Progress in Phenological Measurements at the National and Local Scale

1. Progress in Phenological Measurements at the National and Local Scale

2. Research Collaborators • National Phenology Network (NPN) project—Julio Betancourt and Steve Grey • Spatially Concentrated Phenological Measurements project—Brent Ewers and Scott Mackay

3. Definition of Phenology • Phenologywhich 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.

4. Phenological Research • Traditional approach: agriculture-centered, and local-scale events • New approach: Earth systems interactions, and global-scale events

5. Decadal Averaged Cherry Bloom in Kyoto, Japan Data Source: web file (no longer available)

6. Mean onset of spring phenophases in the International Phenological Gardens (Europe) Source: Menzel et al. 2001, Global Change Biology, Figure 1

7. Cloned lilac first leaf and first bloom datesat a single station in Vermont

8. Simulated phenology developed from lilac and honeysuckle data combined with climate data Source: Schwartz and Reiter 2000, Plate 4 (updated)

9. 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

10. Prototype for web-based NPNhttp://www.npn.uwm.edu

11. Select appropriate native species

12. Submit data over the Internet

13. 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

14. Proposed NEON Regions

15. 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 Thomas G. Whitham, N. Arizona Univ. Xubin Zeng, University of Arizona Convened by Julio Betancourt Pat Mulholland Dave Breshears http//www.neoninc.org

16. 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

17. Questions about Species and Phenological Measurements • Which indicator and native species to monitor? • Which phenological events should be monitored? How often?

18. 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?

19. ChEAS Project:Spatially 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

20. 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

21. Sampling Strategy

22. Phenological Variability

23. Phenological Variability

24. Phenological Variability