A KASHIWA OAK (QUERCUS-DENTATA) TREE-RING WIDTH CHRONOLOGY FROM NORTHERN COASTAL HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

Few pareoclimatic records exist for Hokkaido, the northernmost, coldes t, and least environmentally disturbed of Japan's main islands. Here, we present a chronology for kashiwa oak (Quercus dentata Thunb.) at La ke Saroma on the north central coast of Hokkaido. This record (1710-19 93) was compared with meteorological data from Abashiri, the longest e xisting station (1899-1989) near the site. Growth correlates positivel y with current June-July temperatures, but negatively with prior-year August temperatures. Growth also correlates positively with prior Nove mber, December, and March temperatures and with prior February precipi tation. Results suggest that these oaks grow best during warm, early s ummers or after warm, snowy winters. The lowest growth year is 1784, f ollowing the ''year without a summer'' elsewhere in Japan. This record contributes to a growing tree-ring network for the North Pacific rim, including sites in Japan, Kamchatka, Korea, Alaska, and Canada. It al so adds a new species to those considered useful for dendroclimatology .