Hans-Peter Kahle

Radial growth variation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) across latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in central and northern Europe

Regional and temporal growth variation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and its dependence on air temperature and precipitation were compared in stands across latitudinal and altitudinal transects in southwestern and eastern Germany, Norway, and Finland. The temporal variation of radial growth was divided into two components: medium- and high-frequency variation, i.e. decadal and year-to-year variation, respectively. The medium-frequency component was rather different between regions, especially the southern and northern ones. However, within each region the medium-frequency growth variation was relatively similar, irrespective of altitudinal and latitudinal differences of the sample sites. A part of the high-frequency variation was common to all four regions, which suggests that some factors synchronising tree growth are common for the entire study area. The high-frequency component of growth was more strongly related to monthly air temperature and precipitation than was the medium-frequency variation. The limiting effect of low temperatures was more significant at northern as well as high-altitude sites, while the importance of precipitation increased in the south and at low altitudes.

Large-scale climatic variability and radial increment variation of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in central and northern Europe

Abstract. High-frequency variation of Norway spruce radial increment [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and its dependence on various climatic variables was compared in stands across latitudinal and altitudinal transects in southwestern and eastern Germany, Norway, and Finland. The tested variables included local temperature and precipitation, northern hemisphere temperature anomalies, and the climatic teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic, East Atlantic Jet, East Atlantic/West Russia, and Scandinavian patterns). Climatic impact on radial increment increased towards minimum and maximum values of the long-term temperature and precipitation regimes, i.e. trees growing under average conditions respond less strongly to climatic variation. Increment variation was clearly correlated with temperature. Warm Mays promoted radial increments in all regions. If the long-term average temperature sum at a stand was below 1,200–1,300 degree days, above average summer temperature increased radial increment. In regions with more temperate climate, water availability was also a growth-limiting factor. However, in those cases where absolute precipitation sum was clearly related to radial increment variation, its effect was dependent on temperature-induced water stress. The estimated dates of initiation and cessation of growing season and growing season length were not clearly related to annual radial increment. Significant correlations were found between radial increment and climatic teleconnection indices, especially with the winter, May and August North Atlantic Oscillation indices, but it is not easy to find a physiological interpretation for these findings.

A heat wave during leaf expansion severely reduces productivity and modifies seasonal growth patterns in a northern hardwood forest.

A useful approach to monitor tree response to climate change and environmental extremes is the recording of long-term time series of stem radial variations obtained with precision dendrometers. Here, we study the impact of environmental stress on seasonal growth dynamics and productivity of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) in the Great Lakes, St Lawrence forest region of Ontario. Specifically, we research the effects of a spring heat wave in 2010, and a summer drought in 2012 that occurred during the 2005–14 study period. We evaluated both growth phenology (onset, cessation, duration of radial growth, time of maximum daily growth rate) and productivity (monthly and seasonal average growth rates, maximum daily growth rate, tree-ring width) and tested for differences and interactions among species and years. Productivity of sugar maple was drastically compromised by a 3-day spring heat wave in 2010 as indicated by low growth rates, very early growth cessation and a lagged growth onset in the following year. Sugar maple also responded more sensitively than yellow birch to a prolonged drought period in July 2012, but final tree-ring width was not significantly reduced due to positive responses to above-average temperatures in the preceding spring. We conclude that sugar maple, a species that currently dominates northern hardwood forests, is vulnerable to heat wave disturbances during leaf expansion, which might occur more frequently under anticipated climate change.