Abstract

VILLANUEVA DIAZ, José et al. Douglas-fir's historical hydroclimatic variability in northern Mexico inferred with growth rings. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.spe2, pp.221-334. ISSN 2007-0934.

The understanding of hydroclimatic variability in Mexico for periods longer than the length of weather records is limited by its length and quality; an alternative is the use of "proxy" sources such as tree rings. The aim of this paper was to determine with dendrochronological techniques, the historical hydroclimatic variability in northern Mexico for 500 years and, to analyze the impact of the atmospheric circulation patterns such as El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Regional chronologies of Douglas-fir's rings were generated for Durango, Chihuahua and the Mexico's northeast region. The regional chronology of Chihuahua exceeded the 500-year extension and was significantly influenced by the ENSO warm phase, during the winter-spring season in periods of 4 to 16 years, while the PDO influenced on frequency of 4 to 8 years during the summer (June-August). The combination of these patterns with Durango's regional chronology was also significant, although, on a lesser scale. For the Mexico's northeast, the association with these circulation patterns was even lower so, probably other atmospheric phenomena may have had more influence. However, intense ENSO events affected the north of the country, manifesting severe droughts or extreme damp periods, specific cases are droughts of the decades of 1440, 1520, 1630, 1700, 1790, 1800, 1820, 1870, 1890 and 1970. A more complete dendrochronological network would help to improve the understanding of hydroclimatic variability in this region, which is predicted to become drier in the coming years due to global warming.

Keywords : dendrochronology; ENSO; paleoclimate; PDO; droughts.

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