Go figure, cherry blossoms already active
10/29/2007
BY YASUSHI OKUBO, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
This summer's record heat may still be making its mark on the natural order of things.
Cherry trees blossoming in fall, silver grass flowers opening late or early, and other unseasonable observations of birds and flowers have been reported all over the country.
Some experts attribute their abnormal behavior!s to August's scorching temperatures, but many still say they just don't know why.
Mozu bull-headed shrikes made their wintering journey down from the mountains late this year.
The birds spend summer high in the mountains, then fly down to towns and villages as temperatures begin to fall.
When settling into their wintering sites, the shrikes mark their territory with sharp chatters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency records the date of the first such chirps. The first frost comes 75 days after the chirps, according to an old saying.
However, in Miyazaki, the first chatter of the bird, known for leaving its prey on tree thorns, came 41 days later than usual this year, on Oct. 18--the latest on record, according to the agency.
In Mito, Takamatsu and Kagoshima, the chirps also sounded at the latest date ever recorded.
But members of the Wild Bird Society of Japan say they are not sure the violent summer heat was the only reason.
"Not just weather conditions, but their long-term changes and effects on the ecosystem must be examined comprehensively to find out the reason," a member said.
Susuki eulalia, or silver grass, has generally been flowering late this year.
Wakayama and Takamatsu saw the first silver grass flowers on Oct. 21 and 15, respectively, both the latest on record for the two cities.
On the other hand, Hakodate in Hokkaido and Tsu marked the earliest blossoms on record, on Aug. 7 and July 30, respectively.
"The dates were divided into two extremes, with the torrid heat in mid-August in-between," said a meteorological agency official.
A researcher at the Flower Association of Japan said lingering high temperatures may explain the late blooming.
"But for those coming so early, we cannot see why," he said.
Cherry blossoms, which Japanese have long cherished as a symbol of spring, unseasonably bloomed recently.
In Hiroshima, the somei yoshino variety bloomed on Oct. 21, while Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, saw the flower on Oct. 4.
Weathernews Inc., a private weather service, has received many reports and photos of out-of-season cherry blossoms from across the country.
According to the weather service, cherry trees can bloom in autumn when a typhoon blows off their leaves and then warm days continue.
But the researcher with the flower association believes that the caterpillar of the monkuro shachihoko moth, which proliferated in the summer heat, devoured the cherry tree leaves, causing the untimely blooming this year.
The unseasonable blooming would affect next spring's cherry blossom viewing as the trees will not produce flowers again.
Meanwhile, the late autumnal foliage is finally spreading due to cool temperatures these days, weather officials said.(IHT/Asahi: October 29,2007)
10/29/2007
BY YASUSHI OKUBO, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
This summer's record heat may still be making its mark on the natural order of things.
Cherry trees blossoming in fall, silver grass flowers opening late or early, and other unseasonable observations of birds and flowers have been reported all over the country.
Some experts attribute their abnormal behavior!s to August's scorching temperatures, but many still say they just don't know why.
Mozu bull-headed shrikes made their wintering journey down from the mountains late this year.
The birds spend summer high in the mountains, then fly down to towns and villages as temperatures begin to fall.
When settling into their wintering sites, the shrikes mark their territory with sharp chatters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency records the date of the first such chirps. The first frost comes 75 days after the chirps, according to an old saying.
However, in Miyazaki, the first chatter of the bird, known for leaving its prey on tree thorns, came 41 days later than usual this year, on Oct. 18--the latest on record, according to the agency.
In Mito, Takamatsu and Kagoshima, the chirps also sounded at the latest date ever recorded.
But members of the Wild Bird Society of Japan say they are not sure the violent summer heat was the only reason.
"Not just weather conditions, but their long-term changes and effects on the ecosystem must be examined comprehensively to find out the reason," a member said.
Susuki eulalia, or silver grass, has generally been flowering late this year.
Wakayama and Takamatsu saw the first silver grass flowers on Oct. 21 and 15, respectively, both the latest on record for the two cities.
On the other hand, Hakodate in Hokkaido and Tsu marked the earliest blossoms on record, on Aug. 7 and July 30, respectively.
"The dates were divided into two extremes, with the torrid heat in mid-August in-between," said a meteorological agency official.
A researcher at the Flower Association of Japan said lingering high temperatures may explain the late blooming.
"But for those coming so early, we cannot see why," he said.
Cherry blossoms, which Japanese have long cherished as a symbol of spring, unseasonably bloomed recently.
In Hiroshima, the somei yoshino variety bloomed on Oct. 21, while Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, saw the flower on Oct. 4.
Weathernews Inc., a private weather service, has received many reports and photos of out-of-season cherry blossoms from across the country.
According to the weather service, cherry trees can bloom in autumn when a typhoon blows off their leaves and then warm days continue.
But the researcher with the flower association believes that the caterpillar of the monkuro shachihoko moth, which proliferated in the summer heat, devoured the cherry tree leaves, causing the untimely blooming this year.
The unseasonable blooming would affect next spring's cherry blossom viewing as the trees will not produce flowers again.
Meanwhile, the late autumnal foliage is finally spreading due to cool temperatures these days, weather officials said.(IHT/Asahi: October 29,2007)