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Summer Doldrums Banter


Baroclinic Zone

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There's an interesting similar phenomenon that happens with maple seeds that prompted me to do some research on the subject.  You'd think that an individual tree would have random blooms of seeds in order to have a better chance to propagate but they don't.  Regionally, all maple trees of a species will produce an abundance of seeds.  I found that aspect fascinating.  There doesn't seem to be a correlation to climate or other factors as well.  Perhaps the oaks do a similar thing and are producing larger or more specimens this year?

 

But the key there is, TIME.  The problem is, a single summer does not (by biology) enhance THAT summer's acorn production, so there could only be unlikely immediate predictive skill that is based upon THAT summer's production. That's just logic. But if there is a pattern tendency that is prolonged, spanning across multiple years/seasons, it may become coincidentally correlate- able given that extended duration of time. 

 

Predicting big seed crops has always been a forestry conundrum.  Early summer wx, stored nutrients, natural cycles within tree genetics - they all play a part.  The excerpt from Tip's post is more valid for the red oak group than the white, as red oaks (including Northern red, black, scarlet, pin, etc) take two years to mature.  Thus the wx in year 1 is more important than in year 2, unless there's a freak thaw in winter followed by frigid temps that spoil the 1st-year acorns.  The white oaks (white, swamp white, chestnut, burr, etc) mature in a single growing season, so that season's wx can have a lot of effect.

 

Acorns from the red oaks aren't poisonous, they just taste that way, due mainly to a lot of tannic acid.  The pre-European-invasion peoples would boil the nuts to leach out the tannin, then make a flour out of them.  Nuts from the whites have little tannin and thus are not particularly bitter, and are highly desired by wildlife.  The only ones I've tasted are from chestnut oak (big long acorns), and they were bland but not bitter.  The other important difference is that red oak acorns must overwinter in cool/cold temps to sprout, while those from the whites germinate within a few weeks of hitting the ground.

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But the key there is, TIME.  The problem is, a single summer does not (by biology) enhance THAT summer's acorn production, so there could only be unlikely immediate predictive skill that is based upon THAT summer's production. That's just logic. But if there is a pattern tendency that is prolonged, spanning across multiple years/seasons, it may become coincidentally correlate- able given that extended duration of time. 

 

Predicting big seed crops has always been a forestry conundrum.  Early summer wx, stored nutrients, natural cycles within tree genetics - they all play a part.  The excerpt from Tip's post is more valid for the red oak group than the white, as red oaks (including Northern red, black, scarlet, pin, etc) take two years to mature.  Thus the wx in year 1 is more important than in year 2, unless there's a freak thaw in winter followed by frigid temps that spoil the 1st-year acorns.  The white oaks (white, swamp white, chestnut, burr, etc) mature in a single growing season, so that season's wx can have a lot of effect.

 

The process is known as masting.  My understanding is that trees have adapted to not produce the same amount of seeds every year to reduce the population of potential predators and only have larger crops in some years.  I always found it fascinating that the trees do it regionally as well as in pockets.

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Lots of :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: :sun: people there enjoying plenty of libations.

 

:lol:

 

New Haven has lots to do and downtown is pretty cool. Hartford though doesn't have much going on, unfortunately. 

 

unless you count avoiding bullets as something to do.  But Hartford has the Wolf Pack in the fall through spring (opening night is October 10th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and the Yard Goats will be in action next spring.  And there is Federal Cafe and Pigs Eye!!!!

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The process is known as masting.  My understanding is that trees have adapted to not produce the same amount of seeds every year to reduce the population of potential predators and only have larger crops in some years.  I always found it fascinating that the trees do it regionally as well as in pockets.

 

Seems to be much more pronounced in a fully forested situation than with open-grown trees, as the two oaks outside this office building and those at Peacock Beach a dozen miles to the south have significant crops every year, though some more abundant than others.  Also, the larger the seed, the more likely one sees this effect.  The populus genus spreads its dandelion-like seeds every year, and yellow birch is pretty regular with its "wheat germ."

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This weather is absolutely horrible to work outside. 

 

Clouds today up here are stopping the heat.

 

It was low 70s all day at 1,500ft so working outside wasn't too bad...with the 10-20mph wind it felt almost chilly at times ;)

 

Today was supposed to be warmer up here, but most spots outside of the immediate BTV area are in the 75-80F range.  The clouds hugging the Spine kept temps down especially right at the mountain where its up to the high for the day of 74F at that 1,500ft elevation.

 

Currently 77F here at home at 750ft.

 

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