Jiahan et al. (2025) Responses of Picea schrenkiana Tree-Ring Density to Climate Extremes at Different Elevations in the Kashi River Basin of the Western Tianshan Mountains

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Identification

• Journal: Forests
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-04
• Authors: Shirenna Jiahan, Tongwen Zhang, Shulong Yu, Rui Liu, Zhaopeng Wang, Dong Guo, Chen Chen
• DOI: 10.3390/f16111679

Research Groups

Not provided in the text.

Short Summary

This study established earlywood and latewood density chronologies from Picea schrenkiana tree cores in the western Tianshan Mountains to analyze their correlation with extreme climate indices and altitudinal variation, revealing that extreme minimum temperature changes exacerbate drought stress in vulnerable mid-high-altitude forests.

Objective

• To establish standardized earlywood and latewood density chronologies using Picea schrenkiana tree core samples from the Kashi River Basin.
• To analyze the correlations between the established density chronologies and major extreme climate indices.
• To explore the response of tree-ring density to climate variability and altitudinal variation.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Western Tianshan Mountains, specifically the Kashi River Basin. Altitudinal variations were considered, with sample sites below 1900 meters and above 2200 meters.
• Temporal Scale: Tree-ring chronologies span a period sufficient to analyze climate responses. Specific periods of strengthened sensitivity were identified as 1980–2015 (below 1900 m) and 1974–2009 (above 2200 m). The general context refers to trends in the 21st century.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Empirical analysis, correlation analysis, and teleconnection analysis. No specific climate or hydrological models (e.g., ISBA, mHM) were mentioned.
• Data sources: Tree core samples of Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C.A.Mey.; extreme climate indices (TN90p, TNx, TNn, TN10p); teleconnection patterns (AMO, NAO/AO).

Main Results

• Earlywood and latewood densities showed significant positive correlations with warm nights (TN90p; June–August), Max Tmin (TNx; June–August), and Min Tmin (TNn; July).
• Earlywood and latewood densities showed significant negative correlations with cold nights (TN10p; June–September).
• The climate has undergone significant changes, particularly in minimum temperatures.
• The sensitivity of tree-ring density to major extreme climate indices (TN90p, TNx, TNn, and TN10p) significantly strengthened in sample sites below 1900 meters during 1980–2015 and above 2200 meters during 1974–2009.
• This strengthened sensitivity reflects the vulnerability of mid-high-altitude forests to drought stress.
• Teleconnection analysis indicated that a positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) synergistically combines with a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation/Arctic Oscillation (NAO/AO), aggravating the response of tree growth to drought.
• Changes in extreme climate indices primarily exacerbate drought stress in the region’s vulnerable mountain ecosystems.

Contributions

• Provides novel standardized earlywood and latewood density chronologies for Picea schrenkiana in the western Tianshan Mountains.
• Quantifies the specific correlations between tree-ring density and various extreme climate indices, particularly those related to minimum temperatures.
• Identifies and quantifies altitudinal variations in the sensitivity of tree-ring density to extreme climate events, highlighting specific vulnerable zones (below 1900 m and above 2200 m).
• Establishes a link between large-scale teleconnection patterns (AMO, NAO/AO) and regional drought stress impacting tree growth in the study area.
• Offers critical insights for future forest management strategies in the western Tianshan Mountains, emphasizing the need to address drought stress in P. schrenkiana forests.

Funding

Not provided in the text.

Citation

@article{Jiahan2025Responses,
  author = {Jiahan, Shirenna and Zhang, Tongwen and Yu, Shulong and Liu, Rui and Wang, Zhaopeng and Guo, Dong and Chen, Chen},
  title = {Responses of Picea schrenkiana Tree-Ring Density to Climate Extremes at Different Elevations in the Kashi River Basin of the Western Tianshan Mountains},
  journal = {Forests},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/f16111679},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/f16111679}
}