By Science News
Old, cold facts
That draining wetlands leads to a greater likelihood of frosts and freezes in southern Florida (“Frosty Florida: Spread of agriculture may promote freezes,” SN: 11/8/03, p. 292: Frosty Florida: Spread of agriculture may promote freezes) was noted nearly a century ago. In The Commodore’s Story (1930, R. Munroe and V. Gilpin, Washburn), Ralph Munroe commented that “the ‘frost line’ moved spasmodically down the state as drainage decreased the water area and apparently influenced the temperature.”