Two centuries-long dendroclimatic reconstruction based on Low Arctic Betula pubescens from Tromsø Region, Northern Norway

Abstract

This study presents the results of dendrochronological and dendroclimatological research of Betula pubescens from four sites in northern Norway (Kvaløya Island, Tromsøya Island and Storelva Valley), which provided a 193-year chronology. Our results highlight the importance of the site selection in dendroclimatological studies. We demonstrated that activity of geomorphic processes connected with local topography could led to reduced strength of climatic signal embedded in tree-ring data. Negative pointer years, triggered mainly by unfavourable climatic conditions and insect outbreaks, were common for all site chronologies in 1945, 1955, 1965, 1975, 1986, 2004. However, some site-specific differences were also distinguished. Response function analysis confirmed that June, July and August temperatures were positively correlated with tree-ring widths. This climate-growth relationship was stable throughout the years 1925-2000. From summer temperature reconstruction back to AD 1820, two colder (c. 1835-1850 and 1890-1920) and two warmer (c. 1825-1835 and 1920-1940) periods were identified. The tree-ring record from the Tromsø Region, well correlated between series, sites and climate variables, is an important element of a large-scale reconstruction of pre-instrumental climate variation in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Our dendroclimatic reconstruction corresponds well with other climate proxy data, like fluctuations of mountain glaciers in Scandinavia or sea ice extent.

Climatic Signals on Growth Ring Variation in Salix herbacea: Comparing Two Contrasting Sites in Iceland

“…This is particularly evident in the dry site in the northeastern part of Iceland. Similar observations, indicating the influence of microsite conditions on differences in the climate-growth response, were made for Empetrum hermaphroditum, Salix glauca, Betula nana, and Betula pubescens from the Low Arctic; however, the common growth pattern was reflected at all analyzed microsites [58,71,72]. The analysis of the isotopic composition and tree ring width data of pine from moist and dry microsites in Scandinavia revealed differences in climatic signal strength [73,74].…”

Climatic Response of Conifer Radial Growth in Forest-Steppes of South Siberia: Comparison of Three Approaches

“…The methodological apparatus of dendroclimatic analysis has undergone significant development during its history. The most conventional and widely used analysis tool is Pearson paired correlation coefficients between tree-ring indexed chronologies and monthly series of climatic factors during all period of instrumental data (Pederson et al, 2011;Slimani et al, 2014;Maxwell, 2016;Opała et al, 2016;Restaino et al, 2016;Cavin and Jump, 2017;Rozas and Olano, 2017). To take into account the impact of several factors on the tree growth, various changes and additions were made in this method over time.…”

High-Resolution Monthly Precipitation Fields (1913–2015) over a Complex Mountain Area Centred on the Forni Valley (Central Italian Alps)

“…Qualitative reconstruction of the past climatic characteristics over long time scales is possible thanks to geomorphological and biological paleoclimatic indicators (e.g., typical features of glacial and periglacial environment, debris covered glaciers and rock glaciers, tree remnants under glacial deposits, and pollens) [19][20][21][22]. Quantitative reconstructions, instead, come from dendroclimatic analysis [23][24][25] or from meteorological observations that in Italy began to be collected regularly in the last decades of the XVIII century [26]. The longest records of meteorological data are however generally available for anthropized areas (in Italy they concern Milan, Padua, and Turin), with some excellences in high mountain environment, such as Capanna Margherita (Punta Gnifetti 4554 m, since 1899), Sonnblick (Austria, 3106 m, since 1886), and Jungfraujoch (Switzerland, 3466 m, since 1930).…”