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Scientific Correspondence

Nature 394, 839-840 (27 August 1998) | doi:10.1038/29670

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Green-wave phenology

Mark D. Schwartz1

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Phenology, the traditional study of seasonal plant and animal activity driven by environmental factors, has found new relevance in research into global climate change1, 2, 3, 4. Global phenology research so far has concentrated on measurements obtained by satellites, downplaying connections of these measures to information obtained on the surface1,4, perhaps because of a lack of conventional, surface-based phenological data. However, an integration of conventional and satellite-derived measures is needed to understand better the mid-latitude spring onset of photosynthesis, known as the 'green wave' or 'green-up'5, 6, 7. Here I show how a surface-based green-wave model can extend the monitoring of climatic variability back to 1900, providing a longer-term context for the more limited, recent data obtained from satellites.