Journal Article

PreJuSER-4862

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Interdecadal modulation of the relationship between ENSO, IPO and precipitation: insights from tree rings in Australia

Heinrich, I.FZJ* ; Weidner, K. ; Helle, G.FZJ* ; Vos, H. ; Lindesay, J. ; Banks, J. C. C.

2009
Springer Berlin

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s00382-009-0544-5

Abstract: Australian climate-proxy reconstructions based on tree rings from tropical and subtropical forests have not been achieved so far due to the rarity of species producing anatomically distinct annual growth rings. Our study identifies the Australian Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) as one of the most promising tree species for tree-ring research in Australasia because this species exhibits distinct annual tree rings, a prerequisite for high quality tropical dendroclimatology. Based on these preliminary studies, we were able, for the first time in subtropical and tropical Australia, to develop a statistically robust, precisely dated and annually resolved chronology back to AD1854. We show that the variability in ring widths of T. ciliata is mainly dependent on annual precipitation. The developed proxy data series contains both high- and low-frequency climate signals which can be associated with the El NiA +/- o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). A comparison of different data sets (Brisbane precipitation, tree rings, coral luminescence record from the Great Barrier Reef, ENSO and IPO) revealed non-stationary correlation patterns throughout the twentieth century but little instability between the new tree-ring chronology and Brisbane precipitation.

Keyword(s): J ; Dendroclimatology (auto) ; Australia (auto) ; Toona ciliata (auto) ; Rainforest (auto) ; Precipitation (auto) ; ENSO (auto)

Note: Ingo Heinrich would like to thank the late Dr. John Banks, School of Resources, Environment and Society (SRES), Australian National University (ANU), for his excellent guidance and advice as PhD supervisor and friend. IH also thanks all other members of the SRES-ANU staff, in particular Peter Kanowski, Sue Holzknecht, Ann Gibson and Jurrgen Bauhus, for their important support during his PhD. IH is grateful to the rangers of the Lamington National Park for their advice and logistic support during the field work. IH received PhD scholarships from the Australian National University, the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

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Research Program(s):

1. Terrestrische Umwelt (P24)

Appears in the scientific report 2009

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