Presentation of the European Network of Phenomenology

2001/02/28 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Klima
• Ingurumena

Phenomenology studies periods of natural cyclical phenomena, especially those related to climate change. These phenomena, for example, can be the first obtaining or germination, the creation of the first leaves, the first migration of birds, the appearance of the first butterflies. The times of these natural episodes are directly related to the climate.

On 1 May the European Network of Phenomenology will be presented at the first meeting of projects to be held at the University of Wageningen (Netherlands). The aim of this network is to promote in Europe the use of phenomenological data, as well as control and research on climate change. This EU project has a duration of three years (2001 to 2003) and encompasses thirteen European countries.

In recent decades, phenomenological observations have shown significant changes in the phenomenology of plants, birds, insects and amphibians. In addition, they have detected that these problems have their origin in climate change, related to aspects such as the prolongation of the growth period, the balance between species and the availability of food. In addition to the impact on nature, climate change also affects agriculture, such as the spread of diseases and pests, the quality of harvesting, and changes in frost times.

The mission of the Network is, on the one hand, to support organizations and groups related to this topic and, on the other, to promote the participation of people in the observations, especially of young people between 12 and 18 years old.

Although so far the data collection at European level has been spectacular, communication and collaboration between institutions has not been adequate on many occasions. Therefore, efficiency is limited by making it difficult to access global consequences. In this way, those that could be applied to ecology, human health, agriculture, education, etc have not been put in place. This network will allow an effective analysis of the data and put the results at the service of all fields.

Information about the project on the internet: http://www.dow.wau.nl/msa/epn/