【】
Cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Japan reached peak bloom on March 26 this year — the earliest the event has occurred in 1,200 years of records. Why so soon? Climate change, constantly pushing our warming planet towards an inhospitable hellscape. But at least we'll get to look at pretty flowers while we die.
According to over 1,000 years of records previously compiled by Osaka Prefecture University professor Yasuyuki Aono, Kyoto's cherry blossoms had consistently flowered around April 10 to 17 for over a millennium. Unfortunately, this window has since moved forward. The Washington Postreports that Japan's most famous flowers have been trending toward blooming earlier each spring, with scientists attributing the phenomenon to increasing global temperatures.
And this year, the peak has shifted all the way into the previous month.
"The Kyoto Cherry Blossom record is incredibly valuable for climate change research because of its length and the strong sensitivity of flowering to springtime temperatures," Columbia University research scientist Benjamin Cook told the Post, noting that warmer temperatures typically mean cherry blossoms bloom earlier.
Prime Day deals you can shop right now
Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.iRobot Roomba Essential Vac Q011 Robot Vacuum Cleaner—$159.99(List Price $249.99)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet—$142.49(List Price $219.99)
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case—$168.99(List Price $249.00)
Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker With 6-Months Membership—$99.95(List Price $159.95)
Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band)—$279.99(List Price $399.00)
Cherry blossoms are so sensitive to temperature that trees in Tokyo even bloomed in autumn after typhoons prompted warmer weather in 2018. Meanwhile, Aono estimated that Kyoto has warmed by 6.1 degrees Fahrenheit (3.4 degrees Celsius) since 1820.
It's worth nothing that while this year's cherry blossom peak was Kyoto's earliest in 1,200 years, this isn't the case in other parts of Japan. Tokyo reached peak bloom on March 22, which is three days earlier than average and the earliest date since 1953.
However the global trend seems to be slowly pushing cherry blossoms into full bloom to earlier in the year regardless of where they're planted. In 2019, National Park Service scientist Patrick Gonzalez noted that the trend of earlier blooming seen among cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. was "consistent with human-caused climate change."
Cherry blossoms are considered in full or peak bloom when 80 percent of the flowers have bloomed, which usually occurs within a week of the first flowers opening.
Of course, as always, elements other than climate change may also be involved in the early blooming. Gonzalez offered the caveat that "no research has definitively examined all of the factors," and Cook acknowledged that increased urbanisation is a likely contributor as well.
Even so, there's no denying that our warming world is the most obvious and pressing culprit.
Related Video: Even the 'optimistic' climate change forecast is catastrophic
相关文章
Chinese gymnastics team horrifies crowd with human jump rope
Awesome. Also, ouch. 。The Chinese acrobatic team wowed and horrified the crowd at the Rio Olympic gym2024-09-20- 朗尼克 :我想在冬窗簽一名頂級前鋒 高層直接說不_曼聯_球員_歐冠www.ty42.com 日期:2022-05-07 10:01:00| 評論(已有343673條評論)2024-09-20
- 曝某英格蘭國腳和一變性女子發生關係 遭勒索3萬鎊_球員_調查_警方www.ty42.com 日期:2022-05-07 12:31:00| 評論(已有343684條評論)2024-09-20
- 維澤拉主帥帕切科基本確定留任 他一直非常喜歡郭田雨_吉列爾梅_比賽_波爾圖www.ty42.com 日期:2022-05-06 13:01:00| 評論(已有343613條評論)2024-09-20
MashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?
Summer is coming to a close and that means one thing -- last-minute vacations! 。SEE ALSO:'Ice Cream B2024-09-20- 羨慕 !越南U23國足3-0印尼 球迷場內場外狂歡(圖)_首輪比賽_胡誌明_運動會www.ty42.com 日期:2022-05-07 15:31:00| 評論(已有343700條評論)2024-09-20
最新评论