WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480 Welcome to Meteorology Matters. If you want to 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:05.459 understand all the powerful things that shape 00:00:05.459 --> 00:00:08.240 our world, especially when we think about weather 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:10.660 and the crazy impact it has and it keeps having, 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:13.460 even later, you're in the right spot. And today 00:00:13.460 --> 00:00:16.640 we're focusing on when you get the massive power 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:19.699 of hurricane force winds and they collide with 00:00:19.699 --> 00:00:23.149 our urban forests. Ooh. We're going to explore 00:00:23.149 --> 00:00:25.550 what happens to those trees themselves and more 00:00:25.550 --> 00:00:27.429 importantly what that means for the communities 00:00:27.429 --> 00:00:30.370 we live in, you know, both right after a hurricane 00:00:30.370 --> 00:00:33.250 hits and in the years to come. Exactly. Yeah. 00:00:33.509 --> 00:00:34.969 You know, we got some really interesting information 00:00:34.969 --> 00:00:37.969 about how different types of trees handle these 00:00:37.969 --> 00:00:39.530 incredible forces. We're going to talk about 00:00:39.530 --> 00:00:41.369 the wider effects on cities and figure out some 00:00:41.369 --> 00:00:44.270 key lessons for how we should be planting and 00:00:44.270 --> 00:00:46.310 managing our urban green spaces moving forward. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:48.520 Stick with us and you'll walk away with a much 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:50.560 deeper understanding of which trees are really 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:52.460 tough in the face of hurricanes, where the weak 00:00:52.460 --> 00:00:55.119 spots are, and how crucial a healthy tree canopy 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.280 is for our cities, even after the storm's gone. 00:00:57.979 --> 00:00:59.619 Absolutely. And before we really jump in, remember, 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:02.340 you can follow meteorologist Rob Jones on Instagram, 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:05.459 meteorologists on TikTok TV, meteorologists, 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:08.760 and on YouTube, follow Rob Jones Hurricane. OK. 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:11.540 You can also find the Meteorology Matters podcast 00:01:11.540 --> 00:01:14.219 playlist there for even more insights into our 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:17.400 dynamic atmosphere. Awesome. Okay, let's dive 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:19.980 right in the sheer force of hurricane winds. 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:22.659 It's mind -blowing. It really is something else. 00:01:22.780 --> 00:01:25.620 And what I find really fascinating is how clearly 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:28.780 the data shows this power. When we look back 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:31.120 at studies that tracked 10 separate hurricanes, 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:34.760 we saw that urban forest loss varied a lot from 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:38.019 about 11 percent to a whopping 38 percent. And 00:01:38.019 --> 00:01:40.099 a key takeaway here is that the amount of loss 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:42.560 was directly tied to how strong the winds were 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.200 during each storm. Higher winds equal more trees 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.079 damaged or totally gone. Makes sense, right? 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:48.799 The stronger the wind, the more damage. But it's 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:50.540 not all about wind speed during a hurricane. 00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:53.180 There have to be other things at play, too. Absolutely, 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.519 you're spot on. While wind speed is a major cause 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.379 of damage, the other conditions that come with 00:01:57.379 --> 00:01:59.000 a hurricane, like how much rain there is and 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:00.739 how long the storm hangs around, also have a 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:03.519 big effect on urban forests. Right. Think about 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:06.400 what happens when a ton of rain falls. The ground 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:09.460 gets completely saturated. And that's gonna affect... 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:11.780 how well those tree roots are holding on to the 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:13.199 soil. They're not going to have as good a grip. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:15.800 Exactly. When the soil gets super soaked, it 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:17.819 lessens the friction between the tree roots and 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:20.240 the ground around them. Right. This weaker grip 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:22.819 makes it much easier for even winds that don't 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:25.639 seem that strong to push trees over. Interesting. 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:27.780 And it's not just the weather during the storm, 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:30.400 the specific traits of the trees themselves, 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:33.020 like what kind of tree it is, how old it is, 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.979 how healthy it is, and even its shape all contribute 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:38.259 to whether it can withstand those powerful winds. 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:41.159 So like a young healthy oak tree is probably 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:43.960 going to fare better than an older, maybe not 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:46.840 so healthy pine tree when a hurricane hits. Exactly. 