Phenology, Statistics and Uncovering Meaning in Data
Ever hear of Season Creep? It’s a term that scientists use to describe the earlier arrival of the seasons due to climate change. In Europe, season creep has been associated with the arrival of spring moving up by approximately one week in a recent 30 year period.1 One way that scientists know this is by looking at the timing of recurring natural phenomena (such as the flowering of plants or the hatching of birds’ eggs) that are linked to environmental changes (like light, precipitation and temperature). The study of such phenomena is called "phenology". In this exploration, you'll see some phenomenal phenological data (sorry, couldn’t resist) and learn how to recognize when data trends really mean something! Menzel, A. and P. Fabian, 1999. Growing season extended in Europe, Nature 397, 659
Menzel, A. and P. Fabian, 1999. Growing season extended in Europe, Nature 397, 659
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If you have specific questions about this exploration, please contact your STEM Mentor or email Susan Hull Grasso, GCA Director of Curriculum Development; 0r "Skype" her: