Open AccessTree‐ring‐based annual precipitation reconstruction for the H exi C orridor, NW C hina: consequences for climate history on and beyond the mid‐latitude A sian continent
Author(s) -
Chen Feng,
Yuan Yujiang,
Wei Wenshou,
Zhang Ruibo,
Yu Shulong,
Shang Huaming,
Zhang Tongwen,
Qin Li,
Wang Huiqing,
Chen Fahu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/bor.12017
Subject(s) - precipitation , climatology , sea surface temperature , geology , latitude , la niña , monsoon , dendrochronology , el niño southern oscillation , meteorology , geography , paleontology , geodesy
An annual ( J uly to J une) precipitation reconstruction for the period AD 1760–2010 was developed from a P icea crassifolia regional tree‐ring chronology from two sites in the northern mountainous region of the H exi C orridor, NW C hina. This reconstruction explains 52.1% of the actual precipitation variance during the period 1951 to 2010. Spatial correlations with gridded land‐surface data reveal that our reconstruction contains a strong regional precipitation signal for the H exi C orridor and for the southern margin of the B adain J aran D esert. Significant spectral peaks were identified at 31.9, 11.1, 8.0, 7.0, 3.2, 2.6 and 2.2 years. A large‐scale comparison indicates that our reconstruction is more consistent with climate records of a Westerly‐dominated C entral A sia, and that the W esterlies have a greater impact on the precipitation in this region than the A sian summer monsoon. Our reconstructed precipitation series is significantly correlated with sea‐surface temperature ( SST ) in the tropical A tlantic O cean (positive), the tropical I ndian O cean (positive), the western tropical P acific O cean (positive), and the western N orth P acific O cean (negative). The spatial correlation patterns between our precipitation reconstruction and SSTs of the A tlantic and P acific O ceans suggest a connection between regional precipitation variations and the high‐mid‐latitude northern atmospheric circulations ( W esterlies and A sian summer monsoon).