Tree-ring reconstruction of March-June precipitation from the Atlas cedar forest of Mount Takoucht, Béjaïa (northern Algeria)

Aim of study: A March-June precipitation has been reconstructed for the period 1830-2015 using Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) tree-ring records.
 Area forest Mount Takoucht (Béjaïa, northern Algeria).
 Material and methods: Seasonal correlations were computed in order to identify best year climate reconstruction. The temporal stability signal was checked split-sample calibration-verification procedure. reconstruction performed transfer function method.
 Main results: data revealed high interannual decadal variation late winter early summer precipitation. Wet conditions dominated during 1830s 1840s followed by sustained dry mid-19th century, which registered two most severe droughts (1858 1869) over Relatively moderate marked 19th 20th centuries. gradual return towards drier observed from 1920s reached frequencies drought around mid-20th century. After an exceptional prolonged wet 24 years (1966-1989), its highest frequency extreme dry/wet events: decade 1993-2002 recorded reconstruction, with third event (1999), while last a clear shift toward conditions.
 Research highlights: These findings provide relevant records on past variability one rainiest areas Algeria constitute valuable knowledge specific periods monitoring region.
 Keywords: Dendrochronology; reconstruction; Cedrus atlantica; Algeria.