Regular observation of seasonal changescarried out on the basis of noticeable phenomena in nature. All the data is structured into a single system. It is called general phenology. Further we will get acquainted with this discipline. Find out what science is studying phenology.
Terminology
The official history of phenology began in the middle.19th century. The term was first proposed by Charles Morran (a botanist from Belgium). Phenology as a science is a system of knowledge and a collection of information about seasonal phenomena in nature, their causes and timing of occurrence. Observations are made on the basis of so-called fenoindicators (what it is - we will discuss a little later). Speaking about the study of phenology, it should be mentioned that in the course of research the spatial and temporal patterns 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
Как было сказано выше, фенологические наблюдения produced on the basis of visible phenomena of nature. These include, for example, cherry blossoms, the appearance of "earrings" on a birch tree, or yellowing of leaves. All these signs are called "phenoindicators". They characterize the transition of nature from one seasonal phase to another.
Average temperatures
На основании этих параметров осуществляется более specific definition of natural phenomena. So, for example, a steady transition to an average daily temperature above 0 degrees is considered the climatic arrival of spring, and over 15 - a summer. Speaking about what phenology is, it is impossible not to say that the entire research system is built on the analysis of periods of different duration. For example, consider narrower changes in temperature indicators - through five degrees. As a result, each season is divided into short intervals - phenological phases. Each period has its own complex of natural phenomena (phenomena). Thanks to them, the researchers distinguish some phases from others. The periods of the most characteristic phenomena have their names, which are fixed in folk calendars.
Research method
Seasons and seasons match each other.Visual phenological observations, which are a traditional technique, or method, research, allow you to record the timing of the occurrence of certain phenomena. In order to achieve comparability of information obtained by different researchers, special programs, atlases and explanations for them are drawn up. In such methodical publications, phenophases of plants and seasonal phenomena of the animal world are described. For scientific purposes, phenological observations are a way to study geographic and biological objects and establish patterns.
Spring: general information
Above, considering what isphenology, 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 also shorter periods of time - phases. So, spring includes 4 sub-seasons. Each of them has its own indicators.
Snow melting
This is the first sub-season of spring.It begins with the formation of the first thaw in the field. The completion of the period is determined by the first flowering of hazel-hazel and gray alder. During this stage, larks, starlings, gulls and rooks arrive. In birches and maples, there is swelling of the kidneys and movement of sap. The fields begin to descend and the snow gradually disappears, the reservoirs become free from ice. In this sub-season, fishing on the ice is completed and open water fishing begins. Some inhabitants of water bodies (ruff, asp, Podust, dace, ide, pike) begin to prepare, and in some places start spawning. In certain territories, bream and roach are caught quite well during this period.
Spring Revival
The beginning of the second sub-season coincides with the floweringalder gray. The most accurate indicator of this period for urban residents is considered a coltsfoot, yellowing in wastelands. The beginning of the phenomena characteristic of this period in the central zone is usually observed on April 15-20. At this time, there is a final disappearance of ice in the waters. The soil begins to dry from above. At the same time, country roads become passable for people and accessible for transport. This, in turn, opens the way for anglers to remote places. In the second sub-season, woodcocks and cranes arrive, bumblebees appear, frogs begin to “wail”. At the same time, the recovery of earthworms is celebrated. As for river dwellers, spawning of an ide and a pike is completed, in asp and ruff it continues, and in perch and bream it is just beginning. In this sub-season, buds have already blossomed on the birch trees, and the elm is “gathering dust”.
The height of spring
At the beginning of the third sub-season, the birches were already dressed ingreen foliage. A warming period has been observed for about two decades at this time. Air temperature rises not only during the day, but also at night. The green of shrubs and trees becomes thicker, the flowering of orchards begins. There are more insects, as well as songbirds that feed on them. In the fields, meadows and forests there is a vibrant green and flowering. In the coastal thickets are heard the nightingale trills, and in the meadows and fields - quail. Crake cracker starts singing too. Other signs include the completion of the spawning of the ide and the continuation of the podousta and roach. Starts pike zhor, opens catching bream, had time to partially spawn, chub and crucian. The end of the sub-season is indicated by the blooming of lilac lilac and rowan.
"Predlet"
The fourth sub-season is marked by completion.flowering orchards, vykolashivaniyu meadow cereals and winter rye. The phenomena occurring during this period coincide with the departure of dragonflies. On dry land, the Nyvanyk-Popovnik bloom is observed, and on the wet areas - forget-me-nots.
