Characterization of tree growth rings jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril L.) and cedro (Cedrela odorata L.), occurrents in the Flona - Tapajós, pa, Brazil

Abstract

The present research proposal aims to reconstruct variability and climate change during the last millennium (850 C.E. -1850 C.E.) with the use of speleothems and tree growth rings from the South American summer monsoon region. The last millennium is a key period for paleoclimatic reconstitution without the influence of human activity and therefore ideal for the study of external and internal forcing of natural climate changes that preceded the increase in the anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases. It also corresponds to a period of significant climatic anomalies such as the Little Ice Age and the Climatic Anomaly of the Medieval Period. Despite the advances of these paleoclimatic studies with speleothems, there is still a lack of spatial resolution of these records to discuss the changes in rainfall distribution associated with the monsoon regime in the last millennium. Likewise, it is essential to discuss the sensitivity of this climate regime to external forcing, given the rapid increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases. It is important to emphasize that the scientific experience between the groups of researchers at USP and State New York University is quite complementary. As part of the US-PIRE and USP project, there will also be collaboration with two strong research groups on tree growth rings in Argentina (IANIGLA Mendoza) and the United States (Columbia University). The main objective of this collaboration is the joint analysis of speleothems and growth rings records, in order to better explore the scientific potential of each type of data. This would be an innovative research strategy due to differences in spectral characteristics and therefore sensitivity to different climate forcers. Therefore the comparative analysis of these two records will produce a clearer climate reconstitution and greater climate coherence in South America.