Arnold Arboretum drought

Anthony R. Brach (brach@oeb.harvard.edu)
Mon, 21 Jul 1997 07:21:25 -0700

fyi, from the Arnold Arboretum news bulletin by Chris Strand.

interesting parallel with the drought in northeast China.

Anthony

**** THE DROUGHT
The Arboretum is once again struggling to survive a drought. Four of the
last five years we have had droughts, with devastating immediate effects
and as yet undetermined long term effects, but this year’s drought is
shaping up to be one of the worst. Precipitation is down, even compared to
the drought of ‘95:

Inches of Precipitation
1995 1997
April 1.8” 4” (1.91” from the Blizzard of ‘97)
May 2.29” 2.69”
June 1.58” .68”
July 1.74” .22” so far

Temperatures are up:

Days with temperatures over 90 and over 100
1995 1997
90+ 100+ 90+ 100+
June 3 0 13 1
July 10 0 10 3 (so far)

We have also had wind, which is refreshing to us but less so to plants
which lose moisture to the air with even a gentle breeze. Even weeds have
begun to dry up