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Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing
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Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Meteorology and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 15035

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Qiang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Global Environmental Change, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: tree-ring isotopes; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Feng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
Interests: climate change; hydroclimate; tree rings

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Along with the progress of forest ecosystem research, the combination of multiple technological means at different spatial scales has become a trend that will see increasing development in the future. Tree-ring data (width, density, and isotopes) is a powerful resource to detect regional climate change and its driving factors. Remote sensing provides valuable insights into pressing environmental challenges and is a critical tool for driving solutions. The rapid advancement in remote-sensing technology and platforms is likely to result in a greater democratization of remote-sensing data to support forest management and conservation in parts of the world where environmental issues are the most urgent. Furthermore, if a regional indicator of forest variables (e.g., tree growth) can be developed as a reliable surrogate of field measurement (e.g., tree-ring width, density, and isotopes), it would allow the reverse process: upscaling of in-site data to a regional level. In addition, to the extent that forest dynamics is a surrogate for climate conditions, it would allow remote sensing for the evaluation of prior climate conditions at regional, and perhaps global scales. This Special Issue encourages research on forest (or vegetation) climate change in combination with tree-ring and remote sensing, but also accepts research on climate change based on tree-ring data (width, density, and isotopes), and work on vegetation change based on remote sensing.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Climate change and forest (or vegetation) ecosystems;
  • Environmental change and eco-hydrology;
  • Climate change revealed by tree-ring width/density/isotopes;
  • Remote sensing.

Prof. Dr. Qiang Li
Prof. Dr. Feng Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest
  • climate change
  • vegetation
  • NDVI
  • tree-ring width
  • tree-ring density
  • tree-ring isotopes
  • remote sensing

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5184 KiB  
Article
Precipitation Variations in China’s Altay Mountains Detected from Tree Rings Dating Back to AD 1615
by Wenxuan Pang, Qiang Li, Yu Liu, Huiming Song, Changfeng Sun, Jiachuan Wang, Yalan Yan, Qiufang Cai and Meng Ren
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071496 - 21 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1175
Abstract
As the primary mountain range in Central Asia, the Altay Mountains receive water vapor carried by westerly circulation, resulting in relatively abundant local precipitation and lush pastures in all seasons. Consequently, it has become one of the important transportation routes between Asia and [...] Read more.
As the primary mountain range in Central Asia, the Altay Mountains receive water vapor carried by westerly circulation, resulting in relatively abundant local precipitation and lush pastures in all seasons. Consequently, it has become one of the important transportation routes between Asia and Europe. The exploration of long-term variations in precipitation is meaningful for understanding the ebb and flow of the Asia–Europe steppe trade routes. However, previous dendroclimatological studies of the Altay Mountains focused more on temperature changes than precipitations variations. We carried out a 404-year precipitation reconstruction based on the tree rings of Siberian larch growing on the south slopes of the Altay Mountains, which could explain 45.9% of the variance observed in the February–October precipitation. Our reconstruction demonstrated some severe drought events which could be found in the historical documents, such as the drought in the late Ming Dynasty (1640s) and the Ding-Wu Disaster (1870s). The spatial correlation analysis, cross-wavelet spectrum and wavelet coherency analysis indicated that the precipitation variations in the study area may be related to the ENSO and NAO. This study presents a robust precipitation reconstruction of the southern Altay Mountains, serving as a reference for future research on large-scale climatic forces acting on Altay precipitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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12 pages, 4627 KiB  
Article
Relationship between the Radial Growth of Two Dominant Coniferous Species and GPP in the Arid Region of Northwest China
by Na Liu, Zhitao Wu, Ziqiang Du, Tianjie Lei and Bin Sun
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071336 - 29 Jun 2023
Viewed by 851
Abstract
Radial growth of trees is closely related to canopy activity. Revealing the relationship between radial growth and canopy activity is of great significance for forest protection under climate change. In this study, we built tree-ring chronologies for two tree species, spruce (Picea [...] Read more.
