Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Comparison of instrumental and interpolated meteorological data-based summer temperature reconstructions on Mt. Taibai in the Qinling Mountains, northwestern China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Theoretical and Applied Climatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous dendroclimatical studies have been based on the relationship between tree growth and instrumental climate data recorded at lower land meteorological stations, but the climate conditions somehow differ between sampling sites and distant population centers. Thus, in this study, we performed a comparison between the 152-year reconstruction of June to July mean air temperature on the basis of interpolated meteorological data and instrumental meteorological data. The reconstruction explained 38.7% of the variance in the interpolated temperature data (37.2% after the degrees of freedom were adjusted) and 39.6% of the variance in the instrumental temperature data (38.4% after adjustment for loss of degrees of freedom) during the period 1962–2013 AD. The first global warming (the 1920s) and recent warming (1990–2013) found from the reconstructed temperature series match reasonably well with two other reported summer temperature reconstructions from north-central China. Cold periods occurred three times during 1866–1885, 1901–1921, and 1981–2000, while hot periods occurred four times during 1886–1900, 1922–1933, 1953–1966, and 2001–2007. The extreme warm (cold) years are coherent with the documentary drought (flood) events. Significant 31–22-year, 22–18-year, and 12–8-year cycles indicate major fluctuations in regional temperatures may reflect large-scale climatic shifts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bai HY, Ma XP, Gao X, Hou QL (2012) Variations in January temperature and 0 °C isothermal curve in Qinling Mountains based on DEM. Acta Geograph Sin 67:13243–11450 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bao G, Liu Y, Linderholm HW (2012) April–September mean maximum temperature inferred from Hailar pine (Pinus sylvestris var. Mongolica) tree rings in the Hulunbuir region, Inner Mongolia, back to 1868 AD. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 313:162–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bao G, Liu Y, Liu N (2013) A tree-ring-based reconstruction of the Yimin River annual runoff in the Hulun Buir region, Inner Mongolia, for the past 135 years. Chin Sci Bull 57(36):4765–4775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-012-5547-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büntgen U, Brázdil R, Dobrovolý P, Trnka M, Kyncl T (2010) Five centuries of Southern Moravian drought variations revealed from living and historic tree rings. Theor Appl Climatol 105(1-2):167–180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-010-0381-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai QF, Liu Y (2007) January to August temperature variability since 1776 inferred from tree-ring width of Pinus tabulaeformis in Helan Mountain. J Geogr Sci 17(3):293–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11322-007-0293-5 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai QF, Liu Y, Bao G, Lei Y, Sun B (2010) Tree-ring-based May–July mean temperature history for Lüliang Mountains, China, since 1836. Chin Sci Bull 55(26):3008–3014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-010-3235-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F, Yuan YJ, Wei WS, Fan ZA, Yu SL, Zhang TW, Zhang RB, Shang HM, Li Q (2013) Reconstructed precipitation for the north-central China over the past 380 years and its linkages to East Asian summer monsoon variability. Quat Int 283:36–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2012.05.047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F, Yuan YJ, Wei WS, Yu SL, Fan ZA, Zhang RB, Zhang TW, Li Q, Shang HM (2012) Temperature reconstruction from tree-ring maximum latewood density of Qinghai spruce in middle Hexi corridor, china. Theor Appl Climatol 107(3-4):633–643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-011-0512-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F, Zhang RB, Wang HQ, Qin L (2015) Recent climate warming of central china reflected by temperature-sensitive tree growth in the eastern Qinling Mountains and its linkages to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. J Mountain Sci 12(2):396–403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3196-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook ER, Kairiukstis LA (1990) Methods of dendrochronology applications in the environmental sciences. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7879-0

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dai JH, Shao XM, Cui HT, Ge QS, Liu HY, Tang ZY (2003) Reconstruction of past eco-climate by tree-ring width index of Larix chinensis on Mt. Taibai. Quat Sci 32:428–435 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Damon PE, Eastone CJ, Hughes MK, Kalin RM, Long A, Peristykh AN (1998) Secular variation of D14C during the medieval solar maximum: a progress report. Radiocarbon 40:343–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dang HS, Jiang MX, Zhang QF, Zhang YJ (2007) Growth responses of subalpine fir (Abies fargesii) to climate variability in the Qinling Mountain, China. For Ecol Manag 240(1-3):143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.12.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan J, Zhang QB (2014) A 449–year warm season temperature reconstruction in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and its relation to solar activity. J Geophys Res Atmos 119(578–511):592

