Quantitative analysis of the tree-ring width record features essential for paleoclimatic reconstructions

Abstract

Tree-ring width records provide a primary data source for millennial paleoclimatic reconstructions. However, a problem exists connected with taking into consideration the complex age-dependence within these records. Analyzing a set of very long-lived trees of Sabina przewalskii Kom. from the Dulan area of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we found for the first time that the annual basal-radius increment is larger for the outermost rings in comparison with the inner rings, especially for very long-living trees. Neglecting this circumstance when the so-called regional curve standardization is used can distort paleoclimatic reconstructions.