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Unlocking the potential of pollarded oaks: a 375-year hydroclimate reconstruction from northcentral Spain.

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Title: Unlocking the potential of pollarded oaks: a 375-year hydroclimate reconstruction from northcentral Spain.
Authors: Sanmiguel-Vallelado, Alba1 (AUTHOR) alba.sanmiguel@uva.es, Torbenson, Max C. A.2 (AUTHOR), Esper, Jan2,3 (AUTHOR), Sangüesa-Barreda, Gabriel1 (AUTHOR), Prado-López, Carlos4 (AUTHOR), Olano, José Miguel1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Biogeosciences. 2026, Vol. 23 Issue 12, p4287-4303. 17p.
Subject Terms: *Climate reconstruction (Research), *Precipitation variability, *Trees, *Droughts, *Paleohydrology, *Forests & forestry
Geographic Terms: Southern Europe, Spain
Abstract: Pollarded trees – traditionally pruned and maintained for centuries near rural settlements – represent an untapped resource for climate reconstruction in Mediterranean lowlands. In this study, we evaluate the potential of 102 pollarded deciduous oaks from two communal woodlands (dehesas) in northcentral Spain as proxies for past hydroclimatic variability. Using the correlation between latewood and November–June precipitation, we reconstruct regional precipitation variability from 1649 to 2023, achieving calibration/validation correlations of 0.84–0.71 against regional and large-scale instrumental datasets. The reconstruction reveals pronounced interannual to multidecadal variability, with precipitation ranging from 257 to 838 mm. The longest dry spell lasted 25 years (1818–1842), while the wettest sustained period extended over 21 years (1719–1739). We identify 8 extremely dry years and 19 extremely wet years consistently detected across the three threshold criteria considered. Pre-instrumental drought extremes are further supported by historical evidence, including Catholic pro pluvia rogations – ceremonies traditionally held in response to agricultural drought. Our findings demonstrate that pollarded trees, when sampled from sites with asynchronous management, preserve robust climate signals and provide reliable high-resolution information on precipitation variability across Mediterranean dehesas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 195100256
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Unlocking the potential of pollarded oaks: a 375-year hydroclimate reconstruction from northcentral Spain.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Biogeosciences%22">Biogeosciences</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 23 Issue 12, p4287-4303. 17p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+reconstruction+%28Research%29%22">Climate reconstruction (Research)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Precipitation+variability%22">Precipitation variability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trees%22">Trees</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Droughts%22">Droughts</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paleohydrology%22">Paleohydrology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forests+%26+forestry%22">Forests & forestry</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Southern+Europe%22">Southern Europe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spain%22">Spain</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Pollarded trees – traditionally pruned and maintained for centuries near rural settlements – represent an untapped resource for climate reconstruction in Mediterranean lowlands. In this study, we evaluate the potential of 102 pollarded deciduous oaks from two communal woodlands (dehesas) in northcentral Spain as proxies for past hydroclimatic variability. Using the correlation between latewood and November–June precipitation, we reconstruct regional precipitation variability from 1649 to 2023, achieving calibration/validation correlations of 0.84–0.71 against regional and large-scale instrumental datasets. The reconstruction reveals pronounced interannual to multidecadal variability, with precipitation ranging from 257 to 838 mm. The longest dry spell lasted 25 years (1818–1842), while the wettest sustained period extended over 21 years (1719–1739). We identify 8 extremely dry years and 19 extremely wet years consistently detected across the three threshold criteria considered. Pre-instrumental drought extremes are further supported by historical evidence, including Catholic pro pluvia rogations – ceremonies traditionally held in response to agricultural drought. Our findings demonstrate that pollarded trees, when sampled from sites with asynchronous management, preserve robust climate signals and provide reliable high-resolution information on precipitation variability across Mediterranean dehesas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.5194/bg-23-4287-2026
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        StartPage: 4287
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Precipitation variability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Droughts
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      – SubjectFull: Paleohydrology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Forests & forestry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Southern Europe
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spain
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Unlocking the potential of pollarded oaks: a 375-year hydroclimate reconstruction from northcentral Spain.
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            NameFull: Sanmiguel-Vallelado, Alba
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            NameFull: Prado-López, Carlos
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              M: 06
              Text: 2026
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              Value: 23
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