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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsClimate Change Could Delay Fall Foliage Colors
Its that time again: time to take a hike and enjoy the splendid fall foliage. Or, if you live in a tourist town like I do, time to see leaf peepers driving their cars aimlessly throughout the countryside searching for a stand of incredibly red maples or golden oaks. If climate change continues on its present course, however, you might want to mark future calendars a bit later than usual for the best day to take that walk or ride.
Trees use a combination of cues to determine when to drop their leaves, but the two primary signals are the length of daylight, and temperature. Sunlight is the major factor; as trees sense fewer hours of light, they curtail photosynthesis in their leaves. Green chlorophyll fades, and colors emerge. Climate change has no effect on day length, but it does on temperature. If autumn days are warm, trees tend to delay the color change, and if autumn days are cool, they tend to hasten the pace. If global temperatures generally rise, you may need to take that walk a few days later. Indeed, Massachusetts officials have determined that the average peak color change has shifted about three days later over recent decades.
Climate change could also alter precipitation, which can affect colors as well. The amount of rainfall does not seem to be a factor, but more cloudy days lowers the level of daylight, which tends to lessen the intensity of a leafs color.
Video at the link: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/10/02/climate-change-could-delay-fall-foliage-colors-video/
porphyrian
(18,530 posts)JRLeft
(7,010 posts)porphyrian
(18,530 posts)...and we had some unseasonably cold days prior to the beginning of Fall, according to the local weather. I'm not denying global warming, I just noted that the leaves started yellowing almost exactly on the first day of Fall. I'm from Florida, so the concept of actually having four seasons is new to me.
Saturday
(3,744 posts)last weekend and I'd say the leaves were pretty close to "peak". Really beautiful.
porphyrian
(18,530 posts)...but it is really pretty.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)The drought has basically killed the colors. A lot of trees dropped their leaves early in order to preserve themselves. The leaves that are left aren't going to be very vibrant at all, mostly brown interspersed with a few reds and yellows.
JRLeft
(7,010 posts)HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)It makes me wonder if the experts predicting the colors have a hue clue.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)You have more vibrant colors during years where rainfall is normal or above normal. You have dull colors in dry years. That's just my observation, take it for what it's worth.
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)a state arborist says that's due to accumulated degree-days which the tree uses to measure it's way to the end of the growing season.
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)and as beautiful as ever. There is no problem here.
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)but with all the rain it's been hard to get out and enjoy it.