Radial growth of trees is closely related to canopy activity. Revealing the relationship between radial growth and canopy activity is of great significance for forest protection under climate change. In this study, we built tree-ring chronologies for two tree species, spruce (Picea aspruceerata) and Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis), from the Helan Mountains in the arid region of northwest China. Correlation coefficients were then calculated to reveal the relationships among tree rings, two kinds of gross primary productivity (GPP) indices, and climate data. The results demonstrated that the radial growth of both spruce and Chinese pine was positively correlated with GPP from late February to early March, and moisture conditions may be the driving factor of tree growth. However, radial growth of Chinese pine was also correlated with GPP from the end of March to the end of August. This study aimed to further supplement the relationship between trunk radial growth and canopy dynamics in the arid zone of northwest China and to provide theoretical guidance for vegetation restoration and forest conservation in the arid zone of northwest China under climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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8 pages, 3457 KiB  
Communication
Estimating Summer Arctic Warming Amplitude Relative to Pre-Industrial Levels Using Tree Rings
by Cong Gao, Chunming Shi, Yuxin Lou, Ran An, Cheng Sun, Guocan Wu, Yuandong Zhang, Miaogen Shen and Deliang Chen
Forests 2023, 14(2), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020418 - 17 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1356
Abstract
Estimating long-term trends and short-term amplitudes requires reliable temperature (Temp) observations in the pre-industrial period when few in situ observations existed in the Arctic. Tree-ring materials are most available and used to reconstruct past Arctic Temp variations. However, most previous studies incorporated materials [...] Read more.
Estimating long-term trends and short-term amplitudes requires reliable temperature (Temp) observations in the pre-industrial period when few in situ observations existed in the Arctic. Tree-ring materials are most available and used to reconstruct past Arctic Temp variations. However, most previous studies incorporated materials that are insensitive to local Temp variabilities. The derived reconstruction qualities are low (indicated by low calibration R2), and the uncertainties inherent in the various detrending methodologies are unknown. To reconstruct Arctic (N60°–N90°) summer (June–August) Temp in 1850–1900 and variations over the past centuries, we screened 1116 tree-ring width and tree-ring density records and applied four detrending functions (sf-RCS, RCS, MOD, and spline). In total, 338–396 records show significant correlations (p < 0.05) with the Climate Research Unit (CRU) Temp of the corresponding grid point. These records were selected and combined into a proxy record. The achieved Arctic summer Temp reconstruction explained 45–57% of the instrumental summer Temp variance since 1950. The 2012–2021 summer Arctic warming amplitudes (1.42–1.74 °C) estimated by Temp anomaly datasets extending back to 1850 are within the range derived from our reconstructions, despite using various detrending methods. These findings could suggest the Berkeley and HadCRU5 datasets interpolating Temp from a few (6–73) meteorological stations could still represent the mean Arctic Temp variation in 1850–1900, and the updated reconstruction can be used as a reliable reference for 1550–2007 Arctic summer Temp history. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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19 pages, 12455 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Diversity in the Link between Tree Radial Growth and Remote Sensing Vegetation Index of Qinghai Spruce on the Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau
by Mengyuan Wei, Liang Jiao, Peng Zhang, Xuan Wu, Ruhong Xue and Dashi Du
Forests 2023, 14(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020260 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1587
Abstract
Global warming is causing some regions to experience frequent and severe drought, with important impacts on montane forest vegetation. In this study, the Qilian Mountains is on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau which was divided into three study areas, the eastern [...] Read more.