Summer: 1 sub-season
First of all, I must say that this perioddivided into three phases. The first is the beginning of summer. This stage is evidenced by the flowering of wild rose. It, in turn, is accompanied by other phenomena. For example, in the gardens blooms chubushnik and viburnum, in the field - rye, flax and cornflower, on the water - a white water lily. The temperature rises, the air warms more and more. At this time, the longest days of the year. There is an increase in temperature in reservoirs.
"Full" summer
The beginning of the second, main, subseason coincides withsmall-leaved linden blossom This phenomenon in the central zone is observed, as a rule, between July 5 and 15. In big cities, however, this happens a bit earlier. As a passing indicator of the onset of full summer, ripening of black and red currants, garden strawberries, and blueberries in the forest should be used. Nightingales begin to subside and the cuckoo falls silent. Urban lawns bloom yellow tansy and blue chicory. Grasshoppers appear in large numbers.
Summer recession
This is the last, third sub-season.The period is characterized by the beginning of ripening lingonberries. The nights are noticeably longer. At dawn, cold dew begins to fall. The water temperature in rivers and ponds is gradually decreasing. The grass that was cut during haymaking has time to grow.
Autumn: the beginning
This season, like summer, includes threephases. In the European part of the Russian Federation, the entire period lasts just over 3 months. The beginning of autumn is characterized by the appearance of yellow strands in the elm crown, linden and birch. The completion of the sub-season is marked when the number of green and colored leaves becomes approximately the same. This is most often noted in the last decade of September, and in the wet and warm autumn - in early October. In the forest begin to appear mushrooms. In the air there is a tenetnik, a flying web. The water continues to cool, but in large reservoirs the temperature decreases unevenly, starting from the upper layer.
"Golden autumn"
The second sub-season is characterized by widespreadyellowing and falling leaves. The forests gradually begin to bare, birds gather in flocks and fly away to warm lands. Starlings and rooks are preparing for migration and wandering along roadsides and margins. The end of fall of the elm, aspen and birch indicates the beginning of deep autumn. This period lasts until the very first snow. The temperature is getting lower, the last flocks of ducks, swans and geese fly south. Water and ground air are cooling faster.
Predzime
Completes the autumn period, which is at the same timetransition to winter. Actually, this is what this sub-season got its name for. At the beginning of this period, the first snow falls. The phase ends with freezing and formation of a toboggan path.
Winter
This season, researchers also divide into threephases. During the entire period, the plants are in a deep dormancy, and of the variety of birds, only those that are well adapted to the winter cold remain. In the forest, it becomes almost empty - almost all the animals hibernate, and who does not sleep, hides along the burrows. As a rule, winter begins from the end of November and lasts until about the second half of March.
Pervozimye
At the beginning of this first sub-seasoncovered with strong ice. From this moment ice fishing is opened. The phase ends on the 20th of December, during the winter solstice. At first, intense biting becomes somewhat “moody” as the ice cover becomes thicker, the days are shorter, and the volume of dissolved oxygen in the water decreases.
Aboriginal winter
This is the second sub-season. It begins, as a rule, in February. At this time, the big tit begins to sing.
Winter break
The final phase begins with the addition of daylight. From this moment comes the "spring of light." Icicles begin to grow, drops are ringing. During the day, the sun noticeably warms.
The relationship of phenomena
Returning to the question of what phenology is,note that the discipline explores not only natural phenomena. It should be noted here that the duration of the seasons and phases depends on the landscape and geographical location of the territory. All periods are interconnected. Each phase occurs in a certain period of time. For example, the spring movement of sap before all comes at the maple. 2 weeks after its beginning, there will be a swelling of the buds at the birch, which, in turn, is a signal for anglers: it means that the ide becomes active. As already mentioned, the average temperature during the day is also of great importance. Until it rises above 5 degrees (with a plus sign), the plants are in forced rest.
Why do we need research?
Methods and objectives of phenology have practicalvalue, and in the first place - for the national economy. Patterns underlie the creation of calendars for seasonal events. They, in turn, are used in the organization of work on nature protection, the fight against diseases of useful plants, the timely elimination of pests. Information about the periods of mass flight of birds is important for aviation. Remote study of the earth's surface requires data on the optimal time to carry out studies of the timing of migration of birds. The results of visual phenological observations are used in the design of sanatoria, planning tourist routes. Research allows identifying local natural indicators, which, in turn, make it possible to determine the seasonal state of nature and predict the nature of the growing season.
Phenological maps, especiallylarge-scale, needed for the planning of those or other seasonal production. Natural signals are important in the development of territories and the development of new species of animals and plants. Thus, speaking of what phenology is, an obvious conclusion can be made: this discipline is complex. It includes various techniques and research methods. Everything that studies phenology allows the most efficient use of the natural environment.
