Climate Change May Be Delaying New England's Fall Foliage Season
If it seems like your green, leafy trees still haven’t gotten the memo that summer is over, you’re not the only one.
It turns out that climate change is substantially altering the timetable for those famously colorful changing autumn leaves in New England, according to a study released this week by the University of Connecticut.
“Many other studies have shown that autumn could come later each year based on rising temperatures,” says Yingying Xie, a researcher on the study. “But this is the first study to show the interactions of a range of different climate variables on regional ecosystems.”
Northern New England is experiencing leaf changes later in the season while the southern coastal areas of the region are seeing changes earlier, the study found. Researchers believe the trend extends beyond New England, but they didn’t analyze the whole world. They note that different phenomena can affect other places: extreme weather (such as drought or frost), the geography, and the hardiness of the trees in question.
The study emphasized phenology, or the seasonal timing of life events in plants and animals, during the autumn season. While phenological studies are prevalent for the spring season, research of the fall has been minimal. The researchers analyzed satellite data, observing timing of leaf color change from 2001 to 2012.
“Oaks are more drought-tolerant, which may explain why southern New England shows less phonological sensitivity to drought variation than, say, regions dominated by maples or birches,” said John Silander, a researcher on the study. “Species composition makes a difference.”
Fall foliage is a huge contributor to tourism dollars, especially in places like New England, where the color change is particularly pronounced. Tourists spent nearly $3 billion in New England alone to catch a glimpse of the red, yellow, orange, and brown leaves in 2014, The Associated Press reported.
For leaf peepers planning vacations around seeing the vivid colors, there are resources for figuring out the best time to book plane tickets. The Foliage Network tracks fall foliage throughout the United States and explores peak seasons as well as timetables for leaf change. Reports from as early as 2008 are available to see just how much climate change has changed the calendar when it comes to falling leaves.
Related stories on TakePart:
• Thanks, Climate Change: Summer Rains Drown Out Pumpkin Crops
• Vacation Paradise Slapped With Suit for Trashing Homeless Camps
• How Your Sunscreen Could Be Killing Coral Reefs
Original article from TakePart
