Things old trees know

THINGS OLD TREES KNOW is an experimental data visualization project I did as part of a class. It explores the types of data that are recorded in trees, specifically the great basin bristlecone pines of the North American West Coast, which counts some of the oldest living trees among its members. 

Based on dendrochronology, the study of tree rings, the projects aims to showcase both changes in the climate of the White Mountains area where the trees are located, and how these still-living beings are recording and remembering these changes for us.

Use the buttons to navigate between the default view (showing precipitation) and views highlighting droughts, severe El Niño events, and major volcanic eruptions. Scroll to the right to explore the time from 1085 to 1963 AD.

These are the studies that THINGS OLD TREES KNOW is primarily based on:

• Bale, R.J., Robertson, I. et al. 2011. An annually resolved bristlecone pine carbon isotope chronology for the last millennium
  • Dataset
• Schulman - White Mountains B - PILO - ITRDB CA508
• Salzer, M.W., Hughes, M.K., 2007. Bristlecone pine tree rings and volcanic eruptions over the last 5000 yr