An Early Spring In Japan

 

Early Bloomers

Spring in Japan is marked by the beautiful sight of blooming Sakura trees, better known as cherry blossoms.

This March, unusually warm temperatures have caused the beloved trees to flower earlier than usual, raising concerns about the impact of climate change, the Washington Post reported.

Last week, scientists marked a record peak bloom date for Kyoto’s cherry blossom on March 26, the earliest in more than 1,200 years – beating the previous record of March 27 in 1409.

The Kyoto Cherry Blossom record has been maintained for centuries – since 812 CE – by emperors, governors and monks, and served as an important indicator of warming temperatures.

Historical data from 812 to 1800 has shown a relatively stable average peak bloom date of the Sakura tree. But the date began sloping downwards by the 19th century, highlighting the start of an earlier spring.

For example, the average flowering date in Kyoto in 1850 was April 17 but now it’s closer to April 5. Meanwhile, the average temperature in the city has risen by about six degrees Fahrenheit.

But this early bloom is not just seen in Japan.

The Yoshino cherry trees in Washington, DC – gifted by Japan in 1912 – have also started blossoming earlier: A century of records show that the average peak bloom date has advanced six to seven days, from about April 5 to March 31.

Already, officials are bracing for crowds wanting to see the trees’ finery – even though people were requested to stay home because of the pandemic. But the blooming of the cherry blossoms is a celebrated event in the US capital, marked by a parade and other festivities.

While seeing the flowers is a welcome sight, climate scientists warn that early blooms can make the cherry blossoms vulnerable to spring freezes.