Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE
Tree-ring width chronologies of <i>Pinus sibirica</i> Du Tour from near the upper treeline in the Western Sayan, Southern Siberia are found to have an exceptional (below mean–3SD) multi-year drop near 1700 CE, highlighted by the seven narrowest-ring years in a 1524–2022 regional chronolo...
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2025-01-01
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| author | David M. Meko Dina F. Zhirnova Liliana V. Belokopytova Yulia A. Kholdaenko Elena A. Babushkina Nariman B. Mapitov Eugene A. Vaganov |
| author_facet | David M. Meko Dina F. Zhirnova Liliana V. Belokopytova Yulia A. Kholdaenko Elena A. Babushkina Nariman B. Mapitov Eugene A. Vaganov |
| author_sort | David M. Meko |
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| description | Tree-ring width chronologies of <i>Pinus sibirica</i> Du Tour from near the upper treeline in the Western Sayan, Southern Siberia are found to have an exceptional (below mean–3SD) multi-year drop near 1700 CE, highlighted by the seven narrowest-ring years in a 1524–2022 regional chronology occurring in the short span of one decade. Tree rings are sometimes applied to reconstruct seasonal air temperatures; therefore, it is important to identify other factors that may have contributed to the growth suppression. The spatiotemporal scope of the “nosedive” in tree growth is investigated with a large network of <i>P. sibirica</i> (14 sites) and <i>Larix sibirica</i> Ledeb. (61 sites) chronologies, as well as with existing climatic reconstructions, natural archives, documentary evidence (e.g., earthquake records), and climate maps based on 20th-century reanalysis data. We conclude that stress from low summer temperatures in the Little Ice Age was likely exacerbated by tree damage associated with weather extremes, including infamous Mongolian “dzuds”, over 1695–1704. A tropical volcanic eruption in 1695 is proposed as the root cause of these disturbances through atmospheric circulation changes, possibly an amplified Scandinavia Northern Hemisphere teleconnection pattern. Conifer tree rings and forest productivity recorded this event across all of Altai–Sayan region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-330f275755c14689b8d2ab7e78ae8f9e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-330f275755c14689b8d2ab7e78ae8f9e2025-01-24T13:47:07ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114228710.3390/plants14020287Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CEDavid M. Meko0Dina F. Zhirnova1Liliana V. Belokopytova2Yulia A. Kholdaenko3Elena A. Babushkina4Nariman B. Mapitov5Eugene A. Vaganov6Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, 1215 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0045, USAKhakass Technical Institute, Siberian Federal University, 27 Schetinkina Street, Abakan 655017, RussiaKhakass Technical Institute, Siberian Federal University, 27 Schetinkina Street, Abakan 655017, RussiaKhakass Technical Institute, Siberian Federal University, 27 Schetinkina Street, Abakan 655017, RussiaKhakass Technical Institute, Siberian Federal University, 27 Schetinkina Street, Abakan 655017, RussiaDepartment of Biology and Ecology, Toraighyrov University, 64 Lomov Street, Pavlodar 140008, KazakhstanInstitute of Ecology and Geography, Siberian Federal University, 79 Svobodny Pr., Krasnoyarsk 660041, RussiaTree-ring width chronologies of <i>Pinus sibirica</i> Du Tour from near the upper treeline in the Western Sayan, Southern Siberia are found to have an exceptional (below mean–3SD) multi-year drop near 1700 CE, highlighted by the seven narrowest-ring years in a 1524–2022 regional chronology occurring in the short span of one decade. Tree rings are sometimes applied to reconstruct seasonal air temperatures; therefore, it is important to identify other factors that may have contributed to the growth suppression. The spatiotemporal scope of the “nosedive” in tree growth is investigated with a large network of <i>P. sibirica</i> (14 sites) and <i>Larix sibirica</i> Ledeb. (61 sites) chronologies, as well as with existing climatic reconstructions, natural archives, documentary evidence (e.g., earthquake records), and climate maps based on 20th-century reanalysis data. We conclude that stress from low summer temperatures in the Little Ice Age was likely exacerbated by tree damage associated with weather extremes, including infamous Mongolian “dzuds”, over 1695–1704. A tropical volcanic eruption in 1695 is proposed as the root cause of these disturbances through atmospheric circulation changes, possibly an amplified Scandinavia Northern Hemisphere teleconnection pattern. Conifer tree rings and forest productivity recorded this event across all of Altai–Sayan region.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/287coniferstree-ring widthsevere growth suppressionabiotic factorsstress event |
| spellingShingle | David M. Meko Dina F. Zhirnova Liliana V. Belokopytova Yulia A. Kholdaenko Elena A. Babushkina Nariman B. Mapitov Eugene A. Vaganov Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE Plants conifers tree-ring width severe growth suppression abiotic factors stress event |
| title | Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE |
| title_full | Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE |
| title_fullStr | Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE |
| title_full_unstemmed | Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE |
| title_short | Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE |
| title_sort | central asia cold case siberian pine fingers new suspects in growth decline ca 1700 ce |
| topic | conifers tree-ring width severe growth suppression abiotic factors stress event |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/287 |
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