Classroom Pronunciation Reductions Grammar Conversation Reading Listening Vocabulary Activities Videos
Idioms Slang Acronyms Phonics Portmanteau Words Handwriting Alphabet Surveys Tests
Holidays Movies Everyday Environment Learning News Places Flashcards Study Literacy
World America History Drive Education Teaching Dictionary Resources About Contact
 
Leaf and Bloom Dates
 
Climate Change Indicators: Leaf and Bloom Dates

This indicator examines the timing of leaf growth and flower blooms for two widely distributed plants in the United States.

Key Points

First leaf and bloom dates in lilacs and honeysuckles in the contiguous 48 states show a great deal of year-to-year variability, which makes it difficult to determine whether a statistically meaningful change has taken place. Earlier dates appear more prevalent in the last few decades, however (see Figure 1).

Leaf and bloom events are generally happening earlier throughout the North and West but later in much of the South (see Figures 2 and 3). This observation is generally consistent with regional differences in temperature change (see the U.S. and Global Temperature indicator).

Other studies have looked at trends in leaf and bloom dates across all of North America and the entire Northern Hemisphere. These studies have also found a trend toward earlier spring events—some more pronounced than the trends seen in just the contiguous 48 states.
Background

The timing of natural events, such as flower blooms and animal migration, can be influenced by changes in climate. Phenology is the study of such important seasonal events. Phenological events are influenced by a combination of environmental factors, including temperature, light, rainfall, and humidity. Different plant and animal species respond to different cues.

Scientists have high confidence that the earlier arrival of spring events is linked to recent warming trends in global climate. Disruptions in the timing of these events can have a variety of impacts on ecosystems and human society. For example, an earlier spring might lead to longer growing seasons (see the Length of Growing Season indicator), more abundant invasive species and pests, and earlier and longer allergy seasons. Unusually warm weather in late winter can create a “false spring” that triggers the new growth of plants to begin too early, leaving them vulnerable to any subsequent frosts.

Because of their close connection with climate, the timing of phenological events can be used as an indicator of the sensitivity of ecological processes to climate change. Two particularly useful indicators of the timing of spring events are the first leaf dates and the first bloom dates of lilacs and honeysuckles, which have an easily monitored flowering season, a relatively high survival rate, and a large geographic distribution. The first leaf date in these plants relates to the timing of events that occur in early spring, while the first bloom date is consistent with the timing of later spring events, such as the start of growth in forest vegetation.
About the Indicator

This indicator shows trends in the timing of first leaf dates and first bloom dates in lilacs and honeysuckles across the contiguous 48 states. Because many of the phenological observation records in the United States are less than 40 years long, and because these records may have gaps in time or space, computer models have been used to provide a more complete understanding of long-term trends nationwide.

The models for this indicator were developed using data from the USA National Phenology Network, which collects ground observations from a network of federal agencies, field stations, educational institutions, and citizens who have been trained to log observations of leaf and bloom dates. For consistency, observations were limited to a few specific types of lilacs and honeysuckles. Next, models were created to relate actual leaf and bloom observations with records from nearby weather stations. Once scientists were able to determine the relationship between climate factors (particularly temperatures) and leaf and bloom dates, they used this knowledge to estimate leaf and bloom dates for earlier years based on historical weather records. They also used the models to estimate how leaf and bloom dates would have changed in a few areas (mostly in the far South) where lilacs and honeysuckles are not widespread.

This indicator uses data from nearly 3,000 weather stations throughout the contiguous 48 states. The exact number of stations varies from year to year. For each year, the timing of first leaf and first bloom at each station was compared with the 1981 to 2010 average to determine the number of days’ “deviation from normal.” This indicator presents the average deviation across all stations, along with maps that compare the most recent 10-year period (2006–2015) with a mid-20th-century baseline (1951–1960) at individual stations. These time periods were chosen to match published studies.

Indicator Notes

Plant phenological events are studied using several data collection methods, including satellite images, models, and direct observations. Locational differences, the use of varying data collection methods, and different phenological indicators (such as leaf or bloom dates for different types of plants) can lead to a range of estimates of the arrival of spring.

Climate is not the only factor that can affect phenology. Observed variations can also reflect plant genetics, changes in the surrounding ecosystem, and other factors. This indicator minimizes the influence of genetic variations by relying on cloned plants (that is, plants with no genetic differences).

Data Sources

Leaf and bloom observations were compiled by the USA National Phenology Network and are available at: www.usanpn.org. This indicator is also based on temperature data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information, which maintains a large collection of climate data online at: www.ncei.noaa.gov. Data for this indicator were analyzed using methods described by Schwartz et al. (2013).

Technical Documentation

Download related technical information PDF
Figure 1. First Leaf and Bloom Dates in the Contiguous 48 States, 1900–2015
This figure shows modeled trends in lilac and honeysuckle first leaf dates and first bloom dates across the contiguous 48 states, using the 1981 to 2010 average as a baseline. Positive values indicate that leaf growth and blooming began later in the year, and negative values indicate that leafing and blooming occurred earlier. The thicker lines were smoothed using a nine-year weighted average. Choosing a different long-term average for comparison would not change the shape of the data over time.
Data source: Schwartz, 20165
Figure 2. Change in First Leaf Date Between 1951–1960 and 2006–2015
This figure shows modeled trends in lilac and honeysuckle first leaf dates at weather stations across the contiguous 48 states. This map compares the average first leaf date during two 10-year periods.
Data source: Schwartz, 20166
Figure 3. Change in First Bloom Date Between 1951–1960 and 2006–2015
This figure shows modeled trends in lilac and honeysuckle first bloom dates at weather stations across the contiguous 48 states. This map compares the average first bloom date during two 10-year periods.
Data source: Schwartz, 20167
 
EPA Page
This is the EPA page for this topic. To see if the Trump administration has changed the EPA page, simply click the link and compare the information with this page. If you notice changes were made to the EPA page, please post a comment. Thanks.
 
 
 
 
 
Additional Climate Change Information
Climate Change and Carbon Dioxide
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of climate change and carbon dioxide.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of carbon dioxide and climate change.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
Environmental Group Warns Earth's Health at Risk
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.

A report by the World Wildlife Fund looked at thousands of animal populations and found they have dropped significantly in 40 years.
Sea Levels Rising at Fastest Rate in 3,000 years
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.

A group of scientists say sea levels are rising at record rates. Another group found that January temperatures in the Arctic reached a record high.
Capturing CO2 Gas Is Not Easy
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.

Most scientists agree that carbon-dioxide gas is partly to blame for climate change: rising global temperatures. But capturing the CO2 gas released by power stations is costly and difficult.
Growth, Climate Change Threaten African Plants and Animals
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.

Researchers believe Africa may lose as much as 30 percent of its animal and plant species by the end of this century.
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
About    Contact    Copyright    Resources    Site Map