CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Barnes, S.D.
Date : 2002.
Title : The relationship between tree rings, varves and the PDO: Meziadin Lake, northern British Columbia.
Publication : 98th AAG Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers. March 19 - March 23, 2002. Los Angeles, California.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
The PDO is a persistent organization of the ocean-atmosphere system in the North Pacific which affects the terrestrial climate of adjacent northern British Columbia and Alaska. Previous analyses of weather station data in the study area show that monthly temperatures of individual stations are well correlated (up to r = 0.64) with monthly PDO values. Because the PDO affects climate over a large region, sites within that region can be useful for a reconstruction of the PDO prior to instrumental records. Meziadin Lake is located 60 km east of Stewart, in northern British Columbia, Canada. Stewart, which is the closest weather station, has a record spanning the last 90 years. Within the basin, sediment flux monitoring was completed as well as the collection of several lake sediment and tree ring cores. Analysis of the tree ring series shows that it is significantly correlated with the PDO. The tree ring series is also significantly positively correlated with January and February precipitation, and significantly negatively correlated with July and August temperatures lagged one year. This record is interpreted as an effective moisture signal. The varve series is also significantly correlated with the PDO. Currently the varve series is being extended, in order to determine whether a PDO signature can be detected prior to 1900. Using tree rings and varves together, it may be possible to determine whether the PDO had a role to play during the Little Ice Age, or if it was absent during this period.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology