Minnesota's Changing Climate

[hermetic]

When most people think of Minnesota, majestic moose, lakes filled with walleye and beautiful forests come to mind. But some scientists fear these wonderful treasures could be in danger.

On TV tonight at 10 PM on Kare11 Extra. Should be interesting. They have been advertising this with statements such as, "Thousands of dead moose, disappearing fish populations." :scared:

I know we all know this but maybe this show will hit home with many others.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I just looked at the extended forecast for the next two weeks

Hardly any snow.

In winter terms, we're in drought conditions.

[hermetic]

2. Oh my

Our western moose herd is dying off. Only 250 left of what was once several thousand. And the warming waters are killing off the feeder fish that walleye eat, so they are rapidly diminishing. We will soon find the climate here to be similar to central Illinois. More on 11 tonight.

[Odin2005]

3. The North Woods will be shifting north into Canada soon.

:cry:

Basically, the more winter days that have nights below -40 the better conifers compete compared with the trees of the Eastern disiduous forests such as maple, oak and linden. -40 temps causes the sap in most broadleaf trees to start to freeze, while the sap of many conifers are a even better anti-freeze (some can withstand temperatures of -100 or even colder :wow: ).

[electron_blue]

4. Well the arctic blast of the last few days should be just what the

(conifer) tree doctor ordered.

Interesting point, I never thought about differences in sap that way.