Teak chronology network in Northwest Thailand |
Paper ID : 1023-ADA2013 |
Authors: |
NATHSUDA PUMIJUMNONG * 999 Phutthamonthon Rd4, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand |
Abstract: |
Countries in the tropical and subtropical belt are often characterized by a high density of population whose main source of income is agriculture. Such countries rely heavily on water availability and rainfall and are therefore particularly affected by climate change phenomena, possibly leading to agricultural crises and increased vulnerability of the society. Efficient plans to mitigate such effects and to persistently ensure water supply require a deep understanding of climate patterns. Therefore, climate data are urgently needed not only for the present time but also for the past. Teak is well known as a few species in subtropical zone that has high potential for dendrochronology. Its chronology reflects obviously the amount of rainfall during the transition zone between the end of summer to the beginning of rainy season (April to June), nevertheless it response well to palmer drought severity index (PDSI). Unfortunately, due to its highly appreciated timber quality, teak has been logged for commercial purposes for a long time. Therefore, the majority of living teak trees are currently rather young. Nevertheless, we were able to find old-age living teak trees to perform new chronologies. We targeted specific ten study sites from strategic locations in northwest of Mae Hong Son province where we hope to located samples that would eventually yield exceptionally long tree-ring chronologies. We sampled more than one hundred living teak trees at several promising locations, includes Doi Khew which has the highest elevation that teak growth (1200 m asl). In addition, we used previous collected stump and dead teak to develop new chronologies. Various standard dendrochronological techniques was applied to receive new individual teak chronology, after prove they are synchronization then combine them as a regional chronology and finally extended teak chronology by using the previous teak indices with new one. At least four century yearlong of teak chronology we will target from our research and it will explain more past rainfall and temperature in northwest Thailand. This new finding will provide better understand the relationship between past climate and human activities in this region. |
Keywords: |
teak, rainfall reconstruction, northwest Thailand, drought |
Status : Abstract Accepted |