@mastersthesis {842, title = {Fire History and Fire Climate Relationships in Upper Elevation Forests of the Southwestern United States}, volume = {Ph.D}, year = {2007}, note = {

Please contact the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research for a copy of this dissertation. The file is too large to be uploaded at this time.

}, pages = {182}, school = {University of Arizona}, type = {Dissertation}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Fire history and fire-climate relationships of upper elevation forests of the southwestern United States are imperative for informing management decisions in the face of increased crown fire occurrence and climate change. I used dendroecological techniques to reconstruct fires and stand-replacing fire patch size in Madrean Sky Islands and Mogollon Plateau. Reconstructed patch size (1685-1904) was compared with contemporary patch size (1996-2004). Reconstructed fires at three sites had stand-replacing patches totaling \> 500 ha. No historical stand-replacing fire patches were evident in the mixed conifer/aspen forests of the Sky Islands. Maximum stand-replacing fire patch size of modern fires (1129 ha) was greater than that reconstructed from aspen (286 ha) and spruce-fir (521 ha). Updated spruce-fir patches may be evidence of larger (\>2000ha) stand-replacing fire patches.

To provide climatological context for fire history I used correlation and regionalization analyses to document spatial and temporal variability in climate regions, and El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) teleconnections using 273 tree-ring chronologies (1732-1979). Four regions were determined by common variability in annual ring width. The component time score series replicate spatial variability in 20th century droughts (e.g., 1950\’s) and pluvials (e.g., 1910\’s). Two regions were significantly correlated with instrumental SOI and AMO, and three with PDO. Sub-regions within the southwestern U.S. varied geographically between the instrumental (1900-1979) and the pre-instrumental periods (1732-1899). Mapped correlations between ENSO, PDO and AMO, and tree-ring indices illustrate detailed sub-regional variability in teleconnections.

I analyzed climate teleconnections, and fire-climate relationships of historical upper elevation fires from 16 sites in 8 mountain ranges. I tested for links between Palmer Drought Severity Index and tree-ring reconstructed ENSO, PDO and AMO phases (1905-1978 and 1700-1904). Upper elevation fires (115 fires, 84 fire years, 1623-1904) were compared with climate indices. ENSO, PDO, and AMO affected regional PDSI, but AMO and PDO teleconnections changed between periods. Fire occurrence was significantly related to inter-annual variability in PDSI, precipitation, ENSO, and phase combinations of ENSO and PDO, but not AMO (1700-1904). Reduced upper elevation fire (1785-1840) was coincident with a cool AMO phase.

}, keywords = {AMO, climate, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, ENSO, environment, fire, fire history, forest, madrean sky islands, mogollon plateau, mountain, PDO, southwest, teleconnection, tree ring, upper elevation, Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1375523671\&sid=1\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD.}, author = {Margolis, Ellis Quinn} } @mastersthesis {839, title = {Spatial Relationships in Frost-Damaged High-Elevation Pines and Links to Major Volcanic Eruptions}, volume = {MS}, year = {2001}, pages = {67}, school = {University of Arizona}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Frost injury in the annual growth rings of pines growing at upper treeline is a consequence of sudden freezing temperatures during the growing season (LaMarche \& Hirschboeck 1984). This updated and spatially extensive frost-ring study involves the systematic identification of frost rings in high-elevation pines located in 16 western USA tree-ring sites whose chronologies range from 1692 BC to AD 2000. Several \"notable frost events\" were identified, based on the criteria of frost damage occurring in greater than 25\% of trees at a given site and in two or more sites. The spatial variations between frost events indicate regional variations based on differences in elevation, latitude, and the location of polar outbreaks and their associated upper-level atmosphere circulation patterns. The 17 notable frost events correspond to previous frost ring and light ring evidence, and 13 of them are associated with climatically effective volcanic eruptions.

