Dr. Richard Primack was interviewed by CTInsider regarding the effect of drought on Connecticut fall foliage this past year. Primack describes how during years with extremely dry conditions, New England trees tend to experience senescence before displaying vibrant colors.
He elaborates,
“If plants are experiencing drought, then the leaves will not undergo this normal slow process of color change — the leaves will just simply die.”
However, climate change tends to counteract the effects of droughts on tree foliage color change due to normal or excess precipitation. Temperature is another factor to consider. Over the past decade, the foliage in New England has been reaching its peak growth later in the season due to rising temperatures, delaying the autumn season. Increased temperatures due to climate change also allow invasive species to reproduce. And during years of drought, trees experience increased water stress, making them more susceptible to insects and diseases. Lastly, Primack describes how unpredictable weather is something to consider:
“Trees really thrive on predictable, constant weather conditions. And when we have these very unusual conditions, it makes the tree susceptible to drought, and it makes them very vulnerable to disease. And therefore, they wind up getting sick and sometimes dying.”
To read more about the effects of climate change on New England trees, please click here for the full article.
