Precipitation variability (1660-2018) for the western part of Chihuahua induced with tree rings
Authors:   Universitat  Politècnica  de  Catalunya  (UPC  -  Barcelona  Tech),  Instituto  en  Ciencia  y  Tecnología  de  la  Sostenibilidad (IS.UPC). Carrer Jordi Girona 29. C. P. 08034. Barcelona, España, Miranda-Briones Ricardo , Cerano-Paredes Julián ,   Instituto  Nacional  de  Investigaciones  Forestales,  Agrícolas  y  Pecuarias  (INIFAP),  Centro  Nacional  de  Investigación  Disciplinaria  en  Relación  Agua,  Suelo,  Planta,  Atmósfera  (CENID-RASPA).  km  6.5  Margen  Derecha del Canal Sacramento. C. P. 35140. Gómez Palacio, Durango, México, Esquivel-Arriaga Gerardo ,   Instituto  Nacional  de  Investigaciones  Forestales,  Agrícolas  y  Pecuarias  (INIFAP),  Centro  Nacional  de  Investigación  Disciplinaria  en  Relación  Agua,  Suelo,  Planta,  Atmósfera  (CENID-RASPA).  km  6.5  Margen  Derecha del Canal Sacramento. C. P. 35140. Gómez Palacio, Durango, México, Morató-Farreras Jordi ,   Universitat  Politècnica  de  Catalunya  (UPC-Barcelona  Tech),  Cátedra  UNESCO  de  Sostenibilidad.  Carrer  Colom 1, edificio TR1, planta 0 puerta 108. C. P. 08222. Terrassa, España, Cervantes-Martínez Rosalinda ,   Instituto  Nacional  de  Investigaciones  Forestales,  Agrícolas  y  Pecuarias  (INIFAP),  Centro  Nacional  de  Investigación  Disciplinaria  en  Relación  Agua,  Suelo,  Planta,  Atmósfera  (CENID-RASPA).  km  6.5  Margen  Derecha del Canal Sacramento. C. P. 35140. Gómez Palacio, Durango, México, Sánchez-Cohen Ignacio ,   Instituto  Nacional  de  Investigaciones  Forestales,  Agrícolas  y  Pecuarias  (INIFAP),  Centro  Nacional  de  Investigación  Disciplinaria  en  Relación  Agua,  Suelo,  Planta,  Atmósfera  (CENID-RASPA).  km  6.5  Margen  Derecha del Canal Sacramento. C. P. 35140. Gómez Palacio, Durango, México, Gómez-Nísino Alejandro ,   Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna (APFF) Campo Verde. Calle 8a s/n entre Allende y Ahumada, col. Centro. C. P. 31940. Madera, Chihuahua, México
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Tree rings play a significant role for the reconstruction of climate variables on century scales. Objective: To reconstruct the variability of precipitation for the western part of the state of Chihuahua, based on tree rings of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Pinus arizonica Engelm.and Pinus strobiformis Engelm. Materials and methods: Samples were extracted with a Pressler drill, dated and growth indexes were generated based on dendrochronological techniques. A correlation analysis was run between regional chronology and observed precipitation data. A regression model was used to reconstruct precipitation. A spectral analysis determined the recurrence of droughts and the influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on precipitation variability. Results and discussion: The relationship between the chronologies was statistically significant and a regional series of 359 years was developed. October-June precipitation had the highest impact on growth (r = 0.73, P < 0.01), so the variability of precipitation for that period was reconstructed for the last 359 years. Severe droughts were detected in the periods 1751-1768, 1807-1810 and 1945-1956 and a recurrence of droughts every 50 years was identified. The reconstructed precipitation variability is significantly modulated by ENSO at different time scales and frequencies. Conclusion: Paleoclimatic series help us to spread the knowledge of climate in specific geographic regions and to analyze the recurrence of extreme events (droughts).