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The Productivity of Low‐Elevation Juniper Forests in Central Asia Increased Under Moderate Warming Scenarios
Author(s) -
Chen Feng,
Yu Shulong,
Shang Huaming,
Zhang Ruibo,
Zhang Tongwen,
Zhang Heli,
Chen Youping,
Satylkanov Rysbek,
Ermenbaev Bakytbek,
Kobuliev Zainalobudin,
Ahmadov Ahsan,
Kodirov Anvar,
Maisupova Bagila
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8961
pISSN - 2169-8953
DOI - 10.1029/2021jg006269
Subject(s) - juniper , precipitation , global warming , environmental science , climate change , elevation (ballistics) , climatology , productivity , central asia , physical geography , geography , ecology , forestry , geology , biology , meteorology , geometry , mathematics , macroeconomics , economics
Clear trends of warming and wetting have occurred in Central Asia during the last 30 years, but how tree growth in low‐elevation mountainous areas has responded to climate warming remains unclear. In this paper, we investigated the relationships between Zeravschan juniper ( Juniperus seravschanica ) growth and climate factors based on 16 tree‐ring chronologies from low‐elevation mountainous areas across Central Asia and then used the resulting model to predict changes in Zeravschan juniper growth during the 21st century. Zeravschan juniper growth in our study region is mainly controlled by precipitation, which is predominantly influenced by tropical sea surface temperatures. The combination of increased precipitation and warm temperatures promoted the growth of Zeravschan juniper during the recent warm period. Our simulations suggest that Zeravschan juniper growth will still increase slightly under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios in the next 30 years, possibly due to increased precipitation caused by climate warming; however, climate warming will initially show negative effects and is expected to have greater effects after the 2050s. Better knowledge regarding regional climate mechanisms and their likely influences on tree growth is useful for improving forest planning and management in Central Asia.