Global warming is causing some regions to experience frequent and severe drought, with important impacts on montane forest vegetation. In this study, the Qilian Mountains is on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau which was divided into three study areas, the eastern (HaXi), middle (XiShui) and western (QiFeng) parts. This work focused on interannual trend comparison of tree-ring width (TRW) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI), their relationship characterization from 2000 to 2020, and spatial and temporal pattern portrayal of response to climate factors. The results showed that: (1) the overall interannual variation of TRW and EVI showed a stable increasing trend, and the trend of TRW and EVI gradually became consistent with the increase in drought stress (from the eastern region to the western region and from high elevation to low elevation) (p < 0.01); (2) a significant positive relation was observed between TRW and EVI at the same sampling sites, and the synchrony of the positive correlation gradually increased with the increase of drought stress (p < 0.01); and (3) compared to TRW, EVI is significantly more sensitive with climatic variations, and the dominant climate factors affecting both TRW and EVI dynamics are gradually identical with the increase of drought stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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16 pages, 3370 KiB  
Article
Tree-Ring Stable Carbon Isotope-Based Mean Maximum Temperature Reconstruction in Northwest China and Its Connection with Atmospheric Circulations
by Yanchao Wang, Qiang Li, Yu Liu, Xiangyu Duan, Changfeng Sun, Huiming Song, Qiufang Cai and Xin Liu
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1815; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111815 - 31 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1242
Abstract
The inter-annual stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of three tree-ring cores of P. euphratica (Populus euphratica Oliv.) was determined from Ejina Oasis in Northwest China. A robust and representative δ13C chronology is generated from the three δ13 [...] Read more.
The inter-annual stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of three tree-ring cores of P. euphratica (Populus euphratica Oliv.) was determined from Ejina Oasis in Northwest China. A robust and representative δ13C chronology is generated from the three δ13C series using an arithmetic mean method. After eliminating the influence of the δ13C from elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, we obtained a carbon isotopic discrimination (Δ13C) chronology. According to the significant correlation between the tree-ring Δ13C and instrumental data, we reconstructed the mean maximum temperature anomalies from previous December to current September (TDS) for the period 1901–2011. The reconstruction explained 43.6% of the variance over the calibration period. Three high-temperature periods (1929–1965, 1972–1974, and 1992–2006) and three low-temperature periods (1906–1926, 1966–1968, and 1975–1991) were found in the reconstructed series. Comparisons between the reconstructed TDS and the observed mean temperature from previous December to current September in Anxi meteorological station and the temperature index in north-central China demonstrated the reconstructed TDS has the advantage of reliability and stability. The significant spatial correlation declared that the reconstruction has a broad spatial representation and can represent the temperature variation characteristics in a wide geographical area. In addition, we found that the area of Ejina Oasis is smaller (larger) when the mean maximum temperature is higher (lower), which may be due to a conjunction effect of natural and anthropogenic activities. Significant periodicities and correlations suggested that the TDS variations in Ejina Oasis were regulated by solar radiation and atmospheric circulations at the interannual and interdecadal time scales. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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13 pages, 2528 KiB  
Article
Features of Radial Growth Rate of Trees in Agro-Pastoral Transition Zone, Northern China
by Jiayu Sun, Na Liu, Guang Bao, Yanchao Wang and Qi Chu
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101712 - 17 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1533
Abstract
The Vaganov–Shashkin process-based model was used to explore the variation characteristic of the radial growth rate of Pinus tabulaeformis in the agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China. The tree-ring width chronologies of the four sampling sites were significantly positively correlated with the simulated [...] Read more.
