Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Autumn Faces Extinction
The gorgeous colors of a New England autumn will fade away permanently by mid-century.

A report from the Union of Concerned Scientists last week, "Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast," said that if nothing is done to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the climate of Massachusetts will resemble that of South Carolina by the end of the century, with nearly 65 days a year when temperatures in Boston exceed 90 degrees, as compared with about 10 now.

However, even if steps are taken globally to reduce emissions, the Massachusetts climate will still resemble that of Maryland by the end of the century and Boston will still experience nearly 30 days a year of 90-plus temperatures, the report said.

That unavoidable rise in temperatures will mean the decline of sugar maples, as well as other cool-weather-loving tree species, such as beeches and birches, in New England, as younger trees will not generate to replace older trees that die. Historically, the southern limit of the range of sugar maples has been northern Virginia; however they are most common in New England, New York and southern Canada.

If you want to see the breathtaking spectacle of autumn in New England, do it soon.
Written at 1:26 PM by Lynne.
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