Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Based on the entire 104 years of data, the average peak bloom date for Washington’s cherry blossoms is April 3.
Peak bloom date for the cherry trees is occurring earlier than it did in the past. Since 1921, peak bloom dates have shifted earlier by approximately eight days. The peak bloom date has occurred before April 3 in 15 of the past 20 years.
While the length of the National Cherry Blossom Festival has expanded over time, the cherry trees have bloomed near the beginning of the festival in recent years. During some years, like 2024, the festival missed early peak bloom dates entirely.
In Washington, D.C., the arrival of spring brings a splash of color as the city’s iconic cherry trees burst into bloom. The city has enjoyed cherry blossoms each year dating back to 1912, when Japan gave about 3,000 cherry trees to the United States as a gift of friendship. These trees surround Washington’s Tidal Basin, and the beautiful blooms set against the backdrop of the national monuments bring more than 1.5 million visitors to the area every year during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Not surprisingly, the festival is planned to coincide with the peak bloom of the cherry trees.
The exact timing of peak bloom varies from year to year, and it is largely driven by local temperatures during the winter and early spring. Many plants are sensitive to and respond to environmental cues such as when temperature reaches a certain threshold. As the Leaf and Bloom Dates indicator explains, scientists have very high confidence that recent warming trends in global climate are causing spring events such as leaf growth and flower blooms to happen earlier. In the case of Washington’s cherry blossoms, earlier bloom dates could affect tourism and the local economy.
The peak bloom date for the most common type of cherry tree around Washington’s Tidal Basin—the Yoshino variety—has been carefully estimated and recorded since 1921 by the National Park Service. The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70 percent of the blossoms are in full bloom.
Figure 1 shows how the peak bloom date of the Yoshino cherry trees has changed since 1921. It also shows the dates of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which has grown to several weeks as its popularity has expanded. There is considerable variability in the peak bloom date, which makes predicting the exact timing difficult. Anticipation of the peak bloom captivates meteorologists, city planners, the National Park Service, residents, and tourists each year.
Graph of Information - Figure 1.
This figure shows the timing of peak bloom each year for the main type of cherry tree around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. The peak bloom date occurs when 70 percent of the blossoms are in full bloom. The shaded band shows the timing of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival began in 1934 but was not held during World War II.
According to Figure 1, what long-term trend is observed in the peak bloom dates of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms from 1921 to 2024?
Using the data in Figure 1, describe how the peak bloom date has shifted over the last 100 years. Include one specific example from the graph.
Using the background information, explain how temperature influences the timing of cherry blossom bloom. Base your answer only on information provided.
Construct an argument explaining how earlier peak bloom dates indicate that ecosystems in Washington, D.C. are responding to changing climate conditions.
Include a clear claim, supporting evidence, and reasoning.
Based on the reading, why has the National Cherry Blossom Festival sometimes missed the actual peak bloom in recent years?
Using the full dataset in Figure 1, describe the pattern of festival timing compared to peak bloom timing. What challenge does this create for event planning?