How Trees Can Forecast the Weather

Created By RISC | 3 days ago

Last modified date : 3 days ago

We all know how a tree's rings reveal its age. But did you know how the color and width of these rings tell us about past weather?

Trees respond to their environment through biological processes that are crucial to their survival. These responses include changes in growth due to moisture and temperature fluctuations, seasonal adaptations like leaf shedding, and alerts sent by roots or airborne chemicals when disturbed. Even the growth of trunks and branches adjusts to withstand wind forces.

Weather patterns, such as consistent rainfall or extreme heat, affect flowering and growth. Some trees store energy to wait for optimal conditions before reproducing. A striking example is the Yangna (Dipterocarpus alatus).

Yangna trees have a remarkable ability to forecast weather based on their flowering and fruiting patterns. These behaviors are influenced by environmental factors like humidity, temperature, and rainfall. A Yangna with abundant flowers and fruits often signals an impending rainy season with lots of rainfall. Prof. Nopphorn Nontapa studied the relationship between Yangna flowering and rainfall for over a decade to collect data for predicting rainfall in various locations. The patterns can even provide insight into the direction of approaching storms.

Trees don’t forecast weather in the same way we do. But their evolutionary adaptations are highly effective for survival. The older a tree, the more accurate its record of local climate conditions becomes.

​Story by: Kotchakorn Rattanama, Biodiversity Researcher, RISC​

Reference by Forest Plantation School