}, keywords = {atmosphere circulation, damage, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, frost, high elevation, pine, polar outbreak, relationship, spacial, tree ring, tree-ring, volcanic eruption}, author = {Hallman, Christine Lee} } @mastersthesis {550, title = {A Dendroecological Assessment of Whitebark Pine in the Sawtooth Salmon River Region Idaho}, volume = {Master of Science}, year = {1995}, pages = {56}, school = {University of Arizona}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) tree-ring chronologies of 700 to greater than 1,000 years in length were developed for four sites in the Sawtooth-Salmon River region, central Idaho. These ring-width chronologies are used to (1) assess the dendrochronological characteristics of this species, (2) detect annual mortality dates of whitebark pine attributed to a widespread mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) epidemic during the 1909 to 1940 period, and (3) establish the response of whitebark pine tree ring-width growth to climate variables. Crossdating of whitebark pine tree-ring width patterns was verified. Ring-width indices had low mean sensitivity (0.123-0.174) typical of high elevation conifers in western North America, and variable first order autocorrelation (0.206-0.551). Mortality of dominant whitebark pine caused by mountain pine beetle had a maxima at 1930 on all four sites. Response functions and correlation analyses with state divisional weather records indicate that above average radial growth is positively correlated with winter and spring precipitation and inversely correlated with April temperature. These correlations appear to be a response to seasonal snowpack. Whitebark pine is a promising species for dendroclimatic studies.

}, keywords = {dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, dendroctonus ponderosae, dendroecology, idaho, pine beetle, pinus albicaulis, sawtooth salmon river, tree ring, whitebark pine}, author = {Perkins, Dana Lee} } @mastersthesis {905, title = {A Dendrochronological Study of the Great Salt Lake Basin}, volume = {Master of Science}, year = {1989}, note = {

Please contact the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research to view this thesis.

}, month = {03/1989}, pages = {77}, school = {University of Utah}, address = {Salt Lake City}, abstract = {

To date, no tree-ring chronologies have been generated for the Great Salt Lake basin. There is evidence of a winter air mass boundary across this area. Since the region receives a precipitation maximum in the winter and spring, information about boundary location variability would be useful. Tree-ring widths may be related to climatic variables and provide a record of past climate.

Four tree-ring chronologies in the four corners of the Great Salt Lake basin were generated using standard dendrochronological techniques. Precipitation and temperature data for the area were regionalized and tree-ring indices were correlated with regional temperature seasons and with precipitation regions and seasons. The chronologies were factor analyzed for the period of common growth, 1593-1985, and broken down into seven overlapping one hundred-year periods.

During the period for which there are weather records, tree growth in the northwest site was correlated with temperature variables, while in the other three sites, tree growth was mostly correlated with precipitation. The results of the factor analysis of the chronologies for the seven time periods were consistent with the correlation results. The results also indicate a similar pattern of variation of growth for the time periods of 1593-1650 and 1825-1940.

The four Great Basin chronology sites are located in a unique region and may be used to learn about climatic variability in this area.

}, keywords = {climatic variability, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, Geography, great salt lake basin, indices, precipitation, salt lake, temperature, tree ring}, author = {Connie Woodhouse} } @article {878, title = {Dendroclimatic Variability in the American Southwest A.D. 680 to 1970}, year = {1977}, month = {03/1977}, institution = {Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research}, address = {Tucson}, keywords = {climate, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, department, interior, national park service, paleoclimate, report, southwest, tree ring, variability}, author = {Dean, Jeffrey S. and Robinson, William J.} } @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.} } @article {936, title = {Tree-Ring Growth in High-Altitude Bristlecone Pine as Related to Meteorological Factors: Research Proposal}, year = {1968}, institution = {Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research}, type = {Research Proposal}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Important climatic information may be contained in long tree-ring records from the upper treeline of mid-latitude mountains. Preliminary work and the results of related research suggest that the variation in annual ring-width series from bristlecone pine (P. aristata) at the upper treeline is related to year-to-year differences in the temperature regime, in contrast to the \"drought sensitivity\" of this species near the lower forest border. Therefore, the establishment of a quantitative relationship between meterological factors and tree-ring growth at the upper treeline may permit the extension of temperature records, ad would provide an additional tool for evaluating certain environmental characteristics of remote, high-mountain regions. Direct comparison of tree-ring chronologies from \"drought-sensitive\" conifers at the lower forest border with those from \"cold-sensitive\" trees at the nearby upper treeline might also lead to the separation of precipitation and temperature effects in paleoclimatic reconstruction.

