Global Weirding: Frost Damage Casts Long Shadow
by Tim McGee, Helena, MT, USA on 03. 3.08
In early April of 2007, Nebraska, Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas experienced unusual weather. Two weeks of warmth was followed by a sudden freeze. The cold snap killed the new leaves, flowers, and shoots that had just emerged.
According to an article published in this month's issue of BioScience, the damage from out of season frost and warm weather not only results in the dieback of new growth, but could also alter the carbon balance of the region. The damaged tissue can't be reabsorbed, and the lack of growth results in an altered nutrient cycle for the region. The authors also suggest that the rising carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere itself can actually reduce the ability of some plants to withstand frost damage in the first place.
The authors suggest this type of event should not be viewed as an isolated incident, but a realistic aspect of climate change for the near future.
:: EurekaAlert
This is a serious concern here in the northwest as well. We've had freakishly warm weather in the Portland, OR area for the past two weeks, and flowers and trees are starting to bud. Frost or a snowfall (both equally likely) would strip the flowers and damage new growths. Not a happy prospect for the Wilamette Valley.
Happens all the time here in the UK. You need tougher plants!
Candy, your comment floored me, I'm sorry to say. This doesn't have to do with "tougher" plants. This has to do with weather patterns that are typically never seen in this area. If warm weather at this time of year was normal, I'm sure the plants here would have adjusted to it by now.
My point is that this is NOT normal weather, and the plants have had no chance to adapt.