Investigating the relationship between moisture and temperature in northern New England through a 500-year tree-ring reconstruction
Williams, Sophie
Williams, Sophie
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Abstract
In Vermont, recent flooding and drought events provide evidence of the increasingly variable hydroclimatic patterns brought on by climate change. Causing economic, infrastructure, and environmental damage, these events may seem abnormal but are a prime example of the accelerating hydrological cycle. Fluctuations in long term moisture availability have historically been under-researched in New England, but water resources are increasingly under stress from rapid shifts between extreme drought and pluvial events. This study uses dendrochronological methods to reconstruct the temperature and moisture characteristics of past drought and pluvial periods in northern New England dating back to the early 1500s. The chronologies analyzed were compiled from the Vermont Historical Collection (VHC), a series of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) samples originating from structures around Vermont, and more recent chronologies from Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire. Together, the chronologies were analyzed for ring-width and blue light intensity measurements to reconstruct temperature and moisture. Paleoclimate reconstructions help contextualize recent records to further understand changing water resources in this region. Such reconstructions are especially important for the New England region as historical climate data has not been as thoroughly investigated as in the western U.S., but is equally valuable in understanding and preparing for future changes.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Poster
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Geosciences
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Physical Science