Tracking Seasonal Change
Observe the natural world closely. Record data, take photos, and make drawings. Look for patterns of seasonal change, and note webs of connections. By studying the timing of seasonal changes, students think like scientists who look for clues about how climate and other factors affect living things.
Share Your Observations
The observations you contribute to Journey North become part of a permanent database. Scientists can use Journey North data to monitor how living things are responding to changes in climate.
- See the Spring Checklist of migrations and signs of the seasons you can observe and report.
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| Phenology: The Seasonal Timing of Life Cycle Events |
The phenology of a dandelion |
Phenology is the study of the seasonal timing of life cycle events. You are studying phenology when you record the date a certain plant grows, a tree's leaves emerge, an insect hatches, or a migratory bird appears on its nesting grounds. The dates on which these happen each year are affected by factors such as daylength, temperature, and rainfall. |
Watch the Ecosystem Change With the Seasons
Sunlight drives all living systems. Watch how seasonal changes in sunlight affect the entire web of life:
FALL: Sunlight decreases in the fall, and temperatures drop. Plants die back or go dormant. Less food is available to animals, so some migrate, some hibernate, and others rely on other physical adaptations.
SPRING: Watch the food chain rebuild as the season progresses. Energy from the sun increases, temperatures rise, and plant growth begins. Animals that eat plants appear first, followed by their predators — and so on up the food chain.
- Monthly News: Signs of the Seasons news updates are posted the first of each month.
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Tracking Seasonal Change |
