Tree-ring cellulose oxygen isotopes indicate atmospheric aridity in the western Kunlun Mountains

Feng X, Huang R, Zhu H, Liang E, Bräuning A, Zhong L, Gong Z, Zhang P, Asad F, Zhu X, Grießinger J (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Ecological Indicators Elsevier

Book Volume: 137

Article Number: 108776

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108776

Abstract

As an important indicator of atmospheric aridity, the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is being paid increasing attention in global change researches during recent decades. However, available proxy data with the capability to represent VPD is still scarce in the globe. Herein we demonstrated a “hidden” frequency-dependent indication of tree-ring cellulose oxygen isotope (δ18OTRC) to atmospheric aridity in the western Kunlun Mountains, Central Asia. In applying correlation and partial correlation analysis, frequency-dependent climatic drivers triggering the δ18OTRC values were detected. For the raw data with inter-decadal variability, δ18OTRC variations mainly indicated May–August precipitation (Local: r = –0.59, p < 0.001; Moisture source: r = –0.53, p < 0.001), evapotranspiration (ET) (Local: r = –0.57, p < 0.001; Moisture source: r = –0.51, p < 0.001). After a 5-year high-pass filter, the δ18OTRC series revealed highly significant correlation with May–August VPD (Local: r = 0.82, p < 0.001; Moisture source: r = 0.80, p < 0.001). The partial correlation further confirmed the strong linkages with high-frequency VPD when the impact of any additional eco-climatological variable (precipitation, temperature, ET, soil moisture 0–40 cm) was excluded. In contrast, if the effect of May–August VPD was excluded, relationships between δ18OTRC and other variables turned insignificant. Collectively, it was concluded that δ18OTRC from the western Kunlun Mountains may indicate VPD at timescales < 5 years. Our results suggest that frequency-dependent climatic significances should be considered when interpreting multi-process determined δ18OTRC as a climate-proxy.

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie) Jussi Grießinger Institut für Geographie

Involved external institutions

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院 CN China (CN) Ministry of Emergency Management of China CN China (CN) Institute of Atmospheric Physics - Chinese Academy of Sciences CN China (CN) University of Gothenburg / Göteborgs universitet SE Sweden (SE)

How to cite

APA:

Feng, X., Huang, R., Zhu, H., Liang, E., Bräuning, A., Zhong, L.,... Grießinger, J. (2022). Tree-ring cellulose oxygen isotopes indicate atmospheric aridity in the western Kunlun Mountains. Ecological Indicators, 137. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108776

MLA:

Feng, Xiaoyu, et al. "Tree-ring cellulose oxygen isotopes indicate atmospheric aridity in the western Kunlun Mountains." Ecological Indicators 137 (2022).

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