What is phenology? Phenological observations

Regular observations of seasonal changes are made on the basis of notable phenomena in nature. All received data are structured in a single system. It is called general phenology. Further we will get acquainted with this discipline in more detail. Let us find out that science studies phenology.

Terminology

The official history of phenology began in the middle of the 19th century. The term was first proposed by Charles Morran (botanist from Belgium). Phenology as a science is a system of knowledge and a collection of information about the seasonal phenomena in nature, their causes and timing of occurrence. Observations are made on the basis of so-called pheno-indicators (what is this - we will discuss below). Speaking about what phenology is studying, it should be mentioned that in the course of research spatial and temporal regularities of cyclic changes in natural objects and their groups associated with the movement of the Earth around the Sun during the year are determined.

Indicators

As it was said above, phenological observations are made on the basis of notable phenomena of nature. To them, for example, can be attributed blooming bird cherry, the appearance of "earrings" on the birch or yellowing of the leaves. All these signs are called "pheno-indicators." They characterize the transition of wildlife from one seasonal phase to another.

Average temperatures

Based on these parameters, a more specific definition of natural phenomena is carried out. So, for example, a stable transition to an average temperature of over a day above 0 degrees is considered a climatic advent of spring, and over 15 - summer. Speaking about what phenology is, one can not help saying that the entire research system is built on the analysis of periods of different duration. Thus, for example, narrower changes in temperature indices are considered - after five degrees. As a result, each season is divided into short intervals - phenological phases. Each period has its own set of natural phenomena (phenomena). Thanks to them, researchers distinguish one phase from another. Periods for the most characteristic phenomena have their own names, which are fixed in people's calendars.

Method of investigation

Seasons and seasons match. Visual phenological observations, which are a traditional technique or method, allow us to record the timing of the occurrence of certain phenomena. To achieve comparability of information obtained by different researchers, special programs, atlases and explanations to them are compiled. Such methodical publications describe phenophases of plants and seasonal phenomena of the animal world. For scientific purposes, phenological observations are a method of studying geographic and biological objects and establishing regularities.

Spring: general information

Above, considering the question of what phenology is, we mentioned that this system has a special structure. In addition to the fact that in the discipline there are seasons (relatively long periods corresponding to the seasons), there are shorter periods of time - phases. So, the spring includes 4 off-season. Each of them has its own indicators.

Snow melting

This is the first sub-season of spring. It begins with education in the field of the first thawed patches. The end of the period is determined by the first flowering hazel-hazel and alder gray. During this stage, larks, starlings, seagulls and rooks arrive. The birch and maples show swelling of the kidneys and the movement of the juice. In the fields the snow begins to disappear and the snow gradually disappears, the reservoirs are freed from the ice. In this sub-season, fishing on ice ends and fishing on open water begins. Some inhabitants of reservoirs (ruff, asp, podost, dace, ide, pike) begin to prepare, and in some places they start to spawn. In some areas, bream and roach are caught quite well in this period.

Spring revitalization

The beginning of the second sub-season coincides with the flowering of alder gray. The most accurate indicator of this period for urban residents is the mother-and-stepmother, which turns yellow on vacant lots. The beginning of the phenomena typical for this period in the Central band is usually observed on April 15-20. At this time, the final disappearance of ice in the reservoirs. The soil begins to dry out from above. At the same time they become passable for people and accessible roads for transportation. This, in turn, opens the way for anglers to the deaf places. In the second sub-season, woodcocks and cranes arrive, bumblebees appear, and frogs begin to "bark". Then there is a revival of earthworms. As for river inhabitants, the spawning of the yaz and pike ends, while the asp and ruff continue to spawn, while the perch and bream only begin. In this subseason on the birches the buds have already blossomed, and the elm "is gathering dust".

The height of spring

At the beginning of the third sub-season, the birches were already dressed in green foliage. About two decades at this time, there is a warming. The air temperature rises not only during the day, but also at night. The greenery of bushes and trees becomes thicker, the flowering of orchards begins. Insects become more, as well as song birds that feed on them. In the fields, on meadows and in the forests there is a rapid greening and flowering. In the coastal thickets, the nightingale trills are heard, and in the meadows and fields - quail. He begins to sing and korostel-dergach. Other signs include the completion of spawning in the yaz and continued at the bottom and roach. The pike zhor begins, a bream is caught catching up, which has had time to partially spawn, chaff and crucian carp. The end of the subseason is indicated by the flowering of purple lilac and mountain ash.

"Flying"

The fourth subseason is characterized by the completion of the flowering of orchards, the cutting out of meadow grasses and winter rye. The phenomena occurring in this period coincide with the departure of dragonflies. On the dry lands, the blossoming of the niovanist-horseman is noted, and on the damp sites there are forget-me-nots.

