The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts

Stahle, David W.; Cleaveland, Malcolm K.; Blanton, Dennis B.; Therrell, Matthew D.

doi:10.1126/science.280.5363.564

Cited by 196 publications

(116 citation statements)

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“…The majority of these tree-ring studies have focused on the central and western USA because an abundance of suitable tree-ring data exists and the relationship between tree rings and climate is quite direct. At least 2 recent studies have focused on reconstructing growing-season moisture conditions in the eastern USA (Stahle et al 1998, Druckenbrod et al 2003. Stahle et al (1998) reconstructed the growing-season moisture conditions for the Tidewater region of Virginia and North Carolina from A.D. 1185 to 1984.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At least 2 recent studies have focused on reconstructing growing-season moisture conditions in the eastern USA (Stahle et al 1998, Druckenbrod et al 2003. Stahle et al (1998) reconstructed the growing-season moisture conditions for the Tidewater region of Virginia and North Carolina from A.D. 1185 to 1984. They found that this region has experienced substantial inter-annual and decadal variability in growingseason moisture conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the authors found that the period from 1587 to 1589, which coincides with the settlement of the Roanoke ('Lost') Colony, was the driest 3 yr interval in the last 800 yr. The Jamestown Colonists also had the misfortune to arrive in April 1607, during the driest 7 yr period (1606 to 1612) in 770 yr (Stahle et al 1998). Druckenbrod et al (2003) used tree-ring data to reconstruct precipitation at James Madison's Montpelier plantation in Virginia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we use the reconstruction of Stahle et al (1998) to examine the last 800 yr of growing-season moisture variability in the southern mid-Altantic region are also compared against the reconstructed record to place these events in historical context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Drought is a naturally recurring climatic phenomenon that has a significant impact on both the environment and society (Stahle et al 1998, deMenocal 2001. This is evident when the effects of the 2001 to 2002 drought on the eastern USA are examined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Growing-season moisture variability in the eastern USA during the last 800 years

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2004

Clim. Res.

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An 800 yr tree-ring-based reconstruction of the Palmer Hydrological Drought Index was used to document the frequency, severity, and duration of growing-season moisture anomalies (both wet and dry events) in the southern mid-Atlantic region of the USA. The data indicate that this region has experienced significant growing-season moisture variability (interannual to multidecadal) since A.D. 1185. Conditions during the 18th century were much wetter than they are today, and the droughts that occurred during the 16th century tended to be both longer and more severe. The recent growing-season moisture anomalies that occurred during 2002 and 2003 can only be considered rare events if they are evaluated with respect to the relatively short instrumental record (1895 to 2003). When compared to the 800 yr reconstructed record, neither of these events is particularly unusual. Growing-season moisture conditions during the 20th century appear to be well within the range of natural climate variability when compared to the 800 yr record.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%