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Response to climate changes in radial growth of Picea crassifoliain the Qilian mountains of northwestern China

Response to climate changes in radial growth of Picea crassifoliain the Qilian mountains of northwestern China

Authors :
Xu, Jin-Mei
Bao, Fu-Cheng
Lv, Jian-Xiong
Huang, Rong-Feng
Zhao, You-Ke
Robert, Evans
Source :
Forest Science and Practice; December 2013, Vol. 15 Issue: 4 p310-319, 10p
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

In order to investigate the response to climate changes in radial growth of Picea crassifoliaat the lower tree line in the middle Qilian mountains in northwestern China, relationships of standardized chronologies of annual ring, earlywood and latewood widths with mean monthly temperature and total monthly precipitation were analyzed by ways of correlation and pointer year analyses. The results show that annual ring, earlywood and latewood widths are significantly negatively correlated with mean monthly temperature in June and July. Annual ring and earlywood widths are significantly and positively correlated with total monthly precipitation in March, May and June and negatively correlated with total monthly precipitation in September. Latewood width is less sensitive to climate changes than the width of earlywood and insignificantly sensitive to precipitation. The results of pointer year analysis revealed that when summer temperatures are higher than the mean summer temperature synchronization and the summer precipitation lower than mean summer precipitation synchronization, narrow annual rings are formed. Wide annual rings are formed when summer temperatures are lower than the mean summer temperature synchronization and summer precipitation higher than mean summer precipitation synchronization. The results indicate that more precipitation in the spring and summer is helpful for radial growth while warmer summer restricts radial growth of P. crassifoliaat the lower tree line in the middle Qilian mountains.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20954034
Volume :
15
Issue :
4
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Forest Science and Practice
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs31661532
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11632-013-0418-0