Climate Change as a Factor Reducing the Growth of Trees in the Pure Norway Spruce Stand (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) in the National Park "Kopaonik"
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Abstract
The paper analyzes the effect of two climate variables (precipitation and temperature) on the growth and vitality of trees in the pure Norway spruce stand in theNational Park "Kopaonik". The samples were taken during 2016 year. By using modern dendrochronological methods we found the declining growth trends in the period from 1980 to 2015, while the climate elements created a growing trend in the same period. Significant Pearson correlation between climatic elements and growth established for some months. Bearing in mind that the growth in this period from 1980 to 2015 year decreases, and the temperature and precipitation increases, it can be said that the adverse temperature effect is not fully expressed because there was enough percipitation. Further research evaluation should include more climatic elements and identify potential cause drying of Norway spruce in this National park.
Keywords: dendrochronology, dieback, temperature, precipitation, Norway spruce