The Vaganov–Shashkin process-based model was used to explore the variation characteristic of the radial growth rate of Pinus tabulaeformis in the agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China. The tree-ring width chronologies of the four sampling sites were significantly positively correlated with the simulated series (p < 0.01), and the simulated onset and end dates of tree radial growth indicated that April to October was the main growing season. Temperature affects the radial growth rate of tree stems at the start and end of the growing season, while soil moisture availability affects the radial growth rate in the main growing season. Despite the differences in amplitude, the integral growth rate showed a bimodal pattern, which to some extent responded to the hydrothermal configuration of the East Asian summer monsoon climate. Compared with the peak changes in the summer monsoon fringe area in Northwest China, the highest peak of the integral growth rate in this study area appeared around August in the late growing season, reflecting the adaptability of trees to the local climatic environment. The average values of the integral growth rate and rate due to soil moisture, inferred from extreme wide-ring and narrow-ring years, were significantly different (p < 0.01), while the average growth rates due to temperature were not significant (p > 0.05). The analysis results indicate that moisture availability is a key limiting factor for the radial growth of Pinus tabulaeformis. Our study provides valuable knowledge about the growth processes of the main tree species related to the hydroclimatic variables in northern China and offers a new perspective on mitigating the adverse effects of a warmer climate on the forest in the semi-arid region in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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20 pages, 7077 KiB  
Article
A 230-Year Summer Precipitation Variations Recorded by Tree-Ring δ18O in Heng Mountains, North China
by Yu Liu, Wenxin Shi, Qiang Li, Wentai Liu and Qiufang Cai
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101654 - 09 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1233
Abstract
To explore the history of the changes in monsoon precipitation and their driving mechanisms in the context of global warming, climatology studies using tree-ring stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) were carried out in Shanxi Province, China. Based on a tree-ring δ18 [...] Read more.
To explore the history of the changes in monsoon precipitation and their driving mechanisms in the context of global warming, climatology studies using tree-ring stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) were carried out in Shanxi Province, China. Based on a tree-ring δ18O series from Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. on Heng Mountain, a 230-year June–July precipitation sequence from 1784 to 2013 AD was reconstructed that explained 45% of the total variance (44% after adjusting the degrees of freedom). The reconstructed sequence captured the characteristics of the variations in precipitation. Periods of drought occurred mainly in 1820–1840 AD, 1855–1865 AD, 1895–1910 AD, 1925–1930 AD, and 1970–1995 AD, and wet periods occurred mainly in 1880–1895 AD, 1910–1925 AD, and 1935–1960 AD. The dry and wet years in the precipitation reconstruction corresponded well to the years in which disaster events were documented in historical records. A spatial correlation analysis with Climatic Research Unit (CRU)-gridded precipitation data indicated that the reconstructed precipitation provided good regional representation and reflected large-scale June–July precipitation changes in northern China. In addition, the reconstructed precipitation sequence was also significantly correlated with the dry and wet index (DWI) and other tree-ring dry/wet reconstructions from the surrounding areas. The correlation between the reconstructed precipitation and the Asian monsoon index showed that the precipitation can indicate the intensity of the Asian summer monsoon. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was found between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the reconstructed precipitation. At the decadal scale, the negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) may co-promote summer precipitation in the study area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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18 pages, 4329 KiB  
Article
Greater Greening Trend in the Loess Plateau of China Inferred from Long-Term Remote Sensing Data: Patterns, Causes and Implications
by Wei Guo, Hao He, Xiaoting Li and Weigang Zeng
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101630 - 05 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1428
Abstract
The Loess Plateau (LP) of China, which is the pilot region of the “Grain to Green Project” (GGP), has received worldwide attention due to its significant changes in the natural and social environment. Investigation of vegetation variations in response to climate change and [...] Read more.
