A 403-year record of July temperatures and treeline dynamics of Pinus sylvestris from the Kola Peninsula, northwest Russia

A 403-yr tree-ring chronology (A.D. 1595-1997) was developed from living an d dead Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) from near treeline on the Kola Peni nsula in northwestern Russia. Ring-width is significantly correlated with m ean July temperatures. A reconstruction of mean July temperatures generally parallels similar dendroclimatic reconstructions from northern Fennoscandi a. The Kola reconstruction indicates that the early- to mid-20th century ex perienced an exceptional period of warm summer temperatures. Dendrochronolo gical techniques were used to estimate the timing of establishment and mort ality of Pinus sylvestris at the site. Tree recruitment and mortality appea r inversely related and episodic, with pulses of recruitment occurring duri ng the late-17th, 18th, and mid- to late-20th centuries. The mid-20th centu ry pine recruitment episode lags several decades behind the initiation of 2 0th-century summer warming. Analysis of instrumental climate records and pi ne recruitment suggests a Link between warm fall and early spring condition s in the mid-20th century and increased pine regeneration. The results of t his study are similar to findings from northern Fennoscandia and extend thi s pattern of recent climatic variation and associated treeline response eas tward into the Kola Peninsula.