Here are my SIMB images for September. They were taken yesterday, 3
Sep. As you can see, the leaves are starting to turn color, especially in
the undergrowth. The reds that you see in the second image are mostly from
the high bush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum), not a true cranberry, and from
fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). The woods this time of year get a
strong sour smell, which I have always associated with the Viburnum. The
berries are very acid and (to me) foul-tasting. However, many people enjoy
the berries cooked in jams and relishes.
We have had more seasonal temperatures and rainfall during the last few
weeks. I went back through my notes and totaled the amount of rain I had
measured in my garden rain gauge since 1 June:
June = 12.5 mm
July = 29.6 mm
August = 41.0 mm
1-4 Sep = 14.6 mm
This comes to 97.7 mm of rain since 1 June, which is probably below normal
(the 30 year normal for Fairbanks during June - August is 139.7 mm. Similar
records for Ester do not exist). Interestingly, since 15 August we have had
54.6 mm of rain. So more than half of our rain this summer came during the
last 2.5 weeks!
The data I used to compare with my data can be found at
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Climographs
Of course our daylight continues to decrease; quite rapidly, now, by at
least 7 minutes per day. Total day length for 3 September was 14 hours 28
minutes. In a little over 2 weeks we will arrive at the Autumnal Equinox
and within that time period we will lose more than 2 hours of daylight!
