Relative humidity reconstruction for northwestern China's Altay Mountains using tree-ring δ^(18)O

Relative humidity is an important factor in water and water vapor feedback cycles.In this study,we established a 222-year annual tree-ring δ^(18)O chronology for Siberian larch(Larix sibirica Ldb.)from the Altay Mountains in northwestern China.Climate response analyses revealed that the relative humidity was the primary factor limiting tree-ring δ^(18)O fractionation.Based on our analysis,tree-ring δ^(18)O can be used to reconstruct the July–August relative humidity based on both a reasonable mechanism of tree-ring δ^(18)O fractionation and a statistically significant regression model.We used this model to reconstruct variations in the July–August relative humidity,and the model explained 47.4% of the total variation in the measured relative humidity data from 1961 to 2011.The relative humidity in the study area increased from 1900 to the 1990s and decreased thereafter.Two regime-shift dry periods were detected during the study period(one from 1817 to 1830 and the other from 2004 to 2011).

Increased mercury pollution revealed by tree rings from the China's Tianshan Mountains

Mercury (Hg)can be transported globally by the atmospheric circulation and it accumulates and biomagnifies along food chains [1,2].Due to its threats to human health and wildlife when converted to the neurotoxin methyl mercury,variations in Hg concentration in various ecosystems were paid more attention by scientists recently.Natural processes such as geothermal activities, volcanic activities,and weathering of Hg-containing rocks,can release a mass of Hg to the environment.Anthropogenic emissions had become the main atmospheric pollution source since the Industrial Revolution.A recent study indicated that half of the Hg presented in atmosphere was sourced from human activities and about 73%total mercury was released after 1850[3].Aiming to reduce the impact of Hg to environmental and human health,UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)passed the Minamata Convention in 2013to limit Hg emission through contro|ling technologies on air pollution.

Long-term mercury variations in tree rings of the permafrost forest,northeastern China

Permafrost is a potential mercury(Hg)pool released by thawing,which can raise the risk of Hg pollution under global warming.Tree rings are useful archives of environment-specific Hg exposure over long periods.We determined Hg concentrations in tree rings of two dominant tree species(Larix gmelinii Rupr.and Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)at permafrost sites in northeastern China.The biweighted mean Hg concentrations ranged from 0.36 to 3.96 ng g^(-1) from 1840 to 2014.The tree-ring width had no significant influence on the Hg concentration.Larch Hg increased slightly before the 1970 s and peaked in the 1990 s.However,the pine Hg concentration increased continuously until the 1930 s,decreased rapidly until the 1970 s,then rose to a peak in the late 1980 s.The change of Hg concentrations in larch and pine revealed a time offset of 4 to 5 years,which implied possibly high mobility of Hg in pine tree rings.Higher Hg concentrations from 1920 to 1960 and subsequent decreases in isolated permafrost forests revealed the local geographical Hg cycling history.Lower Hg concentrations and faster increases in larch suggest the role of additional winter Hg loading for the evergreen pine and species-specific differences in root absorption in response to melting permafrost.Our results highlight possible geographical impacts on tree-ring Hg records,improve understanding of Hg cycles in permafrost forest,and suggest a need to sample additional species in a range of permafrost environments.