Low-frequency divergence of tree-ring d18O variations on both sides of climatic boundary mountain of eastern China since 1980s

The Qinling Mountain is the most important mountain range in eastern China, and is the geographical boundary and the climatic boundary. We investigated tree-ring d18O variations in South and North Slope of the Qinling Mountain, and found that the variations of tree-ring  d18O were significantly correlated over the past two and a half centuries (r=0.641, n=247, p<0.001). And they are negatively correlated with relative humidity and precipitation, and positively correlated with temperature. Compared with the various hydroclimate-related time series in the surrounding area, it is found that both can represent the region's long-term hydroclimate change. The consistent changes in the interannual time scale may be due to the common modulation of ENSO. However, on the decadal time scale, there have been significant divergence between the two tree-ring  d18O series since 1981 and the divergence may be caused by changes in relative humidity at the sampling site, suggesting that in the context of global warming, although the warming range is the same, but the triggered relative humidity changes are not consistent. In addition, changes in PDO may be another cause of low-frequency difference.