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:48.699 And the place where a tree is growing matters 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:51.520 just as much. Things like how deep the soil is, 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:54.259 where the water table sits underground, how compact 00:02:54.259 --> 00:02:56.620 the soil is, and even how many other trees are 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:59.900 nearby can all influence if a tree survives a 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:02.419 hurricane. Now you mentioned the density of the 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:05.319 surrounding tree canopy. How does that play into 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:07.599 a tree's vulnerability? Here's where it gets 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.000 interesting. Think about Pensacola, Florida, 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:12.699 which has traditionally had older and denser 00:03:12.699 --> 00:03:16.419 tree canopies versus Miami, which tends to have 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:19.240 younger, more spaced out tree cover. OK. Research 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:22.180 has actually shown that Pensacola had more damage 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:24.500 to its urban forest during hurricanes compared 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:26.379 to Miami. That's kind of surprising. You'd think 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:29.319 that a denser canopy would provide more protection. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.180 as a group. Yeah, you might think so at first, 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:35.020 but remember we talked about soil depth. In places 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:37.759 like Miami -Dade County, the soil can be super 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:41.300 thin. Sometimes, only about a foot deep, trees 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:44.039 in that kind of shallow soil are naturally more 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:46.000 likely to get uprooted no matter how dense the 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.620 canopy is around them. This really shows how 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:50.360 interconnected all these factors are when we're 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:52.460 trying to figure out how vulnerable a tree is 00:03:52.460 --> 00:03:55.599 to hurricane winds. So the key takeaway is it's 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.699 not just about how many trees you have. but where 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:01.319 their roots can actually grow, even a dense canopy 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:04.139 is vulnerable if the soil is shallow. That makes 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:06.039 a lot of sense. I remember reading something 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:08.340 about trees growing in groups having a better 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:10.680 chance of surviving. That seemed really interesting. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:13.360 It is super interesting. The research done after 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.540 hurricanes Ivan and Jean showed something pretty 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:19.120 clear. Trees that were growing in clusters of 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.560 five or more. And by clusters, we mean about 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:23.920 10 feet apart, but not in a straight line. They 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.420 had a much higher survival rate than trees growing 00:04:26.420 --> 00:04:28.300 on their own. We're talking about a boost of 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:30.560 around 10 percent in both of those major storms. 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:32.819 Ten percent can make a huge difference when you 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:35.060 think about how widespread the damage is from 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:37.819 a hurricane. Why would being part of a group 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:40.529 offer more protection? The main idea is that 00:04:40.529 --> 00:04:42.649 it's all about having enough space for the roots 00:04:42.649 --> 00:04:45.509 to grow. I see. When trees have room to spread 00:04:45.509 --> 00:04:47.410 their roots and growing in a group rather than 00:04:47.410 --> 00:04:50.149 being totally isolated often means the roots 00:04:50.149 --> 00:04:53.310 can connect and form a stronger network. They 00:04:53.310 --> 00:04:55.949 can really anchor themselves in the ground. So 00:04:55.949 --> 00:04:57.829 it's probably not so much about physical support 00:04:57.829 --> 00:05:00.250 from nearby trees but more about having strong 00:05:00.250 --> 00:05:02.269 roots from having enough space to grow. That 00:05:02.269 --> 00:05:06.069 makes sense. Intuitively stronger, more widespread 00:05:06.069 --> 00:05:08.069 roots would make it harder to uproot a tree. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:10.579 So for planting in the future, it seems like 00:05:10.579 --> 00:05:12.360 we should think about making these groups of 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.360 trees instead of just planting them one by one. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:17.060 Exactly, and it's not just about planting them 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.480 close together. Right. Having a variety of tree 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:21.980 species mixing in trees of different ages and 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:24.399 even including shrubs and smaller trees underneath 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:28.019 the main canopy, all of that can make a community's 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:31.819 urban forest much stronger. Okay, so diversity 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:33.879 and planting in groups seem like good strategies. 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:36.639 What about the types of trees themselves? Are 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.019 some species just naturally better at handling 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:42.139 strong winds than others? Absolutely. Our studies 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:44.600 looking at what happened after those 10 hurricanes 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:46.959 have consistently shown that some types of trees 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:49.100 are just better at handling hurricane force winds. 00:05:49.220 --> 00:05:51.699 And by wind resistance, we mean their ability 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:54.019 to stay standing and alive, even in those crazy 00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:56.899 wind speeds. They're less likely to be uprooted 00:05:56.899 --> 00:05:59.600 or have major damage like a broken trunk or big 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:02.629 branches falling off. And I imagine that information 00:06:02.629 --> 00:06:05.370 is super valuable for communities that are either 00:06:05.370 --> 00:06:08.170 rebuilding after a hurricane or are trying to 00:06:08.170 --> 00:06:09.769 prepare for future storms. Oh, it's crucial. 00:06:10.170 --> 00:06:12.870 One of the big goals of this research is to make 00:06:12.870 --> 00:06:15.050 practical lists of these tough tree species, 00:06:15.310 --> 00:06:18.350 and to make this information as useful as possible. 