    Google Scholar 

  • Durbin J, Watson GS (1951) Testing for serial correlation in least squares regression. II Biometrika 38(1-2):159–178. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/38.1-2.159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esper J, Cook ER, Schweingruber FH (2002) Low-frequency signals in long tree-ring chronologies for reconstructing past temperature variability. Science 295(5563):2250–2253. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1066208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fang KY, Gou XH, Chen FH, Liu CZ, Davi N, Li JB, Zhao ZQ, Li YJ (2012) Tree-ring based reconstruction of drought variability (1615–2009) in the Kongtong Mountain area, northern China. Glob Planet Chang 80:190–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gou XH, Chen FH, Jacoby G, Cook ER, Yang MX, Peng JF, Zhang Y (2007) Rapid tree growth with respect to the last 400 years in response to climate warming, northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Int J Climatol 27(11):1497–1503. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graumlich LJ (1991) Subalpine tree growth, climate, and increasing CO2: an assessment of recent growth trends. Ecology 72(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.2307/1938895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RL (1994) Dendrochronology program library users manual. Laboratory of Tree-Ring, (Research), University of Arizona, Tucson

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones PD, Moberg A (2003) Hemispheric and large-scale surface air temperature variations: an extensive revision and an update to 2001. J Clim 16(2):206–223. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2003)016<0206:HALSSA>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang YX, Liu JH, Dai SF, He XJ (2010a) Characteristics of ring-width chronologies of Larix chinensis and their responses to climate change at different elevations in Taibai Mountain. J Northwest Univ A&F (Nat Sci Ed) 38:141–147 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang YX, Liu JH, Sun FF, Dai SF, He XJ (2010b) Responses of tree ring width of Larix chinensis in the regions of alpine timberline in Taibai Mountain to climate change. J Northeast Forest Univ 38:11–13 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan A, Kushnir Y, Cane MA (2000) Reduced space optimal interpolation of historical marine sea level pressure: 1854–1992. J Clim 13(16):2987–3002. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<2987:RSOIOH>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li JB, Chen FH, Cook ER, Gou XH, Zhang YX (2007) Drought reconstruction for north central China from tree rings: the value of the Palmer drought severity index. Int J Climatol 27(7):903–909. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li MY, Wang L, Fan ZX, Shen CC (2015) Tree-ring density inferred late summer temperature variability over the past three centuries in the Gaoligong Mountains, southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 422:57–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.01.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Nakatsuka T, Kawamura K, Liu Y, Song HM (2011) Regional hydroclimate and precipitation δ18O revealed in tree-ring cellulose δ18O from different tree species in semi-arid Northern China. Chem Geol 282(1-2):19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.01.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang EY, Liu XH, Yuan YJ, Qin NS, Fang XQ, Huang L, Zhu HF, Wang LL, Shao XM (2006) The 1920s drought recorded by tree rings and historical documents in the semi-arid and arid areas of northern China. Clim Chang 79(3-4):403–432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9082-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang EY, Shao XM, Kong ZC, Lin JX (2003) The extreme drought in the 1920s and its effect on tree growth deduced from tree ring analysis: a case study in North China. Ann For Sci 60(2):145–152. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2003007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang EY, Shao XM, Qin NS (2008) Tree-ring based summer temperature reconstruction for the source region of the Yangtze River on the Tibetan Plateau. Glob Planet Change 61(3-4):313–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.10.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang EY, Shao XM, Xu Y (2009) Tree-ring evidence of recent abnormal warming on the southeast Tibetan Plateau. Theor Appl Climatol 98(1-2):9–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-008-0085-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu HB, Shao XM (2000) Reconstruction of early-spring temperature at Zhenan from 1755 using tree ring chronology. Acta Meteorol Sin 58:223–233 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu HB, Shao XM (2003) Reconstruction of early-spring temperature of Qinling Mountains using tree-ring chronologies. Acta Geograph Sin 58:879–884 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu RJ, Bai HY, MA XP, Feng LL, Qin J, Cheng DQ (2016) Temperature variation and spatial difference in the protected area of Taibai Mountain. Chin J Agrometeorol 37:1–10 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu XH, Qin DH, Shao XM, Chen T, Ren JW (2005a) Temperature variations recovered from tree-rings in the middle Qilian Mountain over the last millennium. Sci China D 8(4):521–529. https://doi.org/10.1360/03yd0063

