A tree-ring width chronology developed from Pinus tabulaeformis tree-rings of Hasi Mountain was employed to analyze responses of tree-ring to different climatic metrics.Correlation analyses between tree-ring chronology and precipitation and temperature suggest that tree growth is both limited by precipitation and temperature,and moisture is the principal limiting factor of tree-ring width.To find a suitable moisture index to be reconstructed,three moisture indices considering precipitation and evaporation even water balance are chosen to be analyzed.The results suggest that the PDSI is an appropriate index as predictor of tree-ring width and can be used to reconstruct in this area.
Based on the analysis of the correlation between the tree-ring width of Pinus tabulaeformis and the climate factors in the western Hedong sandy land of Ningxia, a conversion equation between the annual precipitation and the tree-ring width since 1899 was reconstructed. The results of cross verification indicated that the conversion equation is stable and the reconstructed results are reliable. The result of reconstructed annual precipitation showed the remarkable fluctuation of precipitation and dry-to-wet variation before the 1940s. The smaller fluctuation and high frequent changes of precipitation occurred during the period of 1940s-1980s and after the 1980s the change trend of the precipitation became high periodic extent and low frequent. The study found that there were some coincidences with the climate change in Changling Mountains, Helan Mountains and the east of Qilian Mountains. The relatively dry periods in the beginning of 20th century, 1920s to 1930s, the end of the 20th century and 2004 to 2006 in the western Hedong sandy land of Ningxia accelerated the desertification, while the relatively humid period during the periods of the 1910s-1920s, 1930s-1940s and 1990s is favorable to prevent and control the desertification, and to weaken the climate warming and drying. The periods of annual precipitation variation in the western Hedong sandy land of Ningxia since 1899 are approximately 2-4 years, 5-7 years and 10 years.
[Objective] The aim was to analyze the correlation between tree-ring width of Picea crassifolia in the east of Qilian Mountains and the precipitation, temperature and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). [Method] The correlation analysis and the regression analysis were used in this study. [Result] The tree-ring width was significantly correlated with the autumn precipitation and the spring average NDVI. The conversion equation between tree-ring width and spring NDVI (R2 = 48.5% , R2adj =46.2% , F =21.627, P <0.001) was developed and NDVI sequence was reconstructed during the period 1915 -2007. The drought in the 1920s was pronounced. Vegetation cover in the Qilian Mountains increased during the period 1922-1934, 1940-1957, 1965-1969, 1984-1988 and 1995-1997, but decreased during 1935 -1939, 1958 -1964, 1970 -1983, 1989 -1994 and 1998 -2005. [Conclusion] The reconstructed NDVI showed the drought evolution in the study area.