00:06:18.870 --> 00:06:20.930 These recommendations are tailored to different 00:06:20.930 --> 00:06:23.149 parts of the country that get hit by hurricanes. 00:06:23.949 --> 00:06:26.970 We've got specific lists for the southeastern 00:06:26.970 --> 00:06:29.629 coastal plain, which basically lines up with 00:06:29.629 --> 00:06:32.629 USDA plant hardiness zones eight and nine, and 00:06:32.629 --> 00:06:34.689 another set of recommendations for the more tropical 00:06:34.689 --> 00:06:37.629 and subtropical zones, specifically zones 10 00:06:37.629 --> 00:06:41.290 and 11. OK. on both what we've seen on the ground 00:06:41.290 --> 00:06:44.910 after hurricanes and expert opinions from arborists, 00:06:45.149 --> 00:06:48.110 tree scientists, and urban forestry pros. So 00:06:48.110 --> 00:06:50.550 if you live in, say, coastal Georgia, you'd check 00:06:50.550 --> 00:06:52.370 a different list than someone living in the Florida 00:06:52.370 --> 00:06:54.449 Keys. Exactly. And knowing which trees don't 00:06:54.449 --> 00:06:56.430 do well in hurricanes is just as important as 00:06:56.430 --> 00:06:58.750 knowing the strong ones. We found certain overmature 00:06:58.750 --> 00:07:01.470 or inherently hazardous trees that have a bad 00:07:01.470 --> 00:07:03.470 track record when it comes to surviving hurricane 00:07:03.470 --> 00:07:06.029 force winds. In North Florida, some examples 00:07:06.029 --> 00:07:08.870 of these weaker trees are sand pine, pecan, laurel, 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.579 oak and water oak further south in the tropical 00:07:11.579 --> 00:07:14.339 and subtropical areas. You might want to be careful 00:07:14.339 --> 00:07:18.079 with trees like Queen Palm, Australian Pine Mililuca 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:21.579 Weeping Banyan, and Washington Palm. So it might 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:25.079 even be a good idea to proactively remove some 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:27.680 of those weaker, more vulnerable trees if they're 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:30.279 old or could pose a danger to property or people. 00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:32.439 That's definitely a smart move that communities 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.399 and homeowners should consider replacing trees 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:36.399 that are on their way out or known to be weak 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:39.000 and strong winds with groups of more resistant, 00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:41.439 longer living species, like different kinds of 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.879 live oaks, can really help build a healthier 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:46.480 and stronger urban forest that provides better 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.240 long -term canopy cover and more biodiversity. 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:51.279 It's like an investment in the future of our 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:54.540 green spaces. Now, you mentioned that laurel 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:56.240 oaks didn't do so well in North Florida, but 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.480 that wasn't as clear in South Florida. That's 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:01.209 an interesting regional difference. It is. There 00:08:01.209 --> 00:08:03.449 are a couple of possible explanations for that. 00:08:03.670 --> 00:08:05.850 One is that the laurel oaks often found in South 00:08:05.850 --> 00:08:07.709 Florida might actually be a different genetic 00:08:07.709 --> 00:08:09.829 variety than the ones common in North Florida. 00:08:10.310 --> 00:08:12.329 Another thing could be the differences in soil 00:08:12.329 --> 00:08:15.379 between the two regions. South Florida usually 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:18.120 has sandier soils with less nutrients, which 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.220 could mean that laurel oaks there don't grow 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:22.879 as tall or develop the same trunk and branch 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.259 structure as their northern cousins. This difference 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:28.680 in how they grow could affect their wind resistance 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:32.320 in different ways. However, it's generally accepted 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:34.840 that live oak trees have super strong wood and 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:37.500 do really well against hurricane winds. It's 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.220 good reminder that how well a specific tree species 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:43.000 does can depend on the local environment, like 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.519 the soil and climate. It's not a one -size -fits 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:47.080 -all answer when it comes to choosing the right 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:49.039 trees. Now, let's talk about palm trees. They 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.820 look totally different from broadleaf trees. 00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:53.480 How do they usually handle hurricanes? Great 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.519 question as a whole group. Palm trees tend to 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:59.059 be better at withstanding hurricane force winds 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:02.279 than many broadleaf trees and coniferous trees 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:05.679 like pines. Their unique way of growing with 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.360 just one central growing point at the top of 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:10.740 the trunk. We call it the terminal bud. That's 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:12.759 a big part of why they're so tough. If this bud 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.960 survives the storm, the palm can actually recover 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:18.899 and grow new leaves. even if it loses all the 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:21.559 ones it already has. So if a palm loses all its 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:23.620 leaves during a hurricane, that's not necessarily 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:26.049 the end for the tree. Usually not, as long as 00:09:26.049 --> 00:09:28.389 that central bud isn't damaged. Our research 00:09:28.389 --> 00:09:31.570 supports this idea. Palms in both coastal plain 00:09:31.570 --> 00:09:34.870 and subtropical areas tend to be more wind resistant 00:09:34.870 --> 00:09:37.629 overall than lots of other tree types. And this 00:09:37.629 --> 00:09:39.590 is important, how they respond to winds can be 00:09:39.590 --> 00:09:41.889 very different between different kinds of palms. 