Smartphone app monitors development phases of fruit plants

While the Citizen Science Award 2016 is on, amateur climate scientists can monitor the development of trees.

As a part of the Citizen Science Award 2016 the project "Crazy about fruit" runs from 1 April to 30 September 2016. The focus lies on the development stages of fruit plants. With a smartphone app photos of apples, pears, apricots, currants, cherries, plums and grapes can be registered. The project is open to all interested parties says Thomas Hübner of the Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG).

European database

"The entries are entered in the Austrian and European phenology database and are available to researchers worldwide," explains the expert of the ZAMG. Participation is open to individuals, groups and school classes and several prizes will be awarded to the participants.

Spring starts 7 to 10 days earlier

Due to the changes in the climate over the past decades the growing season in Austria has extended by about two weeks. “In Austria spring begins with the first flowers and the sprouting of leaves and it currently begins about seven to ten days earlier than 30 years ago," explains Hübner. And the coloring of the autumn leaves starts a few days later too. It is still not entirely clear to what extent the different factors such as temperature, rain and sunshine influence the development of plants. Amateur climatologists can now contribute to the research.

Source: wetter.at