Teak Tree-Ring Cellulose δ<sup>13</sup>C, δ<sup>18</sup>O, and Tree-Ring Width from Northwestern Thailand Capture Different Aspects of Asian Monsoon Variability
Nathsuda Pumijumnong,
Paramate Payomrat,
Supaporn Buajan,
Achim Bräuning,
Chotika Muangsong,
Uthai Chareonwong,
Piyarat Songtrirat,
Kritsadapan Palakit,
Yu Liu,
Qiang Li
Affiliations
Nathsuda Pumijumnong
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Paramate Payomrat
HRH Princess Chulabhorn Office of Technology and Innovation Development, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Supaporn Buajan
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Achim Bräuning
Institute of Geography, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Chotika Muangsong
Innovation for Social and Environmental Management, Amnatcharoen Campus, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Uthai Chareonwong
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Piyarat Songtrirat
Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Kritsadapan Palakit
Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Yu Liu
The State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710061, China
Qiang Li
Department of Earth and Environmental Science, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China
The inter-annual variability in tree-ring cellulose δ13C (δ13CTR, δ18OTR), and tree-ring chronology in teak (TRW) (Tectona grandis L.f.) trees from Northwestern Thailand during 1901–2009 AD was performed. The δ13CTR and δ18OTR have a positive correlation, significant at r =0.400, p 0.0001, and both of the stable isotopes were not significantly related to the TRW. The TRW is related to rainfall in the first half of the rainy season and has a strong relationship with the relative humidity. The δ18OTR captured moisture well throughout the rainy season, and the δ13CTR had a strong correlation with rainfall in the second half of the rainy season and had a high correlation with cloud fraction and vapor pressure. The δ13CTR and δ18OTR were associated with the stomata conductance response, but had no effect on photosynthesis. The three indices of the teak annual ring respond well to the variability in the Asian monsoon, and give us a better understanding of both the hydrological cycle and the factors that contribute to the growing of tropical broadleaf trees under changing climates.
