Wasatch Dendroclimatology Research

Wasatch Dendroclimatology Research (WaDR) Group

The WAsatch Dendroclimatology Research (WaDR) group combines the expertise from interrelated fields (dendrochronology, geography, geology, tree physiology, climatology, and anthropology) and multiple institutions (Utah State University, US Forest Service, Brigham Young University, Columbia University, NOAA-Western Water Assessment) to examine the climate record of the past ~2000 years for northern Utah. The initial, stakeholder-driven focus of WADR was reconstructing historic stream flow for three regionally important rivers—Bear River, Logan River, and Weber River—that supply water to the greater Salt Lake City metropolitan region. Additionally, we study Great Salt Lake levels to understand past hydroclimatology, the climatic dynamics behind our wet/dry cycles, and to make predictions of future water conditions for the region. The WaDR group is currently focused on tree-ring-based climate reconstructions to help identify multi-decadal drivers of precipitation variability that controls the delivery of our crucial water resource—and their influence on ancient people, current society, and future climate change.