|
Winters are shorter
in Ireland
Forget about the fact
that it sometimes rains
in Ireland-the Irish
are masters of the understatement,
and besides which the
softness of the precipitation
promotes perfect complexions-scientists
at Trinity College Dublin
have confirmed that
the seasons they are
changing in a most dramatic
fashion in that "little
piece of Heaven"
(see first item in this
issue) leading to longer
autumns and springs.
How about five weeks
longer?
Yes, five weeks longer
of temperate weather
or, put another way,
five weeks shorter of
winter, and this in
an amazingly short period
of just thirty years!
Over that time period
temperatures have shown
a remarkable rise, especially
in coastal areas.
Dr Alison Donnelly of
Trinity's Department
of Botany has said "The
change is most extreme
in Valentia in County
Kerry, where the growing
season is as much as
five weeks longer, but
on average it's about
three weeks with variations
for different species."
The change is particularly
evident in spring, she
added, as plants bud
earlier than ever, and
it is also apparent
in autumn when trees
keep their leaves longer.
"A longer growing
season has implications
for agriculture and
for carbon sequestration,
as the longer leaves
are on the trees the
more carbon dioxide
they can absorb."
Matthew Jebb, who is
in charge of the National
Botanic Gardens in Dublin,
notes that this year
a longer autumn is responsible
for strawberry plants
being still in bloom
this November, and more
bumble bees and wasps
are around than usual
because there are plenty
of flowers to give then
sustinence.
Bird watchers have also
noted the change to
milder temperatures
with the arrival of
southern birds such
as the Little Egret
and Mediterranean Gull.
Shaken by Florida's recurring
hurricanes, Canada's snowbirds
(people who winter in that
U.S. state) might do well
to consider Ireland as an
alternative destination
in coming seasons.
--30--
Home
| About
| Canadian Vindicator
| Literature
| Gallery
| History
|
|
|