Tree‐ring densitometric studies conducted in semi‐arid regions are exceedingly rare. In this study, we evaluate a new maximum latewood density chronology from a collection of Picea purpurea trees growing in semi‐arid northwestern China for climatic reconstruction purposes. We find statistically significant correlations between annual maximum density variations and July–September maximum temperatures over the 1957–2014 calibrat...

A tree‐ring width chronology of Picea purpurea Mast from Mt. Shouyang in the source region of Weihe River (SWR), northwest China, was developed in this study. Correlation analysis showed that the precipitation from previous August to current July was the limiting climate factor of tree growth. Using a reliable and stable linear regression model, which explained 42.6% of the variance of the actual precipitation during the calib...