%0 Research article
%T Climatic influence on Scots pine growth on dry and wet soils in the central Scandinavian mountains, interpreted from tree-ring width
%A Linderholm, Hans W.
%D 2001
%J Silva Fennica
%V 35
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.574
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/574
%X Tree rings are one of the most important proxy data sources for  reconstructing past climate variability. In order to understand climate  variability, it is necessary to get a spatial and temporal coverage of  climate information. Summer temperatures mainly influence tree growth at  the altitudinal tree line, while at lower altitudes additional factors  affect growth. In addition, the nature of soil where trees grow may  affect growth response to climate. To decide climate as well as  growth-substrate influences on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing  below the tree line, two tree-ring width chronologies, sampled at dry  mineral soil and wet peat soil in a mountain valley in the central  Scandinavian Mountains, were analysed for climate responses and spectral  signals. Temperatures during growth season (May–August) showed the  strongest influence on tree growth at both sites. Influence of  precipitation in the growing season was low, indicating sufficient  amounts of available water during growth. However, at the dry-soil site  the influence of late winter/early spring precipitation was significant.  Strength of the climate–tree–growth relationship at the dry site was  similar to that of trees growing at the present tree line, while weaker  at the wet site. Both site chronologies exhibited common spectral peaks  at c. 3.5 and 13 years indicating a common growth forcing at those time  scales. The wet-site chronology displayed low-frequency variations with a  19-year periodicity, where growth peaks coincided with the lunar tidal  maxima indicating a possible influence of lunar forcing. At the  dry-site, multi-decadal fluctuations displayed a periodicity of 66  years. Both 13- and 66-year periods can be linked to variations in sea  surface temperatures of the North Atlantic Ocean, pointing to a maritime  influence, on decadal scales, of pine growth in the area. These results  suggest that Scots pine in this environment may be regarded as proxies  of North Atlantic Ocean coupled climatic variability.