The Loess Plateau (LP) of China, which is the pilot region of the “Grain to Green Project” (GGP), has received worldwide attention due to its significant changes in the natural and social environment. Investigation of vegetation variations in response to climate change and human activities is vital for providing support for further ecological restoration planning. This paper aimed to monitor vegetation dynamics of the LP with trend comparisons of various vegetation types, disentangle the effects of climate variations and ecological programs on vegetation variations, and detect the consistency of vegetation variations. More specifically, vegetation dynamics during 1982–2015 were analyzed using the Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping System third-generation Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GIMMS NDVI3g) data with the application of Breaks for Additive Season and Trend (BFAST) and Hurst Exponent. The results showed that: (1) Vegetation manifested a significant greening trend (0.013 decade−1p < 0.01) in the LP during 1982–2015, and a breakpoint (BP) was detected in 1999, which was the beginning of the GGP. Interannual NDVI after the BP (ABP) showed more than 3.5 times greening rates compared to the NDVI before the BP (BBP). (2) Human activities dominated the vegetation variation (accounted for 59.46% of vegetation variation), among which reforestation and land-use change with steep slopes (i.e., ≥15°) lead to the greening after the GGP implementation. (3) Future trends should be noticed in the Forest Zone and Forest-Grass Zone, where the greening trends tend to slow down or even reverse in the southern LP. The long-term GIMMS NDVI3g time series and multiple geospatial analyses of this study might facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms of vegetation variations for the assessment of the large restoration programs in fragile ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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16 pages, 2810 KiB  
Article
Response of Larix chinensis Radial Growth to Climatic Factors Using the Process-Based Vaganov–Shashkin-Lite Model at Mt. Taibai, China
by Shuheng Li, Wei Guo, Jiachuan Wang, Na Gao, Qi Yang and Hongying Bai
Forests 2022, 13(8), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13081252 - 08 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1515
Abstract
The Qinling Mountains are located on the dividing line between the north and the south of China. Mt. Taibai, the study site, is the highest peak in the Qinling Mountains and also the highest peak in eastern mainland China. At Mt. Taibai, several [...] Read more.
The Qinling Mountains are located on the dividing line between the north and the south of China. Mt. Taibai, the study site, is the highest peak in the Qinling Mountains and also the highest peak in eastern mainland China. At Mt. Taibai, several dendroecological studies have been conducted on the relationship between tree-ring indices and climatic factors using traditional statistical methods. In this study, the response of Larix chinensis Beissn radial growth to climatic factors was explored in the treeline area of Mt. Taibai using the process-based Vaganov–Shashkin-Lite (VSL) model for the first time. The conclusions were obtained according to the analysis of the L. chinensis tree-ring samples collected from both the northern and southern slopes of Mt. Taibai. The VSL model showed that temperature limits L. chinensis growth during the entire growing season, while the model did not indicate precipitation as a limiting factor. The model showed significant positive correlations between the simulated and observed tree-ring chronologies for 1959–2013, excluding the uppermost sample site on the northern slope. However, the model performance deteriorated with increasing altitude, which may be due to the decreased sensitivity of radial growth to climatic factors above the treeline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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15 pages, 2878 KiB  
Article
Responses of Tree Growth and Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency to Environmental Factors in Central and Northern China in the Context of Global Warming
by Meng Ren, Yu Liu, Qiang Li, Huiming Song, Qiufang Cai and Changfeng Sun
Forests 2022, 13(8), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13081209 - 01 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2020
Abstract
The Loess Plateau is a fragile ecological zone that is sensitive to climate change. The response, adaptation, and feedback of tree growth in forest ecosystems to global warming and CO2 enrichment are urgent scientific issues. Intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) is an [...] Read more.
The Loess Plateau is a fragile ecological zone that is sensitive to climate change. The response, adaptation, and feedback of tree growth in forest ecosystems to global warming and CO2 enrichment are urgent scientific issues. Intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) is an important indicator for understanding forest ecosystem adaptability to climate change and CO2 enrichment. In this study, tree-ring width, tree-ring stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C), and iWUE of P. tabulaeformis Carr. were established. Climate response analysis showed that temperature was the main limiting factor affecting radial tree growth and that relative humidity significantly affected the stable carbon isotope fractionation of tree rings. During 1645–2011, the iWUE increased by 27.1%. The responses of iWUE to climate factors and atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Ca) showed that the long-term variation in iWUE was affected by Ca, which could explain 69% of iWUE variation, and temperature was the main factor causing iWUE interannual variation. The ecosystem of P. tabulaeformis showed a positive response to rising Ca, as its carbon sequestration capacity increased. In response to global warming and CO2 enrichment, rising Ca promoted increases in iWUE but ultimately failed to offset the negative impact of warming on tree growth in the study area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Climate Change Revealed by Tree Rings and Remote Sensing)
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