In order to investigate the effects of climate factors on the tree-ring width of Quercus acutissima in the rocky mountain area of northern China, correlation analysis and response function analysis were used to determine the relationship between the tree-ring width of Quercus acutissima and climate factors. The results showed that:
1. The residual (RES) chronology of the Quercus acutissima forest contained richer environmental information than standard (STD) chronology and was suitable for response analysis.
2. Tree-ring width had a general positive correlation with the average monthly temperature, a significantly positive correlation (P<0.05) with the April temperature, and a highly significantly positive correlation (P<0.01) with the May temperature of the current year. Tree-ring width had a positive correlation with precipitation from March to June in the current year, especially a significantly positive (P<0.05) correlation with May and June precipitation, and a negative correlation with precipitation from September of the previous year to February of the current year; however, the correlation coefficients with precipitation were basically lower than the coefficients with temperature basically
3. Temperature and humidity index were the main climate factors that influenced the tree-ring width of Quercus acutissima, followed by precipitation.