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.

Data download

The Open Data from MeteoSwiss may be used without restriction; the source must be cited when reproducing or redistributing ("Source: MeteoSwiss").

✅ By using 'Open Data' from MeteoSchweiz, you confirm that you have taken note of the Terms of use.

Download data automatically

Download files per station automatically via FSDI's REST API: https://data.geo.admin.ch/api/stac/v1/collections/ch.meteoschweiz.ogd-phenology

Read our information on how you can obtain data automatically.

The STAC Browser can be a useful tool to facilitate the use of the API: https://data.geo.admin.ch/browser/index.html#/collections/ch.meteoschweiz.ogd-phenology

Download data manually

Select and download files per station manually via MeteoSwiss' Open Data Explorer.

Data structure

Files per station

The data is split by measuring station. A file for a station contains all available parameters in one file. There are files with yearly y values.

See e.g. files for station Nyon / Changins (CHI): ogd-phenology_chi_(data granularity)_(update frequency).csv

The files include [to be verified]:

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.

Data format

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

Metadata

Parameter

All parameters have a unique identifier .

ogd-phenology_meta_parameters.csv provides a list of all parameter identifiers with explanation, time interval, decimal places, data type and unit of measurement [to be verified].

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%)

Stations

All stations have a three-letter identifier (e.g. BER for "Bern/Zollikofen" or LUG for "Lugano").

ogd-phenology_meta_stations.csv provides a list of all station identifiers with name, Canton, Wigos ID, station type, altitude, coordinates, orientation and URL of the station details pages [to be verified].

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

Data inventory

ogd-phenology_meta_datainventory.csv provides a list of all stations and parameters with start and end date of the measurements.

Data usage

See e.g. MeteoSwiss' PHENOLOGY network map.

[to be verified] Phenological observations

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https://data.geo.admin.ch/ch.meteoschweiz.klima/phaenologie/phaeno_previous.csv Data from previous years (verified data) https://data.geo.admin.ch/ch.meteoschweiz.klima/phaenologie/phaeno_current.csv Data from current year https://data.geo.admin.ch/ch.meteoschweiz.klima/phaenologie/Legende_Parameter.csv Parameter list https://data.geo.admin.ch/ch.meteoschweiz.messnetz-phaenologie/ch.meteoschweiz.messnetz-phaenologie_en.csv Station list

Data file structure param_id;nat_abbr;reference_year;value;doy

param_id Parameter identification: see parameter list
nat_abbr Station abbreviation: see station list reference_year Reference year value Date of observation, format yyyymmdd doy Day of year Negative values: observation in the year preceding the reference year Values greater than 365: observation in the year following the reference year

Delivery times phaeno_previous.csv Delivery once a year after checking the data (beginning of February) phaeno_current.csv Delivery daily at 3:15 UTC