The dendrochronology of Callitris intratropica in northern Australia: Annual ring structure, chronology development and climate correlations

Abstract

In this study we demonstrate the significant dendrochronological potential of Callitris intratropica, a native conifer distributed across much of the seasonal tropics of northern Australia. We developed two rigorously cross-dated chronologies from sites in the Northern Territory, Australia. The first chronology (1965-2004) was developed from plantation C. intratropica of known-age at Howard Springs and was heavily replicated both within and among trees to evaluate the quality of cross-dating for the species. The second chronology (1847-2006) was developed from trees growing naturally near Pine Creek and compared with long-term instrumental climate records to assess the potential for dendrocl..