Correlations Between Meteorological Factors and Tree-ring Width Index of Chinese Pine ( Pinus tubulaeformis ) in Hunshandake Sandy Area, China

Abstract

To explore the radial growth of Chinese pine(Pinus tubulaeformis) with different diameter classes in response to meteorological factors,dendrochronological measurements were carried out to 20 large trees(LAG,mean diameter = 34.6 cm) and 20 small trees(SMA,mean diameter = 15.5 cm) of the species in Hunshandake sandy area,Inner Mongolia,China,and the correlations between the tree-ring chronology data and meteorological factors were studied.The results showed that the relationship between the mean sensitivity and DBH(diameter at breast height) was negatively correlated,while there existed similarities between the correlations of STD chronologies and the meteorological factors in that the STD chronologies were all positively correlated to the precipitation and spring temperatures,and negatively correlated to the summer temperatures.The STDs were positively correlated to the mean and maximum temperatures in January,February,September(P0.05);and negatively correlated to the mean and maximum temperatures in June but positively correlated to the minimum temperature of January,February,August and September(P0.05).They were positively correlated to the precipitation of October in the last year,and May and July of this year(P0.05).On the other hand,the SMAs were positively correlated to the precipitation in June and negatively correlated to the maximum temperature in July(P0.05).It was concluded that the differed correlations between the tree-ring chronologies and the meteorological factors among the trees of the different diameter classes should be taken into consideration indendrochronological studies.