Analysis Toolbox

Visual analyses of the tree-ring reconstructions can often enhance interpretation of the past hydrologic variability shown in the reconstructions. We are developing two interactive analysis tools that highlight different aspects of the reconstructions.

UPDATE 6.09.10: The tools will be activated in summer 2010.

Tool 1 - Sequences of Droughts

This tool plots a selected 3-, 5-, or 7-year flow sequence from the gage record against five sequences of the same length from the tree-ring reconstructed record, with the reconstructed sequences being either the five lowest average n-year flows, or the five n-year flows with an average most similar to the selected gage-record sequence. This allows drought sequences from the gage record to be visually compared to analog sequences from the paleo record.

Tool 2 - Variability in the Gage Record

This tool plots a selected flow sequence (10-, 20-, 50-year, or full record) from the gage record, with 3-, 5-, or 10-yr smoothing, superimposed on shaded quantiles (2, 3, or 5) derived from the tree-ring reconstructed record. This allows smoothed flow sequences from the gage record to be visually compared to the distribution of flows (as represented by the quantiles) from the entire paleo record. (Note: the smoothed gage- record sequence is plotted on the last year of the period, e.g. if 3-year averaging is selected in (4), then 2002-2004 will be plotted on 2004.)