受極端天氣影響 日本櫻花罕見秋季綻放

The start of the cherry blossom season in Japan normally takes place in March/April.

日本的櫻花盛開季通常從3或4月份開始。

This year, however, something truly bizarre has taken place: the cherry blossoms have made an appearance in October.

但今年卻出現了異乎尋常的景象：櫻花在10月競相開放。

According to WNI, a Japanese meteorology website, there have been 354 reported cases of cherry blossoms across the nation so far, from the more sub-tropical shores of Kyushu to the chillier realms of Hokkaido.

日本氣象網站WNI稱，從偏向亞熱帶氣候的九州海岸到更爲寒冷的北海道地區，迄今日本全國有354地報告有櫻花盛開的情況。

According to WNI, as spotted by NHK World meteorologist Sayaka Mori, it appears that typhoons are to blame.

WNI稱，在日本放送協會國際臺氣象專家森早矢香看來，颱風似乎是秋季櫻花開放的“罪魁禍首”。

In the summer, when the bulk of plant growth protein, known as FT, release is happening, the leaves also release hormones into the buds that stop them accidentally flowering too soon.

夏季，促進植物生長的蛋白FT大量釋放，葉片也同時向花蕾釋放阻止其意外過早綻放的激素。

The typhoons that have recently slammed into Japan, however, have thrown powerful winds their way, stripping many of these leaves from the trees.

不過最近襲擊日本的颱風攜着狂風一路橫掃，使樹上許多葉片脫落。

Salt, dragged up from the ocean, has also damaged many remaining leaves. This, it is thought, is why there's been a highly unusual October bloom.

此外，從海水中帶來的鹽損傷了許多殘存的葉子。這被認爲是出現非常罕見的10月開花的原因。

Without the leaves releasing the suppressant hormones, the middling temperatures in autumn are similar to those of spring's, which has tricked the cherry trees into erupting into color.

沒了釋放抑制開花激素的葉子，秋季不溫不火的氣溫與春季類似，櫻花樹“被騙”突然開花。