Snow cover as a factor of radial growth of woody plants in different habitats of Altai

Abstract

The dependence of the of annual ring width of woody plants in the Altai Mountains on such parameters of snow cover as maximum thickness, water reserve, dates of disappearance, and establishment and duration of occurrence of stable snow cover, is analyzed. The data of the state hydrometeorological stations (HMS) and the authors’ own dendrochronological materials were used for the analysis. The features of the response of the radial growth to the snow cover parameters for various trees, fir (Abies sibirica L.), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica L.), Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour), and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), depending on the geographical location, were established.

Keywords

• altai
• snow cover
• tree rings
• woody plants