The basic approach involves the empirical comparison of tree-ring chronologies with concurrent meteorological time series in a few areas in the western United States, selected for the proximity of a bristlecone pine treeline to one or more high altitude weather stations. A number of replicated tree-ring samples will be dated, measured, standardized, and evaluated to form the basic tree-ring chronologies. testing the association between the ring-widths and meteorological factors will proceed through the development of progressively refined empirical models. Consistency with available biological data will serve as a general guide in the development of a meaningful model.

}, keywords = {bristlecone pine, cold sensitive, dendroclimatology, drought sensitive, high altitude, meteorological, NSF, pinus aristata, precipitation, temperature, tree ring}, author = {LaMarche, Valmore C.} } @article {934, title = {Continuation of Studies on the Dendrochronology of Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata Englem.) (Continuation of Research Grant NSF-G 19949): A Research Proposal }, year = {1963}, month = {05/1963}, institution = {Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research}, type = {Research Proposal}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

The original research grant NSF-G 19949, effective October 1, 1961, for the dendrochronology of bristlecone pine has made it possible: (1) to develop a workable chronology extending back 3850 years, (2) to carry out studies of tree growth as related to environmental parameters through two field seasons, and (3) to make some statistical comparisions which indicate (a) that there is no significant difference between young and old trees in radial growth response to environmental variables, (b) that there are significant correlations between bristlecone pine and other coniferous species extending up to 1000 miles east and southeast, and (c) that there is strong evidence that bristlecone pine will provide a good basis for extending climatic interpretations to at least 2600 B.C.

The present request is for funds: (1) to complete an exact chronology made possible through the study of both living and dead material in the White Mountains of California; (2) to extend the chronology building to other key tree-ring areas in the Colorado River Basin with the aim of determining the past climatic chronology; (3) to statistically evaluate the various chronologies thus established for interrelations with climate and with other tree-ring series; (4) to continue the environmental studies and evaluations through a third growing season, 1964; (5) to determine the biological model of cause and effect and its statistical counterpart for estimating climate from these tree-ring series; and (6) to provide for the closely integrated radiocarbon analysis of tree-ring material.

The results will be used (1) to strengthen dendrochronological dating and to provide a master tree-ring chronology which can be used by climatologists, archaeologists, radiocarbon investigators, and others; (2) to strengthen and geographically extend the dendroclimatological studies of Schulman (1956), especially in the Colorado River Basin; (3) to provide, when integrated with various environmental studies now being conducted, a stronger basis for environmental interpretations, based on the difference in radial growth shown by trees that respond primarily to differences in precipitation. This information will be of great value to meteorologists, hydrologists, and others, including the Inter-Union Commission on Solar and Terrestrial Relationships.

}, keywords = {bristlecone pine, california, chronology, colorado river basin, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, extend, NSF, pinus aristata, white mountains}, author = {McGinnies, W.G.} } @article {932, title = {Dendrochronology of Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata Engelm) as a Basis for the Extension of Dendroclimatic Indices: Research Proposal}, year = {1960}, month = {12/1960}, institution = {Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research}, type = {Research Proposal }, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

It is proposed to make an analysis of growth-rings of bristlecone pine, to construct a tree-ring chronology covering more than four millenia and to investigate the relationship between the tree-rings and climate with the objective of establishing precipitation indices. The research will be based on previous findings with other species and will follow techniques and methodologies developed at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. The research will continue studies initiated by Edmund Schukman under NSF Grant G2274 but terminated by his untimely death in 1958. During the period Dr. Schulman was operating under the NSF Grant, the full significance of the bristlecone pine discovery became apparent, and he left a legacy of material that will make it possible to carry research further into the past than was envisioned at the time the grant was made. The present proposal has been expanded to take advantage of this enlarged opportunity.

The research will be conducted on a team basis, utilizing all the skills available at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. The Director of the Laboratory will serve as Principal Investigator, but will utilize the training and knowlege of the laboratory staff in supervising the research program.

}, keywords = {bristlecone pine, dendrochronology, dendroclimatic indices, dendroclimatology, extention, NSF grant, pinus aristata, tree ring chronology}, author = {McGinnies, W.G.} }