Abstract

Since the 1990s, the emission of pollutants was reduced in a majority of Polish and developing country factories whereas the level of energy production was similar to that prior to the 1990s. The conifer investigated in this study has grown for many years under the stress of industrial pollution. Despite this, the trees are preserved, to a large extent, sensitive to the natural climatic factors. We present a complex analysis of the climatic (sunshine, temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind circulation) and anthropogenic factors influencing the radial increment dynamics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in the vicinity of the combined heat and power station in Łaziska (Poland). We analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of growth reductions, the depth of reduction with respect to the distance from the emitter, the relationship between tree growth and climate during the industry development period and during proecological strategy application . Samples of carbon isotopic composition in pine needles from 2012 to 2013 were additionally determined. Pines series of 3 positions indicate that they have a similar sensitivity to most climatic elements of the previous and given year, but there is also a different rhythm between the studied populations of incremental growth of pines. The causes of diversity are due to the different types of habitat (site types) and industrial pollution. The variation in carbon stable isotopic composition in pine needles was connected with an increase of CO2.

Highlights

  • Trees are a very good archive of ecosystem change in which they are grown

  • Dynamics of Scots pine (P.sylvestris L.) growing in the near-source region of the Combined Heat and Power Plant Łaziska is the response of trees to various climatic and anthropogenic environmental factors

  • Our results indicate the conditions of year previous to the formation of a new tree ring in the following year that favor the activation of cambium and increase the radial growth of pine, enhance the transpiration of trees, such as (1) abundant precipitation in September of previous year; (2) cloudy, humid, and cool, but not cold autumn; (3) warm and short winter with low humidity

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Summary

Introduction

Trees are a very good archive of ecosystem change in which they are grown. Trees are sensitive to climate changes and anthropogenic pollution. The changes in the ecosystem can disturb the metabolism and physiological processes of trees, and they have an effect on the wood structure (Schweingruber 1996; De Vries et al 2000). Climatic and anthropogenic signals can be recorded in tree ring width (TRW) and the isotopic composition of wood and its components 220 Page 2 of 17. The annual TRW reduction can be a source of information about the industrial history and changes in the quality of the natural environment (Cook and Innes 1989)

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