Introduction to Phenology

1
Introduction to Phenology
2
What is Phenology?
Phenology is the study of living organisms
response to seasonal and climatic changes in
their environment.
March 1987

• Variations in day length or duration of sunlight
• Precipitation
• Temperature
• Other life-controlling factors

May 1987
3
What Causes Seasons?

• Changes in solar energy due to the tilt of the
  Earth and its orientation as it revolves around
  the Sun

• Latitude, Earths tilt, and position relative to
  the Sun causes different amounts of the Suns
  energy to hit different areas of the Earth

4
The Keeling Curve Concentration of CO2 at
Mauna Loa, Hawaii
Start Greenup (N.H. spring)
Start greendown (late N.H. summer to fall)
5
Satellite Observations
Estimates of greenness values from remote sensing
data vary because of problems from atmospheric
properties, sun angle, aging of satellite
detectors.
GLOBE ground-based observations help scientists
validate estimates of growing seasons.
6
Phenology Protocols

• Budburst
• Green-Up
• Green-Down
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Lilac Phenology
• Phenological Gardens
• Seaweed Reproduction Phenology
• Arctic Bird Migration Monitoring