00:09:42.049 --> 00:09:43.929 Like we talked about earlier, Queen palms and 00:09:43.929 --> 00:09:46.429 Washington palms haven't done well in South Florida 00:09:46.429 --> 00:09:48.750 hurricanes. So just like with other types of 00:09:48.750 --> 00:09:50.450 trees, choosing the right kind of palm is key. 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:53.399 Exactly some examples of wind resistant palms 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:56.899 would be sable palm, canary island date palm, 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.220 and manila palm. And one thing to remember with 00:09:59.220 --> 00:10:01.240 palms is that you need to keep a close eye on 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:03.639 them after a storm damage to that important terminal 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:06.399 bud might not be easy to see. So it's best to 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:08.460 wait at least six months to see if new leaves 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:11.059 start to grow. You should also watch for any 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:13.840 subtle signs of damage to the root stem or the 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:16.690 bud itself. That's good to know. You might look 00:10:16.690 --> 00:10:18.830 at a palm after a hurricane and think it's fine, 00:10:18.889 --> 00:10:20.769 but there could be problems you don't notice 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:23.470 right away. Right. What about pine trees? They 00:10:23.470 --> 00:10:25.610 were also mentioned as having a kind of unique 00:10:25.610 --> 00:10:28.379 reaction to hurricane winds. Yes, pines often 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:30.799 have this delayed and sometimes really surprising 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:32.899 response to the stress of hurricane winds right 00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:35.799 after a storm. They can look totally fine, still 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.559 green and standing tall. But the scary thing 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:41.759 is they can start to decline and eventually die 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:43.740 months or even up to two years later. We actually 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:45.700 saw this in our research after Hurricane Charlie, 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:49.240 where a big chunk of seemingly healthy South 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:52.600 Florida slash pines and longleaf pines died within 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:54.779 just three months of the storm. Wow, that's a 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:56.679 hidden impact, and it could be really significant 00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:59.389 what causes this delayed decline. While we're 00:10:59.389 --> 00:11:01.210 still figuring out exactly how it works, the 00:11:01.210 --> 00:11:03.110 main theory suggests that it's probably from 00:11:03.110 --> 00:11:06.309 subtle internal damage caused by all the bending 00:11:06.309 --> 00:11:08.250 and twisting they go through in hurricane force 00:11:08.250 --> 00:11:11.330 winds. Those smaller roots might tear without 00:11:11.330 --> 00:11:13.309 the bigger visible ones breaking this hidden 00:11:13.309 --> 00:11:15.850 damage, can stop them from effectively moving 00:11:15.850 --> 00:11:18.029 water and nutrients up to the top of the tree. 00:11:18.090 --> 00:11:20.169 Oh, I see. So they might look healthy and green 00:11:20.169 --> 00:11:22.110 for a while, but then suddenly show signs of 00:11:22.110 --> 00:11:24.309 stress like yellow needles, which can quickly 00:11:24.309 --> 00:11:27.049 turn brown and lead to the tree dying. So even 00:11:27.049 --> 00:11:29.059 if your pines look OK right now, after a hurricane, 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.500 you gotta keep a close eye on them for a long 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:34.039 time after. Exactly. You need to be watching 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:36.500 for any signs of stress or problems with bugs 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:39.679 for months or even years after a big storm. Gotcha. 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:41.860 Pines that have been weakened by the wind can 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:44.259 be more easily attacked by pests and diseases. 00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:47.179 Let's switch gears a bit and talk about trees 00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:50.379 losing their leaves during hurricanes. It sounds 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:52.539 odd, but isn't it true that sometimes losing 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:55.799 leaves can actually help certain trees survive 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:59.870 strong winds? That's right. It might look dramatic 00:11:59.870 --> 00:12:03.029 to see a tree totally bare, but for a lot of 00:12:03.029 --> 00:12:06.950 broadleaf trees, this is a way to survive. Hurricane 00:12:06.950 --> 00:12:10.409 force winds put a ton of pressure on the whole 00:12:10.409 --> 00:12:13.629 surface of a tree's crown, and by dropping their 00:12:13.629 --> 00:12:16.309 leaves, those trees are basically making themselves 00:12:16.309 --> 00:12:19.289 less resistant to the wind. It's like a sailboat 00:12:19.289 --> 00:12:21.210 taking down its sails when there's a big gust 00:12:21.210 --> 00:12:23.470 of wind so it doesn't tip over. Exactly. And 00:12:23.470 --> 00:12:25.169 it's important to understand that just because 00:12:25.169 --> 00:12:26.929 a tree loses all its leaves, it doesn't mean 00:12:26.929 --> 00:12:29.210 it's dead. Right. It just can't make its own 00:12:29.210 --> 00:12:31.909 food through photosynthesis for a while. OK. 00:12:32.129 --> 00:12:34.509 But with enough time and the right conditions, 00:12:35.009 --> 00:12:37.750 most of these trees will grow new leaves, which 00:12:37.750 --> 00:12:39.889 is a good sign that they're recovering. This 00:12:39.889 --> 00:12:42.210 new growth usually happens within a few months 00:12:42.210 --> 00:12:44.850 after the storm or by the next spring or early 00:12:44.850 --> 00:12:47.240 summer. Are there specific types of trees that 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.539 are known for dropping their leaves in strong 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:51.879 winds and generally doing pretty well during 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:54.860 hurricanes? Yes. In North Florida, the live oak 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:57.460 is a great example. It sheds its leaves and smaller 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:00.620 branches easily and is generally really good 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:03.059 at handling strong winds further south in the 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:06.519 tropical and subtropical areas. The gumbo limbo 