History of forest damage in Monchegorsk, Kola; a retrospective analysis based on tree rings

Abstract

Emissions from a nonferrous smelter have damaged forest ecosystems in the vicinity of the city of Monchegorsk located in northwestern Russia. We analyzed the timing and rate of growth reductions of Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) as well as the timing of the eventual cessation of radial growth using the methods of tree-ring analysis. The study material consisted of 304 dead and living Scots pines, sampled between 2 and 130 km south and southwest of the smelter. Near the smelter, growth declined abruptly and ceased within 12 years after the smelter started operation in 1939. The area where the studied mature Scots pines no longer form annual rings has expanded at a rate of approximately 0.5 km per year since 1951.