Autumn season science event invites volunteers to track leaf color change
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 29, 2024
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program invites volunteers of all ages to join a seasonal study, aiding students and citizen scientists in observing changes in leaf color and land cover. This initiative, spanning from September to December, unites participants from North America, Latin America, Central America, and Europe to document seasonal changes. These observations contribute valuable data for GLOBE students working on research projects for the upcoming GLOBE 2025 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) and are part of GLOBE’s Intensive Observation Period (IOP), which focuses on climate change monitoring across different global regions.
A key aspect of this project, known as “green down,” captures the process of leaves changing from green to brown and eventually falling. During this phase, volunteers are encouraged to take daily photographs of trees to document this transition. Additional observations on land cover and tree height will provide a comprehensive view of the environmental changes affecting these trees.
By gathering this data, volunteers help to reveal the timing differences in seasonal changes across individual trees, offering insights into local climate patterns when combined with satellite data. Such observations strengthen scientists’ understanding of how these environmental shifts impact plant and animal life cycles.
The GLOBE European Phenology Campaign has developed resources for educators participating in this study. These include a series of instructional YouTube videos that guide volunteers in selecting a tree, measuring tree height, and assessing land cover. Volunteers are also encouraged to use the green-down protocol for structured data collection. Educators can learn more by registering as GLOBE Educators through the “Create an Account” link on the GLOBE website.
For decades, GLOBE students have contributed valuable observations on seasonal variations in plants and animals. The addition of this data to global databases allows scientists, students, and educators worldwide to better understand climate change.
This Intensive Observation Period is part of collaborative campaigns, including the GLOBE North America Phenology Campaign, the European Phenology Campaign, and the Trees Within LAC Campaign. Together, these campaigns monitor the life cycles of plants and animals, helping to track the timing of growing seasons and habitat changes while examining the dynamics of tree species over time.
Related Links
GLOBE’s Intensive Observation Period
Forestry News – Global and Local News, Science and Application
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