Regular research paper

The rate of changes in the radial growth of pine trees along the latitudinal transect between 50–70^oN

Henn Pärn

Estonian Agricultural University, Forest Research Institute, 18b Viljandi St., Tallinn, 11216 Estonia, e-mail: hennp@rmk.ee

Abstract: 

             The rate of change of pine radial growth was evaluated for 9 sites of forest located on the latitudinal transect. The average widths of tree rings of Scots pine trees at the ages 20 to 60 years were selected from long-term (70–170 years) measurements collected on the transect sites. The tendency to increasing radial growth noted southward, was associated with increasing growing season temperature and decreasing latitude. The rate of change of radial growth expressed in % per 1^oC of average annual temperature and –1 ^oN of latitude equals 2.40% (per 1^oC) and 1.22% (per –1^o latitude).

Key words: Tree ring rate of change, boreal-temperate transect