The European Phenology Network

Vliet, Arnold J. H. van; Groot, R.S. de; Bellens, Yvette; Braun, Peter; Bruegger, R.; Bruns, Ekko; Clevers, J.G.P.W.; Estreguil, Christine; Flechsig, Michael; Jeanneret, François; Maggi, M.; Martens, Pim; Menne, Bettina; Menzel, Annette; Sparks, Tim H.

doi:10.1007/s00484-003-0174-2

Cited by 80 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…However, despite these conceivable but alarming consequences, we do not know where in space and time most intense phenological changes are happening. This is largely because in situ observations on plant phenology are lacking in many parts of the globe, and existing phenological observation networks, for example the Pan European Phenological Network (PEPN) [10] and United States of America National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) [11] only cover a handful of global terrestrial ecosystems. In a global context, these existing phenological observations only give a limited picture of how plant phenology is responding to global warming.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Spring Phenology of Western European Deciduous Forests

et al. 2013

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Plant phenology is changing because of recent global warming, and this change may precipitate changes in animal distribution (e.g., pests), alter the synchronization between species, and have feedback effects on the climate system through the alteration of biogeochemical and physical processes of vegetated land surface. Here, ground observations (leaf unfolding/first leaf separation of six deciduous tree species) and satellite-derived start-of-growing season (SOS) are used to assess how the timing of leafing/SOS in Western European deciduous forest responded to climate variability between 2001 and 2011 and evaluate the reliability of satellite SOS estimates in tracking the response of forest leafing to climate variability in this area. Satellite SOS estimates are derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Temporal trends in the SOS are quantified using linear regression, expressing SOS as a function of time. We demonstrated that the growing season was starting earlier between 2001 and 2011 for the majority of temperate deciduous forests in Western Europe, possibly influenced by regional spring warming effects experienced during the same period. A significant shift of up to 3 weeks to early leafing was found in both ground observations and satellite SOS estimates. We also show that the magnitude and trajectory of shifts in satellite SOS estimates are well comparable to that of in situ observations, hence highlighting the importance of satellite imagery in monitoring leaf phenology under a changing climate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in Spring Phenology of Western European Deciduous Forests

et al. 2013

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“…It indicates the growth rhythm of plants in adapting to seasonal changes in the environment [2]. Plant phenology not only provides a substantial theoretical and practical significance in farming forecast, agricultural and animal-husbandry production guidance, pest indication, seed introduction and selection, and many other aspects but also serves as an important parameter in land process model and global vegetation model [3][4][5][6].…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal variation in alpine grassland phenology in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 1999 to 2009

et al. 2012

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Plant phenology is the most salient and sensitive indicator of terrestrial ecosystem response to climate change. Studying its change is significantly important in understanding and predicting impressively changes in terrestrial ecosystem. Based on NDVI from SPOT VGT, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal changes in alpine grassland phenology in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 1999 to 2009. The results are enumerated as follows: (1) The spatial distribution of the average alpine grassland phenology from 1999 to 2009 is closely related to water and heat conditions. Accompanying the deterioration in heat and water conditions from southeast to northwest, the start of growth season (SOG) was delayed gradually, the end of growth season (EOG) advanced slowly, and the length of growth season (LOG) shortened gradually. Elevation played an important role in the regional differentiation of phenology, but a dividing line of approximately 3500 m existed. Below this line, the phenology fluctuated irregularly with altitude change, whereas above the line, the phenology is closely related to altitude change. (2) From 1999 to 2009, SOG of the alpine grassland came earlier by six days per decade (R 2 =0.281, P=0.093), EOG was late by two days per decade (R 2 =0.031, P=0.605), and LOG lengthened by eight days per decade (R 2 =0.479, P=0.018). The early SOG, the late EOG, and the extended LOG mainly occurred at the center and east of the Plateau. SOG in most of the Plateau advanced significantly, especially in the eastern Plateau. (3) The inter-annual phenology changes of the alpine grassland in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau exhibited significant differentiation at different elevation and natural zones. The inter-annual changes at high altitude were more complicated than that at low altitude. The most significant phenology changes were found in the eastern Qinghai-Qilian montane steppe zone, and non-significant changes occurred in the Southern Tibet montane shrub-steppe zone. . Plant phenology not only provides a substantial theoretical and practical significance in farming forecast, agricultural and animal-husbandry production guidance, pest indication, seed introduction and selection, and many other aspects but also serves as an important parameter in land process model and global vegetation model [3][4][5][6]. Qinghai-TibetanThis information is very important in promoting people's understanding of the response of vegetation to climate change and improving the simulation accuracy of mass and energy exchanges between the atmosphere and vegetation [7]. As the best indicator in monitoring the influence of climate on vegetation, plant phenology has become the key point of global-change research [8]. Plant phenology analysis based on remote sensing data shows that the growth season of plants in northern hemisphere has lengthened gradually during the last decades [9][10][11][12]. These conclusions are supported by ground observation data. The spring phenophase of most plants in Europe and North America have

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“…Over time, phenological observations can track simple, yet critical, impacts of climate change on ecosystems (IPCC, 2007). Such observations are made routinely and extensively in Europe (van Vliet et al, 2003), North America , and Australia (ClimateWatch web page, 2012), while new networks are being proposed in India and other continents (Kushwaga and Singh, 2008). Notwithstanding the value of these monitoring networks, building capacity to use phenological observations to track regional climate change impacts faces considerable challenges (Schwartz et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring onset variations and trends in the continental United States: past and regional assessment using temperature-based indices

2012

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Phenological data are simple yet sensitive indicators of climate change impacts on ecosystems, but observations have not been made routinely or extensively enough to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns across most continents, including North America. As an alternative, many studies use weather-based algorithms to simulate specific phenological responses. Spring Indices (SI) are a set of complex phenological models that have been successfully applied to evaluate variations and trends in the onset of spring across the Northern Hemisphere's temperate regions. To date, SI models have been limited by only producing output in locations where both the plants' chilling and warmth requirements are met. Here, we develop an extended form of the SI (abbreviated SI-x) that expands their application into the subtropics by ignoring chilling requirements while still retaining the utility and accuracy of the original SI (now abbreviated SI-o).The validity of the new indices is tested, and regional SI anomalies are explored across the data-rich continental United States. SI-x variations from 1900 to 2010 show an abrupt and sustained delay in spring onset of about 4-8 d (around 1958) in parts of the Southeast and southern Great Plains, and a comparable advance of 4-8 d (around 1984) in parts of the northern Great Plains and the West. Atmospheric circulation anomalies, linked to large-scale modes of variability, exert modest but significant roles in the timing of spring onset across the United States on interannual and longer timescales. The SI-x are promising metrics for tracking spring onset variations and trends in mid-latitudes, relating them to relevant ecological, hydrological, and socioeconomic phenomena, and exploring connections between atmospheric drivers and seasonal timing.

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The European Phenology Network

Cited by 80 publications

References 28 publications

Trends in Spring Phenology of Western European Deciduous Forests

Trends in Spring Phenology of Western European Deciduous Forests

Spatiotemporal variation in alpine grassland phenology in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 1999 to 2009

Spring onset variations and trends in the continental United States: past and regional assessment using temperature-based indices

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