A9 - Phenological observations

The Swiss Phenology Network consists of around 160 stations. Some 26 different plant species are observed in order to describe the vegetation development. On the basis of this information, it is possible to investigate the impact of climate change on the vegetation. The observations also serve to generate forecasting models for the start of flowering.

9.1. Data granularity, update frequency, format, volume and structure

There are files of data granularity y and update frequency daily (recent) or yearly (historical) for each station.

Data format is CSV with an estimated volume of ≤7.1 MB per file.

Data structure conforms to the example data files for granularity y and update frequencies recent and historical: ogd-phenology_(station identifier)_y_(update frequency).csv.

Variable name	Description	Datatype	Note
param_id	Parameter identification	Number	see Parameter metadata
nat_abbr	Station abbreviation	Text	see Station metadata
reference_year	Reference year	YYYY
value	Date of observation	YYYYMMDD
doy	Day of year	Number	negative values: Observation in the year preceding the reference year. values greater than 365: Observation in the year following the reference year.

9.2. Parameter metadata

The available parameters are listed in the example parameter metadata file of data granularity: y.

Variable name	Description	Datatype	Example value	Note
param_id	Parameter identification	Number	601
param_shortname	Parameter shortname	Integer	maesh13d
scientific name	Plant's scientific name + phenophase* in English	String	Aesculus hippocastanum - leaf unfolding (50%)	*phenophase: An observable stage or phase in the annual life cycle of a plant that can be defined by a start and end point.
desc_english	Plant's common name + phenophase* in English	String	Horse chestnut - leaf unfolding (50%)
desc_deutsch	Plant's common name + phenophase* in German	String	Rosskastanie - Blattentfaltung (50%)
desc_italiano	Plant's common name + phenophase* in Italian	String	Ippocastano - spiegamento delle foglie (50%)
desc_français	Plant's common name + phenophase* in Italian	String	Marronnier - déploiement des feuilles (50%)

9.3. Station metadata

The available parameters are listed in the example station metadata file.

Variable name	Description	Datatype/Unit	Example value	Note
Station	Station name	Text	St. Gallen
Abbr.	Station abbreviation	Text	STG
WIGOS-ID	WIGOS Station identifier (WSI)	4 Block Number	0-20000-0-06681	WSI is used to register an observing station or platform in the OSCAR/Surface database.
Station type	Station type	Text	Phenology station
Data Owner	Data Owner	Text	MeteoSwiss
Station height m a. sea level	Station height	Meter above sea level	711
CoordinatesE	Swiss coordinates system LV95, East	Number	2746301
CoordinatesN	Swiss coordinates system LV95, North	Number	1255286
Latitude	Global WGS84 GPS coordinates, Latitude	Decimal degrees	47.432103
Longitude	Global WGS84 GPS coordinates, Longitude	Decimal degrees	9.378022
Exposition	to be explained	Text	plain
Canton	Swiss canton abreviation	Text	SG
Measurements	List of observed plants, scientific names	Text	Aesculus hippocastanum, Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus, Sorbus aucuparia, Corylus avellana, Tilia platyphyllos, Sambucus nigra, Tilia cordata, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Robinia pseudoacacia, Betula pendula, Castanea sativa, Tussilago farfara, Anemone nemorosa, Dactylis glomerata, Taraxacum officinale, Cardamine pratensis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Colchicum autumnale, Prunus avium, Pyrus communis, Malus domestica, Hay
Link	More information about the station and the start date of observations (per plant)	URL	https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/services-and-publications/applications/measurement-values-and-measuring-networks.html#param=messnetz-phaenologie&station=STG

9.4. Data visualisation

See e.g. MeteoSwiss' PHENOLOGY network map.