Advancing to full bloom: planning phenological research for the 21st century

Abstract

 Phenology has emerged recently as an important focus for ecological research, primarily because of its considerable promise to address important questions in global modeling, monitoring, and climate change. Remote sensing technological developments have also contributed to phenology’s resurgence, by generating extensive biosphere-related databases that require careful calibration and interpretation. This article reviews the major objectives, accomplishments, and challenges of contemporary phenological research, concentrating on papers presented in this thematic issue of the International Journal of Biometeorology and other recent venues relevant to global change. Strategies for the continued advancement toward global change-related goals are also presented. The crucial catalyst to this potential contribution will be the systematic development of observation networks on a national and global scale during the next decade and beyond.