Tree-ring response of subtropical tree species in southeast China on regional climate and sea-surface temperature variations

摘要

Tree-ring width chronologies of Tsuga longibracteata (Fujian) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (Taiwan) were developed from southeast China, and climatic factors affecting the tree-ring widths of T. longibracteata and C. obtusa were examined. Similar correlations between tree-ring chronologies and climate data demonstrated common response of radial growth of the two species to climate. The radial growth of T. longibracteata and C. obtusa was mainly limited by autumn and winter temperature. In contrast, both chronologies are negatively correlated with precipitation in September of the previous year and September of the current year. Spatial climate correlation analyses with gridded land surface climate data revealed that variations in the ring width contain a strong regional temperature signal for southeast China. Spatial correlation with sea-surface temperature fields highlights the influence of the Pacific Ocean. Wavelet analysis reveals multi-decadal scale variability between 20 and 40 years, and higher frequency power for ring widths between 2 and 9 years, the typical range of ENSO. While ring widths appears to respond to temperature and the ENSO events, we highlight the need for far more detailed dendrochronological response studies for southeast China, particularly with regard to the role of temperature during winter.