February–June temperature variability in western Himalaya, India, since AD 1455

Abstract

Februarye-June (FJ) mean temperature records (AD 1455e2002) were developed using ring-width chronologies of Cedrus deodara from three sites in Tons valley, western Himalaya, India. The reconstructed series captured 30-year coolest (AD 1911e1940) and warmest (AD 1941e1970) periods in the 20th century in the last 548 years. The 20th century warming trend is not evident in our reconstructed temperature data, which is also consistent with the instrumental records. The reconstruction showed strong association with corresponding season's rainfall in the northern mountainous region, north-west India and FebruaryeMay rainfall in north central India. The reconstructed temperature data also revealed inverse relationship with precipitation record developed from adjacent sites in Kumaon region, western Himalaya. Such a strong association with precipitation underscores the utility of data in understanding climate change behavior over this region of the western Himalaya, India.