The scary thing behind the early cherry blossom season in Japan

This year, cherry blossoms bloom abnormally early, making scientists concerned about the bigger impacts of climate change.
When it comes to spring in Japan, many people think of the famous cherry blossoms, also known as “sakura”. Cherry blossoms are white and pink flowers, often in full bloom throughout the mountains, pink many cities in the country.

Japanese people flock to the viewing spots for flowers. Photo: Getty. Each year, cherry blossoms only reach “peak in full bloom” for a few days. This is the law of nature that has existed for more than a thousand years. When it comes to cherry blossom season, Japanese people often flock to flower viewing spots for picnics or commemorative photos. But this year, the cherry blossom season comes and goes quickly. Scientists call this the earliest blooming season in history, and point out the cause: a climate crisis is threatening the ecosystem. The flowers bloom early The timing of cherry blossoms in full bloom can vary from year to year, depending on factors such as weather or rainfall. But in general, the cherry blossom season tends to come sooner. Researcher Yasuyuki Aono from Osaka Prefecture University gathered historical data in the city of Kyoto. According to Aono, this year’s flower season in Kyoto starts on March 26, the earliest in more than 1,200 years. Aono expert data shows that the city of Kyoto welcomes the cherry blossom season around mid-April for many centuries. From the 1800s, the flowering season shifts to around early April, during which a few years the flowering season takes place at the end of March. “Sakura flowers are very sensitive to temperature”, Mr. Aono analyzed. “The temperature can determine when the flowers bloom. Compared with the 1820s, the current temperature in Japan has increased by about 3.5 degrees C “. He also said that this year’s flower season clearly reflects the change in temperature. Specifically, this year’s winter in Japan is very cold while spring comes incredibly fast and warm. Therefore, cherry blossoms have “awakened with enough rest”. Cherry blossoms in Washington, USA, also bloom early. Photo: Getty. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms bloom from March 22, the second earliest time in history. “As global temperatures warm, spring frosts occur early, leading to early blooming of cherry blossoms,” said Dr. Lewis Ziska of Columbia University of Environmental Health Sciences. Not only in Japan, the cherry blossoms in Washington, USA, also bloom early. According to the management of the National Park, this year’s cherry blossom season lasts only nearly a week, from March 31 to April 5. Ecosystem randomization However, early blooming is only the “tip of the iceberg”. Associate Professor Amos Tai from the University of Hong Kong warned of the global climate crisis that could destabilize the ecosystem and threaten the life of all species. In fact, plants and insects depend on each other. Both groups need to interact, influence each other, and at the same time need signals from the environment to “adjust their own life cycle”, according to Mr. Tai. Plants, for example, sense the temperature around them. If the temperature is warm enough for a certain amount of time, they will start to leaf, shoot and flower. Likewise, insects and many other animals are temperature dependent throughout their life cycle. Rising temperatures can accelerate growth in animals. “The relationship between plants and insects and other organisms has evolved over the years, that is, thousands to millions of years,” said Mr. Tai. But in recent centuries, climate change is destroying everything and disturbing these relationships ”. Plants and insects can react to increases in temperature at different rates, leaving their lifecycle out of sync. This means plants and insects may not grow together in the spring. Now, flowers can bloom before the insect is ready, or vice versa. “Insects will not find nutrients from plants and plants do not have enough nutrients to pollinate,” Mr. Tai concluded. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms bloom from March 22. Photo: Getty. According to a 2009 study in the journal Biological Conservation , over the past few decades, a number of flora and fauna have transformed themselves to escape the effects of climate change. But the ecosystem is increasingly difficult to adapt, as the climate becomes unpredictable. “Ecosystems are not used to such large fluctuations,” said Tai. “The productivity of ecosystems can be degraded, even collapsed in the future.” The effects of climate change are not limited to cherry blossom season. Mr. Tai said that life cycle changes occurred in many crops of economic value, posing challenges to food security and farmers’ livelihoods. At the same time, food supplies in some vulnerable areas are also directly affected by drought and grasshoppers. “Farmers will find it difficult to predict crop yields,” said Mr. Tai. “Farming is now like gambling. Climate change is randomizing every factor in our ecosystems ”.