Evidence of temperature and precipitation change over the past 100years in a high-resolution pollen record from the boreal forest of Central European Russia

• Published in: Holocene (Sevenoaks) 2017-05, Vol.27 (5), p.740
• Main Authors: Olchev, Alexander, Novenko, Elena, Popov, Viktor, Pampura, Tatiana, Meili, Markus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: boreal forests; European Russia; Granger causality test; high-resolution peat profile; Pb-210 and Cs-137 dating; peat bog; pollen accumulation rates
• ISSN: 0959-6836; 1477-0911
• DOI: 10.1177/0959683616670472

Near-annual pollen records for the last 100years were obtained from a 65-cm peat monolith from a raised peat bog in the Central Forest State Natural Biosphere Reserve (southern part of the Valdai Hills, European Russia) and compared with the available long-term meteorological observations. An age-depth model for the peat monolith was constructed by Pb-210 and Cs-137 dating. Cross-correlation and the Granger causality analysis indicated a broad range of statistically significant correlations between the pollen accumulation rate (PAR) of the main forest-forming trees and shrubs (Picea, Pinus, Betula, Tilia, Quercus, Ulmus, Alnus, and Corylus) and the air temperature and precipitation during the previous 3years. Results showed that high air temperatures during the growing season (May-September) in the year prior to the flowering led to an increase in pollen productivity of the main tree species. The statistically significant correlation between the PAR of trees and shrubs and winter precipitation of the current and previous years could reflect the influence of winter precipitation on soil water availability and as a result on tree growth and functioning in the spring.