@mastersthesis {563, title = {Statistical Relationships Between Tree Growth and Climate in Western North America}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1992}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {

The objective of this study is to examine large-scale spatial patterns of tree growth and climatic variation and to investigate the possible role of climate in determining tree growth patterns over space. This study represents one of the first uses of geostatistical methods to extract information about the spatial variation of climate from tree rings in western North America. It is also one of the first uses of data in spatial series to study the relationships of spatial variations between climate and tree growth. Geostatistics analyzes the spatial structure of the variables by assuming that adjoining data are correlated with each other over space and that the particular relationship expressing the extent of spatial correlation can be analytically and statistically captured in a function. It is applied to both June Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and ring-width index data from western North America. One basic assumption of applying geostatistics in this study is that the spatially uncorrelated small-scale variations are insignificant and represent background noise in large-scale dendroclimatic studies. The statistical relationships between the spatial variations of June PDSI and ring-width index are studied by simple scatter diagrams and correlation analysis. This is done in terms of yearly variations and variations of spatial patterns. Both of them support the contention that the large-scale spatial variations in ring-width index data can be used to infer the spatial variations of climate variables. Based upon the results of this research it can be concluded that geostatistics is a viable method to characterize the spatially correlated variations in dendroclimatology. By applying geostatistics to data sets, information about the spatial variations of climate contained in tree-ring data are enhanced, and the large-scale variations of climate are emphasized. The analysis of yearly relationships over space is particularly useful for identifying statistical relationships between climate and tree growth in a geographic region. The main factors of climate controlling ring-width index are identified as well as the less frequent limiting events. Once the statistical relationships are validated, they can be used to infer the spatial variations of past climate from variations in tree-ring index.

}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=746968761\&sid=9\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Shao, Xuemei} } @mastersthesis {471, title = {A Time Series Analysis Approach to Tree Ring Standardization}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1985}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {

The problem of standardizing closed-canopy forest ringwidth series is investigated. A biological model for the tree-ring standardization problem indicated that one class of non-climatic variance frequently responsible for standardization problems could be objectively minimized in theory. This is the variance caused by endogenous stand disturbances which create fluctuations in ringwidth series that are non-synchronous or out-of-phase when viewed across trees in a stand. A time series method based on the autoregressive process is developed which minimizes the timewise influence of endogenous disturbances in detrended ringwidth series. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) properties of this method are derived which indicate that autoregressive modelling and prewhitening of detrended ringwidth indices will result in a higher SNR when endogenous disturbances are present in the series. This enables the verification of the SNR theory and the error variance reduction property of the standardization method.

