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
We are currently setting up our service as Beta. During this phase everything is subject to change without prior notice.
- All files are available for all stations.
You can access the available Open Data via https://data.geo.admin.ch/browser/index.html#/collections/ch.meteoschweiz.ogd-phenology
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
- Stations
- Data inventory
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%) |
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 |
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
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