The Autumn Seems to Have Already started in Some Places: Tree Leaves Are Changing Color and Acorns Are Falling On The Ground. But these scenes have nothing to do with the approaching autumn, experts Tell Nu.nl. It has to do with a weird combination of factors.
ESpeciate in the Southwest of the Netherlands, it already looks like autumn in some places. For Example, Some Streets in Rotterdam are covered with Leaves. In Zeeland Forest Areas and City Parks, Trees Are Turning Red and Orange. And Livestock Farmers are warned about Unripe Green Acorns That Are Poisonous to Ruminants Such As Sheep, Goats and Cattle.
The Trees Are Already Showing Such Autumnal Scenes because they are Suffering from the Drought. “To prevent them from Dying of Dehydration, They often Drop the Fruits Early and the Leaves Turn Red and Orange,” Says Spokesman Marcel Klootwijk or Stichting Het Zeeuwse Landschap To Nu.nl.
“Leaves evaporate water when it gets too dry,” explains biologist Arnold van Vliet. If it is too dry, trees must prevent dehydration through this evaporation. “Then you better throw off your leaves and not dry out and thus survive.” Nitrogen reinforces that effect, because they make more leaves and feer roots as a results. Roots Absorb Water.
Trees Are Suffering from Precipitation Shortage
It is an exceptionally dry this year, says climate scientist Karin van der Wiel or KNMI. “The precipitation deficit is about twice as high as normal.”
A Situation Like This Occurs On Average Once Every Twenty Years. In Addition to Too Little Rain, Evaporation Plays a Role in A Precipitation Deficit (And Therefore also Drought). “Evaporation Happens Faster When It’s Warm And The Sun Is Shining.” That Combination Creates The Current Precipitation Deficit of 240 millimeters.
It is a National Average. The Regional Differences are Large. “There is QUITE A DIFFERCHE IF YOU WAKTH AT THE MAP,” SAYS VAN DER WIEL. For example, it can be so below that it is extremely dry eSpecany in the Southwest and not so bad in Groningen.
But that Doessn’t Mean That All The Trees in Zeeland Are Already in Autumn Mode. “You see big differentials from species to species,” Notes Spokesman Fred Prak of Natuurmonumenten. One tree can withstand Drought Better than the other. The Soil also Makes A Difference: Trees on Sandy Soil Often Have A Harder Time in Drought Than On Clay Or Peat.
Falling Leaves (Not Yet) Worrying
Initially, it is not worrying that trees are already dropping their leaves. “It is actual A Very Normal Protection Reaction of Trees,” Says Prak. Trees can also recover. “Leaf that has discolored will not turn green again, but trees can form new leaves again,” Says van Vliet.
He Follows a Horse Chestnut Tree That Has Shown That More Often. Accordance to him, The Tree Has Been “Placed in a dramatic place for a chestnut”, So It Quickly Suffers from Drought.
In The Past Very Dry Years, The Chestnut Tree Has Dropped all its Leaves Several Times Duration the Growing Season and Made New Ones later in The Season. It also Sometimes Blooms Several Times A Year. “That reflects the resilience of such a tree, but it exhausts the tree.” Van Vliet is Amazed Every Year When The Tree Makes Leaves Again in the Spring. “I wonder every year when he’s dead.”
Van Vliet Points Out That The Drought Started Early This Year. As a result, the verges looked dry and summery early on. Later This Year, van Vliet Expects Spring-Like Scenes Due to “Autumn Flowering”. “You Often See That In Dry Years.”
More Often Drought Stress
Trees can handle a few moments of stress, but if those moments follow each other too quickly, it Becomes Too Much Once. “And with the current climate change, that is of course the case,” Says prak.
There is Little That Can Be Done About Climate Change As A Nature Manager, Says Klootwijk. But It is Possible to Respond To It, For Example by Planting Native Species That Can Withstand Drought Well. Keeping the Water Level High is also an option. “So that the roots get Enough Moisture.”
Prak Emphasizes that we in The Netherlands Still Have Good Papers to Fight Drought. “In principle, Enough Rain Falls in the Netherlands Throughhout the year.” If we retain this water adjustment or dicearing it to the sea, we can use it when it is dry.