An improved reconstruction of summer temperature at Srinagar, Kashmir since AD 1660, based on tree-ring width and maximum latewood density of Abies pindrow [Royle] Spach

Abstract

Regional chronologies based on conifer ring width and density variables were developed for the region surrounding the Vale of Kashmir. The effects of age/size trend on the raw data were removed by a more conservative technique than in previous work in this region, in the hope of retaining multidecadal climate variability. A reconstruction of split summer temperature (April through September, excluding July) at Srinagar captured 58% of the variance of the instrumental record (56% in validation). Decadal to multidecadal variability was distributed throughout the reconstructed period, but interannual variability was greater in the first century of the reconstruction than later. In particular, there was a higher concentration of the coolest summers before 1770 than after.