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Bao G, Song HM, Cai QF, Sun JY (2009a) Precipitation reconstruction from Hailar pine (Pinus sylvestris var. Mongolica) tree rings in the Hailar region, Inner Mongolia, China back to 1865 AD. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 282(1-4):81–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.08.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Cai QF, Shi JF, Hughes MK, Kutzbach JE, Liu ZY, Ni FB, An ZS (2005b) Seasonal precipitation in the south-central Helan Mountain region, China, reconstructed from tree-ring width for the past 224 years. Can J For Res 35(10):2403–2412. https://doi.org/10.1139/x05-168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Linderholm HW, Song H, Cai Q, Tian Q, Sun J, Chen D, Simelton E, Seftigen K, Tian H, Wang R, Bao G, An Z (2009b) Temperature variations recorded in Pinus tabulaeformis tree rings from the southern and northern slopes of the central Qinling Mountains, central China. Boreas 38(2):285–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3885.2008.00065.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Shi JF, Shishov V, Vaganov E, Yang YK, Cai QF, Sun JY, Wang L, Djanseitov I (2004) Reconstruction of May-July precipitation in the north Helan Mountain, Inner Mongolia since A.D. 1726 from tree-ring late-wood widths. Chin Sci Bull 49(4):405–409. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900325

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Sun B, Song H, Lei Y, Wang C (2013) Tree-ring-based precipitation reconstruction for Mt Xinglong, China, since AD 1679. Quat Int 283:46–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2012.03.045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Sun JY, Yang YK, Cai QF, Song HM, Shi JF, An ZS, Li XX (2007) Tree-ring-derived precipitation records from Inner Mongolia, China, since A.D. 1627. Treering Research 63:3–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Tian H, Song HM, Liang JM (2010) Tree ring precipitation reconstruction in the Chifeng-Weichang region, China, and East Asian summer monsoon variation since A.D. 1777. J Geophys Res 115(D6):D06103. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Wang CY, Hao WJ, Song HM, Cai QF, Tian H, Sun B, Linderholm HW (2011) Tree-ring-based annual precipitation reconstruction in Kalaqin, Inner Mongolia for the last 238 years. Chin Sci Bull 56(28-29):2995–3002. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4706-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Na L, Song HM, Cai QF, Bai G, Wang WP (2009c) Reconstructed mean air temperature from January to July at the divide sampling site in the mid-Qinling Mountains with tree-ring widths. Adv Clim Chang Res 5:260–265 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma ZG, Dan L (2005) The evolutionary rule of runoff in the Yellow River and the cause of formation. Chin J Geophys 48(6):1358–1364. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjg2.783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mantua NJ, Hare SR, Zhang Y, Wallace JM, Francis RC (1997) A Pacific interdecadal climate oscillation with impacts on salmon production. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 78(6):1069–1079. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1997)078<1069:APICOW>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy JO (1990) Australian tree ring chronologies as proxy data for solar variability. Publ Astron Soc Aust 8(03):292–297. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1323358000023560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park WK, Kim YJ, Lee JH, Seo JW (2001) Development of tree-ring chronologies of Pinus densiflora from Mt Sorak and dating the years of construction of the Kyunghoe-ru pavilion in Seoul. J Korean Phys Soc 39:790–795

