Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia
A 105-year chronology (AD 1917–2021) was developed from mountain birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i> Ehrh.) from beyond the coniferous treeline on the Kola Peninsula in Northwestern Russia (68.86 N, 34.69 E). A total of 22 trees were cored, including the oldest living mountain birch of 105 ye...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/1/37 |
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| author | Oleg I. Shumilov Elena A. Kasatkina Evgeniy O. Potorochin |
| author_facet | Oleg I. Shumilov Elena A. Kasatkina Evgeniy O. Potorochin |
| author_sort | Oleg I. Shumilov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A 105-year chronology (AD 1917–2021) was developed from mountain birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i> Ehrh.) from beyond the coniferous treeline on the Kola Peninsula in Northwestern Russia (68.86 N, 34.69 E). A total of 22 trees were cored, including the oldest living mountain birch of 105 years old. The highest correlations occurred for the May temperature (<i>r</i> = 0.39, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and July sunshine duration (<i>r</i> = −0.39, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The increase in radial growth in May seemed to be caused by snowmelt giving rise to soil temperature, which can lead to a resumption in radial growth after winter dormancy. The negative correlation with the July sunshine duration seemed to be connected to changes in the spectral composition of solar radiation in the red to far-red ratio in the end of the polar day in July. The application of wavelet coherency revealed a significant (>95%) connection between the radial growth of <i>B. pubescens,</i> and solar activity in frequency bands encompassed the main solar cycles: 5.5 years (the second harmonic of the Schwabe cycle), 11 years (the Schwabe cycle) and 22 years (the Hale cycle). The results show that the northernmost birch trees in Europe are suited for tree-ring research. This allows us to expand the area of dendrochronological research further beyond the conifer treeline above the Polar Circle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:56:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-940a3f3bd84e4ae6bd43798735d4abc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:56:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-940a3f3bd84e4ae6bd43798735d4abc62024-01-26T16:30:58ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-12-011513710.3390/f15010037Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern RussiaOleg I. Shumilov0Elena A. Kasatkina1Evgeniy O. Potorochin2Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209 Apatity, RussiaInstitute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209 Apatity, RussiaInstitute of North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 184209 Apatity, RussiaA 105-year chronology (AD 1917–2021) was developed from mountain birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i> Ehrh.) from beyond the coniferous treeline on the Kola Peninsula in Northwestern Russia (68.86 N, 34.69 E). A total of 22 trees were cored, including the oldest living mountain birch of 105 years old. The highest correlations occurred for the May temperature (<i>r</i> = 0.39, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and July sunshine duration (<i>r</i> = −0.39, <i>p</i> < 0.05). The increase in radial growth in May seemed to be caused by snowmelt giving rise to soil temperature, which can lead to a resumption in radial growth after winter dormancy. The negative correlation with the July sunshine duration seemed to be connected to changes in the spectral composition of solar radiation in the red to far-red ratio in the end of the polar day in July. The application of wavelet coherency revealed a significant (>95%) connection between the radial growth of <i>B. pubescens,</i> and solar activity in frequency bands encompassed the main solar cycles: 5.5 years (the second harmonic of the Schwabe cycle), 11 years (the Schwabe cycle) and 22 years (the Hale cycle). The results show that the northernmost birch trees in Europe are suited for tree-ring research. This allows us to expand the area of dendrochronological research further beyond the conifer treeline above the Polar Circle.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/1/37northern treeline<i>Betula pubescens</i>Kola Peninsulatree-ring chronologygrowing seasonsolar radiation |
| spellingShingle | Oleg I. Shumilov Elena A. Kasatkina Evgeniy O. Potorochin Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia Forests northern treeline <i>Betula pubescens</i> Kola Peninsula tree-ring chronology growing season solar radiation |
| title | Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia |
| title_full | Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia |
| title_fullStr | Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia |
| title_short | Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (<i>Betula pubescens</i>) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia |
| title_sort | solar and climatic factors affecting tree ring growth of mountain birch i betula pubescens i beyond the northern timberline on kola peninsula northwestern russia |
| topic | northern treeline <i>Betula pubescens</i> Kola Peninsula tree-ring chronology growing season solar radiation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/15/1/37 |
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