}, author = {Cook, Edward Roger} } @mastersthesis {469, title = {Eastern U.S. Tree-Ring Widths and Densities as Indicators of Past Climate}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1982}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {Long-lived trees preserve a record of environmental conditions during their lifetime in the pattern of yearly xylem widths and in changing wood density within and among the increments. Crossdated earlywood, latewood, and total ring widths, and minimum earlywood and maximum latewood densities, from three sites in the mountains of Maine, are analyzed visually and statistically to evaluate their relationships to one another and to external, environmental factors which affect the ring width and density through internal, physiological processes. Maximum density values show highest levels of similarity within and among the three site chronologies, thus implying a good degree of sensitivity to climate; minimum density values, however, showed lowest sensitivity to climate. Two biologically reasonable hypotheses concerning climate--tree growth interactions are proposed: (1) that maximum density is related to spring temperatures prior to its formation; and (2) that maximum density is related to summer water relations as the latewood forms. With the help of response function analysis, simple correlation, and multiple linear regression, these two hypotheses are tested: (1) maxmum density as a single predictor explains up to 37\% of spring temperature variance; with earlywood widths at one site, 47\% of spring temperature variance is explained; (2) maximum density as a single predictor explains up to 45\% of summer temperature variance, 11\% of summer precipitation variance, and 23\% of the variance of Thornthwaite water deficit values; with total ring widths at one site, 22\% of the variance of summer stream runoff is explained. Regression equations were applied to the 201- to 310-year tree-ring records to form reconstructions of these past climatic events. Independent verification testing of the reconstructions strongly validates the relationship between maximum density and spring temperature; the relationship to summer water relations is not as strongly verified, but results encourage further testing of this relationship. Results from this study may be applied both to (1) an increased understanding of relationship of climate to the formation of wood density; and (2) further development of dendroclimatology in mesic regions such as northeastern North America.}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=748496351\&sid=24\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Conkey, Laura Elizabeth} } @mastersthesis {487, title = {An Attempt to Verify Dendroclimatic Reconstructions using Independent Tree-Ring Chronologies}, volume = {MS}, year = {1979}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {An attempt was made to verify dendroclimatic reconstructions of July Palmer Drought Severity Indices (PDSI) and of seasonal temperature and precipitation in the contiguous United States by means of tree-ring chronologies not used in the calibration procedure. Eight tree-ring chronologies were developed from white oak (Quercus alba L.) on five sites in Iowa and were used in statistical verification procedures along with 26 other chronologies from the eastern and central U.S. Six types of statistical test were used to detect linkages between tree-ring series and actual or reconstructed climatic series. Only those chronologies showing significant linkages with actual climatic data were used in verification attempts. Successful verifications of two PDSI reconstruction sets for two regions of Iowa using the Iowa chronologies were attributed to validity of these reconstructions and strong linkages of the Iowa chronologies to actual July PDSI data, and it was concluded that verification of dendroclimatic reconstructions using independent tree-ring chronologies is possible. Unsuccessful verification attempts in all areas tested for the temperature precipitation reconstructions and for one PDSI reconstruction in four regions of the Ozarks area were attributed to invalidity of these reconstructions and secondary to weaker linkages of the independent chronologies to actual data of these variables.}, author = {Duvick, Daniel Nelson} } @mastersthesis {468, title = {Dendroclimatology in the Northeastern United States}, volume = {MS}, year = {1979}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {Canonical correlations and regressions were calculated between a set of 7 tree-ring width chronologies and a set of 12 temperature or 15 precipitation records from the northeastern United States. The regressions calibrated 38.5\% of the winter temperature variance, 26.5\% of the winter precipitation variance, 20.9\% of the spring precipitation variance in the dependent period, 1905-1960. The regression equations were then applied to the 275-year record of the 7 tree-ring chronologies to obtain estimates of past temperature and precipitation. Reconstructions wee tested for statistical verification with climatic data not used in the regressions, and the series that showed highest verification in each season was selected for further study. The best winter temperature reconstruction passed 50\% of the verification tests, the best winter precipitation reconstruction passed 12.5\% of the tests, and the best spring precipitation reconstruction passed 26.8\% of the tests. The reconstructions of the stations which passed the most verification tests in each season were averaged, and the regional averages were smoothed and plotted. These presented as a first, tentative approximation of past climate.}, author = {Conkey, Laura Elizabeth} } @article {763, title = {Tree Rings A Record of Climate Past}, year = {1977}, note = {

Copies of this are available through the Tree Ring Laboratory. Please contact the curator for more information. pcreasman@ltrr.arizona.edu

}, publisher = {U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Environmental Data Service}, address = {Washington, D.C. }, keywords = {climate, climatology, dendrochronology, environment, tree rings}, author = {Fritts, H.} } @article {928, title = {Reconstruction of Past Climatic Variability (A Progress Report) 1 January through 30 June 1974}, year = {1974}, institution = {Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research}, type = {Fourth Semi-Annual Technical Report}, address = {Tucson}, keywords = {ARPA, climatic variability, dendroclimatology, past climate, reconstruction, tree rings}, author = {Fritts, H.} } @article {929, title = {Reconstruction of Past Climatic Variability (A Progress Report) 30 June through 31 December 1974}, year = {1974}, institution = {Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research}, type = {Fifth Semi-Annual Technical Report}, address = {Tucson}, keywords = {ARPA, climatic variability, dendroclimatology, past climate, reconstruction, tree rings}, author = {Fritts, H.} } @booklet {759, title = {Paleoclimatology}, year = {1973}, keywords = {ancient, climate, dendrochronology, environment, paleoclimatology, tree rings}, author = {Fritts, H.} } @mastersthesis {483, title = {Past Air-sea Interactions off Southern California as Revealed by Coastal Tree-Ring Chronologies}, volume = {MS}, year = {1973}, school = {University of Arizona}, author = {Douglas, Arthur Vern} } @mastersthesis {569, title = {The Feasibility of Augmenting Hydrologic Records using Tree-Ring Data}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1971}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {

