CR 20:223-239 (2002)  -  doi:10.3354/cr020223

ABSTRACT: A ring-width chronology for fir Abies alba Mill. in southern Moravia (Czech Republic), compiled from historical wood and living trees, was used for the dendroclimatological reconstruction of March-July precipitation for the period 1376-1996. Based on a response function model, the precipitation series explains 38% of tree-ring width variability. In the years with thinner tree-rings, drier spring and summer seasons prevailed, whereas years with wider tree-rings indicate wetter conditions. The highest precipitation in the reconstructed series was found in the 1670s, 1710s and 1980s; the lowest in the 1380s, 1700s and, particularly, in the 1970s. Reconstruction after the 1950s is less reliable due to a weaker relationship between precipitation and fir growth. The 18th century was the driest and the 19th century the wettest in the last 600 yr. The comparison of the reconstructed March-July precipitation of southern Moravia with the Brno series (instrumental period) and with the Prague-Klementinum series (compiled from the quantitative interpretation of documentary evidence and instrumental measurements) shows a high degree of agreement, reflecting the similarities between these series over the instrumental period. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the 2 proxy data sources‹documentaries and tree-rings‹are in satisfactory agreement with respect to those years with extremely thin or wide rings.

KEY WORDS: Fir ring-width chronology · Precipitation reconstruction · Extreme tree-rings · Documentary evidence · Southern Moravia