The Work of Cross Dating: A Look into the Dendrochronology of Great Basin Bristlecone Pine at the Carpenter Canyon Middle Site

Authors

Zeb Mendenhall, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
Otto de Groff, Brigham Young University - Provo
Steven L. Petersen, Brigham Young University, Provo, UtahFollow

Files

Keywords

Bristlecone pine, dendrochronology, tree ring, Spring mountains

Abstract

Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva, hereafter bristlecone) is the longest living organisms on earth. Their annual growth rings are vital resources for understanding climate change¹ (Fig. 1)

Like all trees, bristlecone develops a “ring” every year during the growing season. Because of their exceptional longevity, this makes them an ideal “archive” of past climate conditions²

While climate is a variable affecting bristlecone growth, little research has been conducted that identifies factors the influence bristlecone growth, in particular elevation.

This study investigates these factors to better understand bristlecone’s response environmental variability at specific elevations.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Mendenhall, Zeb; Groff, Otto de; and Petersen, Steven L., "The Work of Cross Dating: A Look into the Dendrochronology of Great Basin Bristlecone Pine at the Carpenter Canyon Middle Site" (2025). Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025. 7.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/library_studentposters_2025/7

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

2025

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

University Standing at Time of Publication

Junior

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/