Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals
We analyzed the tree-rings δ<sup>18</sup>O of <i>Abies spectabilis</i> (fir) growing at the subalpine treeline ecotone in the Magguchatti valley. The valley is located in the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) dominated region of western Himalaya and also receives snow precipitation...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/437 |
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| author | Bency David Chinthala Jussi Grießinger Parminder Singh Ranhotra Nidhi Tomar C. P. Singh Achim Bräuning |
| author_facet | Bency David Chinthala Jussi Grießinger Parminder Singh Ranhotra Nidhi Tomar C. P. Singh Achim Bräuning |
| author_sort | Bency David Chinthala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We analyzed the tree-rings δ<sup>18</sup>O of <i>Abies spectabilis</i> (fir) growing at the subalpine treeline ecotone in the Magguchatti valley. The valley is located in the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) dominated region of western Himalaya and also receives snow precipitation derived by westerly disturbances (WDs) during the winter months. The 60 year developed (1960–2019 CE) tree-ring δ<sup>18</sup>O chronology revealed a strong positive correlation with the temperature of late winter and spring months (February to April). Strong negative correlations are also apparent for snowcover, soilmoisture, and relative humidity for the same spring season. Our findings partly contrast the significant correlation results of tree-ring δ<sup>18</sup>O with summer precipitation and drought indices recorded from other summer monsoon-dominated regions in the Himalayas. The spatial correlation analyses with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and climate parameters showed subdued signals of tropical Pacific at the site, but with a shift to more moisture influx from the Arabian Sea during the last two decades. Moreover, a significant negative correlation with North Atlantic Oscillation further justifies the strongly captured spring temperature and snowcover signals and the weak effect of summer precipitation in fir trees. A temperature rising trend during the latter half of the 20th century and the elevation effect are taken as important factors controlling the moisture source at the treeline ecotone zones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:50:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a9b9f801306444f8495b2e858da41ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:50:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a9b9f801306444f8495b2e858da41ac2023-11-24T01:13:12ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-03-0113343710.3390/f13030437Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature SignalsBency David Chinthala0Jussi Grießinger1Parminder Singh Ranhotra2Nidhi Tomar3C. P. Singh4Achim Bräuning5Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, GermanyInstitute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, GermanyBirbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow 226007, IndiaBirbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow 226007, IndiaSpace Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad 380015, IndiaInstitute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, GermanyWe analyzed the tree-rings δ<sup>18</sup>O of <i>Abies spectabilis</i> (fir) growing at the subalpine treeline ecotone in the Magguchatti valley. The valley is located in the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) dominated region of western Himalaya and also receives snow precipitation derived by westerly disturbances (WDs) during the winter months. The 60 year developed (1960–2019 CE) tree-ring δ<sup>18</sup>O chronology revealed a strong positive correlation with the temperature of late winter and spring months (February to April). Strong negative correlations are also apparent for snowcover, soilmoisture, and relative humidity for the same spring season. Our findings partly contrast the significant correlation results of tree-ring δ<sup>18</sup>O with summer precipitation and drought indices recorded from other summer monsoon-dominated regions in the Himalayas. The spatial correlation analyses with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and climate parameters showed subdued signals of tropical Pacific at the site, but with a shift to more moisture influx from the Arabian Sea during the last two decades. Moreover, a significant negative correlation with North Atlantic Oscillation further justifies the strongly captured spring temperature and snowcover signals and the weak effect of summer precipitation in fir trees. A temperature rising trend during the latter half of the 20th century and the elevation effect are taken as important factors controlling the moisture source at the treeline ecotone zones.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/437<i>Abies spectabilis</i>Indian summer monsoonspring temperaturesoil-moisturesnowcoverwinter westerlies |
| spellingShingle | Bency David Chinthala Jussi Grießinger Parminder Singh Ranhotra Nidhi Tomar C. P. Singh Achim Bräuning Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals Forests <i>Abies spectabilis</i> Indian summer monsoon spring temperature soil-moisture snowcover winter westerlies |
| title | Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals |
| title_full | Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals |
| title_fullStr | Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals |
| title_short | Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals |
| title_sort | tree ring oxygen isotope variations in subalpine firs from the western himalaya capture spring season temperature signals |
| topic | <i>Abies spectabilis</i> Indian summer monsoon spring temperature soil-moisture snowcover winter westerlies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/437 |
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