High-resolution tree-ring δ18O chronologies covering the last millennium,although scarce,are essential in understanding patterns of climatic changes in the northeastern region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.For this study,a tree-ring δ18O chronology with a temporal resolution of 3-years was developed from the long-lived Qilian juniper(Sabina przewalskii Kom.),extending back in time to AD 991.This long δ18O chronology was significantly correlated with the yearly δ18O in tree rings during the common period from 1800 to 2006,and was an effective proxy for relative humidity during the growing season.A low-frequency moisture pattern signified the occurrence of a slight drought during the Medieval Climate Anomaly,a marked occurrence of a wet period during the Little Ice Age,and a trend in increasing moisture levels,although lower than average,alongside the Twentieth Century warming trend.Comparisons to other hydroclimatic reconstructions indicate that this tree-ring18O chronology serves as a reliable paleo-humidity proxy for the Qaidam Basin as well as documenting details of past humidity levels in the region.
WANG WenZhiLIU XiaoHongXU GuoBaoSHAO XueMeiQIN DaHeSUN WeiZhenAN WenLingZENG XiaoMin
Abstract：The carbon isotopic composition （δ13C） of tree rings was used to assess changes in intrinsic water-use efficiency （Wi） to increasing atmospheric CO2 and climate change during the period of 1891–2003. Five Qinghai spruce （Picea crassifolia） stands were selected in the Qilian Mountains, growing along a precipitation gradient. All five δ13C were correlated to each other, but two sites （DDS and CLS）, which are far from the main body of the mountains, show relative weak connections to other sites. Although trees at all sites had improved their Wi in response to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, spruce growing in the regions far away from the main body of the mountains were less sensitive to improved Wi than those of other sites. Based on the correlation between carbon isotope discrimination （Δ） and Palmer Drought Severity Index （PDSI）, the drought history covering the period of 1891–2003 was reconstructed in the study region. The two most severe drought epochs of the late 1920s and the last decade were caused by reduced precipitation and climate warming, respectively. Our results will be useful in assessing any further spatial climate-related bioclimatic information.
