Tree rings-width study of western Himalaya and its linkage with boreal spring vapor pressure and wet-day frequency

Abstract

Tree ring chronologies from different sites of hill forest in the western Himalaya of India have been carried out in relation to natural climate variability/change. The first principal component (PC1) prepared by using a multiple site tree ring-width chronologies of the western Himalaya is strongly negatively correlated with vapor pressure and positively with wet-day frequency. The correlation coefficients of PC1 with boreal spring season vapor pressure and wet-day frequency are − 0.61 and 0.42, respectively, indicating significant level at 0.1%. The relationship indicated that wet-day frequency and vapor pressure of the western Himalaya have significant role in modulating tree growth patterns during boreal spring season (March to May). The results indicate that increasing vapor pressure during boreal spring season may cause high transpiration and evaporation, which results in moisture stress condition over the region and has adverse impact on trees growth. © 2019, Indian Academy of Wood Science.