Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Record Early Bloom, After 1, 200 Years

Kyoto has recorded an early bloom of cherry blossoms this year.

This record bloom fits into a long-term trend of earlier spring flowering, which is a strong indicator of climate change. The peak bloom date of March 26, 2021, surpassed the previous record holder for blooming cherry blossoms in March 27, 1409, nearly a century before Christopher Columbus sailed to America.

According to reports, an email, Benjamin Cook, a Columbia University research scientist who specialises in 

reconstructing historical climate data said, &ldquoThe Kyoto Cherry Blossom record is incredibly valuable for climate change research because of its length and the strong 

sensitivity of flowering to springtime temperatures (warmer springs = earlier flowering, typically).&rdquo

The shift toward earlier blooms in Kyoto has been most rapid in the last 100 to 150 years. The average flowering date in 1850 was around April 17 but now it's closer to April 5. Kyoto's average temperature has also risen by 6 degree celsius.