Spatial variation in climate-growth relationships of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) in northern Georgia (U.S.A.), as revealed by treerings

Growth response of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) to climate was studied on four matched pairs of north-facing and south-facing aspects in the North Georgia Mountains. Master chronologies were correlated with temperature and precipitation for a 19-month period encompassing the current and previous growing season. Radial growth is negatively correlated with current year summer temperatures and previous year winter temperatures. Growth is positively correlated with current year spring temperatures and current year summer precipitation. Four of the eight sites did exhibit slight changes in growth in the last 25 years that is not a result of the natural decline in growth with age. These results indicate that climate affects growth in subsequent years, soil moisture us partially limiting to growth on all sites, and that slope aspect does not influence tree growth. These findings also indicate the possibility that climate change may be affecting tree growth response.