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.100 tree does something similar. It drops its leaves 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.899 and is known for being wind resistant. However, 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.159 it's important to remember that this leaf dropping 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.639 strategy isn't good for all kinds of trees like 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.059 we talked about earlier. Coniferous trees like 00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:21.480 pines might not recover well if they lose a lot 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:24.139 of their needles. Okay, so leaf loss can be a 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:26.379 sign of resilience for some broadleaf trees as 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:29.340 a way to reduce wind resistance. But it's a bigger 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:31.740 concern for conifers. Yeah, that's a good distinction 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:34.019 to keep in mind. Now let's talk about native 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:37.299 versus exotic or non -native trees. Is there 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:39.539 a general pattern in how these two groups tend 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:42.000 to do when faced with hurricane force winds? 00:13:42.269 --> 00:13:44.529 There's some interesting data on this. Our research 00:13:44.529 --> 00:13:47.110 after a few big hurricanes in South Florida, 00:13:47.330 --> 00:13:49.230 including Gene, Andrew and Charlie, showed a 00:13:49.230 --> 00:13:52.090 general trend where native tree species had better 00:13:52.090 --> 00:13:54.809 survival rates overall and less branch damage 00:13:54.809 --> 00:13:57.769 compared to exotic or non -native species. Some 00:13:57.769 --> 00:14:00.490 examples of native trees they did well were live 00:14:00.490 --> 00:14:04.009 oak, gumbo, limbo and sable palm, while more 00:14:04.009 --> 00:14:07.090 vulnerable exotic species included melaleuca, 00:14:07.350 --> 00:14:09.889 Australian pine and queen palm. So does that 00:14:09.889 --> 00:14:12.179 mean that focusing on planting native trees might 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:14.879 be a good strategy in areas that get hit by hurricanes? 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:17.360 It definitely seems like a smart approach. And 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.679 this trend might have to do with the fact that 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.200 in the urban forests of South Florida, exotic 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:26.399 trees make up a big chunk of the total tree population. 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:28.820 I see. However, things aren't quite as simple 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:30.840 when we look at other areas. For instance, when 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.860 we looked at the impact of Hurricane Ivan in 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:35.700 North Florida, we didn't see that same clear 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:37.960 pattern of native species always doing better 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:40.480 than their exotic counterparts. Why the difference 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.950 in those? observations. One possible reason for 00:14:42.950 --> 00:14:45.250 this regional variation could be that there are 00:14:45.250 --> 00:14:48.049 way fewer exotic trees in the urban forests of 00:14:48.049 --> 00:14:50.429 North Florida compared to South Florida. In the 00:14:50.429 --> 00:14:53.090 case of Hurricane Ivan, exotic species were only 00:14:53.090 --> 00:14:55.269 about nine percent of all the trees studied. 00:14:55.429 --> 00:14:57.870 The main exotic species in that region were things 00:14:57.870 --> 00:15:00.850 like grape myrtle, Chinese tallow tree, camphor 00:15:00.850 --> 00:15:03.830 tree, Bradford pear, and some palm species. We 00:15:03.830 --> 00:15:06.409 also saw this trend of native trees surviving 00:15:06.409 --> 00:15:08.649 better in South Florida when we compared it to 00:15:08.649 --> 00:15:11.009 what happened after Hurricane George. in Puerto 00:15:11.009 --> 00:15:13.730 Rico, which had very few native tree species 00:15:13.730 --> 00:15:16.389 included in the measurements. It's also interesting 00:15:16.389 --> 00:15:18.669 that Hurricane George's was a weaker storm with 00:15:18.669 --> 00:15:21.210 lighter winds, and there weren't any statistically 00:15:21.210 --> 00:15:23.909 significant differences in survival rates between 00:15:23.909 --> 00:15:26.389 the native and exotic species in Puerto Rico. 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:29.159 So it seems like how many exotic species there 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.360 are in a region's urban forest might affect whether 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:34.379 we see a clear advantage for native species during 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:36.399 urticaines. That's a strong possibility, and 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:38.840 it shows how complex ecological interactions 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:41.179 can be. Right. And of course, there are tons 00:15:41.179 --> 00:15:43.059 of other good reasons to plant native trees, 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:45.220 like their importance for local wildlife and 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:47.620 helping to preserve native ecosystems. Let's 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:50.220 talk more about individual trees. How do things 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:53.639 like a tree's age and overall health affect its 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:56.220 ability to handle hurricane -force winds. Age 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:58.419 and health are definitely big factors that can 00:15:58.419 --> 00:16:00.980 make a tree more or less vulnerable to hurricane 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:03.779 damage as trees get older. They naturally become 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.960 more susceptible to all sorts of problems like 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:09.580 bugs, diseases, and branches dying back. Older 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:12.500 trees also tend to become less flexible and might 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.480 have picked up some minor damage over time from 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.440 past storms or other stress which makes them 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.820 more likely to break in strong winds. Right. 