Abstract:

Response of ring width and ring density to climate variance was studied by theories and techniques of dendrochronology including response functions analysis and multiple regression analysis for Platycladus orientalis in Beijing, China. The results showed that ring width series and ring density series of P. orientalis was sensitive to climate variance. The climate response models were established with mean monthly temperature and total monthly precipitation from the preceding November to the current October. The models explained 58.45% and 77.81% of the ring width total variance and ring density total variance, respectively. It was found that ring width has a significant positive response to precipitation and a significant negative response to temperature from June to August during the current growing season. The reverse was true to the ring density, it had a negative response to temperature and a significant positive response to precipitation. Response of ring width and ring density to climate variance was evident especially July. The results indicated both the ring width and the ring density of P. orientalis are very useful variables for the study of dendroclimatology.

Key words: Platycladus orientalis, ring width, ring density, climate variance, response