Is Fall Foliage changing (Dover, Londonderry: how much, school, living)

[Suzet2262]

In New England, fading fall colors blamed on climate change - Boston.com


I just came across this article. Did anyone notice a change in the foliage this season? I hope it isnt changing. When I finally get up there, I want to be able to see the foliage in all its beauty that I have seen in pics for years. Also, I hope I posted this link right, I have never put up a link on this site before...lol. If the link didnt come over, I saw the story on my yahoo website.

[Valerie C]

You know, a couple of weeks ago, it looked like the show this year was going to be dismal. Some years it's muted yellows, golds and browns... depending on how much rain, if there were caterpillars, lots of things... this is nature after all. However, here in Southern NH (Londonderry area) the color is SPECTACULAR. I was on 93 today, and I was just in awe of how beautiful the color is. And it's not 'quite' peak here yet.... I'll go off and read that link (thanks for sharing) I'm hoping to get some time tomorrow to take some pictures. As beautiful as it is, just a few weeks before it's gone.....



OK, just went and read the article. Bah... And we've all heard from our parents about walking to school throughout the winter, snow up to their hips, uphill both ways. Time has a way of making people forget. Heck people forget how to drive in the snow after 9 months without any... Yes, some years the color is nothing spectacular. Other years it is. Some years we get lots of snow. Other years we don't. Some years Florida and Texas get lots of hurricanes. Other years they don't...

[Suzet2262]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

You know, a couple of weeks ago, it looked like the show this year was going to be dismal. Some years it's muted yellows, golds and browns... depending on how much rain, if there were caterpillars, lots of things... this is nature after all. However, here in Southern NH (Londonderry area) the color is SPECTACULAR. I was on 93 today, and I was just in awe of how beautiful the color is. And it's not 'quite' peak here yet.... I'll go off and read that link (thanks for sharing) I'm hoping to get some time tomorrow to take some pictures. As beautiful as it is, just a few weeks before it's gone.....



OK, just went and read the article. Bah... And we've all heard from our parents about walking to school throughout the winter, snow up to their hips, uphill both ways. Time has a way of making people forget. Heck people forget how to drive in the snow after 9 months without any... Yes, some years the color is nothing spectacular. Other years it is. Some years we get lots of snow. Other years we don't. Some years Florida and Texas get lots of hurricanes. Other years they don't...

The way they make it sound, it seems like foliage is in trouble. I think there are people who are out there to like to put fear in to others. I am sure there is truth to global warming, my family all recycle and dont leave lights on when we arent in a room, we walk to alot of places rather than drive, we are guilty of using the air conditioning alot though, the older I get the less I am able to handle all the heat out here. And it has been very bad the last few years. This week we are supposed to bounce back up into the 100's We try to do our part, but then there is the fact that we live on a live planet. It goes through changes all the time. Same with weather patterns, just like you said. The last 2 years were supposed to be the worst hurricane seasons ever, thank god that didnt happen. Some of the scientist, I read were confused as to why the hurricanes didnt come as projected. Also with the droughts going on, werent there the same sort of droughts I think back in the 30's? I could be wrong on the time frame. I think it all comes in cycles. Global warming might have something to do with the severity of the cycle though.

I hope you put up some pics too. I can never get enough of the foliage. The colors just fascinate me. The red in the leaves is amazing. I am happy that you are able to enjoy such a wonderful site. I cant wait till I am driving right there along with you all, looking at the leaves.

[skytrekker]

I saw that Boston Globe article as well- if the autumn colors are less brilliant then in the past, here is an interesting view from a long time New Englander like myself; Two years ago the colors did not peak here in inland eastern Connecticut until November 5th- the average date here is October 19th. Two years ago above average temperatures where the cause.

