It’s a great week for learning about phenological patterns!
On a trip to Lutsen, staff phenologist John Latimer monitored the autumnal progression as he drove east and north. In Grand Rapids, the aspen trees were still mostly green; East of Hibbing, they were bright yellow. Then, as he descended into the Lake Superior basin, the aspens turned bright green again.
Due to the unique topography and massive climate effect of Lake Superior, the autumnal shoreline is often still verdant and green while the trees atop the ancient Sawtooth Mountains are vividly colored and beginning to fall. (This effect is mirrored in spring, which arrives early to the North Shore - check out this phenology map developed by John Latimer and the Minnesota DNR.)
That’s not the only pattern we learn about this week. John's meticulous 40-year records include the date of first frost in Grand Rapids. In that time, the average first frost date has changed from mid-September to early October. Learn more about that – and a lot more - in this week’s phenology report!
Topics
- Introduction (0:00-0:33)
- Lake Superior’s effect on phenology (0:33-3:24)
- Leaf drop in birches and maples (3:24-4:10)
- Seasonal shifts with climate change (4:10-6:32)
- Dogwoods and tag alder (6:32-8:32)
- Wildflowers (8:32-9:48)
- Insects (9:48-14:53)
- Comet (14:53-17:50)
- Conclusion (17:50-18:39)
What have you seen out there? Let us know: email us at comments@kaxe.org or text us at 218-326-1234.
That does it for this week! For more phenology, <b>subscribe</b> to our Season Watch Newsletter or visit the Season Watch Facebook page.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
