The stunning colors of Vermont’s foliage are expected to become less vibrant in the coming years if climate change continues to worsen, according to University of Vermont forest scientist William Keaton.
While climate change is causing more periods of heavy rainfall in Vermont, it is also causing more frequent droughts, according to the state Department of Health. These droughts threaten to dampen the color of Vermont’s foliage, according to Keaton.
“Drought tends to make leaves less vibrant, more brown, and fall off trees early on from physiological stress,” Keaton said in a news release.
Another factor threatening Vermont’s foliage vitality is higher nighttime temperatures, according to Keaton. Since 1960, the average period over which temperatures in Vermont have exceeded 28 degrees has increased by three weeks, according to a 2021 report from the University of Vermont.
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During the fall, Keaton said, the great contrast between cool nights and warm days sends a signal to the tree to start closing. This signal allows chlorophyll and other chemicals to break down in the leaves, resulting in vibrant leaf colors, Keaton said. If the signal is affected by a warmer night, the deterioration process may also be affected.
“It could also mean that trees keep their green longer with little color reveal. Or it happens a little later. Or for a shorter period of time. Or maybe it’s a little less vibrant,” Keaton said.
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Wetting foliage can have many effects on Vermont, including the state’s economy, Keaton said. More than a million tourists travel to Vermont in October alone to enjoy the state’s autumn landscape, according to Amy Speer of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. During 2020, tax revenue from tourists brought a total of $347 million to Vermont’s economy, according to the state Commerce and Community Development Agency.
Keaton said that if climate change continues at its current pace, the impacts on Vermont’s fall economy and lifestyle will be enormous.
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Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: AMFisherMedia
Originally published at San Jose News Bulletin
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