Riverflow reconstruction from tree rings in southern Britain

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Abstract
Ring widths of oak trees (Quercus petraea Liebl. and Quercus robur L.) from a network of seven sites in southern Britain and northern France are used to reconstruct riverflow for three river catchments in southern Britain. These dendrohydrological reconstructions, made using a principal components regression technique, are the first such reconstructions in Europe. The results are statistically significant, and the stability of the regression models is verified using independent data. The reconstructions are more reliable for low flow events; a finding which is potentially useful for water resource planning. The reconstructions indicate a possible increase in the frequency of extreme low flows over the period 1755–1859, compared to 1860–1979, which although not of conclusive statistical significance, warrants further investigation.