Climatic implications of tree-ring density variations in Himalayan conifers

Abstract

The densitometric analysis of Himalayan conifers from six different sites reveals the strong association of ring density parameters with regional climate. Minimum earlywood density and total ring width are major contributors to the tree growth-climate relationship. It also indicates that pre-monsoon (March-April-May) temperature has significant positive relationship with earlywood density and significant negative correlation with total ring width. In case of precipitation, earlywood density gives negative relationship and ring width gives positive relationship with pre-monsoon precipitation. Latewood density parameters do not show any coherent pattern of relationship with climate. A strong association of earlywood density and ring width parameters may be due to severe moisture stress conditions occurring during the early phase of growing season of the conifers over the region.