Forward modeling of regional scale tree-ring patterns in the southeastern United States and the recent influence of summer drought

K. J. Anchukaitis, M. N. Evans, A. Kaplan, E. A. Vaganov, M. K. Hughes, H. D. Grissino-Mayer, M. A. Cane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use a mechanistic model of tree-ring formation to simulate regional patterns of climate-tree growth relationships in the southeastern United States. Modeled chronologies are consistent with actual tree-ring data, demonstrating that our simulations have skill in reproducing broad-scale patterns of the proxy's response to climate variability. The model predicts that a decrease in summer precipitation, associated with a weakening Bermuda High, has become an additional control on tree ring growth during recent decades. A nonlinear response of tree growth to climate variability has implications for the calibration of tree-ring records for paleoclimate reconstructions and the prediction of ecosystem responses to climate change.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL04705
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume33
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 28 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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