CLIMATE SIGNAL IN THE RING WIDTH, DENSITY AND CARBON STABLE ISOTOPES IN PINE (PINUS SILVESTRIS L.) IN CENTRAL CAUCASUS

Variability of width, maximum density and stable isotopes (δ13C) in tree-rings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were studied in Northern Caucasus. Statistically sufficient agreements between ring width chronologies allow to construct composite chronology for the Elbrus area. Absence or low correlation between indices of the ring width and maximum density chronology point out different climatic signal. The influence of temperature and precipitation on these tree-ring parameters was also analyzed. The ring width of pine at the upper tree limit in the Baksan valley correlates positively with the June and July precipitation (r=0.3; 0.3; 0.4, p<0.05). No correlation with temperature parameters was found. The maximum density reflects the warm period temperature (April-October). The similarity in interannual variations of δ13C in annual rings between the individual samples means that their display a coherent common signal. This signal can be largely interpreted as the June and July precipitation