Cherry blossoms along DC's Tidal Basin, April 2011 (Flickr's Robert Pos)

Now comes a team of scientists theorizing that with drastic warming of the globe, future decades could see blossom times not just a few days early but advanced by almost a month.

That could mean a bloom process that begins in January, rather than February, a blooming period in February instead of March, and a peak bloom in early March, instead of early April, the research suggests. [...]

According to the more dire global warming scenario the scientists used — one with unchecked global population growth — the District’s cherry trees could be blooming 29 days earlier by 2080 and 13 days earlier by 2050. A less severe scenario, with eventually declining population, had the trees blooming 10 days earlier by 2080 and five days earlier by 2050.

Dr. Amanda Staudt, National Wildlife Federation climate scientist, told DC’s WJLA the early cherry blossoms are a warning sign our climate is rapidly warming and limits on carbon pollution are needed:

Cherry blossoms are blooming earlier this year. Those are like little pink warning flags. [...]

We’re emitting carbon pollution into our atmosphere by burning coal, oil, and gas. This carbon pollution acts like a blanket for our atmosphere, keeping extra heat in.

You can watch the full video on WJLA’s website.

It’s not just DC. All across America, the winter and early spring of 2011-2012 will be remembered as extreme. According to NOAA:

• America had its 4th-warmest winter on record
• Massachusetts tied its warmest February on record
• California had its 2nd-driest winter on record

Right now, people in places like our nation’s capital are talking the surprisingly pleasant March weather. But a question lingers at the end of every conversation: If it’s this hot now, how hot will summer get?

Take Action

Email officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to let them know you support limits on carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants.

As a child I was fortunate enough to spend many hours outdoors with my father, who was a dog trainer and hunter. My dad died more than thirty years ago, yet when I go to the woods of western Pennsylvania and see a familiar plant or hear a distant crow on a crisp fall morning, my memories of being out in nature with Dad come flooding back as if it were yesterday.

I would urge every parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle to make time to get outdoors this weekend with a child in your life. Join National Wildlife Federation’s Hike and Seek this Saturday October 2 in Washington D.C. at Seneca Creek State Park and in Chicago at Lincoln Park Grove; and in Seattle at Seward Park on October 16. Hike & Seek is a cross between a nature hike and scavenger hunt, geared to exploring outdoor wonders.

You will be making memories in nature with a kid who will hold on to the times they spend outdoors with you. Equally important, you can help awaken their ecological understandings and forge a love for nature that will serve them for a lifetime.

(excerpted from Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth).

Watch this week’s NWF Climate Capsule:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s a quick flashback at what Jim Everett would do to Dirty’s bucket if he ever called him Chris.

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Got climate questions? Any global warming denier arguments you’d like to hear Dirty sock puppet? Email us!

Could the sweltering summer of 2010 be considered mild compared to the typical summers of the future? It depends on whether America & nations around the world act now to curb our global warming pollution.

That’s the conclusion of a new National Wildlife Federation report, Extreme Heat in Summer 2010: A Window on the Future:

In 2010, New Jersey, Delaware & North Carolina had their hottest June on record, while Rhode Island & Delaware had their hottest July. Sixteen other states had Junes or Julys that ranked in the top-five hottest. That means upward of 70 million Americans experienced extreme heat these two months. Hundreds of daily temperature records were broken across the country.

Not surprisingly, this hot spell has brought many days where the thermometer topped 90°F. Our analysis of large cities in the eastern United States shows that most locations have had about twice as many days with temperatures exceeding 90°F than they typically would by the end of July. For example, Washington, DC , had 39 days
with temperatures in the 90s by July 31, 2010, compared to 18 days for the same period in an average year. If conditions continue to stay warm, or even if we return to more average conditions in August, Washington and several other cities are on track to meet or break records for the total number of days exceeding 90°F in a single year. Cities in the south-central United States are also running hot: many have had about 50 percent more days over 90°F than average.

While the House passed the American Clean Energy & Security Act, obstructionists in the Senate have blocked action on clean energy & climate legislation. What could happen if the deny & delay crowd continues to block pollution limits?

Summers like the current one, or even worse, will become the norm by 2050 if global warming pollution continues to increase unabated. Alternatively, taking steps to reduce emissions can help avoid some of this increase in extremely hot days. For example:

• Washington, DC, is projected to have about 55 days over 90°F by midcentury under a lower-emissions scenario and about 100 such days if emissions are higher. For comparison, the city will likely have about 50 days above 90°F in 2010 if August and September have an average number of very hot days.
• Philadelphia, PA, is projected to have about 40 days over 90°F by midcentury under a lower-emissions scenario and about 60 such days if emissions are higher. Through the end of July, the city had 25 days exceeding 90°F in 2010 and is on track to have about 30 or more such days for the year.
• St. Louis, MO, is projected to have about 60 days over 90°F by midcentury under a lower-emissions scenario and about 80 such days if emissions are higher. This year, the city is on track to have 45 extremely hot days, about 10 more than average.

Read the full report (PDF), then take action. Tell your senators we need comprehensive climate & energy answers now.

Park picture via Flickr’s vasofoto.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

A bear was caught on security camera at an apartment building in the 4800 block of Connecticut Avenue NW at about 6:45 a.m. Friday. The bear and two deer were eating.

The building manager said wildlife is common in the area — but not bears.

The animals were only in the courtyard for a few minutes before leaving.

As they adapt to human activity, wildlife have slowly been extending their range in the Washington, DC area. Until now, the most notable newcomer had been the coyote. Watch the security video showing the bear & the deer:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video.