International Journal of Biometeorology

, Volume 51, Issue 1, pp 61–72 | Cite as

Plant phenological data and tree-rings as palaeoclimate indicators in south-west Finland since AD 1750

Original Article
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Abstract

Plant phenological data and tree-rings were tested for their palaeoclimatic value in south-west Finland since AD 1750. The information from fragmentary, partly overlapping, partly non-systematically biased plant phenological records of 14 different phenomena (a total of 3,144 observations) was combined into one continuous time series of phenological indices. All site- and phenomenon-specific series were standardized to present an average of zero and standard deviation of one. The mean phenomenon-specific series were then averaged as arithmetic means for annually resolved time series representing the variability in the particular plant phenomenon. Consequently, each phenomenon-specific mean series was based on spatially normalized site-specific index series. These series were compared to each other, living-tree and subfossil tree-rings, and to early and modern meteorological time series. Phenological indices showed strong positive correlation with February to June temperatures. On the other hand, the correlations between phenological indices and precipitation data were around zero. Analysis using time-dependent running correlations showed non-stationary relationship between the tree-rings and phenological indices and observed spring temperatures. The skill of phenological data for reconstructing the spring temperatures was statistically proved.

Keywords

Early climatological observations Palaeoclimatology Phenology Temperature Tree rings 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

The work of J.H. was made possible by the Academy of Finland research program Research Unit on Physics, Chemistry and Biology of Atmospheric Composition and climate change (grant 1211483 to Prof. Markku Kulmala) and the Integrated Land Ecosystem - Atmosphere Processes Study (iLEAPS). The work of S.H. was made possible by a German Research Foundation (DFG) grant within the framework of the Emmy Noether Program (SCHO 793/1). Mr. Pentti Pirinen from Finnish Meteorological Institute and Dr.Tapio Linkosalo are greatly acknowledged for providing us with the missing data of late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. We are also grateful to Mr. Achim Drebs from Finnish Meteorological Institute for modern precipitation data. Thanks are also due to Dr. Anni Reissell for helpful comments on the manuscript. Comments from two anonymous referees improved the manuscript and are acknowledged.

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Copyright information

© ISB 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jari Holopainen
    • 1
    • 4
    • 5
  • Samuli Helama
    • 2
  • Mauri Timonen
    • 3
  1. 1.iLEAPS Project, Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Physical SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
  2. 2.Institute for Geology and PalaeontologyJohann Wolfgang Goethe UniversityFrankfurt am MainGermany
  3. 3.Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi Research StationRovaniemiFinland
  4. 4.Department of GeologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
  5. 5.Department of GeologyGustaf Hällströmin Katu 2aUniversity of HelsinkiFinland

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