In most European countries, phenological data are collected or have been collected in the past over several decades. Within these different phenological programmes, the vegetation cycle of plants is usually observed (native, agricultural plants and fruits) and in some countries also cyclical animal behaviour like bird migration, egg laying or insect appearance etc. This COST Action is restricted to vegetation-phenology.
Phenological phases reflect among other things the environmental characteristics of the climate in the region where they occur. Consequently, long series of phenological observations may be used for the detection of climate variability or climate change.
Goals of the COST action
The main objective of the Action is to establish a European reference data set of phenological observations that can be used for climatological purposes, especially climate monitoring, and detection of changes.
To attain this goal, the following steps will be taken:
To attain this goal, the following steps will be taken:
Selection of species and phases and definition of an appropriate reference period
Comparison of observational procedures and application of quality control
Definition of data formats for archiving and exchanging data
Selection, test, and development of applications
These scientific activities will be handled in three Working Groups:
WG1: Inventory of data and metadata;
WG2: Guidelines for data selection, observations and archiving
WG3: Applications of phenological data (e.g. in climate change research)
Contribution of MeteoSwiss
With its well maintained phenological observation network MeteoSwiss is an important partner in this COST action.
MeteoSwiss plays an active role in the selection of species and in the development of guidelines for uniform observation strategies (WG2). As a contribution to WG3 an additional research project is funded by the BBW. The main goal of this project is to explore and quantify the relation between the European phenology and climate using statistically robust methods (NCCRII).
MeteoSwiss plays an active role in the selection of species and in the development of guidelines for uniform observation strategies (WG2). As a contribution to WG3 an additional research project is funded by the BBW. The main goal of this project is to explore and quantify the relation between the European phenology and climate using statistically robust methods (NCCRII).
