Warming hiatus-and evergreen conifers in Altay-Sayan Region,Siberia

"Warming hiatus" occurred in the AltaySayan Mountain Region, Siberia in c. 1997–2014. We analyzed evergreen conifer(EGC) stands area(satellite data) and trees(Siberian pine, Pinus sibirica Du Tour, Siberian fir, Abies sibirica Ledeb.) growth increment(dendrochronology data) response to climate variables before and during the hiatus. During the hiatus, EGC area increased in the highlands(>1000 m)(+30%), whereas at low and middle elevations(<1000 m. a.s.l.) the EGC area decreased(-7%). The EGC area increase was observed on the rain-ward northwest slopes mainly. In highlands, EGC area increase mainly correlated with summer air temperature, whereas at low and middle elevations EGC area decrease correlated with drought index SPEI and vapor pressure deficit(VPD). EGC mortality(fir and Siberian pine) in lowland was caused by the synergy of water stress(inciting factor) and barkbeetle attacks(contributing factor). Tree growth increment(GI) dynamics differs with respect to elevation. At high elevation(1700 m) GI permanently increased since warming onset, whereas at the middle(900 m) and low elevations(450 m) GI increased until c. 1983 yr. with followed depression. That GI "breakpoint" occurred about a decade before hiatus onset. In spite of growth depression, during hiatus GI was higher than that in pre-warming period. At high elevation, GI positively responded to elevated June temperatures and negatively to moisture increase(precipitation, root zone moisture content, VPD, and SPEI). At low elevation GI negatively responded to June temperatures and positively to moisture increase. For both, low and high elevation, these patterns persisted throughout the study period(1967–2014). On the contrary, at middle elevations GI dependence on climate variables switch after breakpoint year(1983). Before breakpoint, June air temperature(positive correlation) and moisture(negative correlations) controlled GI. Further temperature increase leads GI depression and switched correlation signs to opposite(from positive to negative with temperature, and from negative to positive with moisture variables).

Tree wave migration across an elevation gradient in the Altai Mountains,Siberia

The phenomenon of tree waves(hedges and ribbons) formation within the alpine ecotone in Altai Mountains and its response to observed air temperature increase was considered. At the upper limit of tree growth Siberian pine(Pinus sibirica) forms hedges on windward slopes and ribbons on the leeward ones. Hedges were formed by prevailing winds and oriented along winds direction. Ribbons were formed by snow blowing and accumulating on the leeward slope and perpendicular to the prevailing winds, as well as to the elevation gradient. Hedges were always linked with microtopography features, whereas ribbons were not. Trees are migrating upward by waves and new ribbons and hedges are forming at or near tree line, whereas at lower elevations ribbons and hedges are being transformed into closed forests. Time series of high-resolution satellite scenes(from 1968 to 2010) indicated an upslope shift in the position ribbons averaged 155±26 m(or 3.7 m yr^(-1)) and crown closure increased(about 35%–90%). The hedges advance was limited by poor regeneration establishment and was negligible. Regeneration within the ribbon zone was approximately 2.5 times(5060 vs 2120 ha^(-1)) higherthen within the hedges zone. During the last four decades, Siberian pine in both hedges and ribbons strongly increased its growth increment, and recent tree growth rate for 50 year-old trees was about twice higher than those recorded for similarly-aged trees at the beginning of the 20^(th) century. Hedges and ribbons are phenomena that are widespread within the southern and northern Siberian Mountains.