6533b82afe1ef96bd128b410

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Annually resolved δ2H tree-ring chronology of the lignin methoxyl groups from Germany reflects averaged Western European surface air temperature changes

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description

Stable hydrogen isotopes ratios of lignin methoxyl groups (expressed as δ2HLM) of wood have been shown to reflect the climate-sensitive δ2H values of precipitation (expressed as δ2Hprecip) modulated by a large uniform negative isotope fractionation. However, a detailed calibration study among temporal variabilities of δ2HLM in tree-ring series, site-specific δ2Hprecip and climate parameters has not been performed yet. Here, we present annually resolved δ2HLM values from nine tree-ring series (derived from four Fagus sylvatica L. trees) collected near stations of the Global Isotope Network of Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) and the Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) meteorological observatory at Hohenpeißenberg (southern Germany; ~ 48° N, 11° E). The measured nine δ2HLM tree-ring series (common period of overlap 1916-2015) show a strong coherency as indicated by highly significant (p 2HLM chronology shows highest correlations with annually averaged data of δ2Hprecip as well as temperature particularly when using the year defined from previous September to current August (r = 0.73 and 0.56, respectively, p 2HLM chronology shows enhanced correlations with land and sea surface air temperature for multiple (broadly combined) areas across Western Europe (r > 0.6, p 2HLM chronology (r = 0.71, p n = 100). Therefore, δ2HLM values of mid-latitudinal tree-ring archives are considered suitable for large-scale mean annual temperature reconstructions and are therefore able to improve the paleoclimatic potential of Late Holocene tree-ring archives.