There seems to be more pollen in the air
- Herb Broda: Nature Notebook
- June 22, 2018
- 1954
Is there more pollen than ever? Looking through pollen-dusted glasses at the pale-yellow coating on the hood of my car, I would say yes.
Some scientists definitely feel there is more pollen in the air. They cite the rising long-term increase in carbon dioxide levels from pollution as a factor related to increased pollen production.
Weather is a big player too. Warmer average temperatures paired with increased precipitation results in a longer growing season, which unfortunately means more pollen.
Part of the pollen problem may be a “battle of the sexes.” According to a feature in weather.com, some cities develop green spaces by planting more male trees rather than female trees.
The reason sounds very practical. Female trees produce all manner of seeds, fruits and pods, which can make for messy cleanup on the ground or sidewalk. Male trees, however, just produce pollen, lots of pollen.
One scientist recommends planting both types of trees to reduce the amount of pollen in the air. It’s an interesting idea, but the sexuality of trees is very complex because not all trees are dioecious (having either male or female flowers). Also, most trees in a city are growing on private property, not in public spaces.
Have you heard of this “ology?"
Slyly the thief eased out of the window with the jewelry in hand. His gloves left no fingerprints, but he brushed against the owner’s tropical houseplants beside the window. Later he claimed that he had been out of town on the day of the crime and had never been near the home. But the plants told the tale — or rather the pollen did.
The thief was caught using palynology, a science that includes the study of pollen and spores. Tell-tale pollen grains from his clothing could only have come from the plants that he touched in the house.
Palynology, a form of environmental biology, also can be used to track changes in climate over long periods of time. Because pollen grains have specific shapes, it is possible to identify the species of plant that produced a certain type of pollen. Pollen grains can reveal a bio-historic record of plants that lived in an area long before we did and also can show the impact of a changing climate.
We have a mental image of pollen grains as tiny yellow balls. In reality pollen takes on a huge variety of shapes and sizes including round, oval, disc and bean shapes. Some grasses even produce thread-like pollen.
The size, texture and color of pollen varies by plant species also. Typical colors are the yellows we frequently see, but white, cream or orange are common also. The texture of pollen grains can also vary, ranging from smooth to spiky. It takes a microscope to see pollen grains, so we miss seeing much of the variety and beauty of this essential ingredient for life.
Sniffles and sneezes
If trees were the only producers of pollen, our allergy worries would be over about now. Pollen, however, follows us through the spring, summer and fall. As trees complete their pollination in spring, the grasses kick into gear, producing pollen throughout the summer. As fall approaches, common weeds get into reproductive mode and spread their tiny granules to the wind during the fall.
Ragweed (not goldenrod) is a prime allergy producer as summer becomes a memory. According to a Healthline article, you may be right if you think there is more pollen than ever. Pollen levels appear to be increasing around the world, and the allergy season seems to be starting about two weeks earlier than it did several years ago.
If you have pollen allergies, pollen.com has some helpful information. Supposedly pollen counts are the highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Warm and dry days also can result in high pollen counts.
The best time to avoid pollen is after a heavy rainfall. The site also suggests bathing and shampooing hair before going to bed to avoid getting pollen on bedding. Many weather forecasting sites provide good local information about pollen counts, which can be especially helpful when travelling.
It has arrived
Hallelujah, summer officially arrived at 6:07 a.m. on June 21 when the sun reached its northernmost point from the equator. The sun is now high in the sky, and the days are deliciously long: around 15 hours of daylight right now. So let’s embrace the daylight. Let’s go outside.