Authors:

Neil Pederson, Gordon Jacoby, Rosanne D. D'Arrigo, Edward R. Cook, Brendan Buckley,
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Palisades, New York, USA

Chultamiin Dugarjav,
Institute of Biotechnology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 51, Mongolia

R. Mijiddorj,
Hydrometeorological Research Institute, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia

Reconstructions of annual (prior August-current July) precipitation and streamflow, 345 years in length (AD 1651-1995), are presented for northeastern Mongolia based on tree-ring width data. These precipitation and streamflow reconstructions account for 54% and 48% of the respective variance in instrumental data over the past 50 years. Variations in instrumental precipitation and streamflow are within the range of those reconstructed over the length of tree-ring record. However, there appear to be more frequent extended wet periods during the 20th century. Multitaper spectral analysis revealed statistically significant peaks at 10.8 and 12.8 years for the precipitation reconstruction, and at 12.8 and 20.3-23.8 years for the streamflow reconstruction. Similarly, singular spectrum analysis identified spectral modes of variation at 12 and 21 years for both series. These spectra resemble those found for tree-ring based precipitation reconstructions in central China as well as the western USA, and may reflect solar influences on the climate of Mongolia.

Pederson, N., G.C. Jacoby, R. D'Arrigo, B. Buckley, C. Dugarjav, and R. Mijiddorj. in press. Hydrometeorological Reconstructions for Northeastern Mongolia Derived from Tree Rings: AD 1651-1995. Journal of Climate.