Work

The importance of infrequent, high-intensity rainfall events for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) radial growth and implications for dendroclimatic research

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Tree-ring based precipitation reconstructions are beneficial in placing interannual variability in an historical context. However, absent specificity on what is being modeled (e.g., event type or rainfall intensity), similar rainfall totals inferred from reconstructions between different years imply similar conditions. Consequently, variability in specific precipitation event types or intensity can affect radial growth widths despite no changes in overall precipitation amount. Here, we use a longleaf pine latewood chronology to demonstrate how infrequent, intense (i.e., > 2.0 SD above mean) rainfall events (IREs), representing ~ 50% of total summer (July–September) precipitation amounts and 14.1% of rainfall events, principally determine interannual variability (R2 = 40.7%) in latewood while total summer rainfall amounts excluding IREs provide minimal explanatory power (R2 = 10.4%). These results suggest that slight decreases in IRE frequency can promote significant reductions in latewood growth indicating strong sensitivity to minor changes in climate.

Source: Trees Forests and People

DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100009

Authors: Tyler J. Mitchell, Paul A. Knapp, Thomas W. Patterson

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Southern Mississippi

Language: English

Topic: Tree-ring climate responses

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,680