While people may notice extremes in the weather (which are certainly noticeable), they may not notice certain long term changes in seasons (and climate) that plants do. Over millennia, plants have sorts of 'programs' running to keep them aligned with the seasons, so they bloom when pollinators are available, and set fruit after hard frosts would destroy their efforts. That programming can't keep up with the changes in climate. This article, which quotes my maternal aunt, who is a professor and apple geneticist, is a good read.

Climate change is already hurting fruit breeders, and consumers could soon feel the pain

March 28 In Mark Demuth's research orchard in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the peach tree twigs glow a soft red-brown under the strengthening late winter sun. The peaches are emerging from hibernation, he says, as he points out which of the stirring buds will open as leaves and which as blossoms come early April.

This puts an awkward element into alpine hiking, but it is remarkable how many 30+ year missing persons’ remains are...

This puts an awkward element into alpine hiking, but it is remarkable how many 30+ year missing persons’ remains are emerging.

Melting glaciers in Swiss Alps could reveal hundreds of mummified corpses:

“Switzerland’s glaciers have been melting at an unprecedented rate, losing almost one cubic km in ice volume or about 900 bn litres of water over the past year. According to an investigation by Tagesanzeiger newspaper, eight of the 10 months in which the glaciers have lost the most in volume over the past century have been since 2008.

“Since 1850, when glaciers covered 1,735 sq km (670 sq miles) of Swiss land, the total area has shrunk by a half, to about 890 sq km.

“Police in Valais expect the bodies of many more missing persons to emerge because of global warming.”

#switzerland #glaciers #climatechange
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/04/melting-glaciers-swiss-alps-could-reveal-hundreds-mummified-corpses?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Arctic stronghold of world’s seeds flooded after permafrost melts

Arctic stronghold of world’s seeds flooded after permafrost melts

Oops. The seeds are safe, but that was close.
#seedbank #climatechange
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/19/arctic-stronghold-of-worlds-seeds-flooded-after-permafrost-melts?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I'm lucky enough to work frequently in Switzerland, where glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate.

I'm lucky enough to work frequently in Switzerland, where glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate. Here the BBC and a Swiss scientist show the changes to just one.

(Yes, previously frozen valleys turned soggy are not especially stable, if you were wondering.)

#glaciers #climatechange #switzerland
http://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/headlines/34908482

Oh, great.

Oh, great.
#ancientfrozenviruses #climatechange
http://m.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26387276