Drought limitation on tree growth at the Northern Hemisphere's highest tree line
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14310%2F19%3A00113501" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14310/19:00113501 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1125786518301164" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1125786518301164</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2018.11.006" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.dendro.2018.11.006</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Drought limitation on tree growth at the Northern Hemisphere's highest tree line
Original language description
The alpine tree line is generally assumed to be controlled by low temperatures, and thus to be experiencing an upward shift under global warming. As global temperatures rise, tree growth at the tree line could either increase if temperature is the limiting factor or decrease if a warming-induced loss of moisture limits growth. Here, we use dendrochronological techniques to understand the abiotic drivers of the Northern Hemisphere's highest tree line ecotones on the southern Tibetan Plateau (TP). Ring-width measurements from three juniper sites between 4680 and 4900 m asl were significantly and negatively correlated with May-June-July evapotranspiration (ET0), and positively correlated with relative humidity and other moisture-related meteorological variables. At the same time, ring widths were negatively correlated with temperature means and sunshine rates. Our results highlight the common sensitivity of tree growth to moisture variations despite the differential growth trends occurring since 1850 (end of the Industrial Revolution) at the three tree line ecotones. These findings indicate that low temperatures may not be the sole driving force behind tree growth and the range dynamics of alpine tree lines. Tree lines in the dry parts of the TP and possibly also beyond are likely to retreat rather than to advance in a warmer world due to water limitations.
Czech name
—
Czech description
—
Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Result continuities
Project
—
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2019
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
DENDROCHRONOLOGIA
ISSN
1125-7865
e-ISSN
—
Volume of the periodical
53
Issue of the periodical within the volume
FEB 2019
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
8
Pages from-to
40-47
UT code for WoS article
000456177200007
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85057483159