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Tree-ring based drought reconstruction in the central Hengduan Mountains region (China) since A.D. 1655

  1. Ze-Xin Fan1,2,
  2. Achim Bräuning2,*,
  3. Kun-Fang Cao1

Article first published online: 29 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1002/joc.1689

Issue

International Journal of Climatology

International Journal of Climatology

Volume 28, Issue 14, pages 1879–1887, 30 November 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fan, Z.-X., Bräuning, A. and Cao, K.-F. (2008), Tree-ring based drought reconstruction in the central Hengduan Mountains region (China) since A.D. 1655. Int. J. Climatol., 28: 1879–1887. doi: 10.1002/joc.1689

Author Information

  1. 1

    Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences 88 Xuefu Road, Kunming 650223, China

  2. 2

    Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Kochstrasse 4/4, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany

*Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Kochstrasse 4/4, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 OCT 2008
  2. Article first published online: 29 FEB 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 JAN 2008
  4. Manuscript Revised: 6 DEC 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 5 JUN 2007

Funded by

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 90302013
  • Max–Planck–Gesellschaft

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Keywords:

  • dendroclimatology;
  • Hengduan Mountains;
  • PDSI;
  • tree rings

Abstract

We developed four tree ring-width chronologies of three species (Picea likiangensis Pritz, Tsuga dumosa (D. Don) Eichler and Abies ernestii Rehd.) in the central Hengduan Mountains, north-western Yunnan, China. Although the four chronologies come from different species, significant correlations exist among the chronologies (mean r = 0.47), and the first principal component accounts for 60.5% of total variance over their common period 1655–2005. Correlation and response function analyses showed that pre-monsoon (March, April) precipitation and relative humidity and Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) have positive effects on radial growth, while temperature in March influences tree growth negatively. This indicates that tree growth is generally limited by spring-moisture availability. The spring (March–May) drought reconstruction was verified with independent data, and accounts for 42% of the actual PDSI variance during their common period 1951–2000. Wet springs occurred during AD 1690s, 1715–1730, 1750s, 1780s, 1825–1850, 1900s, 1930–1960, and 1990–present. Dry springs occurred during AD 1700–1715, 1733–1745, 1790–1820, 1860–1890, 1910–1925, and 1960–1990. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society

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