The timing of the first leaves on trees and plants can make or break an agricultural season. Too early, and the leaves might be blasted by the last frost. Too late and they miss out on maximizing the growing season.

But as climate change brings warmer-than-usual winters to the U.S., the plants may be more vulnerable to imprecise timing, and the tools traditionally used by farmers and horticulturists to predict the season may be inadequate. [more]

In Red Orbit

Clark, J.S., J. Melillo, J. Mohan, and C. Salk. 2013. The seasonal timing of warming that controls onset of the growing season. Global Change Biology, in press.