Correlation between tree-ring width and climate in two areas in New Zealand

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Abstract
Correlations between tree-ring width and monthly mean temperature, rainfall, and moisture surplus were investigated in two areas of contrasting rainfall. Species considered were: Podocarpus hallii, Phyllocladus alpinus, Discaria toumatou, and Pinus nigra from Lake Tekapo (annual rainfall range 57-104 cm); and Nothofagus solandri, Phyllocladus alpinus, and Pinus contorta from Mt Ruapehu (annual rainfall range 180-290 cm). The gross morphology of the growth rings is briefly described. Ring indices were derived by adjusting ring width measurements for the mean growth of the trees. Only 9 to 37 percent of the total variation in these ring indices could be attributed to differences in climate or other factors in the different years. Most species showed significant positive correlations between ring indices of successive years. Average ring sequences are given for each species and sequences suitable for cross-dating indicated. At Mt Ruapehu the ring indices were principally correlated with temperature, whereas at Lake Tekapo the correlation was with temperature and moisture supply. The correlations were: for the two Pinus species with winter temperature (negative); for Podocarpus hallii with autumn temperature (positive) and summer moisture surplus (positive); for Phyllocladus alpinus in the Lake Tekapo area with spring moisture surplus (positive) and summer temperature (negative), and in the Mt Ruapehu area with moisture availability in the previous autumn (positive); for Discaria toumatou with temperature of the current and preceding summer (negative); and for Nothofagus solandri with spring and summer temperatures. The correlations between ring indices and climate were weak, so that the potential of the method for investigating tree/climate relationship is not great.

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