Hydrological evaluations and effects of climate on the radial growth of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis lipsky) in Abdipasa, Bartin, Turkey

Abstract

Based on a 41-year-long (1978-7018) ring-width chronology (RWI), we have determined the main climate variables affecting the radial growth of Oriental beech trees (Fogus orientolls Lipsky) and the correlation coefficients between RWI and the streamflow drought index (SDI) of the Kocaurnak River in northwestern turkey. Higher average maximum temperatures (T-max) in June caused decreased radial growth (r = - 34, p < .05), whereas higher total precipitation (P-rep) in the same month caused increased radial growth (r = - .29. p < .05). Moreover. the mean and minimum temperatures (T-mean and T-max) in December of the previous year caused increased radial growth (r = .27 and 32, respectively, p < .05). Compared to Period 1 (1978-1996), there was a significant relationship between RWI and climate variables (P-rep and T-max in June and T-mean and T-min in December) for Period 7 (1997-7015). Moreover, significant correlations were obtained for February (r = .41, p < .05), June (r = .51, p < .01), and August (r = .44, p < .05) between RWI and SDI, (1-month SDI). which indicates that radial growth was reduced in the years with negative SDI1 values in February, June, and August. Similarly, significant correlations between RWI and SDI3 (3-month SDI) for July-September (r = .51, p < .05) and June- August (r = .57, p < .01) indicated the reduced radial growth in the years with negative SDI3 values.