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Sunset Crater Tornado: Dendrochronology Research and Visitor Control

Explore the impact of the 1992 Sunset Crater Tornado on tree growth patterns through dendrochronological analysis. Discover the long-term effects of the tornado on ring growth and forest composition. Uncover surprises in the tree responses post-tornado.

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Sunset Crater Tornado: Dendrochronology Research and Visitor Control

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  1. Dendrochronology of the Sunset Crater Tornado Paul Sheppard Elizabeth (Lizzie) May Sunset-Paricutín Crew

  2. Sunset Crater

  3. Erupted AD 1064 • Dated dendrochronologically (Smiley 1958)

  4. Other Processes? • Climate: Drought, but long-term? • Ecological: Defoliators, but non-fatal? • Other geological: Landslide? Avalanche? • Weather: High winds? Tornado?

  5. Sunset Crater Tornado • October 24, 1992 • Touched down three times near Sunset Crater • Toppled many trees • Snapped branches on others • Shook hundreds of trees

  6. Dendro-tornado research • Long-term wind effects on ring growth • Forest compositional responses • Nothing about tornado effects on ring growth per se

  7. Sunset Crater VisitorControl Chronology(n = 8)

  8. 1. Ring-width release since 1993 1993

  9. 2. Reaction wood since 1993 1993 • Some reaction-wood trees leaning • Others appeared upright

  10. 3. Reaction latewood, 1993 1993 • Usually combined with wider rings • Notice 2002.

  11. 4. A few suppressed rings after 1993 1993

  12. 5. Continuous suppression since 1993

  13. 6. Thin latewood, 1993 1993

  14. Tornado Conclusions • Not every survivor shows a response • Dominant response: ring-width release • Most responses don’t look like AD 1064 • One lengthy suppression a la AD 1064 • AD 1064 probably not a tornado event

  15. Extended suppression, but not death A Surprise

  16. Decades-Long Suppression? • Climate? Not conventionally • Fire? No fire scar • Leaning? Not leaning • Defoliation? Not typically • Some other pest? Sawfly?

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