Climate change and tree growth in the Khakass-Minusinsk Depression (South Siberia) impacted by large water reservoirs

D F Zhirnova,E A Babushkina,L V Belokopytova,D M Meko,E A Vaganov

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93745-0

D F Zhirnova, E A Babushkina + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93745-0

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Abstract

Regional and local climate change depends on continentality, orography, and human activities. In particular, local climate modification by water reservoirs can reach far from shore and downstream. Among the possible ecological consequences are shifts in plant performance. Tree-ring width of affected trees can potentially be used as proxies for reservoir impact. Correlation analysis and t-tests were applied to climatic data and tree-ring chronologies of Pinus sylvestris L. and Larix sibirica Ledeb. from moisture-deficit habitats in the intermontane Khakass-Minusinsk Depression, to assess modification of climate and tree growth by the Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushenskoe Reservoirs on the Yenisei River. Abrupt significant cooling in May–August and warming in September-March occurred after the launch of the turbines in dams, more pronounced near the Sayano-Shushenskoe dam (up to – 0.5 °C in summer and to + 3.5 °C in winter) than near the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir headwaters (– 0.3 °C and + 1.4 °C). Significant lengthening of the warm season was also found for temperature thresholds 0–8 °C. Shifts of seasonality and intensity occurred in climatic responses of all tree-ring chronologies after development of water reservoirs. Patterns of these shifts, however, depended on species-specific sensitivity to climatic modification, distance from reservoirs, and physiographic regions. Mitigation of climate continentality and extremes by reservoirs appears to have offset possible negative effects of warming on tree growth.

Highlights

IntroductionThe average rate of global warming over the past 50 years (trend of 0.13 ± 0.03 °C per decade) has turned out to be more than twice the rate previously e stimated[1,2]
The average rate of global warming over the past 50 years has turned out to be more than twice the rate previously e stimated[1,2]
Long-term warming trends in the study region are at least twice the rate of global warming, especially in winter (Supplementary Fig. S1)

Summary

Introduction

The average rate of global warming over the past 50 years (trend of 0.13 ± 0.03 °C per decade) has turned out to be more than twice the rate previously e stimated[1,2]. It is logical to assume that the magnitude and spatial extent of climate change expand with increasing depth, area and/or length of the reservoir. We expect that this impact can reach many kilometers from the shoreline under favorable orographic conditions, especially in wide intermontane valleys. T to temperature increase can impact forest productivity and carbon deposition, including annual formation of wood[32] Both climatic change and its impact on forests can be conveniently appraised with long time series of tree-ring width (TRW). In this study we assessed possible changes in climate and tree-growth dynamics associated with two large reservoirs on the Yenisei River, the world’s largest (annual discharge) Arctic-draining r iver[33]. The well-defined orographic boundaries of the basin provide commonality and synchronization of climatic fluctuations, such that we can speak of a distinctive KhMD regional climate

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