The cherry blossom as an indicator of climate change

A cherry blossom is a flower of numerous trees of genus Prunus. They are also known as sakura. They usually refer to decorative, not edible cherry trees.

Wild species of the cherry tree are generally spread in the northern hemisphere. In Japan, cherries are grown for ornamental purposes, and it is recognized the national flower of Japan.

Every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the public track the cherry blossom front as it runs northward up the Japanese archipelago with the arrival of warmth via regular forecasts accompanying the weather part of a newscast TV.

The blossoming starts in Okinawa in January and commonly reaches Tokyo and Kyoto at the end of March or April. It continues into northern territories, arriving in Hokkaido several weeks later. Japanese careful attention to these forecasts and turn out in large numbers at parks and top cherry blossom places for and picnicking under the trees and taking photos. The pastime of cherry blossom seeing even gets its word in Japanese - "hanami."

Reddit user JoshOlDorr made in python using phenology data a chart that shows the beginning of cherry blossoms in Tokyo over a time interval of more than 1,000 years.

On the chart below, the brown line is a 100-year rolling mean. The dotted line indicates the lowest centennial mean value before 1850, which dipped down in the mid-1900s.

According to Osaka University's phenology data, the 2021 blossom season in Tokyo and Kyoto climaxed 26 March.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Comments

Map of Fox Species Distribution

Foxes are small to medium-sized members of the Canidae family, which also includes wolves, dogs, and other related animals. There are about 37 species of foxes distributed around the world, and they inhabit a wide range of environments, from forests and grasslands to deserts and urban areas. Below is the map of fox species distribution created by Reddit user isaacSW Here are some of the most well-known fox species and their distribution: Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes ): The red fox is one of the most widely distributed fox species and is found in North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. They are adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and urban areas. Arctic Fox ( Vulpes lagopus ): The Arctic fox is found in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They have adaptations that help them survive in cold climates, such as a thick coat that changes color with the seasons. Gray Fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus ): The gray ...

How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?

Plastic: the unwelcome house guest at nearly every corner of our lives — from shopping bags to footwear, coffee cups to car parts. And yet, discarded, plastic doesn't just evaporate into thin air. No, it lingers. For decades. Even centuries. According to statistics presented by Visual Capitalist , plastic daily consumer goods can break down between 20 and 600 years, depending on the composition used, how they were created, and natural elements like water and sunlight they are exposed to. Let's go deeper into why plastic takes so long to break down — and what horrid messes it leaves behind in the process. Why Plastic Isn't "Natural" — and Why That's a Problem Plastic does not naturally exist. It's a product made from petroleum and natural gas. Its long, tough carbon bonds differ from anything naturally found in ecosystems, making it extremely resistant to microbial breakdown. When we toss a plastic bottle or bag away, it's not a matter of if it will s...

Fallingwater: Where Architecture Meets the Wild

Located in southwestern Pennsylvania's woods, Fallingwater is not a house, but a powerful conversation between nature and architecture. Completed in 1935 by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Kaufmanns, it's one of the only buildings that truly does seem alive—as if it grew directly out of the rock. What is so revolutionary about Fallingwater isn't its appearance—it's Wright's philosophy of organic architecture: the idea that houses are there to harmonize with nature, not dominate it. The house was actually constructed into the land, resting directly above a waterfall on Bear Run. Instead of looking out over the waterfall, Wright built the waterfall into the house, and the sound of running water is therefore a constant companion. Crafted From the Land, For the Land The materials used to build Fallingwater tell their own story. The stone was quarried on-site. Local craftsmen helped shape every contour. The horizontal lines of the cantilevered terraces echo the layered rock...

Ecoclimax

Search This Blog