Within the next 30 years, an estimated 60% of the world's cacti may face extinction. Black Coral Inc is interested in exploring Climate Resiliancy Education. We will be focused on teaching Climate resiliance life skills to better the lives of Boston,Families Elderly and Children! If interested plese become a member or email us to be put on our mailing list for brochures featuring All the programs we fund!
North America’s only monsoon — and the reason the Sonoran Desert is billed as the world’s “wettest desert”— brings billowing cumulonimbus clouds that drench the land in rain. Nearly half the annual rainfall required to hydrate the Sonoran Desert is delivered by the monsoon.
During the previous summer, there was a notable absence of the monsoon in Tucson, with only 1.62 inches of rain falling instead of the usual 6.08 inches. This unusual event, humorously referred to as a "nonsoon" in meteorological circles, led to 2020 being the driest year on record for the city, as reported by the National Weather Service. The persistent lack of rain exacerbated existing long-term drought conditions. One significant impact of human-induced climate change is the alteration of weather patterns across various regions worldwide, consequently affecting the local flora and fauna, prompting them to adapt. Noteworthy positive outcomes of these changes can be observed in the Sahelian regions bordering the Sahara desert in Africa. Here, the increased rainfall signals prolonged monsoon seasons, leading to the greening of the Sahara and enhancing the agricultural prospects of the area. Countries like Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso have experienced annual growth in arable land, benefiting from these changing conditions.
Michael A. Crimmins, a meteorologist and specialist in Climate Science Extension at the University of Arizona, believes that the absence of a Sonoran Desert Monsoon, referred to as a "nonsoon," was likely caused by various factors, including La Niña and El Niño. These are significant climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that have a global impact on weather conditions.
In June, a significant lightning-caused fire broke out on the lower slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, leading to the death of numerous saguaros surrounded by buffelgrass. Buffelgrass, originally from South Africa, has adapted well to the arid, hot environment, creating a highly flammable layer near the cacti. Introduced to the Southwest by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service for cattle feed and erosion prevention in the 1930's, various types of buffelgrass were initially cultivated in experimental fields in southern Arizona. Furthermore, in the 1970s and 1980s, buffelgrass was extensively planted in the Tucson area for erosion control, a decision that has proven to be a significant error in judgement.
If left uncontrolled, buffelgrass will take over the desert scenery and may lead to frequent, rapidly spreading wildfires. Studies conducted by USGS indicate that prompt intervention in areas infested with buffelgrass can significantly decrease the spread of this plant species. There is only one sure fire way to remove buffelgrass effectively; if the plant is green,herbicides can be used to kill the plant but this is usually only partly effective because herbicides only works on actively growing plants, thus it has to be green when you spray it. If less than 50% of the plant is green (which is usually the case manual removal remains as the best method.
Comments