Two catchments of diverse hydrologic character were chosen in which to test the hypothesis that tree-ring indices contain information about runoff that is of pertinent interest to the hydrologist\…[Bright Angel Creek basin, Arizona and Upper San Francisco River basin, Arizona/New Mexico]

}, keywords = {Hydrology}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=760166291\&sid=14\&Fmt=1\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Stockton, C.} } @article {777, title = {Tree Rings, Glacial Advance, And Climate in The Alps}, journal = {Zeitschrift fur Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie}, volume = {VII}, year = {1971}, note = {

Copies of this are available through the Tree Ring Laboratory; please contact the lab for more information.

}, abstract = {

Ring-width variations in stone pine near upper treeline in the Alps show a high negative correlation with the percentage of advancing glaciers in Austria and Switzerland. The relationship is due to the similarity of climatic models for tree growth and the glacial mass budget. Tree-ring fluctuations during the period 1800-1889, prior to the compilation of glacial statistics show good agreement with historical glacial advances and periods of low summer temperatures, especially around 1820-1855. Tree-ring studies could assist in reconstructing the glacial and climatic history of the Alps, possibly for a period of 1,000 years or more.

}, keywords = {alps, austria, climatology, environment, glacial advance, glaciers, Switzerland, tree ring}, author = {LaMarche, V.C. and Fritts, H.} } @mastersthesis {486, title = {Stomatal Activity in Semi-arid Site Pnderosa Pine}, volume = {MS}, year = {1967}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {A pressure-infiltration technique for estimating stomatal opening in conifers was used with success on ponderosa pine growing on a semi-arid site. A diurnal pattern of stomatal opening during the day and closing at night was readily discernible. Variations in this pattern such as changes in rates of opening, daytime closure, and opening at night have been measured and related to changes in the environment. Incoming radiation, air and soil temperature, and soil moisture strongly influenced stomatal activity.}, author = {Drew, Allan P.} } @article {758, title = {Growth Rings of Trees: Their Correlation with Climate}, volume = {154}, year = {1966}, note = {

Copies of this are available through the Tree Ring Laboratory. Please contact the curator for more information. pcreasman@ltrr.arizona.edu

}, keywords = {climate, dendrochronology, growth, tree rings}, author = {Fritts, H.} } @mastersthesis {477, title = {Variation in Water Stress of Ponderosa Pine}, volume = {MS}, year = {1966}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {Seasonal and diurnal variations in water stress of the one year old needles in ponderosa pine were followed using the Schardakow method of estimating diffusion pressure deficit and the relative turgidity method of estimating moisture deficit. Soil moisture, vapor pressure deficit of the atmosphere and changes in trunk radius were measured to ascertain their relationships to needle water stress. Diffusion pressure deficit increased with decreasing solid moisture until growth was initiated. At that time diffusion pressure deficit values were markedly reduced and this is attributed to changes in solute content resulting from high carbohydrate metabolism and translocation. Diurnal variations in diffusion pressure deficit followed closely the diurnal variations in vapor pressure deficit, but the measured changes in relative turgidity did not follow closely the changes in diffusion pressure deficit. Measurements of changes in truck radius appear useable for estimating needle tissue water status except during periods of terminal and cambial activity.}, author = {Cunningham, Gary Lynn} }