“Possibility of a few scattered afternoon showers, perhaps with thunder.” You’ve probably heard that sentence many times in the summer weather forecasts.
In summer, the sun warms the air, allowing it to hold a great deal of moisture. By the afternoon, the ground has become so warm that pockets of air start to rise.
As the air ascends, it cools, and a cloud begins to form. This process releases heat, causing the air to rise even further. Eventually, a proper cumulonimbus cloud develops – and the rain starts to pour down.
Shelter
There you stand in the rain – wearing thin trousers and a T-shirt, with no chance to get indoors.
If there are trees nearby, you can seek shelter under them. But which should you choose? Birch or pine, maple or hazel? We asked botanist Bjørn Moe.
– Find yourself a linden tree, he replies. That’s the very best umbrella tree.
The linden tree isn’t particularly fond of rain – it’s really the sun it’s after.
– It positions its leaves so they receive as much light as possible and shade each other as little as possible, explains Moe. If you stand under a linden and look straight up, you’ll see a dense green mosaic of leaves – an efficient umbrella!
Don’t choose a pine
The linden tree prefers warmth and nutrient-rich soil, and you’ll find it all along the coast from Eastern Norway to Møre. The tree is also widely used in parks and cities, and in Berlin, an entire street is named after it: Unter den Linden.
– Elm and ash trees are also decent umbrella trees, says Moe. But none can compare to the linden tree.
Which are the worst umbrella trees?
– The conifers, answers Moe. Pine, for instance – the rain just trickles straight through the sparse needles. But if you find a really large and dense spruce, you’ll stay dry.
In the video below, shot in Bergen, the sidewalk is dry under the linden tree.