The World Is Burning and We Are Enjoying It

February is the nicest month, breeding daffodils out of a dead land.

I have to admit it, I’m enjoying global warming. Sixteen of the 17 warmest years have occurred since 2000 based on data collected from 1880. The News Journal writes:

“While these earlier springs might not seem like a big deal – and who among us doesn’t appreciate a balmy day or a break in dreary winter weather – it poses significant challenges for planning and managing important issues that affect our economy and our society,” said Dr. Jake Weltzin, a U.S. Geological Survey ecologist and the executive director of the phenology network.

The timing of spring can have a big impact on everything from when disease-causing insects like ticks and mosquitoes start to bite to reduced crop yields.

Last year in Delaware, there was an early warm spell, and the thousands of peach trees in the state were in full flower when a killing frost hit. Depending on the species, there was a reduction in crop harvest of as much as 85 percent. Nature can also get out of sync. Plants may flower early or insects arrive before birds show up to eat them. For land managers, it can mean an earlier start to controlling invasive species or protecting the rare ones from disturbance.

If you want more information on our early spring, go to the National Phenology Network. Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors (such as elevation). (Wikipedia)