Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals

CHINTHALA BD, Grießinger J, Ranhotra PS, Tomar N, Singh CP, Bräuning A (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Forests MDPI

Book Volume: 13

Article Number: 437

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.3390/f13030437

Abstract

We analyzed the tree-rings δ18 O of Abies spectabilis (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 δ18 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 δ18 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.

Authors with CRIS profile

BENCY DAVID CHINTHALA Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie) Jussi Grießinger Institut für Geographie Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences IN India (IN) Indian Space Research Organisation IN India (IN)

How to cite

APA:

CHINTHALA, B.D., Grießinger, J., Ranhotra, P.S., Tomar, N., Singh, C.P., & Bräuning, A. (2022). Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals. Forests, 13(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f13030437

MLA:

CHINTHALA, BENCY DAVID, et al. "Tree-Ring Oxygen Isotope Variations in Subalpine Firs from the Western Himalaya Capture Spring Season Temperature Signals." Forests 13.3 (2022).

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