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin J, Bai HY, Li SH, Wang J, Gan ZT, Huang A (2016) Differences in growth response of Larix chinensis to climate change at the upper timberline of southern and northern slopes of Mt. Taibai in central Qinling Mountains, China. Acta Ecol Sin 36:5333–5342 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigozo NR, Nordemann DJR, da Silva HE, Echer MPD, Echer E (2007) Solar and climate signal records in tree ring width from Chile (AD 1587–1994). Planet Space Sci 55(1-2):158–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2006.06.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao XM, Huang L, Liu HB, Liang EY, Fang XQ, Wang LL (2005) Reconstruction of precipitation variation from tree rings in recent 1000 years in Delingha, Qinghai. Sci China D 48(7):939–949. https://doi.org/10.1360/03yd0146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao XM, Wu XD (1994) Tree-ring chronologies for Pinus Armandi Franch from Huashan, China. Acta Geograph Sin 49:174–181 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard PR, Graumlich LJ, Conkey LE (1996) Reflected-light image analysis of conifer tree rings for reconstructing climate. The Holocene 6(1):62–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/095968369600600107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes MA, Smiley TL (1968) An introduction to tree ring dating. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian QH, Liu Y, Cai QF, Bao G, Wang WP, Xue WL, Zhu WJ, Song HM, Lei Y (2009) The maximum temperature of May–July inferred from tree-ring in Funiu Mountain since 1874 AD. Acta Geograph Sin 64:879–887 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaganov EA, Hughes MK, Kirdyanov AV, Schweingruber FH, Silkin PP (1999) Influence of snowfall and melt timing on tree growth in subarctic Eurasia. Nature 400(6740):149–151. https://doi.org/10.1038/22087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LL, Duan JP, Chen J, Huang L, Shao XM (2010a) Temperature reconstruction from tree-ring maximum density of Balfour spruce in eastern Tibet, China. Int J Climatol 30:972–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LL, Shao XM, Huang L, Liang EY (2005a) Tree-ring characteristics of Larix gmelinii and Pinus Sylvestris var. Mongolica and their response to climate in Mohe, China. Acta Phytoecologica Sin 29:380–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Qin NS, Li DL, Shi X, Wang Z, Li L, Zhu X (2005b) Annual mean surface air temperature over Qinghai Plateau in recent 250 years reestablished using data of multi-piece tree ring. Plateau Meteorol 24:320–325 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang T, Shen LF, Ye YZ, Gao HQ, Xu M (2010b) Response analysis between climate Chang and tree-ring widths of Pinus armandi in Funiu Mountain. Henan Sci 28:1549–1551 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang XC, Zhang QB (2011) Evidence of solar signals in tree rings of Smith fir from Sygera Mountain in southeast Tibet. J Atmos Solar-Terrestrial Phys 73(13):1959–1966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2011.06.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigley TML, Briffa KR, Jones PD (1984) On the average value of correlated time series, with applications in dendroclimatology and hydrometeorology. J Clim Appl Meteorol 23(2):201–213. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450023<0201:OTAVOC>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan YJ, Shao XM, Wei WS, Yu SL, Gong Y, Trouet V (2007) The potential to reconstruct Manasi River streamflow in the northern Tien Shan Mountains (NW China). Tree Ring Res 63(2):81–93. https://doi.org/10.3959/1536-1098-63.2.81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai DP, Bai HY, Qin J, Deng CH, He H (2016) Temporal and spatial variability of air temperature lapse rates in Mt. Taibai, Central Qinling Mountains. Acta Geol Sin 71:1587–1595 (In Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Shao XM, Yin ZY, Wang Y (2014) Millennial minimum temperature variations in the Qilian Mountains, China: evidence from tree rings. Clim Past 10(5):1763–1778. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-1763-2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the editors and anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions.

Funding

The Disaster Supervising and Mechanism Modeling Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province at the Baoji University of Arts and Sciences supported tree-ring width measurements and pre-processing technology. This work was financially supported by the Public Welfare Special Fund of the China Forestry Scientific Research, No. 201304309.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongying Bai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qin, J., Bai, H., Su, K. et al. Comparison of instrumental and interpolated meteorological data-based summer temperature reconstructions on Mt. Taibai in the Qinling Mountains, northwestern China. Theor Appl Climatol 133, 633–645 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2394-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2394-8

Keywords

Navigation