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Early spring "El Niño" showers results in an explosion of May wildflowers!
As a general rule (always exceptions) when El Niño is present, South Central Texas receives above normal rainfall (La Nina usually results in the opposite effect). This past relatively weak El Niño combined with another weather anomaly to produce a significant increase in rainfall (over 330 percent in some areas). The drought of 2006 was brought to an abrupt end, but sadly the end of the drought also brought flooding to several areas in Texas.
A positive effect of the increase rainfall in the early spring this year was an explosion of wildflowers in the second-half of the season (late April through mid-June). After the spring wildflower explosion there was even more rain and the result has been a very green and somewhat cooler summer for most of Texas.
"June 2007 was one of the wettest Junes on record for the state of Texas. Starting in late May, a string of low-pressure systems settled in over the U.S. Southern Plains and unleashed weeks of heavy to torrential rain. During the final week of June, much of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas received more than 330 percent of their average rainfall, said the National Climatic Data Center. The widespread heavy rain brought deadly floods to the entire region. On July 6, the Associated Press reported that every major river basin in Texas was at flood stage, an event that had not occurred since 1957." - NOAA, Texas Greenup (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/shownh.php3?img_id=14356)
Also: The effects of El Niño on Rainfall Patterns at Fly Gap, Mason County
Will Global Warming result in more and stronger El Niño cycles?
It is too early to tell whether global warming will results in a change in the El Nino-La Nina cycle. The El Niño-La Nina cycle is a result of a normal climate cycle that occurs on average once every 3-5 years. However, some studies have shown that the frequency of El Niño (ENSO) will increase as the world's climate continues to warm. Current climate models have to be improved to handle the inclusion of El Niño into global warming predictions. The reality is that we now entering into a new era of climate change on a global scale - call it a global climate experiment. This summer the climate models did not perform well with the combination of the string of low pressure centers combined with the after-effects of a weak Niño. Evidence is mounting that global warming could result in an increase in the frequency of El Nino and possibly a persistent El Niño (or El Niño-like) condition.
See:
El Niño and Global Warming
El Niño and global warming: What's the connection?
The Impact of Greenhouse Warming on the El Niño Southern Oscillation
Would a persistent El Nino result in more wildflowers in Texas?
Given that there is no limiting factor to tree, scrub and grass growth, a persistent El Nino that results in above average rainfall in Texas might actually mean a reduction in wildflowers. Wildflowers seem to be a feature of warmer and moderately drier areas that receive periodic rainfall in the fall and spring. Wetter and warmer areas that receive rainfall throughout the year usually have tropical like vegetation. Increased growth by trees and grasses could result in less room for wildflowers to grow. I guess if global warming results in increased frequency of El Nino cycles then we will get the chance to see what the actual result will be.
RichO
Hunting Texas Wildflowers
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