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Unlocking the potential of pollarded oaks: a 375-year hydroclimate reconstruction from northcentral Spain
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DOI：10.5194/bg-23-4287-2026.png)
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Abstract
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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.
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