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:22.440 Our research has shown that bigger, older trees 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.980 tend to lose a larger percentage of their branches 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:27.200 during hurricanes compared to younger, smaller 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:29.460 trees. So that big, strong -looking old oak tree 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:31.720 in your yard might actually be at higher risk 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.899 than the younger, more flexible trees around 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:36.240 it when a hurricane's coming. Yeah. Unfortunately, 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.460 that can be the case. Wow. And it's important 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:40.659 for homeowners and people who manage urban forests 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:43.419 to remember that every tree has a natural lifespan. 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:46.179 Some just live longer than others. For example, 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:48.799 a laurel oak might only live for about 50 years. 00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:51.129 years and can start showing signs of decline 00:16:51.129 --> 00:16:53.490 and becoming more susceptible to disease as early 00:16:53.490 --> 00:16:56.990 as 40 years old. As a tree gets close to or passes 00:16:56.990 --> 00:17:00.029 its typical lifespan, the risk of it breaking 00:17:00.029 --> 00:17:02.710 in strong winds goes up and the potential for 00:17:02.710 --> 00:17:05.430 it to cause a lot of damage if it does fall also 00:17:05.430 --> 00:17:08.029 increases. That makes sense. Yeah. So thinking 00:17:08.029 --> 00:17:10.069 about the natural lifespan of different tree 00:17:10.069 --> 00:17:12.769 species should be a big part of how we manage 00:17:12.769 --> 00:17:16.099 our urban forests. Absolutely. Overmature trees 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:18.619 that pose a danger to people or property should 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:21.660 definitely be considered for removal and replacement 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:24.720 with younger, more wind resistant species that 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:26.819 are better suited to the long term health and 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:29.579 strength of the urban forest. Regular checks 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:31.880 for structural problems and overall health by 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:35.259 a certified arborist or urban forester are crucial 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:38.220 for effectively managing older trees in our communities. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.299 And it's not just being old that makes a tree 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.559 vulnerable, right? Trees that aren't healthy 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.630 are also going to be at a much higher risk. of 00:17:44.630 --> 00:17:46.630 falling during a hurricane. Exactly trees that 00:17:46.630 --> 00:17:49.049 are already having problems like root decay decay 00:17:49.049 --> 00:17:51.269 in the trunk or branches or have a lot of dead 00:17:51.269 --> 00:17:53.750 or dying branches are way more vulnerable to 00:17:53.750 --> 00:17:56.710 hurricane force winds. Decay which is often caused 00:17:56.710 --> 00:17:59.289 by different types of fungi weakens the wood 00:17:59.289 --> 00:18:02.140 inside the tree. Visible signs like cracks in 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:04.720 the bark, sunken or swollen areas on the trunk, 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.359 dead branch stubs, and even mushrooms growing 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.559 at the base of the tree can all be signs of decay 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:12.559 or root problems. Root rot, for example, can 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.299 make a tree much less stable. Regular inspections 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:18.140 by qualified arborists can help find these potentially 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:20.619 dangerous trees before a storm even gets close. 00:18:21.069 --> 00:18:23.529 So being proactive with tree care, including 00:18:23.529 --> 00:18:26.690 removing unhealthy or structurally unsound trees, 00:18:27.190 --> 00:18:29.430 is a vital part of hurricane preparedness for 00:18:29.430 --> 00:18:32.809 urban forests. What about the physical structure 00:18:32.809 --> 00:18:35.250 of the tree itself, things like how the branches 00:18:35.250 --> 00:18:37.710 grow and how the trunk develops? That's super 00:18:37.710 --> 00:18:40.349 important. Trees that grow what we call codominant 00:18:40.349 --> 00:18:42.809 stems, meaning they have two or more main trunks 00:18:42.809 --> 00:18:44.650 that are about the same size coming from the 00:18:44.650 --> 00:18:46.589 same spot near the ground, are often naturally 00:18:46.589 --> 00:18:49.109 more vulnerable to wind damage. I see. These 00:18:49.109 --> 00:18:51.029 types of structures can develop weak spots where 00:18:51.029 --> 00:18:53.130 the stems connect often with what we call bark 00:18:53.130 --> 00:18:56.150 inclusions. Bark inclusion happens when the bark 00:18:56.150 --> 00:18:58.650 grows inward between the two stems, stopping 00:18:58.650 --> 00:19:01.049 the strong wood fibers from interlocking and 00:19:01.049 --> 00:19:03.309 creating a really solid connection. Interesting. 00:19:03.670 --> 00:19:06.109 These connections are especially likely to fail 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:08.880 and break in strong winds. So the best structure 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:11.259 for a wind resistant tree is one with a single 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:14.730 strong central trunk. Exactly. Choosing and planting 00:19:14.730 --> 00:19:17.470 good quality nursery trees that have one well 00:19:17.470 --> 00:19:20.150 -defined central leader and a nice symmetrical 00:19:20.150 --> 00:19:23.970 shape is a crucial first step in promoting long 00:19:23.970 --> 00:19:26.630 -term wind resistance. And it doesn't end there. 