Reduced growth of Qinghai spruce due to snow cover loss in high 
Asian elevations since the late 20th century

doi:10.1007/s11676-025-01848-5

JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH ›› 2025, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (1): 1-.DOI: 10.1007/s11676-025-01848-5

• Original Paper •

Reduced growth of Qinghai spruce due to snow cover loss in high Asian elevations since the late 20th century

Jiachang Wei^1,2, Wenhui Tang^1,2, Feng Chen^1,2, Youping Chen¹, Mao Hu^1,2, Shijie Wang¹, Hechuan Wang¹, Xinfeng Wu¹, Heli Zhang^1,3

¹Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, People’s Republic of China

²Southwest United Graduate School, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, People’s Republic of China

³Key Laboratory of Tree-Ring Physical and Chemical Research, Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, People’s Republic of China

Received:2024-12-11 Accepted:2025-02-07 Online:2025-04-03 Published:2025-01-01
Supported by:
This study was supported by Excellent Research Group Program for Tibetan Plateau Earth System (continuation grant NSFC project No. 41988101), National Natural Science Foundation of China (32061123008), Yunnan Talent Support Plan (C619300A136), the Scientific Research and Innovation Project of Postgraduate Students in the Academic Degree of Yunnan University (KC-23235358) and Science and Technology Development Fund of the Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi (KJFZ202402).

Abstract

Abstract: Snowpack in the Northern Hemisphere is gradually disappearing due to rising global temperatures. Snowmelt water is a critical water resource for vegetation in the arid areas of the Northeast Tibetan Plateau. We used a random forest model to analyze the main factors influencing tree growth and using structural equation modelling to examine the pathways through which snowpack affected vegetation growth. The results show that soil moisture, controlled by snowmelt water, dominates the radial growth of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.). At the same time, snow melt on vegetation is affected by both elevation and land cover. Atmospheric circulation patterns regulated by North Atlantic sea surface temperatures determine spring snowpack variability in this area. In future scenarios based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) simulations, snowpack will continue to decrease, presenting significant constraints to the growth of vegetation.

Key words: Northeast Tibetan Plateau, Tree rings, Snowpack, Vegetation growth

Jiachang Wei, Wenhui Tang, Feng Chen, Youping Chen, Mao Hu, Shijie Wang, Hechuan Wang, Xinfeng Wu, Heli Zhang. Reduced growth of Qinghai spruce due to snow cover loss in high Asian elevations since the late 20th century[J]. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH, 2025, 36(1): 1-.

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Reduced growth of Qinghai spruce due to snow cover loss in high Asian elevations since the late 20th century

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