My stats for February weather at Bean Hill--and for most of the nation--are in. Despite the beautiful flowers that burst into bloom just south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and the welcome shedding of heavy coats, gloves and warm foot-gear (sandals were sighted!) north of it, there is no cause for celebration. February 2017 didn't just set new records for warmth, on some days it absolutely shattered them (See "February Monthly Record Highs Shattered in the East and Midwest" https://weather.com/forecast/national/news/warm-temperatures-spring-fever-mid-february-presidents-day.)
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| Winter 2016-2017's warmest and coldest temperatures* |
On February 24, the high at Bean Hill hit 75⁰ and set a new record. Considerably fewer records were set at Bean Hill in February than in the previous month, but the three record highs and one tied record high were joined by 14 days of highs ranging from 10-23⁰ degrees above normal. This means that 64% of February saw temperatures well above normal. And as with January, low temperatures also were above normal. Little wonder there was all the flora and fauna activity noted in my previous blog. The day it hit 75⁰ was the day I noticed the weeping crab-apple tree by my study window had sprouted tiny little green leaves. This is called "breaking dormancy prematurely" and the consequences, if and when the temperatures fall, can be disastrous for the plant--be it tree, shrub, or perennial flower. I almost cried when I saw those little leaves, knowing that a big temperature drop was imminent. Yesterday the high temperature didn't go above 39⁰, and last night's low was 23⁰. We had snow squalls all last evening. Ordinarily, I wouldn't object to any of this "normalcy"--in fact, I welcome it--but the fact is, the weeping crab-apples have sprouted leaves.
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| Tiny green leaves against a snowy backdrop |
Every Spring, I eagerly await the blossoming of what I consider the most spectacular flowering tree to be seen in these parts. Because they've broken dormancy too early, there's the possibility the trees won't be able to put on the their usual spectacular display of pink blossoms. And if the number of blossoms are reduced, the amount of fruit, a natural food source for beloved birds such as cardinals, bluejays, and chickadees, will be reduced. Every time the local meteorologist and news anchors literally cheer over the too-warm weather that goes on day-after-day, I wonder if they really understand the dire consequences of climate-change to all living things.
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| To what extent do you agree or disagree? The climate change we are currently seeing is largely the result of human activity. |
This morning I read a New York Times article entitled "Top Trump Advisors Are Split on Paris Agreement on Climate Change". The reason for the split really struck me: "On one side of that debate is Mr. Bannon, who as a former chief executive of Breitbart News published countless articles denouncing climate change as a hoax, and who has vowed to push Mr. Trump to transform all his major campaign promises into policy actions. On the other side are Ms. [Ivanka] Trump, Mr. [Rex] Tillerson, and a slew of foreign policy advisers and career
diplomats who argue that the fallout of withdrawing from the accord could be severe, undercutting the United States' credibility on other foreign policy issues and damaging relations with key allies." [Emphasis added]
Really? Losing our credibility and damaging relations with key allies are the arguments against withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement? I think continuously aberrant weather patterns and abnormally high temperatures that threaten all living things should be the reasons for sticking with the international community's agreement to try to save the planet. But if arguing that the United States should stick to the Paris Climate Agreement simply to preserve the nation's credibility is the only argument anyone in the current administration is willing or able to make, I say "bless 'em"!
**Retrieved March 3, 2017 at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/us/politics/climate-change-trump.html?emc=edit_th_20170303&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=56592836
1 comment:
I sure hope our weeping crabs hold on. I would miss their beauty immensely!
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