Summer: 1 off-season

First of all, I must say that this period is divided into three phases. The first is the beginning of summer. About this stage evidences blossoming of a dogrose. It, in turn, is accompanied by other phenomena. So, for example, in the gardens blossom chubushnik and viburnum, in the field - rye, linen and cornflower, on the water - a white water lily. The temperature rises, the air warms up more and more. At this time the longest days of the year. There is an increase in temperature in the reservoirs.

The "full" summer

The beginning of the second, main, sub-season coincides with the flowering of small-leaved linden . This phenomenon in the central strip is observed, as a rule, between July 5 and 15. In large cities, however, this happens a little earlier. As a guide to the onset of the full summer, you should use the ripening of black and red currants, garden strawberries, and in the forest - blueberries. The nightingales begin to die down and the cuckoos cease. On city lawns yellow tansy and blue chicory blossom. Grasshoppers appear in large numbers.

Fall of summer

This is the last, third sub-season. The period is characterized by the beginning of ripening of cranberries. The nights are noticeably longer. Cold dew begins to fall on the horizon. The temperature of the water in the rivers and ponds is gradually decreasing. The grass, which was cut during haymaking, by this time has time to grow.

Autumn: the beginning

This season, like the summer season, includes three phases. The European part of the Russian Federation lasts a little over 3 months. The beginning of autumn is characterized by the appearance of yellow strands in the crown of elm, linden and birch. The end of the sub-season is marked when the number of green and colored leaves becomes approximately equal. This is most often observed in the last decade of September, and in the damp and warm autumn - in early October. Honey mushrooms begin to appear in the forest. In the air, there is a tenetnik, a flying web. The water continues to cool, but in large water bodies, the temperature drops unevenly starting from the top layer.

"Golden autumn"

The second subseason is characterized by ubiquitous yellowing and falling leaves. The forests gradually begin to be bare, the birds gather in flocks and fly away to warmer lands. Prepared to migrate and nomadic along roadsides and outskirts of fields starlings and rooks. The end of the fall of the elm, aspen and birch indicates the beginning of the deep autumn. This period lasts until the very first snow. The temperature is lower, the last flocks of ducks, swans and geese fly to the south. Water and surface air are cooled ever faster.

Pre-winter

Autumn ends the period, which is a transition to winter. Actually, for this given sub-season it got its name. At the beginning of this period, the first snow falls. The phase ends with freezing and formation of the sledge path.

Winter

This season researchers are also divided into three phases. During the whole period the plants are in deep dormancy, and of all the variety of birds there are only those that are well adapted to winter colds. In the forest it becomes almost empty - almost all the animals fall into a hibernation, and whoever does not sleep - hides in the holes. As a rule, winter starts from the end of November and lasts until about the second half of March.

First Bird

At the beginning of this first sub-season the reservoirs are covered with solid ice. From this moment, ice fishing opens. The phase ends in the 20th of December, during the winter solstice. At first, intense biting becomes "capricious" to some extent, because the ice cover becomes thicker, the days are shorter, and the volume of dissolved oxygen decreases in water.

Root winter

This is the second sub-season. It begins, as a rule, in February. At this time, begins to "sing" a large titmouse.

Fracture of winter

The final phase begins with the addition of a light day. From this moment comes the "spring of light". Start to grow icicles, rings drops. During the day, the sun is noticeably warm.

Interconnection of phenomena

Returning to the question of what phenology is, we note that not only natural phenomena are being studied within the framework of discipline. Here it should be noted the dependence of the duration of seasons and phases on the landscape and geographic location of the territory. All periods are interrelated. Each phase occurs in a certain period of time. For example, the spring movement of the juice first comes at the maple leaf. After 2 weeks after its beginning there will be a swelling of the kidneys near the birch, which, in turn, is a signal for the fishermen: hence, the ide becomes active. As already mentioned, the average temperature is also important during the day. Until it rises above 5 degrees (with a plus sign), the plants are in forced rest.

Why research?

The methods and tasks of phenology are of practical importance, and, first of all, for the national economy. Regularities form the basis of the calendars of seasonal events. They, in turn, are used in the organization of works on nature protection, combating diseases of useful plants, timely elimination of pests. Information on the periods of mass flight of birds is important for aviation. Remote study of the Earth's surface requires data on the optimal time for performing research on the timing of migratory birds. The results of visual phenological observations are used in designing sanatoriums, planning tourist routes. Studies can identify local natural indicators, which, in turn, provide an opportunity to determine the seasonal state of nature and predict the nature of the vegetation period.

Phenological maps, especially large-scale maps, are needed for planning those or other seasonal productions. Natural signals are important when developing territories and breeding new species of animals and plants. Thus, speaking of what phenology is, one can draw an obvious conclusion: this discipline is complex. It includes various methods and methods of research. All that studies phenology, allows the most rational use of the natural environment.