The Influence of the Ob River Runoff on Radial Increment of Trees
The influence of the Ob River runoff (the northern part of Western Siberia) on the radial growth of the main forest-forming tree species (Siberian spruce - Picea obovata Ledeb.), Siberian stone pine - Pinus sibirica Du Tour.), and larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) was studied at the riverside and at distances of 3-80 km from the Ob floodplain. Traditional dendrochronological methods of collection, preparation, and data processing were used. The differences in responses of the radial increment to air temperature in October and repeated disturbance of tree annual rings by frost were found in Siberian spruce and Siberian stone pine. These differences were related to the distance of the test sites from the Ob River banks. The relations between the radial tree growth and formation of annual rings disturbed by frost aganist the river streamflow are discussed.