2. What is phenology and why focus on phenology?
Phenology is the study of plant and animal life cycle events, which are triggered by environmental changes, especially temperature. Wide ranges of phenomena are included, from first openings of leaf and flower buds, to insect hatchings and return of birds.
The word is derived from the Greek phainomai (φαινομαι - to appear, come into view) and indicates that phenology has been principally concerned with the dates of first occurrence of biological events in their annual cycle.
Phenological events are ideal indicators of the impact of local and global changes in weather and climate on the earth's biosphere.
Assessing our changing world is a complex task that requires close cooperation from experts in biology, climatology, ecology, geography, oceanography, remote sensing and other areas. Phenology is considered an integrative science.
Participating in some kind of phenological research or data gathering is one of the most cost effective ways to introduce students firsthand to questions about climate change.