Over the last 15 years, researchers have been noticing a pattern when it comes to the transmission period between winter and spring. Some scientists are saying climate change is causing a rapid switch from -30C weather to plus 15C, and the biological processes of trees are suffering.

Dr. Colin Laroque from the University of Saskatchewan says winter snowmelt is evaporating too quickly to be absorbed, as the water can’t penetrate the still-frozen soil. He says the trees waking up from their winter state are unable to find water and began to experience a drought.

Laroque says he hopes his presentation can get people thinking about the effect climate change has had on nature. His advice to anyone that doesn’t believe the climate is changing is to look at the tick population.

He says a period of -40C in the winter used to kill the ticks off, but now our winters don’t reach that point for long enough, and the ticks are making their way further and further north because of it.

Laroque adds that giving your trees an extra dose of water in the fall ensures that they will have enough water in the spring if we have another year full of uncertain weather. The meeting where Laroque is speaking will be held tomorrow in the basement of Frances Morrison Central Library at 7:00pm.