Spatial minimum temperature reconstruction over the last three centuries for eastern Nepal Himalaya based on tree rings of Larix griffithiana

We reconstructed summer (June–September) minimum temperature for eastern Nepal over the past 288 years (1733–2020 CE), using a total tree-ring width chronology of Himalayan Larch ( Larix griffithiana (Lindl. and Gord.)) from Kanchanjunga Conservation Area (KCA). This study is the first minimum temperature reconstruction for the eastern Himalaya region of Nepal. We examined the response of the Larix ring-width chronology to different climate variables including precipitation, and minimum, maximum and mean temperatures. Of all climatic variables, minimum temperature has the strongest correlation with tree-ring chronology. This response revealed that the growth of the L. griffithiana is limited by temperature-induced physiological behaviors during summer season. The reconstruction shows fluctuating warm and cool periods during the entire period and captures warming during recent decades. This increasing warming trend appears to be unprecedented in the context of the past 288 years. We observed short (2.5 years) and multidecadal (35, 43, 71 and 100 years) cyclicity, which suggests possible atmospheric teleconnection with the broader circulation system of Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). This possible teleconnection is further revealed in spatial field correlation and also supported by temporal comparison of the reconstruction with instrumental- and proxy-based AMO records.