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Temperature reconstruction from tree-ring maximum latewood density of Qinghai spruce in middle Hexi Corridor, China

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Abstract

Seven different tree-ring parameters (tree-ring width, earlywood width, latewood width, maximum density, minimum density, mean earlywood density, and mean latewood density) were obtained from Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) at one chronology site in the Hexi Corridor, China. The chronologies were analyzed individually and then compared with each other. Growth–climate response analyses showed that the tree-ring width and maximum latewood density (MXD) are mainly influenced by warm season temperature variability. Based on the relationships derived from the climate response analysis, the MXD chronology was used to reconstruct the May–August maximum temperature for the period 1775–2008 A.D., and it explained the 38.1% of the total temperature variance. It shows cooling in the late 1700s to early 1800s and warming in the twentieth century. Spatial climate correlation analyses with gridded land surface data revealed that our warm season temperature reconstruction contains a strong large-scale temperature signal for north China. Comparison with regional and Northern Hemisphere reconstructions revealed similar low-frequency change to longer-term variability. Several cold years coincide with major volcanic eruptions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2010CB951001), Meteorology Public welfare Industry Research Special project (GYHY201106013, GYHY200806011), the basic research project of science and technology ministry of China (2007FY220200), NSFC Project (No. 40975056, 41071072, 41005059), China Desert Meteorological Science Research Foundation (SQJ2010011), the Foundation of Xinjiang Laboratory of Tree-ring Ecology (XJYS0911-2009-01). We thank the reviewers whose comments greatly benefitted this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Tree-ring Physical and Chemical Research of China Meteorological Administration, Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, 46 Jianguo Road, Urumqi, 830002, China

    Feng Chen, Yu-jiang Yuan, Wen-shou Wei, Shu-long Yu, Zi-ang Fan, Rui-bo Zhang, Tong-wen Zhang, Qin Li & Hua-ming Shang

  2. Xinjiang Laboratory of Tree Ring Ecology, Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, 46 Jianguo Road, Urumqi, 830002, China

    Feng Chen, Yu-jiang Yuan, Wen-shou Wei, Shu-long Yu, Zi-ang Fan, Rui-bo Zhang, Tong-wen Zhang, Qin Li & Hua-ming Shang

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  1. Feng Chen
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  2. Yu-jiang Yuan
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Correspondence to Yu-jiang Yuan.

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Chen, F., Yuan, Yj., Wei, Ws. et al. Temperature reconstruction from tree-ring maximum latewood density of Qinghai spruce in middle Hexi Corridor, China. Theor Appl Climatol 107, 633–643 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-011-0512-y

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