Climatic influence on Scots pine growth on dry and wet soils in the central Scandinavian mountains, interpreted from tree-ring width

Abstract

Tree rings are one of the most important proxy data sources for reconstructing past climate variability. In order to understand climate variability, it is necessary to get a spatial and temporal coverage of climate information. Summer temperatures mainly infl uence tree growth at the altitudinal tree line, while at lower altitudes additional factors affect growth. In addition, the nature of soil where trees grow may affect growth response to climate. To decide climate as well as growth-substrate infl uences on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing below the tree line, two tree-ring width chronologies, sampled at dry mineral soil and wet peat soil in a mountain valley in the central Scandinavian Mountains, were analysed for climate responses and spectral signals. Temperatures during growth season (May-August) showed the strongest infl uence on tree growth at both sites. Infl uence of precipitation in the growing season was low, indicating suffi cient amounts of available water during growth. However, at the dry-soil site the infl uence of late winter/early spring precipitation was signifi cant. Strength of the climate-tree-growth relationship at the dry site was similar to that of trees growing at the present tree line, while weaker at the wet site. Both site chronologies exhibited common spectral peaks at c. 3.5 and 13 years indicating a common growth forcing at those time scales. The wet-site chronology displayed low-frequency variations with a 19-year periodicity, where growth peaks coincided with the lunar tidal maxima indicating a possible infl uence of lunar forcing. At the dry-site, multi-decadal fl uctuations displayed a periodicity of 66 years. Both 13-and 66-year periods can be linked to variations in sea surface temperatures of the North Atlantic Ocean, pointing to a maritime infl uence, on decadal scales, of pine growth in the area. These results suggest that Scots pine in this environment may be regarded as proxies of North Atlantic Ocean coupled climatic variability.

The colonization history of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in pristine and drained raised bogs in Latvia

“…The periods of Scots pine recruitment in our study sites were associated with a significant increase of Scots pine radial growth in other bogs in Latvia and Sweden (Ågren et al 1983;Linderholm 2001;Linderholm et al 2002;Dauskane 2010). During those periods, summers were very warm, especially during the 1930's (Briffa, Jones 1993), which promoted regeneration and radial growth for pines growing in mires.…”

Subfossil peatland trees as proxies for Holocene palaeohydrology and palaeoclimate

“…However, pine trees were often considered 327 as unreliable for chronology construction due to problems such as missing and wedging rings 328 ( chemical, and biological restrictions on tree growth, of which reduced availability of nutrients in 379 the water unsaturated zone probably represents the most important limiting factor (Boggie, 1972; 380 Mannerkoski, 1991;Linderholm, 2001 Consequently, a change toward wetter climatic conditions would lead to rising water 394 tables, causing shallower unsaturated zones (Schouwenaars, 1988 growing on peat and adjacent mineral soils (Fig. 8).…”

Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) Radial Growth Dynamics in Forest Stands in the Vicinity of “Akmenes Cementas” Plant/Paprastosios Pušies (Pinus Sylvestris L.) Radialiojo Prieaugio Dinamika ,,Akmenės Cemento“ Gamyklos Aplinkos Medynuose/ Динамика Радиального Прироста Сосны Обыкновенной (Pinus Sylvestris L.) В Древостоях, Растущих В Окрестностях Завода „акмянес Цементас“

“…Analysis of air temperature and precipitation impact on the formation of annual radial increment Control stand with analogical biometric indices growing in relatively unpolluted environment 12 km south-west from the plant was chosen for the determination of relations between radial increment and climatic factors. According to literature (Armolaitis et al 1999;Linderholm 2001;Juknys et al 2002;Stravinskienė 2002;Pederson et al 2004;Augustaitis 2005), last year's climatic conditions also have influence on tree growth and formation of radial increment. Therefore, long-term temperature and precipitation data of last year's January-December and current year's January-September were used in the analysis.…”