Spatial Distribution and Climatic Sensitivity of Juniper Forests in the Cold-Arid Ladakh, North-western Himalaya, India

Krishna G. Misra; Ravi S. Maurya; Sadhana Vishwakarma; Sandhya Misra

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i2.175663

Authors

Krishna G. Misra Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
Ravi S. Maurya Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
Sadhana Vishwakarma Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India
Sandhya Misra Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i2.175663

Keywords:

Tree-rings, High-altitude, Precipitation, Climate change, Hydroclimate variability, Ladakh, India

Abstract

The cold arid Ladakh region in the north-western Himalaya represents one of the most extreme environments, where low precipitation, harsh temperatures, and a short growing season constrain vegetation growth. Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch is a main conifer species in this region, forming sparse woodlands and isolated stands between 3,200 and 4,400 m asl. Its longevity, slow growth, and sensitivity to environmental stress make it well-suited for dendroclimatic studies. In this study, we examined the distribution, ecological traits, and climatic growth response of J. polycarpos in Ladakh. Tree-ring samples were collected from climatically stressed sites in Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh, and standard dendrochronological techniques were applied to develop robust ring-width chronologies. Tree-growth-climate analysis indicates that radial growth is primarily influenced by moisture availability, showing positive correlations with May precipitation and negative responses to May temperature. High mean sensitivity and strong inter-series correlation demonstrate the suitability of J. polycarpos for high-resolution climatic studies. These findings emphasize its value as a dendroclimatic archive in the data-scarce cold deserts of the Himalaya and provide insights into forest responses to ongoing climate change.

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Author Biographies

Krishna G. Misra, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India

K.G. Misra is Scientist-E at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow and Honorary Associate Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). He specializes in Dendrochronology and Himalayan Ecoclimatology with expertise in tree-ring-based long climate reconstructions, glacier-climate interactions and extreme event analysis in the Himalaya. He obtained his Ph.D in Geology from the University of Lucknow in 2010. Dr. Misra has led and contributed to several nationally funded projects supported by DST-SERB and ANRF, New Delhi. He has published extensively in reputed journals, including Geophysical Research Letters, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Quaternary Science Reviews, Scientific Reports, Dendrochronologia, Frontiers in Earth Science, Trees, International Journal of Climatology and Palaeo3. He has supervised Ph.D, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers and is associated with several national and international scientific societies, including AGU, PSI and AOQR.
Ravi S. Maurya, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India

Ravi S. Maurya is a Research Associate in an ANRF-sponsored project at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences. He qualified for the CSIR-NET JRF in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and was awarded a DST-INSPIRE Fellowship in 2018. His research focuses on palaeoclimate reconstruction from the western Himalaya using tree-ring records. His interests include dendroclimatology, climate variability, glacier-climate interactions, and environmental change
Sadhana Vishwakarma, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India

Sadhana Vishwakarma completed her Ph.D in Botany from Banaras Hindu University in 2026. Her research focuses on dendroclimatology and palaeoclimate reconstruction using tree-ring proxies from the western Himalaya. She works on long-term hydroclimatic variability, soil-tree growth interactions, and dendrochronological analysis of past environmental change. The American Geophysical Union awarded her the Berkner Fellowship to attend the AGU-2023 Conference in San Francisco.
Sandhya Misra, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India

Sandhya Misra is a DST-Woman Scientist at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow. Her research focuses on pollen- and diatom-based palaeoclimate reconstruction from North-East India, the east coast, and the Himalayan region using lake sediments and other natural archives. She works on palaeoecology, palynology, monsoon variability, and Quaternary climate change. Her expertise includes microfossil analysis, sediment interpretation, and multi-proxy reconstruction of past climate and environmental changes.

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