Seasonality of biological and physical systems as indicators of climatic variation and change

Jake Weltzin; Julio L. Betancourt; Benjamin I. Cook; Theresa Crimmins; Carolyn Armstrong Enquist; MD Gerst; JE Gross; GM Henebry; RA Hufft; MA Kenney; John S. Kimball; Bradley C. Reed; SW Running

doi:10.1007/s10584-020-02894-0

Seasonality of biological and physical systems as indicators of climatic variation and change

Climatic Change

By: Jake Weltzin, Julio L. Betancourt, Benjamin I. Cook, Theresa Crimmins, Carolyn Armstrong Enquist, MD Gerst, JE Gross, GM Henebry, RA Hufft, MA Kenney, John S. Kimball, Bradley C. Reed, and SW Running

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-020-02894-0

Links

More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
Open Access Version: External Repository
Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Evidence-based responses to climate change by society require operational and sustained information including biophysical indicator systems that provide up-to-date measures of trends and patterns against historical baselines. Two key components linking anthropogenic climate change to impacts on socio-ecological systems are the periodic inter- and intra-annual variations in physical climate systems (seasonality) and in plant and animal life cycles (phenology). We describe a set of national indicators that reflect sub-seasonal to seasonal drivers and responses of terrestrial physical and biological systems to climate change and variability at the national scale. Proposed indicators and metrics include seasonality of surface climate conditions (e.g., frost and freeze dates and durations), seasonality of freeze/thaw in freshwater systems (e.g., timing of stream runoff and durations of lake/river ice), seasonality in ecosystem disturbances (e.g., wildfire season timing and duration), seasonality in vegetated land surfaces (e.g., green-up and brown-down of landscapes), and seasonality of organismal life-history stages (e.g., timings of bird migration). Recommended indicators have strong linkages to variable and changing climates, include abiotic and biotic responses and feedback mechanisms, and are sufficiently simple to facilitate communication to broad audiences and stakeholders interested in understanding and adapting to climate change.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Seasonality of biological and physical systems as indicators of climatic variation and change
Series title	Climatic Change
DOI	10.1007/s10584-020-02894-0
Volume	163
Year Published	2020
Language	English
Publisher	Springer
Contributing office(s)	Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, National Phenology Network
Description	17 p.
First page	1755
Last page	1771
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page