Researchers from the University of California Berkeley have reported that the famous San Francisco fog has been thinning in recent years and predict that it will continue to thin in years to come. This news was shared by a group of researchers during a recent proceeding at the California Academy of Sciences, although the affects, whether human or natural, is not known.
The coastal redwoods located in Muir Woods depend on the fog layer, especially during the summer months, which prevents water loss and helps keep the region moist and cool. The coast redwood is the tallest living tree species as well as one of the longest living species. Coast redwoods have been aged at over 2,000 years old and are facing a disastrous future if the fog continues to diminish at the pace it has been.
Researchers used weather records, especially airport records, dating back to 1951 in order to estimate the frequency of fog. The group estimates that the average number of hours the coast has been encompassed by fog has decreased from 56% to 42% since 1901. This equals a loss of about 3 hours per day during the summer, the time of year when the redwoods rely heavily on the fog for water. This lack of fog will not kill the mature redwoods, although it will prevent new growth in the forests due to competition for water within the redwood groves. Although this outlook seems bleak for Muir Woods and many other coastal redwood forests research and education regarding preventative tactics are partially supported through fees collected in state parks. Many tourists are being asked by the state park system to visit their local park and help fund the ongoing research regarding climate change and California.
