods that facilitate <br /> <br /> <br />the development of complex relationships between ring width characteristics and <br /> <br /> <br />climatic or hydrologic parameters. Methods. teChniques and statistical analyses used <br /> <br /> <br />in dendrochronological investigations are discussed by FrirtS (1976), Stokes and <br /> <br />Smiley (1968) and Stockton. Boggess and Meko (1985). ;11.../t..A5 <br />--- <br /> <br />Reconstruction Methods in Dendroclimatolo~ <br />At thc OUlset it is imponant to recognize that tree-ring chronologies reflect <br /> <br />the complex of climatic and environmental conditions at the sites where samples <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />were taken. It is possible, however, to maximize the desired climatic signals by <br />careful sampling. Maximum response to precipitation can best be obtained by sam- <br />pling trees on moisture-stressed sites. Conversely, if groundwater fluctuations are <br />