---

Scientists are using dendroclimatology to investigate megadroughts in the western U.S., and the trees are telling a disturbing tale.

STEPHEN E. NASH/2 JUN 2022

• facebook
• twitter
• reddit
• pinterest
• tumblr
• mail
• print
• https://www.sapiens.org/column/curiosities/tree-rings-are-evidence-of-the-megadrought-and-our-doom/

Ilove trees. I also love dendrochronology—literally, “the study of tree time.” This science, which uses data derived from tree growth rings, provides scientists with a wealth of information relating to the conditions under which trees grow.

As a graduate student, I was interested in the now-famous method ofdating archaeological sitesthrough tree-ring analysis. Later I became interested in the application of tree-ring interpretation to thedating of musical instruments.

Recently, with the increasing intensity ofanthropogenic climate change, the topic garnering more of my attention is dendroclimatology. This fascinating science uses tree rings to reconstruct ancient precipitation, temperature, and other climatic variables. Unlike various instruments for tracking weather, tree rings provide researchers with a…