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1200 Years of Blooms: Climate Change's Tell-Tale Sign Continues
15 Apr
Summary
- A 1200-year cherry blossom record tracks climate change's impact.
- The 2021 and 2023 bloom dates were the earliest in the record.
- A new researcher will continue the vital climate change data collection.
Professor Yasuyuki Aono's lifelong dedication to tracking cherry blossom flowering dates in Japan has yielded a profound climate change record spanning over 1200 years. His data revealed a consistent trend of earlier blooms in recent decades, a stark indicator of a warming planet. The mountain cherry (Prunus jamasakura) in Arashiyama, Kyoto, was the focus of his observations, with records extending back to 812.
Remarkably, the 2021 and 2023 peak bloom dates were the earliest observed in this entire historical series, occurring on the 85th and 84th day of their respective years. This dedication, which included learning archaic Japanese to decipher historical documents, underscores the significance of Aono's work.
Following Professor Aono's death on August 5th last year, concerns arose about the continuity of this invaluable dataset. Fortunately, a researcher in Japan has now offered to continue the observations, ensuring the continuation of this 1200-year record. This effort is crucial for monitoring climate change impacts, as other monitored cherry species also show signs of climate-induced changes, such as reduced flowering display.
