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Module 1 • Arctic Exploration: Case Study: Think Global…
Phenology!
Think Global—Phenology!
Tick tock, tick tock. . . Nature never sits still. From season to season the weather changes and so
do the hours of daylight and darkness. Animals and plants have adapted to this annual pattern of
events, and their lifecycles are finely tuned in to the changing conditions. Would you want to stay
indoors all summer? Or go around in your swimming gear eating ice cream during the winter? Not
likely. Everything has its season.
Phenology is the study of how the physical and biological components of the environment change
over time. Robert Marsham was Britain’s first phenologist and started recording his “Indications of
Spring” as early as 1736. Long before Marsham, however, people practiced phenology in various
forms. In Japan and China, the time of the blossoming of cherry and peach trees has been associated
with ancient festivals as far back as the 8th century. Written phenologies record the development and
movement of plants and animals in a particular region. Observations made from season to season
and year to year provide scientists with valuable information about animal populations, migration
patterns, plant growth, and the relationship of such elements to weather and seasons.
Our ancient ancestors needed to predict nature in order to survive. Nowadays the seasons don’t
affect us so directly. We can buy whatever food we want from shops all year round, and we can turn
up the heating or switch on the lights when we need to in the winter.
Scientists study phenology today because they want to find out more about the environ-
ment and about how it’s coping with the effects of climate change. If they can do this, then
they’ll be able to make changes that will help to protect the environment, including our land and
wildlife, and our own lifestyles, as well as provide indicators of change in the fields of human health,
agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
The climate is changing—so are the seasons.
Observing changes in nature’s calendar is easy and great fun—and anyone can do it. The more
records we have, the more reliable our predictions will be. If you are concerned about climate change
but frustrated that there is little you can do, here is your chance to make a meaningful contribution.
Join the observation drive, give us YOUR phenology
in Collaboration Zone 01 at PolarHusky.com
Visit Phenology under Investigate in the Logistics section at PolarHusky.com to learn more and see
how it is done. Then get out there—monitor your surroundings (How many people are wearing
shorts to school today? Is it snowing out? Is the first daffodil blooming? Are you raking leaves today?
Did you see a cougar?) and submit YOUR observations to the ZONE, entering the contest to WIN!
Have an observant day!
PolarHusky.com
© NOMADS Online Classroom Expeditions GoNorth! Chukotka 2007 Curriculum 38
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