Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Different tree species react differently to variation in climate. This relationship can be found by measuring how annual ring width correlates to different climate ariables. This information may be important as a basis for understanding how future forests may be altered by climate change. This study aims to investigate how radial growth of Norway spruce and Scots pine in Kronoberg and Kalmar county responds to precipitation and temperature by dendrochronological methods. The chosen stands had similar fertility and was stratified based on three age categories, >30, >50 and >80 years. Tree ring chronologies were detrended with a spline function and correlation analysis against monthly precipitation and monthly mean temperature was performed. The results showed significant positive correlation between radial growth in Norway spruce and monthly precipitation in May to July and a negative correlation with mean monthly temperature in May to August. A significant positive correlation between radial growth in Scots pine and monthly mean temperature in October to December previous year was found. Concerning the current trend of “sprucification” in Southern Sweden and the redicted increase of drought events in the future, these results can rise further concerns regarding the suitability of Norway spruce in this area. Hopefully, this study can shed further light on what challenges awaits Norway spruce and Scots pine forests of Southern Sweden in a changing climate.