Progress%20in%20Phenological%20Measurements

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• Progress in Phenological Measurements
• at the
• National and Local Scale

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Research Collaborators

• National Phenology Network (NPN) projectJulio
  Betancourt and Steve Grey
• Spatially Concentrated Phenological Measurements
  projectBrent Ewers and Scott Mackay

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Definition of Phenology

• Phenology which is derived from the Greek word
  phaino meaning to show or to appear, is the study
  of plant and animal life cycle events, which are
  triggered by environmental changes, especially
  temperature. Thus, timings of phenological
  events are ideal indicators of global change
  impacts.
• Seasonality is a related term, referring to
  similar non-biological events, such as timing of
  the fall formation and spring break-up of ice on
  fresh water lakes.

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Phenological Research

• Traditional approach agriculture-centered, and
  local-scale events
• New approach Earth systems interactions, and
  global-scale events

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Decadal Averaged Cherry Bloom in Kyoto, Japan
Data Source web file (no longer available)
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Mean onset of spring phenophases in the
International Phenological Gardens (Europe)
Source Menzel et al. 2001, Global Change
Biology, Figure 1
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Cloned lilac first leaf and first bloom datesat
a single station in Vermont
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Simulated phenology developed from lilac and
honeysuckle data combined with climate data
Source Schwartz and Reiter 2000, Plate 4
(updated)
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USA National Phenology Network (NPN)

• a continental-scale network observing regionally
  appropriate native plant species and cloned
  indicator plants (lilac)
• designed to complement remote sensing
  observations
• data collected will be freely available to the
  research community and general public

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Prototype for web-based NPNhttp//www.npn.uwm.edu
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Select appropriate native species
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Submit data over the Internet
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What might be possible with 20 years of
phenological data?

• Evaluate lengthening growing season impacts
• Evaluate differential impacts of climate change
  on different species groups/ecosystems
• Co-evaluate large area response and enhance
  continental carbon balance estimates
• Evaluate success of evolving global program to
  curb global greenhouse gas emissions

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Proposed NEON Regions
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James S. Clark, Duke University Clifford M. Dahm,
Univ. New Mexico Christopher B. Field, Stanford
Univ. Catherine A. Gehring, N. Arizona Univ.
Paul J. Hanson, Oak Ridge Natl. Lab. John Harte,
Univ. California, Berkeley Bruce P. Hayden, Univ.
of Virginia Alfredo R. Huete, Univ. of
Arizona Travis E. Huxman, Univ. of Arizona
Stephen T. Jackson, Univ. of Wyoming Linda A.
Joyce, U.S. Forest Service Alan K. Knapp,
Colorado State Univ. W. Arthur McKee, Univ. of
Montana Steven J. McNulty, U.S. Forest
Service James A. MacMahon, Utah State Univ. John
M. Melack, Univ. Calif-SB Barbara J. Morehouse,
Univ. of Arizona Richard J. Norby, Oak Ridge Natl
Lab. Dennis J. Ojima, Colorado State
Univ. Jonathan T. Overpeck, Univ. of
Arizona Debra P. Peters, USDA ARS, Jornada N.
LeRoy Poff, Colorado State Univ. Eric Post, Penn
State University. Hank J. Shugart, Univ. of
Virginia Stanley D. Smith, Univ. Nevada-LV Robert
G. Striegl, USGS Thomas W. Swetnam, Univ. of
Arizona Susan L. Ustin, Univ. California-Davis Tho
mas G. Whitham, N. Arizona Univ. Xubin Zeng,
University of Arizona
Convened by Julio Betancourt Pat Mulholland Dave
Breshears
http//www.neoninc.org
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Status of Planning for NPN Implementation

• NSF has funded a workshop proposal with
  additional funding contributed by EPA, NPS,
  USDA-FS, and USGS
• Workshop will be held in Tucson, AZ, August
  23-25, 2005 with 35-40 participants
• NEON Design Consortium has committed to
  incorporating a phenological component in their
  measurements and cooperating with NPN
• Goal is to have a blueprint completed along with
  necessary interagency agreements by November 1,
  2005

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Questions about Species and Phenological
Measurements

• Which indicator and native species to monitor?
• Which phenological events should be monitored?
  How often?

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Key Challenges to Network Development

• How can a sufficient density of long-term
  stations be established?
• What types of cooperative agreements and funding
  arrangements are needed? (especially NWS-COOP)
• Integration of automated with traditional
  methods?
• What role should volunteer observers from the
  general public serve?
• What type of station metadata is needed beyond
  that typically recorded at a NWS station?

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ChEAS ProjectSpatially Concentrated
Phenological Measurements

• Collect a spatially concentrated sample of tree
  phenology in the vicinity of the WLEF tall tower
• Collect associated microclimate, plant
  physiological, and leaf area measurements
• Establish level of phenological variability as
  determined by environment and genetics, and gauge
  the impact on water flux

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Uses of spatially concentrated phenological
measures

• Calibration and better understanding of remote
  sensing measurements
• Improved accuracy of flux measurements scaled-up
  to larger areas
• Improved accuracy of downscaling of regional
  scale atmospheric circulation models
• Improved understanding of plant growth impacts on
  lower atmospheric processes
• Improved understanding of connection between
  phenology and plant physiological processes

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Sampling Strategy
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Phenological Variability
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Phenological Variability
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Phenological Variability