Tree growth–climate relationships of conifer trees and reconstruction of summer season Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) at Pahalgam in Srinagar, India

Tree-ring chronologies of fir (Abies pindrow) and spruce (Picea smithiana) show highly significant positive correlation with Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) as compared to rainfall over the region. This study indicates that soil moisture availability during summer season (April–September) plays a vital role in developing the annual ring-width pattern. Higher mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures during the summer season are not found to be conducive for the growth of the trees. The summer seasons’ PDSI of the region has been reconstructed from AD 1820–1981.