Climate and annual ring growth of black spruce in some Alberta peatlands
The long-term relationship between climate and tree-ring growth in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined in two peatland sites near Slave Lake, Alberta. At each site, 15 dominant – codominant black spruce were sampled for tree-ring growth at 30 cm height. The tree-ring indices f...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Botany |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1989
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b89-239 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b89-239 |
| Summary: | The long-term relationship between climate and tree-ring growth in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined in two peatland sites near Slave Lake, Alberta. At each site, 15 dominant – codominant black spruce were sampled for tree-ring growth at 30 cm height. The tree-ring indices for each site were related to precipitation and temperature data from Slave Lake. It was found that (i) tree-ring indices were positively correlated with June – August precipitation of the current year and of the 1st and 2nd years prior to the current year; (ii) June – August maximum temperatures of the current year and of the 1st and 2nd years prior to the current year were negatively correlated with tree-ring indices; (iii) tree-ring indices had a positive linear correlation with the June – August minimum temperature of the current year and polynomial correlations with June – August minimum temperatures of the 1st and 2nd years prior to the current year; and (iv) summer precipitation values greater than 325 mm probably had a negative impact upon the tree-ring growth. Maximum and minimum temperatures, however, were intercorrelated with precipitation. Key words: dendrochronology, climate, tree rings, peatlands, mire. |
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