Phenology and Climate - Phenology and Climate

Phenology and Climate Project

Ongoing since September 2012

To get started, use the following links to download the:

1. Phenology and Climate Project Teacher's Participation Guide
2. Budburst protocol (includes all Budburst field guides)
3. Budburst Data Sheet and Budburst Site Definition Sheet
4. Green-up protocol (includes all Green-up field guides)
5. Green-up/Green-down Site Definition Sheet
6. Green-up Data Sheet for Trees/Shrubs or Green-up Data Sheet for Grasses
7. Green-down protocol (includes all Green-down field guides)
8. Green-down Data Sheet for Trees/Shrubs and Grasses

For the optional, but highly encouraged, Atmosphere and Soil measurements, also download:

1. Atmosphere Study Site Selection and Set-up guide and/or Soil Moisture Site Definition Sheet
2. Max/Min/Current Air Temperature Protocol or Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol or Soil Temperature Protocol
3. Rainfall Protocol or Solid Precipitation Protocol
4. Atmosphere Investigation Data Sheet
5. Soil Moisture Sensor Protocol and Daily Soil Moisture Data Sheet

Purpose

To involve students in short-term and long-term scientific studies focused on the relationship between climate and the biosphere by collecting plant phenology, atmosphere, and soil measurements near their school and in comparison with schools across the globe.

Overview

The Phenology and Climate Project is a research effort between GLOBE schools and climate scientists to improve our understanding of how climate relates to the cycles of living things (i.e. phenology).  Using GLOBE phenology protocols, students make observations of the timing of budburst, green-up, and green-down of native plants near their school.  Where possible, students will also use GLOBE atmosphere and soil protocols to collect climate data that can be used by students and scientists to answer key science questions about how the growing season is affected by climate.

Timing

Localized Intensive Observing Periods (IOPs) of budburst, green-up, and green-down should occur during August 2012-July 2013. Because the timing of budburst, green-up, and green-down vary geographically, each school will need to determine the time period appropriate for their local environment.

*Some schools may need to begin in August or end in July if their local Budburst or Green-down period occurs into those months.

What to do and how to do it

1. Determine your local Intensive Observing Period ("local IOP")

• Timing of phenological processes (budburst, green-up, and green-down) varies by location around the world.  Plan your local IOP depending on your local climate and biome.
  1. Example for schools in the U.S. or Northern Hemisphere: GLOBE schools would observe green-down during the beginning of the school year for a local IOP sometime during August-November.  The exact timing is determined by the local biome.  Schools would then observe the same trees (as studied for the green-down IOP) to observe budburst and green-up for a local IOP during January-May.  The local IOP would be again determined by the local biome.
  2. Example for schools in the Southern Hemisphere: GLOBE schools would observe budburst and green-up for a local IOP sometime during August-November.  The exact timing is determined by the local biome.  Schools would then observe the same trees (as studied for the green-up IOP) to observe green-down for a local IOP during January-May.  The local IOP would be again determined by the local biome.

2. Collect data with phenology protocols

• Schools measure budburst, green-up, and green-down of native plants using the GLOBE budburst, green-up, and green-down protocols during local IOPs. 
• Phenology measurements should be made at least twice per week during each local IOP. 

3. Report data to the GLOBE database

• From your "My Public Page", select "Data Entry" or click on the "Enter Data" icon below
• Under "My Procedures", select your phenology site(s) or "Define, Edit or Update a Site" found at the bottom of the page.  If you do not have any procedures listed, choose the protocol from the list of sites under "Available Procedures Based on My Sites" by clicking the plus sign on the right.
• Fill in the data form as directed and select "Send Data"

4. (Highly encouraged) Collect and report data with Atmosphere and Soil protocols

If possible, schools should measure climate variables, such as air temperature and precipitation, soil temperature and soil moisture, in addition to phenology protocols, during each local IOP for the Phenology and Climate Project.  Collecting air temperature and precipitation data is also helpful for the Great Global Investigation of Climate.  It would be ideal for the atmosphere/soil site to be as close as possible to the phenology site, provided it meets the site definition set up requirements for an atmosphere study site.

• Identify and establish a representative atmospheric study site, if your school has not previously established a study site. Refer to the Site Selection and Set-up guide for information regarding identification and establishment of an atmosphere site.
• Follow the Max/Min/Current Air Temperature protocol or Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature protocol or the Soil Temperature protocol directions for collecting atmospheric and soil temperature data, depending on your instrumentation, and record data on the Atmosphere Investigation Data Sheet.  (Note that only digital soil thermometers can be used as part of the Atmosphere Study Site.  For dial soil thermometer probes, you will need to establish a Soil Moisture Site using the Soil Moisture Site Definition Sheet).
• Follow the Rainfall Protocol or Solid Precipitation Protocol directions for collecting atmospheric data and record data on the Atmosphere Investigation Data Sheet.
• Follow the Soil Moisture Sensor protocol directions for collecting soil moisture data and record data on the Daily Soil Moisture Data Sheet.
• Atmosphere and soil measurements should be made at least twice per week, on the same days as the phenology measurements (except for the Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature, which can be made every six days).
• If possible, take soil temperature twice, in two different locations: once at the atmosphere study site and once close to the plant or tree being observed in the phenology protocols.
• Report data to the GLOBE database.

5. Apply and extend your knowledge

• Learn more about the science of the Phenology and Climate Project
• Meet the Scientists involved
• Follow the suggested optional extensions and learning activities to learn more about topics related to Phenology

Need help?

Email the GLOBE Science Team if you have questions about the Phenology and Climate Project or need help completing the project.