This year the trees are a week from peak-lots of green still. Many sugar maples not changed, and many that have changed, changing quick, and shed their leaves. They are duller. The oaks are still green, and by this time they should begin to change, offering their somewhat duller color then Maples. 2 out of 3 years we are 10-14 days late. In my 45 plus years living here- I have never seen this happen. Also we have never had this amount of warm weather so late into the season on a consistent basis. Climate change?
Probably. The climatologists have predicted tis type of scenario for New England in the near, and mid future. Duller autumns like this will become the norm in the coming years.

From the Union of Concerned Scientists regarding Forests in Connecticut.
IMPACTS ON FORESTS
Forests cover 60 percent of Connecticut’s landscape, providing recreation and tourism opportunities, wildlife
habitat, and timber, while protecting watersheds, conserving soil, and storing carbon. Climate change has the potential to dramatically alter the character of the state’s forests. For example, the state’s maple/beech/birth forests dazzle us with their colorful foliage each autumn, but if higher emissions prevail, climate conditions suitable for these forests are projected to disappear by late-century. Under the lower emissions scenario, climate conditions suitable for these hardwoods would be retained in parts of northern Connecticut. Long-lived trees may persist for some time even as the climate becomes unsuitable for them; however, they may also become more vulnerable to the stresses of competition, pests, and disease. As certain forest types decline, so will the populations of wildlife dependent on them, including migratory songbirds like the Baltimore oriole. Source: http://www.climatechoices.org/assets...icut_necia.pdf

For New Hampshire http://www.climatechoices.org/assets...hire_necia.pdf

[rmcewan]

People should not connect climate change to a few unseasonably warm years. I believe climate change IS happening, and humans ARE contributing to that. However, people have tendency to connect the wrong statistical dots. Many, many people jumped on the bandwagon after the 2005 hurricane season - most hurricanes in a single season ever, including Katrina, Wilma, etc. What happens in 06 and 07? A couple of years of the FEWEST ever.

So of course, if you get a couple of years of warm autumns and dull/short colors, bingo - attribute it to climate change. But, maybe next year we'll go below 60 in September and stay there till winter. Then what say you? This is 10% climate change and 90% WEATHER!

PS: Colors from Dover down to the coast are popping right now. Lots of green still, but whole woods of gold and red. We've had two storms in a week in Rye, but the leaves are hanging in there.

[skytrekker]

I think it is correct not to extrapolate a few warm years as climate change;however the warmth in New England is certainly unprecedented; and it in all likelihood has a better then even chance as being connected to warming.

The warming in New England and elsewhere, the drought are ALL precursors of climate change according to climate scientists. I for myself have seen autumns becoming warmer here now for awhile- it might be fair to say also that increased C02 is causing the changes that have been predicted, other then natural variation.

[vter]

The colors here in my neck of the woods (Champlain Valley) are spectacular right now. MUCH BETTER than the past 3 or 4 years. It just happened a little "later" than normal.

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by rmcewan

This is 10% climate change and 90% WEATHER!

Me and my big mouth. Today was 78 on the beach. October 22 and I was in shorts, t-shirt and walking in the surf on a crystal clear fall day.

[flu189]

Here in Vermont the foliage progession and weather has been fantastic. Once the leaves are gone we can await stories on too much snow, too little snow, and then we'll no doubt fret over the sap run in March.

[Suzet2262]

Originally Posted by rmcewan

Me and my big mouth. Today was 78 on the beach. October 22 and I was in shorts, t-shirt and walking in the surf on a crystal clear fall day.

Yeah Rob, go ahead and rub it in. You moved out of here just in time. The fires are outrageous!! Last night we couldnt breathe very well, my youngest daughter has asthma, and was feeling really bad. The last time we had winds out here like this was back in the late 70's. There is one tree after another, and another that has been blown down, and they are huge trees. The weather out here is freaky. Is this caused by global warming?? There are people that say yes it is. I dont know. But I will tell ya, I would trade places with you in a heartbeat!!! Here are a few pics of the sky, I like the one of the sun.