00:19:26.630 --> 00:19:28.829 Proper pruning, especially when a tree is young, 00:19:28.990 --> 00:19:31.390 plays a huge role in developing a strong wind 00:19:31.390 --> 00:19:34.109 resistant structure. Trees that have been pruned 00:19:34.109 --> 00:19:36.849 well to encourage a more open and balanced crown 00:19:36.849 --> 00:19:39.269 tend to do much better during hurricanes than 00:19:39.269 --> 00:19:41.470 trees that haven't been pruned or have been pruned 00:19:41.470 --> 00:19:44.660 poorly. So doing pruning the wrong way can actually 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:46.980 make a tree more likely to be damaged by wind. 00:19:47.230 --> 00:19:49.710 Absolutely. Things like topping trees or cutting 00:19:49.710 --> 00:19:51.990 off big branches in a way that leaves big open 00:19:51.990 --> 00:19:54.250 wounds can actually make it easier for things 00:19:54.250 --> 00:19:56.829 that cause decay to get in. Old pruning cuts 00:19:56.829 --> 00:19:59.430 that weren't done right can become places where 00:19:59.430 --> 00:20:01.509 fungi can start growing and weakening the tree 00:20:01.509 --> 00:20:04.730 from the inside out. The main goal of preventive 00:20:04.730 --> 00:20:07.269 structural pruning is to guide how the tree grows 00:20:07.269 --> 00:20:09.470 by shortening and reducing the number of branches 00:20:09.470 --> 00:20:11.769 that are competing with the main trunk. This 00:20:11.769 --> 00:20:14.309 helps the tree develop a strong central leader 00:20:14.309 --> 00:20:17.369 and well -spaced smaller branches. Right. And 00:20:17.369 --> 00:20:18.910 of course, picking the right type of tree for 00:20:18.910 --> 00:20:20.569 the spot, thinking about how big it's going to 00:20:20.569 --> 00:20:23.210 get, and not planting big trees under power lines 00:20:23.210 --> 00:20:25.609 can reduce the need for drastic pruning later 00:20:25.609 --> 00:20:28.190 on, which could damage the tree. This all really 00:20:28.190 --> 00:20:30.390 highlights how important good pre -care practices 00:20:30.390 --> 00:20:32.930 are, from choosing the right species to planting 00:20:32.930 --> 00:20:34.869 it correctly and taking care of it as it grows. 00:20:35.630 --> 00:20:37.569 All of that helps us build urban forests that 00:20:37.569 --> 00:20:40.849 can handle hurricane force winds. Now let's go 00:20:40.849 --> 00:20:43.470 down to ground level, the soil and the root system. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:46.759 How do those underground parts help a tree withstand 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:49.619 strong winds? The stuff you don't see that's 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:51.759 holding the tree up is absolutely vital for its 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.200 stability. Giving trees enough space in the soil 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.380 so their roots can spread out is one of the most 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:59.660 overlooked but fundamentally important things 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:02.259 when it comes to a tree's ability to resist being 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:05.349 uprooted by strong winds. Makes sense. Our research, 00:21:05.569 --> 00:21:07.630 including studies after Hurricane George's in 00:21:07.630 --> 00:21:09.910 Puerto Rico, has clearly shown that trees with 00:21:09.910 --> 00:21:12.349 more uncompacted soil for their roots to grow 00:21:12.349 --> 00:21:15.069 in had much higher survival rates during the 00:21:15.069 --> 00:21:17.369 hurricane. So more space for the roots to spread 00:21:17.369 --> 00:21:19.170 out and anchor the tree in the ground, right? 00:21:19.410 --> 00:21:21.710 Exactly. The root system needs to be able to 00:21:21.710 --> 00:21:24.049 grow well beyond the outer edge of the tree's 00:21:24.049 --> 00:21:26.430 canopy and go deep into the soil to provide a 00:21:26.430 --> 00:21:28.289 good anchor, unfortunately, in a lot of cities. 00:21:28.809 --> 00:21:31.210 Things like sidewalks, curves, building foundations, 00:21:31.529 --> 00:21:33.529 parking lots, and driveways often really limit 00:21:33.529 --> 00:21:35.630 the space available for roots to grow freely. 00:21:35.809 --> 00:21:38.390 Right. A strong well -developed root system that's 00:21:38.390 --> 00:21:40.869 had plenty of room to grow is probably the most 00:21:40.869 --> 00:21:43.190 important thing for a tree's ability to withstand 00:21:43.190 --> 00:21:45.509 hurricane winds in a city. So when we're planting 00:21:45.509 --> 00:21:47.789 trees in urban areas we need to think just as 00:21:47.789 --> 00:21:49.829 much about what's happening underground as we 00:21:49.829 --> 00:21:52.009 do about the parts of the tree we can see above 00:21:52.009 --> 00:21:54.529 ground. Absolutely and it's not just about the 00:21:54.529 --> 00:21:57.250 space available for roots. The qualities of the 00:21:57.250 --> 00:22:00.809 soil itself matter too. Things like having enough 00:22:00.809 --> 00:22:03.720 soil depth at least three feet. in most cases, 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:07.019 a deep water table and soil that isn't too compacted. 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:09.720 all contribute to healthy and extensive root 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:13.400 systems, which means better wind resistance trees 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:16.299 planted in shallow or heavily compacted soils, 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:18.779 especially if they don't drain well or have a 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:21.619 high water table, tend to develop weak and shallow 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:24.019 roots, making them much more likely to be uprooted 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:26.480 in strong winds. And it's not just about the 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.359 existing soil conditions. We also need to be 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:30.500 super careful not to damage the roots of trees 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.619 that are already there. Right. The network of 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:35.000 roots under a tree's canopy is vital for keeping 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:37.430 it stable. And many of the biggest, most important 00:22:37.430 --> 00:22:39.609 support roots are close to the surface, cutting 00:22:39.609 --> 00:22:41.849 or damaging these main anchoring roots, especially 00:22:41.849 --> 00:22:44.869 within the area under the tree's crown, seriously 00:22:44.869 --> 00:22:46.829 weakens the tree's ability to stay upright in 00:22:46.829 --> 00:22:49.029 strong winds. It's really important to avoid 00:22:49.029 --> 00:22:51.130 damaging roots during any kind of construction. 00:22:51.450 --> 00:22:54.450 And a good rule of thumb is to never cut any 00:22:54.450 --> 00:22:56.670 roots closer than five times the diameter of 00:22:56.670 --> 00:22:59.250 the tree trunk. OK. Once those crucial anchoring 00:22:59.250 --> 00:23:02.410 roots are damaged, the tree's stability is compromised, 00:23:02.490 --> 00:23:05.210 sometimes beyond repair. This has been incredibly 00:23:05.210 --> 00:23:08.190 insightful. It's amazing how complex the impact 00:23:08.190 --> 00:23:10.890 of hurricanes on our urban trees really is. Now, 00:23:11.069 --> 00:23:13.369 I came across a more reasoned example about Tampa 00:23:13.369 --> 00:23:15.990 losing a lot of tree canopy because of hurricanes 00:23:15.990 --> 00:23:19.009 in 2024 and how that could lead to rising temperatures 00:23:19.009 --> 00:23:21.710 in the city that really brings home the real 00:23:21.710 --> 00:23:23.450 world implications of this issue, doesn't it? 00:23:23.650 --> 00:23:26.630 It does. The hurricanes in 2024 had a very real 00:23:26.630 --> 00:23:29.529 impact on Tampa's urban tree canopy. Early estimates 00:23:29.529 --> 00:23:32.250 suggest a loss of up to five percent of the city's 00:23:32.250 --> 00:23:34.569 tree cover. Wow. This isn't just about losing 00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:36.920 trees. visually, it has real consequences for 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.940 the health and environment of the city. Because 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.920 mature trees provide so much shade, which is 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:43.180 crucial for keeping cities cooler, especially 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.839 during those hot summer months. Exactly. Studies 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.279 have consistently shown that the shade from a 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:51.019 healthy tree canopy can reduce surrounding air 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:53.259 temperatures by as much as six degrees Fahrenheit. