Tree ring inferred summer temperature variations over the last millennium in western Himalaya, India.

Yadav RR, Bräuning A, Singh J (2011)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Journal

Climate Dynamics Springer Verlag (Germany)

Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany)

Edited Volumes: Climate Dynamics

City/Town: .

Book Volume: 36

Pages Range: 1545-1554

Journal Issue: 7

URI: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00382-009-0719-0

DOI: 10.1007/s00382-009-0719-0

Abstract

We report the first millennium-long reconstruction of mean summer (May-June-July-August) temperature extending back to AD 940 derived from tree-ring width data of Himalayan pencil juniper (Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch) from the monsoon-shadow zone in the western Himalaya, India. Centennial-scale variations in the reconstruction reveal periods of protracted warmth encompassing the 11-15th centuries. A decreasing trend in mean summer temperature occurred since the 15th century with the 18-19th centuries being the coldest interval of the last millennium, coinciding with the expansion of glaciers in the western Himalaya. Since the late 19th century summer temperatures increased again. However, current warming may be underestimated due to a weakening in tree growth-temperature relationship noticeable in the latter part of the 20th century. Mean summer temperature over the western Himalaya shows a positive correlation with summer monsoon intensity over north central India. Low-frequency variations in mean summer temperature anomalies over northwestern India are consistent with tree-ring inferred aridity in western North America. These far-distance linkages reported here for the first time underscore the utility of long-term temperature records from the western Himalayan region in understanding global-scale climatic patterns.

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Universität Greifswald DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Yadav, R.R., Bräuning, A., & Singh, J. (2011). Tree ring inferred summer temperature variations over the last millennium in western Himalaya, India. Climate Dynamics, 36(7), 1545-1554. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00382-009-0719-0

MLA:

Yadav, Ram Ratan, Achim Bräuning, and Jayendra Singh. "Tree ring inferred summer temperature variations over the last millennium in western Himalaya, India." Climate Dynamics 36.7 (2011): 1545-1554.

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