Abstract
In arid and semi-arid regions, a better understanding of the effect of climate change mechanisms on environmental evolution can be used to guide regional ecological conservation and to improve water resource availability. Increased aridity in arid and semi-arid regions considerably affects the physiological functions of plants and the exchange of carbon and water with the environment. We collected Pinus tabuliformis Carr. samples from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, and measured their δ18O variations. Vapour pressure (VP) was the main factor dominating δ18O variations from July to August, indicating the regulatory role of plant leaf stomata. Based on the δ18O series in the Ordos region, we reconstructed VP variations for July–August (VPJA) for the past 205 years. Spatial analysis showed the reconstruction as spatially highly representative. VP variations in the Ordos region mainly reflected precipitation variations and did not show a significant correlation with temperature. Since the late 1950s, VP has been decreasing, which is related to the weakening of the Asian monsoon. The results of reconstruction decomposed using ensemble empirical mode decomposition showed that El Niño–Southern Oscillation may affect VP in the study area, and the effect of sea surface temperature on the central and eastern Pacific Ocean in the Ordos region may lead to an increase in the drought.
Highlights
During 1951–2012, global average annual temperature showed an increasing trend of about 0.12 ◦ C per decade [1]
The results showed that the reconstructed sequences were significantly negatively correlated with the adjacent dry–wet sequences based on historical literature reconstruction
We reported the negative correlation between tree-ring cellulose δ18 O
Summary
During 1951–2012, global average annual temperature showed an increasing trend of about 0.12 ◦ C per decade [1]. In the future, continued warming can lead to an increase in the atmospheric water demand. Plant leaves volatilise soil water into the atmosphere through transpiration, thereby increasing soil aridification and water loss from forest systems. Vapour pressure (VP) plays a critical role in the transpiration process; understanding long-term VP changes can increase our understanding of the correlation between the water cycle within species and climate change. The short duration of instrumental observations of VP often limits our understanding of VP changes for contemporary global climate changes. On long-time scales, VP change reconstruction using paleoclimate proxies is highly beneficial for comprehending both the present-day global climate changes and future trends
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