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:55.859 That's a lot. And when you consider that summer 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:58.500 temperatures in Tampa often get into the 90s, 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:01.599 a six degree difference is huge. It can really 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:03.839 affect how comfortable people are, how much energy 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.819 they use. for cooling and even public health. 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:08.539 So losing that much tree cover is expected to 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:10.869 make temperatures in Tampa even hotter. That's 00:24:10.869 --> 00:24:13.130 what's expected. And unfortunately, efforts to 00:24:13.130 --> 00:24:15.809 replant and restore Tampa's lost trees have been 00:24:15.809 --> 00:24:18.130 made harder because of cuts to federal grant 00:24:18.130 --> 00:24:20.369 funding, which makes it tougher for the city 00:24:20.369 --> 00:24:22.849 to invest in the tree planting and care needed 00:24:22.849 --> 00:24:25.509 to counteract those potential temperature increases. 00:24:26.210 --> 00:24:29.029 This situation really shows how widespread and 00:24:29.029 --> 00:24:31.130 long lasting the effects of hurricane damage 00:24:31.130 --> 00:24:33.569 can be on our cities. And it highlights how important 00:24:33.569 --> 00:24:35.630 it is to plan ahead and have the money for effective 00:24:35.630 --> 00:24:38.609 recovery and building long term resilience. It's 00:24:38.609 --> 00:24:40.769 a powerful reminder that the impact of these 00:24:40.769 --> 00:24:42.970 storms goes way beyond the immediate effects 00:24:42.970 --> 00:24:45.490 of wind and rain. The health and extent of our 00:24:45.490 --> 00:24:48.250 urban forests play a vital role in the well -being 00:24:48.250 --> 00:24:51.450 of our communities. For sure having healthy and 00:24:51.450 --> 00:24:54.009 thriving urban forests provides so many benefits 00:24:54.009 --> 00:24:56.589 to our communities from shade and cooling to 00:24:56.589 --> 00:24:59.369 cleaner air and water and just making life better 00:24:59.369 --> 00:25:01.490 for residents when those trees are damaged or 00:25:01.490 --> 00:25:03.690 lost because of natural disasters like hurricanes. 00:25:04.349 --> 00:25:07.190 The negative effects can last for years. So as 00:25:07.190 --> 00:25:09.519 we can see the impact of hurricanes on trees 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:13.079 is a multifaceted issue with immediate and long 00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:15.180 -lasting consequences for our urban environments. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:17.180 Everything from the traits of different tree 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:19.440 species to how they're planted and cared for 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:21.900 influences their ability to withstand these incredible 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:24.460 powerful storms. And as we've learned with Tampa, 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.819 losing those trees can even have a measurable 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:29.299 effect on a city's climate. Understanding these 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:31.779 complex dynamics isn't just for arborists and 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.740 city planners. It empowers each of us to make 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:35.660 smarter choices about the trees in our yards 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:38.079 and in our communities, helping to create a more 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:40.559 resilient and sustainable urban environment for 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:43.119 the future. We encourage you to really look at 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:45.759 the trees around you and maybe even explore the 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:48.579 specific wind -resistant tree species recommended 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:51.319 for your area. Yeah. It seems like a small thing, 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:53.680 but it can make a big difference when we face 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:55.920 these severe weather events. Absolutely. For 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:58.140 more deep tives into different weather phenomena 00:25:58.140 --> 00:26:00.359 and how they affect our world, be sure to follow 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:03.940 meteorologist Rob Jones on Instagram, meteorologist 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:08.019 on TikTok, TV meteorologist, and subscribe to 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:10.500 Rob Jones Hurricane on YouTube. You can find 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:12.680 the Meteorology Matters podcast playlist there. 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.980 Sounds great. Keep exploring the fascinating 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:17.079 world around us, keep learning new things, and 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:19.059 we'll see you next time on the Meteorology Matters 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:21.650 podcast. Here's a final thought for you to consider 00:26:21.650 --> 00:26:23.509 given everything we've talked about today about 00:26:23.509 --> 00:26:26.390 how vulnerable older trees are in hurricane -prone 00:26:26.390 --> 00:26:29.289 areas. How can communities strike a balance between 00:26:29.289 --> 00:26:31.829 the beauty and historical significance of large 00:26:31.829 --> 00:26:34.829 mature trees and the growing safety risks they 00:26:34.829 --> 00:26:36.829 might pose in a changing climate that could bring 00:26:36.829 --> 00:26:39.569 us more frequent and stronger storms? It's a 00:26:39.569 --> 00:26:42.450 tough question without any easy answers, but 00:26:42.450 --> 00:26:44.650 it's one that communities will probably need 00:26:44.650 --> 00:26:46.910 to address more and more in the coming years. 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:49.460 Thank you for listening to Meteorology Matters. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.180 See you next time.